Showing Real Skill, A Meal Earns Favor

Aaron and his companions spread out the inner tent in an open space in front of the carport and spent a long time assembling the frame.

Then the outer tent was draped over the inner tent, and tent pegs were used to secure the four corners. A light blue tent, three meters long and wide and two meters high, was thus erected.

"This is fantastic." George looked at the bright blue light inside the tent and felt incredibly comfortable. "There's even a skylight, so we can enjoy the night view when we're free at night."

"That's right," Fred remarked. "Not only can it shield you from the wind and rain, but it can also be folded up when not in use. Muggle hairpins are truly an essential tool for outdoor camping."

"That's about it, but bringing a tent when leaving home is definitely a smart choice."

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Harry's eyes.

He suddenly had the idea of buying a tent, after all, he was always thinking about leaving the Dursley family.

However, this is just a thought. After all, he is a minor and needs the consent of his guardian in many things, even at Hogwarts.

This means that he cannot leave that home until he reaches adulthood, unless he has a new guardian.

At mealtime, Mrs. Weasley laid out a sumptuous meal on the table, while Arthur sat alone in a chair reading the newspaper in the somewhat crowded kitchen.

"Where are they?" Molly asked.

"It's outside." Arthur pointed meaningfully to the window. "I don't think you need to prepare so much. The amount is almost double the usual amount."

Fred and the others just took a lot of seasonings and cooking utensils. Aaron must be quite capable; at least he won't go hungry.

That won't work either.

Aaron is just a child. Even if he knows a little about cooking, how delicious can his food be?

"I'm just doing this in case something happens; Weasley can't let the guests go hungry," Molly said seriously, her spatula twirling in her hand.

"Besides, that child gave us almost three hundred Gold Galleons. Is that less than a little bit of food?"

At that moment, the two of them smelled a rich fragrance.

Molly couldn't help but sniff, while Arthur looked out the window in astonishment, but his turn was a little too abrupt, and he almost fell off his chair.

"My Merlin!" Arthur swallowed hard. "I don't know how it tastes, but just the aroma alone makes me want to mooch a meal. It's definitely better than what you make..."

"What did you say? Say it again?"

"I mean..." Arthur blinked, "I'll go call them for dinner and check if they've burned the pot."

Thump! Thump! Thump...

The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs came from behind, and a red-haired girl excitedly ran into the kitchen.

"Mom, what are we having for lunch?"

Molly's expression turned serious, and a forced smile appeared on her lips. "Ginny, you should preview the lesson now, and while you're at it, read Lockhart's works. He's your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Ginny nodded, not arguing with her the Mother about the matter, after all, Mrs. Weasley was a die-hard Lockhart fan.

"I still want to know what we're having for lunch?"

"Haha! Your mother might not want to tell you this," Arthur chuckled, then saw his wife glare at him. He immediately pointed to the dining table, "It's quite a feast, isn't it!"

Ginny looked at the table: cream pudding, butter cake, corn chips, luncheon meat, roasted lamb chops, and so on.

For the Weasley family, this meal was indeed very lavish, but it paled in comparison to the aroma that filled the air.

Molly smiled helplessly at her daughter's puzzled and bewildered look. "We have a guest. It's Aaron Gaius. You should have heard Ron and the others mention him. If I'm not mistaken, this fragrance is his doing."

"Hmm... I think I heard a familiar name." Percy walked in, somewhat surprised, and said, "Is Aaron here?"

"Percy," Molly looked lovingly at her sensible third son, "It's just what you think."

"This holiday was really interesting."

Harry came to visit, and then another Slytherin came when school started. "Percy said speechlessly, "Well, I still have a good impression of Aaron. He's good at managing things, unlike the other Slytherin, at least he's not so arrogant."

Upon hearing this, Arthur and Molly exchanged a smile.

They did have a fleeting thought at first about sending Aaron out to claim the huge bounty, but after a brief interaction, they found that the kid was so good at getting along with people that it was impossible to dislike him.

"What is this scent?"

"Aaron bought some fresh ingredients from us and decided to cook for himself," Arthur said. "Harry, Ron, George, and Fred are all out helping him."

