Hogwarts: Don't call me the Staff Maker

Chapter 639 Slughorn's Invitation

Chapter 639 Slughorn's Invitation

Rockbread—Hagrid's favorite snack, but to most wizards it's as hard as a digestible rock and has to be soaked in hot water to soften it before it's even chewable.

"You guys have quite the appetites," Siron said.

Harry's face paled, and he subconsciously rubbed his cheek. Even though several hours had passed, he could still vaguely feel a throbbing pain in the muscles of his face.

"If I could, I wouldn't want to eat that kind of thing either." He hurried into the auditorium, even more looking forward to a proper dinner.

The house-elves of Hogwarts prepared roasted steaks, and the aroma that filled the entire Great Hall brought Harry and his friends to tears.

However, they had just reached the Gryffindor table and hadn't even had a chance to sit down when Professor Slughorn appeared before them.

He's hosting a small party tonight, and this time he specifically invited a few people to attend.

Helen, Harry, and Hermione all received his carefully prepared invitations.

Ron was the only exception—Slughorn seemed completely unaware that someone else was there, not even glancing at Ron once. But he was as warm and welcoming to everyone else as a roaring fire in a fireplace.

"Come on, Harry, there aren't that many people at this party, just a few rising stars. Besides you, there's McLagan, Sabine, and the charming Melinda Bobin—I don't know if you know her, but her family owns a large chain of pharmacies, and her uncle is a member of the Society of Extraordinary Pharmacists."

"I can't come, Professor," Harry said. "I'm going to Snape-Professor's for solitary confinement."

Thank goodness, Harry was actually somewhat relieved that he still had one more day of detention.

Snape's detention was supposed to start last Saturday, but it was postponed until today because Dumbledore was giving him and Siren a lesson at that time.

Of course, Harry didn't want to be put in solitary confinement by Snape, but if he could use this as an excuse to skip Slughorn's party, it didn't seem like an unacceptable option.

"Oh my god!" Slughorn's face fell immediately when he heard Harry's refusal.

Of all these people, the one he most wanted to befriend was Harry Potter. Or to put it more bluntly, this party was originally organized specifically to invite Harry.

Since Harry hadn't visited him even once during the long school term, Slughorn had to figure out a solution on his own.

"Alright, I'll go talk to Severus now. Explain the situation, and I'm sure I can persuade him to postpone your confinement. Okay, see you later—"

He hurriedly walked out of the auditorium.

"There's no way he could convince Snape." Harry said after Slughorn had walked away and couldn't hear him anymore. "The detention was postponed by a day last time because Dumbledore was going to give us a lesson, but not everyone can make him compromise."

As expected, ten minutes later, when Snape entered the Great Hall, he deliberately turned to look at Harry, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, as if he were laughing at his overestimation of his abilities.

But Harry wasn't angry at all; he just felt that Snape was being a bit presumptuous.

He didn't intentionally let Slughorn postpone his confinement, and besides, he had already guessed this outcome, so what was there to be proud of?

Harry ate the grilled steak on his plate without a care, and then took two fried chicken legs—this was what wizards should eat, not some rock bread.

However, as they were leaving the auditorium after their meal, they encountered Slughorn again. Just like half an hour earlier, he suddenly appeared and blocked their way.

Slughorn looked a little embarrassed at that moment.

"Oh, Harry, it seems you've made a very serious mistake this time. Even I'm having a hard time persuading Severus to postpone your confinement."

While speaking, Slughorn barely glanced at anyone; his eyes were either on the ceiling or glancing at the stone statues beside him.

It was clear that the professor, who had just made a boastful promise but failed to keep it, did not want to come and see Harry at this time.

"Yes, he's been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. Even the headmaster couldn't change his mind," Harry said. Although he had only talked back to the professor, he was willing to cooperate with Slughorn to prevent him from being too embarrassed.

Sure enough, upon hearing that Dumbledore was also unable to persuade Snape, Slughorn immediately relaxed, and his expression became much more natural.

"Severus is really too serious," Slughorn said. "It's normal for students to break school rules, and he made plenty of mistakes when he was in school, but I never put him in solitary confinement."

"You put him in solitary confinement?" Hermione asked, puzzled.

"Oh, I'm Severus' Potions teacher, and also the Head of Slytherin," Slughorn said with a smile. "Back then, my favorites were Severus and Lily, your mother. They were among the most talented Potions students I've ever seen. If Lily—"

Slughorn seemed to want to say something, but after glancing at Harry, he gave up and instead said, "What I mean is, it is indeed true that Severus became a famous Potions Master and the youngest Headmaster of Hogwarts."

"Oh, let's not talk about that." Slughorn shifted his gaze from Harry to Siren and Hermione.

"You guys definitely won't be put in solitary confinement, right?"

He came here against his will, just to invite Siren and Hermione.

It's understandable that Harry can't go, but it would be too pathetic if Siren and Hermione didn't go either.

Neither McLagan, Sabine, nor Bobin were truly important figures. Slughorn was willing to befriend them simply to get in touch with the people behind them.

Harry, Sherman, Hermione, and others who are famous or capable are the students he truly wants to build good relationships with.

Countless past experiences have taught him that such people have a high probability of achieving great things in the future, and it is most worthwhile to build a good relationship with them during his student days.

Hermione remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

She really didn't have anything else to do, and she also wanted to see what a party in Slughorn was like.

Although Xilun didn't want to go, he couldn't think of a reason to refuse.

"I'm sorry, Horace, I'm afraid Siren won't be able to attend your dinner party either," Dumbledore's voice came from behind.

Xilun instinctively turned around and saw that it was indeed him.

But Dumbledore looked a bit... disheveled?

He looked unusually haggard, and although his hair and beard had been groomed, some unresolved unkemptness was still visible.

His shoes and the hem of his robe were also wet, leaving several obvious water stains on the foyer floor.