Thank-you to everyone who is reading. I hope you're enjoying the story. If you have ideas of anything you would like to see in the story, just let me know. I would like to thank in particular LizzyMarch for the idea of having a cooking lesson.

Enjoy!

The Marriage of Harry and Katie

Harry and Katie looked into the pots at the food they were cooking. One had some mashed up potatoes in it and the other some brown mince. The contents were exact replicas of the stuff Professor Sprout had in the cauldrons on her desk. The two of them were shocked. They hadn't expected to have found the food technology lessons so easy. This was the third time they had had to work together to make a meal. Initially it was a vegetable soup, then they progressed onto fairy cakes and now it was Shepherds Pie. While Lavender and Justin had found the last two dishes complicated and Parvati and Dean had somehow managed to set fire to their soup, Harry and Katie had just followed the recipes and achieved exactly what they were meant to. The result was that their marriage 'grades' were receiving an unexpected boost. They hadn't been that low to begin with. Both of them had accepted early on that the subject was slightly obscure and had no real purpose. They still did all the work set but, unlike Hermione and Ernie they didn't fret for hours and unlike Ron and Cho, and Ginny and Malfoy they weren't constantly trying to out-do each other. They were a well matched pair. Neither wanted to fail but neither was totally absorbed by the subject. Infact, they acted no differently than before they were paired up- accept that they now had lessons together. There was no set routine as to when they met up and did any work set, it was more a case of 'well its due in on Monday and we have Quidditch practise all weekend- lets do it now.' When you considered, there were only two significant changes in their relationship from last year to this. Firstly they called each other 'Hubby' and 'Missis'. This had started off as a joke one evening but since then it had stuck. Even on the Quidditch pitch Katie would frequently shout 'Hey, Hubby, when's it time for a break?' The second change was that they were now responsible for a boy in the second year. He was called Paul and no trouble at all. He was polite, punctual (more so than Harry and Katie were) and he was nice. The first time they met him, Paul spoke frankly.

'I know that what I do this year makes a difference to your grades so I promise I will be really good. I'm not very clever so I won't get you marks for my ability but I will try my hardest. And don't worry; if anyone asks me you put me to bed every night and you monitor all my meals to ensure they are healthy.' He grinned and a bond between the three of them was immediately struck. Paul happened to be in Gryffindor house as well so it was easy for the three of them to meet up should the occasion rise. He was also a reserve Keeper for the Quidditch team. Though Ron was good, his performance was haphazard and Harry had taken the executive decision to train up another.

So, overall the little 'family' were spending a lot of time together and getting on, something which not many families were. Ron and Cho were still childless, not having resolved their own differences yet. Every lesson was a battle, according to Neville and usually there was no absolute winner. It was the opposite with Ginny and Malfoy. There was always a winner and that person always made sure the other knew this. After four counselling sessions the two of them were still not working well, so McGonagall had insisted they attend another four. Ralph was still being neglected. Ginny sometimes went to visit him and to ask how he was but Malfoy didn't bother. Ralph never made the first move. He was too timid according to Ginny, and in their relationship, meekness got you nowhere. Neville and Pansy were still without a child, as were Luna and Seamus. Neither couple was bothered by this. They were all of the opinion that it was safer for the child this way. Hermione and Ernie were a different kettle of fish altogether. Their daughter Helen was causing them no end of grief. She was thirteen and every bit the typical teenager. She rarely attended the formal meetings and when she did it was only to lodge a complaint. If Hermione offered to help her with her homework, something that no one in their right mind would ever dare refuse, Helen just sighed and said

'You know I don't do homework. It's such a waste of time and there are so many more interesting things to be done.' Ernie had tried a different route

'Look here Helen, you've got to give us some room to move here. We need a good grade for this marriage and how you act makes a difference. Just accept the help we offer you. Anyway, you do have to do homework or you get in trouble so really it could work both ways.' Helen didn't respond well to being lectured. But, Hermione discovered she did respond well to bribery. The current deal they had struck was that Hermione and Ernie would take Helen to Hogsmeade for the day, if, and only if, she handed all her work in. Being a second year Helen wasn't old enough to go alone. If her 'parents' decided to take her though, then it was allowed. Hermione had also had to bribe Harry and Katie to have lunch with them.

