"Yeah, I happened to get my hands on a new ingredient. Thought I'd try it out."
Cedric nodded, then looked at him curiously. "Is it okay for you to be back here? With all those people out front, don't you need to keep an eye on them?"
"Ha, it's fine. They want drinks, food, and entertainment, not these old bones of mine."
Ron chuckled. "That precious drink set takes care of it."
Magic made the food, and magic mixed the drinks. Magic did all the work while the wizard just collected the money. What a life.
Cedric kept his thoughts to himself and carried the ingredients over to the space Ron had cleared for him.
Ron had put it together in just a few minutes. It had an oven, a stove, and all kinds of seasonings ready to go. It wasn't large, but it had everything Cedric needed.
Cedric seasoned the Niffler meat with practiced ease. His movements looked rough, but thanks to Craftsman's Hand, every amount was precise to four decimal places.
There was no cooking wine to be found in a British kitchen, wizard's kitchen or not, so Cedric made do with a little red wine and chopped up half an onion to throw in.
As he cut the onion, Biting Cabbage suddenly came to mind. What would happen if I cooked different kinds of unusual ingredients together?
It was a good idea, but he'd gotten this Niffler meat for free. Cedric didn't expect to come across another one.
He couldn't afford to waste ingredients on trial and error.
He'd have to wait for another chance and try it with more common special ingredients.
Once the Niffler meat was prepared and set aside to marinate, Cedric thought for a few seconds, then asked Ron for half a block of butter and added it.
Niffler meat was lean. Dry-roasted, it would probably turn out tough and dry. A little butter would help.
With everything ready, Cedric asked Ron for some applewood.
He lit the applewood in the oven, skewered the marinated meat, and hung it inside.
Flames licked at the skewers. Before long, the aroma came billowing out.
Cedric hadn't eaten dinner yet. At the smell, he couldn't help swallowing.
Fantastic Beast meat really was different. Just its aroma left ordinary ingredients far behind.
More importantly, Cedric sensed something else in the scent. It seemed to stir the magic inside him, leaving him wonderfully at ease.
The aroma slipped out of the kitchen and spread through the bar. The noisy room fell silent.
"What smells so good?"
A regular sprang to his feet and shouted, "Hey, Ron! What are you cooking?"
Wizards were quick on their feet. In the blink of an eye, the regulars had crowded around the kitchen door, their voices pouring in.
The aroma drew Quirrell downstairs too. Seeing a dozen or so people blocking the kitchen entrance, he almost turned away. But then he spotted Cedric, hesitated, and joined them.
Xuanling flapped his wings in alarm, staring wide-eyed at the wizards outside the door.
Ron, who had been waiting for the meat to be served, apologized to Cedric, then turned and planted himself in the kitchen doorway to stop anyone from rushing in.
"Sorry, everyone. I'm not making this. A guest borrowed the kitchen to cook."
Ron tried his best to explain, but none of the wizards outside believed him. They all clamored to buy some.
The racket wasn't doing much for the dining atmosphere, but Cedric didn't fuss. He took down a skewer and put the roasted meat on a plate.
[Smoked Niffler] Effect: Eating it grants [Magic Abundance E]. If the host eats it, he also gains 15 Enhancement Points and the special abilities [Aura Concealment E] and [Matter Traversal E].
The [Magic Activation] from roasted Biting Cabbage increased a wizard's magical strength. Smoked Niffler sped up Magic recovery.
Cedric could feel the difference. The Magic he had spent on Transfiguration Spells was rushing back.
Once Cedric had eaten enough to gain the 15 Enhancement Points, he tucked a tiny piece of meat into Xuanling's beak.
The clamor outside grew even louder after he finished his portion. Cedric looked back at the chaotic kitchen doorway, picked up the plate, and walked over.
"Excuse me, everyone. Please quiet down."
Cedric held up the plate and tapped its rim lightly with a spoon. The crisp ring cut through the noise. "One small piece each."
"I'll hand it out!"
Ron came forward with a grin, sneakily popped a piece into his own mouth, then turned to give each guest a taste.
There wasn't much meat on a Niffler, but there was enough for every wizard present to try a piece. Even Quirrell, who had joined the crowd at the back, got one.
The bundle of blood and fur lay in plain sight in a corner of the Kitchen. Quirrell stared at the piece of roast meat that had once been the Niffler he'd spent a third of his savings to acquire. Frustrated tears streamed down his face.
Damn it. I might as well take a bite and get something back...
"Good heavens! This meat actually restores Magic!"
A wizard cried out, eyes wide.
"What?"
"It does!"
"It's a bit slower than Potions, but much faster than recovering Magic through sleep!"
Seeing the delighted guests, Quirrell stopped hesitating and raised the meat to his mouth.
"Wait." Voldemort's voice sounded in his ear. "Don't eat it yet. Bring it back. I'll eat it."
So much for getting anything back.
Quirrell's head drooped. "Yes, Master," he said quietly.
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