Slug Club: Do They Belong? (Term XVIII & Activity 3)

[los-york.livejournal.com]

Activity: Do They Belong?
Points: Long debate: Participation 10pts, Additional comment: 2pts. The max is 30 points.
Deadline: 10-30-10 at 3PM CDT/8PM UTC (Conversions are here)
Details: Discuss which canon characters do or do not belong in the Slug Club using your criteria of eliteness. A good thing to talk about is their achievements or accomplishments. Points will be given out by 10 points for the first comment and 2 points for additional comments. Your first comment must be at least 5 sentences and your additional comments must be 2 sentences. AND DON'T FORGET TO SIGN YOUR COMMENTS OR I WON'T GIVE YOU POINTS! If you see things getting out of hand, please pm about and I can deal with it.

mmailliw suggested this activity and will get 5 points if he participates.

If you are stuck on a starting topic, think of a character's achievements or accomplishments. And if things get too out of hand, pm about it!

Want to join the elite? Join Slug Club!

Comments

QUESTIONS?

[los-york.livejournal.com]

Just ask them here! :D

[scarletladyy.livejournal.com]

I think that Draco Malfoy does belong in the Slug Club, despite his families' close association with Voldemort [something he couldn't really control]. Draco was able to fix the Vanishing Cabinet in his sixth year, a task which he spent several months on in spite of the fact the magical link between the two cabinets might have been broken. Also by this time he was able to block jinxes non-verbally and grasped Occlumency, as well as being able to perform the tricky Protean Charm. All of these show he clearly has the skills to learn complex magic if he puts his mind to it, and he's a very talented wizard. Not only that but he'd always been quite skilled at potions and was a fantastically good Quidditch player. We also saw he was good at duelling and is able to cast two of three Unforgivable curses.

As such a skilled wizard, he shouldn't be excluded from the club because of something he never really had any control over.

Fairy//Hufflepuff

[vitallani.livejournal.com]

I also think Draco belongs in the Slug Club. I think if it wasn't for his father ending up in prison, I think Slughorn probably would have included him the club.

Bryony/Slytherin

[vitallani.livejournal.com]

I think that if Slughorn was teaching when Percy Weasley was at Hogwarts then Percy probably probably would have ended up in the Slug Club. He was extremely hard working, but also a sycophant and probably would have done a lot of sucking up to or admiring of Slughorn, who would have admired his ambition.

I think Tonks belonged in the Slug Club because of her ability to transform. As a Metamorphmagus, Slughorn would have seen her as a rare collectable.

And while I wouldn't mention anyone specifically, I think a lot of Slytherins would have been in the Slug club because it's Slughorn's own house. We see in THBP from his memory that he was chatting to a lot of Slytherin boys. They were all probably part of the slug club.

Bryony/Slytherin

[katie599.livejournal.com]

I think Percy would have most definitely made the slug club. He was clearly very ambitious and there was a good chance he could've become minister of magic. He was top of his class, and head boy. I can't see why Slughorn wouldn't want him.

Katie//Gryffindor

[cyyt.livejournal.com]

I think Fred and George Weasley would have made the Slug Club easily. It's obvious that though they're pranksters, they're talented wizards. Slughorn would have no doubt enjoyed a laugh or two at some point. Also, he had a talent for spotting the would-be famous people (Gwenog Jones comes to mind), and I believe he would have been able to foresee that the Weasley twins would run some sort of successful business in the future.

Another possible student could be Roger Davies. He's intelligent, since he's been placed in Ravenclaw, and a charmer (he got Fleur to go with him to the Yule Ball, didn't he?).

Candice//Gryffindor

[klef.livejournal.com]

I can see the twins. Not only did they start a business, but a successful one at that! Double since it was rough times during the Voldemort is Back mentality.

The fact that they are twins (a rare thing) might make them even more desirable.

