Harry Potter: From Muggle Cousin to Conceptual Archmage

"So, you want me to totally get rid of the disputes among wizards and build a perfect, harmonious world?"

While the System's prompt was ringing in his mind, Dudley couldn't help but complain silently to himself.

In his view, wizards, no, humans, no, all intelligent and conscious life forms in the world could never completely eliminate disputes.

Of course, if one were to be stubborn, one could destroy all other individuals and leave only one.

But whether Dudley could do this was one question, and even if he could, he wouldn't. He wasn't that extreme.

Moreover, this kind of extreme and special case obviously didn't align with the idea of developing and strengthening the talents in the wizarding world as required by this regret event.

"So, what exactly do you want me to do?" Dudley shouted in his mind.

But the System just calmly kept sending out its mechanical voice:

[Special Notice: Resolving this Special Regret Event is divided into two phases.]

[Phase One: Unity of the Four Houses.]

[The host needs to make the students of the four houses at Hogwarts develop a clear and extensive collective consciousness. Specifically, they should stop being obsessed with malicious competition, comparison, and opposition between houses and individuals. Instead, they should form a peaceful and positive competitive - cooperative relationship.]

[Based on this, an excellent campus atmosphere should be established, and a fixed and positive concept should be formed. In this way, it can naturally and subtly influence future generations of students and their parents at Hogwarts.]

[Thus, comprehensively improving the order and stability of the wizarding world.]

[Upon completing this phase's task, the host will receive a fixed reward: 1 chance for the conceptual sublimation of a spell (random type).]

[Phase Two: Inheritance and Innovation.]

[The host needs to deeply enhance the ability of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to cultivate talents. Also, the host should strive to raise the lower limits of the strength and knowledge of Hogwarts graduates.]

[Deepen the passion of Hogwarts students for magic. On the basis of students' good study and acceptance of previous magic inheritance, they should innovate and continuously create new - generation magic.]

[Thus, comprehensively improving the strength level of wizards in the wizarding world.]

[Upon completing this phase's task, the host will receive a fixed reward: 1 chance for the conceptual sublimation of a spell (switching type).]

[Special Regret Events only have fixed rewards and no extra rewards.]

[Note: A 'random type' chance for the conceptual sublimation of a spell means that after the host obtains this chance, the System will randomly conceptually sublimate a spell already mastered by the host.]

[Note: A 'switching type' chance for the conceptual sublimation of a spell means that after the host obtains this chance, they can switch to a spell that has not been conceptually sublimated for conceptual sublimation at intervals. The spell that has been switched out will automatically lose the effect of conceptual sublimation.

Regarding the switching interval, it could be randomly set by the System or designated by the host. Whether the host can decide to switch at the end of the interval depends on the host's performance in the second - phase task.

The better the phase task is completed, the fewer the switching restrictions will be. The host can independently decide when to receive the reward.]

After listening to the System's explanation of the two Phase Tasks for resolving this SSS-level regret event, Dudley wasn't sure if he should be happy or not.

The difficulty of completing the tasks was truly high, but the task rewards were also really amazing.

Besides, he came to Hogwarts as a student, not as a professor or the headmaster.

Resolving this SSS-level regret event was clearly the headmaster's job. Wasn't this forcing him, Dudley, to take on a leadership role? (like being forced to take on a high - status role, similar to the ancient Chinese story of someone being enthroned)

Oh, how distressed he was!

Just as Dudley was lost in thought, wondering where to start with these two challenging tasks,

he suddenly felt an intangible resonance with the mysterious ancient castle he was in.

This thousand - year - old Hogwarts Castle had granted him some special privileges.

He could freely enter any room in the castle except the headmaster's office and the Chamber of Secrets?

He could rationally modify and control the four houses' scoring hourglasses placed in the Great Hall?

He could command the Sorting Hat, the Entrance Book, the Quill of Acceptance, and Peeves to a certain extent?

He could mobilize Hogwarts' defensive forces when necessary, including the alchemical battle golems inside the castle and the covenant creatures outside?

He was really taking off! Hogwarts was almost becoming his territory!

Dudley kept a calm expression on the surface, but inside he was overjoyed. His previously wavering thoughts quickly settled.

If others showed him an inch of respect, he'd return the favor.

He was definitely going to resolve the general consciousness of Hogwarts' regret!

"First - years! Follow me into the Great Hall for the Sorting!"

At this time, Professor McGonagall walked out of the Great Hall and beckoned the first - years who had been waiting for a while to head into the hall.

Dudley didn't hesitate. Holding his wand, he walked at the front of the line.

His cousin Harry was a bit nervous. He quickened his pace to catch up, quietly reached out his hand, pinched Dudley's elbow, and whispered:

"Cousin, I want to use this Sorting Ceremony to clarify the misunderstandings in the wizarding world about us to all the wizards at Hogwarts."

"Sure, do as you like. I'll fully support you. Don't worry even if it goes wrong!"

Without a second thought, Dudley made a promise to his cousin. "By the way, don't hold up the Sorting. Wait until it's over and then you can go up!"

"Okay, cousin!"

Dudley's words were like a shot in the arm for Harry. He immediately stopped being nervous and felt full of energy.

He closely followed his cousin and stepped into the Hogwarts Great Hall through the wide - open double doors.

Floating candles, flying ghosts, a magnificent star - studded ceiling, and a brightly lit, spacious hall.

The Hogwarts Great Hall was truly extraordinary, just like the supposed 'Merlin passing gas' - something truly out of the ordinary!

Four long tables belonged to the four houses. At the moment, the wizards from the second to the seventh year were sitting in front of their empty plates, eagerly looking at the first - years walking down the central aisle of the Great Hall.

They remained silent. While their eyes quickly scanned Dudley and Harry, they searched around, trying to find the three muggles they had met on the platform earlier.

Unfortunately, even after all the first - years had entered the hall and the hall doors had closed, they still couldn't find the spectacle they were hoping for.

Malfoy, who was mingling in the line of first - years, noticed those unfriendly and inquisitive looks. Inevitably, a bit more gratitude for Dudley welled up in his heart.

If Dudley hadn't spared his face and carefully covered for him, even if he managed to secretly lift the spell with Professor McGonagall's help, he would surely have been found out by the other first - years through the process of elimination.

In that case, he really didn't know where to put his own face and that of his family.

Dudley, walking at the front of the line, of course had no idea what Malfoy was thinking.

He led the line of first - years and followed Professor McGonagall, all the way to the end of the four - house dining tables. There was a long and narrow open space here.

Beyond the open space was a platform of medium height with the score hourglasses of the four houses and the horizontally placed faculty seats on it.

In one of those seats sat a despicable person whom both Dudley and Harry had been thinking about for a long time.