I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Hi everyone. It's been a rough week for a lot of reasons, and I'm sure everyone's been going through things as well. So I decided to post an extra chapter this week. I debated an extra Stone's Heart since this was the debut week, but I think this one will be better because I feel this one is more cozy and comforting.
All my best to all of you. I hope everyone has having a good weekend. Have a lovely day.
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Side Dishes
29th Course – Speaking With Words 10: The Sixth Year Part 2
As per tradition, takes place all over the timeline with the first instance starting at the 119th Course of Taste, when Harry visits the graves of Lily and James for the first time.
After a moment of thought, Harry knelt down before the grave and opened his bag. He took out two things, a sealed container and the portable icebox that Perenelle made him so long ago. From the icebox, he withdrew a flat container and opened it and the sealed one and set them in front of the grave. A deep rich scent of beef and savory spices filled the air and the cold sunlight gleamed off cream.
"Your stew and tiramisu," Lavender said softly, voice trembling slightly.
"Mum's favorite," Harry said thickly. "And Dad didn't have a favorite apparently, but I think he would like it."
"He absolutely would," Sirius and Remus said, voices also thick.
"Sue told me about in Asia, a lot of families gave offerings to the deceased loved ones," Harry said. "I liked that and I wanted to try it."
"I'm sure they really appreciate it," Dora said, hugging him, her hair was short and black, her eyes green.
"Can I leave them something?" Lavender asked timidly. At Harry's nod, she reached into a pocket and pulled out a fabric square. She unraveled it and set it down in front of the food. It was a piece of white cloth and had the Gryffindor lion on it with a lily over its chest, made with black thread.
"Beautiful," Perenelle admired.
"I thought of it last night and stayed up finishing it," Lavender said shyly. "It's not amazing, but I thought they'd like it."
"It is amazing," Sirius said gratefully. "That was really good of you, thank you, Lavender."
Harry hugged her tightly and she returned the gesture tenfold and though he did not say anything, she heard his feelings loud and clear.
They stood there in silence for a long time before slowly drifting towards the gates. "Can we come back another time?" Harry asked softly as they did.
"Of course," Sirius said, hugging him with one arm. "Whenever we need or want to."
Harry nodded then stopped. "Oh, I forgot the containers." He walked back to the grave with Hedwig still sitting on his shoulder. He stopped and stared when he got there. The containers were there but they were empty and were clean. The piece of embroidered fabric had been moved too, resting against the headstone. He looked around the graveyard wildly, but saw no one else save for the people that had come with him.
"Wait, why are they empty?" Hedwig gasped, looking at the containers.
"You didn't see anyone else either, right?" Harry asked.
Hedwig shook her head, also looking about with narrowed eyes. "Oh where are you thief?! I'm going to murder you for stealing Chick's offerings for his parents! I…I…huh." She looked up for a long moment then back down at the headstone and hooted gently and fluffed up against Harry's face.
Harry picked up the containers and looked at them closely. They were completely and utterly clean, not a trace of food or anything within them. "These definitely had food in them earlier, right?"
Hedwig nodded and nuzzled him, resting against him. "They were. Don't worry Chick. They were accepted with love and thankfulness."
Harry blinked a few times and then slowly put the containers away. He looked down at the gravestone and nodded. "I love you," he said quietly. "I miss you so much, and I hope I can be a son you can be proud of. And I promise to try and do my best, until we meet again." As he walked away, he felt something in his chest warm ever so slightly and he breathed just a little more easily when he reached his friends and those he called family.
"Is everything okay?" Lavender asked.
Harry nodded. "I think so," he said honestly.
-0-
"Guess they were waiting," Lavender smiled.
They had returned to Dumbledore's office from Godric's Hollow and it was still hours before the start of the Feast. After hugs and promises to see them later, Harry and Lavender and Hedwig had left and gone to the Uncommon Room. Sunny, Crookshanks, and Fawkes were waiting and as soon as Harry sat down, they mobbed him with Hedwig.
