I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Side Dishes
19th Course – Personnel Problems
Takes place after Harry and Lavender get engaged but before the wedding, between courses 174 and 175 of Taste.
Dumbledore let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples slowly to relieve the tension. It was a long and well-used tactic to compensate for stress and strain and it sometimes helped.
"What is the problem?" McGonagall asked as she walked into his office and seeing him in that state.
"I am having trouble finding someone to fill one of the open posts," Dumbledore said wearily.
"Ah, because of the increasing class sizes," McGonagall said, nodding in understanding.
"Do not mistake me. This is a problem I rather have than not," Dumbledore said. "It has been a joy to see Hogwarts increase in size these last few years. We are getting more students and it is always a good thing."
"But now we need to expand to accommodate for them all," McGonagall said. "I am fortunate that my mastery apprentices are going to be helping with teaching as part of their programs." She huffed slightly and Dumbledore smiled, knowing what was coming. "Nicolas will continue to 'help' when he can but I do enjoy Miss BeauSoleil's aid when she comes. Filius has accepted a few and is doing the same and I know Perenelle and Miss Delacour will be assisting."
"Mr. Longbottom is doing quite well with Pomona," Dumbledore said, enjoying McGonagall's smile of pride. "And Miss Bulstrode has accepted to work with Hagrid and is going to help with Care of Magical Creatures while doing her mastery work. Her Master is one of the Hunters on her team and he will be coming in to help as well. The Medical team has expanded under Poppy's eye. Sirius continues to tutor for Defense and Remus is currently speaking to someone to help with classes. Director Bones has committed to sending Aurors in for tutoring and training as well."
"And it looks like the elective professors are making strides already, and they do not need to worry quite yet," McGonagall said, looking at the notes in front of Dumbledore. "That is good. So what is the position that is the problem-oh." She snorted gently. "I should have surmised."
"Quite," Dumbledore said. He smiled. "In his defense, he has improved these last few years. We rarely get complaints about his teaching anymore."
"It is still a core class and it will only get worse in time," McGonagall said. "There are no applicants?"
"Not really," Dumbledore said morosely. "Unfortunately, but accurately, he is to blame somewhat."
"And has he done anything to correct the situation?" McGonagall asked, eyebrow raised.
"He has," Dumbledore said firmly. "But it has not helped it seems."
"Any ideas?" she asked sympathetically.
"One, and it is a bad one," Dumbledore said. "But I am growing desperate."
McGonagall blinked at him a few times, mind working to try and divine his words. She snorted when the answer came to her. "Good luck," she said with a wry smile.
"Thank you, I will need it," Dumbledore said seriously.
-0-
Aberforth grunted with amusement. "That has bad idea written all over it."
"I know," Dumbledore sighed. "But I am desperate."
"You have to be to consider it," Aberforth said. "Here."
Dumbledore took the cup from his brother. "Thank you." He sipped it and looked appreciatively at it. "That is very nice," he said. "Bitter in a pleasant way. Not too strong."
"Yup, pretty happy with it," Aberforth said comfortably, sipping his own sample.
Dumbledore looked around. The large barn was filled with barrels of all sizes, lined up against the walls in neat rows. Times and names were written on them with charcoal pencils and the air was cool and still. The large doors were open to the farm and the fields were full and well-kept. House elves roamed about, checking on the crops and things and chatting with one another while going about their business.
"You appear to be flourishing well," Dumbledore said with a smile, looking at his brother with fondness and pride.
"It agrees with me," Aberforth said, flushing a little but looking pleased. "Hard work, but I only have to deal with one customer technically, well two. When I'm not at the bar at the Hearth."
"And those two customers are used to you," Dumbledore chuckled.
"Yeah they are," Aberforth chuckled too. "Are you sure the Hogwarts elves really don't mind coming here?"
"They assured me they do not. They like it. You grow different things on a smaller scale so to them, it is a nice diversion," Dumbledore said. "Plus we managed to find a form of mutual compensation so that is fine."
Aberforth nodded as he sipped and the brothers stood in comfortable silence as the farm grew and worked around them.
"It is not like she has much else to do," Dumbledore said, his voice a trifle exasperated. "She has complained about the constant travel and has said her work has slowed down."
"That's true," Aberforth said.
"It would be better if she did stay in one place more and she already has been the last few years," Dumbledore continued.
"She has," Aberforth agreed. He looked at his brother. "You do know, though, that you'd be inviting a whole new level of trouble."
"I know," Dumbledore sighed. "I have weighed the benefits against the costs."
"And?"
"Dead even," Dumbledore grumbled as he sipped his ale.
Aberforth chuckled richly. "Yep." He refilled their cups. "I hope you aren't coming to me to help convince her. Between the two of us, she wouldn't do it out of tradition and nature."
