Chapter 45 [Part- 2]
So, Dudley wasn't about to dodge Marcus's spell; he let it hit him, and guess what? Nothing happened! That Expelliarmus really didn't do a thing.
You see, Expelliarmus has a little bonus effect: it usually sends the target flying. But by the time the older students showed up, Dudley had already been through six rounds of 'meditation' training, which really boosted his unique defense. Plus, with all those years of practice, he was as steady as a horse. Marcus's spell barely made him wobble!
Yep, Dudley was just playing with Marcus's head. He had it all figured out.
"It was him who started it."
"I already gave him three chances."
Dudley flashed a grin, but it wasn't aimed at Marcus; it was for the other Slytherin upperclassmen.
Then, while Marcus was still in shock, Dudley took the opportunity to knock Crabbe down with a flying 'Crabbe' hammer.
Poor Marcus didn't even have time to grunt before he was out cold.
To the upperclassmen, this wasn't just a simple scuffle. Potter's cousin had a way to defend against Expelliarmus and could turn others into his weapons. That kind of attack? Just too brutal!
"Potter is hiding something big."
One of the upperclassmen slowly closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind. Sometimes, knowing too much can be a burden.
They didn't even consider that Dudley was just relying on his strength; what wizard would do that?
Dudley strolled over to the knocked-out Marcus, lifted 'Crabbe' again, and casually but alertly asked the others, "Is there something going on?"
The whole scene, combined with Dudley's presence, left the soon-to-graduate upperclassmen in shock. Not a single one of them spoke up.
"If there's nothing, I'll be on my way."
"Wait a moment!"
Seeing that none of his friends were stepping up, one upperclassman had to speak for himself.
When Dudley heard this, he paused, turned around, and quietly regarded the other.
The upperclassman looked up at Dudley, but the moment their eyes met, he quickly looked away.
That gaze was something else—like facing a fierce beast rather than a person.
Even though he was in his seventh year and had seen all sorts of wizards, including some dark ones, he had never encountered anyone with such an intense stare.
"Good thing I didn't let that fool Marcus come out alone."
The upperclassman silently congratulated himself on that decision.
"This kind of wizard is not someone to make an enemy of."
He bent slightly, making a gesture Dudley didn't quite get, and then spoke.
"I sincerely apologize for Marcus Flint's rudeness; he was just too impulsive."
Honestly, he didn't even need to apologize; this wasn't his mess to clean up, and it could've been settled with a few words. But since that fool Marcus was part of his crew and had attacked three times, he had to make his stance clear to avoid escalating things.
Dudley didn't expect an apology right off the bat, which caught him off guard, but he wasn't about to let his guard down. Were they trying to be polite before getting aggressive? Not just Dudley, but even the other Slytherin seniors were surprised. Still, the head boy had his reasons; he was the backbone of their little group.
"Let's set the apology aside for now. Do you have anything else to discuss?" Dudley's voice was surprisingly calm. The head boy let out a small sigh of relief. Even though Dudley didn't accept the apology, at least they could talk.
"Please believe me, what Marcus did was entirely his own action and has nothing to do with the Flint family." The Flints were close allies of his, and he wouldn't have put so much effort into Marcus if they weren't. He wanted to make it clear that the Flint family wasn't responsible for Marcus's actions, especially since they had more kids coming up next year.
"Flint? Are you talking about that Flint family from a century ago, the one with a member who was once the Minister of Magic?" Dudley's interest piqued, and he started recalling what he knew about the Flint family. To fit in well in the wizarding world, Dudley had made sure to remember useful information. Besides spells, potions, and magical history, he was also well-versed in the stories of famous wizards and prominent families. He was ready to blend into the wizarding community as quickly as possible.
The older students were taken aback by Dudley's knowledge; the things he mentioned were unknown to these pure-blood wizards, and only the head boy found it normal. Indeed, Mr. Potter was playing a big game; how else could a Muggle-born wizard know so much? The wizarding world had its share of prodigies; you could never judge a wizard's ability by their age. In fact, Dudley's knowledge came from history books; it was just that these guys hadn't bothered to read them. Most young wizards found magical history dull, so no one expected a new student to have memorized centuries of it on their first day. Was he just bored?
So, the conversation flowed smoothly from there. The head boy was super enthusiastic about Dudley, completely avoiding the topic of Dudley knocking someone out, and promised to handle the rest as an apology. He even offered to buy the wands of the younger wizards from Dudley at a high price as compensation. His manners were spot on, and he was humble, giving Dudley respect from every angle. Knowing how to read the room was a sign of a mature Slytherin. The younger students still had a lot to learn.
"Mr. Dursley, I have a bit of an unreasonable request." The head boy carefully chose his words: "If possible, I hope you can overlook Draco's actions this time, as his family has been very kind to me." Lucius kind to him? Not really. Their families had a strained relationship, but he couldn't just ignore it. You could scheme behind someone's back, but publicly, you had to show some care for the younger generation, even if it was just for appearances. After all, every family had a few younger members.
This was the give-and-take among pure-blood families. Of course, there were exceptions if things had soured completely. "Your Grace, if anyone else said this to me, I'd tell them to 'get lost.' But since it's you, I'm more than willing to give you this favor." As the saying goes, you shouldn't strike a smiling face; since the head boy had asked, Dudley felt he should oblige.
But right after saying that, Dudley's expression darkened, making Carlo across from him feel a jolt in his heart. "But it's only this once, and the last time. If I find another opportunity, then—"
"Of course." Carlo nodded knowingly, understanding the unspoken agreement. Respect is a two-way street. After all, the punishment had been dealt, the money had been made, and aside from Malfoy not being properly dealt with, everything that needed to be done had been done.
As for really letting Malfoy off the hook? Dudley understood Malfoy's mindset; even if he let him go this time, Malfoy would still provoke him because he'd lost face. Kids at that age were obsessed with their so-called reputation. Who would protect him then? Carlo certainly wouldn't; he'd already done his part, and wouldn't care if Malfoy messed up again. If Malfoy really dared to act up, Dudley would make sure to create an opportunity for him.
Tl/N: If you want to read more [upto Ten chapters] while supporting me, you can join me on patreon.com/EmptyThoughts ;Thanks.
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Note : Guys, some power stones will be really helpful.
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Upcoming chapters :-
46. No more provoking Dudley Dursley.
47. I will tell my dad
48. Potter, Something's off with your brain.