Early Life of Professor Horace Slughorn
Professor Horace Slughorn or Horace Eugene Falccus Slughorn was the professor in Potions before his first retirement in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was also the headmaster of the Slytherin House.
The Slughorn family was one of the wealthiest families among the wizarding world and was part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Horace Eugne Falccus Slughorn’s parents believed in pure-blood wizard superiority, however Horace Slughorn didn’t believe in such ideals.
However, instead he favored those who had talent, fame and power. He was sorted to Slytherin House himself as he desired to become an elite and befriend the elite.
Although Horace Slughorn favored such political power and allies as well, he had a very lax nature and rather enjoyed a relaxing life while he could resolve complicated matters with his network. So instead of working for the Ministry of Magic, Horace Slughorn becomes a professor as he was also naturally talented in teaching and lecturing.
Professor Horace Slughorn’s career as a professor in Potions
Almost every character of the Harry Potter world especially the adults were lectured by Horace Slughorn. He joined the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1931 which was about the timepoint when Albus Dumbledore joined Hogwarts School.
Horace Slughorn taught Lucius Malfoy, Severus Snape, Narcissa Malfoy, Arthur Weasley, Molly Weasley, James Potter, Lily Potter etc. He has retired once but he returns to Hogwarts as he sought it as an opportunity to have the Chosen One Harry Potter as one of his students.
Horace Slughorn’s characteristics
Horace Slughorn was an extreme sweet tooth and enjoyed food a lot where his favorite was crystallized pineapples. Although Horace Slughorn was a person with conscience, he had affiliation with talents, wealth or fame too much.
Although he didn’t treat ‘normal’ bitterly, he wouldn’t pay much attention to those who don’t meet up to his standard.
However, Horace Slughorn didn’t have any kind of prejudice against muggle-borns, half-bloods although Horace Slughorn himself came from the Slughorn family that claimed pure-blood superiority and part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
Horace Slughorn enjoyed company with Lily Evans and Hermione Granger. Horace Slughorn was not only gifted in Potions as a Potions master, but he was also a very skilled wizard in other magic as well.
The Death Eaters wanted to recruit him for his skills and even Albus Dumbledore admitted the great skills of Horace Slughorn.
Horace Slughorn was also skilled at Occlumency so Albus Dumbledore couldn’t see through Horace Slughorn’s memories of Voldemort by Legilimency so Albus Dumbledore gave Harry Potter a mission to obtain the real memories of Horace Slughorn.
Slytherin House isn’t necessarily evil & Gryffindor isn’t necessarily just
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince shows that not all Slytherin House is necessarily evil and not all Gryffindor House is necessarily good. Draco Malfoy although plots for the murder of Albus Dumbledore constantly hesitates and chokes himself from the pressure and the guilt.
D
raco Malfoy was the evil antagonist all along but some of his softness is shown. Horace Slughorn is also an ambitious former Slytherin House headmaster but although there are some controversies, he is a genuinely kind person.
Gryffindor students such as Cormac McLaggen and Romilda Vane shows how arrogant and reckless that the Gryffindor House students could be.
Slug Club – Horace Slughorn’s personal network
Horace Slughorn favored students with extraordinary talents or those with relatives who were high-ranking officials. Horace Slughorn favored ambitious talented brilliant smart students and outspoke his affection to such students.
Horace Slughorn would personally invite such students into the Slug Club where he would grant great privileges and arranged regular meetings where he would invite former members of the Slug Club with great meals.
Among members of the Slug Club were successful journalists, wealthy business managers, famous professional Quidditch players and high ranked Ministry of Magic officials.
Horace Slughorn could give advice to the Ministry of Magic that would even reach up to the Minister for Magic, obtain free tickets for professional Quidditch matches.
Horace Slughorn also received unlimited supplies of sweets including his favorite crystallized pineapples. He would also receive recommendations for hiring juniors among his Slug Club members.
Members that Horace Slughorn refused joining Slug Club
Horace Slughorn obviously didn’t show any interest in those who weren’t talented or not worthy to Horace Slughorn’s standards.
Although Ron was Hermione and Harry’s best friend, Horace Slughorn had zero interest in him. Horace Slughorn didn’t have any interest in Arthur Weasley, Ron’s father as well when Arthur attended Hogwarts. Also, Horace Slughorn hated criminals and their affiliated associates as well.
