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

A Taste of Magic

82nd Course – Well Cultured

He looked the image of a consummate professional that was well aware of their prowess. His spine was ramrod straight; his shoulders squared. His eyes were hooded and his features sharp, irritation and arrogance behind a veneer of civility. His arms were crossed over his chest and when the door opened, his posture relaxed somewhat, showing his thoughts. "Madame," he greeted politely. His gaze fell on the other individual. "Garcon."

Perenelle's expression flicked a little but she smoothed it away. "Monsieur Robuchon." She smiled at Harry. "Harry, meet Gabriel Robuchon. Chef Robuchon, this is Harry Potter."

"It's nice to meet you, Sir," Harry said with a big smile. He held his hand out. "Thank you very much for your time."

After a moment's hesitation, Gabriel shook his hand swiftly. "So, you are here to learn?" he asked in accented English, giving Harry a severe look.

"Yes Sir," Harry said politely.

"And what do you think you can learn in just a short period of time?" Gabriel asked sarcastically.

Harry continued to smile slightly. "Whatever I can. I can be a quick study sometimes. Depending on the subject of course."

Gabriel sniffed. "Well, I suppose we will see. Let us start with your knife cuts. Recreate these." He gestured to a few examples that sat on the counter before him. "Be swift, be exact. I will then see what I could possibly teach you after you do."

"Yes Chef." Harry tied on his apron and his bandanna and opened his knife roll. After a quick hone, he got to work with the vegetables that laid there.

Gabriel turned and looked at Perenelle. "Do you truly expect me to teach the child how to play in the kitchen?"

"Certainly not." Perenelle waved her wand and conjured a comfortable chair for her to sit in. "I expect you to teach him a few things and impart some knowledge on what makes French cuisine some of the best in the world."

"Centuries of knowledge in the span of a day?" Gabriel snorted.

"I know what I am asking for," Perenelle replied easily. "I ask for no miracles nor the impossible. Just that Harry learns a thing or too and leaves the experience engaged and wanting to learn more."

"He is a child."

"He might surprise you," Perenelle said, smiling.

Gabriel snorted again and turned. His eyes widened as he saw Harry cleaning down his station and the cuts of the vegetables already arrayed on a tray. "You are already finished?!"

"Yes Chef."

Gabriel blinked. "And you did not use magic?"

"No Chef. Just my knife."

Gabriel poked at the prepared vegetables and looked surprised. "These…are adequate." He looked at Harry accusingly. "You have done this before!"

"I do it a lot," Harry said, looking slightly confused. "I do all kinds of these cuts for prep work and for potions."

"You told me he had little experience!" Gabriel cried, turning to Perenelle.

"I said he had little experience in a French kitchen," she corrected. "He has had substantial experience in an English tavern and in a professional kitchen." She smiled broadly. "At Gringotts."

"Gringotts? With the goblins?" Gabriel gasped.

"Quite. At their main kitchen in their United Kingdom branch," Perenelle said. "His knife was personally and professionally made by them as well."

Gabriel blinked a few times and turned back to Harry who had stood there politely. "Very well. Then let us see what you can do and learn." As time passed, Gabriel gave Harry begrudging credit. While Harry lacked the terminology for some techniques and did not know the why of some procedures and techniques, what he did know was a surprise. Not to mention he absorbed information like a sponge and asked questions that were intelligent and meant well.

He even had a small notebook and wax tablet that he took out from his knife roll. They floated beside him and took notes for him as he directed them too. A small but not insignificant gesture that impressed Gabriel.

Gabriel tasted everything that Harry made and found himself becoming more impressed. The cooking was fine, amateurish in some ways, inelegant in others, but it possessed a quality that spoke to him. Something he recognized. Something that surprised him. Harry's responses to Gabriel's cooking was also rather satisfying in a way as well. He was well used to being looked up to and lauded, but the sincerity and eagerness in Harry's expression and demeanor was refreshing.

To finish off the cooking lesson, Gabriel decided to teach something he considered to be quintessential to French cooking as well as something fairly difficult and easy to ruin. "Have you heard of consommé?"

"Oh yes! I've read it in books and seen a show about it but never had a chance to try it," Harry said excitedly. "I've always wanted to learn. It looks difficult."