"He made it himself?" Percy paused, glanced at the lunch on the table, and his expression became somewhat uneasy. "That means..."

"He probably won't refuse if we go over for a meal," Arthur said.

Percy's lips twitched. "Let's forget it! I can't bring myself to do that."

"Go on! I knew you'd say that."

I'll go call Harry and the others for dinner.

"I think we don't need to, Dad," Ginny said, pointing outside. "They're almost at the door."

The group turned around and saw George and Fred carrying a large tray back with smiles on their faces, Harry and Ron carefully carrying a ceramic soup pot, while Aaron leisurely followed behind them.

George and Fred placed the tray in the center of the table, causing the cutlery around it to rattle loudly.

"Be careful," Arthur warned.

"Sorry, Dad, but the taste is just too intoxicating." George praised with a smile, "You didn't see it, but this is the first time I've ever seen food prepared with magic, with temperature controlled and cooking time shortened."

It's practically a profound art; if I had the talent, I'd consider becoming a chef.

"Excuse me, this fish soup is a bit hot." Ron carefully placed the soup pot on the table and blew on his palms with an air of importance.

"Aaron, what's wrong with you...?" Molly asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Mrs. Weasley, you can't possibly make me eat out!" Aaron said with a smile. "Consider this meal a thank you to the Weasley family hospitality."

"This... this is so embarrassing! We didn't do anything."

"Mom, we'll talk about it later, we can't wait." George wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and opened the lid on the tray.

A burst of white steam erupted instantly, and a rich aroma filled the kitchen, causing everyone to involuntarily swallow.

What came into view was a bright red roast suckling pig, but it was quite different from what they had seen on the menus of some restaurants. The faint smoky aroma easily whetted everyone's appetite.

"It smells so good, and it's such a luxury." Arthur barely managed to suppress his excitement. Because of their poverty, his family had never eaten this before, and he never expected to be able to enjoy such a feast today.

"Bill and Charlie will probably regret this for a long time," Ron said gloatingly.

"Aaron, this really isn't appropriate," Molly, somewhat embarrassed. "After all, this wasn't prepared for us."

Upon hearing this, Aaron took out his Wand and gently swung it, splitting a suckling pig in two.

"Half of it would be enough for Abei to eat."

To be honest, it lost weight for two months, but it still gained a quarter of a pound compared to before the holiday.

Abei turned its face away haughtily, but the next moment it jumped onto the dining table and pounced on the half pig's head.

However, it lost control and floated in mid-air halfway through its flight. Even so, it flapped its limbs and swam with all its might toward the roast suckling pig.

"Don't mind it." Aaron gave Abei a hard tap on the forehead and explained, "It has absolutely no restraint when it comes to eating."

Percy looked at the two roast suckling pigs on the table and looked at Aaron with some surprise, "Did you really make these yourself?"

"It's not that I doubt it, but you're only twelve years old, the same age as Ron, and only a year older than Ginny. Isn't this cooking skill a bit too exaggerated?"

"Um... I don't usually have that ability, but my family enrolled me in a two-month cooking class," Aaron said with a sigh. "That teacher is definitely a grandmaster in the culinary world."

"Oh, I see!"

"Ahem!" Arthur coughed. "Let's eat first! Otherwise, the food will get cold."

We cannot refuse Gaius's kind offer, can we?

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Ron and his friends were full of admiration; they had been itching to make it happen.

Molly immediately pulled up two chairs and sat down with Ginny.

Aaron took the initiative to pick up the fork and divided the half roast suckling pig into nine portions. Harry and Ron also served everyone a bowl of fish soup, and then scraped the pot clean.

Soon, the sound of chewing food came from the kitchen, and everyone was enjoying the rare delicacy before them.

The meal was a success, with both hosts and guests thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Everyone enjoyed the meal, and Arthur, completely unconcerned about his parental image, slumped in his chair, rubbing his belly.

Aaron's relationship with the Weasley family has also improved considerably, and now he can finally put his mind at ease.

Thanks to my Salks Ancestor, as the saying goes, "He who eats another's food is bound to him." Weasley also has his pride. Even if he had the heart to report me after eating my food, he wouldn't have the face to do so.