Upon hearing Voldemort’s na, Slughorn gave a shudder.
“Why would He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Nad do this?” he asked hesitantly.
“There is a magic in the Slytherin vampire clan that will make Voldemort even more powerful,” said Evan. “He plans to use this magic. If successful, no one will be able to stand against him.”
“How could there be such magic?” said Slughorn incredulously. “What is it?”
“Similar to the Dark magic that transforms the body and soul, but more evil…”
“My goodness … an even more evil and powerful Dark Lord?”
“Yes, Professor. Are you going to hide like this for the rest of your life?”
Slughorn did not answer. He gazed into space for a mont: He seed to be thinking over Evan’s words.
“I don’t think Voldemort can defeat Dumbledore,” Harry said suddenly. “No matter what he becos in the end, Hogwarts will be safer than anywhere else while Dumbledore’s headmaster.”
“He’s supposed to be the only one Voldemort ever feared. Even at the height of his power, he never dared to approach Hogwarts, did he?” Hermione asked.
“That’s true. Dumbledore is the only wizard Voldemort ever feared,” Evan nodded.
There was another mont of silence, and then Slughorn sighed heavily.
“Well, maybe. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Nad has never sought a fight with Dumbledore,” he muttered grudgingly. “But if he becos more evil and powerful…”
“Voldemort may surpass Dumbledore in power, but he’ll never defeat him,” said Evan. “Besides, we’ll stop Voldemort, prevent him from successfully casting that magic, and find a way to defeat him.”
“Stop saying his na. Don’t you know he’s placed a curse on it?” said Slughorn unhappily. “It will alert him that we are here…”
“So what? He doesn’t even dare to co over,” said Evan disdainfully. “Calling Voldemort by na is the first step to mustering the courage to defeat him. Many people can do it. Be brave, professor.”
“You are indeed very brave, but very unwise,” Slughorn thought for a while. “But you are right, Hogwarts is indeed the safest place at the mont. I think that since I have not joined the Death Eaters, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Nad can hardly count a friend… In which case, I might well be safer a little closer to Albus, no matter whether he will beco more powerful in the future.”
“If you’re simply looking for protection, there’s no safer place than beside Dumbledore.”
“Alas, I saw the news that Alia Bones was murdered. I cannot pretend that her death did not shake . If she, with all her Ministry contacts and protection, and her strength was no weaker than mine, and yet…”
Just then Dumbledore re-entered the room and Slughorn jumped as though he had forgotten he was in the house.
“Oh, there you are, Albus,” he said. “You’ve been a very long ti. Upset stomach?”
“No, I was rely reading the Muggle magazines,” said Dumbledore. “I do love knitting patterns for the sweaters. They look so warm. Maybe I should knit one for myself. Well, Evan, Harry, Hermione, we have trespassed upon Horace’s hospitality quite long enough; I think it is ti for us to leave.”
“You’re leaving?” Slughorn seed taken aback.
“Yes, indeed. I think I know a lost cause when I see one. I failed to persuade you to return to Hogwarts.”
“Hmm, lost …?” Slughorn seed agitated. He twiddled his fat thumbs and fidgeted as he watched Dumbledore fasten his traveling cloak, Evan and Hermione put on their coats, and Harry zip up his jacket.
“Well, I’m sorry you don’t want the job, Horace,” said Dumbledore, raising his uninjured hand in a farewell salute. “Hogwarts would have been glad to see you back again. Our greatly increased security notwithstanding, you will always be welco to visit, should you wish to.”
“Yes … well … very gracious … as I say…”
“Goodbye then,” said Dumbledore.
“Bye,” said Harry.
“Goodbye, Professor!” Hermione waved.
“Bye,” Evan looked at Slughorn, who was sweating anxiously, and waved as well.
They were at the front door when there was a shout from behind them.
“All right, all right, I’ll do it!”
Dumbledore turned to see Slughorn standing breathless in the doorway to the sitting room.
“You will co out of retirent?”
“Yes, yes,” said Slughorn impatiently. “I must be mad, but yes, I’ll do it.”
“Wonderful,” said Dumbledore, beaming. “Then, Horace, we shall see you on the first of September.”
“Yes, I daresay you will,” grunted Slughorn.
As they set off down the garden path, Slughorn’s voice floated after them, “I’ll want a pay rise, Dumbledore!”
Dumbledore chuckled. The garden gate swung shut behind them, and they set off back down the hill through the dark and the swirling mist.
“You all did well,” Dumbledore said. “You successfully persuaded Horace.”
“But we didn’t do anything?” said Harry in surprise.
“We just told him what was going on,” said Hermione. “Well, he didn’t seem very determined, and he seed very scared of Voldemort.”
“And he seed very interested in the three of us,” Evan added, “especially in Harry.”
“Oh yes you did. You showed Horace exactly how much he stands to gain by returning to Hogwarts,” said Dumbledore quietly. “As for his interest in you three, well, what do you think of him?”
“He is very afraid of death, covets material enjoynt, and likes to show off,” said Evan bluntly.
“I think he’s pretty likable, except for the pure-blood part,” said Hermione. “Although he later explained that he wasn’t a supporter of the pure-blood supremacy concept, he obviously had so discrimination against Muggle-born wizards.”
Harry nodded in agreent. Slughorn was indeed quite likeable in so ways.
But as Evan and Hermione said, he seed vain, fond of material comfort; and, whatever he said to the contrary, much too surprised that a Muggle-born should make a good witch, which was rather unsettling…
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