CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── "You know, I've always thought you were the most beautiful girl in Gryffindor."
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─── Y/N POV ───
The Slug Club dinner was everything I expected. It was lavish, festive, and a clearly designed for his favorite students. There was a circular table before us, now covered with bowls of ice cream that were dusted with golden sugar. Professor Slughorn, seated at the head of the table, raised his glass to toast us.
"Thank you all for joining me tonight," the man spoke to us with a cheerful grin.
With a polite smile, I tipped my glass to him and took a sip of the bubbling drink.
Slughorn then turned to Cormac McLaggen and began conversation, "So, tell me, Cormac, do you see much of your Uncle Tiberius these days?"
"Yes, sir," Cormac replied. "In fact, I'm meant to go hunting with him and the Minister for Magic over the holidays."
"Well, be sure to give them both my best," Slughorn said with a warm chuckle. Then his gaze shifted. "And what about you, Miss Granger? What does your family do in the Muggle world?"
Hermione straightened in her chair. "My parents are dentists. They tend to people's teeth."
I glanced at her, my brows furrowing.
Dentists? What are dentists?
Apparently, I wasn't alone in my confusion, because everyone around the table exchanged confused looks. Slughorn seemed genuinely intrigued, leaning forward as though Hermione had just shared some deep secret.
"Fascinating," he said, nodding. "And is that considered a dangerous profession?"
Hermione smiled faintly. "No, not usually. Although one boy, Robbie Fenwick, did bite my father once. He needed ten stitches!"
Before Slughorn could respond, the door creaked open. Ginny Weasley stepped inside, her movements slow. Her eyes were rimmed with tears, her cheeks stained despite an obvious attempt to conceal it with makeup.
"Ah, Miss Weasley! Come in, come in," Slughorn called, gesturing her over.
"Sorry, I'm not usually late," Ginny mumbled as she slid into an empty seat, avoiding everyone's gaze.
"No matter," Slughorn said with a booming laugh. "You're just in time for dessert, if Belby's left you any, that is."
Pulling my attention away from the girl, Hermione nudged me sharply in the side, earning a soft yelp.
