Potion-making came to Harry quite easily—perhaps too easily. It helped that all the potion recipes in the scrolls Arabella Figg had given him were extremely basic and, most importantly, completely useless. Things like Minor Cold Relief Draught, Sneeze Stopper Elixir, and Bandaid Brew were of no real use to him. Ever since Harry unlocked the [Gamer Ability], he had never been sick a single day, and even his cuts and bruises healed overnight thanks to his passive regeneration.
But something changed when he started using the potion kit.
That kit seemed to affect the [System]. His usual [Daily Quests]—which consisted of mundane chores like "Clean Your Room" or "Walk 200 Steps"—vanished. Instead, the quests evolved into something more meaningful:
New Quest: Herbal Initiate
Collect and identify potion ingredients in the wild.
Reward: [Potion Knowledge + XP + Random Crafting Scroll]
Harry quickly realized that the new quests focused on gathering potion ingredients, and for each new ingredient he found, the [System] unlocked detailed knowledge about multiple potions it could be used in. This only happened when he collected the ingredients himself. He tried using leftovers from Arabella's gift—no effect. He even bought a few rare ingredients from a local herb shop in Little Whinging—again, no system response.
It had to be foraged.
Unfortunately, foraging was both difficult and boring. His [Map] skill showed him a ten-mile radius centered around his location, and within it were faint glowing markers indicating areas where potion ingredients might be found. The problem was, those markers didn't tell him what was there—or how dangerous the place was.
But then again… Harry had already mastered [Wraith Flight Lv.8].
Flying at night had become his favorite pastime. With his cloak flowing behind him and the whispering amulet chuckling in his ear, he zoomed across fields and woods like a ghost. Even when the system marked the ingredient zones far away, distance was no longer an issue.
The ingredients weren't always easy to spot, though. He had to dodge birds, wolves, and once an angry badger. Sometimes he ended up crawling through hedges or climbing trees just to find a glowing mushroom or a dew-covered leaf.
Still, it was worth it. Every time he placed a newly collected item into his inventory, he would hear a pleasant chime and see a message like:
[New Item Acquired: Whisperroot]
Unlocking Known Uses..
Whisperroot Elixir [Enhances Stealth for 10 minutes]
Mind Fog Brew [Used in illusions and deception magic]
Sleepwell Draught [For deep, uninterrupted sleep]
The feeling was addictive.
Though Harry had little use for potions right now, he knew that one day he might. And by then, he would already be a master potion maker.
He made a mental note to brew a few basic combat potions once he gathered enough ingredients. Perhaps something to boost his [MP Regeneration] or make his [Fireballs] stronger. Either way, potion-making had opened up an entirely new path for Harry to grow stronger—not with flashy spells or swords, but with bubbling brews and carefully crushed herbs.
The [System] created a new potion scroll as soon as a new ingredients were safely put inside his inventory.
[Potion Scroll Created: Draught of Strangling Green]
A combat potion that causes massive entangling vines to erupt from the ground, restraining enemies within a wide radius.
Ingredients Required: [Ivy Leaves], [Dittany Stalks], [Nettle Juice], [Flobberworm Mucus], [Spider Silk], [Choke Berry], [Kneazle Hair], [Knotweed]
Brewing Difficulty: Hard
Harry read through the scroll with growing curiosity. The brewing process was complex, with precise steps and carefully timed ingredient additions. This was not like the beginner potions in the kit Ms. Figg gave him. This was a real challenge.
Inside his [Instant Dungeon], Harry had already designated one of the four rooms as his potion lab. He lined up the ingredients on the worktable, took a deep breath, and started brewing.
His first attempt failed spectacularly. The cauldron hissed, the liquid turned black, and the stench was unbearable.
The second attempt exploded in green foam, coating the walls.
But on the third try, the mixture glowed with a mossy hue, thick and bubbling gently. It was perfect.
Harry carefully bottled the potion into twelve small glass vials and stored them inside his inventory.
The potion's use was straightforward: drop a vine seed into the vial and throw it like a grenade. On impact, the potion would activate and create a wild eruption of magical vines, entangling anything nearby.
It wasn't elegant—but it was effective.
Harry chuckled as he imagined using it in a real fight.
"It's like a living grenade. An organic trap."
And he promised himself: next time an enemy made the mistake of getting close, they'd get a personal introduction to his "strangling green."
Harry noticed a new quest glowing faintly in his system log—one that promised a massive XP reward. The task?
[Quest: Harvest Aconite — Reward: 100 XP]
He had never heard of aconite before, but the system helpfully provided an entry:
Aconite (also known as Wolfsbane or Monkshood) is a poisonous magical plant. Under the full moon, its properties change, making it a rare ingredient in advanced potion-making—especially for the Wolfsbane Potion.
Harry didn't know what the Wolfsbane Potion was used for, but he didn't care. The quest gave more XP than anything he'd done in week, and with the full moon only two days away, he marked the date eagerly on his system calendar.
