I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
A Taste of Magic
135th Course – Future Foundation
"Thank you so much, Mrs. Li," Harry said gratefully. "I really appreciate it."
"You're so welcome," Lin said warmly. "It's always nice when someone shows genuine interest in your culture and wants to learn more. And you've been such a wonderful friend for years and I'm glad to help."
The Li family typically traveled the most during the summer to take advantage of time off from school and slower times with their work. Sue and Lin just got back from a trip they took in the beginning of the summer, and Sue had told Lin about Harry cooking in the upcoming World's Kitchen competition. Lin offered to teach Harry more Chinese cooking and Harry had literally leapt at the chance.
The Li home was large and warm, much like the Patils. The rest of Sue's family were still traveling so it was just her and Lin with Harry that day. The kitchen was large and open and was pretty much like most kitchens save that there was a specialty stove for a wok. The hob was more of an open space where fire directly touched the sides of the round wok.
Harry had learned many recipes from the Li family that last few years and was always happy to learn more. Li, while not a professional chef, was an accomplished home cook with plenty of years of tradition and experience and family history. She had no problems teaching Harry the recipes and skills either, after teasing him that they typically were not taught to outsiders.
"Besides, I have you to thank for Sue being more interested in cooking and the like," Lin said, giving her daughter a smile while Sue flushed and huffed. "She was very reluctant before."
"I wasn't very reluctant," Sue protested. "Just a little reluctant. I wasn't like Cho levels or some of the cousins."
"No, that's true," Lin agreed.
"Oh what did Cho end up deciding to do?" Harry asked.
"She's going to do a Charms Mastery and she might either go into teaching or do something else with it," Sue said. "And she's going to play Quidditch still as a hobby."
"That's cool," Harry said. "Is she still seeing Cedric?"
"Yup. They just moved in together too. Auntie was a bit miffed," Sue giggled.
"She really shouldn't be," Lin giggled too. "She did the same when she was Cho's age. She didn't like me reminding her of that fact though. Oh, speaking of being miffed," she smiled at Harry, "I suppose we have you to thank about the fish cake?"
"Fish balls?" Harry asked.
"No, a dessert cake that looked and acted like a fish," Lin said.
"That sounds like a really cool idea and really clever, Sue must have come up with it," Harry said innocently.
"Uh huh," Lin said and she rolled her eyes when Harry and Sue high-fived. "I love my daughter and she is in fact very clever, but even that might be a bit much for her to think of."
"No seriously," Harry said stoutly. "I mean, I did make a crab cake as in a cake that looked and acted like a crab and I might've taught Sue the animus charm and the other charms to charm a cake into acting like an animal, but I didn't come up with the fish cake idea or how she executed it."
"I told you," Sue sniffed.
Lin laughed merrily. "Well it was very funny and very strange," Lin said. "Sue brought it to the table and right when her father was about to cut into it, it started flopping up and down and making terrible noises. Freaked everyone out save for her of course who started laughing fit to burst."
"It. Was. Awesome!" Sue cackled and Harry laughed appreciatively.
"And Chauncy, that's his name, was so startled, he stabbed it with a knife to put it out of its apparent misery and we were all even more confused when the knife came back with cream and cake on it," Lin smiled.
"Brilliant!" Harry said and he and Sue high-fived again.
"It could've been worse," Sue said. "Harry's crab cake took a knife from Parvati and chased her with it before fencing with Hedwig."
"We're doing that for your aunt's next birthday," Lin said, smiling mischievously. "One of her favorite dishes is spicy crab and having her be attacked by a plate of cake crabs tickles me."
"Yesssss," Sue said eagerly.
"Speaking of steamed fish, that will be the next thing we do," Lin said. "Steamed fish is one of the tastiest dishes in our cuisine and it can be simple and fast if done right." She watched as Harry prepared aromatics at her direction: ginger, scallions, and chili peppers. "It's something you can have for dinner any day or occasion while also being grand enough for a feast."
She removed a fish from the ice box and it was still whole, head and tail intact. "You can do it with fillets but for banquets and special occasions, you leave it whole for the presentation. You gut it, descale it, and then dry it and then place it in a steamer over boiling water. Depending on the size of the fish, it does not take too long over steam to cook all the way through."
"Do you use any specific fish?" Harry asked as he put it on the plate and carefully nestled the fish inside a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water."
