My Last Laugh (A Hogwarts Story)

Chapter Eleven: Pizza

3 months later

"Why is there never any pizza at the feasts?" I ask Cedric as we were heading towards the great hall for dinner.

"What's pizza?" Cedric asks. I look at him in disbelief.

"You've got to be joking." I say as Cedric shakes his head. "Pizza is heaven for your tastebuds."

"Well then, I must try it. To the kitchens." Cedric states, running off.

"Ced, wait up." I call while chasing him.

"Try and catch me Liz." He calls back. Liz is all he called me these days and, strangely, it sounded right coming from him, in a similar way as Liam.

I catch up to Cedric and he is standing in front of a large tapestry of fruit. He reaches up and tickles a pear and the tapestry moves to reveal a door.

Through the door are the kitchens. House elves are have just finishes preparing tonight's feast.

A group come over to me and Cedric and ask us what we would like.

"Some yeast, flour, water, salt, sugar, a mixing bowl, wooden spoon and some bench space." I say and they lead us over to a spare bench.

Soon all the ingredients are all in front of me and I thank the elves.

I combine the sugar, yeast and water in a jug and set it aside. Next i add some flour and salt to the bowl.

"Where did you learn to cook?" Cedric asks as I wait for the yeast.

"My grandma taught me when I was little. My favourite thing to make was pizzas, it still is." I say, smiling at the memory of me and grandma in the kitchen.

Soon the yeast is done and I pour tout into the flour. After about 5 mins of mixing, I knead the dough and put it back into the bowl to rise.

"So, what do you want on your pizza Ced? I ask.

"Well, what do you usually have on a pizza?" He replies.

"I have a better idea. Just eat what I have." I sigh, not really wanting to go trough this.

"Sounds good to me." Cedric says as I get the dough, that has nicely risen, out.

I quickly stretch the dough into a circle while Cedric watches in amazement.

"Now it's your turn." I state, throwing him a ball of dough.

He catches it and tries to stretch out the dough as I had. He manages to get the hang of it and after a couple minutes he had an even circle.

Meanwhile, I had rolled out another base and collected the toppings. I pass him the pizza sauce and a spoon. I take a couple of large spoonfuls and spread them out with the back of my spoon.

Cedric does the same with his and moves onto the toppings. We put on ham, pineapple and cheese onto two of the pizzas. On the other i put sliced banana, honey, cinnamon and sugar.All three pizzas go into the oven.

"So how long will they take?" Cedric asks me.

"About 20 minutes." I say going to clean up but finding the bench spotless. Thank god for house elves.

20 mins later and the kitchen is filled with a mouth-watering smell. I open the oven to 3 perfectly cooked pizzas.

I take them out and cut them up.

"Bon appetite." I say placing a couple slices on Cedrics plate.

He takes a bite and I hear a moan is satifaction. I smile and take a bite of my own pizza.

"This is the best thing I have ever tasted." Cedric says through mouthfuls of pizza.

"Now all I have to do is introduce you to tv and the internet and you will be the perfect muggle."

"Tv? Internet? Are they secret clubs or something?" Cedric says.

"No, but there a story for another day. What are you doing for Christmas?"

"Probably going home. You?"

"Well, I can't exactly go home, I'd probably never be allowed back. But I need to see Liam. I've hardly ever gone 3 days without him, let alone 3 months." I say, looking at a picture I carry round everywhere with me.

"Them that settles it. You can come stay with me for Christmas. I'm sure my parents will be happy to have you." Cedric states, smiling. "We can go visit Liam as well, I can't wait to meet him."

"Thanks for the offers ced, but you better ask your parents first."

"Yes, I'll go do that now. Come on Liz." Cedric says running out of the kitchens.

I follow him laughing. By the certainty in his voice, he was positive his parents would say yes. For the first time since I was eight, I looked forward to Christmas.