"They're awesome," Harry smiled, thoroughly covered by the animals. He moved a little, making space for Lavender to squeeze in next to him. He leaned into her when she wrapped her arms around his middle, pulling him close.
"Yeah we are," Hedwig cheeped. "With me being the most awesome. You lot come in close though," she added magnanimously and the others snorted softly but did not voice any obvious disagreement.
"How are you feeling?" she asked softly.
"I'm okay, really," he added when she gently pinched him, making him smile. "Thank you again, I really appreciate you coming and helping."
"Of course, I'm here for you," she said, kissing his cheek. "You've done the same and more for me. Not a contest of course."
"Of course," he repeated. They sat in comfortable silence for a moment. "I was really overwhelmed and I don't know if I could've handled it without everyone."
"We all care a lot about you," she replied. "We all love you."
"You do?" he asked, looking at her with wide eyes.
She blushed, her face redder than red. But she nodded firmly. "I do," she said without a stammer or backing down.
He felt even warmer. "I l-love you too," he said softly, in a near whisper.
"You do?!" she squeaked happily, eyes bright.
"I do," he said and her dazzling smile made him smile. "I know I was with Sirius and Aunti Andi and Grandmother and everyone and you were still there. You didn't have to come, but you did. And you made me feel safer and happier with you there. And you even made them something."
"It wasn't much," Lavender argued.
"It was a lot, to me too," Harry said. He pressed his forehead against hers. "I really appreciate you Lavender, all you are and all you do. And, I know that I love you. I really do. Thank you, thank you for being with me."
"I love you too," she whispered. She moved me to kiss him but sputtered when Hedwig's wing flopped down between them, blocking the attempt. "Hey! Hedwig!"
"What?" Hedwig hooted with insincere innocence.
"Oh are we messing with them to ease the tension and to make him laugh?" Sunny asked eagerly.
"I mean, I am," Hedwig giggled.
Lavender moved it aside and tried to kiss him again. She sputtered once more when Sunny's tail got in the way.
"Ha ha! Made you kiss my tail!" Sunny purred.
"Sunny! Wait a second! Are you doing this on purpose!" She gasped and gently slapped Sunny's rear. "Ow! Sunny!"
Sunny took off running and Hedwig flapped after, barking and purring brightly and Lavender chased them around the Uncommon Room. Crookshanks and Fawkes took advantage of the space to spread out in the warm spot and Harry laughed and laughed, feeling light for the first time all day.
"Come and get us!" Sunny meowed as she dashed about, stopping and twisting to run between Lavender's legs.
"Oh hey!" Parvati walked in with Padma beside her. "What's going on?" Parvati asked, watching Lavender chase the kneazle and owl.
"Hedwig and Sunny were teasing her and it led to this," Harry said, still chuckling. "I think they did it to amuse me, and themselves."
"It is really amusing," Padma smiled. She looked at Harry. "Are you okay?"
"I think so," Harry said. He smiled a little more as more people came in. "Or I will be."
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"Go Millie!" Harry and his friends cheered as Millicent scored another goal, striking the ball with the wide-paddled hurley club and sending it neatly into the goal past the goalie.
"I will never get tired of seeing her check a centaur," Pansy laughed. "And thank the heavens that I'm not playing the game."
"I'm surprised Parvati is playing," Sue smiled.
"Oh her only way to play was to be on Millie's team," Padma laughed. "But she's getting into it. Same with Tracey."
"She tried to convince me to play," Hermione snorted. She applauded when Tracey blocked a shot and managed to pass the ball. She winced when Tracey tripped and rolled but smiled when Tracey rolled to her feet and went after the player that pushed her over. "At least she's having fun."
"I love the costumes and symbols," Daphne praised.
Luna and Lavender beamed. "Aren't they great?" Lavender smiled proudly. "Everyone's been lovely with working with us for designs and have all paid for both services and it's been fun!"
"How did you convince Millicent to use your name as a team name?" Daphne asked with a big smile.
"I didn't convince her, she had to convince me," Harry laughed. "I tried to convince her not to!"
