I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
A Taste of Magic
30th Course – Bitter and Sweet
Diagon Alley felt a little different to Harry, despite having visited a few weeks prior for his birthday.
People walked around with a faint sense of unease. There were posters of a man hanging on the walls, all asking people to alert the authorities if they saw the wanted man: Sirius Black. People looked at the posters and whispered among themselves. If Harry had not been forewarned, he would have been quite unsettled.
When he arrived at Diagon to purchase school supplies, he was pleasantly surprised to find Remus waiting for him in the Leaky Cauldron. The man had sent Harry a message asking when Harry was going and had shown up to be with him. When Harry asked him why, Remus had hesitated for a moment before he took Harry to one side.
"Sirius Black," he said slowly with a very strange expression on his face, "broke out of Britain's Wizarding prison: Azkaban. He is one of the only people to have successfully done so and it is rumored he might be around here if not moving more northward."
"Why did he go to prison?" Harry asked, shocked.
"He murdered many people, a wizard named Peter Pettigrew, and many Muggles. It happened at the end of the last war," Remus said quietly.
"Why?" Harry could not help but ask.
Remus rubbed his face. "I…cannot say. Not right now, not here. Forgive me."
"Sure, of course." He gave Remus a considering look. "But why are you here with me?"
"I did not want you to be in such a public space alone," Remus said.
"Is he coming after me or something?" Harry said, half-joking. His smile died at Remus' very serious look. "Really?"
"There's a possibility," Remus admitted. "One of the rumors is that he is going to Hogwarts for some reason."
"But why me?" Harry asked, starting to panic a little.
"I do not know," Remus said sadly. "Neither does anyone really. That being said, we are fully prepared to protect you."
"I believe that," Harry said weakly, "but, it's still worrying."
"I'd be worried for your mental state if you didn't find it so," Remus smiled gently, making Harry smile as well. "As someone who has lived with fear and concern for many years, try not to let it ruin times of peace. Besides, I did not just wish to accompany you to watch out for you. I wanted to spend time with you outside of class and school, and I need to get you a belated birthday gift."
"Oh you don't have to," Harry protested.
"Ah but I do, I have missed so many." Remus patted Harry's shoulder warmly. "Come! Let's enjoy the day."
Despite the slightly grim start and that general sense of unease, it was an enjoyable day. Remus was fun to talk to while they shopped. He pointed out some helpful books for the coming year and beyond and his gift to Harry was purchasing said books. Remus shared more stories of his parents as they shopped and walked, precious moments of memory that Harry committed to his. They had a nice late lunch at the Cauldron and Remus waited with him for Vernon to come get him.
"Thank you, Remus," Harry said brightly. "I had a good day."
"Excellent," Remus smiled back. "Do be careful before returning to Hogwarts. If you need anyone, send Hedwig or call for Inky. I believe I heard her coming to your aid last year?"
"She did and I will."
"Good. See you soon then."
-0-
Harry grunted as he dragged the heavy bags of garbage out of the house. The Dursleys had thrown a dinner party every night leading up to him leaving for school and this was the biggest yet. They were all still within, having an extended nightcap, and Harry was slowly cleaning up the kitchen and dining room. Petunia had treated him strangely since his day with Dumbledore, alternating between a strange placidity that could be construed as kindness to being especially critical.
Years of such treatment has long made Harry stop questioning the why. He simply endured, counting the days down to him leaving for school again. This year, he was not even that bothered when he was told not to return for the Christmas Holiday. The dinner with Marge and the subsequent ones bothered him and he truly feared becoming bitter and treating cooking as something to be resented. He had done his best to remain objective at best or detached at worst, after his conversation with Dumbledore that day. It was hard to feel that same enthusiasm as he had before when cooking for the Dursleys when he could think of all the pleasant times he cooked for his friends and the House Elves and the adults at Hogwarts.
He hated feeling that way.
