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

A Taste of Magic

164th Course – Wry of Hoot

"I'm so not looking forward to that," Nathan said.

"Me neither," Owen said.

"You two have to make it through O.W.L.s first so there's a chance you won't have to look forward to it," Astoria said, giving them a look.

"What's your excuse when you don't make it past?" they said together and identically glared at Astoria who gave them a look accompanied by a very rude hand gesture.

"It's like looking into a future mirror," Aster said, tilting her head slightly. "Do my veins pop out like that when I'm thinking that hard?"

"I haven't noticed but think about something and let me look." Marigold peered closely and shook her head. "I don't see any."

"So either I'm not thinking hard enough or she's thinking too hard," Aster mused. "Or she has to think harder for me to think at a normal level."

"I'm thinking very hard about murdering her," Pansy growled, staring at her notes.

"I will help, then you help me," Daphne said.

"Then we'll help Millicent," Pansy said.

"I don't need help murdering those two," Millicent sniffed.

"Can I help?" Parvati asked. "I ask because I'm assuming we're going to get caught over it and that sounds a little better than studying right now."

"We would only get caught if we did a poor job of it," Daphne sniffed. "Not to mention we would have to be convicted after being allegedly apprehended and after explaining, none would begrudge us this. If anything, they would commend us for showing considerable restraint all these years."

"Moments like this make me thankful that I'm an only child," Hermione said seriously.

Padma smiled gratefully when Harry put a big platter down on the table. "Thanks Harry! Oooh, roti and eggs."

"And I made some sauces you can dip or add to them," Harry said. "Chili oil, seasoned soy, and I made a curry sauce. Well, a light gravy but with lots of spices in it."

"Oh perfect," Lavender said, munching on one hungrily.

"Is this to spare their lives?" Daphne asked as she took one and put a little bit of the chili oil on.

"Thought it might help. Dora tells me all the time that the hangry is one of the best ways to escalate a conflict," Harry said.

"I believe it," Sue said, applying liberal amounts of the chili oil to her eggs and roti.

"I can't decide if I want more time to study or if I want things to be over," Susan sighed, munching on her rolled sandwich.

"Well we only have a week, so might as well press on and then accept fate," Blaise said matter-of-factly.

"'Accept fate'," Tracey repeated, shaking her head. "Just like that?"

"Or lose your shite before, then accept it," Blaise added. "Or any combination in any order."

"And then it'll be all over and we'll be moving on," Millicent said softly.

They looked at each other soberly.

"Well we are all staying in the country typically," Pansy said, a trifle louder than normal. "And it's not like we won't be staying in touch and doing things. We'll just be a bit busier and it'll be a touch harder to find the time, but we will still do it."

"Yeah!" Lavender said brightly.

"I would miss all of you," Daphne admitted quietly. Her expression went from somber to sly. "Some more so than others of course."

"I like you too Princess," Parvati smiled.

"Things will just be different," Nevelle said. "And that's not a bad thing."

The window rattled and opened, allowing Hedwig to flap in. She flew around the room silently, bobbing her head at everyone before landing in front of Harry, thrusting her chest out with the harness pocket in front.

"What is that hanging out of her mouth?" Daphne asked queasily.

"A newt tail," Harry said, opening her harness and taking the letter out before undoing the harness from around her chest. "She probably picked one up on the way back to eat."

"Hedwig still hunts despite having you to provide for her?" Blaise asked, interested.

"She hunts every now and then to stay sharp and to have a snack," Harry said and Hedwig nodded in agreement. "But she's been hunting more for newts to eat and to pass us victory energy from having eaten the newts." He smiled when she settled on his head, wiggling comfortably as she munched on her newt.

"Such a good owl," Luna praised.

"Oh, that's from the World's Kitchen," Lavender said, noticing the envelope.

"It might be the clue to the last challenge," Harry said. "It's in a few weeks." He opened it and read it first before snorting a little.

