snarrygirl-thanks for your review. I'm working on longer chapters

Andrea Jacobs-Thanks

animegurl1088-thanks I'm glad you liked them.

fayrielchan-Thanks

flammes-you'll get a 3rd 4th and hopefully more

Ryon-Thanks I'm glad you like his sense of humour. It is like mine and my friends put together (God help him with that)

Lady Foxy Roxy-Thanks. I'm writing as quick as I can

valanthe-Ok you can have it here it is after a huge struggle with my brain to give it up.

potrickman-thanks a lot. My ego has declared you one of my fave authors now (grins). I've read your fic. I really like it please update soon.

Chapter 4

Harry received another gift the following morning, the personal gift. It was a two-way journal. There was also a letter. Harry opened the letter first, eager for word from the person attempting to court him.

Dear Harry,

By now you must have realised that I am attempting to court you using the traditional method. I feel that the first thing I must tell you is that I am a male. Is this a problem? There are rumours about your sexuality going around but you can never trust what the Daily Prophet writes. Are you currently single and open to being courted? As it says in the book I sent you yesterday the courting process takes six weeks but the couple can meet at any time before that time is up. Perhaps the Easter Ball could be our first date? I am going to keep my identity a secret for the moment as I wish for you to get to know the real me. I have the other journal so anything you write in yours will appear in mine and vice versa. You can contact me at any time with it. Its pages have been dipped in Veritaserum and it has a Peeping Tom spell on it so that no one but us can read it. Your owl will be able to find me with your response.

Forever Yours

Anon

Quickly deciding what to do Harry dived into his book bag for some parchment, a quill and ink. When he'd found them he wrote:

Dear Anon,

I have read the chapter, in the book, on courting and am intrigued. It is a good job that you are male as I am gay. Yes, I am single and open to being courted. The Easter Ball would be an ideal location as it is in six weeks time. You say that you wish to remain anonymous for the time being, why? Do I already know you? You do not have to answer. I am merely thinking aloud. I will allow you to remain 'Anon' for now but I wish to know soon. Are you free to talk through the journals at 8:30 tonight? I wish to get to know the real you as soon as possible. I hate not knowing something. Send back your reply with Hedwig. She likes you so I feel like I can trust you already.

Harry

He sent the reply off with Hedwig before he could change his mind. Harry finished his breakfast, chatting to his friends about his mysterious 'Anon' and the courting method.

Groaning Ron and Harry entered the History of Magic classroom, ready to be bored to death, or at least sleep by Professor Binns's lectures on the Goblin Wars of 1518. Hermione of course, was ready with her quill to write down every word Binns spoke, and fifteen minutes later was the only person still paying attention.

'If we put Binns in front of Voldemort he would be dead in ten minutes' Harry thought amused. 'Why would someone want to court me when I've got an evil dark lord trying to kill me?' Harry was starring out of the window, daydreaming about what he would do after he left school. He no longer wanted to become an Auror, he saw enough death and destruction in his visions, but he would have to continue his Voldemort training. Teaching appealed to Harry, either the Defence Against the Dark Arts or History of Magic, 'It could be quite interesting if taught by a teacher that didn't have a voice that could sent an insomniac to sleep. It has the lowest OWL and NEWT results in the school. Even lower than Divination but then again that isn't very difficult, all you have to do is imagine painful deaths and you get an easy O. One hundred and one ways to kill Harry Potter. Voldemort would love Trelawney, she could predict some new ways for him to try and kill me.

A sudden tap at the window startled Harry into awareness. It was Hedwig. Harry got up and opened the window to let her in, Binns didn't even notice. She was carrying a letter. The green-eyed Gryffindor took it from her and stroked her affectionately before sending her back to the owlery. He opened the letter hoping it was a reply from his courter. It was.

Dear Harry,

I am very glad that you are accepting my courtship. I am also very glad that you are gay. In answer of your 'thoughts', yes you do know me but few know the real me. I wish for you to among the few that I class as friends and more. I am truly sorry for how I have acted towards you in the past and hope to make it up to you. Yes, I am free to talk at 8:30. I look forward to talking to you.

