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No without further ado...

Chapter Twenty-five

A Census of Trouble

A half-hour later, Harry and Taylor were walking down the corridor away from Professor Shacklebolt's office.

"What bloody reason did you have for telling them you kissed me?" Harry growled when they were far enough away from Shacklebolt's office not to be overheard.

"Well, what did you want me to tell them? The truth?" Taylor asked a grin playing at her lips just thinking about the looks on Lupin's and Shacklebolt's faces.

Harry snorted but he didn't answer. He didn't want them knowing he was having a vision from Voldemort either, but Taylor could have come up with something besides kissing him! He didn't think any of them bought the lie anyway, especially Moody.

Taylor walked silently beside her brother for a couple of minutes. An empty classroom just ahead prompted her to say. "How about we have another one of our famous talks?"

Harry shot Taylor a quick look but then he thought he knew she was hinting at his vision. Their talks tended to be quite heated.

"This room looks empty…" Taylor said as she opened the door and stepped into the empty classroom. She took a second to quickly look around to make sure that Peeves, nor anyone else, was hiding in the room, be they alive or dead.

Harry followed Taylor into the room and at her nod he sealed the door and performed a silencing charm.

"Ok Taylor, what really happened back in Shacklebolt's office? And don't give me any wise cracks. Why was Moody watching you so closely? Did something happen while I was visiting Voldemort's mind?" Harry asked as he watched Taylor carefully. He knew something had happened in that office while he was having his vision of what Voldemort was doing. He'd never seen Taylor be so flippant or bold before, not with a teacher.

Taylor eyed Harry for a long moment before she answered. She didn't plan on telling him about the Cruciatus curse Moody had used. Especially seeing as how Lupin and Shacklebolt had so kindly not mentioned it. Making Harry angry with Moody wouldn't serve any purpose and besides the old auror was trying to look out for Harry.

"Moody thought I used Dark Magic on you when you were having your vision. He pulled me away from you and I used the repelling charm Shacklebolt taught us to get free of him. His next spell was a bit more forceful, is all. No biggie. What did you see in your vision? What is Voldemort up to?"

Harry wasn't sure if he totally believed Taylor. She was just a little too nonchalant about it. He decided however not push it. Maybe he'd just ask Lupin about it later.

"Voldemort was angry at one of his Death Eaters. It seems Voldemort is searching for someone and the Death Eaters haven't been able to find him." Harry said slowly as he summarized the vision. The horrific scene he had witnessed in the poorly lit room did not need to be repeated to get the gist of the vision, especially to his younger sister. Harry shuddered at the feelings of hate and anger that he was always left with when he had these visions. The residual feelings from Voldemort were always difficult to deal with.

After his fifth year when Voldemort had been trying to control and manipulate him through their mind link, Harry was now just left with a shadow of the Dark Lord's feelings at the time of the vision. An unpleasant experience to be sure but no longer over powering like it had been in his fifth year.

Taylor knew Harry hated this connection to Voldemort, and she did too. It was difficult to see your best friend and brother being forced to deal with something like this. However, other than the end of Harry's fifth year, these visions had come in handy and saved lives too!

"Who is Ole Voldy searching for now?" Taylor asked as she tried to be as up beat as possible. If she could coax a smile from Harry it would go a long way to helping him get over the after-effects of the vision.

Harry shot a look at Taylor. His little sister was about the only person he knew who called the most evil wizard of all time 'Ole Voldy'. Most witches and wizards wouldn't even say his name.

"I'm not sure but Voldemort is really angry that his Death Eaters haven't been able to find this person."

"Ole Voldy didn't give you any clue as to who this person is, did he?" Taylor asked as she began to pace. She could think better when her feet were moving.

"No. No names were mentioned. I'm not even sure if it's a witch or a wizard that they are looking for. It wasn't a very long vision." Harry said as he watched Taylor pace in front of him.

