Chapter 700: The Slug Club (Edited)

"Hermione~ We've been invited to have lunch, nya!"

(?ω?)

Fish exclaimed excitedly as he showed the parchment in Hermione's hand.

"Not us, but you, Harry, and Neville." Hermione calmly corrected, "Only the three of you received the invitations."

"What do you mean? Only the three of us can go?" Fish turned his head towards Harry and Neville, who also had received the parchment.

(?ω?)

Both Harry's and Neville's parchment were essentially the same as Fish's, the only difference being the name at the beginning.

"I suppose so... It doesn't say you can bring anyone else, so it's better not to." Harry said after hesitating for a moment.

He was a professor, after all, and although Harry didn't like how Professor Slughorn saw him as a collectible object, until he showed qualities like Lockhart or Umbridge, Harry would still treat him with a minimum amount of respect.

Upon hearing that he couldn't bring Hermione and the others, Fish instantly lost interest in Professor Slughorn's invitation. He made a face and tossed the parchment he had in his hand onto the compartment table.

"Then Fish won't go, nya."

(?ω?)

Anyway, Fish didn't particularly like Professor Slughorn.

Neville hesitated, also tossing the invitation onto the table, "I won't go either, I don't even know him."

Although Harry had mentioned before that the new Potions professor was a very famous man, but...

With his Potion results, there was no way he would take the N.E.W.T. course this year, so Neville was at peace with the situation.

Harry wanted to join the two, but Hermione reminded him, "One of you has to go and inform Professor Slughorn, it would be impolite not to go alone."

"Fish won't be there anyway!"

(〃｀3〃)

Fish clasped his hands together and turned his head to the side.

Harry and Neville looked at each other for a moment but ultimately sighed helplessly, stood up, and made their way out of the compartment...

Who was the last one to say anything?

But Harry was out the whole afternoon, and Ron waited until it grew dark outside and the train lights came on for Harry to return to the compartment looking tired.

"Why did it take you so long?" Ron asked curiously.

"Don't even mention it..." Harry waved his hand and slumped into a chair for a moment before sitting up straighter and saying, "Professor Slughorn invited other people, from different Houses and years, and they all... had something in common, someone in their family who was powerful or had a big name in the wizarding world."

"Ah... no wonder Ginny and I weren't invited." Ron shrugged and mockingly said, "Mum used to say the same, she didn't think much of Dad at first, didn't believe he'd amount to anything."

Then he sighed with regret, "But we have to admit... he didn't seem to be wrong..."

The others exchanged glances, and there was no disagreement. It was one thing for Ron to laugh at himself, but it would have been rude for them to follow suit.

Only Fish tilted his head, wondering, "What has Arthur not accomplished? Hasn't he been in the newspaper?"

"Hmm? When?" Ron and Ginny looked at each other for a moment.

"When he won the lottery, and when you went to Egypt to play?" Fish asked, surprised.

Upon Fish's reminder, Ron and Ginny finally remembered and looked at Fish with a bewildered smile, unsure of how to explain it.

Ron simply changed the subject and asked Harry, "So what did he invite you to do?"

"Talk?" Harry said, not very sure.

He was so uncomfortable with the situation that he didn't pay much attention for most of the time. It was only when Slughorn mentioned his mother that he lifted his head.

"... Anyway, I was talking to the people I had invited about how well I got along with the famous members of their families, and also about how everyone seemed to be members of the 'Slug Club,' and he invited us to join the club."

Harry briefly spoke about some of the topics Professor Slughorn was discussing at that time. It was so boring that Fish began to doze off.

As for Slughorn's invitation to join the club, Harry had already been warned by Dumbledore, so he was prepared. Hermione had also heard about the Slug Club from Fish and Professor McGonagall, so she didn't react.

But it was the first time that Ron and the others had heard about the Slug Club, and Ginny couldn't help but ask curiously, "The Slug Club? What is that?"

Even Luna was intrigued, "Is it for slugs? So, is there a club for trembling worms?"

"It is a club, or network of contacts, that Professor Slughorn has built around himself, and it is made up of students he admired when he taught at Hogwarts... My mother was in it," Harry explained, completely ignoring Luna's question.

At the same time, his mind was somewhat conflicted.

Because Harry didn't like the way Professor Slughorn measured people by their "worth," but he wanted to follow in his mother's footsteps and learn more about his parents through Professor Slughorn's guidance. So, when he was asked to join the Slug Club, Harry accepted without hesitation.

"What a horrible name! The Order of the Fish Cat is better."

(`´)

Fish, who was already contemplating stealing the club from Slughorn, didn't hesitate to belittle it.

"That's right! What is the Slug Club? Our club is the best!" Ron and Neville cheered in unison.

As the train approached the station, Hermione bumped into Fish, and they returned to the compartment to put on their robes.

Once the train stopped at the Hogsmeade platform, Fish joined the other Prefects to ensure the rest of the students disembarked orderly.

"Fish."

Professor Slughorn arrived at Fish's compartment with a small, delicate suitcase and waited for the students in front to disembark before approaching Fish.

"It's a shame you couldn't join me for a meal," he said, not showing any sign of annoyance at Fish declining his invitation but still wearing the same friendly expression that concealed a hint of greed. "I wouldn't have minded if you brought along some friends. It was my mistake, I can't blame you."

Professor Slughorn was always very generous with his students, not to mention dear Fish.

He then cheerfully said, "But it's alright, we have plenty of time to spend together at Hogwarts."

He nodded at Fish and then got off the train with the small suitcase in hand.

(?ω?)

Fish looked at Professor Slughorn's distant back and scratched his head in distress...

If the other party has always had such a good-natured face, then I wouldn't be ashamed to take away his belongings...