Written for The Houses Competition: Round 9: It All Ends Here
House: Hufflepuff
Position: Potions
Category: Standard
Prompts: Friendship, [Action] Baking a cake
Summary: Hermione and Ron could tell Harry was nervous the moment they arrived at Grimmauld Place for one reason alone: he was baking again.
Word Count: 1219
It was not often that Harry baked. It was not something he was allowed to do at the Dursleys, but he loved it. He found it soothing, and it was a good source of stress relief. While he was at Hogwarts, he would often ask the house-elves if he could bake something after he discovered the kitchens.
Hermione was used to Harry baking. He often gave her and Ron his baked goods, which always tasted good. Her favorites were his cupcakes, each one themed based on something. She recalled how in their third year he decorated cupcakes with his Patronus, a stag.
Ron also liked his cupcakes, but he liked everything Harry made. In a way, it reminded him of his mom, and brought him comfort he didn't know he needed. His favorites were the treacle tarts, as Harry always made them.
Hermione and Ron both knew why he baked as well. When this happened, they would spend the day with him trying what he made and cheering him up. Harry wondered often how he could have such great friends, but Hermione and Ron would always maintain he was a great friend first.
For Hermione, Harry and Ron were her first friends who didn't care about her nagging so much and didn't try to befriend her to get her to do their homework. For Ron, Harry was his first friend outside of his family's influence. He had befriended Ron, not Fred and George, not Percy, or any of his other brothers.
That was why, when Hermione and Ron flooed into Grimmauld Place to find Harry baking what looked like a cake, they knew something was wrong. The batter was a brownish color, meaning Harry was making what looked like a chocolate cake. Chocolate cake was a bad sign because it was Harry's ultimate comfort food to bake. Whatever he was nervous about, it was something big.
"Harry, is something wrong?" Hermione asked, wriggling her hands in front of her.
In a way, him baking was a good sign. It had been two years since the Final Battle and for those two years, Harry had not baked at all. Whether it was because he was too busy or because baking was causing him even more stress.
On top of that, he was not able to bake while they were on the run, something that made Harry even more stressed. Hermione and Ron tried to find a place for him to bake with ingredients but they never did. He looked even more depressed during that time. It was hard for Hermione and Ron to see him like that, but they were glad to see he was back to somewhat normal.
Harry let out a frustrated sigh. He stopped mixing his batter and looked at the two of them. His eyes showed his conflict, nervousness and worry plain in his darker than normal eyes. The duo took a step forward, trying to think of the best way to comfort him.
First off, Ron took the bowl from him and started stirring the batter while Hermione read the instructions. When he was not speaking and just baking, it was best just to join him than try to make him talk.
For about thirty minutes, they remained this way. They were pouring the batter into the pans to bake when Harry finally spoke up. Ron and Hermione just listened attentively, knowing whatever he had to say was important.
"I'm thinking about proposing to Ginny," he finally said.
It wasn't much of a shock to Ron and Hermione. While Ron was protective of his sister, he knew Harry was a good match for her and how much they loved each other.
"That's great, mate!" Ron exclaimed at once, hoping to reassure his friend.
Hermione swiftly followed his example, but Harry looked doubtful and nervous. It made sense as proposing was a big step, one Hermione and Ron were sure they were ready for.
"Do you think we're too young? She only graduated a year ago," Harry questioned as he put the cakes into the oven.
Ah, so that's what it was about. Harry's parents had married young, but that was understandable, as they were in the middle of a war. Now that they were in times of peace, there was no need to rush and for the relationship to end messily by marrying too early.
"People have long engagements, Harry," Hermione said in a lecturing kind of tone.
Ron nodded alongside her. The two had recently become engaged, after all. They had decided on a long engagement: about two years before marrying. Harry had been happy and supportive of them, so now it was their turn.
"I know. But… if I propose, I kind of want to get married sooner," Harry confessed, which also wasn't a surprise to the duo.
They knew once Harry committed, he would commit for life. If he proposed to Ginny now, it was unlikely he would break off the engagement. While he had never been in a relationship before, everything he did, from fighting Voldemort to teaching the DA, was done with everything he had. He never backed off, not for a second.
"Ginny loves you, mate. Has for a while, and she would be thrilled to marry you," Ron reassured.
"But what if I put her in danger?" Harry protested.
"She can protect herself," Ron defended.
"And if she says no?"
"She won't," Hermione reassured.
"What if it doesn't work out, though?"
Harry's voice was a whisper at the last question. Hermione and Ron froze. Of course, there was always the risk they wouldn't work out. It happened with every couple. It even happened to Ron and Hermione. After he proposed, they talked about the future and what might happen if they got divorced or if one of them died.
It was a grim topic but a necessary one, they thought. But they knew that Harry and Ginny would last. They had never seen two people so in love before.
"You'll last," Hermione said at last, her voice firm and reassuring.
Ron nodded alongside her and offered his own reassurances. Harry still seemed unsure but more confident in himself. Ron and Hermione were sure he would be fine, though.
By the time they finished comforting him, the cakes were done. They waited for them to cool and while they waited, Hermione demanded to see the ring.
The ring was beautiful, with a silver band and a peridot stone in the middle, which was Ginny's birthstone. Hermione fawned over it for a few minutes and said he had to propose after seeing it. Ron and Harry rolled their eyes good-naturedly.
It worked, though, because Harry looked more relaxed than when they arrived. Together, they decorated the cake in white frosting to celebrate Harry's upcoming engagement. It was sloppy, as Hermione and Ron never decorated before, but Harry swore it was the most beautiful cake he'd ever seen.
It was delicious as always, and by the time Ron and Hermione left, they had several slices of it. Harry never felt happier in the company of his friends, and he felt more confident than ever. And when they received news that Harry had proposed, the two celebrated once again with a slice of chocolate cake. Everything was finally going to be okay.