"Maybe it's not a witch or a wizard. It could be a muggle. Or a vampire or a werewolf. Did they say how long they have been searching?" Taylor asked as she pondered on whom the Dark Lord was searching for. It couldn't be Harry because the whole of the wizarding world knew he was at Hogwarts.

"No, they didn't say how long they've been searching but I suspect it's been for some time, otherwise Voldemort wouldn't be so frustrated. And I doubt it's a muggle. Why would Voldemort search for a muggle?"

"Who knows why Ole Voldy does half the stuff he does? Maybe the pressure to be the worst has finally gotten to him and he's snapped!" Taylor said it in such an off hand way that she got the snort of laughter she was looking for.

"Taylor!" Harry cried, exasperated at his sister's flippant remark then rolled his eyes when he saw the mischief in her eyes. She'd been trying to get him to laugh.

They spent the next little while talking about Harry's vision until they had rehashed the whole thing several times.

"Well, we should get back to the Common Room. Maybe one of the other's might have a new outlook on it." Harry said as he straightened from the desk he'd been leaning on, to head out of the classroom and back up to Gryffindor Tower.

"Harry…" Taylor started and then stopped. She knew she needed to tell Harry about a few things but she dreaded the idea of rocking the boat. The past few weeks had been going so well. They hadn't had one disagreement. However with school work, Harry's quidditch practices, their lessons with Shacklebolt every other night and also trying to research the curse on Hufflepuff's cup. Plus trying to fit in some social time, there really hadn't been any time for Taylor to talk to Harry privately. Until now.

Harry looked at Taylor curiously, but he saw the sudden apprehension in her eyes and how she was chewing on her bottom lip with her teeth. A habit Hermione had when she was nervous about something too. He wondered if this was the real reason Taylor had asked him into this empty classroom. Something was really bothering his sister. He remembered with crystal clear clarity the last time he'd had a private conversation with his sister. He supposed he should be glad Taylor hadn't jinxed him yet.

Taking a deep breath, and remembering also his talk with Lupin in the hospital, he tried to keep an open mind. "Yes Taylor?" He prompted.

Taylor looked at her brother as he settled against the desk again, his arms crossing over his chest as he waited for her to begin. She should feel relieved that he was willing to listen to her but still her heart was pounding. What she was going to tell her brother probably would cause a rift between them again.

Taking a deep breath and gathering as much Gryffindor courage as she could around her, Taylor began. "I had another… nightmare… about the snake. It was almost the same as the one I had in Godric's Hollow."

Surprised, Harry stared at his sister. "When?"

"It was the night I was released from the Hospital Wing." Taylor said softly and she began to pace again. "I don't know why I had it that night, unless it was just the tension from the two witches fighting in the Common Room or the questions in McGonagall's office. Hermione woke me up from… Dumbledore knew about it, I talked to him about it the next night. He said I should tell you." Taylor stopped her pacing and glanced at Harry's shirt fearfully, unable to meet his eyes, waiting for him to get angry with her again.

Harry pushed up off the desk and ran a hand over his chin, barely noticing the slight roughness of his unshaved whiskers from this morning. "Why didn't you tell me about it sooner?"

Taylor began to pace again. The softness in Harry's voice unnerving her more then if he had yelled. "I'm sorry. I should have but I was…" How did you tell your brother that you were scared of telling him something? "I didn't want to worry you. There's nothing you could do. It was over." She shrugged her shoulders to show it didn't matter. She couldn't tell Harry what other conclusions she had drawn from her nightmare. As the silence stretched on she began to doubt once again the wisdom of even telling Harry this much.

"Taylor, look at me." Harry said softly as he stepped in front of his sister. She hadn't met his eyes the whole time she had been talking. Harry realized that there was a lot that he needed to say to his sister. While they hadn't fought in the last few weeks they hadn't talked, really talked, either. Not since their fight in Grimmauld Place.

Taylor looked up and met Harry's eyes as he continued. "Look Taylor, I'm sorry. I know that sometimes, I'm not very… understanding. I also said some things to you that I'm not very proud of… but you need to know that I am your brother and I don't want you to be afraid to tell me things. You are the only family I have and we need to stick together." Harry paused as he searched for a way to let Taylor know how he felt. Also how sorry he was for being so unforgiving of her about Snape and her saving him.

