radicalducati Chapter 256 The Collapse of Slughorn
Chapter 256 The Collapse of Slughorn
Chapter 256 The Collapse of Slughorn
"teacher!"
Although he disliked Slughorn's attitude toward Muggles and Muggle-born wizards, Harry still exclaimed in surprise and took two steps forward, seemingly intending to help the old man who had suddenly fallen ill.
But Lane stopped him, preventing him from approaching, from getting close to Slughorn, and from getting near the golden cup between them: "It's nothing, Harry. Mr. Slughorn is probably just intimidated by the value of this item, since it's a genuine relic of one of the Four Lords—the Hufflepuff Cup."
When Ryan realized he didn't see Dumbledore, he understood that the headmaster wanted him to play the bad cop, which was exactly what Dumbledore wanted.
When the adversaries who bring about a dark future set their sights on Voldemort's Horcruxes, they will inevitably need to obtain all information about them. The famous Potions Master, Voldemort's most respected professor, will naturally know the most likely and valuable information.
He continued, "Perhaps Mr. Slughorn is not aware of this, but I must tell you a very regrettable fact—the relics of the four leaders, except for the Gryffindor sword which is kept in the headmaster's office, are all missing. Today I found Hufflepuff's cup in Gringotts, and thinking that things should always have a beginning and an end, I took it as a gift."
When these words reached Slughorn's ears, they were more terrifying than a bolt from the blue, for they were the same old tricks that had come back to haunt him.
He was an excellent wizard and a very intelligent person. With Dumbledore bringing Harry Potter today, he easily connected the dots and figured out why Hufflepuff's golden cup was lost and why it was found in Gringotts.
Combining this with what Dumbledore had said about the past by the lake at the entrance, he naturally understood why Lane had said those words. Whether it was right or wrong, they had to keep going and make up for the impact and consequences.
Just then, Dumbledore walked in at the perfect moment: "So Ryan's here too—is there something urgent?"
Although he didn't know what had happened at Gringotts, he could see the anxiety on Ryan's face. Anything that could make Ryan anxious right now was definitely not a trivial matter.
"Goblins, there has been some trouble with Gringotts. This golden cup is what I found there; it is the remnant of the real Lady Hufflepuff, who disappeared decades ago."
Ryan gestured to the famous golden cup that had fallen to the ground, making a pointed remark and emphasizing that it happened decades ago.
Dumbledore exclaimed in realization, "Oh, so it was decades ago, Horace. We were both teaching at Hogwarts back then. You're a bit younger than me, so your memory should be better than mine. I'm too old and useless now, so I can't remember exactly what happened back then."
Slughorn was drenched in sweat.
He stammered and couldn't say a word.
Even Harry noticed Slughorn's odd behavior: "Sir, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Should we go to St. Mungo's?"
Harry's words of concern were like a final, sharp dagger, ruthlessly peeling away Slughorn's chubby exterior and penetrating deep into his internal organs and his very heart.
"I—I'm fine. I just suddenly realized—maybe going to Hogwarts is a better choice. I think—there I—should—be able to spend—a peaceful and stable year."
Slughorn lowered his head, even the obsessive desire to collect outstanding students that he once had in his eyes had disappeared, his pupils were dull and lifeless, just like those who died tragically at Voldemort's hands for creating Horcruxes.
A cheerful voice immediately rang out; it was Dumbledore, eagerly saying, "Oh, that's wonderful! Do you need me to help you pack your things and move to Hogwarts?"
Before Slughorn could refuse, he waved his wand and organized all the household items.
Ryan also picked up an empty woven bag from a pile of items, expanded it with a Seamless Stretch Charm to create enough space, and then used a Levitation Charm to float it to Dumbledore's side.
"What an excellent spell, incorporating alchemical techniques, allowing the space to fold for three to five days using what was originally a disposable, seamless, stretchable item."
Dumbledore praised him, saying that generally, if a spell is used only once without solidifying it, it can only work for a moment. However, Ryan had clearly taken a unique approach by incorporating the Alchemy Matrix into the spell, thus using the Alchemy Fire to partially solidify the spell's effect in that instant.
Slughorn was dispirited. Although he had figured it out—since he couldn't escape it, he had to face it head-on—it was easier said than done.
So even now, faced with such outstanding students, he has no interest in contributing to his slug club.
"Albus—" he pleaded, pulling Dumbledore away as the two entered a side hall.
One was tall, the other short; one was fat, the other thin. The two formed a stark contrast: the tall, thin man walked with a light step; the short, fat old man walked with a limp.
Harry felt the situation was changing too fast. He didn't understand why things that he had tried so hard to persuade Dumbledore to do for so long hadn't worked out, but Ryan had just arrived and reached an agreement after only a few words.
"Senior? I still don't know what's going on."
Ryan handed over a bottle of honey milk: "Have some, it'll soothe your throat. You've been talking for a while now."
"Thank you." Harry twisted open the cap and took a sip. This honey milk probably had more sugar and honey added; it was much sweeter than regular honey milk, probably a unique preference of Slughorn's.
"You may have noticed during class that the professors are consciously or unconsciously elaborating on certain topics. This is in preparation for the subject-specific refinement project."
"Discipline specialization project?"
Harry did have some insights into what Lane said during class, and they discussed them after class, especially Neville's claim that Herbology was divided into various different fields, based on medicinal effects, growing environment, and the era of growth compared to ancient and modern times, and so on.
Lane repeated what he had said to Madam Maxime that day, then said to Harry, "Specifying subjects can greatly free up a person's energy. After all, not everyone is a polymath; many people simply don't have the talent to delve deeply into a large field. If more people can reach the pinnacle in one area, then countless people combined can create a polymath who surpasses all previous wizards."
Harry couldn't understand the blueprint Ryan was talking about, because he believed that even if there were many of him, they would never be able to match Ryan's achievements: "Having more people is useless. There are so many students at Hogwarts, and all of their achievements combined don't even amount to half of what you've achieved."
Ryan corrected Harry's thinking. Perhaps many people combined cannot compare to a peerless genius, but geniuses are too far removed from ordinary people. Research and development that is truly applicable to people's lives is not the invention of geniuses.
He told Harry, "We are wizards, not I. It is countless wizards who make up the wizarding community and the wizarding world. Isn't the purpose of our Adventurers' Club to explore the frontiers of magic and improve the wizarding world?"
The former can be driven by geniuses, while the latter requires countless ordinary wizards to perfect their homes.
"And you, Harry. I've always believed, and I've always thought, that you are the former."
Harry, his face flushed, felt like he was about to break down. He often felt hot all over, his mind was racing, and his blood was rushing to his head after Ryan finished speaking.