Chapter Two

"I have no bloody idea what to do now," Harry choked out frantically as he flopped face first onto his bed.

"Ok, Neville, have you got any books?" Parvarti asked walking into the dorm holding a small pile of books already, another girl with her that Harry had seen around the Gryffindor common room, he thought she was a year below him. Neville dived into his trunk and started digging just as Ron raced into the room.

"Is it true?!" He spluttered before his eyes fell on Harry sprawled across the bed and the box in his hands. "Merlin's balls Harry!"

He winced when Harry let out a wounded noise and went back to trying to smother himself in the bedding. Ron sat beside him patting him gently on the back.

"Mmmpgg jgkhfgfdog jkfgfghdfgdfgh,"

"It'll be ok Harry," Ron chuckled shaking his head.

"Yes don't worry, you're not alone in this alone. We are going to do a crash course in courting," Parvarti said firmly quickly sorting through the books Neville had handed her and putting them into different sections.

"Natalia is going to measure you up and send the details to her mum, she's a brilliant seamstress, she will make you some robes that are suitable for a Lord,"

"Wait why do I need robes?" Harry asked lifting his face from the bedding to blink at the girl.

"Because part of the courting is gifts," Ron said.

"And?"

"Zabini will likely be taking you out to different places, all of which will include the need to dress nicely and correctly," Luna hummed as she walked into the dorm, drifting over to Harry's bed and curling up, half on top of him with her head resting on Ron's lap. Harry grinned slightly when he saw red head blushing.

"I have heard that he is planning on taking you to Lorenzo's," Padma said as she walked in and added another few books to the pile.

"Guys, how long until the next gift?" Seamus frowned looking at the piles of books as Ron dragged Harry to his feet so Natalia could measure him.

"Thank you for this, my mum will get some more business if people see you in her robes," Natalia smiled shyly.

"Its no problem," Harry said softly blushing a little.

"We would normally have two days, why?" Parvarti frowned.

"Not to throw a spanner in the works, but I don't think Harry reading day and night, not including the fact that he has lessons, will be able to get through all this in time, plus Zabini isn't exactly following the rules to the T," Seamus shrugged.

"Damn it, you're right," Parvarti huffed.

"What's a spanner?" Natalia asked curiously.

"Ok new plan!" Luna pointed her wand at the boys coat rack and transfigured it into a black board.

"Good idea! Now Harry pay attention," Parvarti said with a scary smile.


"Ok Harry, the right way to respond if he takes your hand?" Parvati asked slipping her arm through his. He barely blinked and didn't stop walking to class as he considered the question.

"If it is before the third date then it is my choice as to whether I allow it, however it is more traditional, and respectful, for him to place my hand to the crook of his elbow,"

"Well done! Though after that kissing the normal rules are a little skewed," Pavarti snickered.

"Stop laughing at me," Harry huffed.


"The second date should consist of?" Neville smiled as he stepped up next to Harry as they made their way through the common room.

"Something personal to him, the place of the date should reveal something of him to me," Harry answered.

"And the first?" Seamus asked stepping up beside them.

"Should be set to impress me, to reveal to me the truth of his intentions," Harry recited before grimacing.

Don't do that!" Ron huffed wrapping his arm around Harry's shoulders.

"Do what?" Harry mumbled.

"Doubt yourself, he would not have started somethin like this if he did not really want you, his intentions are true," Ron smiled.

"He wouldn't put his families name on the line like that," Neville nodded.


"What are you not supposed to bring up on the first date?" Padma asked as she dropped a book down in front of him.

"What, oh erm...money, social standing, how many houses he owns and..."

"And whether he is light, dark or grey," Padma smiled.

"I always forget that one, not that I am likely to bring it up," Harry groaned.

"I would say that the whole Slytherin/Gryffindor thing should probably not be brought up either," Padma said thoughtfully.

"Wonderful," Harry dropped his head onto his new book.


"Ok when you great each other, how he greats you will indicate how he interprets your relationship to go. If he takes you hand and kiss it, he plans for you to be the submissive one in your relationship. If he holds his hand out, he expects you to kiss it and plans to be the submissive," Neville read through.

"I don't think we need to worry about which one he plans on being," Luna laughed making Harry stick his tongue out at her.

"So do I offer my hand, or do I wait for him to ask for it, will he ask for it? Or do we have to kind of do it at the same time? What if I offer my hand and he does at the same time? Oh Merlin what if he..." Harry mumbled the rest of his conversation into the hand that was suddenly covering his mouth.

"I think we may need to prepare some calming potions before the date, its coming up quick and he's getting worse," Seamus said. Harry let out a whine at his words.

"Its going to be fine!"


"Ron?" Harry poked his friend in the shoulder. "Ron?"

"Whad?" Ron mumbled into his pillow.

"Ron!"

Ron jerked upright and blinked around the room before focussing on Harry.

"What's the matter Harry?" He whispered seeing the strain on his face.

"Shove over," Harry nudged him and clambered into his friend's bed where he had made space. He drew the hangings around the bed and tapped them to cast a silencing charm on them. Once he was settled he tugged the home made blanket up and around the two of them.

"What's the matter?" Ron asked softly.

"One of the topics of conversation during the first date is family, to make sure that no future mistakes and accidental insults are made,"

"Impressive that you remembered that yes, but why are you awake at 3 in the morning going over this?" Ron groaned.

"Because my family consists of you guys, an escaped convicted prisoner and a werewolf!" Harry said slightly hysterically.

"Oh,"

"Yeah, oh,"

"Well, maybe mention us and Remus but make round about comments about Sirius?" Ron suggested.

"I don't like starting all of this on a lie," Harry sighed.

"You really like him huh?" Ron smiled.

"I don't really know him," Harry turned his face away.

