Confirmation Bias

[Tristan Collins]

Tristan was not looking forward to the holidays. If he had thought he could get away with staying at school over the break, he would have. He would just feel bad for his parents, they would probably be upset. He just didn't feel as connected to the muggle world anymore. It felt a bit like a betrayal, but who could blame him? There was magic all around him here, how could he come back from that?

He was thinking of how he was going to survive these holidays. Maybe he could borrow some Quidditch magazines from someone in his house. He needed badly to catch up on his Quidditch knowledge so he could talk about that with people and seem less like an outsider. He was also considering joining the team at some stage, once he felt more comfortable in the air. It seemed like an easy way to get people to know your name and to be seen as a cool person.

As he walked, he noticed that one of his shoelaces had come undone and he put his bag on the floor before crouching down to tie it again. Not noticing that he was partly blocking the way in the relatively narrow corridor. His mind was still on all his issues and he barely noticed his surroundings at all.

 

[Rory Fergusson]

Rory was pretty pleased with himself, he had gone to quidditch practice, sent a letter and was heading back to the common room, he had intended to spend a little time with literally anyone. He was pleased with all he had managed with his day, and there was still so much of it left for him. The slytherin didn't have anything else planned for the day, and that was a little frustrating for him. He intended to go to the common room since he had a lack of other things that he could do, but he was on the look out for just about anything that he could do. The teen was hoping to maybe in his wanders down to the slytherin common room, he hoped to possibly run into Flavio, or maybe someone he could annoy. Only not Amber because she was the worst. Because he was looking for something to do, he was taking perhaps one of the most convoluted ways towards the dorm that he could. Going around the corridors, looping back, just doing anything to pass a little time. Eventually in his wandering he came to a narrow hallway, where there was someone blocking most of the path, seemingly bending down to do something. Though Rory was no in a hurry, and had no where to be tht would require him to do what he did, he very quickly shoved the boys back hoping dearly that he'd fall over, "f##king excuse me,"
​

 

[Tristan Collins]

Tristan had just finished tying his shoelaces when he felt two hands on his back pushing him over. He couldn't help losing his balance and he fell over onto the cold floor. He glared up at the boy that was clearly the culprit. Tristan recognized him from the Slytherin Quidditch team. Great. In all honesty, Tristan's opinion of Slytherins in general was getting quite low. It seemed like most of them were horrible. He snorted. "You know, you still can't pass me this way." He said as he got to his feet. The other boy was older but not much, and Tristan was getting sick of being pushed around. "Besides, a civilized person would have just asked if they could pass." Tristan did feel anxious after saying these things, but he also felt glad that he had spoken up. He wasn't going to roll over and let anyone walk all over him, that time was over. He picked up his bag but didn't move aside, deliberately blocking the boy's path now.

 

[Rory Fergusson]

Rory laughed lightly at the boy as he fell over, enjoying the way he had fallen over but also enjoying the fact that the boy was now glaring up at him. Some hufflepuff, of those were just the worst people. He'd only met one decent Hufflepuff so far in this school, and that wasn't this one, "Ah know, but I dinnae care," he told him indicating that he'd shoved the boy more because he wanted to see him fall, perhaps more than he'd been intending to get pass, "And yer the civilised wan here?" Rory argued back laughing lightly, "Only a ninny ties his shoe lace in the middle of a narrow corridor," Rory couldn't help the laughter in his tone, looking this boy over, and he noted that the boy was now blocking his path entirely, "Oh big man, no longer gonnae let me get passed, wow," he'd taken a few small steps towards the boy closing the small distance between them, "Perhaps I need tae get ye reacquainted wae the floor, mudblood" Rory half joked, with an edge of seriousness to his tone, "Make ye as dirty as your blood is in this world." Rory had absolutely no way of knowing if this was a muggleborn, but he didn't care, he'd use the insult regardless.
​

 

[Tristan Collins]

