I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Hello everyone, I am back and as promised, am back to posting. I'll post today and tomorrow. I have also decided that for the next four weeks, I will do two of Side and one of Heal because there are 4 more chapters of Heal and so that will be a good way to spread it out. It will also give me a chance to see if I can finish my current project so that will be completed before I start posting. I'm not sure if it will. I currently have about 7 chapters done and I'm about roughly 1/3rd of the way through my planned storyboard. We will see.
Hope you all are doing well and as always, thank you for your time. Your comments and energy mean so much to me.
Have a lovely day!
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Side Dishes
17th Course – Speaking With Words 6: The Fifth Year Part 1
As per tradition, takes place all over the timeline with the first instance starting at the 77th Course of Taste, the start of the summer before Harry's fifth year of school.
"Expecto Patronum." Harry smiled as he felt the now familiar rush of warmth and positive energy building in his chest and traveling down his arm and out of his wand. The silver light at the end of the wand became the Patronus, and the silver snowy owl leapt onto the desk and cheeped at him, looking brilliant and hale.
Wanting to try and be able to cast the spell without magically exhausting himself, Harry cast it every day. At first the Patronus had seemed vaguely lost, as if unsure of what to do when summoned since Harry did not direct her at any dark-aligned creatures or things. However, after the first time, the Patronus was content to fly around and explore and sit with Harry and play with him.
Hedwig, who had been reading some comics that Ted had lent to Harry, suddenly looked up. "Hey, I have an idea. Since you're training, I can train too and even the Patronus can." She flapped over to the Patronus who looked at her shape-sake with interest. "How about it?"
The Patronus tilted her head, looking quizzical. After a blink when Hedwig assumed a fighting pose, the Patronus bobbed her head eagerly. She struck up a similar pose and soon the two began to spar and fight with each other. Kicks, wing sweeps, dodging, flying about, the snowy owl and the magical snowy owl guardian fought around each other, dodging and weaving and blocking.
Harry had looked on with awed shock at first which then subsided into just awe and he watched them spar with a big smile on his lips.
Andromeda walked into the kitchen and stopped. "What is going on?!"
Harry looked up. "Oh hi Auntie Andi. We're training."
"You...both of you are training?" Andromeda continued to watch with astonishment as Hedwig seemingly fighting with another snowy owl. Upon closer inspection, the second snowy owl glowed with silver light and the two were in fact fighting, but without malice or a desire for violence. They kicked and flapped and pecked at each other, blocking and weaving about each other. "Is that a Patronus?!"
"Yup! She's my Patronus," Harry said proudly. "I was talking to Remus, and Professor Dumbledore, and Madam Pomfrey about me exhausting myself magically from casting the Patronus Charm, and they suggested I cast it more often. The more you cast, the better you get at the spell and you don't expend as much magic and effort."
"That is true," Andromeda said, still watching the snowy owls sparring with one another.
"So I'm casting it a little bit every day to practice it and while I can direct the Patronus, it can also just sort of be. And Remus and Sirius suggested I do other charms and spells while the Patronus is active so I can really practice spell control."
"Also makes sense."
"I guess she got bored eventually though-"
"The Patronus or your owl?" Andromeda asked.
"Yes," Harry smiled. "And Uncle Ted let me borrow those comics about martial artists and Hedwig was reading one and she started sparring with the Patronus to train too and well, yeah." He gestured at the two owls flying around each other and kicking and barking happily.
"Flying owl kick! Take that! Ahhhh okay good kick! Dodge this!"
"Huh. It is rather beautiful to watch," Andromeda said, sitting beside Harry and enjoying the spectacle.
"When they get tired of it, they chase me around," Harry smiled and Andromeda laughed. "Or Sirius or Dora."
"Ah, that was what Dora was complaining about the other day," Andromeda said. She smiled when the owls landed and bowed to each other before they fluttered to Harry, sitting on either shoulder. They preened his hair some, hooting together before the Patronus slowly faded away, her eyes being the last to do so and then disappearing with a wink.
"That was fun, good exercise," Hedwig hooted.
"That was delightful," Andromeda praised and Hedwig fluffed up proudly, cheeping. "What other spells have you been practicing?"
