Slughorn in the Hospital Wing

As it turned out, Silvan had guessed right.

Because while they were all staring at Madam Rosmerta, she suddenly winked at them.

The real Madam Rosmerta definitely would not have done that, so it was obvious who she really was.

Silvan had not expected Tonks to be—well, on second thought, it was understandable. If the Death Eaters wanted to do anything else, they would never suspect that the owner of the Three Broomsticks had been replaced by an Auror.

But the Death Eaters did not come. Until Silvan and the others finished their Butterbeer and prepared to leave the Three Broomsticks, nothing unusual happened outside.

Then they returned to Hogwarts, only to find that something major had happened in the castle.

Slughorn had been poisoned. Nearly all the professors, including Dumbledore, were now in the Hospital Wing.

"Wait, Ginny." Ron rubbed his ears and asked in disbelief, "Who did you say was poisoned?"

"Slughorn, our Potions professor," Ginny repeated.

"But isn't he a Potions master?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Who told you a Potions master can't be poisoned?" Ginny rolled her eyes. "Some poisons and curses can't be detected. Forget Slughorn—even Headmaster Dumbledore has fallen victim to one before, hasn't he?"

"Though he's fine now, you must know how terrifying his right hand looked at the start of term."

Ron nodded instinctively.

Indeed, if even a wizard like Dumbledore could be cursed, then it was perfectly normal for Slughorn to be poisoned.

"Should we go see him?" Hermione asked.

"Better not," Ginny said. "The professors are all in the Hospital Wing right now, and every student who tried to visit Professor Slughorn has been sent back."

Although Ginny said that, none of them gave up on the idea of going to have a look.

"Harry, you're Professor Slughorn's favorite student. If