I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World or any canon characters.
Side Dishes
47th Course – Hedwig Edit: A Matter of Time
This is another familiar series for those that have read Extended Family, where I formally add to an entire chapter instead of taking bits and pieces from it. I knew that when I first wrote this original chapter, it would absolutely need to be a Hedwig Edit and this fits following the last chapter where it's more or less a continuation of Speaking With Words. I did not want to take some of this and just redo it later, so saved it for a full-blown Hedwig Edit. As you might have guessed by now, it's the infamous chapter of Hedwig aiding Harry during the Entertainment Challenge of the Rising Stars competition.
"Oh hey Hedwig." Dora looked up when Hedwig swooped into the room at Grimmauld.
"Hi Pinky."
"What's up? Did you bring me something?" Dora asked, smiling broadly when Hedwig dropped a baozi into her hand, fishing it out of her pouch and harness.
"There you are. Also, I need your help." Hedwig pecked the ticket on the nightstand beside Dora's bed.
"You want to come with us to the competition?" Dora asked and Hedwig nodded.
"I don't trust them after they were rude to Chick last time!" Hedwig barked, her feathers mantling slightly.
"Hmmm, how to smuggle you into the arena," Dora mused as she munched on her baozi. A piece fell off and landed on her shirt and she picked it up and popped it into her mouth absentmindedly. "Say, that's an idea," she said, looking down at herself. She held her shirt open and looked at Hedwig.
"Seriously?" Hedwig asked, giving Dora a look.
"It'll work, come on," Dora said, shaking her shirt hem at Hedwig.
"If you say so." Hedwig climbed up and nestled against Dora's chest, peeking out of the collar into the mirror. "I think people are going to ask questions." She blinked when Dora shifted her body and part of her chest swelled out to match Hedwig's shape. "Oh, well that's handy and I retract my skepticism!"
"Can you make like a more…rounder shape and fill out the bottom a bit?" Dora asked. "It'll look more natural and be less of a strain." She smiled as Hedwig wriggled around and Dora adjusted her body again. "Perfect! Not bad looking either. You comfy in there?"
"Comfortable enough," Hedwig hooted.
Dora grabbed some things and put them in a bag, pushing the bag into an enlarged pocket in her jeans. She then made sure she had the ticket in hand and left her room, walking down to the main sitting room to join her parents and Sirius.
Sirius blinked at her when she appeared. He looked at her chest and crooked an eyebrow.
"There's a reason," Dora said simply and chose not to clarify. Sirius knew better to ask though and only shrugged.
-0-
"So is this a usual thing people do around her?" Dora asked archly.
"No, it is not," Perenelle said smoothly.
"Hey, eyes up here," Dora said, gesturing at her eyes. "What, do people not have hooters over here?"
"Hehehe, hooters. That's funny," Hedwig giggled silently.
"No, people do," Perenelle said with a deeply amused smile. "In fact, they are on display on many of the beaches where apparel is not mandatory."
The very flustered wizard at the front who was checking people into the arena blushed deeply and looked up at Dora. "I b-beg your pardon-" he stammered, his flush becoming a pallor when he noticed the Flamels standing beside her.
"They don't do tricks, if that's the reason you keep staring at them," Dora said a trifle loudly, drawing even more attention. Others who were waiting or were in other lines began to look over and other people dressed in uniforms frowned as they tried to see what the commotion was.
"Perhaps you should simply let us in so we may forget about your wandering eyes and lapse of concentration?" Perenelle asked mildly.
"Y-yes of course!" the beleaguered man said swiftly. "My apologies!" He stood aside and hastily, yet politely, ushered them past the gate. He also very obviously looked anywhere but directly at Dora and looked visibly relieved after they left.
Andromeda gave her daughter a look as they sat down together. "Is there a reason why you are looking like you are?"
"Wow Mum, way to hurt my feelings," Dora sniffled.
Ted snorted. "Dora, you know why we are asking that."
Dora shrugged, adjusting her shirt a little over her chest. "Just felt like it. Also there's a good reason too."
"We have passes since we're Harry's guests," Sirius said. "Unless you're trying to shock people's sensibilities for some reason."
"I mean, is there ever a time to not shock people's sensibilities?" Dora asked with faux innocence, making them laugh and Andromeda sigh. "Ow! Okay okay!"
"Okay, it's starting to get really uncomfortable keeping this shape! My feathers are cramping and I didn't even know they could do that. Let me out please!"
"I know you are a metamorphagi," Nicolas said with interest, "thus having remarkable control over your body. Is only moving one of them something you regularly do?"