"A lot of the ones I've learned through the years at Household Charms club. Scouring, general cleaning, produce cleaning, mixing, summoning, banishing, levitating, those really." He incanted and waved his wand. A bag from the counter flew over, landing neatly in front of him. He undid the string by hand and waved his wand again. An owl treat levitated out of the bag and he deftly directed it to Hedwig who had opened her beak and leaned forward slightly to daintily grab it before noisily enjoying it.
"Well done," Andromeda praised Harry, patting his back. "The more you do them, the better you get and you will have a firm foundation for casting non-verbally."
"Oooh, that'll be nice," Harry said excitedly.
"And how are things at Gringotts and the Hog's Head?"
"Great! It felt good to just slide back in and work there again. Chef and the Crew and Mr. Abe and Auntie Ari and Willie and Nillie are great to work with and see." He smiled a little. "Pinny still doesn't like me really though, I don't think."
"You will win her over soon," Andromeda smiled. She sniffed delicately. "My goodness, that smells wonderful. What is that?"
"Pot au feu. It's a lighter French soup that you can make with all kinds of meat. I'm doing beef bits and sausages." He walked to the stove and ladled out a small bowl with various pieces of meat and vegetables and gave it to Andromeda.
"Mmm, delicious," Andromeda said, sipping a spoonful. She smiled at Hedwig's look and gave her a bit of sausage to munch on.
"Thank you! Mmm, sausage."
"It'll taste even better later when it simmers more," Harry said proudly. "Winky is going to get us baguettes later and I'll make a salad too."
The door opened and Sirius came in holding a letter. "Oh good, you're here," he said when he saw Andromeda. "Was hoping you were."
"Is something wrong?" Andromeda asked.
"I don't know honestly." Sirius hesitated for a moment. "I got a letter. From Narcissa."
"Oh." Andromeda stilled and looked wary and pained. "What does the letter say?"
"She wants to meet. With both of us actually. Though it was addressed to Lord Black and said it's a family matter."
"I have not the faintest idea what she would want," Andromeda said quietly.
"Me neither," Sirius said. "I don't have a reason to refuse a meeting, but I don't have a reason to accept it either. Do you want to meet with her?"
"I…do not know," Andromeda confessed. She continued to look slightly lost. She brightened when Harry hugged her and she hugged him back hard, and held him instead of breaking the embrace. "Thank you, love."
Harry hugged her again without speaking.
"I suppose we could," Andromeda said at last. "It…might be nice to speak with her again."
"Alright. We'll do that and the second she says something neither of us like, her arse is out the door," Sirius said firmly. "You're my favorite cousin, not her."
"Thank you," Andromeda smiled. She let Harry go when he started moving and she watched him summon various things from the pantry. "What are you making now?"
"I learned something really sweet is really good for your feelings," Harry said. "For when you need to eat them."
"That is true," Andromeda said with an even broader smile. "Wise words from your female friends."
Harry nodded. "So I'm going to make the best dessert I know how to for tonight and you get the first piece." He looked at her shyly. "It's a tiramisu. It was Mum's favorite cake."
"Yeah it was," Sirius said thickly with a proud sad smile.
Andromeda's heart melted and she walked over and hugged Harry tight, eyes glinting.
"I have to make it!" Harry laughed but did not resist.
"It can wait a little longer," Andromeda said, not letting him go. "But not too long."
-0-
"That is a really big fish," Harry said, staring at the incredibly large fish lying in the crate on the floor.
It was over eight feet long and looked very large and heavy. The eyes were milk-white and the whole of the fish was covered in dense rubbery skin. Long whiskers dangled from the face and the fins were wide and long with trailing protrusions.
"We call it caddok," Diglin said. "It's similar to catfish. We think it somehow got into our underground habitat when the catfish was introduced to the United Kingdom in the 1800s. It evolved to suit the environment and here is a pretty decent specimen."
"Pretty decent?" Harry asked. "They can get bigger?"
"Oh yeah, and like most cave-species, they're meaner," Diglin said. "Though I heard catfish are pretty mean no matter where they are." He pointed at the barbed whiskers. "Those can cut you bad and the caddoks aren't shy fighters."
"Wow. How do they taste?"
"Good, if made right. You gotta cook them properly or else the flavor is a bit muddy. You get a decent yield off them too if you butcher them right."
"And how do you butcher them normally?" Harry asked, looking at the immense caddok and the not as immense Diglin.
