I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
A Taste of Magic
145th Course – Counter Attacked, Emphatically
"Oh no, again?" Harry groaned.
It was the day after the opinion article was printed and he had some mild worry about the coming day. He was subjected to a lot of whispers and stares from the others at the school, though not from those that he was friendly with, much less his friends. Lyla and Mirabelle had been staunch supporters and had rallied most of their classmates in defending Harry. His closest friends were obviously on his side and the majority of the older years knew Harry by then, saw how he helped create events for them through the last few years, and they all were kind to him as well.
Still, there were plenty of people who looked at him and whispered softly.
He had arrived at the Great Hall for breakfast with his friends from Gryffindor and had seen Pansy and Millicent waiting for them outside.
"We don't know," Pansy said. "We just wanted to be here with you as you went in."
"Thanks," Harry said gratefully. He blinked at Millicent. "You don't normally bring your hurley club with you, do you?"
"No, but just in case I need it," Millicent said, tapping the head into the palm of her left hand in a decidedly business-like fashion.
"What would you need it for?" Divya asked, eyes wide.
"Cracking heads," Millicent said. "I know there're spells for it but sometimes it's more satisfying to do it by hand." She sighed when Pansy gave her a stern look. "It's more technically a club for hurley or shinty, sports. You hit a ball with it. But in this case, it is an effective intimidation tool."
"So if I play, I can have a club like that too?" Divya asked.
"I swear to everything and Grandmum that if you get a club and hit me with it, I will break it over your arse," Parvati said, glaring at Divya. "So don't even think it."
Divya gasped and looked at Harry.
"I'd probably listen to her on this one," Harry smiled while the others snorted. "But if you like the sport, you can definitely play. It's good exercise. Just a little…well physical. And yeah, don't hit Parvati with. Or Padma, or Ivaan."
"Or Harry," Parvati said.
"I wouldn't ever hit him," Divya growled.
The group entered the Great Hall and sat at the end of the Gryffindor table like they usually did. Harry breathed a sigh of relief when he did not see a single copy of the Prophet. "Probably haven't been delivered yet," he said.
"Doesn't look it," Hermione agreed, looking around.
Food appeared on the tables and Harry smiled as a big platter of sausage and bacon appeared right in front of him alongside a platter full of golden crisp hash browns.
"One of my favorite things about being your sib, get to enjoy the benefits of the elves loving you," Parvati smiled. "Hey!" she gasped as the food she reached for disappeared and reappeared out of arm's reach. "Inky!"
"It's been a while since that happened," Lavender laughed. "It was the biscuits, right? When you thought they stole the recipe?"
"I was kidding!" Parvati squawked. She huffed when a single rasher of bacon appeared on her plate. More food appeared as Harry and the others laughed.
The owls arrived as more of the students came to breakfast. The air was filled with flapping wings and hoots and barks as the usual morning melee happened. Owls flew around each other and looked for their recipients of their post, gliding down with different degrees of grace.
Hedwig came swooping in, neatly dodging other owls and gracefully came to a landing in front of Harry. She barked a greeting to the others and nuzzled Harry sweetly before depositing the wrapped tube she carried in front of him.
"Thanks Hedwig," Harry smiled, kissing her back after she bonked her head against his. He fed her some bacon and opened the tube. "A bit early for the magazine I think. Oh, it's a copy of the paper." He gave the rolled paper a look and gave it to Pansy. "Mind reading it first and then giving me a synopsis?"
"After all the times you do that for me for school work, never," Pansy smiled, making Hermione and Daphne and Padma groan. She took a sip of her juice as she opened the newspaper and as she read the title of the front article, her eyes went wide and she turned her head and spat the juice out, spraying Aster in the face.
"EW! WHY?!" Aster shrieked and smacked her older sister while half of them laughed at the suddenness and the incident while others goggled and stared.
"I'm sorry!" Pansy took her napkin and wiped Aster dry, juice still dripping from the corners of her mouth. "I was so surprised by the title and wanted to spare the paper!"
