────── FOURTH YEAR

"This is fascinating!" Miriam exclaimed under her breath.

Professor Kettleburn was making the students sketch photos of Fire Crabs in their leather journals.

Fire Crabs were large, turtle-like crab creatures that were native to the island of Fiji. They had six legs, and a heavily jeweled shell, with different colors. They defended themselves by shooting flames from their rear ends. Fire Crabs were a protected species, and a reservation was created to protect the species from Muggles, who valued the jeweled shell, and wizards who used the shells as cauldrons.

"Look, the Mud-Blood's talking to herself again," Merula snickered.

Merula Snyde was a haughty Slytherin that had two stupid, bumbling hench-people by her side. Barnaby Lee and Ismelda Murk were idiots. Barnaby was tolerable, but Merula and Ismelda were insufferable.

Miriam tightened her grip on her pencil before turning around. She didn't care that Professor Kettleburn was in the middle of a lesson.

"You know what, Snyde?" Miriam asked.

Merula had her arms crossed over her chest. "What?"

"I'm as insane as a Mud-Blood."

Miriam lunged for Merula, hands out in front of her with sharpened nails. She had been waiting for that moment forever. Her body rammed into Merula, slamming her into the dirty ground. She scratched Merula's face angrily. Miriam was sitting on top of her. She switched her nails for fists. She started punching her. She was only two punches in when hands grabbed her fists and pulled her off.

Miriam was breathing heavily and watched as Merula spat out blood. "Think about your words before they come out your filthy mouth. If you want to use Mud-Blood as an insult, I'll make it worth your while."

"Miriam, you need to calm down."

She turned around and faced Charlie Weasley. She blew the hair out of her face.

"I am calm. I feel better than ever."

"Bennett, do I need to send you to Dumbledore?" Professor Kettleburn asked, hands on his hips.

"Go ahead. It's not like my Muggle parents are going to ride a broomstick all the way here," Miriam retorted.

Professor Kettleburn sighed. "Thirty points from Gryffindor!"

"It was worth it," Charlie whispered.