I, Hogwarts Second Week

Slughorn looked increasingly panicked.

His eyes dodge, wanting to leave here.

But when he turned around, Koyatel grabbed his hand.

Slughorn was startled. He had never thought that the beautiful girl in front of him would be so bold.

"Perhaps you don't know anything about the Pretenders and Purifiers at all, and what they did in Port Isabella."

Koyatel hadn't finished speaking yet. Slughorn interrupted her, and the old wizard was frightened. He raised a forced smile on his lips and said, "Child, I know. I know. Just because I know, so..."

"What are you worried about? Is it Voldemort's revenge?" Harry naturally understood that the old wizard in front of him must be hiding a huge secret. He said bluntly and heartily.

"No -" Slughorn shook his head, looking depressed.

"Sir, when my mother came to you, she must have betrayed the saints, two traitors to the saints, an artificial man being hunted by goblins and [Purifiers], and a Death Eater.

How did they come together? " Owen expanded on what Koyatel said, "Sir, what do you know? What exactly are they asking you? "

"Looking to me. Just some potion questions." Slughorn still didn't answer.

He wrenched Coatl's hand away and walked out of the room.

His back looked a little panicked.

"He must be hiding something from us, something that even Principal Dumbledore doesn't know about." Hermione said seriously.

"Obviously, he was scared to death and didn't know what happened?" Coatl said.

"Owen, maybe you could write to Aunt Roy and ask her? She was with your mother at the time."

Hermione looked at the teenage girl standing next to Gabriel in the photo, Roy Silver.

"I think it's unlikely that Auntie knows." Owen shook his head and said, "Didn't you notice? The people in this photo are all dead. We don't know that McColwan Hunter, but I don't think it's very likely that he's still alive.

Aunt Roy was young at the time. If it was a dangerous adventure, how could her mother let her participate? "

Owen's statement was not a random guess. In fact, the three people in the photo all had silver hair.

Almost all wizards who come into contact with ancient magic have a short lifespan, and it is definitely impossible for that McCowen Hunter to still be alive today.

This power is more of a curse than a mercy.

Even among the successive heirs, after Merlin, only Dean Brigid has lived past the age of thirty.

Isn't this a curse?

Her mother possesses ancient magic power, and she and her grandmother developed the Brazilian Divine Grant Tower. It is impossible for her not to know the danger of this power.

So she would never let Aunt Roy get involved.

After hearing what Irving said, everyone nodded in approval.

This is very logical.

Hermione thought for a while, and if it was a matter of alien gods, let her handle it. Nor would she involve the members of the D.A.

"Let me tell you, why don't we be tougher?" Ron had a bad idea on the side.

He looked around and Koatl nodded.

Hermione, on the other hand, gave him a hard look.

"We are just sure that Slughorn is hiding a secret. As for what it is, we don't know. Who can guarantee whether it has anything to do with the outer gods? How can we force it?"

At this moment, Dumbledore walked into the room.

He naturally heard all the conversations that took place inside.

"Okay, please be patient, children." Dumbledore said, "I didn't expect that Slughorn has other secrets hidden deep in his heart."

"The two things can be combined into one." He murmured.

"Professor." The little wizards stepped forward.

"It seems like this trip won't go too smoothly." Dumbledore said, "Okay, in that case, it's time for us to leave here."

"Professor, we won't continue to invite him to join Hogwarts?" Hermione said in surprise.

"Everyone has his own ambitions, and we can't force him. But even if he doesn't join Hogwarts, I have other candidates."

With that said, he led the little wizards out of the room and into the living room.

"Are you leaving?" In the living room, Slughorn came back to his senses and looked at everyone.

"Yeah, I can see that the defeat is certain. I didn't convince you to return to Hogwarts."

"Well, defeat?" Slughorn looked very uneasy. He twirled his two fat thumbs and looked anxiously at Dumbledore and the little wizards around him.

"Well, I'm sorry that you refuse to accept this job, Horace," said Dumbledore, making a farewell gesture with his unenchanted hand. "If you could come back, Hogwarts would I'm very happy. You know, we have greatly strengthened safety precautions starting from this year. You are welcome to come and have a look at any time as long as you are willing."

"Okay, no problem, I, oh, you are too polite, I said..."

"Goodbye then," said Dumbledore.

"Goodbye, sir" said Hermione.

"Goodbye." Harry waved.

"Goodbye." The other little wizards also waved to Slughorn, who was sweating profusely.

They walked out onto the garden path and the garden door closed automatically behind them.

Take the path leading down the mountain.

Next to it is a quiet village.

"Do you think he has been in contact with alien gods?" Dumbledore suddenly asked.

Owen held his breath and pondered for a moment before replying, "Having been in contact, that's why he reacted so strongly.