"Whatever you like," Lin said. "Generally something with a milder natural taste but it can be flounder, sole, sea bass, grouper, snapper, tilapia, all kinds really." She then had him cook a little soy sauce, cooking rice wine, and sesame oil inside a small saucepan. "Some people score the top of the fish with a grid cut to expose the flesh and allow the finishing flavors to seep in more, but others argue that doing that is more detrimental to the flavor and texture. I like it done either way."
After the time passed, Harry carefully took the fish out of the steamer basket. The skin gleamed and the fish looked and felt full and succulent. At Lin's instruction, he arranged scallions along the top of the fish and poured on some hot oil, making the scallions wilt and sizzle as they fried.
"Some say anything more than scallions can overpower the flavor of the fish," Lin said. "Out of habit I do it once with the oil on just scallions, but once in a while if I think the fish needs it, I put the ginger and chilis on too and let them open up with the oil." She nodded when he did that. "Then you pour the prepared sauce on top of the fish and there it is, Chinese Steamed Fish, more Cantonese style here. And you always want to have white rice with it to eat the garnish and soak up the wonderful sauce with the fish."
She showed him how to carefully debone the fish with a knife as well as teaching him a charm that was designed to debone the fish after steam cooking it. "Well done," she praised, clapping her hands at his work.
"You're right, that is a simple dish and it looks really elegant and nice," Harry smiled. "And it smells incredible!"
"Nothing better than soy and sesame together with scallion and ginger and chili," Sue said happily.
"Oh, this tastes so good," Harry said after they served themselves. He ate a big mouthful of steaming hot white rice with a large bite of soft and succulent fish that tasted almost sweet with plenty of savory soy and wine and sesame oil on top with the fragrant scallion, the spicy chili pepper, and the hot and warming ginger. "Now I really want to try it with other fish and see how they are."
"Remember, it will vastly depend on the main pillars of Chinese cuisine. Which are?" Lin prompted.
"The quality of the ingredients, the balance of flavors, the amount of fire, and how the ingredients are prepared," Harry said. "Traditionally color, aroma, and taste are really important too. And just as important is the balance of fan and cai, which is to say balance the rice or noodles or steamed buns against the vegetables and meat of the dish."
"Well said," Lin said with approval.
"I'm really fascinated by the major different kinds of Chinese cuisine," Harry said. "It's so cool that the country and the culture is so big, they have so many different cultural approaches to food and what they like and how they do it."
"It is very interesting," Lin agreed. "One of my favorite proverbs is, 'Guizhou likes spiciness, Sichuan don't fear spiciness, and Hunan fear there is no spiciness'. It really sums up the provinces and their approach to spicy foods very well."
"Parvati is all of those," Harry laughed. "Did Sue tell you about the super spice blend that Mr. Drake made?"
"Oh did you bring it with you?" Sue asked eagerly. "It's really good in the 'I can't feel my tongue and I have regrets' sort of way'."
"No but I am now intrigued," Lin smiled.
"I'll get it from Hogwarts and bring it to you," Harry said. "It's there for safekeeping and I used it to make snackigy wings for Mr. Drake."
"Snackigy?" Lin asked.
"He once wanted to eat Fawkes but changed his mind," Harry explained. "So I made him an edible effigy so that he can pretend he did."
"Probably for the best," Lin smiled. "Though I have heard of this ancient Chinese dish called Phoenix Soup and it was allegedly made from a phoenix but it apparently was made from the water a phoenix bathed in."
"Ew. I like Fawkes but that sounds gross," Sue said, sticking her tongue out with disgust.
"Yeah, have to agree there," Harry said.
"Okay, we've gone over the different cuisines of the provinces, different approaches and skills, and went over some of the dishes you already know. Now we have steamed fish in your repertoire." Lin smiled at Harry making his notes. "Now for another one of our favorite things, baozi."
"You're going to love these," Sue said.
"Lead the way," Harry said eagerly.
-0-
"You know what, you're right, hot pot is good in any weather," Lavender said as she ate a spoonful of molten hot tofu after blowing on it to cool.
"Told you," Sue smiled.
Like previous years, Harry hosted his friends that wanted to do summer work together and a good amount of them came to Grimmauld for them to work together. They managed to finish the vast majority of it together and Harry made hot pot for them to enjoy together. They sat around a big table on the rooftop garden and were enjoying the summer heat with hot pot.
