Either way, Alex reassured him.
"Don't worry, Hagrid. I've kept a low profile. I mostly stick to classes and don't get involved with anyone else. By the way, let's not dwell on that. Check out what I brought you." He changed the subject, gesturing to the bundle of spices.
The shift in topic brought back Hagrid's cheerful mood.
"Oh, what've you got here?"
"Chili sauce, sesame sauce, bay leaves, soy sauce, sesame seeds—you name it. The food in the Great Hall is good, but I've grown a bit tired of it. I saw your vegetable garden outside, and I thought maybe I could whip up a few dishes for you to try?"
Hagrid's eyes lit up at the suggestion. He had tasted Alex's cooking before, back when they had shared some stir-fried dragon liver at the Leaky Cauldron, and the memory still made his mouth water.
"That sounds wonderful! You've got a knack for cooking, and I've got plenty of good ingredients around here, too. Come and see!" Hagrid eagerly opened a large cabinet in the corner of the hut, revealing what looked like an enormous pork chop and a massive pork leg, both frozen with a simple Freezing Charm.
"Professor Kettleburn gave me these. That there's from a Tebo warthog—stronger than any regular pork you'd get in the Muggle world!"
Alex was momentarily stunned. The sheer size of the meat was incredible—it was easily larger than a full-grown pig from the Muggle world.
"That's a magical animal? Can we even eat that?"
Hagrid waved off his concern. "Oh, no problem at all! It's a bit tougher than regular pork, but perfectly edible. I was thinking of curing the pork leg to make ham. The chops I was saving for the swan-tailed dogs—Professor Kettleburn's litter of pups is almost weaned, and he promised me one."
Alex blinked in disbelief. "Wait, you were going to feed this huge chunk of magical animal meat to a dog?"
Hagrid chuckled heartily. "Aye, they're strong pups—they'll grow big with the right feed!"
Alex couldn't help but laugh. Hagrid's generosity extended even to his animals, and it was endearing in its own way.
"Alright, let's see what I can do with this," Alex said, rolling up his sleeves. He was ready to experiment with the magical pork, seasonings in hand.
As Alex began preparing the meal, chopping vegetables from Hagrid's garden and seasoning the pork chops, the two of them chatted. The atmosphere was light, filled with laughter, and for a little while, Alex could forget about the complexities of Hogwarts life. Here, in Hagrid's cozy hut, things felt simple and peaceful.
Ribs in hand, Hagrid led Alex outside to show off his vegetable garden, which was neatly planted with a variety of vegetables. Despite the abundance, Hagrid explained that only a small portion of the crops were needed to supply Hogwarts. Professor Pomona Sprout had a large greenhouse, expanded with a Traceless Stretching Charm, where most of the school's ingredients were grown.
"Every year, I grow loads of pumpkins for Halloween," Hagrid said proudly. "Professor Sprout comes by and casts an Engorgement Charm on them for the feast. Look at these beauties though—broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes, ginger, cabbage, you name it. Aren't they lovely?"
Alex surveyed the garden and couldn't help but notice that most of the vegetables were common in Western cooking. There wasn't a single head of cabbage to be seen, and this wasn't exactly what he had in mind.
Trying to steer the conversation to something more relevant to his plans, Alex asked, "Aren't you growing any herbs?"
Hagrid scratched his head, confused by the question.
"Herbs? Well, there's plenty of those in Professor Sprout's greenhouse. Some herbs can be dangerous, y'know. Not something you'd want to handle without the proper training."
"Really?" Alex asked, though he already had an idea in mind. His gaze shifted to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, just beyond Hagrid's hut. "What about the Forbidden Forest? There must be herbs in there, right?"
Hagrid's eyes narrowed in concern.
"Aye, plenty of herbs grow in the forest—some mandrakes and mandala fruits are almost ripe this time of year. But the Forbidden Forest is no place to go wandering. There are dangerous creatures roaming, and we keep some magical creatures in there too—like hippogriffs. It's not a place to explore on a whim, Alex. You'd best stay clear of it."
Alex smiled, knowing Hagrid meant well.
"Don't worry, I'm just curious. Speaking of curious, how about we pick some tomatoes, ginger, and potatoes? I'll make us something special tonight."
The two of them gathered a basket of vegetables and returned to Hagrid's hut. Alex prepared to cook the ribs of the Tebo warthog.
Fortunately, Hagrid's large cooking pot could handle the massive ribs. The sheer size of the meat was daunting—each rib was as thick as Alex's arm. He quickly realized that ordinary frying methods wouldn't cut it.
Alex asked Hagrid to help cut down two ribs, which they chopped into smaller pieces with the help of a cutting spell. After cleaning the ribs, Alex seasoned them generously, using a blend of sauces and spices he had brought along. Once the ribs were marinated, Alex set the massive pot on the fire. He poured oil, added garlic and ginger, and carefully stir-fried the ribs until their aroma filled the room.
As the meat began to brown, Hagrid couldn't hide his excitement. His mouth watered, and he peeled potatoes eagerly, his anticipation growing with each passing minute.
With the meat simmering, Alex added water to the pot, covered it, and let it cook slowly. The rich scent of the ribs stewing in their own juices was enough to make both of them impatient. As the ribs cooked, Alex and Hagrid sat down, peeling more vegetables and chatting.
"Hagrid, think I could plant something next to your garden? I'd like a little patch to grow my own herbs."
Hagrid grinned. "Of course, Alex. No problem at all. You can plant whatever you like, and you're welcome to come by anytime. It'll be nice having more company around."
An hour later, the stew was nearly ready. Alex added the potatoes, onions, and a few more vegetables, letting the mixture simmer for another thirty minutes. Finally, after a long wait, the large pot of Tebo warthog ribs with potatoes was finished. The sauce bubbled, thick and fragrant, as Alex lifted the lid.
"Dinner's ready!" Alex declared, and both of them couldn't wait any longer.