Chapter 12: My Name Is Not Hey
St. George's Primary School.
It was the same familiar school and the same familiar lunch break. Dudley lazily sprawled at his desk in the second-to-last row by the window, basking in the sunlight. As always, Harry had gone to buy bread for him, since baguettes were Dudley's favorite snack to chew on.
He pulled out a bottle of pale blue liquid from his pocket. This was the potion Dudley had brewed the previous day, a basic version of the "Minor Mana-Enhancing Potion." It was said that long-term use could slightly increase one's mana.
Though it was a basic version, the difficulty was no less. Dudley had gone many sleepless nights just to brew it successfully.
He downed it in one gulp and smacked his lips.
The taste was strange, bitter, and unpleasant.
This was one of the very few potions he could currently brew. Since he had no access to the wizarding world, many ingredients were beyond his reach.
Not all potion ingredients had to come from the magical world, though. For example, the recipe for Flickering Potion required: daisy roots (chopped), shrivelfig (peeled), caterpillar (sliced), a drop of rat gall, and a little leech juice. Even a Muggle could obtain these. But without the proper steps and intake methods, Muggles could not brew the potion.
The Minor Mana-Enhancing Potion was one of the rare few that did not require magical creatures or plants. Its main ingredient was a plant called "fishy-smell herb," ground into juice.
It was worth noting that, though the names "Minor Mana-Enhancing Potion" and "Mana-Enhancing Potion" sounded similar, they were two entirely different brews and should never be confused.
Suppressing his gag reflex, Dudley grabbed his water bottle and gulped down several mouthfuls.
Inwardly, he vowed that he would one day improve the taste of potions. Each ingredient on its own was tolerable, but when mixed together, the flavor became horrendous.
Not long after drinking, Dudley grew drowsy. This was a side effect of the Minor Mana-Enhancing Potion.
"I heard our class is getting an exchange student this week."
Half-asleep, Dudley overheard someone speaking.
The voice came from a freckled boy sitting not far away.
"An exchange student? Here? In our class?"
The one who replied was a girl with two braids, her expression full of surprise.
Exchange students were usually only seen in private schools, unless in international programs or for exceptionally outstanding students—like Dudley himself.
St. George's was an average public school, neither good nor bad. In recent years, its reputation had improved somewhat thanks to a student who often won awards, raising the enrollment rate.
Even so, no exchange student would normally choose their school, unless there was a special reason.
"Which school are they from?" the braided girl asked.
The freckled boy answered, "I heard it's Oxford Dragon Primary."
When he said "Oxford Dragon Primary," he lowered his voice, as if afraid others would hear. He even glanced nervously at Dudley, and only relaxed when he saw him still lying on the desk.
They had no idea that Dudley, though pretending to sleep, was aware of everything. He simply could not be bothered to react.
Otherwise, with his reputation at school, they would be too frightened to even attend class.
Dudley had once gone as an exchange student to Oxford Dragon Primary himself. So it was very likely that this new arrival had come because of him.
The lunch break ended and the bell rang.
The teacher entered the classroom, leading a girl with thick, curly brown hair.
"This is the exchange student from Oxford Dragon Primary, who will be here for the next week—"
Dudley lay on his desk in a daze. Between the potion's drowsy effect and the fatigue from staying up late to brew, he had not even touched the snacks Harry bought him.
He vaguely recalled the teacher introducing the exchange student.
Once he could acquire magical ingredients, he would definitely make a refreshing potion. With scattered applause in the background, Dudley drifted into a sweet sleep.
Even the teacher, noticing him, lowered her voice during the lesson.
Damn top-student privilege.
The situation remained the same until school was over. Dudley still lay motionless at his desk.
Knock, knock, knock!
His desk was rapped sharply.
No one in the entire school dared disturb Dudley's slumber.
He opened his sleepy eyes to see a head of fluffy, wavy hair.
A girl in a sky-blue Oxford Dragon Primary uniform stood before him, hands on her hips, brows furrowed, and her large brown eyes glaring at him in dissatisfaction.
"She looks familiar, but who is she?"
Dudley's brain was still foggy.
Next time, he swore, he would not burn himself out overnight.