"It makes you sweat and cools you down," Ron said as he took out some fish balls and slices of beef. "I'm actually liking a little more spicey stuff too and that makes the heat less hot."
"We eat hot soup at any time of year and any weather," Sue said. "It's good."
"I'm glad we finished almost everything already," Parvati said, munching on some barely cooked spinach and bok choy. "Can spend the rest of the summer relaxing and doing other things."
"Aren't you going to berate her?" Pansy asked.
Padma laughed. "I would if I didn't know that she's actually working and doing stuff."
"You?! No!" Daphne gasped.
"Hey! Why are people surprised when I work and do stuff!" Parvati complained while others laughed.
"I am just jesting," Daphne smiled. "What are you doing?"
"Me and Lav have been interning sort of," Parvati said. "We've been going to Millie's family's business place to learn more about magical fabrics and things, and we've been working at one of the smaller clothing stores on Diagon. Learning about more wizarding fashion and practicing sewing charms and fabric charms and things like that."
"Oh right, you two want to start a shop after school," Hermione said.
Lavender nodded. "It's our dream. Do different clothes and things, modernize fashion up some. Oh and pet accessories are a huge hit surprisingly and will keep doing that." She smiled when Hedwig cheeped loudly, wearing her straw hat with the pink ribbon tied around it and looking adorably smug.
"Where would you set up your store?" Daphne asked.
"We don't know yet. It'll take some time for us to save up and all that but we'll see," Parvati said. "Some place nice hopefully and obviously."
"And you've been shadowing at St. Mungo's right?" Hermione asked Padma.
"Yup. We have family who are healers there so I've been shadowing them and learning from them," Padma said. "And I've been staying on top of my studies otherwise."
"Is everyone preparing for the future already?" Luna asked, eyes wide and round.
"Guess so," Ron said. "We've been apprenticing with the Hunters." He pointed at himself and Millicent.
"I'll be working with Professor Sprout after I graduate, going to do a Mastery in Herbology with her as my mistress," Neville said.
"I've been working with Andromeda a lot," Hermione said. "I want to do a Mastery in Enchanting or Alchemy and want to be an Enchanter like her or Mrs. Perenelle."
"I already started working with my father and the family firm," Pansy said proudly. "I even have clients that have asked for me!" She beamed when the others congratulated her and hugged her.
"I will help here and there with the family shipping company but I have done a lot of practice with perfecting magical music," Daphne said. "I have done research on how to make it easier and more impressive."
"My family runs a construction company, and I like it so I'm going to be doing that," Tracey said. "And keep on dancing and photography for fun. I know Blaise is going to be joining his family business too, Auntie Tina does art acquisition and helps people find fancy things."
"I'm going to be a solicitor," Susan said. "I thought about being an Auror but Auntie actually kinda steered me away from that. I like the idea of trying to make things better through laws and things though."
"Me too," Sue said. "Going into law and do my best there."
"I am dreadfully behind," Luna said, sounding antsy.
"You still have a couple years," Harry said soothingly and hugged her. "And we know you are going to do something artistically amazing. Just have to figure out what and you have plenty of time." He smiled when she hugged him back.
"Besides, I haven't put much thought into the future right now," he continued.
"You're essentially training for it now, with the competition," Pansy snorted. "That is going to be an impressive resume, no matter how well you do. And you will do well."
"Yeah, you're going to get so busy and be in so much demand, we'll have to make reservations to eat your food again," Millicent gasped.
"I'll always have a table just for friends and family no matter what I do," Harry snorted. "Not to mention when I'm not actively working of course."
"Oh thank Merlin," Millicent said with sincere relief, making the others laugh.
"It is kinda frightening, with this being our last year of school," Lavender said. "It's coming quick."
There was a beat of silence as they felt the weight of the year coming and the imminent arrival of the future.
"Hey, it'll be okay," Harry said, hugging a slightly sniffly Luna. "We're going to be friends forever. I waited too long to make any and I'm never letting any of you go."
"Yeah, we're stuck with each other," Parvati said, smiling brightly.
"That sounds wonderful," Daphne said softly.
They all started eating and chatting and laughing with renewed appetite and vigor, with a closeness that was even more apparent than things were a moment ago.