"Oh dear Merlin, did they really print that title?!" Daphne gasped, looking at it.
"What does it say?!" Sue asked from farther away.
Pansy cleared her throat and started to read out loud, her voice trembling from restrained amusement as she read.
Brandon Banters is a bloody idiot.
You read that correctly, dear readers of the Daily Prophet.
I, Rita Skeeter, writer and journalist extraordinaire, wanted to do my due diligence and inform the readers that Brandon Banters is a bloody blundering buggering idiot and wouldn't know quality if it bit him on the bum.
Yesterday, there was a travesty of an article printed and it was an affront to eyes and anyone with the curse of literacy, and yes while it is an opinion, the opinion is so laughably obtuse, a protractor would be insufficient to measure it.
For those of you who do not know, a protractor is a tool used to measure angles. A little bit of knowledge to enrich your day.
I digress.
Yesterday's 'article' called into question one Harry Potter, with no need for titles, and his performance at the Rising Stars competition for the World's Kitchen. It claimed that Mister Potter had somehow failed to uphold the ideals of Wizarding Britain and let the people down because the young chef had cooked goblin food and presented it proudly.
And he should be proud! I was there and I have had the immense honor of eating Chef Potter's cooking on multiple occasions and it is food to make others die over. It is food that is warm, delicious, and kind. It tastes good, and nothing more about it needs to be said but I will say many more about it as time and occasion allows.
And I am not the only person who thinks so because, as Banters barely reported, Chef Potter won the event with his cooking. And Banters then tried to denigrate Harry Potter, a proper citizen and member of Wizarding Britain I might add, by downplaying his achievements that helped put us back on the map to the International Community. Mister Potter was instrumental in representing Hogwarts in the TriWizard Tournament for the extracurricular contests, and was the representative for the school at the International Scholastic Showcase.
The first one we were invited to in near a century I might add. A detail that Banters blathered over.
Not only did Banters see fit to insult a young man who is doing his best competing against chefs older and more experienced than him, he also decided to call into question the actions of other members of Wizarding Britain, the goblins and Gringotts in general. I do not know why he saw fit to do so, perhaps he doesn't like gold, which would be a lie because we all know that he wrote yesterday's drivel for the gold.
Gringotts Britain and the goblins who work and live in the United Kingdom are citizens of Magical Britain. I looked that up. It is a pity that Banters did not do the basic diligence a writer and journalist should do. And if he did, perhaps he would have seen that it is generally thought that a proper British Magical typically attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry or is homeschooled or tutored by private tutors. Also in the past, there were smaller institutions for education that are just as qualified.
Brandon Banters attended Beauxbatons and while I have nothing against the school, it shows where his true loyalties lie, perhaps.
I also did a bit of digging and discovered that Brandon allegedly-British Banters was in fact, born outside of the United Kingdom. He and his family came to Britain when he was young and became citizens here, which he then showed solidarity by then pursuing his education elsewhere.
Not that I am against immigrants of course. Many fine citizens and members of Wizarding Britain had rich histories of living elsewhere before calling Britain their home. It is the hypocrisy that I am having a problem with.
I, for one, am surprised that Banters even recalled what happened at the competition. He was so engrossed by the French journalists, he barely paid attention to the event at all. In fact, I must applaud his bravery in being in a kitchen. Since he is naught but a cabbage with ears and a mouth, it must be something like a horror show for him to be in a kitchen and watch his kind be chopped up into pieces, cooked, and then consumed. But perhaps that is why he is able to ignore things due to his stunning obliviousness and obvious blindness.
In conclusion, it is my robust opinion that of the two called into question about upholding British ideals, Harry Potter and Brandon Banters, it is the latter that is found wanting. Harry Potter continues to work hard and to be a perfect gentleman and I continue to support his efforts in bringing Wizarding Britain forward by showing the world what a real British citizen and magical can do.
And if anyone thinks I have written anything wrong here, even my opinion, you know how to find me. Rather. I know how to find you.
Sincerely written by the ever-hungry, both journalistically and literally,
Rita Skeeter, journalist, magazine writer, and budding gourwomand.