As he threw the garbage bags into the bins, a noise startled him, making him turn and reach for his wand that was not there. He cursed softly, ready to run back before he saw the vague outline of a dog hiding in the shadows of the bushes.
"Oh, hey there," he said, heart pounding. "You scared me."
The dog crept forward and Harry goggled at how large it was. It was also very thin, its black coat a little matted and ragged. Yet the dog looked at him intelligently, tongue lolling out and mouth opened in a dog's smile.
"Are you hungry?" Harry asked, thinking that was why the dog was hiding close to the bins. "Nothing but trash in there but wait one second." He went back to the home and filled a plate with the large amounts of leftovers from the dinner party. Unnoticed by anyone, he went back outdoors and set the plate down on the ground. "Here you go. If you don't mind leftovers."
The dog did not. The dog ate enthusiastically, tail wagging with glee as it ate and ate, literally licking the plate clean in short moments.
Harry smiled wide. "You're really hungry huh? There's some more if you want." He laughed at the dog's eager nod and bark and soon returned with more. "Don't get sick now," he said fondly, watching the dog eat.
The dog eventually finished eating. It sat beside the boy, licking its chops and then belched in a surprisingly human-like way. A look of human-like sheepishness crossed the dog's features, making Harry laugh even more.
"I'll take it as a compliment," Harry smiled. He sat beside the dog for long moments, enjoying the cool evening. "I better go," he said reluctantly after a while. "Hope you find your way home or something. Thanks for the company."
The dog barked a few times as Harry waved and left. It waited for Harry to reenter Number 4, before it bowed once and melted away into the night.
-0-
Harry smiled a little as he walked through the barrier at King's Cross and onto Platform 9 and 3/4s. The morning had amused him slightly. Vernon and Petunia were upset to find the majority of the leftovers gone and after Harry proved he did not throw them away, they blamed Dudley. Dudley, who many times in the past had done what they accused him of, protested his innocence to no avail and the fight they had made Harry smile inwardly while near them, and outwardly now.
It was still early, something Harry liked. Less people to point and stare, something he still had not gotten used to. It was also a little quieter and Harry could find a compartment for himself and hopefully his friends when they arrived. In short order he found one near the back of the train and settled down comfortably. Hedwig kicked the door to the cage open as soon as they got into the compartment and flew about some, stretching her wings. She finally settled in his lap and nibbled on his fingers, demanding attention.
He looked up at a knock on the compartment's door and smiled brightly, waving back. It opened and Pansy and Millicent were there. "Hi!" he said happily.
"Hey there!" Millicent smiled back.
"Hello!" Pansy smiled. "May we join you?"
"Of course, let me help." He gently deposited Hedwig on the seat beside him before getting up and helping the girls with their trunks. He smiled at Sunny's insistent meows, the kneazle pawing at her basket latch. "She can't get out on her own?"
"Oh no, we charmed that to be unopenable from the inside," Millicent said as she undid the latch and Sunny squirmed out before the basket lid could be fully opened. "Otherwise we'd be able to never transport her anywhere."
"Hedwig kicks her cage door open," Harry smiled. The girls laughed when Hedwig puffed her chest out. "Of course she knows when it's appropriate to do it." He sat down and stared when both the owl and the kneazle had tried to claim his lap. "Uh oh," he said as the two pets squared off, hissing lightly at each other.
"I think Hedwig will win this round," Pansy smiled.
After some intense posturing, Hedwig consented to roost on Harry's head and Sunny curled up on his lap, both making noises of content.
"Sorry, it seems like I stole Sunny," Harry laughed, petting the cat gently.
"I don't mind at all," Millicent said easily. "She only does that to me, Pansy, and you honestly."
"And I know she does it to me more to irritate me," Pansy sighed, sniffing when Sunny's purrs sounded suspiciously like giggling. "She has gotten better though, she no longer hides my things."
"And no more clawing thanks to the charm," Harry said.
