Cedric Diggory, a true Hufflepuff legend, was undeniably the top student in his fourth year. Even Slytherins agreed on that. He effortlessly earned an "O" (Outstanding) in every subject. Every professor who'd taught him, even someone as strict as Professor Snape, had nothing but praise for him.
He was a boy full of reason, talent, and an elegant charm.
People called him "everything you'd expect from a Hogwarts student."
In Hufflepuff House, he was wildly popular, hailed as the pride of the entire house.
His reputation was on par with Dudley's in Slytherin.
In the original Goblet of Fire storyline, when students from other houses misunderstood Harry and wore "Potter Stinks" badges, believing he'd cheated to become a champion, Cedric was the first to tell his friends to take them off.
When Harry shared details about the first Triwizard task, Cedric, true to his sense of fairness and harmony, returned the favor by hinting at how to crack the second task's riddle, ensuring a level playing field.
Talented, stubborn, and brimming with a sense of justice.
That's exactly why Dudley chose Cedric as the first candidate for the Discipline Committee. Those qualities were precisely what the group needed.
Inside one of Slytherin's rooms, everything had been cleared out except for a single table, leaving the space stark and empty.
"Your spellwork is rock-solid. Your Defense Against the Dark Arts is outstanding, and you've got a unique knack for Transfiguration. All you need now is more practice and time to grow," Dudley said, standing in front of Cedric and giving a brief rundown of his skills in each subject. Hermione sat behind him at the table, scribbling notes on parchment.
Dudley genuinely thought highly of Cedric. The guy was seriously impressive.
"Compared to you, I'm still miles behind," Cedric replied, panting heavily.
His hand, gripping his wand, trembled slightly. Sweat drenched his forehead, face, and clothes, showing just how exhausted he was.
Truth be told, Dudley hadn't even lifted a finger against him.
The examiner wasn't Dudley, and it definitely wasn't Hermione.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't even a person.
Hovering in the air between them was a Cornish Pixie.
Snap.
The pixie flicked its fingers, and a small whirlwind whipped up.
"Final test," Dudley said. "Calm it down. Should be easy for you."
"Yes," Cedric replied, raising his wand again.
As an all-around stellar student, Cedric's knowledge of Care of Magical Creatures was top-notch. He knew exactly what kind of creature a Cornish Pixie was.
They were notorious for causing mischief and not much else.
A simple spell could take one out in a heartbeat, yet this pixie had been trained into something formidable.
Cedric thought this Cornish Pixie was the most powerful magical creature he'd ever seen.
How on earth did Dudley pull that off?
Only the King of Slytherin could manage something like that.
The whirlwind wasn't too strong, and Cedric quelled it without much trouble.
"Come back, Pixie. You did great," Dudley called.
A red light flashed over the Cornish Pixie, and it vanished. Dudley tucked the red-and-white ball at his waist, where it clicked into place.
Turning to Cedric, he said, "Congratulations, you passed. You're officially part of the Discipline Committee. I hope you'll help make Hogwarts a better place."
"Thank you so much for your guidance, Mr. Dursley," Cedric said, bowing deeply, his tone sincere. "I won't let you down."
His voice and demeanor were so respectful, it was as if he were addressing a professor.
"You've got real talent. Don't waste it," Dudley said, patting Cedric's shoulder in a mentor-like tone, encouraging him like a senior would a junior.
Even though Dudley was two years younger and Cedric was technically the upperclassman, the scene felt perfectly natural. No one would've found it odd.
Even Cedric himself thought it made total sense.
"Compared to you, I'm nothing special," Cedric said humbly.
"Tomorrow morning, seven o'clock, meet on the lawn outside Hogwarts Castle. You know the drill."
"Yes."
"Dudley, I've finished organizing his file. It's ready to hand over to Professor Dumbledore," Hermione said, passing a thick stack of parchment to Dudley, filled with details about Cedric.
"You're a lifesaver, Hermione," Dudley said.
As a secretary, Hermione was beyond outstanding—she was exceptional.
She handled every detail with precision, barely needing Dudley to lift a finger.
"You sure about letting him join?" she asked.
"Absolutely. The Discipline Committee can't function with just a few of us. We're swamped. We need more talented people like him."
Dudley didn't mention that the more talented members they had, the more he could "slack off" without anyone noticing.
Going it alone was never the best approach, no matter how powerful you were. Even the infamous dark wizard Grindelwald had his followers, the "Grindelwald Army" (not "Saints"). And Voldemort had his Death Eaters.
Choosing Cedric wasn't random.
His talent was one reason, but another was that he was a Hufflepuff. If a Hufflepuff could join the Discipline Committee, why couldn't students from the other three houses?
Leaving the Headmaster's office, Dudley headed straight for his dormitory. The ruby ring on his finger glowed faintly red.
He pushed open the door to his room.
Inside, a small, scrawny creature was trapped in a transmutation circle Dudley had crafted with magical enhancements.
The creature had bat-like ears, bulging eyes the size of tennis balls, and a long, pointed nose like Pinocchio's.
No question about it—this was a house-elf.
Just like the hundred or so house-elves bustling around in Hogwarts' kitchens.
According to legend, house-elves were inspired by Scottish brownies—creatures who wore tattered brown clothes, eager to live in harmony with humans and help with chores. But you couldn't pay them, or they'd vanish. And if you didn't offer something, they'd disappear too.
The house-elf, realizing Dudley had spotted it, kept snapping its fingers, trying to cast a spell to escape.
But Dudley's transmutation circle was designed specifically to counter house-elf magic, suppressing its power and blocking its spells.
Dudley looked at the trapped house-elf and said with a mocking smirk, "I never would've guessed a house-elf would moonlight as a thief."
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