"No, that was not a Burrito. For one things, Burritos shouldn't explode."
Harry sighed. "Look, I threw it away when I felt it go critical. And the only people who got hit were the two Weasley brothers."
She stood taller. "SEE!? I saw them talking to you, they were probably scared for life."
He shook his head. "They wanted the recipe." Hermione's face went white. "Oh Merlin, it can not be made again. Never again."
Padma quickly ran interception. "Hey, there's class! Bet we get all kinds of fun homework!" It was like a switch. Her eyes cleared, fists relaxed, and the book in her hand might live through the trauma. "That sounds... very nice. Soothing. Maybe I can write an essay."
Padma grinned. "Well, if you need a snack just ask us."
Harry quickly opened the greenhouse and ran inside. He did NOT want to be a part of that conversation anymore.
Professor Sprout looked like a bit like a Turnip. Happy though. Being in her greenhouse meant that the sun was optional, as her smiles lit the place and made it feel like home.
This class was with Gryffindor, so Susan and Hannah would have to meet up later. At the moment, the teacher was grouping up everyone into sets of three. Terry and Hermione had joined a fairly loud boy with red hair... probably a Weasley. Harry felt that Hermione was still not entirely happy with his breakfast choice at this point. He would have to develop that project separately if he wanted her to not have a heart attack. Still, a future of one handed foods awaited Harry, and experimentation was the FUN way to make stuff. Dangerous as hell most of the time, but what wasn't?
Padma stuck by him though. Always nice to have a fellow food lover on the team.
The new kid was a cub though. The blond boy seemed... fragile.
Harry gave a grin. "Lo! I'm Harry Potter, and this is my friend Padma Patil." Padma gave a smile and a small wave.
He seemed hesitant. "H.. Hi. I'm Neville Longbottom." He seemed to have frozen up with horror at the idea of saying anything else.
Harry gave him a firm pat on the back, ignoring his reactions. "Good to meet you, Neville. You don't happen to like strange foods for breakfast, do you?"
In the background Harry thought he heard someone giving a stressed whimper. Probably the wind.
Neville gave a hesitant look. "Well, I... I once filled a donut with eggs." God the boy needed to have more confidence. Harry wasn't sure he could convince someone the world had floors.
He grinned. "Excellent! I like an Idea man." He turned to Padma. "Donut experimentation just made it on onto our new food experiment list." He leaned in. "Between you and me, there is significant resistance from certain people when it comes to pushing the boundaries of cuisine."
Oh yeah, that sound was most certainly Hermione. And it sounded like Terry was trying to distract her from her breakfast woes by trying to convince her that a pop quiz was possible on the first day. Neville hesitated. "Are... are you messing with that girl?"
He grinned, deviousness in his eyes. "I was at first, but now it is just too fun. Not to mention that Burrito turned out MUCH better than I thought it would."
The boy nodded. "Some landed on me. Once you get past the hot sauce and mayonnaise, I thought it was pretty nice."
Padma and Harry stared at the boy slowly turning red. Harry turned and gave Padma a serious stare. "I want to keep him." Turning back. "I am keeping you. You are now my friend. Show up in the library later."
Class happened at this point, but Harry could care less. He left Wisdom recording it as he and Wrath discussed future food projects. With TWO food lovers, the possibilities are endless.
Terry just groaned again. "Hermione, I am sure it was a bad choice, but really... how many people can take random breakfast items and make an explosive?"
She continued her grumbling. "Yes I thought that was amazing and all. But he shared it with Padma FIRST and... uh. I." She quickly turned back to class. "So, plants. Plants are interesting."
Terry grinned at the girl who was turning into a tomato. "Yep. Very."
One apology later (Which confused Harry almost as much as watching Terry giggle during it), Harry and friends moved to the Library. Library Quarters? LQ? Whatever they were going to call it, the Magic research room.
They talked about Herbology a bit, and even yelled a bit when Hermione found out that Harry had spent a good chunk of the time trying to design donuts filled with scrambled eggs and vinegar. Apparently he and Padma had lucked out, since the red haired boy (Who WAS a Weasley, named Ron) was less than perfect.
Somehow Ron had insulted BOTH partners AND gotten detention in the first four minutes of class.
Neither Terry nor Hermione would tell what he said.
Still the class had been straight forward. What they would cover, how to protect one's self. Apparently there was even an optional elective about how to protect others from fresh fruit.
Magical food was apparently dangerous to everyone at some point.
Harry had considered just inviting Neville along, but the boy seemed overwhelmed by crowds and he didn't want him to feel pushed into being a friend. At least the option was given. He was not sure WHY he knew when people could and could not be trusted. It had to do with the way their magic felt, the way they moved, and breathing habits. Neville felt like a good person, just like his other friends.
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