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

Side Dishes

24th Course – All's Well in Darkwell

Takes place before Harry and Lavender get married, before the 175th course of Taste.

Harry looked down slightly with a surprised look. "You're pretty much here all the time," he said, slightly confused.

"I know Chef," Mirra said. "But I'm happy to pick up more shifts if you have them."

Harry looked at her carefully. It had been a little more than two years since he and Mirra had worked together. He had come to really like her as both employee and friend. She had grown a lot since the day of her interview and was a valued member of Hedwig's Hearth.

Normally she carried herself very well. She always exuded a calmness despite the deepest of weeds and hectic times. After the initial bout of nervousness when they first met, she usually showed an eagerness to learn and a genuine desire to cook and work. Just like anyone, she could be flustered in awkward moments and would get irritated and angry when in stressful moments, or when dealing with very rude people that sometimes appeared at the restaurant.

Now, she was definitely anxious and doing her best to hide it. She looked slightly preoccupied and had something bothering her. And even accounting for all that, she wanted to work more.

"Well I have some things coming up that's not exactly Hearth related but still cooking related," Harry said. "I could use an assistant, especially one I trust."

"Thank you!" Mirra said loudly before composing herself. "I mean, thank you. I appreciate it, Chef!" She smiled weakly and walked off to continue her work.

Harry frowned, watching her leave. He waited for Guy to walk up to him and turned to the older man, speaking softly. "I pay you all well, right?"

"Very well," Guy said without hesitation. "A generous rate compared to many places I have been, and higher than skill level. Not to mention the Hearth is still relatively new."

Harry nodded. "Okay, just wanted to make sure."

Guy looked at Mirra chopping industriously away at a mound of vegetables. "Is something wrong?"

"I think so, but I'm not sure," Harry said.

-0-

A few days later, Harry was sure something was wrong. Mirra, while still maintaining her work level, was noticeably tired and more stressed. She looked upset most of the time when they were not actively in the middle of service and Harry decided he had to do something about it.

"Is something wrong?" she asked when he had her stay after closing one day. Everyone else had left and it was just her and Harry.

"That's what I wanted to ask you," Harry said as gently as possible. "Feel free to tell me it's none of my business, but I've noticed you've been a bit off lately."

"I'm so sorry, Chef," she said hurriedly. "I swear, I'll be better and-"

"I'm not mad or upset," Harry said soothingly, cutting her off. "I want to understand and help you. I genuinely like you and if you need something and I can help, I want to. Do you need a loan or something? Is that why you were asking for more shifts and things?"

She started to tear up. "I can't possibly," she gasped. "Not for this."

"Then tell me how I can help. Or at least, tell me what the problem is, if you can," he said.

Mirra looked torn before she finally let out a tired sob. "It's my cousin," she said, tearing up. She took a handkerchief from Harry and wiped her eyes. "He got into trouble and I'm trying to save up money to help him out but it's a lot."

"Money to the wrong people?" Harry asked.

Mirra nodded miserably. "He got over his head in Darkwell."

"Oh, I've heard of that place."

"You have?!" Mirra gasped.

Harry nodded. "Here and there, mostly in passing. It's a gambling hall with a…not so great reputation, right?"

"You're like the only human I know that says goblin things like that in a nice way," Mirra said wetly. "Yes Chef. It's a place you don't want to owe the owners or others anything and bad things happen when you do."

She continued to cry and looked astonished when Harry gently patted her shoulder in an awkwardly sincere expression of comfort. "Most of my clan isn't happy with Hylos. You normally get what you deserve if you go to Darkwell. But he's always been nice to me and helped me stand up to others when I was little." She looked up at him. "You know a bit about goblin clans, right Chef?"

Harry nodded. "There's usually the core family that only has the name of the clan as their surname. Others can join the clan in various ways and they still have a surname but can use the clan name after."

Mirra nodded. "Hylos isn't a full IronSides and a lot of the others are holding that against him, when it's not his fault," Mirra said heatedly. "I'm barely fully accepted too." She flushed but felt better at Harry's sympathetic look. "He's rough and makes dumb mistakes but…he's my cousin. I can't abandon him."

"I get it," Harry said. "How much does he owe?" He whistled when Mirra said the number. "That's a bit."