Harry blinked as his friends were in different states of hilarity, some howling and cackling with laughter and others slumped on the table or against one another, lost in their glee. "Wow, yeah, you weren't kidding," he said slowly.
"The best part is, that is all probably true," Daphne said, smiling very broadly. "She did not have to fabricate anything for once."
"Guess everyone is enjoying the article too," Padma snickered. The rest of the Great Hall were also reading the newspaper article and the majority of them were also consumed by mirth from reading it.
"Oh my goodness," Pansy gasped. She had continued to read and her eyes popped open. "Apparently Gringotts Britain has petitioned the Wizengamot."
"Really? Why?!" Neville asked.
"'To ascertain if they are British citizens or not'," Pansy read ominously. "It has come to our attention that there are those that are questioning our right to call ourselves members of Wizarding Britain and if that is the case, Gringotts Britain needs to put the question to rest in a legal fashion."
"That sounds really bad," Millicent said in a hushed voice.
"Harry James Potter has been a valued employee of Gringotts Britain for more than three years. He has been nothing but professional and a person with remarkable character and work ethic," Pansy continued. "He has joined the ranks of magicals that Gringotts trusts and it is a poor day when he is so vilified for being a member of the Bank. It is Gringotts policy to take any attacks on character very seriously."
"Banters is fucked," Blaise grinned.
"There are younger people around," Daphne scolded.
"I have heard them say worse," Blaise countered.
"Blaise isn't wrong," Susan said, "at least about Banters being in trouble. He just opened things up for a giant mess for the Ministry. There were conflicts started over less."
"I feel vaguely responsible for this," Harry said weakly.
"And as per usual, don't," Parvati grinned. "Banters didn't have to write that nonsense and the Prophet didn't have to print it."
"And like what Susan said, the goblins have caused more trouble over much smaller things," Hermione said. "This sort of thing is a lot more serious."
"What we know of them now, through you and from history, they would take essentially any chance to cause some trouble," Daphne said. "If anything, you became more of a more legitimate reason for them. Not to mention, a morally correct one."
"They do take reputation seriously," Harry sighed. "I learned that my first summer working there."
"Besides, if Banters ever called out any other family's reputation, especially the Pureblood Society families, he'd be in a huge amount of trouble," Pansy said. "As in the nearly fatal kind depending on the extent of the insult. Something he really should have known."
"He probably did and is banking on the fact that none of the other families will get involved," Millicent said. "If anything, he's trying to get them to join him in being outraged." She started laughing. "He probably doesn't even know just how connected Harry is!"
"Poor guy," Ron said, shaking his head. "He probably was thinking he was on top of the world yesterday and today he's in for a really rude awakening. I'd almost feel bad if it wasn't his own damn fault and being a prick in the first place."
"Don't feel bad," Lavender said. "You didn't cause any of this. Banters did."
Harry released a breath. "I'll try not to," he said and the others snorted. He looked at Pansy when he heard her gasp again. "What now?!"
"Well, there is another small opinion piece," Pansy said, staring at the newspaper. She cleared her throat. "Inclusion is not invasion, it is sustaining life. If one remains so confined, it invites stagnation. It is the responsibility, if not the duty, for members of a society to promote healthy growth in different ways. One could argue that the invitation of the new and making it their own is a quintessential British ideal and just as important as working hard and presenting a proper character."
"That sounds nice, who said that?" Luna asked.
"Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy," Pansy said quietly
Everyone looked at each other quietly.
"Huh, never saw that coming," Harry said.
"The Malfoys said that?" Tracey gasped. "Really?"
"According to this," Pansy said, showing them the newspaper. "And they wouldn't let anyone print anything with their name without express permission."
"Did, did the Malfoys just support you?" Sue asked. "Are there other Malfoys?"
"Yes they seemed to and no, I do not think so," Daphne said slowly. "Is this a trick of some sort?"
"It could be, them trying to look good and their school." Blaise snorted. "Then again, it doesn't have Draco's name on it so it could very well be legit."
