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

A Taste of Magic

165th Course – Simmering

Harry had come to really like the test kitchen that Gabriel owned. He had learned it was a separate place, a place for Gabriel to test and work at his own pace and leisure, where he occasionally hosted others while using it as a place to do small-scale training and tutoring. He usually did not train many people there, preferring to do it in the kitchen of his main restaurant for those that worked for him, or going elsewhere. Only a select few came to this personal test kitchen to be trained.

To Harry, it represented an ideal, a destination to strive for. He had not known it the first time, those years prior. It was unknown to Gabriel as well. He had thought he would only be interacting with Harry the one time or perhaps a few more as a favor to Perenelle, certainly not the multiple times since. Yet he did not resent that, having come to genuinely like Harry and was enthusiastic in helping Harry grow and train for the Rising Stars.

The scent of rich and strong coffee assailed Harry's senses when he walked in and he smiled gratefully at the sight of a steaming cup waiting for him. "Thank you, Chef," he said as he entered the kitchen.

"You are welcome," Gabriel said kindly. "I remember all too well my days at Beauxbatons and how grueling the major examinations were." He waited for Harry to sip his espresso. "How did you think you did?"

"Well," Harry said proudly. "Definitely didn't fail any and I think I got an Outstanding or two."

"Splendid," Gabriel said with approval. "And congratulations again on making the finale! No easy feat for even a seasoned professional."

Harry beamed at that, warmed by the coffee and the expression both. "Thanks! I don't think I got this far from drama alone either. As in keeping the drama of the competition up."

"I do not think so either," Gabriel said, nodding in understanding and agreement. "I have heard of such things happen to other competitions, especially extended ones, but I think this one has not suffered that."

He and Harry sipped their coffee in soft silence for a few moments before he cleared his throat lightly. "Now then, let us prepare you for the final challenge, shall we?"

"Yes Chef Mentor!"

Gabriel sighed but smiled wryly. "It seems like your sense of humor remains unscathed."

"Depends on the situation I guess," Harry said.

"Indeed." Gabriel waved his wand and a blackboard came into being, floating before them. A flick of the wand conjured chalk and it began to write on the board. "Tell me, what are the characteristics of fine dining?"

"Good service," Harry said immediately. "Excellent ingredients, high level of skill for preparation and presentation, and…cost?"

"Precisely," Gabriel said. The chalk continued to write, listing those things out. "You will not have to worry about service, thankfully, and the quality of the ingredients should not be a question, not to mention you are not charging anyone. Therefore you will focus solely on your cooking in every conceivable way."

He looked at Harry. "Your opponent is possibly the very strongest one you could have gone against from the opening placement."

"I think so too," Harry said, remaining collected. "The Bocuse d'Or is like the competition for haute cuisine and fine dining, right?"

"Yes," Gabriel said frankly. "Not to mention the restaurant she works at is one of the best for it. They only do multi-course meals. You are at an extreme disadvantage."

"Figured as much," Harry said evenly.

"Many in your position would be cursing and railing against the unfairness of it all," Gabriel mused.

"Don't see the point in doing that," Harry said, shrugging slightly. "I did that a lot before for other things," he added quietly. "This is…not nearly as bad."

Gabriel hummed a little at that. "It is good that you are not," he said at last. "I have little respect for people who waste time and energy in decrying what is fair and what is not."

"So you respect me a little?" Harry gasped, eyes wide.

Gabriel snorted and smiled. "Perhaps," he said, amused by Harry's happy expression. "I could go on at length about all the disadvantages that you have before you." He frowned at the chalk as it was in fact writing out the disadvantages and he waved his wand irritably, erasing the words.

Harry grinned. "I gather we're going to do something else?"

"Quite," Gabriel said. "Instead, we will focus on your strengths and do what we can with them." He looked at Harry and gave him a piercing look. "I could write out a menu for you, teach you how to make it correctly, and you could take it with you to the competition."

Harry frowned. "That seems…hollow to me. Like I am trying to win with your recipes only and it's your food, not mine."

Gabriel's smile was warm. "Indeed. I am glad you recognize that. I gather you do not want to do that?"

"No offense, but no," Harry said slowly. He felt better at Gabriel's approving nod. "Like, I am always happy to learn, especially things I don't know. But I think it'd be better if I take the techniques you teach me and make something with them instead of following an exact recipe. And like you said, I need to show my food and my specialty."

