I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Side Dishes
32nd Course – Softening with Time
Takes place a few years prior to the final course of Taste.
On the surface, she was calm and collected. Her smile was pleasant and seemingly sincere, but on closer inspection one could see that it was crafted and neatly applied. Her eyes were bright but piercing. Her hair swept up into an elegant bun with nary a strand out of place but it was tightly secured. The barest tremble of skin at her temple belied her thoughts and temperament and she maintained the expression until the others left the office.
Once alone, the façade fell away. Her smile became a snarl. Her eyes burned. She resisted the urge to sweep everything off her carefully maintained desk, instead making a snatch for a large crystal sphere and gripping it with her right hand. She cocked her arm back, ready to throw the delicate looking thing into the very solid wall before the door opened once more.
Esther stepped in and looked at the other woman with a surprisingly placid expression, as if seeing the woman about to shatter something very expensive looking was of no surprise. "Tea? Headmistress?"
Narcissa let out a breath, letting it rattle as it slowly escaped her clenched teeth. "Yes, please," she said, trying to calm down. She reluctantly set the sphere back on the little plinth it sat on and arranged it neatly on her desk once more. "That would be lovely, thank you."
Esther nodded and left the office, returning after a few minutes with a tray. A transparent glass kettle sat in the center, the water within piping hot and steam escaping the spout. A crystal tea cup sat on a crystal saucer and a small holder with sugar and cream sat alongside. A small plate with a strawberry and lemon shortcake sat there too, the cream gleaming in the light.
"We still had one?" Narcissa asked, looking at the shortcake longingly.
"I keep one in the back for emergencies," Esther said plainly, smiling at Narcissa's flush. She set the tray on the desk and opened a small box. She dropped a round thing into the tea kettle and the small bulb swirled in the hot water. It grew before their very eyes, opening like a flower. The water became a pleasantly golden-brown color as the tea flower bloomed in the water and the air smelled pleasantly acrid.
"Thank you," Narcissa said, trying to maintain some form of dignity and failing. She sat down behind her desk and sighed deeply.
"I assume the meeting was less than pleasant?" Esther asked lightly.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Narcissa replied pawkily.
"Well you were about to shatter the crystal sphere," Esther pointed out, smiling still.
"I was," Narcissa said. "I still might."
"That would upset Lord Malfoy."
"Good. And he can purchase another," Narcissa said shortly. "It is partially his fault that the meeting happened anyways. He was unsuccessful in meeting them with the other governors and foisted the next attempt on me."
"Ah." Esther poured out a cup of the fragrant tea and added sugar and cream to it, mixing the tea with a delicate silver spoon before putting the cup in front of Narcissa with the plate of shortcake. "That does sound like something he would do."
Narcissa sipped the tea, enjoying the pleasant bitterness. The shortcake tasted especially sweet after that. The cream, smooth and cooling, the fruit tart and sweet, the crumb of the cake soft. She felt her mood brightening a little as she ate and drank. "Thank you, Esther. What would I do without you?"
"Break many expensive things I imagine," Esther said, smiling at Narcissa's snort. "And be bothered by even more paperwork."
"Give yourself another bonus on this pay period."
"Oh I already have," Esther said with a wider smile. "But having permission makes it all the sweeter." She looked at Narcissa soberly. "So, are they still dangling the idea of support over our heads without actually giving any?"
"Essentially," Narcissa said moodily. "They do not think we are living up to their standards."
"Are we?"
"We, in fact, eclipse them. At least their actual standards, not the perceived inflated ones." Narcissa looked into the small mirror beside her and sighed again. "Another grey hair. No wonder Dumbledore is perpetually grey. This job does it to you."
"If it makes you feel any better, I saw that grey hair before the latest bouts of meetings," Esther said helpfully.
"Take that bonus away from yourself," Narcissa said, scowling.