"If anything, this makes it that much better for you," Neville said slowly. "Everyone knows you and Draco didn't get along-"
"Understatement," many people muttered.
"-so with them showing you, even tacit support, is a big thing," Neville said.
"They could be doing it because Lady Narcissa is related to Auntie Andi and Sirius," Harry said.
"Sure, but there are plenty of occasions where people didn't do anything despite the blood ties," Susan said.
"I suppose in this case, don't look a gift horse in the mouth," Hermione said.
"Why not?" Luna asked. "What if the horse needs something to eat or has something wrong with their teeth?"
"It's an expression about not finding fault in a gift," Hermione said patiently.
"Still seems rude to the horse," Luna sniffed.
"What if the horse is just a bit self-conscious and you were being nice to the horse," Parvati said. "Then addressing the problem later once it's more comfortable?"
"Oh that would be nice," Luna nodded, appeased.
"Oh it is essentially 'do not question the ingredients of the potion after you have drunk it'," Daphne said.
"But what if I want to know what I'm drinking?" Ginny asked.
"Don't ask what's in haggis or a sausage then," Harry grinned.
"What's in haggis?" Ivaan asked. "What is haggis actually?"
"We'll tell you when you're older," Parvati said and the majority of them laughed while she and Ivaan traded rude hand gestures.
"It's the offal of a sheep, heart and liver and lungs, minced and seasoned with oatmeal and suet and then boiled in a sheep's stomach," Harry smiled.
"Ew," Clover and Marigold and Aster said together, making faces.
"I'd try it," Millicent said. "It sounds more easy to eat than the blood stew you made that time."
"Hey, that was good," Sue said with Luna nodding in agreement.
"Blood what?" Astoria asked, eyes wide.
"It was for Mr. Drake," Harry laughed. "It was pork cooked with pig blood."
"And it was tasty," Luna said stoutly.
"We might as well get ready for classes and all," Harry said. He hugged and kissed Hedwig again and she nipped his nose before she flapped off. "I do feel a little better though."
"Good," Lavender smiled as she tucked her arm into his. "And at least this should take some of the attention off of you."
"That'll be nice," Harry sighed.
-0-
"She stole that from me!" Sirius looked up from the newspaper looking very put out. "I said that during our meeting!"
"I thought that sounded familiar," Andromeda smiled. "That is funny."
"She didn't even give me any credit!" Sirius crossed his arms and pouted. "It stings more when family steals from you."
"You will survive," Andromeda said, patting him on the shoulder. "One way or another."
"It stings more when family condescends you," Sirius pouted.
Ted chuckled. "Still, I never would've imagined them doing something like this unless they were being heavily compensated."
"It's really smart of them," Sirius said seriously. "This puts them in the spotlight, shows off their school in a way that breaks the norm, let them be the first to make a statement, and it's going to shock a lot of people given their reputation in the past."
"And if it causes more people to question the legitimacy because it is such a break, then it still keeps them at the forefront of attention and thus, relevant," Andromeda said.
"That's probably the reason they did it," Ted nodded.
"Maybe they feel a little like they owed Harry some for finishing off QuirrellMort," Sirius mused. "Probably not honestly, but it's possible."
"I like to imagine that all the times Harry has cooked for our teas has had an impact as well," Andromeda sighed lovingly.
"I'd believe it," Ted smiled. "Are you going to be making a statement?"
"I was planning on it," Sirius mused. "But with the Gringotts statement, Rita's rebuttal, and now this, I think that's enough for now. Then after a few months when things calm down, I'll go after him again and prolong the punishment by restarting things."
"That sounds like the Sirius I know," Andromeda laughed.
"When I'm through with him, the only thing Banters will be writing are apologies," Sirius grinned. "You know, if there's anything left of him after this. There's going to be an emergency Wizengamot meeting and they're not too happy with the prospect of another goblin conflict. Which is obvious but when it starts because one arsehole can keep his opinion to himself, it's more damning."
"Poor dumb bastard," Ted snorted. "He did it to himself though."