Kerri//Gryffindor

[jezzifishie.livejournal.com]

I don't think Cormac McLaggen deserves to be in the Slug Club because he has very few of his own accomplishments. He just relies on the contacts his family has built up. His time at Hogwarts was marked by some truly bad decisions - eating a pound of doxy eggs for a bet just before the Quidditch trials was truly stupid, and denied him the chance to do something he enjoyed. He was also responsible for the Gryffindor team losing against Hufflepuff, as he was arrogant and insisted on telling the other team members how to play, instead of focusing on his on his on role as a keeper. These traits show that he is not elite, he just thinks he is.

Jez//Hufflepuff

[touchofviolet.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. He did very little on his own - instead mooching off of his family and their successes to make himself feel important. His head was too filled with hot air and he should not have been in the Slug Club (much less keeper. Man, he was awful, wasn't he?)

Sarah//Hufflepuff

[touchofviolet.livejournal.com]

Personally, I really think Neville Longbottom should have been invited to join Slug Club. Surely not the most charismatic boy, he did have a real gift for Herbology. He excelled in that area, and it's not hard to see that he would go places in that field. In fact, he does grow up to become a professor of Herbology at Hogwarts. He was also the son of two very brave order members who sacrificed everything for The Cause. It becomes increasingly more obvious that Neville inherited that bravery the older he gets - from standing up to Harry, Ron and Hermione in his younger years at Hogwarts (and therefore providing the house points that won Gryffindor the cup that year) to joining Dumbledore's Army. In fact, he goes on to play a pivotal role in Voldemort's demise! Its really a pity, if you ask me, that Horace didn't see Neville's potential and invite him to the Slug Club.

Sarah//Hufflepuff

[kissoffools.livejournal.com]

Oh, Neville, absolutely! I can see why Slughorn didn't pick him - Neville is shy and quiet and other than his well-known parents (which people don't bring up for fear of making things uncomfortable), likely had no other notorious relatives. Slughorn wouldn't notice him and Neville wouldn't seek him out. Neville's strength of character and determination is something that manifested quietly for a long time - what was a big step for Neville was often a small step for other people. I think that Neville made an incredible transformation and I do think he was unique and important enough to make the Slug Club. I just don't think it ever occured to Slughorn OR Neville!

Janna/Hufflepuff

[kissoffools.livejournal.com]

I believe that, had she been a Hogwarts student, Fleur Delacour would have been a shoo-in for the Slug Club. She was chosen as a Triwizard Champion over all of the other students at Beauxbatons. While she struggled during the tasks, she did manage to get past her dragon. And she was doing fine in the maze until she was hexed. Fleur was clearly very talented, brave and intelligent. Plus she is part Veela. I feel like Slughorn would have noticed her uncanny ability to charm those around her and would have seen that as a useful skill - Slughorn himself often relied on charm, after all. I think he would have recognized that she had the makings of an extraordinary witch and would have invited her to the Club. And if he didn't, but Fleur wanted in, I'm sure she could use her Veela powers to win Slughorn over and convince him to let her join!

Janna/Hufflepuff

[klef.livejournal.com]

Yes! I didn't even think of non-Hogwarts students! I agree that Slughorn would have seen her skills and desires to succeed. I also think the part-Veela would have set his alarms off for something unique and exciting. And if nothing less, hey, she'd be nice to look at, right? LOL

Though, I wonder if he would have not taken her because that would have been charm competition and I'm sure he wants to be the number one guy.

Kerri//Gryffindor

[klef.livejournal.com]

Well since we know Sluggy doesn't always pick the people of best character, I was thinking that perhaps he should have chosen Barty Crouch Jr.. Barty is known for his great intellect and has achieved TWELVE OWLs, more than even Hermione. Since we know it takes quite powerful magic to trick the Goblet of Fire to add an underage name, we can see that Barty was also quite powerful. He was a master impersonator, as Mad-Eye... for 8 months. He was also faithful to the Dark Lord. Even though Voldemort went searching for many people, it appears as if Barty was towards the top of his list - it just took a little time to get past Barty Sr to get to him.