"That bad?" Parvati asked, wincing in anticipation.

"Actually not, at least, as far as clues go," Harry said. "'For your final challenge, you will be tasked to create a proper four-course meal of fine dining. We want to see you create a meal from beginning to end, showcasing your abilities. You will be alone so this will be a two-day affair. You will be allowed time on the day prior to do all of your preparation work in the time given, and then will serve the judges at the same time on the following day for the final battle. Be forewarned, there will be one final twist on the day of the finale. You have worked hard to be a part of the finale, and win or lose, you will be shown to the world.'"

"That is a lot more obvious," Daphne agreed, "save for the final twist."

"You've got this," Millicent said. "You made us that amazing multi-course meal the summer before fifth year."

"Yeah that was amazing!" Tracey nodded. "And you've gotten even better since."

"It will be different though," Blaise said slowly. "What is a proper multi-course meal?"

"There are specific rules for it," Harry said. "Like specific courses that you should stick to."

"And they absolutely will," Pansy said worriedly. "From what they wrote. They're going to want a proper meal of fine dining. That's classical cooking, right?"

"And isn't that what Celine's supposed to be good at?" Lavender asked.

"That doesn't sound fair at all," Ron said.

"It's going to take some planning," Harry nodded, thinking hard. "Going to have to make sure the courses make sense, all the flavors are in balance, and have to show my best cooking to stand up against the person that's arguably the best of the competition from the beginning and is the best suited for it. She and her mentor won the Bocuse d'Or which is the height of haute cuisine."

He thought for a while before noticing his friends looking at him with worry and care. He smiled. "That's post-N.E.W.T.s Harry's problem. I'll worry about it after I finish my tests."

"That's a good mindset to have," Hermione smiled.

"How can you focus on two such gigantic things like that without going mad?" Blaise asked.

"By literally trying not to think about both at the same time," Harry said and the others laughed sympathetically.

"Are you going to have time to train for it after the tests?" Padma asked.

He looked at the letter once more. "Actually, a week. Looks like they pushed it out a week. I swore it was right after the tests before."

"That's some good luck," Hannah said.

"I finish my last test a little early too," Harry said, looking at the schedule on the wall. "So I'll have a little more than a week to prepare for the finale." He sighed but straightened a little. "And so I'll train, go to the finale, and accept my fate."

"Damn straight," Blaise smiled.

"Harry, I told you this last year, don't listen to Blaise," Pansy chided gently, earning more laughs and Blaise's frown. "He does not give good advice."

"Hey, Lavender liked her box," Harry laughed.

"It's true, I do!" Lavender smiled.

"Okay well, even a broken hourglass will be right once in a while," Pansy said, returning Blaise's rude hand gesture.

Harry smiled. "I'll send Chef and Chef Gabriel a letter later, asking to see them during the week after the test. I'll need Chef Gabriel's help especially with planning a proper multi-course meal. I'll have to be careful and do things I can do well, but keep my flavor, and hopefully not put myself into a position where my dishes will be the same as Celine's which will really put me at an even bigger disadvantage."

"And we'll help how we can after the tests are over," Lavender said stoutly. The others added their agreement and confidence to her declaration.

"Thanks everyone," Harry said gratefully. "But let's make it past the first trial, together."

"If we must," Parvati said wearily and they all chuckled over the sentiment once more.

-0-

"I know I'm counting pixies before catching them, but I think we're going to have an excellent exam year," Flitwick said, looking very proud and almost smug.

"I agree," Sprout smiled. "Why the majority of the seventh years did not look like they were two steps from a panic attack from the tests from what I've observed."

"The fifth years did not seem as confident," Snape said, "but more confident than years past."

Dumbledore's smile filled the room. "I think so as well," he said happily. "Luckily we were able to maintain a fine cadre of tutors that were more than willing to come and help. I genuinely think having professionals who can teach about practical applications helps a lot."

