"I don't think anyone can waste so many of our time waiting for him. Sabini said in a flattering tone. "I feel like we can get started. He seemed to be expecting something.

McLagan was noncommittal, but it seemed that he was not happy with the lateness of others. When a Slytherin proposes a proposal, if Gryffindor does not object, it represents Gryffindor's strongest support.

Harry and Neville sat in their seats, confused, not knowing what to say about it—though Belby of Ravenclaw apparently didn't agree with the suggestion, and he shook his body in his chair uncomfortably, as if to gather the courage to say something.

"Breth Shabini, I wish you could say this to my face. A familiar Harry voice came from outside the carriage, "I met two second-year boys fighting on the way here, and I took some time to deal with their disputes, and I don't think Professor Slughorn will be angry about it, after all, I am doing my duty as a prefect."

It was Jack Silver, his voice no longer hoarse, but refreshed. Slughorn stood up and gave him a warm hug.

"I'm glad to see you again, Jack. Slughorn said enthusiastically, "Sit down." ”

Slughorn gestured to his right, and Harry noticed that it had been empty.

Silver cast a cold look at Shabini, but Shabini did not dare to return the salute.

Silver clearly wasn't going to let Shabini go, though, "Looks like Professor Slughorn invited you, Shabini. Maybe you're complacent about beating Draco Malfoy right now? I have to say that Professor Slughorn didn't invite Malfoy for another reason, not because you're better than him, Sabini. ”

Brace Shabini suddenly became interested in the plate in front of him, and didn't seem to be about to respond to Silver.

"Alright, Jack, this is my party, don't mess it up. Slughorn said with a smile, not blaming Silver at all, "Now that everyone is due, let's get started, it's going to be a nice party, and it's going to give me a chance to get to know you all more." Here, get a napkin. I brought my own lunch, and I remember the licorice wand on the food delivery cart always smelling too strong, a poor old man, his digestive system couldn't stand it...... Got some quail, Belby?"

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

"Harry and Neville are late, and I'll have to introduce myself to them. "I'm Horace Slughorn, a retired old man who was captured by Dumbledore when he was supposed to enjoy his happy retirement. ”

Slughorn nodded at Silver, "Ha, Jack knows this best. Anyway, I'm going to be your Potions teacher this year. ”

"Demons, potions?" Neville raised his hand tremblingly, "What about Professor Snape?"

"Severus will serve as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. "Truth be told, Severus is highly skilled in potions, but he has a deeper study of Defence Against the Dark Arts than most wizards, and I know this best as a former teacher of Severus. ”

Neville kept his mouth shut, though he seemed to be terrified of the teacher who had taught Snape.

"I was just telling the young Marcos that I had the privilege of teaching his uncle Damocles," Slughorn said to Harry, who was passing a basket of bread rolls, "a wonderful 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 think so......" Belby said, seemingly afraid to eat quail again until he was sure Slughorn had finished interrogating him, "hmm...... yes, he doesn't have a very good relationship with my dad, so I don't actually know much about ......"

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

"What about you, Cowmike," said Slughorn, "I happen to know that you have seen your uncle Tiberus often, for he has a picture of you both there...... Let me think about it, a wonderful picture of a giant tailed hunt in Norfolk, isn't it?"

"Oh, yes, that's fun," McLagan said, "and we're with Betty Higgins and Rufus Scrimgeur. ”

"Ah, you still know Betty and Rufus?" Slughorn burst into a smile and picked up a small plate of pie to share, somehow missing Belby, "I didn't know you knew our new headmaster, tell me, how is Scrimgeour doing......?"

Harry noticed that everyone here seemed to have been invited because they were related to some influential figure - except Ginny. It was Sabini who was interrogated after McLagan. Silver was clearly annoyed by Blais Sabini's previous offense, and he joined in the interrogation of Brace Sabini. (To be continued......)