"More than a bit," she said miserably. "I was hoping to save enough to pay it off to at least get him out now before the interest grows. And well…I don't know if he'd pay it all back so I really don't want to drag you into this…"

Harry looked into the air thoughtfully. "Well, I'm involved because you're one of mine and I'm not going to let you suffer alone if I can do something about it." He continued to look into the distance while Mirra looked at him with shock. "I think I have an idea though."

"You do?" she gasped.

He nodded. "It's going to take some luck and negotiation, but it might work." He smiled at her. "Don't worry Mirra. We'll do our best."

"Thank you, Chef," she said, looking hopeful for the first time.

-0-

"Hello," Pansy said with a big smile. She hugged Lavender warmly before walking into their home, waving at Millicent who was already there.

"Thanks for coming," Harry said, hugging her too.

"Of course. What's this about?" Pansy asked, sitting beside Millicent and petting Hedwig who walked onto her lap.

Harry briefly described the situation with Mirra and Hylos and Darkwell to the three women. "So he's currently being held there to work his debt off but it's not exactly a debt you can just work off."

"No, it is not," Pansy hummed. "A bad situation this, and not one that is completely foreign to us."

"Lots of stories of stuff similar," Millicent nodded.

"I think I found a way though," Harry said. "Goblins care a lot about debts and transactions and proper payment. But, there's something else they really appreciate too. Equivalent compensation."

Pansy nodded. "Fulfilling an agreed upon contract with a different means that both parties deem of equal value."

"Yup!"

"So you wish for me to negotiate on Hylos' behalf and hopefully find an alternative repayment?" Pansy asked.

"Sort of. There's something else I learned about goblin culture that they like, especially the wilder side," Harry said. "Spectacle. Especially when it's new."

"Again, much like us," Millicent said.

"So here's my idea." Harry outlined his plan.

"That…that would work if you can convince them to consider it," Pansy said, nodding as she thought. "And we certainly could get them to consider it." She smiled. "You are a bad influence on me."

"How so?" Harry asked, giving her a wounded look.

Pansy laughed. "Because normally I would let a fool who caused something like this to twist in the wind and care nothing more. Yet here I am, considering helping even though there is no immediate benefit to me."

"There's benefit," Harry protested with a smile. "You get to try something new, see something different, and imagine the clout you can throw around if we succeed."

"Oooh, he's got you there," Millicent smiled. "What's my role in this though?"

"Intimidation and security," Harry said without shame.

"I can do that," Millicent grinned, flexing her arms.

"I'd feel a lot better if you were there with them," Lavender said. "I'm not exactly loving this plan, but it makes sense and I think it'd work. I want them to be safe though and if you're there, I know they're safer." She smiled when Millicent hugged her, hugging her back.

"And the usual guard would not approve of this at all," Pansy said.

"I can just imagine what Dee would say," Harry shuddered.

"I'm for it," Pansy said. "But let's do some more planning just to try and account for all the possibilities, positive and negative."

-0-

"So this is Darkwell," Harry said.

A day later, he had gone down to Thalga with Mirra, Pansy, Millicent, and Hedwig. Lavender had stayed at home and would let certain individuals know what was going on if she did not hear from the party in due time. Hedwig had politely ignored the suggestion that she stayed back home and had elected to come with them. Wanting to avoid scrutiny, they took the Floo from the Hearth to Mirra's home in Thalga, and then made their way to Darkwell. They walked for some time through the city, sticking to back paths to not draw attention to them, and ended up at the infamous Darkwell.

The front of it seemed rather plain. The door was built into the stone wall, a long expanse of solid looking rock and stone that went out past their sight. The doors were heavy iron and were closed, denying entry and vision. A goblin sat in an alcove, a tiny cinder of glowing light emanating from a pipe he held between his lips. He looked at them with professional scrutiny which turned into shock when he realized that they were humans accompanying Mirra.

"Hello," Harry said with a smile, flabbergasting the goblin even more. "I believe we have an appointment."

The goblin stared, just being able to catch his pipe when his jaw opened from astonishment. "I don't think you know where you are," he said gruffly.

"Darkwell, yes?" Harry replied, shocking the goblin even more. "I sent a letter."