"No, I know that. I came to you to see what you think of the idea, aside thinking it is a bad one," Dumbledore snorted.
"No, it has bad idea written on it, but it's not a completely bad one," Aberforth protested. "Just saying it'll cause its own set of troubles."
"She's not getting any younger."
"We're older than her," Aberforth said, amused.
"I am aware."
Aberforth chuckled more. "Well, if you want to make an honest try of it, I'd say go for it and I'll throw in on your side. But you should go to the person that could actually convince her to do it with less kicking and screaming and Cursing."
Dumbledore looked up at Aberforth for a moment before brightening. "Oh, excellent idea."
"I have them sometimes," Aberforth smiled as he drank.
-0-
"Hello Sir!" Harry smiled.
"Hello Harry," Dumbledore said warmly, embracing the young man with warmth and fondness. "I am not intruding, am I?"
"Not at all! Have a seat." Harry led Dumbledore to the table in the kitchen and smiled even wider when Fawkes appeared in a flash. "Hi Fawkes!" He hugged the phoenix that warbled musically at him, nuzzling him happily. "What would you two like?"
"I would adore the usual, please," Dumbledore smiled and Fawkes nodded in agreement.
"Two Dumbledore family specials, coming up," Harry smiled.
Dumbledore watched with pride and interest as the kitchen cooked around them. The Brigade had really come into its own and the staff cooked well. They bantered and laughed, the happy sounds mingling pleasantly with the sound of fire and cutlery and cookware. The front staff breezed in and out and Hedwig flew in and out as well, waving a wing in hello at Fawkes and Dumbledore as she passed. In a short time, Harry returned with two plates of full English breakfast and set them on the table in front of Dumbledore and Fawkes. "I do love that the usual is still here," Dumbledore smiled.
"Won't ever come off and is only served to the ones in the know and the deserving," Harry said, pouring out tea for Dumbledore. He smiled as Fawkes sang happily as he devoured his food. "You said you needed to speak to me about something?"
Dumbledore nodded as he ate eggs on toast with the mushrooms and tomatoes. "I did," he said, clearing his mouth and throat with a sip of tea. "I need your help with something."
"Of course, what can I do?" Harry asked.
"I need your help in convincing someone to do something they may not want to," Dumbledore said slowly.
"That sounds ominous and concerning," Harry said with a slight frown.
"It is not…really," Dumbledore said. He sighed and rubbed his face at Harry's confusion. "Essentially, I am looking for someone to take on a teaching role at the school. With the increasing class sizes, we need multiple instructors for the core classes."
"Oh right, Remus mentioned that. He's taking on an apprentice and Sirius is going to teach some of the upper years," Harry said. "Sirius has been taking his certification classes so he can teach legally if not you know, 'properly'."
"Is Minerva aware?" Dumbledore asked, smiling.
"He's saving it for her birthday," Harry said with a very big grin.
"What a terrible gift from her perspective," Dumbledore said and he and Harry laughed together.
"I'm making her birthday meal to soften the blow," Harry snickered.
"That will do it," Dumbledore smiled. "But yes, everyone seems to be having luck in finding additional help that will grow the school. All save for one."
"Who?" Harry asked.
"Professor Snape," Dumbledore said simply.
"Ah yeah, I can see that," Harry said, understanding. He thought for a moment longer then snorted. "Oh now I see why you came to me, I think."
"I knew you would," Dumbledore said gratefully. He frowned at Fawkes. "I know you are not choking."
Fawkes swallowed and looked at Dumbledore and shook his head slowly from side to side, giving him a flat look.
"It could work!" Dumbledore protested, ignoring Fawkes musical snort.
"I'm not sure what I can do, but I'll try," Harry smiled.
"Thank you, that is all I ask," Dumbledore said.
"You do know that things will get a little more…entertaining with that," Harry said slowly.
"How delicately put and yes, I am very well aware. She is my little sister after all," Dumbledore sighed. "But I am desperate and I truly believe she will be a boon and it would benefit her as well."
"Can't hurt to try I guess," Harry said.
-0-
"Hold on." Ariana looked at her brothers with an expression of deep suspicion. "You're trying to trick me or do something."
"What makes you say that?" Dumbledore asked, wounded while Aberforth snorted.
"We're going to the Hearth but instead of the family back table, you have a reservation," Ariana said accusingly. "We never need reservations normally. Therefore, this is official and therefore, you're trying to convince me to do something I don't want to do. Plus Abe isn't working. Also, how dare you involve Harry in family business!"
"Kid is family," Aberforth said.
"Well, okay yes, but he doesn't need to be involved in whatever nonsense you're planning!"
