Legal Disclaimer: I own my stuff, but not the original source material. That belongs to whoever. Also, the opinions and interpretations I use here may not reflect the same in said whoever that owns the source material. Look, I'm just a poor college librarian. Suing me isn't going to get you anything but tears.

Warning: This work may be offensive to some readers. The narrator also has a lot of anxious thoughts and spirals close to a panic attack a few times. There are also references to abusive & manipulative behaviors as well as disordered eating. Feel free to back out if need be.

Author's Note: Look, there are two kinds of people in this world. Those who believe that pineapple belongs on pizza, and those who are wrong.

Submitting Info:
Stacked with: Hogwarts (Term 14); MC4A (Year 4)
Individual Challenges: Best Stories (Y); Tastebuds (Y); La Vie Boheme; Fix-It Felix (Y); Gryffindor MC (x3); Slytherin MC; Magical MC (x5); Neurodivergent; Rian-Russo Inversion (x3); Ethnic & Present (x2); Small Fry; Claimed; Shifter MC; Ship Sails; Gwen's HP Bribery (Y); Hold the Mayo; Gender Bender; Lunar Era; Old Shoes (Y); Bucket Listing (Y); Short Jog; Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Green Ribbon; Greatest Gift
House: Slytherin
Assignment No.: Term 14 – Assignment 10
Subject (Task No.): Demonology (Task#6: Write about the age-old argument of pineapple on pizza.)
Other Hogwarts Challenges: Fantastic Beasts [127](Someone being transparently honest about something); 365 Prompts [336](a restaurant); Scavenger Hunt [30](Godparent & Godchild)
Other MC4A Challenges: SpB [4C](Darkness); TrB [5E](Secret Genius); Ship (Heroic Shadow) [SpBig](Glass/Cup)/[SpMed1](Meet the Fam)/[SpMed2](Ordering for Them)/ [SpMic1](Librarian/Archivist)/ [SpMic2](Ruins); Hunt [Sp Items](Broom)/[Sp Con](Water)/[Sp Con](Vegetables); Chim [Isopra](Gender Bent; Royal Purple)
Representation(s): Desi & Autistic Harry Potter/Blaise Zabini; Harry Raises Teddy; Friends as Fam; BC Use
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Mother Hen; Spinning Plates; Unwanted Advice; Mouth of Babes; Tomorrow's Shade; Second Verse (Ladylike; Not a Lamp; Persistent Still; Found Family; Nontraditional; Teat Juice); Chorus (Pocky Pockets; Wabi Sabi)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: T3 (Tether); SN (Rail; Intercept); CM (Brier)
Word Count: 1170 words

(^^)
Belonging
(^^)

"I don't see what there is to debate," Blaise interrupted as Hermione was just picking of momentum on her outraged speech.

Harini felt her eyes widen at his audacity. She had known that introducing her boyfriend to her friends would be a bit iffy and quite possibly end in all her relationships in ruins, but she had thought that it would be the old House rivalry rearing its head—though admittedly, there was still a tension from Ron's direction because of that. Harini would not have imagined that Blaise would be disagreeing openly with Hermione on something.

She could feel her heart beginning to race. She forced herself to take a deep breath and focus on spooning pureed carrots mixed with mushy peas into Teddy's mouth. The seven-month-old tried to grab the royal purple spoon from her, despite already having one in each hand. His hands waved through the air as he grunted his demands for more. Just to be on the safe side, she moved her cup of ice water farther away from him.

"I agree," Hermione said, clearly not realizing that Blaise was bound to disagree with her stance on the topic. Maybe it was just that Harini knew both of their stances. None of her research at the university library could ever explain why people held the same stance that Hermione did (despite how brilliant she was in other areas). Though she would dare to bring it up to her friend, Harini agreed with Blaise that there didn't seem to anything to debate. The answer was obvious.

