Back at the castle, Sophie takes stock of her clothes and notices that they are quickly wearing down. While Sophie mends one of Howl’s suits, Michael works nearby on a spell Howl set for him to learn. Michael begins asking Sophie how many great-nieces she has, and Sophie struggles to hide how she knows both Lettie Hatters. Michael tells Sophie how he came to know Howl. After both his parents died, Michael was unable to find work in Porthaven, fell behind on rent, and was evicted. He sat on the castle’s Porthaven doorstep for days until Howl let him inside. Because Michael spoke with Calcifer once inside the castle and didn’t show he was afraid of the fire demon, Howl let him stay. Michael gradually began taking on apprenticeship duties.

Michael struggles with the spell he is to learn. He shows Sophie the spell and asks for her help. Neither can make sense of it, as it is not truly a spell but the first stanza of the poem "Song: Go and Catch a Falling Star” by John Donne, suggesting that Sophie and Michael live in a world parallel to our own. Sophie suggests they consider each line of the poem to be instructional.