Hogwarts: Who uses a crowbar in wizard duels?

"Welcome to the charming village of Baldred Barberton."

Under the cover of night, Dumbledore stood by a small fountain and smiled at Kevin and Harry.

The two appeared in this unfamiliar place after Dumbledore Apparated them, and instinctively looked around.

"Professor, why did you bring us here?"

Harry looked at the deserted village and asked curiously.

"I've brought you here to meet an old friend."

Dumbledore led the way into the town and slowly explained the purpose of their trip.

"Horace Slughorn, Kevin, you may have heard of him. He was a Potions professor at Hogwarts for many years and was also a rare Potions Master."

"The reason I came here is actually to invite him to take over Severus's job and become this year's Potions professor."

"Oh, of course, Kevin, you'll still be in charge of the students from grades one through four."

As he spoke, Dumbledore winked at Kevin, seemingly to reassure him.

"Take over as Professor Snape? He quit!"

Harry was overjoyed to hear that someone was going to replace Snape.

"No, I transferred him to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."

"..."

Harry was speechless. It would have been better not to change it at all.

"Why not let Professor Moody continue as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?" Harry asked curiously.

"He has other things to do and can't continue this year."

"And most importantly, we need Professor Horace's help this year."

As he spoke, Dumbledore suddenly stopped and looked at Kevin and Harry.

"You should still remember our current goal, right? To find out exactly how many Horcruxes Voldemort has."

"And in this world, besides Voldemort himself, probably only Horace could know this information."

"Back when Voldemort was still studying at Hogwarts, Horace was his professor, and it was from him that Voldemort learned about the Horcruxes."

Hearing this, Harry was taken aback and asked, "If that's the case, why not just let him tell us directly?"

"That's the problem, Harry. Horace is running away. He refuses to admit that he provided Voldemort with the key information about the Horcruxes, so he has altered his memories."

"That's why I need your help, to get him to open up and tell you the truth about what happened back then."

"However, I don't want you to ask right away. This matter cannot be rushed. I hope to invite him back to be the Potions Professor so that you will have enough time to get to know him."

Dumbledore slowly revealed his purpose.

To put it bluntly, it's about luring people in and then using psychological manipulation (PUA) on them.

"Then what do you need us to do?"

"Just be yourself, Harry."

Dumbledore patted Harry on the shoulder and said with a smile.

Horace wasn't stupid; how could he not know Dumbledore's purpose?

In this situation, the only way is to exchange sincerity for sincerity.

He believed that Harry was an irresistible temptation for Horace, and that Harry's sincerity could also win over Horace's heart.

As for Kevin, he was brought in to be an assist player.

After all, he could never become Horace's student, but if Kevin could call Horace "professor," Horace would probably be more than satisfied.

"We're here, this is it..."

The two followed Dumbledore for a while in the village before finally stopping in front of a villa.

However, Dumbledore paused for a moment as he looked at the damaged gate and the mess inside.

"...Get your wands, Harry, Kevin."

Dumbledore pulled out his wand from somewhere.

Harry immediately did as he was told.

Although Kevin knew there was no danger inside, he still took out a crowbar.

The group slowly walked into the house. Kevin knocked on the wall, and the sound waves spread out.

"There are no enemies, Principal."

Kevin checked the situation inside the house, reported to the leader, and then pointed to the room where Horace was.

"I think Professor Horace, whom you mentioned, is hiding in that room, disguised as a sofa."

Dumbledore was aware of Kevin's trick. He used sound waves to sense his surroundings, and neither the Disillusionment Charm nor the Invisibility Cloak could hide him. When he said there was no one there, he meant there really was no one there.

He immediately lowered his guard and headed towards the room Kevin had mentioned.

"Horace".

Dumbledore's wand glowed, pointing to the only intact sofa in the messy room.

However, the sofa didn't react at all.

Kevin didn't waste any words, and threw the crowbar out with a bang.

A large hole was smashed in the floor next to the sofa.

"Merlin's beard! He's one of us, Albus, tell him to stop!"

The sofa shook instantly, making a sound.

Then a head popped out from the back of the sofa, and the sofa stood up like a Transformer, transforming into a man's body and limbs.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and looked at Kevin, as if to say, "Well done."

"Albus, there's no need to use such a frightening method to make me reveal myself."

"Horace, I can't help it, your deformed sofa is just too realistic, I didn't even notice you for a moment."

Dumbledore smiled, pretended to be naive, and even took the opportunity to praise Horace.

"Of course, I've evaded countless Death Eaters with this trick."

Horace shook his limbs, fully reverting to human form, and said proudly.

"It seems your situation isn't looking too good lately."

Dumbledore looked around at the messy house and said sarcastically.

"Oh, these, I arranged these on purpose. Last year, those Death Eaters kept coming to me, hoping I would join them."

"If I refuse every time, who knows what those lunatics will do, so I can only pretend I'm not there."

Horace waved his hand, then looked at Harry and Kevin.

"Albus, aren't you going to give me an introduction?"

"Oh, of course, Harry, Kevin, this is Horace Slughorn, my old friend and colleague."

Horace waved to the two of them with a smile, completely unconcerned about almost being hit by Kevin just now.

"I don't think these two need much introduction. Harry Potter and Kevin, you've definitely seen them in the newspapers."

"Of course, of course."

Horace nodded, his gaze towards the two men filled with warmth, or rather, eagerness.

"Mr. Slughorn, if you don't mind, perhaps we could restore this first before we talk?"

Kevin stepped on the creaking floorboards and said, somewhat speechlessly.

"What do you say, Horace?"

Dumbledore looked at Horace, who nodded.

Without Dumbledore lifting a finger, Kevin simply waved his hand, without even using his wand.

The house, which was in complete disarray, began to be restored little by little. A fire was lit in the fireplace, and the chandelier was turned on.

Horace saw all of this and his eyes were full of affection.

"Merlin's beard is truly magnificent."