HP: god of potions

Chapter 107

In the thick shadows of the Forbidden Forest, Gray smiled. "Gosh, this reminds me of my first year when I'd sneak into this forest looking for herbs," he said, making Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid look at him oddly. Harry asked, "You came into the forest alone, as a first-year?" Gray nodded, making Hagrid chuckle. "You've got balls of steel, lad," Hagrid said as they moved cautiously along a winding path. Hermione huffed in frustration. "Hagrid, we've been walking for a good hour," she said, but Hagrid, ever resolute, replied, "It's jus' up ahead, here." Harry's curiosity spilled over. "Could you tell us what it is, Hagrid, please?" Hagrid sighed before finally giving in. "All righ'. Well, I'm showin' yeh this because that Umbridge woman put me on probation. I can't last much longer afore I get sacked like Trelawney."

Gray sighed. "Maybe I should've listened and just offed her before she created this whole mess," he muttered, causing the trio to give him alarmed looks. He smiled innocently, while Hermione protested, "We won't let her! Well, we're not going to kill her, but we won't let her!" Hagrid waved her concern away. "Bah. S'not the end o' the world. If I do, I'll go help Dumbledore. Grea' man..." He paused somberly. "Anyway, I wouldn't tell yeh 'cept for tha'. I can't leave without makin' arrangements, see? I'll need all o' yer help." Hermione, unwavering, replied, "Of course we'll help." Hagrid, visibly moved, clapped her on the back, sending her stumbling slightly. Quietly, they crept further into the forest until Hagrid stopped and smiled. "There we are!" Ahead of them lay a massive figure sprawled on the ground—a giant.

Gray instantly analyzed the giant, plucking a single hair from it, much to everyone's shock. Hagrid exclaimed, "You, lad, are somethin'. I dunno what, but ye somethin'." Hermione stared in disbelief. "Hagrid, I thought none of them wanted to come!" she said. Hagrid shifted uncomfortably. "None o' them did, Hermione! I didn't have much ruddy choice! I couldn't leave 'im!" Hermione's voice rose with concern. "Oh, why, Hagrid? Why?" Hagrid sighed heavily. "He's me brother! Well, half-brother anyway. Me mum had 'im afore she died. I thought I could bring 'im back here an' train 'im up a bit. Teach 'im a bit o' manners." Hermione looked distraught, and Harry was tense. Hagrid moved closer to the giant. "Here. I'll introduce yeh to Grawp!" Grawp stirred, slowly rising to his full fifteen-foot height. "Yeh all righ', Grawp?" Hagrid asked. Grawp responded with a low roar, trembling with every sound.

Grawp roared loudly, shaking the forest with his deep, guttural sound, only for Gray to snap his fingers and silence him. "Scary lad," Hagrid muttered quietly as they continued observing the giant. After a while, they left, only to encounter someone unexpected. Bane stepped forward, his gaze locked on Hagrid. "I thought we told you that you were no longer welcome in this place, Hagrid. You or that beast you brought from afar," he said sternly. Hagrid straightened, his tone defiant. "S'not up to you who comes and goes in this forest." Bane's expression darkened. "You stopped us from invoking our punishments on Firenze for becoming the servant of the humans at Hogwarts." Hagrid snapped back, "Stopped yeh from committin' murder, yeh mean!"

Bane's voice grew colder. "Our ways are not yours, Hagrid. And now you bring that monster here... our patience with it wanes swiftly." Hagrid, undeterred, retorted, "Well, you'll tolerate 'im as long as he's here!" The centaurs shifted uneasily, their hooves pawing the ground, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Bane finally declared, "We allow you to pass this time, Hagrid, because you have young with you. But the next time you enter this forest, your life is forfeit." Suddenly, Bane froze in place, unable to move. Gray stepped forward, speaking calmly, "You are quite rude for a half-human, half-horse." He walked toward the centaurs, who were now rooted in place. "I seem to remember how much trouble you caused me back in my early years." As he spoke, the ground began to swallow the centaurs until only their heads remained.

"I'm not a fan of killing, but when push comes to shove," Gray paused, kneeling toward Bane, "I won't hesitate." Letting his words sink in, he stood and brushed the dust off his hands. "So, I am going to let you go now, but do remember—every time you think of threatening someone who isn't a threat to you, I am not far from here." With that, he released his magic, allowing the centaurs to breathe and stand, though some struggled to do so. Without another word, the centaurs melted back into the undergrowth, their departure as silent as their arrival. Bane glanced back at Gray before disappearing completely, his expression unreadable.

The Great Hall buzzed with the chatter of students as Professor McGonagall stood before the staff table, commanding their attention. "Today begins your O.W.L. exams," she announced, her tone stern yet purposeful. "A number of Ministry instructors are here to give them. Exams will take place for the next two weeks, split into theory and practical application." She paused, her sharp gaze sweeping the hall before settling on Gray, who was distracted by his notes. When he noticed her gaze, he smiled faintly. "I must warn you that the most stringent anti-cheating spells have been added to your exam papers. No student has successfully cheated on an O.W.L. in a century, though every year someone tries it. Naturally, cheating will not be suffered, and anyone caught will be expelled from Hogwarts."

The hall grew silent, her words weighing heavily on the students. This time, McGonagall gave Gray a pointed look, as if silently warning him not to attempt anything mischievous. Gray, however, remained unbothered, confident in his abilities.

Later that night, atop the Astronomy Tower, Harry and Ron stood under the glittering stars, their telescopes trained on the sky. "Oy! That's Umbridge down there!" Ron exclaimed, pointing to the shadows moving below. Harry's heart sank as golden light spilled from the Great Hall, illuminating six figures heading toward Hagrid's hut. "They're heading for Hagrid's!" Harry whispered, his panic rising. Other students joined them, watching nervously as the figures entered the hut. "Eyes back on the sky, please," Professor Tofty called out, but the students ignored him. A sharp bang and a blinding flash from the hut made them all flinch. Moments later, the door burst open, and Hagrid stumbled out, clutching his side. Spells flew, bright and red, but they bounced harmlessly off his massive frame.