I am Harry Potter's Cousin, Big D

"One: Don't go to school on an empty stomach."

"Two: Dry your clothes when the weather is good."

"Three: Be careful of traffic when crossing the road."

"Four: Don't rely on the strength of others."

"Five: Don't play on the ground barefoot."

These five sentences, five simple slogans, were shouted from Malfoy's mouth, repeated over and over again as he ran, his voice growing hoarser with each lap.

At first listen, the five sentences felt rather childish, but in reality, they hid deeper meanings. "Don't go to school on an empty stomach" was a reminder to be fully prepared before undertaking any task. "Dry your clothes when the weather is good" was about seizing opportunities and developing one's skills to their fullest. "Be careful of traffic" was a lesson in paying attention to every detail. "Don't rely on the strength of others" was about self-reliance and the satisfaction of personal accomplishment. And "Don't play on the ground barefoot" was a caution to always have a backup plan and to protect oneself. They were the Five Great Oaths of Ultraman, a set of principles Dudley held dear.

As Malfoy ran, he was just shouting reflexively; his brain had already started to become blurry and unable to concentrate by the second lap. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, his cheeks were flushed, his throat felt like it was on fire, his body was as hot as a furnace, and his feet felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead. After finishing the second lap, he felt that every step he took, even every breath he drew, was an immense, agonizing effort. His body seemed to have reached its absolute limit.

However, whenever he felt he was about to collapse, a silver spoon would fall from the sky and hit the top of his head with precise, stinging accuracy. Pain was Malfoy's first reaction, but within that pain was a trace of electric-like comfort, a sunshine-like warmth that miraculously allowed him to persevere. Once, inadvertently glancing back, Malfoy thought he saw a faint, golden light emanating from Dudley's hand.

Magic? Malfoy didn't know what it was. At this moment, he had only one goal in mind: complete the training.

When Malfoy finally finished the third lap, Dudley stopped him just as he was about to start a fourth. "Today's amount is completed," Dudley said, "although it's a bit later than I expected." From seven to ten o'clock, it had taken a full three hours. This was with Dudley's supervision; without him, it would have taken more than three times as long.

Malfoy's consciousness was pulled back to reality, and he gradually sobered up. Completed? Me? His eyes widened, an expression of utter disbelief on his slightly flushed, pale face.

"Congratulations on persevering," Dudley praised him without reservation. "You did very well, more persistent than I imagined."

Hearing Dudley's words, Malfoy finally confirmed that he had truly completed it. At that moment, a warm feeling spread throughout his body, a sense of sublimation, of having conquered himself. I did it! By myself!

As the only son of the Malfoy family, he had been doted on his entire life. He had never set any real goals for himself, nor had he ever worked hard to achieve them. He had never experienced this feeling before, the feeling of breaking through his own limits. Although he was exhausted, it felt... pretty good. This was the charm of exercising, of pushing one's muscles to their breaking point and beyond.

"This potion can relieve your muscle fatigue. Drink it." Dudley took a bottle of potion from his pocket and handed it to Malfoy, who now had a conditioned reflex of obedience towards him. He took the potion and drank it without thinking. Immediately, the soreness in his limbs eased considerably, replaced by a warm, comfortable feeling. It was an awesome sensation. He suddenly felt that exercising with Dudley was quite nice. His feelings for his new 'mentor' were no longer just a simple admiration for strength; there was also a hint of what could only be described as Stockholm Syndrome.

"Go back and rest," Dudley said. "Tomorrow, come a little earlier. Six o'clock. Remember not to be late. Oh, and tomorrow there might be one more person, but... he won't be exercising." He was talking about Harry, who basically arrived on time every day to watch him work out. He had invited Harry to join him before but had been refused. Is watching others work out more interesting than working out oneself? Dudley wondered. He waved his hand, signaling Malfoy could leave.

"I'll be here," Malfoy promised, a new sense of drive filling him, and he limped back towards the castle. Dudley watched him go, a meaningful look in his eyes. Malfoy was a troublemaker, yes, but he was also the easiest guy to handle in all of Slytherin. This was why Dudley had chosen him.

After his own workout, Dudley didn't rest. He took a shower, grabbed a notebook, and headed for the library. Under the surprised gaze of the librarian, Madam Pince, and a group of young wizards, he walked to a corner and sat down next to a girl with fluffy brown hair. With his build, he didn't look like someone who loved to study.

"Why so late today?" Hermione asked, seemingly casually.

"I spent a little more time exercising with a young friend," he replied, already flipping through a book on charm analysis.

"A girl?"

"A boy."

"I'll go tomorrow too."

Why the change of heart? Dudley looked at her with slight surprise. He had suggested she exercise with him before, but she had refused, saying she didn't want to develop muscles as exaggerated as his. He had even given her a science lesson on the physiological differences between men and women, explaining that it was nearly impossible for her to build that kind of muscle mass. Frankly speaking, Dudley quite liked athletic girls...

"What are you looking at? Is it not allowed?" Hermione bared her teeth at him in a mock threat. Her noticeable pair of buck teeth, however, didn't convey any sense of menace; they were actually quite cute.

"Cough cough, quiet!" the voice of Madam Pince sounded from across the room. She had been keeping a close eye on the large boy ever since he'd walked in.

(End of Chapter)

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