Chapter 2: Joys of Learning Part 1
Learning can take on various forms and offer an array of experiences depending on the person and the method. It might be a delightful and captivating journey, an arduous and demanding task, or, as Harry was about to find out, a maddening process that could make him want to pull his hair out and swear off learning forever.
Harry, whether he considered it unfortunate or fortunate, was intimately familiar with the concept of learning, as in the six months since his arrival in France, his existence had been consumed by the world of learning, his days dedicated to the acquisition of new skills and knowledge, an unrelenting quest for self-improvement that left little space for anything else.
Learning had evolved into the very essence of his daily life, occupying his thoughts from the moment he woke up to the instant before he closed his eyes at night. Until that moment, Harry had never thought it was possible for the human brain to absorb so much in such a limited amount of time, making him marvel at the remarkable capacity of the human mind and the boundless potential of human capabilities.
But that was a topic for later.
Let us first start from the very beginning.
Harry's transformative culinary journey started a day after his seventh birthday. After that egg fried incident at the community centre, Chef Francois had gone silent and just as Harry thought he had totally forgotten about his invitation, the man paid an unexpected visit to the Dursleys one Saturday evening.
The purpose of the visit was, of course, to discuss his intentions to either adopt Harry or name him his protege and bring the latter to France. In this matter, Chef Francois had likely expected some degree of persuasion to be necessary (especially concerning the adoption part), but to his utter astonishment, Vernon not only did not object to the idea, but had actively encouraged it.
"You don't want to know why I am bringing him to France?" Chef Francois asked hesitatingly, his curiosity piqued, after Vernon had instructed Petunia to gather all of Harry's documentation, without even requesting identification papers from Chef Francois.
Vernon, with an air of nonchalance, replied, "No, no, no," and chuckled. "I'm sure the boy knows what he's doing."
Then, in a surprising change of tone, Vernon addressed Chef Francois with a solemnity that Harry had never heard from him before, speaking with a sincerity that was rare for Vernon as he told the Chef that if Harry wished to leave for greener pastures, he should be free to do so.
Harry didn't know if he should even bother to be surprised by their attitude.
After all, the Dursleys have demonstrated, on more then one occasion in the past, what they really thought of Harry and his presence in their life. If, after all that, Harry still harbored even a sliver of hope that they cared for him, and believed they'd hesitate even a little before allowing him to be adopted by a man they know nothing of, he would be utterly stupid and naive to do so.
Francois, who grew up in a happy family despite his mother leaving him too soon, did not seem to understand the nuances in their relationship and expressed his disbelief - later in the car on their way to the airport (how he was able to obtain a ticket and a Visa on such short notice Harry did not know and did not ask) - to Harry and asked him if he and his relatives were having "issues".
"Issues", in Harry's opinion, was the most gentle way possible to describe whatever was happening between them.
To be perfectly honest, Harry didn't see the situation as having "issues" with the Dursleys. Instead, it felt more like they had unilaterally chosen to despise and mistreat him for reasons he couldn't fathom. But he didn't say it like that. Now that he knew he wouldn't have to deal with them anymore, given their lack of legal rights over him, he simply framed it as them being forced to take him in and hating every moment of it. It might not be the true reason for their hostility, but it was the narrative he found most sensible. Harry didn't bother trying to come up with something else as he had a promising future ahead and didn't want to dwell on the past too much.
"No wonder they seem thrilled to see you leave," Francois nodded in understanding, his tone filled with sympathy. He offered a reassuring pat on Harry's shoulder as he continued, speaking softly, "It couldn't have been easy, growing up in a household like that."
"No it wasn't," Harry admitted with the nonchalance of someone who has put all that behind him, "But it doesn't matter anymore."
Because it really didn't.
Harry wasn't the type to let a few years of mistreatment by relatives he neither respected nor liked define his future. While some believed a troubled childhood could leave lasting scars, Harry was determined not to be one of those who carried childhood wounds into adulthood.
Hearing the conviction in Harry's words, Francois looked fondly at him over his half-moon shaped glasses.
"No," He shook his head in amusement, patting Harry on the head and ignoring the boy's glare, "It doesn't matter anymore."
If Francois believed he had to play along with Harry's words because he thought the Dursleys had wounded Harry's delicate heart in ways the boy refused to admit, he'd be mistaken. Harry genuinely wasn't that affected by their actions. It would have been a different story if he considered them even slightly as family, but he had long abandoned any hope of the Dursleys ever being decent guardians. Whatever they said or did meant nothing to him. While Francois might assume Harry was bottling up emotions about leaving the only home he'd ever known, that wasn't the case; Harry was more than eager to depart and simply grateful that the Dursleys didn't make a fuss, making the process smoother.
The thing was, adults often underestimated kids, assuming they were helpless and in need of protection. While Harry might have been physically vulnerable, mentally he was exceptionally resilient. It could take some time for Francois to realize that Harry wasn't a fragile child seeking love. Years of enduring the Dursleys' mistreatment had forced him to mature beyond his mere six years of age. The fact that Francois had been utterly shocked when Harry revealed his true age, four years younger than what Petunia had claimed at the community center, highlighted how convincingly Harry had portrayed the role of a mature child.
