Chapter 41
Although personal growth was important to Gray, money was also a priority. Since he was at Hogwarts, he could make a profit, which he did by selling a new type of potion that became an instant hit among the girls—especially those who wore makeup. Even those who didn't wear makeup bought it because it was ideal.
[Name: Envisage Glamour Elixir]
[Grade: High]
[Description: Envisage Glamour Elixir is a high-grade potion that grants the consumer the ability to instantly manifest a flawless, personalized makeup look at 500% potency. The consumer must clearly envision the desired makeup in their mind for the elixir to shape features and tones perfectly. Brewed with Level 6 potion-making skills, the ingredients include Fairy Wing Dust (for delicate shimmer and lasting effect), Asphodel Essence (for skin smoothing), Powdered Moonstone (for enhanced radiance and color precision), and Beetle Eyes (for refined facial detail). Auxiliary components such as Rose Oil and Lavender Essence provide a gentle, long-lasting fragrance. The elixir's effects last for up to eight hours, and repeated use may leave a faint, residual shimmer on the skin.]
[Deterioration-Rate: 100%, freshness of the potion maintained]
Not only was it easy to apply—just a sip for makeup that lasts eight hours—but it was also hassle-free and without side effects, which was Gray's exact sales pitch. No wonder it was a success; even the female professors sought it out, though they never dealt with Gray directly. They acquired it easily through one of their teacher's pets. So yes, Gray was making bank off people's insecurities, but all he saw were the shiny gold coins, and at that moment, nothing else mattered.
Outside the castle, Gray made his way to Hagrid's hut, where Buckbeak was about to be executed. He intended to collect Buckbeak's blood, feathers, and talons, when he suddenly heard a howl. "Weird" he though as he listened further, "that sounded like Hermione," he thought which made sense his sense of hearing was superhuman, following the voice. He found Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Snape witnessing Professor Lupin's transformation into a werewolf. "What the fuck?" Gray thought, shocked. He was about to help when he noticed another pair of Harry and Hermione nearby. Immediately, he frowned, and they spotted him too. "Shit," Hermione cursed as Gray speed-blitzed them, pinning both to a tree and choking them.
"Gra…" Harry started to gasp as Gray hesitated for a second, then took out a liquid and fed it to them before letting them go. "Alright, who are you?" he asked as they started to cough. "It's me, Gray, Hermione," she said, now convincing Gray of her identity thanks to the truth serum he had developed which was the liquid he fed them, for the merlin fanatics. "Yeah, it's us," Harry added. Gray then pointed to the others, saying, "Then explain that." Hermione quickly explained everything, from how they'd visited Hagrid's hut just before Buckbeak's execution to their escape, Sirius Black's animagus form, and the revelation that Peter Pettigrew was Ron's rat, the real traitor responsible for Harry's parents' deaths. She also shared how Professor Lupin turned into a werewolf, and how they'd used a bewitched item called the Time-Turner to come back in time which was given to hermione by proffer mcgonagall.
"And she said I was her favorite student. Looks like someone isn't getting a drop of the makeup potion," Gray slipped, making Hermione look at him in shock. "You were the one behind that potion?" she asked. But Gray suddenly turned around, pushing the two out of the way as the werewolf lunged.
"Gray!" Harry yelled as Gray kicked the werewolf with all his might. "Go, I'll handle him. And Hermione, I'm borrowing that Time-Turner to study, of course," he said as the werewolf recovered. "Only if you promise to give me the makeup potion when I ask," Hermione replied, making Gray groan as he sidestepped the werewolf's lunge. "Fine, now go," he said, and Hermione and Harry left. Once he was sure they were out of sight, Gray faced the werewolf. "Now that they're out of the way, shall we dance?" he said, his own animagus form towering at three meters—reflecting his superhuman physiology—dwarfing the snarling werewolf before him.
Gray's animagus form loomed over Lupin's werewolf, his heightened senses taking in every shift of the forest around them. Moonlight streamed through the dense branches, casting eerie shadows across the clearing in the Forbidden Forest, where the two predators circled each other. The air was thick with tension, and Gray could sense Lupin's primal instincts seizing control, making it clear this battle would be fierce.
Lupin snarled, muscles tensing, his yellow eyes locked on Gray with feral intensity. Without warning, he lunged, swift and silent, his claws outstretched to tear through flesh. Gray sidestepped with a blur of speed, narrowly avoiding the swipe, and countered with a powerful paw-strike to Lupin's ribs. The blow was met with a sickening crunch, and Lupin stumbled back, but his unrelenting gaze showed no sign of surrender.
The forest around them seemed to retreat in their presence; nearby shrubs were crushed underfoot, and tree bark was gouged by sharp claws and fangs as they clashed. Gray's enhanced strength allowed him to parry Lupin's attacks more easily, his reflexes finely tuned to track every movement. The werewolf lunged again, faster this time, snapping jaws just inches from Gray's neck. Gray twisted away, narrowly avoiding the bite, and delivered a brutal kick to Lupin's midsection, sending him sprawling.
Breathing heavily, Lupin shook his head, then darted low, catching Gray by surprise. His claws found purchase, raking down Gray's shoulder with a burning sting. Gray growled, adrenaline surging as he threw himself back, freeing himself. They clashed again, teeth and claws meeting in midair. Each strike sent a tremor through the forest floor, leaves and soil scattering beneath them. It became a brutal dance, with Gray using his superior agility and strength to dodge and counter, landing hits that would have crippled a lesser foe.
Seeing an opening, Gray leapt onto a low branch, using it as a launching point to crash down on Lupin. The impact forced Lupin to the ground, and for a brief moment, Gray pinned him, his massive weight pressing Lupin into the dirt. The werewolf struggled, thrashing wildly, and managed to buck Gray off with a desperate, snarling twist.
Realizing he needed to end the fight quickly, Gray adjusted his stance, focusing on Lupin's movements. This time, when Lupin lunged, Gray ducked low and swept his legs in a circular motion, tripping Lupin and sending him sprawling forward. Gray seized the moment, pressing a powerful paw against the back of Lupin's head, forcing him down. Lupin struggled, clawing at the earth, but Gray maintained his hold, driving the werewolf's head into the ground, immobilizing him.
With a final growl, Gray applied pressure, his grip just enough to daze rather than harm. Gradually, Lupin's struggling slowed, his snarling reduced to a dull whimper as his body went limp, succumbing to exhaustion. Gray remained still for a moment, ensuring Lupin was truly subdued before easing up, he then carried him out of the woods and into the shrieking shack before he left, not before taking some of werewolf blood of course, to gray, ingrediant was as important as drinking water or eating food.
-scene change-
The next morning, Gray was just done experimenting with drops of Lupin's blood and looking over the data when he saw Hermione and Harry running up to him. "Where have you been?" Hermione asked. Gray replied, "Busy," before Harry looked him up and down. "You're okay. How?" he asked, confused by how Gray was unharmed. Hermione answered for him, "Of course he's okay; he's only the greatest potioneering genius to have existed." Gray gave her a deadpan look. "Flattery won't get you extra potion." She smiled and took out the Time-Turner, a small hourglass on a chain. "But I bet this will," she said, handing it to Gray, who took it and handed her a test tube of potion.
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A/N: So, you knew it was coming, and yes, he will sell the downgraded version of the recipe in potion shops and collect royalties.
P.S.: You're going to like the next couple of episodes. Just an early warning: this year at Hogwarts will not get much screen time, but I promise that in The Goblet of Fire, Gray will be at the center of attention for the entire year, and all of Hogwarts will have its eyes on him. The rift will become known to the HP world, and that is when I am going to try and shake up the HP universe.