-0-
Aberforth looked at the bao in his hand with appreciation. "This is really good." He bit into it again, enjoying the rich taste of the minced pork within and it being a dense contrast to the soft and fluffy bao. "Kinda goes against the feeling of the tavern but it's really good and I find myself not caring about that." He smiled as he watched the house elves eating the new food hungrily and happily.
He looked back at Harry and took another bite. "What's on your mind?"
Harry glanced up from him rolling out more bao dough. "Hmm? Oh, uh, just thinking."
"Wanna talk about it?"
Harry smiled a little. "You're really good at that, noticing when I'm wrestling with something and talking to me about it."
"You wear your thoughts and emotions on your sleeve," Aberforth said kindly.
"Oh. I used to not be like that," Harry said softly. "The Dursleys used to hate it when they saw me thinking or…well you know."
Aberforth smothered a growl and vented his feelings by chewing a little harder. "Yeah, well, they're pricks and they can sod off on what they like and don't like," he said, smiling when Harry smiled more sincerely. "Maybe it's 'cause you finally can share your thoughts and the like with people."
"Yeah, probably," Harry said happily. He let go of a long-held sigh. "Yesterday a bunch of us were hanging out and we were talking about our futures a little and it hit me."
"Oh yeah, starting your seventh year," Aberforth said sympathetically.
"Did you feel like that when you were starting your last year?" Harry asked.
"Not really but that was more because I didn't have friends," Aberforth said plainly. He snorted at Harry's look. "Is that really a surprise?"
"No, not really," Harry said and he dodged a towel being thrown. "But you have friends now."
"Eh, friendly enough," Aberforth said and snorted at Harry's look once more. "Okay, well, yeah and you're to blame for it."
"Sorry," Harry said insincerely.
"I forgive you," Aberforth said comfortably. "But no, I was glad to be done honestly. I did okay on the N.E.W.T.s I took and was eager to leave. I helped Al with helping Ari with her schooling and once she finished her tests, she did a mastery for potions. At that point, I didn't have a lot going on. I tried a few jobs here and there, tried to find something that interested me. Years passed and when Al became a proper teacher at Hogwarts, the previous owner of the place here wanted to sell. I was actively working with him and I just…kept working. It was fine work, kept me busy, didn't ask for more."
He leaned against the table and his eyes looked back into his memories. "I had some money saved and almost enough for the place. Al and Ari got nosy and they pooled their money with mine and we worked out an agreement on me paying them profits and back and all. Ari could stay here when she was traveling for work and Al was happy 'cause I was close by. And it was fine. Actually, more than, especially when the Wars happened. Good to stick close to people you care about."
He looked at Harry. "You tell them I said that and I'll deny it."
"They probably already know," Harry said with a soft smile.
"Yeah, probably," Aberforth said just as softly. "Anyways, I was content at running this place. Seeing the familiar faces. Serving drinks and some food." He smiled fondly at Harry. "Then you had to go and ruin things by being here and being you."
"Sorry," Harry said again with the same amount of insincerity and a bigger smile. "Forgive me again?"
"Still thinking about it," Aberforth said. He caught another finished bao and bit into it eagerly. "So what are your plans then, after the competition?"
"Haven't thought past the competition honestly," Harry said.
"Understandable," Aberforth said.
"I did talk about it a few years back though, with Sirius and my grandparents and the others," Harry continued. "I think I would like a place of my own one day. A restaurant. Somewhere nice and cozy. Someplace where I can see people smile and see them often. I like seeing Mr. Bennets and Mrs. Yog and the other regulars here and I want that, people I can see on the regular and see how they are."
Harry looked around the kitchen of the Hog's Head and looked out into the dining area through the window. "Like here. It just feels nice here. You made a real nice place here."
Aberforth looked at him for a long moment before nodding to himself, as if a thought was confirmed and warranted. "Well, I mean I had some decent regulars sure, but wouldn't go as far as what you've said," he said at last. "And actually, glad you brought that up 'cause I have something to say."
"You're not trying to fire me again, are you?" Harry asked, pretending to look nervous.
Aberforth made a loud shushing sound, glaring at Harry. "Are you trying to get me shanked in my sleep?!" He growled and shook his head while Harry laughed and he waved his hand when the elves peered over to see what the commotion was about.
