I sat next to Ron and Hermione on a bench in one of the many courtyards, listening them argue about the uses of studying and whatnot. I on the other hand was reading one of my new muggle written books, Graceling while listening to music I had playing in one of my ears. But when I saw a flock of red and I flock of green meet however, I looked up to see the Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch team growling at each other.

"I booked the pitch for Gryffindor today,"

"Easy, Wood. I've got a note,"

"Uh-oh. I smell trouble," Ron murmured as he got up, Hermione and I following.

"'I, Professor Severus Snape, do hereby give the Slytherin team permission to practice today, owing to the need to train their new Seeker,'," Oliver read from a note before looking up at the Slytherin captain. "You've got a new Seeker. Who?" The Slytherin players moved out of the way as none other than Draco Malfoy stepped out from their depths, smirking at Harry.

"Malfoy?"

"That's right, Potter. And that's not all that new this year," Draco smiled, showing off his new broom which matched the rest of the teams.

"Those are Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones!" Ron exclaimed, looking down at the brooms. "How did you get those?"

"A gift from Draco's father," the Slytherin captain smiled.

They were actually kind of cool looking, except the ends, which looking like someone had dunked the very ends in bleach.

"You see, Weasley, unlike some, my father can afford the best," Draco sneer making my blood boil as I stepped up to him.

"Shut up, Draco, or do I have to tell everyone what happened that time when we were eight during summer?" I smiled, seeing a flicker of fear behind Draco's smooth composure. "At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in. They got it on pure talent," I growled. "We both know if I had my father buy Gryffindor all new broomsticks who'd end up being the better team,"

"Like your father would do that," Draco hissed. "We both know your father hates you more than anything,"

I winced, and he smiled, knowing he'd won this round.

"Shut up, Malfoy, your just a big bully," Hermione exclaimed, linking her arm with mine.

"No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood!"

I gasped as I stared at him in surprise, and then looked over at Hermione as I saw tears start to form in her eyes.

"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy. Eat slugs!" Ron exclaimed, but as he said it, the… spell… rebounded on him, sending him flying back.

"Ron!" I squeaked, running toward him as he slowly tried to get up.

"You okay, Ron? … Say something!" Hermione exclaimed as everyone crowded around us.

Ron grew pale and sickly looking as I watched him before he made as if he was going to hurl, but as he did, instead of puke, a slug dropped out of his mouth. Everyone looked away and moaned while my stomach flipped in disgust.

"Wow! Can you turn him around, Harry?" I looked up to see Colin as his camera flashed.

"No, Colin! Get out of the way!" Harry said, lifting Ron up. "Let's take him to Hagrid's," Out came another slug. "He'll know what to do,"

Quickly I followed after Harry, Ron and Hermione, making sure I stomped my foot into Draco's as I pasted. We ran all the way down to Hagrid's, not really needing to explain once Ron had thrown up a slug on Hagrid's doorstep.

"This calls for a specialist's equipment," Hagrid said, bring over a bucket and plopping it down in front of Ron. "Nothin' to do but wait'll it stops, I'm afraid," Another slug. "Better out than in," Hagrid sighed. "Who's Ron tryin' to curse, anyway?"

"Malfoy," Hagrid didn't seem to need anymore information. Being Malfoy was enough of an explanation. "He called Hermione… um, well, I don't- I don't know exactly what it means," Harry said, glancing over at Hermione who looked like she still wanted to cry. She stood up and moved off and away from us, crossing her arm as I saw her shoulders shake.

"He called me a Mudblood,"

"He did not!" Hagrid exclaimed.

"What's a Mudblood?" Harry asked, making me look over at him in surprise.

"It means 'dirty blood,'," Hermione said, whipping around to look/glare at us all. "Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who is Muggle-born. Someone with non-magic parents. Someone like me," she said sitting back down beside me. "It's not a term one usually hears in civilized conversation,"

"See, Harry, there're some wizards, like the Malfoy family, who think they're better'n everyone else because they're what people call 'pure blood,'," Hagrid explained.

"That's horrible!" Harry exclaimed.

Another slug. "It's disgusting,"

"And it's codswallop, to boot,"

I personally felt bad for it all, and felt embarrassed to be a pureblood myself, now that they were talking about how most of them were stuck up about it. I didn't even want to mention that that was how my father saw things as well, like the Malfoy's. I just stayed quiet, my eyes down and listened.

"'Dirty blood' Why, there isn't a wizard alive today that's not half blood or less," Hagrid exclaimed. "More ter the point, they've yet to think of a spell that our Hermione can' do. Come here…" Hagrid sighed, taking Hermione's hands as she walked toward him. "Don't you think on it, Hermione. Don't you think on it for one minute… eh?"

Another slug.