Ravenclaw's Blue Gem

"If you want to discuss Umbridge, I think I have a right to speak." Zoe said, frowning as soon as Umbridge’s name came out of Slughorn’s mouth. "Let me say that she deserved the crime. She has to interfere with Hogwarts' affairs and use her power to torture others." She pointed to her head and casually mentioned two things that happened before, "Why no one Investigate her for using a spell that has an effect similar to that of a heart-piercing curse as a means of punishing people? It is a miracle that someone like her did not stay in Azkaban!

"This stinky lady did such a thing?" Slughorn said angrily, her anger didn't seem to be false, "The world has really changed. Since when will such people be able to teach at Hogwarts? ?"

"So you retaliated against her?" Slughorn asked Zoe.

"No. She was only'accidentally' injured by the bounced spell while using her power. We all feel deeply saddened by Professor Umbridge’s accident. I still want to visit her, but The hospital said it could not visit the patient yet." Zoe said as usual, and Harry turned his face away without letting Slughorn see the weird smile on his face. After all, Professor McGonagall had worked hard to help them deal with the incident. Qualitative became what it is now.

"Of course, if I can have this opportunity, I will." For some reason, Zoe added this sentence.Slughorn was not angry at all, but smiled.

"Horace, I want to ask you a question." Dumblely stood up and asked gently.Slughorn showed an expression of excitement and anticipation. He looked at it and hoped that Dumbledore could leave his house as soon as possible. "Where is the bathroom, please?" Slughorn's face collapsed, and he pointed angrily. porch."Go over there, the second door from the left."

As soon as Dumbledore left, Slughorn immediately showed a pensive look, no longer sitting, but turning around in place, not looking at the other two.

"Mr. Slughorn, I want to know your reason for rejecting Dumbledore's invitation." Zoe said suddenly.

"There's nothing to say, I just don't want to waste my life on teaching students." Slughorn sighed, "By the way, you haven't given me an answer to the question before. Where did I find the flaw? "

"I don't know why Dumbledore saw through you, but I just felt that the scene was unnatural." As Zoe organized the language, he told Slughorn what he thought at the time, and the latter listened. Frowning for a long time.

"I didn't expect it to be because of this..." he said directly, "I actually said that it was because I couldn't feel the personal will contained in the scene at the time? Seriously, if someone else talked to me like this, I would definitely not believe it. He would only feel that he was taking sneeze grass powder because—"

"This plant is one of the ingredients of a confusing drug or a confusing agent. Taking its powder can make people reckless, irritable, crazy, and nervous." Zoe subconsciously took the sentence, and then she confronted Slugho En surprised eyes.

"Oh!" Slughorn rubbed his hands. "I'm not surprised that you can answer this question. Has anyone told you that you look like your mother? You must have inherited her outstanding talents! "

"Everyone said that." Zoe smiled bitterly, and such words wouldn't make her much happy.

"One more one, can you tell me the function of salamander blood and how to obtain it?" he asked impatiently.

"The salamander blood contains strong vitality. It is an indispensable material for many strengthening potions and has good healing effects. The best salamander blood usually has to wait until after April. Find an adult salamander and observe The state of their mating..." After Zoe finished speaking, Slughorn stroked his thick chin.

"Do you like potions class?" he asked kindly, and Zoe nodded without hesitation.

"Who is your teacher?" He asked the next question.

"It's Professor Snape, Professor Severus Snape." Zoe answered seriously.

Chapter Seventeen Horace Slughorn (Part 2)

"Severus Snape..." Slughorn meditated, as if recalling the face that matched the name in his mind, "I have the impression that he is a student of Slytherin College, a very quiet one. , A very gloomy boy, he boiled the potion very well, but we have never communicated outside of class." He chuckled, "The old man Severus must not be easy to get along with, is it (Harry bends ironically) I curled my mouth)? I tried to invite him before, but he didn't plan to come to my club at all."

"Your club?" Zoe asked quietly.

"I'm just about to tell you about it!" Slughorn triumphantly touched his chubby belly, "I also invited Lily and Max, although they both agreed, it's a pity that they rarely come. I’m here for the party."

"But isn't my mother a student at Gryffindor College?" Harry asked in astonishment, not seeming to believe that she would be willing to hang out with a group of Slytherin students, even if he was in Snape's memory. Seeing that she would also be a Slytherin student, not a narrow person.

