I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
A Taste of Magic
117th Course – About Time Honestly
"Knew it would be an invasion," Millicent grumbled.
As per usual, the friends spent a lot of time in the Uncommon Room, with the addition of the little siblings now. They had followed their older siblings and entered as if they belonged there. They sat in the corner together, working on a Charms paper together with Astoria helping somewhat.
"At least we have the keys and they don't," Pansy sighed in agreement.
"That's true," Millicent said. "But Harry won't let us lock them out."
"Because that would be cruel and rude," Harry sniffed, not looking up from his task.
"I'm not entirely disagreeing," Millicent said, "but they're being cruel and rude to us, just saying."
"Are they?" Harry asked, looking up.
"Well not at this moment," Millicent conceded. "Sorry, I'm just being a bitch."
"What else is new?" Pansy asked and yelped when Millicent kicked her stool and made her fall off. "I'm a prefect you know!"
"What else is new?" Millicent replied snidely and they laughed at that, even Pansy, but she kicked Millicent back. "Just saying it was nice having them not in my business and all, a place where they weren't but I guess that's part of the role of being an older sibling."
"Oh, that makes sense," Harry said after some thought. "But they're doing their thing over there and not actively being bothersome, and I'll try to keep them from being too rowdy."
"Thanks," Millicent said gratefully. "What are you making by the way?"
"A vanilla and strawberry mille crepe cake," Harry said. He finished the last layer to the cake and put it in his personal icebox to chill and firm up. "A treat to make the start of the new year better."
"For them?!" Daphne gasped. "Their woes are nowhere near like ours are now!"
"Which is why we have this one first," Harry said, taking out the one that was already inside and ready. "Did you really think I'd not think about you lot?"
"I never did," Luna said brightly, hugging him.
"That's so pretty," Hermione said when Harry cut out the first slice. The many crepes within the mille crepe cake showed a very pleasing cross section with slices of strawberries and thin layers of vanilla cream in between the crepes. The top was dusted with a little powdered sugar and the entire cake looked soft and sweet.
"This is so good," Sue said, licking her lips after the first bite. "Thanks Harry!"
"It must take forever to line up the layers and everything," Tracey said admiringly.
"A bit, but it's worth the effort here and there," Harry nodded. "It's nice to focus on something like this though sometimes. Not think about anything else and just focus on lining up the layers and all. It's not that bad if everything is done ahead of time but it can be a bit tedious. The results are lovely though."
"You know, I do feel bad sometimes," Millicent sighed as she watched Harry take the second cake to the others in the corner. She smiled at how happy they looked and they thanked Harry profusely, chatting with him easily. "There really isn't many that would be so kind to them just because they're our sibs. I was being a bitch about it and he's just being kind."
"Harry likes to share things," Luna said as she ate her cake daintily. She would cut a piece with her fork and slowly nibble her way through the layers until the piece was done before starting anew.
"He never had anything to share before," Lavender said sadly. "Only what he made at dinner parties for his…caretakers." She smiled when she saw how happy Harry was while the younger kids gobbled their slices.
"It really is impressive that he is so willing to," Daphne said softly, "considering that."
"Just proves how good of a person he is," Hermione said.
"We are very lucky," Pansy said soulfully and no one disagreed with her.
Harry walked back over and paused, noticing the others looking at him. "Do I have something on my face?" he asked, feeling slightly self-conscious.
"Nah, if you did, Lavender would've gotten it," Parvati said. "Hey! Don't touch my slice of cake! I will fork you!"
"She will, I've seen it," Padma said seriously.
"Just admiring your necklace," Millicent smiled. "I'm still impressed you would've worn the previous version."
"Oh speaking of, Harry made the cutest gesture back, have you heard?" Parvati said, fending Lavender's fork off with her own. "He got Lav a teddy bear with green eyes and glasses."
"That is either incredibly adorable or incredibly self-centered," Daphne laughed merrily.
"I think it's incredibly sweet," Pansy smiled.
"I should get you a stuffed plant to snug," Millicent said.
"Actually, I might like that," Neville laughed. "You said Sunny stole the stuffed animal I got you, right?"
"She did," Millicent sighed.
"You going to give her a book plushie now?" Parvati asked teasingly.
