Tasty Thoughts

Hors d'oeuvre - lamb kidneys - part 1

When Dr. Lecter came to a stop in front of a stately and chic-looking house, Harry had to do his best not to self-consciously fidget at the hem of his much too baggy shirt. The house was at least as imposing as Grimmauld Place, in fact, Harry guessed it was bigger than his Godfather's house- even without the aid of magic. The front door was artfully lit, making the woodwork look even more exquisite. The doctor, however, seemed oblivious to the beautiful house and gracefully swung open the front door. "Please come in, Mr. Potter."

Harry involuntarily stared at his worn-out sneakers, wondering if he should leave them by the door. He almost didn't dare to step into this beautiful house on his filthy soles, and not for the first time hated his family for all the cast-offs he had received from Dudley. Dr. Lecter, however, seemed to have noticed his embarrassment and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Keep your shoes on, Mr. Potter, I'm a big believer in wearing footwear when cooking. Tragic accidents could easily happen when a sharpened knife falls on a bare foot. It only takes a second for an accident to occur, no matter how well you watch your cutting technique."

Harry nodded and followed the man. Soon they arrived in a large kitchen with cookware and knives gleaming, all surfaces clean and tidy. It was in stark contrast to all the other kitchens Harry had seen in his life. His aunt and uncle's kitchen was neat but made of the cheapest materials. The magical kitchens he had seen, which were run by Mrs. Weasley, or like Hogwarts's, had been chaotic, busy, and messy. It was clear that Dr. Lecter liked to use this space and was careful with his belongings.

"Impressive," was a statement Harry couldn't suppress. "Is this house yours?"

Hannibal opened a closet and pulled out two white aprons. He handed one to Harry, to which he quickly put his own on with practiced movements. The doctor then began to methodically wash his hands as he looked around with a smile.

"I was lucky that the residents of this house unexpectedly went elsewhere to spend their time. I am fortunate to be able to financially bear such burdens, which enabled me to take advantage of this opportunity immediately. When I return to Baltimore, I can choose to keep this property and rent it out- it's never a bad idea to invest in real estate," Hannibal said without bragging. His tone was neutral, even a little humble, which made this explanation sound very different from when the Malfoys had uttered it.

The doctor gestured to the sink as he himself walked to the large refrigerator and opened it. Harry did not miss the subtle command and he washed his hands dutifully. However, he continued to follow the doctor's movements out of the corner of his eye- an act that had become unnoticed typical over the past two years.

The doctor pulled out all sorts of vegetables, along with color-coordinated cutting boards. Two white bins emerged from the refrigerator, which, in Harry's best guess, contained meat. The man said nothing but prepared for the next meal with swift and precise movements. When Harry finished washing his hands, he couldn't control his curiosity anymore and came to stand next to Hannibal.

"Can I help you with something?" he asked, looking around Hannibal with great interest.

The older man laughed softly and gestured to the onions lying by a cutting board. "You would be a great help to me if you cut the onions into small cubes, Mr. Potter. Minced, if you will. I will then be able to make further preparations for making our evening meal."

Harry nodded and smiled on hearing the easy one and quickly walked over to the cutting board. "I'll be able to do that, Dr. Lecter."

"My friends call me Hannibal," said the doctor without skipping a beat.

Harry reacted just as quickly and raised a teasing eyebrow. "Are we friends, Doctor?"

Hannibal spread demonstratively and grinned widely. "I don't allow just anyone into my kitchen, Mr. Potter. Only very good acquaintances and friends."