I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Side Dishes
21st Course – Passion
Takes place slightly before the 172th course of Taste, when Harry was building his dream restaurant.
The kitchen was winding down. It was well into the night, the majority of the guests and customers having come and gone already. The last of the orders had gone out, including the desserts, and the night staff and porters were arriving to do the cleaning that the restaurant needed after a long day. The cooks and runners and other members of the staff conversed in slightly tired tones, going over their day while a few planned on making the most of the last few hours they would spend awake before falling into exhausted slumber.
Guy moved with purpose. Despite being older than many of the other cooks and staff, he seemed to still have a reserve of energy. It did not make him feel energetic at all, or tireless, but it made him seem stolid and enduring. His eyes were blue and piercing, having seen much. His hands were scarred and burned, having picked up the marks of someone who worked with them everyday for many years, the signs of his trade. He moved around the others as he worked and more often than not, they got out of his way out of respect and wariness.
"Chef, do you need me?" he asked, his voice just shy of cold.
Louis shook his head. "No, thank you. Excellent work as always."
"Oui Chef, thank you," Guy replied, ignoring the compliment. He ducked his head briefly and left the main kitchen. He stayed in the locker room long enough to change into plain but comfortable street clothes, pulling a jacket on top. He checked his wand and secured it into his jacket pocket and left the building, walking into the night. A few steps on the street and he disapparated, disappearing with a faint crack. He reappeared some distance away along a line of homes, not even breaking stride. A few more steps took him to a small house and he let himself in the side door.
He moved just as surely within the home as he did in the kitchen. His coat was hung up, shoes removed and cleaned. He checked the quiet home, seeing things in their places. He walked up the stairs, avoiding the steps that would creak and cause noise. He stopped on the second floor, peeking into a room through the cracked door. For the first time in hours, he smiled, seeing the small form slumbering on the bed with pink sheets and animals that moved sleepily on them. Satisfied, he continued up the steps and continued to climb.
"Papa?"
He stopped and smiled for the second time, this time at an older person that was still younger than his years but older than the small form he just checked on. "You are up late," he said, a mild chastisement and a question in one.
Rebecca drew her dressing gown around her. "Just finishing some work. How was it tonight?"
"Good. Busy as per usual. Are you hungry?"
She shook her head. "No, thank you." She hesitated for a moment. "I need to talk with you tomorrow about something."
"Should we talk about it now?" he asked, pausing.
"No, it can wait," she said.
"Then we will talk tomorrow," Guy said. He hugged and kissed her cheek fondly and waited for her to return to her bedroom before he went on to his. He changed swiftly and laid onto his bed, spending a few minutes reading before he turned out the light by his bed and fell asleep.
-0-
He grunted as he felt his bed moving. He cracked an eye open, looking balefully at the cheery sunlight that shone mercilessly into his bedroom. As he opened his other eye, he looked down and his reflexive bad mood evaporated in the face of a smile as bright as the sunlight and with sparkling blue eyes. So like his and so unlike his in many ways. "Good morning ma petit fille," he said, his voice raspy with sleep.
"Good morning grand-pere!" Zoe shouted, filling his room with her ebullient mood.
His naturally dour mood evaporated in the face of unrelenting bubbliness and he hugged her warmly as she clambered on top of him. "Are you hungry?" He chuckled as she nodded. "Good girl. Well, I suppose I must rise then." She waited patiently for him to brush his teeth and wash up and then held his hand as they walked down the steps into the kitchen. She then very carefully got the table ready as Guy cooked with every bit of professionalism and skill as he did in the kitchen at the restaurant.
Soon Zoe was happily munching on toast with a cup of steaming hot chocolate with some fruit and a little dried meat on the side. Guy poured himself some coffee and started reading the newspaper, sipping the bitter brew as he read the bitter words. He smiled once more as the corner of the paper was lifted and a piece of bread dipped in hot chocolate was pushed towards him. He munched on it, paying more attention to his granddaughter.
The morning passed swiftly as it usually did. They cleaned the house together, following a chore chart that was laid out for them. Then Guy helped Zoe with her letters, prompting her to read out loud for the both of them and he gently corrected some pronunciation here and there. After a little bit of math, they went to the street market near their home and picked out some things before coming back home.
Rebecca came home for lunch and smiled, listening to her daughter chatting happily with her father. She looked into the kitchen, seeing her daughter tearing apart greens with her hands and snapping green beans in half. "Hello my loves," she said, kissing her daughter on the forehead and her father on the cheek. "Has she been good?"
"Very good," Guy said honestly. "Finished her reading and work already."
"Wonderful! And has he been good?" she asked.