"Why haven't I thought of that before?!" Tracey cried and Hermione flushed.
"How do we wash dishes here?" Marigold asked as she and the others brought the plates and forks up.
"Usually with magic but my sink there works like a regular sink," Harry said. "I can teach you the Scouring Charm too. We learned it roughly around this time our first year actually, in Household Charms."
"Look at you, cleaning up after yourself," Pansy said.
"It's only polite," Aster sniffed, glaring at her older sister.
"Have you children looked at the clubs yet?" Millicent asked.
"Yes, old lady," Nathan retorted. "We're joining the Flying Club." He ducked Millicent's irritable swipe at him.
"Actually I wanted to ask, why isn't there a cooking club?" Clover asked.
"Yeah, why?" Marigold asked as they finished washing the dishes and setting them in the rack to dry.
"There wasn't one sadly," Harry said. "No one to run it before I suppose. The closest is Household Charms though that's changed too with so many people in it now."
"It was just us for the longest time," Lavender smiled. "I still like it but yeah, it's different."
"Thank goodness we have the Uncommon Room," Millicent smiled.
"Why isn't there a cooking club now though?" Aster asked.
"I wish there was," Harry said. He was organizing one of the racks and moving things about. "Who would run it though?" He turned at the ensuing silence and realized people were looking at him once more. "Do I have something on my back?"
"No, but isn't it obvious?" Ron said. "You."
"Me?" Harry repeated, eyebrow crooked.
"You are the expert here," Padma smiled. "Not counting the house elves of course."
"I wouldn't call myself an expert," Harry protested.
"You cooked in front of a giant crowd of international magicals and did incredible," Daphne said. "You also cook and work in two professional kitchens. Perhaps you do not consider yourself an expert, but many of us would."
"It's one thing knowing how to cook," Harry said, red from embarrassment from the praise. "But teaching it? That's another thing. Also Mr. Abe and Auntie Ari wouldn't call the Hog's Head 'professional'."
Pansy snorted. "Harry, do you know the full extent of my cooking abilities before we became friends? It was me asking the house elves to bring me something. That and opening a candy wrapper."
"Yeah, pretty much," Aster agreed. She yelped when Pansy poked her in the back of the head and tried to retaliate.
"Now I can use the Scouring Charm and the various cleaning charms with not only ability, but the willingness to do so," Pansy continued, easily fending Aster off. "I can also slice things without slicing myself in the process with a knife and with magic, and I actually make sandwiches on my own. And I learned that from you."
"We were making the gomaae a lot after you taught us," the Brown twins said together. "And biscuits!"
"We learned how to cook things before meeting you but we actually tolerate it better after meeting you," Parvati smiled and Padma nodded.
"I learned at home too and cooking with you has made me better," Sue said.
"I'm really good at making smoothies and milkshakes," Luna said proudly.
"I'm good at roasting and grilling things over fire now," Millicent added.
"Oh well, that's great," Harry said weakly, feeling embarrassed and touched and happy. "I don't know anything about running a club though. What would we even do? Just hang out and learn how to make something together and make it?"
"That sounds like fun!" Clover and Marigold said with the others echoing them.
"It's what we do now sometimes," Ron said. "And it's fun and I used to only care about what it tasted like."
"Yeah, that's true," Ginny nodded. She frowned back at Ron.
"Like you were any different," he snorted.
"Never said I was," she shot back.
"Never thought about it like that." Harry blinked a few times. "Would you all want to be in a cooking club?"
"Hanging out and eating? Sounds like something I could tolerate," Millicent said dryly.
"What she said," Daphne smiled.
"I'd make time for it," Hermione nodded.
"Only if you want to though," Lavender said soothingly. "It would be for fun and all but not if you're feeling pressured."
"I'm not," Harry smiled back. "Thank you though. I just never thought there'd be interest."
"Before, most certainly not," Daphne said. "We know better now though."
"Even if it's just us, it'll still be grand," Susan said.
"I'll give it a shot then," Harry said at last and smiled as the others cheered. "I wonder how to start a club though. I think you usually need a faculty member in charge and a budget and all that. And a space and equipment of course. I rather not do it here. I kind of like having our own space that's ours."
