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(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
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Harry turned in a wide circle looking himself over. Two pointed ears sat on his head and a tail peeked from his pyjama pants. His hands and feet had turned to paws with sharp nails on each. His teeth had sharpened to points and he could feel the magical venom in them.
Slowly he reached up and wiped at his teeth. His paw came away with a purple-red colored liquid he knew was his grim form's venom. He grinned and quickly started to try and transform farther.
.-.
Harry waited patiently by his bag, wondering when Hedwig would arrive. As if called his owl flew in the open window to land on his shoulder. In her talons was a roll of papers giving Harry details of his trip and ideas of what to do. Hedwig also held a small charm the shape of a coin. It was the portkey. It was attached to chain and Harry donned it.
To leave say 'Glittering Gold'
To return home say 'Shining Silver'
Harry chuckled and then stroked Hedwig.
"Will you be okay on your own girl?"
She stuck her beak in the air and snorted as if saying 'of course'.
"I've charmed your food and water bowls. I also left the window open. Keiruim has not yet returned but I did not expect him for another day or two. Just leave Sirius's reply on my desk please."
She gave a bark and affectionately nipped his ear. (AN: For those who don't know: Snowy owls do make a bark like noise, the males more grating and harsh then the females, but it is called a sort of bark.)
He laughed.
"I shall be fine darling. You be good now. If you need anything go to…Neville. If you go to Hermione or Ron without a letter it will arise suspicion."
She nodded. Harry smiled at her. He knew she would listen.
"I have to go now girl."
She gave a bark and flew through the rafters towards her perch in Harry's room. Harry himself stood on the small space in his attic where the anti-portkey and anti-apparition wards did not affect.
"Glittering gold."
And he was off to Tokyo Japan.
.-.
Harry wandered down the streets his satchel on his shoulder and his new camera around his neck. When he'd arrived in Japan he'd first checked in at his hotel (a magical one) which he arrived in. Then he'd dropped off his suitcase and then decided he would enjoy some shopping and sight seeing. The hotel, Sakura Blossom, was on the verge of the magical section of town and the muggle one. Harry had first taken a visit of the magical side and found he had enjoyed it very much.
Tokyo's magical area had turned out to be much larger then London's. It was also much nicer. Instead of just having sixteenth century people walking around Tokyo Alley was filled with people dressed in robes, kimonos, muggle wear, and every thing else. Obvious Vampires and Werewolves walked about with Squibs and magic-aware muggles. Veela strode about with Goblins, and Faeries and other magical creatures flew through the crowds chattering in their own languages. There was no prejudice or hate. Everyone got along.
It also appeared Japan had different views on Dark and Light. There was no dark or light, just magic. They had accepted this fact and embraced it. Law enforcers still drifted through the alley keeping an eye out as there were rules to what could and could not be used in crowds and such. But Harry had found dark magic books for sale up front along with cursed items. Everything was taxed normally and tagged like any light item in Britain. It was all controlled sales and Japan profited while also allowing its citizens freedom. Muggle items charmed were not banned either. Harry had bought a digital camera that was also charmed to have an option to take magical pictures or muggle pictures.
Harry found the freedom wonderful. He'd already spent a bunch on books and items he would never get in Britain. A few he wouldn't even be able to reveal in Britain.
Now he was walking around normal Tokyo and enjoying his free time. He'd already stopped at a few tourist sights and bought some thing. He had the day free and he was going to take advantage of that.
.-.
July 22nd
Friday
.-.
Harry gazed around the competition area and was in awe of all the cooking stations. They all looked immaculate and new. Harry could see people already looking over their stations and double checking their things. Harry stepped up to his own station and ran a hand over the smooth counter.
The competition was being held in a large hall that fit fifty cooking stations. It was also holding on this day, three different competitions. Harry was entered in the cake section and the 'healthy dessert' section. The first was just baking a cake. The second was making a dessert that was healthy but delicious. The last section was the candy section, for making hard candies and other such things. Harry had no experience in this area though it looked like fun.
