Summary: Harry has always liked cooking, but it wasn't until he met his new neighbor that he loved cooking. He taught him the magic of being a chef and the magic of making your own family. Even after learning he was a wizard, cooking was still his first love and passion. Then one night, while helping cook in a restaurant, Harry met the Headmaster of a prestigious cooking school, and got in.
Rating: K+
Word Count: 73,918
Status: Ongoing
Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13655236/1/The-Magic-of-Cooking
Chapter 1: The beginning of the love of food
In a perfectly normal (boring) neighborhood in the town of Surrey, in the back yard of 4 Privet Drive, little Harry Potter slowly peaked his head over the shrubs to peer into the backyard of the new neighbor. The house just behind his aunt and uncle's house had been bought over a month ago and Harry and seen a lot of people coming and going with tools and building equipment. Harry was curious about why they had built a kitchen on the back porch. As far as he knew no one had a kitchen in the back yard… and Harry would have heard because his Aunt Petunia loved to gossip. Someone doing something so different would have been all the girls Petunia had tea with would have talked about.
Little Harry watched the neighbor cut, dice, whisk, and simmer a delicious smelling meal in their brand-new backyard kitchen. Harry had never seen anyone move the way they did. There was no hesitation in their movement as they cooked their meal. They moved as if they knew exactly where everything was and what they needed to do. He almost didn't need to look at what he was doing, he was so confident and efficient in his movements. Harry did not see any papers or books that would have been a recipe, and with all the new and unknown items being used Harry assumed some instructions would be needed.
While Harry was made to cook some of the meals by his Aunt Petunia, they were simple and did not really have any special instructions. He had been made to watch the bacon, cook the eggs, and toast just that morning, which did not really use any of the interesting items the man was using. Harry was rather curious as to what he was cooking, and all of the new and interesting things he was using. It smelled really good and, what little he could see, looked really yummy too. Despite having learned well not to ask questions from his relatives, little Harry desperately wanted to know what the new neighbor was doing.
"Hello little one. Would you like to come over and see what I am doing?" asked the neighbor.
Harry startled; he did not know he had been seen by him. The man had not even looked over in his direction! "I am not supposed to talk to strangers." That is what his daycare teachers had told his class, and his aunt would say that to Dudley too.
"Haha, you have me there little one. Well my name is Lucas Prince and I am a professional chef. You may call me Lucas. That means I cook for people as my job. What is your name little one?"
Harry quietly contemplated the stranger. He was a tall man with short brown hair and warm honey colored eyes. He had a warm and happy smile, which transformed his whole face to a welcoming and safe vision to Harry. "My Auntie and Uncle call me freak or boy, but the teacher called me Harry and I am four years old."
Harry watched as the smile on Lucas' face seem to fall and turn a little sad. "Well I like the name Harry so I will call you Harry. Four years old huh… you look a little big to be four. Are you a giant? Since we are no longer strangers would you like to come on over?" Lucas waved his hand in a 'come on over' motion.
Harry gave a little smile, and giggle, as he shook his head. "I'm not a giant. I'm almost five. My birthday is at the end of July. I would like to know what you are doing. It smells really good!"
Harry quickly made his way around the shrubs and into Lucas' backyard. He slowed down just before reaching the outdoor kitchen counter and tried to peer into the pan, "What are you making Mr. Lucas? I have never seen some of the things you are using in the store. Are they special items?"
Lucas gave a small chuckle, "Ah… that makes much more sense. I was worried there for a second. I don't know how to fend off a giant. Some of these ingredients are not commonly found in your normal grocery store but can be found in some of the more specialty grocery stores. The ones that cater to ethnic cooking. I decided I would like to have a spicy curry for lunch and so that is what I am making. Would you like to try some?"
Harry was surprised, Aunt Petunia never let him try any of the fancy dishes she made or got in restaurants. He was excited, he really wanted to try the yummy smelling food. "Could I please? I have never had curry before. What is it?"
"Of course you may try it! I always need new opinions on the flavors and new dishes I love to make. Curry is a group of cuisine that originates from India and uses a lot of different spices. This one is on the spicy side of the spectrum and contains chicken. Here, try a bite." As Lucas says this, he spoons some of the rice and curry dish into a small bowl and hands the bowl and spoon to Harry.
Harry takes the bowl and spoon and sniffs the dish. He gives a little sneeze as the spices in the curry, many of which he has never smelled before, tickles his nose. Harry blushes bright red and fearfully looks up at Lucas, worried he might have offended the kind man.
Lucas laughs, "Yeah, that can happen sometimes. Like I said, this dish is spicy, and the spices used can tickle the nose. Give it a taste, but maybe have more rice and less curry just incase it is too spicy for you."
