They were once again in Ash's living room She had dragged them there after the Healer's appointment, saying that Harry needed to relax for a bit before doing anything else. Since arguing with Ash never worked, Harry didn't bother, he just did as he was told for the moment. Fionn was curled up against Harry's side on the couch, and was fiddling with one of the buttons on the cuff of his white silk shirt. He looked like he was in deep thought about something, so Harry chose not to bother him. The Fae would tell him what was on his mind at some point if it was important.

Ash herself was out picking up something for them to eat, Harry had no idea what she would bring back. Sometimes it was foods he was familiar with from the muggle or Wizarding worlds, and sometimes it was strange-looking dishes with stranger smells and spices that were unique to the Realm. So far, none of it had made him sick, but there were a few things he was never trying again. He dragged his thoughts back to the present when he felt Fionn sit up and turn towards him, though the Fae kept his eyes on his hands for another moment before he actually spoke.

"I-" He stopped and shook his head, frowned slightly and then looked up at Harry briefly before dropping his eyes again. "What do you think of me?"

Harry for his part, blinked and looked a little confused. He was beginning to think that he was living in a constant state of confusion, at least once a day if not more, something happened that he wasn't expecting and didn't know how to handle.

"What?"

"I mean...do you think of me as a pet? A friend? Something else, or nothing at all?" Fionn's voice was soft, but he actually managed to meet Harry's eyes by the last few words.

"You aren't a pet!" Harry reached out and put a hand over Fionn's to stop the Fae from twisting the button right off his sleeve. "You aren't a pet Fionn. And it's hard not to think of you when you're constantly with me. I'd like to think we were friends, even though we have only known each other less than a month. Why are you asking me this?" Harry couldn't read the emotion he saw in Fionn's eyes, it wasn't like anything he was used to having directed at himself, and wasn't any of the usual things he had seen so far out of the Fae. They were both so focused on the other, neither noticed Ash return, though for once she stood in the doorway watching in silence.

"I-" Fionn licked his lips nervously, but didn't drop his eyes from Harry's. "I want to Court you. You accepted my drawing this morning, will you allow me to Court you?"

Harry gaped in silence a moment, he had not expected anything like this from Fionn. He wasn't even sure if he liked guys! "You want to what?! You can't be serious! I mean, you're still getting over how that Djinn treated you, you can't possibly be ready or wanting anything like this!"

"I know what I want. I'm not the way I was, not yet, maybe never will be. But I know what I want." The Fae's voice was firm and a touch stubborn. He dropped his eyes and pulled his hand out from under Harry's, as though expecting to be rejected and kicked out of the house on the spot, but he didn't retract his statement.

As Harry opened his mouth to speak again, Ash finally spoke, her voice carrying and overriding his own. "Don't reject his Courtship unless you are really sure you do not want him Harry. Once rejected, he must wait a minimum of three years before asking again. And that will be the final time he may ask. The Law was put into place to keep people from stalking others and making a nuisance of themselves."

"But I... but he... Ash! How can I accept?" Harry raked a hand through his hair, he didn't know what he thought of the Fae. If he was honest with himself, he found Fionn attractive, how could he not? But a Courtship? He was only sixteen! The only experiences he had with dating were disasters, and there was so much he had to deal with right now between the lock on his Demonic abilities, his Gringotts vaults, and learning how to defeat Voldemort. Could he really add a Courtship into the mix?

"If he is whole enough to ask, and to tell you that he knows he wants it, then he is whole enough to Court. The only thing you have to decide is if you are willing to allow it, and willing to see the Courtship through. You don't have to Accept him at the end, you may both find that you aren't suited after all. That's part of what the Courtship is about, getting to know each other. Plus, it lasts anywhere from three months to a year and a day. It will only end when both parties decide it does, or after a year and a day have passed since Courtship was accepted."

Harry glanced from Ash to Fionn, trying to understand why the Fae would have asked this of him in the first place. He couldn't think of any good reasons really, but every moment he hesitated on an answer, Fionn looked sadder. The Fae was picking at a stray thread in the knee of his jeans now, shoulders drooped and hair falling forward to obscure both eyes. He looked like a kicked puppy, and something inside of Harry twisted like it had done that first day he laid eyes on Fionn. He couldn't have left the Fae to his fate then, no more could he reject him now that he had had a little time to think about it. After all, as Ash said, they might not suit at all and he could always say no later...

He sighed softly. "All right. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to Accept and see where it goes..."

Fionn jerked his head up and stared at Harry a moment like he couldn't actually believe his ears, and then a smile spread across his face. It was the happiest Harry had ever seen the Fae, he literally looked as though he might be glowing from within.

