two rings and bad things

12_ no longer friends

The next few days were considerably normal, at least compared to the mandrakes and pixies.

Quidditch was also starting up again, which gave all the students something to look forward to.

In fact, that very morning the Slytherins were going to practice. They headed down to the pitch, but the Gryffindor team arrived shortly after, whose Captain seemed outraged at the presence of the Slytherins.

"Flint! This is our practice time, I already booked the field!" Wood yelled.

"Ah, but I have a signed note from Professor Snape himself," Marcus Flint, the captain of the Slytherin team, replied with a smug look on his face.

Flint handed Wood a piece of parchment, who snatched it out of his hands.

"I, Professor Snape, give the Slytherin team permission to practice on the Quidditch field to train their new seeker," Wood read, very annoyed.

"You've got a new seeker? Who?" he asked curiously.

Malfoy stepped forward at these words.

"Malfoy?" Harry said, shocked.

He already had to deal with Malfoy in class, now he had to go against him in Quidditch too?

Malfoy, on the other hand, was thrilled that he had the chance to beat Potter in something.

"That's right, and that's not all that new this year," Malfoy said as he twirled a sleek, brand new broomstick in his hand.

"Those are nimbus 2000 and ones, how did you get those?!" Ron, who was standing near Harry, said in disbelief.

"A generous gift from dracos father," Flint explained.

"You see, Weasley, unlike some, my father can afford the best," Malfoy insulted.

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in, they got in on pure talent," Hermione protested.

"No one asked your opinion, you filthy little mudblood," Malfoy sneered.

There were gasps from the Gryffindors.

"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy, eat slugs!" Ron said, infuriated, as he attempted to cast the spell.

However, his wand was broken, so it ended up rebounding on him instead. Because of this, he flew backwards and landed hard on the ground. Hermione and Ron immediately rushed to his side, and starting helping him walk away.

He seemed to be puking up slugs, not eating them, but it was pathetic to Malfoy nonetheless. He laughed along with the rest of the Slytherin team, not knowing that the cost of this incident would be his friendship with Ed. 

_______________

Later that day, Ed went to the library to find another book to read for fun.

And to her delight, Hermione was also there, reading one of the biggest books Ed had ever seen.

She also noticed that Harry and Ron weren't there, which wasn't surprising, because they didn't seem like the type to read an 1000 page book.

"Hey, Hermione!" Ed said excitedly, temporarily forgetting she was supposed to be quiet in a library.

"Hello, Ed! I haven't seen you too much lately," Hermione responded.

"I haven't really seen you either, how are you?" Ed asked kindly.

"Well, I'm alright, I suppose. Although, Malfoy called me something earlier..." she hesitated.

"What did he say?" Ed asked curiously.

Hermione decided she should know, so she leaned closer to Ed, who had sat down at the table with her.

"Mudblood," Hermione whispered.

"That sounds terrible! But- what exactly does it mean?" Ed wondered.

"It means dirty blood, since I'm a muggle born. I know it's pointless to go thinking about it, but I just can't help being offended by it," Hermione explained.

"I'm so sorry, Hermione. He should've never said that," Ed tried to sympathize.

"It's alright, but I just don't understand how you could be friends with someone like that," Hermione stated.

"You're right, I shouldn't be friends with him anymore. This has gone too far," Ed agreed.

The two girls continued to work in the library, but even homework couldn't make the thought leave Ed's mind.

In fact, that night in the Great Hall, Ed decided to confront Malfoy about the situation.

She had become slightly more outgoing since the last year, and she felt that it was definitely the time to use this to her advantage.

Even though she and Malfoy hadn't spoken much, the friends still remained in their usual seats at the table, making it easy for Ed to speak to Malfoy over hundreds of other voices in the room.

"Malfoy, why did you call Hermione a mudblood?" Ed asked, a little aggressively.

"Because that's what she is. Mud. Blood.
It's that simple," he stated.

"But she never did anything to you," Ed said, not understanding his motives.

"So? I thought you already understood this, Koldings. We're the best," he said, motioning everyone sitting at the Slytherin table.

"Hermione is actually pretty nice, though," Ed said back.

"Fine, go be friends with a mudblood. See if I care. My father was right about you, you filthy blood traitor," he scoffed as he got up with Crabbe and Goyle to sit further way from Ed.

However, he cared more than he let on. Sometimes he wished he had friends other than a pair of boys who could barely tell left from right.

Ed was slightly disappointed at first as well. Even though it was a short conversation, the words were still powerful.

"It's okay, he's Malfoy," Malorie said, who seemed to noticed what had just happened.

"Yeah, I don't know why I was friends with a bully," Ed agreed.

Maybe her parents were right about Malfoy, after all.