HP: god of potions

Chapter 102

Harry, who had been watching the interaction with a mix of confusion and frustration, finally spoke up. "I don't understand why you're bothering. He doesn't even acknowledge that you exist!"

"Harry, please," Lily implored. "Just… take care of him. He's your brother." "He's not my brother!" Harry snapped, his voice sharp. Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away, leaving Lily standing there, tears brimming in her eyes.

As Lily began to cry softly, James pulled her into a comforting embrace. "Is this punishment for my sins?" she sobbed into his chest, her tears staining his robes. James whispered reassurances, his voice steady, but it was clear he was struggling to console her.

Meanwhile, inside one of the train compartments, Gray sat alone, his back pressed against the corner of the seat, his hand clutching his chest. His breathing was erratic, his face slick with sweat as his body trembled. It was clear he was having a panic attack, his mind racing as he fought to steady himself.

The door slid open, and Hermione Granger stepped inside, her expression shifting to one of immediate concern. "Gray, are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft but firm. She stepped closer, kneeling beside him. "Breathe. Just breathe with me, okay?"

Gray hesitated but followed her lead as Hermione demonstrated slow, deep breaths. Inhaling and exhaling together, they worked to calm him down until his breathing finally steadied. Gray leaned back, his shoulders slumping with exhaustion.

"Was it because you saw Lily?" Hermione asked gently, her eyes searching his face. When he didn't respond, she sighed and pressed on. "Is that why you ignored her? Because you didn't want to look at her?"

Gray remained silent, his jaw clenched tightly. Hermione sighed again, sitting back on her heels. "She's just trying to atone for her sins, Gray," she said softly. "She's trying to reconnect with you."

At that, Gray's calm broke. "She has no right!" he snapped, his voice sharp with anger. His hands clenched into fists as he continued. "She turned me away. She threw me out of her life because she didn't want her secret exposed. And now, she thinks she can just come back?"

Hermione didn't flinch at his outburst. Instead, she kept her gaze steady, her voice unwavering. "I know you're angry," she said, her tone soft yet firm. "But shutting her out won't heal anything, Gray. It'll only make the scars deeper."

Gray turned away, staring out the window as the train began to move. His chest still rose and fell heavily, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. Hermione stayed seated, her presence calm and steady, as the sound of the train filled the silence between them. Just for gray to wake up from his dream as he looked around, thankfully he was back in pangea as he heaved as a sight of relieve, "gosh, this darmn memories are getting tiring" he just though to himself as he got ready for another day at his holiday.

-scene change(dream ends)-

Later that day, at the Room of Requirement, Gray strolled through a group of students practicing spells, their determined shouts of "Expelliarmus!" echoing through the room. He stopped by Neville and Ron, observing their progress. "Expelliarmus!" Neville called out, and Ron's wand flipped from his hand, skittering across the room. Gray chuckled approvingly. "Well done, Neville!" he announced, drawing everyone's attention. "To think that Neville's really got the hang of this one," he encouraged. Neville raised his wand again with newfound confidence. "Expelliarmus!" Ron's wand flew once more, and Neville beamed. "I did it! I did it!" Gray just smiled at him and said, "Good. Never forget this spell, Neville. A wizard without a wand is just a human."

As the session wrapped up, Gray addressed the group. "That's it for now. We'll meet back here, same time next week!" The students began to disperse, their chatter filling the air as they left. Harry and Ron headed off for their Quidditch match, while Gray stayed behind to straighten up the room. He moved quietly, stacking chairs and arranging scattered practice wands. The energy of the session still lingered in the air, but the room gradually settled into silence as the students disappeared one by one.

Gray looked around the now-empty Room of Requirement, his thoughts drifting. "The Room of Requirement," he mused. "Quite convenient, as it rearranges to fit its occupant's needs. I would have appreciated this in my early years." A small smile touched his lips as he surveyed the space. However, his expression darkened as he observed the enchantments woven into the room.

He frowned as he thought, "Never mind. This room scans the user's mind so that it can suit the occupant's needs." The realization unsettled him. He didn't like the idea of anything or anyone snooping around in his mind. "It's a good thing I didn't find this room earlier. Otherwise, it would have been a real disaster," he concluded. His mood lightened slightly at the thought, and he gave a faint smile.

Satisfied that the room was in order, Gray turned and made his way toward the exit. The door closed silently behind him, leaving the enchanted space to rest until its next occupants arrived.

-scene change-

Outside of Hogwarts, Gray stood quietly, his arms crossed as he leaned against the outer wall of the castle. Beside him, Harry fidgeted with his fingers, his nervous energy palpable in the crisp night air. Gray let out a soft sigh, breaking the silence. "Just ask me already," he said, his voice calm but direct. Harry hesitated before sighing in return, finally finding the courage to speak. "I had a weird dream," he began, his voice unsteady. "It was about my parents... they were alive, and we were brothers." He glanced nervously at Gray, whose expression remained composed. The lack of reaction made Harry panic, and he rushed to explain. "It felt so real, Gray. I could even feel the anger I had towards you in the dream. I hated you—hated you for existing and making my parents' lives harder."