Rock cakes?

Those things...

Just thinking about the texture of rock cakes, Draco felt a sour sensation in his teeth.

No way, can’t handle them at all.

Only someone with teeth as good as Harry’s could manage a couple of bites, he thought.

Hopefully, Miss Saru is fine.

Since no one was willing to go, Harry didn’t push, and so he left the hall with Annie, Ron, who was in a dilemma, and Hermione, who was jotting down notes for her thesis.

Inside Hagrid’s hut, he was happily baking rock cakes. Seeing Harry and the others, he came up and gave each of them a hug.

"This is Annie," Harry introduced to Hagrid, "Annie Saru, a Slytherin classmate, and my good friend."

"Oh, hello, Annie," Hagrid cheerfully rubbed his bushy beard, "Nice to meet you—you’re this year’s transfer student, right? It’s strange, it seems every transfer student becomes good friends with Harry."

Harry smiled to himself but didn’t plan to share with Hagrid—not because their relationship was bad, but because he knew Hagrid was naturally a master at mind reading and couldn’t keep any secret.

Anything that reached him would be known to all of Hogwarts within three days.

"Hello, Hagrid," Annie replied softly.

"I told Annie your rock cakes are delicious," Harry said as everyone sat on the sofa, "She’s curious and wanted to try them."

"Oh! Rock cakes!" Hagrid said happily, "I specially baked some paired with tea for you today, just wait a moment, I’ll brew some tea first..."

Anyone would be happy to be praised, especially someone like Hagrid, being complimented on his cooking would certainly make him happy.

Genuinely happy.

Hagrid busily fetched a can of tea leaves from under a side table, then took out a huge mug—even for someone as big as Hagrid, it was immense.

He carefully grabbed a handful of tea leaves from the can and threw them into the mug, added some water, and put it on the stove to brew.

"Smells great." Hermione sniffed.

"Authentic Ceylon black tea," Hagrid said happily, "It’s been a while since you came over to visit, so of course I want you to try some good tea..."

"It’s not that simple, is it?" Hermione gave a knowing smile, "Where did you get this tea from, Hagrid~"

"Oh." Hagrid scratched the back of his head, smiling shyly, "It was a gift from Olim, haha... the Mrs. Maxim you often mention."

Ron whistled playfully.

"Seems like things are going well between you two?" he asked.

"Not bad, not bad." Hagrid stroked his beard and took the tea mug off the stove, pouring out tea for everyone.

He also brought out freshly baked rock cakes, giving each of them a huge piece.

This thing, actually, Hagrid treats it like cookies to munch on.

But the problem is, Hagrid is just too large, much like how a bottled water in O’Neal’s hands would become a tiny oral liquid, what Hagrid views as cookies appear like pizza-sized to regular people like Harry and his friends.

Annie held the huge rock cake, momentarily unsure of where to start.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione weren’t eating but instead stared at Annie, making her a bit self-conscious.

After thinking for a while, Annie decided to take a bite and try it.

She opened her small mouth and bit into the rock cake.

"Ouch..."

She covered her mouth, crying out in pain.

That bite felt like biting into a rock.

"Hahahahaha..." the three of them laughed together, Harry wiping the tears of laughter away, took his rock cake, and used a magic spell to break it into small pieces, soaking them in ready milk.

"Like this," he demonstrated, "You soak it in milk, it can soften this way—actually, if you try it, rock cakes soaked until soft are really delicious."

With that, he used his magic wand to conjure a fork, taking the bowl to have a couple of bites.

Mmm, just the same flavor...

"Haha." Hagrid scratched his head and laughed, "I used to think maybe people didn’t like it, but Harry invented this new way to eat them... As you guys might know, I’m quite strong, and my teeth are pretty strong too..."

Annie held her mouth, tearful, lightly pinching Harry several times playfully.

She seemed to be acting cute.

"Harry!" she reproachfully said, "Why didn’t you tell me earlier! So annoying..."

Ron glanced at Annie, then at Hermione.

He thought just those two subtle expressions and actions of Annie’s were enough for Gryffindor women to learn for a lifetime.

"Hahaha." Harry laughed loudly, "It’s just a little joke... well, now you know the right way to eat it, why not try it?"

"Oh." Annie, puffing up in annoyance, took the milk bowl and soaked some rock cake in it. After trying it, she found it was actually not bad.

"How is it?" Harry patted Annie’s leg, "Not bad, right?"

"Mm, delicious." Annie nodded vigorously.

"By the way, Harry," Hagrid suddenly said, "I still haven’t congratulated you on becoming a professor—honestly, I never thought, in my lifetime, I’d see a Hogwarts student become a professor—not after graduation, but before it, it’s truly an unprecedented feat, isn’t it?"

"I have no choice." Harry sighed, "Who else can teach since that pink toad has no... well, no teaching ability at all?"

"Indeed." Ron slurped on his soaked rock cake, speaking unclearly, "Even if she had a bit of ability, it wouldn’t be like she has none at all!"