I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Extended Family
Chapter 20 – Kitchen Clash
Set after Dahlia's birth but before the final chapter
Dedicated to diffident-serpiente
"Harry gave you this too huh?" Angelina asked, looking at some familiar handwriting on a bundle of parchment.
Alicia nodded. "I'm glad I got him those quills his first year, his penmanship has drastically improved. But yes. Hadley wanted her godfather's noodle dish so I had him write the recipe for me. It's close enough though my darling daughter tells me it's not as good."
"Kids are brutally honest," Angelina chuckled. "Hailey is the same. George'll eat anything and I'm thankful for that considering how awesome of a cook Molly is. He even likes some of the stuff I learned from my mum. But it's not Papa Harry's cooking for Hailey."
"Children can be rather picky," Daphne agreed, "or so my mother claims. I vaguely remember Astoria like that." She paged through the bound parchment. "I may have to ask for my own copy. I can follow a recipe well."
"I hope so, as a fellow potioneer," Alicia said and she smiled at Daphne's rude gesture.
"We can always ask Mistress Castor," Daphne said with a sharp smile.
"One time! One time I misread a line. As if you have never done that before!"
"I always feel like Harry leaves something out," Hermione said. "I've tried to follow his recipes before but it always tastes a little off. I've watched him time and again but I don't know, something seems not right."
"Probably some secret special ingredient to keep us hooked," Alicia said.
"Knowing Rabbit? Something cheesy like love," Angelina smiled.
"I don't buy that," Hermione said. "You can make perfectly adequate potions without emotion. Cooking can't be that different."
"Just admit it," Angelina said with a wry look. "Some things do have that little who-knows-what to make it extra special and it matters. Like magic."
"Except you can explain magic. There's plenty of magical theory," Hermione argued.
"Which doesn't work all the time," Alicia said. She shrugged. "Well, cooking isn't exactly magic either so there's that. Ah well, I'm sure we'll figure it out sooner or later." Alicia tipped her head at Angelina.
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Why you two?"
"Because we're cooking for our children so that'll give us the edge at figuring out the nuance."
Daphne narrowed her eyes too. "A mother does not a cook make. My mother never cooked a day in her life."
"I mean, neither did mine but we have the greater inspiration," Alicia retorted.
"Don't drag me into this," Angelina muttered.
"Too late, you are." Alicia stared at Hermione and Daphne. "You think you can cook better?"
"I think we can do just as good without having to have children," Hermione said and Daphne nodded.
"Fine. Let's make it official. We each make something and have us taste it and have an impartial judge. Whoever makes the best dish, wins."
"We have to make the same dish for fairness' sake," Daphne said.
"Deal." Alicia tapped a piece of parchment with her wand and made copies. "Let's say until this Saturday?"
"Who's the impartial judge?" Hermione asked.
"Rabbit would make the most sense. If you're using his recipe and he would sooner stun himself than hurt any one of us," Angelina said.
Alicia took out her mirror. "Katie Bell," she said to it.
"Hey! What's up?" Katie asked, appearing inside.
"Are you and Harry available Saturday?"
"I think so. It's the off season for us and we didn't have plans, why?" She listened to Alicia's explanation. "Oh yeah that sounds like a lot of fun! Sure! We can do it here and it'll be a fun party thing. You lot can duke it out for second place."
"Second place?" Angelina leaned over. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, I have the source here and I've learned from him. I'm obviously the next closest."
"Katie, you've forgotten that I tutored you in potions," Alicia said sharply.
"Cooking isn't potions! What recipe are we doing?! I'll prove it!"
"Just 'cause your last name is Potter doesn't mean you cook like him!" Angelina said heatedly.
"I'm going to make you eat those words and my cooking!"
Everyone looked at each other with grim determination.
"Are we playing for stakes?" Daphne asked.
"Bragging rights of course," Alicia said.
"Good enough," Daphne said.
-0-
"Babe? What in the world?!" Tracy coughed and she flicked her wand, opening the window in the kitchen and a light wind charm blew the smoke out. "What happened?!"
"The fish burned," Daphne said peevishly.