"It's a form of honor," Pansy grinned, patting his arm. "She wants to honor you by giving her the circumstances in even learning about the game and then playing it like this." She started laughing harder. "We went through a few different options before finally settling on Hounds."
"Oh like what?" Hermione asked, smiling wide.
"Harpies were thrown out because Holyhead can be rather litigious," Pansy smiled, "and there would be boys on the team too. Hares sounded too nonthreatening. I suggested Harridans but that was also denied because again, there would be boys on the team and it's a rather rude name too. I just liked the sound of it."
"I didn't," Harry snorted.
"The Hellhounds were also thrown out due to mild rudeness so we settled on Hounds," Pansy grinned.
"Why did you not do hippogriffs?" Daphne asked.
"I already started on making Cokie the team symbol," Lavender said.
"Fair enough, your dog is very cute and cuddly. Not a hound however," Daphne smiled.
"She can be relentless when she wants a treat or attention," Lavender giggled.
"Why didn't they use Hedwig as a model if they wanted something threatening?" Sue asked.
"There's threatening and then there's dangerously threatening," Pansy smiled when Hedwig barked.
"I am the most dangerous threat! All who dare upset me or my Chick will feel my wrath! Just as well they didn't use me, it would be too intimidating and not fair to the other teams."
"What are you waving about by the way? They're adorable."
"Pom-poms," Lavender smiled as Hedwig flapped in the air and waved the black and white pom-poms she clutched in her talons as she hooted encouragement to the Hounds. "Muggle cheerleaders use them to cheer for their teams."
"They're so cute and fun and they floof! Floof floof floof floof!"
"There's a lot of Purebloods in there too, for playing a more Muggle sport, not to mention a sport that physical," Sue observed.
"Guess it was too fun not to enjoy," Harry grinned.
"I'm surprised there's enough human players for the mixed teams with the centaurs," Hermione said.
"Why?" Harry asked. "The Tribe are really nice."
"They are," Padma said, "doesn't mean I want to risk getting run down by one though."
"Guess that's just a risk you accept when you play the game," Pansy said sagely. She shook her head. "Color me surprised that Aster is playing."
"I figured the twins would," Lavender sighed. "I told them if they even thought about hitting me with their sticks, I'd either hit them back, break them, or ban them from Harry."
"And they took the last threat very seriously I imagine," Daphne laughed.
"I certainly would," Luna said with a genuine shudder.
"How do you feel about being used as a punishment," Hermione asked, giggling.
"I honestly don't know," Harry laughed.
"As long as you're not against it because that's what I said to Aster and what Millie said to Nathan and Owen," Pansy said. "It's probably the most efficacious threat we have right now."
"All's well that ends well I guess," Harry said, shaking his head.
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"How come you never do this at home?" Astoria asked indignantly.
Daphne wagged a finger blindly at where she thought Astoria was and Tracey helpfully pushed her hand until it was in Astoria's face. "Because I do not trust you, hellion."
"We're family!" Astoria gasped.
"Precisely why I do not trust you!"
"And you trust them more than me?!"
"Yes," Daphne said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Tracey is my best friend and I trust Pansy, Millicent, and Harry almost as much. Then Blaise. Then you."
"You trust Blaise more than you trust me?!" Astoria gasped loudly.
"Ha." Blaise smirked. "That's quite the insult for you."
"Oh and I also trust Hedwig," Daphne added, "over you."
Hedwig giggled, wiggling comfortably on Daphne's head and gave Astoria a superior look. "I am the most trustworthy! I never lie to the people I care about. Fib perhaps. Misdirect, sometimes. But lie? Nope. Not me."
"To be fair, she's a great seeing eye owl," Harry smiled.
"I am!"
"I'm surprised you were willing to let us blindfold you all the way from the dungeons," Lavender smiled.
"Me too if I am being honest," Daphne admitted. "But it seemed fun and I trust you. Oh, I trust Lavender more than I trust you, Tori."
"Don't tell me you trust Parvati more than me!"
"No, certainly not."
"That's fair," Parvati smiled.
"I trust you both in equal measure," Daphne smiled.
"Oooh, that's gotta burn," Parvati laughed while Astoria seethed.
