After his crucial conversation with Harry, Allen proceeded straight toward Professor Snape's private office.
Allen tapped gently on the heavy wooden door and waited patiently. After only a brief moment, the door suddenly swung inward. Professor Snape stood there, his greasy black hair framing a severely stern expression that could easily intimidate the bravest of students.
Had Allen not been so habitually composed, he might have flinched. Professor Snape himself looked genuinely surprised; almost no student, not even the most ambitious Slytherin, willingly sought out his office hours.
"I apologize for the intrusion, Professor Snape, but I had a few questions regarding advanced Potions theory that I hoped you could clarify," Allen stated, his voice respectful and entirely unfazed by the Potions Master's chilling aura.
"Enter," Professor Snape instructed after scrutinizing Allen for a full moment, then stepping aside to allow entry.
Allen carefully stepped into the gloomy office. The stone walls were dimly lit, and large glass jars filled with various disconcerting, preserved specimens lined the shelves. Professor Snape sat down behind his heavy, cluttered desk and motioned for Allen to take a seat.
"Professor, I have been analyzing the recipe for the Lightening Potion, and I believe I have identified several avenues for improvement," Allen began, wasting no time on superfluous pleasantries. He quickly outlined his ideas for enhancing the potion's efficacy and stability.
"How dare you? A mere First-Year student claiming to improve a standard potion required for the OWL exams? Mr. Harris, I had you pegged as one of the few sensible individuals in this entire school. I have noted your recent association with Mr. Harry Potter; it seems you are now attempting to replicate his arrogant streak," Professor Snape sneered, utterly unconvinced that Allen possessed such advanced theoretical knowledge.
Undeterred by the insult, Allen calmly and succinctly elaborated on his proposed modifications, explaining the underlying chemical reactions and the resulting structural changes in the brew. Professor Snape, initially preparing to dismiss Allen with a stern reprimand, paused. He slowly abandoned the idea of immediate expulsion as he absorbed the complex and surprisingly sound theoretical basis of Allen's suggestions.
"Professor, I have run out of the moonstone powder and the Strake root extract syrup I was utilizing in my experiments, but my new supply order won't arrive for some time. I urgently require your assistance in replenishing these," Allen stated, seizing the moment to make his request.
"Very well, Mr. Allen Harris. We shall see if your practical execution is as complex as your abstract ideas," Professor Snape conceded, slightly mollified by the first-year's sheer audacity and theoretical depth.
Professor Snape walked toward a floor-to-ceiling cupboard. To Allen's intense surprise, the Professor simply pulled the handle and the cupboard opened easily, without the need for any visible unlocking spells or passwords.
Allen subtly examined the contents: a variety of common, yet relatively scarce, herbs were neatly categorized within, but none of the truly rare or legendary ingredients he had read about in advanced texts were visible.
Allen instantly concluded that Professor Snape must maintain a secret, warded cupboard specifically for storing his most precious ingredients; the basic stockpile he was currently accessing was clearly insufficient for a master Potions brewer.
Professor Snape expertly retrieved a small phial of powdered moonstone and a jar containing the thick, dark Strake extract syrup—both essential components for the Calming Draught. He handed the two ingredients directly to Allen. Allen bowed deeply to thank the Professor again and quickly departed Professor Snape's office.
Before fully exiting, Allen allowed his gaze to drift toward the shelf lined with the ghastly glass jars containing preserved specimens. If his memory served, there was definitely something incredibly important and valuable concealed within that array.
However, his mission was singular—to secure the medication for Harry. There was no need to cause unnecessary trouble or pry into the confidential secrets of his professor.
Thankfully, after Allen secured the necessary ingredients, he immediately alerted Harry and the others. They had not yet had the opportunity to execute their reckless theft plan. After quickly arranging a time and location to meet, Allen headed directly to the Room of Requirement to brew the required potion in absolute privacy.
Despite the complexities involved, Harry's calming remedy was successfully and painstakingly prepared thanks to Allen's careful, unorthodox modifications. Under normal circumstances, a Calming Draught merely soothes feelings of restlessness and anxiety.
However, if improperly brewed or overly concentrated, the user can fall into a state of deep, sometimes irreversible, lethargic sleep. Brewing a Calming Draught is one of the most difficult and time-intensive tasks assigned during the OWL exams. Its key components, as Allen knew, were moonstone powder and Strake root syrup.
If Allen had prepared the potion using the traditional calming formula, Harry's specific symptoms—the magically-induced pain and nightmares—would not be fully addressed, and excessive use would lead to severe side effects.
Following instructions from the rare Book of Potions Master Welto, Allen used Motra mouse juice as a powerful but safe painkiller; he added a carefully neutralized mixture of wormwood and aconite, normally highly poisonous, to stabilize the brew and interact with the dark magic residue; and finally, he added a fine powder made from the unicorn horn he had received as a blessing from Gaia, which acted as a magical purification agent.