Kerri//Gryffindor

[icewindfirex.livejournal.com]

I agree, Barty Jr definitely could've made it into the Slug Club. It's infortunate when those with brains are in actuality dark idiots.

Ashlee//Hufflepuff

[cupcakery.livejournal.com]

I found it curious that the Slug Club seemed to be conspicuously absent of Hufflepuffs, and believe that, had he been alive when Slughorn was teaching at Hogwarts, Cedric Diggory would have been a member of the Slug Club. Given his position as Captain and Seeker of the Hufflepuff quidditch team in his fifth year, we already know that he's accomplished in the wizarding world's favourite spot, and we've seen that Slughorn also appreciates those who excel in athletics, given his relationship with Gwenog Jones of the Holyhead Harpies. Academically speaking, he was a good student, and a prefect. As well, his father appears to be a bit well-connected in the Ministry, given that it is he who interrogates Winky at the Quidditch World Cup. Cedric's selection as Hogwart's champion for the Triwizard Tournament would have cemented Slughorn's opinion of Cedric, and would certainly have bought him a seat at the Slug Club, given the fame involved.


- Antoinette, Ravenclaw

[klef.livejournal.com]

I debated about Cedric! He seems to be an all around good package. I'm sure that Cedric could have finished school and gone on to take any job he wanted, so Slughorn would have continued to have that connection somewhere else out in the wizarding world.

Kerri//Gryffindor

[x-----starlight.livejournal.com]

I think that Hermione Granger definitely deserved to be in the Slug Club. Throughout her six years at Hogwarts, she was called the 'brightest witch in the year' or 'of the age' several times, by students and adults alike. She achieved more OWLs than anyone else in her year, and she always had the best marks. Anyone who gets 112% on their Charms exam is pretty awesome, in my mind. She's also very crafty and clever, which makes her very valuable to Sluggy, as he always enjoys people who will likely go on to great things; she created the DA's galleons, and managed to curse the DA's paper so that Marietta Edgecombe got 'SNEAK' on her face. She's also one of the most logical characters in the books; she got through Snape's potion task on the way to the Sorcerer's Stone, and she was only 12 at the time! All in all, Sluggy was very right in selecting Hermione to be in the Slug Club.

Adrienne//Gryffindor

[icewindfirex.livejournal.com]

Hermione is brilliant. How Slughorn wouldn't see that is beyond me. She might not have had family connections, but with a mind like that - who needs them??

Ashlee/Hufflepuff

[mmailliw.livejournal.com]

I'll disagree with Horace Slughorn and say Ron Weasley belongs in the Slug Club. After all, one of the primary purposes of the Slug Club is to establish connections. Ron is as good at that skill as just about anyone else we have seen in canon! Consider, for example, that at the beginning of Harry's first year, it was Ron who was able to easily befriend the famous Boy-Who-Lived (if it was such an easy task, how could Draco fail when given TWO tries?) Also, even if he hadn't accomplished anything major (besides being a great Keeper when he doesn't choke, which, of course, would be a point AGAINST Slughorn as he Keeps AGAINST Slughorn's team ;-)) he was part of a dynasty of excellence at Hogwarts. Slughorn loves to keep families together to the point that he was VERY disappointed to not have Sirius Black in Hogwarts; consequently, if all of Ron Weasley's canon family belongs in the club and Ron is anything but a Squib (maybe even if he IS a Squib), he simply belongs for THAT reason! Finally, placing Ron there would be a major vote of confidence in him that would allow him to further live up to his potential (the same potential that allowed him to beat out the great Harry Potter for prefect) - and I'm sure such an investment would totally pay off for both Slughorn and Ron!

William//Slytherin//seventeen months here and this is the first time one of my activities was chosen

[icewindfirex.livejournal.com]

I agree that Ron should have been let into the club. Slughorn should have seen how famous (or infamous, depending on how you look at it) the Trio are at Hogwarts. He should want "the set."

