An Old Family Recipe {Ellison/open}

[Terrence Watson]

Terrence whistled to himself as he walked through the corridors. A faint pitter patter was heard behind him, echoing as it got closer. Terrence halted, and turned around yelling, " Come on Jasper, we are going to be late" From behind the corner, ran up Terrence's very fat, fluffy cat, Jasper. Jasper was always Terrence's sous chef and only ever moved from the bed when they were going to the kitchens. Fortunately, it was a very short walk between the kitchens and the common room. Terrence walked up to the portrait of fruit and tickled the pear. The painting swung open and they walked through.

As they entered, they were greeted by the squeals of house elves "Oh Mister Watson! How honorable it is to see you good sirs." Terrence responded, " How honorable it is to see all you good sirs and ladies." They approached him with a tray of tea and small little cakes."Oh thank you so much, but I will wait til the little miss is here. We will just be in the back". Terrence began to back away from the small horde of house elves. He had a little station in the back where he was permitted to do his cooking. As a first-year he had solidified a bond between these creatures and himself. They were kind and gentle things that he had grown fond of during the years. He would bring them supplies from Hogsmeade so they wouldn't have to leave the castle, in the cold, and they would let me cook in the back. Jasper was merely tolerated ever since he had the notion of nibbling on a particularly chubby house elf's ear. Terrence had learned from his nursemaid as a child and it was a hobby he found relaxing and very tasty.

He set out mixing bowls, flour, butter and sugar as Jasper climbed on his usual perch, on the counter. He thought that baking cookies with Ellie would be a good way for her to relieve any stress she might have had from the first week. Terrence had heard the Wysecross name in his household a few times as a child. He wasn't sure how their families were connected perhaps it was a bond from the old days. Either way, Lady Watson had asked her son to keep an eye for the young girl. She was very proud that Ellie had made it into Ravenclaw, a feat Terrence himself couldn't accomplish. Terrence had introduced himself briefly on the train and asked her to meet him here after her classes. He probably should had chose an easier spot for a first year. He wondered if she knew to tickle the pear.

[Ellison Wysecross]

Ellison left the common room to go into her dorm room. She changed into a dark blue shirt and left her skirt on, and added some black sparkly flats. She didn't know Terrence very well. In fact all she knew from him was that their families knew each other. So of course being a curious little girl, she went up to the owlery with a letter in her hand. Dear Mum, I got into Ravenclaw! I had a good first week, everything is so new, but i have read my textbooks so much i think i memorized it already! Anyway a fifth year boy named Terrence Watson from Hufflepuff told me our families knew each other once. Is this so? How do we know them? Sorry i must be off... With Love, Ellie She even signed her name with a heart over the 'I'. "Sage! she called with little chirping noises. Her owl flew down to the shelf near her. Ellie gave her owl a treat, petted Sage, and tied the letter to her leg. "To Mum."
Afterward, Ellie went back into the castle and started to find her way to the kitchens. An older Ravenclaw gave her the directions to the kitchen. On her way, she began to see more Hufflepuffs so she knew their common room must be around the kitchens. Ellie was kinda shy, and every so often she would try to talk to a passing student. "excuse me," she said but they just pasted her. Ellison knew that she was to quiet about it. Eventually she found the picture with the bowl of fruit. She had arrived to her destination. Now, how do i get in? The Ravenclaw mentioned tickling a fruit, but not which one. "I guess i try them all... Ellison then began to tickle each of the fruits. First the grapes, nothing. Then the apple, nothing. Finally she tried the pear. She heard the portrait move, Ellie stepped back. "Third times the charm." she smiled. Suddenly a rush of house elves ran up to her. " Madame! Please have some tea! Or our cakes!" They were shoving trays into her legs. "Ugh... Ellie felt overwhelmed. One of the house elves grabbed her arm, a short one, seemed rather young. The other elves seemed slightly shocked. "Mister Watson! Mister Watson your guestie is here," said the house elf as he pulled her over to where Terrence was standing. Ellison straightened up, her cheeks turning red. "Hi Terrence," said Ellie in a quiet, embaressed voice. He had ingredients and bowls everywhere. And she was pretty sure he had flour on himself, and by the looks of it, he hasn't started anything yet. A cat was perched on the counter. She petted it, and said nothing about the flour. Not looking at Terrence, Ellison said, "So what are we going to be preparing?" Ellie turned toward Terrence and smiled. "Also, do you mind if i call you, um, Terry?

