3

Dudley had little interest in the children's endless pranks or the latest gossip. As usual, he spent his mornings doing aerobic exercises, and after lunch, he went to the court to practice his batting.

This "unusual" lifestyle had certainly attracted some attention, especially as the effects of his weight loss became increasingly apparent. His once prominent belly and large backside were gradually becoming flatter, and he was growing more agile on the court. His transformation didn't go unnoticed—Fat people, like Neville Longbottom, often imitated his workout routine for fitness, and even Goyle and Crabbe inquired about his secret to losing weight.

Exhausted and sweaty, Dudley walked back to the castle carrying his broom. He glanced at the battery "charge" displayed in the equipment manual and sighed.

He had exhausted two magic batteries in just over a month. Despite this, they were necessary. Quidditch couldn't be mastered merely through observation or theory. Proficiency with a flying broomstick was crucial for combat. However, if he didn't replenish his batteries, he'd run out of power after just one game.

As he was about to head to the dormitory to change, he saw Harry and his friends approaching, dressed up and visibly excited about Nearly Headless Nick's death anniversary party.

"Hey, Dudley! Aren't you coming? I promise it'll be super fun!" Ron said enthusiastically. He had never participated in such a "cool" event.

"Yes, Dudley! No one alive has ever attended a ghost party! I'm sure it'll be a fascinating experience!" Hermione added.

Dudley shook his head vigorously. Not only was there no delicious food at the party, but the activities were also quite dull. Moreover, after experiencing this brief novelty, they would have to face the basilisk's activities, and Filch would then accuse them of killing Mrs. Norris (the cat). It didn't sound promising.

"I need to take a bath. You go ahead, and I'll see you after dinner. I plan to set off fireworks tonight too!" Dudley replied dismissively. He intended to watch Ginny closely after his bath, hoping to obtain Tom Riddle's diary from her.

The three friends were disappointed and felt sorry for Dudley. After all, the next death anniversary party wouldn't occur for another ten years!

Dudley: Thanks!

Most of the senior students had left. Although the castle's decorations were exquisite, seeing them all month had grown tiresome. Hogsmeade was bustling with interesting merchants and wandering entertainers, offering unique items not typically available. It was also a perfect opportunity for young couples to make plans.

Ron's older brother planned to use his "substantial savings" from this period to make bulk purchases during the holidays and sell them at a profit to classmates looking for post-holiday excitement.

Lower-grade students were having a carnival in the auditorium. Dumbledore had indeed invited a band to entertain them. Although it wasn't the skeleton dance troupe everyone had speculated, it was better than nothing.

Dudley planned to take a quick shower, but just as he undressed and turned on the faucet, he suddenly felt his hairs stand on end, like a hedgehog, as a bone-chilling presence descended nearby.

"What the—!" Dudley's mind nearly broke. He suddenly realized a crucial fact: he was the purest "Mudblood" in the entire castle!

The novel's first victim was Filch's cat. As the weapon used by Salazar Slytherin to eradicate "Mudbloods" and half-blood wizards, why would the basilisk specifically target a cat? It was more likely that it was after a human target and accidentally encountered Mrs. Norris.

While there were many Mudbloods in the castle, some had gone to Hogsmeade, others were in the crowded auditorium, and Hermione had gone to the Ghost Party. Clearly, Hermione was the most vulnerable.

Dudley's muscles tensed in fear. He didn't even notice the water in the faucet was slightly warm. He closed his eyes tightly and dared not look back.

He had no idea how close the basilisk was. Its movements were always stealthy and silent. The distance from the boys' bathroom door to where he was stood out in his mind. He crossed his arms over his chest and silently prepared his enchanted shotgun, aware that bath water wouldn't affect its performance.

He swallowed hard as the cold presence grew stronger, as though a massive creature was approaching. He dared not turn around; he didn't have the protagonist's luck, and a single glance from the basilisk could be fatal.

He had only one chance. When the basilisk opened its mouth, he had to turn around and fire the enchanted +2 shotgun into its mouth, eyes shut tight, spraying blindly. It was as challenging as a goalkeeper facing a penalty shot.

At that moment, the sound of the running water seemed to vanish. All he could hear was his heart pounding like a drum, causing a buzzing in his head.

Suddenly, a voice came from the corridor outside the bathroom: "Dudley! Are you in there?"

The eerie aura that had made Dudley's hair stand on end suddenly vanished, as if a gust of wind had swept it away.

"Dudley! Are you taking a shower? Professor Sprout asked me to find you!" The voice reached the bathroom door. Dudley recognized it as Biro's. Biro had stayed behind to help Professor Sprout with the "energizing" herbs while the others went to Hogsmeade.

Dudley exhaled deeply. Although it had been less than ten seconds, those seconds had been the most uncertain of his life. If he had missed his shot, the consequences could have been dire.

He turned around and called out, "I'll be out soon! Just a moment!"

He put away the enchanted shotgun and dried his hair with a towel, just as Biro walked in, wearing a funny red and yellow Halloween costume. Biro exclaimed, "Dudley! You've lost so much weight!"

Dudley, however, focused on the bathroom floor, finding no trace of anything unusual, as if it had all been his imagination.

Biro, of course, saw nothing out of the ordinary. The distance from the corridor to the shower was only a few dozen meters. The basilisk's tail alone was longer than that. If the basilisk had truly emerged, it would have left a clear trace. Could it be that it just took a quick glance and then left?

With lingering doubts, Dudley followed Biro back to the auditorium. The children were singing humorous songs with the band. The auditorium was a mess of odd prank props. Several house-elves stood in a corner with sad expressions.

"I hope there are still roast chickens that haven't been tampered with…" Biro muttered, quickening his pace to find something edible among the mess.

Dudley finally spotted Ginny amidst the crowd. She had a blank expression and seemed to have just returned from outside. She was sitting at the Gryffindor table, lost in thought. Dudley saw an opportunity to approach her but found she wasn't carrying her diary.

Dudley frowned, unsure how to handle the situation.

-----

Dudley wandered near Ginny for a while until Philo, wearing a little devil's hat, approached and whispered, "Pretty impressive, I quite like Miss Weasley too!"

Dudley rolled his eyes and quickly headed back to the Hufflepuff table. Philo, however, wasn't ready to let him go. He followed and continued, "Boss Dudley, I always thought you had a soft spot for two people. Miss Granger, for example!"

Dudley was taken aback. He glanced at Philo and replied, "Oh? Really?"

Philo gave him a knowing look and said, "Isn't it true? Your eyes are always so soft when you look at Miss Granger. I guess you frequently play Quidditch just to catch her attention!"

"You know too much..." Dudley said, pursing his lips. "I can't stay in touch with my cousin or inquire about matters, or even compete for the Hufflepuff team's victory?"

Philo chuckled, giving Dudley another knowing glance. "Then Dudley's extreme effort to lose weight must not just be to impress Senior Granger, right?"

Dudley chose not to respond and silently gave Philo a dismissive gesture.

At that moment, the entire castle was jolted by Filch's screams. Dudley glanced at Ginny, who seemed unfazed, and rushed out with the crowd.

As expected, the usual sequence of events unfolded. The trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, having left the death anniversary party, did not return to the auditorium for the feast. Instead, Harry, hearing the whisper of the basilisk, followed the sound to the girls' bathroom, where a black cat was found hanging from a torch bracket.

Filch, convinced that Mrs. Norris had been killed, blamed Harry for the incident. However, Dumbledore believed that the cat had merely been petrified and that Harry was unaware of any related spells.

Although Dumbledore managed to contain the situation, many students' opinions of Harry began to change.

Ordinary students often feel resentment when they see a particular classmate receiving special protection from the headmaster and professors. After all, many students are subjected to Filch's harsh punishments or solitary confinement throughout the year. Why does Harry escape such treatment?

Moreover, many Slytherins felt that Harry always stole the spotlight. Despite being just a half-blood wizard, he was revered as a "hero" and "saint" by many. Thus, conspiracy theories began to brew among certain circles.

Dudley's attention was focused on tracking the basilisk's path. The basilisk must have been released by Ginny when he returned to the castle, petrified the cat, and then proceeded to the boys' bathroom to attack him. However, it had been scared away for some unknown reason.

Dudley didn't think Biro's presence was the cause. From the basilisk's perspective, an extra person was just another potential meal. Yet he still couldn't explain why he found no trace of the basilisk.

Due to the petrification incident, younger students were required to return to their dormitories earlier, leading to increased complaints and slander against Harry.

Lying in bed, Dudley was still unsure of his next move. Although he had considered waiting for Harry to find the entrance to the secret chamber and then following him, this posed two problems.

First, he would be on edge every step of the way. The basilisk would likely target him first when it emerged again, putting him at a disadvantage.

Second, he wasn't certain that events would unfold exactly as described in the novel. In the book, the basilisk petrified several students, but in reality, if it attacked and killed someone, Dudley would feel immense guilt.

