Not JK Rowling not making any money!

Sorry for the long delay... real life has been a bit busy!

Chapter Forty-nine

Everything

By the time the curfew bell rang, both Taylor and Harry were sweating and sporting their fair share of welts and bruises. As they walked up through the castle they were enthusiastically discussing their lesson, under a muffling charm.

Taylor was very glad to be back to doing something normal. Even the dimly lit corridors weren't bothering her as she excitedly talked to her brother.

A spell hitting the wall to the left of them had both Gryffindors spinning, wands out.

The Head Boy held up his hands from the far end of the corridor.

Vanishing the muffling charm Taylor demanded. "Are you crazy? We could have just hexed you into next week!"

Panting the Hufflepuff jogged toward them. "Sorry, but I've been trying to catch up with you. I was in the Entrance Hall when I saw you on the swinging staircase to floor four."

"That's still not a good way to get someone's attention. Taylor's right. You're lucky we didn't hex you. It would have been a real shame too." Harry remarked dryly.

The Head Boy stopped in front of them. He'd taken the prefect back to his common room before heading in search of Taylor, like he said he'd do. He didn't miss their sweating faces, or the welt on Potter's neck, or the one on Taylor's left hand. Remedial Defense lessons my ass! Greg thought.

"Well, I did promise Taylor that I'd walk her back to her common room. A gentleman never goes back on his word. Especially to such a pretty girl." The Head Boy said with a smile as he caught his breath.

Harry started to walk again and the other two fell in beside him.

"That must be some research paper." The Hufflepuff said after just a few seconds, noting Potter's thinning lips and clamped jaw.

"Oh it is," Taylor replied as her eyes danced mischievously. "It's about the intricate relationships between astronomically incidental incidents in a magical world. Or Ir-Baiiiam-W for short."

The two wizards stared at the witch completely dumfounded for a couple of seconds, before Harry turned to look where he was going fighting a smile. He had no idea where his sister ever came up with such off the wall stuff, though he was glad she hadn't said it was about snogging at least.

The Hufflepuff took a bit longer to recover but he asked casually enough. "So Moody and Lupin help out with that do they? The incidental part must be their strong point." He had seen the two wizards heading towards the Defense classroom just after the two Gryffindors had left him in the Entrance Hall after supper. At the time he hadn't thought much of it, but now…

Taylor's grin just grew though. "Oh yeah they help in the incidental department as well as the relationship department."

Harry groaned inwardly, if his sister said anything about snogging he was going to hex her himself!

"Must be quite interesting." Was all the Hufflepuff said.

A few minutes later they reached the seventh floor, and were almost to the portrait of the Fat Lady when the Head Boy asked.

"Can I have a quick word with you Taylor? In here?" The Hufflepuff pointed to an old broom cupboard.

Taylor glanced at her brother quickly before answering, "Ah, yeah sure. I'll be right in."

Harry gave his sister a hard look before scowling at the Hufflepuff. "Be sure you are. Don't make me come looking for you, Hunter." Harry growled before he continued on.

The Head Boy opened the door of the broom cupboard and after a half a second hesitation, Taylor went in. She had never been in very many broom cupboards and never with a wizard that she liked. Her heart started to race. She was inside with the door shut before she even noticed how dark it was. The Hufflepuff seemed to sense it as he conjured a small flame that hung in the air like a torch, casting the tiny cupboard in a warm light.

Greg had mulled over where to talk to the witch the whole way, so when he remembered the broom cupboard, he'd acted. Now though as he looked at the apprehension that had leapt into the witch's eyes he could have kicked himself. He'd forgotten about her fear of the dark in his bid to talk to her alone.

Stepping closer to the witch he put his arms around her and pulled her close as he leaned his head down close to his witch's ear. He could feel the tension in her body as well as her pounding heart. "No one is going to hurt you. You're safe with me." He murmured as he filled his senses with the unique smell of his witch. Sweat, but there was a hint of raspberries and something earthy and warm. Moving his head he grazed his lips along her jaw until he found her slightly parted lips. Tenderly, gently he moved his lips over his witch's as thought fled his mind. It only took his tongue running along her bottom lip for her to sigh and allow him entrance. It was an effort not to pull her hard against him and wildly plunder her sweet lips.