Tristan wasn't sure what he had expected, but he was disappointed to see that the older boy in front of him wasn't the least bit impressed by him. Tristan was already regretting his decision to be brave and stand up for himself. Still, a part of him was glad that he hadn't cowered in front of this boy, even if it was probably the smart thing to do. "I'm more civilized than the person that goes around shoving people." He said coolly, glad that none of his nerves were getting through in his voice. But leaving his own emotions out of his voice soon proved impossible when the boy called him a mudblood. Oh how he hated that word. He knew that it was showing on his face, but he couldn't help it. He grit his teeth, glaring at him more intensely. "Shut up." He snarled, unable to think of anything clever to say. "Don't talk to me like that, I'm not less than you because of what my blood status is." He was so incredibly sick of people like this, and there seemed to be more and more of them the more time he spent in this world. Involuntarily, his hand twitched in the direction of his wand. The logical part of his brain knew that he would definitely lose a duel against a boy in the year above him, but it wouldn't take much more to get him angry enough to forget that. "People like you hide behind these made up names just so you can feel superior without actually having to work for it."

 

[Zenia Katsaros]

Zenia was in a good mood. Since meeting with Cristian she had been feeling more happy and positive about life, even the daily dosage of Evelyn couldn't get her down. She was all but skipping, her hair tied up in a high ponytail. Nothing could get her down. Nothing. Except perhaps the word she heard escaping someone's mouth as she approached two boys. Zee was a pureblood. She knew it was important to her family, but she had never thought herself above anyone else. Sure, she would never want to be anything less than pureblood, but she couldn't believe what her ears just heard. Zenia had sworn once in her life, and the girl definitely deserved it. Zoe had told her that Cristian didn't like that kind of language, so she was not going to do it again, but she had never called someone that word. How dare he! Zenia stormed up to the two boys, giving the Slytherin a small shove. "Who do you think you are?! Take that back right now!" Zenia shouted, feeling her all too out of control anger bubbling up.

 

[Kaia Rosemary Grimm]

Kaia felt that it was time to stop studying for the day. Getting up and stretching, the brunette sighed in contentment before leaving her books and class notes on her bed, going down to the common room and leaving the place. She needed something to do. She hadn't spoken to her friend Lycus in a while and she wondered if he was doing all right, after all she was getting increasingly worried the more time passed that she didn't meet up with him. She definitely knew he could take care of himself, but he seemed to attract trouble wherever he went. As the third year reached the fifth floor corridor, not really caring how she'd ended up here - it wasn't as if she had meant to - something made her freeze in her spot. She was honestly shocked. Shocked, but curious.

Normally, Kaia would have minded her own business but seeing a familiar face made her frown. Was that Tristan? Was he in some kind of trouble? "Hey," she called, approaching the three figures. She realised then that the other two were in her year. She probably hadn't been noticed by anyone, considering the girl was defending Tristan and shouting at the Slytherin boy. Kaia narrowed her eyes. She'd arrived just in time to hear the last part of the argument. "What did you just say? You have a serious problem if you think you're better than everyone else." She glared at the Slytherin, her voice dangerously low, as she tried to make sense of it. That had not been cool. Calling someone names was one thing but naming someone a mudblood was something else entirely. It was damaging. Not that she knew the feeling, but she could see the look in Tristan's eyes that said it all. Kaia didn't know whether he considered her as a friend but no one deserved to be treated like that. No matter who they were.

 

[Sybil Jin Howard]

F*ing badgers eating nothing but magic mushrooms that made one giggly, talkative, jolly, and foolish. What was wrong with the majority of the students in yellow? And why was Sybil sorted into this ridiculously happy so called safe haven for non pure wizards? Curse safe haven!

With such an unpleasant mood, Sybil exited the common room and searched for her eldest brother; Lycus the Slythers. 'How the h3ll did you get your bum sorted into Slytherin?' the Eurasian young girl thought to herself as she waited for him in the dungeon. Knowing that it was a waste of time, Sybil decided to go up to the fifth floor and sat right by the window, pulling her book of spells to her laps and started reading it.

People passed the corridor, they came and go, all minded their own business until a quarrel was heard by Sybil. She tried to ignore it but the Slytherin started to insult the other boy, calling him a mudblood. Sybil couldn't help but to burst up in laughter, dropping all her books to the ground, and finally jumped down. "Oi f*ing mudblood!" Sybil finally decided to join the party and insulted her fellow Hufflepuff. At this point she didn't care if the Slytherin would come and attack her too, she had three brutal brothers and a wierd, violent little sister who collected intestines, what could be worse than that?

