A Taste of Magic

Chapter 19: 19th Course - Moons and Maladies

"Hi Harry."

"Hi Sue." He finished writing his sentence, and looked up when Sue slid into the chair opposite from him. "What's up?"

"I was wondering if we could do something for our next club or if we can do something out of it." Sue tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming up and I want to do something for it."

"Sure, what's that?" Harry asked, intrigued.

"It's an important holiday in my family and culture," Sue explained. "It's celebrated during the biggest full moon of the year and people make offerings to it for all sorts of reasons. One of the most important parts of it is for family to come together and have a good meal together for prosperity and good luck. We weren't able to do it last year because of school but when Padma told me you were able to make curry without having made it before, I wanted to ask if we can do it."

"I'd love to try," Harry said softly. "It's important like you said and a tradition, right?"

Sue nodded. "There's a lot of traditional foods you make and eat with it but I don't really know how to make them. But there is one thing we could make that I'm pretty familiar with and with the recipe, I'm sure you and I can figure it out together like you and the Patils did."

"I'm game." His smile joined Sue's. "What is it?"

"Dumplings," Sue said happily.

"Oh I've seen them and have always wanted to try and make them!" He quailed at Madam Pince's irritated hiss from the front of the library. "Sorry!" he said in a loud whisper. "I've seen them and have always wanted to try and make them," he whispered to a giggling Sue.

"Great!" she said quietly but enthusiastically. "I'll write home for the exact recipe for the dumpling wrappers but I've made them too so it'll be good. Here's a list of things for the filling and I'll help pay for them of course."

Harry looked over the list. "We can get most of that stuff through Hogwarts but that other stuff we'll need to order. I'll go to Hedwig after I finish my essay and we can see about getting them."

"I'll ask home for stuff too. Oh I'm so excited!" Sue said happily.

-0-

"Hmm, unfortunately I have prior commitments that night," Flitwick said, "but I have no problem with you using the clubroom. You've proved yourself and I trust you." He smiled at Harry's obvious pleasure. "The usual caveats apply of course."

"Be careful and make sure you have your fair share," Harry said happily.

"Indeed!" He hesitated. "May I ask you for a favor, however?"

"Of course, Professor. You've done so much for us, I'd be happy to," Harry said seriously.

Flitwick smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Harry. Rest assured that I do what I do out of genuine enjoyment and I ask you for this not out of recompense, but I believe in you and trust you. One of my firsties is having a spot of trouble fitting in." He frowned a little. "In fact, I suspect there's been some bullying."

"That's not good," Harry said. "Why is she being bullied?"

"She means well but she's a bit…odd," Flitwick said. "She's had a tougher upbringing and I do hate phrasing it so, you might be able to relate a bit." He noticed Harry's alarm and that made him grow concerned for more than a moment. "As in she lost her mother at a young age."