⫶ kitchens

@－ ❛ ɢ ❜：winter llewelyn。⁰³ ( H ) mal did not want to divulge any more of the gift than he already did. he was excited to give it to winter, he liked surprising his friends. he put the raspberries in the sink and tried not to get too distracted by how good they tasted or how much he wanted to eat all of them in one go. he continued to take out ingredients and throw them inside bowls, of course, a little messier than he would have liked. however, mess was quite his thing. as long as the food will taste good, it did not matter how messy the process was. it was his policy. he looked at her after a while, and processed her question for a while given he got a little lost in thought. “oh! I prefer seafood,” he smiled, he did not really know why. he did not grow up near the sea, but somehow he has always preferred fish over any other meat. he appreciated that she asked, given he could be a little picky with food.

he took the mixer and beat the eggs, then added the sugar and the rest of the ingredients until he made a chocolate batter for the cupcakes. he stopped for a while to line the cupcake pan with some cute, house-coloured paper. he made enough batter for three pans, after all, they were planning to share them with everyone at hogwarts. or at least as many people as possible! mal was planning to decorate a few of them cutely to drop them off at his friends’ door in small boxes. he wanted to go the extra mile for his beloved friends, and it already made him smile thinking about their reactions. he managed to get the batter in the pans, and he put the pans inside the pre-heated oven. he knew he wanted some whipped cream to put on top of them, but he also knew he had some time given he needed to let the hot cupcakes cool down first. he decided to check on winter while waiting and see if she needed some assistance. “it smells so good in here already! what are you making again?” mal looked inside the pots curiously. but of course, curiosity killed the cat – in this case, injured the cat. he burnt his finger and had to put it under cold running water to soothe the pain. “the pot attacked me!” it did not, but that did not stop mal from exaggerating the situation. he will talk about it for a few days – how the pot came to life and bit his finger! or something like that.

[ pls do not worry, as you can see I am also late. I apologise for this very late reply, I am not feeling too well mentally so my speed is not the best : ( I hope you are doing well! ]

@－ ❛ ʀ ❜：maël clair。⁰² "something... for me?" the hesitation and the little pause in her words when she was mentioned about a little gift, for someone introverted like her to get a gift was somehow a rare sight especially when she doesn't actually not much close with people but only handful of friends that were able to understand her quiet moment, even though she can be hyper around her friends. ah, she should start making something in return now to consider how much mal put it up with her especially staying with her all these while, she like him– not as in the like like kind of feeling but despite of them being a year apart yet mal have the intuition of the older brother feeling than the younger one. winter can never knew how thankful she was for mal to be her first male friend she could ever asked for, especially when she was little scared at first yet how patient he was to let both of them open up together at the same time.

looking back at the book once again when mal mentioned it wasn't the greek language, it's seem the unrecognised language that winter had never thought of. "you're right– i guess time to do my own dishes and no parsley or cabbage, you got it!" she returned the book to where it from before taking out the pot and few other items while taking a glance of mal doing his own baking things. "does it? hm, maybe they do or probably they grow their own in the greenhouse? or probably like their own garden somewhere we never knew," the little chuckles gotten out somehow in the excited way before she took a few bites of the raspberries from his palm, the soft hums and a little nods that agreed with the taste which almost as fresh as they seems. now with her focus slowly starting to cut the ingredients and filling the pot with a little water, slowly let it boil with the powders and the ingredients that needed to be cooked first. "do you want it chicken or seafood?" she turned down the heat to the lowest while staring at mal who was busy with his own.