"Have I mentioned how glad I am that Rita's on our side now?" Sirius laughed.
"Yes and I agree most heartily," Andromeda laughed.
-0-
"Come in," Harry called out, hearing knocking on the door to the Uncommon Room. He smiled when he saw Ragnok walk in, followed by Dumbledore. "Oh hello Sir! And Sir! Wow that's a little confusing, sorry. Is everything okay? I would've come up to your office, Headmaster Sir."
Ragnok and Dumbledore chuckled pleasantly. "We enjoyed a chance to stretch the legs some," Dumbledore said. "And everything is fine, for the most part and for most."
"I wanted to come and tell you that you should not feel any responsibility for Gringotts Britain's actions," Ragnok said pleasantly but authoritatively. "What we did and are doing is solely my decision as well as the decision of the committee and the Heads of the Department." He frowned a little. "Dee and Diglin told me to tell you that for some reason."
"That does make me feel better," Harry said, looking and feeling relieved.
"Just as well then," Ragnok smiled. His smile turned predatory. "Banters' actions are his own and we will be fully taking advantage of that. He wants to call our citizenship into question? Fine! We will use this to renegotiate our standing with the British Ministry of Magic and make things a bit more equal for us. And they will only have him to blame. This will teach him to report things correctly and keep his opinion to himself."
"I do appreciate the support," Harry said.
"Of course. We stand by our statement. You have been nothing but a wonderful employee and an employee of Gringotts is a part of Gringotts. No one attacks ours without considerable reprisal," Ragnok said.
"Should you be saying all that in front of the Headmaster? Aren't you Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot?" Harry asked nervously.
"I am and unofficially, I agree with the Director," Dumbledore smiled. "Officially, well, I seem to have surprisingly found myself here in this room in his and your company and cannot recall what has transpired. In fact, I am unsure what I am doing here."
"Oh, uh, it is just about teatime," Harry said after a moment and smiling. "I was hoping to have you two taste test something new for me and we can enjoy a nice meal and tea together. Is that a good reason?"
"I can think of few finer," Ragnok said, his smile matching theirs. He sat at the table with Dumbledore and watched Harry cook. "And Harry, I wanted to personally thank you for what you did at the event. It was something I never thought would ever happen in my lifetime, to see my culture be treated with sincere respect like that by a human."
"I always thought goblin cooking is just as good as any other," Harry said. "Just not a lot of people know about it and it's a shame."
"Because no one before cared to know about it," Ragnok said. "Partially, that is our fault. We hoarded our knowledge and culture out of spite to some degree, but there were none who genuinely cared, save for the few that joined our ranks as Delvers, Hunters, Curse Breakers, and the like."
"What you have learned in history class is just the surface of it all," Dumbledore said sadly.
"That's sad," Harry said quietly. "I don't think goblins are any more different than some people are different from one another."
Ragnok's eyes glimmered at that. He cleared his throat. "I knew, accepting you that day, would have consequences. I just never thought about what kind. Your actions at the competition has borne strange new fruit for us. We have started receiving messages about goblin culture and cooking, asking for meetings and chances of opportunities."
"That's great!" Harry exclaimed.
"It truly is," Ragnok beamed. "And before, we would see it as a falsehood, a form of manipulation. Yet now, with what you have done, we can see a sincerity to it, an actual honesty. Of course we will not go blindly into things. We will still be very careful. But the plates are shifting and I believe for the better. Because of you, Harry, we have found a new way to grow and advance. We have discovered a new vein of gold because of you, and we will not ever forget that."
"I'm glad you gave me a chance, my life has been so much better because of all of you," Harry said seriously.
"And I am glad that you came to us and that the chance could be given," Ragnok said.
Harry felt warm inside but then a thought chilled him slightly. "Uhm, did you all read Banters' article then?"
"Oh yes, the majority of us and the vast majority of us were very angry," Ragnok said. "We had drafted our response and started the legal proceedings within a few hours of receiving the newspaper. It was a near unanimous decision."
"Did Dee read it?" Harry asked nervously.
