Here's a bonus chapter for you all! Thank you so much for waiting. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments, and I hope you have a wonderful time reading!
When Jane came back downstairs, she found that Dumbledore had already retired.
Only Slughorn remained, sitting motionless on the sofa, staring at the dancing candlelight on the wall.
Jane's attention, however, was drawn to his drinks cabinet. She walked over to admire his collection.
She noticed that while the cabinet contained a diverse selection, oak-matured mead dominated most of the space. The bottom shelf, labeled for white wine, stood empty - clearly its owner hadn't yet found suitable wines to fill it.
Beside the cabinet was a collection of Chocolate Frog cards - the kind many students collected but never completed. Evidently, Slughorn hadn't either, as he'd posted a list of missing cards beside the collection.
"Your collection is absolutely magnificent," she offered sincere praise.
Her voice seemed to snap Slughorn out of his reverie. At the mention of his collection, his spirits lifted slightly.
"Oh... indeed, indeed, I've always taken pride in them."
"These Chocolate Frog cards - though incomplete as you can see - I could complete the set with just a word, but finding them myself holds more meaning."
"And these fine wines represent years of collecting. Though the cabinet's not quite full yet - perhaps I should acquire some better vintages."
Jane nodded understanding:
"Yes, a true collector always keeps space for rarer, more precious items."
Slughorn froze at her words.
Jane's comment had struck directly at his core.
Born into an old wizarding family, he had practiced elitism throughout his life, invariably drawn to those with exceptional talent or influential backgrounds.
That's why he'd created the Slughorn Club - less a club than an outlet for his collecting impulse. What intoxicating pleasure to gather so many gifted wizards in one place!
As a Slytherin well-versed in social subtleties and coded messages, he was particularly attuned to hidden meanings in conversation with fellow Slytherins, their interactions often layered with subtle implications.
And here was Jane Yu - this young Slytherin witch who'd won the Award for Special Services to the School two years running-
She must be using these collections to hint at something!
His instincts told him she had seen right through to his heart.
Since retiring from teaching, he often yearned for the past.
The thought that tomorrow's magical luminaries were studying at Hogwarts without knowing him sent a melancholy chill through his heart.
Jane's visit had turned that regret into a flood.
Such promising talent, a Slytherin genius...
Yet not under his tutelage, never gracing his club, snatched away by Snape instead...
And now this visit - her words revealed her intent. "Collector" clearly meant him, Horace Slughorn, while "rarer, more precious" surely referred to those exceptional young wizards at Hogwarts!
She was hinting that he should return to Hogwarts, revive his club, and gather talented students once more!
Indeed, his collection would never be complete. He desperately wanted to return to Hogwarts, resume teaching, and gather all these talented young wizards into his club, filling his collection of prodigies.
"Child, you understand me, you truly understand..." He looked deeply moved, almost rising from his seat.
But his excitement quickly deflated as he remembered his grave mistake...
-Revealing the secret of Horcruxes to Tom Riddle.
He'd sworn never to tell anyone about this horrifying error.
He refused to share the memory of discussing Horcruxes with Voldemort - it was his life's greatest shame and mistake, a forbidden evil, his personal Waterloo, the bitter fruit of misjudging character.
So in 1981, when Dumbledore inquired about his secrets with Voldemort, he'd said nothing, swiftly resigning his position to escape years of guilt and fear.
But today, Dumbledore had confirmed his hidden fears.
Voldemort wasn't dead, had created Horcruxes, surviving in fragmented form...
If he returned, Voldemort's followers would surely hunt him down to prevent him revealing the secret!
Perhaps he should flee! Cut all ties and hide somewhere safe!
His mind raced until suddenly - an revelation.
Why had Dumbledore brought Jane to visit?
She must hold some secret!
Could her Special Services Awards be connected to Tom Riddle's diary that Dumbledore mentioned?
He had to confirm this information - it was crucial to his decision!
"Do you know... have you seen... him?" He raised one finger slightly, his round eyes looking hopefully at Jane.
Jane followed his gesture confused, noticing it pointed toward the Chocolate Frog card collection.
Knowing he was missing several cards, she checked the list of missing ones.
She saw Salazar Slytherin's name first, marked with emphatic exclamation points - clearly Slughorn was frustrated that despite being Head of Slytherin, he'd never drawn the founder's card.
"I know of him, and have seen him, though not in human form," she replied.
After all, she had seen his statue in the Chamber - that counted as seeing him, right?
"Ho!" Slughorn made that peculiar exclamation again.
He knew it, knew she must know!
"And... where did you see him, in the Chamber?"
So even retired professors knew about her Chamber incident.
Jane was surprised, but then remembered Slughorn's sociable nature and extensive connections, making it less remarkable.
"Yes, that's where I saw him."
"Ho!" Slughorn had lost count of how many times he'd made that sound. His pudgy hand pressed against his chest:
"Was there... a snake with him?"
The Basilisk?
Jane couldn't help but admire how well-informed he was.
"Indeed, he kept his pet snake there."
Now Slughorn was completely convinced of his theory!
To survive an encounter with Voldemort - it spoke volumes about her capabilities!
Plus she had Dumbledore's backing!
This could be an opportunity - if he could mentor her, help her... while adding another talent to his collection, he might also atone for his mistake... if she could help Dumbledore destroy those Horcruxes, he might find redemption from his guilt.
Should he flee or return to teaching at Hogwarts? He wrestled with the decision.
Seeing his prolonged silence, Jane finally understood.
So the retired professor wanted to complete his Chocolate Frog card collection!
She actually had drawn Slytherin's card before - she could help fulfill the retired professor's small wish.
"Excuse me," she pointed at the cards, asking Slughorn, "How many cards are you missing? Which ones?"
How many?
Slughorn stared blankly at the cards.
She must be asking how many Horcruxes Voldemort had made! What they were!
She was preserving his dignity, not demanding the memory like Dumbledore...
Instead using such a subtle approach...
How wonderfully understanding!
"I'll have to think about it," he said in a trembling voice. "Tomorrow... we'll discuss it tomorrow."