"That too. Now she delights in pouncing on me at odd moments," Pansy sighed, making Millicent and Harry snicker. "I found that out the hard way when I visited Mille for the first time over summer. Opened her wardrobe and the beast came flying out of it."
"If it makes you feel better, she does that to a lot of people," Millicent said. "Though admittedly she seems happier when she does it to you."
"That, surprisingly, does not make me feel better," Pansy said dryly.
"Can't please you at all," Millicent sighed. She looked out the window, seeing the platform filling with more people. She brightened and waved when she saw someone. Harry and Pansy waved too and in a short amount of time, the door to the compartment opened.
"Hey guys!" Parvati said and Padma smiled from behind her sister. "Excuse me a second." She moved past them and opened the window with a grunt. "Come here Harry." She waited for Harry to pass Sunny back to Millicent and stood at the window with Parvati. "Grandmum, this is Harry. Harry, meet Grandmum."
Harry gulped a little, trying to straighten his clothes a little and looking up at Hedwig who sat unmoving on his head. "Hello," he stammered slightly. "It's nice to meet you."
Durga Patil looked up at Harry thoughtfully. She was short and small, even accounting for the fact that Harry was on the train and looking out and down, but she exuded a presence that more than made up for her slight stature. Her brown eyes seemed to see everything, from his untidy hair, his wrinkled shirt, and nervous disposition.
"He's rather scrawny," she said thoughtfully.
"Grandmum, be nice," Padma sighed, having joined her sister and friend at the window.
"I am being nice. I just assumed he would be bigger from your descriptions. He does seem kind however. I can believe that he cooks well." She looked at him closely, making him sweat a little.
"He's a good cook and tries," Parvati said. "Almost as good as Auntie Anvi and better than some of the other aunties and uncles. Besides, without him we'd be stuck eating what you call 'spice-less' nonsense until we come back for holidays." She smiled slyly. "Maybe one day he'll be almost as good as you."
"Watch your tongue. You're not too old for me to bend over my knee," Durga said in slightly accented English, making Harry smile and Parvati flush. She smiled genially at an amused Harry. "Nice to meet you too, young man. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I am grateful to you for cooking for my granddaughters, the rude things."
"They're nice," Harry smiled while Parvati glared and Padma rolled her eyes. "Thank you for letting me learn family recipes and for the spices. I really like Indian food, what little I've made and tried, and would like to learn more."
"Good! Wanting to learn is just as important as doing," she said with frank approval, "as well as appreciating." She gestured and Padma and Parvati leaned out for a hug and a kiss goodbye. She then reached out and after some prompting from the twins, took Harry's hand to shake it firmly. "You continue to have my blessing. I hope to see and speak with you again."
"Thank you," Harry said, touched.
"Oh and my promise to not Curse you continues," Durga said with a small smile.
"Grandmum!" the twins exclaimed, huffing while Harry laughed with relief. Durga waved and left, walking down the platform and apparating away mid-stride.
"Sorry about that, she wanted to meet you when she saw you," Parvati said.
"I don't mind, she's fun." Harry smiled. "Still a little scary, but nice."
"She actually likes you," Padma said. "If she didn't, she wouldn't have spoken to you. She's like that. One of our cousin's had a girl over once and she refused to speak to her when she was rude. When the girl said that she understood Hindi, Grandmum told the cousin that she didn't care if she did or didn't and asked my cousin to pass the naan."
"I really like your grandmother," Pansy smiled.
"Hey guys!" Lavender came running up to the open window.
"Hey Lavender!" Parvati and Harry exclaimed with the other three girls waving and smiling. "You just missed Grandmum," Parvati continued.
"Aww, maybe I'll see her when we come back for break or something. I like her, even if she thinks I'm too bubbly," Lavender giggled. She reached up and hugged Parvati through the window and then Harry.
"First time she met Lavender, she thought she was too happy to deal with before she had her morning coffee," Padma explained with a big smile.