"I will get on that," Esther said seriously. "What are we going to do? Their support and donations would help a lot. Though, from what I know of the budget, we are not going to be in too much trouble without it."
"We would survive well enough," Narcissa confirmed. "But it would be better if we did have it. And it would give us more standing with the ICW and the rest of the International community. Sanguis is still new but we deserve to be taken seriously. We have had successful graduating classes and score well on O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s."
"What exactly do they want?" Esther asked.
"I have no idea honestly." Narcissa slumped back in her chair. "They claim we do not match their aesthetics and ideals. That if we want their donations, we must appear to be deserving of it."
"How maddingly vague," Esther grumbled. "I'm sure you and Lord Malfoy will work things out, however. You always seem to."
"Yes, it does seem that way," Narcissa sighed.
"At least you have your dinner with Madam Tonks tonight," Esther said.
"I do have that, at least," Narcissa said, softening.
-0-
"Welcome, Miss Narcissa."
"Hello Kreacher." Narcissa elegantly removed the soot and ash from her traveling cloak and then handed said cloak to the waiting house elf. "Thank you." She followed him and smiled when she was led into the more informal dining room in Grimmauld. "Hello Andi."
"Hello Cissa." Andromeda smiled at her sister and gestured at the seat across from her at the smaller dining table. "You look especially irritated today."
"I feel especially irritated today," Narcissa said, sitting down with a small sigh. "It was an irritatingly difficult day."
"How so?" Andromeda asked sympathetically.
"Had a meeting with some potential donors to the school," Narcissa said. "It went…it went. They were exceedingly annoying and very condescending."
"I thought you would be used to that," Andromeda said lightly.
Narcissa smiled wryly. "I am more used to the dispensing instead of the receiving. That and it is one thing to do it in a social setting, quite another when it has to be endured for the good of the school."
"Do you even want their money? What would prevent them from being even worse after you have received it? Can they not make some sort of inane claim for how it is used?" Andromeda asked.
"They could, but part of the circumstances around donating prevent the worst of it," Narcissa said. "Most only want to donate to be put on our wall of contributors."
"It is a monstrously gaudy way to show off that one has given the school money," Andromeda smiled.
"Quite," Narcissa agreed and the sisters laughed together.
"Well, at least you can relax some and we can enjoy a nice meal together." Andromeda lifted covers off various dishes. A tureen of chicken soup released fragrant steam after the cloche was lifted off, pieces of chicken and vegetables peeking out of the golden broth. A beef wellington was surrounded by roasted vegetables and a basket of soft warm rolls finished the meal.
"Smells wonderful," Narcissa smiled as Andromeda filled a plate of good food for her and she poured out ladles of the soup for the both of them. She took a bite of roasted sprout and sighed with pleasure at the taste: garlic and paprika and mustard matching the well-cooked sprout's slightly bitter note. "Chef Potter's cooking continues to satisfy and delight."
"It is the best," Andromeda said proudly, eating heartily. "I go there or order out several times a week." The pair ate and chatted, doing full justice to the comforting meal. "Hmm, we did not leave much left over," she mused as they finished.
"Lucius can get his own," Narcissa said shortly and Andromeda laughed. "Which he will but not so willingly."
"Oh? Does he not find it to his taste?" Andromeda asked, eyes narrowing.
"No, he is embarrassed to go by himself," Narcissa said and Andromeda laughed again. "He feels awkward."
"I am telling Siri," Andromeda giggled.
"Go ahead," Narcissa giggled.
"So what is the major complaint of the donors?" Andromeda asked.
Narcissa rolled her eyes. "That we are not 'aesthetically pleasing' enough."
Andromeda raised an eyebrow. "The building has gold and gold leaf and marble is the major color, and it is not fancy enough? What do they expect?"
"I have no idea," Narcissa grumbled. "But we only have one more chance to 'convince' them." She bit into a roll savagely. "I would convince them with my wand if I could. Louts, all of them! They would not know proper decadence if it sat on their heads!"