Sirius blinked when Dora lifted her shirt a little and Hedwig came scrabbling out of her clothes, looking slightly ruffled. The owl shook and flapped her wings, stretching and smoothing her feathers. "You smuggled Hedwig in?"
"I can breathe fully again!"
"Yeah, didn't know the policy about having owls or other pets and animals," Dora said. She stretched her shoulders too and her body shifted and she sat back with a sigh of relief.
"Much better," Hedwig hooted as she stretched too, sitting down on Dora's lap with a similar sigh of relief, fluffing out.
Ted groaned. "Oh. Hooters."
Andromeda sighed even more deeply as Dora, Hedwig, and Sirius laughed. "Dora," she chided, shaking her head.
"What, it's funny and appropriate!"
"I actually do not know if there is a policy," Perenelle said, deeply amused. "About having animal companions. Generally, none would find this entertaining enough to endure without good reason, the animals I mean."
"If anyone hassles us, I'll say that Hedwig is an emotional support animal or something," Dora said.
"I am very supportive," Hedwig nodded.
"Which for anyone that knows her, knows that she causes a lot of emotion and not always the supportive kind," Sirius snorted.
"I am also very unsupportive," Hedwig nodded.
"Especially if she is not being emotionally supported by Harry," Nicolas chuckled.
"I need my emotional support Chick! Don't think that's an unreasonable need!"
"Which is why it's better if they just let her, and us, be," Dora said smugly. She high-fived Hedwig who nodded along, looking very sure of herself.
"If they know what's good for them," Hedwig snorted richly.
"Well I doubt it will be a problem," Nicolas said airily. "And if it does become one, we will handle it."
"I wonder why she wanted to come along," Ted mused.
"Most likely due to what happened last time," Andromeda said. "I can only hope history does not repeat. We do not need a situation where Hedwig attacks someone. Even if the reason is sound."
"Exactly! No one better be mean to Chick like that! Legitimately failing is one thing, but being unnecessarily rude and sabotaging? Not on my watch! I'll talon any who tries!"
"It should not happen again, allegedly," Perenelle sniffed. "We have been told that they have made changes to the judges and the like for the future."
"There's one good thing," Rita said as she walked up to them. She greeted everyone warmly and did not blink at all when she saw Hedwig with them. "Banters isn't here."
"Oh did someone finally kill him?" Perenelle asked, sounding like someone who has lost out on something.
"I hope not because that means I didn't do it," Hedwig growled.
"No, I mean, last I checked he's still alive and working for the Prophet," Rita said with a negligent shrug. "He got moved to a different part but I heard he didn't want the post to come out here anymore. He's been a bit timid since December."
"Pity, I had hoped several hundred feet of geography would have knocked some propriety into him," Nicolas said.
"His head is solid stupid so probably not," Rita said. "The one who did come out is a lot better at being a journalist and will write things as they are, so that'll be good."
"That's a relief," Ted said.
"So I shouldn't wait until things have calmed down before coming down hard on him and making him regret knowing how to write?" Sirius asked blandly.
"No, no one is saying that," Rita said with a savage smile.
Murmurs and muttering filled the air with people whispering excitedly. They looked over and saw a lot of people politely not-pointing at someone who walked into the arena. He was dressed in very sharp and well-made dress robes and walked with a distinct purpose. The man nodded at a few people, pointedly ignored others, and approached their small group.
"Ah, Gabriel, so you do leave the kitchen," Perenelle said with a very bright smile.
Gabriel snorted softly and gave her a faintly irritated look. "It has been known to happen," he said wryly.
"Monsieur Robuchon! It is an honor!" A well-dressed wizard rushed over and half-bowed to Gabriel. "It has been some time since you have come to the Cuisine Capitale!"
"Yes it has," Gabriel replied with a placid expression.
"Would you like to join the dais with the judges as an observer?"
"No, I think not. It would not be appropriate because one I mentor is competing," Gabriel said coolly. He ignored the louder whispering and gasping from the others. "Though apparently that is not a problem, so I have heard."
"Things have changed," the man gasped loudly. "We are taking further precautions from such unseemly and unfortunate incidents!"
"I would hope so." Gabriel's face took on a hint of disapproval. "It was disheartening to read about what happened before and to imagine the World's Kitchen having diminishing standards is something very grave to think about."
"No standards are being diminished!" the wizard said in a very panicky tone, nearly flailing with his arms and hands. "Rest assured it was an isolated incident that will not be repeated!"
