Nope Santa didn't come back to my house so I still own nothing but what poured from my crazy imagination!
Not sure if there are any hockey fans out there but if I miss a mistake in this chapter then I will ask your forgiveness as I am watching Canada play at the World Jr. Championships on my tv as I post this chapter. Hockey rules at my place so I will try to keep any more cheering to myself! :) So on to the chapter we go! ;)
Chapter Thirty-one
Detention
It didn't take long for Taylor to find out that the Slytherins had indeed said that they'd all been cursed and were spreading the news that Taylor had used Dark Magic against them. Greg Hunter wasn't at breakfast, and the Slytherins were even saying that she had attacked him too.
Taylor, who had never really been in the forefront like this before, found all the staring and pointing very uncomfortable. Rumors were running rampant, most of them wildly false, but fear of anything related to the Dark had students moving away from her at the table and watching her suspiciously in the corridors, as if she were going to attack them at any second.
At least her brother and friends stuck by her and Taylor tried her best to ignore it.
For Taylor the worst part was when she walked into the Great Hall for supper that evening, seeing Greg sitting at the Hufflepuff table and he looked away from her. Forcing her face to reveal nothing, she had walked to her seat at the Gryffindor table, her fingernails cutting into the palm of her hand.
Taylor only had twenty minutes to eat. As part of her detentions, she had to meet Moody in the Entrance Hall. The whole school seemed to watch her leave.
That night Taylor and Harry had their lesson with Shacklebolt. Moody brought Taylor to the Defense classroom. She had been in another classroom that Peeves had made a horrible mess in, cleaning it up, without magic. The lesson itself was another grueling one, and afterward Moody took Taylor back to finish cleaning before she was allowed to go back to the Gryffindor common room. It was after midnight.
The following day was no better. She had a free period in the afternoon and this time Shacklebolt oversaw her detention, which entailed writing out the detailed homework assignments for all fourteen of Shacklebolt's classes.
Taylor hardly had time to say hi to her friends as she hurried through another meal and then she was off for the evening with Moody again. This time in the Potion's classroom where there had been an accident and a cauldron had been melted.
As Taylor worked at scrubbing the floor, she wondered how Harry and the others were making out with their search of the dungeons. Harry had, at least, given Taylor his mirror so that if something happened she would know Harry and the others had gotten in trouble. It was after midnight again when Moody escorted her to the Fat Lady.
The rest of the week progressed the same. The others would fill her in on their progress, with searching the dungeons on the way to breakfast, and then it was classes and detention for Taylor. Her homework fell behind, and Friday Professor McGonagall gave her a T on her essay, because she hadn't had time to finish it before handing it in.
Saturday Taylor was up and out of the common room at seven to meet Moody so she could start her day of detention. Which turned out to be a day of labour out in the greenhouses, helping Professor Sprout repotting some plants and preparing the greenhouse for the forced extended holiday that started tomorrow. She didn't even get to go to the Great Hall for lunch, eating instead with Professor Sprout at one of the worktables.
When it got dark, Professor Sprout took her up to the Entrance Hall to meet Moody. Who took her past the Great Hall with the end of term feast just about to start, the smells wafting out of the doors making her stomach grumble, up to Shacklebolt office.
"You can eat in here Porter." Moody growled as he looked at her filthy robes, dirty hands and face, and smelling like dragon dung.
Taylor sunk into the chair in front of Shacklebolt's desk thankfully, a plate full of sandwiches and a jug of pumpkin juice waiting there for her on the desk.
"Professor Shacklebolt will be back shortly Miss Porter. I suggest you eat up."
Taylor glanced up at the old auror, to find Moody staring at her with both his eyes, giving her an uneasy feeling. "Yes sir."
Taylor ate in silence with Moody sitting beside her, watching her every move. It was a little disconcerting to say the least.
She finished at the same time Shacklebolt arrived, and he vanished the plate and empty jug before sitting down behind his desk.
