Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 247 Horace Slughorn

"that………"

“Dumbledore, I think… before I accept your offer of a teaching position, I might need to be honest with you about something…”

Upon hearing this, Harry, who was sitting to the side, perked up his ears and his eyes darted between Professor Slughorn and Dumbledore.

Dumbledore was clearly taken aback for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "You said that as long as you didn't receive an invitation from Azkaban, my offer of a teaching position is valid for you."

Dumbledore's joke made Harry chuckle, but Slughorn's expression became even more complicated.

He hesitated before saying, "...Just a few days ago, that...Miss Black came to me..."

Dumbledore's expression changed slightly. He knew his old friend's quirks well; when faced with a gifted student like Thea, the latter would find it hard to resist his "love of talent"...

Harry was stunned. Since the start of this holiday, people who had participated in that war seemed to be deliberately avoiding mentioning his name in front of him.

They all seemed to need to process the fact that the other party would not hesitate to raise a wand at them, and that the other party was quite powerful.

Slughorn continued his story, but his words became noticeably more cautious under Dumbledore's expression. "I don't know where she got my address; perhaps I left a trace somewhere..."

"She also brought a few Death Eaters with her, but unfortunately, I couldn't identify which family they came from—they were wearing hoods, and I've been away from Hogwarts for too long..."

“I could tell they were very respectful to Blake…”

Slughorn rambled on and on until he realized he had gone off-topic. He coughed awkwardly twice to bring the conversation back on track.

"She wants me to be the Potions Master within the Death Eaters."

Upon hearing this, Dumbledore's eyes flickered, and his thoughts involuntarily drifted to a certain Potions professor at Hogwarts.

"The terms she offered were very generous—especially compared to the Potions professors at Hogwarts..."

"But I don't think the Death Eaters would be short of a Potions Master... She probably values ​​my connections and resources more; they are indeed very tempting."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Dumbledore eventually signed a professorship with Slughorn.

Seeing Harry's puzzled look, Dumbledore explained, "As a Potions Master who maintains neutrality, I'm not surprised that Horace received an invitation from the Death Eaters."

"But he ultimately declined the invitation and chose to be open and honest with us, which is what I value."

“Harry, no one’s position is absolutely correct and will never change. Including mine.”

"Perhaps Horace doesn't seem like the steadfast warrior you're used to."

"But you must understand that soldiers are only a small part, and the majority of people in this world are ordinary people."

Although Harry didn't quite understand the deeper meaning of Dumbledore's words, it didn't stop him from remembering them well.

Seeing Harry nod obediently, Dumbledore patted his head affectionately.

"You should try to face your inner fears."

Harry nodded hesitantly.

Only after watching Harry safely enter the Burrow did Dumbledore turn around. He didn't apparite, but instead gave a gentle greeting in a certain direction:

"Thea, aren't you going to come out?"

“Professor, you’re so unfair,” Thea slowly emerged from the darkness, speaking in a tone like a child complaining about their parents’ unfairness, “They’re both your students, yet you’re always so patient with Harry…”

They were so wary of me and that cheapskate father.

"Because Harry deserves it."

Dumbledore's tone remained gentle, his eyes filled with the loving gaze one would give to a child.

“Oh, I understand,” Thea said idly, grinding the pebbles under her feet. “The professor thinks I’m not good enough for your patience…”

The two, who seemed to have a good relationship, exchanged a few words, but in the end, Dumbledore couldn't hold back.

"A lot of regrettable things have happened recently, and perhaps you'll have the patience to listen to this centenarian's ramblings..."

"I swear, I was just telling the story, and I didn't mean anything else..."

"Oh, then go ahead and tell me!"

Thea seemed indifferent, but she changed her way of passing the time—she started kicking pebbles far away as she walked.

“Ms. Amelia Borns, do you remember her? She’s the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She’s the one who spoke up and accepted your complaint against Crouch!”

Thea remained expressionless, seemingly preoccupied only with the pebbles beneath her feet.

Dumbledore didn't seem to care; he maintained his calm tone, "She's missing, or rather, she's dead."

She didn't die. When I came out, she was still in the dungeon, full of energy, cursing the Death Eaters for their shamelessness!

Thea silently refuted in her mind, avoiding direct eye contact with Dumbledore.

"All signs indicate that she was forcibly taken away."

It seems Alex and his team aren't very good at cleaning up the mess!

"A hurricane struck the southwest a few days ago, uprooting trees and causing numerous casualties..."

"Also, the Brockdale Bridge inexplicably broke in two..."

"giant…………"

Dumbledore calmly recounted the “inexplicable” events, as if he were simply sharing them.

Kassia knew it wasn't true.

He was questioning someone.

Unable to make the real culprit pay the price, he could only hope that these crimes would awaken her kindness.

Unfortunately, it's too late.

"Is the professor trying to pin those deaths on me?"

Thea's tone was sarcastic, and she looked like a hedgehog with its entire body covered in sharp quills.

“No,” Dumbledore waved his hands repeatedly. “I just wanted to remind you not to get too involved. Dark magic is not a good thing.”

“That professor is truly compassionate!” Thea retorted directly, but soon a wicked smile appeared on her face.

"Since the professor is so worried about me, I've decided: I'm going to Hogwarts again next semester!"

Now, Dumbledore didn't know how to react.

Thea understood Dumbledore's concerns, so she added, "Don't worry, I won't assassinate Potter in front of everyone until our partnership ends!"

Dumbledore: "…………"

With your addition, I'm even less inclined to believe it.