Chapter 423 Humility and Confidence

( ) "...I don't know if I am lucky enough to come to your home for a talk?"

Finally, Slughorn nodded.

Although he wasn't sure about Maca's purpose, but since he came from Hogwarts, it was the right choice not to take the initiative to seek it out.

But for Slughorn, since he failed to avoid him, it actually explained a lot of problems.

Maca followed behind him, and walked in through the back door together with him.

This house is actually quite spacious, but perhaps because its owner stuffed too many daily necessities, it can't help but make people feel a little cramped and messy.

In the living room where Maca is entertained, there are everything such as soft chairs with backrests, low stools, and piles of soft cushions. Books, drinks and snacks on the coffee table covered with table carpets are all within easy reach.

The flames burning in the big fireplace made the room warm even in the corner.

In terms of cleanliness, this place is even comparable to Maca's office; but in terms of the comfort level of daily life, I believe no one would dislike this room.

Before getting on the soft sofa, Maca took out several wine bottles from his waist and put them on the tea table as visiting gifts.

But then, after he sank into the sofa, he asked a question so abruptly that the room temperature dropped to freezing point.

"Mr. Slughorn, Voldemort—" just as Maca mentioned the name, the fat old man trembled, "...How much salary does he pay you?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Slughorn frowned immediately. "And don't mention that name to me!"

"I'm not talking nonsense," Maca said with a smile. "Originally, I'm just here to be a lobbyist. In the next school year, Hogwarts needs a new Potions professor—"

"I'm not going!" Slughorn snapped.

"No, didn't I say that? That was just my 'original' purpose," Maca explained, "If Professor McGonagall hadn't come to ask me if I had a suitable candidate, I wouldn't have come to you..."

He paused, but then continued: "But in fact, I started following you a few months ago... Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Oh—actually, I prefer mead!" Slughorn picked up the bottle on the table,

While looking at the label, he said perfunctorily, "What should I understand?"

"For a while, you moved around very frequently - from here to there, but it wasn't long before you bought the house from its Muggle owner and lived here for a long time." Ka leisurely said, "I think I can still understand what happened during this period."

"I just want to look around and choose a place suitable for retirement!" Slughorn is still insisting. "As you can see, when you get older, it's time to enjoy a leisurely life in your old age."

"Why bother?" Maca shook his head, "If that's the case, why don't you show me your arm?"

Hearing this, Slughorn's face finally changed. After a moment of silence, he sighed heavily.

"Based on what you mean, if Minerva didn't look for you, you didn't plan to come to my place?" He put down the wine bottle in his hand and said weakly.

"That's right," Maca nodded calmly, "I think that without me coming to you, you will take the initiative to go back to Hogwarts...don't you?"

"How, how is it possible..." Slughorn immediately shook his head and said, "I believe you know much more about how dangerous Hogwarts has been in recent years than I do—how could I ask for trouble? "

"Because it may not be very safe here," Maca said without hesitation, "From the time you were unable to refuse V——you know, from the time you were unable to refuse his invitation, you have already been drawn into danger. Although you always like to make friends with outstanding talents, but being 'excellent' like Riddle, I'm afraid it will only make you deeply distressed?"

"...you won't understand." Slughorn stared at the pattern on the table rug in silence, and after a moment of silence, he softly uttered such a sentence.

But Maca just smiled calmly.

"Okay!" He nodded slightly, "It's not distress, it's regret—right?"

"What?" Slughorn raised his head suddenly, with an inexplicable surprise flashing in his eyes.

Maca thought about it carefully, and decided to reveal some unimportant information to the fat old man.

"In order to eliminate your worries—" he spread his hands, "Of course, it's also for you to come to our side as soon as possible, so I'll tell you directly!"

Having said that, Maca deliberately paused again, making Slughorn focus again.

"...Horcrux, he learned about the method of splitting the soul from you, right?"

"How could you—"

In the shock of Slughorn, Maca waved his hand and interrupted him.

"Voldemort has seven Horcruxes, six of which are in my hands."

