Newly appointed Potions Master Horace Slughorn may be revered as a legend, but during his time at Hogwarts he stole ingredients from the potions stock, using them for recreational purposes.. The mystery was solved when Nearly-Headless Nick wandered into an otherwise empty bathroom where Slughorn had set up with his cauldron and was in the process of brewing. Among the missing ingredients were gillyweed, wormwood, octopus powder, and Acromantula venom. When discovered, Slughorn was in possession of crudely mixed batches of Polyjuice Potion, Calming Draught, and Love Potion. Other students interviewed, who wish to remain anonymous, verified that he had been selling his potions to others for five galleons each.

When the story broke, students at Hogwarts were mostly impressed by their Potion Master’s gall, looking at his actions as something to be emulated. “If he could do something like that, why couldn’t I?” a fourth-year Slytherin boy asked. “It’s not as though I couldn’t use some pocket money.”

For his part, Horace Slughorn showed little remorse or shame for having been found out. With a small shrug and a sheepish smile he said, “I needed the money for the upcoming trip to Hogsmeade. I never thought I’d be caught.”

Colleen//Ravenclaw