"It has shown improvement in ability in class," McGonagall nodded. "Will we be able to maintain them after this year?" she asked, looking a little crestfallen.

"For the most part," Dumbledore said, assuring her and understanding her meaning. "The major ones are willing to keep it up here and there and have already helped provide alternatives. Not to mention if class sizes continue to grow, I am going to start looking for additional instructors."

"And I think we'll be having more interest in Masteries," Flitwick added. "While adding to our personal work load, having additional instructors and having the help of the mastery students will go far."

"And provide more different viewpoints and teaching styles," Remus said.

"Indeed." Dumbledore sighed gustily. "I feel the school is only going to continue to improve and enter a new age of growth. Hopefully I'm not counting my pixies either."

"I do not think we are," McGonagall said confidently.

-0-

"Did you cook during your Care practical again?" Daphne asked, eyes dancing with amusement.

"No, I managed to restrain myself," Harry grinned while the others laughed.

"Mostly because no crake this time," Parvati laughed.

"He did cause a minor traffic jam during the knarl part," Ron grinned.

"How?" Tracey asked eagerly.

"By being a Disney Princess," Hermione said and they all laughed merrily at that. "Normally knarls are very suspicious and tend to be very angry when offered food. The knarl went straight to Harry first and tried to fight with the other hedgehogs."

"And the other knarls came out of where they were resting to flock to him too," Millicent smiled. "Best part of the exam since we knew which were which at that point."

"I wasn't complaining," Harry laughed. "I'll take a solid win on an exam. Plus knarls are surprisingly cuddly. And thankfully the proctor thought it was really funny, he remembered me from the O.W.L. test too. Asked if I wanted to be a magizoologist. Thought I'd be a good one."

"Now you have a back-up career in case you get tired of the restaurant world," Padma smiled.

-0-

"Good to see you again, Mister Potter," Marchbanks said warmly, greeting Harry fondly.

"Good to see you too," Harry smiled back.

"I made sure to be the proctor for your practicals again," she said unashamedly. "One of the few perks about being Department Head you know, I can throw my weight around and get what I want some of the time."

"If you have to do the job, might as well enjoy the perks that come with it," Harry said with a smile. "I learned that from the Khabor of Gringotts Britain."

"Precisely! And they would know all about that," Marchbanks said admiringly. "Right then, let's have you start with a Shield Charm." She put him through the paces for his Defense Against the Dark Arts practical. Like last time, she asked theoretical and practical questions while having him demonstrate his spell and wandwork.

"Well done," she said, admiring the neat hole he put into the target with the Piercing Curse. "Good accuracy, ample power and control. Splendid." She looked about surreptitiously. "Now, for an extra point or two. I did also go to the Showcase that year and greatly admired your performance during your duel. I don't suppose you have kept up with the flame whip and the Patroni?"

"I have," Harry smiled. He took a deep breath and thought about the end of the exams and celebrating with his friends. His wand grew bright silver and the three silver snowy owls popped out and landed daintily in front of him, hooting a greeting to the delighted Marchbanks. Harry then very carefully slashed down with his wand and incanted, forming the long fire whip again. Others watched in awe at the magic being demonstrated.

"Oh my!" Marchbanks gasped as the Patroni nipped the wand and the flames turned silver once more, growing brighter but not emanating heat. "That's extraordinary! I was astonished then, and more so now!"

"Grandfather and Grandmother have been researching it," Harry said happily. "They're really curious to replicate it too and are coming close to doing a spell variant where you can change the nature of the whip. We also came up with this which is a lot sillier." He cracked the whip and whispered something and the end of the lash stuck to the air, anchored in place. He began to turn his hand in a large circle and the whip followed the motion.

