Chapter 106
After hours of trial and error, Gray finally succeeded. The potion in the cauldron shimmered with an ethereal glow, its color a vivid, swirling turquoise. It was no longer the Draught of Living Death but a completely new concoction. The magical quill recorded his triumphant smile as he stepped back to admire his work. The new potion exuded a calming aura, its effects yet to be tested but promising something extraordinary. Gray's focus gave way to a quiet pride, his lean frame relaxing as he realized that each failure had brought him closer to this moment of success.
-scene change-
Exiting the Room of Requirement, Gray came across Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the corridor. He didn't acknowledge them but ignored their presence entirely. Ron, however, purposefully bumped into him and said mockingly, "Sorry, I didn't see you there. But then again, I can't seem to see trash for some reason." Hermione immediately slapped Ron on the back, admonishing him with a sharp, "Ron!" He groaned, rubbing the spot where she hit him. "Yeah, yeah, he's your boyfriend. I get it. Stop slapping me," Ron muttered. Gray paused for a moment, turning back with an arrogant smile as he retorted, "Come on, Weasley. Me? Trash? I could buy you and your entire family and sell you cheap." Without waiting for a response, he walked off, leaving Harry frowning and Ron fuming.
-scene change-
Outside Hogwarts, Harry and Ron met up with Draco Malfoy and his usual entourage. "Potter," Draco greeted smoothly, a sly grin on his face. Harry returned the greeting, and for a moment, the two seemed to be on good terms. However, Draco's disdain for Ron was clear as he added with passive-aggressive venom, "I see you're still dragging along your charity case, Potter." Ron's face flushed with anger, but before he could respond, Harry shifted the conversation. "We're not here to argue," Harry said, his tone serious. "We're here for Gray. It's about time someone taught him a lesson. He's been getting way too arrogant lately." Draco smirked, clearly intrigued. "I can't say I disagree," he replied. Together, they all agreed it was time to confront Gray.
The next day, during one of Professor McGonagall's classes, Gray sat quietly at his table, taking meticulous notes. His face was marred with visible bruises, though he appeared unfazed by them. Harry, Ron, and Draco sat a few seats behind him, whispering and stifling laughter. McGonagall's sharp gaze caught their behavior, and she interrupted the class, asking sternly, "Is there something funny you'd like to share with the rest of us?" The room fell silent as the trio quickly composed themselves. Turning her attention to Gray, she noticed his injuries and suggested kindly, "Mr. Gray, perhaps you should visit the hospital wing." Gray, without looking up from his notes, ignored her suggestion entirely and continued writing, his demeanor unbothered.
-scene change-
Inside the Room of Requirement, the space had been completely transformed to meet Gray's needs. The room now resembled a fully equipped gym, complete with weights, resistance machines, and other workout gear. Gray stood at the center, lifting a heavy barbell with trembling arms, his muscles straining under the weight. Sweat poured down his face, his black hair clinging to his forehead. He pushed his body to the brink of exhaustion, his breathing labored and uneven. When he felt like giving up, the images of Ron, Harry, and Draco mocking him flashed through his mind, reigniting his determination. With a frustrated growl, he pushed himself further, completing another set.
After each grueling session, Gray would drink an altered Wiggenweld Potion, which he had carefully brewed to accelerate recovery. The potion worked almost instantly, soothing his aching muscles and revitalizing his energy. He would then get back to work, moving from lifting weights to intense cardio on a magically enhanced treadmill, which adjusted its speed to challenge him constantly. Gray alternated between exercises, performing push-ups, pull-ups, and weighted squats with relentless focus. Each time his body screamed in protest, the thought of proving his strength to his rivals pushed him forward. By the end of the day, his body ached, but his spirit remained unbroken, his resolve growing stronger with every drop of sweat shed in the room, just for the real gray to awaken.
-scene change(dream end)-
Later, Gray could be seen frowning as he tapped on the cover of his book. In front of him, Harry, Hermione, and Ron sat down, looking at the ground. Finally, Ron spoke, "I can't believe I would do that! That isn't like me, I swear, Gray." He seemed more afraid of how Gray would react, as Hermione looked at him and said, "Gray?" Gray finally responded, "Ah, yeah, I know," forcing a smile toward Ron, who became even more nervous. "Are you sure? Because you look like you're about to murder me," Ron added, making Gray sigh. "I'm just thinking about how to stop these ridiculous dreams, so don't worry about what happens in the dream," he said, which made Harry and Ron sigh in relief, though Gray's next words sent a shiver down their spines. "Although, I have a feeling that your dream-selves are going to get what's coming to them."
Gray sighed as he stood up, adding, "Anyways, you wanted to say something?" The trio followed him as they walked across the Hogwarts grounds. Ron adjusted his Quidditch robes while they talked. "Yeah, Ron, are you sure you can't?" Harry asked, a note of urgency in his voice. "Hagrid said it was important." Ron shook his head determinedly. "No way. Quidditch practice. If we don't show up, Angelina'll go mad." Harry seemed reluctant as he said, "I have to go and check on Hagrid. Go alone, I'll be fine. Plus, I'm the best Quidditch player in Hogwarts," he bragged. Gray smirked and said, "Is that arrogance I sense, Potter?" Harry quickly backtracked as Hermione slapped his arm. "Come on, Gray," she said. With that, they parted ways—Gray, Harry, and Hermione heading toward the Forbidden Forest while Ron trudged off toward the Quidditch pitch.