Nope didn't wake up this morning speeking an English accent so nope I still am not JK Rowling!

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Over-bearing Brothers

The five tired Gryffindors walked into the Great Hall the next morning, yawning from their lack of sleep the night before. It had been another three quarters of an hour after Taylor's last revelation before they had called it a night at three am.

They had barely taken their seats when the owls arrived with the morning post. A large brown owl landed with the Daily Prophet for Hermione, as well as a large, fierce looking horned owl that dropped a letter in front of Ron before taking flight again.

"Who's the letter from Ron?" asked Harry as he piled eggs and sausages onto his plate.

Ron opened the letter and then looked up, "It's from Bill letting Ginny and I know that he will be meeting us at Kings Cross instead of Mum and Dad," Ron was met by four pairs of interested eyes. "That's all it says though." And he handed the letter to Ginny.

Hermione dropped her eyes back to the paper. The Daily Prophet had devoted the first six pages to the new census. Hermione was almost done eating though when she finally found what she was looking for and after quickly looking up to get the other's attention she began to quietly read.

"'All witches and wizards regardless of blood status are to report to the Magical Census Department at the Ministry of Magic to complete the new census no later than December 21st of this year. You will need to bring your wand and any documentation of marital status, plus for muggle borns their muggle birth certificates. Failure to comply will result in arrest and five years in Azkaban.' Makes a person think twice about not complying doesn't it?" Hermione asked when she was done reading.

"Yeah, it sure does!" Ginny nodded.

Taylor sat thinking for a moment then leaned in and asked quietly, "I wonder what a person is supposed to do if they don't have that documentation?"

Harry looked over at his sister in alarm as Dumbledore's words came back to him "Taylor, I erased your date of birth from the Department of Magical Births and Deaths so that I could be assured that no one would be able to trace you back to James and Lily Potter. It was for your own protection." How was his sister going to be able to comply with the census?

Hermione looked at Taylor with a steadily increasing anxious expression, "You don't have your birth certificate? But surely you must have something?"

Taylor didn't allow herself to look at her brother as she answered in a tight voice. "No, I don't. I told you I was admitted to Hogwarts as an underage witch. If I didn't have anything to prove how old I was then, I'm sure no documentation exists to prove my blood status or lack there of."

"But what are you going to do?" asked Ginny worriedly.

Taylor closed her eyes and took a deep breath; she was going to have to talk to Dumbledore's portrait about this. Opening her eyes again Taylor said in a firm voice that left no room for further discussion, "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. For now we need to get to Potions class. I think we should meet in the common room at lunch to hash out the details of last night's plan."

In Double Potions with Slughorn they learned how to brew up a healing potion that could be used to help someone who had lasting effects from a number of curses. A very beneficial class, to say the least, in the troubled times in which they lived. Double Herbology wasn't quite as interesting, as Professor Sprout had them harvesting seeds from a reluctant tenacula.

Scratched, as well as sporting numerous bite marks, the four friends walked back up to the castle through the cold frozen grounds. They met Ginny in the entrance hall and continued on up to the common room.

A roaring fire blazed in the fireplace as the five-some sat down in their favorite chairs. The common room was empty, as the rest of the school was in the Great Hall having lunch.

"Let's get this over with, I'm starved!" Ron said impatiently.

Hermione just rolled her eyes at her boyfriend, but a slow smile spread over Harry's face before he called softly. "Dobby?"

A few seconds later a soft pop and the house-elf appeared in front of them.

"Harry Potter called Dobby?" asked the house-elf in his squeaky voice.

"Ah, yeah. I was wondering if we could have a plate of sandwiches and something to drink." Harry asked a little uncertainly. He had never asked Dobby for anything like this before but the house-elf was always asking if he could do something so he thought it would be okay. As long as Hermione didn't get too mad, he could see his friend was looking furiously at him now.

"Of course, Harry Potter!" Dobby cried in delight and disappeared with a pop.

"Harry!" Hermione started but Ginny cut her off.