Zoe nodded. "He didn't mutter anything when we were at the market and we are saving our treat to eat with you and Papa!"
"My own daughter, using her own daughter to monitor me," Guy grumbled, making his daughter and granddaughter giggle together.
"It works," Rebecca said plainly.
"It does," Guy sighed. "Zoe, go pick some small tomatoes out in the garden for the salad." He smiled as she dashed out of the kitchen. He dipped up some of the sauce in the pan that was reducing in front of him.
"Mmm, so good," Rebecca said, licking her lips after taking the spoon from him.
"So, what is it you wish to talk about?" he asked without preamble.
She sighed and knotted her hands together. "Tomas and I got the promotions," she said.
He turned and smiled at her; pride written clearly across his features. "Congratulations! That is wonderful! Why were you so serious then?"
She looked at him worriedly. "We will have to move to the United Kingdom. The ICW is finally establishing a main presence and headquarters there for the area and Tomas and I will be departmental directors."
Guy blinked and turned back to the stove. "Ah, I see."
"We could commute from France-"
"And add to the trouble and stress? No. There is no reason for it."
"Papa," Rebecca sighed.
"Am I so terrible a father to keep my only daughter back from pursuing her career and what is good for her family?" he asked sourly. He winced when she poked him hard in the back.
"No, you are not," she said sharply. "But I worry about you."
"I am the parent, you are the child," he said sternly.
"And? I still worry about you! We know what you are like."
"What does that mean?" he asked, turning and frowning.
"Papa, I love you very much, but you are a very difficult person for others to get along with! I know that if we move away, you will only work and come home and do nothing else and that is no way to live," she said crossly.
"I have other interests, do not think you are the only thing I think about," he retorted.
"No, you think about Zoe all the time and you care for Tomas as well," Rebecca replied. "And yes you read but honestly Papa, you are practically a hermit otherwise."
"Zoe happens to like hermit crabs," he groused. "She finds them cute."
Rebecca smiled wryly. "You are definitely a hermit and are very crabby, but not as cute as one."
"My daughter is so cruel," he sniffed without heat. He sighed. "Daughter, I am very old-"
"-not that old," she retorted.
"-I am very old," he repeated, speaking over her. "I have lived many years before you. And God and Magic willing, I still have many years in me still. I can survive on my own. You are not responsible for me." He waved a hand. "Just because I am a passionless person-"
"You are not passionless," she spat. "Don't say that again. Mother is wrong and I know it, and you know it."
Silence filled the small kitchen, broken only by the hissing fire and the sauce that continued to awkwardly reduce.
"She wishes to see you more," he said quietly.
"I do not care what she wishes," Rebecca said acidly. "She lost the right to wish anything of me."
He nodded, saying nothing.
"Is everything okay?" Zoe peeked into the kitchen from the door, a handful of cherry tomatoes in her hands and she looked at her mother and grandfather with worry.
Rebecca smiled and took the tomatoes from her. "Everything is fine darling, do not fret. Grand-pere and I are talking."
"About moving to England?" Zoe asked, still worried.
"Yes," Guy said huskily.
"You're coming too, right?" she asked, latching onto Guy's leg. She looked up at him and sniffled a little, eyes watering. "You're not?"
Guy looked at Rebecca who looked back at him. He picked up the little girl and coughed when she wrapped arms and legs around his chest with desperate strength. "We, had not discussed that yet," he said lamely.
"Would you?" Rebecca asked hopefully. "Tomas and I would love to have you near us always."
"You need your privacy," he protested.
"We have lived together for all these years and we have had privacy in ample supply," Rebecca insisted. "I was going to ask if you would be willing to move with us."
"If you don't, I'll turn purple and cry!" Zoe declared, glaring at him.
"Anything but that," Guy smiled. "I cannot bear that." He looked around the small house and sighed. "If you were to leave, I would have no reason to be here."
"Then you will come!" Rebecca said with evident relief and Zoe squealed happily.
"Well, let me see if I can find employment of some sort," Guy said. "I will not be a burden. Though I could commute daily, that would not bother me."
"Didn't you say I shouldn't do that?" Rebecca asked.
"I do not remember, I am old," he said lightly, smiling at her snort. "I will speak to Chef tonight. I owe him much and it is only right for me to inform him."
-0-
"WHAT HAPPENED?!"
Louis Ripert's voice echoed out of the office and into the kitchen of his restaurant. The staff stared at the closed door with immense interest and trepidation. Many have never heard the man shout like that before. He was usually very soft-spoken and even in the deepest of weeds, never said anything in anger or frustration. He typically got quieter the more stressed and angry he got, only being loud when he was surprised or happy.
