Chapter 304

After that, John and the other two headed straight for Slughorn's compartment.

Afterward, John and the two others headed straight for Slughorn's compartment.

Afterward, John and his two companions made their way to Slughorn's compartment.

Afterward, John and the two companions walked all the way toward Slughorn's compartment.

As the compartment door was pushed open, a cloyingly sweet frosting scent mixed with the aroma of sherry washed over them.

As the door swung open, a rich aroma of sweet frosting mixed with sherry washed over the compartment.

Maybe: "As the compartment door was just pushed open, a cloying sweet frosting aroma mixed with sherry wine hit them." The source didn't specify who, but it's implied the people entering. Adding "them" is okay as it's implied. I'll go: "As the compartment door was just pushed open, a cloying sweet frosting aroma mixed with sherry wine washed over them."

The compartment had been converted into a private dining room.

Translation: "This compartment had been directly converted into a private dining room."

By then, other students were already inside the private room, including their friend Neville.

Translation: "By then the private room already had other students inside, including their friend Neville."

"Hey, Harry, Hermione, John."

Translation: "\"Hey, Harry, Hermione, John. \""

Neville saw them arrive, immediately rose from the soft seat, and walked toward them.

Translation: "Neville saw them arrive, immediately rose from the soft seat and walked toward them."

"Senior Neville, you're here too; the professor isn't that lacking in taste, is he?"

Translation: "\"Senior Neville, you're here too, Professor isn't that blind, huh. \"" Need natural: "Senior Neville, you're here too—Professor isn't that clueless, is he?" But we must not add. Let's try: "\"Senior Neville, you're here too; the professor isn't that oblivious, right. \"" Keep close.

John, completely unaware of Professor Slughorn lurking in his blind spot, turned straight to Neville and said,

John completely missed Professor Slughorn in his blind spot and went straight to Neville, saying:

"Ahem..."

Translation: "\"Cough cough... \""

Neville quickly coughed twice, his eyes constantly flicking toward Professor Slughorn, signaling John to watch his words.

Translation: "Neville hurriedly coughed twice, his eyes darting repeatedly toward Professor Slughorn, signaling John to watch his words."

Only then did John and the others turn to look behind them, where Professor Slughorn sat regally in a velvet armchair, a crystal goblet clasped in his left hand, sipping his drink leisurely.

Translation: "Only then did John and the others turn around to see Professor Slughorn seated properly in a velvet armchair, left hand holding a crystal cup, leisurely sipping wine."

Harry and Hermione felt a wave of embarrassment, but John did not.

Translation: "Harry and Hermione both felt a wave of embarrassment, but John did not."

"Professor, long time no see."

Translation: "\"Professor, long time no see. \""

John flashed a familiar, forced smile at Slughorn, as if the earlier awkwardness had never existed.

Translation: "John directly gave Slughorn a fake, overly familiar smile, as if the earlier embarrassment didn't exist at all."

The professor chuckled lightly, paying no mind to John's previous remark.

Translation: "The professor also gave a hehe laugh, not minding John's earlier words."

In fact, he seemed to think John was flattering him.

Translation: "Instead, he felt John was praising him."

"Long time no see, John, Harry, and..."

Translation: "\"Long time no see, John, Harry, and this... \""

Professor Slughorn smiled and greeted the two, then turned his gaze toward the unfamiliar Hermione.

Translation: "Professor Slughorn smiled and greeted the two, then turned his gaze to the unfamiliar Hermione."

He seemed to be asking, "Who is this?"

Translation: "As if asking, who is this?"

Hermione was about to introduce herself when John cut in first.

Translation: "Hermione was about to introduce herself when John jumped in and said:"

"Professor, I know you're famous for cherishing and seeking talent."

Translation: "\"Professor, I know you're famous for cherishing talent. \""

"That's why I specifically invited the smartest witch at Hogwarts—a straight‑A student, a member of the Order of the Phoenix, Harry's strictest mother, Miss Hermione Granger—over here."

"So I specifically brought this Hogwarts' smartest witch, a straight‑O student, a member of the Order of the Phoenix, Harry's strictest mother, Miss Hermione Granger."

Thus: "\"So I specially brought this Hogwarts smartest witch, a straight-O student, a member of the Order of the Phoenix, Harry's strictest mother, Miss Hermione Granger. \""

Hearing John's flamboyant introduction, Hermione felt embarrassed enough to want to run away.

Translation: "Hearing John's boastful introduction, Hermione felt embarrassed and wanted to flee."

But Professor Slughorn's eyes lit up, and he said delightedly,

Translation: "But Professor Slughorn's eyes lit up, and he said delightedly:"

"Oh really? Welcome, welcome, Miss Granger."

Translation: "\"Oh really, welcome welcome, Miss Granger. \""

"I am Horace Slughorn, your future Potions professor. Pleased to meet you."

Translation: "\"I am Huo La Si·Si La Ge Huo En, your future Potions Professor, nice to meet you. \""

Professor Slughorn rose and, with great enthusiasm, extended his hand to Hermione.

Translation: "Professor Slughorn stood up and enthusiastically extended his hand to Hermione."

He didn't know whether the other titles were true or false, but as for the straight‑A record, he could verify it anytime he wanted.

Translation: "He didn't know whether the other titles were true or false, but as for the straight-O claim, he could check it if he wanted."

If it's true, she's indeed a rare talent worth nurturing; who knows, she might even secure a position in the Ministry of Magic someday.

Translation: "If it's true, then she's indeed a rare talent; if well nurtured, she might even secure a place in the Ministry of Magic in the future."

When it comes to talent, he never shies away from having more.

Translation: "When it comes to such talent, he's never had enough."

He was also happy to give John some face, since John had brought her; turning her away would be too rude.

