Chapter 79: The Slug Club

Horace Slughorn had a peculiar talent.

It was the ability to discern whether others had some kind of talent or potential for success in a specific field. He realized this after he graduated from Hogwarts.

After that, he decided to become a teacher to guide promising young people using this talent.

At first, he found joy in nurturing those who excelled.

A gathering of talented individuals aiming for higher goals was formed around Slughorn.

However, as he received gratitude and returns from his successful students, and as useful connections were formed in various fields, Slughorn gradually changed.

Before he knew it, he enjoyed being with powerful, successful people more than guiding them.

He began to enjoy feeling that he was influencing those people.

The gathering centered around Slughorn, commonly known as the Slug Club, became a place for Slughorn's favorites and a network of useful talents for the future.

Naturally, when Slughorn returned to Hogwarts as a teacher, he started to notice children with abilities, charm, and connections. After about a month into the new term, he seemed to have finished assessing and decided to hold the Slug Club.

On Saturday night.

The students invited by Slughorn were waiting for the start of the Slug Club at the venue.

There are a reasonable number of students. This club has many children from noble families like the Sacred Twenty-Eight, so there are also students who participate to make connections.

Students from all dormitories participate without discrimination.

Harry Potter, known as "The Boy Who Lived" and "The Chosen One".

Neville Longbottom, from one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight families, the Longbottoms, who is also doing well academically.

Ginny Weasley, the only girl in the Weasley family, also one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.

Cormac McLaggen, a senior student with many famous acquaintances.

Blaise Zabini, whose mother is a beautiful and wealthy woman.

Marcus Belby, who has been a student of Slughorn since his grandfather's generation.

Draco Malfoy, from the Malfoy family, one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, who betrayed the dark side.

Hermione Granger, the top student in all subjects, the greatest genius in the history of Hogwarts.

And of course, Leonard Taylor.

And many others.

Looking at the gathering of his favorite students, a satisfied Slughorn declares the start.

"Everyone! Thank you for gathering today! There's plenty of delicious food and sweets. Enjoy!"

The club begins and the students enjoy themselves in their own way.

Interaction between students is also actively taking place. Even Gryffindor and Slytherin, who are usually at odds, are no exception. The reason is simple. The Slytherin students invited here are only those who have declared to cut ties with the dark side. Not all children want to become dark wizards, regardless of what their parents think. Especially if they know the power of Leonard Taylor.

Therefore, even in Hogwarts, the number of Slytherin students who openly oppose the dark side is increasing, and the number of students who interact with other dormitories is also increasing.

However, the fact that some Gryffindor students are still suspicious makes the gap between the dormitories feel deep.

In the midst of the interaction, there are several people who become the center and gather many students.

Harry Potter, who was called a liar by the Ministry of Magic last year but continued to shout the truth. He is rumored to have the power to counter that person and seems to be the focus of attention.

Draco Malfoy, the only son of a pure-blood family who betrayed the emperor.

He is respected by the Slytherin students who are here and are opposed to the dark side. Because he is from a prestigious family, his manners are perfect and he is kind to his friends. The fact that he is gaining more and more power for his severely injured father also gives a good impression. 

Ginny Weasley.

As she grows older, she becomes more beautiful, and a fan club has secretly formed around her.

Yet, she is also a top student who aims to protect everyone by following her father's will, and she has the initiative to create opportunities for Leonard Taylor's special combat training classes.

Many boys who want to get closer to her gather around her, but Ginny seems to have no intention of dating a particular boy at the moment.

Finally, Leonard Taylor and Hermione Granger.

Although they had been kept at a distance because they were no longer human, through the Spell Studies class and special classes, they were treated as reliable teachers as before, even though they were not human.

Hermione also has many fans because she is excellent and beautiful.

However, it is a well-known fact that the two are lovers. It's just a fan.

Even now, they are sitting next to each other and from the outside, they seem to be flirting.

"Oh, this is delicious. Is this the sugar-pickled pineapple you mentioned before? I understand why Professor Slughorn likes it."

"Really? Give me a bite."

"Here you go."

"Ah... yes. Delicious!"

In this way, they naturally do things like "ah" even though there are people around.

Students are starting to get heartburn from the sweet air that is sweeter than sugar-pickled pineapple.

"Ho ho! The rumor is true, it's hot! Are you two having fun?"

Slughorn comes over to talk to the two. Hermione, following Leo, has also become one of his favorite students.

"Yes, we're having fun. It's necessary to take a break from research once in a while, so it's a good break."

