"You're sophisticating, and you even stole my argument. I said from the very beginning that wisdom did not exist solely in bloodlines and power, yet the moment you opened and closed that little mouth of yours, the same argument appeared in your position?" Kayson pinpointed Slughorn's shameless maneuver with remarkable precision.
"Your memory is quite impressive, but is it possible that our views overlapped from the start? We simply went about things differently."
"Deep down, we still preferred those with ability and talent. As for wizards who could not be taught no matter how hard one tried, did we really need to spend so much effort on them?"
"We merely differed in our methods. For example, I liked finding young wizards who were less likely to go wrong and had already displayed talent, while you took in ordinary young wizards as well. While teaching the gifted ones, you did not forget those without talent, painstakingly trying to uncover their other gifts."
"What we valued and needed was talent. Our methods simply differed, that was all," Slughorn said slowly.
"But wasn't that what we were supposed to do?" Kayson asked with a frown.
"What?" Slughorn looked at Kayson in surprise.
"I'm saying, wasn't that what we were supposed to do? Adult wizards entrusted us with the continuation of their lives. Young wizards entrusted us with their blank, clean hearts and minds, leaving themselves completely defenseless as we taught them our knowledge and our ideas."
"The entire magical society gave us so many privileges. A Hogwarts professor with one of the lightest teaching schedules received more applause and cheers in a pub than a Ministry of Magic department head with real power!"
"The Ministry of Magic also gave professors the greatest benefits permitted by the rules!"
"Adult wizards, young wizards, the Ministry