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Name: Dudley Dursley
Race: Pure Human
Profession: Hamon User, Alchemist, Mage (Fake)
Strength: 13
Agility: 10
Constitution: 20
Magic Power: 0.9
Magic Resistance: 2
Spells: Illumination Spell
Magical Equipment: Unbendable Spoon, Philosopher's Stone (Perfect), Magic Crystal, Undetectable Extension Charm Pouch.
Skills: Miscellaneous, Firearms (LV2).
Special: Meditation (Unique), Potions (LV3), Hamon Energy (LV2), Language of Magical Creatures (LV2), Alchemy (LV2), Assassination Techniques (LV1), Magical Creature Taming (LV1), Magic Armor Modification (LV1).
After a year, all five of Dudley's attributes had increased.
Especially his Constitution, which had gone up by a full five points.
Even Dudley himself was not entirely sure how it had increased. Maybe it had something to do with his training? As for Magic Resistance, it had also risen from 1 to 2. And it was worth remembering that this was still his base value, without any enhancement from Meditation.
The reason it had grown so quickly was simple. Dudley was still only twelve and very much in the middle of growing.
In a few more years, that rate of growth would definitely slow down.
As for his Special abilities, the biggest change was that Hamon Energy had reached LV2.
That made his control over it much more refined and also increased the amount he could manipulate.
The Language of Magical Creatures had also risen to LV2.
Whenever he was in the Forbidden Forest, Dudley would chat with magical creatures nonstop, and the results had been obvious.
...
Three days later.
Dudley took Harry and Hermione to Hogsmeade on the Knight Bus.
The Knight Bus was an extremely fast mode of transportation for witches and wizards.
With every jump, it covered a hundred miles.
Officially, it claimed that for only eleven Silver Sickles, it could take someone anywhere reachable by land.
In practice, however, it only operated within Europe.
After getting off, Harry and Hermione looked frighteningly pale.
It was obvious that the trip had not been a pleasant one.
That was also why Professor McGonagall would rather walk than take that bus.
Only Dudley looked completely normal.
There was nothing to be done about it.
His Constitution was simply too absurd.
It did not affect him at all.
The main problem was that neither the Dursleys nor the Grangers were wizards.
Their fireplaces were not connected to the Floo Network either, so Floo Powder was not an option.
Without using Apparition or a Portkey, taking the Knight Bus was the best choice.
Before them rose a cluster of quaint old buildings.
The streets were lined with shops, and one glance around was enough to spot plenty of witches and wizards moving about.
The place was every bit as lively as Diagon Alley.
Hogsmeade.
The largest all-wizard village in England.
And also the only village inhabited entirely by wizards, with no Muggles at all.
It had also served as the headquarters of the Goblin Rebellion of 1612.
"So this is Hogsmeade... it's beautiful."
After drinking Dudley's special anti-motion-sickness potion, Hermione had recovered quite a bit and was immediately drawn in by the surroundings.
The little houses, each with their own style, and the branches covered in enchanted candles really did make the place look beautiful.
And though it was called a village, in practice it was not much smaller than a small town.
"In Hogwarts: A History, it says you can only come here starting in third year, and only if your parents sign a permission slip. I didn't think we'd be able to come here while still in first year."
Hermione, excited, began explaining again.
And as always, her source was that book that apparently recorded everything: Hogwarts: A History.
In theory, only third-years and above were allowed to visit Hogsmeade.
In practice, Hogsmeade was not some secret base, and it did not actually stop younger students from coming either.
Many of those who had grown up in the wizarding world had probably been there several times since childhood.
So if they wanted to come, they could show up there at practically any time.
"It's still early."
Dudley raised his arm and glanced at the watch on his wrist.
"We can walk around a bit first."
"Dudley... that's a watch, isn't it?"
Hermione noticed the detail immediately and asked.
In theory, since Hogsmeade was so close to Hogwarts, electronic products should not work there either.
Hermione already knew that from Hogwarts.
Even her alarm clock had stopped working properly.
So why was Dudley's watch unaffected?
"Shhh."
Dudley waved his index finger lightly in front of her.
"I'll explain later."
Alchemy combined with Magic Armor Modification really was a pretty good mix.
If there were a few places in Hogsmeade that absolutely had to be visited, then Honeydukes was definitely one of them.
It was the best sweet shop in all of England.
Just passing by was enough to catch that sugary smell in the air.
They said Dumbledore was a frequent customer there.
Harry bought a mountain of sweets.
There was also Zonko's Joke Shop.
It sold all kinds of prank items.
Since Dudley had no interest in that sort of thing, the three of them did not go in.
Another store was Dervish and Banges.
It was more or less the wizarding equivalent of a magical equipment shop, although what it sold were things like anti-ghoul goggles and Remembralls.
Even so, it still gave Dudley a few ideas.
After eating a little at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, the three of them headed to the Three Broomsticks.
That was where Dudley had arranged to meet Carrow.
Almost all Hogwarts students tended to use that place as their meeting point.
Although Hogsmeade had two pubs, the other one, the Hog's Head, was more popular with adults.
By the time the three of them entered, Carrow was already there.
"Mr. Carrow."
"Mr. Dursley."
Although the two of them already knew each other fairly well, they still exchanged extremely polite greetings when they met.
That was one of Carrow's habits.
And Dudley respected it.
After a few formalities, Carrow spoke again.
"I heard you stole the show at the banquet. What a shame... I didn't get to see it with my own eyes."
Since Carrow had been a seventh-year, he had already graduated by then and was no longer at Hogwarts.
That was why he had not attended the end-of-year feast.
He spoke with visible excitement.
He seemed even more interested in Dudley than before.
"If I had graduated a few years later, I would have joined the Discipline Group you created."
"The atmosphere in Slytherin... no, in all four Houses at Hogwarts, has really been getting worse and worse."
Back when he was still a student, he had mentioned that problem more than once.
But that was all it had ever been.
At the end of the day, it had not really had anything to do with him directly.
"You're not doing too badly yourself. I heard you'll soon be taking a position in the Department of International Magical Cooperation, at the British branch of the International Confederation of Wizards."
There was no rule in the wizarding world saying Ministry officials could not do business.
Being an official in the Ministry of Magic while also owning Witches and Potions Publishing was not contradictory at all.
Besides, he was not going there as some ordinary employee.
He would most likely be taking a management position.
And why become a Ministry official?
Obviously, to use the position for his own advantage.
A lot of pure-blood nobles did exactly that.
They controlled ninety percent of the wealth in the wizarding world.
They were both the referees and the players.
"Mr. Dursley, you really do get information fast."
Even as he said it, Carrow did not seem the least bit surprised that Dudley knew what he was up to.
In fact, he seemed to think it was perfectly normal.
After all, this was Harry Potter's cousin.
"You're not doing badly yourself, Mr. Carrow."
Another round of mutually flattering business talk.
"Sorry to interrupt, but what would you like to order?"
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