// of course ! we definitely are, i was thinking by then they already close friend for each other ♡ sorry its take a while again ><

@－ ❛ ɢ ❜：winter llewelyn。⁰³ mal chuckled at the memory, he does remember how startled she was. he figured she was a shy person. meeting her convinced him that she was not only shy, but introverted as well. “I am glad I did, you know,” he smiled widely, they made good memories. he had to thank his outgoing and extroverted nature for approaching people who did not seem approachable or who were too shy to approach him. “look at us now, we have come a long way! oh, this reminds me. I am making something for you, but you will only get it later. it is a long process, and I asked cassian to help me with it,” his secret project has been brewing for a while, yet unfortunately he had little time to prepare it given his busy schedule. he wanted to honour his friendship with winter and make a gift for her, one that he knows she will love. besides, it required spending even more time with cass, which he did not mind at all.

mal checked the book again and frowned a bit. “I have been looking into greek because of eleazar, and this does not look like greek to me,” he grinned at her cute gesture, and reached a hand out to pinch her cheek briefly. “and that sounds like a plan. do not stress about the book, just make whatever you want. I am not that picky with food. just do not add parsley or cabbage in it,” he nods a bit and returns to the ingredients, taking them out of the cupboard. he took out way too many things for cupcakes, but he was a mess as always. he took out some raspberries, and washed them carefully. of course, it was only natural for him to eat some. “these are so good! do you think they get them locally?” he asked and put some in his palm, offering them to winter too. his excitement was getting the best of him, he could barely stay still for more than two minutes. which meant, he was moving fast, throwing ingredients inside bowls and missing the mark almost every time.

[ I assume this plot happens around mid-spring? which means some months have passed since the library meeting. it would only make sense! but given timeline is always such a subjective thing, I thought I should just drop this note so we are both on the same page ♥ ]

@－ ❛ ʀ ❜：maël clair。⁰² winter didn't expected him to remember how they were first met especially coming right off from the instagram to the library, but somehow she knew that the part of her looking at him will make a good friend to have it and even to open up by someone that opposite with him. "oh please, i have no time to run away without leaving my books behind but hey- you kept your words coming down to meet me which make me trust on you more," she smiled with a little timid nudging to his arm at the side. once he placed his notebook to where she requested him to place, she immediately went to find an aprons for both of them before putting onto him for one. "there you go, before we can start our baking and cooking," while slowly reading his eyes and expression quietly.

with the latter responses knowing how hungry she was, she nodded by the suggestion he made before looking around at the long counter top right in front of them while thinking how to make sure they doesn't somehow clashed at the same time. "well, that's true and while baking, you can have a bite at the same time– that's right, who doesn't love chocolate?" startled by the reaction of his when he saw something behind only to see the cookbook at the back as she carefully take it to place it on top of the counter. "well, this doesn't look spanish or french to me- somehow a greek language?" she turned to look at him with a wide smile and carefully pats his cheek cutely as much at how she adored her best friend.

"we can start what we need to do, unless you need my help I'll come over for yours! let me see this cookbook and see if there's any recipe i can give it a try to cook," she chuckled softly with a hold on his arms to signal him to start baking first while she opened up to greet by the language that somehow, familiar yet unrecognisable.

@－ ❛ ɢ ❜：winter llewelyn。⁰³ “yes, you seem like the type to run away from people. you were surprised I came to meet you,” he chuckled, remembering how startled she looked when he sat at her table in the library. however, he thought it will just take her some time to open up – she was pretty cheery with him now, he was certain she would warm up to his friends too. but, that being thought, he would never force her. he only gave her a smile, reluctant to continue. he wanted his mind to be in other places – and it was, all over the place. he did not have a lot of things with him, but he put his notebook where winter asked him to before turning his attention to the kitchen appliances.

he was overwhelmed, there were so many things around he did not know where to start. he would soon bounce off the walls if he does not find some order in them. he spaced out for a short while, but winter’s voice brought him back. he looked at her with a grin, he saw her facial expression and guessed she was pretty hungry. “how about you cook and I bake? it would get you food a lot faster, I might take a while,” he said honestly, hoping he will not end up setting the kitchen on fire. he opened a drawer and pulled out some flour and other ingredients he will be needing. “I think I should make chocolate-raspberry ones. everyone loves chocolate, right?” he looked at her briefly, then spotted something behind her. “oh there is a cook book! it looks so old and dusty though. what century is it from? is it even in english?” everything sounded silly, but anything even remotely distracting will do the job. that was why he should not be left alone in the kitchen.

