Seeing Dumbledore's smile, Will spread his hands helplessly. He knew what Dumbledore was planning.
In the original timeline, Dumbledore had used Harry as bait to lure Slughorn back to Hogwarts as a professor.
Now, it seemed Will was part of the bargain too.
Horace Slughorn belonged to the Slughorn family, one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
He liked associating with celebrities, successful people, and influential figures. He was almost a collector of talent.
He had even founded the Slug Club to gather students with connections, potential, or talent, building an enormous network in the process.
According to Slughorn, his parents had encouraged him from childhood to make outstanding friends. Clearly, though, his interest came naturally—and bordered on obsession.
That was why Dumbledore had brought Will and Harry here. Will looked at the magnificent Slughorn Manor before them.
This was the Slughorn family's estate. As an old pure-blood family, they naturally had a lavish home; and Horace, a renowned Potions Master, had no shortage of money himself.
Harry looked a little surprised. Perhaps he had never seen a grand manor before. This place was far more imposing than the Black family's old house.
Nor was it as dark and forbidding. It looked more like the sort of place Harry had read about Muggle nobles and wealthy people living in.
A plainly but neatly dressed House-elf noticed the three of them at the gate and Apparated over. "May I help you?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Please tell Horace that Dumbledore, Will Behrens, and Harry Potter have come to visit."
"Please wait a moment." The House-elf vanished with a pop.
Inside the main house of Slughorn Manor, the stout, thick-bearded Slughorn drained a large glass of champagne and rubbed his head.
Several empty bottles stood on the mahogany table. Spilled wine had soaked an envelope.
Slughorn