IMPORTANT QUESTION AT THE BOTTOM!

~MJB~

Chapter 30: Fire Alarm

July 7th, 1992 (Tuesday)
Location: Granger's House - Heathgate, Hampstead

Meissa continues staring at the food that's been brought back, at what constitute as tonight's dinner. "Make sure you don't start them on anything higher than a one," Henry instructs as he takes a helping of what looks chicken covered in… some kind of orange sauce?

Meissa frowns at this before taking a look at the other dishes offered. There's a container that seems to have chicken as well, ladened with vegetables that are both familiar and unfamiliar. Another container has what seems like rice, mixed with vegetables such as corn and carrots. The only thing odd about the rice was that it's not white like they're used to – the shape seems right though. There's several more containers – another with rice just like the first one she had seen and a third that seems to be just like the rice she's familiar with.

By her count, that's three different containers with rice. Do they actually need this much rice? Will they, between the five of them, actually finish everything Henry and Jean bought for them?

She doesn't want to say anything – not willing to show how uneasy she's feeling – as she laces her hands together beneath the table. Her fingers twisting the signet ring around and around in an effort to center herself. It doesn't do much but at least her leg isn't bouncing like crazy from the energy thrumming through her.

In an effort to stop wringing her hands, and from fidgeting with her rings, she picks up the two slim sticks that has been laid across her plate. Is this what they're supposed to be eating with? She glances at Henry to see that he's using the sticks to lift a piece of the orange coated chicken to his mouth. That answers her question… but how is one supposed to use these with rice? She turns her attention to Jean

Next to her, Hermione was plating a portion of the mix that had chicken and vegetables. Some of the chopped – or is it diced – vegetables are varying shades of green, a fair amount are red as well. And she thinks she spies a few nuts in the mix as well.

"What's… what's that?" she asks in a low voice, leaning over to make it easier for the other girl to hear.

"Kung pao chicken," the Gryffindor answers, barely glancing up from what she's doing. It's only after she's spooned a moderate portion of the dish onto her plate that she turns her full attention to the raven haired girl. "So!" she beams at her, "do you want to try the teriyaki chicken or the Angus steak?" She points to the two containers for both of the Slytherins' benefits.

Across from Meissa, Daphne has been mostly quiet, an impassive expression resting on her face as she observes the table. Like the raven haired girl, the blonde is apprehensive of the food that has been gathered for them.

"The steak sounds good enough," Daphne remarks as she tugs the container closer, grasping the spoon that has been stabbed into the entrée to dish a small – very small – portion onto her plate.

"What about you?" Hermione asks as Meissa tries to slow the bounce of her leg by pressing a hand against the errant limb. When had it start bouncing? At the direct question, she turns her attention to the Gryffindor. "What do you want to try? I recommend the teriyaki chicken."

"I want to try what you have," Meissa points to her friend's plate.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Hermione remarks as she shows Daphne and Meissa how to use the chopsticks in their hands.

She copies the motions until she has a good handle on it, the tension radiating in her shoulders only increasing. Once she's confident she has it down pat she eyes the containers – her options – as Hermione waits for her to make her choice.

Before anyone could stop her, she swiftly reaches over and, with the chopsticks, snatch a chicken piece off her friend's plate.

"Meissa no!" Hermione cries, trying to stop her.

But it's too late. The piece swiftly finds its way into the brunette's mouth.

"Oh dear," Jean mutters, exchanging looks with her husband.

"Songbird, go get a glass of milk," Henry instructs as the confident brunette chews her stolen prize before an expression slowly appeared on the girl's face.

"Meissa?" Daphne calls, half raising out of her seat at the red tinge appearing on the other girl's skin. With her pale pallor it was easy for everyone present at the table to see that something isn't right. By this point, Hermione had long since vanished into the kitchen, the sounds of frantic muttering and cabinet doors slamming could be heard. "Meissa are you okay?"

"Don't breathe through your mouth," Henry advises as Meissa's eyes dart wildly around for some sort of relief.

A slight sound that could be mistaken for a whimper escapes the prideful brunette as Jean offers her a napkin.

"Spit it out," the motherly woman instructs, holding it up to the girl's mouth. "Quickly now," she urges with a slight pat to Meissa's back. The pat encourages the girl to spit the partially chewed piece, but it also has the unintended effect of causing her to breathe through her mouth.

The burning in her mouth intensified to the point where she legit whimpered as she reached frantically for her glass of water.

"No, no you don't want to do that," Jean grabs her hand, moving the water out of reach. "It'll just make it worse." The wide eyed glare she receives from Meissa only seems to ask 'How can it get worse'.

"I got the milk!" came Hermione's voice right as they hear the patter of her feet against the hardwood floor. Faster than a person could say 'bless you' the whirlwind that is the Gryffindor breezes into the dinning room, all but slamming down the glass of milk in front of Meissa.

Sensing the salvation the desperate girl snatch the glass up and gulps the milk down. It goes down too fast to really help but it does relieve some of the heat that was building in her.

"Are you…" Daphne didn't know how to phrase her question, still half out of her seat with a concerned expression.

"Songbird, you better bring the quart over."

Hermione immediately rush back to the kitchen at her dad's instructions.

"She'll be okay," Jean reassures the blonde as she rubs Meissa's back. The other girl had slowed her frantic gulping to the point where she's sipping at what little milk she had left. "The spices they use for the kung pao chicken can be… a bit too much if you're not prepared."

"I feel like dying," Meissa whispers as she clutch the glass like it's a life preserver.

"The spices have a…" Henry trails off as he tries to find the word for it. "What is it called again?"

"It's a type of acid," Jean supplies as Hermione rush into the room. Seeing more of the milk Meissa holds her cup out for the Gryffindor.

"Right. It tricks your body to go into overdrive to stop the heat you feel when you eat something spicy," Henry explains. He gets a wide eyed look from Daphne and a baleful flat stare from Meissa. Right… there's a time and place for everything.

"How are you feeling now dear?" Jean gets a miserable groan from her guest but, seeing as she's not bolting for the loo she'll take that as a sign that she'll be okay. Her daughter is still hovering, clutching the container of milk to her chest. "Go ahead and put the milk away," she shoos her daughter away, ignoring the dubious look she got.

It'd seem that her daughter's protectiveness of her friend is already showing through.

"Do you feel like you can probably eat something?" she asks gently, moving the chopsticks out of Meissa's reach. They'd be better off giving the poor girl a new pair.

"Nah-huh," Meissa mutters, the tension in her shoulders relaxing underneath Jean's touch.

"You might like the teriyaki chicken," Jean cajoles carefully, tugging the container closer for the poor girl to inspect.

"Meissa," Hermione plops herself down next to her friend, dragging a free chair closer since her mom was currently occupying her chair. "I'm so sorry."

"Not your fault," Meissa mutters miserably. "I was a bloody idiot. You tried to warn me."

"Language, hun," Jean lightly scolds, getting a half-hearted apology from the raven haired girl. Jean pulls away long and start to make Meissa a plate. A small portion of the teriyaki chicken and some of the plain white rice. Just something to hopefully get her appetite going again.

"What possessed you to even do that," Daphne frowns from her spot across the table.

"Just thought I could," she mumbles under her breath. She doesn't really regret the attempt other than the fact her mouth is on fire.

~MJB~

Hi everyone!

I actually have a quick question for ya'll. Chapter 31 ends with a possible discussion regarding pureblood etiquettes. Is this something ya'll are interested in?

Lemme know! (Also let me know what ya'll think so far?)