Mudblood

When Hermione pushed to the front of the group, Draco hurled the vilest insult he knew: "Shut up, you filthy Mudblood!"

The word "Mudblood" set off an immediate uproar.

The Gryffindor players, who usually avoided fights, glared at Draco. Fred and George even rolled up their sleeves. Marcus stepped in front of Draco to keep the team's new Seeker from getting beaten up.

Amid the shoving, Ron ducked under Marcus's arm. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at Draco's pale face. "Draco Malfoy, you're going to pay for that."

With a tremendous bang, a jet of green light shot from the base of Ron's wand and struck him square in the stomach. He staggered backward several steps. If Wood hadn't caught him, he would have landed flat on his back!

"Ron! Ron, are you all right?"

Harry asked anxiously.

Ron opened his mouth to answer, but his voice failed him. Then his neck and head jerked upward, and he spat out a slime-covered slug.

He had tried to teach someone else a lesson, only to curse himself. The Slytherin players howled with laughter.

Derrian leaned on Terence's shoulder, laughing so hard he could barely breathe. Marcus used his broomstick to prop himself up as he laughed until his stomach hurt. In the midst of it all, Draco recovered from his fear of being mobbed.

"Get him to Madam Pomfrey, quick!" Luo Bin rushed forward and said.

Ron grabbed Luo Bin's sleeve. He desperately wanted to say he wasn't going to the Hospital Wing, but another disgusting slug came out whenever he opened his mouth. All he could do was shake his head wildly.

"Not the Hospital Wing. Let's take him to Hagrid at the Hunting Grounds. He might know what to do!"

Ron nodded frantically at Harry's suggestion.