The Floo Network is Shut Down

The next morning, the Daily Prophet did indeed publish a report about Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, being attacked at the Ministry of Magic. It took up a full two pages.

As expected, the incident immediately caused an uproar at Hogwarts. The discussion in the Great Hall did not stop throughout breakfast that day.

Kyle glanced around the dining table. Susan had not come down for breakfast. She was probably still in the dormitory.

To help Susan calm herself, Professor Sprout had specifically visited the common room the previous evening and told her that she would not need to attend classes for the next few days.

Under normal circumstances, Susan would have been thrilled enough to jump for joy, but that night, she had been unable to smile at all. She had merely lowered her head in silence.

And throughout the entire day, no one saw her anywhere else in the castle.

"Slughorn really is a snob!" By dinner, Mikel had begun viciously criticizing a certain professor.

"Did you know? He held a gathering in his office this weekend, but he didn't invite Susan."

"So what..." someone said dismissively. "Since Professor Slughorn was the one hosting it, surely he was free to invite whoever he wanted."

"You're too naive. You don't know what happened." Mikel wagged a finger and began explaining things to the others.

"I asked around. Professor Slughorn's Slug Club only invites students who are exceptional themselves, or whose families have influential people.

"Susan was supposed to have an invitation too, but after he read the newspaper, he immediately snatched it back. That stupid old slug."

"That can't be true..." Someone still did not believe it. Slughorn was a professor, after all. How could he do something as disgraceful as taking back an