"Well, what a pleasure," Slughorn said with satisfaction, "an opportunity to learn more about all of you. Pen %Fun %Pavilion www.biquge.info give, get a napkin. I brought my own lunch, and I remember the licorice wand on the food delivery cart always smelling too strong, and a poor old man, his digestive system can't stand it—some quail, Belby?"

Belby was taken aback, and then accepted what looked like half a cold quail.

"I was just telling the young Marcos that I had the privilege of teaching his uncle Damocles," Slughorn said to Harry and Phoenix, who were passing a basket of rolls, "a great wizard, very good, and his Merlin Medal was absolutely deserved." Do you see your uncle often, Marcos?"

Unfortunately, Marcos had just taken a big bite of quail, and in his eagerness to answer Slughorn's question, he swallowed so quickly that his face suddenly turned the color of pig liver, and he choked on it.

"Cough down. Slughorn pointed his wand at Belby, and said calmly, Belby's windpipe seemed to be unobstructed all at once.

"No—I don't see him much. Belby gasped, his tears choking out.

"yes, of course, I dare say he must be busy. Slughorn looked at Belby inquiringly and said, "I think he must have worked a lot to invent the wolf poison potion, right?"

"I suppose so-" Belby said, seemingly afraid to eat quail again until he was sure Slughorn had finished interrogating him, "well-yes, he doesn't have a good relationship with my dad, so I don't actually know—"

His voice lowered as Slughorn sneered at him and turned to McLagan.

"What about you, Cowmike," said Slughorn, "I happen to know that you often see your uncle Tiberus, because he has a picture of you both there—let me think of a wonderful picture of hunting tailed beasts in Norfolk, don't you?"

"Oh, yes, that's fun," McLagan said, "and we're with Betty Higgins and Rufus Scrimgeour — before he was minister, of course—"

"Ah, you still know Betty and Rufus?" Slughorn burst into a smile as he picked up a small plate of pie and shared it among everyone, somehow missing Belby, "Tell me—"

It was Sabini who was interrogated after McLagan, and then it was Neville's turn: it was a very unpleasant ten minutes, as Neville's parents were famous Aurors who had been tormented mad by the Death Eaters. At the end of the interview with Neville, Slughorn seemed to have doubts about whether Neville had inherited his parents' endowment.

Then there's Phoenix: Sir Merlin's Order of Merlin, Triwizard Tournament Champion, and Wizengamot's representative to the British Young Wizards. Slughorn's interest in Phoenix is high.

"How did you come up with the idea to invent the magic Animagus?" asked Slughorn, intriguing.

"Oh, it was just an interest at first, but then the restrictions of the Triwizard Tournament made me determined to speed things up. "It's not easy, Professor Dumbledore's traces are hard to deal with, but it's a good test of my theory." ”

"What is it?"

"When it comes to the soul plane—" Slughorn's lips twitched slightly, and his forehead sweated slightly. Phoenix noticed a slight change in him, "-and the basic rules of transformation, the deep study of magical creatures-"

"Very genius, you have to talk to me when you have time. Phoenix was about to explain from a soul perspective when Slughorn interrupted him with a smile, saying so, but Phoenix sensed he wouldn't be asking the question.

He also changed the subject and told the professor about the fact that the Bulgarian minister had played Fudge at the World Cup. At the end of the interview with Phoenix, he personally felt that Slughorn was very happy and admired and praised him for achieving such a result at such a young age.

"Now," Slughorn said, moving his seat in a dignified manner like a host announcing a big star, "Harry Potter!

He looked at Harry contemplatively, as if he were a fat, juicy quail, and then he said, "'Savior Star', they call you that now!"

Harry was silent. Belby, McLagan, and Sabini all stared at him.

"Of course," Slughorn said, looking closely at Harry, "there have been rumors for years—I remember back then—yes—after that terrible night—Lily—Jaime—you survived—some people say you must have supernatural powers—"

Sabini coughed softly, apparently to show that he was skeptical and ridiculous. An angry voice suddenly came from behind Slughorn.

"yes, Shabini, because you're so gifted—in terms of posturing—"

"Oh my God!" Slughorn smiled softly and turned to look at Ginny, who was glaring at Shabini through Slughorn's belly, "You need to be careful, Blais! I passed by the young lady's carriage and saw her cast a wonderful bat spirit spell! I dare not mess with her!"

Sabini just looked contemptuous.

"Anyway," Slughorn said as he turned back to Harry, "this summer has been full of rumors. Of course, no one knows what to believe, and everyone knows that the Daily Prophet often publishes misinformation to spread false information—" Slughorn continued, his tone a little disappointed, "I remember dear Gwenog telling me—of course, I mean Gwenog Jones, the captain of the Holyhead Harpys—"

He rambled away from the subject, rambling back on and forth about the past. Throughout the afternoon, Slughorn recounted many anecdotes about the illustrious wizards he had taught, all of whom had happily joined an organization he called the Slug Club at Hogwarts. Finally, the train passed through a long stretch of thick fog and into the red sunset, and Slughorn looked around and blinked in the twilight.

"Oh, it's getting dark! I didn't notice they lit the lights! You'd better go back and change into your school robes." McLagan, you should stop by and borrow that book about tailed beasts when you have time. Harry, Blaise, Phoenix—you're welcome to come over at any time. So do you, miss. He winked at Ginny, "Alright, let's go, let's go!" (To be continued.) )