Hogwarts: A little lion in the skin of the Eagle School

"So, Principal, what did you call us here for today?"

John cut straight to the point and asked Dumbledore.

Dumbledore didn't seem to be in a hurry and slowly sat down next to the two of them.

"I'd like to take you to meet an old friend."

"Horace Slughorn".

Both of them were puzzled when they heard Dumbledore mention an unfamiliar name.

Dumbledore continued.

"I plan to invite Horace to be our school's Potions professor this year."

"Huh? Really!"

Before he could finish speaking, Harry excitedly asked from the side.

"Does that mean we don't need to attend Professor Snape's classes?"

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

"Professor Snape then officially took over the Defense Against the Dark Arts course."

Harry: ......

The happier I was before, the more upset I am now.

Last semester, after Voldemort was exposed, Dumbledore regained real power and drove Umbridge away.

Their black air defense duties were temporarily filled by Professor Snape.

Although it was only one class a week, he was indeed used as a punching bag by Professor Snape for several classes.

It was used to demonstrate to other students how to defend against black magic.

Then he would get beaten to a pulp every time.

After all that was over, Harry was still hoping for a new Black Defense Professor.

It turned out to be a potions professor who came.

Snape's Black Guard actually turned into a positive one?

It's easy to imagine that in the coming year, he would become Professor Snape's punching bag even more frequently...

The thought of this sent a chill down Harry's spine.

In contrast to Harry, John was quite happy that Professor Snape would continue as the Black Organization professor.

Umbridge wasted almost a year of his potential last year.

Later, Professor Snape temporarily took over as head of the Black Defenders, and the teaching quality was worlds apart.

I can learn something in every class.

that is......

Unlike Potions class, where students could only be hit with books or ladles, in Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Professor Snape could actually use spells to punish disobedient students.

They called it a surprise inspection of the proficiency of defensive spells.

This made them incredibly focused during Blacklisting, terrified of suddenly being hit by Professor Snape's curse.

John gets an average of five slaps per class...

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

Just as the two were lost in thought, Dumbledore spoke again.

"Because Horace has repeatedly declined my offer of a position, I had no choice but to ask the two of you to come with me."

John and Harry were also puzzled when they heard this.

Even Dumbledore couldn't get invited, so why could they?

and...

"Is there no one else in the wizarding world who can teach potions?"

John asked curiously.

Why insist on hiring someone who has repeatedly refused?

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

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

"The number of Voldemort's Horcruxes."

Dumbledore didn't hide anything; instead, he spoke frankly and openly to the two of them.

"Horace was very interested in those 'promising young wizards,' and he was keen to recruit and befriend young talents."

"Decades ago, he was a professor at Hogwarts and the head of Slytherin."

"And at that time, one of his most outstanding students in Slytherin was named Tom Riddle."

Upon hearing this, John and Harry were both taken aback, but then they roughly guessed Dumbledore's intention.

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

John pressed on with the question.

Dumbledore nodded slowly and said, "Perhaps it's much more than just a discussion, but I don't know for sure yet."

"Horace has consistently refused to acknowledge his relationship with Voldemort, and even to deny that past."

"For this, he even went so far as to alter his own memories in order to sever ties with Voldemort and clear himself of the crucial information he had provided to Voldemort."

"He holds the most crucial piece of the puzzle in our fight against Voldemort..."

Upon hearing this, the two understood Dumbledore's plan.

"So, you want John and me to act as bait, to persuade Professor Slughorn to return to Hogwarts as a professor, so that you can pry the truth, which he himself distorted, out of him?"

Harry asked hesitantly.

"That's right, Harry, you and John are both temptations that Horace cannot resist."

"If you were to become his students, you would definitely be among his most outstanding disciples."

"I hope you can get close to him and find a way to get the truth out of him about what happened back then."

Only then did the two understand the whole reason why Dumbledore wanted them to go together.

John, however, still asked with some curiosity.

"Could we use truth serum to force him to talk?"

"..."

Dumbledore glanced at John speechlessly for a moment, then sighed before speaking.

"No, John, not to mention that Horace himself is an extremely proficient master of potions, and his defense against and countermeasures against magical potions like Truth Potion are already superb."

"Even if he manages to succeed by chance, the altered memories have already solidified deep in his brain, and the truth serum cannot break through those altered memories."

"Moreover, and most importantly, the biggest difference between us and Voldemort is that we do not do anything against our conscience and principles, even for the sake of justice."

OK.

John had nothing to say.

So the only way is to exchange sincerity for sincerity.

Seeing that both of them understood the purpose of the mission, Dumbledore did not delay any longer and slowly got up.

"Alright, it's getting late, it's time to visit some old friends."

As he spoke, he extended his arms to John and Harry.

After exchanging a glance, the two grabbed Dumbledore's arm together.

The next moment, they disappeared together into the Order of the Phoenix.

......

Barred Barberton Village.

Night fog blanketed the silent streets, and there was no one around except for the streetlights casting dim, yellowish light through the fog.

Just then, three figures suddenly appeared and landed near a small fountain.

It was Dumbledore, Harry, and John.

"arrive."

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

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

The three of them walked together into the town.

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

"You've probably heard about the Death Eaters arresting people everywhere lately, right?"

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

"Now he changes locations almost every week, specifically targeting uninhabited Muggle houses where there's no peace at all."

"Therefore, joining Hogwarts would also be of great benefit to him."