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

A Taste of Magic

66th Course – Wanting

"Mmm, now that is a very nice cup of coffee," Fleur said, savoring her cup.

"Thanks for teaching me," Harry said. "Like I said before, never made it really until I made the tiramisu."

"Tea is fine and good but nothing beats a cup of coffee," Fleur said, gesturing with her spoon.

There was a growing friendship between the girl from Beauxbatons and the boy from Hogwarts, as well as their respective friends. The French witches started visiting the clubroom more often since the Festival and the groups were starting to get used to one another. Both sides were more or less interested in the ways the opposite school operated as well as getting to know one another. While none of the four girls were as enthused with cooking as Harry was, they were more than willing to teach what they knew and receive food that they found delicious.

Each of the girls had their own motivations in visiting as well. Aimee was enthralled by the kneazles and Hedwig and so far, Crookshanks was fine with the attention, relishing the ability to sleep on someone unmoving. Sunny was a little more standoffish and Hedwig had her flights of fancy of course. Aimee also enjoyed chatting with Luna about traveling and magical creatures. Colette enjoyed verbally sparring with Pansy, Parvati, and Daphne. Sophie enjoyed talking about theory and magical things with Hermione, Padma, and Sue. Whereas Fleur was content to see her friends being content while exchanging bits of culinary knowledge with Harry and talking about clothes and fashion with Lavender, Parvati, and Millicent.

Fleur and the others were also very interested in how Harry and the Flamels became family. Harry gave them a slightly condensed version and they had been impressed, both at what Harry had gone through and done as well as being so close to the Flamels.

There had been a tense moment when Fleur explained what she did during the First Task, which then led to her explaining her Veela nature. It had come out that Harry's moments of 'head things' were him resisting the allure from both Fleur and Sophie and moreover when Fleur confessed to testing Harry directly. Thankfully, things were more or less smoothed over and the tenseness faded.

"You are a very strange boy," Fleur said, looking at Harry with a calculating expression.

"I've been told that before," Harry said wryly.

Fleur smiled. "I do not mean to be rude to you when I say that. You have very interesting friends, you make friends with other magical races, and you can consider two of France's most legendary magicals as family. And I hear you have close ties to your country's magical elite? And with all this power and possibility at your fingertips, you prefer to cook and stay in the kitchen."

"I like to cook," Harry said, shrugging. "And the people who are my friends are my friends. It's that simple really."

"Refreshingly simple," Fleur agreed. "And there is no one you are supporting for the Tournament?"

"I don't know Cedric really but I've heard he's nice. I'm not not supporting him." Harry turned his wand and watched the smoothie mixture blending in the cauldron. "I like Quidditch but don't follow it so I don't really know anything about Krum. He seems okay though; from what little interaction we've had. I'm not supporting Draco for many reasons." He frowned, a hard expression that did not escape Fleur's notice.

"And you and I are getting to know one another," Fleur said smoothly.

"Yup, and I think you're nice, now."

Fleur flushed a little. "That is fair," she said. She accepted a cup of mango and peach smoothie and sipped at it appreciatively. "Mmm, this is very tasty as well."

"Thank you," Harry smiled, watching everyone happily take cups from him.

"I must admit, this is a pleasant way to pass the time," Fleur said. "I have not seen my friends so at ease with people aside from each other."

"She's at ease?" Harry asked, pointing at Colette who was arguing loudly with Daphne over something while Pansy translated to Parvati who eagerly joined in.

"Oh yes, she's normally more reserved when she is not comfortable with you," Fleur said, not even giving her friend a second glance.

"Good to know." Harry waved at Parvati when she came to get her smoothie. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"Has Lavender been a bit weird to you lately?"

Parvati sipped her smoothie and looked over at her friend sewing something and chatting with Fleur and a few others. "She's been off chatting with someone lately, someone from Beauxbatons. Otherwise not really. Why?"

"Oh, I was just a little worried. She hasn't been around as much and I feel like she's just been a little different."

"Oh I wouldn't worry. She's just probably chatting with this new person and making a new friend. You know, typical friendly Lav."

"Yeah, you're probably right." He breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm almost always probably right," Parvati said. "Don't ask Padma to confirm."

