It was offensive how utterly useless the Head Boy was. Problem was, it wasn't his fault. There were professors who couldn't really do anything to help Ruby. Some of them meant well, but still, they couldn't stop attacks from happening. They could only offer her the right to hide. Like Professor Sleptov, who'd allowed her not to attend the lesson on werewolves.

"I don't want to hide," Ruby said. "If I did what you're suggesting, people would think I'm weak. And then, when you or Professor Darrow wouldn't be around to save me, their attacks would be worse. At least when I'm throwing spells around, I'm showing that I'm not to be messed with."