Harry found himself standing to attention five minutes later as the judges started to talk and announce the category they were in. Harry soon found himself also following all the competitors to the front of the hall to a large set of tables holding ingredients to everything. Harry found they had five different types of eggs, flower, sugar, and pretty much everything making the cooks have to choose what they wanted to use. One smaller table held a bunch of odder items like spices, fruits, and icing sugars. Harry grabbed what he needed and returned to his station. He set the things down and smiled as he opened the first bag of sugar.
.-.
Harry looked up at the timer at the front of the room and found he had five minutes left. He didn't need that five minutes though. He put the last touch on his cake, a pattern of icing. He'd had a hard time choosing what cake he would be making. Out of his top choices he'd chosen strawberry shortcake, red velvet cake, and spice cake. He'd ruled out the spice cake as he had been unsure if they would have the spices he liked to use. It had been a close tie between the other two.
In the end he had made a mix between the two. He'd made a shortcake and used the red velvet idea to die it a beautiful red. Then he'd sliced the cake in half and added strawberries and icing. The icing was richer then a normal shortcake usually had, but not as rich as a red velvet cake would have. Then he covered the whole round cake in the same icing and added a swirling design of red colored icing on the edges and the top. Finally he had put a dollop of white swirled icing at equal points on the top and around the bottom edge of the cake and put whole strawberries (green chopped off) on it. Visual was apart of the competition along with taste and smell. His cake smelled of vanilla cake and strawberry while it looked quite nice if he did say so himself.
The timer rang and Harry stepped away from the counter so everyone could easily see he was finished. All the other cooks did the same. Harry hadn't been surprised to find all the stations filled with people. The entrance fee was pretty much just paying for the ingredients and the judges time. Most of the people here were mothers or grandmothers. Harry was the youngest competitor and the only foreigner. It didn't mean this was just a competition for fun though. There were a few professional looking people though and what looked like bakery or restaurant owners. The judges were also professional pastry cooks and not just any house wife would win this competition.
The judges started to walk to each station where each took a small slice of cake from the baker and nibbled on it before writing on their clipboards and talking softly with each competitor. Harry found he was on the edge of the area, but in the middle so he was almost exactly half way through. The judges smiled at him as they arrived at his station. He bowed his head in acknowledgement and politely, but skilfully cut a small section of his cake. The judges seemed surprised at what the cake looked like.
"I am not familiar with this recipe." The male judge said in Japanese.
Griphook had got a translating spell on the chain that held Harry's portkey so Harry could understand everyone.
"My own design." Harry said easily. "Mix between Japanese strawberry shortcake and red velvet cake."
He handed each of then the sliver of cake and watched calmly as they each took a bite smiling.
The cake is delicious." The woman judge moaned. "It's soft and spongy at the same time. And the icing is perfect. Not to rich, but sweet enough to make you crave for more."
The other judges nodded agreement and finished off the small piece before quickly jotting notes down. They offered him smiles and set off to the next booth. The man at the station in front of him grinned at him and came over with a slice of cake. This was one of the people had pegged as a professional. He just had the feel about him.
"Want to trade?" The man asked holding his slice of devil cake out.
Harry grinned and handed him a slice of his own cake. The man leaned against the counter and smiled at him.
"I'm Hikaru Jun. I'm a professional pastry chef and I own a small restaurant."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Potter Harry. I just like to bake and have plans to open a café in London England."
"Wow. You came a long way for this thing."
"Yes. May I ask why you are in this competition?"
"This competition happens once a year. If you can win either first, second, or third you can almost instantly get hired at any four star restaurant. It looks wonderful on a resume. And then there's the prize money."
"Ah." Harry said finally taking a bite of the cake in his hand.
It was good. Moist and soft and drool worthy. Harry let out a small pleased noise that was echoed by Jun.
"This is wonderful. How old are you kid?"
"I turn fourteen in a week. And yours is also delicious."
Jun laughed.
"Thanks, but you still beat me. Yours is like a taste of heaven."