"It has nothing to do with which college she is a student. Don't you think I will only invite students from this college, Harry?" Slughorn shook his head, "You must be a Gryffindor like Lily , The look in your eyes has told me everything. It’s been like this since a long time ago, Slytherin and Gryffindor, the two courtyards dislike each other, wishing to beat each other with a bruised face... It’s really rare for you two to get along. It must be so good." He said helplessly.

"Huh?" Zoe was taken aback, knowing that Slughorn must have misunderstood. "Sir, I'm not from the Slytherin House."

"But you can't belong to the Gryffindor House!" Slughorn was stunned. "I am still a little confident in my own way of looking at people, and temperament is usually passed on from generation to generation, with exceptions in the minority. I am. I still have the impression that the Gryffins in the Segal family are pitiful."

"I'm not from Gryffindor House either, sir. I'm from Ravenclaw College." Zoe saw Slughorn make a sudden realization.

"That makes sense! Ravenclaw is definitely a good fit for you. Max told me before that, if it weren't for she was in Slytherin like her father, she actually wanted to go to Ravenclaw. "Slaghorn said nostalgic.

"Are you familiar with Max?" Zoe asked, Slughorn probably didn't notice her name, was silent for a while, and sighed."It's hard to say."

"It's hard to say?" Zoe frowned.

"She is a good student, smart, outstanding, and very pleasant. It is very comfortable to talk to her. She will not make people feel offended, and she is very considerate. I have met such a person a long time ago. ......" Slughorn lowered his voice thoughtfully, "If it weren't for the past incident, plus her later choices, I would probably feel that I knew her."

As soon as Zoe felt that Slughorn's eyes were full of meaning, he changed the subject: "It's hard to meet up and chat, don't talk about the disappointing things. You two come and see." He greeted him. They walked near the cabinet, and the beating fire light illuminates the objects placed on it. It is a picture frame with a moving figure in each frame.

"These are my former students, and they are all members of the club. I asked them to take autographs for me. There are four colleges, and they are all young people with great potential." Slughorn I proudly introduced Zoe and the others to the people in the photo. All of them are successful in their careers or in power. In short, they are successful people.And Slughorn himself can always get some benefits from these people, whether it's news, preferential treatment or gifts.

"Harry, do you like Quidditch?" Slughorn asked, and Harry nodded.

"Then you have to look at these-Gwenog Jones, the captain of the Holyhead Hobbits. They are very famous because this team only recruits female wizards. I can get a lot from her every year. Free tickets; and here—" Slughorn put down Gwenog’s photo like showing off his collection, and took out another frame from next to it. The blonde woman on it stood up, holding her arms. He stared at the camera with jealous eyes.

"Professor Margaret!" He was about to introduce, but Harry yelled out before him, surprised by pointing at the photo.

"You know?" He was a little disappointed, but the next second he smiled clearly, "I almost forgot, you are a Quidditch fan! It's impossible not to know the "Golden Lion". She used to be with me. Big stars, there will always be a lot of people who want to sneak in at parties with her." The Margaret in Slughorn’s hands is much younger than the one Zoe knew, and the sharpness in her eyes seemed to Piercing into reality through the lens frame, "Unfortunately, she didn't come to parties much later, probably because she was busy with graduation... But why did you call her a professor?"

"Professor Margaret had a year of flying lessons at Hogwarts when we were in the third grade." Zoe said.

"It turned out to be the case. I didn't have much contact with her after retirement, but occasionally she would send some specialties when she went out to play games. I know she is now the coach of the Hobbit team. It's a pity. I'm sure she can still fly for a long time. "Slaghorn said thoughtfully.

"After that war, many of my former students took their lives. We never had the opportunity to sit together and talk. It is a sad fact. Death is such a terrible thing. People still have to live comfortably. It’s a bit uneconomical to work hard to give your life for those illusory things.” Slughorn put the picture of Margaret back in place, “that’s why I chose to retire. The elderly have the right to relax. Spend the last time."

"But Dumbledore needs you. He believes in your ability to invite you back to Hogwarts sincerely." Zoe said seriously.

