-1Grabbing

Summary: AU 8th year and Harry learns the hard way about the wizarding tradition of 'Grabbing'. Based on the Gypsy tradition of Grabbing.

Part 1 - I'm Fertile?

If the silence that fell over the Great Hall that morning when he entered wasn't a sign something terrible had happened Hermione's face sure was. Her browed was formed in a look that Harry liked to call 'Deep Concern' and she sent meaningful glances at Ron every few seconds as if trying to tell him something important. Harry chose to ignore her at first seeming to lend his attention fully to the piece of toast he was butter. He knew whatever was going on was not good news the frequent glances from every other student, and the Professors, was clear sign he was doomed. Harry calmly swallowed his last bite of toast and donned Hermione with a cool look. "Do you think it might be an appropriate time to tell me what the problem seems to be Hermione?" Predictably she glanced again at Ron and then pushed that morning Daily Prophet across the table. That's when Harry Potter's life changed forever.

Harry Potter Fertile!

By Rita Skeeter

I, Rita Skeeter, can exclusively reveal to my faithful readers that Harry Potter is fertile. The annual reveal, which is published on page three, contains the shocking name of our esteemed war hero…

Harry threw the paper down. He was fertile? He had heard that some wizards where able to bear children but he never dreamed in a million years that it would be him. Surely this was a good thing though, right? Harry looked back towards Hermione. "What am I not getting here?" She cleared her throat nervously.

"Well Harry. Have you ever heard of the wizarding tradition of Grabbing?" Harry shook his head. "Ron maybe you could explain it better." Ron rolled his eyes at his prudish girlfriend.

"The basic gist of it is that Wizard can try and force you to give 'em a kiss. You see a kiss is a big deal in the wizarding world and once you get a kiss of someone they have a claim on you and they can legally force you to marry them. So technically I can force Hermione to marry me. Of course I wouldn't but Mate you're Harry Potter and you're a bit of a catch to any family." Hermione nodded in agreement.

"Yes Harry you are going to have to be very careful from now on always stay around people you can trust. There are many Wizard out there who are going to fight tooth and nail to have you as their husband." Harry just nodded at this of course they would want him not only was he possibly the most famous Wizard alive but he was powerful and as Hermione had teased, attractive. Not to mention he had been openly gay for six months now. Of course being gay in the wizarding world was not an uncommon occurrence although it was frowned upon if two wizards married without one of them being able to bare children. For Harry that would not have been a problem as he had no family that would refuse to let him marry if said fiancé was unable to bare children. This of course was not a problem now as Harry would be able to provide heirs the problem that Harry now faced was being able to hold off any unwanted suitors until he could find someone he wanted to marry.

"I understand." Hermione sighed in relief at this. "How does the prophet even know about this before I even knew about it?"

"Well when wizarding children are born they are subjected to a magical medical to discover what sort of abilities they have, Muggleborns have the same medical once they start school, one of the test is designed to test for fertility in males. The results are keep secret even from the child's parents until they are of age, you can then access your records, this is to prevent wizards trying to grab underage bearers in a bid to get the best catch. Once a year the list of fertile males that have come of age is released to the press and published and then the Grabbing begins. There where just three bearers this year, you, Zacharias Smith, and Ernie MacMillian."

"At least your gay mate. Poor Ernie been with Hannah for years and now he's gunna have a loads guys leeching over him. I heard Smith's already accepted a proposal from Justin as if we didn't see that one coming those two have been fucking for years." Ron shoved half a sausage in his mouth and Harry grimaced at the irony.

"Well what's going to happen to Ernie? How can he marry a man if he's not gay?" Harry spared a quick glance across the hall where Ernie and Hannah where huddled close together jumping at random sounds.

"I suspect they will have a quick ceremony probably tonight." Then there would be Harry the only one left on the market. Tomorrows valentines day ball seemed less than fun now with the prospect that one kiss could mean the end of his life as an unmarried man. Here he was hoping to play the field for a bit after defeating Voldemort and saving the world…again. Of course Harry Potters life could never be that simple.