"We will see then," Gabriel said in a disbelieving way. "I will sit here with my patron and my mentor's family and see what happens." He waited for the wizard to finish dithering and leaving before he sat down, still looking very sharp and severe.
"Quite the public gesture you are making," Perenelle remarked, looking like she approved.
"Well I was annoyed with what happened the last time," Gabriel said. He smiled. "I have also heard that Martin's restaurants are suffering some due to bad press and that pleases me greatly."
"You are so petty," Perenelle smiled.
"As if you are not," Gabriel countered.
"Never said I was not," she demurred.
"In any case, I wanted to show my protégé some support," Gabriel said. "And stick it into the eye of Martin and some others and boost my own appearance and draw people to my restaurant." He looked over at the others and smiled a little. "And to introduce myself properly to all of you, save for Mademoiselle Hedwig of course." He and the owl shared a nod.
"Bonjour French Chef," Hedwig hooted.
He offered his hand. "Gabriel Robuchon, a pleasure to meet you in person."
"Likewise," Sirius said easily and shook his hand. "I'm Sirius Black. That's Andromeda Tonks, Ted Tonks, and Nymphadora Tonks." He grinned at Dora's sour look.
"I have been told already to never refer to you as such, Mademoiselle Tonks," Gabriel said, shaking their hands firmly.
"Oh good, no need to threaten then," Dora smiled.
-0-
"Thank you again," Kaito said gratefully.
"You're welcome," Harry smiled. "Have they discovered that I've sent them back to you?"
"Not yet," Kaito sighed. "I am trying to keep my models in a safer place this time. I have been looking up charms and spells to keep the foxes out but they are incredibly clever and crafty. I had warded one container so that they could not approach and then discovered them dangling a fishing line into it from above!"
"Oh sorry, that might be my fault. I was telling Tsumugi about a new game my owl and I came up with," Harry laughed.
The remaining four contestants were sitting in the waiting room before the start of that day's challenge. Kaito was very friendly with Harry now and Gwendolyn had come over readily to chat with them. Celine had entered last and looked at the trio with some surprise before she sat slightly apart from them.
"I heard your owl is very intelligent," Kaito said. "And tough. Since the foxes listen to her."
"She is," Harry said proudly.
"A lot of folks have foxes on the West Coast," Gwendolyn said. "Lots of people there moved over from Japan. I haven't had much experience with them but they're called trickster foxes for a reason, right?"
"Yes," Kaito sighed wearily.
"Do you have post owls in America?" Harry asked.
"Sure do. And other post birds. Owls, eagles, falcons, all sorts. As far as other animal companions, well kneazles and cats are common too, same with dogs and crups. Bunnies are popular too." She smiled. "One of my professors at school had this pet fish that had its own floating tank to follow him around. Would splash water at you if he thought you were lying."
"We have magical koi as well as non-magical," Kaito said. "Not many take them around but they are a big part of our magical culture. Can become very big."
"We have a giant squid at our school. She lives in the lake," Harry said.
"Oh I know a place that has them inland too," Gwendolyn said. "They get in fights with the local gators a lot. Our Ministry has to really keep that place under wraps." She looked up at the clock and sighed, her leg bouncing a little. "Kinda want to just get in there. Never was a fan of surprises."
"Especially with this challenge," Kaito said. "Sounds very annoying."
"We'll just have to wait and see what happens," Harry said. They chatted a little more and Kaito left to use the restroom with Gwendolyn leaving to answer a message that was looking for her. He looked over, a little surprised, when Celine spoke.
"This is a competition," she said, giving him a look. "Is it wise to be so friendly against those you are competing against?"
"I don't see a reason to not be friendly," Harry said in a friendly way. "Friends can compete against each other and have no hard feelings."
"Friends, so soon?" she asked mildly.
"Friendly at least," Harry said. "Turns out Kaito and I have mutual friends and I briefly met a relation of Gwendolyn's. But they're nice to me so I want to be nice in return."
Celine smiled but it was a small and calculating expression. "How nice," she said before lapsing into silence.
The air turned a touch awkward and Harry stayed quiet himself as he thought about what was to come.
-0-
"Welcome back everyone," Francis said warmly as he appeared in the arena in a swirl of cloak and flashing lights. The crowd clapped and cheered as the four remaining contestants walked in too. "I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and may this be another year full of food and joy and prosperity!"
He beamed at the contestants. "Today, we will be doing things a touch differently. You will be working in staggard fashion with one person starting and after some time has passed, the next will start. This will keep the event from going on too long while giving everyone due attention since each of you will be given a slightly different challenge. Only one of you will be eliminated this day, and it will remain that way for the rest of the tournament."
