Horace Slughorn

           DespitethefactthathehadspenteverywakingmomentofthepastfewdayshopingdesperatelythatDumbledorewouldindeedcometofetchhim,HarryfeltdistinctlyawkwardastheysetoffdownPrivetDrivetogether.HehadneverhadaproperconversationwiththeHeadmasteroutsideofHogwartsbefore;therewasusuallyadeskbetweenthem.Thememoryoftheirlastface-to-faceencounterkeptintrudingtoo,anditratherheightenedHarry’ssenseofembarrassment;hehadshoutedalotonthatoccasion,nottomentiondonehisbesttosmashseveralofDumbledore’smostprizedpossessions.

           Dumbledore,however,seemedcompletelyrelaxed.

           "Keepyourwandattheready,Harry,"hesaidbrightly.

           "ButIthoughtI’mnotallowedtousemagicoutsideschool,sir?"

           "Ifthereisanattack,"saidDumbledore,"Igiveyoupermissiontouseanycounter-jinxor-cursethatmightoccurtoyou.However,Idonotthinkyouneedworryaboutbeingattackedtonight."

           "Whynot,sir?"

           "Youarewithme,"saidDumbledoresimply."Thiswilldo,Harry."

           HecametoanabrupthaltattheendofPrivetDrive.

           "Youhavenot,ofcourse,passedyourApparitionTest,"hesaid.

           "No,"saidHarry."Ithoughtyouhadtobeseventeen?"

           "Youdo,"saidDumbledore."Soyouwillneedtoholdontomyarmverytightly.Myleft,ifyoudon’tmind—asyouhavenoticed,mywandarmisalittlefragileatthemoment."

           HarrygrippedDumbledore’sprofferedforearm.

           "Verygood,"saidDumbledore."Well,herewego."