The Professor Slughorn Detail That Harry Potter Fans Forget About

Among all the colorful characters in the world of Harry Potter, Professor Horace Slughorn is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing. He's a deeply knowledgeable wizard with expertise in potions and an ability to hide his memories from someone as powerful as Albus Dumbledore. But Slughorn is also obsessed with networking, securing connections with the "rising stars" of Hogwarts to join his exclusive Slug Club. If you have the potential to become famous or exert some kind of influence, you're invited. 

Despite his obsession with status, Slughorn is an amicable wizard and professor who doesn't care if a student is pure-blooded or a Muggle. His eye is on talent, not bloodline. This trait is uncharacteristic of a Slytherin, a house that, while not exclusive to pure-bloods, highly favors them. So it's easy for some fans of the series to forget that Slughorn was actually a member — and one-time head — of Slytherin House.

It's understandable for Harry Potter fans to think of Slytherin as evil. The house produced dangerous witches and wizards like the Malfoys, Dolores Umbridge, Bellatrix Lestrange, and Lord Voldemort. Its symbol is also a serpent — not exactly the friendliest animal.

But Slytherin isn't inherently evil. The Sorting Hat's song from Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire explains, "And power-hungry Slytherin / Loved those of great ambition." The house is fundamentally designed for those who aspire to greatness. So, even though a villain like Voldemort is a Slytherin, so are heroes like Severus Snape.

And Horace Slughorn fits the traits of the house. He's power-hungry, favoring the most talented students in an effort to gain favors, gifts, and stature. He's so set on being liked by talented young wizards that Slughorn makes the big mistake of helping Voldemort on his destructive path by teaching the young Tom Riddle how Horcruxes work. Despite hiding out for years and eventually helping in the fight against Voldemort, Slughorn still can't help himself from "collecting" students like Harry, Hermione, and Ginny upon his return to Hogwarts. But, ultimately, Slughorn fights in the Battle of Hogwarts and turns out to be one Slytherin who's on the right side of history.