'Now that's all for today,' Pomona said, as the class packed away their gloves and books, 'but don't forget - a roll of parchment on the five types of food preferred by the Shrieking Spikenard, as well as its ideal growing conditions, due Tuesday week!'

One student remained behind, hovering by Pomona's desk a touch timidly; Patrick O'Neill, one of her Hufflepuff second years. 'Um, excuse me, Professor Sprout...' he said, 'but have you got a minute?'

'Of course, Mr O'Neill, what is it?' Pomona put down her secateurs and smiled encouragingly.

O'Neill thrust a neatly-wrapped brown paper package at her. Pomona took it with some surprise. 'It's for the bake-off,' the boy said hastily, turning rather pink about the ears. 'Me Dad, he's a baker - always wins prizes at the County Shows, back home. So when I heard about the bake-off I owled him to send some recipes... Just in case you wanted to give them a try. Of course you don't have to...'

Pomona patted his shoulder and carefully unwrapped the parcel to reveal - judging by the splodges of batter that adorned its cover - a well-used volume. It was entitled A Cauldron of Delights: 1001 Cakes, Pies, Puddings and Biscuits. A beaming witch dressed in the style of approximately a century past wiped her hands on her apron and cheerfully waved a wooden spoon.

'Written by me gran,' O'Neill said with a shy pride, indicating the picture. 'She was Hufflepuff too, way back.'

'This is very thoughtful of you, Mr O'Neill,' Pomona said, putting the book down carefully in one of the few clean spots on her workbench. 'I'll be delighted to look through it. Thank you very much, and tell your father so too. Now run along, or you'll be late for lunch.'

When O'Neill had trotted off Pomona washed her hands thoroughly and picked the book up again. She was genuinely touched by the boy's gesture; this was clearly a family heirloom that had been lent her. As she turned the pages in the 'Cakes' chapter, a few recipes caught her eye:

Mary Morgan's Gingerbread with Bite (sounded delicious - but would the house elves keep fanged ginger on hand? Perhaps she could ask them to order some); Pumpkin Surprise Cake (Pomona's eyebrows went up as she read through that recipe); Apple and Plum Shortcake with Firewhiskey Cream (couldn't serve that to the students, more's the pity - but perhaps on a Friday night with Minerva? Although all things considered Minerva was just as likely to say bugger the cake and head straight for the whiskey...)

Merely looking at the book was making Pomona hungry; she hurried back to the Castle as quickly as her plump form could manage, the recipe book tucked carefully under one arm.