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"Sewing and knitting lots of things like scarves, hats, and I'll have some other things ready like a few jumpers. I'll also do embroidery work too," Lavender said. "Oh and owl and pet accessories." She beamed at the large bow that Sunny had around her collar and she finished a small knit beanie with a tiny pom on the top and put it on Hedwig who shook her head about and hooted happily. Lavender had put a small bell inside the pom and it tinkled musically.
"I sound as cute as I am! Jingle jingle jingle! I love it! Chick! Chick! Look and listen to me!"
"Yes I see, super cute," Harry praised when Hedwig flapped to him.
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Harry thought for a moment then smiled when he saw Hedwig wake up from napping in her bed. "Do you know that song from the Nutcracker? The one named after the dessert? Something about sugar plums?"
"Oh yes, I do actually," Daphne said.
"That please. It's one of Hedwig's favorites," Harry said. "She heard it on our first Christmas at Grimmauld and she loves it."
"Hmm? I heard my name. What are you saying about me?" Hedwig hooted sleepily.
"That's adorable," Tracey gushed.
Hedwig perked up when Daphne began to play. "Oh! I love this song!" She fluttered over to the piano and landed on the top of it and as Daphne continued to play, she started to dance.
"She's…she's doing ballet," Blaise said faintly with wide eyes. "Harry, your owl can do ballet."
"Oh wow, those are perfect passe and pirouettes," Tracey admired.
"She's very talented," Harry said in a whisper, putting his finger to his lips in a shushing way. They all cheered and clapped when the song finished and Hedwig spun with a flourish, chest puffed out, wings spread wide, and standing in an arabesque. She bowed several times and hooted at Daphne and Harry. "Again please! And please bring the Magical Me's. I bet we can do the dance even more better and more beautiful together."
"You want me to play again?" Daphne asked, smiling when Hedwig bobbed her head. "Of course!"
"What does she want you to do?" Astoria asked Harry.
Harry smiled. "Oh I know." He flicked his wand and thought of how happy he was in that moment, surrounded by his friends. His chest grew warm and the warmth traveled down his arm and into his wand. A flash of bright silver light filled the room and three snowy owl Patroni leapt daintily unto the piano. As soon as Daphne started playing the song once more, the owl and the Patroni started to dance once more.
"Of course they can do ballet too!" Pansy said, clapping enthusiastically.
The dancing quartet were grace personified, leaping and spinning on the piano. They once again finished in a very perfect and dramatic arabesque position and all bowed and puffed the feathers proudly to their wild applause.
"I love magic," Harry said after the Patroni faded away with warm barks and winks and he held a plump and proud Hedwig in his arms.
"Me too," Hedwig barked happily. "And I love my Chick."
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"Training with Dora," Andromeda said. Suddenly they heard talking out in the hall. "Ah, speaking of." She waved her wand and the door to the parlor opened.
"Hey!" Dora shouted and there was jostling and grunting from the hall. "Thanks for catching me, Harry." She poked her head in, her hair short and pink and spiky and her face was red from exertion. "You almost hit me!"
"Sorry, love," Andromeda smiled while the others smiled and laughed. "All done with training? Who won the most?"
"Who do you think?" Dora grumbled. She walked in, followed by Harry and Hedwig. She and Harry wore plain white outfits with long sleeves that were carefully padded.
"Dora's getting better," Harry smiled. "Hedwig only has a two match lead now."
"Only?! It's still a lead! I retain the title of best fencer in Grimmauld! Perenelle doesn't count because she doesn't live here as much," Hedwig hooted smugly.
"Oh my gosh she has a helmet!" Astoria said with delight.
"Why does she have a helmet?" Daphne asked worriedly.
"Why don't you have a helmet?"
"Well you need a helmet with a facemask to fence," Harry said prosaically and Hedwig hooted in agreement. She was sitting on Harry's head and still wore her fencing helmet. "No fencing without protective gear."
"While I rarely get hit, it's still good to be protected."
"She fences?" Adele asked, eyes wide. "With an actual blade?"
