Saturday morning found Harry in his kitchen of number twelve Grimmauld Place, making coffee in his grey short sleeved pyjamas. It had been a week since he had been to Le'Amortentia, and he hadn't heard anything back yet. Perhaps the blond man had declined his request.
Harry sat at the kitchen table and continued to mark the student's essays for his defense against the dark arts class. Sipping his coffee, he finished another essay and was just about to start on the next one when an owl swooped in through the opened window. It landed on the table, preening its pretty brown speckled feathers.
"Hello." Harry greeted it with smile, rubbing its feathers before taking the shrunken package.
Harry waved his hand and a bag of owl treats came flying into the kitchen. He handed the owl a few, watching it eat them happily before flying away. As soon as it had left, he un-shrunk the package with his wand and instantly noticed it was from Le'Amortentia.
Opening it, he couldn't help but wonder - with a surprising spark of excited anticipation, if the blond man had accepted his request after all. The letter on top was from Malaise Vixen, saying that his mystery man had indeed accepted his request, that he had enclosed his own letter, and that he was rather surprised someone had chosen him out of the surely better prospects.
Harry chuckled. He hadn't gotten anywhere yet, but this mystery blond man already had him highly interested. Why wouldn't he expect someone to choose him? Not only had he signed up to a dating service, but he sounded sincere and nice enough - even if he had made terrible mistakes in the past.
Malaise had run a back ground check on Harry before he had left Le'Amortentia, and she had informed him that certain crimes such as murder, child abuse, rape, and pedophiles for example, had to be listed on the profiles. Harry knew then, that his secret chérie was no murderer, or it would have said as much.
Harry opened the second letter, eager to read what the mystery blond had to say, and the very first line had him chuckling.
Letter from Harry's secret Chérie:
To the peculiar black-haired man that chose my Le'Amortentia profile,
You did read it all didn't you?
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised that you chose me to be your secret chérie, you're the first to respond to me actually. I am assuming my dark past hasn't put you off, that's a start at least, but I was being serious. I do not wish to go down this road just to be judged for it later on - I need you to be sure you can handle it.
I have read your profile, rather brief I must say, and who uses 'Always' as a quote? I understand the appeal of stability, but I don't think you quite understanding the meaning of a quote. Oh well, let's hope you're not always this peculiar shall we, you did say you were a boring man but I will hope for better in the future. That is assuming we continue correspondence – why would a boring man want to exchange words with someone with a dark past? You're not hiding some nefarious secrets yourself, are you? It's the boring, quiet ones that you have to watch out for.
I will await your reply on the charmed parchment. If I don't hear from you, I will assume you have come to your senses. Should you decided to ignore my advice of finding a different, more boring and suitable chérie for yourself to correspond with, you shall address me under the false name of 'Tau'. I would suggest you come up with your own false name, or I shall be forced to always call you 'The peculiar man'.
Tau.
End of letter-
Harry starting laughing. What else could he do? He had just been insulted along with his profile, picked apart, accused, demanded of, and warned away ... he liked this Tau already. Harry got the strongest impression that Tau wanted him to respond, and he was going to. The poor guy sounded insecure almost, but most definitely arrogant. Maybe it was a mask? A tactic to avoid humiliation and embarrassment perhaps?
Once he stopped laughing and chuckling, he pulled out the thick parchment with a special black-purple feathered quill. He read the note attached to it which explained that he must only use this particular quill with the parchment - that the ink needed lay inside the parchment itself - no ink was required. Once he had finished his message, he was to draw the Mannaz shaped rune on the bottom centre of the parchment and . The words would instantly send to its partner parchment and would only be readable to the person it was intended. Any received messages could be cleared with the Othala rune and by running the quill feather over it. Only he would be able to read the words on his own parchment likewise - to anyone else it would appear blank.
'Seems simple enough.' Harry thought as he poured himself a new coffee. He took his time figuring out his reply, and once he was ready, he starting writing.
Message to Tau:
Tau,
Anyone would think your arrogance was a cover up for something - you didn't seem this insecure in your profile.
I will put your mind to rest however, and assure you that I am not going to judge you for your past. I have seen many things and am quite sure I can handle whatever nefarious things you have done. As long as you no longer have ill intentions - or plan to start a war, then you have nothing to worry about from me.
I really couldn't think of a quote at the time, as you should know if you had read my profile. You should also know why I chose the word - 'Always', but I'll admit there is another reason - a reason I cannot yet share with you I am afraid.
