Chapter 87

The Slug Master

As she and Dumbledore neared a gated house, Lily felt a cold chill run down her back as she looked around. They had arrived at a large house with a gate, with a posh driveway and front garden area. Lily had the feeling that Professor Slughorn was very well off if he lived here.

As Professor Dumbledore pulled out his wand, Lily did the same, both of them casting the Lumos spell, seeing the front door broken open, leant against a wall as though blast open by someone.

"You think he was attacked?" Lily asked.

"Keep your eyes open, Lily, and stay behind me," Dumbledore told her.

"Could the attackers still be here?" Lily asked softly as they entered the living room, which looked like a bomb had struck it. There was blood on the walls, the furniture was practically destroyed, with only an armchair still intact. Lily frowned as she looked at it and tapped Dumbledore's arm gently. Dumbledore looked at her, so she pointed at the armchair.

Dumbledore smiled at Lily and nodded, before poking the armchair with his wand. Lily wasn't sure what she was expecting, but a loud yelp of pain wasn't it. She watched in amazement as the armchair grew legs before becoming a man wearing, in Lily's opinion, rather an ugly pair of pyjamas.

"Merlin's beard, Dumbledore, did you have to poke me so hard?" the man asked, rubbing his chest. "How did you know I hadn't been attacked?"

"You forgot to send up the Dark Mark, Horace," Dumbledore replied, with his charming smile.

"Blast, I knew I forgot something. Wouldn't have had time anyway," the man Lily now realised was Slughorn muttered. "I was putting the final touches on my upholstery when you walked in."

"It is impressive, you couldn't have had more than three minutes notice," Dumbledore told him, as Slughorn began to use magic to make the lounge look pristine again, including scooping the blood on the wall into a bottle.

"Two, I was in the bath and didn't hear the intruder charm go off," Slughorn commented. "And I'm not as fast as I used to be, my bones are getting stiff."

"You're not that old yet, Horace, not as old as I am," Dumbledore pointed out.

"Perhaps, but you should consider retirement, you seem to be getting slower," Slughorn commented, pointing to Dumbledore's blackened hand.

"Perhaps," Dumbledore conceded. "Why the precautions, Horace? Certainly not for me? Have the Death Eaters been calling?"

"Never given them the chance," Horace replied. "I move around all the time, I find a muggle home where the owners are on holiday, a few spells and I'm comfortable and safe."

"Well, if you were to return to Hogwarts, Horace," Dumbledore began, but Slughorn held up a hand.

"I might have been in hiding, Albus, but I hear the rumours of what's been happening, including the death of Umbridge," Slughorn said.

"She was torturing me and other students," Lily chimed in. "My Uncle Sirius killed her after she admitted she was a Death Eater."

"Was she? Idiot woman, I never liked her," Slughorn commented. Lily let out a soft giggle. It was then that Slughorn saw her face.

"Oh, I see what you're trying to do, Albus," Slughorn said, shaking his head. "It won't work."

In response, Dumbledore stood up, still smiling. "I wonder if I might use your bathroom, Horace? Lily and I were enjoying a conversation and a Pineapple juice before we arrived here."

"Second on the left, down the hall," Slughorn nodded. Dumbledore bowed his head slightly before heading out into the hallway.

"I know why he brought you," Slughorn said. "Hopes to get you to convince me to return to the school."

"Why would he think that would work?" Lily asked. Slughorn chuckled softly.

"I taught your mother when she was at Hogwarts. She was one of my favourites, always so good at Potions. I wish she had been in Slytherin so I would have been head of her house," Slughorn said. "Oh, don't go holding that against me, you'll be in Gryffindor like her, I suppose. It does tend to run in the family for the most part."

"Not always though," Lily replied. "Two of my friends are twins, but one of them is in Gryffindor, and her sister's in Ravenclaw."

"Like your uncle, Sirius Black. He was in Gryffindor, but his brother Regulus was in Slytherin. I'd have liked the set though," Slughorn said. "Your mother was a muggle-born, though I was surprised when I found out. She was so good, I thought she must have been pure blood."

"One of my best friends in Muggle Born, and she's the best in the year, if not the school," Lily said.

"Funny how that happens sometimes, isn't it?" Slughorn said, smiling still.

"Not really," Lily replied, with a glare at the man.