"Hermione, don't start! We need to plan out how we are going to search the school and we also need to eat."

Two pops stopped Hermione from further comment as Dobby and Winky both appeared laden with a platter of sandwiches and another with a pot of steaming hot chocolate and five mugs. After thanking the house-elves the five-some settled down to planning their search of the school.

When the bell to end lunch rang, the platter and pot of hot chocolate were empty but a piece of large parchment displayed a drawing of the school cut into quadrants. They would search each quadrant thoroughly before they moved on to the next. That way they could keep track of where they searched. They had even made up a schedule so they would know who was searching where and when. It was decided that they would search in pairs or threes, and use Harry's invisibility cloak whenever possible.

The schedule had been fairly tricky to draw up, what with quidditch practices for Harry, Ron and Ginny. Patrol duties for Hermione and Ron, during which they were going to squeeze in a little searching also. Plus Harry and Taylor's extra lessons with Professor Shacklebolt. That didn't count the time they needed to do their homework. It had been Hermione though who had suggested that they combine their homework, whenever possible, as long as it wasn't something that they would need to arm themselves against evil, and use free periods also for searching.

Thursday evening, as Harry and Taylor left the Defence Against The Dark Arts classroom, Taylor rubbed her hand across her sweating forehead. Their lesson tonight had been particularly difficult. Taylor and her brother had advanced so far with these lessons from the beginning of the year. Tonight however had been different again. Shacklebolt had told them that they were learning to read each other too well and had asked Moody to join their training session so that they could practice against the old auror. Taylor wondered as she moved her already sore muscles if she would be able to get out of bed tomorrow morning.

"That was quite the lesson." Harry grinned as he wiped the sweat from his brow too. "I thought for sure I wasn't going to be fast enough that last time!"

Taylor looked over at her grinning brother and rolled her eyes. "Sure that's fine for you to say. You didn't have to deal with an angry auror each time!"

Harry's grin just grew and he laughed. "Yeah, I noticed. I don't think Moody was pleased to see how good you've become at defending yourself! Did you see his face when you conjured those water balloons filled with bober pus?"

"Well I had to do something! I was tired of getting knocked on my arse every time!" Taylor said a little testily as the two of them headed for the quadrant they were going to search before they headed back to their dormitory.

They had almost reached the fifth floor by way of a rickety set of stairs and Harry had disappeared under his invisibility cloak. Taylor was about to join him, when the tapestry at the top of the stairs was pulled aside and several students started down towards them.

"Porter," said Ernie Macmillan "What are you doing out so late?"

Taylor drew in an aggravated breath, "I'm coming from Professor Shacklebolt. What about you?" Taylor felt Harry step up behind her so that hopefully none of the Hufflepuff's would brush against him on their way down.

"For one, I'm a prefect and two we were just up at the library, studying." Macmillan answered in his stuffy do-no-wrong voice. "Where's Potter? I thought you two had research with Shacklebolt together?"

Taylor's hands curled into fists, but she kept her voice even as she replied. "Yeah I do. Professor Shacklebolt asked Harry to stay for a few minutes and as it was almost curfew, I headed back."

Macmillan seemed satisfied with her answer as he said, "Good, but you shouldn't be roaming the school alone."

Taylor bit her tongue to keep the snippy reply that she had from passing her lips. She turned to watch Macmillan and the other Hufflepuff's walk down the stairs past her and an invisible Harry. When she turned back to start up the stairs she gasped and staggered backwards bumping into Harry and almost sending the two of them toppling down the stairs. A lone Hufflepuff was still standing at the top of the stairs.

"I'm sorry," he said as he bounded down the steps to grab Taylor's arm to steady her. "I didn't mean to startle you. I thought you had seen me."

Taylor's heart was pounding heavily both from her start and the stomach-dropping sensation of almost falling down a flight of steps. She quickly became very aware of the boy's hand that was still holding her arm.

"Are you alright?"

Taylor nodded her head as she answered, "Yeah, I'm fine, you just startled me."

The boy smiled, "Sorry again. It's just that I've been wanting to talk to you, but you are never alone."