What inspired your own choice of quote? I was intrigued if nothing else, but I can't stop thinking about it.
'Padfoot' will be my false name, and I agree that false names are a rather good idea. I fear I would have had to address you as 'Mr arrogance' otherwise.
On another note, I question the friends you keep. Tell me, why would your friend describe you as an idiot? I will hope that this is not the case, and it is in fact, a term of friendly endearment.
Padfoot.
End of Message-
Harry drew the Mannaz shaped rune on the bottom centre of the parchment and run the quill feather over it, watching as glimpses of a past memory surfaced as the words vanished. He shook his head, not wanting to think about a certain diary from his second year at Hogwarts.
Harry had paused during the writing of the message he had just sent, remembering what he had written in his own profile – the one Tau would have read before accepting him as a secret chérie:
'I don't really know any good quotes if I'm honest, but I heard a word once that really stuck with me. "Always!"
I know it's just a word, but it's the meaning behind it: To always be there, always love someone, always stay by my side, always be patient and weather the storm. Always! It's a powerful word and a promise of consistency, certainty and forever. I haven't had much consistency or stability in my life, and I want someone that will become my always.'
Harry craved for that type of always, the always of a partner - a husband and a family that would always be there. He'd never had an always with his mum and dad, certainly not with the Dursley's. Sirius had been murdered, and other people he loved and cared for were lost to the war twelve years ago.
He had thought long and hard over that one little word, ever since he had heard Severus Snape admit that he had always loved his mother - no matter that Lily Potter nee Evans never returned his feelings, in a memory via a pensive. Harry had shortly after that, walked to what he assumed would be his death. He knew his life would never last forever, but as he walked to his death, he realised that he would never have the chance at his own always - not in life anyway. Death itself seemed to be the final always, no matter a person's beliefs on the matter - all the people he had lost were always going to be dead. Yes, he could always remember them, but they would never come back.
Harry hand to drag himself away from his thoughts and focus on something else; he still found it hard to think of those lost in the wars that Voldemort had caused. He looked at the magical parchment instead, and was fairly surprised at his building anxious feelings - impatient for a reply from Tau. He wasn't a teenager with a stupid crush, so he shook his head and decided to continue grading the essays of his students - reminding himself that he was in fact, a thirty-year-old adult with a job.
Jaylan Thomas, had done particularly well on his article regarding the multiple uses of a single spell. Harry smile at the boys interesting ability to utilize things to their fullest potential. One example Jaylan had given, was that of the Lumos Maxima charm.
'Most wizards, and indeed witches, wouldn't think to use anything but defence spells or jinxes for example. But I truly believe that in a fight or duel, it is important to utilize anything you can to win. A Lumos Maxima spell for example - seems simple enough right? But with enough power, said spell can be used to blind or confused your opponent for a few seconds. This could give you enough time to cast a counter spell, get away, hide, or a range of other things. Lumos Maxima can also be used against certain plants or dark creatures that hate the light, for example-'
Harry continued reading, proud of his second-year Ravenclaw student. Sometimes his students made him think in different ways, taught him things instead, and he simply loved his work. Once he was finished reading Jaylan's work, he marked the essay with an O for outstanding, and suggested he read - 'Unusual use of spell work by Flanius Handgal', if he hadn't already.
Harry couldn't help but glance over at his charmed parchment once more, his heart missing a beat when he saw the new words there. Grabbing it, he read what Tau had written - the essays forgotten for the time being.
Message from Tau:
Padfoot,
Arrogant? Excuse you! I'll have you know that my personality doesn't include such a thing. I am simply a unique individual. I am most certainly offended that you think I am insecure. Shame on you!
Padfoot? Are you trying to tell me you have large feet? You are a very peculiar man.
Unfortunately, I am unable to explain fully as to why I chose said quote. I can tell you however, that I abhor ignorance and blind faith. Something that I used to have warped views on, but now knowledge has granted me a new view on life. I'd rather learn then stay in the shadows and follow blindly.
My friends are certainly questionable. I have no idea what they mean half the time, but as crazy as they are, they are my friends.
Tau.
End of Message-
Harry chuckled. Yep, definitely arrogant, but also ... somewhat charismatic - at least in his opinion. There was just something intriguing about this mystery man behind the parchment. He couldn't stop the grin that donned his lips; he felt like a teenager again and this sudden new aspect of his life was rather exciting.