"Oh, don't look at me like that, didn't I just say your mother was one of my all-time favourite students? And there was Dirk Cresswell in the year after, now he's Head of the Goblin Liaison Office, another muggle born, exceptionally gifted, and gives me excellent inside information on the goings-on at Gringotts!"

Lily was starting to understand why Slughorn liked to 'collect' students, especially if it gave him some sort of advantage at anything. He was going on about how Gwenog Jones of the Holyhead Harpies, giving him free tickets, and how he got a hamper of sweets from someone called Ambrosius Flume.

"But I suppose you're more interested in your mother. Tell me something, Lily, was it difficult to… what's the word… transition?" Slughorn asked.

"It was hard coming out, I didn't know how to do it, but since then, it's been more of a relief," Lily replied, sitting down on the couch. Slughorn sat next to her.

"I daresay it hasn't been easy; some people can be bigoted. With everything you've likely experienced, I imagine that's why your thoughts jumped to negative thoughts when I said about muggle born's. I'm sorry if I gave you that impression though, my dear," Slughorn said, his voice kinder and gentler now.

Lily suspected it was coming from a place of wanting to 'collect' her, but in that moment, it was nice to have someone she didn't know supporting her.

"No, the last year was hard, with Umbridge always misgendering me and deadnaming me… and this," Lily said, showing the scar on her wrist. Slughorn let out a soft growl of annoyance.

"That vile woman, she got what she deserved then," Slughorn said. He stood up and went to what looked like a large suitcase. "Let me guess; the words appeared on your hand when you used a quill she gave you?"

"How did you know?" Lily asked, feeling surprised.

"It used to be a popular method of detention a long time ago, back when we practised corporal punishment, but I never could stand it," Slughorn said, his suitcase opening and revealing a small potion lab, much like Lily's potions case. Slughorn's was just bigger, and likely better stocked.

"She made a lot of us write with those quills," Lily said, watching Slughorn mixing together several items from the case.

"And she was a Death Eater, you say? Did Albus know?" Slughorn asked.

"He suspected, but he didn't have a choice in hiring her, former Minister White did that, although he's now in Azkaban," Lily replied. Slughorn nodded as he cleaned up his lab, before returning to Lily with a small bottle that contained a yellow paste.

"Like I said, your mother was one of the best students I've ever had," Slughorn said. He smiled at Lily. "Show me your hand," he said kindly. Lily held up her hand, and Slughorn gently spread the paste on it. "Now, leave that for the next five minutes. This is an old remedy, but sometimes, the old ways are the best," Slughorn said.

"This is why we need you at Hogwarts, sir. Imagine how many students are going to be thankful to you for this," Lily pointed out.

"If I go to Hogwarts, that's tantamount to declaring my loyalty to the Order of the Phoenix. It's not that I support You-Know-Who. Merlin's beard, he must be stopped, but times are dangerous," Slughorn countered.

"Not all the teachers are part of the Order, though. And wouldn't it be safer near Professor Dumbledore? You said you've not given the Death Eaters a chance to recruit you, so I doubt they're friends with you at this point," Lily told him. Slughorn nodded thoughtfully.

"You're not wrong," Slughorn agreed. He chuckled softly. "You really are like your mother; you have her fiery spirit, and her looks. I daresay she'd be bloody proud of the young woman you're becoming, Lily."

"Thank you, sir, I really appreciate that," Lily said, her hand tingling slightly, but she knew it was in a good way. Slughorn sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Albus, I know you're in the hallway. I want a raise, and I want Merryweather's old office," Slughorn said. Dumbledore came into the lounge, holding a knitting magazine.

"Such wonderful patterns in here," Dumbledore said. He looked at Slughorn. "So, you'll return?"

"I must be out of my mind, but yes," Slughorn confirmed. "And the raise and the office."

"Both are acceptable terms, Horace," Dumbledore said. "And I must say, it will be a pleasure to have you there again."

"Well, I'm clearly needed," Slughorn said. "I know Severus Snape doesn't have the knowledge of old potions to heal those wounds the lunatic Umbridge woman did to these poor kids."

"Horace, my dear fellow, I doubt there are any with your skills," Dumbledore praised. "In any case, we shall leave you to enjoy the rest of your evening."

"Indeed," Slughorn said. "You'll need to wait a few more minutes."

"Of course," Dumbledore agreed, as Lily looked at Slughorn.

"Thank you, Professor. It'll be nice learning from the same person who taught my mother," Lily told him. Slughorn chuckled softly.