He looked at Millicent sheepishly. "Oh, I think I get it now, sorry."
She hugged him warmly. "Don't be, it's okay to favor us."
"We encourage it even," Pansy smiled.
"I guess I'll ask either Professor McGonagall or Professor Dumbledore," Harry said, hugging Millicent back.
-0-
"Come in," Dumbledore called out, not looking up from his desk. He smiled when he did finally look up, seeing Harry walking over with a tray. "Ah Harry, hello there!"
"Hello Sir! Thought you'd like something to eat. Inky said you've been up here for a while so I made us a tea."
"Thank you, it sounds wonderful right now." Dumbledore cleared space on his desk and happily accepted the cup of steaming black tea and the plate of sandwiches and scones. "I find myself with more paperwork and messages and things to account for now. I steadily receive letters and things from the other major schools as well as other figures in education."
"That's a good thing, right?"
"A very good thing," Dumbledore nodded. "The amount of time needed to reply is a small sacrifice. Already there are plans for visits and whatnot. Oh before I forget." He handed Harry two envelopes. "From Uagadou and Mahoutokoro."
"Ooh, thank you!" Harry took the envelopes eagerly.
"Thank you for the food," Dumbledore smiled and ate unstintingly. "Mmm, this is returning my energy and spirits."
"I'm glad. I did have a question, if I may."
"Of course, ask away."
"How does someone start a club?"
"Usually speak to your Head of House and a member of the faculty that is willing to be the one in charge of it," Dumbledore said. "They will then speak to me and if there is no reason not to have said club, then I approve of it. It is generally good to have a plan for the club's activities and ideas for a budget if one is necessary. Why do you ask?"
"I'd like to start a cooking club and-"
"I volunteer to be the faculty member in charge of it," Dumbledore said immediately. "Sorry to interrupt, go ahead."
Harry had blinked with surprise at Dumbledore's interjection. "Aren't you really busy?"
"I will make time for it," Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Oh, well, that was easy then," Harry grinned. "I went to talk to the elves about helping for it in case it happened and Inky and Ebbers immediately said they would with a bunch others. I was thinking of something laid back and fun. We meet, decide a dish or type of cuisine, then cook it together. As far as budget goes, I'm happy to pay for it."
"The school will contribute as well," Dumbledore said easily. "As will I. I have become a firm believer in the culinary arts as of late."
"Thank you, Sir! I was hoping we could use one of the rooms on the ground floor for it. The elves already said they'd bring over some equipment for us to use for the club."
"Fantastic. I approve of both," Dumbledore said while chewing on a sandwich. "And I assume you will be the person in charge of the operations and the like?"
"Yes Sir, if that's okay."
"I can think of none finer for the role," Dumbledore said seriously. "Hmm, we should call in Professor McGonagall to make things more official. I doubt she will have a problem however."
-0-
"Headmaster! I protest!" McGonagall said loudly.
"You do?" Dumbledore asked, shocked.
"With you being the faculty in charge? Yes! I am the Head of Gryffindor, not you, this should have been run by me first!"
"Ah," Dumbledore said knowingly. "I see the true problem now." He winked at Harry. "Would faculty be allowed to be a part of the club?"
"Of course," Harry said, catching on. "Anyone who wants to come and cook and learn and eat will be."
"Problem solved," Dumbledore said with a magnanimous expression,
"I suppose I should not be surprised by this egregious breach of protocol, especially from you," she said acidly.
"You wound me," Dumbledore sniffed. "I was going to share some of my scones and sandwiches with you but I think now I need to consume my feelings along with them to heal."
"Here's more," Harry said, pulling a box from his bag and giving it to McGonagall.
"Thank you, Harry," she smiled before giving Dumbledore an eye.
"Also, I think I have another club for you," Harry offered. "I know Millicent and Ron want to play hurling more often."
"Oh now that is an idea. Shinty would be also good to play," McGonagall said, looking interested. "It is the Scottish version of the sport. Similar in many ways."
"Shaped stick, ball, and a casual disregard for physical safety?" Harry asked, making Dumbledore snort richly and McGonagall smile.
"Yes, yes, and yes," McGonagall said, eating a sandwich delicately.
