Hangover

The next day, Jack woke Sev up by shaking him gently by his shoulder. "Hey, Prince, it's half past eight."

Sev thought, (Booah… what a headache. And I'm in bed undressed and on my back, and I don't even remember how I got here, the last thing I remember is Deborah telling me jokes.) "Jack, what happened last night?"

"Nothing, Prince, you got boozy. I already warned you not to hit the whiskey if you weren't used to it."

"I don't remember anything, Jack. How did I get to bed?"

"Andrew brought you."

"Oh... And did he undress me too?"

"Surely. You fell asleep in your corner," his friend replied.

"And Deborah?"

"The same, you both fell round. You know, the lack of habit. You must have a huge hangover. How do you feel?"

"Terrible, Jack, my head hurts a lot, my stomach is upset and I'm very tired."

"Stay in bed if you want, we'll take care of the training."

"Not at all, I can't miss the Great Hall again today, and even less at breakfast. Dumbledore has to tell me what he read in the malefic Rave yesterday."

"Okay. That's why I woke you up, otherwise I would have let you sleep," Jack said. "I went to the Infirmary to get you some headache potion. It won't fix your whole body, but at least that will."

"Wow… thank you very much, Jack. Did you have a good time at the party?"

"Yes, I did. It was not as memorable as the one a fortnight ago. We retired early to sleep."

"Of course, because I wasn't there to serve you the Restorative potion. Very sorry."

"Don't worry, Prince, you're not everyone's dad. Yesterday it was your turn to enjoy."

"Yeah, but it's a shame. I was having a great time and suddenly I don't remember anything anymore. I have a blackout."

"Normal, it has happened to me too. Next time hit the wine if you want to get drunk."

(The wine…Lauren. I didn't pay attention to her again all night. I didn't even notice when she left and I forgot to take the bottle for us. Maybe she took it, at breakfast I'll ask her. Maybe she did too found out what happened.)

"Come on, take the potion and a quick shower if you want," Jack continued. "Poppy has already given me the right dose."

"Thank you very much, Jack."

(How he cares for me despite the row we had yesterday. How I love him.) Sev drank the potion. Anthony is already up and he is not in the bedroom, how strange. Would he be upset that I was getting drunk with Deborah? It seem to me very strange. Later I'll talk to her, to see if she remembers anything else about what happened. My wand is on the nightstand, I took it out of my pocket for something. What for, during the party? I'll ask Andrew, who was the one who put me to bed.

He took the scrunchie out of the drawer, tied up his hair, and went to the shower. He took five minutes. Jack is already down too. I'll put on yesterday's clothes, I only wore them for a few hours, they are neatly folded on the trunk. Andrew, how they all take care of me. The headache has gone and the shower has felt great. What would I do without my friends?

He went down to the Common Room at a quarter to nine, everyone was already there except Deborah. (Ugh… she must be hungover too. I hope they brought her a potion too. I'm going to ask them, she and Valerie share a bedroom.) "Valerie, how is Deborah?"

"Well, she was taking a shower," Valerie answered.

"Is she hungover too?"

"Yes Prince. But I've already brought her Poppy's potion. I'm sure she's better now."

"Can someone tell me what happened last night? I do not remember anything."

"That the two of you got boozy, in little more than an hour, and you continued drinking at the same rate, with which you fell sleep at the table."

"Oh... And my wand, Andrew? Did you pick it up?" Sev asked.

"Yes, you had left it on the table," Andrew replied.

"I don't even remember why I took it out."

"We did not realize either, we were on our own."

"Thanks for putting me in bed and picking it up," Sev said.

"You're welcome, Prince, we're here for whatever you need."

Deborah come down and leaned over to kiss Anthony, on his cheek. (It's strange that she kisses him in front of everyone, she never does. I'm not going to ask her what happened, I'll talk to her in private later. Only if she's feeling better.) "How's your hangover, Deborah?"

"Much better, Prince," she replied. "And you?"

"Me too, thanks to them taking care of us."

"Of course. Shall we get going now?"

"No. Otherwise we will arrive very early," Sev replied. "We must arrive on time, as always, we leave at five to nine." And to the others, "Tell us, how was the party? Aren't you hungover?"

"No, Prince," Valerie replied. "Yesterday we moderated."