Yet there was no mistaking the anger in his voice at that shout.
"Chef, I was asked for something unreasonable!" the other man in the office said, quivering from fear.
"What did he ask of you?! I refuse to believe that!" Louis glared at the man and stared at the bandages and brace around his knee. "And how did you get that?!"
"He wanted me to cook with goblins and an owl!"
"Of course he would! He works with goblins and his owl is a very valued member of his staff!" Louis replied scathingly. "Let me guess, you insulted her and she did something in revenge."
"She broke my knee with a hammer!"
"What did you say? Well? Tell me?!"
The man stared at Louis before looking away, flushing. "I might have insinuated that she was a flying rat-"
"YOU WHAT?!" Louis threw his hands into the air. "You are lucky to have escaped with your life you thick-skulled idiot! Powers above and below, how stupid are you?!"
"What would you have done?!"
"I would have said 'of course, Chef', accepted the responsibility and thanked him for the opportunity! You have no idea what you have thrown away! Harry Potter is cooking exciting yet comforting food! He is on the rise and not only that, he is a kind and wonderful man and I personally think Hedwig is a delightful owl! I recommended you, on my honor, because I erroneously thought you would be a boon to Harry! And now you have tarnished my word and reputation along with Salin! How can two people that I trained and recommended betray me in such a way?!"
He rose to his feet. "I do not want to hear any excuses from you! Now I have to think of a way to make up for things with Harry and salvage my tattered honor. Get out of my sight! I swear, I wish Hedwig cracked your skull open with the hammer and at last give you a reason for your idiocy! Get out! OUT!" Louis sat back in his chair and groaned as the man fled, hobbling as he went. He swore, his voice an angry hiss much like a maligned kettle that simmered angrily.
"It has been years since I have heard you speak like that."
Louis opened his eyes and looked at Guy standing at the door to his office. "I have not been this angry in many years," Louis growled.
"I apologize for worsening your mood then," Guy said apologetically.
"What now?" Louis groaned.
"Well, my daughter and my son-in-law received the promotions they were hoping for," Guy said.
"Oh? That is good news," Louis said, sounding slightly confused.
"It is and it is not," Guy said. "They have to move to the United Kingdom and they wish for me to move with them. "I am willing to continue to commute here via Floo but my hours and availability may change due to it."
"Wait, the United Kingdom?"
"Yes. The new ICW station will be in London but they do not know where they will want to move to yet."
Louis sat up, reenergized. "Wait, this might work out for all of us! What if I can get you an interview with a restaurant that is opening soon?"
Guy blinked. "That would certainly be fortuitous."
"The head chef is young, very young, but has talent and is a very good person," Louis said eagerly. "I recommended two people but as you might have heard, both failed terribly and my honor is hanging by a thread. You, you I trust."
"Out of everyone here, you know me the best," Guy said slowly. "What makes you think that I will be suitable?"
"Because I do know you. You care about the job. You cook well. You do not gossip or take liberties. You appreciate hard work. All of those apply to Harry and I think you would provide something he needs. A solid veteran in the industry and experience."
Guy looked at Louis for a moment and shrugged. "I suppose it cannot hurt. I would like to have gainful employment.
"Oh thank the Powers," Louis sighed with relief. "You will not regret this, but please do not let me regret this."
"You know me, Chef," Guy said dryly.
"Just be yourself but a slightly nicer version of yourself."
"Oui Chef," Guy snorted.
-0-
Guy looked around Hedwig's Hearth with an experienced eye.
It had been a very busy few weeks. Galvanized by his willingness to move, Rebecca and Tomas had taken the opportunity to move over sooner rather than later and they, with Guy, put their affairs to order in France. Their old home was put on the market and sold swiftly for a good profit. Their funds were transferred to Gringotts Britain with little trouble. They were currently living in temporary quarters provided by the ICW as they looked for more permanent housing. Guy continued to look after Zoe while her parents worked and on the second day after moving across the Channel, he went to Hogsmeade to have his interview with Harry.
"Bonjour."
He turned and nodded politely at the woman that approached him. "Bonjour," he replied.
"Ah, a fellow from France?" she asked.
"Yes, recently moved over," he replied. "My name is Guy Arnaud; I am here for my interview."
"Wonderful. Please, have a seat. Chef Potter will be with you shortly. My name is Chloe Pointue, the maître d' and front of house manager."
Guy shook her hand and sat at the table she had pointed out to him. It was not long at all before Harry left the kitchen and walked over. He rose to his feet and shook Harry's hand with professional courtesy. "Chef Potter?"