"What are you thinking about?" Biro asked as he approached Dudley. They had become familiar during this time. Although Biro wasn't particularly handsome, he was well-read and knowledgeable.

"I was just pondering how the pipes in the castle are maintained," Dudley replied casually.

"Ha, Mr. Cross would know best. He's the castle's sewer maintenance man. Even in a magical castle, the sewers can get clogged..." Biro added.

Suddenly, Dudley jumped out of bed, as if struck by inspiration.

The next day, as soon as the dormitory door opened, Dudley rushed out and, based on Biro's information, went to Hogsmeade to find Mr. Cross, the plumber.

HoneyDuke hadn't opened yet. The shop had been busy until late the previous night, leaving it cluttered with discarded candy wrappers and various stains. The shop owner and staff were fast asleep.

Dudley quietly slipped out and walked straight to the village outskirts. Like the candy store, the streets were strewn with colorful debris from the carnival. Several villagers were sweeping up the mess with wands and brooms.

It didn't take long for him to find Mr. Cross's home by asking passers-by—a hut even more dilapidated than the Weasleys'.

Mr. Cross, bleary-eyed, answered the door. In front of him was a small pile of gold galleons handed over by Dudley.

"Is the girls' bathroom at Hogwarts clogged again? I've told you before, it's not a blockage but a ghost playing tricks..." Mr. Cross said, sipping from a half-empty bottle of butterbeer while stuffing ten galleons into his pocket.

"It's not about a clogged toilet. I want to ask about the water supply pipeline at Hogwarts. Have you repaired it?" Dudley asked, looking at the untidy room and faintly smelling some sewer stench. He left the door open and chose to talk right there.

"Water supply pipes?" Mr. Cross pondered for a moment and then said, "There's never been an issue with the water supply pipes at Hogwarts. They're buried deep within the thick stone walls. The original builders used many magical techniques that are still effective today."

"What kind of magic? What does it do?" Dudley pressed on.

"Actually, I use it quite often!" Mr. Cross replied, spitting beer onto the floor.

For the sake of the gold coins, Mr. Cross was forthcoming. To illustrate, he retrieved a piece of water pipe the size of a teacup and, after a few minutes of searching, found his wand. He pointed it at the pipe and recited an incantation.

The water pipe instantly seemed to transform, expanding and becoming as thick as a bucket wherever Mr. Cross directed his wand. The thickened sections turned transparent, resembling glass pipes.

"See, as long as the magical energy sustaining the castle remains, it can't be blocked," Mr. Cross explained.

Dudley suddenly understood and slapped his thigh in realization. "I get it now, I understand everything!"

-----

The newcomers glanced at each other, knowing that there was a female ghost living in a dilapidated restroom who occasionally emerged to scare people or cry throughout the night. But how to summon her? No one could make a decision.

"Myrtle often appears over there, near the third to fifth cubicles. The older students said she cries there!" the girl had said earlier.

"Lockhart has at least ten ways to make the ghost appear!" an enthusiastic admirer declared confidently.

Lockhart raised his eyebrows, smiling broadly, and said triumphantly, "I will demonstrate this only once. I hope everyone pays close attention and takes notes! I've done this before!"

With a flick of his blond hair, he strode confidently into the women's restroom. The newcomers couldn't help but exclaim, "Lockhart is so brave."

However, several screams soon erupted from inside, including the shout, "Help! There's a pervert!"

Poor Lockhart was promptly expelled by two senior girls, leaving a noticeable footprint on his gold-rimmed robe. These girls were clearly not his biggest fans.

"Didn't this guy just open the toilet stall?" Dudley mused. He had initially thought Lockhart was merely vain, but now he realized the man was utterly clueless.

The girls delivered Lockhart to Professor McGonagall's office, emphasizing repeatedly, "He said himself that he's done this kind of thing before!"

Lockhart: "..."

The Defense Against the Dark Arts class ended in failure. The newcomers dispersed cheerfully, but Philo approached Dudley with a curious expression, asking, "What do you think Lockhart saw?"

Dudley rolled his eyes, too uninterested to respond. He headed back to his dormitory. Although he had read the original novel, he couldn't recall the names of the victims apart from Hermione. He needed to retrieve the diary quickly to prevent further danger!

Biro was still in class, which was perfect. Dudley took out his notebook and opened it.

To his surprise, the notebook was not empty. The first few pages were densely filled with writing. Judging by the handwriting, it had to have been written by Ginny.

Ginny must have discovered the notebook the day she returned from Flourish and Blotts. The first page detailed their family's experiences at the bookstore, her mother's obsession with Lockhart, and Lucius Malfoy's slander of their family. Ginny was perplexed. Even though both their families were pure-bloods, why were they so poor?

These were the thoughts of a young girl who didn't understand the adult world or the Weasleys' struggles with raising seven children. She expressed her confusion in the notebook. Although there were no other writings, it seemed Tom Riddle provided his own answers.

The discussion then shifted to Harry. Ginny, who must have had a crush on Harry, wrote extensively about his deeds and their conversations.

Dudley suddenly realized that the diary, being a memory of Tom Riddle at sixteen, shouldn't know about Harry's existence. It now seemed that the diary might have learned about Harry from Ginny's descriptions or perhaps it was communicated with Lucius. However, Lucius, despite his intimidating exterior, was likely too fearful to directly place the diary in Harry's possession and instead gave it to Ginny.

The final page shifted to discussing bloodlines. By this time, the diary had likely started influencing Ginny's thoughts, drawing her closer to the "pure blood" ideology and using her to open the Chamber of Secrets and release the basilisk.

Dudley glanced at the quill on the table but decided against writing. He was unsure how strong the the diary was and whether his own efforts would be effective against it.

He had considered handing the diary to Dumbledore. Given Dumbledore's abilities, detecting the dark magic should be straightforward. However, Dudley reflected on recent events. Even though some things had changed, there seemed to be an unseen force ensuring the plot remained on track, like Ron's broken wand.

He also remembered Dumbledore's death due to Marvolo Gaunt's ring. Could Dumbledore have been cursed while attempting to save Tom Riddle's soul, thus suffering Voldemort's curse early? If Dudley were Voldemort, he would certainly be wary of the diary falling into Dumbledore's hands when instructing Lucius to return it to the castle.

After much deliberation, Dudley decided to hide the diary under his bed and stick to his original plan of preparing an ambush for the basilisk.

As he left the dormitory, a group of frantic students rushed toward him. He grabbed one of them and discovered that Colin Creevey had been petrified, with a blood-written warning on the scene:

"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware!"

Previously, only a cat had been petrified, causing panic. Now, with a human victim, the castle was on high alert. Junior students were sent back to their dormitories, while faculty and senior students organized thorough inspections of the castle.

Dudley contacted the twins via magic enchanted walkie-talkie and, with their help, found Harry.

Harry looked very troubled. He must have heard the basilisk's whispers again. Coincidentally, he had appeared at the scene, fueling the rumors about him even more.

"Professor McGonagall explained the Chamber of Secrets," Hermione told Dudley. "Everyone thought it was a legend, but now it seems to be true. They say Harry is the heir..."

"Nonsense, he and I are cousins, so I might be the heir!" Dudley said with a smirk.

"But I... I can hear that voice..." Harry said with pain.

"I heard the voice too. Did it mention something about tearing you apart or killing you?" Dudley asked.

Harry was shocked. "How do you know? I've never told anyone about that!"

Dudley shrugged and pointed to his walkie-talkie. "Have you ever seen this?"

"It's a walkie-talkie... We've seen it in war movies!" Harry replied.

"Do you know how it works?" Dudley inquired.

Harry was taken aback; he had never used one. Hermione explained, "The walkie-talkie emits radio waves, which a receiving device tuned to the same frequency can pick up... Ah! I understand now, Dudley means that the monster emits a sound at a frequency that ordinary people can't hear, but those who have similar reception capabilities can!"

"Yes!" Dudley confirmed. "The monster's words aren't directed at anyone in particular. Don't feel pressured. We just happen to have the ability to hear this frequency. Who doesn't have superpowers yet..."

"For example, Hermione," Dudley said, pointing at her. "Who in our year is smarter than her? Who has a better memory?"

Hermione's face flushed slightly, but she clearly appreciated the flattery.

"Or Ron... well... let's not discuss Ron..." Dudley said.

Ron: "..."

After Dudley's remarks, Harry seemed to feel better. Dudley reminded them not to act alone and to inform him if anything happened, then returned to Hufflepuff's dormitory.

The dormitory was empty, but Dudley's textbooks were scattered across the floor, as if someone had overturned the place.

Dudley rushed under the bed to retrieve the diary, but it was missing.

Sitting on the floor, Dudley sighed. It seemed there truly was an invisible hand steering events back on course...

--------

Dudley had fashioned an eyepatch that would cover his eyes whenever he tapped his wizarding hat, ensuring he wouldn't be instantly killed if he encountered a basilisk. However, there was still no significant progress in other areas.