"Oh, that was from you." The goblin looked at them for a moment. "Yeah, you're expected." He opened the door and beckoned, waiting for them to step into the entryway before shutting the doors behind him. He led them deeper into the stone, down a tunnel and then they came to a large open cavern. Blue darklights glimmered all over and they peered down into a deep pit with sets of stairways and ladders going down into the depths. Bridges crisscrossed the immense pit and goblins walked all over. Other lights could be seen in rooms and holes carved into the walls of the pit, glimmering like stars in the night's sky. The sound of clanking gears and machinery showed some elevators and lifts going up and down as well, rising and falling.

The goblin led them to one and it looked much nicer than some of the others. Without a word, he pulled a lever and the lift moved smoothly and slowly, descending into the darkness.

"I know this is something serious," Millicent whispered, "but this is also really cool."

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself," Pansy said sarcastically, threading an arm into Harry's and Millicent's, shivering slightly.

"I'm so sorry," Mirra whimpered.

"We're here to help," Harry said soothingly. "Don't worry. Unless it doesn't work, then you can worry." He smiled at Mirra's weak chuckle.

Eventually the lift stopped and the goblin led them down a relatively well-lit hallway. He stopped at another set of doors and they were made from wood, lovingly carved and polished. He rapped on it and after a moment, they opened. Within was a large room that was also well lit with darklights. Goblins turned to stare at the newcomers, all of them looking very rough and serious in different ways. Clothing of all sorts were seen and they all showed obvious deference to a goblin that sat at a desk that was also carved from wood.

He was dressed in a suit, much like the ones the officials in Gringotts wore. The clothes were very clean without a speck of dust or debris on them. He continued to read something, not paying them any attention until he finished, setting the book aside. He looked up at them with evident interest and his eyes were pale grey and piercing. He looked old, but in a wizened way, without any trace of infirmity. "So," he said, his voice cultured and calm. "Mister Potter, I presume?"

"Yes Sir," Harry said, nodding respectfully. "May I introduce Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, Mirra of IronSides, and Hedwig."

The goblin nodded cordially at them, giving Hedwig a curious look and smirking when the owl stared back without a hint of nervousness or intimidation. It was very different from the openly hostile looks the others were giving them. He looked at Mirra last and nodded with understanding as she gulped.

"And do I have the honor of addressing Daelus of Darkwell?" Harry asked politely.

Daelus looked at him and nodded. "I am Daelus," he said. "I am Darkwell." He waited another long moment. "I have heard of you, the human that has changed things for goblins and Gringotts," he said. "A friend to the bank, and an employee. I am curious as to why you are here, however."

"To help my employee, and one I call friend," he said.

"Admirable," Daelus said while the other goblins murmured and muttered. "I am well aware of the debts that Hylos owes Darkwell. Are you here to pay them?"

"In a way," Harry said. He tried to ignore the angry mutterings of the other goblins.

"Now, Mister Potter," Daelus said with an almost paternal tone, "you are familiar with our culture, if reports are true. So you know paying debts is serious."

"Yes Sir, I do," Harry said respectfully. "What I would like to offer is equivalent compensation as form of alternative payment."

"And you believe that you have something we would want and consider equal?" Daelus asked with interest.

"Yes Sir," Harry smiled.

"You are respectful, I like that," Daelus replied with a very small smile. "And that is why I am entertaining this…whatever it is."

"Which leads me to the large part of the compensation, Sir," Harry smiled. "Entertainment."

"By all means," Daelus said, leaning back. "How do you hope to entertain me?"

"In two parts," Harry said. "First, I heard that the majority of Hylos' debt comes from Gemcut?"

"That is correct. Do you play?" Daelus asked.

"Only for fun. However, my friend here is very good at it," Harry said and Pansy stepped forward.

"A human playing Gemcut?" a goblin snorted and ribald laughter rained down.

"That's right," Pansy said with her most professional smile.

"And you think you can play?" another asked scathingly.

"No. I know I can play," Pansy said, shocking some of them into silence. "And I am ready to prove it." She slipped a hand into her pocket and removed two golden Galleons and held them up. "Or is my gold not worth as much down here?" She rubbed them together. "I thought goblins liked to take gold from humans."