[ do not worry, love ♥ and apologies for the delay! ]

@－ ❛ ʀ ❜：maël clair。⁰² "really? I'm afraid to meet new people, even though i prefered to send through my owl so that way no one would know how do i look like, unless they seen me in quidditch somehow," winter softly spoke while walking next to him towards the kitchen with her books in her arms instead of in her small bag, she thought oh maybe she could held it in her arms first until she get a better place to jump in and rearrange the items inside. she noticed his reaction when she brought up about her family as she decided to drop it gently with the ending note, "hey, you're here now with many different friends and unique house that represents the inner you, fret not!"

once they arrived at the kitchen with a gentle greeting of the elves that somehow decided to do their own work while some decided to take their own break at their own place, winter stared blankly before her hands decided to put the books in her bag while opening the bag towards him. "put your stuff here! I'll put at the upper selves so that our stuff wont get in the way!" she smiles before waiting for him to place it in and put her bag up on the selves where there's some books left unattended. as much she enjoyed witnessing at how happy mal was in the kitchen, she never knew the small happiness to cook or even bake next to someone whom enjoyed other than her mom.

"muffins with funny message sound good! but," she stared at her hands before looking at him with an awkward smile and a little chuckles, "i am actually more to cooking than baking so maybe i can give it a try for this so guide the way sir baker! oh oh!" she just had an idea despite her stomach grumbling loudly this time which make her embarrassed at the same time. "we can bake first and how about this, while we wait for it to bake, I'll make something light for us to eat some proper food?" she hugs her stomach while facing him to see of his reaction.

// i think i made this little too long;;;

@－ ❛ ɢ ❜：winter llewelyn。⁰³ he looked at her fondly, her confession about bad economics was something he could relate to. he was terribly good at spending, but had troubles when it came to saving and making more money. his dear mint was much better at it, given he spent so much time in the muggle world. he did not doubt his other (boy)friends were good at it too, definitely eleazar who knew about everything under the stars and above. they were definitely better brains to pick for this, but mal wanted to help regardless. “hm, I must admit I have a big mouth so I could help you negotiate things. however, I might have to introduce you to some people who are more responsible than I am,” he nodded, he should introduce her. sometimes he got the feeling she was rather shy – he did meet her in the library, usually the place all shy people went to. the sudden family talk made him a little weary, he did not like to think much about it. he let her speak, and only added a short note that he hoped will stop the conversation from developing. “my father attended beauxbatons, they do not have houses. but I suppose it makes sense you inherited your father’s house, it usually runs in the family. there are quite a few exceptions though,” he smiled, and got suddenly excited by the mention of food. “yes, let us go!” he added, and did not wait long before pulling winter along to the kitchens. students were not always allowed in, but given they were much older, the school could trust them with the kitchens once in a while. “do you have anything in mind in terms of food?” he asked, he was quite clumsy in the kitchen, but he particularly enjoyed baking. “oh we could definitely bake some muffins and spread them around. leave them in the great hall with short, funny messages!”

[ got you, love ♥ ]

@－ ❛ s ❜：braeden laclaire。⁰⁴ “of course, that’s more than okay with me. i’m glad i brought them all then,” she answered earnestly. she watched with interest as he picked up another pouch, eager to see his reaction. when he accurately guessed the first few ingredients, her eyebrows raised in surprise. “wow, you got all that from one whiff? that’s rather impressive,” she complimented him. “what you’re smelling is likely the vanilla bean. i thought it’d be the perfect ingredient to tie everything together for the hufflepuff blend.” a sudden thought popped in her mind and she pointed to the nearby shelf, filled to the brim with assorted cups and pots. “would you like to try them right now as i explain? it’s about time for afternoon tea and i could use a good.”

