Candy So Good It Made Him Cry

"Oh, of course, sir. You've got a keen eye. Don't worry, this Biting Cabbage won't disappoint you."

The moment Ron heard someone wanted to buy some, he rushed to put three pieces of Biting Cabbage on a plate and hand it to Quirrell, afraid he might change his mind.

"No, no. Make it six. Wrap three for me to take away, and I'll eat the other three here." Quirrell dropped two gold coins onto the counter without hesitation.

Today, he was going to find out just how skilled the cook who had won over even that devil Voldemort really was. If he bought only one serving, Quirrell was certain that damned snake would eat it all himself.

Ron blinked at the gleaming Galleons, pocketed them with practiced speed, then packed another three pieces into a small paper bag and handed it over. "Here you go, Mr. Quirrell. Your Biting Cabbage."

Quirrell took the plate and paper bag. With a crowd of wizards watching, he picked up a piece of Biting Cabbage.

The tender green cabbage was sealed inside a clear, sparkling sugar shell that shimmered with color in the sunlight. At a glance, it looked a little like green apple candy.

It looked good enough on its own, but beside all those marvelous magical sweets, it was nothing special.

The real problem was the Biting Cabbage inside. Would eating it poison him?

Quirrell hesitated, then put the candy in his mouth.

"It's just sweet," Quirrell mumbled around it. Remembering that the cabbage inside was the main event, he steeled himself and bit down with a crunch.

The sugar shell cracked. A faint, fresh plant fragrance mingled with a toasted aroma and spilled through the break, instantly filling every corner of his mouth.

The Biting Cabbage had been soaked in syrup, dried, then roasted until it took on a caramel fragrance. That aroma blended with the bitterness that never quite left the cabbage, creating a combination so wonderful it made his head spin.

One bite was enough to captivate Quirrell. He couldn't help chewing again.

Only then did he bite all the way through the cabbage. Salt grains clinging evenly to its surface released a mild savory flavor, cutting through the richness of the sugar and making its sweetness shine.

This feeling...

Quirrell closed his eyes and gave himself over to the bliss of the taste.

It's incredible. No wonder that devil Voldemort forgave me for eating a Niffler. The cook won him over with this.

"Well? How is it? Does the Biting Cabbage taste good?" A wizard nearby couldn't hold back any longer and peppered him with questions.

The bliss on Quirrell's face was impossible to ignore. It made everyone itch to try some.

"Delicious! Absolutely delicious!" Quirrell couldn't bring himself to lie, so he praised it freely. "It's the best... candy I've ever eaten."

This sugar-coated Biting Cabbage really didn't count as a dish. It was more of a sweet snack.

"Is it really that good?" Hawke saw the conviction in Quirrell's eyes, and his appetite got the better of him. He hurriedly called to Ron, "Ron, give me three servings!"

"Sure, no problem." Ron cheerfully packed three servings for Hawke, who couldn't wait to taste one.

Just as Hawke was about to put it in his mouth, a startled cry came from behind him. His hand froze.

Hawke turned and saw Quirrell staring at his own hands in astonishment.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" a wizard nearby, eager to try the candy himself, asked at once.

Quirrell said nothing. He just stared at his hands, disbelief filling his eyes.

His magical ability seemed to have suddenly grown stronger!

He hadn't felt himself improve like this since reaching adulthood. He had sought out Voldemort precisely because he wanted to become a better wizard.

Yet Voldemort, whom he had gone to such lengths to find, had become his master. And now a little snack someone had whipped up could strengthen his magic?

How was he supposed to bear that?

Quirrell began to tremble. He felt like one great joke.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" The others saw him shaking and thought the food had made him ill. They immediately began shouting.

Hawke stopped himself from eating his piece and turned to demand an explanation from Ron. "Ron, what's going on?"

"I don't know!" Ron looked baffled. He truly didn't believe anything Cedric had made could be faulty; Cedric ate it himself, after all. But Quirrell's reaction didn't look fake, and unease gripped him. "Mr. Quirrell, what's wrong?"

"I'm... fine." As he spoke, Quirrell burst into tears.

"You're crying, and you say you're fine?" Ron's heart sank. "Are you feeling unwell? Should I take you to St. Mungo's?"

"No, there's no need. It just tastes so good that I got a little emotional." Quirrell waved a hand as he sobbed. "Sorry to disturb you all. I'll excuse myself."

The wizards watched Quirrell head upstairs, his shoulders heaving. They exchanged bewildered looks.

"Can it really be so good it made him cry?" someone muttered skeptically, but most eyes were fixed on the plate of Rock Sugar Biting Cabbage.

There was only one way to find out: taste it.

"One serving for me!"

"I'll take two!"

"You're greedy! Give me five!"

"Easy, easy! There's enough for everyone. Sales are limited to two pieces per person!" Ron shouted as he collected their money, secretly setting aside a serving for himself.

"Whoa! Eating this actually makes your spells stronger!" Before long, someone noticed the Rock Sugar Biting Cabbage's effect.

"It really does! That's incredible. It's even stronger than yesterday's roast meat!"

The wizards erupted. Many immediately wanted to share the news with their friends.

And so Cedric's name slowly spread among the wizards.