"So would you rather go somewhere else?"
"No! But I am going to order the most expensive stuff on the menu now." She stomped into the Hearth with Dumbledore following her from behind, head in his hands. Aberforth followed them, shaking his head too.
"Bon soir," Chloe said, smiling genuinely at the Dumbledore siblings.
"Hi Chloe," Ariana smiled.
"Follow me." She led them to the side table with the view into the garden and seated them. "Chef has prepared a special menu for the three of you tonight."
"And you're making him work harder?!" Ariana squawked.
"I did not ask him to go to extra lengths!" Dumbledore protested.
"I better go get our drinks," Aberforth said, getting up. "Good thing I brought the small barrel over earlier. He walked to the bar, nodding to the guests there and the bartender behind it. He spoke with them while filling a flagon and grabbing small cups to go with it. As he walked back to the table, he winced, feeling the pressure in his head. "Oh, she started it already?"
"What gave you that idea?" Dumbledore asked, also wincing. Ariana was sitting there, arms crossed with a look of intense concentration on her face. She glared at them and the pressure in their heads increased.
"Cool it," Aberforth said, filling the cups and handing her the first one. "You're probably giving the Kid a headache too."
"Oh, right." Ariana relaxed and so did the brothers, sighing with relief as the pressure lessened. She drained her cup of ale and then took the cups from Aberforth and Dumbledore and drained them too, glaring at Aberforth as he refilled them. They sat in slightly stony silence, drinking quietly.
"First course," Chloe announced as she approached the table with Nillie. "Roasted marrow and summer vegetables." A plate of steaming bones with the soft marrow within them were served alongside pieces of crusty bread and a small pile of well roasted carrots, sprouts, and parsnips that were fragrant with pepper and garlic.
Ariana happily spread the butter-soft marrow onto the bread and ate it happily, enjoying the smooth and rich taste of the marrow with the crusty bread that had the slightly toasted but still soft crumb. The vegetables were cooked so that they held their shape and still had the slightest resistance when bit. "That's so good," she sighed happily.
"It really is," Dumbledore admired. "Seems simple but has to be executed well to have this impact."
"Second course," Chloe said, taking the plates away and serving them the next. "The house usual chicken soup but also a leek and potato soup."
"Kid's flexing," Aberforth smiled. The chicken soup was a long cherished staple of the restaurant, well before its current form. The leek and potato soup was deeply savory and fragrant with pepper and herb. The creamy soup still had some potatoes and leeks that were whole within it and bits of bacon sat on top with a small drizzle of oil and chopped chive. "It's a damn good soup too."
"And now, the main course," Chloe announced with a smile and a flourish. "A take on the Dumbledore family special. Chef was inspired by Japanese kaiseki cuisine and has prepared the special into a different form, but hopefully retains the taste and feeling."
Ariana gasped happily as Julia set the small dishes in front of her. "It's so pretty!" she smiled.
"First is a chawanmushi, steamed egg custard with plenty of black pepper and salt," Chloe said, pointing at each dish. "Next is a piece of pork belly, seared and braised in a sauce primarily of Worcestershire, and a house made sausage with sage. A black pudding, served traditionally. Besides that is a cassoulet style bean dish, beans simmered and served with a garnish of mushroom and confit tomato. Sourdough bread fried in butter. And finally, potato pancakes with onion."
"Normally I don't care for fancy things, but this is good and fun," Aberforth said, eating hungrily.
"Just as good as the kaiseki meal I had when I visited Mahoutokoro," Dumbledore smiled as he ate.
"This is delicious," Ariana praised. The siblings ate without any trace of the hard feelings from before, genuinely happy and excited as they ate together.
When the plates were completely bare and were taken away, Harry came out holding a tray. "Hey! How was everything?"
"Delicious!" Ariana smiled, hugging him tightly and pulling him down to kiss him on the cheek. "So good!"
"That kaiseki version of the full English was inspired," Dumbledore smiled.
"I thought it'd be fun! Kinda weird and of course took more effort than normal, but it was fun to do," Harry said happily.
"Going on the menu?" Aberforth asked.
"I've been thinking of doing a multi-course night here and there, and let people know that it'll be the only thing being served," Harry said. "Not everyone will want it of course, but I figured people might make reservations knowing what it is beforehand and enjoy it." He put a tall glass in front of everyone. They had scoops of vanilla ice cream in each and he poured a fizzy brown liquid into them, making the ice cream melt slightly and making a sweet foam appear. "Root beer floats. Learned about them in America and liked them."
"Oh this is nice," Aberforth said, sipping the sweet soda and eating the ice cream.
"No alcohol in it though," Harry said apologetically.
"Not everything I drink has alcohol," Aberforth said, giving Harry a look.