"I won't," Harry grinned.

-0-

Dumbledore cleared his throat as he rose, smiling warmly as the breakfasting students faded into silence. "Good morning, everyone. Now, I am sure you all are looking forward to the end of term so allow me to add to the anticipation. I am pleased to announce that there will be a Yule Ball to celebrate the season as well as continuing to embrace the Tournament's ideology as a whole."

Whispers and chatter immediately rose as people excitedly made noise about this newest development. Dumbledore smiled genially, waiting for the chatter to subside before continuing. "It will be held shortly after the end of term and anyone fourth year and above will be allowed to attend with under-years having to be asked as guests as well as permission from their parents. The Express will also be leaving the next day after the Ball so that people who wish to return home for the Holidays will be more than welcome to. Thank you for listening." As he sat back down, the whispers and chatter became a dull roar.

"Oh, this might be what Sirius meant," Harry said. "When I asked him if I could go back to Grimmauld for the Christmas Holidays."

"You asked?" Lavender repeated, looking angry.

"I mean, this will be my first Holiday away from Hogwarts," Harry said sheepishly, mollifying his friends. "I didn't know what was right."

"I assume he said something biting in reply," Hermione smiled.

"He called me thick," Harry said, laughing with his friends. "And that of course I was coming home for the holidays. But then he said it'll be a few days after term ends and wouldn't tell me why but that I probably would want to stay for it. And he also told me to enjoy myself and to not act like my dad or him and to ask Remus to explain."

"Well I'm excited," Parvati said brightly. "Chance to dress up and dance, that's going to be so much fun." She looked around the Great Hall with a gleam in her eye. "Not to mention all the social fun as well."

"What does that mean?" Neville asked.

"You know, who fancies who, who asks who to the Ball, all that stuff." She rubbed her hands together in glee. "It's going to be so much fun."

"Aren't you going to lecture your sister about gossiping and all that?" Sue asked.

Padma shrugged. "No, because hearing about that sort of thing is like a guilty pleasure for me. Some of our aunts are terrible gossips."

"And some are terribly good gossips," Parvati added.

-0-

"Bluh, leave it to Snape to give us a really nasty essay right before the holidays start," Parvati complained a day later as she walked into the clubroom. "As if I want to focus on antidotes right now. Harry, buddy, pal, have I reminded you that I'm the superior friend?"

"Not lately," Harry grinned. "Yes, I'll read over it for you later."

"Thanks! I might as well finish it up now then." She sat down and pulled her potions textbook out and her parchment and ink and quill. "What?"

"Shameless," Padma said severely. "Positively shameless."

"Hey! I'm writing it first and I'm going to do a decent job of it! We remembered the last time you fussed at us when it came to Harry helping me on homework!"

"Okay, fair," Padma relented, growling when a ball of parchment bounced off her face.

"Wait a second, I see that!" Parvati said accusingly when Padma pushed something over her essay. "You were getting help from Harry now, weren't you?! You put the hippo in hypocrite!"

"First of all, there isn't a hippo in hypocrite! Second of all, don't call me a hippo!"

Neville walked in and blinked from the fight that the Patil twins were having, throwing things at each other and wrestling with one another. "What happened?!"

"Oh friendly sibling things I think," Harry smiled.

"That doesn't look too friendly."

"Friendly for them I imagine."

"Fair," Neville laughed. "What're you making?"

"Oh just doing a lot of the prep stuff for our Christmas meal. I wanted to get most of it done and ready so cooking will be a little faster. But I'm baking some lasagnas for us to eat tonight." Harry looked at Neville closely. "You look really happy. Did the flutterpods bloom in the greenhouse?"

"They did but that's unrelated to my current happiness, well, no I'm happy about both things but more happy about this thing." Neville did look very happy, beaming from ear to ear but with a trace of his usual shyness. "I actually managed to ask someone to the Ball and she said yes."

"Hey congrats!" Harry praised. He snorted when Parvati looked up with interest and was immediately clouted by Padma during her inaction. "That's awesome!"

"Thank you! I still can't believe she said yes honestly."

