I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.

Hello everyone, hope all are doing well.

This is another one of the chapters that I wrote a while ago and have been eager to share. I really like the overall theme of it. I've seen comments before where some fics don't have the 'magic' of the setting, the whimsy, the different feeling to it. I really feel like I hit that feeling in this chapter while exploring a different culture, and imaging how that culture's Wizarding World might be. Also, we got a good amount of snow here today, so I feel like it was meant to be and the parallel feeling really pleased me. I hope you all enjoy.

-0-0-0-

Side Dishes

43rd Course – Hyakunin Yaji

Takes place sometime after the events of the 39th course, after the honor duel for ownership of Shukaku and the attack on Akari Morimoto's reputation.

"Everything's done, Chef," Harry said, poking his head into Akari's office. "Everything's put away and cleaned up."

"Thank you," Akari said, looking up and smiling at him.

"How are things, if I may ask," Harry asked. He entered the office when Akari waved him in.

"Very good, actually," she said. "I was worried about business after having to close for some time."

Harry nodded. Shukaku had to close while Akari and Harry had prepared and trained for the challenge and then it remained closed for another two weeks for Akari to rehire the staff and get them trained to what she thought was the minimum to maintain the restaurant's quality. Even when they reopened, it was for limited availability and she had worried about lost business.

Thankfully, her worries were firmly dispelled. The regulars and others who loved the restaurant had come back eagerly and not only that, more guests came too. News of the challenge and duel had gone all over the country and most wanted to eat at the restaurant that had won. They were willing to wait for reservations and Akari had been overjoyed knowing that Shukaku did not just survive, it was going back to thriving.

The new staff were a combination of old employees that she could continue to trust, though they were few in number, and new ones that were wanting to work for her and learn from her. She had told Harry that because of the very obvious break with the Nakamuras, it had caused a bit of a shift in the social politics and she was able to hire people from different families without having to worry about offending someone over something.

Harry had become not quite the second after her, but something close to it. Despite the returning staff, he was the one Akari trusted and relied on the most and the newcomers overcame their hesitation swiftly and learned with and from him more easily. While Harry was the first to readily admit that he was not an expert in Japanese cooking and cuisine, his skills were still more than satisfactory and he was open and patient with the rest of the staff.

"Glad to hear it," he said and meant it utterly.

She smiled broadly. She was doing that more since the duel, he noticed. "I wanted to ask you something," she said. "Do you have any plans for tomorrow night?"

"No Chef."

"I already ask you to work too much and you very much accept," she joked, shaking her head at his eagerness, "but there will be something tomorrow night if you would like to help."

"What is it?" he asked.

"You have visited the night markets in Kyoto and Tokyo, yes?"

Harry nodded. He really liked them a lot. He went to one with Sota, Tsumugi, and Chiyo a few days after arriving to Japan many weeks ago and he enjoyed himself greatly. They were markets held at night instead of the day and like the day markets, it was a collection of stalls that served and sold all sorts of things. Food stalls were a big component to them and Harry indulged himself, trying all sorts of festival style foods, street foods, and local fare that he readily enjoyed. He also found lots of items and things for friends and family at reasonable prices. Each one he had visited in the two main locales had subtle differences that took on the local feel and flavor.

"Yes, Chef," he said. "They're so much fun and really cool. I don't know if we have any back home, but I'm definitely going to look and see."

"There's actually a special one, thrown based on the moon," Akari said. "It is the Night Market of 100, a traditional magical night market that has a long history. It was originally founded to help ward off the Hyakki Yagyo, or the Night Parade of 100 Demons. In our culture, the Night Parade was a show of force composed of many oni and yokai. It was a time to shelter indoors or else risk being slain or taken away."

"Cool and grim," Harry said, shuddering a little.

Akari laughed. "Many believe that it was a ploy created by Japanese magicals to help protect the secret of magic's existence to the non-magical folk of Japan, as well as explain the magical creatures and beings. The legend grew in time and it is a big part of our folklore. But yes, the Hyakunin Yaji is a traditional night market. Lots of magical stores and businesses congregate to sell things and visit with one another. When I can, I try to have a stall to contribute. With Shukaku's survival and resurgence, I wanted to show my appreciation to magic and my home and definitely have a stall at this one."

"That's so cool and I'm assuming you're asking if I want to help and yes please," Harry said with a big smile.

"I did and good! I already have a menu item planned, katsu. That is a dish that symbolizes victory because the word 'to win' sounds very similar. It's made traditionally for those who need the push to overcome and to achieve. Since we have already done so, I wish to spread the good fortune," Akari said. "I plan to offer both pork and chicken and it can be served in a bowl with rice, don, or as a sando or sandwich."