Ashlee/Hufflepuff

[icewindfirex.livejournal.com]

I think that Seamus Finnigan should have been allowed to join the Slug Club. Though only an unknown halfblood, I believe Slughorn would have enjoyed Seamus's personality. Maybe Seamus could have even found a way to make Slughorn mead that wasn't poisoned. Slughorn would undoubtfully be very, very relieved to have found a source that he could trust to not give him poisoned alcohol. I bet Seamus would even love to learn how to make mead with magic, after he conquered rum of course.

Ashlee/hufflepuff

[dana1130.livejournal.com]

I'm not really sure where you're seeing Seamus being in the club. I feel like Seamus is just kind of, well, ordinary.

Dana//Gryffindor

[dana1130.livejournal.com]

Well I saw someone before say that Fleur Delacour should should have been in it the club if she had been a Hogwarts student. Going along with this, I think that Victor Krum definitely would have been part of the Slug Club had he gone to Hogwarts. After all, Krum was still in Durmstrang while also being possibly the greatest quidditch player in the entirety of the sport. He's dark and mysterious and Slughorn would have wanted to get to know him, find out what makes him tick. Plus, Krum is one hell of a connection that ol' Sluggy just wouldn't have wanted to give up.

Dana//Gryffindor

[klef.livejournal.com]

HAHA I thought about Krum, too.

I think that with Sluggy's love of Quidditch, having a world known player would be right up his alley. We also see that he's driven and intelligent, which would both be things that Slughorn wants.

Kerri//Gryffindor

[mrschucknoblet.livejournal.com]

I think that if Slughorn was around when Oliver Wood was Gryffindor Captain, he would have definitely been in the Slug club. Oliver was not only ridiculously good looking, he was also incredibly nice and respected by nearly all the kids in school. Others may not have liked him on the Quidditch Pitch, but they could not deny his talent. Slughorn would have loved him because he was popular and talented, and he went on to be a professional Quidditch player, which is something we know Slughorn looks for when recruiting members.

Courtney Rose//Puff

[klef.livejournal.com]

Good choice! I think the fact that Oliver was driven to win all the time would be awesome as well. It's not often we pick someone because they lose often. I think his popularity would significantly aid him in Sluggy's eyes.

Kerri//Gryffindor

[cheapxdate.livejournal.com]

I think that Tom Riddle deserved to be in the Slug Club. Unfortunately, I have to agree with Slughorn's pick, because despite the very terrible things Lord Voldemort did during his life, he was extremely unique. He was incredibly powerful and talented in ways that rivaled all the wizards of his time. He was driven and innovative in the worst of ways. He was willing to go to drastic measures to gain success. He achieved notoriety that went above and beyond any other wizards before him. If we're going strictly by criteria and not outcome... yes, Tom Riddle was a shoe-in for Slug Club.

kelly // gryffindor

[klef.livejournal.com]

Oh totally agreed. Tom was said to be one of the "most brilliant students Hogwarts has ever seen", so I'm sure that would have been a draw. Also his charisma (or would that be his being a Legilimens - I just don't know) would allow him to do whatever Slughorn wanted, thus finding out a lot of information.

Kerri//Gryffindor

[stellar-kar.livejournal.com]

I think one person who would have definitely been invited had he not perished was Cedric Diggory. Cedric's father was well known within the ministry and could prove to be a valuable contact for Slughorn. That contact might be enough for an interview but maybe not enough to get into the Club. However, Cedric was also a prefect and the captain of the Hufflepuff quidditch team. That already sets him apart from most of the student body. He probably would have caught Slughorn's eye primarily because of his being chosen for the Tri Wizard tournament.Harry Potter was a Tri Wizard champion and we all know he was invited to join the club. Cedric was the other champion, but Cedric was the one that was truly chosen by the Goblet of Fire. The fact that Cedric was a "champion" I think would've have sparked enough interest in Slughorn to invite him.

