Nope still not JK Rowling.
Chapter Nine
Private Talks and a Wedding
When Taylor arrived at the Burrow the next morning it was bustling with people. The wedding was the following day and Fleur had her family there to help too. Or so that was what one of them told Taylor when she stepped out of the fireplace and was asked right away to hold up a long piece of cloth that turned out to be for Fleur's table decorations. Taylor looked around. Ginny and Hermione were again stirring up something in a cauldron but this time Hermione's jaw was clamped tight and Ginny looked as though she was about to jinx someone. Mrs. Weasley didn't look any better, her hair was sticking out at weird angles and her smile was forced. Neither Harry nor Ron was in the house at the moment, but Taylor could hear some male voices coming from the back yard. Fleur and her little sister talked continuously in French.
"Hey Taylor, could you give us a hand," Ginny called above the other voices in the house and was beckoning Taylor over with her hand.
Taylor went to give Ginny and Hermione a hand as soon as the table decoration she'd been holding was taken from her by an equally frazzled looking witch that turned out to be a relative of the Weasley's. The rest of the day passed in much the same way. Taylor, Hermione and Ginny went from one task to another, and often back to a task they had just completed, because it wasn't good enough for Fleur or her family. They did how ever get the chance to talk about what had happened after Taylor had left the day before. Taylor told them about Ron accusing her of cheating with Harry, Ginny had rolled her eyes at that point. The other two told Taylor about what Fred and George had said, after they jinxed both Ron and Harry. Taylor had giggled at that. So it hadn't been very different from the way she had pictured it, with things growing out of Ron's ears.
Harry and Ron didn't fare any better, although they worked mostly outside setting up the backyard with chairs and tables, only to have Fleur come along and say it was all wrong and they would do it again. Harry had seen Taylor in the house that morning but he hadn't gotten a chance to speak to her; let alone have a private talk. Bill was almost as bad as Fleur and he had heard Ron muttering more than once about cursing him. Harry had never seen so many people at the Burrow before. Poor Mrs. Weasley, he thought as Ginny brought a plate of sandwiches out around noon. It was almost supper time when Ron and Harry finally finished setting up everything to Fleur and Bill's satisfaction, and Harry saw Ginny again. Hermione was with her. Harry could tell they had been as busy as he and Ron had been all day, just by the harassed way they looked when he greeted them.
It was an hour before it would be getting dark and Ron had taken Hermione's hand shortly after the two girls had come out of the house. They had gone off to the far side of the yard, by the tree where Harry had talked to Taylor yesterday. "Where is Taylor anyway, is she still in the house?" Harry asked. He still had to have that talk with her after all.
Ginny smiled at him and took his hand in hers. She started to trace circles on his palm with her finger. "Taylor went back to Mrs. Briggs' for supper. She said she would be here early tomorrow morning,"
Suddenly Harry couldn't really remember why it was so important to talk to his sister, not when Ginny slowly closed her eyes, her long lashes feathering her check then slowly opening to look at him. The creature in Harry's chest gave an appreciative growl. Harry had been listening to the creature ever since he had fallen for Ginny. It was always stirring when she was near! Harry and Ginny found a quiet corner of the yard to be together until it was twilight and they had to go into the house for the night.
When Taylor arrived the next morning there was just as much activity as the morning before, except that it was more frenzied. Mrs. Weasley immediately sent Taylor up to help Ginny and Fleur's little sister get ready.
As she made her way carefully up the stairs to Ginny's room, brushing past several witches she remembered from yesterday. Taylor was again wondering how soon after the wedding Harry would be leaving. She had spent the whole night trying to read the last of the books in the secret bookcase, and pack what she thought she would need. Just in case Harry decided to leave immediately after the wedding was over. She couldn't take any chances. She knew he would go without her if given the opportunity. She had even left a note for Mrs. Briggs, explaining that she wouldn't be back and thanking her for everything. If she felt any regrets it was in not telling Mrs. Briggs in person what she had left in the note. I hope Mrs. Briggs will forgive me, thought Taylor as she knocked and went into Ginny's bedroom.
