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

A Taste of Magic

152nd Course – Working Towards

"Is it weird that, while fully appreciating how cool they are, I also wonder what they taste like?" Parvati asked.

"I'm glad it's not just me," Harry smiled.

Despite being out in the winter wind and snow, they were mostly comfortable while still wearing their winter wraps. At first the students in the Care of Magical Creatures class thought the fire salamanders were back, and they were not wrong. Hagrid had brought another kind of new creature for them to observe and learn about as well as the familiar salamanders. Several fires were made around an open space near his cabin and the one with the salamanders was the calmest, the coals and wood crackling pleasantly.

Smaller flat shelled forms constantly moved back and forth several smaller fires, scuttling swiftly over the open ground. Some were content in sitting in one of the calmer fires while others moved back and forth between roaring fires and more often than not, fought each other for space and what appeared to be general belligerent desire.

Hagrid chuckled. "I never had them meself," he said comfortably. 'Fire crabs are harder to get up here. As you might guess, they're more common in the tropics and mountainous places and many volcanoes. Some species live in deserts too, but on the whole, prefer a place where there will be active fires."

"I'm trying to imagine how fire crabs even came into being," Hermione said as she watched a line of crabs scuttle from one fire to another. "Like their origin. One usually doesn't associate a crab with fire, unless you're cooking them."

"Like most magical creatures, magic," Hagrid said and smiled when they laughed. "Probably a species of crab got into a spot of natural magic and acclimated to the hotter place, and just kept going."

"Do they need water at all? To live in or lay eggs or something?" Millicent asked.

"Some do but most are fine without," Hagrid said. "They carry their eggs with them and the eggs are protected from fire, hatchin' just fine when it's time."

"I remember reading ahead about the fire chickens," Harry said. "We thought they might taste spicy."

"I've had those and they do, but could be 'cause of how they were made," Hagrid said. "Might try to get some of them too. Their feathers and egg shells are useful for lots of fire spells and potions."

"Their shells are so pretty," Lavender admired.

"They really are," Hagrid said enthusiastically. "Also useful for fire related spells and things."

"I'm glad I can enjoy the lesson a little more this time," Harry said as they fed the salamanders and crabs. "Not sick this time."

"Being sick is no fun," Hagrid agreed. He looked down at Harry. "How're you feelin' about other things?"

"I feel okay," Harry said. "I should be getting the clue to the next event soon, so will probably feel differently then. Otherwise just staying on top of school things and preparing for N.E.W.T.s and practicing other things." He shrugged. "Trying to ignore the other stuff."

"You'll be fine," Hagrid said confidently, patting Harry on the back and then holding him steady as he stumbled. "You're a good person and you're tough."

"I'm tough?" Harry grinned, rubbing his shoulder.

"Sure are," Hagrid said confidently. "Not many kids are so comfortable goin' into the Forbidden Forest after all and huntin' boar and doin' everythin' after. Goin' underground to Thalga, I get the wobbles when I go into the vaults at Gringotts. Darn carts are too fast."

"Oh turns out the carts can go slower, they just don't because it would waste time," Harry said.

"I knew it!" Hagrid exclaimed. "Well, it's fine," he grumbled while Harry snickered. "Just sayin', you're goin' to be just fine. People who like to think they know things complain out loud and they don't know a thing at all, so just ignore them."

"Thanks Hagrid," Harry smiled, hugging the big man.

"I'm proud of you," Hagrid said, smiling down at Harry. "You do great things, and you'll keep doin' them." He looked over the small area and sighed. "Fang! No! Don't bother the crabs! You know what happened the last time!"

"Poor Fang," Harry said a moment later, holding a handful of snow to Fang's muzzle.

"You should know better than to stick your nose into fire and let the crabs pinch you," Hagrid scolded gently, rolling his eyes at the boar hound's whining. "Just as well. I can teach you lot how to treat a burn and a pinch wound. Let me get my kit."

-0-

"Mmm, that smells good." Lavender sniffed the air when she walked into the Uncommon Room. "What is it?"

"Beef gyuveche," Harry said, hugging and kissing her back. "It's a Bulgarian stew."

"Oh the one that Krum taught you? I remember now." She winced and looked at him sheepishly. She smiled when he kissed her again.

