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Aside from a very small number of people, there was no one in the entire wizarding world who did not fear Voldemort, even if many wizards thought he was a madman and looked down on him.
Looking down on someone and fearing them were not mutually exclusive.
Because he was mad. Because he was cruel. Because he broke the rules. And even more because he had gathered a group of equally mad followers.
"Professor, please stay calm."
Dudley's tone was still as composed as ever. He was studying the Boggart curiously as he continued, "There is nothing wrong with letting everyone see him early. They will have to see him sooner or later anyway."
Although the wizarding world generally accepted that Voldemort was dead, Dudley knew very clearly that this so-called common knowledge was not accurate.
That thing would return sooner or later.
Making the Boggart transform into Voldemort was not only a whim.
In any case, he and Voldemort were mortal enemies. Whether because Dudley was Harry's older cousin or because he had destroyed Voldemort's Horcruxes again and again, The Dark Lord would do everything possible to kill him.
Since that was the case, he might as well make as few enemies and as many allies as possible.
With Voldemort's petty nature, he would not tolerate anyone insulting him, even if the offender was only a student.
Besides, no matter how strong that noseless fellow was, could he withstand tens of thousands of wizards casting spells at him?
Several decades ago, Mr. Grindelwald, who had been known as the most dangerous Dark wizard in history and was considered Dumbledore's equal, had also been blocked by the combined spells of other wizards.
Voldemort was so dangerous in large part because people had exaggerated him too much. His methods were too cruel, and that had left no one daring to resist.
People feared what they did not know.
Put him on display early. Let everyone become familiar with him. When they faced him later, they would not be so afraid.
"Professor, do not worry. I created it, so I can control it."
Before absorbing enough fear, the Boggart had indeed transformed into Voldemort, but its essence was still a Boggart. It did not possess Voldemort's memories, and there was also an upper limit to the power it could display.
Even its attack methods came from Dudley's memories.
Otherwise, he really could build an army of Voldemorts transformed from Boggarts.
"You have no idea how dangerous he is. You are playing with fire."
It was not that Lupin did not want to believe Dudley. It was simply that this thing was far too dangerous.
He could not take that risk.
"Riddikulus!"
Lupin cast the spell again, but the Boggart was one step faster than him.
The wand rose high and fell lightly.
This time, Lupin's wand was knocked from his hand, spinning across the floor until it stopped by the Boggart's feet.
"So I am playing with fire, and you thought the fire was not big enough, so you poured a little petrol on it?" Dudley teased.
Lupin: "..."
While Dudley spoke, the Boggart had already picked up the wand.
"Get out of here, quickly."
"Go tell Professor Dumbledore and the others."
Lupin shouted, but not a single student listened to him.
In truth, the students did not feel much fear. Even if the professor had failed, was Dudley not still there?
Their experiences over these years had taught them that professors might be unreliable, but Dudley was definitely reliable.
As long as Mr. Dursley was there, there was nothing to fear.
As long as the disciplinary group was there, they were absolutely safe.
Dudley's prestige at Hogwarts had already far surpassed that of many professors, even Heads of House.
"Come. Attack me."
Dudley also took out his wand and curled a finger at the Boggart.
"Let us do a dueling demonstration."
"Everyone still remembers how to duel, yes?"
While Dudley was speaking, the Boggart raised its hand and sent out a beam of green light.
Dudley saw the small movement clearly. With a casual wave, he blocked it and even gave a very brief evaluation.
"Not bad. Stronger than an ordinary wizard."
The Boggart said nothing. It raised its hand and fired another beam of light.
Unsurprisingly, it was blocked again.
Several attacks in a row were smashed apart by Dudley as casually as swatting flies.
As if he had thought of something, Dudley suddenly said, "The first step in a duel should be bowing, and you have not bowed."
As he spoke, he pinched his wand and pressed it gently downward. The Boggart discovered in horror that its body was bending down against its will.
Even if Dudley used only ordinary wizarding magic, with a wand in hand, he was at least an elite wizard.
The Boggart's abilities were all stolen from what Dudley imagined in his mind. The abilities it materialized were even more completely under Dudley's control.
In theory, Lupin should not have lost to this Boggart. If he had calmed down and dealt with it seriously, the Boggart would have had little chance of winning, much less taking his wand.
Unfortunately, he had been frightened by the Boggart's Voldemort form.
He had lost his composure.
See? Once a person's reputation reached a certain level, it became pressure of its own. Even a counterfeit could perform far beyond what it should have been capable of.
"You look ugly when you bow."
Dudley casually commented, then turned to the other students.
"Everyone, remember this. If you ever have a conflict with other wizards in the wild, especially Dark wizards, do not bother with the spirit of proper wizard dueling."
"You do not need to bow either. Like this."
Dudley turned the hand hidden behind his back and pointed casually behind him.
"Expelliarmus."
The Boggart, which had just straightened up and was trying to ambush Dudley, was hit again. The wand had barely warmed in its hand before flying away.
The Boggart slammed heavily onto the ground, dizzy and seeing stars.
"There is no need to talk wizarding rules with them. Defeat them first."
Dudley's words made the students nod in agreement.
'That is not right. This fellow should be afraid of me. Why can I not see any sign of fear?'
With the Boggart's mind, it truly could not understand why Dudley, who should obviously be afraid of it, could torment it so thoroughly without letting it sense any fear at all.
Dudley's goal was to defeat Voldemort in front of all these students.
Even if it was fake, it would still reduce the fear of Voldemort in the students' hearts.
Incidents like this would only become more common in the future.
He was different from those fools in the Ministry of Magic. Voldemort had disappeared for so many years, yet they had still failed to erase his influence over other wizards. Not only had they failed to undermine his prestige, they had even helped build it up. More than ten years had passed, yet people still did not dare call him by name and instead crowned him with the title He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
In a certain sense, that made people even more afraid of him.
The whole strategy felt like free advertising for Voldemort.
Doing nothing and letting him fade would have been better than this.
After only a few years, people would not remember who you were.
Just like a certain Demon King Piccolo from another world who had nearly destroyed the world. A dozen years later, how many people still remembered him?
"Professor Lupin, I do not think you need this Boggart anymore."
As Dudley spoke, he took an empty red-and-white ball from his waist and threw it at the Boggart, whose body was gradually becoming blurry.
With a flash of white light, the Boggart was taken inside.
"Then I'll take it."
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