"Mudblood" Sybil said from afar as she stepped toward the group "mudblood" the voice was much louder and clearer than before. "Mudblood" the little girl purred with her voice so cold yet gentle, echoing across the narrow corridor. "Offended aye?" Sybil gave them a surprised look and smiled at the other Hufflepuff. "And what are you?" Sybil glanced at the Gyrffindor and tilted to the Ravenclaw, locking her cold dark brown eyes at her "blood traitor" the girl arched her eyebrow. "Hello Kaia, how are Aubrielle's bruises doing? Is she stiw huwt??" Sybil pouted, insulting the sister of Kaia's who was bullied by her and Calvin. The girl lean toward the Ravenclaw and whispered "Tell her... Tell her that I'll see her soon, yeah? Yeah?!" she ominously grinned with her devilish eyes still locked on Kaia's.

 

[Rory Fergusson]

Rory chuckled lightly at the boy's statement, "That's whit ye think," he replied with a little grin on his face, finding this all fairly amusing. The choice of words that followed very clearly hit a mark with the young boy given his reaction, he kept the closeness with a little smirk on his face, knowing exactly what nerve he had hit with him. It indicated to Rory that this boy was more than likely either a mudblood himself, if the fact he said that he didn't think of himself as lesser than Rory despite the fact that Rory was a pureblood. The teen couldn't help but find that rather amusing, "See, thin' is, ah am," he told him, giving the boy the lightest of shoves as he said it, "Cause where you're just some wee sh1t fae a nothin' family, ah am fae a good respectable family, and that means am better than ye," Rory told him, "Ma blood status will open doors fae me, and close them tae ye," the boy added, and it was at this moment when completely out the blue he was shoved, though not by the hufflepuff in front of him, but by some girl, who was now shouting, "Calm yerself hen," Rory told her, glancing the girl over, he was sure this girl was from a respectable family, "Am no taking nothing back, wis only educating this insignificant little mudblood on how lowly he is," Rory said bluntly, "Folks need tae remember that there's a hierarchy, and am at the top," looking between the two he wondered what their reaction might be.

However his wait was short lived when another girl, also from his year arrived at the scene, saying he had an issue if he thought he was better than everyone else, to which Rory could only respond with a dumbfounded look on his face as if to imply that yes he most certainly was better, "Aye, ah actually am better," Rory told her, he knew he was better, his mother had told him enough times that he was far superior to all these other people around him. The only half decent ones were the mixed bloods. But, that he as a Fergusson, and as a pureblood was better that most others. However, even his insult towards her was interrupted when another girl arrived almost chanting the word the three others had had an issue with. "Aye certainly these three have been offended by ma choice of words," Rory certainly wasn't sure what this young first year was doing but he responded to her anyway. It seemed odd to him because he wasn't sure whom she was referring to in asking blood, but he was a pureblood and he didn't have to prove it really. However this young girl started talking to the other girl from his year and he was losing his mind with how much was going on, "RIGHT, gonnae stop, I wis just havin' a good ald chat wae this bloke here, and ye've all barged yer way in," he said loudly looking between them, "Now, all but this bloke," he pointed to the hufflepuff boy he'd shoved, "Get on yer bikes and f##k off," he was frustrated and he just wanted to annoy the boy a little more.
​

 

[Tristan Collins]

Tristan could tell that this boy had noticed how his words had gotten to him, and he was angry with himself for it. Now he would know for sure he had been right, and Tristan felt like a fool. He desperately wanted to just bolt, but something made him stay. He just couldn't bring himself to be a coward again, and to have this boy feel like he had won. He might think he was better than Tristan, but that didn't mean Tristan had to confirm it for him. He rolled his eyes at he boys statement about how he was better than him, showing contempt for the idea. "Right, the medieval times called, they want you back. You sound like a history book. It's easy to say you're better because you were born where you were. But I'm going to be better than all you pureblood bastards on my own." He snapped. He should just let this guy talk his nonsense, but he felt compelled to react to it.

