Chereads / Otherworldly Interference / Chapter 86 - Painful Experience

Chapter 86 - Painful Experience

After finishing his breakfast, Harry stood up to head back to his room. Vernon and Sirius had already left eager to get started with the groundwork for the Moonstone Elixir program. Petunia had headed upstairs to wake up Abigail. She'd promised to reach out to her contacts later to help spread the word once they were ready. 

Harry went back to his room, shutting the door behind him. He took a deep breath, savoring the quiet before he set to work. He pulled out a stack of parchment and began writing letters to the reporters he met during his Potion Mastery exam. He wrote about the promised exclusive scoop about the Moonstone Elixir program, including just enough of the program's purpose to intrigue them. Satisfied, he tied the letters to Hedwig's leg, giving her a gentle scratch before sending her off.

Once Hedwig was out of sight, he turned to his potion table. Considering that he would need two and half hour to brew the Eye-correcting Potion, it would be best if he started now. considering he would be getting his eye-sight back. He took out a parchment and started writing the recipe out. 

Ingredients: 

Pure Springwater Essence – 150 mL (base)

Powdered Selenite – 1 pinch (to enhance clarity and promote tissue regeneration)

Essence of Belladonna – 1 drop (stabilizer and eye soother)

Basilisk Venom – 2 drops (catalyst for cellular renewal)

Phoenix Tears – three drops (enhances healing and regrowth)

Crushed Valerian Petals – 2 petals (calms ocular nerves during treatment)

Newt Eye Extract – 3 drops (enhances focal accuracy)

Lavender Essence – 2 drops (improves tissue absorption)

Powdered Dragon Claw – a tiny pinch (for endurance and lasting results)

Harry carefully took out all the ingredients and measured out all of them before returning the access back to his pouch. After that he carefully laid out the measured ingredients in front of him, admiring the vibrant colors and textures. 

"Alright, let's get started," he murmured to himself. Harry was very eager to get rid of his glasses since they proved to be very troublesome at times.

"I wish I had some music to work to..." Harry said while getting the cauldron ready. With a deep breath, he began the brewing process.

First he poured the Pure Springwater Essence into the small gold cauldron and placed it on medium heat. "Well the base is ready, now let's get the magic started," he said, a grin spreading across his face.

With that the scene changed as Harry used both his hands a

nd magical energy to keep the potion in check. As the water warmed, Harry began to check the ingredients one by one. 

With a flick of his wrist, Harry summoned the Powdered Selenite and emptied it into the cauldron. He kept stirring with his other hand, ensuring that the powder dissolved completely. "Perfectly balanced," he murmured, feeling a rush of satisfaction.

With a deft motion he poured the Essence of Belladonna into the cauldron, using his magic to keep stirring the potion gently as he poured. After which he quickly gave the potion three anti-clockwise stirs. Using his magic this time he added two drops of Basilisk Venom into the cauldron which caused green fumes to hiss up from the cauldron. 

Harry quickly gave one and half clockwise stir followed by half anti-clockwise stir, while using his magic to subtly lower the flames. After five minutes of letting the potion simmer, he proceeded to add Crushed Valerian Petals and Newt Eye extract simultaneously while using magic to keep stirring the potion anti-clockwise.

After these dissolved completely, Harry carefully added the Lavender Essence followed by the Powdered Dragon Claw while using his magic to keep the flame high. After the essence and powder dissolved, Harry turned the heat all the way down to let the potion simmer.

"Well, all I gotta do now is wait till it get's done," Harry muttered to himself as he stepped back from the potion table. 

He quickly warded the potion table so that no one would disturb it even when he was not there. The last thing he needed was for someone to mess with the potion and destroy it.

As he straightened up, Harry thought about his next steps. He'd planned to help the twins get the business side of their venture sorted—while they had the creativity and talent, their approach could use some professional grounding if they wanted it to truly take off.

