I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
A Taste of Magic
166th Course – Road to the Finish
"Are you getting tired of making the same thing so much?" Millicent asked.
"I thought I would, rather, I was afraid I would," Harry said as he continued to stir the pot of sauce on the stove. "Surprisingly, and thankfully, I haven't. I'm pretty happy with how I'm getting a little faster and refining my technique each time I make it."
"That's good," Pansy smiled. "I'm certainly not tired of helping taste test."
"Thank goodness," Harry said with genuine relief and his friends laughed with him. "That's been tough, I'll admit. Tasting it all the time and since I sort of know how it should taste, I don't know if it actually tastes how it does, if that makes sense."
"Oh yeah, sort of when you're around the same scent for a while and don't notice it," Neville said. He smiled winningly at Millicent. "Not your perfume though, I always notice it."
Millicent hugged and kissed him, blushing prettily before shoving a theatrically gagging Pansy off her stool.
"How are you feeling about the competition?" Hermione asked.
"Pretty good," Harry said honestly. "I have these recipes down to how I want them, getting better at making them and knowing what to prep and what can last till the next day and what needs to be done the next day. Of course, I don't know what the twist will be but I'll roll with it when it's revealed. So I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
"It's so cool that you're in the finale," Sue said. "You beat so many others to get there and you worked really hard for it."
"Not to mention doing all that on top of your last year of school and N.E.W.T.s," Susan said.
"It's been a lot," Harry admitted. "I'm glad I ended up doing it though. I've learned a lot about cooking and competing. I got to work more with Chef Gabriel and Chef Rocko. And there's been a lot of positive change for Wizarding Britain. Sirius and Rita have told me a lot."
"There really has been," Daphne confirmed. "Father and Mother were speaking of it recently. The Ministry has grown to include more domestic departments. There is a lot more talk with international parties and groups. More are coming to us to expand while more are interested in what we have to offer."
"Another big group is going to this year's Showcase too," Neville said.
"So it was all worth it," Harry said.
"Still not fair for you to be responsible for it," Luna sniffed.
"At least now he can take the credit where it is due," Daphne said.
"Harry barely takes credit as it is," Blaise snorted.
"I'm getting a little better at it," Harry protested. He snorted at the flat looks his friends gave him. "You're not completely wrong though. Oh speaking of credit, I have a few things for everyone." He opened a leather bag and started taking out wrapped objects, stacking them up.
"What's this?" Parvati asked, reaching for one.
"When my dad and Sirius were in school, they got into trouble a lot," Harry said. "Professor McGonagall started putting them in detention separately because she said it was more of a punishment to the one conducting the detention if they were together." He smiled as the others laughed. "So they found these things which they called two-way mirrors. They were a way to communicate through the mirrors and could do it at very long distances."
"Oh like telephones," Hermione said eagerly as she took one.
"Right! Sirius mentioned it to Grandfather and Grandmother and they had their version, the voiceless vase that you've seen, and they said they might be able to figure the mirrors out. So he gave them the pair and they worked on it for a while and came out with their own version. You basically say the name of the person you want to contact and the mirrors will connect. They did a lot of work on them so now a lot can be connected and the distance is really far. I asked them to make enough for everyone and they did it easily. They're going to sell a version of it eventually but whenever we need one, they'll make for us."
"That's so cool!" Lavender gasped, taking hers. "Now we're going to keep in touch a lot more easily!"
"Thanks Harry!" the Patils said, hugging him tightly between them.
"They're very nice," Pansy said, admiring hers.
"And the other thing is that for the finale, I'm allowed to bring more guests," Harry said, "more than Sirius, Auntie Andi, and Uncle Ted. Gringotts Britain secured their own tickets and Grandfather and Grandmother have their own, so I can bring more."
He turned sheepish. "Problem is, I still can't invite everyone here."
"Don't worry, we'll work it out between us," Lavender said soothingly.
"No need for you to stress and worry about playing favorites," Pansy smiled.