Taylor could see that Harry was struggling. "It's okay Harry. I said some things I shouldn't have either. I'm sorry too. I know you have a lot to deal with and I should be more understanding. All I want to do is help you, but sometimes I just end up getting in the way."

Harry sighed and rolled his eyes. "Taylor you don't get in the way. You've been a big help. You found Helga Hufflepuff's cup for crying out loud!"

For the next couple of hours, brother and sister talked about all the things that had happened since that fateful day at Grimmauld Place. They discussed Snape and the Dark Magic spell that Taylor had used, and Harry truly listened to his sister as she explained what she had found out about her ability to use the dangerous form of magic. It was the first true heart to heart talk the two of them had ever had as brother and sister.

The darkening sky outside the classroom windows signaled the end of their lengthy talk.

In a way Taylor felt bad that she couldn't tell Harry everything. However she felt so relieved to have truly talked to her brother about all the other things. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders just knowing that her brother wasn't mad at her about using Dark Magic and he understood, even if he didn't agree with her for saving Snape from the Dark Magic spell she had cast. So it was with a lighter heart that she asked as they left the classroom and started for the Great Hall for supper. "So what do you think we should tell the Order we are doing for Christmas holidays?" At Harry's skeptical look she continued. "Well, we didn't really give them an answer. I doubt Moody will be impressed if we say what we really have planned." Taylor grinned at what she thought the old auror would say.

"I don't know. Agree with whatever they say I guess. More than Moody are going to be upset. Mrs. Weasley is likely going to skin me alive the next time she sees me." Harry said with a sheepish look on his face.

Taylor's grin grew bigger. "Yeah, you're right Harry. Maybe you should ask Professor Flitwick for a charm to keep your skin in place!"

"Very funny, Taylor!" Harry growled.

A few minutes later the two walked into the Great Hall with grins as they continued to joke about how Harry was going to survive his next meeting with Mrs. Weasley. They spotted Hermione, Ron and Ginny right away and sat down across from them.

"Where have you two been anyway?" Ron asked suspiciously. "We saw Professor Shacklebolt and Professor Sprout, walking across the grounds towards the greenhouses over two hours ago."

Taylor felt a spark of irritation at the suspicion in Ron's voice. She wondered when he was going to figure out that she didn't have any romantic intentions for Harry? Probably not until he learned that they were siblings! If that day ever came!

"We were looking for a pink winged broom-hopper of course!" Taylor snapped as if that was the most logical thing that she and Harry could have been doing.

Harry's head whipped around to look at his sister, as Ron demanded. "In broom cupboards I suppose?"

"Well, where else would you look for a pink winged broom-hopper?" Taylor asked in an innocent voice.

Ginny looked up at Taylor as Hermione rolled her eyes.

Ron's face was getting redder and redder as he stared at Taylor and she knew he was going to blow his lid if she didn't say something to cool him off.

"What? Did you think I was off snogging Harry? Well I thought that, just last night, we settled on the fact that I prefer witches to wizards, Ron!" If Taylor had dosed Ron in a stream of cold water, his face couldn't have lost color faster.

"Taylor!" Harry exclaimed as his jaw dropped open. He wasn't sure why his sister was so interested in kissing all of a sudden. First she told Shacklebolt, Lupin and Moody that she'd kissed him, now she was telling Ron she'd rather kiss… Harry's face went beet red at the thought of Taylor kissing another girl.

Ginny laughed and Hermione joined in as they looked at the expressions on the two boys' faces.

"Oh Ron! You deserved that one!" Hermione said as she tried to stifle her giggles.

Ron took on the look of a fish out of water and opened his mouth several times before any sound came out. "Well… well what were you and Harry doing all this time then?" he finally managed to get out.

"Just because you can't think of being alone with a girl for five minutes and not snogging doesn't mean that Harry does! If you must know we were talking." Taylor replied.

