Nope still not JK Rowling

Here's another chapter. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Seventeen

The New Defense Against The Dark Arts Teacher

Taylor paused in the Entrance Hall for a second, trying to decide where she should go first, up to the common room for a shower or to the Hospital Wing to see Harry. There weren't any students in the Great Hall yet for breakfast, as it was still very early. She decided that a shower sounded really good. Besides, she didn't want to get to the Hospital Wing and the doors still be closed.

When Taylor reached the fat lady, she was slightly out of breath, but she said the password and made it into her dorm room before seeing anyone awake.

"Taylor, where have you been? Have you been out all night?" Hermione whispered to Taylor as soon as Lavender was out of the room.

Taylor dropped her backpack onto her bed. Lupin had given it to her before she had left the Order headquarters a short while ago. She took Harry's invisibility cloak out and put it in her trunk, along with the mirror that she and Harry had gotten back this summer at Borgin and Burks.

"I'll tell you later," she whispered to Hermione, as she raced out the door to the washroom to have a shower.

Taylor's hair was still wet, but she had clean clothes on and all her books for her morning classes when she joined Hermione, Ron and Ginny on the way out of the common room.

"Just where have you been anyway!" Ron demanded again, as the four of them set out for the Hospital Wing.

Taylor put up a silencing charm so that she could tell them a brief account of where she went and who she was with. She didn't get a chance to say much more than that she had reversed the spell she had put on Snape when they came to the doors going into the Hospital Wing. "Please don't mention anything to Harry about Snape, okay? I'll tell him everything that has happened when he is better." The other three agreed that would be okay, and Taylor took the silencing charm off as they went through the doors.

Harry saw Ginny, Hermione, Ron and Taylor coming in through the Hospital Wing doors and he breathed a sigh of relief. Last night when he had finally woken up, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron had been sitting by his bed, but Taylor hadn't been. When he asked where she was, all they had told him was that Professor McGonagall had told Taylor to come to her office for detention after her last class and she must still be there. Harry knew they were keeping something from him but he hadn't felt like fighting about it, so he didn't ask again.

"Hey Harry! It's good to see you awake. How are you feeling?" asked Taylor with a big grin on her face. Harry looked so much better than the last time she had seen him.

Ginny went and sat beside Harry and took hold of his hand. Hermione and Taylor sat on the end of his bed and Ron sat on the bed beside Harry's. "Yeah, mate, how are ya' feeling?" Ron asked.

"A lot better. Madame Pomfrey said that I might get out tomorrow, maybe. I see you found Taylor." Harry said as he looked closely from one of his friend's faces to the other. Something had happened and they weren't telling him, he was sure of it.

"Yeah, Taylor didn't get back from her detention until really late." Hermione said, avoiding Harry's eyes.

"What did McGonagall have you doing anyway, Taylor?" Harry asked, watching Taylor closely.

"Oh, you wouldn't believe me if I told you," Taylor said with a mischievous grin.

"Taylor!" Harry growled, his voice rising. He was not feeling up to one of Taylor's games.

"I brought you some school work to do to keep you busy," Hermione said, trying to head off an argument.

Taylor sighed and closed her eyes. A lot had happened in the last couple of days that she wanted nothing more than to talk over with her brother, but this was not the time. She opened her eyes again and looked into Harry's angry green eyes. "I'm sorry I wasn't here last night when you woke up, but I had detention," she looked meaningfully around the hospital wing before continuing, "You don't know how worried I was about you. I'm so glad you are going to be all right."

Harry knew something had definitely happened now, but he also hadn't missed Taylor's warning look. He would have to wait until later. "Well I was starting to worry about you too. Hermione, what do you think I want to do school work for anyway?" he asked smiling at Hermione and ending the tension that had been there. He gave Ginny's hand a squeeze.

The rest of their short visit passed with some good-natured teasing and talk about what classes they had today.

Taylor was standing in the queue for her last class of the day, but she wasn't thinking about the Defense Against the Dark Arts class that was about to start. She was thinking about the conversation she'd had last night with Moody about the difference between Dark Magic and the Dark Arts. She had followed Ron and Hermione in and sat down. It wasn't until Hermione kicked her under the table that she pulled her attention to the front of the class where a teacher was writing on the blackboard. She couldn't stop herself when she blurted out "Kingsley Shacklebolt!" and got a harder kick from Hermione and an angry hiss "Taylor!"

