"One, don't go to school on an empty stomach!"
"Two, hang your clothes out to dry on a sunny day!"
"Three, watch out for traffic when crossing the street!"
"Four, don't rely on others' strength!"
"Five, don't run around barefoot!"
Malfoy shouted these five mantras as he ran, repeating them over and over.
On the surface, these might sound childish, but they held a deeper meaning.
"Don't go to school on an empty stomach" means you should be fully prepared for anything you do. Without proper preparation, you'll likely fail and all your effort will be for nothing. "Hang your clothes out to dry on a sunny day" means you should seize a skill and master it, taking advantage of every opportunity. "Watch out for traffic when crossing the street" means you should pay attention to every detail and be cautious, because the little things can determine your success or failure. "Don't rely on others' strength" means you should do things on your own. The satisfaction of accomplishing something with your own strength is a feeling you can never get from someone else helping you. "Don't run around barefoot" means you should always have a backup plan and protect yourself. Never let your guard down, and always be on the lookout for danger.
These five sayings are also known as the Five Oathes of Ultraman.
As he ran, Malfoy was just repeating the phrases out of habit. His mind was already foggy and unfocused by the second lap. Sweat poured from his forehead, his face was flushed, his throat felt like it was on fire, and his body was as hot as a furnace. His feet, meanwhile, felt like they were filled with lead.
After completing the second lap, Malfoy felt like every step and every breath was a struggle. His body felt like it was on the verge of exploding. But just when he thought he had reached his limit, a spoon would magically appear out of nowhere and hit him on the head. The initial pain was surprising, but it was followed by a jolt of electricity and a wave of warmth, which miraculously allowed him to keep going.
He glanced back and swore he saw a faint glow coming from Dudley's hand. Was it magic? Malfoy didn't know what it was. At this point, he had only one thought in his head: finish the workout.
When Malfoy finished the third lap, Dudley stopped him from continuing to run.
"That's enough for today. It took a bit longer than I expected."
It had taken three full hours, from seven to ten o'clock. And that was with Dudley pushing him. If he had been on his own, it would have taken at least three times as long.
Malfoy's mind finally snapped back into reality, and his head cleared. I finished? Me? His eyes widened, and a look of disbelief appeared on his pale, flushed face.
"Congratulations. You stuck with it. That's a lot more willpower than I expected," Dudley praised him sincerely.
Hearing Dudley's words, Malfoy knew he had truly finished. He felt a warm glow spread through his body, and a sense of accomplishment washed over him. I did it! All by myself!
As the only son of the Malfoy family, he had always been pampered. His parents, relatives, and friends had all spoiled him, and his peers had always revolved around him. His father, Lucius, had taught him from a young age, "You were born into nobility, you are a pure-blood, and you are naturally superior to other wizards."
Growing up like this, Malfoy had a terrible attitude. He was a spoiled child. He had never set goals for himself or worked to achieve them, because all he ever had to do was ask, and he would get what he wanted.
So, Malfoy had never felt this sense of breaking through his own limits and conquering himself. Only those who loved to work out and challenge themselves could truly understand. It was tiring, but it felt good. That was the magic of building muscle.
"This potion will help with muscle soreness. Drink it," Dudley said, pulling a vial from his pocket and handing it to Malfoy.
Malfoy felt so good right now that he had a Pavlovian-like obedience to Dudley. He took the potion without a second thought and gulped it down. The moment the potion went down, the soreness in his limbs eased, and a pleasant warmth spread through his body. It was a feeling he couldn't describe, but it was incredibly comfortable. Amazing! Malfoy almost cried out in delight. He thought maybe working out with Dudley wouldn't be so bad after all.
Now, Malfoy's admiration for Dudley went beyond just strength. A bit of Stockholm Syndrome was in the mix, too.
"Go get some rest. Come a bit earlier tomorrow, let's start at six. And don't be late. Oh, and someone else will be joining us, but... he's not working out."
The person Dudley was referring to was Harry. Harry had sent Hedwig with a note last night, saying he had something to do and was staying up late, so he wouldn't be there to watch Dudley work out this morning. Harry was almost always on time, except for a few exceptions. Dudley had once invited him to work out, but Harry had refused. Still, he liked to watch Dudley train. Is watching someone else exercise more interesting than doing it yourself? Dudley couldn't understand it.
Dudley waved a hand, dismissing Malfoy. Malfoy said he would be on time tomorrow, feeling a surge of energy, and then limped away toward the Slytherin common room.
Dudley watched Malfoy's back with a thoughtful look. On the surface, Malfoy seemed like a troublemaker, always stirring up trouble and provoking him. But in reality, he was the easiest person to deal with in all of Slytherin. That's why Dudley had chosen him.
With his morning workout done, Dudley didn't rest. He took a shower, grabbed a notebook, and headed out again. Under the surprised eyes of Madam Pince and the other students, Dudley found a fluffy-haired girl in a corner and sat down beside her. With Dudley's size, he didn't look like the studious type.
"Why are you so late today?" Hermione asked, pretending to be nonchalant.
Dudley grabbed a book on spells and started flipping through it. "I was training with a little kid for a while."
"A girl?"
"A boy."
"I'll come tomorrow, too."
What changed her mind? Dudley gave Hermione a surprised look. He had suggested they work out together before, but she had refused, just like Harry. Her reason, though, was that she didn't want to get muscles as big as his. Dudley had even given her a little lesson on the subject. Generally, girls don't gain muscle as quickly as boys due to physiological differences in testosterone levels. Unless she was specifically trying to bulk up, Hermione would never get as big as he was.
Honestly, Dudley liked athletic girls with toned, curvy... ahem.
"What are you looking at? Is there a problem?" Hermione bared her teeth in a threatening grin.
But her prominent front teeth didn't look threatening at all; they just looked cute.
"Ahem. Quiet!" Madam Pince's voice rang out. She had been watching Dudley the whole time, a big fellow like him couldn't go unnoticed.