'If there are more people she's a bit easier to cope with' Hermione pleaded 'and you never know, if she sees you two and Paul getting on so well, she might deicide to be a bit less of a madam.' So that was where they were all heading tomorrow. Ron was joining them too. He wasn't spending anymore time with Cho than was necessary.

'There are twenty minutes left' called Professor Sprout over the heads of the students. Harry and Katie added all the prepared vegetables to the mince and some extra tomatoes. After transferring the whole lot into a cooking dish and putting the mashed potatoes on top they set it over the flames to brown off. A swish of Katie's wand and all the utensils they had been using were clean and back in the cupboards from where they came. Professor Sprout wandered over to their trestle tables and peered at their pie.

'Outstanding Bell and Potter. Full marks again.' She smiled at the two of them, who grinned back. 'The rest of the lesson is yours to use in any productive manner.' As she turned to move onto Lavender and Justin she called 'Come to my desk at the end of the lesson, I'd like to have a quick word.'

The bell rang and Harry and Katie approached Professor Sprout. She looked up and smiled.

'I'd like to say well done to the pair of you. You really seem to have a natural flare for cooking. It's an idea to bear in mind for when you begin thinking about your careers. Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. I've an idea to put before. Now feel free to say no but I would ask you to consider it.' She sat down and motioned for the two of them to do the same. 'Now, Dumbledore has arranged for those couples who are finding cooking difficult some extra tutorials and practical sessions. I think the two of you should attend these to extend your existing skills. As a class we only have one more practical lesson involving food and then we move onto handy-work around the house. I really think that you could excel with some more practice. Not only is cooking a useful skill to have for the future- there are times when wands cannot be used, but these extra lessons will naturally be viewed in a positive light by the rest of the faculty.' Sprout stood up. 'The decision rests with you. If you choose to attend, the first class is tomorrow at two O'clock in the kitchens.'

'Whatdua reckon' Harry asked as he and Katie made their way back up to the castle.

'I don't know' she replied. 'Of course the extra classes would reflect really well on us but tomorrow is the day in Hogsmeade. We promised to take Paul and we said we would save Hermione from Helen for a while at least.'

'Yer, it would be much more fun going out for the day' commented Harry 'but cooking isn't too bad and we would look really sensible and reliable if we went. What about Paul though?' Harry looked at Katie. Both of them respected the kid who was causing them no trouble and yet really nice at the same time. He deserved a treat. Katie paused, thinking for a moment.

'What if we take Paul to Hogsmeade in the morning, show him the shops, buy him lunch and be back in the kitchen in time for the class. It's a compromise. He stills gets a morning out and we still attend the lesson.' Harry looked at Katie. She was often the one who had the really bright ideas. As they arrived in the Entrance Hall they spotted Paul leaving the Great Hall.

'Hey Paul' called Harry 'we've sorted out what we're going to do tomorrow...'

'But you can't' cried Hermione in the common room. 'You can't leave Ernie and myself to look after Helen you promised you would be there. There's no way I can put up with her for a whole day. It'll kill me.'

'We will be there in the morning and you can have lunch with us. It's just the afternoon. If she's a pain when you're out you can bring her back up to the castle when we leave.' Harry had just informed Hermione of the change of plans for the following and he was feeling about six inches tall. He could see Katie over the top of Hermione's head. She was sitting in an armchair, laughing silently at Harry's predicament. They had tossed a coin to see who would break the news- he had lost. Harry was trying t think of something to reassure Hermione with. 'Ron will be there' he tried half-heartedly. He didn't think Hermione would see this as a bonus.

