Chapter 7- An Interesting Dinner

Author Note:

Hello dear readers! (: Sorry its been a while since we've updated.. because of school and what not and of course my dear co-writer has decided to fly herself off to India to enjoy her holidays while I'm stuck home (unfair really but thats life!). So I've decided to give you lot another chapter. Truth be told I honestly don't know how to actually post a chapter.. and its taken me the better part of the morning to actually get it working (IT is not really one of my strong point).. but thats beside the point. Here is a new chapter! Hope you like it! (: Will try to post more I promise!

Disclaimer: Oh yes, I almost forgot. These characters are not ours and are that of J. K Rowling though we do wish we had her incredible imagination but alas we don't...


---Astoria---

"This would be your room, Miss." Marvin opened the Elm door.

A gasp escaped from my mouth. It was absolutely beautiful. I could feel the softness of the carpeted floor under my shoe clad feet. The lit marble fireplace to the right cast a warm glow on the room. In front of the fireplace was a pair of cream arm chairs, a square wooden table which held a vase of white roses and a door that I assumed led to the bathroom. On the wall opposite the door way was an oak vanity table complete with cosmetics, brushes and perfumes. Next to that was a carved oak wardrobe. On the right was a queen sized bed with four gold and white pillows and a gold quilt between two white side tables.

"It's beautiful, Mr Smith." I thanked him with a smile.

"Please Miss, call me 'Marvin'." He smiled warmly back at me and bowed out of the room.

"Well, I'll see you later. If you need anything my rooms right across." Jacob looked at me for a reply. I smiled at him thankfully and watched as he walked over to his room. I was very lucky; Jacob was always there for me and helped me whenever I needed it.

I collapsed onto the bed with my face in the pillow and heaved a muffled sigh. I turned my face to the side and stared out the window. Raindrops pelted insistently against the window, the grey, bleak clouds rolled ominously and occasionally lightning would slice the darkness like a knife followed by the deep resounding crack of thunder. I was happy that I was in this warm, peaceful haven. Slowly, the storm lulled me into my sleep.

I didn't know how long I had slept, but soon I was awoken by a loud smack of thunder which was followed by a knock on the door. I padded over to answer it.

"Oh, Marvin, how may I help you?"

"Madam Malfoy inquires if you'd like to help her prepare dinner" Marvin said. "If you are ready I will bring you to the kitchens."

"I'm ready, Marvin." I loved cooking and I was good at it after all that practice Mrs Greengrass had given me from all those breakfasts, lunches and dinners I had made over the years.

After walking down about three flights of stairs and through ten doors, we finally arrived at the door to the kitchen. Goodness, this mansion was like a maze. I could hear Mrs Malfoy's voice from inside. Marvin opened the white door for me. I thanked him.

I looked around the kitchen. It was amazing. The kitchen was enormous, about fifteen meters long and fifteen meters wide! I could spot cabinets that were filled with china, pantries that were filled with food, five stoves and ovens-

"Astoria! There you are. Come, come." She motioned me towards her. She stood before a huge table filled with meats, vegetables, spices, bowls, plates, boards, knives and numerous other things. I walked to her. "I thought about putting out a spread for dinner tonight. What shall we cook for appetizers? …Maybe a soup and a salad? What do you propose?"

"I could make French onion soup, lobster bisque, mushroom soup, chilled cucumber soup, green pea soup or crème vichyssoise for the soup. And for the salad, I could do a Greek Salad."

"Yes. I think lobster bisque and Caesar salad will be excellent." She said with a smile. "…But what about the main course? I think we should make lobster, chicken, pot roast, baked spinach, sautéed mushrooms, roast potatoes and stuffed tomatoes."

I spluttered. She sure wasn't kidding when she said she was thinking about putting out a spread. "D-don't you think that's a bit too much?"

"Nonsense! Now to dessert….what do you suggest?" she turned to me.

"How about blueberry pie, apple strudel and soufflé omelet with strawberries?"

"Yes! That will be very good. We better get started. We have 4 hours until dinner starts at 8.30 sharp."

"Ladies!" she commanded. On que, four cooks trooped over to us.

---Narcissa---

I watched as Astoria moved to start slicing the carrots and celery and chopping the onions for the pot roast on the chopping board. I saw this as my entry to know more about her. I went to stand next to het and started chop vegetables too.

"Astoria, do tell me about yourself. What do you like?" I started as sliced some spinach.

"Well, I like lots of things I suppose. I like to cook and.. um.. I like to read." That was good. If she liked the library that meant she was intellectual not like other ladies who seemed to think that books and knowledge were useless. I, myself, saw great value in knowledge and intellect.

"Really now? Well, we have a library full of books. You must visit our library."

"I have visited your library. It's beautiful, so many interesting and fascinating books."

"Well then you must come and borrow some." That would be a brilliant, a way to get her to come see Draco more.

"I already have borrowed a book." She blushed. "Draco lent me one." I smiled in satisfaction. That's my boy, Draco.

"Well then, you must borrow more."

"Thank you, Mrs Malfoy." She gave me a big smile.

"Not at all, not at all." We turned around at the knock on the door. I smiled. "What are you doing here, Draco?"

He strolled over to the table and smirked. "Nothing, Mother. What are you making?"

"I can't tell you that now, can I? You'll just have to wait, sweetheart." I patted his cheek as he pouted like a four year old and shooed him out of the room.

After three grueling hours of chopping, slicing, measuring, seasoning and stirring, we had managed to finish cooking the appetizers and the main course.

