[136]
"Well …"
"Well?" Hermione repeated when Ron doesn't continue the sentence.
"Well," he said slowly, "it's … it's a nice attempt?" She scowled at that, then frowned, staring down at the plate of food.
"Is it that awful?" she asked, worry seeping into her tone.
"It's … it's not inedible," Ron said, making a visible attempt to swallow his mouthful. "Just a little … lemony?" he finished slowly, making a curious sound half-way between a cough and a sputter.
Hermione frowned again. "I didn't put any lemon in it."
Ron was willing to admit that her attempts at cooking had been getting considerably better, but that wasn't really saying much. But Ron had grown up with Molly Weasley, and he'd picked up the odd technique here and there, reluctant as he was to admit it.
"Can I help you?"