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Cedric Diggory.
A well-known figure in Hufflepuff, and the undisputed top student of the fourth year.
Even the Slytherins in the same year acknowledged this.
No matter the subject, he could easily obtain an O for Outstanding.
Every professor who had taught him, even one as strict as Professor Snape, praised him highly.
He was a boy full of reason, talent, and elegant bearing.
He had the reputation of possessing "everything people expected from a Hogwarts student."
In Hufflepuff House, he enjoyed enormous popularity and was called the pride of all Hufflepuff.
It was roughly equivalent to Dudley's reputation in Slytherin House.
In the original plot of Goblet of Fire, when students from other Houses misunderstood Harry and believed he had used despicable methods to become a champion, they wore "Potter Stinks" badges.
Cedric was the first to persuade his friends to take those badges off.
After Harry told Cedric what he knew about the first task, Cedric also continued to uphold his qualities of fairness and harmony by reminding Harry of the method to solve the second task, seeking fair competition.
Outstanding, stubborn, and full of a sense of justice.
It was precisely because of this that Dudley chose him as the disciplinary group's first assessment target.
These qualities were exactly what the disciplinary group needed.
Inside one of the rooms in Slytherin House, almost everything had been moved out.
Aside from a single table, only an empty room remained.
"Your foundation in Charms is very solid. Defense Against the Dark Arts is also excellent, and you have your own unique understanding of Transfiguration. What you lack now is only continuous practice and enough time to grow."
Dudley stood before Cedric and gave a brief evaluation of each of his subjects.
Hermione sat at the table behind him, recording something on parchment.
He had a high opinion of Cedric.
He really was outstanding.
"Compared to you, I am still far behind," Cedric said, panting.
The hand holding his wand was trembling slightly.
His forehead, face, and body were covered in sweat.
He was clearly already very tired.
Dudley had not actually acted against Cedric at all.
The examiner was not Dudley himself.
Of course, it was not Hermione either.
Strictly speaking, it was not even a person.
Instead, between the two of them, flying in midair, was a Cornish pixie.
Pixie.
Snap.
Pixie lightly snapped his fingers, and a small whirlwind immediately rose.
"The final test. Find a way to calm it. I believe this should be very simple for you."
"Yes."
Cedric raised his wand once more.
As an all-around student, Cedric's Care of Magical Creatures was also very good.
Of course he knew what level of magical creature a Cornish pixie was supposed to be.
Aside from causing trouble, they had no use at all.
Something that could clearly be defeated instantly with one small spell had actually been raised into such a powerful creature.
Cedric believed that the Cornish pixie before him was the strongest magical creature he had ever seen in his life.
He truly did not know how Dudley had done it.
He could only say, as expected of the King of Slytherin.
The small whirlwind's power was not great.
Cedric did not spend much effort before calming it.
"Come back, Pixie. You did very well."
Red light shone over the Cornish pixie.
It disappeared before the eyes of the three people.
Dudley placed the red-and-white ball back at his waist, where it attached automatically.
He turned to Cedric.
"Congratulations. You passed the test. From now on, you are a member of the disciplinary group. I hope you can contribute your strength to building a better Hogwarts."
"Mr. Dursley, thank you very much for your guidance."
Cedric bowed to Dudley and spoke from the heart.
"I definitely will not fail your expectations of me."
His tone and expression were exceptionally respectful, as though he were facing a professor.
"Your talent is very good. Do not waste it."
Dudley patted Cedric's shoulder, offering encouragement in the tone of a senior speaking to a junior.
Clearly, Dudley was two years younger than him, and Cedric was the older student.
Yet to outsiders, this scene would seem perfectly natural, without the slightest awkwardness.
Even Cedric, the person involved, felt that it was only natural.
"Compared to you, it is not worth mentioning."
"Tomorrow morning at seven, gather on the grass outside Hogwarts Castle. I believe you should know that."
"Yes."
"Dudley, I have finished organizing his materials. They can be given to Headmaster Dumbledore at any time."
Hermione handed a thick stack of parchment to Dudley.
These were all materials about Cedric.
"You really helped me a great deal, Hermione."
As a secretary, Hermione was unquestionably excellent.
Top-tier, even.
Every detail was handled in perfect order, almost without Dudley needing to worry.
"Are you really going to let him join?"
"Of course. The disciplinary group cannot rely on only the few of us. We also cannot stay busy forever. We need to absorb more outstanding talent."
Dudley naturally would not say that as long as there were enough outstanding talents, he could openly slack off.
Fighting alone was always the worst option.
Even if one's magic was profound and one's strength was powerful, did the famous Dark wizard Grindelwald not have supporters of his own?
Did the Dark Lord Voldemort not also have Death Eaters who followed him?
Choosing Cedric first had not been without reason.
His excellence was one part.
The other part was because he was a Hufflepuff.
If even a Hufflepuff could join the disciplinary group, then why could the other three Houses not?
After leaving the Headmaster's office, Dudley walked directly toward the dormitory.
The ruby-like ring on his index finger was currently emitting a faint red glow.
He gently pushed open the door to his room.
There, he saw a small, painfully thin creature trapped inside the transmutation circle he had built by combining Magic Armor Modification.
That creature had ears as large as a bat's, protruding eyes the size of tennis balls, and a large, long, pointed nose like Pinocchio's.
Without a doubt, this was a house-elf.
The same kind of being as the more than one hundred house-elves in the Hogwarts kitchen.
It was said that house-elves were based on the brownies of Scottish legend, a kind of creature that always wore ragged brown clothing, hoped to live harmoniously with humans, and would help humans with housework.
But one could not give them wages.
If one did, they would disappear.
Nor could one refuse to reward them.
If one did not reward them, they would also disappear.
Seeing that Dudley had discovered him, the creature kept snapping its fingers, seemingly trying to cast magic and leave.
However, this transmutation circle had been created by Dudley specifically for the magical traits of house-elves.
It could suppress the magic in its body and block its spellcasting.
Dudley looked at the trapped house-elf and spoke with a tone full of mockery.
"I didn't expect house-elves to work as thieves on the side."
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