'No I won't mate.' Ron had just entered the common room. 'I've got to go to an extra cooking lesson tomorrow afternoon. Snape seemed to think that my cooking abilities were about as good as my potion skills. And in the morning Cho's decided that I need to practise my communication skills. She's well narked that we don't have a kid. All her friends do apparently and it's my fault for not expressing myself in the correct and proper manner.'

'Bad luck-' began Harry but Hermione cut across him.

'See! He's no use either. You two are a pair of dung brains. You put your needs before your promises.' She stood up and stomped off up to the girls dormitories. Harry and Ron looked at each other

'Women!'

The following day, the two figures of Harry and Katie could be seen hurrying down the steps towards the kitchens. They were late. Paul had been telling some of his jokes and they had completely forgotten the time. He had been left in the charge of Hermione and Ernie, both of whom looked like they wanted to adopt him. Paul was polite and extremely friendly. He was also bringing out a side of Helen no-one had ever seen. When she had been introduced, she had gone all shy and very quiet. She had spilt her drink down her front when Paul had addressed her and then on the way to the bar, Helen had tripped over a stray stool. Hermione had cornered Katie in the toilets and begged that Paul be left in Hogsmeade when she and Harry left for the food lesson. After a few hurried words with Paul it was all settled. He would stay for as long as Hermione wanted and, in return she would do all his homework for the week. His grades were to receive an unexpected boost. Harry had been surprised that Hermione had agreed to this but he hadn't counted on her being so worn-down by Helen. Any assistance was welcome, whatever the cost.

As Harry and Katie hurled themselves into the kitchen, they noticed that there were quite a number of people there. Most of them were their friends. Over in the corner they could see Seamus and Luna standing next to Parvati and Dean. In-front of Dean sat Ron and Cho. Ron was looking mutinous and, Harry noticed, was sitting next to two vacant chairs. He headed in that direction. At the very front were Neville and Pansy, who were next to Draco and a fuming Ginny. Standing at the front of the class were four House Elves, one of whom was Dobby. He waved at Harry who waved back. Harry glanced down at the desk he and Katie were to work at. There were three recipes and a whole array of ingredients.

'Right' squeaked a House Elf beginning to read out instructions from a piece of parchment. 'Every couple has at least one set of instructions in front of them. You must follow these and produce the dish stated. If your final product isn't correct you will start again. Once you have successfully completed all the recipes put in front of you, you may leave. Right- GO!'

It was cosy in the kitchen. There was still a bright fire burning in the grate. Only Harry and Katie were left. The other couples had eventually finished their products. The House Elves had left to go and help with the dinner for the rest of the school. Harry and Katie had worked their way through two recipes and now they were on the last- making bread. It was in the oven and they were waiting for it to rise. The two of them were sitting in an arm chair. They were giggly and their feet were aching. So far they had made a stir-fry and a soufflé. The stir fry was simple but having been given an unlimited supply of sherry for it, they had begun drinking. The soufflé had been impossible. It was only in their third attempt that it went well. Now the bread was giving off a wonderful aroma and making them feel relaxed. Katie turned to Harry

'Do we put a dusting of flour on the bread after its risen' she enquired.

'Dunno, what sort of dusting were you thinking of?'

'A bit like this' Katie said as she threw a handful over Harry's head. He jumped and she ducked as he aimed at her and missed. 'Come on Hubby' she teased 'you can throw better than that.' She was rewarded by a fistful in the mouth. She spat it out and picked up the entire jar. But Harry was off, running to the other side of the kitchen, Katie was soon in hot pursuit. Harry disappeared underneath a table and Katie paused, wondering which way to go. In her moment of hesitation she felt a tug and she fell to the floor. Harry had grabbed her and, once she was on the floor, began pouring flour over her head. She grabbed his shoulders and brought him down next to her. He reached over to get the jar on the other side of Katie but at the same moment she pushed him the other way. They were rolling round the floor, legs and arms flailing both laughing away. As they came to a halt, both laughing, Harry leant over and under the darkness of a table, kissed her.