"Are you cooking?"
"Obviously!"
"You don't cook."
"I can cook!"
"Daph, we get take-away most of the time and the other times we eat at our family homes or at Harry's. What's going on?" Tracy snorted when she learned of the competition. "You know I love you, yeah?"
"Yes," Daphne growled.
"I don't think you're going to win this one."
"I can follow a recipe!"
"Daffy. I've seen you set fire to water. I'm still not sure how, but you have. You're amazing in a potions' lab but in the kitchen? You're like the opposite somehow."
Daphne poked her, face bright red. "If you're not going to help, then you can leave."
"No I better stay." Tracy sat at the table. "Help prevent property damage and I'm really bored and this is really entertaining."
-0-
"Are you sure you don't want help?" Harry asked.
"I am perfectly capable in the kitchen," Katie said in a dangerous voice.
"I never said you weren't but is something the matter? You're usually not this…determined."
"No. Nothing is the matter, just a point of pride. I can handle it. You can go relax. Out!" She pushed Harry out of the kitchen and as he walked away, he could hear her mutter and grumble.
Harry sat in his easy chair and like most times, Dahlia appeared to climb into his lap. He could usually count on her appearing within moments of him sitting or being still unless she was fast asleep. He helped her up the chair and felt her snuggle into his lap, holding her grey stuffed cat. "Do you know what's Mummy on about Dally?" he asked.
She shook her head, unconcerned. "Stuff," she said.
"Stuff indeed," Harry agreed. "What does my little star flower want?"
"Hugs," she said and burrowed into him.
"I can do that," he said happily and did just that.
-0-
"Sometimes I worry that you let your competitive side get the best of you," Jean said.
"I asked you to help me, Mother, not dissect me," Hermione complained.
"I can do both," Jean laughed. "Are you sure you're allowed to ask for help?"
"We never said we couldn't," Hermione said. She kept poking at the fish in the pan.
"Less is more in this case, mess with it too much and the filet will fall apart," Jean said. She looked back at the recipe. "This does look really good though. May I keep a copy?"
"I'll make one for you before I leave." Hermione stared at the fish, almost willing it to cook with her mind.
Jean took a bite of the finished dish. "It tastes really good!"
Hermione shook her head after she tasted it. "Harry's is better somehow. I can't explain it but it is."
"Are you sure?" She blinked when Hermione opened a container. "You might be taking this a bit too far dear."
"You taste it and you tell me."
"Did you have him make you an example?"
"I asked him to make it for me for lunch and didn't tell him about the competition."
Jean rolled her eyes and took a bite of the original dish. She frowned slightly. "I was going to say you were exaggerating but you're right, there's something a little different compared to yours. And the recipe is the same?"
"I watched him make it, nothing is different. I'll figure this out," Hermione said stubbornly.
-0-
George looked up at Angelina. "I hate to say it…"
Angelina groaned and rubbed at her eyes. "I don't believe this!"
George looked at the four plates. "They're all really good. Like, legitimately good. I mean, I can tell my mum's cooking 'cause I grew up on it. Your mum's is good too. Yours is like a weird but good mix between them. But there really is something different with Harry's. I don't get it. Do you think we're going mad?"
"No and I can prove it." Angelina dished out a small portion of each dish onto a plate and carried it to the living room where Hailey was playing with stuffed rabbits. "Hailey, help Mummy taste test these please."
Hailey obliged, opening her mouth wide to be fed each one. "I want more of Papa Harry's," Hailey said, licking her lips.
"Which one was that one?"
"The third one."
"Okay sweetie. Be right back." She and George walked back to the kitchen and she gave George an arch look.
"How did she know that was Harry's?"
"I have no idea," Angelina said as she put more of Harry's food on the plate. Hailey had followed them and clambered up onto a chair, waiting for the plate. She dug in once Angelina put it in front of her, smiling as she ate.
"Dang, she does look happy though," George said and ruffled her hair.
"Yeah," Angelina said with a soft smile. "I honestly don't care about this competition, aside from rubbing it into Alicia's face and proving Katie wrong."