"Right then, better to get that done now than wait," he thought aloud, a smirk spreading across his face. "Plus, if Mr. Weasley could go full-time with them… maybe it'd really help keep things running smoothly. They'd have his experience and trust." A plan began to form in his mind, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

Just as he was about to move on, another thought clicked in his mind. What if they could convince Percy to join as the legal backbone of the business? Percy was diligent, precise, and had an innate sense for rules and structure—exactly what a legal representative needed.

"Only problem is..." Harry frowned, "would Percy really prioritize his family over his ambitions? Or would he let the business down by being too by-the-book?"

He weighed the idea, feeling the conflict. Percy had always been the most distant of the Weasleys in some ways. But if he could channel his dedication into helping his own family... Harry felt it could mean the difference between a small business and an empire. 

"Guess there's only one way to find out," he murmured. With that thought, he turned on the spot Apparating right to The Burrow. 

Harry appeared in the garden of The Burrow, the familiar sight of wild flowers and the patchy, homey exterior. He headed towards the door, and before he'd even stepped inside, he heard a loud crash from within. Moments later, Ron came barreling down the stairs, nearly toppling over a side table on his way to meet Harry.

"Harry!" Ron's eyes were wide with excitement. "How come you didn't tell me about—about being a Potion Master?" he stammered, looking both surprised and slightly hurt.

Harry offered him an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that, Ron," he said. "It's just... well, I had to keep it under the wraps. If I told anyone, it wouldn't be long before the entire school knew. I just… didn't want people acting like they did when I first got here, you know? Fawning all over me."

Ron nodded slowly, his expression shifting to one of understanding. "Yeah, I get it. Would've been mad if everyone started hounding you again. But still! A Potion Master!"

Harry chuckled, nudging Ron lightly in the shoulder. "I promise, next time I pull something like this, you'll be the first to know," he said, earning a grin from his friend. "Speaking of which, where are the twins?"

"They grabbed breakfast earlier but then went back up to sleep in—they seemed a bit more tired then usual," Ron replied as they both stepped in. 

Harry nodded. Well he could guess the cause of the exhaustion. He flopped down on the couch. "And what about Percy? Mrs. Weasley? And I don't see Ginny either."

Ron sat down next to Harry, "Mom took Ginny to Diagon Alley for shopping. And Percy is in his room."

Harry nodded and got up immediately. "Take me to Percy's room."

Ron raised an eyebrow as they headed up the stairs, looking at Harry curiously. "What's this about, anyway?"

Harry smiled, "It's about the twins' business. I think Percy could play a big role in it."

Ron nodded and led Harry to Percy's door. "Here we are," he said, knocking briefly before stepping back. Moments later, Percy opened the door, looking surprised to find his youngest brother and Harry outside. 

"Harry... Ron," Percy said, a bit of surprise evident in his voice. Harry could tell he wasn't expecting company, especially not Harry.

"Mind if I come in?" Harry asked, giving Percy a friendly smile. "I've got something important I'd like to discuss with you." He then turned to Ron and gestured to the other rooms. "Ron, could you give us a bit? And maybe wake up the twins while you're at it?"

Ron looked between them with a puzzled expression, but he simply shrugged and turned to head back downstairs. "Right, I'll go grab the twins," he muttered, leaving the two of them alone. 

As Percy closed the door, he gestured toward a chair by his desk. "Please, take a seat, Harry."

Harry took a seat, looking around at the orderly room, and couldn't help but smile a little. "How was the trip back?" he asked, easing into the conversation.

Percy's face colored a bit as he replied, "It was… pleasant, thank you."

Harry nodded, leaning forward slightly. "Well, I won't keep you guessing. I wanted to talk about the twins' business."

"What about it? Is something wrong?" Percy asked. 

Harry shook his head smiling. "No. Nothing is wrong. In fact, its rather opposite. You see the twins and I think that it's time to open up a store for their products."

Percy's brows furrowed as he absorbed Harry's words. "What do you mean by… 'a store'? Are they actually considering moving this beyond Hogwarts?"

Harry nodded, a hint of pride in his voice. "The business has been growing too fast to keep it a school-only operation. The twins and I agreed that it's time to take things to the next level—a dedicated storefront where they can sell their products properly. The idea is for them to continue developing new products at Hogwarts, while the store handles sales and other operations."