"Yup," Harry smiled. "It's a great stew, especially when it's cold out so I got the gyuveche pot out and made it again. Actually I got a letter from Viktor."

"Oh that's nice! What did it say?"

"He wanted to congratulate me about the World's Kitchen and to ignore Banters and the bad press. He gets a lot of it and says that there'll always be rude people that want nothing more than to make others as miserable as they are. He's also going to be in France and maybe Britain soon and hoped for me to cook for him again."

"That's so sweet of him," Lavender smiled.

"Yeah, he's cool," Harry grinned.

"What's with the fishing pole by the way?" Lavender asked, noticing the pole on the table. "And what's that on the hook? Is that a piece of bacon?"

"It's a new game that Hedwig and I came up with." Harry picked up the rod and flicked it out, casting the line and the baconed hook went flying to the other side of the room, landing amid some cushions and things. He moved the rod a bit back and forth, reeling the line in and drew it all the way back with the bacon intact.

"She hides somewhere and doesn't fly around, only walking. I fish for her and she tries to steal the bacon. If she can get it off the hook without me reeling her in, she wins. If I pull her all the way back, I win."

"You two come up with the best games," Lavender smiled. "Who's won the most?"

"We're about even," Harry said. "She has one up on me but she gets impatient and hungry."

"Can I try?" Lavender took the pole eagerly and flung the line out, sending it over to the top of the cabinet. She pulled the rod a little but then the line went taught. "Ah ha!" Lavender started to reel in the line. "I got you!" She pulled some more but then the end of it came flying out and bounced on the ground, the metallic hook ringing merrily on the stone.

Hedwig popped her head from the top of the cabinet and hooted smugly, beak full of bacon, and turned to waggle her tail feathers at Lavender.

"I'll get you!" Lavender said brightly. "More bacon please." Harry obliged, securing a thick slice to the hook and smiled as Hedwig snuck around and hooted when she was ready, watching Lavender cast the line out once more.

"Mmm, that smells good." More of their friends arrived as Harry took the gyuveche pot out of the oven and set it on the owl-shaped trivet. "Oh is that the stuff you made in fourth year?" Parvati asked.

"Yup, gyuveche," Harry said. "I'll probably making the shkembe chorba soon. Had a craving for some tripe and something spicy."

"How does one crave tripe?" Blaise asked.

"I don't know," Harry shrugged, "much like any other craving really."

"I guess I'm not all that fond of offal, hence my not understanding," Blaise said.

"And we're not fond of you because you're awful, which isn't hard to understand," Astoria said snidely.

Blaise smiled blandly. "I knew you were going to say that. In fact, I expected it by saying what I did. You are becoming predictable."

"You take that back!" Astoria gasped.

"Shan't!"

Pansy smiled at the ensuing argument and gave Lavender an odd look. "What are you doing?"

"Hedwig fishing," Lavender said, reeling the line back in. "She's hiding over there and you either manage to reel her in before she eats all the bacon or she steals it off the hook first. It's a game."

"That sounds incredibly absurd," Pansy said, tilting her head. "May I have a turn?"

"Go for it!" Lavender gave Pansy the rod. "I don't think she's in the tall cabinet again and I haven't had luck in the open racks."

Pansy clumsily threw the line out and flushed when the hook did not go halfway across the room. Lavender showed her how to throw it out further and she smiled when she managed to send the hook into the cushions. "How do you know if she's on the bacon?"

"Try to watch the top of the rod and if it bends and you feel some tugging on the line, she's probably on it or it's caught on something," Lavender said.

"Oh!" Pansy spun the handle on the reel, pulling hard. The line went taut and there was obvious tugging on both ends and then Hedwig appeared from among the cushions, beak clamped onto the bacon bait. She tried to get purchase on the cushions and pillows but could not keep from sliding across the stones. Halfway across, she accepted the circumstances and gnawed on the bacon as Pansy drew her in.

"I did it!" Pansy cheered as she removed the rest of the bacon from the hook and Hedwig gobbled it up with a happy bark. "That's rather fun. Is fishing this fun normally?"

"Not really," Ron said with a laugh. "But if you catch a big enough fish, you can eat it at least."

"Some people fish for sport," Hermione said. "Throw the fish back into the water."

