Author's now; hey everyone. Miss me? I think this chapter is one of my longest yet for this story. There are 1,747 words in this. Hope you all enjoy.

chapter 18 - Baking, a dream and invite

Harry was currently in the Alfiya kitchen. On kitchen duty. He went over his list for what he was making.

Apple dumpling recipe

2 Granny smith apples,

1 lemon,

1/2 cup sugar,

1/2 Cup (1 stick) butter,

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract,

8 Canned buttermilk biscuits,

4 teaspoons ground cinnamon,

He sat down the recipe and went and gather his ingredients as he was doing this the schools chef enter the kitchen.

The chef just watcht the young man as he placed his items on the counter input on one of the white aprons. As he watcht he couldn't help but think what a shame it was that most of the girls in the school could not cook to save their lives he thought.

He watched as the young man preheated the oven and then peeled and cord the two apples and then slice the apples vertically into 8 slices each. The young man squeeze the lemon into a bowl of water.

"what's the lemon water for?" the chef asked. The boy put the apple slices in the water. "Its to keep the apple slices from going brown, Sir."

The chef nodded.

He watched as the young man pulled out a medium saucepan, mixing 1 cup water, 3/4 cup of the sugar, and the butter and vanilla. The boy brought the mixture to a boil over medium heat.

Then the young man separated each biscuit into 2 layers. Then he wrapped a biscuit layer around one of the apple slices, stretching the biscuits some to overlap, and sealed on the bottom. Then the boy placed the wrapped slices, sealed-side down, in a 9- by 12- by 2-inch inch casserole dish. And then carefully poured the hot sugar mixture over the apple slices. Then he mixed the rest of the remaining 1/4 cup sugar with the cinnamon and sprinkled it over the tops of the wrapped apples. And putting on his oven mitts he put it into the oven.

"So how long is that supposed to bake for?" the chef asked the raven haired youth in front of him.

The boy smiled and said " 35 minutes sir." mischef nodded he knew all of this of course but he wanted to see how much the boy new on his own, and by golly he was impressed.

The chef rolled up his sleeves to help the young man make the rest of that night's dessert. After all that pan only serves 8 and they had an entire school to feed.

Meanwhile in another part of the castle.

"I'm bored." Stella blind.

Musa who was playing a game of cards with Tecna glance over to the princess of Salaria and said, "Well why don't you do some of that homework on your desk?"

Stella a blanced and fell off her bed. Bloom laughed from where she was sitting on the floor playing with her pet bunny. " but homework is so booooring!"

"Oh stella stop complaining. And just find something to do, it won't be that much longer until dinner. " Layla said walking out from her bedroom. "Hey have any of you seen Harry?" she asked. They all shook their heads.

Back in the kitchen

"Where did you learn to cook like that young man?" the chef asked as they were cleaning up the kitchen.

Harry took a little time to think by cleaning off the counter.

"From a neighbor and watching the Cooking Channel on TV." he said. It wasn't a lie sometimes when he went over to Mrs Figs she showed him how to make cookies and things. And sometimes they would watch the Cooking Channel when there wasn't any good movies on.

"Well young man I would love if you were to come and help me again. what do you say?" he asked finishing washing the last bowl.

"Do you really mean it sir?" Harry said hope shining in his eyes. The chef laughed and said; "Yes! Now what is the name of my new sous chef?"

Harry smiled and said; " Harry Potter sir. And thank you for the amazing offer."

When dinner have finally rolled around Harry had made his way to the dining hall and slipped onto the bench next to Bloom.

"Hey Harry." she said; " where have you been today?"

"Hi Bloom." keep hogs putting some food on to his plate. " I was on kitchen duty today." Bloom grimaced. Harry laugh, " not your favorite thing to do?" she nodded.

He stuck a piece of chicken into his mouth and shoes before speaking; " I absolutely love cooking." he took a bite of corn and swallowed. " and I got some really cool news to share with you all."

"And what is that Harry?" techni asked. Harry took a drink and then said, "The chef really liked my cooking today." he took another bite of chicken, " He wants me to help him in his kitchen, be a sous chef for him."

"That's great Harry." Bloom said. " so Harry.." Layla started before taking a drink, " what did you make for dinner tonight?" she asked glancing around the table.