Goblins stared and their heads turned at a soft chuckle. Daelus watched with evident amusement, chuckling richly. "Get a table," he commanded. "Use my set. Three of you, play her." A flurry of motion accompanied his command and a table was hurriedly brought out and the set laid out. Three goblins took their seats and Pansy sat down primly. She also made a very obvious show of handing Harry her wand, something the others did not miss.

"Is this going to work?" Mirra asked nervously.

"She's a really good player," Harry said, tucking her wand alongside his in a holster in his robes.

"And the luckiest one," Millicent grumbled.

A fourth goblin sat in as dealer and the cards were dealt and the wheel was spun, showing diamonds to be valuable and emeralds to be invaluable. The players looked at their cards, mentally doing the math to calculate scores.

"You are first," the dealer said to Pansy. More murmurs were heard when she threw a coin into the pot.

"Confident?" one of the players sneered.

"Very," Pansy said with a cool smile. The smile remained as they bet and drew more cards and she won with a score of 23 and being the closest to 25. Groans were heard from some while others whispered to each other in curious tones. The game continued at a fast pace with the dealer working swiftly and professionally to keep up with the betting.

"She is really good," Mirra gasped as Pansy maintained a lead over the other three players. "Gosh, some of the older members of the clan would be really impressed."

"I'm going to beat her one of these days," Millicent sniffed.

"Yes you will," Harry said, patting her on the back.

"Okay, maybe you can play," one of the players said with begrudging respect after Pansy knocked out the other two players, rendering them bankrupt.

"Why thank you," Pansy said with her Society smile. "It is a very satisfying game."

"Indeed, but only the foolish dares play against the ones who invented the game after all," the player said and laid out his cards. The others cheered and exclaimed at his score of 24 with valuable gems in prominence.

"For sure," Pansy said, looking unperturbed and causing the others to falter. "But once in a while, the fool is not parted from their gold, even in the direst of circumstance." She revealed her cards and the crowd gasped. "Zero, two, five. Three card combination, invaluable gems. Fool's Luck, as they say."

Daelus laughed. It was a surprisingly solid sound, full of genuine mirth and the others looked at him with astonishment. He applauded. "Well played," he said. "Were you relying on your luck?"

"Luck is just skill with less opportunity to practice it," Pansy said demurely.

Daelus laughed again. "Well said." He looked at Harry with a small amount of warmth in his gaze. "A very entertaining game to watch. Not quite enough to account for the entirety of the debt, however."

"And that was only part one, Sir," Harry smiled, giving Pansy her wand back as she pocketed her winnings. "And now for the second." He looked at a miniature SunDrop on his desk. "Almost time for lunch. Are you hungry? If you heard of me, then you heard what I can do."

"I have, and I could eat," Daelus said. He rose to his feet and left the office with Harry and his friends following and more of the attendant goblins. Daelus led them to a kitchen that was designed in the typical goblin fashion. It was smaller in stature to suit them but more spread out to show the opulence and decadence of Darkwell.

"Do you have any crake?" Harry asked, opening his bag and pulling out an apron, his knife roll, and a few boxes.

"Some, still alive," Daelus said, looking amused. "Confident, are you?"

"Yes Sir," Harry said without a trace of hesitation.

"Then by all means. Use what you see and find," Daelus said, sitting at the counter. "Crake's a bit big and a bit mean though, compared to the domestic ones."

"We'll handle it," Millicent said. She hefted a heavy club that made the others stare at her. Hedwig flapped over to sit on her shoulder, holding Harry's hunting knife in her beak. "Where's it at?"

Daelus jerked his head and another goblin led the woman and owl away. He watched with interest as Harry and Mirra went through the pantry and brought out ingredients they wanted and started getting ready. In a remarkably short time, the goblin returned with Millicent dragging a very large Undersea crake on a sled. Hedwig sat on Harry's knife that was embedded deep in the crakes' upper carapace, looking plump and smug.

"Sorry it took so long," Millicent said while the goblins stared at them. "Started off wanting to fight but scurried off after I hit it only once. Hedwig had to flush it out and stab it before I could finish it."

