As the group wandered around the Festival, they came to a stage. On the stage were a group of musicians, 2 Fae on guitars, a Gargoyle on the drums, and an Incubi was the lead singer. Judging by the crowd of people dancing, it was a popular group. Fred and George took one look at the dancing crowd, and quickly joined the throng their jade and lapis wings flaring out as they danced wildly with each other.

Laric shook his head and glanced at Harry and Fionn before a slight smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. Moving to stand in front of Harry, he bowed formally with his left hand behind his back and the right held out towards Harry.

"Would you like to dance?"

Harry's eyes widened and he quickly thrust both hands behind his back, shaking his head. Visions of the Yule Ball ran through his mind, it had been an utter disaster and he had no wish to make a fool of himself again thank you very much!

Ice blue eyes sparkling with laughter, Laric smoothly turned and held his hand out to Fionn instead. The Fae looked at him a moment, golden eyes thoughtful, and then he slowly placed his hand into the Warrior's larger one. Laric led him to the edge of the dancers, where he could still keep an eye on Harry and the twins. The black-haired Warrior stood a good 8 inches taller than Fionn, but it didn't seem to matter, he flared out his black and white wings much the way the other Demons in the crowd were doing, and spun Fionn out and then pulled him back in. The dance seemed to call for a lot of lifting of the smaller partner, and twirls, waving of arms and generally twisting your body.

Harry had to admit it actually looked like it might be fun, but he still thought he would be rubbish at it. He couldn't even follow the dance steps in the Wizarding World, how could he possibly learn the ones in the Realm? Fionn looked to be having a great time, his white-blonde hair flaring out from his face with every twirl, golden skin almost seeming to glow. Laric's braids whipped around his body as he moved, they reached half-way down his back normally, but with the dance, they flew around to wrap around his arms, and brush over Fionn. As the song ended, Fionn came to a stop, his eyes gleaming happily up at the Warrior and his lips moving in some unheard comment. Laric laughed and placed his hand on the small of Fionn's back, gently guiding him back to where Harry was waiting.

Just as they reached Harry, Fred and George appeared from the crowed and carried Fionn off between them, heading back into the thick of the dancing. Laric chuckled softly and came to stand beside Harry, folding his wings to hang down his back and out of the way again.

"Are you sure you do not wish to dance?"

"I'm a horrible dancer, I'd just embarrass both of us and tromp on your feet." Harry could feel himself blushing just thinking about how he'd end up screwing up, and kept his eyes firmly on his friends instead of looking up at Laric.

"Were you the lead, or did you follow?"

"Following is the girl's position... I mean, I only ever danced with girls, I didn't ever think about boys that way until I came here and met Fionn."

"If you have a good partner, dancing isn't really very hard. You just follow their lead, I'm a fairly good lead."

Harry bit his lip and then shook his head, he really didn't want to disappoint the Warrior, but he just knew dancing would be a terrible idea. They stood in silence for a while, watching Fred and George dance with Fionn, passing him back and forth between them for a while before all dancing together. Harry didn't notice as his foot tapped with the beat, and his body swayed gently to the rhythm. The musicians were really good, and didn't seem like they would be stopping anytime soon. He was aware of Laric moving behind him, and when the Warrior's hands lightly came to rest on his shoulders, he didn't jump, but his eyes widened as he felt himself being lightly moved through a few of the easy steps. No twirls, lifts or spins, just a few steps forward, a sway to the side, and then back again. As nothing else was done, he gradually relaxed and allowed the movement, surprised when he didn't stumble as much as he had expected to.

Laric slowly started turning Harry to face him, still moving him through the steps. As the Warrior moved his hands to keep guiding him, he accidentally brushed over the top of Harry's right wing. Harry gasped as a jolt shot straight through him, his head jerked up and he met surprised blue eyes before Laric hastily moved his hand back to Harry's shoulder. He was surprised by the strength of the feeling, it had been stronger than when both Fred and George were examining his wings before they'd been changed. Gideon hadn't said anything about the strength of the feelings he might get, just that they were a gauge of compatibility. So did that mean...?