"Requested and Accepted, your Courtship has begun." Ash spoke formally, as though she was reciting something sacred or from years past. As the last word left her lips, a glowing red ball of light shot past her and straight towards Harry where it hovered in the air about a foot from him.

"You have a message Harry. I wonder who it's from? Hold out your hand, palm up and cupped to receive the message. Once it touches you, you'll be able to hear it, but we won't unless it's a general message for everyone. The color of the light tells you who the message is for, mine was blue if you recall, since I'm Air, and yours is red for Fire."

Harry did as instructed, and slowly held out his right arm, palm up. The light shot towards him and touched down into his waiting hand, he couldn't feel anything more than a slight tickling sensation, and then the message began to play. It was like a muggle recording device he thought absently, it sounded exactly like Tristan, but there was no picture or anything else. Once it was done, the light winked out as though it was never there.

"Tristan wants to know if Gideon and his two friends can stop by, it seems they're having trouble picking out the magical signature from the casting he did before. Too many others have touched it trying to figure out how it works, and Gideon needs a clean trace to track."

"Ah of course. I had wondered how they were going to track down the person who did it. A moment..." Ash held out her right hand and snapped her fingers as she called up a whisper of wind, a few moments later a glowing white ball of light appeared hovering above her fingertips. "Message for Healer Tristan Hawthorne. You may send Gideon and his team to 1619 Cirrus Court. We will be waiting for their arrival." Flicking her fingers, she sent the message light on its way and started passing out the food she had brought back.

"Message lights aren't hard to create, but will most likely need to have your Fire abilities unlocked in order to manage them. All messages start out white, and then change after they are recorded and sent to their destination."

Harry just nodded, if it was something he couldn't use yet, he wasn't sure if he really wanted to know all that much about it. There was too much useless information in his head as it was. He took a bite of the sweet and sour chicken and hummed softly in appreciation. He had never gotten to try much Chinese food before.

Just as they finished the last bites of food, a faint knock was heard from the front of the house. "You two stay put, I'll show the Warriors in. Though you might as well remove your shirt Harry since they'll need unobstructed access to that brand on your back." Ash bounced up and hurried off out the door as Harry stood up and stripped his shirt off. He was trying to ignore the way Fionn was watching him, as though now that he had the permission of Courting, he was less shy about studying Harry.

Ash was soon back with the three Warriors, the room felt much smaller now that they were there. Not only because they were tall, but their very presence was imposing.

"Thank you for allowing us into your home, we hopefully won't take up too much of your time." Gideon inclined his head to Ash and turned towards Harry, Herne and Laric flanking him. "May we please see the brand?"

Harry turned his back to the Warriors and spread his wings to get them out of the way as well. He was now facing Fionn fully, and watched the Fae's face curiously as Fionn in turn watched the Warriors' every movement. A moment later he felt calloused fingertips lightly tracing the brand, and a slight tingle of magic. Then the fingers and presence were gone from behind him, but before he could do more than think about turning, another set of calloused fingertips were touching it. Followed by a third. The third set lingered a moment longer than the first two had, and Harry saw Fionn's eyes narrow and his chin come up slightly before the fingers withdrew.

"My apologies, I meant no intrusion on your mateship." Harry turned to see Laric speaking, but he was speaking directly to Fionn. Giving a formal bow, with one hand over his heart, he continued speaking. "The magics used are strange, but they also remind me of something from long ago. I was merely trying to remember, but it is still escaping me. Please forgive me, I meant no harm to you or him."

Gideon and Herne were watching the exchange, Herne looked more curious than anything, but Gideon looked as though he was hoping he didn't have to step into the middle of a fight.

Fionn tilted his head a little and his hair fell to obscure his right eye as usual, but he finally gave a slightly stiff nod of his head. "Apology accepted. No harm was done, no harm was intended. The Courtship has barely begun." His voice too had a formal note, as though they were speaking phrases learned long ago as children by rote. Harry began to worry a little, was there something he was supposed to say? How was he going to learn this? And did he need to learn this?

Gideon reached out and touched Laric on the shoulder before jerking his head towards the door. The Storm Demon turned and left with Herne following him. "Thank you for allowing us to get a better reading on the trace, the sooner we get started on the tracking, the sooner we can capture the one who did this and get it all removed. I promise we will find him or her, and bring them back little one." The Shadow Demon bowed his head to each of them and then strode off after his companions.

AN:

So my muse was over-active, and you get a new chapter after only a day. Aren't you all lucky? *laughs* This should help answer the "what about Fionn" question I've been getting...

Next chapter will feature Gringotts and what has been going on with Harry's accounts. Possibly more Fred and George as well, depending on how the chapter goes.

Also! I have made a forum for questions and chatter about the story, as well as review responses. It can be found on my profile.