Harry had plans.
Harry had ambitions.
Harry wanted to make something out of himself and didn't want to be "Just Harry" for the rest of his life.
Years of enduring verbal abuse and being bossed around had instilled in him a fierce determination to break free from his confinement. He understood that the only way to gain true freedom was to attain a position of power and influence.
While Chef Francois' appearance had been somewhat unexpected, it had been a pleasant surprise as it offered Harry the stepping stone he needed to launch his career at a much younger age. Initially, Harry had believed he'd have to wait until high school to begin working toward his future, but it seemed that fate had a different plan in store for him. He was not used to being favoured by Fate but he was glad the latter proved him wrong in such a monumental way.
But before Harry could embark on his path to culinary conquest however, he faced his first challenge just a few days after settling in France: learning the French language.
In Paris, everyone spoke French. It didn't matter who you are, if you didn't speak French, getting around on a daily basis would be extremely difficult. English was ok for extremely simple conversations but if you wanted more then to ask someone where the washroom was, you needed to speak French.
Thus learning French had been put as number one on Harry's priority list.
While Francois dealt with the adoption papers, Harry was given a few days off to adapt to the new country, to the new apartment and to the new language. And during those days, Francois provided the boy with a couple of beginner French textbooks for him to pursue at his leisure. According to the man, he just wanted Harry to get a feel of the language but didn't really expect him to actually learn anything just yet.
This was a good thing too because Harry found reading from textbooks didn't help him at all to "get a feel of the language". Nothing made sense in his head and as he navigated the intricacies of "une" vs "un", his frustration grew to an unprecedented level.
Luckily, there was language school.
The apartment Francois had purchased in Paris was located in a rather advantageous location overlooking the Thames. Apart from a few convenience stores and restaurants just a few minutes walk away, there was also a language school specializing in teaching French to immigrants nearby. Harry ended up signing up for that school as learning by himself was not an option, no matter how bright he was for his age.
The school was nice; the teacher was nice, but the problem was, it only took a few days of classes for Harry to come to the awful conclusion that he had absolutely no talent when it came language acquisition.
People say kids pick up language in the blink of the eye, but some reason, in Harry's case, his young age hadn't seem to have helped him all that much and Harry found himself frustrated more often then not at how slow he was in his French learning process. Francois reassured him he didn't need to be in such a hurry to learn because he was here to cook and not to become French, but Harry was still more then a little miffed he wasn't picking up the language as fast as he had with cooking.
Clarice called him greedy for wanting everything.
Harry only considered himself hopeful and idealistic.
Other then language lessons - which Harry was starting to hate with a passion - there were also cooking lessons, curtsey of the great Chef himself. Lessons took place at the local institute of cooking where Francois had his own kitchen - after he had agreed to give seminars there a few times a year. The kitchen wasn't too big but had everything a professional kitchen needed to have including all kinds of knifes, ovens and other appliances. And it was free too so he took full advantage of it, bringing Harry there almost daily and getting Harry to demonstrate everything he had learnt as of yet.
At first, Francois had regarded Harry as little more than a beginner. It wasn't a matter of underestimating Harry; it was a simple conclusion based on the fact that chefs with over five years of experience were still considered newcomers in the culinary world. Harry's one year of after-school lessons at the community center, where he had other students slowing down his progress, paled in comparison.
But he hadn't expected to be proven wrong.
While Harry wasn't the best of the best - yet - he was way more then a beginner. He handled himself with ease, moving around the kitchen as if he had been cooking for years instead of just one year. And to top it off, he had the makings of a culinary virtuoso.
A culinary virtuoso; a master of the kitchen who possesses an unparalleled creative vision and an extraordinary level of skill. They have an innate ability to blend flavors, textures, and ingredients in ways that transcend the ordinary, creating dishes that are not only delicious but also works of art. Their palate is finely tuned, allowing them to discern subtle nuances in taste. They are innovative, constantly pushing the boundaries of traditional cuisine, while possessing a deep understanding of culinary techniques and traditions.
Harry was like that.
Under Harry's skillful hands, even the most straightforward dishes underwent a stunning transformation. Meals that Francois had consumed countless times felt entirely new when prepared by Harry. There was an almost magical quality to his cooking, an inexplicable allure that made it incredibly addictive. In just a few days of coaching, Francois could already see that Harry had the potential to become a culinary powerhouse, destined to surpass all expectations in the world of gastronomy.
If he wasn't wrong, he was certain the boy was destined to usher in a new culinary era with his talent and innovation.
And because of that, for the first time in a long time, Francois felt excitement and anticipation. He couldn't wait to see what will become of the culinary world after he unleashed Harry in to their midst.
With new hope kindling in his heart, Francois found himself becoming considerably stricter with Harry, aiming to expedite the boy's growth, holding on to the belief that prodigies shouldn't be treated the same way as regular students; their talents and progress should not be hindered by coddling. And to Harry's chagrin, Francois seemed to have taken on the role of a drill sergeant more than that of a teacher. While Harry indeed found himself making rapid progress under this demanding method of instruction, it also placed a significant amount of pressure on his young shoulders.
