| HIDDEN IN SECRETS |

chapter sixty

A RECORD PLAYER

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The second task was boring at the start, however, it made a complete one-eighty towards the end. Fleur had been pulled out after being attacked by Grindylows. Cedric had come up first with Cho, then Krum with Granger. Harry had come up last. Despite being well outside the one-hour time limit, he had saved Weasley and Fleur's little sister from the Black Lake. Verena admired him once again.

The only thing that made the second task a little more interesting were the stories people made up. No one knew exactly what happened down in the lake. Many were curious. Though people asked, neither one of the champions wanted to discuss the matter, especially with Rita Skeeter. On the plus side for Verena, she had two good friends who had an experience in the lake.

Cedric was full of worry and he tried to get to his girlfriend as fast as he could. He had to get past the Grindylows and the merpeople, although he did have a civil greeting with the Giant Squid. Verena could no longer bear to hear about his experience once Cho and Cedric were all up against each other - holding hands, her leg on top of his, and little pecks on her forehead.

Harry was always humble about what happened, which was something she was getting used to. Her other friends boasted about their achievements. Harry, even with all the fame, was perhaps the humblest person she had ever met, always giving credit to his friends.

"It was all thanks to you," said Harry one day during breakfast. "You helped me solve the riddle and your support - everyone's - is what keeps me going."

"Surprised the fame hasn't gotten through your head," said Verena.

"You're just used to people like Malfoy," Harry replied.

"Look who's back!" called a voice from the Slytherin table.

Daphne Greengrass was walking inside the Great Hall, her sister following behind. Verena smiled at Daphne, and the girl smiled back. It was reassuring to know that not all the Slytherins hated her.

Daphne and Astoria greeted everyone happily, though there was a serious expression that Daphne had after.

"Damien, I need to talk to you," Daphne said, and the two walked out of the Great Hall together.

"You haven't written back to me for months," said Damien, crossing his arms.

"It's kind of hard to keep track of who writes to me when Astoria is ill," she remarked.

"Bet you wrote to Verena though," he said. "Kept in touch with her, did you?"

"And do you have a problem with that?" Daphne asked. "So she's friends with Potter. She's like me, but braver."

"She is a blood traitor," he sneered.

Daphne had to fight back the urge to slap him.

"She is your sister," said Daphne. "Look, I am done fixing your problems, Damien. I am always the one helping you make up with your sister and I am always the one having to stop you from drinking and smoking."

"I'm just a boy that needs fixing, is that it?" said Damien, offended.

Daphne heaved a sigh and said, "She is your sister and she needs her brother. It's not her fault for liking someone, and the reason why she never told anyone is because of people like you. She never wanted to lose you, but now she has. If she were to die tomorrow... "

Suddenly, Damien had a guilty look on his face. He wondered whether his father would cast her out. He remembered what the Black family would do for blood traitors.