"You're a good person and friend," Harry said. "I can't see why she wouldn't."

"Thanks, that's really nice of you to say."

"Sooooooo," Parvati drawled, lying flat on Padma's back and ignoring her flailing. She smiled cheekily at them. "Who's the lucky gal?"

"You might as well say it," Harry laughed. "We're going to find out eventually and she'll suss it out sooner if you don't."

"It's true, I will," Parvati said, grunting when Padma elbowed her in the side and knocked her over.

"Millicent," Neville confessed, blushing.

"Awww, you two are sweet together," Padma said, getting up and brushing dust from her clothes.

"She's really nice. I was really intimidated by her before but we chat about herbology things and I like hearing about her family business and all," Neville said with a large smile.

"Good for you, Nev," Parvati said, also rising to her feet. "Padma didn't waste time either. Well, her beau didn't I mean."

"He's not my beau," Padma hissed, kicking Parvati in the rear.

"Was it Terry?" Harry asked. "He's cool," he said when Padma nodded.

"Yeah, he's nice and a lot less annoying than Anthony," Padma said. "When he asked, I said yes. Why not."

"I'm sure you'll have fun," Parvati said. "And if not and he's a prat, we'll do terrible things to him, right?"

"Right," Harry nodded.

"Thanks," Padma smiled. "Anyone asked you yet?"

Parvati laughed. "Oh yeah. And I sure as heck said no as fast as I could. I don't know what possessed him to think I'd say yes to him."

"Was it Seamus?" Neville asked.

"No! Really?" Harry gasped.

Parvati snorted and nodded. "Yup. Again, not sure why he thought I'd ever say yes. I still remembered him being a right prick first and second year. I asked him if he was okay with me having family members who are Parselmouths and he just kinda sputtered at me."

"There's confidence and then there's that," Padma snorted.

"I mean, I get why he asked me. I'm beautiful," Parvati said, making Padma snort even more loudly and Harry and Neville laughed at her honest confidence. "But still, might've taken a couple too many Bludgers to the head." She looked at Harry closely. "So, how about you?"

"No one's asked me," Harry smiled as he went back to chopping.

"Will you be doing any asking?" Parvati pressed.

He hesitated. "I've been thinking about it," he confessed at last.

"Oooh!" Padma and Parvati said together. "Well go on, don't leave us in suspense," Parvati said eagerly.

"Sorry Harry, I'd normally hold her back but I'm deeply invested as well," Padma smiled.

"I'm not that interesting," he protested, face pink.

"True, but that doesn't keep us from caring about you," Parvati said, pinching Padma back. Before anything else could be said, the door to the room opened and Lavender came in. "Oh hey there," Parvati greeted.

"Hey everyone!" Lavender said. "What're we talking about?"

"Dates and things," Parvati said airily. "For the Ball. Our boy Harry here was about to tell us something."

"Oh? Really?" Lavender asked. The door opened once more and Fleur and Sophie entered together.

"Hello everyone," Fleur greeted. She saw Lavender and smiled. "Ah and you must be very pleased. Tomas certainly was."

"To-who?" Parvati asked, looking from Fleur to Lavender and then saw her best friend blush brilliantly. "Really? The bloke you've been talking to since the Festival?"

Lavender nodded, face bright red. "He asked me today and I said yes. He was really romantic."

"Tomas can be very romantic," Sophie agreed. "He can get a little how you say intense, but he should be a proper date." She smiled. "More than a few were hoping to be asked by him, so congratulations."

"Thank you!" Lavender said, still blushing and looking happy but embarrassed.

"How about you, Harry?" Fleur asked, turning to him. "Oh my, are you okay?"

"Hmm, oh yeah, just nicked myself," Harry said. He looked down at the chopping board and wrapped a towel around his finger. "My fault, wasn't paying attention and my hand slipped."

"Allow me." Fleur tapped his finger with her wand. "There, a simple wound healing charm."

"Wow, thanks," Harry said, looking at his healed finger. "That's handy."

"Good for very minor injuries," Fleur said. "It might be a bit above your year right now but I can try to teach you if you like."

"I'd appreciate it," Harry said, still looking at his finger.