"A good enough reason to do anything really," George agreed. He ate from Angelina's dish. "I think yours tastes pretty great."
Angelina kissed him. "You're just saying that 'cause I'm your wife."
"I mean that's a factor but not the only factor," he grinned. "I don't just eat everything you know. I have standards unlike certain Weasley brothers."
-0-
Saturday arrived and Harry looked at everyone with barely restrained amusement. He had not questioned Katie when she told him they were having a dinner party that day, though he had wondered why he was told to only make some small things for being to nibble on and not worry about contributing to dinner itself.
Now he looked at the six plates on the table. "Huh, so that's what this is about."
"Why is there a sixth?" Daphne asked.
"It sounded like fun and I wanted to try," Luna said.
"So I'm to pick who made it best?" Harry asked. "I don't know if I can do that."
"You better and be impartial," Katie said.
He smiled. "I guess I'll just be flattered that you all like the recipe so much and wanted to make it for yourselves." He went around and tasted from each plate with everyone else doing the same. "I really can't decide, they're all really good."
"Don't take the easy way out," Alicia said severely. "There has to be a winner."
"Okay, I just have to say it," Hermione looked positively disgruntled. "I've tried so many versions of this dish this week and yes everyone's is pretty good, but it doesn't taste like yours! How do you do it?!"
"Oh thank Merlin," Angelina said. "I thought I was going mad and thinking the same thing."
"We all have the same recipe and yet how are there so many subtle differences?!" Hermione glared at one plate. "Though that one is really close to yours. Who made this one? Katie?"
"That's Luna's," Harry said.
"Wait, can you tell who made which one?" Daphne asked, incredulous.
"Pretty sure I have a good idea."
"Bullshit," Alicia said.
"There are children present," Katie hissed.
"Bull dung," Alicia amended.
Harry smiled and pointed at the plates in turn. "Katie, Alicia, Luna, Hermione, Angelina, and Daphne."
"You are right! How?!" Daphne gasped.
"Katie always has problems with fish in a pan so hers is always a little more flaked. Alicia cuts all her veg super precisely, as if you took a ruler to it. I just taught Luna how to make this so that one's super familiar. Angelina cuts things a little rougher and larger. Hermione also cuts things really precisely but she always cuts at an angle too. Daphne's also precise but she also always separates her ingredients out a little further than others."
He blushed at their wide-eyed expressions. "I was tutored in potions by Alicia and had classes with Hermione and Daphne. Angelina cooks like her mum and Mrs. Weasley. And well, I cook with Katie."
"You notice those things?" Hermione asked, a little tearily.
"You were taught by Harry?! That's cheating!" Daphne raged at Luna.
"I didn't know that was against the rules," Luna replied frostily. "You go to the expert to learn, don't you?"
"What's with this obsession to make it exactly how I make it though?" Harry asked.
"Because you make it taste really good," Hermione said.
"I'm a little jealous that my baby prefers yours to mine," Angelina admitted.
"Same," Alicia said.
"Oh, I think I know why," Luna said all of a sudden. "You change it each time you cook it."
"I knew you left things out!" Hermione shouted.
Harry snorted. "I don't, not really. I think I know what Luna is talking about. Come on." They followed him into the kitchen and he went about preparing the dish for them. They watched him as he cooked. Hermione and Daphne had a copy of the recipe in front of them and they watched him, making marks as if grading him on the procedure.
"So who wants the first plate?" Harry asked.
"Uh…me I suppose," Katie said, frowning slightly.
Harry nodded and added an extra sprinkle of salt to it, mixing it well before giving it to her. Before he gave a plate to each person, he added something or did a little less of something before handing it to them.
"You…make changes based on who's eating them?" Daphne asked softly.
"Yup. You like things a little stronger on herbs so I make sure I do that. Hermione likes more butter even though she won't admit it. Katie likes salt. Alicia likes it a little less strong on spice. Angelina loves pepper. I haven't found exactly what Luna likes yet exactly though she likes strong flavors."
"I'll eat anything you make for me," Luna said happily.
"They all taste just a little different," Hermione said as she tasted each one. "But the one you made for me is my favorite." She blinked. "I can't believe you remember all of that for us."
