Chapter -40 I'm going to teach him a lesson.

Chapter -40.

The little showdown between Dudley and Malfoy on the Hogwarts Express had already become quite the buzz among the Slytherins. You know how Slytherins are—they're all about looking out for themselves and making sure they come out on top.

"That big oaf actually got sorted into Slytherin. Just wait until we get back to the common room; he'll pay for this!" Malfoy exclaimed, his cheeks flushed with excitement.

He was practically bouncing in his seat, and Crabbe and Goyle were right there with him, cracking their knuckles in anticipation. They had let their guard down on the train, but they were ready to make up for it now.

"Out of sight, out of mind," they thought.

The Slytherin students exchanged knowing glances, and it was clear they were all on the same page. The moment the Sorting Hat announced the results, Malfoy had already started plotting with his fellow Slytherins.

Meanwhile, the only ones really worried about Dudley were probably Hermione and Harry, who kept sneaking glances at him from across the room. But there wasn't much they could do.

Their concerns were pretty different, though. Hermione had heard that Slytherin was the worst house, filled with troublemakers, and she was worried Dudley might get bullied or led astray. Harry, on the other hand, was more concerned that Dudley might end up throwing punches at the Slytherins and getting into trouble with the school. He figured Dudley wouldn't be the one getting bullied; he'd probably be the one doing the bullying!

Dumbledore stood up, beaming at the young wizards below him, arms wide open as if to give everyone a big hug.

"Welcome to Hogwarts!"

"Before we dive into the feast, I just want to share a few words: 'Fool! Crybaby! Scum! Twist!' Thank you, everyone!"

With that, he sat back down, leaving the students looking at each other in confusion. But just as his words faded, a feast of delicious food appeared on the tables.

Honestly, when you're hungry, anything tastes amazing, and the Hogwarts kitchen is way better than most restaurants in London!

Dudley, who had been starving, didn't care about the surprised looks from the Slytherin students around him. He dove right into the nearest food, his hunger taking over.

He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

As he munched away, he heard the occasional +1 system notification in his ear, which only made him eat even more enthusiastically. The food at Hogwarts was something special, and Dudley had sensed that even on the train.

Is this what they call food magic?

"Look at that big oaf! He eats like a barbarian—no grace at all, and zero table manners!"

Whispers started to spread among the younger students.

"I can't believe the Sorting Hat put him in Slytherin; he's so crude and doesn't have a single Slytherin quality!"

"I should tell my dad to do something about this and get him sorted into Gryffindor or Hufflepuff; that would be perfect for someone like him!"

Most of the chatter came from first and second years, while the older students just watched with cold expressions.

Dudley, having practiced Ripple energy for years, had sharper senses than most wizards, so he could hear their whispers. But he just kept eating, unfazed.

"Why should I, Dudley Dursley, have to explain myself to anyone?"

Besides, food is meant to be enjoyed however you like it! Those so-called table manners were just a waste of time. To him, appreciating food and not wasting it was the best kind of etiquette.

So, Dudley polished off a huge amount of food from the Slytherin table. "Wow, how much did he actually eat?"

By the end of his first day at Hogwarts, Dudley had earned the playful nickname of "Slytherin's Beggar."

But while everyone was focused on how Dudley was eating, no one noticed that he hadn't gotten a single speck of food on his face or hands.

This showed he wasn't just being messy; he was practicing. For Dudley, eating was also a form of training. Just like he wouldn't waste food, he wouldn't waste a moment of his time—every second was valuable.

Dudley wasn't just mindlessly munching; he was also reflecting on his conversation with the Sorting Hat.

The Hat's message was pretty clear: Slytherin's will has chosen you; you're the chosen one.

Did it really mean he should just take that at face value? Dudley raised an eyebrow at that. He knew he was a Muggle wizard, and Slytherin wasn't exactly fond of Muggle wizards, so he was only half convinced by the Sorting Hat's words.

Plus, he remembered what Xun Ge'er once said: "Never trust anything that can think for itself unless you can see where it keeps its brain." There just wasn't enough information to figure it all out right now.

It was also possible that the Sorting Hat just had bad taste, but that was a long shot. Dudley wasn't being overly cautious; he was just being smart.

After the Hagrid incident, Dudley knew he had to be careful. He wasn't a wizard in the traditional sense, and from a pessimistic viewpoint, he wasn't sure he could learn magic in this world.

'Power, Money, Authority'

Dudley silently jotted down three words in his mind: power means strength, money means resources, and authority means influence. These were his goals for navigating the magical world; he couldn't afford to lack any of them.

If Dudley were a real wizard, some of his traits would actually fit right in with Slytherin House.

"I think everyone is full now, so I'd like to share a few more important points," Dumbledore said, noticing everyone had enjoyed their meal. "First, first-year students, please remember that the Forbidden Forest outside the castle is strictly off-limits. And some of you upperclassmen should keep this in mind too."

He shot a glance at the Gryffindor table. When it comes to breaking rules, people often think of Gryffindor, but Dudley, who knew the stories of the four founders, understood that it wasn't just them; Slytherin had its fair share of rule-breakers too. After all, how else could these two houses be such good friends?

Dudley had his eye on the Forbidden Forest; it was a treasure trove of potion ingredients, and best of all, it was free!

"Second, Mr. Filch, our caretaker, asked me to remind everyone not to cast spells in the corridors during breaks. Third, tryouts for the Quidditch team will be happening in the second week of this term. If you're interested in joining the house team, please reach out to Madam Hooch."

"Fourth, and this is super important: if you don't want to encounter any accidents or have a painful experience, please stay away from the corridor on the right side of the fourth floor."

"Finally, before everyone heads off to bed, let's all sing the school song together!"

With some off-key notes coming from Gryffindor, Dudley's first meal at Hogwarts came to a close.

"First years, follow me!"

Tl/N: If you want to read more [upto Ten chapters] while supporting me, you can join me on patreon.com/EmptyThoughts ;Thanks.

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Note : Guys, some power stones will be really helpful.

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Upcoming chapters :-

41. Oops, offended a Malfoy.

42. Bully, Dudley dursley?

43. Beating them left and right!