(How strange. In the last one they also got boozy. Something strange happened or maybe they were just not in the mood, because of the tense day we spent.) "And you, Anthony?"

"I went to bed early, Prince," Anthony replied. "I didn't feel like partying."

(Yes, it must have hurt him that I got drunk with Deborah, but he is not going to show it to me, he also loves me very much and he will be eternally grateful for the help I have given him so that he can get Defense. He was willing to risk his life for me, alone in the bedroom with the four vipers. I have to spend more time with him, go to the Library to study with them.) "Looks like I ruined the party for all of you."

"Not at all Prince. We were at ease," this was Fiona.

(I don't believe anything, they are all very subdued. Something happened, but it is clear that they are not going to tell me. Let's see if Lauren noticed or Deborah remembers something else. I was not even with the first and second-years as I wanted or ordered to send them to bed at a reasonable hour. I will ask them.) "Did you send the kids to bed at a good time?"

"Sure, Prince, of course," Valerie told him. "They all left around eleven."

"Brilliant. Thank you very much for worrying."

"It wasn't a bother. You can't be at everything, we must share the work. Did you have a good time?"

"The time that I remember yes, a lot," Sev replied.

"Well, that's what's important, that you've recovered from the scare you had in the morning."

"Yeah, but it looks like you haven't."

"Well, you're made of very stern stuff, Prince," Jack told him.

(His favorite phrase, not a day goes by that he doesn't tell me. And Deborah is also made of very stern stuff, how we enjoyed last night. We both know how to put worries aside and have a good time, and Lauren too, last night was great. Too bad not projecting more, but last night was Deborah's night. Ugh… I completely forgot about Audrey and I had said her I'd sleep with her. How messed up I am.) "And the rest of the House? Did they get drunk?"

"Yes, most. That's why no one has come down yet, they must be speeding up the time to the maximum," Jack replied.

(Well, then she would be entertained with her friends. Better, so she doesn't have so many illusions with me, I don't suit her at all. If she doesn't come on to me again, I'm just going to pay attention to her to teach her Occlumency.) "Well, those who come to train will have to be given a truce, let them stop by the Infirmary if they need it. Spread the word around the table, Andrew and Deborah."

"Sure, Prince," she replied.

(I'm going to take advantage of these minutes to talk to Jack about the change of command, because at breakfast I may not have time.) "Come with me for a moment, Jack."

They both went to the corner but did not sit down. Sev conjured the Muffliato.
"Today we are going to command sixth year together. Deborah is going to take care of fifth year."

"Sounds good to me, Prince."

(Relieved not to have to deal with her. Too bad, a lifelong friendship and not knowing and appreciating her, he doesn't deserve her either.) "It was just that. If you agree, there is no problem. We'll give the Slys truce, put them to fight at low level."

"Of course."

"I'll waste a few minutes at the beginning advising the rest of the commanders to do it too," Sev said. "Are you in charge of starting to organize?"

"Sure."

(Too submissive, I don't like that attitude. Jack would never warn me of my own mistakes the way Deborah does. I wish I could make her second right now, but she's going to be acting, because I plan to consult with her on all decisions. How do I wish I could talk to her about the Horcruxes, I'm sure she'd hold her own and not get demoralized. I'll leave Lily to do it if anything happens to me, so she'll have more support besides Lauren. I also need to teach her to project, so that she can talk to Lily in the Great Hall, luckily she already has the talent that I passed on to them in the fir tree. Boof… a lot of work.) "Well, that's all. Let's go back to the others."

Jack went with the others, people were already starting to go down to the Room. Sev looked at his watch. (Eight fifty-three, two more minutes. Deborah is holding Anthony around the waist. Strange, public displays of affection. Something happened, or maybe I'm just making her change and she's going to be more open and loving, as she really is, how happy I am for them. I'll wait until it's time.)

He waited two minutes and walked over to them. "Row by one. Wands out."

They formed up like the previous evening, left, went up to the ground floor and formed up again. They arrived at the Great Hall at nine o'clock. (Albus is sitting at the table. Lily is already here, Lauren and the malefics are not. If Albus doesn't project to me immediately, I'll greet Lily first and tell her that I'm not going to command fifth year, yesterday I didn't have time to do it.)

Sev arrived at his place and greeted Ariel, "Good morning honey. How was the party yesterday?"