Percy's jaw dropped slightly as he tried to take it in. He leaned against his desk, blinking as if to make sure he'd heard correctly. "A storefront... so soon? How much are they making for this to be even feasible?"

Harry smiled, knowing that the number would surprise him. "Last month alone, they made over six thousand galleons."

Percy's mouth opened in shock, and he slowly sank onto the edge of his bed, his face pale. Six thousand galleons. The amount echoed in his head. It was an unbelievable amount. He took a shaky breath, trying to collect himself. "All of that… from Hogwarts?"

Harry nodded. "Actually, most of it came from outside Hogwarts. A good portion of their sales are through owl orders—more than half, really."

Percy's hand rubbed his forehead as he tried to process this revelation. His brothers, whom he'd often dismissed for their lack of focus on "serious" studies, had somehow managed to nearly solve the family's financial struggles on their own. A wry, slightly embarrassed chuckle escaped him as he remembered how often he'd urged them to "take things seriously." All this time, he'd thought they were wasting their talents. But in the end, he realized, he'd been the one who couldn't see their potential. But Harry did. An eleven year old boy saw the potential in his brothers which even he didn't. And the real sting was that Harry had only known them for a year.

Percy looked back at Harry. "I... I never realized their potential but you did. All this time, I thought they were being... frivolous. But it's them that solved our family's problem." He let out another shaky laugh. "It seems I was the fool."

Harry gave him a reassuring smile, "It's not too late to be part of it Percy. That's why I'm here. You've got the organizational mind and skills, that will be very useful to this business. With your help, this thing could really turn into something bigger than what any of us can imagine."

Percy looked up at Harry, "Alright, Harry," he said. "Tell me what I need to do."

Harry leaned forward with a serious expression. "Percy, the reason I came to you for this isn't just because you're organised or good with rules. I need someone who can be the legal backbone of this business, someone who understands how to defend and grow it the right way. This is about more than just making sure everything's on paper—it's about protecting what they've built and making sure it grows, safely and securely."

Percy nodded, though with a slight hesitancy.

"And it's not like I'm expecting you to do everything right away. I just want you to help guide it, to keep an eye on things from a legal standpoint. I trust you to be that person, Percy." Harry explained. 

Percy blinked, taken aback. "But… you could hire a real lawyer. Someone who's trained, who understands how businesses work."

"We could hire any lawyer, sure. But lawyers have their own agendas, and I'd be lying if I said I trust someone outside family with something this important. It's too risky."

Percy's brows furrowed, and he leaned back, looking slightly defensive. "You're saying you don't think I'll try to twist things in my own favor?"

He looked away, clearly wrestling with the idea. "This… it's a huge responsibility, Harry. What if I make a mistake?"

"Oh you will, but that's how you will be able to grow properly." Harry replied with a smile. 

"Alright, Harry," Percy said, taking a deep breath. "If you really believe in me… I'll do it. I'll help keep this business safe for our family."

Harry nodded, "There's... more to this plan, actually. I was hoping your dad might be open to coming on board too."

Percy's eyes widened in surprise. "Dad? But he's worked at the Ministry for so long. It's his life, Harry! I… don't know if he'd agree to just leave it all."

"I know he's dedicated. But think about it, Percy. This business the twins have started, it's already making almost as much in a month as what he brings home in a year." Harry explained. "And that's just from selling pranks and joke items to Hogwarts students and a few others by owl order. Imagine what we could build with a store—a real one, in Diagon Alley, or even Hogsmeade."

Percy looked thoughtful, his mind clearly racing as he processed Harry's words. "But… still. The Ministry might not pay well, but it's… stable, at least. And Dad, he loves what he does there, even if it is just managing magical items. Besides, Mum wouldn't want to risk everything on a business venture."

Harry shook his head, "Don't worry, the thing I know best is business and I can guarantee you that it will be bigger than anything anyone has imagined."

Percy met Harry's gaze, the hesitation finally starting to fade from his expression. "Alright, Harry. I'll do it. I'll help you, and the twins, and… the family. Let's make this work."