When the full moon finally rose, Harry flew out of his room using his wraith-glide ability. The wind stung his face, but the thrill of flying never got old. Using his map, he followed the glowing waypoint to a patch of forest just outside the town—an old, overgrown clearing said to have magical flora.
The night was chilly and clouds drifted slowly across the moon. Harry hovered low among the trees and spotted clusters of aconite. The deep purple petals glimmered faintly in the moonlight.
But he didn't start collecting just yet.
The system had warned:
Only collect aconite that has absorbed moonlight for at least one hour. Plants in shadow are unstable and worthless.
So Harry waited. He perched silently in a tree and listened to the forest breathe. Distant howls echoed across the hills. Wolves. Maybe a massive pack.
Harry didn't move.
He stared at the aconite plants, watched the clouds slide past the moon, and started counting time in his head.
After an hour passed, a soft chime echoed in his ears.
[Aconite plants are ready for harvest.]
Harry dropped down, avoiding those still caught in the tree's shadow, and began picking them quickly. The system confirmed each collection with a faint green shimmer. After gathering five, a familiar message popped up:
[Quest Completed: Harvest Aconite — +100 XP]
[Current XP: 700 / 900]
He smiled.
But instead of leaving, Harry stayed.
This was rare. The moonlight wouldn't return for another month. And since he had mastered fast travel through wraith-flight, he didn't mind spending the extra time to fill his inventory.
For the next hour, Harry flew from grove to grove, collecting every viable aconite plant under the moonlight.
He was no longer just doing quests for XP. He was preparing for what lay ahead.
Because enemies were growing stronger.
And Harry Potter had no intention of staying weak.
The howls were getting closer.
But Harry wasn't panicked.
Not this time.
He had been attacked by wolves before. And unlike the first time, when he barely escaped with bruises and panic, this time… he wanted them to come.
He had something to test.
[Item Equipped: Draught of Strangling Green]
[Special Seed Selected: Vine Grenade Variant]
One bottle of the potion rested in his hand, glimmering green under the moonlight. The special vine seed hovered just above his other palm, summoned from inventory. His breathing was calm. His eyes narrowed. He was ready.
Then came the alert.
[Survive the Attack]
It was vague, but Harry knew what it meant. He turned toward the direction of the howls, expecting to see two or three large forest wolves breaking through the trees.
What he saw instead stopped him cold.
It wasn't a wolf.
It was nearly a man.
Or perhaps... something caught in between.
A towering creature stepped into the clearing. Muscles rippled under patches of matted fur. Its limbs were too long, its claws too sharp, its fangs too human to be natural. It stood on two legs, and its glowing eyes locked onto Harry with hunger—and hate.
Harry's heart skipped a beat.
He didn't need to use [Observe] to know what it was.
A Werewolf.
The system pinged with a warning:
[Warning: Werewolf Encountered – High Threat]
Bite or scratch may result in infection. Survival rate of transformation: 10%.
Full moon detected. Target is at peak power.
The werewolf let out a guttural, bone-rattling roar. Saliva dripped from its snarling maw as it charged, claws ready to rip Harry apart.
Harry didn't flinch because of the Gamer Mind.
He had already uncorked the vial.
[Potion Activated: Draught of Strangling Green]
[Vine Seed Inserted – Timer: 3 seconds to activation]
He hurled it directly at the charging beast.
The glass shattered on the ground in front of the werewolf.
BOOM.
Vines burst upward like snakes from hell, wrapping around the creature's legs, arms, and torso. Thorny coils coiled around it again and again. The beast roared and thrashed, snapping several tendrils—but the potion worked as intended.
Harry didn't stop.
He had no intention of giving the werewolf a second chance.
He pulled out another vial, repeated the process, and threw it.
[Draught of Strangling Green]
More vines erupted from the soil, thicker this time, sharper, harder to break. The werewolf's movements slowed as the vines constricted tighter and tighter.
Harry climbed a nearby tree, perching in its thick branches, and looked down at the struggling monster.
It was completely overwhelmed.
The werewolf snarled and howled and twisted, trying to tear itself free. But each time it snapped a vine, new ones took their place. The potion was working flawlessly.
Harry watched in fascination. The creature's stats were hidden—meaning its level far surpassed his own. And yet... it couldn't break free.
[Analysis Complete: Combat Potion – Success Rate 100%]
[Bonus: +10 XP for field testing a new item]
Harry didn't cheer.
He just watched—from the shadows, from above—as the most dangerous creature he had ever faced failed, again and again, to escape his trap.
And for the first time in a long while…
Harry felt safe.
Not because the danger was gone—
But because he was ready for it.
A glowing blue notification window appeared right in front of his eyes, but this time, it wasn't about XP from quests.
[DING!]
Congratulations! You have leveled up!
Current Level: 10
EXP: 0 / 1000
New Stat Points Available: +10
New Perk Available: Class Specialization Unlocked!
Harry blinked at the window. Then grinned.
He had finally done it.
The background around him darkened for a moment. The system interface changed slightly. The Level 10 milestone had clearly unlocked something big. His status window refreshed itself in front of his eyes.