Roars of laughter filled the Great Hall as the three Patroni waddled into the middle and began using the turning silver flame whip as a jump rope, jumping up and down and hooting and barking with obvious glee. As he spun the whip, they hopped and flapped and jumped, spinning and doing tricks in mid-air. After a few more moments, Harry cracked the whip once more and it faded slowly, leaving a shimmering silvery trail of light and the Patroni flapped to him and roosted on his head and shoulders, looking plump and proud.

"Simply wonderful," Marchbanks said, wiping tears of merriment away. "I love magic."

"Me too," Harry said with a very big smile.

-0-

"What are they doing?" Hermione asked, frowning slightly at a group of their friends shouting and cheering on one side of the room.

"It started as practice for the Transfiguration practical," Harry said, stirring a bubbling pot of curry on the stove top. "Padma and Parvati were practicing matter change and Parv said Pads' transfigured wood looked flimsy so it became a stress test. One person makes a bridge out of the same material that the other makes weights. Then they see who can break the other's bridge."

"Oh, that actually sounds like fun and it's good practice," Hermione said, mildly surprised. "Who won?"

"It was a literal tie," Harry said and Hermione laughed. "Down to the last second for both. And it got a little bigger and people are practicing while blowing off some steam."

"Fair enough," Hermione said. "I want to give it a try."

"Who won the most?" Harry asked later as he served bowls of rice and Japanese curry chicken.

"Hermione built the best bridge and Blaise can make the heaviest weight," Pansy said. "The latter surprising no one."

"You are just upset that your bridge lasted barely ten seconds," Blaise said smugly.

"And I'm surprised you can walk with that ego-laden head of yours," Pansy replied snippily.

"No complaints about the curry?" Daphne asked as Pansy and Blaise continued to squabble.

"No, it's Harry food and it's good," Parvati said. "I've come to terms with it."

"Thank goodness," Harry said with genuine relief.

-0-

"How did your enchanting test go?" Marigold asked.

"Really well," Lavender said happily. "I know I answered a lot of the questions right and the proctor was really happy with my spell work for the practical. She liked the order of what I did in applying the spells and we talked about fabrics and cloaks after."

"I had an argument with mine," Blaise grumbled.

"Oh no, about something serious?" Harry asked, worried.

"With Blaise, probably not," Pansy snorted.

"We disagreed on the right temperature to serve a type of wine," Blaise said. "So yes, it was serious."

"No it wasn't," Millicent snorted.

"I don't think that'll be held against you," Harry said with a small smile.

"Mine was very happy with my music," Daphne said with a very big smile. "We had a very nice conversation about it. I really love using paper and origami as a medium to demonstrate it. It is so elegant."

"What did you do for yours?" Hermione asked.

"She made her pillow and hucked it at me," Padma said, glaring at her sister.

"I waited for after you were done!" Parvati cried, glaring back.

"Professor Flitwick is going to miss us," Harry chuckled.

-0-

"Still so glad for the Household Charms club," Sue said. "Those charms we learned were still relevant and being tested and I felt very confident about it."

"I'm glad for the Cooking Club honestly," Susan smiled. "It was so satisfying being able to talk about the differences between warming charms and heating charms and all the ways they can be modified."

"Yeah that was really helpful," Ron said. "Now just the practical for it."

"How's everyone feeling?" Ginny asked.

"Not too bad honestly," Lavender said. "I mean I don't think I aced everything but I'm pretty confident I've done well."

"Same," Padma said. "Thanks, Harry, for suggesting all those extra scholastic things we did. It really helped lay down a foundation for us."

"Stop poaching my jokes!" Parvati squawked irritably.

"You don't own it!" Padma shot back.

-0-

"That's all?" Harry asked, bemused and confused all on one.

Marchbanks smiled. "Not really. Those were the bare minimum charms one should test at N.E.W.T. level, so I got them out of the way. I have seen some wonderful spellwork from you for your tests and a lot of it comes from when you have some flexibility so I am giving it to you now. Impress me, Mister Potter."

"So, no pressure?" he joked.

"None from me, I truly think you are going to do something wonderful and I cannot wait," Marchbanks smiled.

