Chapter Four- Slughorn
"Oh, dear," Dumbledore said as they passed through a gate leading to a house. Harry looked past him and his heart pounded: The front door was hanging off its hinges! "On your guard, Harry," Dumbledore said as he pulled out his wand and lit it before entering. Harry flexed his claws, ready to use his magic if necessary.
The wand light showed a long hall and an open door to their left. Dumbledore eased his way in through this door and Harry gasped at the ruined room. A grandfather clock laid splintered on its side, separated from its pendulum. A piano was also on its side, the keys strewn on the floor. He saw the shattered remains of a fallen chandelier, cushions slashed with feather oozing out, and shattered glass and china laid over everything like powder. Dumbledore raised his want a little higher to show something dark red and gelatinous shining on the walls that looked like blood.
"Not pretty, is it?" Dumbledore asked as they carefully entered. Harry followed, waiting to see a body next to the piano or behind an overturned sofa, but no sign of one
"Maybe he was dragged off?" Harry suggested hopefully despite seeing massive amounts of blood on the wall.
"I don't believe so," Dumbledore replied as he stood beside an overstuffed armchair.
"You mean he's still…?"
"Still here? Precisely." Dumbledore then jabbed his wand tip into the seat of the chair.
"Ouch!"
Harry's jaw dropped as an enormously fat bald man laid crouched where the chair had been. He was also short with a large walrus mustache and small eyes that looked wateringly up at Dumbledore while massaging his lower belly. "Merlin's bear, Albus! You didn't need to jab that hard."
"Sorry about that Horace."
Slughorn rose to his feet. "What gave it away?"
"My dear Horace, there would have been a Dark Mark had the Death Eaters had come to call."
Slughorn clapped a hand to his forehead. "The Dark Mark! Knew I forgot something. Ah, well, wouldn't have had time. I was putting the finishing touches on my upholstery when you came in."
"Would you like some help cleaning up?" Dumbledore asked.
"Please," Slughorn replied. The two wizards stood back-to-back and waved their wands. Immediately, objects started to repair themselves and return to their proper places.
"Incidentally, what blood was that?" Dumbledore called over the noise of tinkling glass and china.
"The walls? Dragon," Slughorn replied as said blood was removed from the walls and into a vial. "My last bottle and prices are sky-high right now." He held the bottle up to the light. "Hmm, a bit dusty, but should still be useable." He put it down and his eyes landed on Harry. "Oho," he said and his eyes went up to the scar. "Oho!"
"Yes. This is Harry Potter. Harry, this is my dear friend, Horace Slughorn."
Slughorn then turned to Dumbledore. "Don't think I don't know why you brought him here, Albus. The answer is still no."
"If that is your decision, I will simply use your bathroom and then we'll be on our way." Dumbledore exited the room and Harry perched himself in a chair while Slughorn took the couch. His eyes looked Harry up and down.
"I heard the rumors last month. Didn't know what to make of it. You were born this way?"
"Yes, sir. A recessive trait on my father's side. My mom used a long term Glamour charm that would either break a month after my fifteenth birthday or if I found a mate. It broke a little prematurely because Voldemort was torturing me." Harry ignored the squawk of protect from Slughorn upon hearing Voldemort's name.
Slughorn got up and went to Harry, his hand reaching up to an ear and then he paused. Harry knew that the man wanted to do and said, "Go ahead, sir. I really enjoy it." He felt Slughorn's fingers scratch his ear and he sighed contently.
"I taught your mother. A teacher shouldn't have favorites, but she was one of mine. Vivacious, talented, told her she should have been in my House. Lot of cheeky answers when she was told that."
"Which House?"
"I was Head of Slytherin. Now don't go holding that against me. You'd been in Gryffindor like her, I expect."
"I have nothing against Slytherin. I am in Gryffindor but I'm on good terms with Professor Snape who is Head of Slytherin now."
"Snape? Severus Snape? I taught him too. Same year as your mother and of course, your father."
"Sir, I would consider it an honor if I learned from the man who taught my parents."
"I don't know. Working for Albus would be like pledging my allegiance to the Order of the Phoenix and I don't fancy the mortality rate."
"You don't have to be in the Order to teach at Hogwarts. Most of the teachers aren't in it and none of them has ever been killed. I reckon the staff's safer than most people while Dumbledore's headmaster; he's supposed to be the only one Voldemort ever feared, isn't he?"
"Well, yes that's true and as I have not joined the Death Eaters, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named can hardly count me as a friend…in which case, I might well be safer a little closer to Albus…" Just then, Dumbledore came back in. "Oh, there you are, Albus. You've been a while. Upset stomach?"
"No. I was merely reading the Muggle magazine. I do love knitting patterns. Well, Harry, we have trespassed upon Horace's hospitality quite long enough. I think it is time for us to leave."
Harry got to his feet and Slughorn seemed taken aback. "You're leaving?"
"Yes, indeed. I think I know a lost cause when I see one."
"Lost…?"
"Well, I'm sorry you don't want the job. Hogwarts would have been happy to have you back. You will always be welcome to visit, our increased security notwithstanding."
"Yes…well…very generous…as I say…"
"Goodbye, then."
"Bye," Harry said as he followed the headmaster. There were at the front door when a shout came from behind them."
"All right, all right, I'll do it!"
Dumbledore turned. "You'll come out of retirement?"
"Yes, yes. I must be mad, but yes."
"Then, we'll see you the first of September. "The pair walked off with Slughorn calling, "I'll want a pay raise, Dumbledore!"
Dumbledore chuckled and once on the path, he said, "Well done, Harry."
"I didn't do anything, sir."
"Yes, you did. You showed him what he stands to gain by returning to Hogwarts. What do you think of him?"
"Uh, well…" Harry wasn't sure what to say as his instincts told him that there was something about Slughorn that was unsettling but didn't know why he felt that way."
"Horace likes his comfort. He also likes the company of the famous, the successful, and the powerful. He enjoys the feeling that he influences these people. He used to handpick favorites at Hogwarts for a variety of reasons. I tell you this to put you on your guard. He will try to collect you. You would be the jewel of his collection: A magical fox and being the Boy Who Lived. I would suggest letting him collect you; it may prove useful. This will do, Harry. If you will grasp my arm."
Harry did so and when he opened his eyes, he saw that they had returned to where they had first Apparated that evening.
"Harry, I have a few more things to discuss with you before we part ways until September and you return to Severus," Dumbledore said.