"Very good. That shows character and integrity," Gabriel said proudly. "And I will be more than happy to help you craft a menu and offer suggestions on how to improve the menu. Now, what do you think of when you think fine dining and haute cuisine?"

"Something fancy," Harry said. "But not necessarily fancy for being fancy, like something super intricate. I think of something with a lot of work, something with a lot of effort put into it that might look simple."

"Very good," Gabriel said. "Consommé is a fine example. A simple looking bowl of soup that underwent substantial processing and work to create it."

He flicked his wand again and the chalk continued to write. "Now, this will be a four-course menu so there are some traditions that must be upheld. You will have to create an hors d'oeuvre, an appetizer, a main course, and then dessert. There is some leeway and flexibility for each course, but it must follow this guideline."

Gabriel summoned more coffee to them and refilled their cups. "Now, what are the characteristics of a multi-course meal?"

"Everything should be balanced," Harry said, drinking more coffee. "There should be consistency between the courses, right?"

"Exactly. Consistency is very important. The dishes all must appear to have had equal amount of thought and work put in and the balance of flavors must progress from dish to dish. Portion size is of paramount importance. Put too little, it lacks impact. Put too much, it ruins the balance of the meal as a whole. But this is perhaps the most important rule of it all."

Gabriel pointed at a word on the chalkboard. "You must cook with deliberation. Everything on the plate must be thought out, to have every component be considered. If there is a garnish, then there has to be a reason behind it. Scattering a few leaves for color is lazy. Adding something because it looks nice is weak. Every component must belong on the plate. It has to be an integral piece where if it was missing, then it would be truly missed."

He paced slowly, one arm tucked behind his back and the other holding his cup. "That, in my opinion, is what sets the professional truly apart. Those that follow direction will do as bidden and not understand the why. The one that considers every part of the whole, that treats each piece with due respect, are the craftsman, the ones who understands. They are the ones that create what is good while others replicate."

He opened his arms. "There are many who focus on the centerpiece solely. The ones that showcase the very expensive ingredient for the grandeur and the appearance. They are the ones that will allow a weak sauce to be on the plate because they did not care about it as much. They are the ones that will accept mediocre other ingredients as long as the main one shines, but that is failure from onset. There is of course the main attraction, but it can only shine when supported properly. The weakest link breaks the chain and it is especially true in cooking because it is easy to find the fault when the rest is that much more superior."

Gabriel pointed a finger at Harry. "A chef can cook. A good chef cooks well. A great chef cooks knowing why."

"That makes a lot of sense," Harry said, scribbling into his notebook. "Thank you, Sir."

"You are welcome." Gabriel looked down fondly at him. "So, when it comes to your menu, be deliberate. Make sure each piece has a reason for being there. A good multi-course meal has a progression. It should tell a story, in a way, of why it is being made and eaten. The goal should not only to satiate the eater, but to have them understand why the meal was made in the first place at the end of the last course."

"I made a multi-course coercion course before," Harry said.

"A what?" Gabriel asked, confused.

"Sorry, multi-course dinner party," Harry said hastily. "Old joke. I mean, I made a lot for dinner parties before, but I followed a menu that was set out. The first one I made with my own choices was a few years ago and the theme was showing what I had learned in the years prior. Basically we were trying to convince the parents of my friends to not take them out of Hogwarts and send them to Sanguis. I made dishes I learned from my friends while at school to show it was possible only because we went to Hogwarts together."

"Clever," Gabriel said. "And it worked obviously."

"Yes Sir, but I'll admit it was a bit random if I didn't explain it."

"Sometimes you must explain your thought process, but sometimes it is better if you are not forced to," Gabriel agreed. "The most elusive but rewarding moment is if the diner has an inkling of the path and they have that sense of pride when they saw it for what it was when you explain at the end."

"Too bad we can't just write it out with each course, like a little explanation," Harry said.

Gabriel chuckled. "Sometimes you can. It can be seen as very condescending however, despite some desperately needing it written out for them."

"How do you plan multi-course dinners?" Harry asked.

"It depends on the clientele," Garbiel said. "If they are coming to my restaurant, I assume they are aware of my cooking and my style and while I am somewhat flexible to wants and allergies and dislikes, I do not cater exclusively to them per se. If it is for a private affair, I do take into account their preferences and plan accordingly. I generally like to emphasize mostly seasonal ingredients while cooking my style of French cuisine."

He conjured another chalkboard and the chalk floated to it, waiting. "Let us list some themes that you could reasonably adhere to."