Nearby, a restaurant worker was sweeping up the remains of someone's spilled toppings, including the ingredient that so offended Hermione and had started this whole situation. The broom made a hypnotic swishing sound that was helping Harini ignore the other adults at the table. Focusing on her godson was so much better than getting the attention of Hermione's ire when Blaise inevitably tipped his hand.

Vaguely, she noted that Blaise had gone ahead and ordered for her. That was a normal thing when they ventured out, especially if she had Teddy with her as she usually did. She trusted him to know what she would like, and it allowed her to make sure that Teddy's needs were met before her meal arrived. Moreover, he liked doing things like that, and she liked not having to make those kinds of decisions, since they usually made her anxious.

With the same sense that usually saved her from her aunt's wrath or murderous minions, Harini noticed that Hermione was fuming. Ron had a growing darkness about his expression, clearly getting closer to starting to yell. She glanced around the table nervously. Teddy took the opportunity to steal the spoon from her hand.

"What's wrong?" Harini asked nervously. Instinctively, she looked towards Blaise for answers. In the six months that they had been dating, he had proven that he would never lie to her and would go out of his way to protect her. He took care of her in ways that she had never experienced in the past. However, that seemed to be what finally set off Hermione.

"He just ordered for you without so much as asking your opinion," Hermione said stridently. Harini blinked in surprise. "Not to mention he deliberately ordered something completely inedible! We were just talking about how unnatural it is, too!"

"Wha—what did he order?" Harini asked, struggling to not show how close she was to being sick. At least that word didn't make her flinch like the word freak did. Maybe she'll be able to get through this argument without needing to run to the bathroom to be sick. First she just had to figure out how to soothe Hermione's temper before she set off Ron. "Did it have eggs?"

"No," Hermione said with the same tone she had always used when she thought someone should know whatever she was referencing, even if it wasn't common knowledge. "He ordered slices of veggie pizza and asked them to put pineapple on it!"

"I…" Harini looked between the other adults, growing more confused and anxious with every passing second. She licked her lips before looking back at Hermione. She even made the extra effort to meet her eyes. What was it easier to face basilisks and dark lords than her own friends? "I don't see how that is a problem."

"He's being too controlling," Hermione stated, switching gears abruptly to the cajoling tones she used when she was trying to be gentle. It was the same way she talked to Teddy or Crookshanks. It reminded Harini of the way that the teachers at her primary school would talk to her when they explained why an issue she was having wasn't really a problem. "You should order for yourself. You don't have to put up with this kind of disrespect. In fact, let me call the waiter back. We'll order something actually edible for you. I heard that they have a nice Cobb salad here."

"I don't see what's wrong with what Blaise ordered," Harini protested as Hermione motioned for waiter to return. She didn't want a salad. She wanted the pizza that Blaise had ordered. Harini felt herself wilting a bit, already resigned to picking at an unappetizing meal. Her stomach was twisting itself into knots anyway, so she wasn't even certain if she was going to be able to eat.

"Stop," Blaise ordered. She felt him lay a hand over the nape of her neck. Tension immediately began flowing out of her. She didn't need to worry about Hermione or Ron. Blaise would take care of the situation, just like he always took care of her. "I ordered for Harini because she has given me permission to do so. I ordered the pizza because I know that Harini would enjoy it. You do not have to agree with either of those things, but you do need to respect Harini's right to make those decisions."

"No one can possibly enjoy pineapple on pizza," Hermione declared. She crossed her arms, clearly prepared to dig in her heels and refuse to eat until she either got her way or decided she was too hungry for it to matter. "Pineapple does not belong on pizza, and Harini can order for herself!"

"Yes, she can," Blaise agreed without budging an inch, "and she can also decide to give that responsibility away. Harini decided that, for at least right now, that responsibility belongs to me. You do not have to agree with that, but you will respect it. Now, are you going to behave so that we can have a nice meal or are you going to continue to making a public scene?"

It shouldn't have been such a relief to watch Hermione and Ron storm out of the restaurant.

At least Harini was able to eat her pizza in relative peace so long as she shared bits with Teddy. Blaise was right, of course. She did enjoy it, delicious pineapple and all.