Ragnok grinned. "Oh yes, she did."
"Is she drafting a response?"
"She might, when she returns. She went out on a hunting trip to find a grundwyrm, or something of similar weight, and send the head to Banters," Ragnok chuckled.
"Oh my, that is a very serious declaration," Dumbledore said.
"She was very upset as well." Ragnok said simply.
"Can you tell her that's not really necessary?" Harry asked hurriedly. "Not that I don't appreciate it, but I don't want this to be a huge thing."
"It is a bit late for that," Ragnok said kindly. "But I will pass along the message. You know Dee though. Dee does what Dee wants to. That is what makes her so wonderful and so terrifying." He chuckled once more. "Besides, Emmie was rather upset too."
"We can't have that," Harry said fondly.
"No we cannot," Ragnok said seriously.
-0-
"You're early," Aberforth remarked, seeing Harry walk into the Hog's Head. He looked up at the clock and frowned at Harry.
"I already did all my homework and studied ahead for my N.E.W.T.s," Harry said hurriedly. "I don't really need anything and Lavender is having a girls' date day with the other girls. I didn't want to just stay at school to practice, was kinda doing my head in a bit, so thought I'd come here early."
"Well you wouldn't be the first person to go to a bar to run from their problems," Aberforth snorted. He smiled at Harry's look. "Alright, you addressed my concerns. I don't have a problem with having you here." He reached under the counter and pulled out a large plain bottle and poured out a measure of alcohol into two sparkling clean glasses and gave one to Harry.
"I'm allowed to?" Harry asked, nonplussed.
"You're of age," Aberforth snorted.
"Oh right, I forget that sometimes when I'm here," Harry grinned.
"Me too," Aberforth said. He tapped his glass against Harry's and took a sip. "You're not allowed to drink on the job though. Alcohol and knives ain't a great combination."
"That's fair." Harry took a sip and looked at the glass. "Oh that's nice."
"Mead, matured a few years in oak, adds a nice vanilla scent to it. Sweeter than most alcohol but not too much," Aberforth said comfortably. "How're you feeling?"
"In general or right now?"
"Sure."
Harry smiled. "I'm okay, really. Still feel good about how the event went despite everything that happened after. I'm a little tired, a lot has gone down the last few days since."
"Understandable," Aberforth said sympathetically. "I'm sure you've been told this enough but ignore that fuckwit. Bastard doesn't know what he's talking about."
"The Headmaster told me what you and Auntie Ari did against rude people in competitions," Harry said. "And how you kicked that bloke's arse with cleaning and presentation spells."
"Yeah, that was fun," Aberforth chuckled. "He tried to continue the fight after and I beat him raw with my bare hands. That was even more fun."
"What made him think he could beat you after you already beat him?" Harry asked.
"Don't think he was practiced at thinking all that much to begin with," Aberforth snorted, refilling his glass. At a look from Harry, he refilled Harry's. "Else he wouldn't have made those comments to start. Then again, I had a temper when I was younger."
"And you don't now?" Harry smiled as he sipped.
Aberforth chuckled. "Look at you, getting sassy with me. No, I still got a temper now. Just saying I had one before too."
Harry sighed but it was a comforting sound. "Just being here makes me feel better about everything."
Aberforth gave him a warm look. "And it's going to get even better for you later."
"Why? Are we going to be busy tonight?" Harry asked.
"Something like that," Aberforth said mysteriously.
-0-
"Hey Kid!"
"Hey Mr. Bennets!" Harry walked out of the kitchen and shook the scarred man's hand. "Great to see you!"
"Good to see you! And hey, don't listen to that dumb bastard," Bennets said, his smile turning into a scowl for a moment, making his scarred countenance all the scarier. "That article was a load of trash. It was so bad, my trash bin vomited it up. What the fuck does he know about proper British ideals?"
He shook his head and his smile reappeared. "I've seen you grow up here the last few years and you've been nothing but great and your food has only gotten better every year. We're rooting for you all the way. We all are."
"Wow, really?" Harry asked, looking and feeling touched.
