Homecoming from Hogwarts

"In fact—"

Dumbledore, with his old face tinged with the blush of old age, laughed.

"Severus went through much the same thing as you did during those first few years.

Charlie Weasley, the second son of the Weasley family, is a Quidditch genius almost as good as James. "

“Hehe——”

Professor Slughorn glanced at Dumbledore and sneered.
"After Charlie graduated, Gryffindor got Harry Potter. You probably want to say that Gryffindor is a lucky house that has always been blessed by God?"

"You know I'm not so narrow-minded, Horace—"

Dumbledore smiled gently.
"What I would rather see is the players from the four teams fighting bravely on the Quidditch field, winning honor for their respective houses and themselves, and presenting a wonderful game for all of us."

"You're always so careful, Albus -"

Professor Slughorn snorted twice more, smiled at Hermione, and walked towards the lake.

Hermione was not upset by Professor Slughorn's insinuation about Professor Dumbledore.

In fact, she quite liked Professor Slughorn.

Although this fat old man of the same generation as Dumbledore has some problems, he is different from Professor Snape in class.

He basically treats all students equally, and is not overbearingly fond of only Slytherin students.

Dumbledore also walked towards the lake. It seemed that the two of them were planning to chat or discuss something.

Hermione's eyes followed the two professors who came to the lake, and she didn't even notice Harry, Ron and the sky descending.

"You must join the Gryffindor team, Loya!"

In the end, Luo Ya failed to get rid of Harry, but judging from the dense water droplets on Harry's forehead, he also took the fight very seriously.

After getting off the flying broom, Harry, with an excited look on his face, immediately invited Luo Ya.
"I swear on my Firebolt, as long as you join the Gryffindor team, no one will be our opponent."

The little druid girl's cheeks were red and sweaty even though she was smiling.

She is just like Harry, she looks very excited when she gets the broom, but at other times, her lively nature is somewhat mixed with shyness!
"I'm not sure I'm old enough, Harry—"

Luo Ya pursed her lips and said this, with a pure and flawless light flashing in her eyes.

"Oh, don't be silly!"

Ron, acting like a senior, patted Luoya on the shoulder.

"Harry joined the Gryffindor team in his first year. He was only eleven years old like you!"

"If you agree, I will go tell Angelina after dinner, and I will go with her to find Professor McGonagall. I dare say Professor McGonagall will not refuse. She wants the Gryffindor team to win more than anyone else!"

Harry said enthusiastically.

"Oh, but--"

Harry thought Luo Ya would nod, but he saw Luo Ya biting her lip, looking embarrassed.

"What's wrong, Loya?"

Harry blinked in confusion, and Ron suddenly showed an expression of enlightenment.

"Are you worried that Professor Lahansen will not agree?"

It was known to everyone that Loya and her companions came from the same place as Professor Lahansen.

"Actually—"

Luo Ya looked at Hermione cautiously, stammering,

"I don't know if it will work, but I want to form my own team."

What does it mean to form your own team?
Looking at Loya, whose height was completely in line with that of a first-year wizard, Harry and Ron looked at each other in surprise.

But in the end, Harry reacted faster.

"You mean, the exchange group?"

Harry frowned and looked at Hermione.

"Do you think this is possible, Hermione Hermione?" After calling out twice, Hermione, who was looking at the lake, came back to her senses.

"Oh, you guys are done?"

Pushing aside the hair flying in front of her eyes, Hermione looked at Luo Ya with some surprise.
"How about it, Luoya, did you beat them?"

"What are you looking at?"

Ron narrowed his eyes and looked towards the direction where the sunset was setting.
"It's Dumbledore and Slughorn. Are they taking a walk?"

Hermione shrugged, no longer trying to guess what the two professors would talk about in private.

Looking at Luoya with a gentle gaze, Hermione could easily detect the uneasiness on the little girl's face.

"What do you want to do, Loya?"

After being interrupted, Luo Ya seemed even more hesitant. After all, Fromide had solemnly warned them to be careful with their words and actions in the castle.

They are still unfamiliar with the wizarding community and need to learn how to get along with them.

"Loya plans to form a Quidditch team within the exchange group, but she's not sure if it will work?"

Harry panted slightly and spoke for Luoya.

"Oh--"

Slightly surprised, Hermione bit her lower lip, hesitating.
"I'm sorry, Luo Ya, I'm afraid I can't make the decision on this matter. But when Professor Brian comes back, I'm willing to consult him for your opinion."

"You have a very clever tongue, Hermione."

Ron, who was standing aside, suddenly said.

"What!"

Looking at the thin figure striding towards the school gate, Hermione cried out in surprise.

"How does it feel to be back at Hogwarts, Horace?"

"That's what you called me out for a walk, Albus?"

Professor Slughorn rolled his eyes, with an expression that said, "I knew you had ulterior motives."

However, he immediately stopped smiling.

He turned around, with his back to the Black Lake that was dyed like a blood lake by the sunset, and looked towards the direction of the lawn. His eyes, which were usually alert, now seemed a little confused.

The sadness of late autumn did not infect this group of energetic young people.

On the lawn, there were little wizards chasing each other with laughter, senior couples leaning on each other, and OWLS students sitting on the ground quietly reading and preparing for exams. Every child was emitting a vigorous rhythm of life!
Slughorn was in a trance. This scene was so harmonious and peaceful that he almost forgot that the world outside the school was in dire straits.

"Hogwarts is wonderful—"

Dumbledore's silver beard swayed, and his deep blue eyes reflected these young men full of fire.

"Yeah, it's always been like this here, it seems like nothing has changed—"

Horace turned his face away and looked at Dumbledore with a distant look, his tone somewhat stiff.
"Don't beat around the bush, Albus. I know you didn't come to me to ask me how I'm doing back at Hogwarts--"

Dumbledore's smile was mixed with helplessness.

"I have no doubt of your intelligence, Horace. You know what I want to know from you.

You also know very well that the information you possess can prevent countless innocent lives. That crucial information can determine everything. If we don’t have that information, all our efforts today will be blind—”

"I naively thought you had given up--"

Horace interrupted Dumbledore with an impatient mutter.
"But how many times do I have to tell you before you believe me? I don't know. I have already told you everything I know, Albus. The memory I gave you is everything -"

"Horace—"

Dumbledore sighed deeply and looked really helpless.

Seeing him like this, Professor Slughorn hesitated a little. But what could he do?

Although Riddle had not really made an effort to look for him yet, Horace knew that it was ridiculous to expect Riddle to have forgotten the night he had asked him about the Horcruxes.

It was his lifelong shame that he had inadvertently made Riddle the most evil dark wizard in history! (End of this chapter)