Hogwarts Lion Girl

In the afterglow of the sunset, Hogwarts Castle looks like a huge pancake, exuding a warm and mysterious atmosphere.

Harry wrapped his robes tightly around him and walked heavily up the spiral staircase leading to the headmaster's office.

The gargoyles were still rigidly guarding the entrance. Harry gave the secret signal skillfully, and the gargoyles moved away, revealing the passage leading to Dumbledore's office.

In the office, Dumbledore was standing by the window, staring into the distance.

The purple robe embroidered with stars on him looked particularly dazzling in the afterglow of the setting sun, but it also revealed an indescribable fatigue.

"You're here, Harry." Dumbledore turned around, his blue eyes sparkling with wisdom. "We still have a lot of work to do."

Harry walked up to Dumbledore and his eyes fell on the familiar Pensieve.

The silver liquid ripples slightly in the basin, as if it contains countless secrets.

Harry took a deep breath and moved his face closer to the Pensieve.

The cold liquid instantly surrounded him, and he felt dizzy. Then, the scene before his eyes began to change...

In a luxurious banquet hall, crystal chandeliers emitting brilliant light, men and women in gorgeous clothes were toasting and chatting cheerfully.

Young Tom Riddle was handsome and elegant, yet with a subtle hint of coldness.

After the party was over and the crowd had dispersed, he found Horace.

"Professor, I would like to ask you a question." Riddle's voice was low and magnetic.

"Of course, my child, I will be happy to answer any questions you have." Slughorn said with a smile, his eyes full of love for this outstanding student.

Riddle leaned closer to Slughorn and lowered his voice: "I want to know about...about the method of making..."

The smile on Slughorn's face froze instantly, and he took a step back, his eyes filled with horror and disgust.

"What are you talking about? I don't know what you are talking about! How can I know such evil magic!"

Riddle's eyes turned cold. He looked directly at Slughorn, with a hint of threat in his tone: "Professor, you really don't know? Or, you just don't want to tell me?"

Slughorn's lip trembled, and he could no longer meet Riddle's eyes.

"Get out! Get out of here! I don't want to hear you mention that horrible word again!"

Riddle sneered, turned and left the banquet hall, leaving Slughorn alone, trembling in fear and regret.

Harry looked up from the Pensieve and took a deep breath.

"This memory was tampered with by Slughorn." Dumbledore said in a deep voice, "He is ashamed of this matter and does not want people to know that he has revealed even a little information about it to Tom."

"But we must know the truth." Harry said firmly, "Only by understanding Voldemort's past can we find a way to defeat him."

"That's right." Dumbledore nodded, "So, you need to find Slughorn and make him tell the truth."

Soon, Harry found Horace's office again.

Harry imitated Riddle's behavior back then and asked Slughorn about forbidden techniques.

Slughorn's eyes flickered and he tried to get around it with some vague words.

"Oh, my boy, that's all old news, not worth mentioning," Slughorn said, trying to change the subject.

Harry did not give up. He kept pressing on, asking about what happened back then.

Slughorn's expression became increasingly ugly, his eyes filled with fear and anxiety.

"Enough! I don't want to talk about this anymore!" Slughorn finally exploded. He stood up suddenly and pointed at the door. "Get out! Leave here! I don't want to see you again!"

Harry was about to say something else, but Slughorn had already turned and stumbled into the inner room, slamming the door behind him.

Harry stood outside the door, feeling weak.

He knew that Slughorn must be hiding some secret deep in his heart.

And this secret may very well be the key to defeating Voldemort.

Over the next few days, Harry continued to try to communicate with Slughorn, but he always kept the door closed and refused to meet with Harry.

Harry was becoming increasingly anxious as he realized that the seconds were ticking away and he was making no progress.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the Gothic windows, casting mottled light and shadows on Harry's face.

He dragged his feet, like a defeated rooster, and returned to the dormitory with his head down.

Horace shut him out again.

When I opened the dormitory door, a rich chocolate aroma hit my nose.

Ron was sitting on the bed, staring blankly ahead with a silly smile on his lips.

"Hey, Ron," Harry greeted weakly, "What's wrong with you? Under the Imperius Curse?"

Ron didn't answer, but just smiled foolishly, his eyes blurred, and muttered incoherently: "Romilda... so beautiful..."

Harry's heart skipped a beat. Romilda, the girl who had tried to give him a love potion? Could it be that Ron...

"Ron! Wake up!" Harry walked up to Ron and shook his shoulders vigorously. "What are you talking about? Romilda? She's the girl who wanted to drug me!"

Ron's eyes were still dazed. He turned a deaf ear to Harry's words and just repeated stupidly: "Romilda... her hair is like... like molten gold... her eyes are like... like stars in the night sky..."

Harry looked around and saw that Ron's bed was littered with Chocolate Frog wrappers.

An ominous premonition came to mind.

"Ron! Did you eat the chocolate Romilda gave me?!" Harry's voice rose an octave.

Ron finally responded. He blinked and nodded stupidly: "Chocolate...delicious..."

Harry suddenly felt his scalp tingling.

"Professor Slughorn!" Harry grabbed Ron and stumbled out of the dormitory.

After finally dragging Ron, who was like a pile of mud, to the door of Slughorn's office, Harry knocked hard.

"Who is it? It's so late!" Slughorn's impatient voice came from inside the door.

"Professor! Help! Ron accidentally ingested the love potion!" Harry shouted anxiously.

The door opened, and Slughorn looked at Harry and Ron, who was limp on top of him, with a puzzled look on his face. "Love potion? What's going on?"

Harry briefly explained what had happened.

After hearing this, Slughorn's expression turned serious.

He quickly took out a bottle of antidote from the cabinet, pried open Ron's mouth, and poured the antidote into him.

The antidote seemed to work, and Ron's eyes gradually became clear again.

He looked around blankly and asked, "Where am I? What happened?"

"You accidentally ingested a love potion," Slughorn explained. "Luckily Harry got you here in time."

In order to make Ron completely sober, Slughorn poured him another glass of wine.

Ron took the glass and drank it all.

However, just as Harry was about to ask Horace for information again, an accident happened again.

Ron suddenly turned blue, convulsed all over, foamed at the mouth, and then fell to the ground.

"Merlin's beard! What the hell is going on?!" Slughorn frantically examined Ron's body but couldn't find any reason.

Harry's heart was in suspense again. He suddenly remembered that Hermione had once told him that cow dung stone could cure all kinds of poisons.

"Cow dung stone! I'm going to go find cow dung stone!" Harry didn't bother to explain and turned around to search on Horace's shelf.

Not caring about the dirt and smell, he grabbed the cow dung stone and ran back.

At this time, Ron's convulsions became more violent. Harry hurriedly pried open Ron's mouth and stuffed the cow dung stone in.

Ron's convulsions gradually subsided and his face returned to normal.

He slowly opened his eyes and said weakly: "What's wrong with me?"

Harry let out a long sigh and slumped to the ground.