"Even though we know who that is," Parvati whispered loudly, waggling her eyebrows.
"Thanks," Harry said, smiling with relief. "I wish all of you could come of course.
"Of course and even the ones that cannot will not hold it against you or the people that do," Daphne said warmly. She looked at some of the others with a raised eyebrow.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Blaise asked, raising his eyebrow the same way.
"I promise I'll make something really nice and tasty for the people that can't go," Harry said.
"Oh, now I'm a little conflicted," Tracey said with a teasing smile.
"Yeah, which will be better?" Ron joked.
Harry smiled as he went back to his cooking, listening to his friends playfully bicker and argue with one another. It was honestly one of his favorite things to listen to while he cooked. He knew he was going to miss it in a way, after they left school. It would be a lot harder to get it so easily.
He also knew that they would not grow far apart and with the mirrors, they would be close enough when they were not close by. And then they would make up for it when they could be with each other again.
-0-
"That was delicious," Sebastian said, sitting back and smiling at Harry. "Thank you for inviting us!"
"Thank you for coming," Harry smiled back. He was at the Flamel Estate and the Delacours had come to be his guests for a practice run of the full course, along with Sophie, Colette, and Aimee. They had eagerly accepted and had enjoyed watching him cook from beginning to end, and eating each course and enjoying it while providing welcome comments and critiques.
"I think you need to practice even more," Colette said, smiling at Sophie.
"I think you are correct," Sophie sighed. She shook her head ruefully. "You have gotten so much better! I must keep working hard to remain something like a friendly rival to you."
"He has already gone against the best the world can offer, I do not think you can compare," Fleur said with a sharp smile.
"Sophie is the first friendly person I cooked against," Harry smiled as Fleur and Sophie glared at each other. "I'm always happy for friendly cooking times. The competition hasn't been terribly friendly overall."
"A shame," Apolline sniffed. "I have gladly refused any overture of business from Martin and his ilk over their terrible behavior."
"Same," Sebastian said.
Harry hesitated for a moment. "Is the Beaufort family a big one in Wizarding France?"
"A prominent one," Sebastian said. "A long history of being involved in our culture and Ministry."
"Mother is familiar with one of their relations," Sophie said. "One of them owns a restaurant and their paths cross. They are mostly friendly."
"Are a lot of them in the cooking industry?" Harry asked.
"Not really," Sebastian said. "Most of them are involved with the Ministry in some fashion, but not all in the same places and departments."
"Why do you ask?" Aimee asked.
"We had a…conversation a few weeks ago," Harry said. "It got a little heated but basically it came down to that I didn't deserve to be in the competition or the finale and that I was given the opportunity where other real chefs and cooks had to earn it."
Fleur scoffed. "That is very rude," she said. "Also false. You have won off your hard work, or has she not paid attention to what the judges have said?"
"Is cooking in professional French kitchens as hard as it sounds?" Harry asked.
Sophie nodded. "Mother worked her way up from school and she has told me many stories. It is partially why I never wished to make a full career of it either, at least how she did it. She had to endure much."
"Thankfully she is very tough," Apolline said with true fondness and affection. "She fought every step of the way and has earned her place. That said, I do remember her going through her trials and it was difficult for her."
"And it must have been harder for her because she's Veela too, right? I know Fleur and Sophie have told me things," Harry said.
"Very much so," Apolline said sadly. "Like I said, she is very tough."
"Your food is good!" Gabrielle said loudly. "Just was not enough this time." She brightened when Harry smiled and gave her seconds of everything.
"He had to follow the rules for the plating," Fleur snorted.
"The rules are stupid," Gabrielle retorted.
"I will not disagree," Colette said, batting her eyes at Harry and also brightening when he gave her more food.
"I do not think you should worry too much about not deserving your place," Sebastian said kindly. "As you might imagine, I have had many French meals of all sorts. From haute cuisine to rustic versions. Yours is as good as some of the best I have had, and I am not lying nor trying to inflate your ego. You have learned well and applied what you have learned in a very warming way."
