Chapter Five

Chapter 5

"'lo there, Taurean!" Hagrid exclaimed brightly, looking at Taurean through the iron gates. Frowning, he added, "I thought I paid me bar tab..."

Smiling up at the giant, Taurean shook his head and chuckled. "Yes, you paid your tab, Hagrid. That isn't the reason I'm here this morning."

"It isn't? I thought it was a bit odd, you comin' up to the school at such an early hour to collect on a debt. Is there anything I can help ye with?"

"Actually..."

"Yes?"

"Your Herbology Mistress..."

"Pr'fessor Sprout?" Hagrid asked, puckering his brow. "I 'aven't seen her this morning, but it is still early. She usually makes her way down to the greenhouses around seven."

"It's six-thirty. Hopefully, she should be up by now. I have a potion for her. Do you think I could come in?" Taurean asked.

"I don see why not, seein' as you are Rosmerta's cousin, and a fine wizard to boot," Hagrid remarked, opening the gate.

"Thanks, Hagrid. I owe you one, my friend!" Taurean clapped him on the shoulder as he walked past. Turning, Taurean asked, "One more thing, where do I find her?"

Pointing toward the castle, Hagrid answered, "Through the oak doors there, right, down the stairs, then left. Her door has a small gold badger in the center."

Nodding, Taurean smiled again. "Thank you," he replied, striding up to the castle.

Pushing the heavy oak door closed behind him, Taurean descended the stairs on the right side of the corridor. At this time of the morning, no students were about. He found Pomona's door just on the left side of the hall where Hagrid had directed him. It was round, and the badger gleamed in the torchlight.

Smiling, he patted his pocket and shook his head. He could well imagine the size of the headache his lovely cherry blossom would have this morning. He had been beating himself up for allowing her to have more than two last night, because he knew the kind of punch it held in the end.

Stepping up to her door, Taurean knocked sharply and waited. Moments ticked by, and there was no answer. He knocked again. This time, he thought he heard a moan from the other side of the door, and something fell. Alarmed, he stood back and drew his wand.

Swinging his wand in an arc and muttering a soft spell in Portuguese, the lock shifted, and Pomona's door swung silently open. Sucking in his breath, Taurean leaned just inside the open door and whispered, "Pomona?"

The room was dark, and he couldn't hear anything. He worried that Pomona had fallen and hurt herself. Raising his wand once more, he turned the torches on the walls up and moved inside. The first room he entered was Pomona's sitting room. There were two rounded armchairs in the corner by the hearth with a maple table between them. A golden mirror hung above the fireplace with badgers bordering it, and several bookshelves lined the walls filled with countless tomes on plants and Herbology.

Taurean quirked his mouth up on one side as he glanced over the room briefly. To the right was another open door. Striding over to it, he peered inside and thought he heard steady breathing.

"Pomona?" he whispered again. "Cherry blossom? I have something for you." He stepped into the room, raising the torches here as well.

Inside, Pomona lay in her bed on her side, still in the clothes she had worn last night. On the floor, next to her night stand, lay a scattered stack of Herbology books. There is the sound I heard, Taurean thought, raising an eyebrow.

Leaning toward Pomona, Taurean tried again. "Cherry blossom," he said a bit louder, and Pomona moaned softly. "I have something for you. I don't want you to be late for your classes today."

Pomona shifted to her back, groaning and placing her arm over her eyes to block out the light. "Dad, I don't want to go to school today. I don't feel well," she mumbled.

Taurean's smile broadened, and his dimple stood out. "Well, I have just the thing to make you feel right as rain, buttercup," he told her, moving to sit next to her on the bed. It dipped under his weight, and Pomona groaned once more.

Pulling the cork from the vial and pressing it into her hand, Taurean told her, "Here, drink this and things should be normal again, Pomona."

Sluggishly, Pomona fumbled with the vial, spilling a bit of the liquid before Taurean could reach out and save it. Then, carefully, he guided the bottle to her lips and watched as she tipped it back. Grimacing, Pomona took in a deep breath once the potion was gone and handed the vial back to him.

After a few moments, Pomona sighed again but still hid her eyes from the light. "Any better, cherry blossom?" Taurean asked softly, close to her ear.

Lifting her hand from her eyes, Pomona looked at her savior, and a startled look crossed her face. She then sat bolt upright in her bed, pulling the sheets with her and covering her head. Under the covers, Taurean noticed a lump traveling frantically up and down Pomona's body and frowned.