"You're thinking too hard. Listen to the music." Laric cut through his thoughts, voice just loud enough to be heard over the music. Harry realized that while he had been lost in shock, the Warrior had been moving them through the steps he had already been showing Harry before. Harry looked up at him, Laric's black and white marbled wings were flared out to the sides, gently waving as they danced and the Warrior's ice blue eyes were looking down at him.

Harry dropped his eyes down to Laric's chest, with the difference in their heights, it hurt his neck to look up at his face, and he was still a little nervous about messing up the dance. His charcoal and blood red wings twitched, but he kept them folded down his back, not quite ready to try adding them to the mix. If strength of reaction meant anything, then Laric was more compatible that Fred and George, he was more compatible than Fionn had been during their Courtship. He wished he had someone to ask, but Laric was out of the question for obvious reasons, Ash even if she was here, would have a field day with this. He could ask Gideon he supposed, but he didn't see much of him, and he certainly wasn't going to ask the twins what they had been told about this stuff.

He realized they weren't dancing anymore, and looked up in surprise to find he was being led out of the crowd. Laric pursed his lips, and gave a loud whistle, waving at Fred and George. As the others gathered around them again, Laric led them off with only a cryptic comment.

"I wish to show you something you haven't seen yet, and may get the chance to learn if you keep up with your current studies."

They arrived at the park they frequented while living with Ash, and looked around curiously. There was a small crowd standing in one of the open areas, and all of them were standing looking up into the sky. Harry raised his eyes to see what was so interesting and forgot to breathe for a moment. There in the sky above them, were 9 Air Demons. They were flying in intricate patterns around each other almost like a dance. A few of them had long ribbons in bright gold and silver, and they were weaving through the others. It was beautiful, and Laric said they may get to learn this?

"Air Demons are the best fliers, they can shift the air currents to where they wish them to be, but all of us can fly. You may never reach the skill of this group, but you three will learn to fly once you have full control over your elemental powers."

They watched the Air Demons for a while, until all 9 finally touched the ground lightly and bowed or curtsied to the crowd. As Harry moved to get a better look now that they were closer, he accidentally knocked into Laric. As the Warrior reached to steady him, he brushed by Harry's wings again. And again, there was that very strong jolt running through him. Harry's lips parted in surprise, and he looked up at the Warrior. Laric's own eyes widened slightly as he took in the look on Harry's face, and then he blanked his own face, shaking his head slightly.

"You are far too young, and while you are not my Vorthr, you are currently my responsibility. It is not a good idea, nor is it right." Laric spoke softly, so only Harry would hear him.

"I asked for nothing. It isn't my fault my reaction was stronger to you than it was to my own mate during our Courtship!" Harry hissed softly, just as loath for the others to hear this, especially Fionn. He hated to think what the Fae would think if he heard that Harry reacted stronger to Laric than to him before their bonding! "Besides, Courtships are supposed to be there to help figure out this stuff, age has nothing to do with it. And it isn't like you asked to Court me, nor have I asked to Court you."

Laric looked at him for a long moment, and then inclined his head slightly. "I apologize if I have offended you. It was not my intent."

Harry frowned slightly, but noticed Fionn was starting to turn towards them so gave a quick nod and smoothed his expression as the golden-haired Fae bounded up and snuggled into his arms.

"That was beautiful, I wish I could fly. But I would not wish to go through any of the ways that Gift might be given to me." Fionn's voice was slightly wistful.

"After I have learned, I will take you flying with me." Harry promised with a smile. His only response was a happy gleam in the golden eyes as Fionn kissed him softly.

AN: Vorthr is the name for a very specific kind of student, only used in reference to the student of a Guide.

Thanks as always to my beta, Nicky Noodle. Review responses can be found in the Forum, which is linked on my Profile.