"The world has changed a long time ago. Now a cautious wizard will not easily expose his whereabouts. It is too dangerous. People are dead everywhere, or some people are missing... Although it can't keep up with the darkest period in the past, as long as there is Crisis-conscious wizards will start to think about how to protect themselves." Slughorn complained depressed, "This is also the reason. I haven't communicated with other people for more than a year, so I can only escape by moving. Those Death Eaters, let alone received gifts from students, accidentally dropped my crystal ball when I moved last time. It was a gift from Shahar, which can see the future more accurately. ."

"Then you should find a place that is safe enough, sir?" Harry tried not to show his contempt. So many people were fighting. They gave their lives and wanted a peaceful future. But now Slughorn hides alone, selfishly enjoying a luxurious life, even denying the consciousness of those people-high-grade chocolate in the living room, exquisite tea set, piano, soft sofa, independent comfortable small space, just It seems as if you can completely escape the battle by staying here, "I can never think of a safer place than Hogwarts."

"As long as you are willing to come back, Dumbledore will protect us all. He is the person Voldemort fears the most, isn't he? Only he can defeat Voldemort." Zoe didn't think Slughorn was so annoying. Only a few people have the consciousness of sacrifice. Hasn't she herself resisted the act of giving to others.

"But... alas..." Slughorn trembles in fear when he heard the name, but he was obviously moved. "I haven't thought about going back to Hogwarts. After all, I have been teaching there for so many years. Book, I also have deep feelings for it. But I can’t support Albus. Members of the Order of the Phoenix will be targeted by Death Eaters. The mysterious people regard these people as thorns, and I don’t want to be murdered."

"Don't worry about this. Many professors are not members of the Order of the Phoenix. They just do their duty of teaching. You don't need to worry that Dumbledore will force you to make a statement. He is not Voldemort." Zoe persuaded.

"Think about Mr. Ollivander, and then think about Ms. Burns. At least Hogwarts hasn't had a murder case, whether it's a faculty or a student." Harry shrugged, "It's better than moving all the time. Much."

"As long as Dumbledore is in Hogwarts for a day, there is the safest place. And he will never betray you for profit-you must know what happened to me when I was a kid, and how that was resolved." Yi pointed to himself, Slughorn muttered what the two of them couldn't understand, and his expression kept changing while pacing back and forth.

Finally, when Dumbledore returned to the living room ghostly, Slughorn looked at his calm face as if making the final judgment.

"Okay, Albus. I'm willing to come back." He gritted his teeth.Dumbledore smiled with satisfaction.

Chapter Eighteen Humble House (Part 1)

After the matter was settled, leaving Slughorn's shout of "I will ask for processing capital!" (you can hear that the sentence is serious), the three of them shuttled through the foggy streets and left the city. Ragerhorn's temporary residence.

"You did a good job." Dumbledore said happily. "Although the truth is the same, if I say it, Horace will not take it seriously. He will only think that I am deceiving him. I even It's not clear if he will force himself to compromise for the sake of face."

"I thought you were friends before, but he defended you like a thief." Zoe shrugged.

"Older people always think too much, just like he thinks that my appearance will end his idle vacation. But strictly speaking, we can only be regarded as colleagues. In some key concepts, we two Occasionally there are disagreements. After you talk to him, what do you think of him?" Dumbledore asked.

"At least I don't hate him like I hate Snape." Harry hesitated. "It's hard to say whether he likes or hates him. I mean, he is still very kind and warm to me after all, but you don't think of him. Kind of... admiring vanity? And it seems that he doesn't care about the lives of others, just wants to live a good life for himself."

"It's Snape'Professor', I have reminded you several times, Harry. At least when I stand in front of you, can I maintain the most basic respect for my mentor." Zoe sighed, "but I I think you’re right. Although I don’t think it’s wrong, after all, it’s the few who can choose to give up, and he didn’t steal something that belongs to others.

"Horace is not ruthless. He has conscience and morality. But he is very obsessed with material comforts, which sometimes makes him look a little snobbish, especially in the eyes of those who have not been selected by him. I heard you discuss it in the living room before In the club hosted by him, only the talents he selected can enter." Dumbledore did not rush to change his shape.

"Horace has a very good vision and he is very good at digging talents. He finds out those who are outstanding, powerful, ambitious, and charismatic in the crowd again and again, and gathers them together with himself as the center. They don’t hesitate to provide them with better resources and opportunities, and they are also very kind to these people. When these people have a future, they will be happy to return to him and become a member of others, so that he can get many privileges without standing up. "