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"Finally done."
A joyful voice echoed through the silent, empty Potions classroom, waking Hermione, who had fallen asleep leaning to one side at some point.
Through the dim yellow light of the classroom, the bottled potions seemed to give off a faint green glow.
"Is it finished?"
Hermione sat up, stretched, and gave a soft yawn.
Her eyes were half-lidded, and she looked as though she had not fully woken up.
"Mm."
Dudley nodded. He also yawned, rubbed his slightly dry eyes, and stretched.
Yawning was contagious.
With his physique, even going several days and nights without sleep would not affect him much. But after concentrating intensely for an entire day, he still felt somewhat tired.
Excessive focus was mentally draining.
He was not planning to drink any energy-restoring potion. A good sleep would be more useful than anything.
Grrrr.
After he relaxed, Dudley's stomach let out a thunderous growl.
"Pfft."
Hermione could not hold back and laughed. Her clear, spring-like laughter echoed through the classroom.
Under the dim yellow light, Hermione looked especially adorable.
Dudley scratched his cheek, slightly embarrassed.
"Actually, you could have gone back to rest first. At this time, you would usually have left the library and gone back to your dormitory, right?"
"Reading alone is too boring."
The unspoken meaning was that she wanted him with her.
Seeing Dudley stare at her, Hermione's face reddened slightly. As if remembering something, she quickly picked up the basket on the desk and handed it to Dudley.
"Eat something quickly. I brought German smoked sausages, lamb chops, and roasted turkey legs. They are all things you like."
She lifted the canvas covering the basket, revealing all kinds of food arranged inside.
Because of the charm Hermione had cast earlier, the food inside was still faintly warm.
It was still just warm enough to eat.
Dudley first went to the sink in the Potions classroom and washed his hands. After drying them, he picked up a German smoked sausage and began eating.
It was one of Dudley's favorite foods at Hogwarts. It was made from finely ground pork and beef mixed with various spices and seasonings.
The rich aroma made one's mouth water. The golden, crisp skin gave it a unique texture. Most importantly, it was juicy and delicious, full of meat juices and spice. Every bite brought out the savory flavor of the meat, leaving a lingering taste.
If dipped in a little yellow mustard, it was even more enjoyable.
"Delicious."
Even someone as picky as Dudley gave it praise.
Then he looked at Hermione, who had been watching him eat the whole time.
"Want some?"
Hermione gently shook her head.
"I already ate."
She had indeed eaten, just not much. She had barely touched the meat. Recently, she felt that she had gained a little weight, so she planned to eat less.
In truth, she rather liked watching Dudley eat. It felt more satisfying than eating herself.
Dudley nodded and began eating the other food in the basket.
To be fair, Dudley did not particularly like the texture of turkey legs. They were dry and tough, worse than chicken breast, and had little appeal.
The only praiseworthy point was that there was a lot of meat.
Eating one felt like eating a dozen ordinary chicken legs.
After Dudley wolfed everything down, he soon finished all the food Hermione had brought. Then he drained the pumpkin juice beside him in one gulp and let out a satisfied burp.
Aside from gaining experience, eating was also an extremely enjoyable thing.
"Time to go back and rest."
Dudley carefully put away the potions on the desk. Using the key Snape had left there, he locked the door and walked with Hermione deeper into the castle.
In terms of time, it was already curfew. If a patrolling professor caught them, they would be severely punished.
But Dudley was not worried about that at all, because he would not be caught.
They had not taken more than a few steps before Mrs. Norris appeared from nowhere, walked ahead of them, and very consciously began leading the way.
Her movements were so practiced that this was obviously not the first time she had done it.
With this little inside agent guiding them, there was no need to worry about being discovered. Not only the professors, but even Filch would be avoided entirely.
Soon, the two arrived in front of the Gryffindor common room.
Dudley rewarded Mrs. Norris with a small dried fish, and she left happily with the fish in her mouth.
"Go back and rest properly. See you tomorrow."
Dudley was just about to wake Sir Cadogan, who was dozing in his portrait, to open the door. The Fat Lady had still refused to return after being attacked. To his surprise, the door to the Gryffindor common room slowly opened by itself, and a ginger cat came out, meowing.
Hm. Perhaps meowing was not the right word. Complaining might have been more accurate.
Crookshanks was very smart, and his hearing was extremely sharp. After hearing Dudley and Hermione's voices, he had opened the door one step ahead.
Dudley pointed at Crookshanks, who had not stopped meowing, and turned to Hermione.
"Hermione, did you forget to feed him when you left?"
Hermione suddenly froze and covered her mouth with a soft gasp.
"Ah. I forgot."
Dudley: "..."
No wonder he was complaining. Anyone who had been hungry for an entire day would curse a few times.
If one day you forget to feed a cat, and the cat meows at you nonstop, do not doubt it. He is insulting you.
"Here. Next time, definitely. I definitely will not forget to feed you next time."
The moment Dudley took something out, Crookshanks instantly quieted down. His eyes locked firmly onto it.
It was the small dried fish he had given Mrs. Norris earlier.
No real cat could refuse a dried fish like that.
Crookshanks took it in one bite and enjoyed it happily. Before long, the small fish was in his stomach.
Crookshanks began licking his paws.
He was an elegant gentleman. After eating, naturally he had to clean himself.
Suddenly, Crookshanks's nose twitched as if he had smelled something. Following that scent, he walked to Dudley's feet and began meowing at him again.
"You want this?"
Hearing Crookshanks's call, Dudley was slightly stunned.
Then he took a small crystal vial from his pocket. Judging from the color, it was the potion he had just brewed.
Like a cartoon cat, Crookshanks nodded frantically, his gaze fixed on the crystal vial.
"What is that?"
Hermione asked. She picked up Crookshanks, but from beginning to end, Crookshanks's gaze remained fixed on the crystal vial. He seemed even more eager than when he had seen the small dried fish.
"The newest potion I developed. It does not have a name yet."
Dudley shook the crystal vial, and the liquid inside shimmered with a mesmerizing color.
Then he raised four fingers and explained in a low voice, "After drinking this potion, one can temporarily gain the enhanced abilities of four animals."
Hermione tilted her head slightly, not quite understanding.
"Drink it, and you can gain the eyes of a hawk, the ears of a wolf, the speed of a leopard, and the strength of a bear."
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