The following podcast contains audio extracted from videos on the Harry Potter Theory YouTube channel.

Hey everyone, welcome to another instalment of Harry Potter Theory.

We're first introduced to Professor Horace Slughorn in the Half Blood

Prince, just moments prior to Harry beginning his sixth year at Hogwarts. The introduction occurs

when Dumbledore and Harry visit the home of Horace Slughorn and Dumbledore persuades him to

return to Hogwarts. Eventually Dumbledore is able to successfully convince Slughorn to come out of retirement and teach potions. Eventually, Dumbledore is able to successfully convince Slyghorn to come

out of retirement and teach potions. However, had it not been for the presence of Harry,

Dumbledore may well have been unsuccessful. You see, Horace Slughorn, talented wizard and

respected professor, was a bit of a social climber, and it was the opportunity to associate

himself with Harry

that lured him back to Hogwarts.

Horace, said Dumbledore, relieving Harry of the responsibility to say any of this, likes

his comfort.

He also likes the company of the famous, the successful, and the powerful.

He enjoys the feeling that he influences these people. He has never

wanted to occupy the throne himself. He prefers the back seat. More room to spread out,

you see. He used to handpick favorites at Hogwarts, sometimes for their ambition or their brains,

sometimes for their charm or their talent, and he had an uncanny knack for choosing those who

would go on to become outstanding in

their various fields.

Horace formed a kind of club of his favorites with himself at the center, making introductions,

forging useful contacts between members, and always reaping some kind of benefit in return,

...