No, I don't own Harry... but one can always pretend! ;)
So because this is Easter weekend I decided you all needed a treat, I can't send you all chocolate bunnies so here is another chapter instead! ;)
Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Fifty-six
And Noble Acts
Slowly Hunter became aware of his surroundings again and he suppressed a groan. Getting stunned twice in one evening left him with a wicked headache, not to mention being petrified. He could hear voices and listened intently as Hermione was talking about the spell book Taylor had brought back. He could tell that she was very worried by the sound of her voice. The spell they were discussing was very dark. Something about not being able to die.
The Hufflepuff didn't open his eyes. Maybe it was wrong to eavesdrop on the Gryffindors but he was tired of being left out of the loop, plus he wanted to know what his witch had risked her life to get. A lot of it didn't really make any sense. He'd never ever heard of something called a horcrux, that they repeatedly mentioned. He was beginning to wonder if Taylor was even there, when he heard her ask if it mentioned anything about destroying a horcrux. Hermione's voice was extremely disappointed when she said no. When he heard Ron's voice swearing bitterly, he forgot to be quiet and half growled and groaned. He was going to talk to Weasley about stunning him.
"Ronald!" Taylor almost snarled when she saw him go for his wand again and immediately stepped between the red haired wizard and the Head Boy lying on the floor. When she was sure he got the message, she bent down beside the Hufflepuff and asked gently, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," The Hufflepuff half groaned. His head was really starting to pound now.
"Come on, up you get." Taylor encouraged, as she helped him first sit up then stand. She put her arm around his waist and guided him over to an empty chair. She could see his face was rather pale as he ran his hands over it and began massaging his temples.
"Hermione, you wouldn't happen to have any headache potion would you?" Taylor asked and saw her friend shake her head.
"Clare does," Ginny offered. "I know where she keeps it. I'll be right back."
Taylor smiled her thanks as she watched her other friend head up to the dormitories. She then glared at Ron clearly waiting for him to apologize.
"What? I'm not apologizing! He sure didn't! It's not my fault he was already stunned tonight!" Ron said with a derisive snort.
The Hufflepuff listened to the exchange between the two Gryffindors and wondered which story his witch had told her friends, the one where a Death Eater had stunned him or the other where she had. He gratefully took the potion that he was offered and sighed as the pounding in his head receded to a dull throb.
The school clock chimed three o'clock.
Ginny said goodnight and headed up to her dorm for a few hours sleep. Ron and Hermione soon went up to their beds too.
"Harry, why don't you go to bed. I'm not going anywhere." Taylor prodded her brother. She could see the fatigue on his face.
Harry scowled at his sister even as he tried to keep his eyes open. The stress from earlier had exhausted him but he didn't want to leave his sister. He sensed that there was more that she hadn't told the others. Plus the Hufflepuff was here and he didn't think he should leave them alone.
"Potter, what's it going to prove if you fall asleep down here too?" Taylor asked as she stood up from where she had finally sat down, after pacing for over an hour, took hold of her brother's arm and tugged. Reluctantly he stood.
"I'm not sure it's right to leave you two down here all by yourselves. Plus how can I be sure that you won't decide to take off again."
Taylor sighed as she rolled her eyes. "I cross my heart. I'll stay in Gryffindor Tower until you get up tomorrow morning." She said as she repeated an old childhood swear, crossing her heart with her finger and then holding up her hand as if she were swearing to something in a muggle court.
Harry shook his head at his sister but glanced past her to where the Hufflepuff still sat in one of the chairs.
"Potter really? Do you want me to pinky swear that I will be a good girl until morning?" Taylor asked innocently.
With a tired sigh Harry said. "Just make sure you do! And Taylor? If you leave this Tower…" he let his voice trail off but he knew his sister got the hint. He'd have a talk with the Hufflepuff tomorrow morning, or later this morning.
The Hufflepuff watched as Taylor stood until Potter had gone up the stairs to the boys' dormitories. He could see that she wasn't sleepy, that something was bothering her. Standing he went over and pulled her into a hug, the one he'd wanted to give her ever since he'd first seen her in the decrepit kitchen after he'd been stunned.
