Hogwarts: I'm Harry's older cousin

Chapter 36. I prefer to win people over with virtue.

Although the platinum-haired boy used a question, his tone was very certain.

Clearly, the other party had confirmed Harry's identity before they arrived.

The platinum-haired boy was flanked by two short, chubby men, who stood on either side like two door gods. It's worth mentioning that both of them were particularly unattractive.

"Oh, this is Crabbe, and this is Goyle." The platinum-haired boy simply introduced his two henchmen to Harry, then introduced himself in a melodious tone: "My name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

Dudley had attended some drinking parties with so-called high-society people for business purposes, and he remembered a guy who claimed to be a descendant of a viscount using that tone. Unfortunately, the platinum-haired boy was too young to imitate the tone very well, making it look rather comical.

This prompted Ron to cough lightly to avoid laughing out loud.

Malfoy glanced at Ron out of the corner of his eye, his eyes narrowed. "You think my name is ridiculous?"

His contemptuous tone was laced with utter disdain: "Don't ask who you are. My father told me that the Weasleys all have red hair, freckles, and so many kids they can't afford to raise them all."

Even the dull-witted Neville could hear the superior tone in that voice.

He wanted to say something for Ron, but seeing the two "guards" beside Malfoy, he swallowed his words, being timid by nature and disliking trouble.

After mocking Ron, Malfoy turned to Harry and said, "You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to be friends with someone different, do you? I can help you with that."

His gaze seemingly casually swept over Neville and Ron. The not-so-spacious room was already crammed with too many people, so much so that the angle of the room blocked Malfoy's view, and he didn't notice Dudley and Hermione.

Then Harry extended his hand, seemingly wanting to shake hands with the other person.

However, that inherent superiority and arrogance gives people a sense of condescension, as if they are teaching you how to do things.

"I was too hasty. When it comes to being unable to speak properly, I, Dali, would call you the strongest."

If Hermione's tone might be a little uncomfortable, then Malfoy's tone is downright sarcastic.

"I think I can tell who the oddball is." Harry didn't even bother to shake hands with the other person, his tone very cold.

Ron had just praised Dudley, while Malfoy had previously mocked him.

Anyone who's Dudley is my half-brother, Harry Potter. And those who mock Dudley...

Malfoy's pale cheeks flushed slightly; he clearly hadn't expected Harry to reject him so decisively and so bluntly.

“If I were you, Potter, I would be very careful.” He slowed his speech, mimicking his father’s threatening tone, “You should be more careful, or you’ll end up like your parents. If you hang out with scum like the Weasleys, you’ll be influenced.”

He didn't recognize Neville's identity, and even if he did, he wouldn't mention it. Longbottom's status in the wizarding world is different from Weasley's, especially since Neville's grandmother, Augusta Longbottom, was a very famous and ill-tempered witch.

The vicious tone made Harry and Ron stand up, and Neville hesitated for a moment before standing up as well.

Malfoy's two gatekeepers, Crabbe and Goyle, immediately stood in front of him.

Why do you talk so rudely?

Hermione has a straightforward personality; she'll say what she doesn't like.

It was this time she spoke up that caught Malfoy's attention. After looking her up and down, he said disdainfully, "And where did you come from?"

Ignoring Hermione, he continued to mock Harry, "Potter, I didn't expect you to gather such a bunch of freaks around you so quickly."

"Hey, you arrogant guy, Ma Fen, here's a piece of advice for you."

Before Malfoy could finish his sarcasm, Dudley interrupted him: "If you can't speak like others, don't use it. It'll just make you look out of place."

"Call me Draco Malfoy, and let me see who has the audacity to insult a Malfoy."

Malfoy angrily looked toward the source of the voice, and then he saw again that face that had left a deep impression on him.

"Oh, it's you!"

Malfoy instinctively backed away.

This was the man who made him run out into the street crying, and he blushes whenever he thinks about the experience.

That's a disgrace!

Malfoy's originally pale face turned bright red, and he stared at Dudley with a vicious look.

"Crawb, Goyle, teach him a lesson!"

He shouted sharply, and the two chubby boys immediately rushed towards Dudley. Then, like chicks, Dudley picked them up one by one with each hand and slammed them together like pancakes, instantly rendering them unable to fight.

Clearly, they underestimated their own strength.

Dudley's magic might not be that great, but his raw fighting skills were more than enough to overpower anyone around the seventh grade at Hogwarts.

Malfoy was shocked by Dudley's violence and even more surprised that his bodyguard was dealt with so easily. He was so frightened that he fell to the ground.

Dudley slowly walked up to Malfoy and leaned closer to him amidst the latter's terrified gaze.

"Listen, Harry's parents are my aunt and uncle. Insulting them is insulting me. I can forgive your ignorance this time, but I don't want it to happen again."

"From today onwards, we're classmates. I hope we can get along well, okay?"

What could Malfoy say at this point? He nodded frantically like a chicken pecking at rice, a stark contrast to his previous pretentious demeanor.

"Take your two friends and let's go."

Upon hearing Dudley's words, the three of them scrambled away from where they stood and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

"Cool!" Ron exclaimed.

Seeing Malfoy get his comeuppance filled him with indescribable pleasure. The relationship between the Weasleys and the Malfoys couldn't be described as merely bad; it was downright appalling.

"Children, does anyone want candy?"

Just then, a salesperson pushed a cart by, and Harry, being a tycoon, bought one of everything with a wave of his hand.

All sorts of candies were piled up on the table, making the little wizards' eyes light up.

"Why don't you give them a good beating?"

Ron, his mouth full of candy, mumbled a question, unconsciously using honorifics, just like Neville.

Or rather, apart from Hermione and Harry, every person of Dudley's age would unconsciously use honorifics when facing him.

Harry opened a box of chocolate frogs, but to his surprise, the little guy moved and accidentally let it escape. Just as it was about to escape through the window, Dudley, with quick reflexes, caught it.

No food could escape Dudley's grasp.

"I hate using violence directly; it's too crude. I've always tried to win people over with virtue."

Dudley's answer made Ron dig his ears hard, afraid he had misheard.

Looking at those steel teeth that emitted a faint white light, and listening to the crunching sound like a monster devouring people.

Ron shivered involuntarily.

Hate violence?

As for Dudley's image, it is utterly unconvincing.

(End of this chapter)