Harry thought for a moment. His eyes roamed the room for inspiration and he saw Dumbledore and Flitwick at the doors, conversing quietly. Harry's eyes lit up and he looked back at Marchbanks. "May I do a little conjuring and transfiguration before starting it proper? Just for the materials?"

"Go right ahead," she said enthusiastically.

Harry conjured a few blocks of metal and they undulated under his wand as he incanted softly. When they made the shapes he wanted, he nodded, satisfied. A memory of before came to his mind and he smiled, hoping things will work as he envisioned. He took a deep breath and began incanting, moving his wand in a series of movements and patterns.

Marchbanks looked on eagerly as the small conjured and transfigured object floated up. It looked like a minecart, one of the ones the goblins used in Gringotts for transportation. It began to move on a small track, also made of metal, going around and around. She gasped with delight as the track opened, no longer forming a circle. The rails disassembled behind the small mine cart and zoomed before it, reassembling into the track so the cart could move without stopping. The track began to move all around the Great Hall, drawing the attention of everyone.

As it moved, Harry levitated a glass orb into the air and the orb flared with inner light, but it was a cooler and softer light that shone strongly. Another charm dimmed the area around the glowing floating orb and the cart weaved in and out of the dimmed area. Another charm created the illusion of water and the deep blueish-green water moved slowly, forming waves beneath the cart, the gloom, and the orb. The clatter of the small cart moving on the tracks made a cadence, a pleasing repetition of sounds that sounded musical.

"Oh my," Dumbledore said, watching the scene with awe and appreciation. "I do believe that is-"

"The SunDrop," Flitwick sighed, eyes glinting. "That's the UnderSea," he continued, watching things unfold with true appreciation. He smiled even wider when Harry flicked his wand and tiny lights hung in the magical darkness as he flicked his wand again and again. They formed outlines and shapes, of stalagmites and stalactites and windows and buildings and more. He continued to incant, summoning more floating lights and eventually he finished, the outline of Thalga in full glory as the little cart continued to zoom not only around the city, but through it as well.

"Gorgeous," Marchbanks breathed. She walked around the glowing diorama that Harry had created with his charms, joined by the other proctors and observers. She looked down at the illusionary water going over her feet, almost thinking she was getting wet by them. She held her hand in the magical darkness, admiring how it only dimmed and barely obscured instead of completely blacking out sight. "This is wonderful!"

She turned to look at him. "What is this?"

"This is Thalga," Harry said proudly. "The biggest goblin city in the United Kingdom and one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I really like it there and the people who live there, even more."

Marchbanks sighed sadly as the magical tableau faded away and the mine cart and tracks disappeared too. She looked at Harry with a proud expression. "Incredibly well done, Mister Potter."

"Thank you," he smiled.

"I don't suppose there is a Charms Mastery for you in the future?" she asked. "You have the knack for it, certainly."

"I don't know," Harry said honestly. "But I do love Charms very much. I have an amazing teacher."

"You certainly do," Marchbanks nodded. "Still, I do know of your other career aspirations and I do think it is a genuinely difficult decision on which I would love to see you do more."

"Why not both one day?" Harry smiled.

"I will hold you to that," she said warmly. "Thank you for the treat Mister Potter, sincerely."

Harry walked to the doors, ready to leave, and he smiled at a beaming Dumbledore and Flitwick. "Hope you liked it," he said to Flitwick.

Flitwick did not say anything, out loud at least. His expression and the way he hugged Harry said it all and the young man received the message clearly, and returned it in kind.

-0-

The Great Hall was full of noise. After weeks of necessary silence during testing time, the walls rang from happy chatter. The students were letting loose, celebrating the end of the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s. For the fifth years, it was the competition of their first major challenge in their scholastic careers. For the seventh years, it was the mark of the end of their primary schooling and the beginning of their time after leaving the school.