Andromeda chewed thoughtfully. "So, their complaint is the school is not fancy enough? That they need to be convinced of something like that?"
"Apparently," Narcissa said glumly. "And I have already gone as far as I could in that regard. Decorations, charms, fine wines, the lot." She looked up. "Why are you smiling like that? I thought you no longer took pleasure in my misery."
"Oh Cissa, we are sisters. I will never not take pleasure in your misery as long as it is not truly terrible," Andromeda said with a sweet smile. She applied some butter to her roll as Narcissa scowled. "It does seem like you have gone as far as you could in all avenues but one."
"Pray tell, what else can I do to abase and debase myself?" Narcissa asked scathingly.
"Why, in one of the most obviously decadent ways possible," Andromeda said, as if it was obvious. She smiled at Narcissa's blank look. "Let me send a message and see what we can do."
-0-
"Hello, love," Andromeda smiled.
"Hi Auntie Andi," Harry said warmly, brushing the soot off and hugging her. It was hours later, well into the night, and Harry just stepped out of the Floo. He greeted Winky and Kreacher who had come to welcome him and he smiled at Narcissa. "Madam Malfoy, good to see you."
"And you," Narcissa said pleasantly. "I apologize for calling you over after a busy night."
"No problem at all," Harry said easily. "What's going on?"
"Cissa was just telling me that she was having some problems with some potential donors. They apparently think Sanguis is not fancy enough," Andromeda said.
"Isn't the school like made of gold and marble?" Harry asked.
"It is and yes, their assumption is preposterous," Andromeda said, smiling with Harry. "There is one more chance to gain their aid and well, I had an idea. Would you be amenable to cater a multi-course meal?"
"Another coercion course?" Harry smiled as Narcissa looked at them with wide eyes.
"Dinner party," Andromeda corrected and she and Harry laughed.
"Same thing," Harry grinned. "I can do that, sure. And we want it to be as fancy as possible?"
"Something like that," Andromeda smiled. "To soothe ruffled tempters, ruffle peacocked feathers, and to tempt them into getting off their high-flying hippogriffs and use their money for something useful for once."
"You can do that?" Narcissa asked, still a little surprised.
"Sure," Harry said easily. "We made the menu and dinner right before fifth year to convince Auntie Rose and the other parents to…keep the others at Hogwarts." He smiled sheepishly and Andromeda groaned while Narcissa nodded in realization. "That and I learned a lot about proper multi-course meals while staging in Paris and working for Chef Gabriel and I also learned a lot about kaiseki cooking in Japan with Chef Morimoto."
"And you would do that, for me?" Narcissa asked softly.
"Well, yeah," Harry said.
"Why?" Narcissa asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sanguis caused you trouble in the past. Not to mention…my son."
Harry shrugged awkwardly. "Well, true, but that was a while ago. That and Auntie Andi asked me and I love her so I don't mind trying." He smiled when she hugged him hard and kissed him on the cheeks. "Can't say I'll be successful, mind, but I'll do my best."
"You are not doing it for free either," Andromeda said. "Lucius and Cissa can afford it. And you are not doing it at cost either."
"Certainly not," Narcissa said, smiling at last. "We have overpaid more for less in the past."
"I don't know about overpaying, but you'll get your money's worth," Harry said confidently.
"This might work," Narcissa said eagerly.
"With Harry's help and skills, there is a very good chance it will," Andromeda said confidently.
-0-
"Wow Chef! What's all this?" Mirra gasped. She looked on at all the plates that Harry had on his station. He had come early to the Hearth to do some testing and side work and the others had worked around him without problem. Now that they saw the fruits of his labor, they were incredibly interested.
"Doing test plates for an upcoming multi-course dinner party fundraising thing," Harry said, smiling at her wonder.
Guy raised an eyebrow as he looked at the plates. "I see some very familiar preparations and things here," he said.