Weeks slipped by in this rigorous routine, and before Harry realized it, he had already spent a month in France. During that time, Francois had completed Harry's adoption paperwork, and Clarice had left her job in London to officially move in with them, taking care of Harry's needs. While everything else appeared to be falling into place, Harry's progress in learning French remained frustratingly slow, much to his own vexation.
The thing was, Harry was well aware of the reason for his sluggish progress in learning French; he simply found the language extremely uninteresting. While many people considered French to be the most melodious language in the world, Harry could only describe it as tedious to learn, often wondering why it couldn't be more similar to English.
Joys of learning? Non existent.
Fortunately, Harry's culinary skills were progressing impressively, leading Francois to start envisioning plans for his debut.
Yes, his debut.
Before Harry could astound the world with his culinary talents, he first needed to be officially introduced as Francois' protege.
As Francois had explained it, the concept of a "protege" refers to a person who is mentored, guided, and trained by a more experienced or knowledgeable individual, often referred to as a mentor or a mentor figure. The mentor-protege relationship typically involves the transfer of knowledge, skills, and wisdom from the mentor to the protege, with the goal of helping the protege develop and achieve personal or professional growth.
While this identity would undoubtedly attract him some unwanted attention, it would also provide him with advantages that would pave a much smoother path to success. People would be more inclined to give him an opportunity to show his craft if they knew he had Chef Francois supporting him, hopefully looking past the fact that he was merely a six-year-old with no formal schooling or prior experience. In addition, once named his protege, Francois will be able to introduce Harry to his professional network as well as allow Harry to use his reputation as a crutch until people stopped disregarding him because of his age and experience. After all, if no one was willing to give him a chance, how could he ever learn and grow in the culinary world?
Truth be told, Harry had not fully grasped the significance of being named a protege until Clarice explained to him that Francois had never taken on a protege before. Even she, as close as she was to him, had remained a student. Francois had never encountered someone he considered worthy of his mentorship until Harry. Clarice cautioned Harry about the challenges that came with the position of a protege, as there would be many who believed he didn't deserve it. People would talk behind his back, cast doubts on his character, and they wouldn't care that he was just a child. Age only seemed to matter when it could be used to attack someone, rather than as a shield against rumors and criticisms.
But Harry didn't mind.
With determination in his voice, Harry told Clarice that they could say whatever they wanted because he couldn't understand them anyway. And he believed that by the time he could understand, he would have already won them over with his remarkable culinary skills.
Clarice had laughed at that, ruffling his hair and calling him cute.
She thought he was joking.
But Harry was serious. Mainly because his progress in learning french was so slow that it would probably take him a year or two to be somewhat fluent enough to understand outside criticism. And by that time, he was confident he would have already made a name for himself independent of Francois.
And even if, by some reason, he didn't get to the height he had envisioned himself getting to, Harry still remained unfazed by the prospect of being called names or facing challenges from fellow chefs. Sadly enough, he had already grown accustomed to such hardships during his time with the Dursleys. What truly concerned him was the idea of never improving and staying stagnant, a fate he was determined to avoid at all costs.
And practice, In Francois' view and his own, was the most effective way to improve at anything, and that certainly included the art of cooking.
But practice wasn't about doing things over and over again with no goal in sight. That would be insanity.
No, practice needed to be effective for there to be actual quantifiable results.
To be effective, some key elements included: focused goals, consistency, feedback, challenging tasks and reflection. Consistency meant that Harry had to cook on a daily basis; Feedback meant that Harry had to receive feedback from a myriad of people and not just Clarice and Francois; Challenging Tasks meant that Harry had to challenge himself with different kinds of dishes and not just the ones he was comfortable with and Reflection meant that Harry had to spend time going over his work by himself and trying to find ways to improve.
All this would have been simpler if Harry had been of age and able to attend proper culinary school. But since Harry was only 6 and still wasn't tall enough to reach most counter spaces, Francois determined that the best way for Harry to gain practical experience was through catering opportunities.
Catering held a special place in Francois' culinary journey, having started it in his early days and occasionally continuing it today. He explained to Harry that catering provided an excellent opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients and expand one's repertoire of culinary skills. It was a valuable lesson in adapting to different preferences and needs. Francois made it clear that experiencing the world through catering would better prepare Harry for the ultimate goal they both shared: opening their own restaurant someday.
Harry agreed, also thinking it was a good idea to start his culinary journey that way. But he knew before he could start, he needed clients willing to trust him and to have clients, he needed some level of credibility. That, he knew, was only possible after Francois had named him his protege.
Harry was fully aware that the path ahead was going to be a challenging one, and many people wouldn't be pleased that a six-year-old was achieving something unprecedented. But he was undeterred by the potential storm of criticism. For Harry, the chance to prove himself and make his culinary dreams a reality was worth every obstacle he might face.