"Of course! Everyone in Hogsmeade loves you and we know what you do. Don't listen to the idiots who think they know what they're talking about. We really know and you're nothing like he says you are."
"Thanks," Harry said softly. "That means a lot."
"You're representing us just fine," Bennets said kindly. "Don't think you aren't. We're proud of you, Kid."
"I'm going to try and sneak you some extra-large portions," Harry smiled, shooting a look at Aberforth.
The older man snorted. "I don't care if you do but you're just going to be making a lot more."
"What does that mean?" Harry asked.
"Everyone's coming by to show you some support," Bennets smiled as he took his seat at the bar. "Like I said, we all were proper mad at the article so we're going to show you that we don't believe it."
"Everyone?" Harry asked.
"Pretty much," Bennets said.
-0-
"Oh my goodness," Lavender gasped. "It's so busy!"
The Hog's Head was almost completely full. The bar was packed and all the other tables had people at them and the air was full of laughter and chatter. Nillie, Twiggy, Bristles, and a few more house elves roamed the floor with trays and things while Aberforth and Ariana were busy behind the bar. Harry could be seen through the window working busily alongside Willie and two other house elves.
"Hey you lot!" Ariana called brightly, seeing Lavender and the others at the door. "We saved your table in the back, go on. If anyone is sitting there, kick them off! Or if you're feeling too proper, I'll come do it for you!"
Lavender and the others made their way through the crowd and sat at the vacant tables that had been saved for them, sitting down and marveling at the sight. "I've never seen it so busy," she said when Ariana walked up to the table with drinks for them.
"It's never been this busy," Ariana laughed. "Practically everyone in the village has been by at one point or another and I'm pretty sure we've had people from outside the village. We even had to set up some tables outside." She pointed at an enlarged and open window and they could see some tables out there.
"Why is it so busy?" Pansy asked eagerly.
"Everyone in the village has come by to show Harry what we think of him," Ariana said proudly. "Which is a lot obviously, and we all think Banters is a dumb bastard and wanted to make sure Harry knew that."
"That's so nice," Padma smiled brightly.
"How's Mr. Abe taking the extra business?" Lavender asked with a cheery smile.
Ariana threw her head back and cackled, adding to the atmosphere of merriment. "Grumpily! And I love that you asked that. You fit in right with us." She hugged her warmly. "He's happy of course, 'cause he's getting money and it's for Harry. But you better believe he's being a grumpy crup about it." She took their orders and walked off merrily, trading words with the other guests and adding to the general feelings of good will in the air.
"I'm glad Harry has all this support," Parvati said.
"As am I. It is still unfair he is being held responsible like that for the competition, as if competing was not enough," Daphne sniffed.
"He will do what he can and we will do what we can," Pansy said loyally. "And the rest can leave us alone and we will be happier for it."
"Yeah we will," Lavender said warmly.
-0-0-0-
SixFtWookie - Like most things, he will learn in time hopefully.
zlancer1 - Hope you enjoyed today and the wait wasn't overlong.
TheSphynx - All of the above honestly.
odonnellzoo99 - Oops accidental cliffhanger for a weekend. I didn't plan it but it amuses me so sorry, not sorry. Yeah, critics of all sorts can be cruel but restaurant ones seem to be especially rough. Like Anton Ego.
poka - Hope you enjoy today's chapter. I was very proud of the flow and feel of it. Rita's article made me laugh as I was writing it.
Arnie1701 - Rita skewered and grilled him.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - I hope you like Rita's rebuttal. I was rather proud of it. I wish the website was a little more stable. Not getting the email notices is really inconvenient in the grand scheme of things. Thanks for reading.
DOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - That's one of my favorite phrases I've learned from Reddit. Another is 'what in the cinnamon toast frack'. I think you might like Rita's reply in today's chapter as well as what the others are doing.
Guest - Thank you.
61394 - I was pretty happy with Rita's reply, hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
pillpushr - Rita's reply is only the beginning and I hope you enjoy it. Hedwig would be a good prefect in some ways and a right terror in others.