"Now that we've finished that, we'd better start with the dessert; Apple Strudel, blueberry pie and soufflé omelette. Now I can make Apple Strudel but not blueberry pie and soufflé omelette. I'm afraid you'll have to make that yourself." I looked at her guiltily.

She smiled reassuringly. "Not a problem, Mrs Malfoy." With that she got all the ingredients and started cooking.

I finished my apple strudel in 20 minutes and put it in the oven to bake for 40 minutes. I walked over to Astoria to see how she was managing. Surprisingly she was managing very well.

I observed as she carefully trimmed the edge of the pie. She pinched the rim of the pie to seal the two halves of the pastry together and make a decorative edge by slicing delicate little dents at the edge with a fork. She put the pie into an oven and went back to the counter. She began putting in ingredients into a bowl with care.

Every move was well thought out and practiced. She spread the cooked omelette with sliced strawberries, folded it over and gently slid it onto a plate. Her hand flicked the spoon of icing sugar gently over the top. The sugar fell like snow and lightly sprinkled the omelette.

When she finished she turned to check on her pie. She opened the oven and a mouthwatering smell wafted out. She gently closed the oven and put the soufflé to a side and began clearing up the ingredients.

"Astoria, are you done? No, no. It's alright. You have to go get ready for dinner. You have about an hour to get ready. I think you'll find everything you need in your room; gowns and shoes in your closet." She opened her mouth to say something but I already knew. "It's alright. I'll make sure the ladies take your pie out of the oven when it's done. Now, off you go." She smiled gratefully at me and dashed out of the room.

I smiled at the door where she had gone though moments before. She really was a lovely girl. Draco couldn't pick a better young lady. I turned to the staff. "Don't forget the pie" I called. They all assured me they wouldn't forget. I thanked them and walked through the door to get ready for dinner.

---Daphne---

"How is the food everyone?" I heard Mrs Malfoy ask eagerly.

"Delicious" "Amazing" "Wonderful" were exclaimed across the table. Mrs Malfoy looked at Astoria beaming with pride. Ugh, I bet the cow didn't even do anything…It was probably Mrs Malfoy who did most of it.

I snorted in disgust as Jacob and Draco showered Astoria with praises. Seriously, could they get any more obvious?

I took a bite of lobster, relishing the taste. It would have been so much easier if the food wasn't good.

That's when I got my excellent idea.

I gasped loudly, grabbing my stomach, making a beeline for the bathroom, ignoring my mother's concerned shout.

'This better work', I thought to myself as I stuck two fingers down my throat. I cautiously leant over the sink, as my stomach gave an unpleasant lurch before emptying out its contents.

Yuck.

In a matter of minutes I knew I was successful.

"Daphne, Daphne? Where are you?" I heard my mother shout.

The shouting got louder and louder as she came closer.

Before long, I heard someone pounding on my door.

Putting on a frown, I opened the door, not forgetting to keep my hand clutched on my stomach.

---Draco---

I saw Astoria glance worriedly at Daphne's retreating form. She had probably just gone to the bathroom. I slipped my hand under the table, giving her hand a firm but reassuring squeeze. She looked at me, fear evident in her eyes.

"Don't worry", I said, "The food is amazing…better than anything mother usually makes, I can guarantee you that"

My heart leapt as she gave a small meek smile.

"Excuse me", Mrs Greengrass politely announced as she got up and left the table with Mother and Jacob following alongside.

"Do you think she's ok?" I heard a soft voice say beside me.

"I'm sure she's fine Astoria" I assured her consolingly.

"Now, I don't know about you, but I'm having seconds" I grinned, heaping my plate with another round of everything.

"Well, you might want to leave some room for dessert" she teased, the smile back on her face. I loved seeing her smile.

"Are you going to tell me what that is?" I smirked.

"Not a chance" She smirked right back. I was starting to rub off on her.

We looked up from our food at the sound of advancing footsteps. Sure enough, everyone was heading towards us. Mother and Jacob looked worried, Mrs Greengrass angry and Daphne smug.

---Astoria---

I glanced worriedly at Daphne's advancing figure. Her frown immediately curled into a twisted grin.

Oh dear, this wasn't going to be good. So, I did the only thing I could do. I fled.

"Mrs Malfoy, I was wondering whether I could go fetch dessert, Marvin seems quite busy with all the work on his hands." Without waiting for a response, I ran out of the room.

Once I reached the kitchen, I pressed my ear against, the wall, afraid of what I was going to hear.

I managed to catch snippets of their conversation.

"……Trying to poison my daughter"

That was Mrs Greengrass.

"Astoria would never do that!"

That was Jacob.

"…assure you, I was there the whole time"

That was Mrs Malfoy.

I kept my ear pressed against the wall, my feet rooted to the ground. After a couple of minutes, the shouts died down. It seemed like the argument was settled.

I took my time, gathering the desserts onto a tray before taking it down to the dining room and laying it on the table.

I kept my eyes fixed on the ground as an awkward silence ensued. Jacob was the first to break it. "Looks delicious Tori", he smiled up at me.

Feeling braver now, I glanced around the room. Daphne and Mrs Greengrass looked angry but everyone else was fine.

"Sit down, Astoria", Mrs Malfoy told me gently.

I sat back down beside Draco. The rest of dinner was spent in silence.


A/N: Well there you have it! Hope you liked this one. Reviews please!! WE LIVE ON THEM! :D