Colin's attack occurred a few days earlier than described in the novel. He was supposed to be petrified after the Quidditch match on the weekend, but it didn't matter. The first game of the season between Gryffindor and Slytherin was still scheduled. Lucius Malfoy had come to watch the game, as a shareholder of Hogwarts, he had always come and gone freely.

Perhaps Lucius hoped to see his investment of tens of thousands of galleons bring victory to his son, but unfortunately, he was destined to be disappointed. Harry, the hero of the story, was bound to win, rendering all the money Lucius had invested useless.

Dudley surveyed the match. He noticed that neither Ron nor Hermione were present to cheer for Harry. He suddenly recalled that the three of them had been investigating the truth about the Chamber of Secrets for the past two days. They had decided to use the Polyjuice Potion to transform into Slytherin students and infiltrate Malfoy's circle.

Today, most of the students and teachers were at the Quidditch pitch. Ron and Hermione were likely using this opportunity to gather ingredients for the Polyjuice Potion.

If the Chamber of Secrets issue could be resolved in advance, the Slytherin and Hufflepuff teams would soon compete for the first time this season. Dudley felt that Lucius probably wouldn't come to watch that game. If Lucius saw his son defeated by Dudley, he would surely look as though he had swallowed a hundred flies.

As expected, seeing his son struggling on his broomstick, unable to catch up with Harry, Lucius angrily slammed his crutches on the ground. Anyone who saw their sponsored supercar lose to an old model would be furious. The house-elf at his feet made a distressed noise.

A Bludger hit by a Slytherin player veered sharply in the air and struck Harry's elbow with extreme speed. Harry's arm was fractured on the spot, and he nearly fell off his broom. Despite the pain, he managed to catch the Golden Snitch with his left hand.

Dudley observed Harry's twisted right arm and thought that Dobby must indeed be Harry's chosen one. This situation might be even more excruciating than being bitten by a basilisk.

Of course, Lockhart was Harry's second most significant issue. He eagerly approached Harry, ready to make matters worse.

In the end, Dudley took the initiative to help Harry to the infirmary for "professional" treatment. Dudley knew that Harry was supposed to have met the first victim when leaving the infirmary. It seemed that due to his presence, the plot had shifted somewhat, but not drastically. The second victim was likely to be today.

The school nurse, Madam Pomfrey, gave Harry a large bottle of "Skele grow," which was notoriously unpleasant to drink. Dudley felt a bitter taste in his mouth just looking at it, so Harry drank it all in one gulp.

The Gryffindors, excited about their victory, flocked to visit Harry, bringing cakes, candies, and pumpkin juice. However, Madam Pomfrey quickly sent them away.

"It's a bit difficult tonight, but try to let him rest," Madam Pomfrey told Dudley, allowing him to stay in the infirmary to care for Harry as a family member.

As night fell and Harry finally fell asleep, Dudley turned his head and saw Dobby hiding outside the door. Dobby's half-visible face looked nervous even as he wanted to enter.

Dudley knew that Dobby had much to discuss with Harry, so he picked up the water glass and walked out, lowering his head to Dobby and saying, "You two talk. I'll get some fresh air."

Dobby gave Dudley a grateful smile, though it was more painful than joyful.

Dudley wandered down the empty corridor, took out the Marauder's Map, and glanced at it. He couldn't remember the name of the second victim, but he knew they wouldn't be in the dormitory at this hour. They were likely wandering alone, much like himself...

As Dudley considered this, he felt a chill run down his spine. He realized who the basilisk was likely targeting.

He looked up suddenly. At the corner of the corridor, near the ceiling, the stone wall bulged as though it were alive. The water pipes embedded in the wall seemed to move and emerge from the gaps in the stone bricks.

A terrifying aura emanated from the water pipe, and a large black shadow appeared within the now-transparent pipe.

"What the heck!" Dudley didn't have time to transform his wrist into a double-barreled shotgun, and the target was still in the magical water pipe, about 15 meters away from him. He couldn't tell if his bullets would break the pipe. Even if it did, he would likely be killed instantly when the basilisk emerged.

He tapped his hat and closed his eyes. The next moment, a pair of orange snake eyes emerged from the water pipe, glaring at Dudley fiercely. Dudley fell to the ground, maintaining a statue-like pose out of sheer fear.

The basilisk slithered past Dudley's head through the pipe, clearly enraged and ready to tear him apart, but it eventually disappeared into the stone wall at the other end.

Dudley felt as though he had fallen into an ice hole, his muscles aching from the cold, and his head felt as though someone had hit him repeatedly with a steel pipe. But he knew he had escaped. The basilisk's gaze hadn't turned him to stone. The double protection of his eyepatch had worked.

Just as he was about to get up, soft footsteps approached from the other end of the corridor. Dudley dared not open his eyes and gradually transformed his right hand into a revolver. He then heard Ginny's cry.

Along with her crying, Ginny mumbled to herself and wrote a few words on the wall next to Dudley in a daze before wandering off.

Dudley was relieved that he hadn't gotten up too early and been spotted by Ginny. She was obviously under the control of Tom Riddle at that moment. If she had seen him unharmed, she would have certainly summoned the basilisk back.

Once she was gone, Dudley quickly got up. His hands and feet were still extremely cold, and he hurried through the corridor and back to the infirmary.

Dobby had already left, and Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were visiting Harry. Harry didn't get much useful information from their conversation. Although Dumbledore had conducted extensive searches of the castle, he still didn't know the location of the Chamber of Secrets or how to open it.

"Dudley, what's wrong? You look really uncomfortable," Harry asked, noticing Dudley's pale face.

Dudley looked at his arm, where the bones were regrowing painfully, and sat down next to Harry.

"You know, Harry, I just realized that you have more courage than I do. Of course... your luck isn't much better than mine," Dudley said, as a 24-year-old battle-hardened warrior. He still found the basilisk terrifying, so he admired the thin boy with glasses in front of him who faced such fear at just 12 years old.

Although Harry didn't fully understand Dudley's sentiment, he replied, "Thank you, Dudley. Thanks for staying with me here!" Dudley knew Harry meant not just being in the infirmary, but also being together at Hogwarts.

"We're family, you little brat!" Dudley said, flicking Harry's forehead playfully.

------

As the saying goes, knowing others is intelligence, but knowing oneself is wisdom. Dudley is a person with great self-awareness. This clear self-understanding provides a solid foundation for his actions. He does not engage in uncertain battles, but once a battle begins, he moves forward with courage.

Dudley was like this, while Lockhart was at the other extreme.

Early in the morning, Ron and Hermione came to visit Harry. Harry shared the information Dobby had brought. Ron insisted that it was Malfoy who had opened the Chamber of Secrets, and that it was the elder Malfoy who had done so decades ago.

With Colin lying in the hospital like a lifeless corpse, the professors were at their wits' end these days. They could only hope that the mandrake in the greenhouse would mature quickly, but no one was certain whether the potion would be effective. After all, there were very few unusual records about snakes.

Students were becoming increasingly suspicious, and rumors were spreading everywhere. Everyone gathered in small groups and dared not act alone. "Talismans" from various cultures were being widely circulated, such as onions, voodoo dolls, and half-broken reptile tails (which might also be amphibian)...

Just after class that day, Dudley met the Harry trio in the hall and greeted them from a distance.

"I heard from Seamus and Dean that the school announced a new event!" Ron looked very excited.

"I hope it's not just about hunting trolls in the Forbidden Forest..." Harry, still recovering from a serious injury, felt that his strength had not yet fully returned.

While the four of them were talking, they reached the bulletin board and saw a large piece of parchment displayed in the center. It had pictures and text announcing: The Duel Club is officially open! Tonight is the first gathering, and all teachers and students of the school are welcome to attend.

Children, who can resist the excitement of a "Duel"? After studying Defense Against the Dark Arts for several years, most people have never had the chance to use it, and everyone was eager to participate.

Ron asked around and returned: "Lockhart thought of it! What a brilliant idea!"

"Trust me, Lockhart can't have any good ideas..." Harry muttered under his breath, receiving a disapproving glare from Hermione.

Although Lockhart's activities were obvious to everyone, the four of them decided to go take a look. Dudley wanted to observe the effects of different offensive and defensive magic to prepare for future battles.

At eight o'clock in the evening, Dudley hurried to the auditorium, which was already packed.

The long dining table in the auditorium was gone, replaced by a glittering golden stage set up along one wall, even grander than Halloween. Hundreds of candles floated under the dark, velvety ceiling, illuminating the stage as bright as day.

Almost all the students had come, jostling with one another. Everyone held their wands and looked excited. Only Dudley carried a quill and notebook.

"Boss Dudley, I didn't expect you to be so... studious!" Philo squeezed in next to Dudley. He was similar to Hermione in having very good grades in all subjects and was also seen as the embodiment of "study" in the eyes of professors. He had only brought his wand today.