"I agree," Apolline said, beaming at him. "You have the talent as well as the hard work for cooking, and it shows in taste and thoughtfulness."
Harry smiled, feeling warm. "Thank you," he said. "It's just, I read a few books I've managed to find that were like biographies of a few chefs and their experiences. I know it's hard. I just don't like knowing I took something from someone who deserves it more."
"That is a matter of perspective," Sebastain said. "Who can say who deserves something more? And why? Who can decide that? One could measure how one works in some ways, but suffering? One cannot, and should not, quantify suffering. It is a disservice to everyone involved."
"Simply show your hard work and your dedication," Apolline said. "Show that you deserve it and do not squander the opportunity. They say actions speak louder than words, yes?"
Harry nodded, releasing a breath. "Thank you. I really appreciate it."
"You will have more support at the finale," Sebastain said. "We have obtained tickets and will be there to be with you."
"Really? That's so kind of you," Harry said. "Aren't tickets really expensive?"
"Think nothing of it," Apolline said firmly. "You are our friend and we like you, we wish to do it, and we will. Happily."
"Thank you," Harry said again, smiling. "Let me know if I can ever do anything for you."
"More please!" Gabrielle said, holding her plate up.
"Gabi," Fleur sighed while her parents laughed.
"You want more too!" Gabrielle sniffed.
"No problem," Harry laughed, filling her plate again.
-0-
"Just so we're being clear, this is a part of the interview, right?" Harry asked, smiling a little.
"Parts of it, yes," Rita said, shaking her head and smiling a lot. "You know, I should have realized it. You were the only person that wasn't on their guard around me constantly."
They were back in the Uncommon Room and Harry was kittering around, making something different. Diglin and Gabriel had encouraged him to make sure he did not practice the same thing every day or at the very least, did something else before and after practicing his finale menu. They did not want him to get burnt out on the flavors and he agreed with them. He asked them for ideas for something slightly picky to make that would still help him practice his skills. Gabriel had given him a suggestion and Harry had easily seen the man's pawky expression from reading his message and fell too with a will.
Harry had prepared the ingredients, grateful for the ample supply of puff pastry from the elves because he did not want to make something that picky right now, and was cooking slowly when Rita stopped by. With everything that had been going on with the Rising Stars, she had so many articles and things prepared for many editions of the magazine as well as her normal contributions to Witch Weekly and the Prophet, creating an impressive bank of backlogged material. Now she was doing a last special interview with Harry to build up some more attention and energy for the finale of the competition, something that would not only be printed in the magazine, but in the Prophet, Witch Weekly, and another compendium piece being done by the ICW and the World's Kitchen.
"Despite what the others told me, you didn't give me a reason to," Harry said, smiling at her snort.
"Even with all of your friends hissing my well warranted reputation in your ear?" she asked, smiling.
"Even then," Harry chuckled. He rolled out the puff pastry dough slowly and smoothly. "I generally don't think differently of people unless they give me a reason to, and even then, it takes a few times."
Rita paused, giving him a careful look. "I have a question for you."
"I should hope so, it's an interview, right?" he replied cheekily, making her laugh.
"Fine, I have several questions for you," she said. She coughed delicately. "An acquaintance of mine that works across the channel reached out to me a bit ago, asking about you."
"Oh?" Harry did not look up, still engrossed in his task, but sounded intrigued. "About what?"
"The usual at first. Who you were away from the media portrayals and the competition, and they were surprised when I said you were delightfully the same. Asked about your working background." She chose her words carefully. "Then she asked about your personal background." Her eyes noticed how Harry slowed a little in what he was doing.
"I'm not that interesting," he said at last.
"I have to disagree with you, dove," Rita said. "I have a feeling I wouldn't need my past embellishments and tactics to make things more interesting." She watched him work silently. "But I didn't tell her anything beyond your schooling because it's none of her business, and that I don't truthfully know much about your past. Not that I would sell your secrets even if I did know."
"I know," Harry said quietly. "I trust you."