Gabriel fought a smile. "It is difficult but not impossible. It tests something that many chefs need to have: patience." He gathered his materials, lecturing as he did and as he prepared them. "It is a ratio of ground meat, mirepoix, herbs and spices, egg whites, and stock." He mixed ground meat with finely julienned vegetables and a scattering of spices and herbs. He then whipped the egg whites until they were frothy. Mixing the meat and vegetable mixture with the egg whites, he made a thick paste and put it into the and poured the stock on top.

"Bring it to a simmer until it reaches 49 degrees Celsius or 120 degrees Fahrenheit," he said, working as he spoke. "Constantly stir until you see this form. The meat and the whites are forming a raft and this will filter out the impurities in the stock. Before it fully forms, you must make a hole in the center like so with your ladle. As it simmers, you should draw the stock through the center and pour it over the top, further clarifying it."

"How does it do that?" Harry asked.

"The proteins in the meat and the whites is what clarifies it. The vegetables and the herbs are for flavor," Gabriel said. "And this will take at least an hour. If you try to rush it, you will ruin it. If you break the raft, you will ruin it." He eventually slowly ladled out the finished consommé through a filter and a chinois and then ladled out a portion into a glass cup.

"It's beautiful," Harry admired. "It's crystal clear!"

Gabriel smiled. "That is the mark of a good consommé. It is said that when properly made, you can see the numbers on a coin at the bottom of the bowl or cup through the broth. And if you add garnishes after, you must make sure they are well prepared and perfectly clean so you do not ruin the crystal-clear quality of consommé." He gave the cup to Perenelle before handing Harry one.

Harry sipped it reverently. "Mmm, that's so rich yet so light. I can taste the beef and the sweetness of the vegetables and the spiciness of clove and black pepper. It's like a stew almost without the thick body."

"Precisely." Gabriel nodded approvingly. "Very well, go ahead and attempt it."

"Yes Chef!"

Gabriel watched Harry select his ingredients before he turned to Perenelle. "Who is he?"

"He is Harry Potter, have you forgotten already?" she replied mildly.

"Very funny. No, seriously, who is he? I have heard the British Magicals look down on culinary things, at least cooking for themselves."

"That is true."

"Then why is he so enthralled by it? If he is English?"

"Because he loves food and he loves to cook," Perenelle said warmly and proudly. She frowned a little and the expression had such heat, it made Gabriel take a step back. "How it started was rather…unfortunate, but he has made it his own and he genuinely enjoys it. Not to mention he has talent."

"He does," Gabriel agreed. "His cooking is clumsy and unrefined, but it is far better when the subject was first broached. I had assumed you would bring a small child that wanted to play at being a cook." He looked slightly embarrassed. "Why did you not correct me?"

"Because it amused me." Perenelle smiled slyly. "I wanted to see you surprised and knocked onto your rear. I also knew Harry would prove his worth."

Gabriel rubbed his face and sighed. "Am I so terrible? Why did you even trust me?"

"Because I like you well enough and like your family," she said plainly. "Besides, you have always had a streak of arrogance in you. Just because your grand-uncle was named Chef of the Century, it does not mean you share that accolade." She smiled more widely when he flushed. "Yet, anyways."

"Thank you so much for the perspective," Gabriel said sardonically. He shook his head. "So you wished to indulge his desire in learning French cooking?"

"Why not? A grandmother should dote and spoil her grandson," she said matter-of-factly, making Garbiel look at her again. "Not to mention he has the talent as you said. I had the ability to provide an opportunity for him to learn and better himself, so why not? It will serve him well in the times to come and I get to reap the rewards of a happy grandson and enjoy his cooking."

Gabriel nodded and said nothing more. Eventually he accepted the glass of chicken consommé that Harry had made.

"Not quite as clear as yours," Harry said, looking at it and comparing it to Gabriel's. "I think I brought it up to temperature a little too fast."

"Yes, and the well you made in the center was a little too small. However, that said, a fine first attempt," Gabriel said. He sipped it and looked at it appraisingly. "Clean flavor at least, classic chicken and mirepoix. Well seasoned." He sipped again. "I believe you can improve on this."

"Thank you, Chef!"

Gabriel smiled. "I will teach you a temperature measuring charm that will also alert you if the temperature deviates. That will help you and it is rather simple to cast and maintain." He taught Harry the charm as well as helping him refine the scouring and the produce cleaning one that Harry already knew.