Harry blinked. Then he blushed.
"I didn't think mine would be that good." He shrugged. "I didn't come expecting to win."
Jun grinned at him with a twinkle in his eyes and Harry knew the man did expect him to win. Harry glanced at his cake. Maybe he would win.
.-.
"We now have the results of the Cake Category." The female judge smiled as she looked over all the competitors. "We would like to thank you all for your wonderful desserts and congratulate you all on a well done performance. We shall now announce the winners."
She stepped back and the tallest male judge cleared his throat.
"In third place we have Tsunade Rin." He smiled.
A short brunette woman smiled amidst the clapping and strode forward to accept the small envelope of the cash prize along with the small medal in the shape of a cake. She returned to her station and the second male judge stepped forwards.
"In second place we have Hikaru Jun."
Jun sent Harry a 'told-you-so' look.
"See kid you did beat me."
"They haven't said that." Harry protested.
"As good have. Your cake was better then mine."
He hurried to the front where he was handed the same things the woman before him was. He smiled politely as a news camera flashed and Harry groaned as he realized a newspaper crew was here.
"And finally," The last judge said, "In first place we have Potter Harry."
Harry strode up to the front of the room and put on a pleasant, polite smile. He accepted the envelope of cash along with a paper certificate and a small trophy that had a cake on the top. He smiled and thanked the judge before returning to his station where some news person cut him off.
"I'm Akira from Tokyo News. Can you please tell us a bit of yourself?" She smiled pleasantly.
She was nice enough so Harry nodded.
"My name is Potter Harry. I'm a British citizen. I live in London and enjoy cooking. Cakes are my specialty. I have a hope of opening a small cake café."
She scribbled the notes down and smiled at him as a man with a camera stepped forwards to flash a close up of his face. He gave a polite smile. When they were gone he quickly grabbed his cake which had been moved to a paper plate. He wrapped it with some plastic wrap handed around. He found himself walking beside Jun as he left the room.
"You in any of the other competitions today?" the man asked.
"Yes. I enter the healthy dessert category."
"No good at candy?"
"Never tried."
"Ah. Well I'm not in the healthy category. I'm in the candy one."
"Well it was nice to meet you."
"You too kid. Keep cooking."
Harry watched him walk away with a smile.
'Attention please. The next category will start in fifteen minutes. All competitors be ready by then please.'
Harry ran his fingers through his hair and smiled. He would be entering a parfait in this one.
.-.
Harry stretched and heard his back pop. He had set his cake on the small table of his hotel room. He hadn't won anything in the second category but it didn't bother him at all. He saw that it wasn't late and decided to go have a meal in a restaurant he'd passed in Tokyo Alley.
Ten minutes he was entering the colourful little restaurant and being seated by a bouncy black haired Japanese girl. Almost as soon as he was seated his was drinking some real green tea. He gave the drink an appreciative look and decided he was going to be buying a lot of Japanese tea before returning to Britain. It was much better. Soon he had a meal of curry on rice in front of him with some stir fried vegetables.
He found himself silently enjoying his meal and just relaxing, catching snitches of conversation around him. He heard about a child painting his room neon green and another conversation of a man planning his wedding. He heard people talking about the latest robes and some talking about some books. One conversation though caught his attention.
"Did you hear of the tournament tomorrow?"
"No. What's happening?"
"There's a duelling tournament tomorrow at Sakura Park. Anyone can sign up for fifteen galleons."
"Anyone?"
"Yup."
"We should enter!"
"Why do you think I told you about it? We'll have to get there at about seven to sign up. Sign up closes at nine but there will be a line."
Harry smirked over his drink.
Loving the story so far? There's a whole world of magic and mystery waiting for you with over 85+ chapters still to come! By supporting my Patreon.
You not only get early access to new chapters but also exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and special perks just for fans like you.
Join us on this enchanted journey and help shape the future of the tale. Your support makes all the difference—discover more and become part of the adventure today!
http//patreon.com/BLAKE025
(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~