Chapter 294: Huo La Si·Si La Ge Huo En

So, Headmaster, why did you call the two of us today?

John cut straight to the point and asked Dumbledore.

Dumbledore didn't seem in a hurry, and slowly walked over to sit beside the two.

I want to take you to meet an old friend.

Huo La Si·Si La Ge Huo En.

Hearing Dumbledore utter the unfamiliar name, the two were puzzled.

Dumbledore then continued.

I intend to invite Horace to serve as this year's Potions Professor at our school.

Ah? Really!

Before he could finish, Harry immediately asked excitedly.

Does that mean we don't have to attend Professor Snape's class?

Hearing Harry's words, Dumbledore shook his head helplessly and continued.

Professor Snape will formally be reassigned to the Dark Magic Defense Art class.

Harry:......

What was once great happiness is now great frustration.

Last semester, after Voldemort was exposed, Dumbledore reclaimed authority and expelled Umbridge.

Their Dark Defense vacancy was temporarily handed to Professor Snape.

Even though it was only one period per week, he was truly used as a punching bag for several of Professor Snape's lessons.

Used to demonstrate to other students how to defend against Dark Magic.

And each time he was beaten flat on the ground.

When it finally ended, Harry still hoped for a new Dark Defense professor.

But the one who arrived was the Potions Professor.

Snape's Dark Defense instead became permanent?

As you can imagine, over the next year, he will become Professor Snape's punching bag even more frequently......

Just thinking of it made Harry's heart go cold.

Compared to Harry, John was actually pleased that Professor Snape continued as Dark Defense professor.

Last year's Umbridge really wasted almost a year of his time for nothing.

Later, when Snape temporarily took over Dark Defense, the teaching quality skyrocketed.

Every class you could learn something.

It's just......

Compared to the Magic Potion class where you can only hit people with books or ladles, in the Dark Defense class Professor Snape can actually cast spells on disobedient students.

He calls it, under the noble name, a surprise inspection of Defensive Spell proficiency.

It makes them attend Dark Defense with utmost focus, fearing a sudden spell from Professor Snape.

John averages five hits per class...

"Let's get back to the main point."

Just as the two were drifting off, Dumbledore spoke again.

Because Horace has repeatedly refused my invitation to take the post, I had to ask the two of you to go together.

Hearing this, John and Harry were both puzzled.

Even Dumbledore can't persuade him, why can they?

And moreover...

"Is there no one else in the Wizarding World who can teach Magic Potion?"

John asked, puzzled.

Why must we seek out someone who keeps refusing the job?

"Because we need Horace's help, John."

"He possesses the information we most need right now."

"The number of Voldemort's Horcruxes."

Dumbledore didn't hide anything, but spoke openly to the two.

"Horace is very interested in those 'promising young Wizards', he is keen on courting and befriending talented youths."

"Decades ago, he was a faculty member at Hogwarts and also the Head of Slytherin."

"And at that time, among Slytherin's most outstanding students, there was one named Tom Riddle."

Upon hearing this, John and Harry were both stunned, and soon roughly guessed Dumbledore's intention.

"Did Voldemort ever discuss Horcruxes with Mr. Slughorn back then?"

John pressed the question directly.

Dumbledore slowly nodded and said, "Perhaps it was more than just discussion, but I have not yet learned the details."

"Horace has continuously refused to acknowledge his connection with Voldemort, even denying that period of history."

"To that end, he even altered his own memories, in order to distance himself from Voldemort and erase the fact that he once supplied Voldemort with crucial information."

"He holds in his hand the most crucial piece of the puzzle that will help us defeat Voldemort...."

Hearing this, the two understood Dumbledore's plan.

"So, you want John and me to act as bait, go together to invite Professor Slughorn back to Hogwarts as a professor, in order to pry from his mouth the truth he himself altered?"

Harry asked hesitantly.

"That's right, Harry, you and John are temptations Horace cannot refuse."

"If you become his students, you'll definitely be among his most prized disciples."

"I hope you can get close to him and then find a way to extract the truth from him about those years."

This time the two finally understood why Dumbledore wanted them to go together.

But John was still a little curious and asked.

"Then could we force him to speak with Truth Serum?"

"......"

Dumbledore first gave John a speechless look, sighed, and then spoke.

"No, John, and besides, Horace himself is a master extremely proficient in Potions, whose defense and countermeasures against Truth Serum and similar magical concoctions are already masterful."

"Even if you were lucky to obtain it, the altered memories have long solidified deep in his brain, and Truth Serum cannot break through those altered memories."

"Moreover, the most important point is that the biggest difference between us and Voldemort is that we do not do anything that betrays conscience and principle, even for justice."

"Alright."

John had nothing more to say.

So we can only exchange sincerity for sincerity.

Seeing that the two understood the purpose of this mission, Dumbledore no longer delayed and rose slowly.

"Alright, it's getting late, we should go visit an old friend."

Saying so, he extended his arm toward John and Harry.

The two exchanged a glance, then together seized Dumbledore's arm.

In the next moment, they all vanished into the Order of the Phoenix.

Balade Baberton Village.

Night fog spread over the silent street, empty all around, only the streetlamps diffused a dim yellow glow in the mist.

At that moment, beside a small fountain, three silhouettes suddenly materialized and descended here.

It was Dumbledore together with Harry and John.

"Arrived."

Dumbledore spoke first, glanced at the sky around, saw no Dark Mark, and nodded.

"Let's go, Horace is currently hiding in a Muggle house."

The three walked together toward the town.

Dumbledore also explained to the two why he had brought them here.

"You should have heard the news that Death Eaters have been capturing people everywhere lately, right?"

"Horace is also on the Death Eaters' list."

"Now he changes locations almost every week, specifically targeting uninhabited Muggle houses, with no stability at all."

"So enrolling at Hogwarts is of great benefit to him as well."