He waved his wand and a large glass sphere appeared, floating beside him. Scraps of parchment swirled around within and there was an opening for someone to put their hand in to grab them. "Today's theme is Entertainment. Today's challenges have been used time and again throughout the history of the World's Kitchen and are popular due to seeing how the contestant reacts to them, and how they try to overcome the limitations. For as we all know, there can be a chance something will go wrong in even the most orderly of kitchens."
He waved another wand and a large roulette wheel came into being beside him. The divided sections all had different flags on them: England, Japan, France, and the Unites States of America. A gleaming pearl white ball was dropped in and with another wave of the wand, the wheel began to turn. "This will determine who will go first," Francis said as people watched it closely. The wheel started to slow down and when it did, the pearl ball settled in a section with the flag of England.
"It seems Chance has chosen for you to go first," Francis said kindly.
"Sure, why not," Harry said with a small smile and people laughed appreciatively.
Francis reached into the globe and snatched one of the swirling pieces of parchment. He took it out and read it and he winced a little, something everyone noticed. "Chef Potter, your challenge is one of mobility. You will not be able to leave your station. You will have access to any equipment you need, it will be brought to you as well as basic ingredients. However, everything else will be situated away from you and you must endeavor to get them however you can. You also do not have access to your wand."
Harry blinked as murmurs and mutterings filled the air, with some laughing outright. Kaito and Gwendolyn looked at Harry with sympathy and even Celine frowned at that. "How am I supposed to get anything without using my wand or going out there and getting it?"
"You will have to use your resourcefulness," Francis said, also looking sympathetic. "If sufficient time has passed, you may request an official to bring you an array, but then you will have limited time as well as having to use everything given, no matter what."
"I know some people can do wandless magic, but that's not fair to people who can't," Harry argued.
"I do not necessarily disagree with you," Francis said as kindly as he could. "But that is the challenge."
"Hey! You shut your painted yaps you loud-mouthed idiots! I'd like to see you do something like this with any amount of ability! People who look like you don't have the right to make fun of others!"
Hedwig barked angrily. The ones sitting beside Harry's friends and family had found it especially hilarious and were mocking Harry, something the owl took affront too. She mantled her feathers and glared at them and they stared back, unsure of what to do when suddenly confronted by an angry owl that they did not expect to be there.
Harry turned, having heard the bark and his eyes widened when he saw Hedwig there. Then his eyes narrowed and he looked back at Francis. "So I can use anything at my disposal to try and complete this challenge?"
"Yes," Francis said.
"Anything that came with me to the arena, save for my wand."
"That is correct."
Harry held up a finger. "Anything, and anyone?"
Francis looked at him curiously. "You may not have assistance from another person."
"Another person, or another human being," Harry pressed and whispers and more mutterings came from the crowd. His fellow contestants looked at him curiously.
Francis blinked a few times and hummed. "I question your emphasis on the word choice but correct, not another human being."
"Done," Harry said. "I'll do it."
Everyone looked at each other with surprise at his change in demeanor. He went from very befuddled and slightly panicking to a person that was completely confident and sure of themselves. Hedwig, having watched the exchange, brightened and she turned to face Harry. She held her wings out and crouched low, at the ready.
"Oh! OH! Yes! That's my Chick! I'm ready! Say the word and I'm there to help! We can do it!"
"Very well," Francis said, smiling at the change while also being slightly confused by it. "You have an hour. Start, now!" He waved his wand and a smaller hourglass appeared over Harry's station and the time began to count.
"Hedwig!" Harry shouted and whistled. "I need you!"
Before the last syllable of her name had left his lips, Hedwig launched herself into the air and flew straight to him, barking like a cavalry bugle. "I'm coming Chick! The Hedwig Cavalry has arrived! We're going to beat this challenge together!" People gasped and exclaimed with shock at the appearance of the large snowy owl but Harry's supporters laughed and cheered.
"Oh this is going to be good!" Dora said.
"You can do this!" Perenelle cheered, clapping loudly.
Harry took a deep breath and held his hand flat. "Let's hope this works," he muttered. "Twirl!" Hedwig landed on the countertop and did as asked, pirouetting delicately. Harry smiled as he managed to cast the cleansing charm without a wand and Hedwig's feathers gleamed. "Talons! Beak!" Hedwig offered the requested parts to be cleaned as well, clacking her beak and stomping her feet eagerly.
"Ooh minty fresh!" she said as she clicked her beak and licked it.