"Little ones you do just like any other fish. One of the bigguns like this one needs a special setup. Come on." He showed Harry how to set up a hanging brace and set down a tarp on the floor. A hook through the mouth secured the fish and they hauled on a chain, pulling it into the air. It dangled in mid-air, water dripping off. "Here we can remove the fins, and be careful they cut you up too, and then skin it and then break it into halves. Then you can quarter it essentially and finish up on a table like you normally would."
He, Amythyst, and Harry worked together, with them showing Harry how to carefully take it apart. They wore heavy leather gloves for the first part and carefully putting the fins to the side, followed by the whiskers and the spines. It took some time but they eventually broke it down together and had the major cuts lying out on the tables. The skeleton of the fish hung off the brace, still impressive despite being bare bone.
"Bones and other bits go to the forges and people that want them. They're useful for lots of things," Amythyst said, stripping her gloves off. "We don't get big one often to break down like this. It's a pain in the arse to do as you see."
"I think it's fun," Harry said.
"That's 'cause you're young and you've not done it before," Diglin snorted. "I generally prefer the regular ones too but once in a while you get a really good deal and the big ones have a good flavor to them."
"How are we serving it?" Harry asked.
"Fried. We thin slice the fillets, then dredge in cornmeal and shallow fried 'till crisp. Bit of gravy on top. We do some braised greens on the side with some pickles and bread or pasta. Similar to how they do it in the States. We'll also flake it and make a chowder out of it. After some pieces cure a few days, taking the edge of the flavor off, we can do other things too." Diglin clapped Harry on the shoulder. "And since you think it's fun, you get it on line duty."
"Yes Chef," Harry said happily.
"Stop treating him with so much deference," Amythyst sighed with mock-weariness. "He's starting to hold us to that standard of respect."
"I know I don't get any from you lot," Diglin sniffed. "And you don't mean it. Let me have someone that genuinely respects me."
"We respect you Chef," Flynt said as he passed by. "Respect and fear you."
"More fear than respect sometimes," another said.
"Maybe a fearful respect," Hacker called over.
"Or a respectful fear," Amythyst added.
"Harry, make mapo for family meal, half super spicy and half none at all. You know who gets which batch," Diglin said and the Crew groaned.
"Heard," Harry smiled. "Before we send the bones away, can I do something funny? Also do we have a camera?"
Diglin snorted when Harry explained. "I'll go get one. That's too funny."
After a short time, the door to the kitchen opened again and Hedwig flapped in. "Hello everyone," she barked as she swooped down and landed on Harry's head. "Hi Chick," she cooed, tugging on his hair lovingly. "You wanted me?" She looked up and gasped at the very big skeleton of the caddok. "Now that's a big fish!"
"Hedwig, sit on the caddok's head and we'll take a picture of it and we can tell people that you caught it," Harry said eagerly.
"I mean, I probably can catch one," Hedwig said with smug self-assurance. "But yes! Great idea!" She frowned at the large head for a moment but brightened when Harry cleaned it first. "Such a good Chick!" Once cleaned, she landed daintily on the head and they faced Diglin with the camera.
"Cheese!" Harry said with a big smile.
"Fish!" Hedwig hooted.
Diglin took the picture and Hedwig stayed while they went back to work and Diglin took the film away to a different part of the bank. In a short time, a goblin brought the pictures back and the Crew and Harry laughed at Hedwig sitting fluffed up on the immense caddok.
"That's a good picture," Hedwig hooted happily.
-0-
Hedwig bobbed her head back at the Patronus and they bowed to each other. "Time for the training!" Hedwig said eagerly and the Patronus looked equally as enthused. "Let's listen to some fighting music. Music makes things better. Chick! Music please!"
Harry saw Hedwig looking at the wireless and nodded. "Oh sure." He turned it on and started to turn the dials, trying to find a station with appropriate music. "Let's see. That's classical, that's the news in French." He and Hedwig and the Patronus winced when screeching music that sounded like wailing tortured violins shrilled. "Ow no no no," Harry gasped, turning the dial swiftly. "There's got to be something."
The latest station began to play bombastic music, the cancan. The Patronus perked up and glowed brightly and split into three. The three Patroni looked at Hedwig and Hedwig fluffed up. "Don't have to ask me twice!"
Andromeda walked into the kitchen and stopped. "You know, one might think I should be used to this by now, but honestly, I am not." She tilted her head. "Is that…cancan music?"
Harry nodded, pointing at the wireless on the counter.
"Ah, which explains the dancing," Andromeda smiled.
