It all started when Harry was making a cup of tea for himself and Severus who had begrudgingly come round, as it would be rude not to at least be civil to the person who had saved your life. Harry was now working for the ministry of magic. The older man put up with Harry mostly because of the fact that he had saved his life.
The older man heard Harry saying "Alexa 4 minute timer please" this was obviously some Muggle thing he deduced. After their tea and uncomfortable polite conversation Severus left, but he couldn't stop thinking about the timer it had gone off after 4 minutes and stopped when Harry had said, he wondered if it could do anything else?
It was four days later that Severus went back, he new that Harry was at work today. Stepping out of the fireplace he went into the kitchen cleared his throat and he asked "Alexa what time is it?" he looked at the clock as the machine answered correctly, Severus had a giddy expression on his face, the possibilities were running through his head.
Wondering what else it could do he looked in the fridge, he wondered if the Muggle thing could tell him how to make fried eggs and toast he hadn't had much breakfast that morning.
Severus sat at the table looking amazed at the two eggs sat on a slice of toast on a plate. With trepidation he lifted his fork and ate, a look of complete amazed happiness spread across his face. He had made this without magic and he'd enjoyed himself.
That was how it started every Saturday he'd sneak round to potter's and cook, he'd ask what he called the Muggle machine named Alexa how to make things, often he'd have to magic in ingredients but that was it for magic he used, although he did of course use magic to deal with the cleaning up but that didn't count the fun bit was the cooking and the eating.
It had been months now of Severus sneaking round to cook, granted some things hadn't turned out well when he tried pan fried squid it had turned out very chewy. Today was a little different though potter must have been in a rush and left the telly on when he'd left for work. The older man was about to walk past when he saw in the corner of the screen UK food. He sat down cautiously a smile slowly spread across his face, as he realised what this was. A whole channel dedicated to cooking.
This was brilliant a guy was showing him how to make a stew, he could see what it was meant to look like. He wrote down the recipe with a quick quotes quill then set off for the kitchen to start cooking.
Soon he was sat at the small table happily eating the stew that he had made. He quickly used magic to clean up, but it was too late as he heard the front door opening, signalling that Harry was back.
Severus hid in the broom closet holding his extra helping of stew in a small container. He could see Harry enter the kitchen and open a small cupboard and took out a tin of soup, he seemed to talk to him self as he took out a saucepan "so tired, I can't be bothered cooking" he put the pan back and took out a glass bowl, he put the soup in the glass bowl and padded over, speaking all the time, Severus guessed it was to keep him on track "I know I'll microwave some soup" he put the bowl into what Severus took to be the microwave "check the cooking time 900 watt microwave, heat two minutes stir and cook for one more minute". Harry shut the microwave then suddenly opened the door "shit remember to remove the spoon, as Hermione says metal in the microwave, microwave go boom".
Severus watched with interest as Harry used the microwave. Harry sat at the table and ate his soup with some bread. The dark haired man looked at the clock and yawned and said "Alexa goodnight" the machine replied "goodnight sleep well," Severus had to stifle a small laugh. As Harry left the room he yawned and said "bedtime for me". Severus heard Harry going upstairs he made more noise than a heard of Erumpents going upstairs.
The older man waited until he was sure Harry had gone to bed then quietly made his way back to the fire place.
Severus stepped out of the fireplace in his own house holding his container of stew, that was close thank the god's that Harry had gone to bed stupidly early. He had to try out the microwave next time. He took some parchment and wrote 900 watt look at instructions and no metal.
The next day was Sunday and Severus put on his Muggle clothes. The older man apparited into Muggle London he went into a small shop. He looked at all the microwave meals, no he didn't like these, to him it looked like they took out all the fun of cooking. That's when he saw it microwave popcorn, they had popcorn in the wizarding world, he would be interested to see if this would compare?