"It's fine," Harry smiled. "Oh, nice hit. Clean across the upper nerve cluster."

"Thanks! Been practicing on some of the bigger mountain ones when they come down into the Forest," Millicent said. "There's so many right now and the carpets are getting out of control."

"She's telling the truth," the goblin said, looking at her with awe. "She didn't even use magic! The crake came after her but ran after the hit and the owl chased it down!"

Daelus said nothing, watching with interest as Harry expertly broke the crake apart and worked swiftly with Mirra. The two worked around each other just like they did usually, cooking with professional grace and skill. In a short time, they laid out several platters and pots. "Crake chowder," Harry said proudly. "Main one style. We also have mapo tofu, made with ground deep bull and served with steamed rice. A salad of pickles, mushrooms, ironnuts, and cave creeper. This is a ravioli filled with lobster in a butter sauce. And finally, a goblin inspired hot pot with crake balls, tofu, deep vegetables, and caddok."

The goblins looked at the food with naked hunger but they waited for Daelus to serve himself first. After he started eating, the others served themselves and soon they were all eating hungrily and eagerly. All reservation and hesitation were thrown down the mineshaft as they ate, chatting with one another about the food.

Daelus ate without stinting, serving himself seconds and thirds. He tried everything and not a bite was pushed aside or ignored. When he finally finished, he settled back in his chair and looked at Harry. "That was some delicious food."

"Thank you, Sir," Harry smiled.

"Why?" Daelus asked. "Why go through all this effort for a goblin you don't know or care about? Why do something that could have dangerous consequences for yourself?"

"Because it's for one of my people," Harry said with candor, standing beside Mirra. "Mirra is my employee and my friend. I care about her. A lot of my friends are who I'd call my family. So why wouldn't I help if I can?"

Silence greeted him and everyone there stared at him with shock save for Pansy, Millicent, and Hedwig.

"But she's a goblin," Daelus said slowly.

"I know," Harry said simply.

"Magicals and goblins traditionally don't get along."

"I like to think that's changing," Harry said honestly. "And I never saw goblins as anything other than a different kind of people with their own culture that's just as similar as it is different."

Daelus stared at Harry for a long time. "You're not like most magicals," he said.

"I've heard that a lot," Harry smiled.

Daelus smiled too, a reciprocal and sincere expression. "Go get him," he ordered and one of the goblins left. He returned shortly, dragging a bedraggled goblin with him who looked at Daelus with open fear and then stared at Mirra when he recognized her.

Before anyone could say anything, loud banging and crashing could be heard from outside. The noise and commotion grew louder and the doors slammed open, revealing a very angry looking Dee who was dressed in armor. A few goblins' hands went for weapons while others shied away from her. She glared at them all, making most break eye-contact with her. Even Daelus flinched when he saw her. She continued to look and her already angry look turned furious when she saw Harry who groaned.

"I'm sorry!" A goblin limped in behind her, sporting an eye turning black and clutching his side. He was one of the biggest goblins Harry had ever seen but he gave Dee a wide berth. "She kicked the shit out of us and just pushed her way in! We couldn't stop her!"

"Not many can," Daelus sighed. He smiled weakly. "Diamonda."

"Daelus," Dee said back coolly.

"No harm has fallen Harry or his friends," Daelus said.

"Good," Dee said in a tone that made everyone there shiver.

"In fact, you have taught him well. He's very polite."

"He was always like that," Dee said, a smile breaking her anger for a moment. "He's also a StoneHeart. Just so you know."

"Good to know," Daelus nodded. He looked at Hylos. "Your debt is clear," he said and Hylos gasped and Mirra released a happy sob. "You're not allowed back here. Count your blessings and realize how lucky you are."

"Th-thank you," Hylos said, voice strangled.

"Do not waste this opportunity," Daelus warned. He turned to Harry and his friends. "I have found this encounter to be very entertaining and educational. I am pleased to have made your acquaintance. Should you ever return," he gulped at Dee's bristling, "you will be honored guests," he said emphatically.

"Thank you, Sir," Harry said with Pansy and Millicent echoing and Hedwig nodded back with lordly grace.

"Well, if we're all done, I'm going to escort them out," Dee said. "And since I broke the agreement, I'll send you recompense later."