Keisha//Hufflepuff

[cheapxdate.livejournal.com]

I agree! from what I could gather from the books,Cedric was smart and charismatic and brave. He was good at Quidditch and prefect. Cedric's family has connections to the ministry. There were probably other untapped strengths we never got to learn about, considering he was chosen as a worthy champion in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. I think that long list of accomplishments would have easily put him on Slughorn's radar.

kelly // gryffindor

[caitieness.livejournal.com]

Obviously, had he been a student went Slughorn was teaching and not an amazing professor himself, Dumbledore would have been invited to be part of the Slug Club! Though he had a bit of an unsavory past, at least the rumors claimed, Dumbledore was extremely bright and very advanced for his age. Even when he was a student, I'm sure the professors could tell he had a natural magicking talent and he would amount to greatness and Slughorn would have been unable to resist adding him to his collection. Now if Dumbledore would have joined willingly? That one's a little questionable.

Caitie//Hufflepuff

[dana1130.livejournal.com]

Good choice! I think that you're completely right, Dumbledore definitely would have been at least asked to be part of the Slug Club. He's an amazing wizard and it was more than obvious that he would go on to do great things.

Dana//Gryffindor

[rvillarrubia.livejournal.com]

I think Narcissa Black Malfoy deserves to be in the Slug Club. We all know that Slughorn loves fame and well related people and Narcissa is definitively one of these girls. The Blacks are one of the most well known families of the Wizarding World and I think Narcissa would have been a great addition to the Club.
Narcissa is also a very beautiful woman and that would have help Slughorn to attract other male members he wanted to the Club. And I have always thought that she was also pretty good at school, so Slughorn would have wanted her.

Ruth // Slytherin

[mmailliw.livejournal.com]

Agreed, and one more thing: had she been rejected from the club, it would have been a major snub of her by Slughorn. We know from canon that Narcissa does NOT take kindly to such insults; she may appear to go along with everything, but if pushed too far she'll stab your back when you least expect it! (Would that mean secretly helping Gryffindor for the Quidditch Cup, for example?) Slughorn should know that Narcissa is NOT someone he wants on her bad side!

William//Slytherin//2

[elusive-j.livejournal.com]

I think Sirius Black would have belonged in the Slug Club. I imagine that Slughorn wanted him, especially since he regrets not having had Sirius in Slytherin, but that Sirius wasn't interested. Sirius came from a very old wizarding family, which Slughorn seems to value. He was clearly a talented young wizard because he managed to become an animagus without a teacher's help, although I picture him as a smart student who didn't do a lot of work so Slughorn might not have known that. He was also very attractive (as described by JKR) and Slughorn would probably like the idea of being surrounded by attractive people.
Unfortunately for Slughorn, I don't think Sirius would have joined the Slug Club, even if Slughorn hadn't been associated with Slytherin. I just can't see Sirius wanting to be part of something so overtly elitist, even though I think Sirius had a strong, subconscious elitist streak!

Juliette//Ravenclaw

[mmailliw.livejournal.com]

I agree that Sirius is more than qualified to be a member of the Slug Club, but there is one big reason NOT to have him as a member. Considering his attitude towards Slytherins, I can imagine Sirius causing all sorts of pranky commotion at Slug Club meetings and turning valuable networking opportunities into drama-filled house wars. Would Horace Slughorn really want THAT in his club?

William//Slytherin//3

[clzair.livejournal.com]

I agree with Blaise Zabini - he was clearly very wealthy from having a beautiful mother who killed off rich men she married. However, I don't think that he is really worthy of a Slug Club candidate on his own merit, as he seems like a relatively ordinary wizard who has nothing special going for him.

Although I wish I could disagree with you, I see what you mean about Umbridge and have to say that you're probably right. She has one of those "nothing will stand in my way" mentalities and seems to be willing to do ANYTHING to be the best. This definitely makes her a Slug Club candidate in my mind.