"Sounds good to me," Harry said. "Fried food is always good."

"Yes it is. I will have a couple from Shukaku and Maketto to assist us," Akari said.

"Sounds fun to me. May Hedwig come? I assume since it's a night market, we'll be out until really late and she'll want to come to keep an eye on me and to explore."

"Of course," Akari said. "Rather, I do not think I could prevent her from joining."

"Not many can," Harry grinned.

"I do not doubt that," Akari smiled. "But I would not want to anyways, I am indebted to her as well."

-0-

"This is beautiful," Harry said softly, looking around.

The Hyakunin Yaji was held in an immense bamboo grove. They traveled there through a special torii gate and appeared in a place that was full of bamboo. There were paths cut through the forest that wound through the thick stalks and leaves, but the bamboo were everywhere and ever prevalent. They were all shapes and sizes with some being many feet thick in diameter and they grew high into the sky. Bright moonlight pierced the opening in the grove, leaving glittering trails of cold white light along the paths. The air was thick with a heavy green scent and magic could be felt in the air and surroundings.

The central part of the Hyakunin Yaji was a broad clearing with many stalls laid out. Floating lanterns provided ample lighting as well as the moon hanging low overhead. Most of the stalls were made from wood or bamboo, showing mostly natural colors with a few standing out as they were made from stone. The market had not officially opened yet but there were a lot of people there already, setting up shop and getting ready.

Akari, Hinako, Harry, and a couple others went to Akari's stall and got to work. Fryers were set up and filled with oil and the ice box was grown and filled with everything they needed. Much of the prep work was already done at Shukaku but they continued to do more, making the necessary sauces and chopping the vegetables they needed. Rice went into very large vessels that began to burble and bubble, steaming gently.

Hedwig plumped down on a travel bed that Harry had brought for her and she looked around with interest, taking in the sights.

"Are we supposed to wear masks?" Harry asked, noticing that a lot of people were wearing masks of all kinds. Some looked scary and bordered grotesque with leering mouths and large horns sprouting out of the sides and top. Others looked subtle and elusive, carved and painted with smiles and eyes that said one thing while meaning another. There were even many in the shape of animals, from the mundane to the magical.

"Some do to appear to be a part of the Parade," Hinako said. She had a fox mask propped up on the top of her head. "As a way to appear to be a part of them and to keep from being taken. Others do it to ward off the oni to appear as one of them or frighten them away. And some do it for fun."

"Is it okay if I get some later to send to friends and family back home?" Harry asked, looking down the lane and seeing a store that had masks for sale.

"Of course! It is a way to share our culture," Hinako said warmly. She nodded at a wizard who wore a medallion around his neck, with many talismans along the edges of his robes. "Some take it more seriously than others, but that is a personal preference."

"What's that?" Harry asked. Flutes began to play, filling the air with sweet ethereal music.

"It means the Parade has begun and the march is upon us," Akari said. She put on a dragon mask, and the long whiskers floated and the scales shimmered and gleamed. "The Hyakunin Yaji is open for patrons of all sorts!"

In no time at all, the market was full of people. Many of the customers also wore masks while many did not. Some wore street clothes, others wore traditional Japanese clothes, and others wore wizarding style clothing. The air was full of noise, chatter and laughter as people filled the lanes between stalls and the stalls themselves. Soon there was a line at the Morimoto stall and a flurry of orders came in.

Harry and the others worked hard. They had made a few orders right before open to serve the first few guests and they had been bought up swiftly. Prepared chicken and pork cutlets were dredged in flour, then bathed with egg wash, and encrusted with panko breadcrumbs before slipped gently into bubbling oil. The meat would fry in lower temperature oil first to cook through before they were removed and put into oil that was held at a higher temperature to make the exterior extra crispy and crunchy.

From there, they went to one of two places. Some would be turned into kastudon and it was similar to how Sota made the oyakodon when he visited Hogwarts. Onions were cooked until barely soft and the fried meat would be put on top. Sauce and eggs would be poured over meat and onions and cooked until the eggs had barely set. Then they would be poured over piping hot rice and served in bowls to the waiting customers. The other fried meat was put between slices of soft white bread with thinly sliced cabbage and tonkatsu sauce. The sandwiches or sandos were then sliced in half and then sent out after being put into small boxes.

The pace was fast but the team worked smoothly and well together. Food went out at a good speed and the atmosphere was light and fun despite the hectic pace they were working at. As they did, Hinako would point out the various masks and figures to Harry, explaining their significance.

"That is an oni," she said, showing a red mask that had big teeth and large features. "Demons. Very big and violent. Said to have fought and killed and eaten their victims. The one with the long nose and crow feathers, that is the tengu. They were guardians of mountains and very clever, and also dangerous. The one that is green and looks like a turtle are kappa. They live in water and will drown you unless you give them their favorite food which is cucumber."

