Even though she knew the young wizard couldn't wait, Professor McGonagall didn't take him directly to Diagon Alley. Instead, she brought Owen to a Muggle neighborhood to pick up another student.
"Mr. and Mrs. Granger. And..."
McGonagall looked at the young witch, who wore an expression of eager anticipation mirroring Owen's own. "Miss Granger. I believe we are ready to depart."
As Muggles, the Grangers were understandably a little nervous. However, their attention was quickly drawn to the boy standing beside Professor McGonagall. "And this is..."
"Mr. and Mrs. Granger, hello. My name is Owen Corlett. I'll also be starting at Hogwarts this year. And it's nice to meet you, Miss Granger."
Owen didn't mention he was technically a new student. Although he had no official academic record yet, the students he used to take classes with were now starting their third year.
"Hermione. You can call me Hermione..." The girl wasn't shy at all. She glanced around and, realizing Owen was alone, asked directly, "Owen, I noticed you came by yourself. Your parents aren't with you. Do you come from a wizarding family?"
Professor McGonagall's expression shifted slightly. Just as she was about to intervene, she felt a gentle tug on her robes. She glanced down at Owen and remained silent.
"No, actually. Like you, I come from a Muggle family. But my parents passed away in a car accident when I was seven. It's not that they didn't want to be here with me; they just couldn't be."
The Grangers' expressions changed instantly. Hermione froze, her eyes widening. Just as she was about to stammer out an apology, Owen smiled warmly.
"There's no need to apologize. You didn't know. An unintentional mistake isn't really a mistake. Even though my parents are gone, I've met many people who care about me. I consider myself very lucky."
The adults' gazes softened immediately. A sensible, mature child always tugs at the heartstrings of kind people.
Hermione proactively took Owen's hand. "Even if you say I don't need to, I still want to apologize. I'm sorry. But we're friends now. If you ever have any trouble in the future, you can come to me."
What a loyal little witch!
Owen smiled and nodded. Just as he was about to speak, a small, furry head popped out of his collar and locked eyes with Hermione.
Wampus Cats are natural Legilimens and masters of hypnosis. Although Molly was still too young and her powers hadn't fully developed, the little furball was incredibly captivating.
"Wow! Is that your pet? It's so small and cute!"
Seeing Hermione reach out to pet it, Owen took a step back to dodge her hand. He nuzzled his chin against Molly's head and explained, "Hermione, this is Molly. She isn't a pet; she's my friend. And she isn't a house cat; she's a Wampus Cat—a Class XXXXX magical beast. Since you've just met, it's best not to touch her yet."
Class XXXXX?
Hermione hadn't read the textbooks yet, so she didn't know what that classification meant. Professor McGonagall stepped in to clarify. "That means she is classified as a known wizard killer, on the same level as a dragon. Mr. Corlett is correct, Miss Granger. However, there is no need to worry. As long as Owen is here, Molly poses no threat. Now, let us be on our way."
They didn't use magic to travel. Mr. Granger drove them to London. When they arrived at the destination and saw the pub, the family of three clearly showed a hint of distaste.
It looked... filthy.
"Wizards are generally immune to common Muggle ailments," Owen explained, feeling the need to defend the hygiene standards of the wizarding community slightly. "Because of that, some adult wizards can be a bit... lazy about cleanliness. But don't worry, this level of grime isn't the norm everywhere."
"Professor McGonagall, care for a drink?"
McGonagall smiled and shook her head. But to Hermione's surprise, the very next second, someone called out to Owen.
"Hey! Is that Mr. Owen? Haven't seen you in ages! You're looking sharper than ever!"
"Mr. Tom, good to see you again. You're looking well yourself."
"Hahaha! Fancy a drink?"
Owen shrugged. "Sorry. It's been a while, but I'm still underage. Can't drink yet."
"Hahaha!"
The few wizards in the pub laughed along. The atmosphere was cheerful.
Hermione, however, stared at Owen intently. "This isn't your first time here?"
"No. When I was eight, I had a magical outburst and was picked up by the Ministry. After Headmaster Dumbledore got me out, I stayed here for a few days."
Picked up... by the Ministry?
At eight years old?
Hermione's mouth formed a perfect 'O'. Owen helpfully reached out and gently pushed her chin up to close it. "Relax, I'm not a criminal. Just... a little different."
When the entrance to Diagon Alley opened before them, Hermione's attention was instantly diverted. The vividly magical street left her dazzled.
Their first stop, however, was Gringotts. The Grangers needed to exchange currency, and Owen needed to check his vault and make a withdrawal. Aside from his wand, he had a massive book list to get through—especially the revised edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, along with advanced textbooks for Transfiguration, Potions, Magical Theory, and the main curriculum for years four through seven.
Before, he had no money and didn't want to burden the school or the Headmaster. Now that he supposedly had some funds, he intended to buy every book he could get his hands on.
After waiting for the Grangers to exchange their pounds for Galleons, Owen was led by a goblin to his own vault. When the heavy door swung open, Owen froze. He turned to the goblin beside him.
"Are you sure this is the right vault? My name is Owen Corlett. You didn't open the wrong one, did you?"
The goblin gave a dry laugh. "No mistake, sir. This is the one."
Looking at the piles of gold Galleons, Professor McGonagall patted his head and smiled. "Never underestimate your own intellect, Owen. Your History of Magic notes are a bestseller."
Well then. "Knowledge is wealth"—a phrase now proven by a literal pile of gold.
Owen withdrew a third of the Galleons, ignoring the pained expression on the goblin's face as he walked out of Gringotts. As soon as he emerged, he saw Hermione looking at him with a face that screamed 'I have so many questions.'
But Professor McGonagall didn't give her the chance. "Dears, we have a lot to buy. Let's start with... robes. Owen, we'll meet you at Ollivanders."
"Understood, Professor. I'll be quick."
With that, Owen dove straight into Flourish and Blotts. Now that he had money, books came first. He just had to make sure he saved seven Galleons for his wand.