Rita smiled at that but the smile swiftly faded. "She did say something that made me pause out of concern…for you though. Apparently she asked me if I knew why you would say that you had to rely on your cooking to eat at all?"
Harry continued to work, saying nothing.
"Forgive me if I'm prying," Rita said quietly. "Just tell old Rita if it's none of my business and I'll keep my fat nose out of it."
"Your nose isn't fat," Harry said, looking up finally and seeing her smile a little. He sighed, a long and low sound. "Off the record?"
"My lips are sealed and my quill is undipped," Rita said solemnly.
Harry nodded and looked back at the table in front of him. He started layering rice pilaf on the puff pastry, making sure the rice was neat and even, taking out large pieces of cinnamon and star anise. He then put on seared pieces of salmon, then covered those with slices of boiled eggs, before covering all of that with more rice. Rita watched him work silently, enjoying the sight of him working skillfully.
"I didn't have a good childhood," Harry said at last. "I didn't really know how not good it was until I started Hogwarts though. People had to tell me."
Rita frowned. "Not a good childhood?" she repeated.
"I cooked every day, every meal," Harry said. "For as long as I can remember. I cooked for weekly dinner parties and larger parties at bigger occasions."
"By yourself?" Rita asked, appalled as Harry nodded. "Every meal? No rest? No help?"
"No, just me," Harry said. "I wasn't allowed to eat with them either. I always ate later and what was left. My aunt and uncle used to say 'one doesn't eat with the help'."
"'One doesn't eat with the help'!" Rita spat, looking even more upset. "Wait, your aunt and uncle?!"
Harry nodded, not trusting himself to look up as he continued to layer the ingredients. "They tried to keep me from attending Hogwarts. Didn't want to miss out on me cooking for them anymore."
"Keep you from attending Hogwarts?!" Rita exploded. "Who the bloody hell do they think they are?!" She glared angrily at the window, as if seeking to see them somewhere somehow. Then she paused, making a connection. "So when you had to rely on your cooking to eat…"
Harry continued to say nothing. He was forced to make a sound when Rita hugged him hard from behind, squeezing the air from him. "It's okay," he gasped when he got some breath back.
"The fuck it is!" Rita said angrily. "How in the world is any of that okay?!"
"I mean it's okay now," Harry said weakly. "I learned now that it wasn't okay at all, but I've come to terms with it. Sort of."
"How do you still love to cook after all that?" Rita asked mournfully.
"A lot of people asked me that," Harry said with a small smile. "Those that know, that is. And I guess it's because I now cook for people who really appreciate what I do and who I am, not just for cooking for them. It helps a lot. Seeing them genuinely happy and caring about me makes me want to do it instead of me having to do it."
Rita sighed sadly, hugging him again before letting him go. "I'm sorry, dove. That isn't right at all."
"I know that now," Harry agreed. "It was all I knew though. But I've grown from it, because of it even."
Rita nodded. She frowned once more. "If I've known you this long and we were close and I didn't know, how did my acquaintance hear that phrase?"
"I said it to Celine during the Gala," Harry said. He put another piece of puff pastry on top of the ingredients and tightly crimped and sealed the edges. He cut venting strips into the top and brushed the entire thing with egg wash before popping it all into the oven. "She confronted me after our impromptu demonstration. Accused me of being in the competition because of Grandfather and Grandmother and when I said I didn't ask for it, said I didn't deserve to be a part of the competition or in the finale. That I didn't suffer enough for it."
"I'll show her suffering," Rita said savagely. "Oh just she wait. I'll drag out her darkest secrets and plaster them on every newspaper on the continent!"
Harry blinked at her. "Wow, that's legitimately terrifying. No wonder everyone was scared of you. I mean I've read what you wrote about Banters and your past stuff but that was actually awesome and scary."
"I'd do it too, in a heartbeat," Rita insisted. "Just say the word and it'll be done."
"I rather you didn't," Harry said with a small smile. "I mean, in a way, she's not wrong."
"Yes she is," Rita said flatly.