He then took off his bandanna and wrapped it around her head. "Headbang!" Hedwig bobbed her head up and down and then shook it hard, first forward then side-to-side. When the bandanna did not move, she stood at attention and barked loudly. "Bang my head! Front to back, side to side! All set and ready and raring! What do you need, Chick? I'll get it!"
"Right, I need short grain white rice," Harry said as he tied on a spare bandanna and Hedwig looked at him directly, bobbing her head with each request. "That's first. Then two, no three, bunches of scallions, smaller ones please. Three small red chilis, a large ginger root, one whole clove of garlic. Then I need the freshest fish you can find. White flesh, something like a flounder or tilapia or snapper even. Or even a sea bass if you can find it. Then stay so you can help me get anything else. Got it?"
"I got it, I'll go get it, and you got it!" Hedwig barked authoritatively and bonked her head against his and took off into the air. Harry did not turn to look at her and grabbed the equipment he needed, setting a large pot of water to boil on the stove and filling another with oil.
"Is that your owl?" Francis asked, having walked over to Harry's station.
"Yes Sir," Harry said as he moved. "She's my best friend and the best owl anyone can ever hope to have." Soft sighs and smiles filled the arena at his words.
"And you're my best friend and my best boy and my chick and simply the best! I love my boy!"
"Can she really be able to discern what you have asked for?" Francis asked as Hedwig flapped to the tables and racks of ingredients. "I know owls can be clever but…" His words faded and his eyes widened as Hedwig landed among the rice and grains.
She opened the packages and peered intelligently at the contents before she grabbed one with her talons and flew over. "Let's see! This is long grain, so is this. Basmati I think? The stuff that Durga uses. Chick said short grain like the kind Sue and Lin like and-here it is!" She barked out loud once more and dropped the bag of rice into Harry's hands before flying back to the ingredients. "Rice coming in!"
"Perfect!" Harry shouted as he saw the short grain rice in the bag. He immediately poured out the measurements and got to washing the rice.
Francis gasped as Hedwig landed among the produce and she was very deliberately looking at things before picking them. She would flick substandard ingredients aside with her wings or kicking them out of her way before grabbing what she wanted and flying back to Harry, putting them down on a towel delicately. "Ginger, check! Garlic, check! One, two, and three small red chilis, check! And scallions and-hey I thought you people cared about produce! This is awful! And this is all wilted! Here we go, bless my feathers. Chick wanted three bunches and here are the best ones, let me grab another just in case. There!"
She flew and landed among the fish and she looked at them, her eyes narrowing with displeasure. "These aren't good enough! Chick wants the best and by beak and talon he's going to get the best! Where are you hiding the better fish. Wait, I think I know, I can feel it. Figures, bring out the okay stuff and hold onto the good stuff. After a moment, she took to the air and flew right at the door leading out of the arena.
"FLYING OWL KICK!"
THUMP!
"Another! FLYING OWL KICK AGAIN!"
Francis, and the vast majority of the watchers, gasped out loud as she flew into the door talons first, kicking it hard and the door shook on its hinges. She flew back and kicked the door again and the door fell in, hitting the ground with a crash and Hedwig flew out into the hall. "I AM HEDWIG THE INCREDIBLE! The Unstoppable! Breaker of doors! There isn't a door in existence that can't be kicked open by me! Out me way!"
"I, uh, I'll pay for that, sorry," Harry said sheepishly as he set the rice to boil and steam on the stove.
"Your owl just kicked the door open," Francis said faintly.
"She does that. She's good at it," Harry said matter-of-factly.
"You say that as if it is a commonplace thing," Francis said, staring at him.
"I mean, she doesn't always kick doors open," Harry said. "Only if she's impatient and it'll take less time than flying around, or if she thinks it's funny. Or if she's proving a point." He got to work cleaning the herbs that Hedwig brought him while Francis continued to stare at him.
Hedwig swooped down the hall, dodging around people who ducked and gasped as they watched her fly past. She flapped and then kicked another door open. This being a free-swinging door, flew open from the force of her kick and the person inside slipped and fell from the shock and sound and sight. She flew over his body and looked around at the boxes of ice and tanks of water in the cold room.
"Sorry! Didn't mean to scare you but I'm under a time constraint and Chick needs the best fish. There!" She dove and then flapped hard, her talons piecing the water and grabbing a large snapper and pulling it out easily. She flew out of the room. "I'm coming back Chick! I got the fish!" After a moment, the man who fell scrambled to his feet and chased after her.
"Out of the way! If you get face fish slapped, it's your fault! Not mine! Move!" she barked as she flapped down the hallway once more, barely flying around the other people who once again duck and dove out of the way of her and the fish.
