Chapter one

It had been ten months since the battle of Hogwarts and the wizarding world was the safest it had been in more than fifty years. The trials for the captured death eaters, snatchers and supporters of Voldemort were finished which now meant everyone could finally relax.

Harry Potter was one of those that was doing just that, relaxing in his home, the home he had once lived with his parent's. Harry thought all his troubles would be over now Voldemort was dead. But like so many times before Harry found himself in a situation he wasn't sure how to handle.

Harry was sitting in his father's office reading and re reading the rites of the official magical courtship. He also found an old book in his parent's library with everything anyone would need to know on the subject. Harry needed information, as much as he could before he faced Ginny. He needed to know what his rights were.

Harry needed advice and there was only a few of people that Harry felt comfortable talking to about this. These people would know the laws and be able to advise him and none of them were a Weasley. He knew they were supporting Ginny in this and not him. Ginny had always been a little spoilt by her family, being the last child and the only girl. So apart from her parents giving into her so did her brothers, apart from the twins, Fred and George.

Harry was still furious at the red head for making him do this, he was even furious with Ron for supporting his sister. It was like Ron only cared what Ginny wanted and didn't give a damn what Harry wanted. He might have figured out he preferred men and he could have explained that to Ron, Hermione and Ginny, but as Harry liked his privacy. He did not want that splashed across the front pages of the papers.

Harry rolled up the parchment and grabbed the book, sticking both in his pocket before he headed through the house. He went out into the back garden where he turned on the spot, disapparating.

Harry never stopped until he knocked on the door, 'Come.' he heard so he opened the door and stepped into the large oval office.

'Thank you for seeing me Professor, Minister.'

'It's fine Harry, now have a seat and explain why you asked to see both of us,' Kingsley gestured to one of the seats.

'I need advice and you are two of the three people that I trust completely, there isn't anyone else I can turn to.'

'Don't tell me you've found yourself in some type of trouble Harry.'

'No minister, it's not like that, but someone has forced me to do something I don't want,' Harry sighed, pulled out the scroll and the book, handing the scroll to the minister and placing the book on the desk, 'I know I can't get out of this but I'm hoping something can be done, I must have some rights.'

Kingsley unrolled the scrolled and placed it on Minerva's desk so she could read it with him and both looked at Harry who seemed nervous.

'This would be difficult for you Harry my boy, especially as you prefer men to woman.'

Harry looked up at the portrait of Albus Dumbledore, 'Yes, it is and it's impossible, you were the only person who knew that until recently.'

'I always knew Potter, as you know Albus asked me to keep an eye on you, which I did. I would see who took your interest.' Minerva said.

'I would say Molly gave Ginny this idea as it's something that has not been used in more than two hundred years. Now when these laws were made same sex relationships were against the law. That changed, so now any relationship is legal, as long as you are over sixteen. I know it was around fifty years ago that same sex relationships became legal even if some still keep their preferences to themselves.'

'Yeah, I did a bit of research into it, my parents library has helped, a lot. But I think I know why Ginny did this and it has nothing to do with feelings.'

'Then explain,' Minerva said.

'As a lot of us know she's spoilt and she is also never liked the fact that her family were poor. The few times she joined Ron, Hermione and me while we were out she sort of hinted at things she would like to own. She asked me outright why I don't buy a new house, a bigger house as she knew I could afford it after the order of merlin money. With all the attention she kept giving me and the feelings I got from her I never invited her to the house. I planned to invite Hermione and Ron but when I kept ignoring Ginny Ron went off on one of his tirades again. Even though it hurt, Hermione supported Ron and Ginny, so no one has been invited to the house.'

'So what no one knows is that house might look like an average cottage from the outside but it is quite different on the inside.'

'Yeah, you mentioned that you had order meetings there Professor, and you told me the day I left the hospital what it looked like. It was so I wouldn't be shocked when I saw it.'

'Did you ever tell Ginny in plain words that even the simplest person would understand that you do not think of her in a romantic way?' Kingsley asked.

'Yes, I explained, but I went further. When I had time to think about Ginny and when we did date I realised that even though we had a lot of fun together, it was a good distraction to what was going on at the time. I worked something else out though, when I'm in her company or her mother's company I usually end up thinking about my mother, three red headed women. It was then that I realised that I could never date a red head, again something I told Ginny.

'Ron instantly said it's different, my mother had dark red hair where Ginny's is ginger, it's no different to me though. Now that everything has settled down I tried to imagine what kissing her would be like and I get a flash of my mother's face, not really something you want to think about when you're ready to snog someone. So even though I prefer men I did a lot of thinking, about both.'

'It would not help if you thought of your mother. I am not sure if you can get out of this Harry.'

'He can't get out of it Minerva but he does have options and he might just be able to get some satisfaction,' Kingsley grinned and to Harry his grin reminded him of the twins when they were about to get up to something, it was a devilish grin.

'Okay, I'm not sure if I should be worried or scared Kingsley, sorry Minister.'

'You don't have to be either, but it will cause a lot of problems. First tell me this, apart from Ron who else was in favour of this, was Arthur and Molly in agreement?'

'Yes, both were, so was Bill, Charlie and Percy but I don't think they know the real reason. I'm just not sure about them three. But I know the twins thought it was wrong.'

'Then I have a way for you to…get back at the some of the ones who agreed to forcing you into this. Now tell me Harry, have you ever heard of life debts?'

'Like a promise you make if someone saves your life?'

'It's more than a promise in our world Harry, it's a binding magical arrangement. You saved Ginny's life in the chamber of secrets, you saved Ron's life in sixth year. You saved Arthur by alerting the order when he was attacked by Nagini and you saved Molly's life the night of the fighting. What it means Harry is those four people owe you there lives and with that you can force them to do anything you want to pay off that debt. Now depending on the circumstances surrounding their almost deaths that will decide on how long the debt needs to be paid. It will not get you out of this courtship but you can…let's say make them your slaves if you wish.'

'Even though I hate the way house elves are slaves I do want to get back at them for making me do this. But slaves, I'm not sure I can do that.'

'There's time to sort out what you want to do. It does not mean you have to make them slaves. But now to something else, first is these rites were written before same sex relationships became legal. So in the contracts they say that the man and women that enter into this courtship must not enter into any other type of relationship with the opposite sex. Harry, you can by law still have a relationship with a man, the same sex not the opposite sex.'

Kingsley pointed out the paragraph to Harry but he saw Minerva smirk as she nodded.

'So that covers your personal life. Now to Ginny and if I am right this will stop her making you lavish jewels or anything else on her. As she is the one to call for this courtship, you, as the recipient is the one that will have gifts thrust upon you, not the other way around.'

'These were originally made for the man to make the woman he desired court him whether she wanted to or not. So he would need to dine them and present them with gifts. So even though our world has changed a lot, the way the contract is written still means that the one officiating this has to be the one to give the gifts and organise the times and places for you to dine together.'

'Okay, but the Weasley's don't have that type of money.'

'It will mean that Ginny has to organise a loan so she can…court you,' Kingsley smirked.

Minerva picked up a quill and wrote a few words on some parchment. She handed it to Kingsley which made him chuckle than handed the parchment over to a confused looking Harry. Hopefully this will help the young man out and as two people that cared about Harry and knew how many people were out there that wanted to use him for his fame, this just might give him some satisfaction.