Taylor looked up into his handsome face, as she felt a shy smile play at her lips, her heart starting to pound again for a different reason.

"It's good that you are always with your friends, especially now… but… well I just couldn't get up the nerve to come up to you with Potter and Weasley always there." The Hufflepuff said a bit bashfully.

Taylor's mouth opened but only a small, "Oh," came out.

A couple of awkward moments passed.

"I don't know if you know who I am…" the boy began but Taylor interrupted him.

"Yeah, you're Gregory Hunter. We were in a couple of classes together over the years. You're also a beater for Hufflepuff." Taylor said with a small smile.

"Spare beater actually, I managed to get detention for our last practice and the captain benched me." Hunter said with a shake of his head.

"Oh, well that's crappie."

"Yeah, it is. I… well I know you usually go to the games… and I was wondering if maybe… you'd go with me?" the Hufflepuff asked hesitantly, but hopefully.

"I don't know Gregory…" Taylor began.

"Greg, call me Greg, all my friends do."

Taylor felt a smile crawling across her face as her brother poked her in the back with his invisible finger. "uhm…" Taylor said hesitantly.

"You don't need to give me an answer right now, think about it. You can let me know when you decide." Greg said in a rush, "I had better be going… ahhh or I could walk you up to Gryffindor Tower, if you want. I need to meet Hermione there anyway. We are on patrol duty tonight."

Taylor noticed the badge pinned on the front of his robes for the first time. The Head Boy badge.

"Uhm…" Taylor said uncertainly as she tried to think of what to do, she kept getting distracted by Greg's incredible blue eyes looking into hers, or how his short dark hair, it was hard to tell if it was black or just dark brown in the dimly lit stairway, fell over his forehead.

"It would be the gentlemanly thing for me to do." Greg said in his deep voice and he turned to walk up the stairs.

Taylor hesitated for a second then followed, forgetting for the moment about Harry being behind her.

Taylor walked beside the Hufflepuff in a comfortable silence, down a long corridor and up another flight of stairs before she realized she had left Harry alone.

"Oh Shit!" Taylor cried as she clamped a hand over her mouth, and her addled thoughts caught up with her.

"What? What's wrong?" asked the boy beside her.

"I… ahh…" Taylor started when a clipped male voice called from behind her.

"Taylor! I thought you were going to wait for me?"

Taylor wheeled around to see Harry striding toward her.

"Hello Potter." Greg Hunter said as he turned to face Harry. "I was just escorting Miss Porter back to Gryffindor. I didn't think she should be walking around alone."

Harry glared at the Hufflepuff and growled, "How kind of you. I can see that she gets back to our common room from here."

Taylor was shocked to see the aggressive look on Harry's face, and was even more shocked when he put his arm protectively around her shoulders, as he stopped beside her. She glanced up at Greg and thought for a moment that he was going to say something more to Harry, instead he looked down at her and smiled tightly.

"Thank you Taylor, I very much enjoyed our little walk. I am sorry it was cut short, however I will look forward to seeing you again tomorrow." Taylor watched as he looked at Harry, slowly taking in Harry's arm around her shoulders. "Potter," he said in an almost hostile tone before it softened, "Goodnight Taylor," and he turned and walked back down the hall.

Taylor watched until Greg Hunter turned the corner before she turned on her brother. "Just what the bloody hell was that all about?" Taylor demanded.

"He's a smarmy git!" Harry growled as he turned and started down the hall again, "You don't know him! You know how dangerous it is now to start hanging around with strangers!"

"He's Head Boy!" Taylor snarled back matching her brother's strides, "And of course I don't know him! He just spoke to me for the first time, not ten minutes ago!"

"Exactly! Why would he all of a sudden start talking to you? Unless he's up to something?" Harry countered.

"Of course he's up to something! He asked me out!" Taylor cried as excitement crawled through her at the mere thought of a boy being interested in her.

"He's too old for you!" Harry cut back.

"Too old! He's in our same year!" Taylor cried in exasperation as they reached the fat lady and said the password.

