SPLITAPARTS: lessons in love ✔️

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner - Part One

Cassie and Sirius had been in the basement kitchen of his parents' home for most of the afternoon. Occasionally, Sirius's brother Regulus wandered in to see how the preparations were coming along.

"I must say, this all smells wonderful. You've quite the knack for this Sirius, truly."

"Well, we are making enough for everyone. I mean, there has got to be a ton of food here," Cassie said.

Sirius chuckled. "Not quite a ton, but almost."

"Let me know when you want the table set—I'll have Kreature, our house elf—"

"No need, I can do it," Cassie said.

"We have a house elf at your disposal—"

"Thank you, I know. I can do it, really. I won't mess it up." She smiled.

Regulus gazed at her thoughtfully. "You really were raised muggle, weren't you?"

"Yeah, so?"

Sirius cast a sideways glance in the direction of his brother. "He just finds it a bit odd, just like I do, is all. Ain't that right, Reg?"

"Yes, I reckon so," Regulus replied quietly. "Don't you have an elf at home?"

"My mother does, but my dad doesn't—well, let's just say that Uta kind of freaks him out. You know?"

"No, I don't," he replied shrugging his shoulders.

Sirius was impressed with Regulus' curiosity. Still, somewhere in the back of his mind, he thought that his parents had sent him in to spy on them or to glean information.

"Sirius, will you be joining them?"

"No, this is a father-daughter quest, isn't that right, Dee?"

"Yup." She poured the sugar into the hot water to make simple syrup for the iced tea.

"What's that going to be?" He pointed at the concoction she was preparing. The way she was measuring the sugar to water reminded him of potions class.

"Iced tea," she replied.

"What? You're going to drink cold, sweetened tea?"

"Yeah. What's wrong with that?"

"Well if you please, that's—that's—"

"Careful Reg," Sirius teased, a sly grin playing across his handsome features.

"No, let him finish—it's what?"

"Quite frankly, it's an abomination! You can't serve his Lordship THAT!"

"Would you rather he drink white milk with his supper?"

Sirius laughed out loud as he began to collect de-glazed drippings for his sauce with a large spoon.

"Well, no—but—I'm only trying to save you embarrassment, Cassiopeia."

"Well, the deal was to dine on my favorite foods, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, this is my favorite beverage. If he wants a red wine or something else, we brought some—just in case."

Regulus' entire body turned to face his brother. "You're not going to serve any of the wines from our cellar?"

"Nope. This is about Dee and her father and no one else. I'll not allow anyone else to curry favor by selecting a suitable anything just for the sake of appeasing the likes of him. He can accept her as she is, or not. Do you understand? That's what this is really about, Reg."