Snivellus.

He'd always hated that nickname. Ever since that Potter boy had called him that on the train, the name had followed him around Hogwarts. He wasn't even sure why the self-proclaimed "Marauders" hated him so much. Was it because he'd made a comment about rather having brains than brawn? It's not like he was asking for enemies, they had insulted his house and heritage. Or was it simply that he was a Slytherin? He had no idea. Eventually, he learned to just ignore it. It was just a name, after all. Everything was okay. Then everything went to shit, because he said it. He used the one word she hated most. Mudblood. So she returned the favor.

Nothing was okay ever again.

Mudblood.

Dirty blood, as if she was some sort of mutt. The slur stung every time, at first. People she didn't even know were hating her just because she had been born to a certain group of people. Was she a freak of nature? But she couldn't be, there were plenty of people who accepted her. Eventually, she learned to just ignore it. It was just a name, after all. Everything was okay. Then everything went to shit, because he said it. So she called him the one word he hated most. Snivellus.

Nothing was okay ever again.