Taylor's mind ceased to work as Greg kissed her, sensations assailed her. The feeling of his strong arms around her, holding her tight, his lips and tongue doing things she had never imagined as his scent filled her. Spicy, strong and distinctly male.

Slowly the Head Boy eased out of the kiss until his forehead rested against his witch's, breathing raggedly. Thought returned and he started to worry, as he felt a slight trembling in the witch, that he had made a big mistake. Her shaky voice soothed that worry.

"Wow. I never knew a kiss could be so… No wonder broom cupboards get so much use!"

A cocky grin spread over the Hufflepuff's face. "I take that as a compliment, Miss Porter. I take it you've never occupied a broom cupboard before?"

"Not for this extra-curricular activity, no. No wonder Ron thinks…" Taylor let the thought go unfinished as her face turned red.

"And what does Weasley think?" The Head Boy questioned with a grin.

"Well he seems to think… he thinks that… guys can't be alone with a girl without snogging."

The Hufflepuff's expression turned mischievous. "What do you think, Miss Porter?"

Taylor's face was still red as she said with a little grin, "I think that if all kisses are as good as that one, then maybe he's right. Who wouldn't want to snog if it curls ones toes like that!"

"So your toes curled did they, Miss Porter?" Greg asked with a self-satisfied grin.

Taylor's face turned red again but her eyes danced excitedly. Taylor was thoroughly enjoying the way the Hufflepuff made her feel, his arms still holding her as he looked down into her face. She wondered if he was going to kiss her again and her pulse quickened.

"I don't suppose I have you so befuddled that you will tell me what you were really doing in Shacklebolt's classroom?" The Head Boy asked in a deep persuasive voice.

"Why sir, are you trying to assail my senses to gain information from me?" Taylor giggled.

"I thought it might be worth a try." Greg grinned.

Taylor's smile faded a little as her eyes turned serious. "I can't tell you. I promised."

"I see. Well I know that neither you nor Potter need remedial Defense lessons," At the witch's questioning glance, he explained about meeting the auror. "I also know that you weren't in Professor Shacklebolt's office. Plus you two were obviously doing some major activities to be sweating and covered in welts… You and Potter are getting advanced Defense and dueling lessons aren't you." It wasn't a question.

Taylor eyed the Head Boy for a long moment before answering. "You know Hufflepuff, you are just a mite too curious and smart for your own good."

Greg gave the witch his cocky grin again. "I take that as a yes. Though I'm sure I'm not the only one to work it out."

Taylor rolled her eyes and shook her head. This wizard was going to be very hard to keep things from.

Greg caught his witch's chin in his hand and stilled it as he tipped his head down again brushing his lips over hers. He watched closely as the hazel eyes darkened and a soft sigh whispered out before claiming the sweet lips in a more demanding kiss, deepening it when they parted.

It was some time before, breathing raggedly again, they broke apart.

"I guess I'd better get you to your common room. It might not be a good idea for Potter to find us like this." Greg said as his heart slowed its wild tempo and rational thought returned. "I don't think he'd be very… understanding."

Taylor grinned as she let her forehead rest against the wizard's solid chest, feeling his heart beating there. "No… he might not. Maybe we'd better go." She didn't want to. She could have stayed in the broom cupboard for… ever. Warmth suffused her whole body and she felt like she was floating.

"Taylor?" Greg asked suddenly, his voice deep and gentle. "Tonight, maybe, where I won't be there… if you think of this… well maybe it might help."

Taylor looked up into the Head Boy's concerned blue eyes. "Yeah, I think that might help a lot."

Greg dropped his forehead down to rest against his witch's for a moment, fighting the urge to kiss her again. The sound of footsteps approaching made him straighten up and step protectively in front of his witch, wand out.