"Boss Dudley, do you want me to help you squeeze over to Miss Weasley or Miss Granger?" Philo asked.

"That's enough! I want to watch the demonstration!" Dudley rolled his eyes.

"Boss Dudley, who do you think will teach us how to duel?" Philo was clearly not easily deterred.

"Here~ who else could it be?" Dudley pointed to the stage. Lockhart was jumping on it in a purple robe. He moved through the crowd gracefully, appearing like an international superstar.

"I think Professor Flitwick would be better..." Philo expressed his opinion tactfully.

Lockhart's voice was enthusiastic, and after a "simple" introduction, he announced his assistant for the night—Professor Snape, who was dressed in black robes and had a stern expression.

"Professor Snape told me that he also knows a thing or two about dueling. Although he is far less experienced than me, he generously agreed to help me give a small demonstration before class!" Lockhart grinned. He spoke nonstop: "Don't worry, don't worry, I won't let you little guys be anxious. I will return your Potions teacher to you intact! After all, I have already mastered my dueling magic. You can send and receive freely and with any strength!"

Dudley couldn't understand where Lockhart got his confidence from. If he had chosen Professor Sprout (Herbology) or Professor Kettleburn (Magical Creatures), it would have been more understandable, but picking Snape seemed like nothing more than an insult. He truly didn't know how to describe it.

Despite this, many students in the audience supported Lockhart. Of course, many hoped both of them would lose.

The two of them bowed like medieval knights and then each took ten steps back. The difference was that Snape had a serious face and precise movements, while Lockhart was more theatrical, with many flourishes.

The two made a starting stance similar to "fencing" and shouted "three, two, one" to attack simultaneously.

Some girls even covered their eyes, unsure whether to be afraid that Lockhart would be defeated on the spot or that Snape would be splattered with blood.

The outcome was decided in an instant. Snape cast "Expelliarmus!" at lightning speed, while Lockhart hesitated between using a Stupefy or Accio. He was hit by a red light, and his body flew back, not only leaving the stage but also crashing into the back wall, sliding down and curling up on the floor. His wand flew dozens of meters away and was picked up by a student.

The audience gasped, while the Slytherin students clapped and cheered wildly. Snape was their head of house, so the students were naturally proud.

Regardless of other people's reactions, Dudley quickly noted Snape's stance when casting the spell, the spell's incantation, the pronunciation, the speed of his speech, and other details. He also recorded the characteristics of Snape's gaze and the trajectory of the spell's red light. Dudley knew that Snape was the best at offensive magic in the school, slightly behind only Dumbledore and Flitwick.

There were few opportunities to observe Snape's textbook-level disarming spell at such close range. Dudley had to quickly record the details he observed. He didn't think of himself as a genius with extraordinary talent and a photographic memory; instead, seizing every opportunity to improve was his motto.

"Dursley! Dursley!" Lockhart's voice came from the stage. Somehow, he had managed to recover from the embarrassment and climb onto the stage again. He then suggested that two students come up to try.

Everyone was used to Dudley's "absent-mindedness". Every time a teacher called him, he often needed to be called more than three times before he responded, causing everyone to laugh.

" Weasley twins recommended you to me, come up! I heard you're very talented in duels!" Lockhart said enthusiastically.

Dudley was stunned and glared at George and Fred opposite him. Their expressions had changed drastically. Needless to say, Lockhart had originally intended to pick Harry, but the twins knew Harry's arm had just healed, and having seen him handle a strong opponent, they recommended Dudley instead.

"Come up, don't be shy!" Lockhart smiled broadly, while Malfoy climbed onto the stage, looking eager.

"Hey! Dursley, I heard someone said you're a squib. That can't be true!" Malfoy said loudly. The term "squib" was a grave insult to wizards, but Dudley didn't feel it at all.

"Haha... Since you want to embarrass yourself..." Dudley stuffed his notebook and quill into his pocket and raised his eyebrows.

--------

"Are you sure you want to duel with me?" When Dudley stood on the duel stage, many students realized that Dudley no longer resembled the overweight boy they remembered. Over the past three months, he had grown nearly four centimeters. Intense exercise and dieting had reduced him to 140 pounds. Although he was not thin, wearing a large wizard's robe made him appear taller and more imposing among his peers.

His previously plump face had become more angular, and his once small eyes had grown larger, giving him a somewhat handsome appearance.

Dudley checked his attribute table:

Name: Dudley Dursley (12 years old, human wizard)

Strength: 14 (fitness expert level)

Intelligence: 23 (tactical master level)

Magic: 1 (Near-Squib level)

Agility: 10 (self-care level)

Willpower: 20 (Iron-blooded level)

His strength and agility had improved with training, but his magical ability remained stagnant. This disappointed him somewhat, but he was determined to complete his task of killing the basilisk.

Malfoy swallowed nervously. Despite having faced many defeats at Dudley's hands, he had never actually seen Dudley perform magic. Rumors had circulated that Dudley was a squib.

Lockhart emphasized the importance of etiquette, prompting the two duelists to bow reluctantly before taking ten steps back as the students applauded and cheered.

Dudley was actually quite embarrassed. He didn't want to turn Malfoy into a puddle of goo in front of everyone, but what other option did he have? Should he kneel and beg for mercy?

He was distressed. At worst, he would be humiliated like Lockhart. Even if he could escape the burden of being an idol, he couldn't find a way out of this situation.

"An error in judgment!" Malfoy had already cast his spell when Lockhart shouted "3," and a black cobra, thicker than Dudley's arm and over five meters long, emerged from a burst of black smoke and landed in front of Dudley.

"Ah!" The girls in the front row screamed, their faces pale with fright.

But Dudley was thrilled. He could hardly wait to rush forward and thank Malfoy for the perfect opportunity. As a member of a special operations team, Dudley had received extensive training to handle dangerous creatures, especially snakes. Most of the time, the snakes he encountered were turned into snake soup.

"Malfoy cheated! The countdown isn't over yet!" The Hufflepuff students expressed their dissatisfaction.

Snape's stern face showed a hint of concern, but since Harry was not on stage, he did not feel compelled to intervene.

Lockhart wanted to make a dramatic entrance, but Dudley's actions were too swift. Before Lockhart could react, Dudley had already stepped forward. As the cobra opened its mouth wide, preparing to strike Dudley's left calf, Dudley's right foot kicked the snake hard in the abdomen.

The impact caused the cobra's head to deflect, and its bite missed. Dudley quickly dropped to the ground, his hands gripping the snake's neck like iron, while his thumbs pressed firmly on its head.

As the saying goes, "Strike a snake at its seven inches." This refers to targeting the snake's heart, which, when attacked, causes the snake's muscles to spasm and lose its fighting power.

Dudley stood up and tossed the twenty or thirty-kilogram cobra back toward Malfoy.

Malfoy was petrified. The spell he had cast could not be undone. Despite wearing the Slytherin badge, he was terrified.

Snape drew his wand to address the chaos, but Lockhart was quicker, attempting to showcase his "textbook-level" crisis management skills. With a flick of his wand, the cobra was sent flying into the crowd of students.

Dudley could hardly bear to watch the chaos unfold. The cobra, now disoriented, targeted the unfortunate Justin Finch-Fletchley, who had tripped and was about to be bitten.

"Let him go!" Harry, with a strange expression, made a peculiar hissing sound as he approached the scene. Everyone around him noticed his odd behavior.

At Harry's command, the snake hesitated before Justin, torn between its instincts and predatory nature. Snape seized the opportunity, waving his wand to turn the snake into black smoke, dispersing it.

No one blamed Malfoy for releasing the snake or Lockhart for throwing it into the crowd. Instead, most students found Harry's behavior concerning.

Dudley never understood why people targeted Harry so frequently. He realized that people often create idols only to bring them down. No matter how high they are praised, there is always a desire to see them fall.

Dudley looked up at the ceiling. A few stars shone through the dark sky, like the eyes of the gods. He felt increasingly trapped by an invisible force, compelled to follow the prevailing trends.

That night, Harry stayed up, wrestling with his thoughts. The rumors about him being a descendant of Slytherin and supposedly opening the Chamber of Secrets had spread like wildfire. Hermione's analysis had led him to believe that he might indeed be a descendant of Slytherin, which made him feel like he had betrayed Gryffindor. The guilt was overwhelming.

Dudley lay in bed in the dormitory, feeling equally troubled. It seemed his presence had not altered the plot in any way. Was he really going to wait until the end of the school year and then follow Harry into the Chamber of Secrets? Even if he did go in, would he be separated by the cave collapse like Ron?

Biro snored lightly from the other bed.

Outside, a violent snowstorm raged. By morning, a thick layer of snow covered the lawn outside the window. Although most students were reluctant to go out, Dudley was determined to be the first to leave the dormitory for his morning exercise.