"That seems a bit rude," Luna frowned.

"More rude than being eaten?" Susan asked.

"Well, no," Luna conceded, "but imagine you wanting to nibble on something and then you get dragged out, poked at, then thrown back."

"You're not wrong," Susan smiled. They all tucked into small bowls of the spicy beef stew as Hedwig hid among the things on the other side again and Parvati flung the line out, newly baconed.

"I wonder if Sunny would play this," Millicent mused as she watched.

"The beast would probably hook you," Pansy snorted.

"I got you!" Parvati said, pulling on the rod and spinning the handle on the reel. "You'll tire out!"

"You've been pulling hard for a while," Padma remarked after a few moments.

"That means it's only a matter of time," Parvati grunted.

Harry looked down. He realized Hedwig had walked over back to the kitchen side while everyone was watching Parvati and was sitting placidly beside him, munching on the end of a rasher of bacon, looking both bored and pleased with herself. "Uh, Parv?"

"Yeah?" Parvati looked over and gasped as Hedwig giggled, looking especially plump and proud. "When did you get over here?! What happened to the hook?!" Everyone laughed loudly as she stomped over. "You wrapped it around the table legs!" She disentangled the line and returned, smiling wryly as Hedwig did a victory dance that involved a lot of emphatic rump rolling. "I'll get you next time," she said.

-0-

"Why do you look like smoke is coming out of your ears?" Parvati asked. "Are you eating pepper imps?"

Padma smiled. "No, but it does feel like my brain is boiling though." She stretched, rubbing the back of her neck. "Part of me wants the N.E.W.T.s to be over and done with but the other part of me knows I'm not quite ready for them yet."

Her smile grew when Harry put a plate of uttapam and dosa in front of her. "Thanks Harry!" she said happily, hugging him tightly.

"You've been doing really well on the practice tests," Harry said. "I know you need really good scores but I'm sure you're going to get them. You work really hard."

"I hope so," Padma said thickly, munching on an uttapam. She looked at her sister. "You don't want one?"

"I'm being a good sister and not stealing any of yours because they're yours and you deserve them," Parvati said. She smiled when Harry brought over a second plate. "And I was confident mine was coming."

The window rattled and Hedwig swooped in. She flew around the room a few times, barking at the people within, and landed in front of Harry. She nibbled his fingers a little before he took the letter she brought him and then promptly took one of the dosa that was sitting on Parvati's plate.

"That looks official, from the World's Kitchen?" Parvati asked, moving her plate closer to Hedwig.

"Looks like it," Harry said. He opened the envelope and read the letter within. "'Entertainment is the name of the challenge,'" he read as everyone gathered around. "'A chef cannot control everything and sometimes must face the reality of lacking in choice, mobility, availability, or decision. Therefore, the mark of a chef is flexibility'."

"That is even more obtuse than the last one," Daphne frowned. "What does that mean?"

"Sounds like you won't have something or some things during the challenge," Hermione said.

"But what?" Millicent asked. "Would they make you cook without any equipment?"

"I think so. I feel like I vaguely remember reading a challenge like that before," Harry said. He walked to the bookcase and brought over all the books that Ariana brought him before the beginning of the competition. "I remember wondering how I'd react." He and his friends took a book or magazine each and started paging through them.

"This one had them cooking with one arm behind their back. At least with magic it's more doable," Pansy said.

"This one they couldn't use magic at all," Parvati said. "Apparently it wasn't very popular and the ones who didn't rely on it were better obviously."

"Oh wow, this one sounds like a pain in the arse," Millicent said. "No knives at all."

"How does that even work?" Hannah asked.

"They had to use other stuff like the edges of things and racks and what not," Millicent said, showing the accompanying pictures. "That looks incredibly tedious."

"I see a few where they couldn't have their favorite ingredients or weren't allowed to use certain ones," Lavender said. "This one didn't let them add salt. They had to use things that were naturally salty or other flavors."

"That sounds really annoying," Padma said. "Imagine being told to make potions but you can't use a cauldron or something."

"Or casting spells without your wand. I know some can do wandless but it's really hard and not everyone can," Sue said. "Not to mention not every spell can be cast wandless."

"How do you even practice for something like this?" Astoria asked. "I mean you could force yourself to cook without utensils and things but that doesn't sound fun in the slightest."