"Exactly! Too old! Plus he's in Hufflepuff!" Harry said bull-headedly.

"Since when would that matter? It's not like he's in Slytherin!" Taylor argued back loudly as she entered the common room.

"It always matters! What? Aren't Gryffindor boys good enough for you?" Harry challenged.

Taylor could see that the common room was fairly full, and that they were all staring at her and Harry but as her temper flared up at her brother, she didn't care at the moment. "Oh, there's loads of choices here! Potter, you might be my… best friend but you are not my boss! If I so choose to see him, I will!"

"Oh no you won't!" Harry yelled back hotly.

"What are you two fighting about?" Hermione asked as she stared from Taylor's angry face to Harry's and added in an angry hiss. "You do realize that everyone is listening?"

With a flick of her wand, that had slid easily from its holder on her forearm into her hand, Taylor put up a silencing spell, and then she stepped right up to Harry staring him angrily in the eye. "Potter, if you think you can stop me. Try!"

Harry stared at Taylor; surprised at her challenge. He was her big brother. He was supposed to protect her, but his knee-jerk reaction to seeing Hunter asking his little sister out was overpowering. He had wanted to tell the git to stay the hell away from his sister. He still might. It was Taylor's reaction to his actions that surprised him. He would have thought she would have appreciated him looking after her.

"Taylor? What is going on?" asked Hermione, who had been standing close enough to be included in Taylor's silencing spell.

Without taking her eyes off her brother, Taylor growled. "Potter here thinks he has the right to say who I can and can't see."

"See? You mean a boy asked you out?" Hermione asked surprised. Her friend had never had a date before, let alone a boyfriend.

Taylor ground her teeth together, before she answered. "Thanks for the vote of confidence Hermione! Yes, a boy asked me out! And I'm going to say, yes!"

"Oh no you're not!" Harry snapped.

"Who?" asked Hermione.

Pulling her eyes away from Harry's angry ones for the first time Taylor looked at her friend. "The Head Boy, Greg Hunter." Taylor wasn't sure why she had put the fact that he was head boy in there, maybe to help convince herself that he would be a good guy.

"Oh… he's nice… Oh no! Patrol!" Hermione exclaimed as she suddenly remembered that she was supposed to be out on patrol right now, with Hunter.

Taylor watched as Hermione hurried out of the common room before she looked back at Harry.

"Taylor," Harry tried to reason with his sister, "You don't know this guy. It's dangerous right now to be going off with strangers. It's hard to say who a person can trust." Harry thought that sounded like sound reasoning.

"I'm not going off with the guy, Potter! He asked me to a quidditch game! With the whole school present!" Taylor answered angrily before she wheeled away from her brother and marched across the common room and up to her dormitory. She was afraid if she didn't go she might end up hexing him for being so pigheaded about this whole thing.

Ginny had decided to let Harry and Taylor alone to argue instead of following Hermione to try and break them up. She had a good idea what they were arguing about anyway, as did the rest of the common room, before Taylor had put up the silencing spell. She could hear the buzz as the Gryffindor gossips started up. Ginny waited patiently though for Harry to join her on the sofa. It didn't take him long.

Ginny was a little less conspicuous with her silencing charm as she looked up at her angry boyfriend. "So a guy asked Taylor out?" Ginny was surprised at the overbearing tone in Harry's voice as he told her what had happened. It reminded her forcefully of the way her brothers talked about her boyfriends.

"I've talked to Greg in the library and Hermione has mentioned him different times. He seems like a nice guy. A little quiet maybe, but he's among the top students and also a decent beater." Ginny said calmly as she tried to point out what she knew about Hunter.

"He's a smarmy git! You should have seen the way he was looking at my… Taylor." Harry snapped barely catching himself from saying, 'sister', in his anger.

Ginny sighed, somehow she knew that there was more to Harry's relationship with Taylor then he would say. This wasn't the first time she had heard one or the other almost say… something, before they caught themselves. She trusted Harry. She knew he loved her, but she also knew there were things he didn't tell her. Things she suspected he didn't tell even Hermione or Ron, only Taylor.