"Do all Japanese folklore beings want to kill you?" Harry asked and the team laughed.

"For the most part, one said, wearing an oni mask.

"Do yours not?" another asked.

"Well we have red caps," Harry mused. "They're small beings that live in places with lots of fighting. Their caps are red because they're stained with blood. Kelpies are horses that live in the water and will drown you. Hinkypunks try to trick people into bogs so they drown too. So you know what, maybe it's not that weird," Harry grinned as the others laughed more.

"Lots of folklore is an attempt to explain the difficult to explain," Akari said with amusement. "As well as impart lessons to people to avoid dangerous things. It is widely seen that many non-magical people's stories are responses to seeing magic and trying to rationalize it."

"That makes sense," Harry nodded.

"Not all want to kill you," Hinako smiled. She tapped her mask. "Kitsune are messengers for one of our kami. Most are either good or mischievous and as you know, our trickster foxes fall firmly on the mischievous side of things to different degrees. Though most seem to love you."

"They're great," Harry said as Hedwig snorted and rolled her eyes. "So are the other magical beings around too?"

"There are stories that some of the clans originate from them," Akari said. "Others claim to have met individuals of them but no, the major folklore monsters do not exist now. Perhaps they did at one point."

"We have our own magical creatures of course like our dragons, kirin, trickster foxes, and other kinds," one of the others said. "But oni and tengu and kappa and the others have always been a point of debate for our Department of Magical Beings and Creatures and other branches."

Eventually the demand for the stalls business waned. Akari had let Harry explore first and he wandered around for some time with Hedwig. It was a touch overwhelming but in a good way. He saw so many things and despite looking at the mask stall for a while, could not decide on one. Instead he bought plenty of small things that he knew the people back home would adore.

He returned to the stall and the majority of what they brought had been sold. Akari wanted to visit the shrine and make an offering for thanks and luck and Hinako saw some friends of hers. The others left too, some to explore and some to go home, and Harry offered to stay and watch the stall. He sat against the counter and continued to watch the hustle and bustle around him, enthralled by it all. Hedwig flapped off, seeing something that interested her, and Harry enjoyed the controlled chaos around him.

He eventually noticed a figure walking sedately down the lane. She had long black hair that went low to her waist and wore a pearl-white kimono. She carried a paper umbrella over her head and it looked like a mist clung to her. People did not seem to notice her at all, moving around her unconsciously while others shivered as she passed. Eventually she came to Akari's stall and she looked over. Her eyes were pale grey and they opened in surprise when she noticed Harry looking at her.

"Sorry," Harry said, flushing lightly and looking away. "Didn't mean to be rude. I just really liked your kimono and wanted to take a good look for my girlfriend. I bet she'd love it too."

"I take no offense." Her voice was cool as well and her English was lightly accented. She looked at him curiously. "You are not from Japan."

"No Ma'am," Harry said. "I'm from the United Kingdom."

"That is far away. What brings you here?" she asked, intrigued.

"To learn about Japanese cuisine and cooking," Harry said proudly.

She smiled, the barest lift at the corners of her lips. "A noble goal." She looked at the empty stall. "A pity that it seems you are no longer serving."

"We have a bit left if you don't mind waiting. I'm not as good as Chef and Hinako-San but I'll do my best."

The woman hesitated before nodding. "I do not mind waiting."

Harry nodded and got to work. He took out a piece of chicken and a piece of pork and got to work. By now, he was used to being watched while working and was not bothered by her at all. He turned the pork katsu into a sando and the chicken katsu into a don, working smoothly and carefully, wanting to protect Akari's reputation. He served them both to her with a smile. "Here we are, Morimoto-Sama's tonkatsu sando and tori katsudon."

Instead of taking them, the woman stood at the stall to eat. She let go of her umbrella and it floated beside her, still emanating the soft white cold mist. She took a careful bite of the sando before her eyes widened with delight. The next bite was less reserved and soon she was eating with gusto though her manners were still impeccable. In a short time, both box and bowl were empty, not even a grain of rice or a piece of cabbage was left.

"That was delicious," she said, her voice still cool yet warm as well. She looked at Harry appraisingly. "Well done."

"Thank you," Harry said proudly. "Morimoto-Sama is a great chef and teacher."

"A strong Clan," the woman nodded. She narrowed her eyes slightly and leaned in closer. Harry just managed to resist the urge to flinch back, feeling a considerable magical presence much like Dumbledore and others like him. He was used to their magic, but this woman's magic felt freezing cold and immensely strong. She leaned back and looked at him thoughtfully. "You have been blessed by snow as well. Perhaps that is why you can see and tolerate me so."

