I am Harry Potter's Cousin, Big D

Dudley began his first of many two-day weekend sessions in Snape's private classroom, spending over eight hours each day studying Potions, from afternoon until late evening. During this time, Dudley endured repeated "venomous" baptisms; when Snape started his sarcastic and cutting remarks, he could truly infuriate someone to death.

After all, it was his first time making an unfamiliar potion, so it was inevitable that Dudley would make slight errors in the detailed operations. Boiling, infusing, steeping, unguent, poultice, tincture, lotion—Potions wasn't just about boiling things in a cauldron; that was merely one of the seven methods of making potions.

During Snape's demonstration, he used six methods to produce a finished Wit-Sharpening Potion, which truly opened Dudley's eyes. These were techniques he had never considered before. After all, the first-year textbook only taught the boiling method.

Snape's demands on Dudley reached an incredible, almost impossible, level. He was more than ten times stricter with him than with any other student. It was like a troll's mother opening the door for a troll—utterly troll-like. Snape demonstrated only once, then assigned homework for Dudley to make the Wit-Sharpening Potion using at least three of the methods he had shown. Then, he immediately had Dudley start making it himself.

When Dudley placed the 'Ordinary' level Wit-Sharpening Potion he had made using three methods in front of Snape, it was utterly trashed by the other party.

"Are there trolls dancing in your brain?"

"Perhaps the trolls aren't dancing in your brain; perhaps you are a troll yourself."

"What is in that brain of yours? Troll snot?"

Snape seemed to have permanently associated Dudley with trolls, bringing them up every time he started one of his tirades. Dudley always felt like the man was subtly hinting at his physique.

'If it were me... If it were Lily... I could definitely make a much higher quality potion.' Once Snape entered teaching mode, this was the only thought in his mind. He completely disregarded the fact that he and Lily were about to graduate at the time, while Dudley was currently just a first-year student. Thinking about it, it was understandable; who would instinctively treat a stout man who was 180 cm tall as an eleven-year-old wizard?

However, this incredibly high standard of strictness also ignited Dudley's competitive spirit. He completely locked horns with the Wit-Sharpening Potion. Leveraging the advantage of his Data Eye, he began desperately grinding his proficiency. Anyway, if there wasn't much else in the Potions classroom, there were plenty of ingredients. How could such a good opportunity be wasted?

So, Dudley fully entered a state of potion-making. By Sunday evening, the table was filled with the finished Wit-Sharpening Potions he had made. From the initial 'Ordinary' level brewed using three methods, he could now make 'Perfect' level elixirs using five methods. Only Dudley himself knew how much he had gone through in just two short days. Just based on this 'Perfect' level Wit-Sharpening Potion, the current Dudley could even apply for a job directly at St. Mungo's Hospital upon graduating from Hogwarts.

Yet, this was only enough to barely satisfy Snape.

"It took you a full two days just to be barely acceptable. I truly suspect trolls snuck into your brain at night. Your talent is a disgrace to your aunt's name. Never mention outside that I taught you." Snape stared into Dudley's eyes, his expression blank, as he collected the 'Perfect' level Wit-Sharpening Potions from the table. "If it were your Aunt Lily, she could have made it using all seven methods in just one day."

Ever since Dudley had repeatedly referred to Lily as 'Aunt Lily' in front of Snape, Snape had gradually accepted the term and even started using it himself, finding it more and more natural.

Dudley, however, wasn't sure how strong his Aunt Lily's Potions talent was, but through Petunia's and Snape's indirect descriptions and words of praise, she was definitely a top-tier Potions Master. In the path of Potions, it seemed there was no potion she didn't know how to make and no potion she couldn't make well. This stirred a thought in Dudley's heart to compare himself with her. Although Snape claimed she could make the Wit-Sharpening Potion using all seven methods in just one day, it wasn't impossible that he was exaggerating.

But who was he, Dudley? He was the challenger, the Dudley who loved to say 'NO' to those who thought too highly of themselves and never admitted defeat! Goals like this only have more value the higher they are set.

Dudley had already found two small goals at Hogwarts: physical fitness based on Hagrid and Potions skill based on Aunt Lily in Professor Snape's heart.

"Next weekend we will study the Shrinking Solution and the Invigoration Draught," Snape announced. "I hope you can use the next few days to revise thoroughly and not be as ignorant as a troll like you were today."

Dudley didn't reply, not even bothering to acknowledge him. After two days of interaction, he had already understood that, for Snape, the angrier you got, the more he enjoyed it.

The Shrinking Solution was taught in the third year at Hogwarts. It was a magical potion that could shrink creatures or revert them to a younger state. The Invigoration Draught was a fifth-year course, a potion that could replenish the user's vitality. The potion Dudley had given Malfoy earlier was a simplified version of it, a Stamina Potion.

"Dursley, why haven't you left yet? Do you expect me to keep you for dinner?" Seeing Dudley linger in the Potions classroom, Snape spoke impatiently. "Then you will be disappointed. I have nothing here that could fill a troll like you."

"Professor Snape." Dudley maintained his respectful attitude. While Snape was venom-tongued, he was seriously teaching him knowledge. Although Dudley considered himself a commoner and a rough person, he knew the meaning of respecting teachers. He slowly pulled a book from behind him and placed it in front of Snape. It was an old-looking, worn Potions textbook that seemed to have some age. It was for higher years, which was evident from the title, Advanced Potion-Making. In the corner of the yellowed pages, the small words "The Half-Blood Prince" were signed.

"May I take this book back with me? The annotations written in it are very helpful to me." Dudley gently wiped the dust from the textbook, as if holding his first love.

Perhaps it was Dudley's regard for the textbook, or perhaps it was because he consistently refused to take the bait and maintained a respectful attitude, but Snape's tone gradually softened, and for once, he didn't erupt.

"Where did you find it?"

Dudley pointed to the bookshelf in the corner of the classroom, where a pile of old books was placed. "Over there, Professor."

"This book is still too early for you—" Snape stopped as soon as he started speaking. He seemed to remember that what he was teaching now was also higher-year material. Then he flicked his sleeve. "If you wish, you may take it back and look at it first."

(End of Chapter)

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