I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, any canon characters, or lyrics to the song Under Pressure by David Bowie and Queen.

A Taste of Magic

38th Course – Pressure

"I knew no one would beat you in cooking!" Lavender hugged Harry tightly.

He hugged her back. "Oh I'm sure many could, but not Draco at least."

"Wish I could've watched, sounded like it was amazing," Padma said. "Terry was really impressed and he's going to come to our next club meeting."

The friends had gathered in the clubroom the next day to celebrate Harry's win. Harry decided to make the wellington for them again and they watched him with interest and listened to him and Pansy retelling what happened.

"Was his recipe really from the chef at Sheen?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know, I didn't get a chance to taste it," Harry said. "It looked like it could have been, and if the Malfoys are as rich and connected as you say they are," he looked over and Millicent and Pansy and Susan and Neville nodded, "then it wouldn't surprise me if they paid the chef a lot of money to teach Draco."

He continued to roll out the puff pastry. "Bouef en Croute is really nice too. Wellingtons are more for English tastes I think, with more salt from the ham and the mustard coating. Bouef en Croute has a lighter profile and you really do need a sauce to tie it together. And the details are more important there with slightly less ingredients to use."

"Hannah was impressed," Susan said. "I could tell she didn't want to be though."

"Is Harry still her nemesis?" Neville asked while Harry groaned.

"Slightly less so," Susan smiled and the others laughed. "More rival than nemesis, I think. She's still on the fence about joining the club. But she acknowledges that you have some skills and it isn't for another reason."

"I'll take that," Harry sighed.

"I'm so jealous of you," Parvati said to Pansy.

"Why, because I was there?" she asked, confused.

"That and you got to slap Draco in the face. Millie said you slapped him so hard; I could read your palm by looking at his face."

Pansy flushed while the others snorted and laughed. "It really was an awesome slap," Millicent praised. "Turned his whole head around and made his cheek bright red."

"It was a lapse in control," Pansy muttered, her own face a little red.

"Yeah but I bet it felt real good," Parvati said. "Come on, admit it."

"It did a little," Pansy finally said, a small smile on her lips.

"There you go girl! Be proud in your slappery. Sounds like he deserved it anyways." She frowned. "I'd do worse if he said that stuff to me."

Pansy had told them what Draco said after some gentle prodding from Millicent. She was not entirely proud of losing control like that and a small part of her regretted it. It was a very small part admittedly. She had been gratified when the others had been upset on her behalf and their support made her feel much better, knowing that they found what he said to be disgusting as well.

"I'm more worried about how his mother will react," Pansy sighed. "I really like Auntie Cissa."

"And she's the scary one of the family," Millicent said.

"Would she be happy knowing her son acts like that?" Hermione asked.

"Actually, no, I don't think. She is very big on being proper and behaving correctly," Pansy said.

"So he gets it from his father," Padma observed.

"Well he does bring his father into everything," Parvati said sardonically.

"Poor Draco," Lavender said without meaning it. "Getting literally slapped by Pansy and figuratively slapped by Harry by losing the duel he wanted in the first place."

"Well if you can't stand the heat," Harry snorted as he rolled the beef in the puff pastry.

"Use a cooling charm?" Sue asked.

"That too," Harry laughed. "It's a Muggle saying, I guess. 'If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen'."

"Kitchens are rather hot places," Luna said sagely.

"True," Harry smiled. "I think it also means that if you can't handle the pressure, then step out of the position."

"'Pressure pressing down on me, pressing down on you, no man ask for.'" Hermione sang softly. She flushed when people turned to look at her. "My parents love Queen and David Bowie."

"Who?" Neville asked.

"Their musicians, a band and a singer respectively," Padma said.

"Wow, it's funny to me when I run into people who don't know who Queen and David Bowie are. Even I know who they are and I'm not that into their music," Hermione said. "Then again, you wouldn't really know Muggle music."

"Our family is huge and have always loved music," Parvati said. "So we know a lot of Muggle music stuff. A good part of the family are Muggleborns and Halfbloods too so we get a bit of everything."

"Same," Sue said. "Plus the traditional stuff which I bet you get too." Padma and Parvati nodded at that.

"What kind of music do Purebloods and the Society people like?" Hermione asked.

"A lot of classical," Pansy said. "We also have magical artists. Celestina Warbeck, The Weird Sisters, The Banshee Symphony, Bonne Trollie, Hexen, though the latter ones are not as popular in Society circles. They prefer classical music from magical composers. Mozart and Beethoven and the like."

