Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 564, Part 562: Unknown Horcruxes and Memories (4k)

afternoon.

In a remote Scottish village.

The Hogwarts landscape is long gone; now all Sheen can see is an old war memorial and a few benches.

"Perhaps you've already passed the stage of using potions for support?"

After Apparating, Dumbledore looked at the dried-up crystal bottle in his hand and quipped.

"If we don't drink it now... it will be a waste."

Sheen put the bottle away.

These crystal bottles aren't cheap; the better ones cost six Galleons.

But at some point, his bag always started to have too many potions, and for a short time, Sheen worried that they would be wasted.

Later, it was no longer needed.

Because it will definitely be wasted.

Dumbledore smiled, wrapped his robes tightly around himself, and said:

"This way."

He walked with light steps, passing an empty tavern and a few houses.

Judging from the clock on a nearby church, it was almost 3 p.m.

“We can’t just apparite into his house, because that would be as rude as kicking down someone’s door,”

Dumbledore looked disappointed.

"Politeness requires us to give other wizards the opportunity to refuse us. Most wizarding dwellings also have magic to ward off unwanted apparitions—"

"What if you didn't have the Anti-Apparition Charm? Would you teleport directly to Mr. Slughorn's house?"

Sheen asked.

"Oh……"

Dumbledore seemed somewhat tempted.

"No... turn left."

They walked onto a steep, narrow street lined with rows of houses.

The chill that pervades Hogwarts lingers here as well.

They approached a neat little stone house nestled in a garden.

"You can knock now."

Dumbledore said.

Sheen went up and knocked on the door.

"Who?"

The flowerpots hanging on the door seem to be asking a question.

"Dumbledore."

Sheehan received a signal from Headmaster Dumbledore and spoke.

"Ah—Dumbledore—"

The flowerpot made a strange noise, and the door opened.

Sunlight streamed in through the crack in the door, illuminating the gleaming bald head, bulging eyes, and walrus-like silvery-white beard in the room.

Finally, the sunlight disappeared on the shimmering buttons of a brownish-purple velvet dress.

"It's so nice to see you—good afternoon, child."

The old walrus said.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Slughorn."

Sheen nodded politely.

“Good boy, come in, and my old friend Dumbledore too.”

The old walrus let out a clear laugh.

As you enter, the sunlight falls behind you.

Sheen subconsciously glanced at the furnishings in the room.

The room was cramped and messy, but no one would say it was uncomfortable.

There are soft chairs, footstools, drinks, and books, as well as boxes of chocolates and a bunch of bulging cushions.

If you didn't know who lived here, you would probably guess that it was a picky and sophisticated lady.

"Dragon blood, three-quarters of a gram, excellent quality, from... Australian protein eyes..."

Sheen saw the various potion ingredients displayed on the wall, and his potion-making skills allowed him to easily recognize them.

"It seems you've learned potions quite well... perhaps you inherited your mother's talent."

Slughorn heard Sheen muttering to himself.

"Mother?"

Sheen was stunned for a moment, then repeated it.

"Of course, your mother was one of the brightest students I ever taught. Lively and lovely. A charming girl..."

Slughorn spoke eloquently.

"It's better if we don't discuss this topic, dear Slughorn."

Dumbledore's voice was cold, and Slughorn instinctively shivered.

But Sheen had already approached, staring directly at Slughorn.

For some reason, Slughorn felt that the oppressive aura emanating from him was no less than that of Dumbledore.

"What, Professor?"

Sheen asked.

"Black hair, green eyes, but the face doesn't quite look like it... Child, may I see that scar?"

Slughorn's teary eyes glanced at Sheen's forehead.

"This kid is not Harry Potter."

"Dumbledore said helplessly."

"what?!"

Slughorn was clearly taken aback; he nearly collapsed onto the sofa.

"this,"

Dumbledore stepped forward to introduce them.
“It’s Mr. Sheen Green. Sheen, this is an old friend and colleague of mine, Horace Slughorn.”