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：winifred rhee。⁰¹ Braeden nodded thoughtfully, paying attention to the hufflepuff’s explanation of the blend. “I would like to try all of them, if that’s okay with you?” He inquired, although he had no knowledge when it came to making his own blends, Braeden would consider himself an avid consumer of tea and was always on the hunt for new kinds to try. He usually wasn’t super picky about the type that he liked either, so long as it wasn’t too bitter or sour. “But if you have the time I would love to hear about each blend?” He adds, picking up another pouch, “Is this..” He breaths in the fragrance of the blend “Rooibos....and oranges?” He guesses, picking out the most distinctive aromas. “Theres something else, but I cant quite figure out what it is”

@－ ❛ s ❜：braeden laclaire。⁰⁴ hearing his compliment, a shy smile graced winifred’s face. “thank you. that’s the ravenclaw blend, a mix of korean black tea leaves, blueberries, and cornflower petals.” even though he didn’t ask, she couldn’t help but list out the ingredients she carefully curated for the blend. she shook her head, pushing the pouch closer to him. “i’m sure,” she insisted. “almost all of the ingredients are from the greenhouse and its entrance. it doesn’t seem fair to charge for things i didn’t grow myself.” perhaps she could make money with her tea blends in the future but for now, she was satisfied with simply sharing. “so which one or ones would you like? i can point out the flavor profiles of each if you have a particular preference.”

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：winifred rhee。⁰¹ "The slytherin dungeons are just a floor below, i just...didnt expect myself to get... lost" Brae picked up the pouch closest to him, "This smells really nice" He complimented, it wasn't overwhelmingly fragrant. Plopping the pouch back down on the table he asks the girl hesitatingly "Are you sure I cant give you anything for these?" His hands fiddled with the strings on the pouch. He felt bad just taking the teas from her. It cant have been easy finding the right blends of tea, much less making 4 different kinds.

@－ ❛ s ❜：braeden laclaire。⁰¹ winifred shook her head, returning the polite smile with her own. “no worries, braeden. i wasn’t,” she reassured him. “yes, it can be quite the challenge to find the kitchens if you’re not already familiar with this part of the castle.” she would know. there was a point during her younger years where the house-elves called her 'little lost one' since she was always politely asking them if she was heading in the right direction. “thank you for making the trek for some tea. speaking of which…” she pushed the loose leaf pouches towards him. “here you go! um, i wasn’t sure which blends you wanted in particular so i brought you all four. they all have their own charm but i’m slightly biased.” she chuckled awkwardly, a part of her feeling like she was overselling their value.

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：winifred rhee。⁰¹ Having just woken up from a nap, Braeden still quite groggy. If he had it his way he probably wouldn't have gotten out of bed, but the teas the hufflepuff posted just looked way too good. He'd heard the kitchens were in the basement, but he hadn't ventured to this part of the castle yet, with both hands stuffed in his pockets he wandered through the corridors hoping he was going the right way. He was almost certain he was lost until he spotted a petite figure sitting at the tables set in front of (what he assumed) were the kitchen doors waving at him. Immediately he perked up, giving the girl a polite smile "You must be Winifred?" He asked "I'm Braeden, I hope you werent waiting for too long, these halls are quite confusing" He added sheepishly as he took the seat across from her.

@－ ❛ s ❜：braeden laclaire。⁰¹ when winifred posted about her house-inspired tea blends, she anticipated maybe one or two likes at most. the reception she got was both pleasantly surprising and slightly overwhelming. it was nice to see that her love of tea was shared amongst her peers. after sending out a couple of tea pouches via owl, she placed one of each blend in her bag and made her way out of her bedroom door but not before petting her snoozing shih tzu companion.

she walked through the hufflepuff common room, reaching out her hand to lightly brush the plants that passed by. soon enough she arrived at the kitchens, quieter than usual since the house-elves weren't going to prepare dinner for the next couple hours. taking a seat near the entrance, she placed the tea pouches on the table and waited, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. meeting new people always made her nervous; yet, it excited her at the same time. seeing the young slytherin approach the kitchen, she waved shyly at him in hopes of getting his attention.