He greeted Professor Sprout from a distance as she headed to the greenhouse to keep the mandrake warm. If he were unfortunately petrified, he hoped the mandrake would mature quickly so that the resulting potion could save him.

Today was not a good day for Harry. After a night of turmoil, rumors of him being a descendant of Slytherin and opening the Chamber of Secrets had been spread, leaving Dudley feeling it was plausible.

Harry had just dismissed Ernie (a Hufflepuff student) who had been creating chaos and ran into Dudley in the corridor.

"Actually, you could choose not to go through with this," Dudley said, observing Harry's haggard face, worn out by the rumors. Novels and movies could never fully capture the psychological toll such pressure takes on a child.

"What?" Harry was slightly surprised but quickly understood Dudley's meaning.

Seeing Harry's resolute expression, Dudley stepped aside. Harry soon came across Justin Finch-Fletchley lying on the cold floor, his face frozen in horror, while Nearly Headless Nick, shrouded in darkness and hovering a few inches above the ground, was also petrified.

-------

If Colin was petrified, everyone was just suspicious and panicked. When Justin was hit, the students completely erupted. No one knew when this attack would end or if they would be the next target.

Although it was said that students selected by Slytherin were all of pure wizarding blood, and the monsters in the secret chamber only attacked Muggle-borns and mixed-blood wizards, Slytherin students did not feel safe because of this.

Dudley figured that Hermione's Polyjuice Potion would be successfully brewed and that they would visit Malfoy's place tonight. However, when he reached the corridor in front of the Hufflepuff dormitory, he was stopped by Harry.

Harry pulled him and ran all the way to Hagrid's hut, which was their secret base. Hagrid treated them as if they were his own children.

"Dudley! Do you know everything?" Harry asked solemnly, but Ron and Hermione clearly did not share his confidence and looked at Dudley with doubtful expressions.

Dudley had long been frustrated by the invisible hand of the plot. Looking into Harry's eyes, his anger surged. He thought, "Enough is enough! I don't believe I can't change anything just because I came to this world!"

Dudley stood up abruptly and said seriously, "I don't know what the consequences will be if I say this, but I've decided to fight! Yes! I predicted everything! I know everything you want to know!"

Ron stood up and asked, "Really? You predicted everything? Do you know the questions for this semester's final exams?"

Hermione hit Ron on the head and asked, "Do you know the location of the Chamber of Secrets?"

Dudley answered, "It's underground, maybe about 100 meters deep. No detection magic can find it."

"Where is the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets?" Harry asked.

"In the girls' bathroom," Dudley said. "Myrtle was killed by a basilisk! If you don't believe me, you can ask Myrtle. She actually knows a lot of things, but people think she's crazy and don't trust her."

"Who opened the Chamber of Secrets?" Ron asked. Hermione gave him an approving look for asking the right question.

"Uh... well..." Dudley hesitated, wondering if Ginny had opened it, as it might upset Ron's fragile emotions.

At that moment, the walkie-talkie in Dudley's hand rang. He quickly answered it and turned up the volume. Fred's panicked voice came through: "Boss Dudley, it's bad! Ginny is missing!"

The four were stunned. The three students were shocked because Ginny, a pure-blood wizard, was attacked. Dudley was shocked because the plot had obviously accelerated due to him revealing key information in advance. The plot had skipped the polyjuice potion, Hermione's attack, the acromantula, and other subplots.

Dudley didn't expect the invisible hand to react so swiftly. It seemed to predict that Dudley would leak information and adjusted the plot accordingly.

When they met with the twins, the twins relayed a lot of information in one breath, summarizing three key points:

First, due to frequent incidents involving students, Dumbledore, Snape, and Professor McGonagall had been urgently summoned back to the Ministry of Magic for investigation and had left Hogwarts;

Second, Lucius Malfoy had taken over the castle on behalf of the board of governors and had ordered that all campus activities be canceled, with students not allowed to enter or exit the dormitories;

Third, Ginny had suddenly disappeared, as if she had evaporated, and there was no trace of her on the Marauder's Map.

There was no more hiding. Dudley told everyone that Ginny had a cursed diary in her possession. Ginny was controlled by that diary and opened the Chamber of Secrets to release the basilisk.

Before anyone could recover from the shock, Percy rushed over and informed them that there were bloody words on the wall in the corridor again.

Everyone went over to see the message written on the wall:

"If you want the girl to live, come to the Chamber of Secrets alone!"

"Whoever took Ginny away wants me to go?" Harry said.

"Nothing can separate us! We will go with you!" Hermione said firmly.

Before Dudley could respond, Lockhart's voice came from behind them: "It seems you're preparing for a grand adventure, but as a professor, I must stop you~"

"Ha, why are you here, Professor Lockhart~" Dudley laughed angrily: "Don't even think about running away. As the person with the most adventure experience in the entire castle, you have to come with us!"

Lockhart was stunned and seemed to want to leave, but Dudley had already drawn his wand and pointed it at him. Harry quickly reacted and also drew his wand, pointing it at Lockhart.

Dudley said, "I don't think you'll refuse me, unless you want me to expose all the trouble you've caused!"

Hermione was confused: "When did this happen? Why are you suddenly targeting Professor Lockhart?"

Dudley replied, "Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts is the most important course, crucial for the safety of all students. He treats this course as a platform for self-promotion and boasting. He needs to face the consequences! Let's go! You take the lead!"

Lockhart's wand was still in his waist. Ron stepped forward, pulled it out, and threw it away. Lockhart, looking at Dudley's fierce expression, swallowed nervously. Dudley treated him like a prisoner as they headed towards the girls' bathroom.

As soon as they arrived, a chubby girl ghost suddenly emerged from a cubicle, emitting a horrifying laugh.

Lockhart was startled, and Hermione looked at him in disbelief.

"Stop laughing! No one is afraid of you," Dudley said impatiently to Myrtle. "The basilisk's eyes can turn even ghosts to stone. If you don't want to end up like Nick, just be normal and tell us what you know!"

Myrtle was taken aback by Dudley's words, then adopted a sad expression and began to complain about her life. Dudley quickly interrupted her: "Tell us, how did you die?"

Myrtle seemed shocked by Dudley's demeanor. She changed her rambling style and briefly explained that after being bullied, she went to the bathroom to cry and saw a pair of large, orange, and terrifying eyes, which made her laugh.

"Tom Riddle...I know him. He was a handsome guy, as handsome as Harry!" Myrtle said.

"Pull him down, you were killed by him," Dudley said. "Tom Riddle was the young Voldemort and the heir of Slytherin. To avoid being killed, he created a Horcrux, and this diary is his first Horcrux. Myrtle's death was necessary for him to make it!"

The amount of information was overwhelming. Lockhart and the Weasley brothers' jaws nearly dropped. Hermione was also stunned, but Harry nodded to Dudley and said, "I believe you!"

"Which faucet is it? Where do those eyes appear?" Dudley asked Myrtle.

Myrtle weakly pointed in a direction, and Dudley quickly walked over to investigate. Sure enough, there was a small snake carved on the side of the faucet.

Harry glanced at Dudley, his understanding clear. He pointed at the faucet and said in Parseltongue, "Open..."

--

In response to Harry's Parseltongue, the set of sinks began to shift, moving apart like building blocks to reveal a large, gaping hole beneath them.

"Do we really just jump in?" Ron asked nervously, staring down into the seemingly bottomless pit.

George and Fred exchanged glances. "We'll go first to check it out!" they offered, but before they could move, Harry pointed at Lockhart and said, "Lockhart! You go down first!"

Lockhart hesitated at the entrance, clearly panicking. Of all those present, Hermione was the only one who still seemed to feel some sympathy for him. He was about to try and impress her when Dudley suddenly stepped forward and nudged him. With a yelp, Lockhart tumbled into the hole, flailing as he fell.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine," Dudley reassured Hermione with a wink.

Lockhart's scream was cut off by a muffled thud, followed by a series of "Ouch, ouch" as he landed.

"Seems safe enough!" Ron, likely driven by his concern for Ginny, finally mustered the courage to jump in after him. Harry and Hermione quickly followed suit.

Dudley stopped the twins from going in next. "More people won't make it safer. You two stay here and guard the entrance. Leave Ginny to us!"

Although eager to join, George and Fred reluctantly agreed. He understood that with the plot already altered, the more people that descended, the more dangerous it might become. The three of them were central to this story, and as such, they had a sort of invisible luck on their side. Others might not be so fortunate.

Taking a deep breath, Dudley jumped into the dark void.

Much like many other secret passages within Hogwarts, a long stone slide awaited them below. Dudley knew this wasn't a typical slide made of stone but was magically constructed. When it came time to leave, the slide would disappear.

However, he soon realized it was different from how it had been described in books or shown in movies. The slide had multiple forks, and before he could adjust his direction, he found himself being carried down a different path from Harry's voice, which he could hear somewhere in the distance.