"I could do French, especially with your help," Harry said, watching the chalk write by itself. "Goblin cooking too, I have a lot of experience with it and Chef Diglin would help me for sure. I don't think I can do a pure Indian or Japanese or Chinese menu, but could do one that has elements of them. British food of course."

He snorted lightly. "I could redo everything I've done for the competition but make it more gourmet and fancy."

"A redemption meal," Gabriel said, chuckling lightly. "Not a terrible idea but it would be very difficult to do well without being accused of being lazy. Beside, you have already obtained redemption with your pies."

"And my last idea would probably be doing what I normally do, cooking food that is comforting and makes people happy and smile," Harry said at last.

Gabriel waved his wand and the chalk settled down on the table and the two of them looked at the finished chalkboard thoughtfully. "I think you could do passably with a French menu," Gabriel said slowly, "but not against Beaufort as your opponent. Whatever you do will be compared to her to begin with, and comparing your menu against hers if you do completely French food will be a very difficult spell to cast."

"I think so too," Harry said.

"While I do not doubt goblin cooking is good, it is still very different from what others have had and might be used to, and I do not think this would be the best venue to try and immerse people into it," Gabriel continued.

"Just as well. A fair portion of it is poisonous to humans," Harry said.

Gabriel looked at him for a moment before continuing. "An Asian full course would be interesting and good, but like you said, not exactly your forte to do every course with it and it would be a touch disparate between the courses."

"So that leaves British or comfort food," Harry mused. "Which I think is possible for both, I think."

"I have a suggestion," Gabriel offered.

"Please."

"I have always thought that recipes you have learned are the history of your career," Gabriel said. "Ones you learned from others, ones you created for yourself, it is a written record of your experiences. They can show how a chef has grown over time, where they came from, where they were, what they have learned. It is a history of their influences and what has influenced them."

He looked down at the younger man. "You have a…feeling, an ability for capturing a feeling in your cooking. You cook thinking about others and that comes from the cooking you have learned and honed. Perhaps we should focus on that and take dishes that have strong meaning to you and see if we can manipulate them slightly to fit the task ahead without losing the identity of the dish."

"I like that a lot," Harry said enthusiastically. "Thank you, Chef!"

"Good," Gabriel smiled. "I thought it had the sentimentality that you enjoy and care for."

"Is that a bad thing?" Harry asked.

"Not necessarily. The senses evoke emotion and can summon thoughts and feelings from long ago that have been associated with it," Gabriel said honestly. "I, personally, do not consider it overmuch because I do not care about others when it comes to my cooking. I know my cooking is superior. It is the eater's right to disagree and their prerogative to be incorrect."

"Must be nice to have a healthy ego," Harry smiled.

"It is rather amusing and amazing how humble you are considering the company you keep," Gabriel said with a sardonic smile.

"You're not wrong," Harry laughed. Harry wrote out the dishes that he had the most feeling with on separate pieces of paper at Gabriel's direction. They then laid them all out when he finished, going over them.

"That is a rather odd and broad range," Gabriel mused, looking over them.

"It really is, looking at them like this," Harry said.

Gabriel arranged a few in a line. "I think this will be doable, have a progression of sorts, and can be modified to show some higher skill."

Harry looked and he made a substitution. "Is this okay? I'm really fond of this one."

"Perfectly fine," Gabriel nodded. "Well then. We should spend the rest of today making them, and then tasting, and see how we can enhance them. Your goal for the time up to the challenge is to make these dishes time and again. Practice until you can cook them in in your sleep. Also have a couple others in mind in case the ingredients change."

"Will they do that?" Harry asked.

"They might. There will be an additional twist the day of, yes?" Gabriel thought while Harry nodded. "In the past they have changed the final challenge in subtle ways. So yes. Practice these until they are where you want them to be and have a few extra waiting in case."

"But not until they are perfect because perfection is an ideal and not a state," Harry said.

"Well said," Gabriel nodded with deep satisfaction.

"Thank you again, for everything," Harry said as he cooked and Gabriel watched. "I'm taking a lot of your time for this."

"You are, but it is readily given," Gabriel said easily. "I am very impressed that you made it to the finale and I am proud of your endeavors. I want you to succeed so I have no problem in aiding you for this." He narrowed an eye at Harry. "That said, I saw you repeated your little joke in describing the pies."

"They thought it was funny," Harry said weakly.

