The seemingly forgotten Glenn was actually taken to the kitchen by Lin Yingqing, where Mrs. Hawthorne and Mrs. Granger were already bustling about, preparing a sumptuous dinner for Glenn and Hermione's birthday celebration.
"Oh, Glenn, you're here already!" Seeing the small figure brought in by Lin Yingqing, the two ladies paused their tasks, cleaned their hands, and hurried over to give Glenn a warm hug.
"I heard from Gwen that you're quite skilled at Dragon Nation cuisine, so I took the liberty of bringing you over to help," Lin Yingqing said with a gentle smile. Glenn nodded in understanding, realizing his task for the evening. From his black ring, he retrieved a kitchen apron, tied it on, rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands, and approached the stove.
Several dishes were already prepared and placed in what looked like a magical container. Glenn could sense its function—it was likely a warming charm to keep the food hot.
"The ingredients are all over there, Glenn. Feel free to work your magic!" Gwen said as she patted Glenn on the head.
Glenn nodded and scanned the completed dishes. Most were meat-based—like Peking duck, hot pot, and Kung Pao chicken. It seemed the menu was nearly complete, and dinner could almost be served.
Considering the richness of the existing dishes and the limited time, Glenn decided to prepare some simple, light, and refreshing dishes to balance the meal.
With his direction set, Glenn used wandless magic to select the vegetables he needed. Though this wasn't technically the wizarding world, using spells to handle ingredients here shouldn't be an issue.
Glenn had memorized the entire Practical Household Spells book from the library.
Loofahs and live shrimp floated into the air. Within seconds, under Glenn's precise control, they were peeled and deveined, then cleaned in water. Nearby, bitter melon and white jade mushrooms were similarly processed, washed, and set aside.
Glenn's eyes landed on a black fish. Perfect—he could make tomato fish fillets, a dish Hermione particularly liked. With a deft control of his magical output, Glenn cast several small Diffindo spells, cleanly separating the fish's bones and flesh. The fresh fillets were sliced into thin pieces and placed neatly on a plate. He didn't forget to cast a counter-spell to remove any residual magic.
Setting aside some fish for Crookshanks' dinner, Glenn mixed cooking wine, pepper, and salt to marinate the fillets. His hands moved swiftly as he heated a pan with oil for the loofah, halved the bitter melon to remove the seeds, sliced it thinly, and blanched it in another pot. Meanwhile, he scalded several tomatoes in hot water, peeled them with Diffindo, and diced them. He also chopped scallions and set them aside.
Within minutes, the loofah was simmering in water over high heat, and the diced tomatoes were sautéing with scallion whites in another pan. The bitter melon was quickly blanched and then plunged into cold water. In a small bowl, Glenn mixed minced garlic, scallions, and dried chili. Draining the water from the bitter melon, he heated oil with Sichuan peppercorns, then poured the infused oil into the bowl to release its aroma. Adding salt, sugar, and vinegar, he stirred everything together. The bitter melon was dried with a spell, plated, and drizzled with the sauce. Meanwhile, the loofah soup with shrimp and white jade mushrooms was seasoned with salt and white pepper, and the tomato fish fillets were simmered to perfection.
Glenn's three dishes were completed almost simultaneously.
"Oh my, Glenn, that's amazing!" Gwen, now finished with her tasks, clapped her hands in delight as she watched her son cook with magic, his movements as graceful as an artist's. Mrs. Granger and Lin Yingqing also looked at Glenn with approving smiles, their hands lightly applauding.
Glenn's culinary skills had earned the admiration of the three ladies present—truly a moment worth celebrating.
"It's getting late, and the dishes are ready. Let's call everyone to dinner!" Lin Yingqing said with a smile as she left the kitchen to notify the others.
Taking on the task of serving, Glenn channeled his magic to levitate over a dozen dishes, along with the main courses and even Crookshanks' small plate. The dishes floated in two neat rows, heading steadily toward the dining area.
Glenn enjoyed integrating magic into his daily life. It wasn't just about convenience—like using spells for cooking, laundry, or cleaning—but also a way to hone his control over spells and magical power. After all, multitasking while maintaining precision was a significant challenge.
But Glenn was unfazed; he had long since mastered this way of life.
"Everyone, dinner is ready," Lin Yingqing's voice echoed from outside. Glenn followed the dishes out of the kitchen.
At some point, Antin had returned to the courtyard and joined the group chatting around the stone table. Seeing Lin Yingqing emerge, he stood up and began adjusting the stone table.
The central table in the courtyard expanded, and the tea, fruits, and snacks were cleared away. Glenn's levitating plates, utensils, and dishes—along with Crookshanks' small plate—were arranged neatly on the table. Everyone took their seats in an orderly fashion, with the little cat hopping up beside Hermione, fixating on its plate. Dinner officially began.
Lin Molin, the eldest present and the host, stood up slowly after everyone was seated. He seemed about to say something but, after a moment's thought, waved his hand dismissively. "I won't bother with formalities. We're all family here. Let's keep it simple and celebrate the two birthday stars turning thirteen today. Alright, let's eat!"
Everyone exchanged glances and burst into laughter. This former leader of the Dragon Nation truly had no airs about him. Even Hermione, Professor McGonagall, and the Grangers, who had initially been a bit reserved, relaxed completely.
The dishes prepared by the ladies in the kitchen and Glenn's contributions were exceptional. The variety complemented each other perfectly—or so Glenn judged after careful consideration.
Everyone ate happily, and the atmosphere grew increasingly warm. The conversation flowed from Glenn and Hermione's achievements at Hogwarts to the wonders of the wizarding and sorcerer worlds, and even to the future of both. Hermione, eager to showcase her intellect, frequently joined the discussions, sharing her thoughts and ideas. She was so engrossed that she ate less than usual, prompting Glenn to repeatedly remind her to focus on her meal.
"Do you want me to feed you?" Glenn teased when Hermione once again put down her chopsticks to join the conversation.
The flustered girl smacked him on the arm, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, drawing amused smiles from everyone around the table—even the usually stern Professor McGonagall couldn't help but chuckle.
"This is all your fault, Glenn! Now everyone's laughing at us!" Hermione's face was so red it looked like it might drip blood. She wanted to impress everyone and draw their attention, but not like this!
Glenn looked innocent. He had only wanted to make sure she ate properly.
"Glenn, Hermione, it's time for your longevity noodles," Lin Yingqing announced as she emerged from the kitchen, carrying two steaming bowls of noodles.
"Longevity noodles? What's that?" Hermione asked curiously. Lin Molin laughed heartily and explained.
"Little Hermione, you can think of this as the Dragon Nation's birthday cake. Longevity noodles are special noodles served only on birthdays. The whole bowl contains just one long noodle, and you should try not to break it while eating—it symbolizes a wish for long life!"
Hermione nodded in understanding, while Glenn's mind wandered to other ideas.
Perhaps he could prepare longevity noodles for his family members on their birthdays in the future—and sneak in some Elixir of Life while he was at it.
Longevity noodles paired with the Elixir of Life—what a perfect combination!
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