I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
A Taste of Magic
138th Course – Getting Ready
Things were winding down after the lunch rush in Gringotts and half of the Crew were finishing up the last orders while the other half started cleaning. As usual, it was busy and even more so because Harry would be going back to Hogwarts soon. He had been working the main line that day and was finishing the last of the lunch orders while the others worked with and around him.
"Good work everyone," Diglin said as he walked over, wiping his hands dry on a towel. He looked at the Crew around Harry and frowned. "All right, what are you lot telling him now?"
"We're just helping him get ready for the first challenge," Flynt said.
"And what are you lot telling him?" Diglin repeated, looking at them suspiciously.
"Nothing bad," Amythyst insisted. "Just advice. Stick to what he knows, go with one of his go to dishes based on the challenge and what's available. Ignore the competition unless they go low and then go lower."
"Shouldn't that be go high?" Diglin asked.
"We're goblins, we don't do high," Hacker said and the others nodded. "And no one goes low like a goblin."
"What are they telling you?" Diglin asked, addressing Harry directly.
"Pretty much what the Sous said,'' Harry said and Amythyst preened and the others jeered. "It's been good advice. Like try not to go too fancy at first, don't overdo things. Simple flavors but go complex if time and circumstance allows."
"Uh huh, that does sound good," Diglin agreed. "What else?"
"They gave me one of these," Harry said weakly and revealed a large tool hanging from his belt that was under his apron. It had a long handle with a round head, the whole thing made of metal. The head came to a long edge, much like an axe but more blunt and shaped into a thick wedge.
"Why did you give him an ironnut mallet?!" Diglin shouted.
"They might have ironnuts, we don't know," Flynt said.
"You're the one that says we should be prepared," Salta sniffed.
"They did not give you that for ironnuts, did they?" Diglin asked.
"They did," Harry insisted. "And…well…self-defense too," he added sheepishly.
"Self-defense?!" Diglin repeated, appalled.
"Hey I'd be wary about messing with someone who had one of those on hand," Hacker said, pointing at the mallet. "In hand, even."
"One good whack with that will deter even the loudest of arseholes," Amythyst nodded. "What," she added defensively at Diglin's glare. "You don't expect Harry to stab someone with one of his knives if they go after him, do you? That's bad luck to the kitchen knives, not to mention, disrespectful."
"We tried to be more subtle and get him to take a wrist-knife but he didn't want it," Hacker shrugged.
"I do appreciate the gesture and the thought though," Harry said, feeling warm.
"Of course, we're the only ones that get to harass you and we do it because we care and because it's funny," Flynt said.
"Alright, that's enough. Go on, get this place cleaned up so we can help Harry practice a bit more. Now!" Diglin shook his head as the Crew scattered. "And give me the wrist-knife," he said, holding his hand out. He glared at Hacker who looked sheepish and took the knife from him. "Bunch of bloody idiots," he grumbled, putting the knife into his pocket. "Please tell me they didn't tell you to stab anyone."
"Only if I felt it was necessary for self-defense," Harry said loyally. "Though they do have differing definitions of what counts as self-defense if I'm being honest."
"Figures," Diglin said, shaking his head. "Alright, let me see your knives." He looked over Harry's knives and nodded approvingly. "You take good care of them," he said.
"Auntie Andi and Uncle Ted got me the new clef one," Harry said happily.
"I know, we forged it for them," Diglin smiled. "They ordered it through us and we made it and it's yours in perpetuity, like your other knives." He tied on another apron, one thicker and heavier, and pulled out several whetstones and a decanter full of water. He started to hone and sharpen Harry's knives slowly and carefully, restoring the edges and straightening them while removing nicks and deviations.
Harry watched closely, entranced by Diglin's movements. Every motion was as sure as his cooking movements, and he had an equal reverence for the metal and the product just like he did for the food and final dish. The sounds of metal on stone filled the air, a pleasant scraping noise as Diglin honed the knives and washed them clean, wiping them gently with a cloth.