The slide seemed to stretch on for nearly 500 meters, and darkness enveloped everything. Finally, Dudley felt his body freefall before he landed heavily on something soft but unsettling. The impact jarred his legs and backside.

Pulling out his searchlight, Dudley illuminated the cavern. It appeared to be a natural cave that had been artificially expanded. The ground was mostly flat, but large holes dotted the surroundings, making the place seem like an intricate underground kingdom.

He had landed on a pile of bones and dried refuse, suggesting that this place had once been home to some large creature.

Dudley swallowed nervously and got to his feet. He thought he could hear noises, likely from Harry and the others who had landed somewhere else. He started running toward the sound.

As he approached the entrance to another cave, a dark shadow suddenly lunged at him. Quick to react, Dudley dodged just in time. The thing missed and tumbled forward.

He shone his light on it, revealing a massive blind salamander, over three meters long, with black scales marked by bright red lines. The creature was a bizarre and wild sight, its eyes nearly vestigial but its mouth filled with sharp, foul-smelling teeth that indicated it wasn't a herbivore.

"Great, just my luck!" Dudley cursed internally.

It seemed the plot had adjusted, increasing the difficulty of navigating the Chamber of Secrets. Of course, the Chamber as described in the original story had its inconsistencies—how did a basilisk that long survive without anything to eat? There were likely many large creatures inhabiting these underground caves.

In the original story, the plot favored Harry and Ron by collapsing part of the cave, preventing them from encountering other dangerous creatures. But Dudley wasn't afforded the same protection.

"Bang!" Dudley's right hand transformed into a revolver. As the giant salamander charged at him again, he fired a bullet directly into its gaping maw.

"Thunderstorm bullet!"

As the bullet left the barrel, it was enveloped in a ball of blue electricity and shot straight into the salamander's belly. Dudley rolled to the side just as an explosion rocked the cavern, sending pieces of the salamander flying.

"Let's hope there aren't more of those things..." Dudley muttered, shining his light into the darkness. What he saw made his heart sink—there were no stones protruding from the walls of the black hole, only the shiny black-and-red scales of dozens, maybe hundreds, of giant salamanders. The sound of the explosion had clearly alerted them, and they were now moving toward him.

"Just perfect!" Dudley cursed aloud and started to run, but suddenly someone appeared in front of him, nearly colliding with him.

"Reducto!" a clear female voice called out, and the rocks above the black hole exploded, sealing the passage with debris.

"Hermione?!" Dudley quickly recognized her. Despite her muddy clothes and disheveled hair, there was no mistaking her.

"Dudley," Hermione breathed, clearly relieved to see him. She hurried to his side. "It's dangerous here. We need to find Harry and Ron, quickly!"

They carefully navigated through the cave, checking each path. Dudley guessed, "This might be a safeguard Salazar Slytherin set up to prevent non pure-bloods from following the heir into the Chamber. It explains why the slide split into different paths."

"So, where exactly are we now?" Hermione asked, moving closer to Dudley, her small hand clutching the edge of his robe. Despite her Gryffindor bravery, she was still only a 12-year-old girl.

"This could be the basilisk's hunting ground... even a basilisk needs to eat, right? We can't be far from the Chamber itself," Dudley replied.

After walking for several dozen meters, Dudley sensed the change in air currents. He shook his head and turned back with Hermione in tow. "Not this way. There's no scent of blood or any airflow—it's a dead end."

Though Hermione was brilliant and well-read, she was out of her depth in survival situations. She had no choice but to follow Dudley's lead.

Despite their anxiety, they spent nearly 10 minutes searching before Dudley finally found the correct path, and Hermione quickly followed.

After walking another 100 meters, they arrived at a massive grotto, most of which was taken up by a still, deep pool of water.

"Did we take a wrong turn again?" Hermione's face had paled, realizing that her knowledge of spells and ancient lore was useless here.

"No, this is the right place!" Dudley assured her, pointing to the pool. "This water connects to the Black Lake and also leads to the Chamber of Secrets, but getting there won't be easy..."

Hermione looked at Dudley, confused. He pointed at the water. Slowly, a tentacle as thick as Dudley's thigh emerged from the pool, silently gliding across the surface.

--

In fact, there was no need to wait for the tentacle to stretch out; Dudley's ordnance manual had already issued another reminder:

[Optional mission - Revenant Hunter (repeatable): Hunt the Giant Squid, no time limit.]

[Mission reward: Soul power +20, delicious octopus skewers (excellent) *3]

"Dudley... Hagrid said that the Giant Squid has a docile character..." Hermione swallowed nervously.

Dudley pointed to the other end of the pool, where several sets of decaying human bones lay.

"Yes, the Giant Squid has a docile personality. It grew so big by eating water plants..." Dudley rolled his eyes and added, "In Hagrid's eyes, the Acromantulas all have docile personalities too..."

When Hermione seemed unable to bear it any longer, there was a "rustling" sound behind her. She turned to see the giant blind salamanders prying open the gravel, crawling out of the large hole one by one, and advancing toward them.

With danger both in front and behind, Dudley said to Hermione, "Cover me!"

Hermione was stunned, watching wide-eyed as Dudley inserted his wand into his waist, and his entire arm transformed into a machine. She was shocked on the spot; this was a form of magic she had never seen before.

Dudley didn't attack the Giant Squid directly but aimed his gun at the first giant blind salamander that crawled over and shot it in the head.

The pellets fired from the shotgun were like a burst of iron rain, instantly blowing off half of the giant blind salamander's head, with blue blood splattering all over the floor. Dudley stepped forward, grabbed the salamander's front legs, and dragged it to the shore.

Hermione swallowed hard. The bloody scene was shocking, but wizards are always more adaptable than Muggle children. Diagon Alley could sell mummies and zombie claws directly. She quickly recovered and cast a Petrification Spell at the second giant blind salamander crawling over.

Looking back, she happened to see the Giant Squid, which had smelled the blood, swim to the shore and extend its long tentacles to drag the salamander's body into the water.

Dudley did not share Hagrid's love for magical creatures, and he knew the power of his firearms would be greatly reduced underwater. However, the squid's limbs sticking out of the water were not so lucky. He aimed mercilessly at the base of the squid's tentacles and fired two shots.

The shotgun, with +2 enchantment, blasted the Giant Squid, sending pieces of flesh flying and mucus splashing everywhere. Dudley had never known whether a squid could scream, but now he heard it—a sound like a strong wind breaking through the sky, accompanied by the sharp screech of glass, making everyone's scalp tingle.

The Giant Squid refused to give up despite its injuries. Seven or eight tentacles, each more than ten meters long, stretched out from the shore. The mouthpart in the middle, larger than the mouth of a well, revealed layers of fangs, determined to tear the human who had hurt it into pieces.

Dudley, however, had already fired and retreated. His double-barreled shotgun could only be loaded with two bullets at a time, and each +2 enchanted bullet cost more than a dozen Galleons. When fired, it made his heart ache.

With a thought, the double-barreled shotgun in his hand transformed into a revolver. He aimed at the squid's mouthparts and fired.

On the other side, Hermione had already cast two Petrification Spells and two Stun Spells on the giant blind salamanders crawling over. She was only a 12-year-old child, and even if she was extremely talented, her magic power was nearly depleted. Her mouth felt dry and parched.

"Get back to me!" Dudley shouted to her. Hermione didn't dare to delay and hurriedly hid behind Dudley. With his broad shoulders and strong body, Dudley protected her as they kept retreating until they reached the corner of the grotto.

Dudley's Colt Viper revolver was powerful, but dealing with a Giant Squid the size of a car was a different challenge. The pistol's bullet penetration and destructive surface weren't enough, even though it left scars on the squid's mouthparts, causing it to scream in pain. It wasn't enough to kill it.

The Giant Squid struggled to climb ashore, its nearly ten-meter-long tentacles desperately reaching in Dudley's direction. The ring-shaped suction cups on the tentacles were covered with fine teeth. Even if it didn't stuff you into its mouth, just being held by those tentacles could tear out a chunk of flesh—a terrifying thought.

"Use the Petrification Spell to petrify its tentacles, and we can get around it!" Hermione suggested from behind Dudley.

"Well, to tell you the truth, that's the only spell I know..." Dudley admitted, slightly embarrassed.

As he spoke, he fired again, and two of the squid's tentacles drooped down, likely due to nerve damage. But the squid's mouthparts suddenly contracted, as if it took a deep breath and held it.

"No! It's going to spray ink!" Dudley realized, pulling Hermione towards the corner. But they still couldn't avoid the squid's attack range.

Just as Dudley was about to take the risk of charging forward and firing at close range, a giant blind salamander crawled over. Perhaps it couldn't see well—it actually bit one of the squid's tentacles nearby.

"God help me!" Dudley was overjoyed. The squid's large round eyes were on either side of the back of its head, meaning it couldn't see Dudley from its angle. But it could see the giant blind salamander and tentacle. Furious, it lashed out, smashing the salamander's head into a bloody pulp.