"We had a great time, Sev. Maida was with us, she is very nice."

"How glad I am. Come on, keep eating breakfast."

He projected to Lily, "Good morning my love. How are you this morning?"

"Better, Sev, much calmer. I have slept with Cecile."

"Have they already tried the Fidelius?"

"No, honey, they have not had the opportunity, they have not separated from me."

"Ugh, always complicating life for our friends," he said.

"They don't feel that way, Sev, they are glad to be useful."

"We're so lucky. They have taken great care of me tonight too, I got boozy at the party, I fell asleep and they had to undress me and put me in bed."

"Oh... you got drunk," she said.

"Yes, with Deborah. We had a great time, but I only remember the first three whiskeys. I have a blackout and no one tells me anything. During the training I will talk to her, to see if she remembers anything, because she also fell flat."

"Did you drink more than three whiskeys?"

"Yes, probably double," Sev replied.

"Booah… Sev, no wonder you fell asleep. The strange thing is that you didn't vomit."

"I don't know if I did. I do not remember anything."

"If you had done it, you would remember it, because you would have sobered up," Lily said.

"Oh. I'll ask Lauren in a bit, she was at the party too."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, she was talking to me, making plans for when we meet," he said. "It was very good for her to talk to you, I'll tell you in more detail."

"How glad I am, Sev."

"I wanted to let you know that I am not going to command your group anymore. Deborah is going to take charge with someone she chooses. I'm going to take sixth grade with Jack, so they don't have to be together. She asked me to, and so I also keep a close eye on him. Yesterday we had a huge row."

"Oh, Sev. I'm sorry, but I understand."

"I have told Deborah that she choose a second commander," Sev continued. "Anyone from the original Guard, even you."

"Ugh... I don't know if I would know how to command, Sev."

"She'll teach you. I have also asked her to fight with you, now you have a similar level. I want you to become friends, she's great when you get to know her thoroughly."

"Is she going to come to the fir tree?"

"Yeah. She answered me, 'delighted with life'. She really wants to," he said.

"I'm very happy, Sev. And since you're talking about commanders, I have a suggestion for you. The alternate commanders you picked for fifth year are great, perhaps the best of the contingent. They made us fight two against two in a balanced way, but forming pairs with someone with a higher level and someone with a lower level, with which the fight is on par and we continue to learn."

"Wow… what a good idea, thanks for telling me, Lily. I'm going to propose it to all the commanders and they will be the sixth grade alternatives. No, not the alternatives. I'll put them to command sixth today. So I demote Jack and free myself to help Deborah."

"And who will be your second while Alice and Frank learn Occlumency?"

"She will. I plan to consult her on all decisions. She respects me but she is not submissive to me, she will let me know when I am wrong."

"Perfect, Sev. A good second."

"Do you know that yesterday she completely changed her opinion of Lauren just because she noticed that she was smiling while she was looking at me?"

"Oh…"

"She felt sorry for her and worried about her instantly," he explained. "They would be very good friends too, it was the competition for Jack that made them hate each other. He put tares between the two, speaking ill of one to the other."

"How awful, Sev."

"Well yes, I am increasingly disappointed by him. Deep down he is not a good person, and she is."

"We have to convince Lauren to leave him."

"I'm not going to get into that topic anymore, Lily. I suffer a lot and I make them suffer."

"Well, I'll try it, Sev."

"Okay, but wait for next year. Lauren doesn't need to be distracted from studying. Now it seems that she is fine, she just doesn't need to start eating her head again."

"Yes you're right."

"Let's cut it off, I have to talk to Albus," he said. "Yesterday he read one of the malefics. He's not going to tell me anything I don't already know, but I have to hide it."

"Sure, Sev. We cut."

He spoke to Dumbledore, and just as he had done to Lily the night before, for now the Headmaster only told him that they were safe at the school. (He doesn't want to worry me, he knows the pressure I'm under and he'll wait to tell me face to face. More work, buff… Luckily I'm already preparing an extra escort for the summer on my own initiative. Well, better, nothing happens, that way I have time to chat with Lauren calmly.)

He projected to Lauren, "How did you sleep, gorgeous?"

"Divinely. Guess what I did thinking of you."

(Wow… how daring. It's the first time she's said something like that to me.) "Lauren, you're going to make me horny."