"That won't be necessary," Daelus said to her surprise. "In fact, consider our last decision fulfilled."

"Well, that's very kind of you," Dee said, nodding. "I will still send a little something to make up for my indiscretion prior to the cessation. Honor must be upheld, much like contracts."

"I will gratefully accept," Daelus said with obvious relief.

Dee jerked her head at Harry and the others and they started to follow her out of the office. The other goblins shrank back to the walls, not impeding her at all. As they approached the door, a heavily armored goblin came running and sighted her. He opened his mouth and held up a huge axe but before he could say or do anything else, Dee struck him in the jaw with the flat of her left palm, slamming it shut and slamming his head back. She then snatched his axe from him and threw it hard, embedding it into the stone wall. He had not fallen back yet and she grabbed him by the front breastplate and threw him in the opposite direction of the axe, sending him flying through the air and making him slam against the other wall with goblins throwing themselves out of the way. Dee looked at the slumped guard and then back at Daelus who had winced at the action but shook his head. She nodded and left, making sure the others followed her closely.

"Good thing we didn't do anything to them," one of the goblins said, shuddering.

"I swore never to piss that woman off ever again," Daelus said with utter sincerity. "Make sure Harry Potter is never bothered by any of us. Not only does he seem like a decent person, I think she would actually destroy Darkwell if he's hurt here."

"Noted," another goblin said. "Makes a really good pot of chowder though."

"He really does," Daelus mused. "All of his food was good. He owns a restaurant. We should partake from time to time. Might be worth visiting the surface here and there."

-0-

"Well, now that's done with, time to go-" Harry began.

"No." Dee grabbed his hand and he winced at the immense pressure on it. "We're going to the Spire, all of us." She glared at a shaking Hylos and quaking Mirra. "Now." She dragged Harry behind her to a local rail line and pushed him onto the waiting cart. After herding the others in, she pulled the lever and the small cart trundled off through the dark. In a short time, the cart came to a stop outside of the Spire and she herded them all into the building.

When they stopped in the kitchen, she took off her armor and handed it to a waiting attendant. "Now, I want to know why in the ever-consuming dark you were at DARKWELL!" She glared up at Harry who managed to not shrink while the others did. All save for Hedwig who sat on Harry's head and yawned. "You should know better not to go there! What were you doing there?!"

"I was helping Mirra!" Harry protested, standing up to the furious Dee. "Her cousin got in trouble and well, we figured out a plan that had a high chance of success."

"Harry, my sweet idiot of a boy, the goblins at Darkwell aren't like most other goblins!" Dee thundered. "They have their own form of honor and their own code and have no problems breaking said code when it suits them! They have bankrupted people for small reason and killed for even less!"

"Right but they're still goblins!" Harry retorted. "I've learned a lot from you and Chef and I had a pretty good idea of what could work! We presented ourselves politely and with professional courtesy. Laid out our goals honestly. Provided them a chance to refuse the alternative compensation. And respected them and the local customs and culture!"

"It's all my fault," Mirra said mournfully. She braved the heated look Dee threw her way, gulping but pressing on. "I was trying to get some extra money and Chef figured out why by asking. Please don't blame him."

"Anything for the clan and the family," Harry said when Dee opened her mouth. "Well Hedwig's Hearth is my clan and family. So the people there are a part of my clan. You taught me that family sticks together and the clan exists only because of the people a part of it."

Dee glared at him and stomped her foot, a very loud and heavy sound that rolled like thunder in the kitchen. "Don't throw my words back at me!" she shouted but did so with a proud smile. "But that does make me proud, you learning from us."

"I'm a StoneHeart, right?" Harry smiled. "I learn from the best."

"I'm still mad at you," Dee sighed, hugging him until Harry coughed. "But proud of you all the same." She let him go and glared at a shivering Hylos. "So, you ended up owing Darkwell then? You should know better too. Anyone in Thalga should know better."

"Have to try and make a living," Hylos grumbled, wincing when Mirra punched him in the side.