"I suppose it was and I would have been the first to tell you 'I told you so' if you were disqualified due to your temerity."

"Fair," Harry smiled.

They tasted the dishes when Harry finished them and Gabriel ate unstintingly. "Clearly some of your best work," Gabriel said as he finished. "Which will make things both easier and harder to modify for the competition."

"Because I'm used to cooking it a certain way and want it to taste that way?" Harry asked.

"Precisely," Gabriel nodded. "That said, I think we can elevate them without too much effort and it should maintain the integrity and feeling of the original."

"Haute cuisine and fine dining sure is picky," Harry said.

"I know, and I adore it," Gabriel smiled.

-0-

"That's why I don't do multi-course fine dining meals," Diglin said. "It's too picky for me. Too much effort and it's fussy for being fussy."

Harry was practicing making the meal from start to finish in Gringotts Main One. He and Gabriel had spent time finalizing his menu and as well as the ways he changed things to match the setting and expectations for the World's Kitchen and the finale for the competition. Now he was practicing how to get most of the prep work done on the day before during the time allotted, and to learn what was best to do on the day of instead.

He regularly timed himself as he did the prep work, practiced making his lists and experimenting with what could be done beforehand, as well as timing himself on the cooking of the food and finishing the dishes. It was gratifying to him that he was steadily improving his timing on both the prep work and the cooking.

"Gee Dad, tell us what you really think," Rubi snorted.

"I just did," he said, making her and the others snort once more. "Not saying I don't get it, I just don't care for it."

"It really is a whole different kind of cooking," Harry said as he focused on finishing his plating. "I watched Chef Gabriel make the same menu and he's so much faster and his plating is amazing."

"He is also a lot older than you and a lot more experienced," Dee said kindly.

"Oh I know," Harry said, smiling. "It's still incredible to watch."

"So who's better?" Rubi asked slyly. "Dad or Chef Gabriel?"

"You're not too old for me to punish," Diglin warned while Minla, Jaspyr, and Emmie laughed.

"They both are of course," Harry laughed. "Though Chef Gabriel probably doesn't need someone to get something off the highest shelves for him."

"I don't need you to get them," Diglin grinned while the others laughed harder. "I just prefer to make you work for it."

"I knew it," Harry gasped with faux shock. He finished plating and served the food to the StoneHeart family.

"Gosh that's good," Minla said, eating eagerly.

"Mmm, I can taste the differences," Dee said thoughtfully. "The small changes that you and Chef Gabriel made."

"Is it a good difference or a bad one?" Harry asked nervously.

"It's just a difference," Dee said. "I think it still tastes wonderful and I can feel the difference in ambiance between this and the regular version. One isn't better than the other, but one does fit one setting better than the other. Which is the point of course."

"Agreed," Diglin said, finishing his plate. "I think it's a strong menu too and I think you're going to do it well."

"Thanks Chef," Harry said happily.

"Uncle Harry, can I have more please?" Emmie asked, looking up at him, her plate completely clean and bare.

"Of course you can," Harry said and served her more. "I only put a little on the plate first because I had to for the competition."

"I think I have to agree with Dad," Jaspyr said with a small smile. "Fine dining with reduced portions is very fussy."

"There's just so many rules," Diglin said, shaking his head. "Gotta make this with that, don't do this with that, must go in an exact order, small bites and portions."

"I mean, I can think of a few rules you had me learn," Harry said lightly as he put more food on Emmie's plate again.

"That's different," Diglin said dismissively. "That's necessary."

"Some would argue the other rules are necessary for fine dining," Minla remarked.

"Sure, but unlike our rules, you don't die if you don't eat the right thing with the wrong thing," Diglin said. "Or if you prepare it wrong, it attacks you. Literally. Not a metaphor for heartburn."

"Emmie, you act like we starve you," Rubi said weakly when Emmie looked up at Harry with overlarge eyes.

"She loves her uncle's cooking," Dee chuckled warmly.

"I know you don't," Harry said, giving Emmie more. His smile turned into something heavy when he watched her eat so happily. "It's good that she asks for more and eats all she wants."

The others looked at each other briefly at that.

"Come here," Dee said. She hugged him as hard as she could when he did. "Just thought you could use some encouragement," she said.

"Not ribs though," Diglin said, causing the others to laugh a little.

"I'll survive," Harry wheezed, enjoying the hug to the fullest.

"Oh by the way, you'll enjoy this," Diglin said when Dee let Harry go. "Gringotts decided on a place for the goblin restaurant in Diagon proper."