Harry smiled excitedly, "Brilliant, Percy! Now I just need to talk to your dad and your mum."

As Harry and Percy stepped out of the room, they made their way down the narrow staircase to find the twins slouched on the couch yawning with barely-open eyes, while Ron was setting up a chessboard nearby. Harry casually flicked his fingers towards the twins sending two energising charms at them, immediately bringing a spark of alertness to their expressions. 

Fred blinked, suddenly wide awake. "Blimey, Harry! A bit of warning next time?"

George gave a mock shiver, "Feels like I've just had a strong cup of Madam Rosmerta's best coffee."

Harry chuckled, settling onto the couch. "Good, because you'll want to be fully awake for this." He glanced at Percy, who joined them, looking more resolute than he had before.

"So, here's the plan," Harry began, laying out his thoughts on how to include the entire family into the business and how that would benefit them. 

Fred raised an eyebrow, still looking slightly skeptical. "No offense, Percy, but we're talking about pranks here. Can't really picture you taking a shine to products that make someone sprout feathers or sing every time they try to speak."

Harry jumped in, "It's not about whether Percy's a fan of pranks—it's about protecting the business and ensuring everything's solid legally. And given his knowledge into this, he would be perfect for the job once he graduates."

George exchanged a glance with Fred, then sighed. "Alright, mate. We trust you. If you think Percy can help us reach… well, bigger heights than just pranks and jokes, then we'll give it a go."

Harry gave them a satisfied nod, standing up. "Brilliant! Now, onto the next step. We need to start looking for a spot for the shop."

He paused, though, as the morning's events hit him. "Actually… I might've caused a bit of a stir earlier today," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "If I step out in Diagon Alley now, it'll probably cause more of a scene than we need. So, for today, let's just do a bit of planning here, and then I'll see about slipping in more discreetly later."

The boys around him exchanged looks, all of them scoffing almost in unison at Harry's massive understatement. The wizarding world had practically turned upside down with the news that an eleven-year-old had not only achieved Potion Mastery but had also breezed through four master-level potions simultaneously for his exam. And if that weren't enough, one of those potions was the notoriously difficult Lethalis Vitriol, a potion that could turn deadly with even the slightest misstep. Harry had brewed it flawlessly and then capped it all off by nonchalantly remarking that the recipe everyone had been using was wrong.

"Oh, just a bit of a stir?" Fred muttered, shaking his head.

"Mate, you've turned half the wizarding world grey in matter of hours," George added, grinning.

Ron snorted. "A stir? Harry, the way people are going on, you'd think you'd invented magic itself!"

Harry just shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "Just another day, right?"

Harry just shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "Just another day, right?"

Fred gave a loud snort, crossing his arms. "Oh, sure, Harry. Just an average, ordinary day—brewing a deadly potion that's terrified generations of wizards. Happens all the time."

George chimed in with mock enthusiasm, "And let's not forget, casually pointing out that the world's recipe for it was wrong. Bet everyone loves hearing that from an eleven-year-old."

Ron shook his head in exaggerated disbelief. "Honestly, Harry, you could've just gotten the mastery and kept it quiet. But no—you had to go and outdo every Potion Master alive!"

Even Percy, who'd stayed mostly serious throughout, couldn't resist a slight smirk. "You might have missed your calling, Harry. I'd say the Department of Magical Catastrophes might want to keep you on their radar."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, it wasn't that dramatic."

Fred raised his hands, feigning shock. "Not that dramatic? Harry, you've got half the wizarding world practically camping outside The Leaky Cauldron just hoping to catch a glimpse of the 'child prodigy' who brewed Lethalis Vitriol before he even hit twelve!"

George nodded. "It's like a circus out there. You're probably going to start showing up on chocolate frog cards soon, mate."

Harry stifled a laugh, "Alright, alright! Maybe I underestimated the… response."

Percy shook his head, smirking. "Let's just hope the next 'bit of chaos' you cause doesn't turn half of Britain upside down again."

Harry smirked. "Wait for tomorrow. It will be bigger than today."

The room went silent as everyone stared at Harry in stunned disbelief. 