[Status Updated]
[Name: Harry James Potter]
[Level: 10]
[EXP: 0 / 1000]
[Class: Wizard → Class Specialization Available]
[Title: The Dead Killer]
[HP: 380 / 380]
[MP: 650 / 650]
[Stamina: 240 / 240]
[Strength: 18]
[Dexterity: 21]
[Intelligence: 27]
[Wisdom: 22]
[Endurance: 22]
[Luck: 18]
[Charisma: 12]
[Currency: £: 220 / G: 279 / S: 8]
[Skill List]
[Shadow Veil] – Lv. 6]
[Death Ward] – Lv.4]
[Soul Drain] – Lv. 2]
[Bone Spear] – Lv. 4]
[Wraith Flight] –Lv. 8]
[Wind Step] – Lv. 7]
[Poison Mist Attack] – Lv. 5]
[Fireball] – Lv. 6]
[Water Shield] – Lv. 5]
[Observe] – Lv. 6]
[ID Create] – Lv. 3]
[ID Escape] – Lv. 3]
[Stat Points to Distribute: +10]
[Skill Enhancement Points: +3]
But that wasn't all. Another notification popped up right after:
[Perk Gained – Level 10 Milestone]
"Dark Scholar" – Your affinity with forbidden magic allows you to reduce the mana cost of Necromancer-type spells by 20%. Intelligence and Wisdom gain bonus XP when casting those spells.
Harry whistled low. That… was huge.
He sat down cross-legged on the branch, the blue glow of the window illuminating his face. Slowly, he tapped open the [Class Specialization Menu], heart thumping.
Three glowing cards appeared before him:
Elementalist – Master the raw powers of fire, water, wind, and earth. Bonus damage and new AoE spells.
Alchemist – Create powerful combat potions, toxins, and healing brews. Passive resistance to poisons.
Necromancer – Command the dead. Summon minions, steal souls, and gain access to powerful dark spells.
Harry hovered his hand near the Necromancer class. It felt… right. Like the book in his inventory had always been preparing him for this.
But he didn't click it yet. Not yet.
He closed the menu and whispered to himself.
"I made it to Level 10."
Five hours passed.
The full moon had long sunk beneath the treetops, and the first traces of dawn were crawling across the forest floor when the last of the vines melted. The once formidable green jungle of magical plants dissolved into a sticky, jelly-like substance, steaming faintly under the cool morning air.
And at the center of it all lay a woman.
She was naked.
Human again.
Her body was curled in the remnants of the vines, skin smeared with dirt, leaves, and jelly residue. Her chest rose and fell—alive. She was breathing, unconscious, and very much real.
Harry froze.
He had never seen a naked woman before—not in real life. His eyes widened. His cheeks turned crimson. Instinctively, he turned around, his heart pounding for an entirely new reason.
But the image had already burned itself into his mind.
And guilt struck him immediately after.
"Pull yourself together," he muttered, shaking his head furiously. He vanished into his [Instant Dungeon] and ran to his bedroom chamber. Within moments, he returned with a spare blanket—one of the nicer ones. Clean, warm, and now destined to be ruined.
He gently covered her without looking again.
The jelly clung to the fabric and turned it a greenish-brown mess, but Harry didn't care. Blankets could be replaced.
People couldn't.
He sat on a rock nearby, keeping his distance and making sure no one else was around. Not that many people wandered this deep into the woods—but Harry wasn't about to take any chances. He didn't sleep. He didn't even meditate. He just waited.
At sunrise, the woman stirred.
She bolted upright with a gasp, her eyes scanning the trees wildly. Panic surged across her face until she caught sight of Harry sitting nearby.
"Who—?" she began, clutching the blanket tighter around herself. "Where am I? What happened?"
Harry raised both hands slowly to show he meant no harm.
"It's okay. You're safe," he said gently. "You… you were a werewolf. I found you last night—trapped you, actually. You didn't hurt anyone."
Her breath caught.
Then, silence.
Tears welled up in her eyes—not of pain, but of relief.
She wrapped the blanket tighter and looked at him with something between gratitude and disbelief. "You're just a kid," she whispered. "How did you—? No. Never mind. Thank you."
Harry offered a small smile. "I've had practice."
As she slowly gathered herself, Harry offered her some water from his inventory and turned his eyes respectfully away while she regained her composure.
"I'm Regina," she finally said, her voice softer now. "Regina Brent. And you have no idea how lucky you are I didn't bite you."
"I know," Harry replied. "Someone told me."
"Who?"
"Never mind," he said quickly.
Regina told him everything.
How most werewolves remembered nothing of their transformation. How, during the full moon, the wolf took over completely. How many werewolves isolated themselves in caves or locked cells during those nights—anything to keep the beast from harming others. How hard it was to live with the fear of hurting someone. How society, even the magical one, shunned them.
Harry listened quietly, remembering Ms. Holloway.
Remembering how even the kindest people could be condemned for something they had no control over.
He watched Regina with understanding in his eyes—not pity. Not fear. Just… understanding.
And something else.
Resolve.