Translation: "He was also happy to give John face, after all John brought her; driving her away would hurt harmony."

Hermione promptly returned the professor's enthusiastic handshake.

Translation: "In response to Professor Slughorn's enthusiastic handshake, Hermione also hurriedly returned the grip."

"I'm also delighted to meet you, Professor. John has mentioned you to me many times."

Translation: "\"I'm also very pleased to meet you, Professor; John has often mentioned you to me. \""

"Hahaha, really? Well then, have a seat."

Translation: "\"Hahaha, really? Good, good, please sit. \""

John nodded with satisfaction, just as I had expected.

Translation: "John nodded satisfactorily, indeed just as I thought."

He successfully brought Hermione along.

Translation: "Successfully brought Hermione along."

Soon Slughorn had everyone sit down and gave each of them a brief introduction.

Translation: "Soon Slughorn had everyone sit down and gave each a brief introduction."

Including them, there were only seven people in total; the three unfamiliar ones were:

Translation: "Counting them, there were seven people in total; the three unfamiliar ones are:"

Marcus Belby, rumored to be the inventor of his uncle's wolfsbane potion.

Translation: "Ma Ke Si·BeiErBi, said to be the inventor of his uncle's Wolf Poison potion."

Also a well‑known master of potion‑making in the industry.

Translation: "He is also a renowned Potion Master in the field."

Cormac McLaggen, whose uncle is said to be a friend of the Minister of Magic.

Translation: "Kao Mai Ke·Mai Ke La Gen, said to have an uncle who is a friend of the Minister of Magic."

Isn't it odd that all of them got invited?

Translation: "Isn't it surprising that even such people could be invited?"

Well, Professor Slughorn not only courts talent, but also those with a bit of family background.

Translation: "Well, Professor Slughorn doesn't just recruit talent; he also pulls in those with some family background."

Blaise Zabini, whose mother is a pure‑blood aristocrat with a fortune worth millions and a stellar reputation.

Translation: "Bu Lei Si·Sha Bi Ni, said to have a mother who is a pure-blood noble, immensely wealthy and prominent."

To be fair, he's the only one John thinks can actually live up to the hype.

Translation: "Frankly, this is the only one John thinks is somewhat presentable."

Unfortunately, he seems to be a Death Eater.

Translation: "But unfortunately, he seems to be a Death Eater."

Although that hasn't been confirmed yet.

Translation: "Although he hasn't been exposed yet."

When John looked at him, his gaze almost openly revealed a scrutinizing stare.

Translation: "When John looked at him, his eyes barely concealed scrutiny."

It seemed he was weighing whether to simply treat him as a Death Eater and deal with him.

Translation: "As if assessing whether to simply deal with him as a Death Eater."

Zabini, seeing John's look, instinctively straightened his back.

Translation: "Upon seeing John's gaze, Sabrina also instinctively straightened his back."

He had read in the newspapers a few days earlier that John had captured three Death Eaters on the street.

Translation: "He had seen the newspaper a few days prior: John arrested three Death Eaters on the street."

No pre‑planning, no organization, no strategy.

Translation: "No premeditation, no organization, no plan."

He acted on pure impulse, without considering the consequences.

Translation: "He just acted on sight, without considering the consequences."

Among them was Fenrir Greyback, a werewolf leader even their families wouldn't dare provoke.

Translation: "Among them was a werewolf chieftain named Fenrir, whom even their family could not afford to provoke."

So now, in the eyes of the Death Eaters, this guy is a plague, scarier than Dumbledore.

Translation: "Thus, to them, this guy is a plague god, even more terrifying than Dumbledore."

After all, Dumbledore at least follows some procedure or presents evidence; this guy just rushes in and deals.

Translation: "After all, Dumbledore at least observes some procedure or evidence, whereas this guy just rushes in first and talks later."

But people with such shady backgrounds can't stand his recklessness.

Translation: "Precisely because they have questionable backgrounds, they can't withstand his recklessness."

In the end John didn't act, because Slughorn was the host and John didn't want to offend him.

Translation: "In the end, John still didn't act, after all Slughorn is the host, and John didn't want to offend him."

Right now, Slughorn is his true target.

Translation: "Right now, Slughorn is his true target."

A few petty thugs weren't enough to make him lash out and hurt people; at least back in school, it wasn't necessary.

Then John again turned his gaze to that Michael Logan, damn it, from just now until now, this BYD has been staring at Hermione.

Act like I don't exist!

According to Harry, they're from Lion House; last year they even signed up for Quidditch Keeper, but Ron beat them out.

Hermione is also the type who gets prettier as she grows up.

Now she's already graceful and poised, full of intellectual radiance, attracting other boys as naturally as can be.

John narrowed his eyes, simply took Hermione's little hand, and leaned close to her ear to whisper some useless sweet nothings.

Hermione's ears instantly turned red, yet she didn't resist.

She's so smart, and having been stared at by Michael Logan all along, she naturally guessed right away that John was jealous.

She just wanted to deliberately show off their affection in front of Michael Logan to stake her claim.

Just thinking that John was jealous for her sake, Hermione couldn't help but turn up the corners of her mouth.

Then she obediently went along with John's display of affection.

All she did was be obedient.

Indeed, seeing this scene, Michael Logan's face instantly darkened, and he turned away disinterestedly.

Slughorn, seated at the main seat, had been observing the students' reactions since just now.

He took in their expressions when they faced each other.

He chuckled without interrupting.

He's not an old-fashioned stick-in-the-mind who would spoil things; on the contrary, he's high in emotional intelligence.

Whether it's grudges, romantic rivalry, or flirtatious banter, they're all just one way students express their personality or ability.

This lets him get to know these students better.