"That must have been some conversation." Ron grumbled still eyeing Taylor distrustfully.

"Ron, Taylor and I had some things to talk about. After supper we'll fill you all in too." Harry said with just a bit of an edge to his voice.

Any further comments were cut off when Neville, Seamus and Joan, a girl in Ginny's year who was dating Seamus, sat down beside Harry.

"Hi Guys!" Neville greeted them with a tentative smile. "Great game yesterday Harry!"

A long discussion ensued on yesterday's quidditch game and the upcoming match between Hufflepuff and the team that Slytherin had, even with Slytherin having so few returning students this year. By the time the desserts arrived the eight students were divided down the middle as to Hufflepuff's chances against Slytherin.

As the last of the dessert was being eagerly eaten by one and all, Professor McGonagall rose from her seat at the teachers table and called for attention.

"May I have your attention please? The Ministry of Magic has just passed into law a full magical census to take place beginning the first of December. So, to comply with the new law, Hogwarts will be closing on November thirtieth for the Christmas holidays. Your parents are being informed about this change in dates. Professors are going to adapt their respective courses to ensure that your studies do not suffer for this unusually long break. Students may return to their dormitories now. Goodnight."

A long several seconds of silence followed Professor McGonagall's announcement before the Great Hall erupted in a symphony of anxious and frightened voices.

"A census?"

"Why does the Ministry want to do a census?"

"Bloody Hell! An extra three weeks off school!"

The five-some exchanged worried looks listening to the exclamations of their fellow students before Harry said quietly. "Let's go."

Rising, the five-some followed the throng of students heading out of the Great Hall towards their Common Rooms. Once out of the huge double doors however Harry led them out of the mass of students to a hidden stairway just off the Entrance Hall. No one said a word as they climbed the narrow crooked stairway for several floors.

"Harry? The Common Room is going to be crowded more then likely. Why don't we swing left up here and go to the Room of Requirement? It's early yet so we have a couple of hours before curfew." Taylor suggested from the back as she brought up the rear of their little group.

Harry paused on the next landing. "Yeah, that's a good idea." He replied, before he headed left down a corridor in the direction of the Room of Requirements.

A few minutes later the five-some was settling down in comfy, over-large chairs in front of a cheery fire. Somehow the room had anticipated only the need for three chairs and this found Taylor sitting between Harry with Ginny sitting on his lap and Ron and Hermione sharing the chair on the other side of her, sitting the same way.

"The Ministry is imposing a census. I suppose you two already knew that from your talk with Professor Shacklebolt didn't you?" Hermione asked in her no nonsense way to get the conversation started.

"Yeah we did. Shacklebolt told us just before asking what our plans for the holidays were." Harry said as he looked over at Hermione.

"That means Voldemort is influencing the Ministry." Hermione said.

"Yeah, that was our first thought too." Harry replied.

"You know he will be going after muggle borns as soon as the census is finished. Why he'll know where each of them lives and everything!" Hermione said as her voice rose slightly.

"Yeah, I know. Shacklebolt said something more too. He said that he wasn't sure if Hogwarts would be reopening after the holidays or if muggle borns would be allowed back." Harry said softly, as if to soften the blow for Hermione. Even still, she gasped and her eyes became disbelieving. Everyone present knew how much completing school meant to Hermione.

"How do you think they are going to conduct this census? Is everyone going to have to go to the Ministry?" Ron asked as he held Hermione tight in his arms trying to console her.

"If we do, anyone professing to be muggle born will be a sitting duck for Voldemort and his Death Eaters! He can pick them off as they exit the Ministry!" Hermione answered.

"They just passed this law today I expect, so I imagine that the Daily Prophet will have the story in it tomorrow. We should know more about how they are going to go about it then." Harry said reasonably. He could see Hermione was getting upset and he wanted to help calm her down.

"What if Hogwarts doesn't reopen? What are you going to do then? What about the Horcruxes?" Ginny asked as she looked at Harry.