"How are you feeling?" Diglin asked, not looking up from his task.
"Nervous," Harry said honestly. "But kinda excited at the same time if that makes sense."
"Yup, perfectly normal," Diglin said. "You'll do fine. You've worked hard and you're a good cook. You'll win on your merits or lose due to some fool standard and that's that."
"What if I mess up?" Harry asked hesitantly.
Diglin spared him a brief look, his hands still. "Then you mess up," he said plainly. "It happens to everyone. No one's perfect."
"Except for you," Harry grinned.
Diglin snorted. "Not even me, not all the time. I've messed up some metal work here and there and I've made things that didn't taste how I wanted them to. Happens to everyone." He winked at Harry. "Notice how I didn't say I ever made anything that tasted bad."
"I don't think that's even possible," Harry smiled. "Unless you do it on purpose and you won't because that would be wasting food."
"And that's not something I'll do willingly," Diglin agreed. He held up the cleaver and looked at the edge carefully before he nodded and polished it with a cloth. When he was satisfied, he set it aside and looked at Harry once more. "Just focus on the task ahead of you. If you mess up, try to recover before the challenge ends. Do your best, and don't worry about what's to come while you still have what's there in front of you."
"Yes Chef," Harry said firmly. He sighed a little. "Kinda hard to not worry about the future though. It's coming fast."
"Oh yeah, you're going into your last year of school," Diglin said. He patted Harry's shoulder sympathetically. "And you got shoved into this competition. Not too fair for you."
"I mean, I'll still enjoy it, or I hope I will," Harry said. "And I'm trying to ignore the 'social and cultural expectations thrust upon me'."
Diglin snorted again at that. "Yeah, that's a whole lot of shite that you shouldn't be dealing with either. But I'm proud of you, as is Dee and the rest of us here, both StoneHearts and Gringotts."
Harry smiled at that. "Thank you, I appreciate it." He watched as Diglin went to work on the paring knife. "May I ask how you became a chef?"
"Sure, bit boring though. As you know, StoneHearts were always blacksmiths and forgers and metal workers. I was on my way to be one but got into a bit of an accident one day. I'm fine as you see but had to do lighter work for a while. My father had me take over lunches for the smithy because we usually ordered out and all and I ended up liking it. Wanted to do more of it. My sister wanted to take over the smithy anyways so my father was fine with my career interest shift."
Diglin polished the paring knife lovingly. "So I started working at places and worked my way up. Got better at it and kept enjoying it, while doing metal work as a hobby. Eventually there was an opening here at Gringotts and I applied and got the job. Worked my way up through the ranks, ended up the head of the food department, and that's how I'm here today."
"No one in your clan was a professional chef?" Harry asked.
"Not at all. I broke new ground," Diglin said with a trace of smugness and pride.
"Does your sister still run the family smithy?"
"Yup, though she and Dee share most of the main decisions. Dee likes to fight, as you know, so Bastilla, my sister, lets her do most of the work dealing with people while she travels and looks for new materials and makes contacts and all that. I'll introduce you two sometime." Diglin laughed. "She actually almost got hurt in the accident and it would've been her fault but I got it instead. When we want to fight each other, I say she tried to take me out so she'd be free to take over the smithy."
He grinned at Harry's look of shock. "I'm mostly kidding. I'm almost certain it was a genuine accident. But I lucked out in the end, went looking for copper and found gold and all that. Never would've met Dee if she didn't eat my cooking here, and I love my life so I'm happy."
"That's good," Harry said with relief.
Diglin set the finished knives aside and wiped down the counter top. "So I'm going to be a bit hypocritical here and ask you if you're thought about your future. After the competition I mean."
"A little bit," Harry said. "Actually, Mr. Abe offered me the Hog's Head if I want it. If and when I want to settle down and have my own restaurant."
"Oh that's very nice," Diglin said with approval. "And it's a good place for a nice restaurant."
