"Alright, that's enough for today," Alex said to himself, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I'm getting closer. Maybe with a bit more practice, I'll be able to cast Protego, the Shield Charm, without a wand." He smiled, satisfied with his progress.
After wrapping up his practice, Alex began to clean up the patio where he had been training. Halfway through, he heard the wall creak and crack—it was the sound of someone opening the door to the Leaky Cauldron from Diagon Alley.
A large, imposing figure stepped through—a tall man with a thick beard wearing a gray fur coat. His long dark hair fell over his shoulders, and his steps were heavy, almost shaking the ground with each one.
"Mr. Hagrid! Long time no see. What brings you out from Diagon Alley?" Alex greeted the half-giant warmly.
Despite the fact that business at the Leaky Cauldron had been slow, a few patrons still came in every day, including patrolling Aurors, who would often stop by for a drink after their shift. Alex had grown familiar with a few of them during his daily magic practices on the patio, and Hagrid, the groundskeeper at Hogwarts, was one of those regular faces.
Tom, the innkeeper, had introduced Hagrid to Alex, explaining that he was the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts and also took care of the Forbidden Forest. He often came to the Leaky Cauldron either for a drink or to pick up supplies for the school.
"It's good to see ya, Alex!" Hagrid boomed in his deep voice. "I was just here to help a young Muggle-born wizard get his school supplies. But as it turns out, his father's a Squib, so he knows Diagon Alley pretty well. Didn't really need my help after all." Hagrid scratched his beard sheepishly.
Alex tried not to laugh, realizing Hagrid had misunderstood his question. But, as usual, Hagrid was generous with the details.
"So, are you heading back to Hogwarts now?" Alex asked, changing the subject.
Hagrid shook his head. "Nah, not yet. I've been in Diagon Alley since morning, helpin' the family, but they didn't need much. I ended up wandering over to Knockturn Alley, pokin' around a bit. Didn't even realize it's nearly dinnertime, and I haven't had a bite to eat all day! Figured I'd stop in here for a drink."
Alex chuckled. Hagrid had a way of talking that made it hard not to like him.
"What did you buy on your trip, Mr. Hagrid? That's quite a large package you're carrying."
Hagrid beamed and patted the large bundle slung over his shoulder. "Ah, this? You won't believe it—I picked up a whole pound of dragon liver! Got it for a steal. Can ya guess how much it cost? Nah, ya wouldn't believe it! The cheapest deal I've ever found!"
"Dragon liver? That's amazing!" Alex's curiosity piqued. "I've never seen dragon liver before. Can I have a look?" Googlᴇ search novel-fire.net
"Of course, my friend!" Hagrid said enthusiastically, opening up the bundle to reveal a piece of liver that was dark and rich in color, still fresh and glistening as though it had just been cut.
"My goodness, it looks like it's straight from the dragon!" Alex examined it closely. "What are you going to do with it? Use it for potions?"
Hagrid chuckled. "Nah, I'm thinkin' of makin' a meat sauce. But it's such a fine piece, maybe I should try somethin' special."
Alex, his love for cooking kicking in, had an idea.
"How about I cook it for you? I can fry it with some spring onions. I think it would taste much better than meat sauce. What do you think?"
Hagrid looked surprised. "You can cook? But you're only eleven!"
Tom, who had been listening nearby, joined the conversation. "Oh, Hagrid, you've no idea! Alex's cooking is fantastic. I've been eating his meals for weeks now, and I've learned a thing or two just by watching him. If he ever wrote a magical recipe book, it'd sell out instantly."
Since Alex had moved into the Leaky Cauldron, Tom hadn't had to pay for a single meal—Alex had taken over the kitchen, cooking dinner and sometimes breakfast for them both.
Hagrid grinned. "Well, if Tom says so, then let's do it! I'm up for tryin' anything new. Go on, Alex, let's see what ya can make."
Alex eagerly took the dragon liver into the kitchen, realizing just how special this ingredient was. As he handled the liver, he could still feel a faint warmth in it, along with a strong, gamey scent.
Hagrid had mentioned that it was bought from a vendor in Knockturn Alley, which explained its freshness.
Alex grabbed a handful of spring onions he had grown himself, sliced up the dragon liver, and marinated it with onions, ginger, soy sauce, and cooking wine. Once it was ready, he stir-fried the dragon liver over high heat, keeping the flavors balanced. He made sure to prepare a few side dishes as well, knowing Hagrid's appetite would need more than one plate.
As the smell of the cooked dragon liver wafted through the air, Hagrid and Tom were practically drooling in anticipation. Their eyes were fixed on the steaming dish as Alex carried it to the table.
"Well, here it is—stir-fried dragon liver with spring onions. Give it a try!" Alex said, setting the dish down.
Hagrid, who wasted no time grabbing a forkful, took a bite, and his eyes lit up. "Blimey, this is delicious! Best liver I've ever had!"
Alex took a bite as well and was pleased with the result. The dragon liver had a unique taste—not quite like pork or lamb liver. It was rich but tender, with a slight crunch on the outside and a melt-in-your-mouth texture inside.
Tom, grinning, brought out a large bottle of red currant rum from his collection. "This calls for a celebration! A meal deserves some good drink to go with it."
They ate and drank together, laughing and sharing stories, while Hagrid and Tom praised Alex's cooking over and over.
By the time the night ended, both Hagrid and Tom were rosy-cheeked and full, content with the delicious meal.
As Hagrid leaned back in his chair, a bit tipsy from the rum, he raised his glass to Alex.
"You've got a real talent, lad. Best dragon liver I've ever had. And I've had quite a bit!"
After eating and drinking, Alex, Hagrid, and Tom continued to chat, and eventually, the conversation turned to the topic of the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters.