| HIDDEN IN SECRETS |

chapter sixty-three

RESURRECTED

•

"We have to go back."

"I don't understand," said Cedric, watching Verena as she searched for the Cup. "This isn't a part of the task, is it?"

"No, I don't think so," said Harry.

"Wands out, d'you reckon?" Cedric suggested.

"Yeah," Harry replied, and he looked at Verena. "Will the Cup take us back? I can try the Summoning— "

Verena turned to the, putting a finger against her lips in a gesture for him to shut his mouth.

"Someone's coming," she said, looking towards the mausoleum. "I don't have a wand."

"Stand back," said Cedric, walking towards the building.

Verena stopped him and pulled him back. She wasn't going to let him put his life in danger. He still had an entire life ahead of him. There was his career, Cho— Verena had to bring him back to Cho.

"Will you let go of— "

Cedric fell silent as a figure slowly came out from the shadows. They were short and they were carrying something in their arms. It was as small as a baby though whatever it was also seemed to be wrapped in a ton of cloth.

Suddenly, Verena was swept off her feet. After she hit the ground, she rolled a few feet and hit one of the tombstones. She groaned, raising her hand to where it hit, and felt a thick substance around her temple.

"Kill the spare!"

Verena tried getting up, but her head was throbbing. It was the worst pain she had ever felt. She looked at the figure who raised their wand, though her vision was a lot blurrier than she remembered. Then, there was a green light. The spell hit Cedric, and in a split second, the body appeared before Verena with a thud.

"No! No, no. You can't go... " Verena cried, shaking Cedric's body. "Please, don't... "

Verena already knew what happened. She wasn't stupid. She remembered what kind of spell produced the green light. Moody traumatized everyone in his class that day. She knew but didn't want it to be true.

A few moments later, Verena felt a hand against her back. They pulled her onto her feet, dragged her away from the body, and pushed her against a marble headstone. She realized that Harry was already getting restrained and the man began to conjure more ropes to restrain her.

"It's Wormtail," said Harry, trying to fight against his ropes. "And we're standing— "

"I've seen this all happen," said Verena, trying to calm herself. "I was supposed to – Cedric... "

Wormtail had gone. Harry was looking around, attempting to find something useful. His wand was on the ground, Cedric's body on the opposite side, and the Cup was somewhere. He thought he had seen a little glimmer, but he wasn't sure.

"Do you see the Cup?" Harry asked.

"No, I-I can't see well," Verena replied.

"You're bleeding," said Harry, sounding concerned. "We have to get out of here."

"I have his wand," said Verena. "I have Cedric's wand. If only I could reach... "

Then, something moved at their feet and Verena stopped struggling. They looked down to see a large snake slither past as it hissed at them. It kept circling them, around the headstone, like a shark before it attacks.