The Shopkeeper of All Worlds in the British Wizarding World

Chapter 467 New Professor

"Although I need to hide everywhere, but... these days, cautious wizards try not to show up in public." Slughorn said, "Dumbledore wants me to teach at the school, but taking a position at Hogwarts at this time is tantamount to publicly declaring that I support the Order of the Phoenix! I admire those brave people, but I must admit that I am not that kind of warrior." After saying this, the old man spread his hands.

"Coming to school to teach is not joining the Order of the Phoenix, how could there be so many risks?" Harry looked down on Slughorn's overly nervous and even cowardly behavior. "Most teachers are not members of the Order of the Phoenix, and no one has been killed. You have to know that the only person Voldemort is afraid of is Professor Dumbledore. I really can't think of any place safer than Hogwarts Castle."

Hearing the word Voldemort, Slughorn shuddered, then muttered reluctantly. "Yes, you have some truth in what you said. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is indeed afraid of Dumbledore. Since I don't want to be a Death Eater, then they certainly won't regard me as one of their gang... If that's the case, I should be safer with Albus. Think about poor Bones. If it weren't for her good luck this time, she might have died. I dare not say that my defense here is better than the defense given to her home by the Ministry of Magic-"

"Horace," Dumbledore reentered the room, holding up a Muggle magazine. "Do you mind if I take this? I love knitting patterns. Now, Harry, we've been bothering Horace for quite some time. I think we should go."

Harry stood up, and Slughorn looked uneasy. "Of course, take it, but you're not leaving now, are you?"

"Yes, since you have refused this job, there is no point for us to stay here. Well, goodbye." With that, Dumbledore walked out of the room with Harry without any reluctance. "If you really want to, you can come to the school to have a look. I swear that the school has added a lot of security measures this year."

Just as Harry and the others walked out the door, a voice came from behind, "Okay, I promise."

Dumbledore turned around and saw Slughorn standing at the door of the living room, panting. Seeing Dumbledore staring at him, Slughorn seemed a little excited: "I must be crazy, but I am willing to be a professor at Hogwarts this year. But you must not treat me less, such as giving me a raise, and for example, I want the former vice-president's dormitory on the second floor--"

"Okay, see you on September 9st." Dumbledore waved his hand and continued walking out with Harry. "Well done, Harry."

"But I didn't do anything, and what I just said probably won't be able to convince such an experienced old man." Harry said with some doubt.

"No, you've done a lot," Dumbledore said as they walked down the mountain. "Slughorn is a typical egoist. For example, he has always liked to make friends with famous, successful, and powerful people to bring enough convenience to his life. He even selected those people who he thought would be successful in various fields in the future and set up a club with himself as the core. He let them get to know each other and establish useful connections. In the end, he always got some kind of benefit, such as a box of his favorite pineapple preserves for free, or the opportunity to recommend a clerk to the Goblin Liaison Office."

"Then why did you choose him to be a professor at your school?" Harry asked somewhat puzzled.

"Ah, as a professor he was quite competent," Dumbledore explained. "And even in the most dangerous times, as the head of Slytherin and a member of an ancient pure-blood family, he not only did not side with Voldemort, but was also able to treat students of different bloodlines fairly. That was enough."

"By the way, you need to remember. Professor Slughorn will want to take you in as his apprentice. Harry, you will become the jewel in his collection: the Boy Who Lived... or, as they call you recently, the 'Savior'. I suggest you try to be vigilant, but there is no need to be disgusted, because he does not do this out of malice." After giving these instructions, Dumbledore asked Harry to put his hand on his arm. When Harry recovered from the dizziness of Apparition. He saw a crooked silhouette in front of him, which was his second favorite place in the world: The Burrow. But just as he was about to go in, Dumbledore stopped him.

"Harry, there are something I need to tell you." Dumbledore said seriously. "I just treated you like a child at the end of last semester, which resulted in a series of events at the end of the semester. I want to apologize to you for this."

"But that was mainly because of my recklessness." Harry seemed a little excited when he talked about this. "I was just lucky at the end of last semester, otherwise I would have lost my two friends now. I have been thinking about this during this holiday... Look at Mrs. Bones, look at Emmeline Vance... The next one might be me, right? If it is really my turn, I will fight to the end. People like Ryan who have little to do with this war are willing to fight to the end in the Ministry of Magic, so I have no reason to escape."

"Well said, you are worthy of being the son of James and Lily." Professor Dumbledore nodded slowly. "There are some things you can tell your friends and godfather, such as the prophecy." After saying that, he raised his hand to stop Harry from saying anything.

"You may not want to confess these things, and you may not want to make your friends worry about you. But you have to know that they are fighting for the same goal as you, and they may even sacrifice their lives for this goal. You should give them trust, just as they trust you."

Seeing Harry nod in approval, Dumbledore continued, "Also, I think you already know what you are facing, so I will give you some special instruction. Of course, this will prevent you from taking the Occlumency class with Professor Snape."

"That's great, those classes were just--" He paused here, trying hard not to complain.

"I can understand your thoughts. Those classes are basically useless to you." Dumbledore shook his head helplessly. "Well, Harry, there are two more things before we say goodbye. First, you'd better carry the invisibility cloak with you, even in school. Second, in order to welcome your arrival, the Burrow has received the most stringent security protection that the Ministry of Magic can provide. These measures have brought a certain degree of inconvenience to Arthur and Molly - for example, all their mail must be reviewed by the Ministry before it can be delivered. But they don't mind at all, and they are only concerned about your safety. However, if you take risks when living with them, you will be too sorry for them."

"I know." Harry nodded.

"That's good. I'll be leaving first. You go in quickly. I wish you a happy summer vacation." Dumbledore said and waved to him, then disappeared in front of him with a snap of Apparition.

Harry looked towards the Burrow at this time. The lights in the house seemed so warm in the dark night. Especially the silhouette of Ginny on the bay window made him smile happily.

(End of this chapter)