"I have no doubt you have her natural talent, Lily, my girl," Slughorn said, as he fetched himself a drink. "Would either of you like something?"

"Just a squash, or Cola if you have it, please, sir," Lily said. Slughorn nodded, summoning a glass bottle of Coca Cola, and opening it for Lily.

"How have your classes been with Severus?" Slughorn asked.

"He's been a good teacher, but it's only recently I've been getting better," Lily admitted.

"Well, it likely took a little time for your mother's natural talent to appear after you began to transition," Slughorn commented, smiling at her. "Do you have a potions case?"

"Not as good as yours, but something similar. I wanted to get a lot better at potions, so I study a lot, because I know how important potions can be. I might not always have my wand, but potion ingredients can be found anywhere to the trained eye," Lily said, remembering something Snape had told her.

"You're absolutely right, Lily," Slughorn sounded pleased and excited. "A shame we're not at school now, I'd be giving you house points, but I'll have to remember to do so when we get there. I look forward to seeing what you can do," he added, summoning a damp cloth, and gently wiping Lily's hand.

She was amazed when she saw that all traces of the scar had vanished! It was like the scars hadn't ever been there!

"Does that work on all scars?" Lily asked. Slughorn smiled sadly at her.

"Ah, if only it did. But your scar was caused by powerful, dark magic, and nothing can remove it I'm afraid. Scars from things like that blasted quill can be removed quickly, and from other injuries, but there are limits, I'm sorry to say," Slughorn said.

"Still, no one could think of how to remove the scar on my hand, or the other's hands," Lily told him.

"Like I said, it's an old remedy, something that very few people would know. When the blood quill was banned, I suppose people just forgot the potion that can cure it. My memory is practically perfect; I remember everything I read or learn," Slughorn said.

"Muggles call that an eidetic memory; my friend, Hermione Granger, she has the same thing, and she's the muggle born friend I mentioned," Lily explained. Slughorn smiled and nodded.

"It can be a curse, and a blessing," Slughorn commented. "I look forward to meeting your friend at Hogwarts, all of them."

"They'll look forward to meeting you too, sir," Lily said. "I'll tell them about the potion, you'll get a lot of people needing it when term starts."

"I'd better start brewing a large batch, then," Slughorn commented, with a chuckle, as Lily stood up. "Lily, on the train to Hogwarts, I shall get a carriage and arrange a lunch. Would you care to join me? And bring your friend, Hermione, and any other friend you have."

"I've got several, sir, including my girlfriend, Ginny, her brother Ron, and my two close friends, Lavender and Parvati, as well as Parvati's twin, Padma," Lily explained.

"Yes, yes, bring them all. It'll be us and your friends only," Slughorn said. "Bring any friend you wish; I'll make sure there's plenty."

"Thank you, sir, we'd love that," Lily said, holding out her hand and shaking Slughorn's.

"Until then, Lily. Albus, it was good seeing you, and I look forward to my new office," Slughorn said.

"Until then, Horace," Albus said, leading Lily from the house. They walked out of the garden and then Dumbledore took hold of Lily's arm, and apparated them away, back to outside Grimmauld Place.

"That was excellently done, Lily," Dumbledore praised.

"I just spoke honestly, Professor," Lily replied, feeling a little embarrassed.

"As I knew you would. Horace prides himself on sensing talent, and you are an exceptional witch, Lily. I did not know he could heal your hand, but that helped a lot, I suspect, in showing how important a role he would have at Hogwarts," Dumbledore explained. "I hope you weren't uncomfortable around him?"

"Not really. I can tell why he likes finding talent, it nets him a lot of rewards, Quidditch tickets, sweets, information on bank workings, stuff that will help him benefit in some way. Not in a terrible way, but just enough so he can live a comfortable lifestyle," Lily explained.

"You have an excellent grasp on Horace already, it seems," Dumbledore complimented her. "That will serve you well, I think. He doesn't help students for the sole benefit of getting rewards though, so please don't think badly of him in that sense. No, he genuinely takes pride in seeing his students' progress well in life, in whatever they do. The rewards are, as the saying goes, icing on the cake. But for Horace, he can sense what someone is destined for, and he will nudge them towards it. He has, on the very rare occasion, not been proven right, but that is not through any fault of his own."

"What did he think my mother would become?" Lily asked, genuinely curious.

"I spoke with him once about that. He told me that she would make an excellent teacher, and a potions master in her own right. He was right about that; Lily was wanting to study a lot more, and use potions to help make the world better," Dumbledore explained.