"There, not such a painful and thankless experience, was it?" Perenelle asked at the end.

Garbiel smiled wryly. "No, it was not." He turned to Harry. "You have ability, young man, and the desire to improve. See that you keep both in equal measure."

"Thank you, Chef," Harry said sincerely. "It was an honor learning from you. I really appreciated your time." Harry held his hand out once more and this time, Gabriel shook it with more sincerity.

"I will be interested and see where your talents take you," Gabriel said sincerely.

"Oh, one more thing," Perenelle said as they were leaving. "Harry understands French."

"Why did he not speak it?!" Gabriel gasped with horror.

"Because I don't speak it well yet really, aside from kitchen terms," Harry said. "But I'm learning!"

Perenelle laughed brightly, an arm around Harry's shoulders and they left a thoroughly gobsmacked Gabriel standing there in the kitchen. He shook his head and muttered about improper witches and mortifying magicals before he ladled out another portion of Harry's consommé and drank it. "Hmm, very interested," he said softly to himself as he continued to sip it.

-0-

"Thank you so much," Andromeda said brightly. "I have learned so many things from you."

"It is my genuine pleasure," Perenelle smiled. "You have given me some interesting ideas and perspectives as well."

"And you do not mind that I will be using what you have taught me for my work?" Andromeda asked.

"Not at all! I would be sad if you did not. I do not consider it competition if that is what you are concerned over." Perenelle stepped over something. "There are many that I would not want to profit over my knowledge but you are not one of them. Careful there." She caught Andromeda as she nearly stumbled over the large basilisk body that lay across the entryway. "Sorry. I am so used to stepping over her, it is a habit." She stopped down and patted the body. "Blinky! You are in the way."

She shook her head with a fond expression as the body wriggled and slithered away, following it. "She gets like that when she is very comfortable. Just sprawls over everything. Much like Nicolas." Her smile warmed as they walked into the kitchen. Harry was standing at the stove and Blinky was coiled up beside it, drawing the rest of her body beneath her. Hedwig was plumped on a roost by the window, dozing in the sunlight alongside the basilisk. "Making more consommé?"

"Practice makes perfect," Harry smiled, looking up from the very large stock pot.

"Very true!" Perenelle and Andromeda sat at the counter to relax and watch. "Harry, what do you know of enchanting?"

"I know people can be," Harry said, making Andromeda laugh and Perenelle playfully threw a towel at him. He grinned. "That's permanently charming something right? Or at least casting spells on something so they last longer?"

"More or less," Perenelle said. "It is like alchemy to a lesser degree. One tries to solve a situation and provide a solution via charms and spells of that nature. Sometimes it is of a more permanent nature, and sometimes it is devising a spell chain or a combination of spells to solve said situation."

"I'm taking Runes too and a lot of more permanent spells are rune based. Is there a difference?" Harry asked.

"Excellent question. Runic magic is typically more stable but also more difficult and slightly less flexible. It also does last longer and once etched and fueled, requires less upkeep. But it is also more complicated and more difficult to master and execute. That said, many combine the two and can handle a lot more things that way." Perenelle waggled her hand. "Masters of their school of magic can cast spells with effects that are almost as strong and as lasting however."

"I use mostly charms in my work, but also do a bit of rune work and potion work too," Andromeda said.

"What kind of magic do you like the most?" Perenelle asked.

"I'm pretty good at Charms," Harry said. "But Professor Flitwick is a great teacher."

"Harry is a good student," Andromeda said proudly. "Does well in all his classes."

"I try to," Harry said, slightly flushed but pleased. "I like Potions and potion making but mostly because it's basically cooking and well," he pointed at the pot and gestured around the kitchen, "I like to cook."

"Oh good. If you had said that the dour fellow inspired you, I would be concerned," Perenelle said, making Harry laugh and Andromeda snort.

"I like Care of Magical Creatures because Hagrid's great. Remus is really good at Defense against the Dark Arts too. I like Transfiguration but I'm not as good at that, despite Professor's McGonagall's best efforts. Herbology is fun and I like learning about magical plants and crops and things from Professor Sprout. Runes is fun. Astronomy and History are okay," Harry said, gently ladling his stock through the raft.

