Hagrid showed Anduin around the vegetable garden beside his cabin. It was planted with all kinds of vegetables, though Hagrid said only some of them were needed to supply Hogwarts. Professor Pomona Sprout had a large greenhouse with an Extension Charm cast on it, where she grew enough produce to feed everyone at Hogwarts.
"Every year, I plant lots of pumpkins before Halloween. Headmistress Sprout comes by and casts an Engorgement Charm on them for the Halloween Feast. And look at these lovely broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes, ginger, and cabbages. Aren't they growing well?" Hagrid proudly showed off his garden to Anduin.
To Anduin, Hagrid's garden was full of Western vegetables. There wasn't even a single Chinese cabbage in sight, so he wasn't particularly impressed. Instead, he asked Hagrid about the subject that interested him most.
"Don't you grow any herbs?" Anduin had another reason for visiting Hagrid: he wanted to see if he could get some Potion Materials here. Having a reliable source of herbs would be even better.
"Herbs? Aren't there lots of those in the greenhouses? You have to know that many herbs are really dangerous. If you're not a professional grower, they could even put your life at risk." Hagrid didn't understand why Anduin was asking, but answered honestly all the same.
"Is that so? What about the Forbidden Forest? Are there herbs in there?" Anduin looked up at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, not far from Hagrid's Cabin, and asked thoughtfully.
"There are plenty of herbs in the Forbidden Forest. I saw quite a few Mandrake Fruit that were almost ripe just the other day. But there are lots of dangerous creatures deeper in the forest, and Hogwarts keeps several Magical Creatures there, like a herd of Hippogriffs. It's very dangerous to go near them without permission." Seeing Anduin's interest in the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid kindly warned him.
"I understand, Hagrid. Don't worry, I'm just curious. Anyway, enough about that. Let's get some tomatoes and ginger—and potatoes too. I'll show you what I can do. It's been ages since I had a proper meal."
Anduin began making plans. He would go back and study Potions, choose a few potions that used simple ingredients, and see if he could find the materials in the Forbidden Forest.
Anduin and Hagrid gathered some vegetables and took them inside. Anduin planned to make braised pork ribs for dinner. Fortunately, even though the ribs of Hogwarts's wild boar were enormous, Hagrid's pot was plenty big too.
Anduin examined the massive slab of ribs, feeling and prodding it before nodding. The meat of this Magical Creature was very tough, but like Dragon Meat, it didn't spoil easily. It had also been frozen with a Freezing Charm, and traces of blood were still visible between the bones.
"Looks like ordinary frying and stir-frying won't work, and getting the flavor into the meat will be a problem." Anduin studied the ribs. Each one was as thick as an ordinary person's arm, and he wondered how to make them taste good.
There were eight long ribs in the slab, far too many for Anduin and Hagrid to eat in one sitting. Anduin asked Hagrid to cut off two of them. Then he repeatedly cast the Cutting Charm until the ribs were in small pieces. After washing them, he put them in a large basin, mixed a big bowl of seasoning himself, and poured it over the ribs to marinate them.
Once they had marinated long enough, he lit the fire. Hagrid's house had a large pot, like a round cauldron without legs. Anduin set it up, poured in oil, then added ginger and garlic. He tipped in the basin of ribs and stir-fried them until they were fragrant, then added enough water to cover the ingredients and put on the lid to let them cook.
Watching Anduin work, Hagrid couldn't help looking forward to the meal. But as soon as Anduin started stir-frying the meat, the aroma made Hagrid drool uncontrollably.
Hagrid eagerly peeled potatoes nearby while Anduin put the lid on the pot. Then Anduin came over to help him as they chatted.
"Hagrid, do you think you could give me a plot of land beside your garden? I'd like to grow a few things too," Anduin asked with a grin.
"Of course! I can help you grow whatever you want. You can come by and visit whenever you like." Hagrid readily agreed. He figured he'd be in for plenty of good meals from now on.
The large pot of ribs gave off a steady, irresistible aroma, tempting both men. After cooking them for over an hour, Anduin tasted the sauce and found that the ribs had softened nicely. He added the potatoes, onions, and other ingredients, poured in a little more water, and let it cook for nearly another half an hour.
Before long, the Braised Pork Ribs with Potatoes were ready. When Anduin lifted the lid, the pot was full of glistening sauce. He and Hagrid couldn't wait any longer. They each served themselves a large bowl and dug in.
"Ah, that hit the spot..." Anduin patted his round belly and sat back, satisfied. It had been ages since he'd had anything decent to eat. The food at Hogwarts wasn't bad, but the selection was very limited. Only the English could stand eating the same things every day.
Hagrid was still happily wolfing down his food, praising Anduin's cooking between bites. Anduin smiled contentedly. Having someone appreciate his cooking was a pleasure in itself.
While Hagrid finished eating, Anduin borrowed some paper and a pen from him and started sketching. Before long, Hagrid had happily drained the last of the soup, and the two of them sat at the table chatting.
Time flew by. They'd spent a long time cooking and eating, and by the time Anduin noticed that it was dark outside, curfew was approaching. He prepared to say goodbye to Hagrid.
"Hagrid, are you going to Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley anytime soon?" Anduin asked.
"I'll be going to Hogsmeade in a few days to pick up some things. Why?" Hagrid answered honestly, though he didn't know why Anduin was asking.
"Could you do me a favor? See if you can find out the current selling prices for Potions and the prices of herbs. Also, could you ask a craftsman to make this for me?" Anduin hadn't forgotten his plans for Potions. He wanted to find out what the market was like, and handed Hagrid a piece of parchment with the drawing he'd just made indoors.
The paper showed a large iron pot and a spatula. Anduin had marked down the dimensions, diameter, thickness, and other specifications.
"What's this?" Hagrid asked, looking at the drawing.
"It's a cooking utensil. You use it to make food. With one of these, I can make some other tasty dishes here for you," Anduin explained.
Hagrid readily agreed to help. He wasn't sure what Anduin had in mind about Potions prices, but he happily promised to look into them as well.
Thanks, everyone, for the votes and the favorites!
Before you continue