𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌 | 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳

20 || "Mudblood"

Wood shot toward the ground, landing rather harder than he meant to in his anger, staggering slightly as he dismounted in anger. The team followed.

"Flint!" Wood bellowed at the Slytherin Captain. "This is our practice time! We got up specially! You can clear off now!"

Marcus Flint was even larger than Wood. He had a look of trollish cunning on his face as he replied, "Plenty of room for all of us, Wood."

Angelina, Alicia, and Katie had come over, too. There were no girls on the Slytherin team, who stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the Gryffindors, leering to a man.

"But I booked the field!" said Wood, positively spitting with rage. "I booked it!"

"Ah," said Flint. "But I've got a specially signed note here from Professor Snape. "I, Professor S. Snape, give the Slytherin team permission to practice today on the Quidditch field owing to the need to train their new Seeker."'

"You've got a new Seeker?" said Wood, distracted. "Where?"

And from behind the six large figures before them came a seventh, smaller boy, smirking all over his pale, pointed face. It was Draco Malfoy, the slimeball.

"Aren't you Lucius Malfoy's son?" said Fred, looking at Malfoy with dislike.

"Funny you should mention Draco's father," said Flint as the whole Slytherin team smiled still more broadly. "Let me show you the generous gift he's made to the Slytherin team."

All seven of them held out their broomsticks. Seven highly polished, brand-new handles and seven sets of fine gold lettering spelling "Nimbus Two-Thousand and One" on the handle, the smooth lacquered wood shining in the early morning sun. Every twig on each broom laid perfectly in place.

"Very latest model," continued Flint, flicking a speck of dust from the end of his own. "Only came out last month. I believe it outstrips the old Nimbus model by a considerable amount. As for the Cleansweeps," he gave Fred and George a nasty smile, "sweeps the board with them."

Malfoy was smirking so broadly his eyes were reduced to slits.

"Oh, look," Flint said. "A field invasion."

Ron and Hermione had abandoned their seats in the stands and come over to see what the fuss was about.

"What's going on?" Ron asked. "Why aren't you playing? And what's he doing here?"

"I'm the new Slytherin Seeker, Weasley," Malfoy said. "And we were just admiring the new broomsticks my father's bought for the team." Ron's mouth fell open at the sight of the brooms.

"Good, aren't they?" said Malfoy smugly. "But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some gold and buy new brooms. You could raffle off those old Cleansweep Fives; I expect a museum would bid for them." The Slytherin team howled with laughter.

"At least no one of the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in," Hermione said sharply. "They got in on pure talent."

"No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood," spat Draco, and there was a huge uproar. George had tried to attack Malfoy, Katie had shrieked "How dare you!" and Oliver was absolutely fuming. "Mudblood" must've been an insult, but I didn't understand what it meant, so I stayed quiet.

"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy," snarled Ron, bringing out his wand.

A loud bang echoed around the stadium and a jet of green light flew out of the wrong end of the wand, hitting Ron in the chest. He flew backwards, landing on the ground with a thud.

"Ron!" Hermione and I shouted, running over to him. "Ron, are you alright?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but instead of words, slugs dribbled out of his lips all down his front.