Harry bit his lip before saying; " I made the desert... Its... It's an apple dumpling." he pointed to a couple still covered dishes on the table.

The rest of dinner there was non-stop chatter chatter as everybody enjoy the delicious desserts.

Dream

He was rocking, back and forth, back and forth, he picked up a cup of tea and took a sip, he glanced around the room but he didn't recognize it, a few feet next to him was a cradle. He got up and took a peek, in the cradle was a small sleeping infant wearing a yellow sleep suit.

The baby began to sniffle, he picked the baby up and cradled it into his arms. Walking back over to his chair, he sat back down and rocked with the baby.

"Shhhh." he stroked the baby's cheek and begin to hum. After a few minutes the small bundle drifted back off to sleep and he carefully got up and replaced the small one in its cradle.

Standing up from his bend he was encompassed and a pair of warm arms, a pair of lips found their way to his neck, he shivered as the other murmured.

"love even your humming is beautiful." he shivered again.

"I thought you weren't going to be home until early tomorrow?" he questioned. The male laughed.

"The mission was actually really easy, surprisingly."

Harry turn around to place a kiss on the other, As he turned he got a quick glance of dark eyes..

End dream

Harry's eyes fluttered open, he set up and yawned.

Knock, knock, knock.

"I'm up." He called.

Flora popped her head in the room and said; "Morning Harry." he smiled.

"Hey I just wanted to say bye before I went home for the day." he asked why she was going home as he followed her out to the common room.

"Because today is a holiday..." she stopt, "Did no one tell you what today is Harry?" she asked, he shook his head.

"Today is the day of the rose, it's a special day in magic." Flora said as she closed her suitcase. "What's the day of the rose?" Harry asked as they walked towards Tecna.

"It's a special day what everybody celebrates their mother. Don't you have a day like this on earth?" Tecna asked.

"Yes." Harry said, "It's called mothers day. (1) In fact, England was the first country in the world to dedicate a day for mothers as early as 1600s. They called this day for mothers as 'Mothering Sunday."

"Interesting." Tecna said. "Are you going home?" Bloom inquired.

Harry shook his head and said; "I don't think so."

"Well then you'll keep us company." Stella said as her and Musa stepped out of their rooms.

Helia, sky and Riven were in town relaxing. Helia was nervously messing with his phone.

"Just call and ask him already." Riven said at his friend.

Sky scowled at Riven, "Give him a break man, don't you remember how nervous you were when you were trying to build up the courage to asked out Musa for the first time?"

"yeah, but... Nevermind." he took a sip of his drink and said to Helia

"Call and asked him if he would like to go to the ball with you as friends."

"Great idea Riven." he turned to Helia. "Yeah maybe you could consider this something like a practice date."

"just do it man." Riven said " worst thing that can happen is that he could say no..." sky through a look towards him, "... I mean that... You know that he could have other plans or something." Helia nodded and use the special number to connect to Harry's which mirror.

Back at the school, only Harry, Musa and Stella were staying at school that day, even most of the teachers were heading off. As the Trio finished breakfast, Harry received a incoming message on his which is mirror from Helia.

"um... hi Harry, G-good M-morning ." Harry smiled back, " good morning Helia. What can I do for you this fine morning?"

"Um... I.. I just was wondering if anybody had inform you about the R-rose ball tonight in town?"

"I'm aware."

"OH that's good..." he nearly shouted, "Hum.. I.. I was J-just wondering, if maybe...Youwouldliketogotonightasfriends with... me?" he nervously got out.

It took Harry a few moments to decode what Helia said, "Hang on a moment Helia." he said not giving Helia time to speak, flipping the mirror face down he turned to Stella and Musa, " Oh Marlin."

"what is it Harry? Is something wrong?" Musa asked.

But before she was even done asking her questions Harry was shaking his head. He glanced over towards Stella, " Stella..." he said.

Stella got up and moved to the other side of the table. " what is it Harry?"

"Its.. It's Helia.. He asked me to company him as friends to tonights Rose ball."

Stella squealed and gave her friend a hug. "Well? Did you say yes? "

He blushed, "Hmm.. Actually he's still on the mirror."

"Oh boy you better pick that mirror up and tell him yes." Harry nodded and picked his mirror backup. Blushing slightly he gave Helia a smile, "That sounds nice. I would like to go to the Rose ball as friends."