"So your favorites are Charms, Potions, and Care?" Perenelle asked. She smiled smugly when he nodded. "Good! Those are my favorite as well."

"How are you feeling about your O.W.L.s by the way?" Andromeda asked.

"Okay I guess. I already finished my summer homework and have been reading a little here and there when I have a moment." Harry shrugged. "I know they're hard and I don't want to put off studying for them. Percy was really nice and gave me an outline before he left and Alicia and Angelina looked at it and said it was good for reviewing things."

"That was kind of them," Andromeda said.

"Yeah, they're nice and cool," Harry nodded.

"I do not think you need to worry," Perenelle said. "You are diligent. You need only do your work that you do and I have no doubt that you will do just fine. Also, Nicolas and I will help tutor you if you desire it. We may have to refresh ourselves on what you are being tested on, but we will help."

"I can't ask you two to come to the school just for that," Harry said.

"Good thing you do not need to ask," Perenelle smiled. "The Floo works though and we will have a different way for you to communicate with us as well. It should be finished before you go."

"It is finished now." Nicolas came into the kitchen. "Here you go my boy. This is a voiceless vase." He handed Harry a small decorative pot with a lid. "Simply write a message and tap the top after closing the lid and the parchment will come to us here. It is good for surreptitious communication. The vase will change color when there is a message waiting for you and only you can open and close it."

"Wow, thank you!" Harry exclaimed.

"And you and Sirius will have one each, and they are connected," Nicolas said to Andromeda. They will be done before week's end. Just think of who you want the message to go to and it will go the appropriate vase. Albus has one as well."

"How much are they to make?" Andromeda asked.

"I do not know, we never made any to be sold. They are only given to people we like," Nicolas said. "Do not fret on the cost."

"Just be aware that Nicolas has the tendency to send inane messages with random thoughts and odd pictures," Perenelle smiled.

"Sometimes I have an amusing thought that needs to be shared," he sniffed. He sniffed again, watching Harry filtering the consommé through the cheesecloth and chinois set-up. "That smells incredible! Consommé?"

Harry nodded and poured some into a glass cup and held it to the sunlight before giving it to Nicolas. "Chicken consommé. Flavored with a mirepoix and black pepper, garlic, thyme, ginger, and scallion."

Nicolas sipped it. "My word, that is delicious," he sighed, licking his lips. "And crystal clear! Splendidly done."

Harry beamed as he poured cups for Perenelle and Andromeda. "I'm getting better at it. It's fun and weirdly satisfying."

"Mmmm, that is so rich yet so clear," Andromeda said, looking at her cup with appreciation. "So much flavor."

"And to think you only learned how to do it yesterday, that's my boy," Perenelle smiled. Her smile became even more smug when she looked at Nicolas. "Oh, by the way, Harry is more attuned to me."

"What?!"

"He likes Charms and Potions more," Perenelle said, her smile even more wide and satisfied.

"No! Harry my boy, tell me that she is wrong! You do not enjoy transfiguration?!"

"I do! I'm just not as good at it," Harry protested.

"Minnie! You have failed him!" Nicolas set the cup down and stomped his foot. "This will not stand!" He rushed out of the kitchen before returning and picking up the cup. "Top me off, will you please? Thank you." He sipped the broth eagerly and licked his lips. "Mmm, quite satisfying. Where was I? Oh yes. Time to write a sternly worded letter to one Minnie McGonagall!"

"I uh, is that my fault?" Harry asked, alarmed, watching Nicolas stomp off.

"No," Perenelle chuckled. "You know by now that they will fight over anything and everything. In fact, being Accomplished Masters of Transfiguration is another reason why they are so close and are good friends. Do not worry, you are not causing any additional trouble."

"If you say so," Harry said, not quite believing her.

"What are you adding to the consommé?" Andromeda asked, watching him.

"There's so many different garnishes for consommé and each one makes it slightly different," Harry said. "I was reading one and liked how it sounded and also liked it because it uses extra yolks so you don't waste them from using the whites for the raft. It's called consommé royale, the royale is a savory custard." He put cubes of the soft yellow custard in the cups and poured more consommé on top.

"Mmm, delicious," Perenelle said. The custard was soft and almost melted when eaten. The smooth texture made the broth feel rich and added a volume that was not overpowering. "And you have maintained the clear quality of the broth."