Hedwig and the three snowy owl Patroni were dancing together on the countertop. They kicked in tandem, barking in time to the music and hopped up and down, holding their wings wide for balance or flapping in place before kicking higher and higher. They danced in a circle, alternating between pairs and a line before returning to a circle, waggling their tail feathers in time before kicking energetically once more, barking and hooting with glee.
"I am the best at dancing, therefore, you are at the best at dancing too!" Hedwig hooted and the Patroni hooted in agreement, kicking even higher.
"They're really good," Harry said, clapping his hands in time.
"More training?" Andromeda asked, clapping with him.
Harry nodded. "They wanted sparring music and there was some decent ones but when the cancan music came up, the Patronus split into three and they started dancing instead. I don't know how they know how to cancan but I'm not complaining." When the music ended, he and Andromeda cheered and clapped as Hedwig and the Patroni bowed, fluffing up and looking proud. They clustered around Harry for a moment before the Patroni faded away with warm hoots and winks.
"Such a good dancer," Andromeda praised, rubbing Hedwig's head. Hedwig hooted with immense self-satisfaction and nuzzled Andromeda's hand back.
"Thank you! I love it when people recognize my majesty and skills and praise me for it."
Ted came in. "Say Harry, there's a change to your main pay account at Gringotts, did you know that?"
"Oh no, is something wrong?" Andromeda asked.
Harry flushed. "Not wrong exactly," he sighed.
Ted grinned. "Oh good, so you do know. I was wondering how to inform you of the blunt hammer addendum."
"Blunt hammer?" Andromeda asked.
"As in a dull tool," Ted explained. "Also, colloquially, it means idiot."
"They are charging you and calling you an idiot to boot? Insult to injury?" Andromeda asked, appalled.
"No, they are paying him more," Ted laughed. "It's not so much a tax but a bonus. It's also listed as a kind of bonus parents pay their children or for new workers at their first job as a form of extra help and insurance. It's helping in a backhanded compliment way. Though to be fair, there is an actual idiot tax and they do charge for that too, depending on the situation of course."
"I made a joke about me getting paid," Harry complained while Ted and Andromeda laughed. "And apparently they really didn't like that kind of joking."
"No, they really don't," Ted agreed. "They take that sort of thing very seriously."
"That really is funny," Andromeda chortled. "And sweet in a slightly insulting way."
"Like I said, backhanded compliment," Ted laughed.
"What's that look for?" Harry snorted, looking down at Hedwig in his lap. The owl was staring up at him with heavily lidded eyes in a very flat expression. He poked her beak and she retaliated by nipping him back and then gnawing contentedly on his fingers.
"Because you are an idiot sometimes but you're my idiot," she huffed before gnawing on his fingers with affection.
"What even brought that about?" Andromeda asked.
"Oh I helped Chef come up with a menu for the negotiation meal they had with the Paris branch and it turned out well for the London branch."
"I heard about that." Ted looked impressed. "The Parisian Gringotts goblins are even tougher in some ways when it comes to that sort of thing. Good job lad."
"Thanks! I was really happy with what we did," Harry smiled.
"That's the important part, happiness and pride in your work," Andromeda said. She smiled broadly. "Getting recognized for it and compensated fairly for it also help though, to be fair."
"Been told that a lot recently," Harry said wryly. "Not only Gringotts and you, but Mr. Abe and Auntie Ari and Professor Dumbledore."
"Important lesson to learn," Ted agreed.
"Yeah. They, the Dumbledores, were telling me about staying loyal to a place but that I have to do what's best for me. I think staying at the Hog's Head is what's best for me though." Harry shook his head. "Apparently Madam Rosmerta is trying to poach me."
"Ooh, I bet Ariana thought poorly of that," Andromeda smiled.
"Yeah she did." Harry flushed a little but looked pleased. "Said I'd go over there over Madam Rosmerta's Cursed body and she'd burn the Three Broomsticks down first." He frowned a little. "Which, knowing Auntie Ari, that really isn't an empty threat, is it?"
"Probably not," Andromeda snorted.
"Still, it's good to be wanted," Harry said, a trifle embarrassed.
"Well we always want you," Andromeda said stoutly, hugging him. Hedwig cheeped loudly and settled on his head, looking very possessive and smug as she wiggled back and forth.
"I always want you. You're the best butt warmer and chick and boy," Hedwig cooed.
"It's good to be wanted," Harry repeated, feeling warm and content.