Parvati and Padma looked at each other for a moment. Parvati noticed how Harry was focused on looking elsewhere and how Lavender looked sheepish as well as bothered.

"How about you?" Fleur asked again, seemingly unbothered by the atmosphere. "Surely there is someone you wish to invite as your partner?"

"There was," Harry said evasively. "But I don't think it's going to work out."

"Ah, so you have no plans then?" Fleur asked, giving Sophie a look who perked up.

Parvati sighed to herself when she saw the look on Lavender's face and she coughed loudly. "Actually, I wanted to ask you Harry if you want to go to the Ball with me." She smiled cheerily at the shocked looks from everyone. "There really isn't anyone I want to go with like that but I want to go with someone, you know? And I know I can trust you and we can go as good friends. What do you say? You won't let little ole me go unaccompanied to be preyed on by gross blokes, would you?"

Harry blinked a few times before he smiled easily. "No, I can't do that. Are you sure you don't have anyone you rather go with?"

"Nope! I know I'll have a great time with you. Is there anyone you want to ask though? In that way?"

"Uhm, no, not really," Harry said, rubbing his neck. "I think it'd be a lot of fun to go with you though. I trust you too."

"Great!" Parvati batted her eyes at Sophie and Fleur. "Sorry!"

Fleur chuckled. "Not at all. Timing is everything after all."

Sophie made a show of sighing dolefully. "Perhaps I can have a dance?"

"We'll see," Parvati smiled impishly. "I need to go drop something off in my dorm, Lav, come with me." She and Padma shared a look before she pulled Lavender with her, arm in arm. On the way back to Gryffindor tower, Parvati did not say anything and waited for them to go through the portrait door and then closed their dorm door behind them firmly once they reached it. "Alright, spill."

"Spill what?" Lavender asked, crossing her arms defensively. "Spill on Tomas? I would've eventually. I don't really hide things from you."

"No you don't, normally," Parvati agreed. "I didn't know you and Tomas were that serious."

"We're not," Lavender said. She sat on her bed. "But he's been fun to chat with and talk to and get to know. Then today he asked me to be his date and that was that. I don't see what the big deal is."

"Mmhmm. So what was the look you were wearing when it looked like Sophie was going to ask Harry?"

"What look, I don't know what you're talking about." Lavender pointedly looked away.

"I know that look," the enchanted mirror said when Lavender turned to her.

"You're not a part of this conversation!" Lavender said, looking in a different direction.

"I agree with the mirror," Parvati said. "I know that look."

"There's no look! Look, I mean, see here, I just care about Harry, alright? He's my best friend after you and I just want to make sure he's happy and all that," Lavender said, growing red.

"Uh huh. Don't you think it's a teensy bit hypocritical of you caring if he has a date after you having a date yourself?"

"Don't call me a hippo!"

Parvati ducked the pillow. "I didn't! I called Padma a hippo earlier but not you!" She caught the second one and threw it back, hitting Lavender in the face. "Fine, what do you think of me and Harry going to the Ball together?"

"I think it's great," Lavender said, glaring back. "You're friends and you'll have a lot of fun."

Parvati sighed softly. "You should be honest with yourself."

"I don't know what you mean," Lavender said, looking away.

"Okay, be that way right now. But you can't ignore this," Parvati said.

The silence in the room dragged and weighed heavily on them as Lavender continued to look away, her fingers playing with the pillowcase in her lap. The door opened suddenly, making them both jump and they looked at a very shell-shocked Hermione that stood there. "Oh, am I interrupting something?" Hermione asked, her voice a little faint.

"It's okay. Are you okay?" Lavender asked, worried.

"Yeah, you look like you're about to faint," Parvati said, dragging Hermione in and sitting her down on her bed. "Do you need to go to the Infirmary?"

"No? I don't think so? I have no idea," Hermione said, still looking shell-shocked. "I'm actually kind of glad you two are here and I could use some help."

"Sure, anything," Lavender said, grateful for the distraction. "What's wrong?"

"I, uh, I have no idea how to process this, but uhm…" Hermione blinked slowly.

"Did someone ask you to the Ball?" Parvati asked.