"That's me, nice to meet you," Harry said warmly. He waited for Guy to sit and sat across the table from him. "So, you come with very high recommendations from Chef Ripert," Harry said, smiling wryly.
Guy nodded. "I have worked with him for many years," he said evenly. "When I informed him I was moving here, he recommended you. Also, I have no problems working with goblins as long as they are professional, or anyone else for that matter no matter what they are. I confess I have no idea what an owl can do in a kitchen, but as long as I am not cleaning up after one, I see no problem."
"Oh thank Merlin," Harry groaned with evident relief, making Guy's lips quirk a little. "Also Hedwig is very clean but we have plenty of charms for that sort of thing anyways." He looked at the older man. "What brings you to the UK?"
"My daughter and my son-in-law work for the ICW and they will be departmental directors," Guy said with pride. "They have been tasked to help establish the new offices here and to grow them."
"That's brilliant! I heard about the buildings from Mr. Drake and Miss Edwina and that's really exciting," Harry said with enthusiasm.
"I am very proud of them," Guy said with paternal pride. "However, with them and my granddaughter gone from France, well, I have no other ties there honestly and I came over with them. I watch Zoe during the day while her parents work. Zoe is my granddaughter of course."
"That's really nice," Harry said sincerely. "Sticking close to family is really good."
Guy blinked at the warmth and sincerity in Harry's voice. He listened closely to Harry describing the vision of the restaurant and the overall layout as well as the Brigade and their duties and tasks.
"I currently don't have a sous chef yet, but eventually will. I plan on cooking alongside anyways. That said, you have the most experience by far compared to everyone. Myself included technically. Would you like the position?"
"No, thank you. I prefer to work and leave the work at work," Guy said honestly.
"I can respect that," Harry nodded. "Are you hungry?"
Guy raised an eyebrow. "I could eat, but one normally cooks for the chef when applying for the job, not the other way around."
"True, but you have a lot of experience and I can tell from your resume that you choose where you work more or less. I rather you like the food here." Harry left for the kitchen, gesturing for Guy to follow. "That and I've had your cooking before. Only a few weeks ago actually."
"You have?" There was no hiding the surprise in Guy's voice.
"I was in France just until a few weeks ago," Harry confirmed. "Working for Chef Gabriel Robuchon. I helped him set up his second place and ate at Chef Ripert's restaurant a few times." He smiled at Guy's snort. "Yeah, that was a really rough start."
"Chef told us about it in gleeful detail," Guy said with some sympathy. "Chef Robuchon's stubbornness is legendary."
"To put it lightly," Harry laughed.
Guy looked around the kitchen with professional interest. To his surprise, less so after learning where Harry was recently, the kitchen set up was somewhat familiar. The layout was much like the French restaurants he worked in and it was large and clean with ample space. He nodded at the others in the kitchen who looked at him curiously but nodded or waved back before continuing on their duties. He then watched Harry get to cooking. The much younger man moved with energy and surety, a sense of purpose that only those that have spent a lot of time cooking had, especially professionally.
"But if it would make you feel better, I'd be happy for you to cook something," Harry said, looking at him.
Guy's lips twitched again. "I assume you had the others do an omelet test? Bien. I will do that then." He started cooking alongside Harry. In the past, he might have emphasized his ability, drawn attention to his skills. Now, he simply cooked. He cracked eggs into a bowl and whisked until fully incorporated, seasoning it once it was. A pan warmed on the fire and he melted butter in it, waiting for the foam to fade. Then lowering the heat, he poured the beaten egg into the pan and stirred until the curds just began to set. Deft use of a spatula rolled the omelet and it was soon on a plate, golden yellow without a hint of browning.
"That's wonderful," Harry said with admiration without condescension or exaggeration. He took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. "Mmm, that's good. Simple, professional, well done. No nonsense. I like it."
Guy looked at him with surprise and the surprise only grew when Harry finished the mapo tofu dish he was making. He took an experimental bite, then another, and another, before eating hungrily. "I confess I do not know much about Chinese cooking," Guy said when he finished.
"There'll be a few recipes but they're easy to learn," Harry replied. "And it won't be a Chinese restaurant. Just a place with an array of tasty food."
Guy nodded. He had heard of that before but for some reason, it sounded different coming from Harry.
"What do you think?" Harry asked.
"I think if the elements are acceptable, I would like to work here," Guy said honestly.
"A contract then," Harry smiled, giving the older man a piece of parchment.
Guy looked at it carefully. "A generous salary."
"I want to pay for the best and I can afford it," Harry said.
Guy nodded and signed it.
"Happy to have you," Harry smiled.
"Oui, Chef," Guy said professionally.
-0-
"How is the restaurant, Papa?"