"Hi Taylor, did you happen to see Ron before you came up? He asked me to help him with his dress robes, before the rest of the guests arrive," Hermione asked, she was helping Ginny put her hair up in a beautiful silver hairpiece that reflected the red highlights in Ginny's hair wonderfully.
"No, I'm sorry Hermione, I didn't see Ron, or Harry either, downstairs." Taylor suddenly felt very much the tomboy she was always trying be, she glanced down self-consciously at her practical clothes that she wore. A pair of runners, zip off pants, a sweater tied around her waist and a dark t-shirt, her traveling cloak and the few things she had decided she needed to bring with her in a backpack over her shoulder. Hermione in contrast, Taylor noticed when she looked up, had on a new dressing gown, she looked very pretty. The dress Ginny was going to wear, hung from a hook on the wall, it was beautiful. It would complement her hair just perfect. Fleur's little sister's dress was equally stunning. Taylor sighed, if only she could have let herself go to the wedding and enjoy it. She didn't have a dress that looked half as nice as Hermione's, and her hair was cut short so it would be quicker to do in the mornings, but she could have imagined that she looked nice. Maybe fit in just a little, if it weren't for Voldemort and her determination to help her brother. This last thought squared Taylor's shoulders and when she met Hermione's eyes she had a smile on her face.
Fleur came into the bedroom at that moment and said to Ginny, "It iz almuzt time to get de drezzed," her eyes fell on Taylor and they widened in surprise and she said, "I hopz you haz zomethin betture dhan dat oo' wearr?" and she turned and left.
Ginny shot a look at Fleur's parting back that Taylor was sure would turn it to stone and Hermione said bristling, "I don't think that was called for at all. Taylor, you look fine. Besides it's been three years since the Yule Ball, not everyone has a wardrobe full of dress gowns."
"It's ok, Hermione. I'm not worried about what people think. I'm here for my friends. That's all that matters to me." Taylor said, a small part of her thankful for her friends' indignation on her part.
It was soon time to go down for the wedding. Ginny was beautiful; Harry's eyes almost popped out when he saw her walking down the stairs. Ron was equally impressed with Hermione. Taylor slipped up beside Harry and waited. She would go wherever he went from now on. He did look very handsome in his dress robes, just like at the Yule Ball! Taylor thought, Ron looked ok in his dress robes that Fred and George had gotten him at the start of fifth year. They had been let down to accommodate his new height, but he did look okay. A little better than that, she admitted grudgingly.
Harry and Ron were given the task of seating the guests, so Taylor watched from beside the house. She had borrowed Ginny's school robes to wear, they were a little short but she did blend in better in this crowd.
She had gotten seated at the back, not surprisingly. While she was very good friends with Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Harry, she hadn't spent the summers or holidays here like the others had. It turned out to be a very good seating arrangement. Remus Lupin was seated beside her; the one wizard that Taylor had really wanted to talk to before she left with Harry. Lupin she noticed was wearing a worn and patched cloak, but it was, as muggles would say, his Sunday best. Taylor really never paid much attention to what people were wearing; it was what was on the inside that counted, as her Uncle Herbert once used to say. She gave her head a little shake, this wedding was maybe affecting her more than she would like to admit.
Lupin looked as worn out as ever but he smiled and said to Taylor, "How are you doing Taylor? All ready for another year at Hogwarts? I hope you aren't too worried to go back, it is still the safest place, I believe. They have auror's assigned at the gates and they are going to be in the school as well this year."
"Oh yeah, ah..." What was she going to tell him? She didn't want to lie, not to Lupin. So she said, "How is Tonks anyway, I suppose she is on duty today. Is she assigned to Hogwarts this year too?" Taylor decided asking about Nymphadora Tonks, or as she preferred to be called just Tonks. Tonks liked Lupin a lot and Taylor was sure Lupin liked her back, but he was too worried about becoming a couple, just because he was a werewolf. It didn't seem a good enough reason to Taylor. However she was sure this would lead the conversation away from going back to school.
"Yeah, she had to work today. The Weasley's aren't in very good standing with the Ministry these days as you know, so she wasn't able to get the day off." Lupin said, but his voice was gentle as he talked about Tonks; a softness in his eyes, that Taylor decided, meant he more than liked Tonks.
