Professor Slughorn chickened out, just as Harley had expected.
After all, this professor from Slytherin had always enjoyed comfort, coveted privilege, and feared for his life.
Yet he did not like standing in the spotlight himself. Instead, he invested in a large number of students he believed had promising futures.
Professor Slughorn gave these students the knowledge they desired or shortcuts to their ultimate goals, then built a club around himself to connect them all.
Once these people he considered geniuses successfully rose to high positions in the wizarding world, they would in turn provide Professor Slughorn with all manner of conveniences and rewards.
This allowed him to enjoy invisible privileges from every walk of life while bearing almost no risk at all.
As for the students he did not think highly of, Professor Slughorn would do nothing beyond fulfilling his duty as a professor to impart knowledge.
Thus, he was the most typical of Slytherins—the most typical kind of "refined egoist."
Given his personality, he certainly would not have the courage to face a powerful Dark Wizard like Voldemort, someone deranged who did not play by the rules.
Still, Professor Slughorn's willingness to so straightforwardly admit that he had chickened out to Harley and Hermione truly surprised Harley.
"What is it?" Harley and Hermione's strange looks made even Professor Slughorn's old face flush slightly.
"There's nothing to hide. I'm afraid of You-Know-Who."
"After all, I'm a Potion Master, not an expert in dueling or Defense Against the Dark Arts, so I can't beat him..."
Seeing that he was only making his image worse the more he explained, Professor Slughorn decisively changed the subject.
"Harley, that 'Slug Club' I mentioned on the train—would you be willing to join?"
"I can introduce you to many magical masters in various fields. It