"They weren't magicals," Hermione protested. "They're well-known Muggle composers."

"Really?" Millicent and Pansy said.

"Well, magicals do tend to take what they like and claim they were made by magicals," Millicent said, "at least the British ones do."

"Sounds British to me," Harry snorted. By then, the wellington was baking in the oven and he was making the sauces. He stirred the sauce au poivre on the stove slowly, whisking in the cream.

"You look less pressured now," Pansy said. "You were quite focused during the duel."

"Yeah, I was trying to make sure everything was as perfect as can be in the time," Harry said. "It's a different kind of cooking, a bit more stressful." He smiled and gently dotted Parvati's reaching hand with his wooden spoon. "At least I didn't have to worry about people stealing tastes though."

"You like it," Parvati sniffed, rubbing her hand. She brightened when Harry handed her a spoon with some sauce on it.

"I do," he said. "It's more relaxing cooking for you lot like this."

"Ooh, that's tasty," Parvati said, handing the spoon back.

"It tastes a bit more differently if I had some cognac," Harry said. "I need to ask the Headmaster and the kitchens about that."

"Why can't you have cognac?" Susan asked.

"It's a very strong liquor and I'm underaged. I only got away with it at the Dursleys because they had it and wanted things to taste rich and whatnot and I never dared to taste it directly."

"You have cooking sherry here," Luna said.

"And it's a decent substitute but it isn't the same. Plus you're not supposed to drink this stuff."

"What, why are you looking at me?" Parvati asked.

"You usually have a story of a family member that does something they shouldn't," Lavender said.

"Hey, that's rude!" Parvati gasped.

"And accurate," Padma smiled. "And you're not wrong. One of our uncles was banned from drinking regular alcohol and he thought he was being clever and drank the cooking sherry instead."

"How'd that work out for him?" Neville asked while they laughed.

"Poorly," Padma snorted.

"Oooh," Luna said, clapping her hands when Harry removed the wellington from the oven. "That looks delicious! Also rather comfortable. Must be nice to sleep in something so securely wrapped like that."

After it rested and Harry finished the sauces, he sliced into it and everyone exclaimed with delight at the slightly pink beef surrounded by the rich duxelles and the golden crisp pastry.

"I watched you make this from the beginning and I still can't believe you made it. It looks incredible," Hermione said.

"Luckily I don't have to make the puff pastry, it's really fiddly," Harry said. "I'm glad the Elves make it and even like making it." He smiled when everyone dug in.

"I'm in love with this horseradish stuff," Parvati said. "Creamy and spicy, love it!"

"I'm normally not a fan of mushrooms but this is pretty good," Susan said, "probably because of all the ham and flavoring on top."

"This has to be the best one I've ever had," Millicent said, "and it's a popular dish at Society functions."

"That's what I said," Pansy smiled.

"I like making it here and there but as you see, it's a lot of work," Harry smiled as he ate his own piece. "It is satisfying when it's made well."

"I don't think you could make something that didn't taste good," Luna said stoutly.

"But don't try either," Padma said and they laughed together.

-0-

"Up you get Harry," Remus said kindly, helping Harry to his feet.

Harry groaned and shivered. "Guess this is what I get for being proud of my cooking. I get shown that I can't do this right."

Remus snorted. "Not quite the same skill set, but I suppose it is good to remain humble."

As he promised, Remus was teaching Harry a way to combat the Dementors. The Patronus Charm was the best way to deal with them and other dark creatures and it was something Harry had seen before. The crackling silver torch that Remus manifested that day they encountered the Dementors for the first time, the ones cast by the professors the day of the game, all versions of the charm.

Remus had found another boggart and they were using it to manifest into a Dementor to practice with. So far, Harry had not been able to cast the charm, nearly passing out and falling over with each attempt. Remus would then force the boggart-Dementor away for a few moments to give Harry a break before they would try again.

So far Harry had been unable to manifest any sort of form of the Patronus. The malaise of the Dementor went through his attempts and he would hear his parents and Voldemort and succumb to the despair before being revived with chocolate and encouragement.

"Let's take a break," Remus suggested. He sat down and handed Harry a cup of tea. "What are you thinking about, if I may ask? To fuel the charm?"

"I was thinking about the first time I made something at Number 4 that was well liked," Harry said. "For a dinner party. I remember feeling pretty proud and happy at the moment."

