Professor Slughorn smiled, pleased by how quick Harley was to catch on.
"No need to thank me. Just give this old man a hand when I need it in the future."
He casually lifted the spell.
"Just don't let Albus hear what I said earlier. He hates it when I do this. All right, judging by the time, Barty Crouch Sr. should be here soon. Let's go take care of the paperwork."
Harley was still wondering why Professor Slughorn sounded so certain when she noticed that the watch on her wrist had stopped precisely on the hour.
At the same time, the door opened, and Barty Crouch Sr. walked in alone, closing it behind him.
Harley quickly looked him up and down. Her first impression was that he was a stern, middle-aged man.
Barty Crouch Sr. wore a neat suit beneath his wizard's robes, and his short gray hair was combed perfectly into place.
At first glance, Harley understood why Professor Slughorn seemed to dislike him.
He looked like the sort of person who followed the rules to the letter, never showed favoritism, and wore his integrity on his face.
Someone like Professor Slughorn, who liked to profit from his students, was bound to clash with him.
Harley also felt that she and Crouch were a poor match. After all, few witches liked sticking to the rules.
"Good afternoon, Professor Horace Slughorn, Miss Harley Potter.
"Professor Slughorn, Dirk has already taken care of most of the paperwork for you. You only need to sign here."
As he spoke, Barty Crouch Sr. handed them a document with his right hand. In his left, he held a quill already dipped in ink.
Professor Slughorn gave the document a brief read, signed his name, and passed it to Harley.
Harley glanced over it,