Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Harry Potter, nor d I make any money from this story.
A/N: Hey! Sorry about the wait! We had a bit of trouble with our internet connection, in that we had to get a whole new one, and them I got really busy with work, so I haven't been abe to update. I hope this is worth the wait, but it is a bit short, sorry.
Just to let you all know, the way Stonewall arranged the teaching of teach is how my old school used to, and yes, in my GCSE class, there were four people using the stove. Not fun.
Anyway, thanks for all the reviews! I'm glad that you all enjoy the story!
On with the show!
Ch. 4.
Harry's free period was spent in the library with Hermione and Ron. The first half an hour was taken up by their maths homework, and Harry spent the second part working on his catch-up pack while Hermione read and Ron doodled, ignoring the dirty looks sent his way ever so often by their female companion. Lunch was a similarly awkward affair, with Hermione staunchly ignoring Ron, forcing Harry, Dean and Seamus to make conversation with them both without them needing to speak to each other.
After lunch was double technology.
"We do one tech subject a year," Hermione explained, leading the way. "First year, it was textiles, second year was graphics, third was electronics, fourth was woodwork, last year was plastics, this year is food, and next year is metalwork. It's really interesting, we get to learn about all these different crafts! In quite a bit of detail, too! Food tech should be really good, I'd love to learn to cook properly, I can do a few simple things, like preparing vegetables and cooking things from tins and the freezer, but to cook from scratch is going to be so exciting!"
"Here she goes," Ron rolled his eyes. "Everything about classes is exciting to her."
"Honetly Ronald," Hermione turned a burning gaze onto the redhead. "Just because I show some enthusiasm for my education does not mean I am strange and am to be despised."
"Of course not, Hermione," Ron mumbled derisively.
The bushy haired girl huffed and sat down at a station, Harry and Ron following suit, the raven boy trapped in the middle.
Taking advantage of the silence of his companions, Harry examined his station. He had a reasonable worktop, a drawer with different untensils and a cupboard filled with pots and pans. Assuming this was the same for everyone, he assessed the cooker situation. It seemed as though there was to be one between two, except for his station, which Hermione would have to share since she was on the end of the bench. Not too bad, considering. Stonewall had had four students per stove, and that was a nightmare he didn't want to revisit, thank you very much.
Draco and his friends sat down on the other side of the counter, and Harry smiled at the blond boy, delighted when he returned the gesture.
The teacher chose that moment to stroll into the room, and Harry looked up at the sudden hush.
"Professor Lupin!" he exclaimed, suprised. "This is where you're working now?"
"Harry!" Lupin smiled. "How are you? It's nice to see you in my classroom again."
The other students glanced at each other, confused. The new boy knew the teacher?
"I'm fine, thanks Professor," Harry replied. "It's great to be back in your classroom, you're a good teacher."
"Thank you," Lupin looked at the other students. "As you all know, this is my third year of teaching at Hogwarts, but before this, I spent several years working at Stonewall High, Harry's old school. Now, unlike Hogwarts, Stonewall students spent several weeks a year in each tech module. In first year, they studied Food, Textiles, Woodwork, Graphics and Electronics. Second year was the same, only Plastics replaced Woodwork, and in third year, Metalwork was the resistant material module. Now you see how we know each other, Harry spent time in my class every year."
"That doesn't sound like a very productive work schedule," Hermione commented, more interested in another school's system than how the teacher and student knew each other.
"Neither do I, Miss Granger, isn't it?" Hermione nodded, and Lupin continued. "That's one of the things that prompted me to leave. At least here you get a chance at a rounded knowledge, not the choppy curriculum Stonewall provided. Plus, I came to school here myself, and I was happy to be given the chance to come back.
"Now, I believe that we're here to learn about food. So, let's discuss some basic rules for the kitchen. Let's start with hygene."
