Philip chuckled as Harper clapped his hand in joy. It always gave him a thrill to have adults reacting to his creations with the same sort of joy usually equated with children. He watched as Harper captured the morsel and began to compliment his creation. Though truth be told, Harpers reaction had been a compliment all of its own.

"I'm glad you think so," he said modestly. He couldn't help but laugh as Harper offered him some of the chocolate. "We both know you're just offering to be polite - I have some for myself and my mother squirreled away so you need not share."

  

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— set by MJ —

"Oh thank the heavens." Harper said with a huge sigh of relief and a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "I don't know if I could let you take any of this chocolate back away from me. And of course I think so Philip, you are a very talented chef."

Finishing his firewhiskey and taking another bite of the rabbit Harper leaned back on his stool. He did genuinely feel bad that Philip kept cooking and baking for him on such a regular basis, but on the few occasions he turned down Philip's offer Harper sensed that Philip was genuinely offended, so he had long since stopped trying to accept the food. But that didn't mean he didn't want to repay him in some way. "Now please Philip, let me repay you for this delicious feast I insist!"

  

Philip blushed as Harper said he was a talented chef. He was a very modest man so while he knew that he had a definite skill, he was never one to blow up his own ego. He had worked hard on honing his craft just as anyone else would do.

"And how do you intend to that?" Philip was unaware of the flirtatious lilt to his own words. "I suppose I could get myself spell damaged and come to you for help." Not that such an event was likely to occur in Irvingly, magic-free place that it was.

  

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— set by MJ —

Harper looked at Philip, one eyebrow slightly raised, the opposite corner of his mouth tilted slightly up in a look of bemusement. "As much as I would love to be your knight in shining armour, I was thinking something rather less dangerous my dear fellow. Perhaps reimbursement, or dinner at my house one evening instead? By all means though feel free to blow yourself up and I will see what can be done to repair you if that is what you would prefer."

  

"I would never ask for reimbursement when my food for you are meant as gifts for our continued friendship," Philip stated thoughtfully. "But a dinner at your home, I would accept." He chuckled at Harpers next words. "I like myself intact with all my limbs so a dinner it shall be."

  

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— set by MJ —

"I can't say I blame you!" Harper said laughing, "I am rather attached to my limbs myself, so I am not surprised you are rather attached to yours also." No matter how often he offered, Philip would always say no to reimbursement, but Harper was rather glad he had acquiesced on the offer of dinner.

"Wonderful! Dinner it is then!" Then Harper realised that he was not much a cook, let alone in comparison to Philip. A simple bread and butter was his usual breakfast, and unless he was stopping by at Philip's home for dinner he would eat out at The Three Broomsticks or if he wasn't that hungry at Merlin's. He should have to do something about that. "But not too soon of course. I may have to learn to cook first."

  

Philip chuckled as Harper said he would have to learn to cook. "Don't pressure yourself too much - I do eat cooking by others often enough," he said. After all, at home he employed a cook and a small handful of servants just like most other people of his social class. Though that was mostly for the benefit of his mother since she resided with him.

"I could teach you to cook but that would feel rather against the point of you cooking for me in the first place."

  

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— set by MJ —

"And I could get the staff to cook but that would also be rather against the point. No it is settled. I shall learn to cook and present you with a meal as gratitude." Harper declared. Besides, he had in actuality done away with his cook. He was over eating at Philip's so regularly he felt it was hardly necessary. Of course is the job of the middle and upper classes to provide employment for the working classes, but he couldn't bring himself to pay a cook to not cook.

Finishing the last of his chocolate, he stood from his stool and smiled at Philip. "Now that that is settled, I fear it is time for me to return home. As always Philip, this has been a marvelous evening of fine food and even finer company." He held his hand out to shake Philip's, but for some reason that he couldn't quite explain he drew him in for an extended and warm hug instead.

  

"I'll be looking forward to it then," Philip said warmly as Harper insisted that he would learn to cook. He was looking forward to seeing what sort of meal he would be presented with.

"And as always, it's been my pleasure," Philip said, mildly surprised when Harper drew him in for a hug instead. The first thought that struck Philip was that he could easily make out Harpers personal scent this close. He probably kept in the hug a little longer than was necessary and his cheeks were flushed as he pulled away. "Come again soon, won't you?"

  

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— set by MJ —

The hug perhaps lasted a second or two longer than was traditionally considered appropriate, but it felt like just the right amount of time to Harper. And for some reason he could feel his heart beating a little faster. Then as they pulled apart he could swear that Philip looked a little flushed. It was a little warm in there, and they had just had some fire whiskey so it was probably nothing.

”Just try and keep me away! Of course I will need to keep eating while I learn how to prepare a meal for you, so if you will have me back before that time.” And with that, his heart racing, he stepped away from Philip, shone him a brilliant and genuine smile, and apparated home.

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