A Taste of Magic

Chapter 45: 45th Course - Moving On

Harry was feeling many complicated emotions at the moment.

It had been a very busy last few days and it was coming to an end. When school ended, Harry rode the Hogwarts Express back to London like one normally did at the end of the spring term. This time however, when he arrived at King's Cross, Dumbledore was waiting there for him to accompany him to the Dursleys. Vernon and Petunia had also been upset when they saw Dumbledore arrive and when they learned why, they were even more so.

The Dursleys were caught at a crossroads. For years they had claimed Harry was unwanted and a burden, though admittedly when Harry started cooking on the regular, those complaints have subsided. When Harry became the reason their social lives were vibrant and popular, they never said as much at all while somehow never thanking Harry for his efforts.

Now with Harry leaving them, they did not know how to react. They were upset and angry that they would not be throwing nearly as many dinner parties and the like, at least without Harry's cooking being the main attraction. On the other hand, they were glad to not have Harry around and be 'responsible' for him.

After hearing that they already had planned for a dinner party, Harry said he would be willing to stay and cook for it one last time. A part of him was still waiting for that appreciation, that genuine happiness he so desperately craved. No matter how hard he tried to, despite all he had endured all these years, there was still a tiny ember that smoldered deep in his core hoping to be accepted by the Dursleys, to be thanked for his efforts, to be appreciated.

As the years passed, after attending Hogwarts, it was harder to do what he did for them like he used to. Their responses were all he knew and he saw it as the norm. Lavender and the others have slowly broken that mindset of his, showing him true kindness and appreciation and affection. He had been terrified last year, worried that he would resent the one thing he truly enjoyed. Thankfully that had not been the case. He knew that he deserved more, to know what was right. Yet there was that tiny little ember that continued to burn, still hoping.

The Dursley's happiness that he was willing to do one more catering for them had been tempered by horror when Dumbledore said he would attend. At first they said they would refuse him but when Dumbledore said he was perfectly willing to sit in the back garden and wait, in his finest wizarding robes, they begrudgingly allowed him to come as a guest.

On the day of the party, even Harry had been impressed when Dumbledore arrived. Dumbledore was dressed in a very smartly cut suit and it was charcoal grey. His tie was his concession to vibrancy, a very deep plum color and he had a lapel pin that surreptitiously shifted colors throughout the evening. His hair appeared short and neatly trimmed and his beard was groomed and also neat. Dumbledore told Harry that he made use of some of Drake's glamour and styling charms to great effect.

Harry put his heart and soul into his cooking that day. He made all the favorites for the Dursleys: steak, roast chicken, perfectly roasted vegetables, as well as making dumplings and a wellington, things he learned and perfected at school. A large cake and trifle were for pudding and all the guests had enjoyed it heartily.

Dumbledore had amused himself by informing all the guests that he was Harry's Headmaster, which was true, and told everyone that Harry had received some excellent opportunities that summer to further his knowledge and abilities, which was also true. This infuriated the Dursleys because they had told the guests they did not know why Harry was 'abandoning' them and had to swallow a bit of pride when Dumbledore helpfully 'informed' everyone the true reason. All the guests who had come to these parties before offered their congratulations and well-wishes to Harry, something that was very new to him and he enjoyed.