✰𝑀𝑜𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡✰ H. Potter

Chamber Of Secrets- Chapter 10

"Hestia, did you know you're bleeding?" Ron asks from beside her. The two, along with Hermione, lounged on a bench in the field outside whilst waiting for Harry to begin Quidditch practise with the team. The three had began to sit in on his practises when they could, utilising the time to study and support their friend, though Ron perpetually avoided doing the former. It was also useful after days like today, the events that transpired with Gilderoy Lockhart still leaving a splinter in Hestia's side, literally. "Are you," Ron lowered his voice. "on your moon week?" 

The girl let out a startled laugh. "Moon week? What the bloody hell are you on about Ron?"

"Oh, you know! That thing that happens every month. I overheard mum talking to Ginny about it  in the summer, apparently she's "progressing into womanhood". Guess that's why she's been so wacko lately. Oof." The brunette shoved him with her book, causing him to squeak. "Now you too!" 

"I'm not on my period you psycho! It's those ghastly chairs." She pouted, massaging the backs of her thighs and wiping away any residue of blood. "And your annoying voice."

"Poor Ginny, it's hard the first time around." Hermione piped up, pausing her reading to listen to the two squabble. The brief pause in conversation allowed the trio to notice that the Gryffindor team were now in the field, though not alone. Seeing Marcus Flint head to head with Oliver Wood, both teams decked out in Quidditch gear, was not a good sign. Especially as it was Slytherin. 

"Uh oh, I smell trouble." The redhead grimaced as the three of them moved closer to the action. 

"'I, Professor Severus Snape, do hereby give the Slytherin team permission to practise today, owing to the need to train their new seeker.' You have a new seeker? Who?" Oliver questioned, staring curiously at the other team, who parted for none other than Draco Malfoy. Hestia rolled her eyes, wondering how she could've thought it would be anyone else than the boy notorious for being a nuisance. The blonde faced Harry with an arrogant smirk, the sun giving his eyes a mischievous shine that irked the opposing team. "Malfoy?" 

"That's right, and that's not all that's new this year." Unanimously, the group angled their brooms to make the words 'Nimbus 2001' visible. 

"Those are Nimbus 2001's." Ron breathed out in shock, stating the obvious. "How did you get those?" 

"A gift from Draco's father." One of the boys piped up. Though Hestia couldn't see which one it was, a cloud of conceit was in her way. 

"You see, Weasley, unlike some, my father can afford the best." Draco spat. His eyes travelled over the three of them with disdain and once he made contact with the brunette, she felt something akin to rage boil in her chest. How dare he blatantly insult her friend like that? Once upon a time ago, Hestia believed that cruelty like that only existed in books and movies in order to create a plot and inspire emotions in the reader. She even believed that Draco didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings intentionally back when they first met. Unfortunately, she was now witnessing it first-hand, the way the Slytherin boy stared down upon Ron and how the latter slowly became red and shook from what Hestia inferred to be embarrassment. No longer could she deny that some people really are just horrid.

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in." Hermione cocked her head sassily. "They got in on pure talent."

"Something Draco knows nothing of." Hestia muttered loud enough for the people closest to her to hear, causing Ron to smile in appreciation. Draco pretended not to hear her, focusing his attention on Hermione and stepping closer to her. The brunette shuffled closer to her friend in defence. 

"No one asked for your opinion. You filthy, little mudblood." Hermione's face crumpled a little, though her brave exterior stayed strong.

"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy." Everyone watched as Ron pulled his sorry-looking wand from his robe and pointed it towards the Slytherin. "Eat slugs!" In a flash, the ginger flew backwards a good few feet whilst Draco remained unscathed. Without a second of doubt, all the Gryffindors rushed to Ron's side and pulled him to sit upright. 

"Ron, are you alright?" Hestia asked, panickily grasping the boys hand. He looked deathly pale and his cheeks were puffed out as if he were going to vomit. "Say something!" 

In a second, he turned over and spat a live slug from his mouth millimetres away from the girls' hand , where it continued to squirm in the grass. A chorus of 'ew' and 'gross' came from the surrounding group along with flashes from a camera, signalling their cue to get the poor boy away. 

"Let's get him to Hagrid's. He will know what to do." Harry decided, helping the boy up and leading him towards the hut with the girls' help. 

Clearly, they can't get a moments peace. 

-

Hestia quite liked Hagrid's hut. It was always warm and cosy as well as filled with many fascinating objects to occupy the girls mind. Not to mention the kind man who resided there and has grown to be their friend. Though whilst sat by a slug spewing Ron, she couldn't help but wish she was anyone but here. 

"Well, this calls for a specialist's equipment." Hagrid announced, handing Ron a metal bucket and smiling sympathetically. "Nothing to do but wait 'til it stops I'm afraid." The three students shifted away uncomfortably as they watched yet another slug slide out of their friends mouth, shuddering at the sight. "Better out than in. Who was Ron tryin' to curse anyway?"

"Malfoy." Harry piped up. "He called Hermione...well I don't know exactly what it means."

Hestia frowned, trying to recollect the unfamiliar word. What did it mean?

Hermione shot up out from her seat, moving towards the window and away from the group. After a few breaths, "He called me a mudblood."

"He did not." Even Hagrid seemed scandalised, causing Harry and Hestia to look to each other, both a bit lost. 

"What's a mudblood?" The bespectacled boy carelessly asked and the girl sighed, wishing he had an ounce more tact. 

"It means dirty blood." Hermione turned around to face the group once more, revealing the tears that shone in her eyes. "Mudblood is a really foul name for someone who is muggle-born. Someone with non-magic parents. Someone like me. It's not a term one really hears in a civilised conversation." The two watched their friend as she became emotional, slightly shocked to see someone so incredible be put down by none other than the greasy haired Malfoy. 

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

"But that's awful!" He exclaimed.

"Truly disgusting!" Hestia added.

"And its codswallop, to boot. Dirty-blood.. Well there isn't a wizard alive today that's not half blood or less. More to the point, they've yet to think of a spell that our Hermione can't do. Come here." Hagrid grabbed a smiling Hermione's hand and rubbed it comfortingly. "Don't you think on it for one minute. Hey?" 

It was times like these when the quartet really appreciated having Hagrid around. 

-

Author's notes

Well, it has been a while.

I can't say for sure that I will be updating this regularly, we saw how that went the last time I said that, but I have missed these guys.

Anyways, thank you for your comments and continue to leave them if anyone still reads this after the two years i have been gone. 

And happy holidays :)