"You broke your promise!" Before he could even ask, the girl spoke first.
Her distinctive accent sounded oddly familiar to Dudley.
Dudley: "?"
"You broke your promise!"
Seeing Dudley still dazed, the girl repeated herself, raising her voice several levels.
"You promised to participate in this year's Junior Mathematical Olympiad!"
Junior Mathematical Olympiad.
"Oh." Hearing those words, Dudley's thoughts gradually cleared.
Back then, Dudley had practically dominated all of Oxford Dragon Primary. Whether in academics or sports, he crushed everything single-handedly. For the school's top students, that period felt like endless Fridays the thirteenth, a shadow hanging over their heads.
Only on the day Dudley left did they dare declare they would "duel" him. Of course, not physically—otherwise, even if the entire school came at once, Dudley alone would flatten them.
The duel they meant was academic. They claimed they would defeat Dudley in this year's Junior Mathematical Olympiad.
"How is your preparation going?"
"I've been busy with something important lately. I don't have extra time."
How could a mere math competition compare with researching potions?
"What could be more important than the Olympiad?"
The girl clearly did not share his view. "There are only three days left. I'll tell you the key review points the teacher gave me."
She pulled textbooks and notes from her bag and prepared to tutor Dudley right there in class.
"It's already late today. If I remember correctly, your home requires at least two transfers to get back."
Dudley yawned and raised a hand to stop her. "It'll be dangerous for you to go home too late. London's security has never been great."
Indeed, public safety abroad could only be described as laughable, especially in the 1990s.
Their encounter had been quite a coincidence. Dudley loved reading, and so did the girl. They both frequented the library, often the last ones to leave. Naturally, they became acquainted.
Then Dudley dominated the entire school.
The girl, once first in her year, fell to second place.
Because of this, she had hidden away to cry—only to be caught by Dudley. From that moment, he was marked in her eyes.
In the days that followed, she challenged him across various subjects. Each time ended in defeat.
"You want to beat me that badly? Isn't this your chance?"
Unlike the so-called geniuses at Oxford Dragon Primary who only dared mutter behind his back, this girl alone had faced Dudley openly.
Yes, the supposed "duel" was nothing more than gossip. None of those cowards ever truly challenged Dudley.
Out of respect for the girl, Dudley agreed to take part. He admired her straightforwardness.
Otherwise, he would never have considered joining a math competition. He already had too many first-place trophies. He might as well leave some scraps for others.
"I will defeat you fair and square."
At that moment, the girl looked like a proud little hen, puffing up a chest that barely existed.
"Hurry, there's no time left."
She placed her notebook on the desk and tugged at Dudley's sleeve. Unfortunately, he had just started to stand.
Groggy from lack of sleep, Dudley stumbled at her pull. His left foot caught on his right, and he pitched forward, colliding with her shoulder. Overwhelmed by his large frame, she toppled instantly.
Thankfully, Dudley reacted quickly. He placed his right hand under the back of her head to cushion it, while bracing himself with his left arm so he would not crush her.
Thud!
The heavy sound echoed in the empty classroom.
They froze in that strange position, eyes locked.
Silence followed. Only their breathing and pounding hearts could be heard.
If bracing someone against a wall was called a "wall slam," then was this a "floor slam"?
"Dudley, we should—"
Footsteps approached. Harry reached the door, glanced inside, then quickly turned away. "Sorry, I didn't see anything."
Only after Harry had left for ten seconds did the girl's face turn bright red. She let out a small cry, then sprang up like a startled rabbit and rushed out of the classroom.
But before leaving, she left a message for Dudley: "The review notes are beside you. Also, my father asked me to tell you—come to the clinic when you have time. He says your teeth are the best he's ever seen."
Her father was an excellent dentist, and dentists were known to be very profitable. That was why she could attend a private school like Oxford Dragon Primary.
Using baguettes hard enough to be weapons as chewing sticks, how could Dudley's teeth not be strong?
"Hey."
From the back of the classroom, the mass of fluffy curls appeared again. "My name is not Hey. Call me Hermione."
"Hermione Jane Granger."
(End of Chapter)
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