If I owned Harry Potter I would of known Ginny's birthday wasn't until August! (rolls eyes at self!)

There is a warning here for more alcohol and I thought that everyone who was drinking WAS over 17! But again my horrid math skills let me down! So please just pretend that Ginny's birthday is in March or April!

Also I want to say that I don't own or mean any copyright infringements on the Bryan Addams song that is mentioned in this chapter.

This is one of my Favorite chapters! Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Seventy-nine

And the Morning After

The Hufflepuff held his witch's arm as he stepped in front of her. "Finnigan, I suggest you shut your trap before I shut it for you. Drunk or not if you say one more thing about my witch I will put you in the Hospital Wing! Now go!" The low, dangerous growl of the Head Boy made people in the immediate vicinity turn and look, as he glared down at the intoxicated Gryffindor.

Taylor knew that things could turn ugly in an instant. Finally pulling her arm free from Greg she moved in front of him and put a hand on his chest as she turned to look at Seamus. "Seamus you are drunk!"

Dean and a frightened looking Neville came over to Seamus and after a bit of arguing moved off with the intoxicated Gryffindor.

Taylor shook her head slowly wondering how something as innocent as her ride with Harry on the victory lap, could be misconstrued by so many people.

"Hey," the tall Hufflepuff said softly as he bent down to be heard above the noise. He could see the hurt still in his witch's eyes when she looked up at him. "Come here," and he gathered her against him and hugged her, careful not to spill the drink he had gotten for her.

A few moments later he released her from his hug, but he took her by the hand and moved over to a vacant chair in the corner. Sitting down in it he pulled her down on his lap, passed her the glass and then comfortably wrapped his arms back around her.

They sat in it quietly for a long while just watching the party going on. Lavender had moved on to another wizard, this time a sixth year. The two sat in a chair not far away, snogging, their hands all over one another. Taylor looked away, glad the Head Boy wasn't like that. She didn't like public displays like that. Ron and Hermione were sitting on one of the sofas snuggled together with Ron's arm around her friend's shoulders, talking to Neville who had just joined them.

The song that started to play was a muggle slow song that she remembered from when she was younger and she hummed along with it softly. She didn't know the Head Boy even noticed until he spoke softly in her ear.

"You know this song?"

Taylor softly sang the words for a few more lines as she leaned back into the Hufflepuff's shoulder. The song spoke so much about how she felt it was almost scary.

"… Yeah, I would fight for you,

I'd lie for you,

Walk a while for you,

Yeah, I'd die for you,

You know it's true,

Everything I do,

Oh, I do it for you."

She felt a shiver go through the Hufflepuff's body, as his arms tightened around her and she just listened to the rest of the song. When it was over she spoke quietly, "I used to hear that song every morning on the bus to school. It's called, 'Everything I do, I do it for you', by a Canadian singer named Bryan Adams. At the time I didn't know truly what the words meant, now…" Taylor looked over where her brother and Ginny had joined Ron and Hermione on the other sofa and the words became all too real. Only now her whole plan, her whole idea, the verse she had sang from the song had somehow become so complicated by her feelings for the tall wizard whose lap she was sitting on.

It was some time before the Head Boy spoke his voice heavy, "It's just a song Taylor. I hate it when you talk like that."

Taylor sighed. She knew she could never make the Head Boy understand how she felt, not without telling him the few secrets that she still had, and that just wasn't possible. Maybe someday… hope flared in her heart, but not now, not until Voldemort couldn't hurt anyone ever again.

"I'm sorry," she said gently as she leaned her head against his chest and felt his arms shift her around so that she was cuddled into him more. The two of them sat there like that for a long time. The common room began to empty as the younger Gryffindors headed off to bed, as well as quite a few of the older ones. The music was still playing, though it had been turned down so that it was more background noise than anything else. She watched as her brother and Ron emptied the last bottle of Firewhisky into their glasses and toasting one another, drinking most of the glass in one go. She noticed Hermione had been still for some time and began to wonder if maybe her friend had passed out.

A few minutes later she decided to get up and go see. She wanted another drink anyway, seeing as how there was still some pumpkin juice left. "Come on. Let's go sit with the others over by the fire." Slipping out of his arms she stood and offered him her hand, which he took after only a slight hesitation. She smiled a little when she saw the normally very coordinated Hufflepuff stagger slightly and she put her arm around him as she headed first for a drink and then to the sofa.