"I thought you'd at least let that child persuade me..."

Slughorn's enthusiasm seemed to have dissipated a bit, and he shook Sheen's hand somewhat listlessly.

“Oh, what a rare thing, my dear Mr. Green,”

Dumbledore seemed to be suppressing a laugh as he looked at Sheehan.
"Sometimes wizards don't focus on what's important."

"What did you say?"

Slughorn turned to Dumbledore, a shrewd expression on his face.

“I didn’t say anything.”

Dumbledore smiled, looking completely innocent.

“Oh, good boy, come here. I have to ask, as you can see, I’m an old man, boy. A tired old man should have the right to a quiet life and some material comforts.”

Slughorn stared at Sheen, seemingly trying to connect him to someone from his memory.
“Now someone is trying to disrupt my retirement, and I should say 'no' to him…”

Sheehan had already guessed Dumbledore's purpose in sending him.

Professor Slughorn, an interesting wizard.

Whatever he had done in the past—in fact, he hadn't done much bad—he appeared at Hogwarts in the final battle and fought against Voldemort's forces.

This is enough to show that he is a shrewd but principled wizard.

His great love for material pleasures is one of his greatest hobbies, and his favorite food is candied pineapple, which is consistent with Professor Sprout's.
Another major hobby is making friends with famous, successful, and powerful people.

He enjoys the feeling of having important figures at his beck and call.

He himself never wanted to wield great power, but preferred to be in a secondary position—that way, he had more freedom and more room to maneuver.

While at Hogwarts, he always liked to select his favorite students, sometimes because of their ambition or intelligence, sometimes because of their charm or talent, and he had a very unusual ability to always select those who would later excel in various fields.

"Who else is there at Hogwarts...who else could there be..."

Slughorn murmured, looking at the young wizard with a puzzled expression.

A wizard named Sheehan? He had heard of him in the news, but at that time he was more focused on Harry Potter.

Sheehan Green...

"Oh!"

Slughorn remembered.
"Darling, are you the owner of that bookstore?"

Upon hearing this, Dumbledore burst into laughter, his beard trembling. "Yes, sir."

Sheen replied.

"I think you smile more than before..."

Slughorn gave Dumbledore a strange look.

"I thought of something happy."

Dumbledore tried to stop laughing.

"What is it?"

Slughorn then asked.

"I have a private lesson this afternoon."

Dumbledore pretended to be serious.

"With this child? How many years has it been since you last attended a class?"

Slughorn was suspicious.

"Of course. After all, he has learned nothing more in two fields. I am powerless in one of them, but please forgive me, I am confident that I can still teach him something in the other."

Dumbledore said with a smile,
"Just a few days ago, he used shapeshifting to subdue two of our professors... despite some underestimation of them... amazingly, he also single-handedly captured our fugitive..."

Slughorn grew increasingly alarmed as he listened.

With a gasp, he looked at Sheen with great enthusiasm.

His eyes gleamed with a shrewd light, like someone holding a gold card.

"I have to get my hands on this."

In his heart, only one sentence lingered like a curse.

Suddenly, Dumbledore stood up.

"Are you leaving? I haven't even said I wouldn't agree—in fact—if—"

Slughorn immediately asked with a look of anxiety.

"No, I just want to ask if I can use your bathroom."

Dumbledore said with a smile.

"oh,"

Slughorn breathed a sigh of relief and said,

"Go through the foyer, and the second door on the left is it."

Dumbledore walked towards the other end of the room.

After the door closed behind him, the room fell silent.

After a moment, Slughorn stood up and placed his hands on Sheen's shoulders.

"He actually brought you out, Merlin. I thought he was going to keep it a secret forever... In fact, if I were him, I wouldn't want anyone to know..."

"Know what?"

Sheen asked.

"Okay, let's look at these... for these..."