"I don't think the competition has been fun at all honestly," Luna said grumpily. "It's been very rude."

Harry smiled and hugged her fondly. "It's been challenging, that's for sure. And it has made me try different things and…different experiences," he said wryly. "I'll send a letter to the Chefs and see what they recommend. Otherwise, I think I'll just focus on working on flavors I know and try to think of different ways of using them. I have a feeling it'll be one of those times I have to see what the constraints are and go from there."

"Probably for the best," Pansy nodded.

"Wow, look at this," Susan said, showing them another picture from another challenge. "They had to cook while weighed down with things. That looks really hard."

"I think Harry's used to that," Lavender smiled as Harry moved about with Hedwig plumped on his head and Sunny draped around his shoulders.

"If only that was the challenge," Tracey laughed. "They'd be supportive of him and attack the others. And the judges."

"If only," Millicent grinned with Sunny and Hedwig nodding in agreement.

-0-

"Very well done, Mister Potter," McGonagall praised, looking very pleased and proud. "Excellent use of the material transfiguration, and then shape change."

Harry looked proudly at his stone owl that he has transfigured from the pile of sand. "Thank you. I picked stone as the end material because it is more similar to sand."

"Well reasoned." She leaned down to peer at the figurine. "Very detailed. Quite the smug expression on it."

"I'm used to seeing that on an owl," Harry said to smothered snorts.

"Oh yes, I imagine you are," McGonagall said, amused after thinking for a moment. She nodded when Harry undid the transfiguration. The stone statue turned into a statue of sand before it gently fell apart, returning into a pile once more. She gave him a look.

He shrugged sheepishly. "Grandfather does tutor me."

"I suppose I should be happy that you are improving, no matter the source," McGonagall said with a wry expression. "Well done."

"What was that about?" Lavender asked as McGonagall went to the next student.

"Oh when he transfigures things, he always has them keep their shape for a few moments before they change more," Harry said. "Especially when it's something that's hard to stay in the prior shape. He says it looks more impressive and shows off your abilities. It is also harder to do so it's a good way to practice."

"Oh that's neat." Lavender concentrated and her sand turned into stone as well.

"Good job!" Harry exclaimed.

"Thanks! I can't quite get it to go straight to a shape though," she said somewhat glumly.

"It's okay. The goal was to get to the end and if it takes you more steps, then that's fine. You do well in Transfiguration even if it's not your best," he said encouragingly.

She smiled and kissed him on the cheek before she concentrated some more, murmuring the incantation. The stone shifted and became a dog.

"Aww, that's a good Cokie," Parvati said, looking over.

"It is a lot easier when you're familiar with the subject," Lavender said proudly.

Transfiguration class ended and Hermione and Parvati left for the Prefect offices while Harry and Lavender went to the Uncommon Room. Hedwig cheeped hello and fluttered over when they walked in, depositing letters in front of Harry and plumping in his lap. He petted her and scratched her head as he opened the letters with his wand, unfolding them and reading them.

"Who are they from?" Lavender asked as Hedwig walked over to her lap and cooed happily while Lavender petted her.

"Chef and Chef Gabriel," Harry said, reading the other letter swiftly. "Chef Gabriel said he had hoped they wouldn't do something so banal for the Rising Stars but it's popular for a reason, those challenges I mean. He said practicing for not having certain equipment and things isn't worthwhile. Instead just focus on what I know and try to think of different ways around things if ingredients are limited."

"That makes sense. What does Chef Diglin say?" she asked.

Harry grinned. "He said those challenges are really stupid and doesn't see the point of them. But he's saying the same. Don't worry about cooking with what I won't have. Just think about what I can do if I don't have access to basic seasoning and think of ways around it like using different spices and flavors. Or different products to help like using pickles that already are pretty salted or strongly flavored to make up for other things."

"Those sound like good tips," Lavender said.

"I guess it'll just come down to what I get that day," Harry said. "No sense in worrying about it until I get there." He got up and put on one of his aprons and tied a bandanna on. "What are you in the mood for?"

"You want to make me something?" she asked, delighted.

"Of course," Harry smiled. "If anything, you're helping me practice."

"Something you haven't made in a while," she said. "Anything that makes you happy."

