Harry Potter The Life Of A Chef

"Okay, I'll be the first to admit that it was weird for you to be friends with Potter but I'm so happy you did," Millicent said as they made their way back to the Slytherin common room in the dungeons. "That Bolognese was delicious and the biscuits were too."

"And you got to be friendly with Brown and Patil," Pansy said with a soft smile.

"Yeah." Millicent's voice was equally soft. "They were really nice. At first I thought they'd be kinda… ditzy and rude you know? Mean in a different way but they weren't. When they were asking me fabric questions and stuff, they weren't judging me. They actually were interested and nice."

"I was surprised too, the first time I interacted with them. They're refreshingly… open."

"Why'd you glare at Patil by the way?"

Pansy blushed. "Harry told me that she thought I had ill motive for befriending him."

"Oh, well, can't really blame her for thinking that," Millicent said with a small shrug.

"I suppose not," Pansy sighed. "Harry doesn't think so, well, he asked me and seemed to believe me when I said I wasn't planning something."

Millicent looked at her. "That's good," she said eventually. "If you told me we'd ever willingly spend time with other Houses and actually enjoy it, I'd say you'd be wrong. But look at us tonight."

"It was very enjoyable," Pansy agreed. "I even found Granger less annoying."

"Me too," Millicent snickered.

They walked on and the normally chillier air in the depths of the castle did not feel quite so cold.

....

"Ah Nicolas, good to see you."

The man shook Dumbledore's hand energetically. He was undeniably old, yet the way he held himself and acted made him seem somehow younger than the obviously wizened Dumbledore. He had a very short and neat beard and goatee, trim grey and black hair, and bright blue eyes. "Albus, good to see you as well. The years have been kind to you."

Dumbledore chuckled richly. "Not as kind as you."

"Well I have the benefit of some aid in that regard," Nicolas Flamel smiled. "And speaking of." He held out his hand and took the red stone from Dumbledore. It pulsed in his hand, feeling warm and cool at the same time. "Did it help with your experimentation?"

"It is what we assumed; the power is a bit too robust for the rituals I had in mind."

"Pity. Well when I have some free time, perhaps we can work together and create a powered stone that would fit your needs and not exceed them."

"I would enjoy that, thank you. I will let you know my schedule since I assume an undertaking would require some undivided attention. How is Perenelle? I am surprised she did not accompany you."

"She's having fun in Africa at the moment," Nicolas smiled. "She's in the middle of something or else she would be here too. You know she enjoys needling you over something. Though she is in the process of playing matchmaker I do believe."

"Now that is assistance I do not want," Dumbledore laughed.

"What, do you not trust my wife's tastes?" Nicolas asked mildly.

"I am more wary over her sense of decorum," Dumbledore snorted.

"Well she doesn't have one," Nicolas laughed. "Neither do I honestly. Got rid of them many decades ago. Pesky things, gets in the way of proper fun. You should try and do the same."

"I am an Englishman," Dumbledore smiled.

"Well no need to admit it out loud," Nicolas teased and the two men laughed some more. "How are things here? The school year is over, yes?"

"Just about. The major tests are done and it is mostly the clean-up and winding down time of the year," Dumbledore said. "We have a fine class of graduates and the year has been fairly quiet otherwise."

"That is good. I spent some time visiting Maxime a few months ago. She was getting her lot ready for this year's Fair."

"Oh wonderful. I do hope that Hogwarts can attend that soon," Dumbledore said wistfully. "It has been too long since we have."

"It is a pity," Nicolas said sympathetically. "But you have done well in bringing up Hogwarts once more. Your deeds are not going unnoticed."

"Thank you for saying that, it makes me feel better."

"I still have the ear of the committee. I would be more than happy to say a word or two."

.....

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