Fred leaned forward, eyes wide. "Bigger than today?" he repeated, half in awe, half in horror. "Blimey, Harry, what have you got planned?"

George chimed in, grinning but with a glint of worry. "Yeah, at this rate, people will think you're some kind of… mythical agent of chaos. Maybe we should start warning folks in advance?"

"Merlin, Harry. You've already got people in the Ministry rethinking their entire careers after today's news. One even questioned whether the Hogwarts curriculum needed 'updating.'" Percy sighed. 

Ron chuckled. "Oh, I'd pay to see their faces tomorrow, then. Let's hope they don't start camping outside Dursley Mansion tomorrow."

Fred and George exchanged a look, their eyes gleaming with mischief. "You know, Harry," Fred began, "with you as our unofficial mascot of mayhem, our business might have a whole new market—Harry-inspired chaos products."

George nodded enthusiastically. "'Chaos in a Cauldron,' or 'Potter's Potions for Pandemonium!' The possibilities are endless."

Harry rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help but chuckle. "You two just want to make money off my 'reputation,' don't you?"

"Absolutely!" Fred replied cheekily, giving Harry a wink. 

After a few moments, Harry took his leave, saying he better be home for lunch, or else Abigail will throw a tantrum. He quickly Apparated back to his room, appearing by his desk.

He immediately glanced over at the Eye-Correcting Potion, observing its content. The solution had reduced a lot, turning crystal clear. Harry looked at the clock, it read 11:06 AM, twenty more minutes to go. After which he will be able to get rid of his glasses forever. 

Suddenly he thought, why can't he just speed up the process by using the time-forwarding thing imbedded in his wand. Elythral materialised in his hand raring to give it a go. Then again, the risk was too much—if the delicate potion reacted badly to the spell, he would lose all those precious ingredients. 

He weighed the pros and cons in his mind, muttering under his breath. "This is supposed to be one of the most important potions I've brewed… Better not push my luck."

After a long, silent debate with himself, Harry set Elythral back down on his desk with a resigned sigh. "It's just not worth the risk," he reasoned.

"I'll try the spell on something else—a simpler, cheaper potion first. If it works without affecting the quality, then maybe, just maybe, I'll consider it." Harry muttered to himself. 

So Harry decided to wait out the next twenty minutes, keeping a close eye on the potion. Exactly at twenty minutes Harry removed the cauldron from the flame and set it to cool down. After cooling Harry poured the transparent-water like potion into a glass vial and sealed it tightly.

He examined the vial in his hand, thinking about the challenge ahead. This wasn't a simple application—he'd have to apply the potion directly to each eye, and the moment it made contact the pain would be nearly unbearable. He needed someone reliable to administer it, someone who could handle his reaction calmly.

There was really only one person he could trust with this task. Snape.

Petunia would panic at the sight of him in pain, and Vernon—well, Vernon wouldn't be much different either. Sirius, as much as Harry trusted him, had too strong of a reaction to seeing him in distress. Snape, however, wouldn't be unnerved by his pain and would likely ensure the potion was administered correctly. But there was one problem: Harry didn't know where Snape lived.

Then, an idea struck him—he could simply send one of the house-elves with a message. Surely, they could locate him.

Without wasting time, Harry called for Loppy. The elf appeared instantly, bowing low. "How may Loppy serve Master Harry?"

Harry looked at him. "I need you to find Professor Snape and bring him here to my room. Tell him it's urgent, and I need his help. Do not alarm him—just let him know that I need assistance with something very important."

Loppy's eyes widened, but he nodded resolutely. "Loppy will bring Professor Snape right away," he said, then vanished with a soft pop.

A few minutes later, there was a distinct pop as Loppy reappeared bringing Snape with him, looking both curious and slightly concerned.

"Harry," Snape began, sounding less stern than usual. "Loppy said you needed urgent help. What have you concocted this time?"

Harry offered a small smile, "I brewed something called the Eye-Correcting Potion sir. It's… intense, but I believe it'll correct my vision entirely."

Snape's brow furrowed. "Eye-Correcting Potion? I'm not familiar with it. Explain the effects to me."