-0-
"Miss Hedwig is very good huntress," Roosty said admiringly.
The elves had invited Harry to visit and to take some produce back to Grimmauld with him. Harry, of course, had happily accepted. He wanted to help on the Farms as well as learn more. When the elves had mentioned a recent rat infestation, Harry said he would ask Hedwig if she wanted to help.
She very much wanted to help.
When they first arrived, she scouted about the farm and fields, listening with keen hearing. She figured out where they congregated, thinking they were safe, and thus committed to disabuse them of that notion. She flew around the farms relentlessly, showing the elves where the rats made nests and warrens while she hunted them.
"Flee before me!" Hedwig screeched as she chased them. "You cannot hide from me! I am the Talons of Winter! I am the Ever-Watchful Eyes! I am Hedwig! None shall escape my wrath!" She chased down a particularly large rat, catching it and dispatching it swiftly.
"Yeah she is," Harry said proudly, watching as she uncovered another nest. "I never knew she didn't like rats this much though. That might be a recent thing."
"With Miss Hedwig's help, we can make Farms much safer and cleaner," Wheatley said with satisfaction.
-0-
"Hey, how were the Farms?" Sirius asked, smiling as Harry walked in carrying a large basket and looking tanned.
"Great! Hogwarts Farms are incredible during the summer," Harry said, dropping the basket onto the counter. It was full of produce and things and Hedwig sat on the top, looking especially plump and satisfied. "There's so much growing and it's really pretty."
"They gave you all this?" Sirius asked, poking through the basket. "That's a lot of good-looking stuff!"
"Yup! Most of it are the smaller ones they keep to eat themselves and to give the other crops room to grow and get bigger. They taught me a lot about winnowing and thinning out the crops and what to look for."
"She looks happy too, get her fair share?" Sirius said, nodding at Hedwig.
"Sure did," Hedwig hooted smugly, "and I earned it, thank you."
Harry rubbed her head and she cheeped and belched, looking very content. "She had a good time too. They were having a rat infestation and she went in and got a lot and drove the rest out. Wheatley was especially happy."
"Hey good job," Sirius said and Hedwig flapped her wings happily. "Glad you enjoyed yourself." He grinned. "Never thought you'd have fun working and doing hard things like that."
"It's food related," Harry laughed. "It's a little weird though."
"Everyone's a little weird," Sirius said. "Pity the ones that aren't. They don't have a personality."
"That's true," Hedwig nodded.
-0-
"There, finished." Lavender set her essay to one side with a sigh of relief. "Thanks for doing this, Harry."
"Of course," Harry smiled. "I mean, seeing my friends and cooking is such a hardship normally," he said with an insincere expression that made the others laugh. Despite having already done his summer work early in the summer, he had suggested having people over who have yet to finish it so they could all work on it together. A few friends took him up on that and there was a small group of people eating and doing work together with plenty of time spent laughing and not doing said work.
"And now we still have several weeks of not doing anything before school starts officially," Parvati said smugly.
"Speak for yourself, I already started reviewing for O.W.L.s," Hermione snorted.
"That's a whole other standard of insanity," Parvati sniffed. "Only people like you and Padma have done that."
"I bet Harry has," Hermione protested.
"No, don't say that's true!" Parvati gasped.
"Technically I haven't," Harry said, making Parvati beam and Hermione sigh. "I did learn a lot about magic when I was in France though. Grandmother and Grandfather make it really interesting though."
"Well I guess that's fair," Parvati conceded. "They must know a lot."
Harry nodded. "It's intimidating how much they know. But they're really good at explaining things sometimes. Grandmother Penny is a good teacher. Grandfather Nicky sometimes takes for granted what he thinks is 'common knowledge' but when he has to teach something out, he's good at it too."
"Did they teach you how to make crepes?" Padma asked, watching him.
"They took me to their favorite creperie and the owners were very nice and taught me," Harry said. He poured a thin layer of batter onto a hot skillet that he had brushed with oil moments ago. He swirled it slowly, and watched the batter cook. When the edges lifted slightly and the surface was golden brown, he flipped the crepe with a thin spatula and cooked the other side. Deftly, he lifted it out onto the board and filled it whipped cream and sliced bananas and strawberries before rolling it gently. He dusted it with a little confectioner's sugar and handed it to an eager Padma.
"Mmm! So good," Padma said after she sliced herself a bite of the sweet and creamy and fruity crepe. "Better than Fleur's!"
