I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.

A Taste of Magic

32nd Course – Tracks and Fields

"Right then," Hagrid said, his voice an excited whisper. "See here? When you are trackin', you have to keep your eyes opened for all sorts of signs. You see how the branches are bent back here, going slightly against the way the base is growin'. And you see the indentations here, in the loam. We're lucky to see some good sized hoofprints. Here the loam is thick so it holds tracks well. If the unicorn was walkin' on harder packed earth and grass, you wouldn't see as clear tracks."

Hagrid had been so proud when he revealed that he was the new Care of Magical Creatures professor. Having been formally exonerated for his charges at the end of the last term, he spent the summer doing classes and the like and with Professor Kettleburn retiring, he was chosen to teach the course.

Harry was very happy and proud of his friend. The others were a little unsure, having little interaction with the groundskeeper and new professor. Not to mention that the beginning of the class had gotten off on a rough start.

"I refuse!" Draco said loudly, crossing his arms.

"Refuse?" Hagrid asked, eyebrows narrowed.

"I refuse to listen to you," Draco said scathingly. "You're barely a magical and I do not believe you have the qualifications to be a professor!"

Hagrid glowered and Draco took a step back, his confidence waning. "Well now, that's a funny thing to say considerin' that I did my work over the summer to become qualified. Somethin' the school governors require. Isn't your father one of them?"

Draco gaped like a landed fish while others snickered and snorted.

"But fine, you refuse to listen? No problem. You can leave the class. Mine's an elective so you can leave it if you want. I'll let Professor Snape know you dropped it. Off you go then." Hagrid stood there, unyielding like stone, and waited.

Draco, caught, left, face red. Crabbe and Goyle dutifully followed and the class whispered among themselves. They started when Hagrid clapped his hands. "Right then, sorry 'bout that," he said, still slightly nervous but smiling wide. "Let's get started, shall we? We're going to start off with some basic sights you might see at the edges of the Forest."

He took the class to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, careful to not go too far into the Forest itself. However, even at the fringes, there was still a plethora of tracks and signs to be seen and observed. He happily pointed out the fleeting forms of some unicorns in the distance and the class enjoyed seeing the beautiful animals walking together, watching the students warily but not fleeing.

"What's this?" Pansy asked, finding something caught on some brush.

"Ah unicorn tail hair," Hagrid said enthusiastically. "It get's caught on things here and there. That one's a bit broken you see but still very beautiful and useful. You can keep it. But don't let me catch anyone trying to get one from the source." He waggled a large finger at the students. "You'll either get gored on their horn or kicked into next week and I've experienced both and neither are fun."

"Really?" Millicent gasped, looking up at him while Pansy happily coiled the tail hair and put it in her pocket.

"Well, I'm a bit bigger and tougher so I can handle it," Hagrid said, waving a hand.

"Aren't unicorns domesticated?" Parvati asked.

"Some are, but even those can be right ornery. The ones here are wild and free, nothing domesticated in the Forest," Hagrid said. "Another reason no one should be in it without someone that knows what they're doin'. It's wild, and wilder the deeper you get in save for some sanctuary groves and places. The Forbidden Forest is one of the biggest Hunter trainin' grounds after all."

"I want to do that one day," Ron said softly, eyes shining.

"Hunting?" Neville asked.

"Well, being a Hunter," Ron said. He flushed when people turned to look at him. "You see all sorts of things and you go after big magical creatures for things. Good Hunters are really needed and cool."

"They are," Hagrid agreed. "I got my own license for it and it's hard but good work." He patted Ron heavily on the shoulder, making the boy's knees buckle a little. "Charlie woulda been a good one too, if he didn't go into the dragon keepin' business. You might have the chops for it."

"Your brother is a dragon keeper?" Harry asked as the class made their way back to Hagrid's hut, where they started the class.

Ron nodded. "He's in Romania at a preserve there. He loves dragons. He's cool."

"You've got a lot of older brothers," Parvati said.

"I have one more, Bill. He's a Curse Breaker, works for Gringotts. He explores tombs and buried places." Ron looked proud. "He's cool too."

"Kinda funny how more pleasant he is now," Lavender said softly to Harry. "Guess you only needed to save him from something for him to be nice."

Harry grinned. "Not a terrible reason to be friendly I suppose."

"I guess," Lavender giggled.

"Awesome first class, Professor," Harry said to a beaming Hagrid when the class was dismissed. The rest of the students left to clean up before lunch but Harry hung back a little.