Claire//Hufflepuff

[goatcharmer.livejournal.com]

I think Minerva McGonagall would have been a member of the Slug Club, had not the Slug Club been only boys at that time, apparently. She is obviously a very intelligent woman, for one thing. She also has strong leadership abilities, which I think are something Slughorn would look for.

On top of that, she is a powerful witch, who was able to become an Animagus, which is supposedly not that easy. Another piece of evidence for this is the fact that she fought in the war against Grindelwald, and played a vital war. I think Minerva would make an excellent member of the Slug Club - if she deigned to join!

Fi//Hufflepuff

[clzair.livejournal.com]

You're so right about McGonagall. She is a woman of business. Although she may be a bit stern, she's very responsible and knows where her priorities lie. She is also a very important part of the wizarding world in regards to the two wars against Voldemort, and she's clearly a skilled witch as she teaches at Hogwarts one of the tougher subjects (in my mind). She also knows how to command order and respect in others rather fast - although I wish I could know what she was like as a young girl - probably much the same, as she had to live through some hard times (supposedly).

Claire//Hufflepuff

[clzair.livejournal.com]

I think Ginny Weasley definitely belongs in the Slug Club. I know that she was put into the club because Slughorn hear about her casting a really good spell, but I think she definitely deserves it. Ginny isn't really talked about much in the series other than in relation to her relationship with Harry, which kind of annoys me. However, you get the feeling that she is a pretty powerful witch for her age (maybe not in the way that Hermione is smart, but in a magical AMOUNT sort of way). Also, she did get pretty popular in her year (again this is kind of said in the series) and she was a great Quidditch player, which shows her emergence as a leader and someone who could command attention. I think she gets overshadowed by her older brothers but really has a lot of want to prove herself and does a good job at it. I like to think that if the book were centered around someone Ginny's age, she would get a lot more written about her. She was also one of the people who accompanied Harry to the Ministry and did relatively well, considering that she was the youngest there. I think as a skilled witch, Ginny deserves the upward boost that Slughorn may have been able to supply her with by his connections.

Claire//Hufflepuff

[seserakh.livejournal.com]

Molly Weasley absolutely belongs in the Slug Club. Her considerable power, which she showed during her duel with Bellatrix, reveals her as a force to be reckoned with in much the same way as her daughter. She would have had plenty of time at Hogwarts to make her talent known through her grades and her spellwork alike, which Slughorn, being a teacher, would surely have noticed. There may even have been a situation similar to the one in which Ginny Weasley joined the Slug Club, with Molly hexing someone and Slughorn praising her spellwork rather than chiding her for her temper. With good grades and her powerful magic, she would have been a prime candidate for the Slug Club.

That said, whether she would have joined is anyone's guess. One of the most fascinating things about Molly to me is that she is obviously a talented and accomplished witch who chose to use her skills of magic for maintaining her family. Perhaps she would have seen Slughorn's invitation as a compliment and accepted; perhaps she would have regarded it with disgust for excluding those who weren't neck-deep in good fortune. The clear thing, however, is that Molly would have belonged should she have chosen to.

Ses//Slytherin

[touchthesoul.livejournal.com]

I think Lily Potter definitely deserved her spot in the Slug Club. The way she was written, it seemed like she was Hermione's predecessor. She was a Muggle girl who defied expectations and gave so much of herself to the study of magic. She was clearly charismatic and smart, so much so that professors like McGonagall and Dumbledore still speak kindly of her. Her talent with Charms is something the books should definitely have spoken of more, if only to see if she'd created any new spells or developed an ignored aspect of magic.

Angel//Hufflepuff

[cheapxdate.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. I think that Lily not only possessed the talent to be a member of the club, but it seems that she had an incredible ability to naturally charm any who she came in contact with. I think Slughorn would not only have been interested in her skills and smarts, but also taken with her personality.

kelly // gryff

[laurenpuppetpal.livejournal.com]

Hermione was a part of the Slug Club. Though she wasn't collected straight away - on the train at the start of term - she was picked up after Slughorn saw her abilities.

Lauren//Puff