Slug Club

> "*He used to handpick favourites 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 favourites with himself at the centre, making introductions, forging useful contacts between members, and always reaping some kind of benefit in return...*"
> ― Description of the Slug Club[source]
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The **Slug Club** was made up of Horace Slughorn's most well-liked and sometimes famous students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Professor Slughorn, who taught Potions at Hogwarts from the 1920s-1981 and again from 1996-pre 2016, sought students who were well connected, held fame, and/or showed true promise in some field(s) of magic in his eyes.

These select students were invited to parties (such as the particularly lavish one held on the 20th of December, 1996) where Professor Slughorn would then weed them out further. He was sure to keep in touch with those who "made the cut", even after they had graduated, as they would often provide him with useful information and/or various luxuries.

## Meetings

> "*Harry, Harry, just the man I was hoping to see! I was hoping to catch you before dinner! What do you say to a spot of supper tonight in my rooms instead? We’re having a little party, just a few rising stars, I’ve got McLaggen coming and Zabini, the charming Melinda Bobbin — I don’t know whether you know her? Her family owns a large chain of apothecaries — and, of course, I hope very much that Miss Granger will favour me by coming too.*"
> ― Horace inviting Harry Potter to a Slug Club gathering[source]
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Along the course of the school year, Professor Slughorn would hold various club get-togethers (most often dinners with fine food and around 10 student-attendees). Slughorn would lead the conversation in order to get to know the members better and encourage them to associate with one another. For the grander parties he would invite famous former members, such as professional Quidditch player Gwenog Jones.

Professor Slughorn's aim was to cultivate talent and give his favourites a nudge toward fame and fortune, hoping to reap the benefits of his connection to them once they became the "high fliers" he expected them to be. On the 20th of December, 1996, there was a lavish party for past and present Slug Club members held in Professor Slughorn's office at Hogwarts. It was the only get-together of the club that Harry Potter attended. After Harry's failed attempt to get a particular memory out of the Professor, Slughorn apparently stopped these meetings in order to prevent giving Harry another attempt.

It is unknown what became of the Slug Club when Severus Snape became headmaster during the 1997–1998 school year. It may have been disbanded due to the return of Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four, though the decree technically only affected student-founded clubs (such as Dumbledore's Army). Under the authority of Minerva McGonagall beginning in 1998, it is likely that Professor Slughorn stayed as Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House at Hogwarts. Due to his nature, the Slug Club was likely reinstated (if it was ever disbanded).

## Students accepted

### Slughorn's first tenure as Potions Master

Slug Club1.pngSlughorn with two boys and a girl.Slug Club2.pngSlughorn and a band of former club-members, inlcuding Lily Evans.Slug Club3.pngSlughorn with three Slytherin students (including Lucius Malfoy) and one Ravenclaw student.Slug Club4.pngSlughorn with four girls and an elderly man and woman.Slug Club5.pngSlughorn and a band of boys and girls.Slug Club6.pngSlughorn with four girls and three boys, likely between 1930 and 1950.

### Slughorn's second tenure as Potions Master

 Melinda Bobbin | her family owns a large chain of apothecaries.