"Hi guys," Taylor greeted her friends as she approached, and saw that Hermione was in fact passed out. She rolled her eyes. "How much did Hermione have to drink anyway?"

Ron snickered, "Not much! 'Mione just can' hold her licker!" Harry laughed and even Ginny giggled.

"Ginevra Weasley, have you been drinking?" Taylor demanded as she put her hand that wasn't supporting the Hufflepuff on her hip.

"Just a little! A body doesn't win the Quidditch Cup everyday you know!" Ginny grinned up at Taylor before giggling again, "Seamus had a bottle 'Mione didn't know about!"

"Figures! The one I just about hit has the bottle!" Taylor grumbled and she heard the Head Boy chuckle.

"What'd ya wanna hit Seamus fer?" Ron asked as he looked up at her unsteadily. "Well again anyway?" and he laughed.

Taylor just rolled her eyes, that she had no intention of telling. She looked over at her friend and decided that Hermione wouldn't want anyone to know that she had passed out in the common room.

"I'll take Hermione up and put her in bed." She looked up at the Hufflepuff who was wavering on his feet slightly. "You sit down, right over there."

Palming her wand, she levitated Hermione up off the sofa and then plunked the Head Boy down in her spot. She floated her friend up to her dorm room and into her bed, pausing to pull off the Head Girl's shoes and tuck her in under the covers. Taylor turned to go and noticed Lavender wasn't in her bed and wondered vaguely where, or probably more precisely who, the other witch was sleeping with.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she heard deep male laughter and walked over to the sofa and sat down beside the Head Boy who promptly put his arm possessively around her shoulders. "So, what's so funny?"

Ron laughing so hard he could barely make himself understood, recounted what had happened to a fifth year who tried to sneak across Hermione's age line earlier. Taylor laughed at her friend's ingenious idea to make the offender bray like a donkey for a few minutes.

The next half hour passed in laughter as Ron, tongue loosened by Firewhisky, told one hilarious story after another. Taylor laughed so hard her sides hurt and she felt sorry for the Hufflepuff who held his side while he laughed and yelped at the same time.

"I think I need to go to the loo, so excuse me boys!" Ginny said with a grin over at Taylor, but when she stood she swayed and nearly fell.

"I'd say you need to go to bed!" Taylor said with a laugh and rolled her eyes as she stood and wrapped her friend's arm around her shoulder to steady her. She couldn't help laugh at the other witch's production of saying good night to Harry, Ron and even Greg.

When Taylor returned this time she noticed that her brother and Ron were both absent.

"Where did Ron and Harry go?" Taylor asked as she sat down beside the Hufflepuff again and he said the washroom.

Taylor heard the two wizards snorting laughter then, as they came down from the washroom and made a big production of sitting back down. It was more than an hour later and sometime past midnight when Harry went to stand up and fell down as the other two wizards laughed.

"You're going to hurt yourself Harry! Good thing someone here is sober!" Taylor griped half heartedly, as she stood once more and helped her brother to stand. She needed both hands to help steady him.

"You're a good kid you know Taylor. A really good kid!"

"I'm only a year younger than you are Harry!" Taylor said in exasperation as she rolled her eyes at him.

"I mean' ya' have a big heart, witch," Harry said slowly and as seriously as his slurred words would let him. "You treat her right, Hufflepuff! Don't you do nothin' to hurt her! I love this witch! She'sa… a sis'ter to me, you know!"

"Okay Harry, let's go before you start crying on my shoulder!" Taylor said lightly trying to make light of her brother's drunken words. Thankfully he seemed to take the hint and allowed her to help him up to his room. She was just about to sit him on his bed when he pulled her into a tight hug.

"I mean' wha' I said! I love you! You know tha' right?"

"And I love you too, Harry. Now it's time you went to bed before you stick that big foot of yours any further into your mouth!" he just laughed and sat down, and Taylor pulled off his shoes and tucked him into bed. "Goodnight Harry."

All she heard was a slurred "nigh…" before he started to snore softly.

Returning once again, she heard snores coming from the sofa and could see Ron stretched out there, passed out.

"Oh for the love of Merlin and all that is holy!" Taylor groaned in exasperation. "Well at least I don't have to carry you!" Palming her wand she was about to levitate Ron when she happened to glance over at the other sofa where the Hufflepuff was silently watching her. His intense gaze made her suddenly uncomfortable and she cast around for something to say.