Hedwig reappeared a moment later, carrying a very large fish in her talons that still dripped water. She was chased after by a man wearing World's Kitchen robes. The man skidded to a halt, seeing the competition underway and all the people staring. "The owl just flew into the fish room!" he said out loud, as if he had trouble believing what he had seen. "It kicked the door open, grabbed that fish, and left! I've never seen the like before!"
Francis looked over to Harry's supporters who were all laughing and looking unsurprised, just like Harry. "I…uh…it is fine," he said as Hedwig landed, putting the fish on Harry's cutting board and then wiped her feet clean on a towel that he laid out for her. "I think." The other man just shook his head and left after handing the responsibility off.
"Beautiful," Harry praised and Hedwig cheeped proudly. ("I know I am but thank you Chick! I loooooooove yoooooou!") He hurriedly cleaned the fish and set it inside a steamer basket, putting it on top of the pot of boiling water. "Can you go see if there are any fish scraps like head and tail over there, please?" He smiled when Hedwig returned with a few. He washed them and put them in a pot to boil with some aromatics that she got him next.
"Is that truly the norm?" Gabriel asked, looking at Hedwig.
"We've sort of stopped wondering how she knows how to do things and just accept it," Sirius said.
"Honestly, this isn't even the most impressive thing she's done," Ted smiled.
"She does spend a lot of time in the kitchen with him since he usually spends a lot of time in kitchens," Andromeda said warmly. "And she's very intelligent as you have seen, makes sense she has learned some things. And out of all of us, except for maybe Dora, has eaten the most of Harry's cooking."
"Only because she's with him during the school year," Dora sniffed.
"Did you bring her, expecting this?" Gabriel asked.
"No, she wanted to come in case she needed to attack some arseholes for Harry," Dora said plainly. "She's even more protective than we are."
"Harry has an affinity for magical creatures," Perenelle smiled. "Many adore him."
"I recall from that encounter with Mademoiselle Blinky," Gabriel said dryly.
"And they aren't the only ones," Nicolas snorted. "He has rapport with kneazles, unicorns, trickster foxes, the giant squid, and more I am sure."
The other contestants got their challenges and were set to work, but Harry was not paying attention to them, wholly focused on his task. He thinly sliced the scallions and made needle-sized pieces of ginger, thin and clean. The red chili peppers were sliced thinly as well and the garlic was done the same way. He put the oil on the stove to just the right temperature of it being very hot without bubbling or catching. The rice steamed and when Hedwig barked at him for the time, ("Chick, rice is ready!"), he fluffed it and set it to steam just a bit more. The fish stock was turned into a simple soup after her strained out the pieces and seasoned it with soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, sugar, and salt.
He finally got the fish out of the steamer basket and arranged the dry aromatics on it and poured the blistering hot oil all over the outside, crackling and crisping the skin and releasing all the savory scents from the herbs. He poured out the soup and filled bowls with rice and finished, he kissed Hedwig for the help and she flapped back to the others after bonking her head against his once more.
"You got this Chick! Wonderful as always!"
She landed daintily on Dora's lap, looking plump and smug.
"That smells wonderful," Akari said as he walked up. She was back on the judges dais alongside Robert and Anthony. The other two sniffed the air appreciatively and they waited eagerly for Harry to portion out the fillets of fish. He worked swiftly with a bit of apprehension, trying to ensure he got all the bones out.
"Thank you," Harry said after he finished portioning the fish and serving them. "This is Cantonese style steamed fish, one of my favorite ways to eat fish. The red snapper was steamed and then quick cooked with hot oil and ginger, chili, and scallions. A seasoned soy sauce was poured on top. There's also plenty of white rice, a must have with steamed fish, and a fish soup that I made with similar ingredients and flavors."
"I love steamed fish," Anthony said as he ate hungrily. "One of the best ways to have it honestly. Meat's better on the bone and a nice steam makes the fish firm yet succulent. The flavors of the ginger and scallion and chili work really well with the soy and rice wine. I've traveled in Asia a lot and this is as good as I've gotten it over there."
"It's a family recipe from a good friend of mine," Harry said proudly. "I really liked it from first bite."
"This soup is good," Robert nodded, sipping it. "It's such a simple thing. Clear broth with seasoning but it tastes like it has some good depth to it and it's a good accompaniment to the fish and rice. Why did you pick this dish to make?"
"I figured I could make something with a lot of flavor without a lot of ingredients since I couldn't get them easily, as in just get whatever I wanted myself," Harry said.
