Researchers have discovered that chocolate produced some of the same reactions in the brain as marijuana. The researchers also discovered other similarities between the two, but can't remember what they are. --Matt Lauer on NBC's Today Show, August 22
chocolate rules
It was snowing heavily. Passers-by walked quickly and briskly, eager to get back to their warm, comforting homes as fast as possible. Remus Lupin was among them. He had just completed some work for the Order and was on his way back to Number 12, Grimmauld Place.
He was in the town of Hogsmeade, having decided to stop by for a stroll before returning. Lupin liked Hogsmeade -- he still enjoyed the Joke Shop despite his age and, being a chocolate lover, was quite a fan of Honeyduke's sweets. Thus he decided to stop and take a look when he noticed a huge crowd gathered around Honeydukes.
"Come on, come on, everybody!" A large, stout man called. Having patronized Honeydukes quite a couple of time, Lupin recognised him as the Honeydukes shopkeeper. The man said, now, "We're holding a Eat-All-You-Can Chocolate Contest here. The person who can eat the most will win a Special Prize! Any takers?"
The crowd murmured with interest, and Lupin could hear snatches of conversation -- "... reckon we should take part? The prize should be good..." "Do you think I stand a chance at this...?"
"Hey there, Remus." Lupin jumped and turned around. An old lady stood next to him, grinning. At first he wondered who she was. There was something familiar about that smile...
"Tonks!" he smiled in recognition. "Up to your disguises again, aren't you? What are you doing here?"
"Thought I'd do a little shopping here. It's my mum's birthday next week. " Grinned Tonks. "And what about you?"
"I had some work to do," Lupin replied. It was inconvenient to talk about the Order in public, and Tonks nodded to show that she understood. "So, a Chocolate Competition, huh? Sounds interesting."
"Thinking of entering?" Tonks asked.
"Are you kidding? No way!" Lupin laughed. "I'm not going to embarrass myself stuffing my face in front of a huge crowd."
"Come on, Lupin, you can do this!" Tonks said, a hint of excitement in her voice. "I've seen you eat chocolate before. For God's sake, you polished off a whole bar in five minutes!"
Lupin felt himself going red. His liking for chocolate was quite a joke among his friends. "That doesn't mean I can win this thing," he retorted. "This contest is about eating as much as you can, not eating fast."
Tonks shrugged. "I still think you should go for it." Suddenly she began waving her hand at the shopkeeper. "Hey, hey there! My son here wants to take part in this contest!"
"What?" gasped Lupin. But it was too late. People were turning to look at Tonks and Lupin with interest.
"Yes, sir, my son here wants to take part, but he's just too shy," Tonks was saying. "There's no age limit or anything, is there? Can he take part?"
The shopkeeper smiled broadly. "Of course," he said friendly. "In fact, he looks quite familiar! I believe I've seen you in my shop quite a couple of times." He said to Lupin.
"Er," Lupin said. To Tonks he whispered, "I'm going to kill you, Nymphadora."
Tonks shuddered involuntarily but regained her composure quickly. "He's a real chocolate lover, this son of mine," She said cheerfully. "C'mon, what're you waiting for?" She pushed a flustered Lupin forward. "Go up there and join the action!"
"Uh, I don't think I want to --" Lupin began, but already the crowd was pushing him forward, and the shopkeeper led him towards a long table. There were four people sitting there, blocked by the huge platters of chocolate spread out on the table.
"We needed five people to take part," the shopkeeper said cheerfully. "You came just in time to fill up the gap! Here, take a seat."
Grudgingly Lupin sat down. Next to him was a huge man with a bulging stomach. This is embarrassing, he thought with a sigh. Dumb old Tonks. Just like her to come up with tricks like this!
The shopkeeper cleared his throat. "Ok, people, now that we have enough contestants… let the contest begins! The person who eats the most chocolate wins!"
Lupin glanced at the other contestants. They had already begun digging in. He glanced at the crowd and caught sight of Tonks winking at him. "You go boy!" she shouted.
Lupin's face was flaming red. God, how embarrassing could she get?
He glanced at the plates of chocolates in front of him. Come to think of it, he was pretty hungry. He had skipped lunch due to his work for the Order – it had been pretty time-consuming. He picked up a bar and bit into it. Yum. Rum and raisin. Maybe this competition wouldn't be too bad after all…
Half an hour later…
I've got to admit, Lupin thought as he chewed on a bar of fruit-and-nut chocolate, this thing is pretty fun. I get free food and I might even stand a chance to win a prize! Two seats away from him, a slightly plump, blonde lady raised her hands and wailed, "Oh, I give up! Chocolate makes me sick!"
As she Apparated away, the shopkeeper announced, "Ok, so it's one down, four to go! Who will give up next?"
Another hour later…
It was down to Lupin and the fat man next to him. Lupin was quite amazed at himself – he had never known that he could eat so much in one go. He knew he looked especially tiny next to the other contestant (who, he had to admit, was monstrous) and he tried to ignored the frequent glares he received from the Fat Man.
He reached out for a chocolate frog. He bit off the left leg. Tonks beamed at him amidst the crowd. "You can do it, baby boy!" she exclaimed.
Looks like she's having quite some fun, he thought.
There was a loud thud. The floor shook and Lupin turned, startled. The other contestant had fainted and lay still on the floor, a chocolate frog leg sticking out of his mouth.
"Oh dear," the shopkeeper said as the crowd tittered, "Looks like he's down too! So…" he grinned and pulled Lupin up suddenly. "We've got a winner here! Hmm… it seems that you can't judge a book by its cover, can you?" he added as he looked at Lupin's small (as compared to most of the other contestants') frame.
Lupin shrugged, though he couldn't help smiling slightly as the crowd clapped and cheered, Tonks doing so especially loudly.
"Now for the special prize!" The shopkeeper was positively brimming with enthusiasm. He turned and yelled, "Lads! Lug it out!"
What is it? Lupin wondered curiously. Next minute, he gasped in shock.
Three people were dragging a cart out from the back of the shop. And on it was the largest – the hugest – the most enormous ever –
Chocolate egg.
And it made Lupin feel slightly nauseous just looking at it. The amount of chocolate he had eaten was starting to get to him now.
What am I going to do with that? He wondered desperately as the shopkeeper thrust the cart handle into Lupin's hands.
TBC
There you go – my first chapter! Like it, or not? Review to tell me what you think! Please:D:D