"Might be a fun way for the Tribe to come visit Hogwarts too," Harry said. "And for people to get to know them better and the like."
"A splendid idea," Dumbledore said warmly. "Though I will ask that we try to come up with some…rules about the casual disregard for physical safety."
"As long as it does not impede on the spirit of the game," McGonagall said firmly.
"I do not fear for the spirit of the game as much as I fear for the flesh of the players of the game," Dumbledore said dryly.
"Maybe Madam Pomfrey should be here for that," Harry joked.
"Here for what?" Pomfrey walked into the office. "What should I be here for?"
"Do please come in," Dumbledore said.
"I did just that. Why am I being talked about behind my back? And you all eating treats without me?!" She smiled when Harry handed her another box. "Why thank you, Harry."
"Do you normally walk about with all that extra food?" McGonagall asked with genuine interest.
"I was going to go back and store these in the Uncommon Room but I can always make more," Harry said. "I'd hate for Madam Pomfrey to go without. But yes, I do generally keep something to snack on in my bag. If Sunny or someone else doesn't get to it first."
"Such a good lad," Pomfrey praised thickly through a bacon sandwich. "Now why was my honor being questioned?"
"Perish the thought," Dumbledore chuckled. "No, Harry suggested that you might be needed to consult on the safety for hurling and shinty."
"Oh starting a league for it are we?"
"A club at least," McGonagall said.
"As long as it does not impede on the spirit of the game," Pomfrey said. She looked confused when McGonagall beamed, Harry laughed, and Dumbledore groaned. "What now?"
"Professor McGonagall said the same thing," Harry grinned.
"Well yes because it is important," Pomfrey sniffed. "I see no problem with it otherwise, especially since you will be getting additional healer support."
"Yes I am. I actually have two part-time healers coming for interviews," Dumbledore said. "They will trade off on weekdays and weekends with occasional nighttime assistance."
"Splendid! And since I will also be playing in said club, healer support will be on hand. It'll be safer than Quidditch."
"Somehow, I doubt that," Dumbledore muttered.
"As if you have any moral plinth to strut on," McGonagall sniffed. "He tried to steal a march on us."
"What does that mean?" Pomfrey asked, eyes narrowed.
"Harry wants to start a cooking club and the Headmaster assumed the faculty position without consulting anyone," McGonagall said with much affront.
"I protest!" Pomfrey said aloud.
"Wow, she said that too," Harry said with wonder.
"Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall are very dear friends," Dumbledore sighed to an amused Harry. "They were classmates and firm friends ever since."
"Harry, please do not make your club days coincide with the shinty/hurling club," Pomfrey begged.
"I won't. Millie and Ron wouldn't like that either," Harry smiled.
"Fair enough," Pomfrey sighed.
"Who knew that clubs would cause such internal strife," Dumbledore snorted as he poured out more cups of tea.
"It could be worse," Harry shrugged. "I could ask about starting a Gemcut club."
"You know how to play Gemcut?" Pomfrey asked, surprised.
"Dee taught me," Harry said.
"We are not starting a formal club for Gemcut," Dumbledore said severely. "And I trust you to keep it from getting out of hand if you play with your friends here. Please do not force me to ban it."
"Yes Sir," Harry said solemnly.
"Does Professor Flitwick know?" Pomfrey asked, deeply amused.
"He and Dee had words," Harry said sheepishly.
"Wish I was there for that," McGonagall smiled.
-0-
"What are you working on?" Lavender asked.
Luna held up the poster. "Making our poster for the new cooking club," she said proudly.
"It looks great!" Lavender smiled. "I love the dancing food at the edges." She sniffed a few times. "Wow, you charmed it to smell like biscuits?"
"Oh no, I had some biscuits sitting on it while working on it," Luna said, nibbling on a biscuit. "But that would be a fun charm to learn. I'll ask Professor Flitwick if he knows of one."
"There has to be," Lavender agreed. "Oh here are my notes from my O.W.L.s last year."
"Thank you!" Luna took them gratefully. "I will be well prepared for them."
Lavender returned Luna's hug before wrapping Harry in her arms next. "It's so exciting to have a cooking club!"
