Independence and Self-Reliance

The only person in the entire classroom who looked angrier than Hermione was Malfoy.

Harry was delighted to see him pour out something that looked like cat vomit.

However, before any of them could express their outrage at Harry becoming the top student in the class without doing anything, the bell rang.

"Time to pack up!" Horace Slughorn said cheerfully. "Also, ten points to Gryffindor, for our Potions Prince, Mr. Potter, successfully passing my impromptu test. Well done, Harry. Very clever. Keep it up."

Horace Slughorn had never been stingy with his praise when it came to Harry. Even though Harry desperately needed Horace Slughorn's praise and approval now, hearing such a long string of compliments still made his face redden slightly.

The laughter in the classroom continued. Harry returned to his workbench at the back of the room and dawdled as he packed his bag. Ron and Hermione both looked rather troubled. As they left, they wished Harry good luck. Finally, only Harry and Slughorn remained in the classroom.

"Oh, Harry, why aren't you leaving? You'll be late for your next class," Horace Slughorn said, the golden clasp on his dragonhide briefcase clicking shut.

"Um, sir," Harry said, his mind racing as he desperately thought of how to begin. "There's something I don't know how to bring up. You can see it as my curiosity, or as something that concerns my life and death..."

After struggling for a while, Harry ultimately decided to follow Hermione's advice and say what they had discussed over the past few days.

"Oh, Potter, what is it?" Horace Slughorn asked, becoming quite enthusiastic as expected, his eyes fixed brightly on Harry.

"Um, it's like this, sir. You know, I... I and Voldemort... Voldemort and I seem to have... some sort of strange connection. From