"Really...seven times?" Slughorn's hands trembled uncontrollably. "How could...a human soul be divided seven times?"

"More than that!" Maca said casually, "To be precise, it's about thirteen times—that's the limit number of divisions."

"Really?" Slughorn hesitated. "How do you know?"

"It's clearly written in some ancient books," Maca shrugged. "I still have a little bit of research on soul magic."

"Then how do you know he made only seven Horcruxes?" demanded Slughorn.

"No, in fact, there are only six horcruxes he voluntarily created—" Maca replied, "Every time the soul is divided, it needs a long period of warming, and it is impossible for him to continuously create horcruxes. However, after he made After the sixth Horcrux, it's... you know."

"... died at Potter's house?" Slughorn could not help subconsciously answering.

"That's right!" Maca nodded.

"What about the seventh one?" Slughorn asked hastily. "He made another one after his resurrection?"

"Unfortunately, I can't explain more about the seventh Horcrux yet..." Maca said, "But I can tell you clearly, that one is also in my hands."

"Then how can you be sure that he didn't continue to make Horcruxes after his resurrection?" Slughorn asked suspiciously.

"This is related to another secret of his." Maca hesitated a little, "You should already know it? After he was resurrected, his power became very unusual."

"Yes...those horrible black air..." Slughorn recalled shudderingly.

"That's the one," Maca said, "because of the new powers he's got, he's not even daring to go on making Horcruxes now, dare I say—he's not even daring to let his soul shake even a little bit more! "

"I can understand," Slughorn nodded. "I saw it by accident once before. He was emitting black smoke all over his body—that should be the situation where his power suddenly went berserk!"

Maca looked at him noncommittally, and after a while, he changed the subject.

"Hmm... so, now that I've said so much, I think you should be able to decide, right?"

As soon as these words came out, Slughorn fell into deep thought again.

The reason why Maca told him these "important information" was actually very clear to him.

First, Maca wants to let him know that Voldemort's secret is not a secret at all in Maca's eyes, as if everything is under his control; bondage.

No matter which side he ultimately decided to take, there was no way he could have told Voldemort these words. Once he said it in front of Voldemort, not only would there be no reward, but he would undoubtedly be killed on the spot.

After all, when Voldemort was still the same Tom Riddle, it was he, Horag Slughorn, who explained the secret of the Horcrux to the other party.

If Voldemort knew that the secret of the Horcrux might have been leaked, he would definitely be the first person to be suspected.

"...Why do you want me to go back to Hogwarts?" Slughorn asked Maca suddenly, "What is my value? Do you need to exchange these secrets?"

"Huh?" Maca glanced at him and said, "Although I haven't thought about the value...But every time Voldemort loses a helper, it will undoubtedly be easier for us, isn't it?"

"Just because of that?" Slughorn hesitated.

"Isn't that enough?" Maca asked back, "If you do things for Voldemort wholeheartedly, you can cause us a lot of trouble—you must have put a lot of effort into Voldemort's infiltration into the Ministry of Magic, right? ?”

"Uh... I've said it all, don't mention 'that person''s name to me..." Slughorn rubbed his nose and looked away guiltily.

"Look! Didn't I tell you before I came in?" Maca said with a smile, "You have a good reputation in the British wizarding community—and even in the global wizarding community. For your extensive and weighty The social circle is very important to me."

"So, are you sure you can... guarantee my safety?" Slughorn pondered for a while, then stretched his neck suddenly, and asked cautiously.

"Of course!" Maca nodded resolutely, "As long as you don't run around and stay at Hogwarts well, I don't think there is anything to be afraid of if Voldemort attacks again."

"You're so confident..." Slughorn twitched the corner of his mouth.

"Moderate self-confidence can win people's trust," Maca did not deny this. "Sometimes, excessive self-effacement will make others unhappy!"

"Let me think again!" Slughorn sighed.

"Of course it's okay, it's still early for the next school year!" Maka said, and suddenly turned her head towards the door, "However, for you, I'm afraid you don't have as much time as you think."