Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 325 Confirmed Matters

Slughorn's office must have been enchanted with a Seamless Stretch Charm; it was much larger than I remembered, and you could clearly see that it had been carefully replanted.

Gold and green curtains hung from the ceiling and walls, and a golden crystal chandelier hung in the center. Soft wool carpets swayed underfoot, and several musical instruments played melodious music in the corner.

The house was filled with people, gathered in twos and threes. Some were quite old, wearing tall hats, chatting and laughing while smoking pipes. House-elves carried heavy silver platters among the people; they were so short that at first glance they looked like little tables under a spell.

“Harry, I’d like you to meet my former student, Elder Wolver.” Slughorn pulled Harry to a thin man wearing glasses. “He’s the author of Bloodbrothers: My Life Among Vampires, and of course, his friend Bloodny.”

Walpole shook hands with Harry warmly, but his friend, the vampire Bloodny, didn't come over; he was still chatting with the group of girls who were very curious about him.

"I'm so happy to see you!" Wolper exclaimed excitedly. "I was just talking to Professor Slughorn the other day about where the Harry Potter book everyone's been waiting for is!"

"Um..." Harry said somewhat awkwardly, "I don't think there's such a book..."

"Really?" Walpole seemed even more excited. "Actually, I'd love to write this book; people are really eager to know about you right now!"

"If you're willing, just accept a few interviews with me, each lasting about four or five hours, and I guarantee you'll see the book published in just a few months. It won't take you any effort at all."

"You can't even imagine how much money we can make..."

"Sorry, I'm really not interested in that," Harry refused outright, his gaze drifting into the distance. "I saw a friend, sorry..."

Harry apologized to Walpole again, then pulled Luna, who had been curiously watching from the sidelines, and led her around him into the building. There, Hermione and Parvati were chatting with the two eccentric sisters.

"Hermione, Parvati!" Harry and Luna greeted Hermione and Parvati. "You two actually came together?"

"Of course," Hermione said nonchalantly. "I told you, nobody cares."

As they talked, the four of them squeezed into a corner of the room, grabbing a few cups of mead from the moving silver trays along the way. Little did they know, this corner was already occupied.

"Good evening, Professor Trelawney," Luna greeted.

"Good evening, dear." Professor Trelawney seemed a little tipsy, carrying a half-empty bottle of sherry. "I haven't seen you this year. Have you given up on divination?"

"I chose Professor Ferencze's class," Luna said.

This answer infuriated Professor Trelawney, who began angrily badmouthing Frenzer. But soon she noticed Harry, who was trying to hide himself.

"My dear child, Harry Potter," she said drunkenly, "the rumors, the stories, the savior… my eye told me all about them long ago… but why don't you come to Divination class anymore? That class is especially important for you…"

"Sybil, we all feel our classes are very important." Harry swore he had never been so grateful for Professor Slughorn's arrival.

"I swear, he's a genius at potions! Just like his mother! Even Severus..." Slughorn said, pulling Snape away from somewhere, much to Harry's horror. "Oh, Severus, I was just mentioning Harry's talent for potions!"

"Is that so?" Snape, his face still cold, stared intently at Harry and said slowly, "This is something I've never noticed before."

"Haha, let me tell you, Severus, he's a genius! You should really see the Hellfire Potion he made in his first class. No student has ever made it better on their first try..." Slughorn said loudly, his gaze sweeping over Hermione, who was quietly drinking mead next to Harry, before pausing. "Oh, and of course, Hermione too..."

"We all know Miss Granger's talent," Snape said calmly, to Harry's surprise, who nodded in agreement. Hermione also raised her glass in response.

Professor Slughorn clearly didn't want to steer the conversation back to Hermione; after all, Harry was far more famous and more in line with his personality. However, before he could abruptly steer the conversation back, Filch dragged Malfoy over.

"Professor Slughorn, I found this boy hiding in the upstairs hallway, acting suspiciously. He says he was invited to the party by your permission." Filch's eyes gleamed with madness. "Did you send him an invitation?"

Before Professor Slughorn could speak, Malfoy forcefully shoved Filch aside and angrily said, "Enough! You're happy now that you didn't invite me?"

"No, but you're in trouble! Remember, the headmaster doesn't allow people to wander around at night!" Filch looked even more excited.

At that moment, Snape suddenly spoke. He took two steps forward and grabbed Malfoy's arm. Malfoy immediately struggled violently, but compared to Filch, Snape was much stronger, and he couldn't break free at all.

"I'm sorry, Professor Slughorn, I am his dean, and I will teach him what manners and etiquette are." With that, he pulled Malfoy away.

"Wait, Severus!" Professor Slughorn said. "It's Christmas, don't be too harsh, he can stay here..."

"No," Snape immediately refused. "I cannot tolerate my students doing such a wrong thing." With that, he pulled Malfoy away.

Seeing this, Harry took it to heart, gave Hermione a wink, and squeezed his way out. As soon as he stepped outside, he pulled out his Invisibility Cloak and put it on; the corridor was now completely empty.

But then things got a little tricky. Even though they'd come out almost simultaneously, he hadn't seen Snape or Malfoy at all. He mentally calculated where they might be while checking each door along the corridor.

Finally, outside an empty classroom just before the stairs, he heard two people talking.

"...We can't afford any more mistakes, Draco..."

"...It has nothing to do with me...I didn't do it...I know what you're doing, but it's no use..."

"...What are you trying to hide from your master...?"

"...I don't want you to get involved...I have a plan, but it will take a long time..."

The voices inside the room rose and fell, and Harry couldn't hear them very clearly through the door. But even so, he overheard a lot of crucial information.

For example, Snape made an unbreakable vow, and Malfoy had a plan.

But most importantly, they were indeed Voldemort's men!

Harry heard it very clearly: the two of them called Voldemort "Master"!

(End of this chapter)