| HIDDEN IN SECRETS |

chapter sixty-one

THE DREAM

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June was approaching, which also meant exams would be taking place. Verena had been dreading the exams. There were times when she would doze off to sleep in the middle of class and she would skip meals because she had to catch up. It wasn't any better either when her "time of the month" came and her study buddies made her even crankier.

Nearing the end of May, however, she could finally have a peaceful sleep. Her father had sent her another batch of potion which put a stop to her visions. Verena felt a small sense of hope that maybe her family didn't hate her completely; that her father still cared. Her study group continued to make her angry, especially Terry Boot. He could never understand why she had a hard time with Herbology. Verena bit her tongue, but she would have gladly told him to shove his opinions up his arse.

On a brighter note, Verena was helping Harry practice spells for the third task. She was told that the champions had to navigate through a maze, face obstacles, and find the Triwizard Cup. She enjoyed helping Harry, although she could do without the sass at times. Still, she would rather practice with Harry and his sass than with Boot and his snarky comments.

"Can't we kidnap Mrs Norris?" Weasley suggested.

It was Monday during lunch inside Professor Flitwick's classroom. Verena had gotten his permission to use it. They had spent the past hour practicing the Stunning Spell.

"Let's Stun her for a bit," Weasley went on. "Or you could use Dobby, Harry, I bet he'd do anything to help you."

"Yeah, and I'm sure he'd love that," Verena remarked. "Harry, if you ask him that, you'll be no better than the Malfoys."

"Oh, like you haven't treated him badly," Weasley sneered. "Carry this, carry that."

"My family had maids, not house-elves," she countered. "My family never used elves."

"Even worse," Weasley said dramatically.

Verena crossed her arms, offended, and said, "All our maids came from the poor. We saved them, and their families. We gave them jobs, money... "

"Look, Harry," said Weasley, ignoring her. "I'm not complaining or anything... "

"... That little git," Verena muttered.

"... but I'm aching all over," said Weasley, standing up.

"Well, you keep missing the cushions, don't you!" said Granger impatiently, rearranging the pile of cushions. "Just try and fall backward!"

"Once you're Stunned, you can't aim too well, Hermione!" Weasley said angrily. "Why don't you take a turn?"

"Well, I think Harry's got it now, anyway," said Granger. "And we don't have to worry about the Disarming Spell because he's been able to do that for ages... I think we ought to start on some of these hexes this evening."

She looked down at the list the trio had made earlier.

"I like the look of this one," she said. "This Impediment Curse. Should slow down anything that's trying to attack you. We'll start with that one."

"Great," said Verena. "Cho already taught me this spell."

The bell rang. They quickly shoved the cushions back into the cupboards and walked out of the classroom before any of his students went in.

"See you at dinner!" Granger told the two, and she set off for her class.

"Cho has been teaching you fifth-year stuff?" Harry inquired as they walked to Divination.