"Thank you! It means a lot to hear that from you," Hagrid said, his smile was bright as the sun. "It was a lot of work over the summer. I had to take classes about teachin' and all that. They even had be build a curriculum and they messed with it a lot." He shrugged a little. "I was plannin' on introducin' you lot to hippogriffs first but they said that might be too much too soon."

"Maybe," Harry said. He had no idea of course but he enjoyed seeing Hagrid happy and he was not lying, it was a fun first class. "So about me going into the Forest with you…"

Hagrid snorted and poked Harry, sending the smaller boy staggering. "Weren't you listenin' in class?"

"I was, and you said we shouldn't go without being accompanied by a Hunter and since you're the best Hunter I know, I figured it was safe."

"I'm the only Hunter you know," Hagrid said, amused.

"Which doesn't mean I'm wrong," Harry countered. He staggered once more when Hagrid laughed and clapped him on the back.

"Look at you throwin' my words at me," Hagrid chuckled. "Hope you're not tryin' for extra credit."

"I plan on treating your class very seriously," Harry sniffed.

"I know you are. Alright, next time I need to go after some boar or somethin' I'll clear it with the Headmaster and maybe you can come along."

"Thanks!"

Hagrid sighed gustily. "Not even my first day of a professor bein' over and I'm already playin' favorites."

"I promise I won't tell anyone." Harry's laughter joined Hagrid's, the happy sounds echoing over the grounds.

-0-

"Ah, Mister Potter, a moment please."

"Sure thing, Professor Sprout." He walked up to her and smiled.

"Did you still want to visit the Hogwarts farms?" she asked.

"Oh, yes please!"

She smiled at his enthusiasm. "Lovely! Well I'll be going tomorrow morning to help with something and I will take you with me. Meet me in front of Greenhouse One."

"Thank you!" Harry's eyes were bright and eager. "Who are the ones that work the fields?"

"The House Elves. There are some whose full-time jobs are fieldwork. I think the head farmer used to be a magical as well but eventually the House Elves took over the positions entirely, as most of the Hogwarts branches have."

"Is there a hat with a pitchfork stabbed through it or something?" Harry asked.

"Now that you mention it, there is! How did you know?"

Harry grinned. "There's a chef's toque with a knife stabbed through it, pinning it to the wall. The Headmaster mentioned it belonged to the last magical that tried to control the kitchens."

Sprout laughed. "We will have to ask the elves tomorrow. It wouldn't surprise me if they had the same origin story."

-0-

Harry shook his head slowly, feeling the world slowly going still. "I think I'm getting used to apparition."

"You're doing very well," Sprout said, patting his back. "Most younger or first timers tend to vomit everywhere." When Harry collected himself and straightened, Sprout proudly gestured around them. "Welcome to Hogwarts Farms!"

Harry gasped with delight. The fields were like he imagined them to be, from what he had read and seen briefly on the telly. The fields were broad and expansive, lovingly maintained and orderly. Crops grew in long rows and were separated with plots separated by wooden fences. The air was heavy with the rich earthy scent of soil and greenery. The House Elves that worked there wore the titular Hogwarts toga that all the elves at Hogwarts wore, but they also wore heavy boots and gloves. Many had straw hats with slits cut out for their ears and more than a few had kerchiefs or towels around their necks.

Golden wheat and sunny brown barley swayed in the wind, heads heavy and close to ripening. Greenish-brown oats moved slowly with the wind, looking lives waves in an inland green sea. The tops of carrots and potatoes were thick and flourishing, their leaves broad and bright. Beans hung from poles or under leaves, the pods glistening with healthy growth.

"Wow, it's so big," Harry gasped.

"This is the main set of fields," Sprout said proudly. "The vast majority of the main foodstuffs for the castle is grown here. Surplus crops are traded for the things we don't grow. Out past the fields are the barns for the pigs, sheep, and cattle as well as the coops for the chickens."

"Are they grown with magic?"

"To a degree. House Elves do everything with their magic, since they're magical beings, more so than us magical humans. The majority of things are grown with the seasons like they normally would but the soil is very rich and the fertilizer and care is magical in nature. So our crops are hardier and have bigger yields. There are smaller fields that grow things out of season but are smaller because that is more difficult. Need more care and magic to control. But with the magic, we can sometimes have multiple harvests but we have to be careful and not overtax the soil. Plus food grown with too much magic have a different quality to them."

"Like cooking with magic," Harry said.

"Precisely. When Filius told us of that discovery, it made a lot of sense." She smiled when a few of the House Elves approached them. "And here are the heads of the farms. Harry, meet Wheatly. He's the main farmer in charge of the fields. Roosty is the head of the ranching. They're the best at what they do."