Next Saturday he waited patiently for 8 o'clock when Harry left, then waited 10 more minutes to make sure that he was gone. Stepping cautiously out of the fireplace in the family room the TV was off today he saw the remote on the arm of the sofa near a magazine, he'd seen Harry turn it on before, and pressed the top button on the remote. The only problem was that this wasn't the cooking channel, Severus looked round the room and his eyes were drawn to the magazine that was on the arm of the sofa, looking at it he realised that it was telling him about the TV and what was on. A smile spread across his face as he saw things circled obviously things Harry wanted to watch, at the top of one of the columns was the title UK food and a channel number.
In the kitchen he made one of his normal breakfasts today going for two soft boiled eggs and toast. He sat on the sofa this time wanting to watch the food channel as he ate his breakfast, this felt very much like a Muggle thing to do, casting an inquisitive eye over the magazine he saw a show called master chef circled Harry had drawn stars and small doodles around the title in eye catching coloured pens he saw it was coming on in 10 minutes, Harry had wrote the word recording. Severus read the summary of the show it looked like it could be good, novice chefs cooking. He found the channel number.
In the kitchen he opened the popcorn he read the instructions. A shocked smile spread across his face as the popcorn started to make noises. He couldn't help it as his feet seemed to do an excited dance.
In the family room Severus changed the channel and sat down. He tentatively ate some popcorn and grinned not bad. The show started and the older man had to admit that it was compelling viewing.
He decided that today he was going to make shortbread biscuits, he made sure that he was gone before Harry's returned this time, last time he'd been lucky, he could of been stuck there for hours.
It went on like this for over a year a year of sneaking into Potter's and cooking, he'd had a few close calls. Severus new in the back of his mind that it couldn't last for ever, part of him even considered stopping but he liked cooking, and potter had so many things to cook with. He tried a food processor asking the Muggle machine for any hints.
One day though his luck ran out, the jig was up Harry had come home early. Severus hadn't heard him, all he had time to do was hide himself in the broom closet the food still in the oven and potatoes on the hob as Harry walked into the kitchen. Severus held his breath as he searched for his wand, with horror he realised that he'd accidentally left his wand by the sink he was well and truly stuck.
Harry shook his head and half smiled to himself then spoke "so Severus, what have you made today? It smells amazing" the older man cautiously stepped out of the broom closet.
Harry was busying himself getting out plate's and cutlery "Is there enough for two? I've bought two apple pies for pudding we can heat them up and have them with ice cream, there shop bought ones but there good"
The older man sat at the table stiffly trying to work out what in the name of Merlin was going on, Harry didn't seem angry. The younger man looked at him and smiled "Sev relax for Merlin's sake, I figured that you might like some company after a year of sneaking in to cook". Harry sat down and ate, the older man looked at his food that was served on a plate in shock how did potter know? Severus slowly ate trying to figure it out. Harry was right about the apple pies though they were really good, maybe he could try making an apple pie.
After an incredible meal that was the best thing Harry thought he'd ever tasted he spoke "the wards alert me when someone is in the house, my she who must not be named has a camera function, I checked the camera and saw that it was you, you seemed happy and it didn't look like the house was in danger".
The older man looked at Harry and suddenly a smile spread across his face and he started laughing it suddenly all made sense "you knew I was hiding in the broom closet last time didn't you, you were telling me how to use the microwave" Harry nodded "so same time next Saturday, maybe without you having to hide in the broom closet?" Harry asked.
As they walked to the fireplace Severus looked at the stairs and gestured in a questioning manor at what looked like two large bins filled with books attached to broom handles, Harry breathed turned round walked back to the kitchen, turned back round and said with a yawn "bedtime for me", Severus watched with interest as Harry walked up and took one of the contraptions in each hand, and proceeded to to make as much noise as possible going upstairs "I'm actually quite quiet going upstairs". The older man had tears streaming down his face laughing "it sounded like you were taking a herd of Erumpents upstairs with you.
From then on every Saturday Harry would arrive home to find Severus cooking, then together they'd sit and eat in the family room while they watched UK food.
Fin