Taylor decided to take a gamble and ask Lupin if he would talk with her in private, after the ceremony was over. He agreed just as the wedding began.
It was a very nice ceremony, different than Taylor had imagined; unlike the muggle wedding she had attended as a little girl. There wasn't a Minister, but an old witch with flowing powder blue robes, who spoke about love and its ability to heal all wounds; how it could carry one through the darkest of times and sustain one when times were happy. Taylor could feel tears pricking at the back of her eyes. She wasn't the only one. Many of the witches and a few wizards had handkerchiefs out and were using them.
When the ceremony was over and Bill and Fleur were pronounced husband and wife, there was a huge feast, with tables upon tables of food. Taylor was wondering how the Weasley's had done it. They were, like her, poor. However she overheard some old witches saying that Fleur's family had arranged most of it and they were unhappy that it wasn't a lot bigger and grander. Taylor thought that if she ever lived through this, and got married, that this would be perfect.
Taylor was watching Harry through the crowd. He had Ginny's hand in his. Ron was over by one of the food tables putting a mountain of food on his plate. Hermione was whispering to him about something and he was laughing. Taylor was standing by the house, alone, just observing as usual; she had gotten very good at it over the years. When she wasn't with her four best friends she would often step to the side, unnoticed, and watch. She had liked to think she did it only because she had grown up alone on the prairies. Who knows, she thought now, maybe it was just her way. She wasn't unfriendly, just quiet. A lot of times at school she had been called shy. But she wasn't, only quiet.
"Taylor, I believe you wanted to have a word with me in private. Now might be a good time," Lupin said as he came to stand beside her.
Taylor's heart started to pound in her ears. Was she ready to talk alone with her parents' last remaining best friend? He had looked at her curiously even the first time he had seen her in third year, but since she had found out about her parents she would sometimes catch him staring at her, as if she reminded him of someone. Of course she did, Lily Potter; but she couldn't tell him that Lily was in fact her mother. "Yeah now would be a great time for us to talk. Maybe we could go for a walk?" Taylor said pushing her thoughts aside and smiling at Lupin.
He nodded his head and they set off around the edge of the crowd. Taylor slipped her wand into her hand and pointed it, careful that it wasn't seen, and muttered a quick charm that wouldn't allow Harry to go without her knowing. Then she muttered "Muffliato" so she could talk to Lupin without being over heard. She had discovered that if she performed magic in a crowd of witches and wizards she was fine. The Ministry couldn't detect her underage magic.
When they reached the far side of the yard there were only a couple of older wizards standing around talking. They stopped and Taylor looked up at Lupin, he smiled again and said, "This must be important I haven't heard the Muffliato charm in a while."
Taylor grinned back at him, "Yeah, it comes in handy sometimes." Then her face became serious. "I wanted to ask you about some of the passageways on the Marauders Map, more specifically if any of them were caved in when you went there." Taylor was watching his face closely.
Lupin took a moment to answer and when he did he chose his words carefully. "I think the first thing I have to do, is ask you why are you asking about those passageways? What would it matter if they were caved in?" Lupin was now watching her very closely.
"Look, Lupin I know you are in the Order of the Phoenix. But I can't tell you exactly why I need this information. Let's just say it is important for the good side, and it will not hurt anyone." Taylor finished trying not to be too evasive, but she couldn't tell him any more.
"If this has something to do with Voldemort, then I suggest you tell the Order. We have a lot more resources than you and Harry and the others. I hope you guys aren't planning on going off and doing something stupid. Voldemort isn't going to just let you go if he catches you, Taylor, he will kill you at best, or torture you… "Lupin face was worried, but he was a bit mad too.
"I can't tell you why I need that information, but if your intention is to keep Harry and the others safe for awhile, then this information is extremely important. I promise you, right now it is not my intention to let Voldemort get his hands on Harry, or the others." Taylor said, her shoulders square, head up looking Lupin in the eye. There was no fear in her expression; only fierce loyalty.
