After bidding farewell to the Lovegoods with a warm heart—and the winged radish still pinned to his apron—Kronk followed the directions from the old enchanted map.
The food truck rolled past golden fields, valleys shaded by magical oaks, and dusty roads marked by hand-carved wooden signs.
Estimated travel time from departure to destination: 0.00005 seconds.
An arrow pointed: Cedartop Estate – Diggory Family. Beware of the surveillance bat.
Kronk frowned just as a winged creature swooped down from the night sky and landed on the windshield.
The bat inspected him for a second, sniffed the air, and left in silence.
"He must've smelled the stew," Kronk muttered, shaking his head with a smile.
When he arrived, the Diggory house revealed itself as elegant yet understated: pale stone walls, dark rooftops, and a perfectly manicured garden with statues that whispered motivational phrases if you stared at them long enough.
Whether it was meant to cheer you up or make you leave them alone... who knew?
Kronk parked carefully near the greenhouse and stepped out of the vehicle, wiping his hands on his apron just as the front door opened.
Amos Diggory was an imposing man with neatly slicked-back hair, a firm voice, and an inquisitive gaze. Cedric, meanwhile, came out behind him looking more relaxed and curious.
"Are you... Kronk?" Amos asked, as if evaluating a Ministry bid. "The student and cook my son won't stop talking about?"
"Yes, sir! Certified cook by the appetite of half the school, and proud driver of this four-wheeled miracle," Kronk replied, motioning toward the converted bus.
Mental note: Add another pair of wheels to make it go faster.
"Kronk! I'm glad you decided to come!" Cedric beamed. "That pumpkin pie with molasses glaze you made two weeks ago for the common room?" —he gave a thumbs up— "Amazing!"
"Really? I'm glad you liked it!"
Cedric's mother, who had been watching from the doorway with a basket of flowers in her arms, stepped forward sweetly: "We'd love for you to cook something for us tonight, Kronk," she said, eyeing the sign on his food truck. "Cedric has spoken so highly of you, and we've got everything you might need in the pantry."
"Thank you, Mrs. Diggory, but I brought a few special ingredients with me," Kronk replied, lowering a box that smelled of rosemary, hickory smoke, and something that made the nearby toads float slightly.
The toads squinted at the flies buzzing above.
At last, the day had come when toads could fly—nothing could stop them from feasting now!
...
Unlike the chaotic, bohemian vibe of the Lovegoods, the Diggorys operated with a certain order.
Kronk set up his kitchen beneath a magical pergola in the garden, where a table was already laid out, covered in a cloth embroidered with handmade crests.
"Anything I should know before cooking for your family?" Kronk asked, flipping a pan in the air with one hand.
Amos crossed his arms.
"Cedric doesn't like overly spicy food. My wife doesn't eat caramelized frogs—or frogs in any form. And I..." —he looked Kronk straight in the eye— "I hate surprises shaped like soufflés."
Kronk nodded solemnly.
"Understood. Trust me: just a pinch of surprise, with no puffy shapes involved."
That evening, the air was filled with a delicious blend of maple glaze, dragon meat (courtesy of a very discreet butcher up north), and enchanted millet rolls that whispered compliments when broken apart.
Kronk served:
Charmed zucchini tart with slow-fire cheese as a starter.
Dragon stew with citrus-tea-seasoned vegetables.
Rhubarb soufflé which, out of respect for Amos, did not rise at all.
Cedric went back for seconds. Twice.
"This is better than any Hogwarts feast!" he exclaimed, licking his fingers.
His mother watched in delight.
"You've got talent, young Kronk."
Amos had to admit it—he'd been caught off guard by the non-rising soufflé. But it was good.
Kronk knew how to handle picky eaters.
After dinner, Cedric walked Kronk back to the food truck.
"You know," he said, patting his slightly full belly, "I always thought magic was just wands and spells. But you've shown me it can take many forms—delicious forms, at that!"
Kronk shrugged.
"Ingredients just need someone to listen to them."
"I hope you're sticking around the valley a bit longer," Cedric laughed. "Tomorrow we're having a picnic with the Weasleys on the east hill."
"The Weasleys?" Kronk's eyes lit up. "Perfect! Redheads are great for business!"
"Uh..."
Cedric wasn't sure what to say. He was well aware of the Weasley family's financial situation, which might not match up with the image Kronk had in his head.
He... had seen Molly use the Engorgio charm on more than one ingredient to make enough food for the entire family, especially Ron. The guy was a bottomless pit who hadn't quite figured out what he was good at yet—or what he wanted to do.
That night, as Kronk finished wiping down his favorite pan with a rag that hummed softly, he lay down on the grass to gaze up at the stars twinkling above Godric's Hollow.
"Not bad," he said, "for a guy who started summer with no galleons and no job."