Chapter 724: The Closed Floo Network
The next morning, The Daily Prophet indeed published a two-page article on the attack against Amelia Bones, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, at the Ministry of Magic.
As expected, the news caused an uproar at Hogwarts. The Great Hall buzzed with chatter during breakfast that day.
Kyle glanced around the Hufflepuff table. Susan wasn't there, and he assumed she was still in her dormitory. Professor Sprout, perhaps sensing the toll the situation had taken on her, had visited the common room the night before to let everyone know that Susan wouldn't need to attend classes for a few days.
Under normal circumstances, Susan might have been thrilled at the thought of skipping classes, but last night she hadn't even smiled. She had kept her head down, silent and withdrawn. No one had seen her anywhere in the castle since.
By dinnertime, the conversation at the table had shifted. Mikel was now loudly complaining about Professor Slughorn.
"Slughorn is such a snob!" Mikel exclaimed, his voice dripping with disdain. "Did you know he threw a party in his office this weekend and didn't invite Susan?"
"What's the big deal?" someone replied indifferently. "If Professor Slughorn organized the party, isn't it his choice to invite whoever he wants?"
"You're so naive. You don't know the whole story." Mikel shook a finger dramatically before explaining. "Slughorn has this so-called 'Slug Club,' right? He only invites students who are either exceptional or have famous family connections. Susan got an invitation at first, but when he saw the article in the paper, he immediately snatched it back. What a slimy old slug."
"Come on..." another student said skeptically. "That doesn't sound right. Slughorn's a professor. Why would he do something so petty?"
Mikel huffed impatiently. "How do I know? Because I was there! He asked me to deliver a message for him. He just grabbed the invitation right out of my hand, so don't tell me it didn't happen."
A brief silence followed, and then someone suggested cautiously, "Maybe Slughorn was just trying to give Susan some space? I mean, with everything going on, she might not be in the mood to attend a party."