He shrugged. "It's like second nature to me really. I barely think about it, as long as I know who it's going to. The recipes I write are like the base and when we're eating in a big group I leave it like that but if we go to someone's house for a party, I usually flavor it to match the host."
"I love you so much," Katie said, hugging him tightly.
"Do you do anything different for the little ones?" Angelina asked.
"I think kids don't like bitter flavors or sour flavors so I tone them down and use a little more butter or fat. I also cook veg down a little more so it's softer and the flavors mellow more. I imagine they like the ones you get from me because their tastes match yours pretty close."
They brought Dahlia, Hailey, and Hadley in and had each try a bit from every plate. While saying they all tasted good, Hailey and Hadley did prefer the ones made for their mothers while Dahlia ate any of them readily.
"Guess you share tastes with Auntie Luna," Harry said, kissing her.
"Anything you touch really," Katie smiled. "That time you made that spicy chili sauce, she ate it even though she was crying."
"Well I always make sure to put in plenty of love for whatever I make for the little ones," Harry said.
"I knew it was something cheesy like that," Angelina said with a smile.
"How are you so observant while so oblivious?" Daphne asked flatly.
"Selective observation," Alicia sighed.
"Do you do this for everyone?" Hermione asked.
"Mostly. Dora and the Tonkses aren't too picky and they love anything, same with Sirius. Most of the Weasleys are the same too so I don't think about changes as much with them. Sweets everyone pretty much enjoys the same profile but if I'm making batches for particular people, I'll change things up a little."
"I guess we all lost," Katie said ruefully.
Luna had sat down at the table and was eating her plate happily. "We have lots of lovely food to eat, I don't see it as a loss."
Katie smiled. "Yeah, you're right-Dally! Don't steal from your auntie!"
Dahlia had stuck her fork into Luna's plate and looked up with large eyes. "But I'm hungry…"
"You act like we starve you," Katie said weakly while everyone laughed.
Luna took Dahlia into her lap and shared her plate with her, alternating bites between them. "She just can't get enough of her daddy's cooking and none can blame her," she said.
"Good thing she's active," Harry chuckled. "I half expect her to gain a lot of weight with all the food she eats."
"Okay, clearly our mistake in this contest is that we all chose to follow a flawed recipe," Alicia said.
"Hey! It wasn't flawed," Harry protested.
"Next time we pick an ingredient and we all make something and then compare what we come up with. Without outside help," Daphne said, looking at Luna.
"If you think I'm the only one that had help, you best think again," Luna retorted.
Daphne noticed Angelina and Hermione looking elsewhere. "Fine, no help from Harry."
Luna rolled her eyes and huffed. "Auntie Daffy doesn't think much of your daddy's cooking," she said to Dahlia.
"What?! No!" Daphne picked up a very offended Dahlia who glared at her. "Do not listen to Auntie Luna! She is causing trouble for no reason aside from being petulant! I think your daddy is a wonderful chef and that is why he should not be aiding us in competition!"
"Don't weaponize my daughter," Harry laughed, poking Luna.
"But she's very effective," Luna smiled.
They watched as Daphne did her best to get back on Dahlia's good side, which involved holding her and feeding her more food. "You're not wrong," Harry chuckled.
-0-0-0-
Katie2001 - Thank you. This one is one of my favorites and I just finished writing what is probably the dumbest concept and it turned out much better than it should have. It should go up next week.
Imaginer.012 - Thank you, I'm do glad you liked your chapter. I wanted to make sure I hit the tone you wanted and what you liked best.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Humans really are really stupid.
Urgwaew - Thank you, I'm glad you loved it. It's fun exploring McGonagall and Harry's changing relationship like that as he gets older. I thought this was a good way to tie things together, something that some people can relate too, and see how things can happen and how people think in different moments. I also laughed when I decided to make them think about ways that Harry could be creepy and I really enjoy the comfortable dynamic that Katie and Harry have. It's very comforting to me. Hope you are doing well.
alix33 - It was a very nice talk, both with Tiffany and McGonaMum.