"That's good," Harry said happily. He filled a larger bowl and another cup with broth and custard and set the cup on the counter and the bowl on the floor. After a moment, the basilisk and the owl woke up and immediately began to eat, obviously enjoying the food.

"No wonder Blinky was especially active before you arrived," Perenelle smiled. "Had to expend the energy to stay in shape. Much like we will have to."

"I had Dora bring home the fitness programs they used at the Academy," Andromeda sighed. "They became a necessity but I am not complaining at all."

-0-

"Why are you so nervous?"

Fleur glared at her little sister. "Because we have been invited to visit the Flamels. The Flamels, a pair of individuals that are among the greatest of Magicals to have ever existed. Ones who have contributed so very much to the entire world. Offending them wouldn't be bad, it would be disastrous!"

Gabrielle blinked. "But Harry will be there. It can't be that bad."

Apolline smothered a smile. "She has a point."

"From our brief interaction, Monsieur Flamel did seem to not care about propriety all that much," Sebastian said.

"If you saw what he did to the Patent Department, you would definitely think that," Aimee said. "It was completely and utterly demolished. I never thought rubber ducks could do that."

"There's a reason why they are a class three dangerous magical creature," Sebastian said. "I always assumed that was joke but now I know better."

The Delacours, Sophie, Aimee, and Colette had been invited to visit the Flamels and had arrived together on the outskirts of the property. They went to the Lyon branch of the Ministry and took a car over to the Flamel Estate since it was their first time visiting. As they approached the entrance of the estate, the large gateopened slowly and Sebastian drove in, parking where a House Elf wearing a neat uniform directed them too. When they got out, the House Elf escorted them down the path and towards the main house.

"Ah Director, welcome to the Flamel Estate," Nicolas said, walking out to greet them. "Thank you, Louis." The House Elf bowed and popped away and Nicolas shook Sebastian's hand and greeted the others warmly. "Do come in. Do not mind the snake."

"Mind the what?" Sophie asked, looking alarmed when she saw a very large tail slithering around the corner. "What was that?!"

"That was Blinky. She's perfectly harmless," Nicolas said, waving a hand negligently. "Normally she stays outdoors during this time of day but with Harry here, she likes to be around him as much as possible and who can blame her?"

"That was ginormous," Apolline gasped. "What kind of snake is Blinky?"

"A basilisk."

"A what?!" the visitors cried together.

"A basilisk," Nicolas repeated. "Do not worry. She can control her gaze and her venom and she is perfectly sweet. Unless you try to take her food."

Apolline stared at Sebastian who shrugged weakly and they followed after Nicolas with a little trepidation. When they entered the spacious and gorgeous kitchen, Gabrielle squealed and dashed forward. "Harry!"

"Hi Gabrielle!" Harry stumbled a little, catching the little girl who leapt at him. "Good to see you," he wheezed as she wrapped him in arms and legs, hugging him tightly.

"Don't be such a pest," Fleur said through her smile.

"Oh she's okay, I don't mind," Harry said.

"You can understand French now?" Sophie asked.

"Kind of." Harry freed an arm and tapped at a small plug in one ear. "Grandmother and grandfather made this for me. It translates French for me but I'm learning too so I don't have to rely on it. It works for all sorts of languages too."

"Oh, like the Translation Charm," Sebastian said. "That is very handy." He bowed to Perenelle. "A pleasure to meet you. This is my wife, Apolline. Gabrielle is the one currently clinging to Harry. My elder daughter, Fleur. My niece, Sophie BeauSoleil. And this is Aimee Lorraine and Colette de Mayne, unofficial nieces. They grew up with Fleur."

"A pleasure to meet all of you," Perenelle said warmly, shaking hands. "Ah you are the ones that ran that charming little bistro at the Winter Festival. Well done that. Please, make yourselves comfortable."

They all sat around the large counter. Fleur and the other girls had greeted Harry warmly but now were a little nervous, being in the presence of the Flamels. Apolline and Sebastian were also a touch reserved, though they hid it will behind courtesy. Gabrielle was not fettered by nerves at all, though she had been a little wary of Blinky at first. When Harry introduced them however, she had warmed up the basilisk and was chatting with Harry beside him as he cooked.