Taking advantage of the squid's diverted attention, Dudley suddenly rushed forward, rolled on the spot, and shone the strong light of his searchlight directly into the squid's large eye.

The squid's pupils shrank rapidly, and Dudley took the opportunity to cover the distance in three quick steps. His right arm morphed into a double-barreled shotgun.

"Thunderstorm Shell!"

This was the first time Dudley had fired a Thunderstorm Shell with a double-barreled shotgun, his most powerful attack yet. The moment the +2 enchanted bullet left the barrel, it transformed into a ball of blue light the size of a football, smashing hard into the Giant Squid's eye. Then, with a deafening explosion, the Thunderstorm Shell detonated on the squid's head like a high-explosive grenade.

A massive bloody hole was blown out of the Giant Squid's head, a sight too gruesome to behold. Yet, the beast wasn't dead but was now terrified. It no longer waved its tentacles at Dudley but desperately retreated towards the pool.

"Don't let it go back into the water!" Dudley yelled urgently. Hermione, having caught her breath, stepped forward and pointed her wand. A blue-white magic beam shot into the shallow water next to the squid, instantly freezing a large area into solid ice.

Dudley gave Hermione a thumbs-up, rushed forward, and fired another shot. Finally, he received a prompt from the system:

[Successfully killed the adult Giant Squid and completed The Revenant (repeatable)]

[Received soul power +20, delicious octopus skewers (excellent) *3]

[Delicious octopus skewers (excellent): Eating them can fully restore physical strength and restore 50% of magic power. When magic power is below 5, the first time you eat them, magic power +2.]

Dudley almost shed tears; the ability to directly increase his magic power by two points was a treasure he had only dreamed of.

"Don't zone out, those lizards are coming back!" Hermione shouted.

Dudley glanced at the squid's carcass. He really wanted to cut off a piece to try later, but more and more giant blind salamanders were crawling over, and he was running low on ammunition. This was clearly not a place to linger.

He gritted his teeth and pulled Hermione into the puddle.

Dudley wasn't too worried about other monsters in the water; the depth wasn't too great. With the ferocious Giant Squid here, no other beasts would dare approach. He had just exploited the squid's weakness, succeeding only by luring it to the shore. If he were in the Black Lake, even with two extra boosts of courage, he wouldn't dare to jump in and fight the squid.

The searchlight was indeed waterproof. Dudley quickly found the waterway, took a deep breath, and dove underwater with Hermione.

Dudley was a good swimmer, but the waterway was a bit long. He was a little concerned about Hermione. When he looked back, he saw her face red, struggling to hold on. Thankfully, she tightened her grip on Dudley's clothes, managing to conserve some energy by relying on Dudley's swimming strength.

After swimming nearly 150 meters, they finally emerged from the water channel. Hermione was almost suffocating. Dudley quickly retracted the searchlight, put an arm around Hermione's waist, and helped her swim upwards. For a moment, Dudley felt like he was in another world.

"Ahem!" Hermione coughed sharply, taking a deep breath of air. However, instead of feeling relief, she silently vowed to master the " Bubble head Charm" as soon as they returned.

"Ron! Get out of the way!"

Before Dudley could take in their new surroundings, he heard Harry's voice not far away.

--------

Dudley and Hermione had spent half an hour in the cave before, and during that time, Harry was busy dealing with Lockhart, who had grabbed Ron's broken wand and accidentally cast the Obliviate charm on himself. Now, Harry was anxiously waiting amid the pile of rocks.

Harry's side was anything but calm. They were attacked by bugs slightly smaller than Hagrid's teeth. Ron, too nervous to cast spells, had no choice but to hide under Harry's protection.

Harry was overjoyed to see Dudley and Hermione emerge from the water; he had been worried sick about them.

But Harry froze when he noticed the revolver in Dudley's hand.

Dudley glanced around and saw at least a dozen large black bugs. He tossed his wand to Ron and said, "Here, take it! Your wand's mission is complete!"

Ron caught it, looking puzzled. He didn't understand what Dudley meant by the wand's mission, but he was relieved to finally be rid of the old, broken wand that his older brother Bill had passed down. While Bill's wand had seen better days, Dudley's was brand new, crafted from dense black walnut wood, and it felt great in Ron's hand.

Dudley pulled out a long skewer, handed it to Hermione, and almost commanded, "Eat it!"

There were three or four rings of octopus and some tentacles on the skewer, along with green peppers, potatoes, and onions, sprinkled with unfamiliar seasonings. The aroma was so enticing that Hermione, who usually disliked octopus, suddenly found herself ravenous.

Seeing Harry and Ron eyeing the skewer greedily, Dudley didn't bother to explain. He turned and approached the bugs. Each time the revolver fired, a bug's head exploded.

"Did you know your cousin was this fierce?" Ron asked Harry, his voice trembling.

"I'm just glad I didn't use magic to quadruple his backside..." Harry muttered, following Dudley's lead.

Although Harry and Ron were only second years, as central figures in the magical world, their spells always seemed to have a critical hit rate, especially Harry. Perhaps Dudley's presence made Harry feel even more competitive. The three of them tore through the group of insects, leaving only a few survivors scurrying away.

Lockhart, still trapped among the rocks, clapped and cheered, "Marvelous, simply marvelous..."

Dudley turned back to see Hermione finishing the octopus skewer in just three bites, her mouth gleaming with oil and her face beaming with satisfaction.

"I've never had such delicious food! The house-elves at Hogwarts can't cook this well!" Hermione exclaimed. "And... it's amazing; I feel so energized!"

Dudley produced two more skewers. Harry and Ron, both exhausted, eagerly took them. The basilisk had yet to appear, and they needed to regain their strength quickly.

"Why do you and Hermione get two, while Harry and I have to share?" Ron grumbled.

"Then go eat the bugs if you're still hungry," Dudley retorted, stuffing another octopus tentacle into his mouth. He was joking; the food he provided was high-end, costing more than 100 Galleons. Sharing it with them was already generous.

"Acquired special effects from high-quality food. Host's magical power +2," a voice echoed in Dudley's mind. The timing was perfect. When Dudley checked his status, it showed:

Magic: 3 (Street Performer Level)

Well, at least the system was thorough. The "street performer" rating suggested his magic was only good enough for cheap tricks on the sidewalk.

But it was progress. Dudley felt confident that first-year spells would now be within his grasp, though he needed to focus on surviving the imminent basilisk encounter.

Just then, Harry clutched his head, wincing in pain.

Ron and Hermione rushed to his side, but Harry pointed in a direction and said, "Over there, something's calling me!"

Dudley swallowed hard; the easy part was over. The boss fight was about to begin, and they would face the real basilisk.

Following Harry, they traversed a long stone passage, which suddenly opened up into a grand hall, no smaller than the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Thick stone pillars lined the hall, each entwined with giant snake sculptures, creating a scene both awe-inspiring and eerie.

At the far end stood a majestic statue with a human face, long flowing beard, a stern expression, and solemn eyes.

"That's the statue of Salazar Slytherin! This is the Chamber of Secrets!" Hermione whispered.

"There's someone over there!" Ron pointed toward the hall's depths, where someone lay on a stone platform. The three of them hurried over, while Dudley ducked behind a large pillar, his right arm transforming into a double-barreled shotgun.

According to the original story, Tom Riddle's memory would release the basilisk after confronting Harry. During Harry's escape, Fawkes would swoop in with the Sorting Hat and blind the basilisk.

That was the protagonist's luck—Harry's loyalty to Dumbledore allowed Dumbledore to sense his location and send Fawkes. But it all seemed too convenient. Fawkes, who lived in the castle, never noticed the basilisk moving freely?

Despite his complaints, Dudley hoped Fawkes would show up soon and peck out the basilisk's eyes. That would be his best chance to attack.

The three didn't notice Dudley lagging behind. They found Ginny unconscious on the stone platform and hurried to check on her. Suddenly, a light flashed from the diary lying on the ground, and a tall, handsome man stepped out. He wore an old Hogwarts uniform with the Slytherin crest on his chest.

Because Dudley had hastened the plot, this was the first meeting between Harry and the memory of Tom Riddle. However, as Harry questioned him, the memory quickly revealed his true intentions, confirming Dudley's "prophecy." Myrtle was the first victim, the key to creating his Horcrux. Though he had initially framed Hagrid, today he aimed to pin the blame on Harry.

During this confrontation, the memory took the opportunity to curse Dumbledore, which infuriated Harry, who loudly declared his trust and loyalty to the headmaster.

Hermione, seething with anger, was the first to act, casting a "Disarming Charm" at the memory. But Riddle merely sneered and deflected it with ease. Even at 16, Voldemort was far beyond Hermione's level.

"I won't kill you with my own hands because that would be too merciful for a Mudblood!" Riddle's voice trembled with excitement as he imagined Hermione being torn to shreds. He laughed wildly and continued, "Allow me to introduce you to Salazar Slytherin's pet! A Mudblood's worst nightmare!"