"Oh Harry, meet my sisters and my Mum," Lavender said brightly. "This is Marigold and this is Clover." She put an arm around two small girls that looked identical and shared some features with Lavender: blonde hair and large bright eyes. "And this is Mum, Leena."
Leena did not look like Lavender at all but her love for Lavender and the two small girls was clear. "Hello Harry, we've heard a lot about you."
"Oh hello," Harry said shyly. "It's nice to meet you."
"You're Lavender's cook friend, right?" Marigold asked.
"We love your recipes and your biscuits!" Clover exclaimed. "Do you have any biscuits?"
"Clover!" Lavender gasped. "Don't ask that!"
Harry smiled and reached into his school bag and took out a slim box. "I do actually. Here, you and Marigold can share."
"Harry, you don't have to," Lavender protested, glaring at her sisters who flushed a little.
"It's okay, I can make more when we get to school," Harry said soothingly.
Leena had pursed her lips at her daughters but smiled eventually. "That's very kind of you Harry. Here," she handed Harry some coins. "Get an extra treat from the trolly later, I insist."
"Oh, uhm, okay," Harry stammered. "Thank you."
"Thank you, Harry!" the twin small girls chorused, with Clover hugging the box. "Hi Hedwig!"
Hedwig hopped daintily out the window and flapped her wings lazily, landing on Marigold's outstretched arm. She cheeped pleasantly, basking in their attention and adoration as the girls petted her and rubbed her belly.
"Better take your things onto the train, love," Leena said to Lavender. She smiled as Lavender did, watching Harry help her put her trunk on the rack. "Better give Hedwig back girls, before the train leaves and poor Hedwig has to fly to Hogwarts." She passed the owl back through the window and gave Lavender a last hug and kiss. "Have a good start of term and be sure to write as often as Hedwig will deliver. Thank you again for letting Hedwig deliver mail for us, Harry. Not to mention all the treats you send us."
"She likes the trip and she likes Lavender and your family," Harry said as Hedwig settled back on his head, cheeping in agreement. "Lavender's my best friend so I'm happy to."
"Bye Mum, bye Clover, bye Marigold!" Lavender called, waving as the Express blew a warning whistle. They closed the window as the train began to move, waving as they left the platform and King's Cross. She sighed a little, looking a little sad, before clapping her cheeks a little and smiling once more. "Now I can give you proper hugs," she said and hugged Parvati, Padma, and then Harry.
She laughed when Hedwig hopped off Harry's head and looked at her expectantly. "And can't forget you either," she said and hugged the owl.
Pansy looked down for a moment when Lavender hugged Harry, chewing her lip. Sunny chose to crawl onto her lap at that moment and she was grateful for the distraction, feeling relieved when the odd sense of disquiet left her after a moment.
A light knocking barely shook the door and it opened a bit, revealing Luna. "May I join you?" she asked shyly.
"Come on in," Harry said, making her beam brightly. She sat beside Padma and seemed content to be there.
"How was your last trip?" Harry asked Pansy. "Italy, right?"
"Yes," Pansy said, smiling a little. "It was very good! Father and Mother managed to negotiate a new deal and were terribly pleased and it was nice to explore Rome. Some of the old Roman magics are still very active there and they are quite fascinating."
"I want to go to Italy one day," Lavender said. "I heard Rome and Venice are so nice and pretty."
"I like Venice a lot," Pansy said enthusiastically. "The magical district is so beautiful. You can only reach it by taking the right canal and the entire place is built on the water. It's wonderful."
"Did you go with her?" Parvati asked.
Millicent shook her head. "Not this time. Separate business thing. Between you and me, I'm glad I didn't go. The Parkinsons went with the Zabinis."
"Blaise is a bit annoying," Pansy nodded.
"I thought you said half of him is at least," Harry laughed.
"Which is technically a bit, just a big bit," Pansy laughed too.
"He's cute though," Parvati said. She rolled her eyes when the girls looked at her. "What, you think so too," she said accusingly.
Padma flushed a little. "No I don't."