To his surprise, a girl he didn't know came to his defense. He had no clue who she was, but the fact that she found the boy's words so unacceptable gave him some hope. He did see the irony in her shoving the boy right after Tristan had said civilized people didn't do that, but he figured she got a pass for coming to his rescue. He was even more relieved when a second girl took his side, though he was also starting to be a bit embarrassed. This was turning into a whole spectacle he didn't really want to be a part of. But before he could start to feel too at ease, another voice joined their group. This younger girl seemed to really enjoy saying the word Tristan hated so, and he couldn't help glaring at her. He didn't know if her question was directed at him, but he ignored her. His issues weren't with this weird girl. He had enough on his plate dealing with the other boy. He almost snorted when he told everyone to leave so he could annoy him more. "How flattering that you want to spend more time with me." He told him with a raised eyebrow and a slight smirk, crossing his arms. "But I think I'll pass." He had calmed down enough to be sarcastic again and even managed a weak smirk, but he knew that he wasn't going to get the upper hand here now that he had shown how bothered he was by people treating him like he was no better than the dirt under their shoe.

 

[Zenia Katsaros]

Zee was glad that she wasn't the only one defending the boy, but she felt her skin crawl with rage when he told her to calm down. "You're on the top?" She asked incredulously, taking a small step closer to the bully. "You are sorely mistaken Snake." Zenia spat, though proud of herself for her small pun. The party apparently wasn't over however, as a horrible girl approached, yelling the words at the top of her lungs. Zenia set her eyes on her, feeling herself gearing up to tackle the girl to the ground, especially when she was called a blood traitor. But when the Slytherin told her to eff off, Zenia had no control over what she did. The Gryffindor girl turned around, swinging her fist hard and fast at the Slytherin boy, hoping the punch landed on his face, but not really caring if it did. Zenia was sure it would land, but if it didn't, well she was sure she'd think of something else.

 

[Professor Cyndi Kingsley]

Hearing quite the commotion from down the hall, Professor Kingsley picked up the pace. She ended up in front of quite a scene, a group of students who didn't look happy but what really caught her attention was watching as a fist connected with a boy's face. "Excuse me!" The professor said sternly, stepping forward to make sure there was no retaliation. "What is going on here?" she asked, hands on her hips. She looked at each one of them, her gaze landing on the most familiar one. Professor Kingsley was sure this one -the puncher- was a Gryffindor.


God mod with permission

 

[Rory Fergusson]

It was hardly surprising that the boy he'd shoved did not want to spend more time with him, a given really, "Suit yer boring sh1te wee self," Rory told him with a smirk. After all this boy was some lowly Hufflepuff and didn't really deserve to spend any time with Rory, but he'd been enjoying shoving the boy and saying exceedingly nasty things to him. The girl, the one from his year who really seemed to have a problem with what he was saying swung at him. There was no time for Rory to move out of the way or block it, and it hit him squarely on the face. He cursed colourfully, just as a last an older voice joined the fray, "F#cksake," he muttered at the pain on his face got worse, what an annoyingly powerful punch, he looked at the new voice and instantly recognised the professor, "This girl just punch me," he said as if that was plainly obvious, attempting to tone a little his accent for the professor, "Doesnae matter why she did, the point is she did," Rory knew he could probably argue against him and what he'd said, but as far as he knew the professor had only seen the punch and knew nothing of what happened before that point, so he felt it important to not address why she had done it, just that she had, "Ah'm gonnae have tae make sure she hasnae broken ma nose," he glared at her, overreacting to the punch, his face hurt, but he was sure his nose was just fine, it was mostly anything to get away from this situation.
​

 

[Tristan Collins]

Tristan rolled his eyes when Rory talked to him again, not willing to give him a response. But then he was baffled when the Gryffindor girl started to punch Rory. Honestly, he felt like he deserved it but this still seemed reckless, extreme. He assumed she was a Gryffindor. He couldn't help a small smirk at the sight of Rory getting punched in the face, though. He would remember that.

