Young, blame me?
"By the way, how did you get to know Professor Slughorn?" Harry asked again.
"Horace was our junior." Imelda glanced at Harry, "Did you forget? There used to be a kid who loved excitement tagging along behind us; that was Horace—"
Now that she mentioned it, Harry did recall.
Professor Slughorn hadn't brought it up—understandably so, as it's not like he'd volunteer, "Hello, senior, I used to trail after you as a kid."
Professors have their pride, you know.
Their conversation didn't shy away from Worple, who was now scribbling furiously, eyes gleaming as he noted down their dialogue.
Suddenly, there was a commotion from the girls' side.
"Xue Ni!" Worple suddenly looked stern, because the vampire was inching towards the group of girls, eyes filled with hunger.
At this moment, Harry also drew out his magic wand, looking ready to cast an Inoffensive Minor Curse at the vampire.
"Here, have a pie." Worple said urgently, grabbing a piece from a little elf's tray and stuffing it into Xue Ni's hand.
By now, he fully understood that the Harry Potter before him was indeed the same Godslaying Potter from a century ago.
If he didn't get his vampire friend to behave, he might end up caught in a serious magic spell.
Do you like Lord Potter's big and mighty seconds?
"Make him behave." Harry said coldly.
Sweat dripped from Worple's forehead as he hurriedly made his way to Xue Ni's side, urging him earnestly.
"I still think bringing a vampire to a party like this is a real disgrace." Imelda glanced at the vampire Xue Ni, speaking disdainfully, "How could a wizards' gathering be tainted by such lowly creatures?"
Clearly, as a Pure-blood Wizard and a Slytherin, Imelda didn't like non-wizards.
Her tolerance barely extended to allowing Muggle Species to study at Hogwarts—but interacting with non-wizards? That truly bothered her inside and out.
"Yeah." Harry said with a sigh, "Look at those girls, so interested in the vampire. Don't they know vampires are very dangerous Dark Creatures?"
"Watching too many Muggle movies." Annie chimed in from behind.
Then she noticed everyone turning their eyes towards her.
"You know about this stuff?" Harry asked, surprised.
"Why wouldn't I?" Annie laughed lightly, "Come on, I also spent time with you in the Muggle World. Remember the movie we watched last Christmas? It was about a vampire love story… I'd say the casting was too attractive, causing many infatuated girls to overlook their danger. I'm even starting to wonder, if they ever made a Magic World movie and cast a particularly handsome actor as Voldemort, just how many young girls' values would follow their eyes?"
"Uh." Harry suddenly said, "Logically, Voldemort was actually quite handsome back in the day, to be honest."
"See." Annie spread her hands, "Perhaps that's the reason so many Death Eaters followed him."
This was an angle Harry hadn't considered before, but indeed, back in his first year, Voldemort went in disguise as a woman and managed to make so many Slytherin students willingly offer up their Life Force.
"Professor Slughorn surely knows this." Harry looked at Professor Slughorn, sitting next to Imelda and said with a smile, "I once saw Voldemort's memories—actually, Professor Slughorn and I are already acquainted, but in Voldemort's memory. I remember he was part of Professor Slughorn's club and got along well with the professor, even asking about the Soul Artifact?"
Suddenly, Professor Slughorn erupted into an earth-shattering cough, gasping for breath and looking at Harry with horror.
Oh come on, senior?
What does bringing this up now mean?
Are you trying to kill me?
"Relax, professor." Harry laughed, causing Professor Slughorn to force a chuckle too, "Voldemort's Soul Artifacts have all been destroyed by me and Dumbledore, so there's no need to worry about that anymore—and as for consulting you, professor, it's trivial, as anyone who knows me knows I'm very good at keeping secrets, right?"
"You're right, Harry." Professor Slughorn said, wiping his sweat.
Just then, the smell of sherry wafted over.
Without looking up, Harry knew it was Professor Trelawney approaching.
Indeed, in Harry's view, Professor Trelawney came over, glass in hand, walking crab-like in a drunken daze.
"Good evening, everyone."
She hiccupped, quickly focusing on Luna not far away.
"I haven't seen you in class lately…"
Harry knew Professor Trelawney was quite fond of Luna, who she considered a "very gifted child," though others called her a mad girl, Trelawney thought her insightful.
"Well, I took Ferrenze's class this year." Luna said a bit awkwardly, the first time Harry had seen such an expression on her face.
"Oh, sure," Professor Trelawney laughed drunkenly with a tinge of anger, "I like to call him Nags—you might have thought, Professor Dumbledore would send that horse away, but no… we have to share teaching… it's insulting, really, insulting, you know…"
"Looks like Professor Trelawney is truly drunk." Harry whispered to Annie, "Come on, let's figure out a way to let her get some rest."
As he spoke, Harry and Annie got up, approaching Professor Trelawney.
As they passed her, Harry subtly moved his fingers, making Professor Trelawney suddenly yawn, her body tipping sideways.
Quick on her feet, Annie caught the falling Professor Trelawney.
"Seems the professor fell asleep." Annie said apologetically to Professor Slughorn, "She's had too much wine, I can smell the strong alcohol on her… Do you have a sofa here? I'll help her over."
"Over there." Professor Slughorn pointed to a nearby sofa.
He wasn't particularly fond of Professor Trelawney's complaints and ramblings either.
As Annie tucked Professor Trelawney into the sofa, Professor Slughorn suddenly extended an arm, seemingly conjuring Professor Snape from thin air.
"Stop lurking, come join us, Severus!" Slughorn happily belched, "I'd say, you actually like students as talented as Harry, don't you?"
Professor Snape glanced coldly at Harry, suddenly smiling with an exasperated toothache.
"Yes, I certainly 'like' Potter." He said through gritted teeth.
"I also really like Professor Snape." Harry smiled at Professor Slughorn, adding to himself, 'my Aunt Severus.'
In terms of sarcasm, Harry was always adept.
"Besides Harry, Gryffindor actually has some talented students." Professor Slughorn peeked behind Harry, "But unfortunately, your inseparable friend isn't here—isn't his last name Weasley? Molly and Arthur's child, I think he's quite gifted in Magic Potion Class."
Who would've thought, upon hearing this, Professor Snape's expression seemed like he had swallowed two pounds of Flubber Worms.