"Aww thanks," Harry grinned.
"You really learned a lot of new cooking stuff this summer," Hermione said admiringly.
"These and consommé are the big ones," Harry nodded, already making another. "And some more traditional goblin things. It's been nice."
"I really like savory crepes," Pansy said, munching on her ham and mushroom one. Harry had filled it with cheese, thinly sliced ham, and sauteed mushrooms. "I like the sweet ones too. I guess I like all crepes," she laughed.
"I made mille crepe earlier too," Harry said as he filled the newest one with sliced bananas and dollops of Nutella and whipped cream. He handed it to Lavender. "That's a cake made with lots of crepes and layers of cream in between. It's chilling in the icebox right now."
"We're really going to need an exercise regime," Sue sighed.
"It'll be worth it," Lavender said, chewing and smiling as she ate her crepe.
"Oh and if you guys are still hungry, I brought something else to try if you want." Harry went to the icebox and removed a long and closed container and carried it over.
"I can always eat," Ron said. He blinked when Harry took off the lid. "What are those?!"
"Caddoks," Harry said. He pulled one out. "Cave catfish essentially. I got a bunch from the Gringotts supplier."
"Oh those look a lot less frightening than the one Hedwig caught," Lavender said, looking at the much smaller fish.
"Wait, Hedwig caught one?" Ron asked. He blanched at the picture that Harry showed him. "That fish is huge! And Hedwig caught it?!"
Hedwig flew into the kitchen and dove, nabbing a caddok from the container and held it up easily in her talons. She hooted brightly, shaking the fish before dropping it back into the container. She then landed on a towel and daintily wiped her talons and feet clean before settling down on Harry's head.
"As far as you know, I did," Hedwig nodded. "And I still think I could catch a big one if I wanted to. I'm a very good huntress."
"I honestly still don't know if she did or didn't," Millicent said, looking at Hedwig.
"She's very talented," Harry said and Hedwig hooted in agreement. ("See? Chick knows!") They all watched as Harry expertly cleaned and butchered the caddoks, being careful with the spines and whiskers. Soon the fillets were sliced into thin strips and dredged before laid carefully in oil, frying in a cast iron pan.
"That smells and looks amazing," Tracey said as the pieces were laid on wire racks to drip and cool.
"Help yourselves," Harry said happily after they cooled a little. They needed no extra urging and they all bit into the crisp fried fish.
"Wow, that's a nice crunch," Parvati said, fanning her mouth. "Mmm, that's a flaky dense fish too."
"Delicious," Lavender said, biting into a second piece hungrily.
"Do you ever get tired of cooking or can't be bothered to cook something?" Ron asked seriously. "Like you just don't feel like it?"
"Sometimes," Harry nodded. "Not often but sure, here and there I guess."
"What do you do?" Millicent asked.
"I love bread and butter anyways so I'm lucky there," Harry laughed. "Or just put some cheese between bread. I never find it troublesome to cook some bacon. The only problem with cooking bacon sometimes is Hedwig gets to it first." He smiled when Hedwig giggled, wiggling on his head with satisfaction. "But I make extra for her anyways so it's not an actual problem."
"I only steal some because it's funny and adorable and you like it. I know not to take any when you need it for something."
"What are you doing now?" Pansy asked.
"Frying the bones," Harry said. He dredged the bones of the caddocks and fried them until they were crisp. "Some fish bones you can eat like this. Hedwig loves them." Hedwig flapped and landed on the counter top and licked her beak, waiting for the fried bones to cool slightly before she chomped on them enthusiastically.
"They're so good! Crunchy in all kinds of nice ways and the bits of meat are tender and tasty!"
"I think generally you want smaller bones for regular fish but like most slightly magical animals, caddoks are weird that way," Harry added.
"It's a Chinese and Japanese thing too," Sue nodded. "If you fry the fish well, the little bones are tasty."
"Oh, you're right," Hermione said as she nibbled a small piece. "It's really crunchy and actually quite nice."
"Hedwig always makes food look delicious," Lavender smiled, enjoying Hedwig's noisy enjoyment.
"Because it is delicious! Chick cooks with love and it makes food better. Besides, there's no reason to pretend you're not enjoying something. That's just silly."
"She does love to eat," Harry said lovingly, rubbing her head. "Even when she's eating her normal prey things. Doesn't make me want to try eating rat or mice or other things she's caught despite her sharing, but she is always an enthusiastic eater."