"Nice to meet you," Harry said, smiling at Wheatly and Roosty. "You two must be outstanding in your fields."

Wheatley blinked. "Wheatley works in the fields so yes, Wheatley stands in them."

Roosty blinked too. "Roosty tends to the herds and flocks, so less field standing."

Sprout groaned and covered her eyes. "That was a terrible joke, Mister Potter, and I would take points for it if I could."

Harry grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, I couldn't resist."

Wheatley and Roosty grinned once the joke was explained. "Roosty likes wizardling Harry," Roosty giggled. "He is like the others said."

"Not many, well not any, wizardlings or witchlings visited the fields in a long time," Wheatley said.

"I've cooked a lot of things with your wonderful product," Harry said and the two heads smiled wide. "Oh speaking of." He opened his school bag and took out some boxes. "I made some snacks for all of you."

"You have?!" Wheatley and Roosty exclaimed together. In a very short time, all the House Elves in the farms came over and they chattered happily as the saw what Harry brought.

"I made boiled eggs and granola," Harry said, smiling as the elves ate happily and eagerly. "Protein for fullness and grains and sweets for energy."

"Mmm," Sprout hummed appreciatively. "Nothing bad about a nice hard-boiled egg with a bit of salt. This granola is nice too. What is it?"

"Oats baked with honey. You can add all sorts of things to it and eat it with yogurt or form it into bites like I did here with some dried fruit. It's a simple snack that's pretty healthy usually if you don't go overboard with the sweet things."

"This made with our things?" Wheatly asked, eyes bright.

Harry nodded. "Except for the honey and the dried fruit. I got it all from Quarters."

"Wizardling Harry is very good cook and very kind," Roosty said, her mouth full as she munched on a hard-boiled egg.

"He wanted to visit and get to know how the things are grown and cared for," Sprout said proudly. "Would you mind taking him on a tour and answering his questions while I take a look at the weed that is in the beans?"

"Of course!" Roosty said. "We take good care. Come come! We show!"

Harry was deeply impressed with the farms. They showed him how they cared for the animals and crops, at how everything was organized. The elves worked hard but were in good spirits, happy with their work and effort. The pens and coops and barns were very clean and the animals within looked healthy, treated very well.

"Do you butcher them here?" Harry asked.

"Usually," Roosty said. "We very careful. Take good care of them and they take good care of us."

"Are there a lot of predators that come in?" Harry looked off into the distance where he could see the edges of the Forbidden Forest.

"Oh yes," Roosty said. "Most of the time, we keep them out and keep ours safe. Sometimes they sneak in and we can't stop them. If they especially pesky or dangerous, we call for Hagrid."

"Boar and deer break in to eat crops a lot," another elf said. "We usually pretty good at keeping them out too but sometimes we have to hunt them too. Save for ourselves or school."

"Thank you for working so hard," Harry said and the elves beamed happily. "You can taste how good the things are, at school. I noticed a difference between what I can get here versus what I get away."

"Is hard work, but good work," Roosty said solemnly. "Hearing wizardling Harry say that though makes us proud and happy."

Eventually Sprout finished her work, identifying the weed and worked out a natural way to eliminate it with Wheatly and the other field elves. After a little more exploration, Harry left with Sprout, happy to have visited and seen the fields. The farming elves all thanked Harry for coming and for the treats, and promised to come visit him when they came back to the castle when they did.

"That was really interesting," Harry said once he and Sprout returned to the castle, apparating back to a secure point near the grounds and walking up the rest of the way.

"I'm glad you thought so," she said warmly. "It would be good if others shared your interest in what they ate and where it came from." Her warmth faded as she cast a wary look at some patrolling Dementors. "Come along, let's not tarry."

Harry did as she said, hurrying after her eagerly though he almost stopped once he heard the voices again. He still had no idea what that was about and his desire to learn more almost overcame his desire to run away from the magical beings. Once they crossed over the threshold of the grounds proper, the malaise of the Dementors faded.

"Ghastly things," Sprout sniffed. She noticed how Harry looked. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine," he said, shivering in the bright sunlight.

She patted his back gently. "Hopefully things will be resolved soon and those Dementors can be sent back to Azkaban."

Harry nodded in agreement but as he followed her back into the castle, he found his gaze drifting over to the patrolling Dementors once more, unable to look away.

-0-

"You look tanner," Lavender said when Harry reappeared in the common room after a shower.