And - I think this matter may be related to Zhang Xiaolin. "

"It is possible." Dumbledore nodded, "He was curious about that power because he saw or knew about the supernatural power of Miss Zhang's mother.

Later, if someone is looking for him or shows that kind of power, as a potion master, he will definitely not refuse the other party's request so that he can obtain that power for research. "

"Yes." Owen said, "I said at the time that several wizards in the photo were dead, and he must have known about it, so he kept it secret and refused to tell us the details."

"That's normal. Horace likes material comfort and likes to associate with famous, successful, and powerful people, but he doesn't like to cause trouble. He is a very standard Slytherin." Dumbledore continued, He almost said everything Irving was thinking, "He likes to hide behind the scenes and watch others do what he wants."

"Then Professor, will he still join Hogwarts?" Owen looked up at Dumbledore.

"what you think?"

"Me? I think he will definitely do it." The boy showed a hidden smile, "I will properly spread the relationship between him and the outer gods. With the help of the Death Eaters, he can only turn to We are."

"This is not a good strategy. If Tom comes in person, Horace may not be able to escape. But -" A smile appeared on Dumbledore's face, "I think your strategy may not be used."

"Hi-" Suddenly a figure apparated in front of them.

"Okay - okay!" It was Slughorn, he shouted loudly, "You win Albus, I agree!"

"I demand a salary increase!"

Dumbledore smiled softly, and then watched Slughorn disapparate away.

"Well done," said Dumbledore.

"It seems that the fear of Voldemort is still not worth gathering together a group of rising stars." Owen said unceremoniously.

"Yeah, but I think it's mostly your fault, Owen."

"Me?" Owen was startled, then reacted immediately, "You mean, he is still ready to take advantage of the ancient magic?"

"Perhaps he had given up before, but after seeing you and recalling the wizard in the photo, he had other thoughts." Dumbledore said solemnly, "For a potion master, a potion master has a lot of thoughts. For someone who has reached a certain end on the path of magic, the temptation of ancient magic is still too great."

"It's very big. The alchemy potion that Professor Victor invented a few months ago is the one that can permanently enhance human body functions. I think Professor Slughorn must know that this potion, for him, The temptation may be greater than when a goblin sees a room full of gold galleons.”

"He may have been thinking about going back to Hogwarts from the beginning. He just wanted to test you and get some more benefits?"

"It's possible." Dumbledore said with a smile, "But these are not important anymore. Since both of our goals have been achieved, and he did not use any ulterior means, from this point of view, he still has Consider restraint.

But what surprised me was that Horace had been exposed to ancient magic decades ago, and Regulus was among them, and I was not aware of it. "

"You were busy dealing with Voldemort at that time!" Owen said.

Suddenly, the old principal fell silent.

His expression also changed from gentle to serious.

Dumbledore always made a mistake, that is, when he focused his attention on one person, he would intentionally or unintentionally ignore even the closest people around him.

At this moment, he was silent about his past mistakes again.

——If he could have noticed the abnormality of Regulus or Horace back then, perhaps many things could have been undone. He could also have learned of the existence of the Outer Gods in advance and solved this problem during the ten years when Voldemort was silent. thing.

As time goes on, more and more difficulties are coming one after another, and even the greatest wizard feels tired.

"Owen, about Australia"

The old professor suddenly spoke in a low voice that only those around him could hear. "Master and I talked a lot. Miss Zhang also told me everything that happened in the coffin of consciousness."

A trace of sadness slipped from his eyes.

Owen was very surprised to hear what Dumbledore said. He didn't expect the old principal to communicate with Chang'an Imperial College in such a short period of time.

It's not like he just came back from the Far East.

However, Owen smiled and the corners of his mouth curved.

He also said in a small voice, with a little hesitation and emptiness, "Sometimes, Professor."

"Sometimes, some characters have to die in order to show the meaning of our lives while we are still alive."

"Who will die then?"

One large and one small, the old wizard and the young wizard looked at each other, and they looked at each other.

Dumbledore's half-moon glasses were like the bright moon, emitting a cool and gentle light.

It covered the young man in front of him with a layer of silver frost.

Like a dead body covered with snow.

Owen opened his mouth, and the sun shone on his silver hair, and the reflected cold light was surprisingly transparent and cold.

Understanding from heart.

There is no point in talking more.

But he still spoke. It was the rose that proved that it was the only one in the universe and would never wither.

"Voldemort—" Owen said.

"I never doubted his failure." Dumbledore still stared at him. I already knew the correct answer in my heart.

"You are an outstanding boy, a brave, brave man." Dumbledore reached out and patted Owen on the shoulder.

"Hold on to my arm."

"Come on," he said.

