Slughorn's Memory

When Slughorn asked about Harry, Will's face darkened.

"Harry... isn't doing well, Professor." Will took a sip of his Grape Juice. "He's been very emotional lately."

You've heard about what happened in Defence Against the Dark Arts —he was provoked by Professor Snape and almost did something irreversible.

Slughorn frowned, took a sip of Mead, and tapped his chubby fingers lightly on the edge of the table. "But that boy, he's not usually like this. He's passionate but restrained. This isn't like him at all."

"Harry's situation is quite serious; it's normal for him to be in this state."

"The situation is serious?" Slughorn's fork stopped in mid-air.

"Yes, very serious," Will said. "He feels like he's waiting to die, Professor. I have something more serious to tell you."

A fragment of a soul is attached to Harry.

Slughorn's hand trembled, and golden Mead spilled onto the pristine white tablecloth.

He froze as if struck by lightning, his round face drained of all color, his lips moved, and after a long pause, he managed to squeeze out a single sentence:

"Will, what... what did you just say? A fragment of a soul?"

"That's right, a fragment of Voldemort's soul, which means— Harry is half Horcrux."

"Snap!"

Slughorn smashed his glass on the ground, the Mead spilling out.

He stood up abruptly, the chair legs scraping against the ground with a piercing screech. His chest heaved violently, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his bulky body trembled slightly.

"Don't—don't say that word!" He looked around as if afraid the walls had grown ears. "Will, you... how do you know about that stuff? That Dark Magic is the most—most—"

"Professor, is this really a secret? Even highly skilled and knowledgeable Wizard wouldn't be unaware of it."

Harry is in a bad situation right now. We need information about that person, the more the better, otherwise I can't help him."

Slughorn pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from his face. "Will, let's not talk about this, okay?"

Will looked at Slughorn and remained silent for a moment—he was thinking.

Will was considering whether or not to let Slughorn tell the whole story, since Will was essentially giving Slughorn an opportunity.

Slughorn once revealed the matter of Horcrux to Voldemort, Voldemort received some assistance in creating Horcrux.

In the original timeline, Slughorn eventually revealed the information about Voldemort; in reality, this information is completely unimportant to Will now, but Slughorn has been kind to him, and Will wants Slughorn to side with the victors early.

"Professor, I want to know everything about Voldemort, or rather, we should call him— Tom Riddle."

This time, Slughorn was sweating profusely, his forehead dripping with sweat, and his pupils almost shrank to the smallest point.

The mere mention of Tom Riddle's name Will more than the word "Horcrux."

"Will, how come you..." Slughorn's voice was hoarse, "How do you know this name?"

"I know more than you think." Will didn't explain further, "I just want to know what you said to him when you were his Potions Class professor."

I need intelligence, Professor, everything about him.

"Sigh--" A long sigh escaped from Slughorn's thick chest, and Slughorn slumped down like a deflated balloon.

He gazed at the darkening sky outside the window and sat there for a long time.

"Will, you really exceed my expectations. I didn't expect you to know even this. Albus tell you?"

Will remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Slughorn kept wiping the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. "Tom is one of the smartest students I've ever taught..."

Of course, Tom's talent isn't as great as yours, and that's not a compliment.

At the same stage, Tom is far behind you, both in terms of his achievements and his demonstrated learning ability.

I'm telling you all this because I can see that you will definitely be more outstanding than Tom in the future.

"You can go much further on the path of Magic, Will. I'm betting everything on you."

After Slughorn finished speaking, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Will looked at Slughorn with a gentle smile, "Professor, I have always regarded you as someone worthy of respect. Please believe me, it is precisely because of this respect that I am asking you in this way."

Slughorn nodded, took out his Wand, and pressed the tip of the Wand to his temple.

The Wand danced, its tip trailing a long, silvery thread of memory that stretched longer and longer until it transformed into a wisp of silver mist.

When it broke, Winky drifted from the tip of the staff.

Will snapped his Finger Snap, and a small glass bottle appeared in Will hand.

Slughorn's Wand, enveloped in silver light, slipped it into the small bottle in Will's hand.

"I suppose you don't need me to explain what this is, right, Will?"

"Of course, Professor, this is your memory. Thank you very much. I believe it will be very useful for the grand plan to combat Voldemort."

Will was pleased that the professor, who had been so good to him, had made the right choice.

I've perfectly completed the task assigned to Dumbledore, so... I don't owe Dumbledore anything anymore...