"I like how it feels there," Harry said. "And here too of course!" he added hurriedly.
Diglin laughed and patted Harry's shoulder. "I know what you mean," he said kindly. "Don't feel like you have to defend yourself."
"I really like it here too though," Harry said honestly. "I love working with you and the Crew. I've learned so much here and I feel like I'd never stop learning here."
"Which is good," Diglin said proudly. He gave Harry a complicated look. "You'd always be welcome here, Harry. You're a great person and a wonderful worker. I had my assumptions and reservations when we first met and I'm happy to say how glad I was wrong about them. Granted, that was more my experience working with humans in the past, but that's beside the point."
He shrugged a little. "Anyways, you'd be welcome to stay here. But I think you'd flourish in a different place, a place you would make. And there's nothing wrong with that." He winked at him. "I'd let you do a shift here and there though, if you get bored or need the extra coin." He and Harry laughed together.
Diglin sobered up a little. "No matter what you decide, we'll be here for you. Gringotts and StoneHearts. We'll do what we can to help you."
"Gringotts doesn't have a 'no competition clause' or something like that?" Harry asked.
"Actually there are many with varying degrees of no competition," Diglin said seriously. "Depending on how the employee leaves the bank. But I doubt any would apply to you."
Harry felt much better after hearing that.
Diglin sighed deeply and reached into his pocket. "This goes against my better judgement, but maybe you should have this just in case." He looked at the wrist-knife carefully. "At least it's a good one."
"How does it work?" Harry asked nervously.
"You wrap it around your wrist and when you flex a certain way, the cord straightens into a handle and it settles into your hand ready to be used," Diglin explained. He tied it around Harry's wrist. "Now flex." He sighed when the knife unraveled from Harry's wrist and fell to the floor with a clang. "Hacker! Where did you get this?!"
"I didn't have a chance to adjust it to him!" Hacker shouted back while the others glared at him. "He's got skinny human wrists!"
Diglin grumbled and tied it around Harry's wrist again and made small adjustments to it with a hooked tool that looked like a crochet hook. "Just promise me you'll use it only when you need to."
"Yes Chef," Harry smiled.
-0-
Gabriel chewed slowly and thoughtfully, focusing on the taste and the textures. He swallowed and nodded. "This is good," he said at last.
Harry smiled, releasing a held breath with relief. "Thank you, Chef," he said happily.
"You have an affinity for soups and stews," Gabriel continued, eating more. He chewed on the beef and enjoyed the savory taste of the stew. The sharp black pepper made the subtly sweet flavor of the clove stand out all the more, making the beef taste rich and full without being too heavy.
"I've always liked making them," Harry said. "I like the smell of something stewing and simmering." He looked at the beef stew with a complicated expression. "Beef stew is…well it's something I've made a lot and have a lot of thoughts about."
"Oh?" Gabriel looked at him.
"You can say it's how I started to really like cooking and how it changed me into seeing cooking in a new way," Harry said slowly.
"I see." Gabriel looked at Harry for a moment before he continued to eat, finishing the bowl. "We all have those sorts of dishes," he said. "In any case, this is good and you performed well within the established time limit. No excess waste, which is something they will pay attention to, and no useless moments nor motions. Acting as such will be to your benefit."
"Thank you, Chef. I'm still a little nervous to be honest. I don't know the kitchen space and it'll be with people watching. Not to mention I'm competing against other people who are really talented. I've only ever cooked against friends, the Crew, and one person that I was sure I would beat," Harry said.
"True. Competition cooking is very different from cooking recreationally or even for a business," Gabriel said. "However, you did cook in front of people from all around the world, did you not? At the Showcase?" He smiled a little at Harry's nod. "That is already an impressive stage and I was told you performed very well."
"I wasn't being judged on my cooking though," Harry said. "And Tsumugi did something very different."
"Yes, but the comparison remains. You cooked in a foreign location, watched by many people, and presented good results."