Lupin shook his head sadly, he had seen this type of loyalty before and it had gotten his best friends killed. "Taylor, you don't understand. You were too young to remember; things aren't yet as bad as they were before. Voldemort won't care if you are trying to protect your friends or not; he will use it against you, for fun if he can"
Taylor interrupted him, "I might not exactly remember, but Voldemort killed my parents! I sure as hell know more than you think about his ways; so don't try to lecture to me Lupin. I have no one in this world because of him; so I have nothing to lose. Only something to gain by trying to stop him. So please, I ask you again, tell me if there were any of the passageways caved in when you and the other Marauders made the map." Taylor's voice had become deadly quiet, devoid of all emotion as she spoke and a hardness came into her eyes that Lupin hadn't seen for a long time, and never when they were so young.
Lupin couldn't believe his eyes, it was as if he were staring James in the eyes. But how could that be, sure Taylor had always reminded him of Lily, but until she had spoken in that deadly calm voice, and that look came into her eyes, just like James when he was angry. He now knew that somehow, this was also James and Lily's child. He needed time to think. However Taylor was waiting for his answer and he couldn't think of anything to say, but to tell her the truth. "There was only one of the passageways caved in when we made the map, we had initially thought we would clear it, but things changed and we didn't get the chance. It is the one on the sixth floor by the stone troll with the small club. The teachers know about that passageway," Lupin was about to say more when they saw Mad Eye Moody making his way toward them.
Taylor quickly undid the silencing charm. "Thank you Lupin," she said, "it was so nice talking with you about when you were a teacher, and I appreciate the magic tip. Hi Moody, well I had better go find Ron and Hermione. If you will excuse me?" Taylor said with a smile hoping she was fooling Moody. He used to be an auror, plus he had a magical eye with which he could see a lot of different things; like people lying. She wasn't sure she pulled it off completely, so she got out of there. At least she had the information she wanted. Maybe now she could convince Harry to go back to school this year. She had a fortnight to try and talk him into going back anyway.
Moody was eyeing Taylor's departing back, with both eyes. He knew something had just transpired here that young Miss Porter didn't want to tell him. And it sure had nothing to do with Lupin being a teacher. "Well you two seemed to be having quite the conversation, a silencing charm and everything, must have been important," Moody growled, his magical eye now on Remus.
Remus Lupin pulled his eyes off Taylor's retreating back, but his mind was spinning with the discovery he had just made. She must know Harry was her brother, but for how long? Did Harry know about her? Lupin with a great effort pushed this all to the back of his mind and hid it. One thing he did know, Taylor didn't want anyone knowing who her parents were and he didn't plan on being the one to let the secret out. He had to be very careful what he said around Moody until he had the chance to properly hide that information, Moody was just too perceptive. "Taylor was telling me that she was worried about Harry. I think maybe they are planning something, we should alert the Order." Lupin said quietly to Moody so only he could hear.
"What do you mean, planning something? Did she tell you anything specific Remus?" Moody growled back, his voice just as low.
"No she didn't. I don't think she trusted me enough, to not tell on them," Lupin said, his voice low and worried, he looked squarely at Moody now. Worry was fast taking the place of shock of the discovery he had made. What had Taylor said about having nothing to lose? Fear twisted through Lupin. He had to somehow help this lost daughter of his best friends. If she was in danger so was Harry.
Moody nodded, a very unwise choice if those youngsters wanted to stay alive. If they went off by themselves the Death Eaters would have a field day torturing them, Moody thought. "I'll alert the Order right away. Any idea when they are planning to act on this?" Moody growled, his magical eye searching for Potter through the crowd.
"No, not for sure, but I suspect it will be in the next few weeks," Lupin replied. He just couldn't seem to bring himself to tell Moody about the questions Taylor had asked about the passageways at Hogwarts; nor his answers to them.
A/N Well there another chapter and things are starting to happen. So did you like it? Hate it? I would so love to hear you oppinions! So please leave a review!
Again I'd like to point out that this wedding scene was written before Deathly Hallows was ever released so any simularities between this and Deathly Hallows is completely unintentional. I would love to hear if you think the characters are staying canon! That is very important to me and to this story.
Once again thanks to my bata barbc! And thanks to those of you who have added this story to your favorites and alerts! Though I would love to get a review as well!
Until next time, cytpotter