The next second the door was pulled open and Ron's large frame filled it.

"What the Bloody Hell do you think you are doing Hunter?" Ron growled menacingly his wand also out.

Taylor's heart skipped a beat but then she pushed past the Hufflepuff and met the Gryffindor's glare. "Well it's nice to see you too Ron! Greg and I were just checking this cupboard out for any pink-winged broom-hoppers. I'm sad to say we didn't find any but I will need to let Luna know that we did find several Nargles, a rare find indeed. If you will excuse us." Reaching behind her she grabbed the shocked Hufflepuff's hand and led him out past an open-mouthed Ron.

They made it several steps before they heard the Gryffindor wizard swear and slam the cupboard door behind them.

Taylor looked up at the tall Head Boy and could see a grin starting on his face. He was a fast learner and just went along with the witch. They'd just made it to the Fat Lady when Ron caught up to them.

"Hunter I'm warning you!" Ron got out before Taylor spun around and poked him in the chest with her finger.

"Look Weasley. Stop glaring at my wizard before you find yourself picking slugs out of all your orifices for the next month! You enjoy snogging Hermione senseless and I never say a thing, so back off!"

Ron looked down at the irate witch glaring daggers up at him. He was a little surprised at her vehemence, but rightly decided not to push it. He sent the Hufflepuff a glare though before he turned and went in through the portal.

Taylor was breathing hard as she glared at Ron's retreating back, his over protectiveness driving her crazy.

"Hey, it's okay Taylor. I'm glad to see you have friends that want to protect you. I'm not scared of Weasley, and none of them can make me go away." The deep voice was slightly amused but gentle.

"He just drives me nuts! It's okay for him to do it but not me? The hypocrite!"

"Hey, he is just watching out for you, you know."

"I can take care of myself!" Taylor vented in her frustration.

Greg put his arms around the fuming witch and pulled her into a hug. "I know you can, but you know what? It makes me feel better knowing that you have friends who love you and look out for you. It makes leaving you here easier." His voice was soft as he spoke, dissolving Taylor's anger like a puff of smoke.

"I'm the one who is going to worry. You have to go all the way down to your common room by yourself." Taylor whispered.

"I'm Head Boy! What do I have to fear?" Greg asked with a sure grin, but it turned gentle as he added. "Don't worry Taylor. I know this castle very well. I can get down through it quickly and safely."

Taylor nodded. She knew she'd be checking the Marauders Map to make sure he did. "If you say so. I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow, okay?"

"I'll be waiting in the Entrance Hall." With that, he kissed the witch on the forehead and watched her go through the portal before he turned and hurried off towards his common room.

Taylor was just straightening up when Ginny called. "So there you are all safe and sound." Taylor rolled her eyes at the other witch. "See Harry, I told you Taylor would be fine. You know I had a devilish time keeping Potter from going to look for you. I had to seal his lips and everything!"

Taylor caught sight of her brother across the empty common room and saw his face turn red and he looked away. She had a very good idea how Ginny had sealed her brother's lips. Ron was over in the corner talking to Hermione but he didn't look her way. She was fairly sure that Hermione was calming his ruffled feathers too.

"Harry is our stuff still up in your room? I need something from Hermione's bag."

Harry jumped up off the sofa as he answered his sister. "Yeah, I'll go get it. Just a minute." And he dashed up the stairs.

Taylor went over and sat down on one of the chairs, and she saw Ginny wink at her before Ron and Hermione joined the two witches by the fire. Harry was back a few minutes later carrying Hermione's hand bag that contained all their stuff.

It was a few minutes before Taylor had her backpack and the Marauders Map that she wanted. Though she didn't get to look at it right away, as her brother brought out the portrait of Dumbledore as well as several of the Dark Magic books that they had gotten from Briggs Cottage.

