Before I Knew

by Kicon

Various moments of Dean and Seamus through their years at Hogwarts as they navigate the waters of friendship and love. Part 1 of Through Their Eyes. Part 1 of Of Course Verse (Part 2 to come out fall 2015).

14. Mudblood

Before I Knew

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14. Mudblood

The common room was unusually subdued. Mrs. Norris's petrified body had just been discovered, along with the ominous writing on the wall.

"Enemies of the Heir beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!" Malfoy's words rang in Dean's mind.

"Hey Shay?" he asked.

Seamus looked up from where he was reading the Prophet in an armchair. "What?"

"What's a Mudblood?"

Seamus' eyes darkened. "It's a nasty word, it is. Means dirty blood. It's a bad term for Muggle-borns. Purebloods use it a lot cause they think they're better cause they have only wizard blood, but that's bloody ridiculous. I mean, Neville's a pureblood and he can barely walk without screwin' somethin' up."

Dean nodded slowly. "So…I'm a Mudblood?"

Seamus threw the Prophet down on the bed angrily, his expression angry. "No, Dean, ye're not. Ye're a wizard, just like me and just like everyone else here."

"Sorry, I just…" Dean sighed.

Seamus frowned in concern and went to go sit by his friend on his bed. "What's got you thinkin' 'bout it anyway?"

"What Malfoy said, after Mrs. Norris was found," Dean said. "About Mudbloods being next."

"Malfoy's a git," Seamus said. "Don't pay attention to him."

Seamus squeezed his friend's shoulder comfortingly and then returned to his own bed. Dean tried to take his friend's advice and forget about it, but he still had an awful knot in his stomach.