Slughorn's Reaction (re: Chapt 29 ...)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 164290

The Chapter 29 - Phoenix Lament discussion has gotten 
very long and has splinted into several sub-threads, so I
thought I would start new with one small aspect that was
address in the chapter discussion thread.

The original summary was followed by a question about the
reactions of various characters to the events of the 
night. Slughorn was specifically mentioned as his 
reactions seemed oddest of all. The response to this
specific aspect was light, so I thought I would tackle
it.

Slughorn doesn't seem too concerned about Dumbledore's
death, the school closing, or anything else, though
he does seem very distracted and lost in his internal
thoughts. 

Now, this could mean that he is Ever So Evil, and could
care less about the surrounding events. He is only 
concerned about making his escape before his hypothetical
role in the night is discovered.

However, I don't think our dear Mr. Slughorn is so much
Ever So Evil as he is merely Ever So Self-Centered and
Self-Involved. When he is distracted I think he is lost
in thoughts of how the nights tragedies affect him. He
came to Hogwarts under the implication of the protection
of the Castle and Dumbledore. Now the castle has been
breached and Dumbledore is dead. Instead of thinking
'poor Dumbledore', 'poor students', he is thinking 'poor
little me, whatever will I do now'. 

It seems clear that in the beginning he is making a real
effort to avoid Voldemort, any Death Eaters, and 
therefore any chance that they might attempt to recruit
him. But now what? In that moment of grief and doubt,
I imagine he doesn't see any place as safe, and he is
primarily concerned about how that affects him. Where
will he go, what will he do? Should he continue to 
teach? Is the school really safe now? Should he go back
into hiding, moving every few weeks to avoid any contact
with anyone - good or bad? 

Of course, this attitude doesn't make him evil. I think
what you see is what you get with regard to Slughorn. 
Yes, he craves power by association. Yes, he is self-
centered and self-indulgent. Yes, he has a great 
capacity to avoid any and all issues that come his way.
But that merely makes him socially obnoxious and annoying,
not Ever So Evil.

I think this apparent 'distraction' after the events is
typical Slughorn in every way.

Of course, that's just my opinion.

Steve/bboyminn