Harry laughed and caught a face full of towel, not even trying to duck. "Sorry, couldn't resist."
"Yeah yeah," Aberforth said, shaking his head. He caught a conciliatory bao and munched on it. "When you're ready for your own place, if you want to have it here in Hogsmeade, you can have this place."
Harry stopped and blinked slowly a few times. "What?" he said dumbly.
"I mean it," Aberforth said. "Talked it with Al and Ari and we decided together that if you want a place, you can have the Hog's Head. We don't have anyone else we want to give it to when the time comes and well, you'd take care of it and that'd be good."
"Nothing's wrong with any of you, is there?" Harry asked, voice rising in panic.
Aberforth snorted but felt touched. "Nah, we're all healthy and fine. Ari thinks I'm in better health now and that's debatable. Don't worry Kid."
"Oh thank goodness," Harry said, rubbing his chest. "But, what would you do? You and Aunti Ari?"
"Ari's only here because I'm here, working that is," Aberforth said. "She has plenty to do otherwise. As far for me, well, I guess seeing you run to your dreams and doing all you can for them has been affecting me a little. I wouldn't mind trying something new." He looked at the barrels lining the back wall. "Maybe try my hand at making alcohol instead of just selling it and drinking it. Have a small farm maybe. Grow something. Watch some animals. That sort of thing."
He looked at Harry with a soft expression. "Besides, you've made this place into something else. It's not a dive anymore, a place for people to avoid the Broomsticks when they want to get drunk. It's a good place full of good food. People come to eat and share time and memories with each other. When you're not here, it's alright but something's missing a bit. And it picks up when you're here on Hogsmeade days and during breaks and summer. This place doesn't feel right without you anymore and like I said, I trust you to keep it going. Hogsmeade needs this place now, and it needs you."
"Thank you," Harry said quietly. He looked around. "I really do love it here," he said. "I took my first steps into something more here. I've learned a lot and still do." He looked at Aberforth. "I can't imagine this place without you though, you and Auntie Ari and Professor Dumbledore. It wouldn't feel right."
Aberforth snorted deeply and harshly to keep his bubbling feelings buried deep. "Don't worry Kid. We're going to be around for a while yet. You ain't getting rid of us easily."
"Thank goodness," Harry said with sincere relief.
Aberforth smiled. "I know this was a lot to drop on you all of a sudden, and don't feel like you have to keep this place going. I know you'll want to make your own mark and changes and it'd be good. Just letting you know you have options, not obligations."
"I understand. Thank you, Mr. Abe."
"What's that look for?" Aberforth asked, looking quizzical.
"I normally hug the person after we have a good heart to heart but I honestly don't know if you like them," Harry confessed.
Aberforth snorted and gave Harry a warm and slightly awkward embrace that Harry returned enthusiastically. "Damn Kid, making me soft."
"Sorry," Harry said a third time.
"No you're not," Aberforth said fondly.
"No I'm not," Harry agreed.
"Guess I'm not either," Aberforth sighed.
-0-0-0-
Hands Off MY Wolfie - He still got a little training and practicing while vacationing lol. He's built different. At least he enjoys it. Hedwig is Hedwig! Thanks for reading.
odonnellzoo99 - I'm really happy with a lot of the goblin characters. They feel like they could fit in the setting while being different for this setting. I never knew how much I would explore them but I'm glad I did. Luna was very funny and tricky.
TheSphynx - I'm really proud of Thalga and how Gringotts is in this setting. They feel appropriate to the setting, both the source and how this fic setting is. Emmie is super adorable.
alix33 - Crake bake is so phonetically pleasing. And sounds tasty. I love the mental image of Hedwig all passed out and plump and snoring.
DarkRavie - Thank you.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Yeah I've seen them as an axe or an overlarge pickaxe or a combo of the two. Oh sure but it could happen were the bigotry of the goblins against humans might cause some to be overconfident until they see what they're up against. Good to be careful.
poka - I'm pretty proud of Thalga. I think I was able to convey the familiarity of a city but show how different it is with it being underground and populated by a completely different race and started by them. I wanted it to feel real enough where you can see it and thus making the differences that much more real too. Hedwig loves them but she is not shy about showing her thoughts lol. I also really like Lavender trying to out hug Dee. Hedwig is a very good hunter.