| HIDDEN IN SECRETS |

chapter sixty-two

THE THIRD TASK

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Anyone would wish to see the future. The thing is no one is strong enough to accept it. Verena did all she could to make sure she was never alone. She even sacrificed her time with her study group so she wouldn't be alone. She would go to bed with her dorm mates, and in the mornings she would go to the Great Hall with Cho and eat with Cedric and his friends. She never walked the halls alone.

Verena was surprised one day when Professor Flitwick came to her in the Great Hall. She was informed that Professor Trelawney had brought up the vision to Professor Dumbledore, to which he ordered that there would always be someone watching over her. Albeit a little creepy, she found out that most of the ones watching her were portraits on the walls and ghosts.

"Do not worry, young Salvador, I swear to protect you."

"So very flattering," Verena replied sarcastically. "Tell me how you plan to attack."

"Like this," Peeves said with a smile, and he suddenly started screaming, flying in circles.

"Hush, Peeves, or I'll call the Bloody Baron," Verena warned him.

"I am very good at drawing attention," Peeves reminded her. "I hope you haven't forgotten that in 1992, all those attacks."

"Fine, a point to you then," said Verena. "But you don't have to follow me everywhere."

"I know, but I'm bored," he said.

Peeves was floating in mid-air, lying on his stomach with his chin resting on the palms of his hands. His feet were kicked up, almost like the way Padma was whenever she was doing work in bed.

"Well, you can't disturb everyone in class," she told him. "It's exam week."

"I won't even enter the classroom this time," said Peeves.

"It's quite amazing," said an admiring ghost from afar. "Do you think Peeves fancies her a bit?"

"That is absurd! She is but a girl and he is, well, a ghost," Nearly Headless Nick said.

"But he listens to her," said the Fat Friar. "Just watch."

The two watched as Verena walked into the Charms classroom. Peeves was almost about to go in before he stopped himself and flew down the hall.

"At least now that we know Miss Salvador can control him, too," said Nearly Headless Nick. "If she stays alive," he added quietly.

"Have faith," the Fat Friar assured him. "She sticks by her friends. The portraits and ghosts watch her – all of whom can alert the staff within the wave of a wand."

"She will be a powerful girl if she is not one already," said Nearly Headless Nick. "The Bloody Baron told me all about her mother. They had to repair so many things in the common room because of her."

"She's different," said the Fat Friar. "Or she will be. I hear Dumbledore is almost at a solution."

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Verena was looking forwards to the third task. She hoped either Cedric or Harry came out unscathed from whatever obstacles there were. Cho had been telling Verena how good Cedric had been with all his spells, which made Verena doubt Harry's capabilities. She was sure that the one spell he had mastered was the Disarming Charm, but that wasn't going to stop a giant beast.

"Peeves, will you please go away so I can enjoy my dinner in peace?" Verena said sternly. "I can't have you hovering over my shoulder all the time. People are starting to talk."