"Are you okay?" He whispered in her ear.
Taylor welcomed the warm arms that were around her and she hugged him back as she nodded her head. She'd be fine. She just needed to reconcile what she had learned tonight with what she knew about her parents.
The two stood holding each other for a long while, each lost in their own thoughts, but comforted by the other. The witch finally pulled out of the Head Boy's arms but took his hand and led him to one of the sofas and sitting him down she sat down beside him. The fire was nothing more then glowing embers, so the witch conjured a blanket and pulled it over them.
"Taylor, you need to tell me what tonight was all about. McGonagall is likely to notify my parents and I'll likely… well I can handle all of that but I need to know why." The Head Boy said softly as he looked down at the witch beside him. She looked so small cuddled against his side. He found it hard to believe that someone that small could have so much spirit. He'd seen her go to meet a Death Eater face on and not flinch, boldly argue with an ex -teacher and then go face to face with Potter and not back down. Still, though he knew something had happened, something was deeply troubling his witch, he also knew she was very unlikely to confide in him and that hurt a little.
Taylor didn't answer right away, as she thought about what she could, or should do. Finally she asked, "Just how much did you hear, Hufflepuff? I know you were listening to us." When the Head Boy glanced at her sharply she smiled a little as she said, "Stunned people don't frown."
The Hufflepuff told her what he had heard before asking intently. "What's a horcrux? And why is it so important to destroy it?"
Taylor sighed. She knew that he was going to find out sooner or later, it was inevitable. The Hufflepuff was just too observant and smart not to put it together. Sighing again, she put up a silencing charm around them as she began. "What I am about to tell you is something that you can never tell another. If this information gets out then our side will lose and Voldemort will kill Harry and me and everyone I love." She paused to look up at the Head Boy to see him staring back at her intently. He nodded for her to continue. She explained what a horcrux was and how one was created by ripping one's soul. Then she told him about how Voldemort had started creating them.
"So that is what you guys were searching the castle for? Why would Vol… Voldemort…" A shudder went through the Hufflepuff's body as he said the name for the first time, "hide something so important here?"
Taylor shifted some on the sofa, "Because underneath all that hate and anger he is still looking for a home, one he never had until Hogwarts." She then explained about Tom Riddle being an orphan and a half blood.
By the time she was done explaining, the Hufflepuff was laying with his head on her lap the blanket laying over him. She liked running her fingers through his hair, it was so soft.
"So in order to destroy Vol-demort," a smaller shudder this time, "you first have to find and destroy the Horcruxes? How many are there?"
Taylor told him that they thought there were seven.
"How many have you found?" Greg asked looking up at his witch as she stroked his head.
Taylor hesitated once again before saying softly, "Two are already destroyed and we've found another three."
The Head Boy was impressed. Taylor and the others must have done some serious searching. "So you have two more to go. Any ideas where you might find them?"
"We have an idea about one but the other we aren't sure about."
"So you say two are destroyed? But I thought I heard Hermione say there wasn't anything in the book about how to destroy one." The Head Boy asked slightly perplexed.
Taylor told him about Dumbledore destroying one and how it had almost killed him. "He's the greatest wizard ever, so if he nearly died destroying one, we are just a little hesitant to try until we have a better idea how to do it."
"How was the other one destroyed?"
"Harry destroyed the diary of Tom Riddle in second year. Of course we didn't know then that it was a Horcrux." Taylor grinned as she told him some more about how her brother had gone down into the Chamber of Secrets and killed the basilisk with Godric Gryffindor's sword and stabbed the diary with the basilisk tooth to destroy it.
Greg was silent for some time thinking about the obvious pride in his witch's voice, as she told him about what Potter had done in second year. He had to admit it was quite a feat for a twelve year old wizard, destroying a Horcrux when… "You say Potter destroyed one with a basilisk tooth? Why couldn't you destroy the others with one as well?"
