Stew for the Lost

Harry assembled everything on the preparation table. After classes had finished, he dropped his things off and went to the clubroom to be alone. It was a lot easier being alone in the past. People ignored him during the day and the Dursleys always left him alone after an early dinner so they could eagerly go to their own plans. All the interactions he had today were a little more tiring, with him mustering up more energy to try and appear normal.

Whatever his version was normal anyways.

Being alone next to the stove in the clubroom was almost soothing to him. Sure, it was not the kitchen at the Dursleys but it was familiar enough to feel like a return to routine and tradition. He felt more at ease. He knew what was to come would be slightly tougher on him but for the moment, he was back in his element.

A week prior, he had begun making preparations for this day, hoping he would have the opportunity to do what he wanted. It had been tradition the last few years and being able to do it even while in a completely different environment helped him feel better.

He settled the pot on the stove and waited for it to come to temperature. As it did, he finished preparing the last of the ingredients: beef was chopped and set aside, potatoes and carrots and onion peeled and diced, spices measured.

He browned the beef chunks and set them aside. He added the onion to cook in some butter, scraping up the fond left on the bottom of the pot with beef broth once the onions took some color. He did not use wine, the traditional deglazing liquid. He did not think he would be allowed any here. The meat and potatoes and carrots went in with the spices and he brought it to a boil before turning the heat down to let it simmer.

For the next hour and a half or so, he stirred occasionally and the air took on a savory and meaty smell, one that was both comforting to him as well as melancholic. He did his homework while the stew simmered and thickened and deepened in both flavor and texture. The lamp in the room flared into brightness when the sun sank fully behind the horizon, plunging the grounds into darkness. Other lamps on the walls lit themselves, adding illumination.

He tasted the stew and nodded with approval. It was savory and had a depth of flavor. The meat was tender but not toothsome. The potatoes and carrots were soft but not mushy or crumbly. It tasted just like it should. He ladled out a bowl and set it in front of him. Inky had thoughtfully brought bread and butter for him and while she was busy, she told him to not hesitate if he needed her.

He could still remember the first time he did this. One of the few pleasant memories he had of cooking with Petunia was her telling him that beef stew was Lily's favorite. He went through a phase of cooking it a lot until Petunia and Vernon made him stop, saying they were tired of it.

While he did make it less, he got into the habit of making it on Halloween, to feel some kind of closeness with the family he lost. When he learned of the Japanese tradition of making food offerings to passed loved ones in class, it took on a special meaning to him and he did so. Petunia saw him do it the first time and punished him severely but it did not deter him in the future, he just became circumspect about it.

"Hi Mum, hi Dad," he whispered out loud to the empty room.

He waited for an answer that never came.

"I'm at school now, but I was lucky enough to be able to cook tonight," he went on. "I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to. I'd hate to break our tradition but good thing I didn't. Wouldn't have felt right to me.

"School is going well. I was really surprised by magic and being a wizard. But when I learned you two were magicals too it really made me happy. I felt like we had more in common." He snorted softly. "Well, aside from being parents and child. But I'm told that I look a lot like you Dad and have your eyes Mum so that's really cool too.

"Oh and Headmaster Dumbledore said he knew you two. Said he counted you as friends. He also said he'd tell me stories about you two so I'm really looking forward to that. And that you flew a lot Dad and you played Quidditch. I love flying too! It's so much fun."

A smile grew on his lips. "Maybe we're more alike than I thought!" He turned wistful. "I hope you and I share stuff too Mum. Hopefully I'll learn more about you and can find out."

He closed his eyes. "I miss you."

He started to eat. The taste of the stew was rich and familiar. A little different due to the absence of wine that the Dursleys had allowed him to use, but not egregiously different. Just like before, however, the taste of the stew became slightly saltier as he ate.

Just like before, he ignored the tears that ran down his face as he ate the stew. He chewed slowly, drawing the bowl of stew out, making it last as long as he could.

.....

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