Remus smiled sadly. "Not saying you weren't, but you need a very strong memory. Something that really gives you inspiration and energy to draw on to cast the spell. It's very challenging, as you see. The Dementor's malaise is an exceptionally strong magical effect and you need something of comparable magical strength to withstand it, and you will need something more to combat it properly."

"Why is the Patronus charm so hard to cast?" Harry asked.

"It requires a lot of will and strength," Remus said honestly. "And honestly, while you can cast it without having to deal with the malaise or a similar effect, it's sometimes easier to learn while under duress, hence us trying to do so against the boggart turned Dementor. But yes, you need to have the will to combat the emotional effects of the malaise as well to draw upon the fuel for the charm, and then push it out with your magic to manifest the guardian Patronus."

Harry thought for a moment. "Over the summer, the Headmaster told me a lot of magic was intent but a lot of magic was emotion too. That magic picked up on your emotions and they would have an impact on the magic."

"That's correct. Observe." Remus flicked his wand and the tip glowed, a sterile bright white light. "The Wand Lighting Charm obviously. Cast with minimum effort and thought." He dispelled it and cast it again, and this time the light was more yellow and it looked warm. "This is me casting it to provide a bit of comfort by thinking warmly." Another flick and the light was bright white and piercing. "This is me casting it in an attempt to intimidate and to feel cold."

"Wow. Do all spells have an emotional part?"

"Not really and a good amount of spells, common ones anyways, are unaffected by emotions. But as you see, some can have an emotional component that isn't necessary for them to be cast. But there are spells that do require the right motivation, the intent, as well as the right mindset, the emotion."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a good teacher?" Harry asked cheekily.

Remus threw his head back and laughed. "Not recently." He winked at Harry. "If you manage to cast the Patronus, I'll feel like a good teacher."

"So no pressure," Harry sighed.

"None from me," Remus said, softening. "My apologies, I did not mean to make you feel bad. You are trying to cast a spell that is beyond your usual capabilities right now."

"Always did learn things the hard way," Harry said. He finished his tea and got up. "Let's have another go."

"Alright then, on your mark." Remus walked to the wardrobe and waited.

Harry took a deep breath and thought hard. He imagined his memories to be like a catalogue and he was flipping through the pages, trying to find truly positive memories, ones that he was happy. He nodded at Remus and steeled himself when the wardrobe opened and the boggart-Dementor came gliding out.

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry incanted. He clung to that memory as he tried to will the magic to work, to will the Patronus into existence. His wand trembled but no light or energy came forth and he slowly buckled under the pressure of the malaise. When Remus forced the boggart-Dmentor back, he gasped, feeling the malaise fade.

"A little better," Remus said. "I think we should only try once more tonight. Don't want to overtax you."

"Fair enough," Harry grunted. He took a deep breath and straightened. "Right, one more go." He closed his eyes and thought hard, looking and searching for the memory.

The wardrobe opened once more and the boggart-Dementor came out, reaching for Harry and making that terrible hoarse rattling sound.

"Expecto Patronum!"

This time, his magic responded.

Silver light shone from his wand and a faint misty material came out. It formed a shield and the boggart-Dementor collided into it bodily, bouncing off as if it hit a brick wall. The creature hissed irritably and swiped at Harry but it could not go past the shield. Harry felt elated but drained, feeling the demands of the charm drawing on his body and magic. As the shield began to falter, Remus was there. The Dementor became the werewolf once more before it was sent flying back into the wardrobe, transforming into a quacking duckling as it did.

"Well done!" Remus praised. "Incredibly well-done Harry! You manifested a shield! That's the first step in making a fully corporeal Patronus. You did magnificently. I'm so proud of you!"

Harry smiled through his exhaustion. "Really?"

"Being proud of you or you doing well?"

"Both."

"Of course both!" Remus said.

"Brilliant," Harry said, feeling tired but happy.

"Let's rest before I take you back to Gryffindor tower." Remus helped him sit and gave him more chocolate to eat.

"I hope I never get tired of chocolate," Harry said as he munched on it, giving Remus some to share.

"A fear I share sometimes. Chocolate is very good at combating shock and providing quick energy," Remus chuckled. "What did you think about this time? Clearly it worked."

"It was the first time I saw Hogwarts," Harry said quietly. "I remember crossing the Lake on the boats and seeing how big it looked, how the torches lit the windows up. It looked beautiful, different. I felt like I could be someone else here, someone more."

Remus looked at Harry sadly. "I had that same exact feeling when I came to Hogwarts."

"You did?"

"Yes, I did."

The silence between them was knowing and comfortable.

"May I ask you a question?" Harry asked.