"Firewhisky seems to make people a little crazy! I'm glad I didn't have any!" She laughed, attempting not to make it sound forced.

"Yeah, makes people say crazy things, all right!" The Head Boy's voice was light and joking, even slightly slurred, but Taylor couldn't help but think it didn't quite match the look in his eyes.

"I'll be right back," and waving her wand she levitated the last Gryffindor wizard up and into his bed as he snored, pausing to pull his shoes off as well and throw the blankets over him.

Sighing as she reached the foot of the stairs, she walked through the deserted common room to the sofa and sat down beside the Hufflepuff.

"I think you had better stay right here tonight." Taylor ventured, turning so she could look up at him.

"I didn't plan on leaving," the husky sound in his voice made heat flood through her and she was glad she was sitting because she doubted if her suddenly weak knees would have held her up.

His fingers brushed gently over her cheek once and then he lifted her glasses off and put them on the small table at the end of the sofa. He then lifted her up and sat her on his lap as his arms went around her and one of his hands slipped under her sweater to trail across her lower back. "I've wanted to do this for the past three hours," he breathed, Firewhisky laced breathe fanning over her face, before his lips caught hers and he kissed her slowly, making an ache start in her lower belly and her toes curl. Breathing heavily he trailed his lips along her jaw and down her neck.

In a move that belied his intoxication he shifted, laying her on the sofa as his body partially covered hers, his lips returning to hers, leaving her gasping for air and fighting to think straight.

The Hufflepuff's hands roamed down his witch's jean clad leg and up again, as desire raced through his veins, making his thoughts as sluggish as they had been with the Firewhisky. He'd drank more tonight then he ever had, not as much as Potter and Weasley though, and it had also been spread out over more time. He'd been trying to get rid of the bad taste that his jealousy had left behind. He would be glad when his thoughts were finally clear again, free of the alcohol.

He'd run his hand over the same place a few times and was curious what the bump in his witch's pocket was. Kissing her again, he slid a finger in and pulled out the offending lump. "What's this?" he asked as he brought his hand up to see. A smile curved his lips at the sight of the miniature scarves in his hand.

"Oh, I forgot about those. I should have put them in my room…" he loved the light blush that spread over her face and the bashful way she glanced into his eyes.

"I never did thank you for wearing my scarf today. I suppose that had something to do with why you punched Finnigan?" The way she avoided his eyes told him more than her off hand words.

"He was just being a git."

"I saw you up in the stands with Luna. I could hear you cheering sometimes." He nibbled on the hollow of her neck and felt her breathe hitch. Dragging his lips up her neck, he claimed her willing lips once again. Her light raspberry shampoo, as well as her own unique scent, filled his senses and he felt a powerful need to possess this witch. His hand slipped under her sweater once more, her skin so soft beneath his fingers. Breaking off the kiss he dragged in great lungfuls of air and he went back to nibbling on her neck as he fought to control the desire that roared through him.

Time and again he sought her lips, as her hands rubbed up over his back or tangled in his hair. Each time he would end the kiss breathing raggedly not just from lack of air but also from the effort to keep his libido in check. He was nibbling on her neck, and heard her stifle a yawn, as she stretched beneath him. He knew he should be tired also but he wasn't, though he knew it had to be after one in the morning by now.

He knew he shouldn't but he just couldn't stop the words before they fell from his lips, "Stay with me here, tonight."

He heard her sigh contentedly, "Yeah, of course." Picking his head up, he looked at his witch in the faint light given off by the dying embers of the fire and could see that her eyes were closed already. Smiling he shifted her body over a little so he could lay behind her on the sofa and was pleasantly surprised when his witch snuggled back against him. Pulling his wand he conjured a blanket and floated it over the two of them. It wasn't long before he heard his witch's deep breathing that told him she was asleep. He wrapped his arm around her and held her possessively as his mind wandered over the different events of that day. Just before he dropped off to sleep, the last words Potter said before his witch helped him up to bed came back to echo in his mind. "You treat her right Hufflepuff! Don't you do nothin' to hurt her! I love this witch! She'sa… a sis'ter to me, you know!"