"The worst part of saying Blaise is attractive is that he knows he's attractive," Pansy sniffed. "He's worse than a cat."
"And his personality doesn't make up for it," Millicent laughed.
"No, don't say that, let me daydream in peace," Parvati moaned sadly.
"You look awfully red," Luna said, looking at Harry. "Nargle got your tongue?"
Lavender started giggling harder, seeing him look vaguely uncomfortable. "Aww, are you feeling awkward since girls are talking about boys?"
"Maybe," he laughed, cheeks pink. "I don't want to keep you girls from talking if you want to, though."
"Hey fair's fair," Parvati said. She leaned forward, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Any girls catch your eye, Harry? You find anyone cute? Maybe we can butter her up some to the idea. I've noticed you've given Sue some looks-OW!" Parvati glared at Lavender. "What was that for?!" she said loudly and pinched Lavender back.
"Don't embarrass him!" Lavender sputtered and shrieked when Parvati pinched her harder.
"You were giggling like mad about embarrassing him a minute ago!" Parvati and Lavender devolved into a pinch and push fight. Padma shook her head at her twin and sighed heavily while Millicent enjoyed the show.
"Your face is rather red too," Luna observed, looking at Pansy.
Pansy rubbed her face hurriedly. "It's nothing, Sunny is very hot," she said hurriedly.
"May I borrow her? I'm a bit chilly," Luna asked. The younger girl happily took the purring kneazle and sighed happily when she curled up on her lap. "Oh you are very warm," she praised the pet.
"Sue's nice but I barely know her," Harry said awkwardly when the fighting died down to sullen glaring.
"So if you were to get to know her-" Parvati glared at Padma when her sister dug her elbow into her side.
"Just shut up," Padma hissed.
"How was the end of your summer?" Lavender asked loudly, still glaring at Parvati. She stuck her tongue out when Parvati gave her a rude hand gesture.
"It was okay," Harry said. "Stayed pretty busy, good thing I did all my homework early on. There were weekly dinner parties and stuff like that all the way to the end with almost one every other day the last few weeks."
"They were throwing more? Why?" Parvati asked.
"Not sure. Oh well wait, maybe I know why." Harry rubbed his neck. "Professor Dumbledore came one day and took me to eat on Diagon Alley. I know he and Aunt Petunia had a conversation and I don't think it was super polite because she was not happy for a long time after."
"No way, Dumbledore came to take you out for a day and talked to your aunt? Why?" Millicent asked, leaning in.
"I don't know why they talked," Harry said. "It felt awkward but he kinda acted like he knew her a little? Not sure why though he was close to my Mother and Father, so maybe that's why? He took me to Shine though which was nice. Or Sheen. However you say it."
Pansy and Millicent gasped. "You went to Sheen?!" Pansy asked. "That is one of the most expensive and fanciest restaurants in Wizarding Britain! It's famous!"
"Really?" Harry asked, eyes wide.
"Seriously! They have wait lists for months for seats," Millicent said. "It's super upscale and Society people use that place like a special place for showing off and for negotiations and stuff."
"Wow," Lavender breathed. "How was it?"
Harry described the meal to them, remembering every dish and how it was. "It was good," he concluded. "Really weird overall but I can definitely see what Pansy and Millie mean by it being a very fancy place."
Pansy narrowed her eyes slightly. "Why did Dumbledore take you there?"
"He said as a thank you for last year and the Chamber business," Harry said. "Oh and for my birthday," he added as an after-thought. After a long period of silence, he looked up and was startled to see the girls all looking at him with funny expressions. "What?"
"It was your birthday?" Pansy asked quietly, looking stricken. "I didn't know it was your birthday."
"Neither did we!" Parvati and Padma looked appalled. "Why didn't you tell us it was your birthday?!"
"I uh, well, is that what people do normally?" Harry asked, panicking a little.
"I told you what my birthday was like a few days after we became friends!" Parvati said, making Padma groan.