Unfortunately, a professor showed up right at the wrong moment. Why couldn't she have come when Rory was pushing him over and calling him all sorts of names? He felt obligated to defend her, especially since he could see Rory was trying to spin it. "It does matter why she did it." He said with a sharp look at Rory, his voice calm and smooth, hiding his anger. "See, Professor, she was defending me. This boy pushed me over and called me a mudblood." The word tasted bitter on his tongue. "And I believe he was about to push me again. What was it you said, Rory? Get me reacquanted with the floor to make it as dirty as my blood?" He crossed his arms. "Please forgive me if that isn't a perfect quote, your accent makes it hard to follow everything you say but I believe I got the gist." He couldn't resist throwing the boy's own words back at him. He just had to hope the professor would believe him.

 

[Zenia Katsaros]

The pain in her fist came quickly. Sure, Zenia had been in a fight before, but she'd never actually punched someone and she was definitely not ready for herself to be hurt in the process. Zee was glad that the punch actually connected with the stupid boy's face, and though she quickly put her other hand over her fist to try rub away some pain, Zenia tried to keep a tough face. The tough face, however, was quickly wiped when she heard the sound of the voice of her Head of House. Her heart sank as she dropped her hands to her side; she knew she had done wrong. Zee wouldn't have felt bad if she hadn't been caught! But she wouldn't voice that; that was for sure. The Gryffindor girl's eyes narrowed, her mouth dropped open slightly as the Slytherin boy went on a tangent, poisoning her head of house against her. When he mentioned he'd have to check if he'd broken his nose, Zenia rolled her eyes, stopping herself from stepping forward again, and trying to actually break his nose. "You are such a baby." She muttered. When the Hufflepuff spoke, Zenia nodded, glad that someone was actually telling the truth. She dropped her head, avoiding the gaze of the Professor, trying to act somber. "I know it was wrong Professor, but I was trying to be a good friend." And she was, she wanted to stand up to the boy, but her reaction would've been different had her Professor not shown up. Zenia would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[Professor Cyndi Kingsley]

The professor was on the verge of sending the boy off to get his nose checked and had even raised her hand to point to the steps when another of the students spoke. She listened, her expression hardening upon hearing the word 'mudblood.' Professor Kingsley had never liked the word and couldn't believe that in this day and age, it was still something they contended with as a magical society. It did put what Zenia did into a new light, but as a professor, she could not tolerate violence. "Violence is not how you deal with this. I'm taking ten points from you, and I'll see you in my office after dinner." She turned to the other boy before he thought he was off the hook. "Is this true? Did you call this student a mudblood?" She said the word through clenched teeth.

 

[Sybil Jin Howard]

The whole situation was almost too comical for Sybil, she had never been in a position where people actually talked about their problems to solve the whole matter straight. Her brothers and her were very violent toward each other hence seeing how chatty these people could be made her laugh. It wasn't the right time to laugh, really, but she couldn't help it and nor did she care. These idiots, teaming up, defending each other, how more pathetic could they be? Baby Juno would've scratched the eye ball of her brothers if they crossed her, she didn't need anyone to help her. That was the definition of normal to the eleven years old Hufflepuff. "Memememememe" Sybil yapped, imitating, mocking the Gryffindor girl who tried to defend her friend, how cute.

"Yes he did" Sybil said while sitting down on the cold tile, viewing the quarrel of the wizards. "And so did I, I called him a mudblood, and her a blood traitor" she pointed at Kaia, Sybil couldn't see why calling one a mudblood or a blood traitor was such a big deal. All her cousins, aunts, uncles, and parents called others mudblood all the time and it was alright. Why was the Professor making a big deal out of it? They were mudblood indeed, dirty people who deserved nothing but to be kicked back to their disgusting muggle world.​

 

[Rory Fergusson]