Harry smiled. "It's the end of the summer, what do you think my chances are?" he asked hesitantly.
Gabriel looked at him soberly. "You have a chance," he said honestly. "Not a very high one, but one nonetheless. You have worked hard this summer and I genuinely believe that you will continue to improve and grow. Should you fail while working as you have now, it will not be completely your fault."
Harry blinked a few times. "Wow. Thank you, Sir."
"Unless you do fail spectacularly due to your own mistakes, then it will be completely your fault," Gabriel added.
Harry grinned. "That's fair."
Gabriel looked at the clock. "We still have time for one more attempt. Make anything you want but something different. I will not watch. I want you to be bold, and remember that the presentation on the plate and how you provide it matters for much."
"Yes Chef," Harry said, thinking.
"Begin," Gabriel said without fanfare and turned away. True to his word, he did not watch. He listened to Harry moving about the kitchen, listened to the sound of moving implements and rattling pans. Even the timbre of Harry's actions had changed. He made less extraneous noise, less extra movements. He sounded like he belonged in the kitchen.
A smile grew on the older man's lips. It was a smile of satisfaction, of knowing that a job was well done. A smile of pride. A smile of appreciation. He had brought some work with him and he started doing it while waiting for Harry to finish. Savory smells of cooking meat filled the air and although he had eaten much already, it still whet the appetite.
"I'm finished, Chef," Harry said at last after time had passed, nearing the end of the time allotment.
Gabriel turned and looked down at the plate covered by a cloche. "And what have you made?"
"J'ai fait des saucisses en patisserie de deux manière. Un dans une croute avec une garniture salee. L'autre est un petit pain avec de la moutarde et des assaisonnements. Servi avec des pommes de terre sautees," Harry said with a very serious expression and lifted the cloche.
Gabriel stared down at the plate. "This is…what you call a sausage roll," he said at last.
"Yes Chef," Harry said, still straight faced.
"And a…sausage in a bun," Gabriel continued. "And frites."
"Yes Chef," Harry repeated, his lip twitching. "I made the sausage with the charm you taught me but didn't do the casing. I also hand made the mustard, the sausage roll sauce, and the ketchup as well as the pickles. And double fried the chips, the frites, and made an aioli for it too." His smile faded and he started to fidget as Gabriel stood there and stared at him for a very long moment. His anxiety grew when Gabriel bowed his head and still said nothing.
Gabriel's snort and subsequent laughter was equal parts relieving and shocking to Harry. Up until now, he had never heard the man laugh. Snorts of course, usually derisive or with a note of earned pride. In fact, Harry had only noticed how more relaxed Gabriel was the more they had the tutoring and teaching sessions. Seeing, and hearing, Gabriel laugh so loudly and freely was surprising and shocking in equal measure.
The chef laughed and laughed, wiping tears of merriment from his eyes. "You do realize that if you do something like this for the competition, you have a very high chance of being kicked out," he said at last, shoulders still shaking from mirth.
"I figured as much," Harry said with a sheepish smile. "But I had hoped you'd be amused because you told me to be bold and it made me think how funny it would be to make something like this and make it sound fancy."
Gabriel ate while continuing to chuckle, showing the food the same amount of consideration that he had before for all of Harry's cooking. "Sausage is good," he said. "Good ratio of fat and spices to the meat, holds well despite lack of casing and the texture is good. Excellent mustard and ketchup. Frites are cooked well. The pickles are also very good. Not too acidic, not overly seasoned, cuts through the fat of the sausage well."
He spitted Harry with a stern look. "Know your audience, do not gamble so freely in the competition. It would be embarrassing to be disqualified for something like this."
"Yes Chef, I understand," Harry said sincerely. "I just thought you'd like it."
"I suppose I should be honored with how comfortable you are with me to play a joke like this," Gabriel mused. "Not even others I have taught and worked with for years would dare attempt to do this."
"Grandmother said you have a sense of humor, you just don't let it out much," Harry said weakly.
