Disclaimer : I do not own Harry Potter.
AN: I wanted to clarify something really quickly, a note on the confusion part: Knoby is a free elf, the "Clothe the cook" apron, it's like a gag thing he wears, likely inherited it from George. He is free, Harry has given him a wand, and yes, I think that's all that needed addressing. Enjoy!
Chapter XVIII: Just Desserts
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Luna sat next to Harry at the far end of the dining room table, which was heavily laden with dinner rolls, spiraled ham- steaming as if it had just come from the oven, corn as golden as the sunlight, and all manners of dessert, most favorably enough being treacle tart. Luna stared out at the majestic meal before them and nodded to Knoby. "Knoby, this looks wonderful, thank you for preparing it."
Knoby smiled and took his seat opposite the children, who were all seated at Harry's left. To Luna's right were seated Ted and Ginny, and one very absent seat that belonged to Draco. Luna took the bowl of Plimpie Soup, lovingly prepared by Knoby, and helped herself to a buttery roll as well. The soup was as good as she ever could have hoped for , and she reminded herself to do something nice for Knoby- he surely deserved it.
Knoby was heaping up a tall pile of corn, which rested beside his portions of ham. The children, Luna noticed, were each passing the pot of soup around and helping themselves to it. Bless them, Luna thought, for not everyone liked the particular taste of the Plimpies' at first. Everyone was enjoying the meal, or at least that is what Luna thought at first. She noticed Ginny eating her food as if it were bland, and Luna desperately hoped that Knoby wouldn't notice, it would hurt his feelings so much if he thought his food was substandard.
Luna stealthily took her wand from her side pocket, and with a surreptitious wave, sent a hunger charm off at Ginny. Ginny's eyes widened for a split second, and then she started digging into the strawberry salad, and the only thing louder than her chomping, was the children's laughter. "Mum, you're actin' like you haven't eaten all day!" Lily shouted joyfully, her index finger pointed accusingly at her mother.
"Oh, but Knoby is very pleased you like it ma'am, very pleased indeed!" he smiled a wide toothy grin.
"Very. Good!" Ginny sprinkled some salt on her corn next. Luna smiled and put the wand away very carefully.
Teddy was giving Ginny the strangest of stares, as if he had never seen her so hungry before. "Er…Ginny, you might want to take it easy on the corn, I don't think it was meant to be chewed so quickly."
Ginny paused for a moment, and then chomped the corn with all ferocity. The plate was devoid of all food before anyone else had even helped themselves to seconds.
"Anyway…" Teddy said to the table abroad. "I was personally hoping for a Quidditch Match after dinner, if anyone is up for it?"
With Teddy's words, the children ceased their eating, and they all started talking at once, very fast and very audibly.
"Keeper!" James cried.
"Keeper!" Albus yelled.
"No, I want keeper!" Lily exclaimed.
Luna looked to Ginny who was not paying any attention to the children, and Luna couldn't help but feel responsibility had to be taken. Granted, she had cast the hunger charm. "Children, how about we eat now, and play later?"
"Right." Harry added, nodding appropriately. "And then we can all play."
"Too right, Harry, Luna, sorry I brought it up." Teddy apologized.
The meal continued on until everyone had had their fill, Ginny more than the others, but that was alright. Luna smiled, her charm was quite effective, and Knoby couldn't have looked happier.
They all took their part in cleaning up the table, so that Knoby was not kept too busy.
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Teddy was in the kitchen putting away some dishes while everyone else was in their respective rooms, getting changed and prepared for the Quidditch match. He was in a joyous mood, after all; he had a full stomach, a Firestorm 2001 and a lovely bunch of competition. Harry was with Luna, but at least he thought he would have Knoby on his team. James would be a good addition as well, so long as Harry didn't call him first.
He felt a light flutter on his back and he turned around to see he was facing Ginny, who was carrying a stack of robes. "Here you are, Ted," she breathed, red in the face, "these should fit you, alright?" she laid them on the table.
"Ah, thanks Ginny, they're appreciated." he took the robes from the table and made to leave the kitchen.
"You enjoyed the meal, then? Ted?" Ginny forestalled him, stepping in front of him and blocking his way to the door. Teddy looked at her and nodded, clapping her on the shoulder.
"It was a very fine meal, Knoby is one of a kind. Now em, I just have to get changed into these, you should probably change too, ya know." He said, noticing her still wearing the robes she had worn at dinner. "Wouldn't make a very good chaser wearing those now, would you? They could get dirty, er , summat." He said, making his way past her.
"Yes, changing would probably be smart, well, I'll go do that then." She said distantly.
"Jolly good." Teddy said, as he left her in the kitchen.
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They all met out on the field after they had changed. Harry and Teddy were captains, it was decided, and each of them stood with arms crossed, facing their friends and family.