"That's the truth but there's a smart way and a fatally stupid way to do that," Dee said, unimpressed. "Fine. Your debt to Darkwell is clean, but not to StoneHeart. One of my personal own bailed your sorry ass out. I'm taking that debt and making it mine. You're going to learn how to work and work proper under my eye and you're going to pay back that debt until I'm satisfied. And I'm going to beat some sense into you until you learn from it. Do you understand me?"

Hylos looked rebellious for a moment before deflating under the ire of Dee and Mirra's look. "Understood," he said glumly. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "I really am grateful though. Thank you for helping me."

"Let him get cleaned up," Dee said to an attendant. "He stinks of failure and stupid." She shook her head as the attendant led Hylos away.

"Thank you," Mirra said softly. "I promise I'll pay back StoneHeart."

"No, it's not your debt to pay and you would have gone into it trying to save him," Dee said. "Don't worry. I'll run him hard but make sure he learns from it and becomes the better for it, or dies trying. And I'll keep you and the elders at IronSides in the loop."

"Thank you," Mirra said, eyes shining.

"And you." Dee pulled Harry down so she could grab his ear. "You come to us first next time!"

"I didn't want to make things even more complicated than they were!" Harry said, wincing. "Also, how did you know we were there anyways?!"

"Flynt saw you and came to tell us," Dee said, waving her hand.

"I thought he wasn't supposed to be there either," Harry snorted.

"Yeah well, you know Flynt. He does stupid things on the regular too," Dee snorted. "What were you going to do if you lot were cornered?!"

"We had a Portkey to take us back and Lavender was going to call people if we didn't check in on time," Harry said, rubbing his ear. "And yes, you were high on the list in case. But besides. I figured we had a good chance. Pansy is the best mediator and negotiator and a really good Gemcut player and I don't think there's anyone that can stand against Millie and Hedwig working together."

"Not to mention Harry can cook his way out of any situation," Pansy smiled and Millicent nodded with Hedwig barking loudly and proudly.

"See? We planned for nearly every eventuality, just like you taught me," Harry sniffed.

Dee gave him a flat look and shook her head. She cocked her head. "What's that sound?"

"Oh, my mirror." Harry reached into his robes and pulled out his mirror that was barking a sprightly tune. "Hi Lavender."

"Hi! Is everything okay?" Lavender asked.

"Everything's fine, we're at the Spire right now," Harry replied.

"Oh good!" She smiled when Dee took the mirror from Harry. "Oh hi Dee!"

"Don't you 'oh hi Dee' me!" Dee said and Lavender winced. "I can't believe you let them do this!"

"Well, we had to do something!" Lavender protested.

"Do you think we can sneak away while they're arguing?" Pansy whispered.

"She's only going to follow us if we do," Harry said with a small smile.

-0-

"Hi Chef, you look…tired."

Harry smiled at Mirra. "Nothing some coffee won't cure. But yeah, Dee decided to keep up the lecturing for a while."

"I'm so sorry," Mirra said sheepishly.

"I'm not. It went better than we expected and everything worked out," Harry said.

"I have this for you." Mirra gave him a very ornate looking tube made from stone. "It's from the Clan Elders. They're really grateful and so am I. Thank you so much Chef. I can't possibly ever thank you enough for helping me."

"I meant what I said," Harry said, taking the tube from her. "You're a friend and I care about you and will do what I can when you need help."

Mirra's smile lit the kitchen. "And you're my friend and my Chef and I'll always be by your side Chef, forever."

-0-0-0-

61394 - Not just a phoenix, but one with a penchant for mischief and a lifelong grudge against a vampire.

Hands Off MY Wolfie - He's very conscientious and kind like that. To be fair, Fawkes started it this time by tricking Drake. She deserves her bacon tips. Thanks for reading.

TheSphynx - No it won't, it's too fun for everyone else and they probably would be very bored without it.

poka - Honestly only because of Drake. No one else can irritate and encourage Fawkes into a similar state.

odonnellzoo99 - To be fair, Drake didn't mean to punch the charm. He was tricked into it by Fawkes, but he did certainly escalate it. Fawkes also escalated it further.

Shroudy9 - I have over 20 chapters waiting, so no. It did not.

alix33 - They're both incredibly dramatic to be fair, hilariously so.

HoneyBear84 - I mostly drink coffee for the taste these days.

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Glad you liked it. It was a lot of fun writing it.