When Slugs Make History
For the next few days, Hogwarts didn't talk about anything else.
Not homework.
Not Quidditch.
Not even exams.
Only Ron Weasley.
Hogwarts Goes Wild
In the corridors, the stories grew wilder by the hour.
"I heard the slugs spelled Malfoy smells on the floor." "Flint fainted when the third wave hit." "Ron didn't even blink. True Gryffindor."
Second-years reenacted the duel in Charms.
Third-years sold Slug Protection Charms.
The Hufflepuffs started betting on where the next slug would appear.
Ron tried to act modest.
Failed.
Very badly.
He walked like a hero now.
Neville followed him around like a squire.
Seamus told everyone,
"I always knew Ron had it in him."
Hermione just sighed.
Rita Skeeter Smells Blood 🪶
Two days later—
The unmistakable click-click of Rita Skeeter's quill echoed through Hogwarts.
She cornered Ron near the staircases, eyes glittering.
"Ronald Weasley," she purred,
"The boy who redefined dueling. Care to share your thoughts?"
Ron puffed up.
"Well, y'know… I just did what any hero would do."
Keith, watching from a distance, murmured,
"Here it comes."
Rita scribbled furiously.
"And how did it feel," she pressed,
"to humiliate the heir of House Malfoy?"
Ron thought hard.
"…Sticky."
Rita's smile widened.
The Daily Prophet Explodes
The next morning—
HOGWARTS ROARED.
Front page of the Daily Prophet:
SLUGS OF JUSTICE!
RON WEASLEY HUMILIATES MALFOY HEIR IN SHOCKING DUEL
"I just did what any hero would do," says Weasley.
There was a moving photograph of Draco screaming.
Another of Flint mid-collapse.
And one unfortunate angle that ensured history would never forget.
Students laughed so hard that breakfast was delayed.
Professor McGonagall confiscated sixteen newspapers from the Great Hall.
Snape burned one.
The Burrow Celebrates 🏡
At the Weasley home, chaos reigned.
Arthur was laughing so hard he nearly fell off his chair.
"Did you see his face, Molly? SLUGS!"
Molly wiped tears from her eyes.
"I shouldn't laugh… but MERLIN—"
Ginny snorted into her tea.
Arthur wiped his eyes proudly.
"That's my son. Took revenge on Malfoy without even touching him."
Percy hid behind his paper, mortified.
Fred and George began designing Slug-Themed Merchandise immediately.
Malfoy & Flint Families: Public Disaster
At Malfoy Manor, silence was deadly.
Lucius Malfoy stared at the paper.
Then crushed it.
Then crushed another.
The Flint family received Howlers.
Invitations vanished.
Political support "reconsidered."
People laughed behind their backs.
Society whispered.
"Did you hear…?"
"Backside slugs…"
"How dreadful."
Both families wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.
Lucius ground his teeth.
"This… will not be forgotten."
Runcandel Mansion: Pure Joy
At Runcandel Mansion, the mood was entirely different.
Laughter echoed through the halls.
Luna laughed softly, eyes shining.
Grayfia covered her mouth, shoulders shaking.
Scáthach outright cackled.
Albedo smirked.
Gamma nearly dropped her tea.
Nagini shook her head in disbelief.
"Imagine being Malfoy."
Seraphina giggled.
"That's worse than bankruptcy."
Narcissa leaned back, elegant and smug.
"I told Lucius arrogance would destroy him."
Bellatrix laughed the hardest.
"Oh, I wish I'd been there!" she said gleefully.
"Slugs! From the backside! Poetic justice!"
Keith, seated calmly with Ninetales beside him, sipped his drink.
"History," he said mildly,
"has a sense of humor."
Ninetales flicked a tail.
Agreeing.