Chapter 35
As they slipped inside, they found a man in shabby robes—Professor Lupin—slumped against the window, asleep and looking ill. Sitting opposite him was a young man with pale skin, short but dark hair, and dead, dull gray eyes. The young man was tall, with a lean and well-built body, although he was not jacked. Hermione lingered on the young man for a second before her eyes widened as she muttered, "Gray?" This immediately got a gasp from Ron, who said, "Bullshit, that is not Gray," before turning to look at the young man, who now turned toward them, saying, "Ah, it's you guys," which further shocked the trio as Harry said, "You look different." Gray shrugged, and Ron said, "He looks different each year. Be honest, are you some magical lizard that molts each year?" His weird question got a weird look from Gray as the trio took a seat.
"How did you recognize him? He practically looks like a different person," Harry asked Hermione, who pointed out, "His wand." All the boys looked at Gray's wand before having a look of realization. The reason Gray looked so different and not so jacked was not because he had gotten weaker—no, far from it. Gray had actually evolved. That's right, Gray had succeeded in not only reaching the physical limit that the human body could improve but had broken that limit using a potion that was appropriately named the Limit Breaker Potion.
[ Name: Limit Breaker Potion ]
[ Grade: High grade ]
[ Description: The Limit Breaker Potion is a powerful and transformative elixir designed to allow the consumer to completely break their body down to the cellular level and rebuild it stronger, breaking the natural limit imposed by their species. Crafted with Level 6 Potion Creation skill, this high-grade potion boasts 500% effectiveness. Key ingredients include Cyclops Essence (for cellular regeneration and strength), Minotaur Blood (for enhanced endurance and speed), Werewolf Extract (for rapid healing), Ogre Marrow (for bone density), and Giant Bat Essence (for improved agility and reflexes). A special addition of Phoenix Feather Ash has been incorporated, adding extraordinary regenerative properties, allowing the user to rise from even the most extreme physical trauma. The ash enhances not only the healing speed but also the durability of the reborn cells, ensuring a longer-lasting transformation. This inclusion amplifies recovery and prevents degeneration during the metamorphosis. Only those who have reached their species' limits can consume the potion, and its effects are permanent. Use is limited to once per individual, as the intense process requires significant adjustment. ]
[ Deterioration rate: 100%, the freshness of the potion ]
It was because of this potion that Gray was now a superhuman, with superhuman strength, agility, durability, endurance, and regeneration. He had finally gone past his very first hurdle and taken a big step toward shedding his mortality. Because his body was reconstructed from the cellular level, it was as painful as you can imagine, but his body was optimized and compacted. This is why, even though he wasn't as jacked as he used to be, he was far stronger. The trio eyed him warily, and Ron whispered, "Who d'you reckon he is?" Gray replied, "Professor R.J. Lupin." Ron exclaimed.
"You know everything. How is it that he knows everything?" Gray, without looking away from the book he was reading, pointed out, "It's on his case," revealing the battered case stamped with "Professor R.J. Lupin." Harry, concerned, asked, "Is he really asleep?" Gray replied, "Seems to be." Hermione then chimed in, "Why? What is it, Harry?" He urged, "Close the door." Hermione and Ron exchanged curious glances before Ron rose to slide the door shut. Outside, storm clouds loomed like dark ghosts, tossing sheets of rain onto the scarlet engine as it headed north. Inside the train compartment, Ron and Hermione stared at Harry, their faces stricken in the lantern light that glowed within.
Crookshanks slumbered in his cage, and Ron asked, "Let me get this straight. Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban to come after you?" Harry confirmed, "Yes." Hermione, clearly worried, said, "But they'll catch Black, won't they? I mean... eventually?" Ron added, "Sure—of course, no one's ever broken out of Azkaban before, and he's a raving, murderous lunatic..." Just then they looked at Gray, who was ignoring them. Ron then said, "Plus, we've got him," making Gray look away from his book as he said, "Yeah, don't count on it unless it's a beast with parts I can use as an ingredient," which took Ron aback. He then asked, "So, is it because of the potions that you are, you know?" as he gestured towards the whole of Gray, who just looked at him before shrugging.
Suddenly, the compartment rattled, and the lanterns flickered as the train lurched and began to slow. Hermione slid down the seat, pinning Ron against the window, and they exchanged an awkward glance. She then carefully moved to the other end of the seat and glanced at her watch, frowning. "Why're we stopping? We can't be there yet..." Harry rose to slide open the door, peering into the corridor. Harry then peeked his head along the carriage and looked out curiously, but then the train jerked, swayed, and the lamps flickering along the ceiling died—one by one—until all was darkness. Inside the compartment, Ron voiced, "What's going on?" A thin wisp of steam escaped his mouth as Gray closed his book, sensing something he had been feeling for a while.
"Dunno... Maybe we've broken down?" Hermione yelped in pain, "Ouch! Ron, that was my foot!" A dark silhouette of Ron appeared against the window as he wiped a patch of condensation, saying, "There's something moving out there. I think... people are coming aboard." Suddenly, the car swayed violently and then righted itself, causing the metal window trim at Ron's fingertips to vibrate. He exclaimed, "Bloody hell. What's happening?"
Suddenly, a slimy and scabbed hand, as if belonging to death itself, gripped the half-open compartment door and pushed it aside. This revealed a towering, cloaked figure with a face hidden beneath a black hood. Crookshanks' hair bristled as she hissed, and the folds of the hood trembled ominously. A chilling, rattling intake of air filled the air. An eerie sound swelled in Harry's ears, painful and haunting, resembling a woman screaming. His eyelids fluttered as Harry felt the world spinning off its axis, and he fell, glasses tumbling hard to the ground. As he hit the floor, he felt the muscles of his jaw twitching. Thunder cracked outside, and lightning painted the icy windows with blinding light. Before any more damage could be done, Gray's voice sounded as he chanted, "Expecto Patronum," which caused a smoky image of a white lion to appear and bite the cloaked figure, chasing it away. This immediately caused all three people—excluding Harry and including Professor Lupin, who was now awake—to look at Gray.
That is when, with a desperate gasp, Harry opens his eyes and blinks. Dusk is gone; the windows are black, and the floor beneath him is shaking gently as the train moves again. His eyes shift and catch a drop of water, newly unfrozen, running slowly down the window. "Harry? Harry, are you all right?" Hermione's troubled face hovers above him. He nods and sits up to find Ron—pale and nervous—extending his hand with Harry's glasses. "Thanks," Harry replies as he slips them on, suddenly aware of the cold sweat glazing his brow. SNAP! Professor Lupin breaks a ragged triangle of chocolate off the slab in his hands and holds it out, saying, "Chocolate. Eat. It'll help."
"What was that—that thing?" Harry asks, still shaken. "A Dementor. One of the guards of Azkaban. It's gone now," Professor Lupin responds before turning towards Gray and saying, "All thanks to you. I didn't expect a third year to be able to perform the Patronus Charm," to which Gray muttered to himself, "I only learned this damn complicated spell after learning that they guarded the prison of Azkaban, and it's the only spell that works against them." The reason he was learning a spell effective against the guards of Azkaban was just in case he was arrested for the things he planned to do. "I can't believe I have to channel my positive emotions in order to cast it," he muttered, finding it complicated. The only reason Gray could even cast the spell was by using the memory of the first time he brewed a permanent potion that worked. Harry then smiled as he got up before saying, "Thank you, Gray," to which Gray again shrugged as he sat down.
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A/N so yeah, he is finally a superhuman, also his Patronus charm form is a white lion,