"Do I?" Harry looked down at his bare arms.

"Just a little," Parvati said.

"I was in the sun all day," he said. "The farms are super cool and fascinating." He described what he saw to them.

"Oh wow, that does sound really impressive," Hermione said. "I'm surprised you didn't go with him."

Neville shrugged. "I guess I prefer magical plants. Plus I had to catch up on homework."

"You're like Professor Sprout, that's what she said too," Harry smiled. "She said magical plants are more feisty and interesting."

"Are there like, completely magical fruits or vegetables? Stuff that only magicals eat and Muggles don't or can't?" Lavender asked.

"I mean, a big chunk of what we use for potions is magical only," Neville said thoughtfully. "I'm not sure if there are any purely magical fruits or vegetables. There're ones grown with magic obviously, or have magical relations, but I don't know honestly."

"There's different breeds of magical animals that are equivalent to Muggle breeds," Harry said. "I read ahead in our Care textbook. Some are found naturally but others were bred that way. Like there are salamander chickens, ones that live on active volcanos and their eggs are hot to touch."

"Oooh, I wonder if they're spicy," Parvati giggled. "Like, naturally spicy."

"There has to be magical creatures that magicals eat, or else Hunters wouldn't really be a thing," Harry mused. "It's all so interesting."

Lavender's stomach gurgled and she flushed. "Now I'm hungry, talking about eating."

"We could probably go to the kitchens for snacks, but let's go to the clubroom," Harry suggested. "I can make us something, I'm sure. I haven't made an order for a lot of things yet but I think there's stuff in the ice box or the pantry cabinet. Enough to make something to snack on."

"Ooh yes please!" Lavender smiled.

-0-

"Whoa, I thought you said you haven't made any orders yet," Parvati said when she opened the ice box.

"I haven't, why?" Harry asked as he walked over.

"It's full of eggs," Parvati said, pointing at the large bowl filled with eggs.

"I cooked all the ones I got yesterday for the elves today," Harry gasped. He smiled when he picked one up to look at. "I think these are from the Farm Elves. There're some bunches of spring onions too. I saw those this morning when I was there. That's so nice of them!"

He looked at Parvati. "How about making some roti and we can wrap them around scrambled eggs and spring onion?"

"That sounds great! I'm all for it," she said eagerly.

"Let's make some extra and leave it for the Elves," Harry said. "To thank them for all this."

"Better go get Padma," Parvati sighed, rolling her eyes. "If she knows we made roti and didn't involve her, we'd never hear the end of it."

"We or you?" Lavender asked with a smile.

"Both. I'd never hear the end of it and I'd make sure you lot wouldn't hear the end of it," Parvati chortled.

"I'll go to Ravenclaw tower," Hermione said. She hesitated. "Should someone go to the dungeons for Pansy and Millicent?"

"I'll go, I remember where the Slytherin common room is from first year," Lavender said.

"Then we'll get started on making the roti," Harry said. "Come on Neville, you can do it too."

"Sure, if you show me," Neville said enthusiastically.

By the time Lavender returned with Pansy and Millicent and Hermione came back with Padma, Luna, and Sue, the other three were rolling out the rotis and starting to make a pile of them. "If you guys help with making more, I'll start on the eggs," Harry said, wiping his hands clean of flour.

"What brought this about?" Pansy asked as she helped roll out the dough and form the roti.

"I was talking about visiting the farms today and we were talking about magical vegetables and fruits and meat and things and we got peckish," Harry said. He chopped the spring onion thinly and on a bias, making long strands of them. He put two pans on the stove, warming them up over the flame.

"You visited the farms?" Sue asked. "Actually, Hogwarts has farms?"

Harry nodded and described them again to the newcomers. "Say, Luna, you know a lot about magical creatures. Are there purely magical animals that magicals eat that aren't really in the Muggle world?"

Luna nibbled on a bit of raw spring onion. "Dragons of course."

"People eat dragons?" Hermione asked, eyes wide.

"Oh yes, some dragons are prized for consumption," Pansy said and Millicent nodded. "Dragon meat is a high-profile meat and some are expensive."

"What do they taste like?" Lavender asked.

"Depends on the type of dragon," Luna said. "But like very tough beef. Though Daddy and I usually eat the jerky when we travel so it might be more the jerky form."

"She's not wrong," Pansy said. "Most are like very rich red meat or beef. With a very distinctly different taste."

"I wonder if they taste like alligator," Harry said. "I've never had alligator but apparently it's something they eat in the United States. Some states anyways."