"It really is!" Harry turned a little melancholy. "I can remember when we were firsties and trying to find clubs to do."
"We've come a long way," Lavender sighed happily.
"I can't believe so many people are interested in cooking now," Harry said happily.
"All because of you. You made it interesting and wonderful," she said. She pulled him in for a kiss and they stood there for a long moment before they broke apart. Lavender turned and frowned slightly.
Luna, nibbling on a second biscuit, blinked. "Oh, I'm sorry, was I not supposed to be watching?" She turned away. "Carry on, don't mind me."
Lavender stood and gaped at her friend while Harry buried his red face into her hair from behind.
-0-
"That is a lot of names," Harry said, looking up at the poster and sign-up sheet.
They had hung the poster on the board in the foyer and Harry had only expected the sign-up sheet to have names of his friends, the usual denizens of the Uncommon Room. However there were actually a few more names on it, ones he knew of but was not as familiar with, other friends, and even professors and faculty.
"Why are there so many names?!" he continued.
"Generally, when someone is interested in attending a club, one signs up for it. Therefore, there are many people interested," Blaise said conversationally. "Ow! Hey!" He glared at Astoria and Aster. "Why?!"
"For being a prat," Astoria growled.
"I would say to control your kin but we know that is a futile thing to say," Blaise sighed.
"Yup," Pansy sighed with Daphne nodding alongside.
"But why are so many people interested in it?" Harry asked.
"Some probably see it as an excuse to eat things, and who can blame them," Sue said. "But, there really has been a rising interest in it with all the articles Rita's been writing."
"I hear they're about to expand on a new magazine focused on it," Tracey said. "First one in ages."
"Wow, that would be great," Harry said wistfully.
"Guess you better prepare for your club, Professor Potter," Millicent said, nudging him with her elbow.
"Oh that sounds weird," Harry laughed.
"I like it, it's got a ring to it," Hermione smiled. "We can get you a tweed jacket."
"Oh yeah, that would look great on you," Lavender gushed.
"He'll be cooking. Why would he want to wear a tweed jacket while cooking?" Parvati snorted.
"A tweed apron maybe?" Padma suggested, making them all laugh.
-0-
"There's a lot of people in here," Harry said, eyes wide and round.
The first meeting of the Cooking Club was impressive. Not only were Harry's closest friends there, the younger siblings included in that, his other friendly acquaintances were there as well. A few others that he did not know well were there, and the majority of the first years were there. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Pomfrey, Flitwick, Remus, and a smattering of the instructors were there too and a few kitchen house elves were setting things up.
"It's less than the sheer number of people at the Showcase," Pansy said soothingly.
"Yeah but I didn't know the vast majority of them and won't see them every day," Harry argued lightly.
"Oh that's a fair point. Plus you probably care more about these people judging you and all that. What?" She looked around at the others that gave her flat looks. "I was agreeing with him!"
"You got this," Parvati said. "And we're here to help."
"Thanks, what would I do without you all?" Harry said with a big smile.
"Be awkward with way too much food," Parvati returned immediately. "And with less accessories."
"You're not wrong," he laughed.
"Go on Captain, you're actually in charge here," Parvati said, pushing him lightly and encouragingly.
Harry took a deep breath and walked to the front of the classroom kitchen. Conversation died and he suppressed a nervous shudder at their sudden attention. "Hello," he said, "thanks for coming to the Cooking Club. It's really good to see everyone. It's really nice to see people interested in food and cooking."
The more he spoke, the better he felt and hit his stride. "We were thinking of something fun, a place for us to try new foods and learn how to make them together. We can vote together on things we want to try and if we can get the ingredients for them, we will give it a shot. All I ask is that we stay pretty calm and be kind to one another. We all start from not knowing how to cook and it's something we can improve together on."
He clapped his hands. "I thought it would be fun to make biscuits together as our first club meeting. It was one of the very first things I made when I was a first year here in Household Charms, which I'll still be a part of, of course." He grinned when Flitwick made a very loud sigh of relief and wiped a hand across his brow, prompting chuckles and laughter. "Come on everyone, feel free to come up to the counter."