He looked at her. (She doesn't respond, she's smirking. Wow… I'm already at a hundred.) "You have already achieved it, Lauren. Like a motorcycle."

(She still doesn't respond, how bad she is. She sure knows how to provoke, quite an expert. I have to learn from her.) "Topic change. Have you read anything new?

"I haven't."

"Topic change. Deborah no longer mistrusts you, she cares about you and because you are alone. Yesterday she caught you smiling while you were looking at me when I was talking to the little ones."

"Oh…"

"A future good friend, an excellent person," he said. "The first one that will welcome you with open arms, the one you least expected."

"You're going to make me cry, Severus."

"Well, cry, getting emotional is fine. I want you to tell me about the party."

"I went to bed early."

"Didn't you see me get drunk with Deborah?" Sev asked.

"Yes, a while."

"What was the last thing you saw us do?"

"Talk and laugh." she replied.

(When we were on our second or third whiskey, we stopped bonding because we cut ourselves off all the time when I stopped looking at her. Nothing new that I don't already know.) "Well, what a pity, Lauren, because from then on I don't remember anything and no one at home tells me what happened. We both ended up asleep on the table and they had to put us in bed."

"Ask her, maybe she will remember something else."

"Yes, that's what I'm going to do, as soon as I can," Sev said. "I think she must remember, because today she was showing affection to Anthony in front of everyone, and that is very strange for her."

"Keep strengthening ties with her, she does you a lot of good."

"I already know. I'm going to make her my second as soon as we get to the Training Hall."

"Great, Severus."

"I'm going to command fifth year with her and put those I had as alternatives in front of sixth."

"And Jack?"

"Dismissed immediately, not worth commanding," he said. "He is too submissive to me, he would never warn me of my mistakes."

"How much you have learned, Severus."

"A lot of Deborah, yesterday."

"Don't let her escape, you are perfect for each other," she advised.

(Why would she say that? It sounds like something more than just a quasi-professional relationship.) "What do you mean by that, Lauren?"

"Yesterday I saw you enjoy like never before with her. She suits you."

(Something else happened besides the laughs, which is why Anthony went to bed early and today Deborah was cuddling him. I think we hooked up in front of everyone.) "Lauren, did I get involved with her?"

"I don't know, Severus. I already told you that I didn't see it. But it could be."

He laughed nervously and nearly choked. (Yes I did, she saw it, she got horny seeing us and wants us to be together. The whole House saw it, we hooked up right there, that's why I took out my wand, to cast the Muffliato, but we weren't Disillusioned. What a mess, how I mess up.) "What a shame, Lauren."

"No shame, Severus. You deserve someone like her, and she deserves you."

(Lauren is also laughing.) "I can't do that to Anthony."

"I understand. But talk it over with her, sober."

"Yes, I'm going to do it," he said. "Also, it is not in our best interest to fall in love at all, she would stop being impartial and cold-minded towards me."

"I don't believe it. She would be at your level, she would never lower herself."

(Yeah, I think so too. But I've already put one more person in danger, if they read any Sly this summer, even the malefic girls. I can't allow myself it. I have to warn her of all this, how am I messed up.) "You should have warned me not to do it in front of everyone, I have put her in danger. Can you read the malefic girls to see if they noticed?"

"I have already done it, they did not, and I am going to tell you something that I want to be very clear to you," Lauren said. "You cannot give up all satisfaction in your life. You need it, you enjoyed like never before."

"But it's no use to me, I don't remember."

"It served you at that time. I'm sure you slept like a blessed."

"Well yes. The truth is that I did," Sev said.

"And she also knew what she was risking. She doesn't suck her thumb, she took the risk. Before you started, you talked seriously."

"But she was drunk, Lauren."

"I'm sure she remembers that. Ask her."

(Yeah, I think she remembers that too, which is why she was cuddling Anthony this morning. She's not going to leave him for me, and I don't want her to.) "I forgot to take the bottle of wine."

"I already know. I already took it," she said.

"That's great, Lauren, we'll enjoy it."

"Of course."

"Shall we chat with Lily?" he asked.

"Okay."

"Don't tell her about Deborah for the moment."

"Of course not."

(And I don't know if I want to find out in more detail either, it would be another thing to explain before the Union. How am I messed up.)