Gabriel snorted deeply at that. "She is not wrong," he conceded. He continued to eat as Harry finished cleaning. "Well then, the first challenge is this weekend? Remember what you have learned and do your best. I believe you will do well."
"Thank you, Sir," Harry beamed. He hesitantly held his hand out and smiled when Gabriel shook it without hesitation and with respect. "I can't thank you enough for all you've done for me. I've learned so much and I'm so happy and grateful for the opportunity."
"Thank me by doing well," Gabriel said sternly. "I do not want my efforts to go to waste."
"No Sir," Harry said. "I mean, it won't. I'll do my best. I swear."
"Good." Gabriel watched as Harry started to leave. "Bonne chance, Chef Potter," he said softly and sincerely.
Harry stopped and turned, looking at Gabriel with wonder. He bowed and smiled. "Merci Chef!" He left the kitchen with a spring in his step and a smile from ear to ear.
Gabriel picked up the last piece of potato on the plate, wiped up the last of the aioli and popped it into his mouth. "Saucisse en patisserie," he repeated and started to laugh once more, the sound filling the kitchen from corner to corner. It echoed around the room and it was a long time before it stopped.
-0-
"How're you feeling?" Parvati asked.
Harry's friends had come to Grimmauld for a party to wish Harry luck for the first challenge. They knew he had been working and training hard for the competition in general all summer, and ever since the announcement of the surprise challenge, he had been working even harder. Therefore, they came to make sure he would relax a little before the start of things.
He did not mind of course. He knew he worked a lot and it was always nice to see his friends. Even now, he was still a little surprised to see so many people care about him, care about him beyond his ability to cook. Seeing them, being with them, filled him with a warmth that he did not think he would ever not have.
"I feel pretty good," Harry said. "I mean, I know I'm still going against professionals and all but I've worked hard so I'll try my best."
"Thattaboy," Parvati said happily.
"Thanks! How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Me? I'm fine," she said. She shifted a little when Harry kept looking at her. "What?"
"I like to think I know you a little by now, with us being sibs and all," Harry said.
"Maybe, what does that have to do with anything?"
"You're a little preoccupied."
"What gives you that idea?"
"Tracey said something that could be misconstrued and you didn't misconstrue it."
"Damn, what did she say?"
"That she was getting better at taking pictures and things and even had Hermione model for her."
"Oh damn, missed opportunity," Parvati grumbled.
"Therefore, I feel like you're preoccupied," Harry said. "Want to talk about it?"
Parvati was silent for a moment before she sighed. "I guess so. I feel like you'd be the one to talk about this with. Just, don't make fun of me." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a golden badge with a crimson front plate and a gold P emblazoned on it.
"Hey congrats!" Harry said excitedly. His excitement wilted a little at Parvati's nonreaction. "Unless it's not a congrats moment?"
Parvati smiled weakly. "It is and it is, if that makes sense." She sighed heavily again. "So I got a letter earlier in the week. Turns out Hermione is going to be Head Girl this year and she deserves it obviously. So that opens up a seventh year prefect and I was given the position."
"Isn't that a good thing? Sort of? I know how you feel about authority and things," Harry said.
She snorted. "Yeah, except there's really only two options and Lavender turned it down. Said she wasn't interested in it so I was literally the last option. I don't blame her of course," she added hurriedly, looking over at Lavender chatting with some of their other friends.
"Do you have to accept? What happens if there isn't one?" Harry asked.
"Nothing really, save that they'll be a prefect shy," Parvati said. "And like, it's weird. I don't mind being one, but it feels hollow kinda. Like I didn't earn the position. It was literally offered to me because I'm the last resort."
Another heavy sigh escaped her. "And it kinda makes me feel more bad compared to Padma. And it's not her fault either. But growing up we got compared to each other a lot and she's usually the one that comes out looking better because she's more studious and stuff and I'm not. I always hated being compared to her, just because we're twins."