"But you trusted your owl to get them," Anthony said. "I still can't believe that happened and I watched it happen."
"Hedwig is very smart," Harry said as Hedwig barked loudly, ("I sure am!"). "She's also my best taste tester so I trust her to get the best ingredients."
"Chick helped me develop an expert palate and I'm very discerning."
"It's not the weirdest," Robert said comfortably. "Remember that one we did and the person conjured raccoons to help?"
"Oh right, they ended up stealing most of the food," Anthony laughed.
"Quite the range you have, Mister Potter," Akari said as she ate. "British food, Goblin cooking, familiarity with French and Japanese, and now Chinese."
"Thank you, Chef. I'm lucky that I have friends and mentors with lots of different backgrounds," Harry said.
"A very good resource to have," she said seriously. "What kind of chef would you consider yourself to be, with such a diverse background?"
Harry took a deep breath and looked at the judges directly. "I want to be a chef that cooks to help people smile. I want to share food I like, learn what other people like, and make it together and make tasty food."
"I'm going to need to take you to the South," Anthony grinned. "Southern US I mean. There's real comfort food there and you're going to like it."
"Agreed," Robert said with an equally enthusiastic grin. "You don't know comfort food until you've had some proper sausage gravy and biscuits." He laughed at Harry's momentary look of horror. "American biscuits, not yours."
"Oh right! I've made those before to serve with fried chicken," Harry laughed.
"Hey you're already familiar with it then!" Robert said with good cheer. "Fried chicken and biscuits is a staple of comfort food."
"Thank you very much," Akari said and the other two joined her in thanking him.
"No way he's not moving on," Dora said as the crowd cheered.
"Much better than last time," Nicolas said approvingly. "No connards this time, none that I can see."
"Here," Perenelle said, handing him a small mirror.
Nicolas admired his reflection. "I am a very stunning man," he preened, much to the amusement of the others.
Harry let out a big sigh of relief, having finished and thinking it went well. Now that he was done, he looked at the others. Kaito apparently was given a choice between sealed containers and he had to make a dish based on what he got. He had breaded the pork he received and deep-fried it until it was golden brown and crisp. He made a sauce with the canned vegetables that came with it and it smelled very spicy and fragrant, almost familiar in a way to Harry.
Gwendolyn had the ill luck of not having her usual equipment and she was forced to get creative to cook. She was making a steak she had used her hands to clean and had resorted to using brute force to smash potatoes she boiled to soften and finish cooking in a pan and used the pan to crush other things.
Celine had been given a very specific dish to create and she was doing her best in making it. She was given a name, a chance to taste a completed version of it, and the general ingredients and that was all. She had done her best in making a gumbo, a thick soup that was popular in Louisiana.
The judges ate and interacted with the other contestants, remaining pleasant and positive throughout. They then conferred with one another after the last dish was eaten and they spent some time. Finally Akari nodded at Francis and she began to speak. "We know that this series of challenges are some of the more…controversial ones. One can argue it's less about the ability of the chef and more about their luck. I have done a challenge with all of these so I can sympathize and empathize with all of you."
"They suck," Anthony said in a loud whisper, making people laugh and snort with Francis looking faux-scandalized.
Akari smiled. "All of you did a tremendous job with the limitations placed upon you. We enjoyed all of the dishes a lot and it was legitimately difficult that we have to pick a loser. We sadly had to go with the one that while made well, it was just a hair shy of the others in comparison."
Her smile turned sad and she looked at Gwendolyn. "I am afraid yours was a bit overdone in many ways while not done enough in others. Your's was the most difficult challenge and you did very well, but just not well enough." She led the applause that seemed to cheer up Gwendolyn some.
"Yeah, that one was rough," Gwendolyn sighed, looking glum but smiling a little as the others cheered for her.
"As for our winner, it goes to the chef that made a truly wonderful dish as well as employing very unorthodox methods that were undeniably effective. Harry Potter, you won this challenge," Akari said and more applause and cheers filled the arena with Hedwig dancing and barking loudly with glee.
"That's my boy! He's the best of the best!"
"And there you have it! Thank you again for coming and let us celebrate the victors and thank the one leaving us this day," Francis said and joined in enthusiastically.
"Sorry you had that," Harry said to Gwendolyn.
"Sometimes the dice rolls against you," she said, shrugging. "I'm bummed but it's okay. I thought you were going to have the roughest out of us before your owl came to your rescue."
"She does that a lot," Harry smiled. His smile grew when Hedwig swooped over and settled on his shoulder, cooing proudly and nuzzling him.