"I mean, I don't know what it's like to work professionally like that, having to endure what she had," Harry amended. "What people have to go through to get recognition and opportunity. Or what it's like for a woman in the industry."
"But she didn't know what you've gone through either," Rita said.
"No, and she still doesn't. I only asked her that because I couldn't help it and left without explaining." Harry shrugged. "I don't know. I've talked a lot about what someone deserves and all that with others and basically they all agreed that comparing suffering is bad for everyone."
"I guess," Rita conceded.
"I'm just going to do my best and prove that I earned my place in the competition and in the finale," Harry concluded. His smile was a little bigger when he looked at her. "And even if I lose, I still win."
"Yes you will," Rita said with genuine warmth and care. She hugged him again. "I was being serious, you know," she said when she let him go. "Just say the word and I will see how she fares in the papers."
"No I know you were being serious," Harry said with a wry smile. "But you don't have to."
"What if I want to?"
"I mean, I can't stop you," Harry laughed. "But if my opinion is worth something, I rather you didn't. She doesn't know any better."
"You're too kind," Rita grumbled.
"So I've been told," Harry smiled.
Rita harrumphed. "How about your aunt and uncle? I can do the same to them and let me tell you, it would be a genuine pleasure."
"They wouldn't care what magicals think of them," Harry said. "And I don't want to think about them, truth be told. I appreciate it though. You know. You wanting to ruin the reputations of complete strangers for me."
"You have no idea how satisfying I would find it," she said. "In every sense of the word. Before, it was only business with occasional moments of selfish pettiness. This case though, I'd enjoy every single moment and then some."
"Really, it's okay," Harry said, smiling. "You hold back, and you'll get the first piece of this and an extra large one if it tastes good."
"I suppose that will have to do," Rtia sighed. "And I'm sure it will taste good. What is it by the way?"
"Coulibiac," Harry said. "It's a Russian and French dish. It's very similar to a fish pie or a wellington, which is why Chef Gabriel suggested it. Its salmon layered with rice pilaf and eggs and seasonings and baked in puff pastry."
"It smells wonderful," Rita said and her stomach grumbled and growled a little. She happily took a piece of leftover boiled egg from him and popped it into her mouth.
"What did you tell your acquaintance?" Harry asked.
"I said I'd reply later," Rita said. "How would you like me to reply? I can tell her it's none of her business or tell her it's none of her damn business or say I have no idea."
"Are you sure you want to be rude to her?"
"We're acquaintances, not friends. She thinks she's better than me so I don't think too highly of her." She laughed with him.
"We're friends though, right?" Harry asked, grinning.
"Yes and I think very highly of you," Rita said warmly. She rubbed her hands together when he took the large coulibiac out of the oven, sniffing the air hungrily. She exclaimed with delight when he cut into it and put a large piece on a plate for her. She dug into it eagerly, just barely avoiding burning her tongue and mouth. The salmon was just cooked and tender and flaky, the eggs soft and chewy, the rice fragrant and flavorful. The puff pastry was browned and crisp and fluffy, not soggy at all.
"Mmmph," she sighed with a full mouth. "Wonderful," she praised.
"Thanks!" He took a bite and enjoyed the flavors together. "Yeah, that's nice, and a lot like a wellington and a pie together."
Rita demolished her helping and did not refuse a second. "I'll tell her that it's personal and that you have nothing to prove on what you deserve. How does that sound?"
"Sounds good to me," Harry said easily. "Thanks, Rita. For everything."
"Thank you, Harry," Rita replied, "for being you."
He beamed at her. "You think I still have a shot at winning?"
"I sure do! I still believe you can out-bake that tart and any tarts that she makes." Rita continued to eat, smiling broadly as Harry choked for a moment and laughed merrily at her words, patting him fondly on the back.
-0-
"Okay, we decided," Parvati said authoritatively.
"On what?" Harry asked. His friends had come back to the Uncommon Room and they were all happily eating the second coulibiac he made for them.
"On who's going to the finale," Pansy said. "This is delicious by the way!"