[Terrence Watson]

Hearing a loud commotion, Terrence spun around rather quickly. The bag of flour, lying on the counter, spun with Terrence. He reached his arm out to catch it in time, but alas, some still ended up on his crisp, new slacks. He would be the type of person that this sort of thing happened to, before he had even began cooking. "Ah", he said to Jasper, "Our guest must be here."Jasper made no response, he was not a very amused cat. It would take a great deal to impress him. Terrence climbed his way over the jubilant house elves in order to greet Ellie. Instead, he was greeted by an over zealous house elf tugging on a young girl's arm. "Toby..." he started in a stern voice, "You remember our talks of excitement." The chubby house elf let go of Ellie's arm and dropped his head in disapproval. He then grabbed a nearby rolling pin and began hitting himself repeatedly over the head. Terrence yanked it out of Toby's chubby fingers and set it back on the counter. "It's ok. Just keep it in mind for next time." he said with a shaky voice. What this poor little girl must think of him. Next time, he swore he was going to meet her in the courtyard like any other sane human beings. He gave out a bit of nervous laughter, "Sorry about the fuss, they are very excitable creatures, but they are kind things. Is your arm hurt?" he asked as he turned her arm over to inspect it. "Here, let's go to the back where we can actually breathe."

Terrence walked her around the kitchen and back to his station. He absentmindedly began cleaning up some of the flour that had split."I guess I should have started off by saying 'hello' first, shouldn't I? I am glad to see you found it here ok, but of course you're a Ravenclaw. I would have expected nothing less." he said with a smile. He began putting the bowls and ingredient back in there proper places along the counter. He turned towards her, wiping the flour off his pants, "Of course you may call me Terry, but only if I can call you Ellie."he said with a wink. He pointed to the fat cat lounging on th countertop, "And this is Jasper, my cat. He won't bite so don't be scared to pet him. He will be the taste tester today and everyday as you can see." Jasper curled up against Ellie's hand and began purring. "Wow, he must really like you. He's normally not like this, but he's a pretty good judge of character." he said smiling. "So I thought we would bake some cookies and you can tell me all about your first week. How was it, honestly?" he asked her while rolling up his sleeves.

[Ellison Wysecross]

Terrence told the house elf, Toby, in a stern voice to in a way, control himself. Ellie herself was a bit concerned on the house elf reacted. He began to hit himself repeatedly, although Ellison remember it was their nature to punish oneself. Terrence pulled the rolling pin out of Toby's hand and she let out a breath of relief. Unsure of how long she had be holding her breath. Ellie rubbed her forearm, but she was more worried about the injuries Toby had acquired over her own. "Oh, my arm is fine, nothing to it. Actually I'm more worried about Toby. Do you think he's alright?" she asked. Terrence then inspected her arm. "Terrence it's fine, honestly. My dream is to become a Healer, I know how the body works." Ellison gave a nervous smile. Deep down inside, even though she could barely tell, she wished her and Terrence were closer in age.

He then led her over to this small litter corner, where Terence usually escaped too. Ellie was petting his cat as he started to clean up some of the flour he spilled. She smiled at his comments. "'Ello, Ellie said smiling. "Thanks for the kind remarks but secretly, I asked how to get here. But how to get in, that was all me." Laughing, she watched as Terrence glided around the kitchen. She could only imagine how at home he must have felt. Then he pointed to the fat cat Ellie was still petting. "Jasper? That is a beautiful name for this cat. I myself have an owl named Sage. She is smaller and a bit shy, but I can tell she has a big heart." Jasper then began to purr. "Awe." Ellie smiled at Terrence compliment. "Thanks," she began, "I would love to make some cookies! What kind will we be making mister baker sir?" She giggled and continued to talk. "My classes are all going swell I do believe. Although I already hate flying lessons. I am awful at them! Everyone seems to be picking it up really quick but I just can't get the handle of balancing. On the other hand, charms is by far my favorite class. Honestly, it is so much better than I thought it was going to be. What about you, Terry? What's it like being an OWL student?" Ellie walked over toward Terrence so they could begin making the dough. Something she didn't tell him is she loved eating dough, especially chocolate chip. But she knew it was going to be fun, and pretty easy since she helped her mom with the cooking while she was home.