"Well, it is good to finally be able to talk to you all again. I am very pleased to see you are up and around again, Miss Granger and Miss Porter." Taylor opened the map as she half listened to the portrait speak. She found the tiny dot labeled Greg Hunter almost to the Hufflepuff common room, and watched until he was safely inside before she returned her attention to the others. They were all looking at her expectantly.

"Ah… what did I miss?"

Ron and Harry growled a bit but the blue eyes in the painting twinkled as Dumbledore said. "I was just asking how you are feeling, but I see your attention was elsewhere. Perhaps near the kitchens?"

Taylor's face turned bright red as she muttered, "Sorry sir."

"Not at all. I trust Mr. Hunter has made it safely to his common room?" Taylor only nodded, "Good, he will be safe there. Now, I believe that we have a lot to discuss…"

It was after twelve before the five-some headed off to bed. They had briefly talked about Taylor and Hermione's time with the Death Eaters but had discussed more thoroughly the Horcruxes they had and how they were going to destroy them. Dumbledore said that he thought that there was a book somewhere in the library that might have a spell that would work. They also talked some more about the Dark Magic books that they had and on Dumbledore's suggestion they were going to study them some more.

Taylor was exhausted as she made her way up the dimly lit stairway behind Hermione. The dark started to press in and she was glad when Hermione lit a lamp by her bed. The two witches got ready for bed in silence, seeming to know that they each had to try to get through this within themselves.

When she was finally lying in bed looking up at her bed hangings was the hardest part for Taylor, knowing that when she closed her eyes the darkness would be complete. A deep voice spoke gently from her memory, and a smile played tentatively at her lips, the Hufflepuff's face filling the black void.

Sometime in the night Taylor woke with a start to find Hermione's bed beside hers and her friend's hand holding hers. Though she wasn't sure who had moved the beds together and didn't care.

The first couple of days back were difficult for the two seventh year Gryffindor witches but slowly they adjusted to being back in school and dealing with what they had survived. Both threw themselves into their schoolwork and worked hard to catch up on the week of classes that they had missed. Hermione returned to all her Head Girl duties, including patrol, though she was only patrolling with either Ron or the Head Boy. Taylor had research lessons every other night with Harry, and when she wasn't doing schoolwork she was in the library searching with the others.

The Hufflepuff joined them at every meal and every night when he didn't have quidditch practice. Although he had no idea what the Gryffindor's were searching for he wasn't about to stay away from his short haired, redheaded witch.

The only bump in the plan happened Saturday morning when Taylor returned to the Gryffindor common room to grab her books to head to the library with Hermione and Greg.

"What's going on?" Taylor asked as she saw the Gryffindor quidditch players. All but Ron and her brother all standing around.

"Potter just resigned as quidditch captain!" Growled a fifth year on the team.

"Now we are going to have to wait for McGonagall to appoint a new one!" Another cried angrily.

"How are we going to find a new seeker? Potter's the best there is!" Someone else called out.

Taylor stopped to stare at the players as molten lava flooded her stomach. "Where is he?" Taylor demanded in a cold voice.

Ginny's eyes grew wide as she saw the fury on Taylor's face.

"Upstairs!" called several players.

Taylor took the stairs two at a time, her wand in her hand she blew the door to the seventh year boys dormitory open without stopping.

"Potter!" Taylor snarled.

"Bloody Hell Taylor!" Ron yelled as he scrambled to pull on a pair of pants.

"Hey you can't come barging in here like that! This is a boy's room!" Yelled Seamus as he pulled his bedcovers up to his nose.

Taylor only had eyes for her brother who stood by his bed wearing only pants, no shirt, and a surprised look on his face.

"Taylor what…" He began before Taylor's cold voice cut him off.

"You quit! How could you? You have no right to do that!" Taylor was trembling, she was so mad, causing red sparks to shoot out of the end of her wand.

"Calm down! I can explain…" Harry started, as Dean yelled.

"Hey! Why don't you get out! Harry can do as he wants!"

Neville nodded his agreement.

Taylor turned so that she could see Dean and pinned him with her eyes as she said in a deadly quiet voice. "I suggest you go! All of you, before I transfigure you into a pebble and toss you out that window."