With a smile on his face, he jumped up and pointed to the many glittering picture frames on the cabinet, each containing a tiny, animated figure.
"These are all my former students, and they are all autographed photos. You will see Barnabas Goughfe, the editor of the Daily Prophet, who was always very interested in hearing my views on current affairs."

And there's Ambrose Froome of Honeydukes Candy Shop—he gives me a gift basket every year on my birthday because I introduced him to Cicero Hedges, which led to his first job!
And then there's Gwenogg Jones, captain of the Holyhead Harpy... People often wonder why I'm so close to the Harpy players; I can get tickets for free if I want to!

He spoke very quickly, but his voice lowered towards the end.

“I’ve acquired quite a few, and they’re certainly great, perhaps even fantastic. But for those, the most precious…”

Slagra opened a handle on the wall, revealing a hidden cabinet.

Sheen noticed that the cabinet was arranged from low to high, and at a relatively high point, there was a photo of Lily.

"Ah, if all goes well, oh, Merlin's favor, I must... put it here."

Slughorn was thrilled.

Sheen saw the top square, but realized that Slughorn's gaze wasn't on the top square either.

Following his tilted head, Sheen saw the blank picture frame hanging on the cabinet.

Da da da—

Dumbledore went back into the house, startling Slughorn, who seemed to have forgotten that Dumbledore hadn't left the house yet.

“Oh, you’re back, Albus,”

He says,

"You've been gone for quite a while, are you having an upset stomach?"

"No, I was just flipping through some Muggle magazines."

Dumbledore said,
“I really like the knit pattern on the sweater. Well, Sheehan, we’ve been bothering Horace for too long, I think we should go.”

Slughorn seemed taken aback.

"You haven't asked yet!!"

Didn't I ask?

"Dumbledore said, confused."

"Of course you didn't ask!"

Slughorn was furious.

“Alright, then I’ll ask again, but I remember you just want a quiet retirement. It’s never easy to force someone to do something they don’t want to do…”

"Stop talking nonsense, I promise you—I'm leaving right now to teach at Hogwarts, right now!"

The old walrus angrily packed up his things.

"I'll ask for a raise, Dumbledore!"

The old walrus added.

"Then so be it..."

Dumbledore looked very troubled.

"Just take it as a joke—but I'm going with you now! You stingy old man."

The old walrus angrily picked up the box.

But he never looked at Dumbledore again; instead, he stared straight at Sheehan.

Dumbledore chuckled softly.

The garden gate closed automatically behind them, and they walked down the mountain through the thick, swirling fog.

Even with the old walrus sulking, Dumbledore continued his cheerful conversation with Sheehan.

"How far have you progressed in your Transfiguration skills?"

"Average level among masters."

Sheen answered honestly.

"Ah, it's a bit slow."

Dumbledore said.

"A bit slow?!"

They heard the old walrus shouting behind them.

“Oh, Horace, please forgive me, it is indeed slow for this child, especially compared to his other domain.”

Dumbledore still squinted, his brows relaxed in a pleasant manner.

"We have our first class this afternoon, remember to bring your magic wand."

Dumbledore turned to Sheehan and said kindly.

When we returned to Hogwarts, the sun was still shining brightly, but the cold wind was still blowing.

So, in this cold November, Sheen was about to take his first one-on-one Transfiguration lesson, taught by Dumbledore.

Before even entering the office, Sheehan heard Headmaster Dumbledore's voice.

"Before class begins, Sheen, I may need to spend a few minutes assigning you a second task."

I believe you'll complete my first task during the summer vacation, but now, listen to me, there's something else important for you to do.

Dumbledore's face was blurred in the rising steam.

Sheen never expected that this task would fall to him.

The task is simple: to explore Professor Slughorn's memories.

This memory plays an important role and was already part of Sheen's plan.

After all, to find Voldemort's last unknown Horcrux, it is essential to understand his past, especially his behavior when he first came into contact with the Horcrux.

"...So...are you willing?"

As Dumbledore finished explaining, Sheehan quickly nodded.

(End of this chapter)