"Why, Yes! That is my name and you are?" and he looked down at his class list as if searching for her name.

"Taylor Porter, sir," Taylor said. She knew she wasn't supposed to know the auror who was now teaching DADA, but she had just seen him the night before last in Professor McGonagall's office and he was in the Order of the Phoenix. It had just been a surprise reaction to seeing him in this classroom, as her teacher.

When Professor Shacklebolt had read all their names off, he sat on the edge of his desk and looked around the room with a solemn expression on his face. "I have been asked by the Ministry of Magic and Professor McGonagall to teach you seventh years some very advanced defensive spells to try and protect you from the evil that we know to be out there," and he gave a wave of his hand. "I know from looking at your school records that you have not had… shall we say, the most skilled teachers in some of your past years. But Professor Lupin, Professor Moody," his eyes crinkled mischievously at that, "and last year Professor Snape." There were a few snorts from the class at this and Ron called out, "That git!" But Shacklebolt's eyes became suddenly stern and he said, "Yes, Mr. Weasley, although you may not like what happened at the end of last year in regards to Professor Snape, he none the less taught this class well." Professor Shacklebolt looked pointedly at Ron, Hermione and Taylor and they understood his meaning. It wasn't widely known that Snape had been the one who killed Dumbledore. The public had just been told that one of Voldemort's Death Eater's had killed him.

"As I was saying, I have been given the task to not just get you ready for your N.E.W.T.'s at the end of this year but also some more advanced defensive spells that the Ministry and Professor McGonagall think that you should learn. So, that having been said, please take out your wands and we shall begin."

An hour later, Hermione, Ron and Taylor emerged from their first DADA class of the year nursing a fair share of bumps and bruises from the various spells that they had been casting and trying to deflect. "Man, that was the hardest Defense Against the Dark Arts class we've ever had and that's counting the ones our fifth year that Harry taught us!" Ron said rubbing his shoulder where he had struck it against a chair from a badly aimed spell from Hermione.

"Yeah, but you know I'm kinda glad Harry wasn't here today. I mean, what Professor Shacklebolt said about Snape. Harry would have lost it, I'm sure." Hermione said, chewing on her lip in worry.

Taylor looked at her two friends and nodded. She knew, all too well, the way Harry felt about Snape. Her stomach churned uncomfortably. She needed to finish telling them what had happened last night and this morning. When they came to an empty classroom, Taylor asked them to come in and she sealed the door and said "Muffliato". Twenty-five minutes later, when she finished telling them everything that had happened at the Order headquarters, Hermione sat with her hand over her mouth and Ron had a grim expression on his face.

"You are going to have to tell Harry all of this you know," Hermione said in a worried voice.

"Yeah I know, but he isn't going to like it," Taylor said as she chewed on her lip and started to pace.

"Bloody Hell Taylor! How could you save that… that…greasy haired git?" Burst out Ron angrily. "After everything that he did. The way he used to treat us! Treat Harry!"

Taylor stopped and looked at Ron, but she was seeing the snake as it wrapped itself around Snape, the terror in his eyes and how those eyes had pleaded with her for help. "I couldn't leave him like that Ron, it would have eaten his soul," Taylor said slowly, a shudder traveling down her spine.

"Taylor did the right thing Ron. She couldn't have let that… that happen," Hermione said in a frightened voice. She watched as Taylor paced back and forth again. "So Moody thinks you are doing Dark Magic? And that there is a difference between Dark Magic and the Dark Arts?" Hermione said, steering the conversation to what she thought was maybe the most disturbing thing that Taylor had just told them.

"Yeah," Taylor said, as she continued to pace. "He said that Dark Magic was old magic and that it was more unpredictable and easier to turn to evil ways. And I can do it. But I don't know how I know how to do it, does that make sense?" Taylor said, her voice full of worry and a little fear.

"Taylor," Hermione began hesitantly, chewing on her lip. "I really think you need to get those books so we can have a look at them."