Taylor looked down at the Hufflepuff on her lap, as her movements stilled, as thoughts exploded in her mind. Why not? It was definitely worth exploring. She'd need to run it by Dumbledore and Harry and the others of course but… Grinning she looked down at the Head Boy, "Damn, I knew you'd come in handy, Hufflepuff!" bending down she kissed him slowly at first and then with more intensity. The wizard answered her kiss with his own.
The sky to the east was just starting to lighten when the Hufflepuff stirred from his comfortable position on the sofa in the Gryffindor common room. His witch was lying cuddled against him with her head on his chest and a leg curled over his. He knew she wasn't asleep. He could see her eyes were open staring into the fireplace at the ashes that had ceased to glow even faintly some time ago.
"I'd better get going," he said softly even as he tightened his arm that held the witch lying with him. "I don't think it would be wise to let a Gryffindor find me here. It would most definitely start tongues awagging."
Taylor nodded though she didn't move otherwise. "What are you going to tell the guys in your dorm? They are going to know you didn't return last night."
"If I leave now I'll be back before any of them wake up, besides they'll just think I spent the night with you. Though I'd rather not let them think of you like that. I'll just end up hexing them when they run their mouths off about it!" The Head Boy growled the last part as his arm held her tight against him.
"We are both going to be in enough trouble, don't add hexing your roommates to the mix."
Greg laughed a little as he kissed the top of his witch's head before he asked in a sober voice. "Why did you tell Lupin that you stunned me? I knew what I was doing when I went after you. What would happen if we got caught..."
Taylor rolled a little so that she could look up at the Head Boy's face. "You are a good person Greg. Smart, brave and kind. Everything a Head Boy should be. Everything a real friend is. You don't deserve to get in trouble because of me."
"So you told Potter and the others the same thing did you?" Greg asked sounding a little miffed.
Taylor's eyebrows rose as she nodded. The next second the Hufflepuff sat up and stood, leaving a very perplexed witch staring up at him from the sofa.
"I've got to go. I'll see you at breakfast."
Taylor watched the Hufflepuff until the portrait of the Fat Lady swung shut cutting him off from view. Bewildered Taylor sat up before going up to have a long hot shower.
Two and a half hours later Taylor and Greg stood in the Headmistress' office as she glared at them. Moody, Shacklebolt and Lupin were also present. Taylor had just finished telling them the same story she had told Lupin.
"Miss Porter, I don't know what to say. Of all the foolish things you have done this year, this takes the cake! I suppose you blew up Honeydukes last night too? Do you realize that this could land you in Azkaban?" Professor McGonagall demanded.
Taylor met McGonagall's glare as she nodded her head. "Yes Professor I do. It was worth the risk."
"You put this school and its students at risk! That is inexcusable!" McGonagall said icily.
"I did what I did because I thought it was important. What I gathered was invaluable information." Taylor then told them about the Curse Breaker at St. Mungo's and the suspicion that there was a spy at Hogwarts. She even told them what Snape had said about Voldemort searching for her identity because of her use of Dark Magic.
Moody questioned Taylor some more and she answered as truthfully as she could but she didn't tell them any more.
McGonagall's lips were pressed into a thin line as her eyes bore into Taylor's. Then she looked at the Hufflepuff. "Mr. Hunter what do you have to say for yourself? You also went down that passageway though you knew you shouldn't? As Head Boy I must say I am very disappointed. When you were appointed to this position you swore to protect this school as well as its students…"
"Professor I want to change my story!" Taylor spoke up fearing what McGonagall was about to say, slipping her wand into her hand she silenced the Hufflepuff standing beside her. "I stunned Hunter in the corridor. He found me just about to go into the passage and I stunned him to shut him up. I then levitated him into the passage and left him."
Taylor resolutely kept her eyes straightforward refusing to look up at the Hufflepuff.
"I see…" McGonagall said in a tight voice. "You are in enough trouble now Miss Porter. Do you really want to add lying to it too?"
