More books?
Because he wasn't officially enrolled yet, Owen wasn't technically a Hogwarts student. He was allowed inside, sure, but he couldn't just claim a spot at the student tables. So, his designated study area was right next to Madam Pince's desk.
Noticing the sudden stack of new books, he turned to the librarian.
Madam Pince smiled softly. "These are gifts from the professors, dear. They are very precious personal notes."
Owen smiled back. "Knowledge is the greatest wealth humanity possesses—even more so for wizards. Madam, I want to thank the professors. How should I go about it?"
Madam Pince looked into the young wizard's eyes. "Just do what lies within your power."
He had no money, so store-bought gifts were out of the question. "Within his power" meant he had to get creative.
---
After lunch, the young wizard didn't show up at the library.
"Maybe he got lost..." Madam Pince chuckled to herself. Hogwarts was massive; it was perfectly normal for a new kid to get turned around in the castle. She wasn't worried—the portraits and ghosts would eventually steer him back.
Thirty minutes later, she put down her book. "Is he just too tired? Maybe he fell asleep? He is at that age where growing boys need their rest..."
Two hours later, Madam Pince slammed her book shut and sprinted to the Headmaster's office, her face tense with panic.
"Headmaster Dumbledore! The boy—he's missing!"
Dumbledore was startled at first, but after hearing her explanation, he just smiled. "Don't worry. He is preparing a gift for us."
---
There are no secrets at Hogwarts.
While Owen was secretly preparing his gifts for the professors, the "secret" was already known by every single one of them. They all pretended not to know, but the anticipation was palpable.
It wasn't until dinner time that the young wizard reappeared. There was a smudge of flour on his face, but his smile was radiant.
Moments later, dishes appeared on the table. But this wasn't the usual Hogwarts fare. It was food none of the professors had ever seen before.
"This dish is Sweet and Sour Pork. This one is called Double-Cooked Pork Slices. And this is Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce..."
That's right. The only gift Owen could think of—the only thing within his power—was to cook a meal for the professors. A proper Chinese feast. The only dish that even used potatoes was the Sour and Spicy Shredded Potatoes—no mash, no boiled spuds, no roast potatoes in sight.
To suit the professors' likely palates, Owen chose dishes that leaned toward the sweet side. For himself, however, he stuck to hearty proteins: lamb chops, braised beef, ribs.
He ate until his face was practically glowing with grease. The professors ate happily too, especially enjoying the white rice that accompanied the rich dishes.
Hogwarts didn't stock rice, so the house-elves had gone to great lengths to procure some. The quality wasn't top-tier, but it was close enough. Owen didn't just cook; he taught the house-elves the entire cuisine, instantly earning their undying worship.
They even promised him that if he ever tapped a table three times, steaming hot food would appear for him anywhere in the castle.
This love for food gave Professor Sprout hope. After all, the Hufflepuff common room was right next to the kitchens. You'd never go hungry there—it was practically a hidden perk of the house!
Professor Sprout had already given up on being Owen's primary mentor, but she figured she could at least get him into Hufflepuff.
If he couldn't be her apprentice, he could still be her favorite student.
She even plotted to withdraw from the mentorship competition in exchange for the other heads agreeing to let the boy be Sorted into her house. They shouldn't have any objections to that trade, right?
Of course, she kept this to herself. The time wasn't right yet.
---
After the gift-giving, Owen's workload increased again. He had so many new books and notes to get through that Madam Pince had to magically extend the desk next to hers just to hold them all.
Potions and Herbology. These two subjects were deeply intertwined. To brew potions, you had to understand the properties of the plants.
After sorting out the chronology of magical history, Owen pivoted to Herbology. Fortunately, the textbooks for this subject weren't a chaotic mess like the history books. Combined with Professor Sprout's organized notes, his progress was rapid. Within a week, Owen moved his base of operations from the library to the dungeons.
When Snape saw him, he was slightly surprised. Though secretly pleased, his opening remark was as acidic as ever.
"You don't seriously think reading a few books qualifies you to brew potions, do you?"
Owen smiled. "Of course not. I came to ask you to teach me how to properly prep ingredients. Will you... teach me?"
Snape paused. Then, the corner of his mouth twitched upward into something that vaguely resembled a smile.
He was genuinely pleased.
Owen's request proved he had actually read the notes Snape gave him. A true Potions Master knows that recipes and ratios are secondary; the foundation of everything lies in the precise, mature handling of ingredients. That was the base of the base.
"Before the term starts, come find me every day after lunch. Once school begins, every Saturday afternoon."
"Thank you, Professor!"
Why afternoon? Was Snape not a morning person?
Owen didn't ask. It worked out perfectly since he could use his mornings for the greenhouses.
---
Professor Flitwick, however, had some strong opinions about this Greenhouse-Library-Dungeon routine. He personally intercepted the young wizard to remind him that Charms were the very foundation of wizardry.
"But Professor, I don't have a wand yet..."
Owen had asked about this before. Dumbledore told him that until he was eleven and officially enrolled, he couldn't possess a wand.
Not knowing the nuances of the law, Owen decided to respect the rules. Even in Potions, he limited himself to ingredient prep because some brews required wand-stirring, and he certainly wasn't going to stick his hand in a cauldron.
"Of course..." Flitwick stuttered for a second, then bounced back. "That is precisely why I need you to learn wandless magic techniques."
Owen blinked. "Wandless magic... Is that something all wizards under eleven have to learn?"
"Yes..."
Flitwick was short and covered in a thick beard, so thankfully, no one could see him blushing as he lied through his teeth.
"Magic is truly amazing. Thank you, Professor. So, would it be okay if I came to learn from you before and after breakfast, lunch, and dinner?"
Good heavens, has the boy compressed his schedule that much?
Flitwick thought for a moment. "Perhaps we could handle our three daily meals together in my office? But once the term starts..."
"How about every Sunday morning?"
"Certainly, my boy. I am glad you're making such wise decisions. And remember, if you have questions, my door is always open."
With Charms added to the mix, Owen refined his daily schedule down to the minute:
05:00 AM: Wake up.
05:00 - 05:10: Wash up.
05:10: Morning run.
06:00: Breakfast at Professor Flitwick's office + Wandless Magic training.
07:00: Greenhouses. Assist Professor Sprout with the plants + Herbology study.
11:00: Library. Organize notes.
12:00 - 01:00: Reading.
01:10: Lunch + More magic study.
03:00: Dungeons. Learn ingredient prep techniques + Observe Professor Snape brewing potions (taking notes).
06:00: Dinner + More magic study.
08:00 - 10:00: Library. Organize notes + Reading.
10:00 PM: Sleep.