Taylor stopped her pacing and stared at Hermione. Just how was she supposed to do that? "Hermione, I can't leave Hogwarts to go get those books! Besides they don't say anything about the difference between Dark Magic and Dark Arts. I've read them all and they mostly talk about spells and potions."

Hermione looked at Taylor with wide eyes, "Where do you suppose the books came from? I mean I know they are at Mrs. Briggs', but how did they get there? They must be very old if Moody was right and there aren't a lot of books about the old magic still around. I mean I've never come across anything like you just described in all the reading I've done."

Taylor shrugged her shoulders "I don't know how they got there. They must be Mr. Briggs' books. It's his study that the bookcase is in, but he died years before I ever went there."

"But what would Mr. Briggs be doing with Dark Magic books?" Hermione said, almost to herself as she mulled it over in her mind.

"He must have been a Dark Wizard to have those books in his study," Ron said.

Taylor shook her head. "No, I don't think so. I mean, I think he might have been in the original Order of the Phoenix, just from some things Mrs. Briggs has said."

They talked a while longer but without coming up with any answers. There were just too many unknowns. It was almost suppertime when they left the classroom and hurried to take their books up to the common room and back down to the Great Hall for supper. They met Ginny coming across the Entrance Hall. She had just been to see Harry and wanted to know where the three of them had been.

Hermione glanced at Taylor before saying, "We had a meeting after class. How is Harry feeling?"

Ginny's eyes narrowed and she knew that they had been up to something but she said. "Harry's doing just fine, he was asking about where you three were." She smiled to herself as she watched the red crawl up their faces. Oh yeah they were up to something. Ginny was used to being left out of the loop when it came to these guys and Harry, but she still didn't like it. She had thought that, maybe…

"Hey Ginny, look I'll tell you later okay? But not right now," Taylor saw the look that crossed Ginny's face when Hermione had mentioned a meeting and knew that Ginny was feeling left out, but they were sitting down to supper in the Great Hall and she wasn't going to get into that story now, not here.

After supper they had gone to visit Harry, who was indeed feeling much better and wanted to get out of the Hospital Wing but Madam Pomfrey wouldn't let him out until at least tomorrow morning. When they got back to the common room they went to a far corner and after putting a silencing spell around them, Taylor told Ginny everything that she had told Hermione and Ron earlier.

Taylor was staring absently around the common room. They hadn't come up with any more answers this time after she finished telling Ginny what had happened last night and this morning. A question that had been at the back of Taylor's mind since yesterday suddenly came to her. "Not many students returned did they?"

Hermione sighed and said sadly, "No, only a little over half of them came back, except in Slytherin, and only a handful of them returned."

Ron scowled, "Yeah, the gits whose parents are Death Eaters didn't return, you can count on that!"

Taylor agreed with what Ron just said. She turned worried eyes back to Hermione and said. "How many first years were there?"

"Only a little over a dozen and most of them I think are muggle born."

Taylor nodded her head, that would make sense in one way, the muggle born ones wouldn't know as much as the others about Voldemort. Taylor stifled a yawn and rubbed a hand over her face. She was really tired and she had to talk to the painting of Dumbledore yet tonight.

Taylor, Ron, Hermione and Harry, who had gotten out of the hospital that morning, where walking back to the school from the greenhouses, where they had just finished their last class of the day. Taylor was lagging behind the others deep in thought. Her conversation with Dumbledore's painting the night before had yielded few answers. Dumbledore had been very interested in just how she had been able to cast such a spell in the first place in Grimmauld Place. He had heard Taylor when she told Professor McGonagall and the others about what had happened there and was surprised when she had told him that she could see the snake that was on Snape, before she had released Snape from her holding spell. He had told her much the same thing as Moody had, about the difference between Dark Magic and the Dark Arts. Dumbledore had then asked what Harry had thought of all of this. Taylor had told him that Harry was still in the hospital wing. Dumbledore had told her to not use any more Dark Magic, (yeah she had thought that's just what I want to do to some poor first year!) and to tell Harry everything, including saving Snape. Taylor ran her hand nervously through her hair. She was not looking forward to telling Harry.