"The goal is to be as fancy as possible," Harry said. "And there are few things as fancy as French haute cuisine."
"Naturally," Chloe said, thickening her accent. "It smells divine, Chef."
"Thanks! I was actually going to ask if you and Guy wanted to help me for the dinner, same with Henri and Julia. It's for…some very opiniated people who have very high opinions of themselves and their money."
"Ah, those type of people. Why are you doing this?" Chloe asked. "Normally this is something you would avoid like the plague."
"Normally," Harry agreed. "Technically it's for Sanguis Academy to try and get some donations."
"Wait, why are we helping Sanguis?" Felicity asked, shocked. "I still remember how they tried to screw us over!"
"They've gotten better," Harry said. "And their Headmistress is Auntie Andi's sister and Andi asked me to help so that's the main reason. It's also giving me the chance to cook fussily and do something over the top that I normally don't do."
"For good reason," Guy snorted.
"For good reason," Harry smiled. "Fun once in a while but not every night. Not for me."
"Oh, if it's those kinds of people, I guess I shouldn't be there," Mirra said glumly.
"If you want to help and be there, you'll be there," Harry said firmly. "I always will do my best, no matter the reason, and will bring who and what I need to be my best. If they complain, well, they don't get to eat. There's a reason we're not doing it here after all."
"In that case, I can act how I desire?" Chloe asked, eyes sparkling.
"You can be as French as you want to be," Harry said and they all laughed.
"Then I will be delighted to help." Chloe's smile was broad and held no warmth and her expression and body posture oozed self-superiority. "It will be a pleasure to treat these people with false civility with contempt hidden just behind."
"If you want me there, I will be there," Guy said. He picked up some of the recipes that Harry had written out. "Ah, you are definitely cooking more differently. I see some very strange procedures here."
"I asked Sirius and Andi for some tips. The Blacks had books on what they thought was proper and impressed them in that very snooty way. And since I'm only doing this for the event, why not have a little fun?" He reached into a pocket and gave Chloe a piece of parchment. "And in complete honesty, this helps too."
"Mon Deux!" Chloe gaped at the parchment. "This is how much you are being compensated for?!"
"Right?" Harry laughed as the others looked at the receipt and made similar exclamations.
-0-
"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Lucius asked, surreptitiously straightening his robes and looking nervous beneath his veneer of cool detachment.
"This is our last chance to impress them," Narcissa said, hissing slightly between her teeth that appeared to be smiling genteelly.
"I am aware. We are sure that Potter will not…do something that most would say is appropriate for him to do given past history and circumstance?" Lucius flinched slightly.
"Are you saying something about my darling godson?" Andromeda asked sweetly though her eyes burned.
"I thought he was Sirius' godson," Lucius asked weakly, shying away from her.
"Yes and I have claimed him as mine as well. Is there a problem?"
"There is no problem," Narcissa said forcefully. "Andi said he can be trusted and I do not think he will do anything to harm us or the situation."
"I apologize for my remark then," Lucius said, eyelid twitching.
They were in a very expansively, and expensively, decorated room in Sanguis. It was their best receiving room and every surface was polished to a shine. Statues and vases ringed the walls and broad paintings hung over other works of art. All of the people there were dressed in very fine dress robes and the air was laced with senses of propriety and manners.
Narcissa had spent some time chatting with the prospective donors and despite having only done so for barely an hour, was already feeling exhausted. She chafed at their attitudes and the way they acted, knowing full well who was at the whims of the other. She had nearly cheered when Chloe had announced that dinner was ready and they were all seating themselves at a very large round table. "I suppose Nymphadora did not wish to come?"
Andromeda gave her sister a look. "I thought you wanted the night to succeed?"
"Fair," Narcissa sighed and Andromeda and Ted chuckled softly. "Thank you for your support." She looked gratefully at some others. "And yours."
"Not a problem," Primrose said primly. She smiled. "Plus any chance to eat Harry's cooking is a chance I will take."
