Hogwarts: I am Snape

Chapter 18 Party
After grabbing a quick bite in the auditorium, they headed to Slughorn's office.

This office is much larger than a typical teacher's room, and it contains two comfortable armchairs with winged armrests, surrounded by six or seven lower chairs.

Slughorn was holding a small glass of wine, chatting amiably with a red-haired wizard.

"Welcome, my child!" Slughorn greeted them warmly as soon as Snape and Abbott entered.

However, judging from his posture and eyes, he clearly hoped to see Abbott more.

Snape handed Slughorn a box of pineapple preserves he had bought through the Owl Post Office.

"Oh, thank you, Severus."

"Let me introduce you. This is the famous Auror Fabian Prewitt. Gideon has work to do today and can't come. What a pity."

The wizard standing next to Slughorn raised his glass to them, and Snape noticed that he was wearing a watch with shallow scratches on his left wrist.

The watch is made of gold, and there are no hands on the dial, only a few stars moving around.

“Good evening, Mr. Prewitt.” Snape stepped forward to greet him. “For some reason, you remind me of Mrs. Molly Weasley. You two seem to look quite alike.”

"You know Molly?" A smile appeared on Fabian's serious face. "She's my sister."

“Ah, no wonder. My mom and I visited her at the Burrow during the summer vacation, and we also met little Percy. He was so cute.”

“That child is destined for great things!” Fabian said proudly. “The last time we saw him, he was listening intently to the Ministry of Magic’s broadcast. Keep in mind, he was only a month old.”

Snape strained to keep his face straight, trying not to laugh.

He quickly coughed a few times.

"Cough, cough, absolutely! Bill, Charlie, and Percy are all wonderful kids!"

While they were talking, other students arrived one after another.

“Kids, come and sit down, everyone’s here.” Slughorn gestured for everyone to sit around him and Fabian. “Lily, you sit here.”

Lily sat down to Slughorn's right.

Between Snape and her was Deckard Clydeway, a fifth-year Hufflepuff student fluent in goblin, mermaid, and troll languages.

Lily glanced quickly to the side and then turned her head away.

Slughorn reclined in his armchair and introduced Fabian Prewitt's achievements to everyone.

“It’s not easy for a hero like him to come all this way. If anyone has any questions about Aurors or the Ministry of Magic, feel free to ask him.”

Fabian awkwardly rubbed his nose, seemingly not quite comfortable with Slughorn's flattery.

Slughorn held a small glass of wine in one hand and picked through the box of pineapple preserves Snape had brought with his other.

"Children, don't make a foolish choice in your career. I always recommend that you work for the Ministry of Magic; it's a very good and proper path."

He touched Snape with his frosted finger.

“Severus, you might be able to become an Auror, don’t miss this rare opportunity.”

“I would welcome you to intern with us next year,” Fabian said with a smile. “As long as you choose the appropriate NEWT courses, I can take care of the rest.”

"Thank you, thank you so much, Mr. Prewitt." Snape thanked him repeatedly; becoming an Auror was indeed a good choice.

“And you, Dirk,” Slughorn said to Dirk Klesway, “your fairy language is so good, you might as well work at the Fairy Liaison Office in the future, I can introduce you to their director.”

"However, you'd better stay away from the centaur liaison office, do you know why?"

"Professor, isn't that also a subordinate agency of the Department of Magical Creatures Control?" Dirk looked a little confused.

“I think Mr. Fabian will know the answer to this question.” Slughorn smiled happily and looked at Fabian.

Fabian and Slughorn exchanged a smile: "Cyclops don't like communicating with wizards. They're more likely to kick you than talk to you peacefully."

"If you are sent to the Malayan Liaison Office, the most urgent thing you need to do is find yourself a new job as soon as possible."

Whether it was real or just an act, everyone seemed amused and burst into laughter.

For the remainder of the party, they happily asked Fabian about the workings and tips of the Aurors and the Ministry of Magic.

Slughorn added from the side. He knew far more than Fabian about many things, especially gossip about the various departments of the Ministry of Magic.

Suddenly, there was a rapid knocking on the office front door, and then Filch came in, gripping James Porter's arm.

“Professor Slughorn,” Filch said breathlessly.

The flesh on his chin trembled as he spoke, and his goldfish eyes gleamed with the kind of crazy light one would show when catching a student misbehaving.

"I noticed this boy lurking around your door. He said he was invited to the party by you and that he was delayed when he tried to leave. Did you send him an invitation?"

James broke free from Filch's grasp, looking furious.

"Fine, you didn't invite me," he said angrily. "You want to barge in, are you happy now?"

“No, I’m not happy!” Filch said, his words completely at odds with the smug look on his face. “You’re in trouble! Didn’t the headmaster say that we can’t wander around at night without permission? Hmm?”

“It’s alright, Argus, it’s alright,” Slughorn waved his hand. “Wanting to attend the party isn’t a crime. Let it go this time, but don’t do it again. Potter, you can stay.”

“I don’t want to stay! Who wants to be with him!” James pointed at Snape and raised his voice, asking gruffly, “Why is he allowed to come to the party?”

“I think I understand what Mr. Potter means.” Snape sighed. “He probably thinks it’s an insult to civilization and manners for him to be with someone like me whose parents are Muggles.”

"I didn't! I'm not!" James was so angry he was incoherent. "How dare you, you stinky snot-nosed brat, spout such nonsense!"

Slughorn frowned.

Snape gasped, seemingly surprised by James's words.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Potter, I never knew you had such a strong prejudice against half-blood or Muggle-born wizards.”

“Alright,” Slughorn said, pointing to the front door before James could even defend himself, “Argus, take him back to the dorm.”

"No punishment?" Filch, with an indignant and disappointed expression, turned and twisted James, muttering under his breath as he walked away.

The door had been closed for a while, but they could still hear James's angry curses coming from the hallway.

(End of this chapter)