"If Hogwarts doesn't reopen… I think I need to search the school and grounds as thoroughly as possible in the next two weeks before the school closes for the holidays. After that, well I might not be returning anyway." Harry said slowly as he worked out in his mind just what he needed to do. "My priority is to find the remaining Horcruxes."

"We haven't figured out how to destroy the one we have yet." Ron put in.

"You have one thing wrong there, Harry. We need to search the school, and our priority is to find the Horcruxes. If you don't return to school then neither am I." Taylor said quietly but with absolute conviction. She wasn't going to let Harry think for one second that he was going off without her.

"Well that just stands to reason Taylor. Harry knows he isn't going without me either!" Ron exclaimed.

"Oh and you all know that you need me too!" Hermione cried.

"Well I ain't being left out either!" Ginny proclaimed too.

"NO!" Three voices yelled at once.

"No!" Hermione's voice followed.

"Hey that's not fair!" Ginny said as she looked from one of her friends to the other, finally settling on Harry's set face.

"You're too young Ginny! Mum would kill me if I let you go. Besides, you're still underage!" Ron said, sounding just like an overbearing brother.

"Taylor's the same age I am and you guys seem to think it's fine if she goes!" Ginny shot back.

"Taylor's different! At least she's in her seventh year!" Ron snapped, his face was set firmly.

"What Ron is trying to say, Ginny, is that no one is going to worry about me if I go. I have no parents or brothers that will kill Harry or the rest of us, for letting you come along!" Taylor said as she tried to reason with her.

"That's really lame you know Taylor!" Ginny started but Harry cut her off.

"Ginny I'm not letting you come with me. It's too dangerous. I'm not going to take the chance that you will get hurt. In a way Taylor's right. I couldn't do that to your mum and dad." Harry said gently but firmly.

Taylor could see that Ginny wanted to argue with Harry but her brother wrapped his arms around Ginny and pulled her tightly against his chest as he dropped his head and whispered something to his love. Ginny put her arms around Harry's neck and laid her head against his chest. Taylor knew that Ginny wouldn't argue anymore. She suspected that her brother had said that he would die if Ginny were hurt; it's exactly what Taylor would have said.

Hermione reached over and picking up a quill and parchment, that the Room of Requirement had provided. She began writing down what Harry decided he needed to do before the school closed for the holidays. Once the list was completed, talk turned to when and from where the four seventh years would head out on their own. They discussed where they should look first and when they should go to Briggs Cottage. Naturally then the conversation turned to what had happened in Shacklebolt's office and Harry's vision there.

A clock on the wall chimed ten o'clock and the five-some headed back to the Gryffindor Common Room so they wouldn't be out after curfew. They were halfway there when they met Lupin and Tonks on one of the stairways.

"Harry! What are you and your friends doing out of your Common Room so late?' Tonks asked as she shook her head disapprovingly. "You should know better than to be out wondering the halls this late!"

"We were just heading there now." Harry said as he glanced at Lupin again.

"Well you had better be hurrying along," Lupin said in a firm voice, "and maybe we will escort you the rest of the way. I know your propensity for getting into trouble Harry."

Taylor couldn't help her snort of laughter at that. This was, after all, coming from a Marauder.

"Miss Porter, I seem to recall you too like to wander the halls when you shouldn't and seem to find yourself in just as much trouble as Harry." Lupin's voice was slightly chastising as he pinned Taylor with a hard look.

"You don't know the half of it Lupin!" Ginny piped up as her eyes took on a mischievous glow.

"Ginny!" Taylor cried and slapped a hand to her heart as if she were hurt there, while Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes at the antics of the two younger witches.

Ginny and Taylor kept making faces at one another for the rest of the way back to the Common Room.

When they were almost there Hermione spoke up with her question. "Lupin, do you have any ideas what is behind this census?"

Lupin looked at the bushy-haired muggle born and shook his head sadly. "Nothing for sure. Just the same speculation that I'm sure you have come up with. Right now it looks like it is what the Ministry is saying it is, but who knows what will happen when they have gathered all the data from it."