Lily felt a tear roll down her face; this wasn't something she had heard before. She smiled at Dumbledore, who handed her another handkerchief.

"She was friends with Professor Snape, and I think he loved Potions even as a kid, didn't he?" Lily asked.

"He did," Dumbledore confirmed. "And yes, I suspect her friendship with Severus did push her a little bit in that direction."

"No one's told me that before," Lily admitted.

"I suppose that Sirius found it painful to think about, and for the most part, raising you as a muggle meant he couldn't speak much of your parents," Dumbledore mused. "Now, I must ask you, Lily, not to leave Grimmauld Place alone, or rather, without an adult. There will be many trying to find you, but there is a powerful barrier around the entire area that anyone who works for Lord Voldemort, or has any dark thoughts about you, is unable to enter the area. It is a most powerful spell created by me and the Ministry. Within this whole square, you are safe, so should you want fresh air, this little park will work, but not any further," Dumbledore explained.

"I won't, professor," Lily promised.

"Excellent. Also, from this moment on, I would like you to keep your invisibility cloak on you at all times, even within the grounds of Hogwarts. It may be of use at any time, and should you need to use it, I would like you to be prepared," Dumbledore continued.

"Yes, sir," Lily agreed.

"Thank you, Lily. Now, I believe it is close to your bedtime, and we've had a long evening," Dumbledore said.

"Professor… everything we talked about… it meant a lot to me," Lily said, smiling at him, before embracing him in a hug, being careful of his arm.

"As it did to me, Lily, as it did to me," Dumbledore assured her, returning the hug. "I will see you at School, Lily, and the first Monday after we return is when we'll have our first lesson, with yourself and Ginny," Dumbledore added.

"I look forward to it, sir," Lily replied. Dumbledore smiled once more, and as Lily opened the front door, she turned and watched as Professor Dumbledore apparated away.


"How did it go?" Sirius asked, as Lily collapsed on the sofa, with Ginny sitting next to her.

"We did it; Professor Slughorn agreed to return," Lily said.

"Did he try and collect you?" Sirius asked, chuckling. "I remember him well; he was upset I was in Gryffindor."

"Professor Dumbledore asked me to let him, although I have no idea why. He wasn't too bad," Lily said, before holding up her hand, showing where the scars used to be.

"How'd he manage that?" Ginny asked, impressed.

"An old remedy, he said he'd have a batch ready for start of term," Lily replied. "It feels good, not having that old hag's work scarring me now."

"I'll bet," Ginny agreed, smiling.

"For all his eccentrics, Horace Slughorn is damned good at what he does," Remus complimented. "He helped make a potion that eased the pain of the transformation when I was a student."

"He had a lot of good things to say about my mother as well, and he supported my transition," Lily added. "He's invited me to lunch on the train to Hogwarts, and all my friends."

"I suppose he wants to see how many of your friends are worth 'collecting' whilst he's there," Sirius said. "Still, he does care about his students. He might pick the best of the best for his 'slug club' as he called it, but if any student needed help, he'd be there to help them."

"It'll be interesting to see how his teaching style differs from Professor Snape's," Lily commented. "He did mention you, Uncle Sirius. He said he wished you were in Slytherin; he'd have liked the set."

"Yes, my brother Regulus was in the 'Slug Club' and I guess it was deserved. Regulus was good with potions," Sirius agreed. "Still, you should get ready for bed, both of you," he added.

"Gladly," Lily said, before yawning. "It was a good evening though. I got to know Professor Dumbledore a lot better. He… well, we got to talking about himself, and it felt nice, to just talk, like there wasn't a worry in the world."

"Then you had a gift very few of us have ever had. Go, sleep, and you can tell us more tomorrow," Sirius smiled.

As Lily and Ginny went up the stairs, Lily smiled, kissing Ginny. "I love you, Ginny," Lily said.

"I love you too, Lily," Ginny told her, as they reached their bedroom. They shared a bedroom now, although remained in different beds. "Tomorrow, we'll have lunch, just the two of us."

"Sounds good," Lily agreed, smiling as they each went to their separate bathrooms, changing into the nighties, before getting into bed. It had felt nice, talking to Dumbledore, not as a professor, but like a kindly parent or grandparent. She only hoped they would get more chances to do the same; after all, if they could spend even a few minutes feeling like the war wasn't on, then it was time well spent.