She felt better when Harry rested an arm around her shoulder and she rested her head on his shoulder. "It just sucks, you know?"
"I do," he said quietly. "I mean, I don't have a twin or a real sibling, but it really does suck getting compared to someone over things that aren't fair."
Parvati looked at him and then snorted softly. "Yeah. You get it."
"What does Padma think?" he asked.
"She thinks it's great if I'm a prefect. Said I'd finally understand how much things are a pain in the arse being one," she said and she laughed when Harry did too.
"What did Grandmum say?"
Parvati's smile was broader. "She said she didn't need to know who had a badge to tell who's the bigger pain in her arse so it doesn't matter if we both have one." They laughed harder. "She said she's proud of me no matter what. Unless I do something that she's not proud of."
"Like date a Hufflepuff?" he teased.
Parvati laughed and coughed. "Oh yeah, no danger there."
Harry chuckled. "And your parents?"
"They're really happy," she said. "They think I deserve it and ignored me when I said I was the last choice." She sighed once more. "What do you think?"
"I think if you weren't able to be a good one, you wouldn't be offered it, last choice or not," Harry said. "I don't think Professor McGonagall or the Headmaster would do that."
"That's true," Parvati said, sounding a little happier.
"I think you'd be a good one," Harry continued. "Sure you won't be a prefect like Hermione or Padma or any of our other friends, but isn't that the point? There's all kinds and Pansy treats things very differently than Padma does, or Nev versus Blaise. I don't think anyone wants you to be the same as Padma."
"Some do," she grumbled.
"None of us do," Harry amended.
"That's true," Parvati said slowly. "And you're not wrong."
"Also I want to call you Parfect," Harry said, feeling better when she laughed all the harder. "You're like a parfait, you have layers."
"That's definitely true," Parvati smiled. "It's not hypocritical of me being a prefect after years of making fun of them though?"
"Be the kind you want to be," Harry said. "It'll still be a good one."
Parvati sighed but it was one of relieving burden instead of enduring one. "Thanks bro," she said softly, hugging him tightly. "You're the best."
"No you are," he said, hugging her back with equal fervor. "Also, just warning you now, Hedwig might try to steal your badge."
"Heck, I'll give it to her to wear," Parvati smiled.
"Everything okay?" Padma asked when Parvati and Harry rejoined the group.
"I was being nervous about the competition and Parvati hyped me up," Harry said easily.
Padma and Parvati exchanged a look and Padma smiled and hugged Harry. "She's good at that," she said.
"She sure is," Harry agreed.
"How are you feeling about the competition?" Pansy asked.
"I feel pretty good," Harry said. "Trained a lot this summer and learned a lot. I'll do the best I can do and accept what happens after."
"That's the spirit!" Lavender said, hugging and kissing him. "And here, we can't be with you in person at the start, but we'll be there in spirit and with this."
Harry opened the wrapped bundle and smiled. "Oh wow, this looks amazing!" He opened the new apron and held it up for all to see. The body of it was colored soft black and had the usual pockets in the front to hold something and a holster for his wand. The hem was red, green, blue, and yellow repeated, going around the entire length of the apron. Over his heart was the Hogwarts' crest done in gold and his initials in silver with a white gold Hedwig alongside them. He put it on and tied the strings around the waist. "Thank you so much!"
Lavender beamed as she waved her wand, making minute adjustments to fit him better. "We'll be with you as much as we can and cheer for you here. And at school of course for the other ones."
"If I make it past the first challenge," Harry said.
"When," a bunch of them corrected.
"Thanks everyone," Harry said with a full heart. "I know I'll do my best with you all helping me like this."
They continued to chat and laugh while eating and Daphne smiled when she offered Hedwig a bite of her baozi. "What are you wearing now?" she asked, looking at the owl. "A new accessory?"
"I haven't made a new one recently," Lavender said. "Oh is that Harry's morale badge?"
"No it's different," Tracey said. "Is that the Gryffindor Prefect's badge?" She looked at Hermione. "I thought you gave it back for the Head Girl one."