"Ignore him," Ariana said. She pulled Harry to her again. "Harry, what are these two trying to do to me? I know you won't lie to me and will protect me, even though I'm fairly sure they brought me here to make my mood more amenable."
"You're not wrong," Harry smiled as he hugged her back. "Have you asked her yet?"
"Not yet," Dumbledore said, his beard and mustache flecked with foam.
"Professor Dumbledore wants you to take on a teaching position at Hogwarts," Harry said.
"That has bad idea written all over it," Ariana frowned. "Why would you inflict me on the students? Or inflict them on me?"
"He's desperate," Aberforth said, drinking his float.
"Obviously," Ariana snorted.
"I need someone I can trust in the position," Dumbledore said with as much dignity as he could muster.
"Trust to teach well? Bullshite. You still have Binns there," Ariana said.
"Trust to be able to work with Severus," Dumbledore sighed.
"You're going to trust me to work with him?" Ariana asked incredulously. "I haven't forgotten what he's done."
"I trust you to be professional," Dumbledore said.
"No you don't," Ariana, Aberforth, and Harry said together. They looked at each other with surprise and Ariana hugged Harry with good cheer while Aberforth snorted with genuine amusement.
Dumbledore smiled at that. "I mean, I do, in the sense that when you work, you work well and have pride in your work. You can be trusted to do that."
"You know that I won't hold back in my criticisms, no matter how old they are," she said.
"I mean, that really isn't any different from how Professor Snape used to be," Harry said. "At least you'll do it out of…genuine pride in your work and not because you're…well, you're not like Professor Snape."
"Okay, fair," Ariana said. She chewed her lip a little. "This isn't some ploy to keep me from travelling still, is it?"
"Not at all," Dumbledore said and Aberforth looked away. "In fact, you can still travel for the school like for the Showcase and with exchanges with other schools. But it would be nice to have you close to home and you would be steadily employed and not worry too much about the waxing and waning of your current ventures."
"That's true," Ariana said slowly.
"And you can get your own place here again," Aberforth said. "Be next to the Kid."
"Oh hey yeah!" Ariana exclaimed. "I won't have to worry about cooking!"
"You won't," Harry smiled.
Ariana sat and thought for a moment. "My own office? And not in the dungeons."
"Of course and that would be better for everyone," Dumbledore said.
"I should probably only teach the upper years."
"Also doable but you may have to help tutor the younger classes from time to time."
"Okay. I get carte blanche to be as insulting as I like."
"No," Dumbledore said firmly. "You can be as constructive as you like but there has to be an upper limit. Also, cauldrons canNOT go over heads or heads cannot be forced into them as a punishment."
She frowned at that. "Fine. How much am I being paid?" She took the slip of parchment from him. "Hmm. Okay, that's not bad at all."
"And snacks and meals from me. You can even get them delivered," Harry smiled. "Though Hedwig and Fawkes might munch a bit from the order."
"That's a very big draw," Ariana said seriously.
"Plus you'll want to be around and settled too," Aberforth said, giving Harry a sly smile. "When Kid gets married and has his own kids."
"You're right!" Ariana gasped. "I need to be grandauntie Ari to them!"
"Wait what?!" Harry gave Aberforth a shocked look. "We just got engaged!"
"Just saying," Aberforth grinned.
"So you will take the position?" Dumbledore asked hopefully.
"I guess I will," Ariana said, nodding. "I'm not being nicer to Severus though."
"I think he would be concerned if you are," Dumbledore said with relief. "Though again, some form of professionalism please."
"Done." She and Dumbledore shook hands. She looked at him. "You do know this means I'll be around all the time to bother you when I want to, right?"
"I can deal with that," Dumbledore smiled. "At least, I hope so."
"Famous last words," Aberforth grunted.
-0-0-0-
TheSphynx - Or terrifyingly awesome. I still love that moment in third year when Parvati said she had a nightmare about being chased by two Hedwigs and then gets chased by two and Padma saying maybe divination as real.
Shroudy9 - A bit of both. Some moments I know will become edits or speaking moments, others I go back and find.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - That and it's good exercise for her. She needs it because she eats a lot of course. I like snow when I don't have to drive in it. Thanks for reading.
odonnellzoo99 - Daphne was in fine form that chapter and had some really good lines. And the only thing more dangerous than one Hedwig is multiple.
ColoradoBee3500 - I'm glad you are enjoying, thank you.
alix33 - The whole prank scene was one of the best things I've done. It's so funny.
Lucy Elizabeth Dawson - They are really tasty.
poka - Right? Fawkes finally letting himself go is both incredible and hilarious since he's so vulgar.
HoneyBear84 - Thank you.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Fawkes is very funny.