"Thank you for inviting us. It's fun to interact with other dormitories."

"That's good. You two are welcome to visit me outside of the club, okay? I'm always welcome!"

After that, they talked with various students.

They talked about magic operation with the members of the special class centered on Ginny, Ginny talked about the events from meeting Hermione and Leo to dating, and the girls were envious, and Draco Malfoy came to ask for tips on healing magic.

The fun club also ended, and the students returned to their respective dormitories.

Among them, Leo and Hermione, and Harry, are left until the end.

Of course, it's to handle the request from Dumbledore.

"Well, well, you two should go home soon. Sleep is important too."

"Professor! There's something I want you to teach me!"

"What is it, Harry? I'll answer anything I can."

"Well... I need him to fight against Voldemort. It's about the Horcrux. Do you know?"

The moment the word "Horcrux" came out of Harry's mouth, the smile that had been there until then froze.

And he looks at Harry with the eyes of a wary opponent. Of course, his heart is tightly closed.

"...Dumbledore, huh. I don't know, I don't know. The memories I gave you are all I have. Now, go home, go home! Leo and Hermione too!"

"But, Professor!"

"Professor Slughorn. It seems like you have some kind of misunderstanding."

"...What exactly?"

"Horcruxes are said to be dark magic. Certainly, if your skill level is low, you need to commit murder to split your soul. But that doesn't mean you should be ashamed of knowing it as knowledge, and what's the problem with teaching it to someone? Dark magic is just like any other magic, there's no difference. It's just a difference in what kind of person uses it, magic is magic, whether it's beautiful or complex."

Most people in the wizarding world show an aversion to just hearing the term dark magic. For Leo, the value of magic is whether it's excellent or beautiful. Therefore, he couldn't refuse to classify the Horcrux as excellent magic.

"But... because of me, that person... Because of that, people might have died."

"You might have been the reason Voldemort knew about the Horcrux, but that doesn't make you a bad person. And do you think I'm a bad person for knowing about the Horcrux? Dumbledore knows about it too."

"...Leo, do you despise me for telling that person about the Horcrux?"

"There's no way that could happen. You're not Voldemort, you're Horace Slughorn. There are people who need your memories to counter Voldemort, and I think it's more like you to want to owe Dumbledore a favor than to worry about it here."

"That's right, it feels better to act for the future than to regret the past. I'll sell a favor to Dumbledore and get a salary increase!"

Slughorn puts his wand to his head, takes out a silvery mist, and puts it in a bottle.

He hands it to Leo.

"Leo, tell me again. Am I not wrong...? Please don't misunderstand me, such a coward."

"I'll say it again. You're not wrong. You're an excellent wizard."

"Professor Slughorn, I'm also convinced that you're a wonderful teacher. Not just us, but many students must think so too."

Leo and Hermione's straightforward evaluation. Hearing that, Slughorn's face, which had been stern, returned to normal.

Leo hands over Harry's memory. Harry thanked Slughorn and immediately headed to the headmaster's office.

Leo and Hermione also return to the laboratory.

When they return, Ku greets them.

"Welcome back, Master Leonard, Madam. I'm sorry to bother you as soon as you get back, but there's something I need to tell you."

"What happened?"

"Yes. That thing has been rampaging again. There's a limit to restraint and persuasion."

"I see. Then, let's go for a performance test."

"You're going to do something again, Leo. What is it this time?"

"Let's get the information from Dumbledore first."

It was only a few days before another impact on the world appeared due to Leonard Taylor's research.

---

Slughorn is not a bad person, but he's not a completely good person either, and I have a good impression of him because he's very close to a real person.

The Slug Club is now a place for Slughorn's connections, 

but I thought it might have been different in the past, so I set it up this way.

The people who participated in the club are excellent students, those from noble families who do not side with the dark, those with connections, and those selected by Slughorn's intuition. By the way, Leo has been a favorite since he met him as an unprecedented talent.

Foy, who is studying healing magic. His future dream is to become a healer.

Got the memory about the Horcrux.

Leo doesn't have bad feelings about the Horcrux as a high-level magic.

He believes that there is no such thing as bad magic in the first place.

By the way, if it's Leo's skill, he can split the soul without killing.

But then again, Leo has already killed people.

So, what is that?

So, stay tuned for the next chapter.

One of the things I struggle with when surrendering is coming up with a subtitle.

I don't struggle too much with writing the main text because I'm just writing what I think freely.

But when I surrender, I struggle with the subtitle.

This time, the subtitle has become a bit dangerous.

This time, a certain character appears after a long time!