Taylor met the Headmistress' glare and squared her shoulders. "As you just said I am in a load of trouble now what's a little more? I attacked the Head Boy and dragged him into a passage before I left the school to go see a Death Eater."
Professor McGonagall glared at Taylor for the longest time before she said in a clipped tone. "Miss Porter, Mr. Hunter, go wait outside my office."
Taylor turned and walked out. She could hear the Hufflepuff following her. Once they were out on the landing she turned to look up at Hunter, his blue eyes snapping in anger. "Oh, sorry" Taylor said as she undid the silencing charm that had kept him from speaking. She flinched as he drew his own wand and put up a silencing charm around them.
"What do you think you are doing?" He demanded.
"Saving your ass!" Taylor shot back.
"Did I ask you to?" The Head Boy asked in a frigid voice.
"I see no sense in us both being in trouble! It was my idea to leave, and my responsibility. I will take the blame." Taylor said adamantly.
"That's the problem with you Gryffindors! Your so damn noble you can't stand the truth!" The Hufflepuff roared glaring at the witch.
"What is your problem?" Taylor shot back.
"I am not ashamed of my actions, Taylor! I knew exactly what I was doing also! I don't need you lying to protect me! I am of age, witch! And I will not hide behind you like some coward!"
Taylor stared wide-eyed at the Hufflepuff as he glared daggers at her. A noise behind her made her aware that the door to the Headmistress' office had just opened. The Head Boy slashed the air savagely as he undid the silencing spell.
"Mr. Hunter, the Headmistress wishes to see you now." Moody's gravely voice spoke from behind Taylor.
The Hufflepuff stalked past her and into the office, the door closing behind him. She felt like an idiot. She'd only wanted to protect Hunter after all, make sure he didn't get into trouble because of her. She had never thought he'd be insulted by her actions. She'd been protecting her friends for as long as she could remember and they'd never gotten mad at her for it.
When the door opened again a few minutes later the Hufflepuff stalked past her with barely a glance.
"Miss Porter…"
Taylor walked into the office wondering where she had gone wrong, and doubting herself where boys were concerned. It was a much more subdued witch who stood before the Headmistress and listened to the punishment she was going to receive.
"Miss Porter for being out after curfew you will receive a weeks worth of detention starting this afternoon. It is the decision of the Order that you will not be reported to the Ministry for leaving school property, however if there is ever such an incident again…" McGonagall said in a brisk stern voice.
"Yes Professor." Taylor nodded before turning to leave.
"Miss Porter?" Taylor turned back to McGonagall. "The Order however is grateful to you for your help."
Taylor nodded and walked out, taking the long way back to the common room.
"Taylor, where have you been?" Hermione asked as she looked up from her table in the common room where she was doing homework. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at her friend. The defeated look on her friend was unmistakable. "What's the matter? What's happened?"
Taylor glanced around the common room for a second but didn't see her brother, Ron or Ginny.
"They are at quidditch practice." Hermione offered as Taylor nodded.
"Can we talk?"
"Yeah of course," Hermione answered, a little surprised by the question. Piling her books into a stack, she left them on the table and led the way up to their dormitory. Finding it empty Hermione put up a silencing charm before sitting on her bed. "Okay Taylor, spill. What's the matter?"
Taylor told her friend about her meeting with the Headmistress and what she got out of it. Hermione agreed with Taylor that she had gotten off extremely lucky. Taylor then told her friend about telling the Hufflepuff about the Horcruxes and his suggestion to try a basilisk tooth to destroy them. Hermione was really surprised and excited about talking to Dumbledore about it. Taylor then got to what was really bothering her and that was the way the Hufflepuff had acted about her attempts to protect him.
"I'd say he is the one used to doing the protecting." Hermione offered.
"Yeah well so are Harry and Ron, but they never get all angry like that about it."
"Sure they do! You just don't notice it or let it bother you. A friendship like you have with Harry and Ron is different than the relationship you have with Hunter. Taylor, look at it from Hunter's point of view. Since he started going out with you, you've saved him from a bunch of Slytherins, had two run ins with Death Eaters, been holed up in the library for six weeks and then another run in with a Death Eater where you tried to keep him from getting in trouble. I'd say he is feeling like you don't need him, that you are only using him."