"Luna." Harry pointed, and Luna set off at him with a dash, her blonde hair bouncing lightly on the shoulders of her blue Quidditch outfit.
"Albus "Stop that Quaffle" Potter," Ted called, pointing to the boy, who jumped in the air excitedly.
"I'll have James, the Keeper who won't be stopped, Ted." Harry said, casting a strange look at his Godson. I wonder if this is what Lupin was like as a boy, Harry laughed.
"Fine then, I'll have Lily." Lily rushed to Teddy's side and gave him a hug, her little broomstick falling by his feet.
"We will have Knoby." Luna motioned for the elf, who wore a purple set of robes, and he carried a Clean Sweep.
And so it was that Ginny headed out to Ted's side, looking a little ashamed. The two captains set out towards the center of the field, and they shook hands, in true Hogwartsian fashion.
"Good grip, ya got there, Ted," Harry inclined his head.
"Let's rock, Harry Mother Fuckin' Potter." Ted whispered into Harry's ear, his hair turning to a dark black, and his eyes flashed into an emerald green. They bowed, and then they took to the sky.
Ted & Harry raised their wands in unison and bolts of red shot down onto the chest containing the Quaffle and Snitch. The Golden Snitch took off like mad, and the Quaffle rocketed into the air, and the game was on.
Luna and Ginny rushed towards the Quaffle, their brooms peaked towards the north star as Lily and Knoby criss crossed in front of the goal posts guarded by Albus and James. Teddy looked at Harry for a split second, then raced off towards the clouds to find the Snitch.
Luna reached the Quaffle first, and her victorious hoot of enjoyment was heard across the pitch. She dodged Ginny who was trying to take her from behind, but the blonde was not to be stopped, she cast her eyes around her and tossed the Quaffle to Knoby who embraced the Quaffle heartily. Onwards against the night wind he rode, wide eyes full of mirth as the Quaffle soared right out of Albus' reach and into the goal.
"Woohoo!" Team Harry cried as they scored the first ten, and it was with a clamor that Team Teddy took the Quaffle. Lily caught the Quaffle as Albus threw it to her, and Knoby raced to her side, watching for the opportunity to steal it.
Ginny flew out of the way and up towards Ted who was still seeking the Snitch.
"Good luck finding it Teddy!" she shouted to him, and he was so unaware of her presence that he nearly fell from his broom.
"Oh, uh…thanks!" he said, before sprinting off after Harry, who was soaring towards the ground with all haste. Ginny rode off towards Lily and caught the Quaffle. Her throw was quick, but James was faster. He stopped the Quaffle and sent it soaring out into the pitch.
Harry had seen the Snitch, and he so wanted to catch the Snitch before Teddy, as always. Sure, Harry would be lenient on his kids, but Teddy was another story all together, Harry thought. Teddy had been taught Quidditch by Harry, and therefore was a much greater threat. Harry was close and everyone else seemed to have taken notice, and it was as if time stood still as the two Seekers hurtled through the coming darkness.
A scream rent the stillness. "HARRY!" Ginny shouted, and Harry's instincts kicked in, he stopped what he was doing and turned his head to Ginny, who was perfectly safe on her broom, though she wore a deviant smile.
Harry realized the ruse all too late, and was able to turn his head in enough time to see the victorious smile on Teddys face as his outstretched fingers closed around the Golden Snitch.
Teddy and his team were unanimously in fits of laughter and celebration, while Harry and his lot returned to the ground. Harry was a little upset, no- Harry was very upset by Ginny's trick. Luna laid a kiss on his lips as they rejoined at the ground, Knob y and James joining them.
"That was so unfair of Mum," James said, kicking the ground with his boot.
"There, there James…there's always a rematch."
"Miss Ginny…cheated…cheated…cheated, Master Harry she cheated us!" Knoby said, wringing his hands together. "That was not very nice." Knoby said, looking hurt.
"Cheating's nothing new for her apparently,…" James kicked a tuft of grass and sent it flying.
Harry looked down at his son and was fully aware of just how insightful his son was. He knelt down and gave him a hug. "Don't worry son, we'll get her, next time."
"Yes, James, don't worry, honesty always wins in the long run. Let Team Teddy have their win for now. Fate will work things out you know." She laid a hand on James' shoulder. "Pudding, anyone?" Luna asked.
Team Teddy had ice cream, but Team Potter had pudding. And Luna was feeling more hurt about James' reaction to Ginny's cheating, than she was about losing. It's one thing to cheat a grown man, it's a completely different one to cheat a fifteen year old child, she thought.
Revenge, unlike the pudding, was a dessert best served hot. Luna escorted her team to the dining room, and wondered what dessert she could whip up for Ginny.