"Does she still hunt a lot?" Padma asked.
"Here and there. More for exercise and fun and when she wants something simple. Other times she eats what I make. Even requests things sometimes. She's the best taste tester and helper for sure."
"I've been meaning to ask, do you teach her things?" Tracey asked.
"I don't think I've taught her to do anything technically," Harry said thoughtfully. "She just does it."
"So even you haven't explored all she is capable of?"
"Not really. Let's find out. Hedwig." Harry smiled when his owl looked up at him, cheeping thickly around the fish tail she was munching. ("Yes Chick?") "Shake."
Hedwig turned and waggled her butt at Tracey, making them all laugh. "Shake shake shake. Look at my butt feathers! Look at them!""
"How much is one plus two?" he asked.
She swallowed the fish tail and barked three times, giving him a flat condescending look. "3 obviously! Okay, I know you're doing this to humor her but I know maths thank you very much!"
He laughed when she thwapped him with her tail feathers. "Sing!"
Hedwig fluffed up and took a deep breath. She began to cheep musically, elongating notes with long hoots. "Ave Maria, maiden mild. Oh, listen to a maiden's prayer…"
"Is…is that Ave Maria?" Pansy asked, her eyes round. "She's singing Ave Maria?!"
"She's very talented," Harry whispered. He led the applause when Hedwig finished and the owl plumped even further, bowing and looking smug.
"Yes, praise me with great praise!"
"Wow, that's incredible," Lavender gushed.
"Plus she looks good in accessories and she's the best dancer I know," Harry said. "Oh and she's gotten really good at something else over the summer."
"What?" Ron asked, reaching out for another piece of fish.
"Hai yah!"
He blinked when half of it went flying. "Did…did she just kick it?"
"Wow, that was an impressive kick too," Sue said as Hedwig balanced on one foot and waggled her other one.
"I can kick many things now with much strength and accuracy," Hedwig barked.
"She's been training," Harry nodded.
"I'm not warning Blaise about that," Pansy smiled and Tracy and Millicent smiled too.
"I bet you can easily kick doors open now," Lavender smiled.
"Oh she can. She was chasing Dora the other day and Dora slammed the door shut and Hedwig kicked it open," Harry said.
"I was talking about the cage door," Lavender gasped.
"Oh she can probably kick that even more easily," Harry said.
"Absolutely!"
"Hedwig, I know you've been teaching Sunny things, but please don't teach her that," Pansy begged.
"Oh no, imagine what she could do if she did," Millicent gasped.
"I'm glad Crookshanks is really lazy," Hermione gulped.
-0-
"You know, if you really want to be a true cunning mastermind, you need a cat to pet to show sinister overtones," Blaise smiled. "It's traditional."
Harry looked down at both Crookshanks and Sunny begrudgingly sharing his lap and turned his head to look at Hedwig fluffed on his shoulder. "What does two cats and an owl mean overtone wise?"
"That you're very comfortable," Crookshanks purred.
"Incredibly comfortable," Sunny purred.
"And the best boy," Hedwig cooed.
"Well Crookshanks is rather lazy," Hermione giggled. "So he and Sunny cancel each other out."
"And Hedwig is just the cutest," Lavender praised.
"As well as being a menace," Blaise snorted. He blanched when Hedwig clacked her beak at him in a decidedly threatening way. "As I have said."
"I'll show you menace," Hedwig hissed. "I still haven't forgotten you and your shoddy aiming knocking me bed over with me in it! My vengeance is only delayed and it will be terrible and prolonged!"
-0-0-0-
DOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Inventory is the necessary evil that keeps any operation to work well.
alix33 - They probably have a certain standardized amount of whatever that's in each crate.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - I don't think Harry would tolerate a slacker. He'd push them to be the best they could be, or not be there any more. His work ethic demands that at the least. Hedwig only moons if they deserve it. Or if she's bored. Thanks for reading.
poka - Right? Sunny and Hedwig are a nice couple of petlings that add ambiance and comfort to any scene. I like the "a day in the life" chapters. Lets me meander and just explore a typical day.
Wentley - Butter chicken and naan are so satisfying.
Shroudy9 - There will be more.
odonnellzoo99 - Harry likes to return kindness with kindness.
TheSphynx - Thank you. It's a nice series in the fic.
HoneyBear84 - Thank you.