After the old bat left for a while, Hermione took Allen's arm and went up the marble steps. Soon, they entered Slughorn's office.
Because Slughorn had cast the Traceless Expansion Spell many times, his office was much larger than usual. Green, crimson, and gold draperies hung on the ceiling and walls, making it look like a big tent. However, the room was still a bit crowded and hot because of the large number of people in the room, and it was illuminated by a golden lantern hanging in the middle of the ceiling.
"There are house elves in there," Hermione said, looking up at the lantern. Allen looked up and saw elves flashing in the lantern. Each elf was a bright spot of light. A loud song that sounded like the accompaniment of a mandala bell came from a corner in the distance.
"They should only see the guests' legs." Hermione was a bit angry. Allen followed Hermione's gaze and saw some house elves walking through the crowd, carrying heavy silver plates in their hands to prevent other wizards from seeing them directly. They looked like wandering little tables.
Allen comforted her gently, "It will change. At least the house elves working under the umbrella have accepted the holidays."
Hermione was still a bit annoyed, "But they will ask to work overtime during working hours to make up for the holidays … and they won't accept the salary."
"Hermione, you have to think on the bright side. At least we've started to make them accept it. This is already a blessing for them." After that, Allen hugged Hermione and said, "Let's go first."
Slughorn was wearing a velvet hat with poppies, which matched his smoking shirt. He was talking enthusiastically with Josephine Harris, who was wearing a purple wide-brimmed fur hat. When they saw Allen coming in, they stopped talking at the same time and greeted Allen.
"Professor Slughorn, Aunt Josephine, good evening." Allen took the initiative to greet them.
"Albert and Hibiscus Chinensis are also here." After hugging Hermione, Josephine nodded to Allen and then looked around the room, "They were here just now. Where are they now?"
"Professor Harris, Miss Granger, good evening. I'm talking to Josephine about you. I have some friends to introduce to you." Slughorn's voice was as loud as a bell, and his face was glowing. He enjoyed the scene of people and celebrities from all sides, even though many of the guests were not members of his club.
"This is Elder Walpole, my former student, author of 'Blood Brothers: My Life among the Vampires'. Of course, his friend Sanguine." Slughorn put his hand on the shoulder of a small man wearing glasses and pushed him in the direction of Allen.
After Allen took the initiative to extend his hand, Elder Walpole bent down slightly and shook it eagerly. "Professor Allen Harris, it's an honor to meet you." Walper looked up at Alan's face with his myopic eyes. "I'm looking forward to meeting you, professor. If I can write a biography for you, I'm sure everyone will look forward to it and love it."
"Please don't go near these girls." Josephine Harris's serious and commanding tone made Allen and Walpole, who were talking, look at her. Josephine stood next to a tall and thin man with dark circles under his eyes and a tired look. Her pale hand held the man's arm tightly.
"Oh, Sanguine, don't go over there." Walpole also looked nervous. Sanguine, who was brought to the party by Walpole, was waving at a group of curious and excited girls standing next to him with a hungry look in his eyes.
"Why don't you have a Bloody Lollipop?" Ambrosius Frum took out a Bloody Lollipop from his pocket and gave it to Sanguine. He had cast a Traceless Stretch Spell and carried a variety of candies in a basket to give to the other guests, mainly the students. Frum hoped that they would patronize the Honey Duke Candy Shop that he and his wife ran during the Hogsmeade Village Days.
Ambrosius Frum was also a member of the Slug Club. After graduation, Slughorn introduced him to Cicerone Harkis and gave him his first job. Later, Ambrosius married Mrs. Frum and started his own candy business. In order to repay Professor Slughorn, Ambrosius would give him a gift basket full of pineapple preserves every year on Professor Slughorn's birthday or special occasions like today. This was Slughorn's favorite candy.
Sanguine held the Bloody Lollipop in her mouth and leaned against a cabinet in boredom. Josephine Harris also took one from the candy shop owner and was monitoring this somewhat restless vampire.
"Professor Slughorn, can you introduce me to the other members of the club?" Hermione politely invited Slughorn and began the real purpose of tonight's visit.
"Of course, of course. Come with me. There are many people here today. They also want to meet such a beautiful and capable witch." Slughorn praised. This was not difficult for Slughorn, he just wanted to provide an opportunity to meet her.
Not long after Harry and Ginny entered the room, Ginny shook off Harry and ran towards a tall black witch with bright eyes. Harry recognized at a glance that it was Gwenoch Jones. Ginny was a die-hard fan of Gwenoch Jones and had posted her picture in her own bedroom in the Burrow.
However, Gwenoch was talking to Allen, so Ginny just stood there quietly and looked at them with admiration.
"Mr. Allen Harris, do you have any plans to join a professional club after graduation?" Gwenoch Jones raised her head with dark brown hair and stared at her brown eyes. "You are known as the best ball seeker in the world. I would like to play against you. I still stand by my opinion. I think a witch is more suitable to play Quidditch than a wizard."