"No, with a carrot. Yes with a blade!"
"Yes Lady Greengrass," Harry said. "I had one made for her. It's a practice one with a blunted tip and has a rounded cover on it, but it's a proper foil."
"Of course you did," Pansy said. "Harry, Hedwig doesn't have it at school, does she?"
"No, it's kept here," Harry said and Pansy and Daphne sighed with evident relief while Hedwig hooted grumpily.
"It's not safe apparently. Bah. I know what's safe and what isn't! They're just jealous that Chick gets me wonderful and useful things."
"Why is she still wearing her helmet?" Aster asked.
"Why aren't you not wearing a helmet?"
"She likes it," Harry smiled. "She can put it on herself and take it off but prefers for me to do it. I'm her squire as Grandmother calls it."
"Chick is the best squire!"
"And you're fencing too?" Primrose asked, opening her arms to him.
"Yes Auntie Rose," he said. "It's fun and good exercise. I'm still sweaty though."
"I do not mind," Primrose said, hugging him fondly.
"I wonder if the school will have a club for it now," Daphne smiled.
"I don't think the Headmaster or the Heads of the Houses will want swords for students there," Harry said, making them laugh. "Magic's dangerous enough."
"You could ask first," Andromeda said, giving her daughter a look.
Dora took another sandwich off her plate. "I could," she agreed, shying away from Andromeda's pinching fingers. "I'm hungry! I just had three bouts!"
"You're always hungry, you bottomless pit of a pinky."
"You are always hungry," Andromeda sighed with a loving smile.
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"May we join you?" Pansy asked, poking her head into the kitchen.
"Of course, come on in," Harry said happily. He had taken a shower and had just gotten back, his hair still a little wet and he had a towel around his shoulders. He was drying Hedwig with a towel and she cheeped lovingly at him as she turned around for him to rub with the towel.
"Thank you Chick," she cooed. "Perfect. Right there. Mmm, that feels good. I love my boy. Such a sweet boy!"
"Everything okay with the tea party?"
"Oh yes," Pansy said, sitting at the counter with Daphne and their little sisters. "Auntie Tina broke out the wine though and we know how they can get when slightly inebriated so we left to come spend time with you."
"Is wine normally had with afternoon tea?" Harry asked.
"At Society afternoon teas," Daphne snorted. "Depending on the host and the guests of course."
"Wild," Harry laughed.
"Why don't you use a charm?" Astoria asked.
"Hedwig likes being towel-dried," Harry said. "Makes her feathers softer and fluffier."
"It's true!" She held her wings out and fluffed up, showing off her soft speckled feathers.
"I can understand that," Daphne nodded.
"You're such a bird," Astoria muttered.
"And you are such a brat," Daphne sniffed.
"How have your holidays been so far?" Harry grinned.
Pansy handily ignored the squabbling Greengrass sisters, well used to it by now. "Very good, thank you! We are going to Italy after the beginning of the new year to visit with family. Same with them," she pointed at the Greengrasses, "and Auntie Tina and Blaise."
"Oooh, that'll be nice," Harry said.
"What about you?" she asked.
"Also good! Getting some exercise in as you saw. Grandmother and Grandfather are coming tomorrow for the rest of the holiday and we're going to have a party with them, Lavender and her family, the Grangers, the Dumbledores, and I think the Delacours will be coming too."
"Oh that will be nice," Pansy smiled. "Have you already done shifts at Gringotts and the Hog's Head?"
"Guilty," Harry smiled and Pansy and Aster laughed. "I can probably try to squeeze in one more at each hopefully."
"Most people relax on holiday," Aster said. "You know, have fun."
"I do have fun there," Harry said. "Besides, I have to stay sharp."
"As if you don't cook enough while at school," Pansy teased.
"Different kind of cooking," Harry grinned. "Are you complaining?"
"Certainly n-ow!" Pansy stomped on Aster's foot as retaliation. "Pest!"
"Be nice to your older sister," Harry smiled while Astoria and Daphne laughed. "She's delicate."
"You're the delicate one," Pansy growled through a smile. "See? Hedwig agrees with me!"