"He is a Parselmouth," Fleur said, looking at Harry. Him speaking to Blinky had surprised all of them save for the Flamels. "Incredible."

"No wonder Blinky is very calm and kind," Aimee said.

"She is a sweet snake," Perenelle said.

"Do you have trouble communicating with her without Harry?" Apolline asked.

"Thankfully no. We have an apprentice that is a Parselmouth as well. Also, we have discovered a new means of conversing with her. She is learning how to write." Perenelle said.

"Really? How?" Aimee asked eagerly.

"She can hold a quill with her tail and is getting better at writing," Perenelle said. "We are also devising a typewriter for her to see if she can get used to that. It is rather fun to explore. She is very intelligent."

"Terrible taste in fiction however," Nicolas said. "She enjoys those science fiction books the Muggles like to write." He gave Blinky a look when she hissed at him. "Bite me if you must but it is the truth."

Perenelle smiled at the open shock on the visitors' faces. "Do not worry, they squabble like this all the time. So, Harry tells me that you two are looking to do masteries?" she asked Fleur and Sophie. "Any luck in applying for a master or mistress?"

"Some," Fleur said, after smiling gratefully at Harry. "A few are willing to apprentice a veela, others are not so accommodating."

"Have you had any responses?" Nicolas asked.

"Master Blanc and Mistress Aubert," Fleur said. "I believe Master Moreau for Sophie."

"Moreau is an arrogant swine," Nicolas sniffed, "and I know a thing or two about arrogance. He knows next to nothing about actual Transfiguration work and glides by on family name and family knowledge. He also claims he is the most accepting of other races but only because he lusts after him. Another reason why he is a swine."

"Aubert has a superiority complex," Perenelle sniffed. "She likes to put her apprentices down to feel superior to them. It is rather pathetic."

"Blanc is acceptable, I suppose," Nicolas said. "Boring however. Dreadfully boring. Watching paint dry is a delight compared to his company. Calling his personality wooden is an insult to wood."

"Not everyone can be as exciting as you," Harry smiled.

Nicolas grinned. "Of course not! That does not mean Blanc is not boring however."

"Thank you for the warning," Sebastian said, hugging a very glum looking Fleur and Sophie. "We will keep trying then. The girls did not wish to leave France so we have been trying to find positions nearby or within the country at least."

"You are trying for Charms?" Pernelle asked Fleur. "And you for Transfiguration?"

"Yes Madame," Fleur and Sophie said.

She and Nicolas shared a brief look. "Very well. I accept Fleur Delacour as my apprentice for Charms," she said.

"I accept Sophie BeauSoleil as my apprentice for Transfiguration," Nicolas said.

"What?!" the girls cried, echoed by Apolline and Sebastian.

"Really?!" Fleur gasped. "Just like that?!"

"Well yes," Perenelle said. "We are accomplished masters in our fields and we can simply submit the paperwork later making it official. We do not need to ask the Department of Education permission in this regard. One of the perks of having helped set up the Department of Education."

"We don't have many apprentices now really," Nicolas said airily. "And we are going to spend more time in France than we used to for the foreseeable future. With more visits to Britain here and there for some reason."

He patted Harry on the shoulder. "You. You are the reason if you were curious."

"I'm sorry," Harry grinned.

"Do not be," Nicolas chuckled.

"But you do not know us," Sophie protested. "Why would you take us on so easily?"

"You are friends with Harry," Perenelle said. "Right Harry?"

"Eventually yeah, good ones too," Harry said easily.

"And you were at Hogwarts to participate in the tournament so your academic ability at the base level is adequate," Nicolas said. "We would speak with Maxime and check your school records, but if they are fine, then we have no reason not to. Unless you do not want us to be your master and mistress-"

"No we do!" Fleur and Sophie shouted.

"Then that is all that needs to be said," Nicolas said comfortably. "We can work out the minutiae later."

"You are willing to be our masters just because we are friends with Harry?" Fleur asked, dazed.

"Pretty much, yes," Perenelle nodded.

"Sometimes, it really is who you know," Nicolas nodded. He grinned when both girls hugged Harry between them, babbling their thanks.

"Thank you for the honor," Sebastian said, his smile wide. "Truly, it is nothing we could have ever wished for."

"I am sure we will get along swimmingly," Nicolas said, shaking his hand. "Expanding our circle of friends will always be a good thing." He winked. "Less danger of being bored."