"Of course."

"Why is the boggart a werewolf for you?" Harry asked. "Don't get me wrong, werewolves are scary, but you're awesome. You know all these spells and dark things and how to fight them, I can't imagine you not being able to handle them easily."

Remus sat there, still as stone, for a long moment. He looked away from Harry and Harry felt dreadful, thinking he pushed into territory that he was not welcome.

"I'm sorry Sir," he stammered. "You don't have to answer that. I was just curious and nosy."

"No, it's okay Harry." Remus sighed and looked back at him, his expression sad but resolute. "I am not afraid of most werewolves," he said at last. "But of one specific one." He took a deep breath. "Me."

Harry blinked. "You're a werewolf?"

"Yes," Remus said, his voice low and quiet. "I was turned as a boy and grew up with it."

"Oh. Is that why you're sick often?"

"On the full moon," Remus said. "And that drink you noticed me having a lot, the reason for your lovely gift last year, is the Wolfsbane potion. When I drink it, I can keep my wits about me and not lose myself to the beast when I transform. It is a relatively new invention, one that was not available when I was younger."

He sighed heavily. "It is why I traveled so much. Not many people wish to employ a werewolf in Britain. Around the world, there are many who do not care as much but there are still plenty who think werewolves to be lesser people. It was easier…for me to move about. To ply my trade all over. The most desperate for aid are less choosy on who aids them sometimes. I found a measure of peace that way."

He laid down on the stone floor and looked up at the stone ceiling. "Which is why I was not around when you were growing up, something I deeply lament. I lost so much those last few years and it was easy for me to flee, to run away. To wallow in my self-pity and stay in the moment while escaping the past."

"I'm sorry you had to go through all that," Harry said quietly.

"Me too." Remus looked at him. "It wasn't all bad, isn't all bad now. I have some friends now, and I've come to really enjoy teaching and most of all, reconnecting with you. But I still fear the monster that lives within me, and the damage that I can cause if uncontrolled."

"You've been really good to me," Harry said. "You talk to me, want to talk to me and want to listen. You tell me stories about my parents and all sorts of things. And like I said, you're a really good teacher. And I wouldn't lie to you like that."

Remus smiled. "No, you're not one to flatter someone without reason. Thank you, Harry."

"My dad knew, didn't he?"

Remus' smile grew. "He did. He figured it out first and I was so afraid of losing his friendship. It always happened before. Yet his response was that I was a 'thick git' and that I had to do worse to make him break his friendship with me."

"He was cool, wasn't he?" Harry smiled proudly.

"Very cool," Remus agreed. "And he would be so proud of you, him and Lily both."

"I hope so," Harry said quietly.

"I know so," Remus said firmly. "You are very smart, very kind. Talented in the kitchen and with spells. In fact, since you can actually make edible food, that would impress him to no end." He chuckled at Harry's laugh. "I have many regrets in my life Harry, but returning and reconnecting with you is not one of them, not by a long shot."

He hesitated. "You aren't nervous to be around me anymore, are you?"

Harry rolled his eyes and clambered to his feet and offered his hand to Remus, hauling him up with a grunt. "I'd repeat what my dad said but I don't want to get in trouble," Harry said stoutly.

Remus smiled and tousled Harry's hair. "Thank you, Harry. Let's call it a night, shall we?" After seeing Harry off to the tower, he returned to his quarters and stopped to smile at the pictures of James and Lily. "Your boy is a fine young man," he said to his photographic friends. "And he will only become more so with time."

-0-

"He's still not talking to you?" Lavender asked. She and Pansy were sitting together in the library and Draco had turned the corner and saw them there. His face had shifted through many emotions before settling on angry disdain and he turned around and left, his nose high in the air.

"No, he isn't," Pansy said. She looked back down at her essay and continued to write, her handwriting suffering just a little from suppressed emotion.

"Has it affected how the others in Slytherin treat you?"

"Not really. He lost face as well as the duel. There are some that don't pay him any attention now." Pansy looked a little satisfied at that. "His closest," she paused for a moment at that, "still stay by him but they've always treated me poorly so no change there really. I still am cordial with the majority of the House. Greengrass and Davis and I were always friendly enough. Millie is my best friend as you know."

"And Sunny too," Lavender smiled.

"And Sunny is my nemesis," Pansy smiled too. "Well, less than if I'm being honest. Don't tell Millie though."

"Well you don't deserve how he treated you so his loss," Lavender said.

Pansy looked at her. "You really believe that."