"Hey Taylor, are you coming!" Ron yelled as they had reached the castle steps and noticed Taylor wasn't with them.

Taylor glanced up and realized just how far behind she was and she hurried to catch up. The rest were just entering the Great Hall when she finally did.

Harry gave her a curious look but turned and said hi to Ginny as she joined them and they sat down at the Gryffindor table. They were just about to get up after having finished their supper when Professor McGonagall stopped beside them.

"Mr. Potter, I hope you are feeling all better?" She asked briskly.

"Ah, yeah, Professor, thanks," Harry said uncertainly.

"Good. Mr. Potter, you and Miss Porter are to report to Professor Shacklebolt's office as soon as you are finished your supper." And with that Professor McGonagall nodded to the others and turned and walked out the doors of the Great Hall.

"Blimey, I wonder what you have done to have to go to Shacklebolt's office already. I mean, we have only had one class so far with him and you weren't even there for that Harry." Ron wondered aloud.

Hermione rolled her eyes and Ginny shook her head in disgust. "I highly doubt that it has anything to do with what they did, or didn't do, Ron," Hermione said as if she was talking to someone who was very young. "I imagine he is probably going to give them extra defense lessons," she finished so that only the five of them could hear her.

Harry and Taylor nodded their heads in agreement. They got up just a few minutes later, said good-bye to their friends and headed for Professor Shacklebolt's office.

"Come in," Professor Shacklebolt called when they knocked on his office door a short time later. "Oh good, I'm glad you are here. Please sit down." And he waved his hand to two wooden chairs sitting in front of his desk. When they were seated he began again, "I suppose you have probably guessed why you are here? (They both nodded) I was asked by the Order to help you learn some very advanced defensive magic. Most of them are only taught to aurors. So you understand that you can't tell anyone what we are doing in these training sessions, yes? (again they both nodded) Good, we shall start with a review of what you already know." He rose from behind his desk and with a flick of his wand vanished the desk and chairs and a few other things that had been sitting on the floor. "Now, Miss Porter, I want to see what you know about hexes. Need I remind you that you are to use only appropriate spells?" Professor Shacklebolt raised his eyebrows when he said this, and Taylor nodded her head. "Potter I want to see you defend yourself, understood?" Harry nodded.

For the next half hour Harry and Taylor stood facing one another, wands out, flinging hexes and counter courses at one another. Professor Shacklebolt watched them closely and made suggestions here and there. Then he switched them and Harry was trying to hex Taylor and she was on the defensive.

"Very good, very good indeed, I am very pleased at your ability to both defend and attack. The next time we will move on to more difficult spells and also work on non-verbal spell casting. We shall meet every other night at seven o'clock. If anyone asks about what you are doing, you are to tell them that you are helping me with a research paper. Any questions?"

Harry and Taylor shook their heads, grabbed their school bags and headed out the door.

"That was something," Harry said, he was still pumped up with adrenaline.

Taylor nodded. It had been almost a week now since they had mock dueled against one another, Harry had suggested while they were out looking for Horcruxes that they should practice their dueling so they could get better and faster.

"What did Shacklebolt mean by an appropriate spell?" Harry asked looking sideways at Taylor, as they walked down the hallway.

Taylor put her hand on Harry's arm to stop him and sighed, "Harry, we need to talk." He only nodded his head and followed her when she set off down the hall again. Two floors later, Taylor stopped opposite the tapestry of dancing trolls.

A/N well there you have it another chapter and the story is fully underway! So what did you think? Do you think Harry will be upset with his sister? :) I'd love to hear your oppinion on that! We are getting close to the point where this story was written after Deathly Hallows came out but we aren't quite there yet! I'll let you know when we reache that chapter! I have tried my best to correct all spelling and grammer errors so if you see any please let me know! Other then the authors notes that is! lol!

I want to thank those of you who have taken the time to review! I answer all reviews! So if you have a question or comment please let me know! Plus those of you who have added this story to your favorites and alerts! They are what keep me excited about posting chapters! So if you want them more often... then reviews will most definately help that to happen! Last but not least I want to say thank you to my wonderful bata barbc who keeps reading and correcting all my mistakes! Thank you!

So until next time, cytpotter