"Quidditch is my hobby, but I have no plans to develop it into a professional career. I probably won't join any club after graduation, but I might be able to spare some time for the next World Cup. Ms. Gwenoch Jones, if you can join the Ireland national team, I think we still have a chance to play against each other." Allen, who was rudely stopped by the black female batter, sneered. He then looked at Ginny, who was unable to contain her excitement, and said to Gwenoch Jones, "Your fan is here."
"Ms. Gwenoch Jones, can you give me your autograph?" Ginny smiled gratefully at Allen and quickly took out her lipstick. "I'm currently a Gryffindor ball seeker at Hogwarts. After graduation, I plan to join the Holyhead Hobbits. I hope to have the honor."
Seeing that it was a woman, Gwenoch Jones smiled heartily and took Ginny's lipstick. She unscrewed it and pointed at Ginny's dress. "Sign here?" Ginny nodded and pulled her dress to straighten it so that Gwenoch Jones could write on it.
"Your name?" Gwenoch Jones asked.
"My name is Ginevra Molly Weasley." Ginny blushed. She had been so excited that she had forgotten to introduce herself.
"Weasley family. I should have thought of it when I saw your red hair." Gwenoch Jones didn't have the stereotype that the Weasleys were pure-blood traitors. She signed her name on Ginny's dress in a friendly manner. "I'll invite you over during the summer vacation. Why don't you come and fly around and see? But you'll have to wear pants next time. "
On the other side of the banquet hall.
"Annette Bobin, our charming Ms. Bobin's family runs a large chain of drugstores." Slughorn introduced her to Hermione. "This is Hermione Granger, the person in charge of the Umbrella Corporation."
"Hello, Miss Granger." Annette, who looked to be in her thirties, was wearing a pink-green low-cut dress inlaid with diamonds. Her short blonde hair was combed neatly, making her look capable and charming. "I've long heard that Miss Granger is not only outstanding in her studies but also in her business. I've always wanted to ask you for advice. My brother's daughter, Melinda Bobin, happens to be in her first grade. She admires Professor Allen Harris very much. Unfortunately, if it weren't for her age, I think she would've taken ancient magic as an elective. Although some tabloids have been fabricating some bad news recently, don't worry. I think anyone with a bit of insight can tell right from wrong. I'm very willing to let my niece join the training class."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Bobin. If Miss Melinda Bobin is willing to join the training class, that would be great. We've made some changes this year to encourage more people to join." Hermione reached out her hand, but Annette only touched it lightly before withdrawing her hand.
Hermione stared at Annette with some confusion and subconsciously used Telepathy. Annette, on the other hand, smiled stiffly at Hermione apologetically. "I'll tell her the good news. Also, I don't know if I can have the honor of discussing business with your company. I mean, the price of magic potions has been dropping recently. I think this isn't a good thing for our industry …"
"I don't think that's necessary, Ms. Bobin. The drop in the price of magic potions is a good thing for wizards and those magical creatures with intelligence," Hermione raised one of her eyebrows and raised her chin. Her expression became very cold as she rejected Annette's offer.
The various kinds of magic potions sold by Umbrella had the arcane garden in Ravenclaw's Wizard Tower that could speed up the planting of the most expensive herbs. In addition to Professor Snape and the Wizard Tower's knowledge manual on potions, as well as some medical concepts and management methods introduced by Muggle himself, the magic potions produced by Umbrella were much better than the potions privately made by various so-called potioneers on the market. Not only that, but they also had a huge advantage in terms of production and cost.
The magic potion brand established by Umbrella had gained recognition from the wizarding world in just a short year. Even the wizarding world of other countries had begun to do business with Umbrella. Under such an impact, the company's traditional magic potion workshop production, even if they used the relatively advanced chain pharmacy in the wizarding world, was getting worse day by day.
"That's a pity. I think Family Harris's understanding of our traditional British wizarding family customs is still lacking." Annette Bobin still had a smile on her face, but her tone was cold. "Oh, I'm sorry. With all due respect, as the core management of the pureblood Harris Umbrella, Miss Granger, are you related to the founder of the Extraordinary Potion Maker Association, Hertok Daggeworth Granger?"
"No, I'm not related to him. I'm a Muggle." Hermione straightened her body, which made her look very imposing. She had just read the woman's real thoughts from her mind. She was just another pure-blooded supporter who was forced to 'condescend' to let the Umbrella Corporation control the price of magic potions, so that her family business could take a breather. After being rejected, Ms. Bobin no longer tried to hide it. She directly used her own background as a target for sarcasm.
Annette Bobin's eyelashes fluttered slightly. She slowly raised her eyes and glanced at Hermione from the corner of her eyes. She did not need to say much to let the other party feel her disdain.
Hermione was angry. Just as she was about to retort, she was interrupted by a familiar female voice.
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