Merula was in Potions class, a class that she generally excelled at, and she had been tasked with making a vial of Wiggenweld potion, arguably one of the simplest potions to make.

Unfortunately, Merula hadn't got much sleep last night, due to being busy studying, and she wasn't fully focused on her potion, accidentally adding willow bark instead of wiggentree bark, causing the potion to turn a dark brown. By the time Merula realised her mistake, the damage had been done, and when Snape walked over to survey her potion he looked at her disapprovingly.

"Ms. Snyde, I expected better of you. How did you manage to ruin such a juvenile potion?" He drawled coldly.

Merula's cheeks reddened in shame and she looked away as she was given her feedback, once Snape had gone she noticed a few students staring at her and snickering.

"What are you looking at?" She snapped.

The girl packed up her things and left the classroom. She moved straight in the direction of the statue of Salazar Slytherin, and she sat behind it, her usual hiding place. She hugged her knees to her chest and looked at the ground. She would never let anyone else see weakness, but here, she was hidden.