Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter. Unfortunately.

Thanks for all the support I've gotten so far (I've banned myself from looking at reviews until tomorrow because I've gotten frighteningly review hungry lately, so I can delude myself into thinking I got lots of reviews)! I hope you enjoy this chapter! :)

Malfoy has just called Hermione a Mudblood on the Quidditch field; Ron tried to hex him but his wand backfired and caused him to belch slugs. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are going to Hagrid's hut for help.

"Nearly there, Ron," said Hermione as the gamekeeper's cabin came into view. "You'll be all right in a minute-almost there-"

They pulled Ron the rest of the way to the cabin. Harry, chest heaving with the effort of supporting Ron, wrangled himself into a position where he could knock on Hagrid's door.

When Hagrid opened the door and saw them, his expression brightened. "Bin wonderin' when you'd come ter see me- come in, come in- me and Professor Lupin just bin talkin'."

As Harry and Hermione supported Ron over the threshold, they noticed Professor Lupin sitting at Hagrid's table. Harry wondered if it had anything to do with the large quantity of Hagrid's treacle fudge he seemed to have consumed, judging by the crumbs all over the plate.

"What's happened to Ron?" he asked as Ron belched again. Hagrid plunked a large copper basin in front of Ron and told him that it was better out than in.

Harry hastily explained Ron's problem, and Lupin sighed, "I'll see what I can do. I don't think there's much to be done but to wait for it to stop, honestly."

He knelt next to Ron and pulled out his own wand. He pointed it to Ron's throat and muttered something that made Ron's next burp much more smooth. Hagrid was bustling around making them tea while Fang slobbered all over Harry.

"Better?" he asked kindly.

Ron nodded mutely.

"If you can't get a new wand, you'll have to learn the patterns of this one. A broken wand seems completely unpredictable, but you can learn to gauge its reactions with time," said Lupin, patting Ron's back. "I broke my wand a few years back and it took me ages to save up enough for a new one, so I had to learn to make do."

Harry thought it was this admission more than anything that stopped Ron from looking quite so green and sweaty.

"So tell me," said Hagrid as he served them tea. "Who was he tryin' ter curse?"

Harry glanced nervously at Professor Lupin, who laughed and said, "I seriously doubt I haven't heard it before, Harry. It seems to me that Ron's already gotten his punishment for dueling, so talk freely."

"Malfoy called Hermione something- it must've been really bad, because everyone went wild."

"It was bad," said Ron hoarsely, not sounding unlike Professor Lupin at the moment. "Malfoy called her 'Mudblood,' Hagrid-"

Ron dived out of sight again as a fresh wave of slugs made their appearance. Hagrid looked outraged, while even Professor Lupin looked angry.

"I wish I hadn't said I wouldn't do anything," he said sharply. "Because I'm of the mind to take fifty points from Slytherin for that."

"But I don't know what it means," said Hermione. "I could tell it was really rude, of course-"

"It's about the most insulting thing he could think of," gasped Ron, coming back up. "Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who is Muggle-born- you know, non-magic parents."

"It's a prejudice of our world," said Professor Lupin, his voice calm and his expression unreadable. "One of many prejudices. Some families are under the impression that blood matters, that they have superior skills because they're what people call pure-blood."

"But it's not like it makes any difference," continued Ron. "Look at Ne-" He broke off with a furtive glance towards Professor Lupin, who raised an eyebrow at him. "A lot of pure-bloods can hardly stand a cauldron the right way up, it has nothing to do with blood."

"An' they haven't invented a spell out Hermione can' do," said Hagrid proudly, making Hermione going a brilliant shade of magenta.

"It's a cruel thing to call someone," said Lupin, looking out Hagrid's window so they couldn't see his entire face. The angle made the bags under his eyes even more visible. "Dirty blood. Common blood. It's ridiculous. You three will soon learn that the Wizarding world is not the sanctuary it appears to be."

Hagrid cast Lupin an poorly-disguised sympathetic look that made Harry and Hermione wonder (Ron had gone back under the table to burp). Was Lupin Muggle-born too?

"I'd better get going," said Lupin suddenly. "I have some paperwork I need to attend to up in my office. Thanks, Hagrid. I'll definitely take your advice when I get the third-years their Red Caps."

"If you need me ter help, I'm here," said Hagrid. "And...as for your paperwork next week, well, good luck."

Harry could have sworn he saw Professor Lupin roll his eyes as he left. Harry couldn't help but understand; sure, Hagrid was great, but when it came to keeping secrets, all you needed was alcohol and a dragon egg.

If Hagrid's last statement seems a little off, I had my moon chart calculations off by a week and had to alter a few things. Sorry! Reviews are love! :)