"Harry, do you like him?" Ron asked a little firmer.

"Yes, I do," Harry sighed dropping his head onto Ron's shoulder.

"If he is worthy of you, and if he really likes you, then he will understand if you tell him that there are certain parts of your life that you cant tell him until you know you can truly trust him," Ron advised.

"Do you think I am doing the right thing?" Harry asked.

"If you like him, and there is a chance that he can make you happy, then yes. He is clearly trying his best to prove that he is truly interested in you by doing things properly. Stop over thinking things Harry, just see where things are going," Ron tugged him so they were lying down and opened his arms for Harry to snuggle in.

"Thank you Ron," Harry sighed.

"You're my best friend, my brother. I would do nothing else,"


"Guys I don't think I look right," Harry muttered from behind the bathroom door nervously as he looked down at himself.

"Just come out and let us have a look," Luna called.

"Seriously I look stupid!" Harry groaned.

"Harry get your butt out here," Seamus shouted. Huffing and grumbling to himself Harry stepped out into the dorm with a bright red blush on his face, tugging on the sides of his new robes awkwardly. When he found the courage to look up at the others he found them all staring at him open mouthed.

"See! I look stupid!"

"No!" Ron stopped his retreat back into the bathroom.

"Harry you look amazing," Neville assured him with a small smile.

"They're right, Zabini will be drooling all over himself!" Parvarti grinned.

"Sit down so I can style your hair," Dean instructed patting the chair in front of him.

"Thank you for the hair cut Luna," Harry smiled as he sat down.

"It suits you," Luna grinned where she was curled up on Ron's bed.

"Mum was right, that colour looks amazing on you, it brings out your paler skin and really makes your eyes pop!" Natalia nodded satisfied as she straightened the collar a little.

"They're amazing, its just...are you sure I look right in them?" Harry asked nervously.

"You look fantastic!" Seamus assured him.

"Right do you remember what we told you about the greeting, the meal, knives and forks, conversation. You have it," Ron grinned.

"I feel like I am going to throw up,"

"You will be fine," Luna hugged him tightly.

"Sorry, Granger is on her way," Padma hurried into the room.

So far the others had managed to keep her away from him, somehow. He hadn't asked, he had been so focussed on the first date, that he hadn't had the time or wanted to worry about Hermione on top of everything else. And in truth he didn't want to face what was going on with Hermione and why she was so against him trying with Blaise.

He did however know that Ron and Hermione had had a blazing row and hadn't been speaking since the day after Harry received his present. He felt guilty, but Ron had assured him that this was not his fault, and that he would be ok, they would be ok.

Hermione was not something he needed right now.

"I will deal with her, give me three minutes, and go," Ron said grabbing the backpack from under Harry's bed filled with the products that the twins regularly sent him. "Have fun!" He said firmly making Harry grin. It sounded more like he was being sent into battle rather than on a date.

"I'll help, I have always wanted to take Granger down a peg or two!" Pavarti grinned brightly. "Do I get a kiss for luck?" She batted her eyelashes at Neville who spluttered.

"Oh dear Merlin, go before he is late!" Padma huffed shoving her twin to Ron.

The shrieks that followed, as well as the explosions made Harry wince, he could only imagine what McGonagall was going to say when Hermione went complaining to her.

"Ready?" Seamus grinned grabbing Harry's hand and tugged him into walking. The others in the common rooms were either staring or snickering as they raced through, but there were a lot of them calling good lucks to Harry as he hurried passed.

"Ok, good luck, and have fun," Seamus smiled as they reached the top of the main staircase and saw Blaise waiting at the bottom.

"I don't know if I can do this," Harry shook his head.

"Hey, you can, you have worked really hard at this, you have all the finer points down. All you need to do is go have fun," Dean nodded.

"You will have a good night, and if nothing else you will eat some good food," Neville grinned.

"Its going to be ok, besides we have put too much work into this for you to back out now!" Padma huffed getting a laugh from him.

"I will see you when I get back," Harry nodded. He turned and started down the stairs, plucking up the courage to look up and meeting Blaise's eyes halfway down the stairs.

The Slytherin was staring up at him with wide eyes, a stunned look on his normally carefully blank face. Harry felt his cheeks flushing at the look, and Blaise smirked slightly as he noticed it. He walked forwards to meet Harry at the bottom of the stairs and reached out his hand in offer.

Feeling a little silly but going with it Harry slipped his hand into Blaise's and allowed him to help him down the last few stairs. Blaise's eyes were intent upon him as he came to stop in front of him, that same fire burning in his eyes as when he had kissed Harry two weeks ago. He wondered if Blaise was going to skip tradition and kiss him properly again, however he seemed to manage to fight himself down, and raised Harry's hand to his mouth instead.

He kept eye contact with Harry as he pressed his lips lingeringly to the skin of his hand, his eyes still burning as he looked at Harry.

"Hi," Harry said softly licking his lips.

"You look stunning Harry," Blaise said deeply, making Harry blush even harder.

"Thank you," Harry said a little breathlessly, very much aware of his hand still sitting in Blaise's warm, larger one.

"I am going to apparate us, if that is ok?" Blaise asked. This was one of the points in the courting Harry had been taught, if he didn't trust Blaise to apparate them then Blaise would have a lot more work to do to convince him. He had thought hard about this, and had decided after a lot of thought.

"That's fine," He nodded. He received a small smile from Blaise at this, a true and honest one.

"Can I ask a quick question before we leave?" Blaise asked.

"Of course,"

"Why are they standing watching us?" Blaise asked softly, leaning closer and pointing towards the top of the stairs where the other were still gathered watching intently.

"How about I explain over supper?" Harry smiled.

"That sounds like a plan," Blaise nodded placing his hand at the crook of his arm.