He hissed in Parseltongue at the statue of Slytherin, summoning the basilisk.

"Run! Don't look into the basilisk's eyes!" Harry yelled, grabbing Ron and Hermione as they fled before the basilisk could emerge. Meanwhile, Riddle crossed his arms, enjoying the thrill of the hunt—a pleasure he had been denied for fifty years. His smile widened as the basilisk, more than a meter thick, slithered out of the statue's mouth.

Dudley could hear the basilisk's hissing and the sound of its massive body dragging across the stone floor, but he didn't dare to peek out. He silently counted the seconds, praying that Fawkes would arrive on time.

If the basilisk's gaze could kill or petrify, how had Salazar Slytherin and Tom Riddle survived? Dudley speculated that the deadly gaze was an active ability, only lethal when the basilisk intended it to be. But he wasn't willing to take that risk.

The three rushed past Dudley, who remained hidden behind the pillar. A clear bird song echoed through the hall. Dudley glanced back to see a large red bird with long tail feathers flying out from a cave above the hall, clutching an old, tattered Sorting Hat in its talons.

"Fawkes!" Harry recognized the bird immediately and shouted in surprise. He hoped that Dumbledore might be nearby.

But Fawkes merely dropped the Sorting Hat in front of Harry and then landed on the ground.

Dudley was confused. Shouldn't Fawkes be pecking out the basilisk's eyes right now? But what happened next puzzled him even more: Fawkes' entire body ignited in flames.

"Wtf! Is self-immolation really the right move at a time like this?"

---

Even if Dudley tried, he would never have guessed that the invisible hand controlling his fate was playing such a cruel joke on him. He had originally assumed that he and Hermione would be sent to a different cave, perhaps facing a giant blind newt or a giant squid to increase the difficulty. But it seemed that was just an appetizer. Fawkes setting himself on fire before Dudley's eyes was the ultimate mockery.

In the original plot, Harry would have been summoned to Dumbledore's office in a few days, just in time to witness Fawkes' rebirth. However, Dudley had advanced the plot, causing Fawkes to be reborn at this moment. Even if it had been just a few minutes later, Dudley wouldn't have had time to react.

Without Fawkes , how could a few second-year students possibly be a match for the basilisk?

Dudley was usually cautious and calm, but at this moment, there was no time to think twice. He covered his eyes with a blindfold, listening to the sound of the basilisk approaching, and tried to judge its location. He had practiced this kind of listening and positioning for months, and the burning phoenix would undoubtedly attract the basilisk's attention. This was his only chance.

Dudley suddenly darted out from behind a stone pillar. The "hissing" sound made by the basilisk allowed him to roughly gauge its position. The distance was about eight to ten meters—perfect for his shotgun. Without hesitation, he raised his weapon and fired.

The black-scaled basilisk had indeed been drawn to the burning phoenix lying nearby. It instinctively cast a deathly gaze at Fawkes, but the phoenix remained unaffected. It was the first time the basilisk had encountered such a creature, and it was momentarily curious. But in the next second, the +2-enchanted shotgun sprayed dozens of steel balls in a 10-degree fan shape, covering the basilisk's head.

It was a blind shot from such a distance, and less than a quarter of the pellets hit the basilisk's head. Though lucky enough to lodge a pellet in the corner of its eye, it did little more than cause the creature some pain—it wasn't enough to blind it.

Dudley hadn't expected to succeed with that shot. The basilisk, now enraged, opened its bloody jaws and charged at him. This was what Dudley wanted. The roar allowed him to pinpoint its position more accurately, and he fired a second, more powerful shot.

"Thunderstorm bomb!"

The enchanted shotgun blast, enhanced by its thunderous power and demon-breaking effect, exploded right in front of the basilisk's mouth, sending steel pellets crashing into its nose and mouth.

As soon as Dudley fired, he rolled to the side. The basilisk was so massive that, even after being shot, it could still crush him if it fell on him due to its inertia.

He scrambled to his feet, wondering if the basilisk had been killed by the blast when Hermione's voice cut through the air: "Dudley, run!"

At the same time, the basilisk let out an even more furious roar. For hundreds of years, it had been invincible in this underground world, turning every creature it encountered into its prey. It had never suffered such violent trauma, and the pain drove it mad. The massive beast charged at Dudley with terrifying speed.

Dudley didn't dare remove his blindfold, but he could already feel the bone-chilling cold of the basilisk's gaze. He didn't waste a second and bolted.

"Stupefy!" Hermione's brave cry echoed from the other side as she cast a stunning spell on the basilisk. But Ron's scream quickly followed: "Hermione!"

Though Hermione hadn't looked directly at the basilisk, she caught a glimpse of its orange eyes reflected on the smooth stone floor as she cast the spell. Her body stiffened, and she collapsed to the ground before she could even scream.

"I'll fight you—" Ron yelled, but before he could finish, he was struck by a spell, his body going rigid as he fell near Hermione.

Tom Riddle laughed maniacally, "Don't interfere with the basilisk's hunt, red-haired boy!"

Dudley cursed the plot in his mind. In the original story, the memory stood by, watching as Harry killed the basilisk. But now, it seemed to be punishing Dudley for changing the plot, causing more people to enter the Chamber and forcing the memory to act sooner.

He removed his blindfold and ran with his back to the basilisk, weaving around the stone pillars to create obstacles for the creature.

"Dudley! Over here!" Harry's voice called from nearby. Without a second thought, Dudley sprinted toward him.

If there was one thing Dudley could credit to his morning exercise routine over the past six months, it was his speed. He was nearly as fast as a sprinter. Even Tom Riddle's curse couldn't catch him, partly because the distance was too great for the spell to be accurate.

Harry waved Dudley into a large tunnel that resembled a city sewer with many branching paths.

As they ran, Harry shouted, "We've got to hide!"

Dudley replied, "No, you have to go back! Get Gryffindor's sword from the Sorting Hat! It's the only thing that can hurt the basilisk!"

Harry hesitated but chose to believe Dudley. He nodded firmly and veered off at the next intersection.

Dudley knew this route should circle back to the hall. His job was to keep the basilisk occupied and buy Harry time.

"Come and get me, you big worm!" Dudley shouted, covering his eyes as he swapped his shotgun for a revolver. He turned and fired two quick shots. The basilisk was less than 20 meters away, but its massive size made it difficult to navigate the narrow stone walls, preventing it from catching up.

Dudley didn't care if his shots landed. He had little faith in the revolver's power, but as long as he could keep the basilisk's attention, it was a success.

He ran with all his might through the dimly lit tunnel, praying that no other creatures—like a blind newt or an acromantula—would appear to trip him up.

He kept his bearings, making a wide loop and turning in the same direction as Harry when he saw a fork in the path.

This was a gamble. If he chose the right turn, he might survive a little longer. If he chose wrong, he would die instantly.

The first turn was long, and Dudley silently cheered, "Perfect!"

The second turn was a sharp 90 degrees. If he was right, he would likely make it back to the hall, and by now, Harry should have the Sword of Gryffindor.

But before he had run 100 meters, Dudley was horrified to see the tunnel ahead narrowing, as if it had experienced a landslide. There was only a narrow gap at the top, too small for even a much thinner person to squeeze through.

Dudley cursed and ran to the end of the path, punching the solid rock in frustration.

The rumbling behind him told him that the basilisk had caught up, now less than 30 meters away.

He stared at the cold stone, breathing heavily, his mind racing.

"Am I really going to die here?" Dudley thought.

It wasn't that he lacked the will to fight, but the basilisk was no ordinary beast. It was a bloodthirsty monster born of dark magic, its power far surpassing that of any natural creature its size. Its thick black scales could withstand most attacks, and a direct gaze from its eyes would kill instantly, even a reflected glance could turn one to stone.

If Dudley turned around, he knew the basilisk wouldn't need to bite him. Just the sight of those glowing orange eyes in the darkness would drain his soul, destroy his mind, and freeze his heart in an instant, turning him into a lifeless husk.

These few seconds stretched on endlessly. Dudley found himself recalling memories from his past life and Dudley's childhood. He remembered being held in Vernon's arms as a child, trying to feed him pasta, only for him to spit the sauce angrily into Vernon's face.

Dudley suddenly laughed. His life should have ended months ago in a skydiving accident. If it had, where would he have gone? Were there souls in past lives? Would he have become a ghost like Nearly Headless Nick?

At least he had lived more than four months in this new world, experiencing wonders beyond his imagination. He thought of Nissa and Ayame Abe. Their encounters had been fleeting, and no real story had a chance to unfold. After his death, would they remember the chubby boy who had crossed their paths?

Dudley realized the basilisk was now less than ten meters away. He felt that if he turned around, he would face death. At least, in his final moments, he would feel no fear.

But just then, a bright red flame illuminated the narrow gap above, and something fiery red burst through.

Fawkes had been reborn.

___