A Feast with a Difference

The Feast with a Difference

"So, what do you say we nip down to the kitchens before dinner tonight?" asked Ron Weasley quickly. He had just read the sign posted on the Gryffindor notice board. It said:

Gryffindors: Tonight is a celebration of foods from different cultures in the great hall. There will be no English food served, but a wide variety of Italian, Indian, Thai, Chinese etc. will. Any students wishing to not precipitate (and I hope no Gryffindors will turn down this opportunity) may receive a packed dinner from the Charms classroom at 7pm.

Prof. McGonagall

"Ron," began Hermione in a harsh voice, "I want to go. I miss Chinese food; they never serve it here. You'll like it. We're going," she added with a steely look in her eyes.

"Besides Ron, Italian, that means pizza," added Harry. Ron looked cheered up by this, but Hermione threw Harry a disgruntled glance. Harry glared back as if to say - what? Hermione looked back, clearly meaning, 'you know what'.

"Hate to break up the staring match, but can you guys repeat that in English?" asked Ron. He'd been watching the two 'talking'.

"It doesn't matter," said Hermione quietly. "I've got Arithmancy - see you later." She picked up her wand and quill, stuffed them in her bag and left the tower.

"What were you guys on about? It's not like Hermione to back down..." Harry didn't bother to answer. Ron had said it half to himself anyway, and they had to get to Divination.

"So glad you could join us, Mister's Potter and Weasley," said a misty but obviously annoyed voice. (If that's possible.) Yes, Harry and Ron had just reached Divination, 10 minutes late.

"Sorry, Professor," they wheezed and sat down in two of the comfortable armchairs.

That day they were studying telepathy, and trying to read each other's minds. Ron and Harry were both exceptionally good at this, but then, 'This is stupid' wasn't too hard to guess after the first eight times.

"Your homework is to continue reaching into people minds, practise and this difficult skill will become second nature," said Trelawney. "Practise on those you don't know to achieve a wider talent, as well as those that are close to you. Try long distance if you wish to further this art. You may go..."

As soon as the words had floated out of her mouth, Ron swept his books, quills and parchment off their desk into his bag, hoisted it onto his should and departed the classroom at high speed. A minute later Harry weaved his way around Lavender and Parvati who were lingering so they could talk with their favourite professor, and clambered rather awkwardly down the silver ladder. Surprisingly, Ron wasn't waiting for him like he had suspected, and after a moment's hesitation he headed towards the Arithmancy classroom, hoping to catch Hermione so they could go to Defence Against the Dark Arts together.

It was 6 o'clock in the evening and Ron was still missing. He had attended DADA, but whisked out of the classroom again before either Harry or Hermione could ask where he was off to. A quick 'after lessons' search of the Quidditch field, boy's dormitories and toilets and the kitchens proved fruitless, and so Harry and Hermione were alone by the fire, Hermione raking a brush through her hair in an attempt to tame it. Harry was leafing through 'Quidditch through the Ages' yet again, and Hermione had 'Advanced Arithmancy' balanced precariously on her lap.

"Where's you third wheel?" asked a friendly voice. It was Fred, surprisingly without George.

"No idea," replied Hermione without looking up.

"Well, if I'm not wanted..."

"Oh, don't be silly Fred. Sit down," amended Hermione closing her book. Harry copied her.

"That's more like it. You going to the feast?" Fred asked.

"Why?" replied Harry suspiciously. "You're not going to spike the food are you?"

"That's a great idea, but no. Just wondered. I'm taking Angelina."

"Taking Angelina?" asked Harry.

"Yeah - as in a date. Why don't you two go together? Especially since Ronniekins isn't here to make you blush..."

"I don't think they need Ron," came a familiar voice. It was George. "I'm going with Katie, and by the way if we put you near some wood I think it would ignite." Sure enough, both Hermione and Harry were beet red and avoiding each other's eyes.

"We'll just go as friends," said Harry, trying to keep his voice steady whilst thinking of anything but Hermione. "Ron too if we ever find him."

"Yeah, uh, maybe we ought to go, it's 6:50 already," stuttered Hermione. Harry's head whisked round and he nodded. "We'll see you guys later," she added in the general direction of the twins, before making her way purposefully towards the portrait hole. Harry looked after her before shrugging to himself and copying. He seemed to be doing a lot of that today.

The Great Hall was already very crowded with students and teachers when Harry and Hermione stepped through the doors. Some seemed excited, while others looked a little lost. With a smile, Hermione noted that mainly the Muggleborn students looked at ease - maybe muggles had a more cultured upbringing.

"What do you want to eat, then?" asked Harry, looking round at the crowd and wondering where the food was. Suddenly, Dobby popped up in front of them and handed both of them a map. On it the four Hogwarts tables were drawn, and the types of foods were labelled in the respective places.

"Good day, Mr Potter, Miss Granger. I have not seen you for a long time!" he squeaked.

"Yeah, not been feeling hungry between meals!" joked Harry. "You haven't seen Ron have you?"

"Mr Potter's Wheezy is over there, sir!" cried Dobby, pointing with a long thin finger.

"Thanks Dobby," said Harry.

"Yeah, see you later," added Hermione. The two consulted the map, and found Ron to be sitting at the table marked 'Indian'.

"Indian? I though he wanted pizza," mumbled Hermione to herself, but the two made their way over to the Hufflepuff table anyway. Sure enough, there sat Ron, his plate pled high with Aloo saag, rogan josh, chicken korma, naan breads and - lime pickle!" Hermione stared at the unmistakable blob of very hot sauce Ron was spreading rather generously onto his naan.

"Ron, that's lime pickle! It'll blow your head off!" she cried, ducking under the table and re-emerging the other side.

"I know. It's great - I love Indian food!" Hermione just gaped at Ron as he took an enormous bite of his naan and swallowed, not even reaching for his water glass. Actually - he didn't have a water glass. Hermione slipped down next to Ron and picked up a plate, spooning a small portion of rice and chicken korma onto it, and taking a naan for herself. Harry looked over at the Italian table wistfully and plopped down on the other side of Ron, taking some curry himself.

Half an hour later, the three were seated at the Chinese table. They had been round every table, taking small portions of each food before settling at the Chinese table, where Hermione forced down some sweet and sour chicken. Ron was still whining about Indian food, so Hermione let him go and grab another plate, which he brought back to the table they were sitting at. Harry was nibbling at another slice of pizza and Hermione was half-heartedly spooning some more sweet and sour sauce onto her plate.

"You know what this means, right Ron?" she asked.

"Mum's going to have to extend her repertoire?"

"No. It means I was right."