"Making you happy makes me happy," he said, leaning over the table and giving her a kiss. He snorted when he looked down and saw Hedwig with her eyes closed and her beak open, tongue hanging out, a very amused expression on her feathered features. He poked her beak and earned the reprisal nip. "Hmm, okay. I got it."

Soon he had rice steaming in a pot on the hob as he minced ginger, garlic, and green onions. He put them into a wok with oil, the air taking on the perfume of the fragrant herbs. Pork mince went into the wok and browned as he added seasonings to it, mixing it around. Cubes of soft tofu went in next and some chicken broth covered it barely and bubbles and simmered. A slurry of cornstarch and water went in at the end and he garnished it with green parts of the chopped green onions and served it piping hot over white rice.

"I love mapo tofu!" Lavender said excitedly. Before she dug into her plate, she portioned it out onto two more plates and set one in front of Hedwig and pushed the other to Harry. "Mmm," she hummed as she ate. "So good! And just the right amount of spice for me. I can't handle it like Parvati but it's growing on me."

"I tried to not add any salt or pepper or any extra of the basic seasonings," Harry said as he ate too. "Just letting the flavors from the soy sauce, the bean paste, and chili oil come through." He added a little more salt and pepper and tasted it again. "It does lack just a little without."

"Still tastes really good though," Lavender said and Hedwig cheeped agreement as she ate happily.

"Your smile got a whole lot bigger all of a sudden," Harry smiled.

"I was just imagining the future," Lavender said brightly, her tone turning wistful and wondering. "I think it will be so wonderful like this. You cooking and happy, me happy being with you and eating." She fed Hedwig another spoonful as Hedwig looked up at her expectantly, beak open. "Hedwig there too, of course."

"That does sound amazing," Harry said soulfully.

The door opened and Clover and Marigold appeared. "That smells so good!" Marigold said as they bounded in.

"Hey, this is mine!" Lavender squawked as Clover reached for her spoon. She sighed and rolled her eyes and looked at Harry wearily. "And of course these two just barging in and ruining the mood."

"We don't ruin moods!" they gasped, affronted.

"Who was being peepers and watching when they shouldn't have?!"

"Who was being gross in our own home?!"

"It's my home too!"

Harry's laugh was deep and warm. "I wouldn't have it any other way," he smiled. "Don't poach your sister's plate," he said to the twins who were in the process of doing just that. "There's plenty still." He dished up two more plates, as well as adding second helpings for Lavender and Hedwig, and he continued to eat and smile as the Brown sisters chatted and argued, completely enjoying the moment.

-0-0-0-

odonnellzoo99 - I like to think Gabriel is a consummate craftsman, very passionate about his work and looks at it from a lot of different ways, not just the literal and practical. I always like Hermione being the 'us' as in Muggle born and liking the fantastical where the others who grew up in the wizarding world to be more 'grounded' in it. There really are a lot of characters. And I keep making more OCs and have to juggle more.

JRSDH1 - Harry feels comfortable around Gabriel now and it is a feeling returned in kind.

Hands Off MY Wolfie - They would give it to him, but then ignore him lovingly. Probably a lot colder. Thanks for reading.

poka - I like to see Harry and Gabriel's relationship grow in time, like the ones he has had with others. Before, Gabriel did see him as a child but with each passing moment, sees a true passion for the craft and is happy to help nurture it. I don't know what I am doing after this ends to be honest. I've been writing consistently for years now and as we know, spent over a year on this alone. We will have to see. I have done a Harry and Luna story however.

Favorite ship is hard to decide. Each has a merit to it and a distinct feel to it. I've always had a soft spot for Hermione because I'm very bookish and in the past have been, uncharitably but accurately, labeled a bookworm and know-it-all in some ways. Dora/Tonks is so fun and sweet. Luna is quirky and I like how delightfully odd and awkward she is. Daphne is fun but she is very blank slate, which is ironic considering Katie. I wanted to challenge myself in Taste and try to write something compelling and sweet with Lavender who is by all accounts a very normal girl. So I don't suppose I have a favorite one right now.

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - T

TheSphynx - It's all coming up Milhouse-I mean Harry.

Wentley - The change in the setting concerning cooking and the goblins is something I'm rather satisfied with.