With a small smile, Harry follows Lucas' advice and tastes his first bite of curry. Harry's eye widen as his mouth and his whole body warms a little from the spice. The rice was warm and fluffy, the chicken was juicy and soft, and the sauce tasted really good. "This is really good! It is warming up my whole body! How is it doing that? Is this…" Harry looks around and then whispers, "… is this magic?"
Lucas lets out a loud and happy laugh as he dishes up his own meal and moves to sit at the table, "That is exactly what it is young Harry! The magic of food. Cooking is the ability to put individual and different ingredients together in different combinations and create so many different and exciting dishes. There are lots of possibilities and they can all be made to fit a particular feeling, location, season, or taste. You can make someone remember a fond memory, comfort them during a sad time, or cause them to feel joy all with your food. That is the magic of food and cooking."
Eyes wide and gleaming with excitement Harry whispers, "Wow… that is so amazing. Do you think you could teach me how to do that? Maybe if I cook breakfast or dinner like that, my auntie, uncle, and Dudley will be happier and nicer to me." As Harry says this, continuing to eat the curry, he does not notice the sad and angry look on Lucas' face.
"I would be honored to teach you how to cook Harry, but one thing you need to understand. Being able to cook like that takes a lot of time, practice, and training. I went to school specifically for cooking and it wasn't an easy journey either."
Lucas watched as little Harry's face fell and he slowly stopped eating. Seeing the sadness, and possible tears, start to form on Harry's face Lucas knelt down and places his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Harry, I am not saying that you can't learn how to cook like me, but I just want you to know that it won't be easy. Does your Aunt have you help her cook often?"
"She has been having me cook breakfast most mornings before doing my other chores and I have been making dinner more often lately. Especially if it is a meal I have made before. If it is something new, she will have me watch until I know what to do."
Harry watched as Lucas drew in a deep breath and bowed his head, worried that he had said something to upset the nice man. Harry hoped he hadn't because he really wanted to learn how to cook like Mr. Lucas. "I'm sorry if I said something wrong. Aunty is always telling me how stupid I am. Please don't be mad. I really want to learn to be a good cook like you."
Lucas let out the breath he had been holding and shook his head, "I am not mad at you little one. It is your relatives I am mad at. You shouldn't be made to cook like that. There is nothing wrong with helping someone cook, like with stirring maybe cutting up stuff if you have been taught how to properly handle a knife, but cooking at the stove unattended. That you shouldn't be doing. You should be made to cook a meal for your family as if you are a servant."
Harry stares as him in wonder, he had never heard someone say that his relatives were the bad ones. "Oh. I didn't know that. While Aunty never lets Dudley in the kitchen, she has never said anything like that. She just yells at me when I get something wrong or I forget how to do something."
Lucas goes quiet and seemed to be thinking something over. "I will teach you how to cook and how to become a real chef if you really like cooking, but we need to go over somethings first."
"Yes!" Harry doesn't even hesitate. Doesn't even wait to see what the rules or requirements would be. He was going to learn how to cook like Mr. Lucas.
Lucas gives a little chuckle as he moves to sit on a chair and waives Harry over to another, "Hold on their Little One. You don't even know what I am going to say. First, I don't like how your relatives are treating you so I would like to know more if you will tell me. Second, I will teach you how to cook but first I will teach you kitchen safety and how to properly handle kitchen tools. I don't want you hurting yourself here or in your relative's kitchen. Third, I think we need to come up with a story to tell your relatives as to why you will be with me."
Little Harry nods along as Lucas talks, "I will tell you, but I don't know what good it will do. I have told others and even thought they said they will help, nothing ever changes. Sometimes it gets worse. I want to learn everything, and I would like to be safe doing it. I don't like it when I cut myself or burn myself. Aunty never makes it better like she does for Dudley."
Lucas develops a grumpy look on his face and mumbles, "I don't doubt it." Lucas then quickly shakes his head and haves his hand as if to brush away his words, "No matter. Now we just need to come up with a story that will get you out of that house and here with me all day."
Harry wasn't sure what to say. Why would they need to have a story? Well, Aunty never did lose the opportunity to have him do the chores. Maybe that is what Mr. Lucas meant. Some way to show that working with Mr. Lucas would be better than him doing the chores. "Sometimes Aunty has made me help other neighbors, like with groceries or with the yard, and gets something in return. Like Mrs. Flowers, she gave Aunty some of her jams when I helped with her garden. Maybe you can give Aunty some food? She likes to have the ladies over for tea and they talk and talk and talk."
Lucas hums, "You might be on to something Little One. I did just move in and had some renovation done. I can say I need some help around the house and let her know about my cooking and offer something as payment. That just might work. Okay Little One, lets head on over."
Harry quickly hopped down and followed Mr. Lucas towards the front of number four. Oh, he really hoped this would work. He really wanted to learn how to cook like Mr. Lucas and it would get him away from his relatives for a time. Please, whoever is listening, please let this work. Please!