"I did," Hermione said. "Oh, did you accept?" she asked Parvati.
"No, Hedwig accepted it on my behalf," Parvati said airily. "She's the new Gryffindor Girl Prefect."
"Oh no," Blaise groaned. "I don't know if you're kidding or not."
"Speaking of, did you accept the position for the boys?" Neville asked.
Ron nodded. "Thanks for the recommendation, I did."
"Hey congrats," Harry said with others echoing.
Ron smiled. "Thanks! I never thought I'd be one and well, I'm kinda happy to be one if I'm being honest. Plus it'll be sort of like training to be a Hunter in a way. You know, being observant and all that."
"I hope you all are okay with me being Head Girl," Hermione said shyly.
"You are welcome to the position," Pansy smiled. "And the headaches that will come with it."
"Same, I've got enough on my plate," Padma grinned.
"I didn't and I still don't want it," Susan laughed. "You'd be the best for it."
"So you are the new prefect for Gryffindor?" Daphne shook her head with mock wariness. "I will wait for you to abuse your power."
"I'm still contemplating on how I'm going to do it," Parvati mused. "And you lot can't abuse me anymore because I can retaliate now!"
"I think you'll be a better prefect than me," Lavender said, hugging her best friend. "Plus with how my little sisters are, they wouldn't listen to me if I tried to punish them and didn't want to be in a position to do so."
"I won't have any qualms doing that to Ivaan or Divya," Parvati grinned, hugging her back. "Or the other little sibs. Older sib is exempt though," she said, winking at Harry.
"You mean sibs," Padma said with an arched brow. She snorted when Parvati waggled her hand.
"What do the Heads get besides headaches?" Blaise asked to much amusement.
"New badges that are slightly bigger and shiner," Neville said and the others laughed. "There's also an option for private rooms. I didn't take it, I kinda like our dorm, even with all of us in it."
"Same, I think I would miss spending time with Lavender and Parvati," Hermione said. She blushed happily when the other two girls hugged her at the same time. "Even with us hanging out in the Uncommon Room and the common room and class and all."
"Tough luck friend," Parvati said, patting Tracey on the shoulder.
"Wait, what?" Tracey asked, flummoxed.
"Imagine all the practice you'd get with your photography if only you had a private room to take advantage of," Parvati said with a very wide smile that was laced with innuendo.
"Hey! Wait, actually, you raise a good point," Tracey gasped while the others howled with laughter.
"Maybe we can put you in a private room!" Hermione growled, face brilliantly red.
"You didn't miss your chance this time," Harry laughed.
"No I didn't!" Parvati grinned.
-0-0-0-
DOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - They're both about cooking after all so there will be some similarities. I've had to plan out the competition more than I've planned things before so hopefully it will come out well.
odonnellzoo99 - I really wanted him to be very different teacher in approach and mindset. It was a bit of a risk to have real life mixed in with fantasy so I was doing my best to remain respectful and proper. But I figured a more stern and traditional mentor would work well compared to the ones Harry already has. I was really happy with the pacing and cadence of the beginning of the last scene. It made me laugh.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - Exactly. There are different definitions of doing well and I had hoped to convey that up till now, especially with Rita's explanations and how she would spin things. And to show different kinds of cooking like you mentioned. Different reasons and environments and the like. Thanks for reading.
Remzal Von Enili - Me too. It's a really nice mindest and take on perfection.
61394 - He will have a lot to manage but hopefulyl he'll be able to.
DarkRavie - Thank you.
alix333 - Right? Her rubbing her wingtips together is so cute and menacing.
poka - Yup. That kind of thinking and motivation can only be cultivated, not bought for any amount of money.
elude99 - That or southern American. I'm glad you enjoy the story.
TheSphynx - Probably a combination of the two, though I did allude in a previous chapter that some of the other magical chefs cook without a lot of magic sometimes too. Dora makes everything more better.