"Hiiii Chick! Good job! Such a wonderful chef. So proud of you!"
"She's adorable," Gwendolyn said and offered a hand, smiling when Hedwig allowed her to pet her. "And they're not wrong, I overcooked the steak because I wasn't paying attention to it. Details matter when it comes to things like this."
She shook his hand warmly. "Glad you made it through though. You're a good kid. Hope to see you around more and let me know if you come over to the States. I'll be happy to show you around too." She waved as she left, still looking disappointed but at peace.
After Harry spoke to Kaito for a moment about his dish, he turned to Celine. "That was really cool that you figured out the gumbo. I saw a recipe for it once but wouldn't have been able to do the same."
"It is basically a soup thickened with a roux," Celine said. "I have learned Creole and Cajun cooking have French elements." She looked at him. "Quite the clever solution to your problem." She blanched a little when Hedwig glared at her. ("Oh is that all I am? A 'clever solution to a problem'? You better watch out little miss Frenchpot or else I'll be a problem for you with no solution!"). "Did you know what was coming and brought the assistance?"
"No, I didn't," Harry said honestly. He petted Hedwig to soothe her. "I didn't even know she was even coming until I heard her here. She's the best though and I'm glad she was here for just being supportive and not actively doing anything."
Celine looked at him for a moment. "Well then, congratulations, Monsieur Potter. You win this round." She left after a nod, not looking back.
"What a bitch," Hedwig grumbled, making a rude wing gesture at Celine's back.
"I thought I had seen it all in a kitchen," Francis said, approaching Harry and smiling both at him and Hedwig. "I have seen conjured animal assistance before, but never an owl and none as smart as she."
"There's no one like her," Harry said proudly while Hedwig fluffed up, looking smug and sure of herself.
"I'm one of a kind, a paragon of Snowy Owls and of any owl. All wish to be me and despair for they can't be."
"I believe it," Francis said sincerely. He happily took the food Harry offered him. "And I am glad the shameful display from last time did not repeat. Rest assured, Mister Potter, we will be doing our best to ensure it will not again."
"Thank you. And you can call me Harry. I like it when friends do," Harry said.
Francis smiled broadly. "Harry then. And Hedwig, yes? Thank you both."
"Uh, how much for the doors?" Harry asked weakly and Hedwig turned her head and nibbled on his hair.
"Not my fault that they were in my way and were so kickable," Hedwig said, nibbling on his hair. "Shoddy workmanship too. Falling to pieces like that."
The host laughed merrily. "I will make them a work-related expense. Do not worry." He bade them a fond farewell and left, still chuckling to himself.
"Congratulations!" Dora lifted him and Hedwig into the air and hugged him tightly. "That was awesome!"
"Thanks! I can't believe you got Hedwig in!" Harry gasped, hugging her back.
"Wasn't that hard," Dora smiled. "Just a bit of metamorphing and accusing someone of being improper."
"She's very good at both," Hedwig said admiringly.
"Which is rich, coming from you," Andromeda smiled as she hugged Harry.
"Right?" Dora laughed.
"Well done, cheri," Perenelle praised. "So proud of you!"
"You are in the final three!" Nicolas said warmly. "That is no easy thing!"
"Wouldn't be here without the support of everyone," Harry smiled. "Thank you all."
"You deserve it too Harry," Sirius smiled.
"Thank you for coming, Chef," Harry said, shaking Gabriel's hand.
Gabriel nodded back and smiled. "Very well done. You kept your head and performed to the best of your ability. What would you have done if Hedwig was not here, however?"
"I'm always there, when you don't expect it."
"Probably take the reduced time and ingredients," Harry said. "Or try wandless summoning but I didn't feel confident in that. I figured I had a better chance at the cleaning spells since I use those all the time."
"Well reasoned," Gabriel said with approval. "Well done."
"Come, let us have a celebratory meal at our home here," Perenelle declared.
"Sounds good to me," Harry sighed happily.
"This is my victory dance, to celebrate Chick winning and being the best! Dance dance dance!"
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odonnellzoo99 - Unlike regular fishing, bacon fishing for Hedwig will not be boring. To be fair, that's the kind of friendship that Parvati and Hedwig have:: mutual teasing and bothering.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - Hedwig is always very pleased with herself. Thanks for reading.
TheSphynx - Glad to hear it.
HoneyBear84 - Thank you. I do like Panera sandwiches I must admit.
alix33 - Hedwig telling people to look at her butt feathers will never not be funny.
poka - It was so silly but so fun.
