Bagsy Beetlehorn and the Corvid Trials (The Bagsy Chronicles 2)

Eldritch and Primrose

Greenda stayed for tea that night. Bagsy felt embarrassed that her parents didn't bother to cook something even when she had a friend over, but wasn't surprised, either, so she'd recommended a local take-away restaurant, Dumplings and Dollops, for food. Her and her sister practically lived off their meals.

'Do your parents usually leave you to fend for yourself?' Greenda asked, looking concerned.

'No!' Bagsy lied, shame sitting heavy in her stomach. 'No, no, they love to cook for us. They cook all the time. They cook things like... vegetables and... bread...' Folding her arms, Greenda narrowed her eyes at Bagsy sceptically. 'They're just busy today, that's all,' she insisted.

Greenda fixed Bagsy with a look, standing in thought for a few moments. 'How about I cook for you?' she said at last, going to the cupboard with the ice slab and opening it. She was met with a horde of just-add-water meals floating within the ice. 'This isn't food.' Greenda crinkled her nose in distaste. 'Wait here.' She grabbed a handful of Floo Powder from a glass box above the fire place and disappeared with a flash of fire and the words "Middle Frogton." Ten minutes later she reappeared with a handful of groceries that she placed on the island. 'I'm going to teach you how to cook.' Greenda beamed. 'And you're going to love it.'

She was right on both accounts.

Greenda loved to talk and Bagsy knew and enjoyed this. Listening to all the wisdom she had on food was fascinating and Bagsy thought her brain would burst from all the new information she was receiving. Apparently, food always tasted better when it was cooked with love, so Greenda made sure to smile and sing and twirl around the kitchen as she brought together a hearty stew and some freshly made bread. Also apparently, muggles took forever to make bread. Greenda said her younger brother, who was a squib, took hours to knead and prove his bread, meanwhile she flicked her wand this way and that and the bread was ready to go in the oven instantly.

Bagsy looked glumly at the bread. If she wanted to make bread, she'd have to make it the muggle way, too.

'I'm only using a spell to speed things up because we don't have much time,' Greenda added hastily as she put the fresh dough in the oven. 'Usually I make it the muggle way, just like my brother. It's more social that way – we make the bread together, you see – and personally I think it tastes better. Sometimes, it's better when you're forced to do things without magic. It makes you more appreciative, and even gives you a better end result.'

Bagsy tried to bite back a smile, turning her face away and looking at the dough she'd made with a warm feeling in her chest.

By the time they'd finished preparing two mammoth bowls of stew and a golden loaf of bread, Bagsy's mouth was salivating and her mind was alive with new ideas for things she could cook. Greenda warned her not to cook alone but Bagsy was sure she'd be fine if she did. It wasn't like her parents would care, anyway. She could burn the house down and they'd barely notice.

After it was dark Greenda said her goodbyes, promising to visit for more cooking and quidditch lessons, and when she was gone Bagsy felt the loneliness that had been crushing her before was much lighter, and the last few weeks before the first of September, when she'd be returning to Hogwarts, felt manageable.

Greenda wasn't the only person she wanted to see, though. Mezrielda's letters had grown very short and formal, so Bagsy let her know when she'd be visiting Diagon Alley to buy her school supplies, so they could meet up and talk in person. Bagsy reckoned she just wasn't one for written conversation, but when Mezrielda wrote back, the tone and writing of her words seemed off. She said she wouldn't meet with Bagsy at Diagon Alley because she was too busy and Bagsy worried she had realised how lame Bagsy was and didn't want to be her friend anymore. As a result, when the day arrived to purchase her school supplies from Diagon Alley, she was already in a sour mood. Sitting neatly on the sofa in the living area, Bagsy looked at the Floo network fireplace.