Horace Slughorn

Would the following students kindly see me after supper:

Muirgheal Hedigan
Meagara Featherstone
Marlon Strangeweale
Angelica Symmons
Myfanwy Truncheon
Eustace Birchmore

How are you feeling today? None the worse for that second bottle we opened? You seemed to need it at the time.

I shouldn't take Miss Greengrass' personal confession too much to heart. It had obviously been weighing on her but it is in the way of teenaged girls to over-dramatise everything when they are already distressed. Unfortunate that it came out in the throes of her much more serious concerns. I'm sure in the light of day, she has come to see how absurd the notion is.

Meanwhile, I've contacted Hieronymus and asked him to come to the school today, if possible, to determine what's to be done with his son. I agree with Minerva that if Miss Greengrass does not wish to pursue the matter, the best outcome may simply be to allow him to complete his NEWT examinations and then give him our leave to commence his post-Hogwarts career a month earlier than expected. Julius and Maghnus have agreed to escort Mr Bole to and from his exams; I don't wish him to consort with the other students while we resolve the question of whether he is to remain one of them.

I only wish Miss Greengrass or Miss Gamp had come to someone in authority sooner. So much of their troubles could have been avoided.

Poppy, I think you had better come and join us in Rabastan's office. Minerva, you as well, if you can. Urgently.

We've been having a long discussion with Miss Greengrass and Mr Zabini.

Poppy, I'm sorry to interrupt your non-celebratory evening but you'll agree, I'm sure, that it's quite necessary.

Recent events have inspired me to take a slow amble down memory lane to revisit my own days as a student here at Hogwarts. It seems so long ago now, I suppose because it was! But oh yes, we partook of our fair share of riotous living back in the day. Every new generation of students here at Hogwarts carries itself as if it were the first - the first to discover Honeydukes, the first to find that passageway behind that statue (you all know the one, I'm sure). The first to struggle with homework, fall out with old chums, discover the delights of new chums, run in the snow on the Quidditch pitch the day before a big match. It's all happened before, and I'm sure it will all happen again and again, long after this old body has given out.

They arrive so wide-eyed and full of potential, and they leave so bright and full of hope. It's really quite a marvellous place to spend one's life.

That's not to say there aren't less pleasant tasks that one must fulfil as a teacher, and especially a Head of House. I must confess, I've never much enjoyed the disciplining aspects, even those that are pre-emptive. I much prefer to let the children learn from their mistakes as they go, guiding them where necessary, and sanctioning them only where unavoidable. But then, this is quite a serious matter - and if it takes a few strong and carefully placed words to prevent any inappropriate or unwise actions against another student's property, well, I suppose it's best to step in and act now.

I must simply hope that they all heed my words of guidance on this matter, understand the very grave consequences of disregarding the warning they've had, and leave well enough alone.