Slowly Taylor became aware of things. The first was that she was comfortable, as well as totally content, even the deep breathing behind her wasn't a cause for worry. She thought she would be perfectly happy to stay in this state for ever, though her body had other ideas and made her aware that it had business that needed tending to. She fought it as long as she could but her body was insistent and soon she was awake and fully aware of the wizard who was sleeping soundly behind her with a arm wrapped tightly around her and one of his long legs curled over hers. It took some wriggling but she was finally able to get up off of the sofa. The sky outside the narrow windows of the common room showed a grey dawn that offered a fair amount of light to filter in, telling Taylor that it was indeed later then she first thought.

Taking care of her early morning need, she slipped up to her dorm room to find Hermione still sound asleep, as well as Lavender. Taylor wasted no more than a passing thought as to when the witch would have made it back. Instead she grabbed her housecoat and headed for the shower.

Fifteen minutes later she returned refreshed and wide awake, pulling on an old pair of sweatpants and a comfortable sweater, she quietly set up her cauldron and began gathering ingredients as she flipped through her Potion's notes, until she came to the potion she was looking for.

An hour later, Taylor made her way back down to the common room, a stopper full of potion in her hand. An evil grin spread across her face as she heard a threatening growl coming from the sofa.

"Whoever is making that god-awful racket had better clear out!"

Taylor glanced around and saw two first years trying to move a table and chairs back into place so they could do some homework. The two young witches kept glancing nervously over towards the sofa.

"It's fine, Mary and Lacey, I'll look after the grouch." Taylor failed to keep the amusement out of her voice as she walked around the end of the sofa to see the Head Boy stretched out on it with a pillow over his face. "Well aren't we setting a fine example now Mr. Hunter!" she chirped brightly.

"Either kill me now or go and take those two noise makers with you!" The growling voice said from under the pillow.

Taylor laughed a little and heard the Head Boy groan. "Well lucky for you Hufflepuff, I was not drinking last night!"

"Augh… not so loud witch."

Taylor ignored the complaint and continued, unable to keep the amusement from her voice. "And I also happen to be very good in potions. Now sit up I've got something to make you feel better."

The Hufflepuff groaned loudly before pulling the pillow off his face and squinting up at her. "You can make the gnomes in my head stop beating that retched drum?"

Taylor snickered as she crouched down beside him. "Hufflepuff you look like hell! Here, roll over and drink this, it'll help."

He eyed her through one eye before he did as she instructed and took the vial she handed him and downed it making a face. "Augh! What is that?"

"Baby!" Taylor teased, and waited as the Head Boy rolled back on his back and put his arm across his eyes. It only took a few seconds for the potion to go to work.

The wizard sighed, "That's better, witch. You know, I love you!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure the others will say the same thing. Now I suggest you head on down to your common room before too many others get up."

He lifted his arm and looked at her blearily. "Yeah, I'd better. What about those two?" he motioned toward the two witches sneaking a peek at them from where they were studying at the table.

"I'm sure I'll be able to convince them not to talk. It's amazing how far an Outstanding essay can go to keep one from talking."

"You thought of everything didn't you?" the Head Boy asked as he pushed himself up into a sitting position stiffly.

Taylor grinned at him, her reply cocky, "Yup, pretty well everything. Now here's enough for your friends that were celebrating last night also." She saw him raise an eyebrow at her, "Tell them it's a peace offering. I'll see you at… lunch."

The Hufflepuff went to grin and then put his hand on his head, the pounding had stopped but he was still exhausted, "You know me well witch. I'll see you later."

Taylor watched until the portrait had swung shut before glancing around the common room and saw that the house elves had done a great job of cleaning up, as usual, before she headed over to where the two young witches were studying.

"Good morning ladies," Taylor grinned as she sat down with them. "So name your price, what can I do to ensure that word doesn't spread about what you just happened to be witness to? Keeping in mind that I can just as easily erase both your memories."

Taylor actually enjoyed the next few hours as she helped the two witches with their homework, particularly a potions essay, as well as just chatting with them. The odd Gryffindor came down from the dorm rooms but as it was Sunday most were electing to sleep in late.

At nearly eleven o'clock she left the two witches so they could study some more and headed up to her room. A noise in the girl's washroom made her pause and go in. She found Ginny in there holding her head as she stood at the sink.

"Hey Ginny, you want something to get rid of those pounding drums?"

The other witch sent her a dirty glare before demanding, "What do you have?"

Taylor just grinned and left knowing the other witch would follow. When she entered her room again she could hear Hermione starting to stir as well as Lavender. Her first impulse was to make as much noise as possible but she took pity and instead was standing bedside Hermione's bed when she pulled the coverings back and groaned.