Although the offsprings of criminals may have nothing to do with their parents, still Horace Slughorn excluded Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott as their fathers Lucius Malfoy and Nott Senior were Death Eaters.
Horace Slughorn was fond of both Lucius Malfoy and Nott Senior but cut their sons off as they grew up and became criminals.
Draco Malfoy even mentioned that his father Lucius Malfoy thought Horace Slughorn was a great professor but still Horace Slughorn didn’t accept the offsprings of criminals.
Horace Slughorn would ruthlessly exclude those who weren’t worthy for Slug Club such as Marcus Belby whom Slughorn thought was a descendant/relative of Damocles Belby, the inventor of the Wolfsbane potion.
Known member list of the Slug Club – Return of Horace Slughorn
Ginny Weasley – Unlike her brother, Professor Slughorn was impressed with how good Ginny used hexes and her talents with the Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Hermione Granger – Hermione Granger was such a smart and academically achieved student.
Harry Potter – The ‘Chosen One’ and the son of Lily Evans who was one of Horace Slughorn’s favorite students. Horace Slughorn also thought Harry was exceptionally talented in potions in reality, it was the Half-Blood Prince’s notes that Harry relied on.
Cormac McLaggen – Cormac McLaggen’s uncle Tiberius had connections within the Ministry of Magic. Tiberius was a close friend with the current Minister for Magic and former head of the Auror’s Office Rufus Scrimgeour.
Blaise Zabini – Blaise Zabini was the tall black wizard sorted in Slytherin House. He was on the train with Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson on the Hogwarts Express. Blaise Zabini’s mother was a famous witch for her beauty who has inherited a fortune after being wedded and widowed seven times.
Flora Carrow, Hestia Carrow
Melinda Bobbin – Melinda Bobbin’s family run a huge business of apothecaries.
Known member list of the Slug Club – Before Horace Slughorn’s retirement
Tom Riddle(Voldemort) – No one suspected Tom Riddle or Voldemort to become such a menace of evil during Voldemort’s school years.
Tom Marvolo Riddle was exceptionally handsome, charming, cunning, skilled and was academically excellent so Slughorn accepted him as a member of the Slug Club. Horace Slughorn has regretted his whole life of mentoring Tom Marvolo Riddle and of giving Voldemort advice on making multiple Horcruxes.
Lily Evans (Lily Potter) – Horace Slughorn mentions that Lily Evans was one of his most favorite students of all time. Lily Evans was especially talented in potions which Horace Slughorn thought Harry inherited. Horace Slughorn also liked how witty and cunning that Lily Evans could be.
Severus Snape – Severus Snape was talented in potions and dark magic. In his first year, Severus Snape knew more hexes, curses and jinxes than the 7-year students and he was especially talented in it as well.
Regulus Black – The Seeker for the Slytherin House Quidditch team and the little brother of Sirius Black. Horace Slughorn mentions that he didn’t have the opportunity to teach Sirius Black even though he was in the same grade as Lily Evans and Severus Snape.
Exactly why is unknown, there are several theories such as there were several professors in Potions or Slughorn only taught N.E.W.T levels back then etc.
Lucius Malfoy – Lucius Malfoy was the heir of the wealthy Malfoy Family with a large network within the Ministry of Magic. However, Lucius Malfoy himself was also a talented wizard who was also prefect of the Slytherin House.
He was also part of the Hogwarts Board of Governors once. However, Slughorn didn’t accept Draco Malfoy as Lucius Malfoy became a Death Eater and he was even imprisoned in Azkaban responsible for the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.
Ambrosius Flume – Ambrosius Flume and Mrs. Flume acquired thefamous sweet shop Honeydukes at Hogsmeade. Ambrosius Flume would supply sweets for Slughorn including Slughorn’s favorites crystalized pineapples.
Barnabas Cuffe – The editor of the Daily Prophet who allows Horace Slughorn to post articles.
Gwenog Jones – Professional Quidditch player and the captain of the Holyhead Harpies who gives free Quidditch tickets for Horace Slughorn.
Avery – The Death Eater Avery was also one of a member of the Slug Club.
Dirk Cresswell – Head of the Goblin Liaison Office. He was known to hold a lot of insider information of the Gringotts Wizardry Bank.
Nott – Father of Theodore Nott and held great friendship with Horace Slughorn but Nott also became a Death Eater and Horace Slughorn didn’t associate with criminals or their offsprings so Theodore Nott was declined from the Slug Club.