"Other than dragon, some eat hippogriff. I've heard of certain types of salamanders and jackalopes," Luna continued. "Depends on the culture really I think."

"Wow, it's really interesting to know that Hogwarts gets a big part of the food locally and it's a part of Hogwarts," Sue said.

"In Hogwarts, A History, they mentioned when Hogwarts was first founded, they tried to make things as self-sustainable as possible," Hermione said. "But I suppose most people aren't as interested in that so they don't really go too in-depth over it later on. My parents have gotten into trying to order locally as much as possible. Going to Farmer's Markets and the like but of course you can't get everything there."

"We have to order through specialty markets for things we want," Sue said. "Since a lot of it isn't made here. Or family from overseas sends it to us"

"Same," Parvati and Padma said together.

"Don't draw attention," Lavender whispered loudly, pulling a towel over her hair and ducking when Parvati flung some spring onion scraps at her.

"I get things at the local supermarket. The Dursleys sometimes care about getting expensive ingredients to show off but they usually want me to get a deal on things," Harry said. "What about you? How does your family get groceries?"

Pansy looked sheepish. "I honestly have no idea. Our House Elves take care of it."

"Same," Millicent.

"I don't know really either," Neville confessed. "The House Elves order things and either go get it or it's delivered I think but I don't know where. They have an allowance from the house funds and just handle it."

"I wonder if there's a general market for magicals," Harry mused. "From when I talk to Quarters, there really isn't. He trades and barters with farmers that sell their things to Hogwarts directly and interacts with House Elves of the other major shipping groups for groceries for the school."

He beat the eggs together with salt and pepper, and poured the mixture into a pan after melting a pat of butter into it and sauteing the spring onion until they picked up a little color. Stirring the golden mixture flexed with black and shot through with strands of green and white, he scrambled it all until soft curds formed and browned ever so slightly on the edges.

All this time, with Padma and Parvati in charge, the others had been cooking the roti in the pan, making them brown and crackling on either side with a little butter brushed on and cooked until pliable and soft in the pan. He dolloped spoonfuls of the scrambled eggs and spring onions into each and they were rolled into tubular sandwiches and eaten happily,

"There's some ketchup in the ice box too," Harry said. "And there's soy sauce and chili oil still too."

"Ooh, that sounds good," Parvati said and she and Sue poured small amounts of the fiery red condiment onto their eggs.

"My mouth burns just from looking at it," Neville laughed.

"We'll get you there one day," Parvati said with a full mouth. She fanned her mouth, cooling the heat from the oil and the eggs. "One day, you'll be a spice fiend just like us."

"Or just a fiend," Harry teased.

"Hey! Since when do you tease me?!" Parvati gasped, glowering when Padma and Harry high-fived.

"Mmm, this hits the spot," Lavender said happily, chewing on the roti wrapped eggs. "Creamy eggs, chewy roti, and the spring onions are nice and fresh!"

"I think I am getting a taste for things," Pansy remarked as she ate another rolled sandwich. "These eggs taste wonderful and the spring onions are so fresh like Lavender said. Over the summer I had beef wellington from two different places and I could taste a difference in how they were made and the ingredients. It's one of my favorite things so I paid more attention to it."

"Oh like when you said you thought my quiche was really good compared to another," Harry laughed and she beamed. "I think they do an amazing job running the farms here so no wonder the produce and things are great."

"Thanks for getting us," Millicent said and the others from the other two Houses echoed their thanks. "It's cool that Flitwick lets you use the room like this."

"Better make some extra for him too, just in case. I sorta forgot to ask for permission first," Harry chuckled.

"Inky and the others are keeping an eye on us," Luna said. She pointed at a plate that had several roti and eggs on it before and was empty now.

The time passed pleasantly as they made more of both eggs and roti, talking and chatting and eating. Harry felt better, being in the midst of his friends and doing what he liked. Seeing them eat happily, thanking him and enjoying his company made him feel warm and content. A far cry from what he felt while at Number 4, Privet Drive.

Thankful and content.

-0-0-0-

poka - I always thought that was one of the saddest things about Harry's past, his only memory of his parents being such a traumatic one. I think the way things will tie up will hopefully be satisfying for people to read and enjoy.

Hands Off MY Wolfie - He's insulted by a lot of things to be fair. The Ministry fails in a lot of things, also to be fair.

DarkRavie - Thank you.

odonnellzoo99 - I like to think they are showing a lot of growth. Before they might have tried to make excuses or explanations. Now, they don't because they know what they like and their feelings.

alix33 - A lot of walking around the castle I imagine.