Bangers & Mash

In 1915, there was much happening in both the muggle and the magical worlds. World War I was well underway, which had caused meat shortages. To compensate, British sausage makers added filler, notably water, which caused the links to pop and explode while cooking. This is how sausages got the nickname bangers (frequently eaten with potatoes, hence the name bangers and mash.) Archer Evermonde was the Minister for Magic during this time. Fearing breaches in the International Statute of Secrecy, he forbade magical folk from getting involved in the war. This did not stop many from giving aid to their non-magical neighbors. Such is the case when a young witch, named Annie Flume, happened upon a muggle boy crying and sitting under a tree. She was on a walk with her newborn son, Ambrosius, and stopped to ask the boy what was the matter. He sadly reported that his brother, Sidney, was just killed in the war and that his father was killed earlier that year. Shocked at the boy’s response and not knowing how to respond, she stood there for a minute saying nothing. Once she got her composure, she mentioned that she was an expert candy maker and that he was welcome to her house anytime for sweets. She pointed to the little white house with a red door. The boy thanked her. As she was leaving, she turned and asked the boy his name. “Arthur,” he said. “Arthur Lewis.” She told him her name was Annie Flume and that she was, working on some new candy recipes: a mint fudge and a candy that “pops in your mouth.” Arthur’s spirits seemed to lift a little. A few days later, Arthur visited Annie and was amazed at all the delectable treats. There indeed was a mint fudge and candies that exploded in his mouth, but also jelly candies shaped like bats, gumballs of every possible flavor, and a peppermint candy that, temporarily, turned his hair white. With her sweets and her kindness, she was able to help Arthur through a tough time. Arthur and Annie’s son, Ambrosius, became good friends. In fact, some believe that Ambrosius’ candy shop, Honeydukes, is partly named after Arthur’s sister Honey. And there is an example of how muggles and magic folk helped each other get through those tough times during the Great War. So, sausages popped and neighbors (muggles and wizards, both) lent a hand to each other.

Sources: britannica.com, noblehops.com, history.com, http://harrypotter.wikia.com, http://harry-potter-compendium.wikia.com, hp-lexicon.org, abroadintheyard.com, pottermore.com.