A Taste of Magic

Chapter 85: 85th Course - Into the Depths

"There, finished." Lavender set her essay to one side with a sigh of relief. "Thanks for doing this, Harry."

"Of course," Harry smiled. "I mean, seeing my friends and cooking is such a hardship normally," he said with an insincere expression that made the others laugh. Despite having already done his summer work early in the summer, he had suggested having people over who have yet to finish it so they could all work on it together. A few friends took him up on that and there was a small group of people eating and doing work together with plenty of time spent laughing and not doing said work.

"And now we still have several weeks of not doing anything before school starts officially," Parvati said smugly.

"Speak for yourself, I already started reviewing for O.W.L.s," Hermione snorted.

"That's a whole other standard of insanity," Parvati sniffed. "Only people like you and Padma have done that."

"I bet Harry has," Hermione protested.

"No, don't say that's true!" Parvati gasped.

"Technically I haven't," Harry said, making Parvati beam and Hermione sigh. "I did learn a lot about magic when I was in France though. Grandmother and Grandfather make it really interesting though."

"Well I guess that's fair," Parvati conceded. "They must know a lot."

Harry nodded. "It's intimidating how much they know. But they're really good at explaining things sometimes. Grandmother Penny is a good teacher. Grandfather Nicky sometimes takes for granted what he thinks is 'common knowledge' but when he has to teach something out, he's good at it too."

"Did they teach you how to make crepes?" Padma asked, watching him.

"They took me to their favorite creperie and the owners were very nice and taught me," Harry said. He poured a thin layer of batter onto a hot skillet that he had brushed with oil moments ago. He swirled it slowly, and watched the batter cook. When the edges lifted slightly and the surface was golden brown, he flipped the crepe with a thin spatula and cooked the other side. Deftly, he lifted it out onto the board and filled it with whipped cream and sliced bananas and strawberries before rolling it gently. He dusted it with a little confectioner's sugar and handed it to an eager Padma.

"Mmm! So good," Padma said after she sliced herself a bite of the sweet and creamy and fruity crepe. "Better than Fleur's!"

"Aww thanks," Harry grinned.

"You really learned a lot of new cooking stuff this summer," Hermione said admiringly.

"These and consommé are the big ones," Harry nodded, already making another. "And some more traditional goblin things. It's been nice."

"I really like savory crepes," Pansy said, munching on her ham and mushroom one. Harry had filled it with cheese, thinly sliced ham, and sauteed mushrooms. "I like the sweet ones too. I guess I like all crepes," she laughed.

"I made mille crepe earlier too," Harry said as he filled the newest one with sliced bananas and dollops of Nutella and whipped cream. He handed it to Lavender. "That's a cake made with lots of crepes and layers of cream in between. It's chilling in the icebox right now."

"We're really going to need an exercise regime," Sue sighed.

"It'll be worth it," Lavender said, chewing and smiling as she ate her crepe.