Lupin took the class through the rules of personal hygene, such as hair tied back, no nail varnish and clean aprons, before moving on to talk about the health and safety proceedures to be followed with equipment, and advising them to tidy as they cooked, that way it was safer and easier for them. Finally, he gave them some advice on vegetable preparation.
"...and that's how to quickly and efficiently chop an onion!" he finished, putting the knofe down and gesturing at the diced onion with a flourish. "Any questions?"
No-one moved, and Lupin smiled.
"Okay, we're just about done for this lesson, all that remains is for me to hand out the exercise books. You get two with this class, one for recipies and one for theory work," He gestured to the two piles on his desk. "The small red one is the former, the large yellow the latter. Next lesson, we will be talking about the different food groups, and why it's important to eat a balanced diet. I will also be handing out the recipies for the dish we will be cooking in our next double period. It will either be a bolognaise, or a chillie. Once you have a copy of each exercise book and have written your name on both, you may go."
With that, he started to hand out the books, and Harry fnished labelling his just as the bell went, signalling the end of school. He glanced up to see Draco finishing writing his name with a flourish, before putting the books in his bag.
"Ready?" the blond asked.
With a nod and a wave to his new friends, Harry followed his tutor to the library.
It was bigger than he would have thought, filled with large bookcases and long tables. His old school library couldn't hold a candle to this place, he realised. Stonewall only had a small library, mostly filled with fiction books and a tiny reference section. The tables had seated six at the most, round and blue topped, not the great oak things here.
"I can't believe he expects us to cook next week!" Draco complained quietly as they sat down. "We've never even practised with chopping vegetables or anything!"
"Relax," Harry soothed. "Most people will have done prep at home for their families, Mr. I'm Too Rich To Do My Own Cooking. Lupin's a good teacher like I said, he'll be wandering around helping people, and you can always ask me. I'll help you."
"Thanks," Draco sighed. "I just can't believe he expects us to cook! I suppose that's how you learned, then? I mean, you cooked on Friday. And how do you know I'm rich?"
Harry chuckled at Draco's mini-rant. Obviously the boy didn't know what to think or ask first.
"Of course you're expected to cook, it's a cooking class," he started. "No, I learned to cook before I started at Stonewall. And hello! You have a chauffeur, wear designer clothes and I've heard tales of you. I don't think it takes a genius to realise you have money."
"Sorry, I tend to forget these things," Draco sighed. "I used to be such a snob, and then I came to school and met people less fortunate than me. It took a while for me to realise that money doesn't make a person, and I don't let it make me stand out. I just want to be seen as a regular teenager, I forget that I have things others don't, and it shocks me when people make some comment about it."
Harry stared steadily into the Slytherin's grey eyes and nodded.
"I understand," he gestured to his textbook. "But I don't understand all these chemical symbols. I don't get where all the numbers come from..."
Draco's lips twitched up into a small smile as he bent over the page and began to explain.
--
The silver Mercedes pulled up outside number sixteen, Grizedale Drive. The curtains twitched, and Harry stifled a smile. Petunia was watched for him.
"Thanks for the lift," the raven boy turned to Draco. "And for helping me."
"No problem," Draco smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, see you!" Harry hopped out of the car and walked up the drive, turning to wave at Draco as the car pulled away from the curb.
Sighing, he opened the door to face his aunt.
"Where have you been?" the horse-like woman snapped. "You do know you have dinner to cook, don't you?"
"Yes, Aunt Petunia," Harry wandered through to the kitchen. "I was at school working with Draco. He just dropped me off. You saw his car."
"Don't lie to me!" Petunia snapped. "He's only sixteen, not old enough to drive!"
"He isn't no, but his chauffeur is!" Harry snapped. "He's very rich, and his father bought the car for him, and pays the driver!"
His aunt sniffed and turned to go back to the lounge and her precious Dudley.
"Just have dinner ready on time, or you'll be in trouble Boy!"
A/N: Sorry it's so short! Hope it was ok, though! Please review, I'd love to know your thoughts!
Love,
Len