Sirius and the Tonkses joined them and they sat around and talked and laughed together while Harry continued to cook. Eventually he finished the first course of what he was making and served out the glass cups to everyone.

"Oh my!" Apolline licked her lips. "This consommé is perfect! Better than Melanie's!"

"My mother's and I have to agree," Sophie said, looking at her cup with wide eyes. "When did you learn how to make this?!"

"The other day, from Chef Robuchon," Harry said, beaming.

"You learned from Chef Robuchon?!" Sophie squawked.

Harry nodded. "Chef Gabriel."

"His grand-uncle was named the Chef of the Century," Sebastian said, impressed. "However did you meet him?"

"Grandmother Penny."

Perenelle smiled when they turned to stare at her. "His family has been friends of ours for a while now."

"You're going to have to work even harder now," Gabrielle said as she slurped her soup, grinning up at Sophie.

Sebastian whistled. "It really is about who you know."

"Indeed," Nicolas said smugly.

-0-

"I see you have finally escaped Blinky," Perenelle smiled.

Harry smiled too. "She didn't want to let me go."

"I can relate," Perenelle said, hugging him.

Sadly, it was the end of the week. It had been an amazing trip and Harry was sad to be leaving. He had learned so much about magic and all sorts of things from the Flamels and it had been wonderful visiting with his friends and the Delacours along with Nicolas and Perenelle.

"It will be easier to visit in the future," Nicolas said when it was his turn to embrace Harry. "We will install an International Floo with Grimmauld Place. Then we can visit often."

"Thank you for everything," Harry said. "I had an amazing time."

"We did as well," Nicolas said. "It was wonderful having you. And now that you have officially visited, the International Floo will not be difficult to set-up and gain permission for. Sadly it will take some time but perhaps one more swift visit before you start school."

"Harry, if you need anything at all, contact us," Perenelle said softly. "You have multiple means to now."

"I will, don't worry," Harry said.

The Flamels and the Delacours escorted Harry, Sirius, and the Tonkses to the Portkey Hub in the Ministry. Sebastian helped them bypass a lot of the lines and the wait and they made their final farewells.

"Au revoir," Harry said, hugging them once more. "Not goodbye, but until we meet again."

"Beautifully said," Perenelle smiled. She kissed his cheeks and forehead. "Au revoir cheri."

They smiled and waved as Harry and the others left, whisked away by the portkey. She sighed softly, feeling a sense of loss, before leaning into Nicolas' arm. "There goes our boy. I worry for him."

"We have prepared him somewhat," Nicolas said quietly. "And we will continue to do so as best we can. We will aid him for the International and keep him as safe as we can. And if needs must, we will break our oaths and make up for them after the fact after burning Britain down and destroying Voldemort."

"That we will," Perenelle said firmly.

"Come my heart. Let us wander by the Patent Department and admire what I did there."

Perenelle smiled. "Do not claim credit for what the ducks did."

"But I made it possible for the ducks to do their deed!"

"Fair enough," she laughed.

-0-0-0-

Kaya - Thank you so much, glad you liked it.

Hands Off MY Wolfie - I like the idea that Wizarding Britain thinks they are all that but overseas, most other wizarding cultures barely pay attention to them and not feed their self-grown ego. Thanks for reading.

DOOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - He's a professional egotist at least. It's always fun humanizing the Flamels and seeing people react to them like that, as mythic figures being not so mythic. Thanks for reading.

alix33 - Denim robes would be like a denim jacket and I approve.

iamshiunydragonmist - Remus is still the DaDa professor.

Ronin Kenshin - Thank you.

dbkohrn - Probably not. Though, much like the witches during the witch burnings, the magicals caught in that situation might not be so bothered.

poka - I wanted the Flamels to have an impressive estate that feels like something they would have. And yes, Blinky is a good basilisk and was protecting her home and her friends. I do eventually want to explore more magic of other means in this too. That's always fun. too. Glad you liked the moment. I never imagined them having such an impact on the story but now I'm glad they do. This would feel very different without the Flamels.

mackiechandler - Thank you, glad you liked it.

scpotter - Thank you. He absolutely would and the fact they can't quite prevent it tickles me.

- Thank you so much.

Otspock - Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you are looking forward to more.