"Do you really think you are being fair to Taylor? She is smart. I'm sure she will be able to tell if he is a smarmy git."

"What, like when you were dating Michael?" Harry asked, refusing to let it go.

"Why Harry Potter! Are you jealous of my past boyfriends?" Ginny asked in a mischievous voice.

Taylor had been so mad at Harry for being so unreasonable last night that she hadn't gone back down to the common room. She had talked to Lavender and two other girls from fifth year that had been visiting when she came into her dorm room. They had talked about boys in general and what their plans for the holidays were. Of course Taylor had just said she was going to stay with Mrs. Briggs.

When Hermione had finally returned from her patrol, Taylor had managed to have a short conversation with her about Greg Hunter and Harry's unreasonable reaction to him.

Taylor was thinking about that conversation as she made her way toward the Great Hall for breakfast. Butterflies flapped about in her stomach as she thought about who she was going to talk to. Greg Hunter. Her heart started to pound at just the thought of him. Hermione had said that he had asked a lot of questions about Taylor during their patrol together. Taylor had also asked Hermione a bunch of questions about Greg. Taylor had been pleased to hear that Hermione had no reservations about Taylor agreeing to go to the quidditch match with Hunter.

Taylor knew she was early, but the thought of seeing Harry and getting into another argument, plus the excitement that she felt at seeing Greg again had her up and down in the Entrance Hall a lot earlier then she normally was.

"Miss Porter, you are up bright and early this morning."

Taylor turned to see Lupin walking toward her.

"Good morning Lupin." Taylor said with a smile.

"I heard you had an exciting evening last night."

Taylor stared at him for a second, trying to figure out how he heard about her and Greg, when she remembered her research lesson, and the trouble she had with Moody. Funny how she didn't even feel any of the bruises, she had noticed when she had taken her shower this morning. "It was rather interesting."

"I heard you handled yourself rather well." Lupin said with a small smile, and a glint in his eye, before he looked over Taylor's head. "I think someone might be waiting for you."

Taylor turned and seen Greg Hunter standing on the other side of the Entrance Hall, her stomach did an awful flop before the butterflies started up again. Taylor turned back to Lupin as he said, "Have a good day, Miss Porter." Taylor gave him a weak smile before she turned back to look at Greg, her wooden legs carrying her over across the empty hall.

"Hi," Greg said when Taylor reached him. "I wasn't sure if you would come over or not, after last night with Potter…"

Taylor could feel her temper starting to rise at that. "Sure, why wouldn't I come? Potter was just being…"

"Look I understand if you and Potter are…" Greg began but Taylor cut him off.

"Potter's an over bearing git! He's been my best friend for seven years, but he's just that. A friend." Taylor said a little more forcefully then she meant to.

Greg smiled as he said, "A friend?"

"Yeah, just a friend, albeit an over-protective one at times." Taylor growled.

"Friends are good, I'm glad you have friends who care that much about you. Friends are important." Greg said quietly.

Taylor looked up into Greg's dark sky blue eyes and smiled, "Yeah friends are good. Even when they are a pain."

Greg nodded, "So… did you want to go to the game tomorrow with me?"

Taylor's smile grew, as did the excitement racing through her. "I'd love to!"

A/N Well there you have it another chapter! This is like the 5th one in less then a week! :) And I hope a few more will be up before the holidays! ;) So what did you think of the new charactor? Head Boy Greg Hunter? I was very unsure when he first poped into my head if I should use him... I mean did I really want to add another problem for Taylor to have to deal with? And the answer turned out to be... well that would be telling wouldn't it? :) I wanted to write these charactors as well as being as true to the Potter verse as possible I wanted them to be real as well... or as real as my mind could come up with!

Thank you to all of you who have added this stroy to Favorites or Alerts! Those mean so much to me! And a HUGE THANK YOU to those of you who have taken the time to review! Thank you to my bata barbc! Well until next time, cytpotter.