"As if you do not go several times a week," Adele smiled.
"And you do not?" Primrose laughed.
"I never said I do not," Adele laughed.
"We made a very mutually profitable deal for us," Alan said and he and Cyrus tapped their glasses together and Lucius sighed inaudibly. "So we have no problems being here and lending support."
"That and I share the appetite for Harry's cooking," Cyrus said comfortably.
"Excusez-moi." Chloe stood at the table between Andromeda and Narcissa and smiled blandly at the guests. "Your attention please."
"Do you know who I am?" a man asked, dressed in very fine clothes and wearing a very aggrieved expression.
"No, I do not," Chloe said plainly and continued to speak, handily ignoring his look of displeasure. Lucius and Narcissa winced and Andromeda and the others stifled smirks and chuckles. "We are to begin the meal and it will be in your best interests to fully pay attention to it. It has been finely crafted to suit the occasion and anything less than your full immersion will be to your detriment."
As she finished speaking the side doors opened and Henri and Julia walked out, wearing very fancy looking uniforms and carrying trays of food with their wands. They flicked their wands with economical motions and plates of food settled in front of the guests. "The amuse-bouche," Chloe said. "You have in front of you a slice of foie gras, pan-seared with a sauce of bacon and raspberry on a potato pancake."
Narcissa admired the flat bottom spoon sitting on the plate. The pancake was crisp and golden-brown with a dark brown slice of decadent foie gras sitting on it. The raspberry and bacon sauce was sharp and savory and fragrant, bits of fruit and meat in the sauce, pooling delicately on the food.
"My goodness," one of the other guests gasped. "None of the sauce and the pancake are intermingling with the foie gras! They all appear separate."
"They mix when you eat it," another said as he ate half of the mouthful, peering at the remainder. "It still does not mix despite touching!"
"How did they do that?" the first man said, his look of displeasure becoming a look of curiosity.
"Oh my that's delicious," Adele smiled as she ate her bite daintily, wiping her lips with her napkin after.
"Very different from his usual style," Primrose whispered.
"He is pulling out all the stops and has promised a very different meal," Andromeda whispered back.
"Truly?" Narcissa asked, eyes wide.
"Truly," Andromeda said proudly.
"The second course, the traditional soup course," Chloe announced.
"What is this?" one of the prospective donors said, looking at the cups that were placed before them. They were small crystal cups but they appeared empty. "There is nothing inside!"
"Is there not?" Chloe asked, her voice dripping in polite condescension. "Perhaps you need help seeing it?" She smiled as Henri poured a bit of oil from a tiny pitcher into the cup. The guests gasped as the oil collected on top of a crystal-clear surface and pooled against the sides of the cup before slowly dripping into what was a nearly invisible soup, showing trails of bright green through the liquid. "The Chef has made a crystal consommé and it is dressed with a scallion oil to finish."
"Extraordinary!" one of the guests gasped, sipping from the soup. "Such a rich and full flavor with a clear soup!"
Primrose licked her lips. "That has glasswort in it, I'm sure of it."
"He made a soup to appear like a potion that had clarifying and invisibility qualities!" Cyrus said admiringly. "And it tastes good! It's a fish consommé with the sharp scallion oil to add more flavor. Wonderful!"
The next course came out, the appetizer. Small wellingtons arrived to each guest, the crust had a design wrapped around it and baked to show off nooks and crannies. Two different sauces were poured on either side of the plate and by now, no one held back and cut into the wellingtons eagerly. The meat within gleamed and was cooked to a perfect medium.
"What on earth?!" The first man looked at his plate with open-eyed astonishment. "This is beef but I taste chicken!"
"I taste lobster!" another gasped.
"Wait! I have had this before at Sheen!" Lucius said, unable to keep his composure. "This is one of their specialties!"
"But it is better," Narcissa said, chewing blissfully.