"Oooh, who?!" Lavender asked when Hermione nodded dumbly.

"Promise me you won't make fun of me or do something extreme?" Hermione asked.

"I'll try my best," Parvati said. "Just being honest," she added when Lavender glared at her.

Hermione snorted. "That actually did make me feel a little better." She took a deep breath. "Tracey asked me."

"Tracey? Tracey Davis?" Lavender and Parvati asked together.

"Do we know any other Traceys?" Hermione asked peevishly.

"Now that you mention it, no," Parvati said. "Huh, wow. What did you say?"

"I said yes," Hermione said.

"Aww, well, what's the problem then?" Lavender asked. "I actually like Tracey a lot since we've gotten to know her. She's fun."

"Do you regret saying yes?" Parvati asked.

"No, I mean, I don't think so. I was so shocked that she asked me, I just reflexively said yes," Hermione said. "Is that a bad thing?"

"I don't think so as long as you weren't coerced or anything," Lavender said.

"Oooh big word," Parvati said snarkily and stuck her tongue back out at Lavender. "But I agree with Lav, if you want to go with her, then go with her."

"I just…I…why did she ask me?" Hermione asked.

"Please don't tell me you asked her," Parvati begged.

"Well I did, reflexively and-hey it's not funny!" she cried when Lavender and Parvati clasped hands over their mouths to stifle giggling.

"Sorry! Sorry," Parvati said, coughing. "It really isn't but it kinda is. Well what did she say?"

"She said she likes how smart I am and how passionate I am about what I like. And we have gotten to know each other more since they joined us for the Festival." Hermione looked down. "I just…I think she's fun too and she's a lovely dancer and…I'm just really confused. I never thought about anyone ever being interested like that, much less a girl."

"That makes sense," Parvati said sympathetically. "Plus you know, the usual Slytherin and Gryffindor thing."

"Oh gosh, I didn't even consider that at all," Hermione said, eyes widening.

"Well, we have gotten to know them a little better since and I'm sure she doesn't have any ulterior motives," Lavender said, digging her elbow into Parvati's side.

"Yeah," Parvati grunted. "I was very justified in thinking that about Pansy forever ago but I know better now and Tracey is way less twisty than Pansy and Daphne. And I don't think bad of them at all, not even princess."

Hermione released a breath, looking relieved. "Oh, thank you. That makes me feel better. I was so surprised and I feel very out of my depth about all this."

"I'm surprised you didn't go to the library to look up dating things," Parvati teased.

"I didn't even think of going to the library!" Hermione gasped.

"Parvati was kidding-" Lavender said.

"-kinda, not really," Parvati muttered.

"-and I think it will be fine," Lavender continued, giving Parvati a look. "And besides, we'll all be there and you'll be okay. And you might have a lot of fun!"

"Yeah, that does sound nice." Hermione smiled. "Thank you both. I really appreciate it."

"Of course, we got each other's backs," Parvati smiled.

"Do you two have dates?" Hermione asked.

"Yes we do. Lavender is going with Tomas, the bloke that was helping Fleur for the Festival and I'm going with Harry," Parvati said. She shook her head slightly when Hermione looked at her confusedly and looked at Lavender for a moment.

"O-oh well that sounds wonderful," Hermione said, catching the head shake and trying to ignore Lavender's narrowed eyes. "Can we get ready together? That's what girls do for something like this, right?"

"Of course. It'll be a lot of fun," Lavender said, smiling once more.

-0-

Pansy and Millicent looked up when their door opened, having heard Daphne and Tracey arguing before they got to the door. They both looked at the squabbling pair as they entered their dorm room and closed the door behind them before sitting down on their beds.

"Look, I am looking out for you," Daphne said.

"No! You're just going to make fun of me!"

"Dammit Tracey, I care about you, okay? I do not want some Gryffindor taking advantage of you!"

"I asked them! Not the other way around!"

"Hey, stop that," Pansy said, smacking Daphne's hand when Daphne opened the box on her desk. "You can ask first."

"Fine, may I have some of your biscuits?" Daphne asked sardonically.

"Sure, but don't take too many. I'm running out." Pansy sighed when Tracey and Millicent helped themselves. "Also, what are you two doing having your spat in here?"