Rory watched as the younger boy began to use his own words in the attempt to get him into trouble. Rory made sure to keep his hand at his nose, cover his mouth slightly to better hide his expressions from the professor. He couldn't believe the two of them were ganging up against him. Although he wouldn't take back what he said about it, and he was already trying to come up with a way to fix it, try to get himself out of trouble, and to Rory the perfect opening was given to him. The slytherin kept quiet as the professor gave the punishment to the student who'd punched him, happy of that before she then inevitably turned to him, but he was beaten to it by the other girl, who was almost boasting about it, and Rory had no interest in getting into trouble because of some girl, "I didnae, he's just overreacting cause I wis walkin' doon this hall and he wis taking up the whole space and I didnae see him so ah accidentally knocked him o'er, and she did use it, she wis picking on that girl" Rory began seemingly frustrated at the accusation and accusing the hufflepuff of bullying the ravenclaw girl just to get the attention to shift off him, "I wis tryin' tae make amends, sayin' I wis going hang oot wae him, and that, and this wan assumed cause ah'm a slytherin that wasnae doin' something good," the boy continued, "And no he's makin' such accusation towards me, and usin' this opportunity tae make fun of how ah speak, ah'm sorry I wisnae raised in this country and taught how tae speak like ye were, there's nae need fae him tae make fun of how ah speak, and there's nae excuse fae the violence this girl did," Rory's accent as he spoke to the professor was thicker than he usually spoke, trying to make himself make him look sympathetic.
​

 

[Tristan Collins]

The outrage and anger on the professor's face as she heard the name the boy had called him made Tristan relax slightly. It was the first time he had seen a professor react to the term, and it was reassuring in a way. Rory was obviously trying to slither out of this, but maybe one of the girls that had defended him would back him up on this.

Back up came from an unexpected place, though. It was the creepy younger girl that seemed in love with the term that confirmed that Rory had used it. Tristan was almost grateful. Almost. He looked at her in distaste, though. It was hard to believe he shared a house with someone like that. Honestly, it was a bit revolting to him.

Rory denied it again and Tristan turned to the professor, his eyes wide. It wasn't hard to look upset, since the word did upset him a lot, but it was easy to make it more clear on his face than he usually let his emotions be. "He did say it. So did the girl, but at least she admits it." He frowned. "Though... it's not something to be proud of." He shot the girl a look again before returning his gaze to the Gryffindor Head of House. "I guess I shouldn't have made that comment about his accent but what he said was way worse. He's been horrible to me." He nodded to Zenia and Kaia. "They heard. So I don't know why he thinks he can lie his way out of this." He looked at Rory and scoffed. "Saying that word to me is violence too, you know. Just a different kind." He paused. "Not to mention the shoving." He added dryly.

 

[Professor Cyndi Kingsley]

"No, it isn't" she agreed, having heard a young girl admit without being asked that she had used the terrible term. She'd had a tough time following along with what the boy was saying, but his continued denial and explanation that he was the one being targeted came through well enough. "There's no place in this school for that kind of language. You, Rory, go to the hospital wing and get your nose checked out. And the rest of you can leave as well. I'm sending a note to the Headmistress and you can both offer your explanations to her and see what she says about this" Professor Kingsley said pointedly to Rory and the girl who had also spoken. Professor Kingsley had never put much stock in a person's blood status. It didn't define their character (unless of course they were prejudiced in some way) and it didn't define their talent as a wizard. It was sad to her that there were still people who truly believed that they were better than someone else because they believed that everyone in their family was a wizard. She knew that was rarely the case, knowing that most people simply chose to hide the people in their family who had married non-wizards. "I hope you don't think that all of us believe this pureblood is better than anyone else nonsense" she stated bluntly.

 

[Rory Fergusson]

Rory couldn't help but smile a little as the professor told him to go to the hospital wing to fix his nose, it was mostly fine, a little pain that could be healed, and though she said that she'd get in contact with the headmistress, Rory held very little stock in that, and even if she did, there would be enough time for him to figure out a story or something so that he would get into hopefully less trouble. The teen nodded his head and just left heading for the hospital wing, but feeling pretty good, sure maybe he should avoid saying the word mudblood just as often as he did to be sure that he didn't get into trouble for it, and maybe it was wrong to call people that but currently he didn't much care, he'd had a pretty good time, aside from being punched in the face. He had just gotten away with it, slightly, but he knew he might not the next time and he was no means as crazy as the other girl, he knew in a way how terrible it was to say.
​

