Summer Writing Series Challenge (June 14)
Challenge: Harry or Hermione is given a surprise dinner by the other
Title: Kiss the Cook
Word Count: 1,000
Harry Potter found that after the defeat of the Dark Lord, after the classes and doldrums that came with school, he discovered that the less complicated his life was, the better. Despite his yearnings during his years at Hogwarts, the recently graduated Auror chose a different line of work than that of the traditional Wizarding World law enforcement. He wanted to dictate his own hours instead of searching for Dark Wizards. He had, therefore, chosen the life of a security consultant.
Ron and Hermione were ecstatic that he'd made the choice. He smiled as he remembered the concern and worry on Hermione's face when he entered training. Harry was isolated from his friends for two years and the past six months they made up for that lost time. Today was different. It was his day to relax and unwind from his security firm and watching Ron and Hermione snog on his sofa after making up from another one of their ridiculous arguments was not on the agenda.
Truth be told, he was heartbroken and needed the time. Harry had hidden his feelings for Hermione successfully since he was fifteen. He'd held her at arm's length until Voldemort was defeated to keep her from the Dark Lord's villainous devices. She already was, but becoming romantically interested in The-Boy-Who-Lived was a treacherous business. Cho Chang learned the hard way when he tried to use her to manipulate the young man. Harry couldn't visit that kind of torture upon the woman he truly loved so he secreted the memories to the farthest reaches of his mind. It was during the last two, fateful years that his two best friends found each other.
Harry sighed miserably and stared at the clouds floating overhead. He spied a fluffy dog, a dragon, and a Ford Anglia before he rolled off of his hammock to his feet. The phone rang annoyingly as he opened the door to his cottage and trotted to answer the technological banshee.
"Hello?"
"H-Harry?" Hermione stuttered in a barely audible whisper.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" His mind started racing. Was her father in the hospital again? Was something wrong with her little sister?
"C-Can I come over?"
"Of course, whenever you want ..."
"O-Ok ... I'll change and be there in an hour." She stammered and hung up.
He returned the receiver to its cradle and ran his fingers through his hair. What could be wrong? He thought desperately when his stomach roared to life. "Can't it wait?" He said irritably and his stomach growled in response.
Harry walked to the kitchen and smiled at the apron hanging by the icebox. It was a gift from Hermione when he'd moved into the quaint cottage on the outskirts of London. He took it from its peg and strapped it on, laughing at the phrase that was emblazoned across it: "Kiss the Cook." It was those three words that sparked an idea.
There wasn't much time until she arrived and Hermione was always early. If you're fifteen minutes early, you're late ... He grinned despite himself and rushed from his pantry to the stove, pulling pots from the island's overhang and tomatoes from a nearby strainer.
The preparation took less time than he'd anticipated and raised his hand to the sitting room. With a flick of a wrist and the snap of his fingers, the couch was replaced with two overstuffed chairs sitting at a roguishly small table. Plates were set and Hermione's favorite depression food was chilling next to the chairs. "It sounds like she needs some Butter Crunch icecream to me." He said with a sigh.
The oven's timer jingled and he raced to the kitchen to save the spinach soufflé she loved so much. Her mother made it for holiday dinners before she died and he knew it was her ultimate comfort food. The pasta and sauce were finished and plated and with a mad dash to the small table, dinner was waiting.
The doorbell sounded and Harry looked out the side window to see a puffy-eyed, sniffing Hermione waiting patiently for him to answer. Without a second thought, he opened it and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Harry ... I can't believe it's over ..." She whimpered into his chest.
"What's over? Not you and Ron?" He asked disbelievingly. He frowned when she nodded and her shoulders began to shake. "What happened?" He asked evenly, trying to mask the anger that was boiling in his veins.
"We got into a fight and I realized that I was tired of it ..." She began shakily. "He said that if I was so tired of it that I should get out of his ... life ..." She cried again and Harry hugged her as tight as he could.
"Come inside, we'll fix you up, Hermione." He whispered lovingly in her ear. She offered no resistance as he led her to the sitting room.
She gasped when she found dinner waiting. "Harry, you made all of this ... for me?" She asked incredulously.
Harry smiled and led her to her seat. "Why wouldn't I?" He asked simply. She sat and wiped away a new set of tears when she realized how far he'd gone for her.
"You made Mum's spinach soufflé?"
"You told me about it before, I thought you'd want something comforting ..."
"And Butter Crunch?" She asked, staring at the chilling desert.
"I think you raved about it one summer ..."
"Harry, I don't deserve this ..."
"Yes you do, Hermione, you deserve this and so much more."
"What would I do without you?" She asked as she hugged him once more.
"I honestly don't know, Hermione. If I didn't have you, my life would be over ..." He whispered in her ear.
She stiffened slightly and pulled away.
"Why don't we eat then we'll talk after you're feeling better." He said with a warm smile as she began to eat. Between bites he could see her purse her lips in thought.
A/N: So begins part 1 of a 3 part series that I tied together! Hope you like it!