"Strange," Guy said, not looking away from the food in the pan. He felt his daughter's gaze boring into his back. "What?"
"Papa," she chided.
"You asked, I answered," Guy said defensively. "It is a strange place. The décor is fine. The kitchen is well laid out. The menu is odd, however, and the Chef is almost too kind. I wonder if he will be able to maintain that sort of attitude in the days to come. He is very young."
"Age is not a detriment to skill," she said snidely.
"I did not say that," he said mildly.
"Oh!" Rebecca gasped, turning to the window. "That is a beautiful owl!"
Guy turned to look. "That is Hedwig, Chef's owl." He wiped his hands clean and opened the window, allowing her in. "Does Chef want me for something?"
Hedwig shook her head and flapped over to Rebecca. She thrust her chest out and Rebecca took an envelope from the pouch. She bobbed her head then ambled over beside the stove and looked at the pan of crackling chicken before looking up at Guy expectantly. With a snort, Guy fished out a piece of chicken and cooled it slightly, watching with genuine amusement when Hedwig took it daintily and gobbled it noisily. She bobbed her head at him and flapped out the window.
"Oh my," Rebecca said, her eyes widening as she read the letter Hedwig brought. "Chef Potter has given us a reservation for the soft opening!"
"He has?" Guy asked, surprised and delighted.
"Yes! For myself, Tomas, and Zoe! He has also sent one to Mr. and Mrs. Knight!"
"Your superior?" Guy blinked. "I mentioned their name in passing, but I never asked for any reservations, for you or them."
"That is so nice of him! We will go of course," Rebecca said, smiling broadly. "I will go tell Tomas now. He has been wanting to go, we both have. We did not want to presume and ask for reservations so early with you working there but this is so exciting! Everyone at the ICW and the British Ministry have been talking about the restaurant!"
Guy smiled as she ran out of the kitchen. "Chef is very strange," he said to himself, returning to his cooking.
-0-
Months later.
Guy and Rebecca looked out the kitchen window with love and affection, watching Tomas and Zoe in the garden. The two were going through the growing vegetables, laughing and chatting with each other.
"I am glad we were able to move here," Rebecca said happily. "The Village is wonderful. At first I did not even think it possible since one normally needs to be approved by the local council."
"Chef's word has weight here," Guy said softly. "They care much for him and they said since I work for him, then me and mine can be here without question."
"Chef Potter is a very good man," Rebecca said. She rolled her eyes at Guy's grunt but she knew it was him agreeing with her. She smiled when Zoe carefully put the first of the vegetables into a basket before she pushed her father over and jumped on him, the pair laughing in the soil. "Zoe really wants to become a chef now."
"She has taken a shine to him," Guy said comfortably. "And to Mademoiselle Hedwig."
"She has always wanted to cook," Rebecca said. "Because of you."
Guy snorted again but it was a much softer sound.
"What are you making by the way, something for dinner?" she asked.
"It can be. It was something for the Hearth. We received an influx of ingredients from Aberforth's farm and I wanted to see if our old pan sauce would enhance them." He looked at her and scowled at her smug smile. "What?"
"Nothing," she said airily. "I was trying to remember the last time you did something for work outside of work."
"We're still eating it for dinner," he grumbled.
"Mmmhmm," she hummed. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Perhaps I am not as passionless as I thought," he finally conceded.
"You never were," she said, hugging him. "You simply saved your passion for what mattered."
Guy snorted once more, smiling when his daughter echoed the sound making it sound even louder and rougher. The smile became a laugh and the two continued to laugh together in the warm kitchen with the sunlight streaming in.
-0-0-0-
Hufflepuffzzd96 - Clarification is important.
TheSphynx - Yes it does.
HoneyBear84 - that's one of my favorite little tidbits with Hedwig knowing and helping.
DOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - I kind of want to watch the videos and I kind of don't. I always get twitchy seeing people recommend the story on Reddit because inevitably there will be a few people that will always say negative things.
poka - Just similar enough to feel the inherent kindness and care, but still different enough where they aren't exactly the same. I like it when the characters are close to canon, but are different as they should be based on the setting. Same with Hedwig always.
Wentley - Glad you enjoyed.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - Apparition must be so useful and scary at the same time. Hedwig is very possessive so she knows when her family grows. Thanks for reading.
odonnellzoo99 - Pretty much one of her best traits. It's so fun and cute.
l4w - Thank you.
alix33 - She's a good little trickster fox. They all are in different ways.
Guest - Makes things more happy and merry.
Shroudy9 - They will come eventually. I am finishing out the chapters from the main story before moving onto ones in Side Dishes.