All the new people did with a few of the professors. Clover, Marigold, and Aster pushed their way through the others, having decided that they would be Harry's assistants. Harry wrote out the biscuit recipe on a floating blackboard and demonstrated the first batch, explaining what he was doing and how. After the batch finished baking, and everyone ate them still quite warm from the oven, the others broke into small groups to give their own try at making and baking biscuits.
"You know you can use your hands," Aster said, frowning.
"Why?" Blaise asked with genuine inquisitiveness. He used his wand to move the ingredients, mix them, and shape them on the tray before sending the tray into the oven with more wand movement. "When I can do this?"
"It'll taste better," Clover frowned.
"Perhaps, perhaps not," Blaise hedged.
"Are you afraid to get your hands dirty?" Marigold frowned.
"Yes, yes he is," Daphne smiled.
"Harry uses his hands," Owen and Nathan said.
"Harry is a far braver man than I and well used to using his hands," Blaise said. "I slowly hope to reach his level in my own humble way." He flinched when Astoria kicked him as she walked past and kicked her too. "Don't do that!"
"I always feel conflicted when they fight," Daphne sighed theatrically as Astoria and Blaise squabbled. "One is my blood, the other a friend, and I dearly enjoy both of them being irritated."
"No wonder Blaise is so thankful he's friends with Harry," Parvati snickered.
"I'd feel bad if he didn't do this to himself on a consistent basis," Pansy snorted.
The biscuits came out in varying degrees of biscuitness, ranging from very delicious to slightly delicious. That said, everyone had fun. People tried baking for the first time and for the other magicals, it was interesting and diverting. For the Muggleborns and the Half-borns, some were familiar with it and were happy to do something that was familiar to them. At the end of the club, people left with wrapped biscuits and thanked Harry happily, already eager for the next club meeting.
Harry waved as Katie and her friends left with Lyla and Mirabelle and theirs, all happy with small bags of biscuits. He turned and smiled at his friends. Most things were already clean, members of the new club helped with that, and they were finishing up the last of it. The elves popped away with the equipment, after chatting with Harry about him visiting soon. "That was fun!"
"It was! You're a good teacher," Hermione praised.
"A fine first club meeting," Dumbledore said warmly.
"I can't wait to see what we do next," Aster said eagerly.
"I'm thinking something Indian next," Harry said, smiling at the Patils and Ivaan.
"Heck yeah!" Parvati said and high-fived him with Padma and even Ivaan followed right after.
"Never thought I'd see the day," Pomfrey mused as she munched on biscuits. "Magicals caring about cooking and enjoying it. It's very nice I must say."
"Did you think this would happen?" McGonagall asked.
Dumbledore's smile was broad and warm and full of memory. "No, but I had an inkling the day I took Harry to the kitchen, five years ago. I thought there was something that could come of it and I must say, while I did not anticipate the scope of it, I dearly appreciate it."
"I wonder where we would be now, without it," Sprout mused.
"Hungrier," Flitwick said knowingly. "In many ways."
"I concur," Dumbledore said. He looked over at Harry and his friends fondly. "We are quite lucky, being so full in body and heart from it."
-0-0-0-
ZimmMaster - Thank you so much. Hopefully people will still enjoy the wholesomeness and the chill vibes going forward. I think it'll still be interesting.
odonnellzoo99 - I do like the idea of them commandeering a whole car to themselves. I like really well made corned beef. There is a place in Reading Terminal Market in Philly that makes an amazing Rueben and they make their own corned beef and I love it. The Brown Twins are so much fun.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Harry Potter and the Wrangler of Siblings. I can see it.
Arnie1701 - Hogwarts is too well mannered to do that out loud.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - Yup. Hogwarts made her choice well. I can't imagine students would buy healthier food from the trolly given the choice but I like tot hink there are some slightly healthier options. Thanks for reading.
alix33 - Giggling Hedwig is the cutest and the best.
DarkRavie - Thank you.
albinlundholm3 - Thank you for the kind words and taking the time to read. I'm glad to brighten your day.
poka - Lots of meandering and rambling slice of life and chill times are in store. I think you will enjoy it. Hopefully. I do like a sentient Hogwarts to a degree. It makes sense and I like the idea of it, like Casita from Encanto.
TheSphynx - Something that's been a long time coming and yet feels right on time.