Oh God, they're at it again. I tell you, if I hear the words 'You-Know-Who' mentioned one more time, I swear I'm going to scream. Bloody hell, is Binns still talking?!

'…the giants were quite closely allied with You-Know-Who-' Right, sod this. I stand up. Binns looks stunned- I don't think anyone's ever interrupted the old duck before.

'Yes, Miss…er-?'

'Masribani, sir. I would just like to point out that you have used the words 'You-Know-Who' ten times in the last five minutes, and it's driving me up the wall. Voldemort isn't going to pop up out of thin air if you say his name, you know.'

A hush goes around the room, and Binns looks scandalised.

'Look at you all, it's pathetic. Sitting there looking oh-so-shocked and scandalised because somebody had the guts to stand up and say 'Bite me, Voldemort'. It's because of people like you that he has power in the first place.'

Well now, that's confused them no end…

'What on earth are you talking about, Miss Masterson?!'

'Well Professor, it's very simple. If people stopped cowering behind their precious euphuisms for things, and we all stood up together and said 'Come on, Voldemort, do your worst. You don't scare us', then Voldemort would lose the power he has over people.'

'How can you be sure of something like that?! It's absurd!'

'Is it, sir? Do you know what Voldemort's real power is? Fear. Pure and simple. He knows that if people are afraid of him, then he has power over them. It's up to all of us to take away that power. And for Christ's sake, will you all stop cringing whenever I say "Voldemort"?! You people drive me bloody mad!'

'But he's done heaps of really terrible things! People should be afraid of stuff like that! What if it happens to them?!' Was that a wise move for a Slytherin, Blaise…?

'True, but we must remember that everything Voldemort does, every time he murders someone, he's just saying 'Look at me! Look at me! I have a wand, and it makes big loud noises and pretty colours! Aren't I good!?' Think of him as a little girl dressed up in her mother's lipstick and high heels. Not remotely frightening…'

Blaise doesn't reply, he just blinks at me. Blink blink…silly boy. The bell rings, signalling the end of the lesson. I pick up my bag and saunter out, leaving a sea of shocked faces behind me. Then the applause starts…I smile to myself. Sorted…