"My Chick is a sweet delicate chick that deserves all the love and care in the world."
"You get so sassy when you win matches," Harry said to a very fluffed-up Hedwig. He waggled a rasher of bacon at her and she lunged forward to grab onto it with her beak and they began to tug on it, play fighting.
"Gimmie that bacon!"
"I still cannot believe she has a sword of her own," Daphne snorted.
"Regular foils and epees and sabers are too big for her, wouldn't be fair," Harry said, tugging hard on the rasher. "Wouldn't be sporting."
"Thank goodness she doesn't have easy access to it while at school," Pansy said seriously.
Harry popped the tiny bit of bacon still in his hand into his mouth, the majority of it having been ripped off by Hedwig who munched on it, cheeping in victory. "Yeah, probably wouldn't be a safe thing while at school."
"For everyone else," Pansy and Daphne said together.
"Excuse me. I know when to be appropriate. I choose not to be most of the time. There's a distinction," Hedwig hooted through a full beak.
-0-
Nicolas laughed as the next barrage of gingerbread bolts and candy boulders did not break through the walls. "Nothing will destroy my statue this time!"
"Nothing?" Perenelle asked, looking at him. "So sure, are you?"
"I am the Alchemist so therefore, I am!"
"A wager then! I can easily dispatch your statue right now."
"Without a weapon or magic?"
"Without me physically doing anything to it at all."
"I accept your wager," Nicolas said smugly.
Perenelle smiled and she clicked her tongue. "Take it my dear!"
Hedwig, sitting in her gingerbread nest, flapped eagerly, rising into the air. "You got it!" She picked up a candy knife from a nearby table and swooped low. She lunged perfectly and the point of the knife went through the gingerbread Nicolas' heart before she spun and lopped off the head. She caught the head with her beak and flapped over to Perenelle and dropped it in her hand, both of them looking smug while Harry, Susan, and Dora laughed.
"You know, I should have thought of that," Nicolas admitted. He frowned as Perenelle fed Hedwig the gingerbread Nicolas' head and Hedwig chomped on it with obvious pleasure. "You could look a little less happy about eating that."
"I could, but I choose not to. It's tasty and the fact I can destroy an image of you is especially satisfying."
"Do not be silly, she is just being happy and eating. It does not matter that it is a facsimile of you," Pernelle sniffed.
"Does it not?" Nicolas waved his wand and made a gingerbread statue of Perenelle and offered it to Hedwig. The owl nibbled on it daintily and enthusiastically.
"Mmm, yum yum. Sweeter and more refined in texture and taste."
"See?" Perenelle said.
Nicolas hummed and made two more, one of Dora and one of Harry. Hedwig took the Dora gingerbread and made eye contact with Dora and gobbled it messily, barking with a full beak at Dora's look. "I eat you now Pinky!" She then very gently took the gingerbread Harry and flew to her nest and cuddled against it, looking especially fluffy, cooing at it. "Oh look at my Chick in gingerbread form. Such a beautiful wonderful gingerbread. So soft and cuddly!"
"See?" Nicolas said as the others laughed.
"Fair enough," Perenelle laughed.
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TheSphynx - It's always nice letting other characters have some fun too and explore the setting even more.
Wentley - It really does show how much change there's been with how much bigger the Winter Festival is and how more established it feels. More inclusive, more history, feels good.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - A little cold and snow can be fun, with hot food and warm company. I do feel like adding the traditions like this to the Wizarding World really makes it feel more rich and varied. Thanks for reading.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Hope you are feeling better soon.
alix33 - Mitsy pulling the sled and Hedwig riding and directing was my favorite mental image.
poka - Those sisters are very tricky but not immune to payback. Not even Hedwig though she gives as good as she gets. He really does.
HoneyBear84 - Thank you.
odonnellzzoo99 - Mitsy knows how her owner is haha. I also really enjoyed that part. They're good characters. I really like the Winter Festival from the first time it shows up and having it come back time and again is such a nice comforting part of the history of Taste.
Shroudy9 - Glad you enjoyed.