"Since you two are the resident Gryffindor experts, I wanted to ask and make sure Tracey's date will not be a terrible person," Daphne said.

"Oooh someone in Gryffindor asked you to the Ball?" Pansy asked, interested.

"No, I asked someone in Gryffindor," Tracey repeated, face flushed.

"Was it Longbottom?" Daphne asked.

"No, it isn't," Millicent said.

"How would you know?" Daphne asked.

Millicent looked up at the ceiling. "Because he asked me and I said yes."

"Aww, I think that's great," Pansy said enthusiastically. "He's very nice and you two are cute together."

"Thanks," Millicent smiled, blushing a little. "I was surprised when he asked but he's nice like you said and cool and I said yes."

"Good for you," Daphne said, nodding. She looked back at Tracey. "Please tell me it was not Finnegan."

"Gross, no," Tracey said with disgust. "And no, and it wasn't Weasley or Thomas to save you some time."

"Then who could it be?" Pansy asked.

Tracey sighed and buried her face in her hands. "Promise you won't make fun of me?"

"Yes," Pansy and Daphne said.

"I probably won't," Millicent said.

Tracey sighed. "I asked Hermione," she said, her voice muffled.

"You asked Granger?!" Daphne gasped. "Really? Granger?"

"Alright, go ahead," Tracey said, sitting up and eyes blazing. "What's wrong with me asking Hermione, hmm?!"

"She's a know-it-all," Daphne said, as if it was obvious. "She is very annoying about it."

"She's actually gotten a lot better about that," Pansy said.

"Oh yeah, loads," Millicent said.

"Well thank goodness for that," Daphne snorted.

"Wait, that's it?" Tracey asked, her anger dissipating. "You don't care that I asked a girl out?"

"Not at all. I question your taste in girls," Daphne said, narrowing her eyes when Tracey kicked her, "but I do not care that you asked a girl to be your date. You did so because you want to, correct?" She shrugged when Tracey nodded. "Then that is what matters."

"Oh, thank you," Tracey said softly.

"I was only concerned if one of them would do something bad to you but the only thing she will do is bore you to death, which if you like that, then who am I to judge?" Daphne growled when the pillow bounced off her face and she threw it back.

"Why didn't you ask about Harry?" Tracey asked.

"Oh I heard about that from Sophie and Fleur earlier," Daphne said. "Patil asked him, Parvati the one in Gryffindor."

"He's going with Parvati?" Pansy asked, surprised. "Really?"

"Yes, she apparently asked him in front of them, right before Sophie was going to ask him when they learned he had not had a date yet," Daphne chuckled. "Apparently one of their classmates asked Brown too."

"Oh." Pansy looked down at her desk.

"You are being accompanied by someone from Durmstrang, right?" Daphne asked.

Pansy sighed. "Yes. He's actually kind of a friend. Our families work together. My father does business with his family in Germany. He asked me because he is comfortable with me and I said yes."

"Ah, well that will still be good," Daphne said sympathetically.

"What about you?" Tracey asked.

"Blaise is my escort. I have no one I truly wish to go with and he does not want to be tied down so we are dates of convenience," Daphne said simply.

"At least you'll look good dancing with him," Millicent smiled.

"Only because he wants all the attention and he is welcome to it," Daphne laughed and the others joined her.

-0-

Harry dove, leaning over the broomstick and angling it down, flying swiftly. His target looked up and had to dive away to avoid him, shouting an expletive as he passed. He twisted around and managed to level out, coming in for a landing and hoping off the broom, teeth chattering from the snow and cold winter air. He waved at the rest of the team that Angelina was heading and everyone broke off, practice over.

"You fly very well."

Harry looked up and looked astonished as Viktor walked up to him. The taller young man looked at Harry with approval, and Harry blinked to see that he was dressed in Quidditch gear and did not seem bothered as much by the cold.

"Thank you," he said, breath white on the wind. "You're not cold?"

"This? This is barely cold," Viktor said with a small smile. He said it without boasting, without condescension. "Where I am from, it is much much colder."

Harry shivered. "It's plenty cold here right now," Harry laughed. "I don't want to imagine that."

