Next up was cooking, and -groan- Nott and Malfoy would be there as well since Hylla had the same elective as me.
Nott and Malfoy came in first, with Hylla - who was crying - and Zabini behind them.
"Are you okay?"
Hylla put her face in her hands and waved off her transfers to the only other empty desk. "No! They keep going on and on about how much money they have and how they're so much better, and I've gotten detention from Professor Minerva for losing them during lunch - but I was in the bathroom trying to clean up the mess Zabini made when the mirror "distorted" his features!"
That would explain why she wasn't there during the.. situation.
I nodded sympathetically and patted her back, awkwardly trying to hug her. It was always so awkward when someone was crying.
"It'll be fine...how about we switch just for the rest of the day?" I blurted out, instantly regretting what I said immediately.
Oh no. Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no, no.
Hylla brightened almost immediately though, and I couldn't take my words back. "Would you really? Thank you, thank you!"
Sighing, I nodded and headed over to the transfer students. I might as well tell them the good news.
Nott sneered at me almost immediately, but that was to be expected, "What are you doing here?"
I gritted my teeth in frustration and bit out, "Hylla can't deal with you anymore so now it's my turn to babysit you"
Just then, the door opened and before I could stop him, he waved in Professor Vestia's face.
Professor Vestia looked at him, startled, "Yes Mister Theodore?" She seemed pretty tired.
"I hate this class."
The entire class gasped and they all leaned forward eagerly to see what Vestia would say.
Fortunately for Nott, she just rubbed her head and pursed her lips, "Nott, please move your belongings upfront. You will be working with me for the day. And detention for disrupting my class."
Any lesser narcissist would be ashamed but Nott just picked up his bag and strutted to the front with more confidence than Meghan Markle. As he left, I couldn't help but notice a German crest of royalty imprinted on his bag - perhaps he had more royal blood than even Duchess Markle.
~~>~~<<
"Alright, today we're going to learn how to cook strawberry shortcake. Exchange students, I've heard that you're a bit, behind so step away from the stoves and observe for now. Recipes are in the back" said Professor Vestia, making her way to the exchange student's desks.
"I don't get why they're so behind on everything" Carina, sighed, annoyed. "Minerva gave us all detention because someone asked what an eraser was!"
"Yeah, I wanted to take a selfie and Ginny looked at me like it was a bomb", Leah laughed.
"You will never guess what-", I began.
"-Stop dawdling girls or I'll give you detention", drawled Vestia, and I quickly moved away from Carina and Leah to pick up the recipe sheet.
3 pints fresh strawberries
½ cup white sugar
2â¼ cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons white sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
â cup shortening
1 egg
I opened the refrigerator to get the strawberries but when I opened it, it was completely empty. Frustrated, I walked back to the desk, "Guys, there's nothing in the fridge. Should I tell Vestia?"
Carina looked back at me in confusion, "Girl, what do you mean? Look-". She pointed at Hylla who was successfully retrieving all her ingredients.
I blinked my eyes incredulously, then walked towards the fridge once more. But again, when I opened it, I got nothing but a face full of hot air.
Wait... what?
That was when Professor Vestia reprimanded me again. "Diana gosh, what is up with you today. Stop wasting electricity!", and swiftly handed me an egg and three jars of strawberries.
"Where did you-" I blinked again and I swear- everything blinked into existence again. Sighing, I walked back to my seat although I could feel Vestia's questioning eyes stare into my soul the entire time.
Although my recipe had fallen onto the floor, I didn't dare try to reach it. Instead, I grabbed a small fruit knife and started to carefully chop up the strawberries, hoping I was right. Finally, after a minute, I could hear Professor Vestia's voice again, trying to help everyone with their stoves.
"Press the START button! Yes, the green one. Not the red one. Good! DON'T TOUCH THE STOVE, Mr. Weasley! Goodness! Now did you guys crack the eggs yet? No? Alright, like this." She demonstrated. "Oh my, don't mix the shells please!"
Sighing with relief, I took the opportunity to grab my recipe off the floor.
Directions:
1. Slice the strawberries and toss them with 1/2 cup of white sugar. Set aside.
2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease and flour one 8-inch round cake pan.
3. In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons white sugar and salt. With a pastry blender cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and add the beaten egg and milk. Stir until just combined.
4. Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool partially in pan on wire rack.
5. Slice partially cooled cake in half, making two layers. Place half of the strawberries on one layer and top with the other layer. Top with remaining strawberries and cover with whipped cream.
Although the strawberries were a bit smaller than I would've liked, I began mixing them into a bowl with sugar. When Professor Vestia began to approach me, I could feel my face turn red and I busied myself with pressing the oven dial to 425.
Thankfully, she was just here to yell at Malfoy.
"I said, stir very slowly everyone! Mr. Malfoy, what are you doing? It's not a race for who can stir fastest! SLOW, everyone! Mr. Nott, why haven't you done anything yet? Do you need help?"
"This work is for house elves!", I could hear him sneer under his breath.
Unfortunate for him, Professor Vestia heard as well. "House-elves? Are you out of your- MR. WEASLEY, WHY ARE YOU TOUCHING THE STOVE?"
Once more, she hurried away to Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
After a minute or so, I heard her footsteps behind me once more and I sucked in a breath and continued to press my oven. Beep beep beep
I needn't worry though, as Professor Vestia easily passed me and began talking to Nott, "Now, gently shake the pan to smooth it out. If you don't want to get burned, then hold the hand-"
"WHAT THE FUCK!?!?"
"What now Theodore?"
He glared at the stove. "It's trying to kill me!"
"And staring at it will not make it go away, what in Zeus' name is wrong?"
"It burned me," he said, presumably glaring at it with pure hatred.
"Of course it did", Professor Vestia sighed, "Where is your ambassador?"
I joined her sigh and stood up, "Here"
"Diana, help Theodore to the nurse. This class is an absolute- RONALD! DON'T SHAKE THE PAN!"
Before Vestia could come back and get me and Hylla both in trouble when she realized I wasn't his assigned ambassador, I grabbed his bag and stormed out.
"So I guess I have to take you to the infirmary", I said after a few minutes of silence in the hallway.
"Don't act like I want you to," sneered Nott.
I rolled my eyes but didn't say anything until we reached the hospital. "Here you are"
Nott barred his teeth at me and grabbed his bag with his "burned" hand.
Maybe he was just pretending to get out of class? Shaking my head, I left before he could think of another insult.
By the time I reached the classroom once more- taking a quick detour in the bathroom- cooking class was almost over and everyone was also packing up.
I covered my unfinished concoction of fruit and sugar, turned off the oven (thank god it didn't burn anything), and copied down the homework.
Develop a chocolate mousse recipe for tomorrow
After picking up Nott from the office with Malfoy and Zabini - who btw were so much less chatty than Nott - I led them to my second least favorite class. Literature.