Chapter -46.
Honestly, when Dudley arrived at Hogwarts, he didn't have much money, but what really mattered to him was the person standing in front of him.
The fact that this seventh-year student was willing to apologize to a first-year like him was pretty impressive.
Dudley couldn't help but think that Richmond Carlo was quite a character.
He made a mental note of the name: Richmond Carlo.
It seemed like the future head of the Carlo family was destined for great things.
Who knows? Maybe they'd get a chance to work together down the line.
"You must be a bit tired after your first day at Hogwarts; I won't keep you any longer," Richmond said with a friendly smile.
"Oh, and by the way, Slytherin has the most rooms among the four houses, so feel free to pick any unoccupied bedroom. I promise no one will bother you while you rest."
"Good night!"
Every word from Richmond made Dudley feel even better about him.
As they exchanged warm goodbyes, Dudley headed toward the Slytherin common area, feeling relieved that everything had gone so smoothly. He just wanted to enjoy a peaceful life at school.
As long as no one bothered him, Dudley thought he was pretty easy to get along with—well, probably.
Once Dudley left, the prefect's expression turned serious, and he spoke to his friends in a stern tone: "What happened today stays between us. No one else can know."
Especially not Gryffindor; that would definitely lead to trouble.
"Otherwise, anyone, no matter who they are, will find themselves on the wrong side of the Carlo family."
Even if Potter wasn't a dark wizard, he was still powerful, and this Dursley kid was no pushover either.
It was best to keep things friendly.
Slytherin only stands with the winners.
"Let's clean this place up; we can't let today's events get out."
"What about the Headmaster?" a senior Slytherin asked.
"This is a small matter; we don't need to bother Professor Snape. We can handle it ourselves."
Then the prefect glanced at Marcus, who was still on the ground, with a look of disappointment: "When this fool wakes up, tell him I don't want to hear about any more of his troublemaking this year."
He was really let down by Marcus's antics today.
"And... let's not poke the bear that is Dudley Dursley again, at least until I graduate."
He didn't even need to say it; the younger Slytherins would keep this under wraps too, as no one wanted their own embarrassing moments to get out.
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Outside the common room, the Slytherin dormitory was decked out in green and silver, but thankfully, the lights were normal colors; if they were green, it would be tough to read.
Even though it was called sleeping, it was still early, so Dudley took some time to organize his suitcase and check out what he had brought before diving into his potion-making plans.
Potions needed a lot of practice!
Aside from electric gadgets that wouldn't work, everything else was good to go, like an old-fashioned camera; those homemade experimental tools were also usable.
After successfully brewing a few potions and carefully stashing them in his potion bag, Dudley casually picked up a book, flopped onto his bed, and started flipping through the pages.
Honestly, Dudley didn't want to overthink things; he felt a bit weak right now. If he didn't come up with a plan, he'd either get bullied or have to put up with it.
Neither option was his style.
To forge iron, you need to be strong; the most important thing was to build up his own strength.
His biggest asset right now was the Ripple energy.
Starting tomorrow, he was going to double his training.
The next morning, many early-rising young wizards spotted a lively figure on the lawn outside the castle.
Morning runs, dumbbell exercises, one-finger push-ups, and swimming.
Swimming was actually the best choice, as it worked out all the muscles in the body.
Dressed in a vest and shorts, with a nearly perfect inverted triangle body shape, Dudley caught the eye of many young wizards.
His impressive physique and his connection to Harry Potter had already made him a topic of conversation during the opening banquet, so many young wizards recognized him.
"Oh wow, is he really a first-year?"
"That head could probably pass for a seventh-year."
"His physique is amazing."
"He could probably lift me!"
Many older girls couldn't help but stare at Dudley, admiring his build, though their tone hinted at something more.
If Dudley were just a bit more handsome, he'd probably be drowning in love letters.
Besides the girls, Dudley also caught the attention of many boys, especially from Hufflepuff.
"He's so strong."
"How does he work out?"
"I want a body like that too!"
The boys were mostly envious, and some were even thinking about starting their own workout routines.
Of course, a few little wizards had a sour attitude.
"We're wizards; why do we need to be so strong?"
At that moment, some older students would sit nearby, patting each other on the back and saying seriously,
"You'll understand later."
Leaving the younger wizards looking puzzled.
But Dudley was completely unaware of all this. After finishing his morning workout and heading back to Slytherin, he bumped into Hermione, who looked tired and was holding something.
"Did you not sleep well?" Dudley asked, genuinely concerned.
Seeing Dudley, who looked wide awake and unfazed, Hermione shot him a glare and turned to leave, leaving Dudley feeling a bit confused.
But she didn't get far before she quietly turned back, shoved the item in her arms into Dudley's hands, and hurried off again.
The whole thing was so silent.
Dudley was even more puzzled.
Once Hermione was out of sight, he remembered to check what she had given him.
It was a small hand-woven pouch, and judging by the rough craftsmanship, it was definitely made by Hermione herself.
Inside the pouch were several identical small bottles.
He took one out, opened it slightly, and a lovely fragrance wafted out, surprising Dudley.
Asphodel essence.
It was, of course, for healing.
Was she worried about him getting hurt?
What a sweet girl.
Dudley shook his head with a smile.
"What are you still doing? Don't you want to be on time? We have our first class together!"
A girl's dissatisfied voice called out from nearby.
"Just wait for me to change!"
After enjoying his first day of learning at Hogwarts, Dudley did another evening workout and took a nice shower.
Just as he was about to relax, there was a knock on his bedroom door. When he opened it, he found no one outside, but on the floor lay a delicate little leather case with a letter on top made of sheepskin.
"To Mr. Dursley, please open it."
This was the promised compensation and small gift.
The first layer contained gold galleons, just as Carlo had mentioned; he bought them at a fair price of ten galleons (a bit higher than the usual price for wands); this price was just right.
The second layer held a small crystal vial, quietly resting inside.
It sparkled beautifully under the light.
A luck potion.
A magical potion that could boost luck.
It was precious and tricky to brew, and most importantly, it was priceless.
Dudley carefully tucked the items away in his close-fitting bag.
It looked like Richmond Carlo was really putting in the effort to befriend 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 :-
47. I will tell my dad
48. Potter, Something's off with your brain.
49. Snape, the bully.