Stripped of the badge of power

With his roommate beside him, Draco seemed to find his confidence again. He continued taunting Percy. "Picking on someone smaller than you—that's all you dare to do. Ask around. Everyone knows the Weasley family is so poor they can't even afford textbooks. And even then, you'd rather suffer to save face than apply for Hogwarts' aid for poor wizards. Ha!"

Percy was furious. He did not even bother straightening his crooked prefect badge. Rolling up his sleeves, he tried to rush forward and hit Draco again. Draco was so frightened that he ducked behind Luo Bin, yet even then, his mouth kept running.

Shut up, you little brat, before you get yourself killed!

If the Gryffindor students had not been holding Percy back, and if Draco's roommate had not been beside him, who knew how badly he might have been beaten!

"What are you doing?"

Professor McGonagall pushed into the crowd and demanded angrily.

Draco stepped out from behind Luo Bin and pointed at the bruise beside his mouth. "It was Percy, Percy Weasley! He abused his position as prefect to make wild accusations. Without checking anything or asking any questions, he said I'd bullied Ginny until she cried. I was angry, so I talked back a little, and he rushed over and hit me!"

"Professor McGonagall, don't listen to Draco Malfoy's nonsense. He broke school rules and refused to admit it, and he kept insulting my parents. I was so angry that I..."

"Percy Weasley, however angry you are, you must not hit another student. Thirty points from Gryffindor. Submit a three-thousand-word reflection to me before lessons on Monday. As for you, Mr. Malfoy, go to the Hospital Wing and have your injuries treated."

"Professor Minerva McGonagall, forgive me, but allow me to interject. I believe your punishment is