Until then,

Anon

'8:30 can't come quick enough' thought Harry as Binns droned on. He looked around. Ron was asleep, Seamus was doodling on some parchment and Neville was reading a Herbology book. Only Hermione was taking notes.

Finally class ended, people were woken up, it was time for lunch. As they left the classroom Hermione rounded on Harry.

"Well? Was it from 'Anon'? What did he say? She demanded.

"Yes and I'm going to talk to him at 8:30 tonight. I'm looking forward to it." Harry said with a huge smile on his face.

"Good luck with the courting Harry," Draco said as he walked past the Trio. Harry had befriended Draco when he joined the Light. Draco had been tortured band left to die by his own father when he found out.

"Thanks Draco," Harry replied. Then he noticed the look on his face, "Draco, what do you know?" he asked suspiciously.

"Now why would you think that I would tell you?" he said amused.

"Draco you would tell me if it was a joke or someone who wanted to hurt me wouldn't you?" Harry pleaded.

"Of course. It isn't though so I'm not telling anything. See you," he said walking off chuckling.

"Git," Harry called him good-naturedly.

With that Gryffindor's Golden Trio walked off towards the Great Hall.

Later that day

"Finally! I thought it would never be time," Harry announced, "See you guys," he called over his shoulder as he sped off to the boys dorms.

"Think he's eager?" Hermione asked Ron.

Harry took the journal out of his trunk and sat on his bed, drawing the curtains and casting a silencing charm, just in case Seamus and Dean came in. They were quite loud.

Opening the journal he dipped his quill in the ink and wrote:

H - Hi Anon. Are you there?

A – Yes Harry, I'm here. How are you?

H – I'm fine. And you?

A – Fine

H – Can I ask you a question?

A – You can. I may not answer it though.

H – Why do you want to court me? I have an evil megalomaniac after me.

A – You will know why soon. I also have confidence that you will defeat the Dark Lord.

H – Ok then. Thank you for the gifts. You have amazing taste. Did you know what I would like or did you guess?

A – I tried to pick something that was useful as well as symbolic or personal. The roses because they show my affection, the book because the traditional method for courting is not known by all and only by purebloods normally and the journal because I wish to be able to talk to you even if it is not face to face.

H – Well they were very useful.

A – I'm glad

H – You seem to know more about me than I do of you (I don't know who you are) so tell me. What are your interests?

A – I enjoy reading, music, flying and duelling. What are yours?

H – I love flying, duelling, shopping strangely enough and despite popular belief Potions.

A – You like Potions? But I thought you were terrible at them.

H – I'm not as bad as Professor Snape thinks. The Slytherins are fond of sneaking in unnecessary ingredients. Anyway why try your best when you are given no incentive? Professor Snape hates me no matter what I don't even try.

A - To stop the Slytherins you should put up a containment shield. You don't write as though you hate Prof. Snape. Don't you?

H – No. I actually don't. When he look at me all he sees my father. But he's saved my life you know. Many times. I respect him even if I don't really like him. I don't know him so I can't judge him. Since he was found out by Voldemort he has been a bit more fair to Gryffindors so it might have been to prevent Voldemort form suspecting him.

A – Wow are you sure you're a Gryffindor? That sounded suspiciously like a Hufflepuff.

H – Ha. No I am definitely a Gryffindor. But I was almost sorted into Slytherin.

A – Harry Potter the Gryffindor Golden Boy and Slytherin? Never!

H – That person doesn't exist. In some ways I am similar to Prof Snape. We both have masks that we show the world.

A – I hope to see beyond that mask and see Harry.

H – Maybe one day. I have to go now. I read my Potions textbook before the lesson. This year I am trying slightly. After all I do want a good NEWT result.

A – Goodnight.

H – Goodnight I look forward to talking to you again. When?

A – Tomorrow night?

H – Sure 'see' you then.

A – Bye.

H – Bye.

He closed the book and lay on his bed. 'Who could it be? He sounds mature. Is it a student?'

Eventually he got out his Potions textbook and read the fifth chapter ready for the next day.