"Taylor! Just what…" Ron started when Taylor turned to glare at him and he backed up a step.

"Taylor…" Harry started again as his temper ignited.

"Out!" Taylor bellowed and spinning quickly she blasted the blankets off Dean, Seamus and Neville, causing the three boys to race for the door dressed only in their pajamas as their pillows beat them over the head.

Ron glanced from his best friend, to his irate sister standing in the middle of the boy's dorm room. Seeing her wand raise in his direction made him decided that he'd leave her to Harry.

Taylor shut, sealed and silenced the room, almost hitting Ron as he raced out too.

"Porter, you had better have one hell of a good reason for coming up here like this!" Harry growled as he yanked his shirt on over his head.

"What the hell is all the talk downstairs about you quitting the quidditch team?"

"It's not just talk. I did quit. I can't look for a way to destroy the Horcruxes with all the time quidditch takes up."

"You Are Not Quitting!" Taylor yelled.

"I've already made up my mind!" Harry yelled back. "Destroying those Horcruxes is more important!"

"Mom and Dad wouldn't want you to quit! I won't let you!" Taylor screamed. "You can't!"

Harry looked at his sister in surprise, as his anger quickly fled.

"Don't you see? He takes everything! I won't let you quit!" Taylor knew she was losing control, but she couldn't stop. "He took everything from me! EVERYTHING! I could have had a normal life! I could have had a mother, a father and a brother! I could have played quidditch! He took that away from me! Because of him I have to lie. I have to pretend I am a muggle-born! That I don't have a brother!" Taylor was still screaming but tears were pouring down her face. "I won't let him take quidditch from you! I won't! I don't care what he did to me! I won't let you quit!" Sobbing Taylor knees gave out and she sank to the floor shaking her head.

Harry was shocked. He'd never heard his sister so distraught. Going over to her he sat on the floor beside her and hugged her, and she sobbed into his chest.

"You can't quit!" Taylor cried. "I'll do anything, anything you ask. Just please don't quit."

Harry knew, as his sister sobbed the words out, that this wasn't about quidditch. This was about a little girl who had lost everything, even her name, on the night Voldemort killed their parents. For a moment he tried to envision the life he might have had and his arms tightened around his sister.

"Shh Taylor." Harry whispered as he held his sister. "Shh, I know you are my sister. You still have me."

"Harry please! Don't let him take quidditch away from you too! I'll go to the library. I'll read every book if I have to. I'll…" Taylor cried.

"Why is it so important that I play quidditch? Did you want to play? I'll still be your big brother no matter what you know." Harry said gently.

Taylor struggled to get the words past the lump in her throat. "Mom and Dad would have wanted you to play. Dad would be so proud! They both would. You're the best seeker there is! I know you love to play. You've had to go through so much! You deserve to play quidditch. You've lost so much! I won't let you give up quidditch too!" Fresh tears poured down her face.

How could he ignore the plea in her voice? When she had willingly followed him everywhere he went, and it had landed her in a hell he could only imagine. When all she asked of him was to play quidditch, to keep doing normal things. To give her life some semblance of normalcy. When everything she deserved had been taken away.

"Okay Taylor. If it means that much to you, I'll play."

A/N So there you have another chapter! I really am sorry that this chapter has taken so long to be posted... all I can say is that my life has been very busy. Darn real life! ;) Anyway hope you enjoyed this chapter... and Taylor's first kiss! ;) amd her toes even curled! As for Taylor's breakdown at the end... in her defense she has just been through a lot... and I could see her reacting to thinking that Harry was going to quit quidditch in a BIG way. Hopefully it was believeable and you enjoyed the chapter!

As always thank you to those who left a review(sorry I haven't answered those yet but I am going to as soon as I get done here!) Thanks for those who Alerted or Favorited and thank you for just reading! Thank you to my wonderful beta, barbc! Until next time, which I hope will be much quicker! cherrios, cytpotter.