"But you were talking about horoscope and astrology stuff," Harry said.
"But you remembered it and gave me and Padma a gift!" Parvati shot back.
"How have we been friends for two years now and I didn't know?" Lavender asked, looking upset.
"No one's made a fuss before really," Harry said weakly.
"What the hell does that mean?" Millicent asked, looking disturbed.
"Like it sounds," Harry said. "I never celebrated it before. First year was the first time I did, really. Hagrid took me to Diagon after convincing the Dursleys to let me go to Hogwarts and he got me Hedwig as a gift." He smiled when Hedwig flew to him and plumped in his lap. "Best birthday gift ever," he said as she gnawed on his fingers lovingly.
"They never did anything for you before?!" Lavender nearly shrieked.
"Hagrid had to convince them to let you attend Hogwarts?!" Pansy nearly shouted.
"They used to throw a big party for their friends on my birthday and I cooked for them," Harry said, looking down. "And yeah, they weren't going to let me go until Hagrid told them I was going and they couldn't stop me. That first year was the first year they didn't throw a party. Didn't the last two years actually. Guess they forgot. Actually, I knew Aunt Petunia forgot, she didn't fuss much when the Headmaster came to take me out. Only made sure I made food for them while I was away."
Luna gently deposited Sunny into Millicent's lap and walked over to Harry and hugged him firmly. "Happy Belated Day of Life," she said. "I'm glad you're here."
"Thanks Luna," Harry said, slightly embarrassed but greatly touched. "I'm glad too." He hugged her back, coughing slightly when she tightened her grip around his middle.
The other girls looked at each other with expressions of guilt and pain and anger in differing degrees, with different feelings at the fore.
"We'll do something within the next couple of weeks," Millicent said, breaking the silence. "Did you get your Hogsmeade pass signed?"
"Surprisingly, yes," Harry said.
"Then we can do something in Hogsmeade and then later in the club room so Luna can join us there too," Padma said.
"Really, it's okay," he protested slightly. "I really appreciate you lot wanting to but it's fine. I'm used to it."
"It's not fine," Lavender said angrily. "And you can't stop us."
"And they can't stop us from celebrating your day properly next year," Pansy seethed.
He felt very warm and cared for at that moment. "Thanks," he said again softly. "I do appreciate it."
It was good to be back among friends.
-0-0-0-
Zincat - I'm trying to develop him too, having him do more as he learns more. I like to think he is trying and that he is doing what he can as he can.
Professor Donger - Thank you, glad you are liking his character in this.
odonnellzoo99 - I mean yes, better late than never, but I am actively trying to grow him in what I think makes sense. That's why I made Harry's hardships more subtle this time and I thought I was doing a good enough job of Dumbledore and Flitwick learning more about him, encouraging him to open up more, giving him confidence and doing what they can.
poka - Thank you for the kind words. I worked really hard on the eating scene. I wanted to try and capture some of the whimsy of the setting, what makes magic fun, by introducing a meal that we would see and can understand, and yet experience in a way that is magical. A lot of people have commented in the lack of purely magical food and this was my attempt and trying to make something feel and taste magical that wasn't candy. I also wanted to touch on the theory that emotion impacts magic as much as intent and that's why some people's cooking resonates with us more than others.
I'm trying to build Dumbledore as a good and flawed character this go around. He made his mistakes, but he is trying to learn from them and grow from them. Petunia doesn't seem very observant sometimes when it doesn't have to do with gossip.
Thank you, glad you are enjoying things.
alix33 - I'm not a fan of pure tomato soup either. Writing the layered soup was probably my favorite bit after the transforming wellington.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - Yeah, I had hoped people would like the magical meal.
DarkRavie - Thank you.
ecoBlade - Probably not, unfortunately.
bdwilliams3 - I'm glad to see you when you do comment. Thank you.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - I don't know if I'm going to maintain the four updates a week for much longer for various reasons, so you won't miss too much.