The boy stretched out his hand, and Dumbledore looked at the other little wizards. They took their hands in turn, and then the professor cast Disapparation.

In the blink of an eye, they appeared on a country road.

The crooked yet familiar silhouette in front of him was the Burrow.

"Why are you back at the Burrow?" Ginny said in surprise, "Aren't we going to Black's ancestral home?"

"Rufus' request," Dumbledore explained. "He demanded to know Harry's whereabouts at all times, and he seemed to want to make a fuss about Harry."

"Rufus Scrimgeour?"

"He wants Harry to be used as bait?" Ron said dissatisfied.

"The Burrow is provided with as tight a security as the Ministry of Magic can provide," said Dumbledore. "These measures may cause some inconvenience to Arthur and Molly, for example, all their letters will be censored. ”

"Harry, I want you to wear the Invisibility Cloak with you at all times from now on, even in Hogwarts. Protective Cloak, do you understand?"

Harry nodded.

"One more thing." The professor added, "Your O.W.Ls results will be announced soon. I hope you can all take the Potions class, okay?"

"No problem, Professor." Harry said, "If my grades can improve my class."

"I guess that's all right," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Well, there is still half of the happy time in the summer vacation. We can't continue to spend it in bitterness and hatred. You don't have to stay in the Burrow all the time. I think Owen will definitely find a way. Of course, I don't encourage you to mess around. Run, remember to be measured."

After saying that, Dumbledore waved his hands towards them.

Immediately he disappeared in place.

Everyone looked at each other and then walked towards the Burrow.

Mrs. Weasley, who was wearing an old green robe, had already noticed them.

She was picking some apples from the paddock on the hill behind the Burrow.

There is a paddock belonging to the Weasley family, and there is an orchard in it, which is large enough for the children to play a game of Quidditch.

"Oh, welcome." Mrs. Weasley placed the basket in her hand by the window.

"I thought you wouldn't be able to come over until night."

"Come in. Or go to the garden in the backyard." She greeted the little wizards enthusiastically.

Hugged every child.

When facing Owen, she muttered, "Why are you so beautiful again?"

It made him a little embarrassed.

Everyone sat down in the backyard garden.

This is a large overgrown garden with a large green pond with many frogs.

There were so many gnomes living in the garden that the Weasleys had to regularly remove them and throw them outside the hedges.

However, the goblins always sneaked back because Arthur Weasley was too tolerant of them and found them amusing.

None of the little wizards wanted to enter the room, they had been 'imprisoned' for too long.

Sit on a wooden chair in the garden, watch the gnomes emerge from the earth from time to time, and then snap your fingers and throw them out.

The sun is pouring down, and this time there is something special about it.

After a while, Mrs. Weasley came over with a fruit basket containing apples she had just washed.

"So you convinced Professor Horace Slughorn to take the job?"

"Well, he had no reason to say no," Irving said.

"He taught Arthur and me before." Mrs. Weasley said. "He was at Hogwarts many years ago. I think he entered the school at about the same time as Dumbledore. How do you like him? ?"

"I don't like him that much. I feel that he is very cold towards little wizards who are not geniuses. Just look at his photo wall. I like Professor McGonagall better because she can treat everyone equally." Hermione hesitated for a moment, and then thought about it in her heart. Everything I thought was spoken.

"He looks a little timid," Harry said.

"A bit greasy. Like most Ministry of Magic officials," said Ron.

"I heard about this professor's name when I was in Ilvermorny. If it's just a purely academic competition, he is indeed very talented and has many disciples and former officials," said Koyatel.

"Just so so," Ginny replied.

"Yes, I understand." Mrs. Weasley nodded understandingly, "Neither Arthur nor I like him very much. His dichotomy in treating students is too clear. One is students who please him or whom he thinks have a bright future. One is students who he thinks have a bleak future or have no achievements. He has a private club called Slug, which he specially invites talented students to join, but never opens a small club for those wizards who he thinks are ambitious and talented. Ken spends more time with Arthur, whom he seems to think has little ambition."

"However, it is undeniable that Slughorn undoubtedly has a keen eye for recognizing talents. In the more than fifty years since the establishment of the club, among the students he hand-picked, countless wizards who have performed brilliantly and left their names in history have emerged. and witches, from Quidditch to politics, business and journalism.

But - at least he was wrong about Arthur. "

"Oh, Mom, you said it so confidently, as if you were once a member of the Slug Club." Ron quickly pushed a red apple to the girl next to him.

Then he took another one himself, took a bite and said.

"Hmph!" Mrs. Weasley was a little displeased. She glared at her son, "Do you think your mother was born to be a housewife? I got eight O.W.Ls with distinction! When you get your grades, what if If there is one less outstanding person, I will not repair you properly."