Viktor chuckled. "Do you play?"

"No. I like flying a lot and help with my friends to train, but I don't play myself," Harry said.

"Pity." Viktor gave Harry another look. "Perhaps I can ask something else of you then?"

"Uh, maybe. What can I do for you?"

"You are a cook, yes? You cooked the dragon stew at the Festival?"

"Yeah, that was me."

"Ah, it was very good," Viktor said. "It made me think of a stew we have back in my home country and I have been wanting. I was hoping you would be willing to try and make it. I have a rough idea of the how. Would you try if I describe it?"

"I'd love to try," Harry said eagerly. "Can't say I'd be very good at it but I love to learn about other cuisines."

"Chudesen! I am grateful. However, a big part of it is very different. Not sure if you can get. Shkembe. It is uh…" he pointed at his stomach, "cow stomach? Is that how you say it in English?"

"I think that's tripe and I actually might be able to get some," Harry said.

"You can?" Viktor asked eagerly. "I would be in your debt if you can."

"Don't worry about that, but let's see," Harry said. He smiled at Viktor's smile. "You're a lot nicer than you look."

Viktor laughed again. "I hear that a lot."

-0-

"Ow, Ron! Don't just stop in the doorway, what's wrong with you?" Ginny asked irritably, pushing him after running into his back.

"That's Viktor Krum," Ron said, awed. "Why's Viktor Krum in the clubroom?!"

"I don't know, why don't we actually go into the clubroom and find out?" Parvati said from behind Ginny. She shook her head after Ron walked in with Ginny. "Hey Harry, what's this? Fraternizing with the enemy?"

Viktor looked at her coolly. "We are not enemies," he said firmly. "I am his friend and he has done something very dear for me."

"Parvati's just teasing," Harry said soothingly, making Viktor and a few other Durmstrang students relax a bit. "Viktor asked me if I could make a dish from his home country and I said I'd love to try with his help. It's really good! It's a soup called shkembe chorba, it's a tripe soup and it's also colloquially known as dragon's breath stew, isn't that fun?"

"It does look spicy," Parvati agreed. The soup was bright red with dollops of oil and chili flakes floating on top. "I like tripe, may I have some?"

"Since you are Harry's friend, yes," Viktor sniffed.

"Thank you," Parvati said brightly. "And yes, I was only teasing about my enemy remark. We have an actual enemy in the Tournament and he's from our school."

"Ah." Viktor nodded. "The slight boy with pale hair? Yes, he is quite unpleasant. Thinks very highly of himself."

The students from Hogwarts laughed. "That's an understatement," Ginny said.

Parvati took a sip of the soup and fanned her mouth. It was savory and spicy and creamy and full of heat and vinegar. The tripe still had that characteristic chewiness to it but it was tender and offered different textures while you chewed on it. "Wow, that's really something! Tastes good."

"He did excellent job," Viktor praised. "Never would have imagined it for someone never cooking it before."

"Viktor taught me a handy charm for it, something that will irritate Padma," Harry smiled. "A spell purely created to treat tripe. But yeah, apparently it's something Viktor and the other Quidditch players at Durmstrang like to have right after training."

"It warms you up again," a girl from Durmstrang said.

The door opened again and the noise of chatter fell off as the newcomers stared at astonishment at the people within, and the expressions were mirrored. Fleur and her friends stared at Viktor and his and the silence was sudden and thick.

"And you accuse me of being an enemy?" Viktor asked, giving Parvati a look.

"No enemies here," Harry said firmly, making everyone look at him. He sighed internally when he saw Tomas and Lavender with Fleur and the others. "No enemies," he repeated. "This Tournament is about getting to know one another and learning from each other, right?"

"So they say," Viktor conceded.

"It is one of the reasons, yes," Fleur said.

"Then let's all just…talk and eat something new with each other," Harry suggested. After another long pause, the tension seemed to relax slightly as people nodded and drifted into the room and settled themselves.

"It would be shame to ruin the food," Viktor said at last. He drained his bowl and held it out for a refill while turning to Aimee. "Your team looks good. I look forward to playing them in the Quidditch part of the Tournament." He looked at Ron. "As does the one you are on."