"And there were no hard feelings," Blaise added. "So don't worry about that."
"First among equals, are your sibs," Parvati said, gesturing at herself and Padma. She smiled cheerily at Lavender's flat look. "Then slightly less important but almost as, is your girlfriend."
"Then your best friend," Pansy said as Lavender and Parvati glared at each other. "Millie, Sue, Hermione and Luna are coming as well."
"Auntie is going as a guest of the Ministry and with Sirius," Susan said. "Or if you believe him, a protective escort for him because he doesn't feel safe for some reason."
"I can believe him saying and believing that," Harry snorted.
"So I'm going with Auntie, which lets Luna come with us," Susan said. "That way we have someone from every House coming along."
"And the rest of us will wait eagerly for news with the mirrors," Daphne smiled. "And will hear a full account from all of you after."
"Thanks for working that out," Harry said gratefully.
"No problem at all," Neville grinned. "And just know we're with you in spirit if not in person."
"You're going to do great," Ron said encouragingly.
"I'm glad so many of us could go this time to support you," Lavender said.
"Me too, it's going to be big," Harry said. "I'm told they increased the crowd size due to all the interest. It's going to have the biggest audience of all of the events, even more than the War de Cuisine. That's why they let me have more guests too. But apparently it's the biggest newcomers competition the World's Kitchen has ever had and one of their most popular ones they've ever had."
"What does the winner get?" Tracey asked.
"4,000 Galleons," Harry said.
"That's so much money," Hannah gasped.
"It's about twice the average yearly salary a chef makes," Harry nodded. "At least Muggle chefs. I think Magicals around the world that work as chefs are pretty close."
"I can see why people would be incredibly motivated to win," Blaise remarked.
"No pressure," Ginny joked.
"A lot of pressure," Harry laughed. "But not from the prize. I'm not focused on that. Don't get me wrong, that is a lot of money and it would be awesome to win it, but it's not why I'm doing this."
"One cannot eat gold," Pansy said with approval.
Luna looked at Aster, still nibbling on her piece of coulibiac. "Hmm?"
"Aren't you going to say something about a Eurasian GoldEater or something?" Aster asked.
"I'm not familiar with that," Luna said. "But Daddy told me a story about a wizard named Gilfrey Gold-Tongue."
"Let me guess, liked to lick gold or something?" Sue asked.
"Yes, and eat it. Well, drink is more correct I think," Luna said. "He drank so much he died from it. Then his family sold his body because of all the gold inside of it."
"Yeah, that sounds about right," Millicent snorted.
"I think Harry's food tastes much better than gold though," Luna said with a very bright smile.
"Thank goodness," Harry smiled back.
-0-0-0-
DOOOOOOMM Lord of Waffles - Going to be a bit more montage, but I hope they are enjoyable nonetheless.
Hands Off MY Wolife - I wanted to make things feel more realistic and plausible, so I figured this approach would make a lot of sense. Thanks for reading.
odonnellzoo99 - It was a lot of fun doing the research for this fic, I've learned a lot from it. I like the different mentoring roles and styles the different mentors have. Paints a more rounded picture and has that earthy wisdom that I like for them. Emmie is so adorable.
TheSphynx - Getting closer and closer.
Taylor and Laura - thank you for the kind words. I hope you continue to enjoy and the days get kinder for you.
DarkRavie - Thank you.
poka - "Can I see your insurance card? Oh I'm sorry, that's a preexisting condition." - Medic, Starcraft 2.
Sorry, not applicable but I am in healthcare and that amuses me and it's one of my favorite lines. Thank you for the kind words. I don't remember where I first read that mindset, but I've always liked that perfection is the pursuit of the ideal and the journey, but not the destination. I worked pretty hard on his menu and I think it will be a good reflection of him.
alix33 - It's a good skill.
Wentley - Truthfully, I wanted to show the mindset and the thought process in a vain attempt to stave off any complaints that come about the selection. I'm glad you like the little changes in the setting. They make me happy.