Disengaging her head from the covers, Pomona studied Taurean anxiously. "Taurean?" Her eyes grew as wide as saucers when he nodded. "W-we? Did w-we? We couldn't have...could we? I mean... Oh, great Merlin, what have I done?" Pomona ended on a squeak as tears filled her eyes.

Leaning his head to the side, Taurean clucked his tongue and brought his arms around Pomona. Tenderly, he pulled her into his arms to comfort her. His hands stroked her back gently, and he began to rock her. "Shh, shh, Pomona, what is wrong?"

"I-I h..v.. dnnn, mthng... sooo rrrnngg..." she attempted, but her words were muffled by his broad chest.

Shaking his head, Taurean pulled her away from his chest. "I'm sorry, what was that, Pomona? I can't understand you when you are trying to burrow into my chest."

Sniffing uncontrollably, Pomona leaned back and wailed, "I have done something so wrong! Please forgive me, Taurean? I am so sorry. I never meant for this to happen!"

Frowning, he grabbed her shoulders with his hands to steady her. "What exactly do you think has happened?" he asked, his face close to hers.

Pomona's tears ceased, and a frown crossed her face. "I... you... we..."

"Oh!" he exclaimed as realization dawned. "You think that we made love, don't you?"

Silently, she nodded and looked down at the blanket.

Placing his index finger beneath her chin, he tugged her gaze up to meet his. "Now, cherry blossom, while I admit that does have its appeal, because I do find you very attractive, I can assure you, nothing happened."

Pomona blushed. "B-but how are you..."

"Here? Hagrid let me in this morning. I had a feeling you might need a hangover potion this morning."

"But, if Hagrid let you in this morning, how did I get here?"

Raising both eyebrows, Taurean whistled. "You don't remember? Remind me you are only allowed two cocktails at a time, no more. So tell me, what do you remember?"

Frowning, Pomona concentrated. Rubbing her forehead with her hand, she replied, "Not much after that third cocktail, I'm afraid." She pulled a face at herself when she looked back at him.

Smiling again, he said, "Well, once we got past the Hogwarts gates, I left you in the hands of a professor you introduced to me as Filius."

Pomona looked sheepish.

"Truthfully, I only assumed he was a professor. I got the impression he didn't like me much. But I understand it given he thought I was attacking you... I believe."

Suddenly, Pomona looked up. "W-why would he think that?"

"Because we were snogging..."

"But I thought you said nothing happened..."

"Now, Pomona, nothing did happen. It was a simple kiss. You seemed to want it as much as I did..." Tears rose in her eyes once more, and she looked down.

"Listen, I understood your meaning last evening. I know your heart belongs to someone else. And please know that nothing else would have happened, even if Filius had not shown up." Looking up at him, her tears spilled over, and she sniffed.

"I am so sorry. I never meant to lead you on. That was what I was afraid of. But you are right. Another wizard holds my heart, though I doubt we'll ever be together. But I also can't be with someone when I know I can't give my whole heart. It just isn't right."

"And I respect that, Pomona," he told her seriously. "I could tell you were an honorable witch. That wizard of yours is one lucky man, even if he doesn't know it."

Pomona blushed, glancing away from him. Her gaze landed on the clock across the room, and her eyes widened. "Great gods! Is that the time?"

Following her stare, Taurean nodded and was suddenly being shoved off her bed and out of her room. "I am sorry, Taurean. But I have to get to the greenhouses. Thank you for the hangover potion. I would invite you to stay a bit longer, but duty calls."

"Wait! But..." Taurean attempted to turn around at her threshold.

"I do apologize, but I really must run. I promise I will come see you later at the Three Broomsticks, and you can continue dissecting my non-existent love life if you like. But I have students to teach in less than half an hour," she explained and promptly shut the door before he could get out another word.

On the other side of the door, Pomona leaned back against it heavily and sighed. How could I be so incredibly stupid? She frowned. There would be time enough to beat herself up over her thoughtlessness. Right now she needed to quickly shower and get to the greenhouses before she was late for her double Herbology lesson with both Slytherin and Gryffindor. Groaning, she heaved herself up from the door and walked into the bathroom. She was going to miss breakfast; she just hoped that the hangover potion lasted until lunch.