Tables were loaded with food and drink and treats of all sorts as the students enjoyed themselves. No one sat according to House and they all mingled together openly and freely.

Harry looked up as he saw someone pour something into his cup, smiling when he saw it was Dumbledore. "Thank you, Sir," he said happily.

"You are welcome," Dumbledore said, smiling back. He hefted his own cup. "To your health and success."

"Yours too!" Harry tapped his cup against the Headmaster's and drank from it, nearly spitting it out when he tasted it. He barely managed to refrain from doing so, looking at Dumbledore with open eyed shock.

Dumbledore smiled and made a surreptitious shushing gesture. "Compliments of Abe," he said genially.

"As long as I don't get held back for breaking a rule," Harry joked, drinking more.

"If you were not staying close by, I would be tempted," Dumbledore joked back. "Actually, there is a lesser-known rule where students of age can actually enjoy drinks of a nature with moderation. It is not so open because, well, let us be honest. This is a school and there are many who would abuse such a rule."

"Makes sense," Harry grinned.

"How are you feeling?" Dumbledore asked.

"Pretty good actually," Harry said honestly. "I think my exams went well and I don't think I failed any."

"Well done," Dumbledore praised.

"Now I can lose my shite about the other big thing," Harry said wryly.

"Quite," Dumbledore chuckled. "If you need to leave the school at any time for training and meeting others, simply let me know or have someone let me know. You know you can summon Fawkes easily enough."

"Thank you, Sir!"

"How do you feel about that big thing?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know," he said honestly. "I've made multi-course meals before, but never against someone directly like this and they're really good at it. But I'll just do my best and see what happens."

"Sometimes that is all you can do," Dumbledore said. "I have faith that you will get your feelings across and that you will compete in a fashion that is satisfying to you."

"What about winning?" Harry asked.

"If that is your goal, then I know you will do your best," Dumbledore said faithfully. "And should you fail to win, that does not mean you have failed everything."

"Thank you," Harry said, feeling warm.

"A question if I may," Dumbledore said.

"Sure, of course."

"Do you know what Inky meant by remarking that you finally had something better?" Dumbledore asked, his lips twitching. "I had asked for a flagon for this," he shook his cup, "and she smelled it first and gave her approval before giving me said flagon."

"Oh gosh, I don't know," Harry said with a small smile and in a slightly evasive way. "Could mean anything really."

"That is what I thought," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling.

-0-0-0-

odonnellzoo99 - I do like my callbacks. It makes long fics feel more satisfying and rewarding to me. I really like how the Pureblood Society has changed in a believable way to me. It feels like honest gradual change for the better and it's also rather satisfying.

Wentley - Mole can be chocolatey and spicy if I recall. I haven't had the chance to try that but I'd like to one day.

TheSphynx - That will be addressed in a future chapter.

alix33 - Drake and Nicolas are the oldest man children toddlers in history.

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Spiceful Spiteful Cinnamon Rolls.

Bob the mammoth - Thank you for the review. I'm glad you have enjoyed the story. A part of my planning on how cuisines are introduced and shown is how I can believably work them into the story. Having Uagadou in the story allowed me to touch on African, specifically Ugandan, food in a way that makes sense to me. It wouldn't make sense to suddenly have Harry show off Mexican food and other kinds because he hadn't had any real exposure to it. That's also why I was so happy to have Sue in the story for Chinese inspiration, and the Mahoutokoro for Japanese, and so on. So as I am able to show off more things, I need to ty and have it fit. Perhaps I'll be able to include more in the future, but I have to try and figure out how to do it.

poka - I am rather happy with that in this story. Hogwarts, Wizarding Britain, Society and the Purebloods, all have changed a lot from the start of the story and it's been very satisfying to see how things are now because of all that has happened from the beginning. I always want things to make sense, to be plausible, so that was the hope for this and I'm glad you've enjoyed it.

DarkRavie - Thank you.