"Do you think they will use anti-lying and anti-exclusion charms?" Hermione asked tentatively.

Lupin nodded his head sadly. He knew that Hermione was trying to ask him about protecting her parents. "Yes, Hermione, I'm afraid that they will use every charm and spell they can think of to make sure they get what they want."

They arrived at the Fat Lady and Ginny said the password. As the portrait swung open Harry turned to Lupin.

"Could I have a quick word with you, please Lupin?"

"Yes, of course Harry." Lupin said as he looked at the young man in front of him who looked so much like his long deceased best friend.

Taylor paused at the portrait hole and looked back at Harry, then at Lupin curiously. She wondered what Harry wanted to talk to Lupin about but she couldn't think of a way to keep from entering the Common Room. So when Ron gave her a nudge in the back she crawled in through the porthole into the nearly deserted Common Room.

Harry watched Taylor, Ron and Hermione follow Ginny through the porthole before he turned to Lupin.

"You wanted a word, Harry?" Lupin prompted as Tonks walked down the corridor a ways to give them some privacy.

Harry made sure that the Fat Lady had swung closed once more before, out of habit more then anything else, he put up a silencing spell. "Yeah. I… wanted to ask you why Moody is so suspicious of Taylor. He did give her a hard time. That's why she was so defensive when I woke up."

Lupin's lips thinned and his eyes turned angry. "Moody was out of line today, Harry. Not that it excuses him but he is finding it very frustrating to know so little about your sister. He thinks she is a threat to you, but he can't prove it, of course, so he can't convince the Headmistress either. He's worried. We're all worried with Taylor's use of Dark Magic." Lupin ran a hand over his scarred face.

"I know Taylor isn't into the Dark Arts. Lupin, I know she isn't!" Harry said, his voice rising as he tried to make his parents' remaining friend understand.

Lupin looked into Harry's eyes and he could see the conviction there. He didn't believe James and Lily's lost daughter was into the Dark Arts either but… "Harry, do you know Taylor asked me if she could go see Snape at the Order headquarters?"

Harry's jaw clenched and his green eyes turned hard. No, his sister hadn't mentioned that. Lupin seemed to know Harry wanted to know more. Harry's knuckles were white when the older wizard was finished speaking.

In a tight voice Harry said, "She didn't say why she was so interested in talking to the murderer did she?"

Lupin shook his head. "No she didn't. I want to warn you Harry that if people find out that Taylor is able to perform Dark Magic then they will assume she is into the Dark Arts. You know yourself how easily people's opinions can be swayed to believe the worst." Harry nodded, thinking back to his second year and his ability to speak Parseltongue. "If Voldemort should ever find out about her ability… I don't want to make you worry any more. I just want you to be aware."

Harry nodded again. He was going to have a talk with his little sister!

"I think you should stay at Order headquarters over the holidays Harry. It will be the safest place. Maybe you should see if you couldn't talk Taylor into staying there as well. Mr. Weasley has already suggested that maybe Hermione's parents could stay with them at the Burrow." Lupin paused and looked down the corridor at Tonks who was pointing at her watch. "I'm sorry but I really have to go Harry. I'll see you over the holidays! And don't be too hard on your sister tonight. The Cruciatus can take a lot out of a person, as you well know." Lupin said, as he put his hand on Harry's shoulder and then hurried off to join Tonks to finish their rounds.

A/N Oh dear it looks like Taylor is going to be in trouble with Harry again! (hehehehehe evilily laughs) So what do you think? enjoying it so far? I am trying to channel James and what I precieved his attitude to be into Taylor. Hence the flippent words to Kinglsey and her willingness to joke and try to make Harry laugh. I wanted to show Harry and Taylor are slowly becoming closer and I believe Harry has matured into his role of big brother... but there is still going to be fireworks between the two because of their brave, protective natures! :)

Thank you to all who have read this far!

Thank you as well to my wonderfuil bata barbc!

Until next time, cytpotter