"Sure I do. You're my friend too and even if you weren't, no one should be treated like that."

Pansy felt warm. "If I was how I was before, would I deserve it?"

Lavender nibbled on her quill. "Maybe? You weren't very nice."

"No, I wasn't," Pansy agreed, wincing a little.

"But some things are beyond common courtesy so, maybe or maybe not. Who you are now definitely doesn't." She patted Pansy's hand. "I like this Pansy a lot."

Pansy smiled a little. "I do too," she confessed. "She's better, I think."

"She is," Lavender said without any malice or harshness. "You are." Her smile turned sly. "I don't mind it when you give Millie or Parv the business though, as long as it isn't too mean."

"Some light teasing is good to keep your wits sharp," Pansy said, giggling a little.

"I like it when you debate Hermione, you can keep up with her."

"Only on some things. She's very knowledgeable and quite opiniated. Most Society girls are raised to be more circumspect with their opinions."

"Well that's just not fun," Lavender argued. She started giggling harder. "Imagine Luna being told to keep her opinions to herself."

"She's someone I cannot debate with," Pansy sighed. "I either feel bad because she looks genuinely hurt or she's so accepting of 'alternative viewpoints', it's like arguing with silk. It bends with the arguments and you get tangled up in it until you're unsure where things began and where things end."

"I love watching her and Hermione argue! You can see them both get frustrated at the other," Lavender said.

"Oh yes! Remember the time where they argued circles around each other and ended up agreeing with the other and being upset at it? What was it about again?"

"If ketchup should be applied on top of something or beneath it!" The girls roared with laughter until they were silenced by an irate Pince. They quieted down after being threatened to be thrown out of the library, giggling softly as they continued their homework.

Without pressure from anything at all.

-0-0-0-

Adrian King1 - Draco would never join the club, at least not this version of him so I don't suppose that would ever happen. Glad you enjoyed the chapter.

odonnellzoo99 - I worked hard on the cooking scene and I'm glad you saw what I was going for. I felt it was a decent summation and culmination of all the little things I've touched upon up till now. The influence of magic on taste, the difference between cooking via recipe and via experience, Malfoy's arrogance, Harry wanting people to enjoy his food, and how they approached the challenge. Glad you liked it.

iamshinydragonmist - I still have a very long ways to go so I'm not really thinking about anything after this right now. Glad you liked the duel.

SolarSolstice - Glad you liked them. Things will change and it will be more apparent in the next few chapters, hope you enjoy them too.

Jaysto - I'm glad you liked it. I really wanted Harry to shine here in a different way. We've seen him cook with different emotions and motivations and thought showing him in a more focused way would be a nice comparison point.

kaya - Thank you so much. I'm glad you are enjoying it. I wanted to show Harry as confident but not overconfident. He was expecting to win per se, but knew he would put in a good showing and was willing to show it through his skills.

Shad0wGh0st - Thank you. It's never too late for some kind of snacking for me haha.

Professor Donger - There will be a relationship at some point. I generally do not tag it when I don't want to focus on it too early.

DustieDaven - I am liking Pany's growth in this fic, I think I am hitting the notes I want for her. She still has room to grow, all of them do, but I like how she is coming along, same with the cooking growth.

1529 - Thank you for the high praise. Thank you for reading, it means very much to me.

poka - Thank you so much. A lot of people expected him to cheat and I confess I never did. I fully leaned into him being so supremely arrogant, that he never entertained the thought for several reasons. He fully tried to take advantage of Harry's ignorance about duels and the procedures. Then he expected to stack the deck as the judges went. Then he expected that he would win because he was taught by the 'best' chef at the 'best' restaurant. Not only that, he didn't even practice much because he assumed he would be good at it precisely because he looked down on it so much. Then as he saw someone who loved to cook, who cooked so much, who earned their experience, only then did he really realize just how out of depth he was. That's why he did only as he thought the recipe was with no accounting for flexibility and not caring what the end result was.

I worked really hard on that scene and I'm glad it carried through to you.

alix33 - I also want to have a good beef wellington one day.

Hands Off MY Wolfie - Experience matters for a lot, especially when people expect going off a recipe should yield perfect results and it doesn't. Thanks for reading.

l4w - Thank you, glad it was a good read and wasn't boring.

DarkRavie - Thank you.

Mitkon2001 - Glad you found it and enjoyed it. It's been fun exploring the Patils and giving them, what I hope, are believable personalities. I try to give characters, especially main/reoccurring ones, agency and purpose and life, and not be set pieces.