"That's great!" Harry exclaimed.

"It's going to be across the street from the bank," Diglin said. "Smallish place to start, but will expand in time if turnover increases and desire for it does the same."

"Across the street? To show a difference from the bank despite the sponsorship?" Jaspyr asked.

"Pretty much," Dee said. "They debated the location at length and thought that would be for the best. Show something else without obvious Gringotts influence yet be close enough for support if need be."

"Who's going to run it?" Harry asked.

"There's a surprising amount of applicants for it, both kitchen and managerial," Diglin said. "Which is a good thing. Cuttlyr has applied for a position too."

"Really? We really want Cuttlyr to represent us?" Minla asked. She squawked when Dee clipped her ear.

"Be nice to your brother," Dee said sternly. "He has been working hard."

"Sorry," Minla mumbled, slightly abashed. "I'm just used to being hard on him because of all his faults."

Diglin snorted. "He won't be the head, not yet anyways. He doesn't have the experience or the strength for it. I'm still proud of him for applying though and it'll be good for him if he gets a place on the staff."

"Anyone in the Crew applying?" Harry asked.

"They all said they would, something about escaping me," Diglin said airily. "But none did. Citing one reason or another."

"Why didn't they hire Harry for it?" Rubi asked, winking at him.

"If you wanted a place there, they probably would fit you in," Diglin said fondly.

"I don't know, I'm pretty sure I have a non-competing clause with Gringotts," Harry smiled, feeling touched. "And I certainly don't want to, anyways. I'd rather cook with you and the Crew if I stayed close."

"That's our boy," Dee smiled.

"So you don't think you'd ever have a place in Diagon one day?" Minla asked. "I know you're taking the place in Hogsmeade, but don't a lot of chefs end up with multiple places?"

"I don't know, I can't see the future. I leave that to Lavender and Parvati," Harry said and the others laughed appreciatively. "I'm sure I could one day, but I'd rather leave the goblin cooking to the experts for authenticity."

"Doesn't mean you can't serve your version of it," Diglin said comfortably. "You've certainly earned it and we know you'd treat it with respect. We've seen evidence of that time and again."

"Well even things set in stone have a way of getting chiseled out," Dee said prosaically. "We'll get there when we do and not a moment before. Better focus on what's about to happen first."

Harry continued with the meal and finished it, smiling as the others enjoyed the dessert course. "What do you think?" he asked.

"It's really good," Minla said enthusiastically, with the others agreeing with her.

"Solid menu," Diglin nodded. "You got it down I think. Keep working on it, pay attention to all the details, try to mentally prepare for whatever twist comes, and I think you have an honest chance at the title."

"We believe in you," Dee smiled.

"Thanks everyone," Harry said happily. He looked down when Emmie tugged on his arm. "Did you want more dessert?"

Emmie's face scrunched up with thought. "Later," she said, opening her arms wide. She giggled happily when Harry picked her up and she snuggled comfortably against him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Note she didn't say no," Rubi laughed, shaking her head.

"An important distinction," Jaspyr smiled.

-0-0-0-

DOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Yep, there'll be a bit of build up to it as per usual, but hopefully good build up that adds to the story.

odonnellzoo99 - I never envisioned this Harry as to be weak in magic as some have accused me of making him. I just wanted him to have a different approach to magic compared to others, and have a different focus. So it was nice to show some, believable, talent and effort. They take turns in joke poaching. It's only fair. I won't say anything now, but hopefully people like the finale when it comes. I was pretty happy with it.

SixFtWookie - Had to happen eventually.

Hands Off MY Wolfie - The website broke again. It's not recording numbers or loading reviews. I have to work off of emails for them right now and it's rather inconvenient. I think it makes sense that Harry has a flair for showmanship with his mentors and important role models as well. Thanks for reading.

DarkRavie - Thank you.

poka - Hope you like the build up. I like to think that my chapters usually have a reason to be and are not just filler. Even the silly ones should be there to provide some contrast and be silly while using a joke I wanted to do, while being referenced in the future. I've had fun doing food research for the fic too, glad you have enjoyed that as well.

TheSphynx - Not sure if he'd have time for that lol. Running a business is an all hours ordeal.

alix33 - The Patroni skipping rope was my favortie bit.

Wentley - I like the change in Aberforth as well, shows even he can allow himself to change and be different while still grumpily him. I was really happy with the charms part too. It really hit a note that I wanted.