"Transfigurer la viande en patisserie," Chloe said with a smile. "In the style of the Chef of course. And no, he has not worked at Sheen. I have also had it there and can confidently say that this version is superior in taste."
Next was a salad made of roasted and raw vegetables and topped with grilled salmon. The dressing was the highlight there, where it was made into an airy foam that practically floated over the salad until touched and they dissolved into rain that dressed the salad. Not a speck nor crumb was left on any of the plates and then the main course came out.
"Another wellington?" one asked, looking at the plate with confusion.
"I can see why you would think that because they do look similar," Chloe said condescendingly. "This, however, is a boeuf en croute. The cut of beef is different, the puff pastry prepared differently, and the filling is not the same as a wellington at all. But you could be forgiven for erroneously assuming that they were the same just from judging by appearance." She continued to smile as the person colored and the others looked on with amusement. "Served with a red wine sauce and whipped potatoes on the side."
"Mmmm, this is so good," Andromeda sighed happily as she ate.
"And his most normal course yet," Ted grinned.
"Is something wrong?" Alan asked.
Lucius shook his head. "If I recall, this is what Draco learned to make for his…honor duel with Chef Potter all those years ago. If he were anyone else, I would think that he is making some sort of statement."
"He was mentored by very petty individuals," Andromeda smiled broadly. "So you are not far off the mark I would imagine."
Exclamations of wonder accompanied the dessert course when it was revealed. Each guest had a small clear dish placed before them filled with trifle. Layers of cake, custard, and fruit rose up to the top before it was finished with soft whipped cream. Just like the other courses, the trifles were devoured and each bowl was practically clean before they were taken away.
"And how was everything?" Harry walked into the room with a big smile on his face. He wore pearl chef whites and had a toque on to cover his hair and scar.
"Incredible," the first man said sincerely. He and the others applauded and Harry waved at them with genial acceptance.
"Glad to hear it," Harry beamed. "My staff and I worked very hard on those recipes."
"Was there a theme to the meal?" one asked.
"That appearances can be deceiving," Harry said, "and that some things require a bit more attention and effort to make happen, while others don't, but all can work together and create something wonderful together."
The guests looked at each other for a moment.
"Do you cook for the school?" another asked.
"No, I have my own restaurant. Admittedly my usual menu is much less fancy than this, but it is fun to do once in a while for the creative joy of it."
"You have a restaurant?" one said eagerly.
"Sure do! Reservation only and Miss Pointue is my maître d' and in charge of those." He gestured to Chloe who smiled cheerily and the others winced and looked vaguely resigned. Harry smiled and waved once more and left with Chloe, Julia, and Henri following after they collected the dishes together.
"That was a very fine meal, one of the best I have ever had," the first man said, looking at Narcissa. He removed a checkbook from his robe pocket and wrote one out and handed it to her. "I make this donation under…a caveat of sorts." He smiled at her look. "Perhaps we can have somewhat regular meetings discussing what the needs of the school are and how the funds are utilized."
"With said meetings ending in a dinner?" Narcissa asked, keeping calm. "I believe that can be arranged."
"Splendid." The man handed her the check and she took it with well-concealed reservation. The other guests followed suit and after some more chatting and a bit of drinking, they left.
"That went incredibly well!" Narcissa said when it was just her and the others left. She practically deflated in her chair, exhausted and relieved.
"Powers above!" Lucius looked at the checks. "They're more than what we were hoping for! The school will be well kept for some time!"
"I told you that Harry is the best," Andromeda said smugly.
"That really was an amazing meal," Adele smiled brightly. "So different from his usual fare and quite wonderful."
"He is incredibly talented," Cyrus praised.
"That's our Harry," Ted said happily.
-0-
"Chef, do you have a moment?"
Harry looked up from the pass. It was the next day and it was a typically busy day at Hedwig's Hearth. "Problem?" he asked as he finished saucing a dish and sending it out with Nillie.