"But I'm not Hermione! I couldn't let him lose his Head Boy-ship over something I did."
"Think about it Taylor, he's a Hufflepuff. They are very loyal friends, strong and true."
Taylor glanced at her friend as she groaned, "So what am I supposed to do? Let him get in trouble? Get hurt? Just to prove that he is my friend?"
"I think he probably wants to be equals in your relationship. There are things you can't tell him even yet I know. He has handled that very well but it has to be eating at him. I understand that you don't tell me everything. It doesn't mean you don't trust me just that you can't tell me. Greg hasn't known you as long. He doesn't know you like I do. He doesn't understand just how far you will go to protect your friends out of love not only loyalty. Give him some time, he'll come around."
Taylor sighed, "I gotta go. I've got detention. I'll be back late. Let Harry know please. Maybe we can talk with Dumbledore tonight. I'll see you later."
"I'll let Harry know, don't worry. See you tonight Taylor." Hermione called as she watched the younger witch leave.
Taylor once again found herself in detention. This time she was down near the dungeons in a dank dirty room that she doubted had been used in years. Moody had brought her down here and after growling that there was no magic allowed had clumped off leaving her a bucket, rags and a scrub brush. She thought it was just a sign of the times that he didn't take her wand but sealed the door on his way out.
Taylor's arms ached, her knees hurt and her hands burned from the harsh soap in the bucket. She had thrown herself into cleaning, relishing the physical labor that freed up her mind. Time slipped by and the lamps came on as she tried to make sense of all that she had found out from Snape. She came up with far more questions than answers but when Moody brought her a plate of sandwiches and a jug of pumpkin juice she still hadn't settled in her mind the fact that her ex-professor loved her mother.
When Moody left again, Taylor went back to cleaning and by the time the ex-auror returned at curfew to get her, the room was clean.
"You look beat Taylor," Hermione said as her tired friend walked in through the portal to the common room.
"Yeah thanks Hermione I didn't notice." Taylor said sarcastically.
Flopping down in one of the chairs, Taylor sighed tiredly. Her brother was sitting on the sofa with Ginny and Ron was sitting on the other one with Hermione.
After some good-humored ribbing the five-some settled down to wait for the common room to empty. Surprisingly for a Saturday night, it didn't take long and after putting up a silencing charm Hermione took the portrait of Dumbledore out of her bag and set it on the small table she conjured.
After greeting the Gryffindors the painting turned to Taylor and asked her to tell him everything that had been going on. So Taylor once again repeated everything that had happened the day before, leaving out only that the Hufflepuff had gone with her and Snape's identity; also what he had said about loving her mother.
After quite a bit of discussion about everything that they had learned and what they had found in the book, Hermione brought up the idea of Hunter's about destroying the Horcruxes.
It was nearly two before they finally called it a night and went off to bed.
A/N Poor Taylor in detention again! I think the Mauraders would be proud don't you? LOL! So Greg was a little miffed at Taylor... I thought that would be very Hufflepuff of him! I know the idea to use the basilisk teeth to destroy the horcruxes is in the seventh book... and yes I DID write this AFTER the book came out(so yes I took this idea from the seventh book) however I couldn't think of another way for a bunch of seventh years to destroy something that nearly killed Dumbledore, the smartest wizard there is. So I took that little bit of information... and I think I wound it into this story in a way that other then the idea it is completely new. And I can say no more about it at this point! ;) Hopefully you can forgive me this... I did try to come up with a new reality but somethings are just too good to ignore! :)
Thank you to those who reviewed! And added this to Alert and Favorites! And just for reading! Here is some cyber chocolate just for making it this far! If you celebrate Easter hope you have a great holiday! Thanks again for reading! And to barbc, my wonderful beta... maybe i'll get some real chocolate to you girl cause you are the best! Until next time, cytpotter.