In the secluded pumpkin patch behind Hagrid's cabin, when Allen handed Harry the strange potion he had brewed, Ron and Hermione looked at the mixture with intense skepticism. Could a potion of such an unusual colour and frankly awful smell truly cure Harry?
Hermione quickly whispered that she had never encountered such a bizarre-looking concoction in any of her books. Ron looked ready to voice his extreme doubts but held his tongue.
Harry, driven to the brink of desperation by the persistent headache and nightmares, snatched the potion from Allen and swallowed it down in a single gulp. He immediately frowned, his expression unreadable, and then grimaced. "But..." Harry began, his face screwed up in discomfort.
Allen was entirely prepared for the awful taste. He pulled out an empty glass, filled it with a pure Clear Spring Water potion he carried, and handed it to Harry. Allen smiled gently and said, "It's the first time I've attempted this specific modification, but trust me, just drink the water. You will be fine."
Ron and Hermione exchanged confused, worried glances, watching Harry's distressed features.
Harry drank the large glass of water in one gulp and then realized, to his profound astonishment, that while Allen's potion had possessed a hideous colour and a surprising, unpleasant taste, its effect was nothing short of miraculous.
The throbbing headache that had tormented him for days vanished instantly, and his mind felt suddenly, wonderfully clear, as if a pair of cool hands were soothing the deep, lingering wounds on his soul.
"Thank you, Allen! I feel utterly fantastic!" Harry exclaimed with profound sincerity. Ron and Hermione also looked at Harry and Allen with excitement, their understanding of the limits of conventional magic instantly renewed.
Freed from the constraints of his headaches and nightmares, Harry plunged wholeheartedly back into his intense exam preparations. Allen, meanwhile, continued his own studies, meticulously absorbing and assimilating all available knowledge.
As the exams neared, the weather grew increasingly hot; the unusually scorching sun of the Scottish Highlands exhausted the young wizards, a fatigue compounded by the difficulty of the impending test papers. The intense heat above and the intense scrutiny below only fueled their collective anxiety.
Fortunately, the large examination hall was equipped with temperature control charms, making the conditions bearable.
The practical exam in Charms class proved quite entertaining. Professor Flitwick instructed the students to enter the classroom one by one and demonstrate their ability to make a pineapple tap dance on a desk.
Allen was the first student called in. Hearing Professor Flitwick's request, he flashed a mischievous smile. His pineapple instantly grew slender legs, donned tiny step shoes, and began producing various clicking sounds by scraping and tapping its feet rhythmically against the table.
The pineapple's footwork was complex and varied, and its round, orange-and-yellow body made its movements appear utterly comical yet perfectly executed.
Professor Flitwick beamed with unadulterated delight and exclaimed, "Outstanding! Allen! A perfect, perfect score!" Allen smiled, bowing respectfully to the tiny, charming professor.
When Allen opened the door and stepped out, many students, having heard Professor Flitwick's excited shouts, peered anxiously inside. Judging by Allen's relaxed expression, the Charms practical exam didn't seem overtly difficult.
However, once the other students entered the demonstration room, Professor Flitwick, having just witnessed Allen's perfection, returned to his critical, fastidious demeanor. He was quick to find fault with the subsequent performances. Thus, the young wizards who entered with confident expressions often emerged from the exam room with thoroughly deflated, sullen ones.
Next up was Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall oversaw the task of transforming a mouse into a snuffbox. The criteria were clear: the more exquisitely crafted the box, the higher the marks. Any trace of mouse fur or whisker remaining meant an immediate deduction of points.
Transfiguring a mouse into a snuffbox was effortless for Allen; he could achieve the basic transformation almost instantaneously. But achieving the perfection required for the snuffbox was a greater challenge.
He had seen few snuffboxes in either of his lifetimes. For Allen, the true hurdle was transforming a dull, ugly mouse into a finely detailed, aesthetically pleasing piece of English art.
Allen first Transfigured the mouse into a smooth, grey, oval box. Then he began to concentrate on altering its surface patterns. The mouse's eyes were transformed into two highly polished obsidian studs; its whiskers were delicately woven to form the school's name: HOGWARTS; and its tail was meticulously twisted into a fine, chain-like border pattern.
Professor McGonagall looked profoundly impressed. Allen left the examination hall with total confidence, blissfully unaware of the mixture of jealousy and awe he left in his wake.
During the Potions practical exam, the young wizards were frantically trying to recall the precise, complex steps required to brew the Forgetfulness Potion. Professor Snape stalked silently behind them, watching intently; students could almost feel his cold breath on their necks, making them incredibly nervous and prone to errors.
Allen, however, prepared the potion with effortless speed and precision. At his current level of mastery, brewing such a technically difficult potion was practically a formality.