"Angelina's pretty driven," Harry said with Ron nodding. "I think they're going to give you a challenge."

"Good! I like challenge," Viktor said, accepting his bowl back with undisguised eagerness. Chatter and conversation grew from that and the tension seemed to fade almost completely.

Padma accepted a bowl of her own and sipped it appreciatively and stood beside her sister. "Mmm, this is good. And Harry's right, a spell just for tripe does somehow irritate me but it makes sense."

Parvati smiled at that before sighing deeply. "Oh boy."

Padma looked up and saw where Parvati was looking, between Harry who was focused on the stove and not looking at Lavender and Tomas chatting away and Lavender shooting glances back. "Oh boy," Padma agreed.

"I love her, but she's a bit dim sometimes," Parvati said softly.

"And he's not being too honest either, with himself," Padma said sadly.

"Well, I'll just have to do my best meddling and hopefully things will work out," Parvati said.

"You are good at meddling," Padma said. "Let me know how I can help."

"You assume I won't blame you for everything if it goes tits up."

"I know you will, I'm surprised you haven't preemptively done that."

"Oh hey, good idea."

"Me and my big mouth."

-0-0-0-

SolarSolstice - He did answer the question properly lol. She might. I want Narcissa to have her own agency in this and think her own thoughts. I find it more fascinating that way.

MauricioPS - I'm glad you enjoy them so, thank you. She is surprisingly funny isn't she? She's taken on her own character and I enjoy it.

iamshinydragonmist - Thank you.

Arnie1701 - That's a nice comparison.

Hands Off MY Wolfie - Yeah, even though Harry and company are the main characters, the other characters will be doing things too. And I wanted their victory to feel good and well earned. I always adored the idea of outdoor festivals and street markets and that sort of thing. Thought it would be fun to have on here. Thank you for reading.

odonnellzoo99 - Thank you. I wanted to pay attention to the details to make things feel more complete and authentic. Hedwig probably has a hierarchy of heads she likes to sit on. And you have to be liked before she will sit on your head. I was pretty happy with the dialogue in this chapter.

kiks493 - Thank you. I'm glad I can help you smile.

Kaya - Glad you did.

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - She's going to be less canon Rita and hopefully have her own believable reasons for doing what she will in this setting. Hopefully be as satisfying. She sure does. Lots going on in all parts of the story and people are being challenged to what they know.

61394 - I'm trying to make the new Academy be less of a mini-Death Eater school but definitely one for Purebloods acting all snooty and biggoty. Of course we haven't seen it in action yet, but it definitely will be one of those not very accepting places.

xXMoonlitSorrowsXx - I really thought about the stew. I wanted it to feel familiar and novel, while letting it become it's own thing after we learned about its unfortunate origins. I'm really happy with Harry's growth here.

alix33 - I think you would like soft preztels. They are like a nice dense dinner roll or bread roll with a firm but not crusty exterior.

SvenHPotterFan - I like to think all their hard work paid off and nothing felt contrived or plot armored. I had hoped they all brought something to the team and it was a true team effort.

poka - I'm glad you liked the chapters. I hoped the pacing and the contents of each chapter felt impactful and natural, and that the build up led to a satisfying finish. This last chapter, the culmination, was far longer but it felt fine to me, and it felt good overall. I'm glad I was able to draw in past things, ie the Flamels, and to make the events feel more complete and full. Draco's was the potion castle looking fancy stall, sorry, could have been more clear. But yeah, I wanted Narcissa to be her own character, and that she knows full well not to completely believe her husband and son, so she came over to see and hear things herself. Speaking of, I wrote a ramble with Voldemort eating pancakes and being less evil. That was silly. I'm glad you are still enjoying the story.

TheSphynx - The Flamels are the best at adding some extra chaos and fun to any situation. Glad you like the fic and are looking forward to more.

angeleyes24245 - I'm happy you discovered as well. Thank you for reading.

DarkRavie - Thank you.

- Thank you so much.

Astrakahn - I'm thankful you're enjoying it. Thank you for reading.

scpotter - It will come up soon. Glad you are enjoying the story.