"Hey Hermione! Smashing great day isn't it?" Taylor just couldn't resist teasing her friend.

"Be quiet! Or I'll hex you Porter!" Hermione groaned testily.

"Why would you hex the one who can make the pounding stop?" Taylor asked innocently. She just grinned when Hermione glared up at her and passed her a vial full of potion. "Drink, take a shower and then get something to eat. Doctor's orders!"

Hermione only groaned again as she massaged the side of her head before taking the potion and drinking it. Taylor gave some to Ginny and Lavender before taking the rest of the potion and heading for the boy's dormitories.

On the way up, as she passed the boy's bathrooms. She could hear someone being sick and shook her head. When she reached the seventh year boy's room she knocked, waited a moment and then went in. The boy's still weren't up, except Seamus who was missing from his bed and she suspected she knew where he was.

Walking over to her brother's bed she decided that he probably wasn't asleep. He was laying stretched out on his back with his arm covering his eyes, but he was moaning very quietly.

"Hey Harry, how are you feeling this morning?" Taylor asked cheerily as she sat down beside him on his bed. The answering groan said it all.

"Go away! And shut up!" Ron growled from his bed.

"Now why would I do that?" Taylor knew if looks could kill she'd be dead as her brother, Ron and Dean all glared at her and she laughed. "Especially when I have something to make the pounding go away?"

"Bloody Hell Porter! Do you think you could lower your voice! Awww, it feels like there's a Hippogriff dancing on my forehead!" Ron ground out.

"Taylor what do you want?" her brother groaned as he held his head.

Taylor sighed and took pity. "I have a potion here that will make all the hurt go away. If you don't want it…" Taylor shrugged and went to stand but her brother's hand grabbed her arm to stop her.

Looking up at her blearily he groaned, "Give it here!"

Taylor fought to keep from laughing as she passed the potion to her brother. He rolled over on his side and downed it, making a face and handing her the empty vial. "Where'd you get it?"

Taylor looked down at him and rolled her eyes. "Well, doubting Thomas, I happen to be a cracking good potion maker and I made it myself this morning." She stood up and went over to Ron's bed as she continued. "Plus I'm pleased to say that all the time I've spent in the Hospital Wing wasn't a complete waste. I heard about it there, something Pomfrey muttered about Black and Potter perfecting it caught my ear." She handed the potion to Ron who took it gladly. "Of course its main purpose is for menstrual cramps…" Ron blew the potion back out of his mouth and stated coughing, Taylor even heard her brother start to cough.

"Really now!" Taylor snapped, a little perturbed, and pulled her wand out and vanished the spewed out potion. "Were you not listening? Sirius Black and James Potter perfected this. Do you honestly think it won't work?"

When Ron could finally speak he gasped, "And you just had to tell us the other thing?"

"Honestly Ron! Harry did ask and what does it matter? Jesh! Don't be such a Neanderthal! Now do you want some or not? I just have enough to go around now, so if you spit this out you go without!" Taylor handed him another vial and then went over to Dean and Neville giving them each one. "I'll leave this here for Seamus." She put the last one on the nightstand by the Irish wizard's bed. "You might want to take it to him Dean. I think he could really use it!"

Taylor walked back over to her brother's bed and saw that he was reaching for his glasses, a good sign that he was feeling better. "Feeling better?"

Harry looked up at his sister and nodded thankfully. "You are a godsend, thanks Taylor."

Taylor grinned and headed out the door with a wave, calling over her shoulder, "Don't thank me, thank Padfoot and Prongs! They're the ones brave enough to try using menstrual potion to cure a hangover!" She heard the oaths that followed her out and she laughed.

A/N Well there you have it! One of my favorite chapters! I could so see James Potter and Sirius Black looking for a hang-over potion! And well the real purpose for the potion was something that just popped into my mind and I laughed as I wrote it! LOL! The song that Taylor sang to is one of my favorite songs! It's from the movie Robin Hood:Prince of Theives, a great movie by the way! And when I started to write about Taylor listening to music well that song just wouldn't leave me alone... because I could really see her connecting with the words in that song. Anyway hoped you liked it! Sorry I didn't get this posted on Saturday like I had planned but this weekend was crazy busy!

Thank you to those who left a review! As well as Added this to their Favorites and Alerts! Plus thank you for just reading! Thank you to my wonderful beta barbc! You are great girl! Well until next time, cytpotter.