Taking a deep breath, Harry held up the small vial and began. "It's not exactly a pleasant potion, sir. The moment it touches the eye, it's… well, it's designed to destroy the damaged parts of the eye from the inside out and then rebuild them from scratch. The process is painful because of the destruction and regrowth phases. That's why I need someone to help administer it."

Snape's expression shifted. He looked at Harry, not sure what to say. "Harry… I don't doubt your skill in brewing, but are you certain this is worth it? This is a… drastic solution."

Harry nodded, "Well, this potion is the only permanent fix for eye-sight professor, so I don't really have any other choice." 

Snape finally nodded, though his mouth was set in a thin line. "Very well," he said. "If you're committed to this, then I'll do it. Just know that this is… no small thing you're putting yourself through."

"Thank you," Harry said as he flicked his hand towards the door to lock it and ward it so that no sound leaves the room. 

He then sat up slightly, wincing as he turned to Snape. "Professor... I think it might be best if you, er, bound me to the chair before you administer the potion."

"Bind you to the chair, Harry?" Snape echoed, crossing his arms. "Surely, that's unnecessary. Are you truly expecting the pain to be that unbearable?"

Harry took a deep breath. "Yes. From what I've read about the potion, it's supposed to feel like... well, like someone pouring molten lava on your eyes. If it's as bad as I'm expecting, I might thrash around. And if that happens, I could knock the vial, the potion, or anything else nearby. This whole process could be ruined—or worse, go wrong entirely."

"And you're certain this is what you want?" Snape asked quietly, his tone uncertain. "That you're willing to endure this… risk?"

Harry nodded, "It's the only way to make sure this works. I don't want to jeopardize it by flailing around like a madman."

"Very well," Snape said reluctantly. He conjured sturdy ropes, securing them around Harry's arms and chest and binding him to the chair. 

"If you're ready, then… brace yourself," Snape said.

Harry exhaled and nodded. "Let's do this."

Snape quickly poured half of the vial in each of Harry's eyes. 

At first, there was only a prickling warmth. But within seconds, the sensation turned violent, spreading like wildfire through his eyes and searing into the nerves behind it. 

An intense, blinding pain exploded in Harry's eyes. He screamed as the pain was beyond what he had imagined. His entire head felt like it was being burned alive from the inside out, the fire spreading from his eyes, down his nerves, and straight to the core of his skull.

Snape's usual composure faltered. His eyes widened as he watched Harry's face contort with unbearable pain. His screams were gut-wrenching. His hands trembled as he watched Harry, unable to do anything to help. 

Harry had underestimated the pain the potion would cause. This was too much. For the first time, Harry felt it. He really did mess it up bad. But he needed his normal vision, he hated needing glasses to even read properly. And this hate carried him through that pain. 

After an agonizing ten minutes, the pain finally stopped. Replaced by a cool, soothing sensation. It was as if ice water were dousing the flames, numbing the raw nerves and easing the scorching pain. 

When the last of the cold sensation dissipated, Harry slowly exhaled, his body sagging against the ropes. His voice was hoarse as he turned his head slightly, addressing Snape. 

"I—" Harry took a deep breath. "I completely underestimated the pain, I guess. That was... unbearable."

Snape's face was emotionless, "Indeed," he replied flatly. Watching Harry look around the room, he continued. "It seems to have worked, though."

Harry smiled, "Yeah, well, it certainly did. But I don't think I'll be forgetting that feeling anytime soon."

"As expected." Snape replied. 

Harry took a moment, then nodded in gratitude. "Thanks, Professor. I appreciate it. I wouldn't have trusted anyone else."

Snape gave a curt nod. "You're welcome," he said. Then as if remembering himself, he said, "I have other work to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

Harry nodded, still adjusting to his newfound clarity of sight. "Of course, Professor. Thanks again."

Snape said nothing but gave another short, curt nod and disapparateed from the room. 

Harry took a deep breath, stretching his arms, he smiled at the fact that he would never have to wear those glasses again.

"Well," he muttered to himself, "time for lunch."

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