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Compared to the relaxed weekends of the other young wizards, Dudley spent both days entirely with Snape, studying Potions for more than eight hours a day, going from afternoon into the night. During that time, he was repeatedly subjected to Snape's venomous remarks. When Snape slipped into that sarcastic, cutting tone full of veiled jabs, he could genuinely drive anyone mad.
After all, it was Dudley's first time brewing an unfamiliar potion. Minor mistakes in the finer details of the process were inevitable.
Boiling, infusion, maceration, ointment, poultice, tincture, lotion… potion-making was far more than simply cooking ingredients in a cauldron. That was only one of seven methods.
During his demonstration, Snape used six different methods to produce a finished Invigoration Draught, completely broadening Dudley's perspective.
It was something he had never even considered before.
After all, first-year textbooks only taught the boiling method.
Snape's expectations of Dudley were absurdly high.
More than ten times stricter than with any other student.
Ridiculous to an extreme degree.
Snape demonstrated only once, then assigned Dudley the task of producing an Invigoration Draught using at least three different methods.
After that, he left Dudley to work on his own, following exactly what had been taught.
When Dudley presented a standard-quality Invigoration Draught made with three methods, he was completely torn apart by Snape's criticism.
"Do you have a herd of trolls dancing inside your head?"
"Perhaps there aren't any trolls in there… perhaps you are the troll."
"What exactly is inside your brain? Troll mucus?"
"…"
Snape seemed to have fixated on the idea of trolls when it came to Dudley. Every time he criticized him, trolls came up.
Dudley had the feeling it was a not-so-subtle jab at his physique.
"If it were me… if it were Lily… we would certainly be able to produce a far superior potion."
Once Snape entered teaching mode, that was the only thought in his mind.
He completely ignored the fact that, back then, they had already been close to graduation, while Dudley was still just a first-year student.
Thinking about it, it made sense. Who would instinctively treat a 5'11 figure like Dudley as an eleven-year-old child?
But this extreme level of expectation also awakened Dudley's competitive spirit.
He began treating the Invigoration Draught as a personal challenge.
Taking advantage of the Data Eye, he began relentlessly refining his technique. After all, the Potions classroom had no shortage of materials.
An opportunity like this couldn't be wasted.
And so Dudley fully immersed himself in potion-making.
By Sunday night, the table was already filled with finished vials of Invigoration Draught.
From barely managing a standard version using three methods at the beginning, to now producing a flawlessly brewed version using five methods… only Dudley knew how many attempts it had taken over those two days.
With just this flawlessly brewed Invigoration Draught, if Dudley were to graduate from Hogwarts now, he could directly apply to St. Mungo's Hospital.
Even so, this only left Snape barely satisfied.
"It took you two full days to reach something barely passable. I'm starting to suspect that trolls sneak into your head at night. Your talent is an insult to your aunt's name. Do not go around saying you were taught by me."
Snape stared into Dudley's eyes with an indifferent expression as he stored away the flawless potions on the table.
"If it were your Aunt Lily, she would have mastered all seven methods in a single day."
Since Dudley had repeatedly referred to Lily as "my aunt" in front of Snape, he had gradually accepted the term and even started using it himself, more and more naturally.
Dudley didn't fully grasp just how talented his aunt had been in Potions, but based on Petunia's and Snape's indirect descriptions and praise, it was clear she had been a top-tier master.
In the field of potion-making, there seemed to be nothing she couldn't do.
That sparked in Dudley the desire to test himself against her.
Although Snape's claim that Lily could master all seven methods in a single day might have been exaggerated…
Who did Dudley think he was?
He was the kind of person who loved telling self-important people no. A challenger who never accepted defeat.
Goals only had value when they were set high.
At Hogwarts, Dudley had already established two small goals.
Physically, his standard was Hagrid.
In Potions, his goal was to reach the level of the Lily idealized in Snape's mind.
"Next weekend, we will study the Shrinking Solution and the Invigoration Tonic. I expect you to use these days to prepare in advance. I do not want to see you behaving like an ignorant troll again."
Dudley didn't respond. In fact, he didn't even bother reacting. After two days with Snape, he had already understood that the more you reacted, the more he enjoyed it.
The Shrinking Solution was part of the third-year curriculum. It was a potion capable of shrinking creatures or reverting them to a younger state, even reducing a group of pigs small enough to fit into a wizard's pocket. In terms of difficulty, it was below the Invigoration Draught, but since it was assigned by Snape, it certainly wouldn't be simple.
The Invigoration Tonic was part of the fifth-year curriculum, used to restore energy. The potion Dudley had previously given to Malfoy had been a simplified version of it.
"Dursley, why are you still here? Are you waiting for me to invite you to dinner?"
Snape said, irritation clear in his voice.
"Unfortunately, I do not have enough food to feed a troll like you."
"Professor Snape."
Dudley maintained a respectful tone. Despite his sharp tongue, Snape was genuinely teaching him. Dudley considered himself a practical, even rough person, but he understood what it meant to respect a teacher.
He then slowly took out a book from behind him and placed it in front of Snape.
It was an old Potions textbook, worn with age, clearly advanced level, as indicated by its title Advanced Potion-Making.
On the yellowed corner of the pages, a name was written.
"Half-Blood Prince."
"May I take this book with me? The notes in it are very helpful."
Dudley handled the book with care, as if it were something precious, gently brushing dust off its surface.
Perhaps it was the way Dudley treated the book.
Or perhaps it was because he never talked back and always remained respectful.
Snape's tone softened slightly, something rare.
"Where did you find it?"
Dudley pointed toward a cabinet in the corner of the room, where a pile of old books was stacked.
"There, Professor."
"This book is still too advanced for you…"
Snape began, then stopped himself. He seemed to recall that he was already teaching advanced material.
He flicked his sleeve.
"If you wish, you may take it and have a look."
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