Ten minutes later the student congregation began to move from the hall and towards their first lessons Harry being on of then. His first lesson was potions and his just knew that Snape would not make this any easier. The great bat had become even battier ever since Harry had saved him from Nagini during the final Battle. Harry had admittedly had help in the form of Draco Malfoy but even he had pleaded Harry's case to Snape that he should behave better towards Harry after he had helped save his life. That had just made Snape act even more of a prat.

"I suppose Grangers got you up to date on your new predicament Potter?" A voice said and Draco Malfoy gracefully joined him in the Entrance Hall. Harry smile at him and Draco's smirked softened slightly. "Oh the wonderful and interesting twists and turns of our 'esteemed' hero's life."

"Yes Draco I'm totally up to date on the situation. As usual there is nothing I can do about it." Just then Harry felt a tap on his shoulder and turned his head slightly to see who dared interrupt a conversation between Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. Harry was mildly surprised to see Richard Plummel an attractive Ravenclaw who was a year older than Harry but had been pulled out of school a year earlier that most. His parents worked for the prophet. "May I help you?" The sandy haired boy nodded and pulled a red rose from behind his back presenting it to Harry.

"I wanted to give you this." Richard sent him a dazzling smile and Harry could only oblige and reached out to take the rose. Before he could touch it a pale hand on his wrist stopped him.

"If you take that rose, Harry, you may as well be signing a marriage contract." Harry clenched his hand in to a fist and Draco dropped his wrist. "Get lost you sneaky bastard." Plummel didn't need telling twice and Harry watched him flee away up the stairs. He turned to thank Draco for saving him from a very close call but soon realised that Draco's attention was elsewhere. On Ron and Hermione to be exact who where both looking sheepish. "You didn't tell him about the courting ritual?"

"Well we where a bit more worried about the whole grabbing thing. We didn't think he'd have to worry about all that courting business." Ron huffed and Hermione nodded profusely. Draco turned away from them,

"You two are dismissed. I'll escort Harry down to Potions and fully inform him about his current situation seen as you two can't manage even that." They too did not need telling twice and scuttled of ahead. Harry heard Draco mumbled something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like 'idiots' before he motion for them to continue on the way to the potions classroom. "So heres what they forgot to tell you. Not only can a wizard stake claim on you by Grabbing you but they can also claim you through the art of courting. If you accept a gift from them then they have a claim on you. You must be very careful that you don't accept anything from anyone even something as innocent as a chocolate or piece of paper. Some Wizards will go to great lengths to have you. Did you know there has already been five attempted break ins this morning? All of them bearing gifts addressed to Harry Potter. Your post has been stopped too. There are currently over fifty parcels addressed to you locked away in a room up stairs. Of course McGonagal is personally documenting them all and she will submit you with a list of your admirers and you can choose a husband from their if you wish."

"I don't wish. Is there no other way? Can I not just date my suitors for a while or something?" Harry was already exasperated with the situation.

"Well you can court someone and as long as you don't accept any gifts off them or let them kiss you then they can't force you to marry them. You'll not find many wizards willing to do that though as the completion is high they will probably try and grab you on the first date." Harry groaned in annoyance.

"So I really don't have a choice do I? Review my suitors and choose the most suitable husband or risk getting Grabbed and ending up with someone I could quite possibly hate?" They had reached the Potions doorway now and Draco stopped to look at Harry fully.

"Your taking this rather well. No shouting or hysterical fits of rage. Are you quite sure your alright?" Draco reached up to feel Harry's forehead but Harry swotted his hand away.

"Your such a prat." Draco smirked at him. "Thanks for filling me in on the situation though."

"What are friends…"

"Malfoy. Potter. Get your arses in this classroom immediately. Do you think I just sit around here all day just hoping that students grace me with their presence?"

A/N: What do you think then guys? I think this will have either three or four parts depends what people think of it.