"Not a problem per se," Chloe said. She leaned close. "Lord and Lady Malfoy are here."
"Oh. I wonder what about." Mirra took over the pass and he left the kitchen. He smiled and waved as some people waved to him as they saw him, exchanging a few words here and there. He approached the bar and smiled at Narcissa and Lucius. The former looked very happy to see him and the other was the picture of awkward sincerity. "Hello!"
"Hello, Chef," Narcissa said warmly. "How are you?"
"Great, thank you." He blinked as she handed him a small leather wallet. "We already received the fee for the meal."
"Consider this a thank you on top," she said. "It went far beyond what we were hoping and we are very happy."
"I mean, the fee was already pretty high," Harry said. "More than what I would usually charge family and friends."
"You would consider us as such?" she asked softly.
Harry shrugged awkwardly. "I mean, well, you are Auntie Andi's sister and Sirius' cousin. I love them both and I wouldn't have done it if I really didn't want to. So…yes? I suppose?"
"Even given what had happened before?" Lucius asked, looking very surprised.
"To be fair, I haven't seen or spoken to Draco in years," Harry said and he smiled a little at their winces. "And well, yeah, there's a lot between us. But that's in the past and as long as you treat me well, I'll respond in kind. I know Pansy is really fond of you too, Madam Malfoy, so there's that."
"Aunt Narcissa," she corrected gently, smiling at his and Lucius' look of surprise. "We are family, after all."
"Okay, Aunt Narcissa," he said. "And I guess you can call me Harry." He tried to give her back the wallet and when she refused, he looked around. "Chloe, do we have a table free?"
"Yes Chef," she said, glancing at her metal tablet.
"Would you two like to stay for dinner?" Harry asked.
"Please," Lucius nodded. He smiled faintly. "And we will be paying."
"Sure," Harry smiled.
-0-
The fire in the hearth flared and after a moment, Draco walked out. He brushed soot off of his traveling cloak and handed it to a waiting house elf. He took a deep breath and paused, sniffing the air. He followed the smell and walked into the private dining room in the manor. "Mother, Father," he greeted.
"Welcome home," Narcissa said, smiling at him. She hugged him warmly and sat back down while Draco and Lucius exchanged embraces as well. "Right on time. I had just returned with the food."
"It smells very good," Draco said, sitting at the table. "Returned? Did you go and get it from somewhere?"
"We had it ordered specifically for your homecoming," Lucius said. "From Hedwig's Hearth."
Draco paused. "Potter's restaurant?"
"Harry's, yes," Narcissa said as she took covers off of the plates. She looked at him and smiled at his clear surprise. "I did say that I would be continuing to nurture my relationships with Andi, Siri, Rose, and Pansy. That extends to Harry."
"I was unaware you were familiar with him enough like that," Draco said stiffly.
"Chef Potter did us a very important service," Lucius said calmly. "The donations we received? Partially his doing and his continued assistance will ensure the donations for the foreseeable future."
"I see," Draco said slowly. He looked down at the food. "That was very good of him," he said at last.
"And his cooking is incredible. Eat up. There is plenty and he did make this for us knowing full well why."
Draco slowly picked up a fork and took a bite. Then another. Then another. "This is very good," he said at last.
"It really is," Narcissa smiled as she ate.
-0-0-0-
TheSphynx - Thank you. Glad you enjoyed.
Arnie11701 - Not recently but it was too good off a line to not include.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - Or they were there because they love Harry and wanted to support and comfort him. Thanks for reading.
odonnellzoo99 - I always liked a semi-sentient Hogwarts doing fun things for the people who are there, people and petlings. Thank you.
TheMatze99 - There will be a similar premise in the future project I discussed.
alix33 - Hedwig and Pomfrey glaring at each other was very funny to me too. Same with the caps.
HoneyBear84 - Thank you.
poka - Right? She really should have known better. And the quote fit too well with the duel scene.
Wentley - That sounds delicious. I do love buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy.