Hogwarts: I'm Harry's older cousin

Chapter 5.5. Jerry, the teacher in *The Lord of the Rings*

4 Privet Road, Little Huigkin, Surrey.

The sun rose above the neat garden in front of the house, illuminating the number four brass plaque on the Dursleys' front door. Sunlight crept into the family's living room, shining on Mr. Dursley's naturally large and rounded buttocks, while Mrs. Dursley hummed a tune that seemed out of place in the past as she carefully prepared breakfast in the kitchen.

The fireplace mantel is decorated with many photos, showing the family members to outsiders: the big-headed boy riding his first bicycle, riding the carousel at the expo, playing computer games with his father, and being hugged and kissed by his mother—a scene of a happy family life.

However, a photograph remained in the corner of the fireplace, suggesting that there were more than three people in the house. The tall, big-headed boy from before was tightly embracing another skinny boy wearing the same style of clothes, and both of them were smiling, with sweet smiles.

"One, two, three, four; two, two, three, four; three, two, three, four; one more time."

Dali was supporting his entire body with one thumb, rising and falling on his own lawn. Large beads of sweat dripped onto the lush green grass and soaked his entire back.

The grass beneath Dali was all mangled and deformed by his trampling.

Harry sat on the steps of the house, his hands supporting his head as he quietly watched Dudley train, silently counting for him in his mind.

『105、106200』

Although Harry seems afraid of his cousin, he actually enjoys being around Dudley because he feels safe and secure in his company and doesn't feel invisible.

When Harry counted to three hundred in his mind, Dudley finally stopped and sat down on the lawn with a fart.

"Comfortable."

Wiping the sweat from his face, Dali's rosy, chubby face was full of contentment.

I picked up two dumbbells that were lying to the side and continued to work out my biceps, one in the left and one in the right.

Each 30KG discus is like a plastic toy in Dali's hands.

Whether or not one can learn magic, having a healthy and strong body is very important.

The story of the great white wizard Gandalf tells us that to become an excellent mage, one must first be able to wield a sword and cut down powerful orcs, and only then can one learn the Flash spell.

"Harry, you should work out. You're too thin and too short. You look like a malnourished, skinny monkey."

While training, Dali didn't forget to remind his younger cousin, "Just between you and me, those blonde, big-breasted girls love muscular guys like me the most."

Strictly speaking, Harry is fine in every way except for being a little thin. Dudley said that because he was comparing Harry to himself.

"Okay, Brother D."

Harry answered blankly, and it was unclear whether he genuinely didn't understand or was pretending not to.

The bright green eyes remained fixed on Dali, seemingly lost in thought.

"The Harry in the movie doesn't seem so dull; he's actually quite clever."

My cousin is a bit slow-witted, what should I do? I need help urgently.

How are we going to deal with that guy without a nose now?

"Dali Dursley, here is your letter."

The postman's shouts interrupted Dudley's thoughts.

The postman handed Dali a thick letter and glanced enviously at Dali's muscular abdomen.

Actually, Dali had another sentence he didn't finish saying: muscles can attract not only blonde, big-breasted women, but also a lot of attention from the same sex.

Our great Xun Ge once said it well: "Fitness can attract the opposite sex, excessive fitness can attract the same sex."

Dudley looked at the seal on the envelope; it was a letter from Bloomsbury Publishing.

Inside the envelope was a letter filled with writing and a check for £1.

Dudley looked around and, finding that no one was paying attention to him except Harry, carefully put the check into his pocket and finally opened the letter.

"Dear Teacher Jerry," he began with a long and complicated speech of praise, very official and polite.

Jerry is Dudley's pen name.

When Dudley first arrived in this world, the first thing he wanted to do was make money.

"Money can take you anywhere, but without it, you can't move an inch." This saying holds true in every world, and besides, being a mage is an expensive profession in any world.

Coupled with the Dursleys' previous impoverished circumstances, Dudley was desperate and had very little money in his pocket, so he chose a path of no return.

Submitted novels.

Although Dudley knew the classic saying "Master math, physics, and chemistry and you can go anywhere in the world"—a saying he'd heard so many times in school he was practically calloused—he wanted to do something else. The key problem was that Dudley's predecessor hadn't mastered math, physics, and chemistry, and also found it troublesome. Writing novels was the simplest and most risk-free way to make money.

"Your royalties for the first volume of 'The Lord of the Rings' have been sent to the envelope. We hope you will be there this week at 6:00 to discuss matters related to the publication of the second volume. Sincerely, Akashney, Bloomsbury Publishing."

Jerry, the author of this year's most popular fantasy novel, "The Lord of the Rings," is none other than Dudley himself.

This world is quite different from the world Dudley was familiar with. Perhaps because of the wizards, there are very few Western fantasy works in this world, and none of the great Western fantasy works that Dudley remembered are there.

Since the Lord of the Rings series of novels has never been published, Dudley simply adopted a "borrowed" approach and made a small copy.

Of course, it wasn't a complete copy. He also added a lot of online novel writing style, such as "Don't underestimate the hobbits because they're short" and "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river." Novels are meant to be suitable for all ages, so that's the way to go.

As a result, The Lord of the Rings sold better than in the original world.

A fee of £10,000 in royalties, especially in England in the 1980s, was a considerable sum.

Given the current popularity of "The Lord of the Rings," Dudley should have received more, but he's a newcomer. He's already very content with what he's received.

Furthermore, this is only the first volume.

There's no need to focus solely on immediate gains; a steady, long-term approach is the best strategy.

Moreover, what was sent out was not the content of one part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy; to be precise, it was only about half of one part.

Didn't some guy without a nose say that seven is a magical number? So Dudley also plans to split the Lord of the Rings trilogy into a seven-part series.

Sure enough, the publisher has already taken the initiative to approach us.

Dali is now a golden brand. Even if he writes "The Defender of Dependence" next, it will still sell millions of copies.

The so-called detailed discussion is, to put it bluntly, about giving Dali money to increase his royalties. The specifics will depend on how the discussion goes on Saturday.

Anyway, he has already gained a certain degree of fame.

If your publishing house can't offer a satisfactory price, other publishing houses will surely be happy to offer a higher price.

The name Jerry now represents money.

Dudley had it all planned out: after the trilogy (Step III and Step Seven) was finished, he'd make a Hobbit spin-off, cash in again, and maybe sell the film rights.

Wow~ This amount of money is enough for him to live a life of modest extravagance.

Take a leap towards financial freedom.

I just don't know if that'll be enough to become a mage in the future. If not, I'll write a few more. The Dragonlance Chronicles seems pretty good too.

Dudley, who had made ten thousand pounds, was in a great mood. He patted little Harry's messy, bird's nest-like hair and said, "Harry, come with your cousin and I'll treat you to ice cream."

"Okay, Brother D."

Before they had even left the garden, they heard Mrs. Dursley calling from the window.

"Oh, my dear little Dudley, where are you going? Come and have your breakfast first."

(End of this chapter)