"Blessed by snow? Oh, maybe Hedwig? She's my snowy owl and my best friend." Harry scanned the bamboo grove. "She should be around her somewhere."

The woman smiled, a warmer expression. "Perhaps another time." She reached into a purse that hung from her wrist and took out some coins and put them on the counter top. After a moment, she removed a mask that hung from a strap that was tied to the sash around her waist. It looked plain at first, a simple oval shape that was white. When she put it on the counter, Harry got a better look at it. The white color was deeper and purer at a second glance, glinting in the lights of the lanterns. The eyes were blank and the mouth demure but it had an elegance to it that spoke from simplicity.

"Oh you don't have to pay or give me this," Harry protested. "Those were technically leftovers. I just wanted to make you something."

The woman's smile broadened. "It is good to show appreciation," she said. "And the mask is a gift from one to another." She bowed perfectly and Harry clumsily mimicked it. "My thanks to you, Harry Potter. Perhaps we will meet again one day." She walked away and a strange sound followed her. It was the sound of falling snow and tinkling icicles and it faded away slowly, long after she walked away.

Harry reached out to take the money and snatched his hand back, shaking it. The money was colder than ice, almost cold enough to burn, taking some time to warm. He gingerly picked up the mask and was happy to find that it was not as cold as the money, but it still felt pleasantly cold in his hands.

A loud bark got his attention and Hedwig landed on the counter. The owl peered at him closely before looking all around them, eyes narrowed.

"Everything okay?" Harry asked, concerned.

Hedwig turned back to him and bobbed her head before tilting it and barking at him questioningly.

"I'm fine," Harry said. "Had a last minute customer." He showed her the mask. "She gave this to me."

Hedwig looked at it closely before shaking a little, fluffing her feathers and then smoothing them. She climbed up his arm and head and plumped down, still looking about.

"Thank you for watching things." Akari returned followed by Hinako. "We can finish cleaning up and call it a night. It is getting late."

"Where did you get that?!" Hinako gasped, staring at the mask in Harry's hands.

"Oh there was a customer at the end. I made what was left for her and she gave me this after she paid." Harry looked at Akari and Hinako who stared at the mask with trepidation. "Is something wrong?"

"That is a yuki-onna mask," Hinako said, still staring at the mask. "No one makes those normally."

"A spirit of ice," Akari explained. "They are legendary figures. They roam the lands during winter, freezing the lost and leaving with lost children, or testing those for their strength and freezing the ones that fail. There are also legends of them having families with humans and their children having qualities of both."

"Oh, she did feel really cold," Harry said and Akari and Hinako blanched at that, staring at him with horror and surprise. "Explains the cold mist that fell from her umbrella. I thought that was just a neat charm for something."

He shrugged weakly at their continued staring. "She said she felt that I was also blessed by snow and that's why I could see her and wasn't bothered much. I said it's probably because of Hedwig."

Hedwig hooted proudly at that, wiggling happily on his head and tugging on his hair.

Akari and Hinako looked at each other for a moment. "You are blessed to have survived an encounter with one," Akari said with awe. "Or cursed in a way."

"Not the first time I've been told something like that," Harry said wryly. "She thought the food was really good and I said you're a great chef and teacher."

"I say that all the time," Hinako sniffed when Akari gave her a superior look.

As they cleaned up, Harry looked at the mask again. Hedwig was gathering errant pieces of paper and things for them and she stopped in front of him when she was done. He carefully put the mask on her for her and held a mirror up for her to look at. Hedwig nodded with regal grace and hooted smugly before flicking her head and the mask slid up to rest on her head easily.

"Suits you better," Harry smiled. As they all left the Hyakunin Yaji, Harry stopped at the gate, thinking he could hear falling snow and dropping icicles for a moment. With a shake of his head, he followed the others and they left the bamboo grove behind them.

-0-0-0-

odonnellzoo99 - That's why I like the Extended formats. It lets me dive all around the timeline without trying to fit the chapter neatly in at the time. Then it feels like it belongs and lets us meander around even more.

Hands Off MY Wolfie - Sometimes it's more fun to celebrate a random day then a day one normally does. It makes it feel even more special. That does sound like something Nicolas would do to be honest. Thanks for reading.

TheSphynx - Especially when it creates a lifelong friendship.

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Glad you liked it. Thank you and thanks for being around for so long.

l4w - Thank you, same to you.

poka - They're good characters and their relationship is so unique.

alix33 - It's fun researching cultural foods.

HoneyBear84 - Thank you.

tumshie - Hope you have a prosperous and happy year as well.

Lucy Elizabeth Dawson - Glad you liked it.