 

[Sybil Jin Howard]

Dear Merlin, this school was getting more odd each day, what was wrong with these people? Why would the professor make a big deal out of the M word? Calling a wizard with no talent; squib, would be offensive, but mudblood? Both the Slytherin and Sybil were just stating the fact, and so what if they were filthy and dirty? There was nothing they could do about it, if they disliked being treated worse than rubbish then why not leave the wizarding world and continue their journey with worthless muggle pests? "I'm so confused" her face clearly displayed how clueless Sybil was, she had never been in this part of the world, she had never had any friends who were blood traitors or muggleborns. "Believe?" what do you mean believe? Everyone knew that pureblood were better than any other blood status, how could anyone not be convinced with that?

Sybil chuckled as if she was out of her mind, crazy, insane, whatever you want to describe her. "Good luck with your hideous nose" sitting on the cold floor, her hands supported her body as her eyes gazed at the group. Wait till Vladimir came, he would surely enjoy watching this hilarious scene; the blood traitors, the mudblood, the professor, and the broken nose guy.
​

<i></i>

 

[Tristan Collins]

Tristan heard the professor scold the Slytherin boy with some satisfaction. The note to the Headmistress was something, but Tristan couldn't help but be disappointed that she hadn't gotten angrier at him. In fact, because he claimed his stupid nose hurt he got to leave to the hospital wing. His nose looked fine! He scowled at the boy, annoyed with him for multiple reasons. He knew better than to object, though. So he let it go for now.

The girl spoke up and showed true surprise at the idea that they shouldn't say words like that. A small part of Tristan wondered if she was just raised that way and couldn't help it, but he didn't feel too much sympathy for her. He just gave her a look and rolled his eyes. "Read a book." He muttered. He had,during his first few weeks here. There hadn't been that much about this subject in the library, but enough to let him know that people of his 'dirty blood' were not appreciated by some. It had made him feel ashamed despite knowing they were the ones that were wrong.

The professor told him that not everyone believed that sort of nonsense, which he had known. It was still nice to know, but Tristan couldn't stop himself from responding as honestly and bluntly as she had. "I know, Professor. But this isn't the first time this has happened to me. Nor is it the second, and I'm only a second year. When I looked it up I figured this was sort of an old fashioned idea that was dying out, but the students that were saying it to me are my age or younger." He nodded in the direction of Rory and the girl. "Is the school doing anything to discourage these idiotic ideas?" He looked at her, wondering how she would reply. He hoped he hadn't gone too far.

 

[Zenia Katsaros]

Zenia frowned as she got 10 points taken from her, and a detention. She couldn't believe her HoH would do that to her! As this was not her first fight, it was easy for anyone to believe that Zee thought violence was the answer, but she'd prefer to have not done it. She'd prefer that the stupid Slytherin boy and Hufflepuff girl were just kind and kept their stupid noses out of other people's business.
Zenia looked at the Hufflepuff girl, shocked at her reaction. THIS was why violence was needed! She obviously wasn't getting it into her thick head, but Zee wasn't about to do anything in front of her Professor...yet. The Gryffindor girl rolled her eyes as Rory was sent to the Hospital Wing, and she vowed that if it wasn't properly broken, then one day she would actually break it. And this girl too, if she didn't watch herself.

 

[Professor Cyndi Kingsley]

Professor Kingsley was appalled at the young girl's behavior. It was clear that she thought nothing of what she'd said, which said just as much about her home life as it did about her personally. Cyndi had never understood why parents who felt that way bothered to send their children to Hogwarts New Zealand. The school had always preached tolerance as did the community, and yet these people still continued to breathe their venom throughout the community. Glad when the girl disappeared down the corridor, Cyndi turned her attention to the young boy, a frown on her face as he related his experience at the school to the woman. "Of course we do. The school doesn't tolerate such behavior. In fact, we encourage students to learn about all types of wizards. The professors don't tolerate it either. But, that doesn't mean that we don't have children who come from homes who still, unfortunately, believe such things. It's archaic. And a dark mark in our society that we're still dealing with this." The woman took a deep breath, cutting herself off.