"Horace, old friend, thank you so much."
Dumbledore smiled. He had known bringing Will along would work.
"Don't thank me yet." Slughorn waved a hand, his expression growing serious. "Albus, I'd like to speak with you alone."
Dumbledore looked puzzled. "Shall we step outside?"
Slughorn glanced at Will and Harry again. "Let's use the side drawing room."
Dumbledore had no objection.
Harry watched them leave, then finally gave in to his curiosity. "Will, who exactly is this Mr. Slughorn?"
Will took a sip of tea before explaining. "He used to be head of Slytherin House and the Potions professor..."
In the side drawing room.
Slughorn addressed the House-elf polishing an antique vase. "Anglai, go outside and tell the other House-elves not to disturb me."
"Yes, honored Master." The House-elf would never disobey his master's orders.
Slughorn closed the drawing room door, looking so secretive that Dumbledore grew curious. "Horace, what is it you want to say?"
Slughorn's expression was grave. "Dumbledore, I want you to guarantee my safety."
"Of course, Horace. That goes without saying."
"No, you don't understand, Dumbledore." Slughorn shook his head. "I want special privileges."
"Special privileges?" Dumbledore frowned.
"Don't look at me like that, Dumbledore," Slughorn said. "I want your word that I can leave Hogwarts whenever I wish."
Dumbledore nodded. "Of course. I promise I won't interfere with any choice you make."
"And I need you to cast a Fidelius Charm to hide the location of the Slughorn family estate," Slughorn said. "That's all I'm asking. It isn't unreasonable, is it?"
The Fidelius Charm permanently hid a secret—such as the location of a person or place—inside a living person known as the Secret Keeper. Only the Secret Keeper could voluntarily reveal it to others.
Dumbledore nodded. He had expected Horace to make demands that