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Chapter 1231: Horace Slughorn
🕑 Added 2024-09-13 14:53:53 +0000 UTCDumbledore was supposed to pick up Evan and Hermione at around eleven thirty p.m., which, honestly, was too late!
Moreover, it was easy to let one's mind wander.
Evan had to explain to his mother repeatedly that the headmaster was very busy and had a lot of things to do, and that he could only find time to pick them up in the evening. He comforted her not to think too much, and that nothing would happen to him and Hermione, so she didn't need to come out to see them off.
But the Masons were still very worried, and from half past ten they stood guard at the door with Evan and Hermione.
Occasionally, late returning neighbors passed by and asked them what they were doing in the yard so late at night.
Mrs. Mason said she was looking up at the night sky, and enthusiastically introduced Evan and Hermione to them.
This was the first time that Evan appeared since every neighbor and person familiar with the Masons knew that their son was studying in a high school abroad. As for Hermione's identity, Mrs. Mason explained that she was the girlfriend her son had brought home.
Usually after saying this, no one cared why they were standing in the yard at night instead of sleeping. Instead, they started to look at Evan and Hermione, and then gathered together with the Masons to whisper, occasionally letting out a light laugh...
Hermione, feeling a bit embarrassed, moved closer to Evan. The night wind was cold, but the stars were beautiful.
In fact, Evan knew very well that the reason Dumbledore scheduled the time so late was because of Horace Slughorn.
To find Slughorn, that sly old wizard, one had to set out at night to have a chance.
During the day, he was very good at hiding. Once he sensed danger, he would immediately move, making it hard to meet with him.
At this late hour, Slughorn's guard would be lowered and he would not leave so quickly.
After all, no matter what, he was not young anymore!
Dumbledore wanted to invite Professor Slughorn to return to Hogwarts to teach. Given the current circumstances, doing so had many benefits — it would protect his old friend and boost the school’s morale. After all, Slughorn was a well-known professor.
Furthermore, Dumbledore must have thought it necessary to know more about Voldemort's past.
Slughorn had been Voldemort’s, or rather Tom Riddle’s, teacher and the Head of Slytherin House.
He had a significant influence on young Voldemort and had given him much assistance during his growth.
Finally, Dumbledore invited Slughorn to return to Hogwarts to teach, probably because he had no other suitable candidate for the teaching position.
Evan had originally suggested that Sirius Black continue as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, but whether it was due to Voldemort’s curse or not, Sirius was now being sent abroad to represent the Order of the Phoenix in liaising with foreign wizards to unite in the fight against Voldemort and the Dark Wizards.
As Voldemort’s influence extended beyond this country, this task became especially important.
Among the members of the Order of the Phoenix, only Sirius was fit for the job.
So, he was sent out to investigate Raven's Claw in France and Italy, and there were other missions after that.
Dumbledore also didn't seem to want Sirius to continue staying in Hogwarts and fighting with Snape. The fight between the two of them during the exam last year had already shocked the elderly wizards of the Wizarding Examinations Authority, who were amazed at the chaos in the school.
Under these circumstances, Professor Slughorn's return was inevitable.
Just as Evan was thinking about this, Dumbledore and Harry appeared at the gate of the yard, startling his parents.
He and Hermione rushed over and saw that Harry was suffering from the adverse reactions of Apparition.
During this summer vacation, Harry grew taller, but still looked malnourished. He was very thin, with messy black hair. He was wearing torn jeans and a T-shirt. His face was pale and he looked a bit like a ghost.
"Harry, are you alright? You don't look so good," Hermione asked.
"Not great," Harry muttered, rubbing his ears vigorously, "because of Apparition."
He felt as though his ears had left Privet Drive rather reluctantly.
"The sensation does take some getting used to. You need something to drink now. Come on, my mother has prepared some refreshments," Evan pulled Harry into the house. "You’re already very familiar with her, so don’t be shy — just make yourself at home."
Harry hurried to greet Evan's parents; and Mrs. Mason asked with concern how Harry had been over the past year and whether he liked the Christmas gift she had sent.
Mr. Mason, on the other hand, invited Dumbledore inside, and Evan noticed that the two of them were awkwardly chatting about the plants in the garden. It was clear that his father still wasn’t quite comfortable talking with a wizard but didn’t want to be rude to Dumbledore.
"We don't have much time, but there is no reason to refuse a hot cup of tea and some sweets," Dumbledore said cheerfully.
He accepted the invitation and followed the Masons into the living room.
The six of them sat around the table and finished the snacks Evan's mum had prepared. Dumbledore briefly explained the current situation in the Wizarding world to the Masons, reassuring them not to worry too much. It wasn't until it was almost midnight that they got up to leave.
Evan was ready, and his and Hermione's luggage were in his cloth bag.
Ever since their trip to Egypt last year, Hermione had begun leaving her belongings with Evan for safekeeping.
After this period of adaptation, Evan had finally gotten over the phase of staring at a pair of girls’ underwear for half a day...
In the yard, Harry grabbed onto Dumbledore’s arm just as he had done before they came. Evan held onto Hermione, and with Dumbledore leading the way, they all Apparated together. A few seconds later, they appeared in what looked like a deserted village square, in the center of which stood an old war memorial and a few benches.
Dilapidated and backward, time seemed to have stopped in this place, making the village stay in the past long ago.
"This way," said Dumbledore, drawing his traveling cloak a little more tightly around his neck.
He set off at a brisk pace, past an empty inn and a few houses.
According to a clock on a nearby church, it was almost midnight.
"Oh, Harry, I forgot to ask you earlier," Dumbledore said. "So tell me, your scar … has it been hurting at all?"
Harry raised a hand unconsciously to his forehead and rubbed the lightning-shaped mark.
"No," he said, "it hasn't hurt since that night at the Ministry. It's incredible."
"Apparently, as we suspected last time, Voldemort has finally realized the dangerous access to his thoughts and feelings you have been enjoying," Dumbledore said with satisfaction. "Well, he is now employing Occlumency against you."
“Well, I’m not complaining," said Harry, who missed neither the disturbing dreams nor the startling flashes of insight into Voldemort’s mind.
"Understandable, but I think it's a wise choice to take the initiative in your own hands. You should work harder on Occlumency. You can ask Evan. He used Occlumency again during his trip to Egypt. It's very practical magic."
Although Evan did not tell Dumbledore what had happened in the prison, he seemed to know something.
Dumbledore had always been like that — uncanny, knowing everything...