"Miss Porter, Professor Sprout was very pleased with all your help today. She said that she was very impressed at all that you managed to get done." Shacklebolt's deep voice held just a touch of praise. "I don't suppose you are all packed and ready to leave tomorrow are you?"
Taylor shook her head, "No sir."
"Well I won't keep you as late tonight so you will have time to pack and be ready to leave tomorrow morning. Tonight you will be clerking for me while I take inventory of the Defense classroom."
It was only ten o'clock when Shacklebolt escorted her to the Gryffindor common room.
"Hey Taylor!" Ginny called when Taylor crawled through the portrait hole. "Merlin! What have you been doing? You smell horrible!"
Taylor rolled her eyes at her friend "Yeah, you try working in dragon dung all day and not smelling bad!" Glancing quickly around the common room she asked. "Where's Harry?" Hermione and Ron weren't there either but Taylor knew they would be out patrolling still.
"He just went up to the washroom. So what? You worked out in the greenhouses all day? You even missed the feast." Ginny said.
"You don't need to remind me! I'm going to take a shower. I'll be back down in a few minutes." Taylor called as she headed for her dorm room.
Nearly two hours later, Taylor, now clean and smelling much better, sat on the sofa with her four friends finalizing their plans for the holidays. The common room had been unusually crowded tonight as everyone was enjoying their last night before going home for the holidays.
"So we are going to go to the Ministry on Monday for the census?" Hermione asked in a business like tone. The common room was finally empty, with the added protection of a silencing spell. The others agreed.
"Then we are going to head out to look for other Horcruxes." Hermione said and the five friends laid down their plans and what they would do if they got separated.
Two hours later, after putting a silencing charm on Lavender's bed so as not to disturb the sleeping girl. Taylor was packing her things.
"I was on patrol tonight with Greg." Hermione said in an off-hand kind of way.
Taylor's hands stilled for a second but she didn't respond.
"He was asking about you. For some reason he seemed very surprised that you were in detention all week." Hermione continued.
Taylor shrugged one of her shoulders as she continued to pack her books into her trunk. "Well, all he would have had to do is listen to the wild rumors that were flying around."
"He told me that Madam Pomfrey said the spell he was hit with often caused temporary memory loss. He said at first he didn't even remember anything that happened this term. His memory is slowly returning but he still can't remember anything from the fight in the corridor last Sunday night." Hermione said cautiously.
Taylor glanced over at her friend. "Hopefully it stays that way. Don't give me that look Hermione! You know as well as I do that he is far better off staying away from me! I already landed him in the hospital wing once and he'd just hung around with me for two days! No, he's far better off not remembering and staying away from me." Taylor slammed her trunk cover down, grabbed her toothbrush and headed for the bathroom.
With a sigh Hermione watched her friend leave.
"You know, Miss Granger, Miss Porter does have a point."
Hermione jumped and saw Dumbledore peering out around the picture of Taylor's aunt and uncle.
"Professor! You startled me." Hermione exclaimed as she hurried over and took the muggle photo out of the way.
"I am sorry. However sometimes now, I am afraid, I am reduced to listening in on conversations in girls' dormitories." The painting of Dumbledore said in an amused tone.
"I'm sorry. It's just been such a crazy week." Hermione explained. "What with finding another Horcrux, Taylor's fight in the corridor. I suppose you heard about that." Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "Trying to finish our search of the castle and Taylor's detentions."
"Yes, Miss Granger, I do know you and the others have had quite a lot to deal with these past few weeks. I am, however, a little surprised that you did not come to me. I may just be a painting but I like to think my wisdom is still sound." Dumbledore said conversationally.
Hermione turned red as she sputtered out an apology.
"That is quite alright Miss Granger. I do remember how easy it is to forget to ask for help when one is trying to do things by themselves." The twinkle was back in the painted blue eyes. "Ah, Miss Porter. I was hoping you would return soon."
Taylor looked from the painting of Dumbledore to Hermione in surprise. "Professor Dumbledore!" Taylor exclaimed wondering how she had managed to put off seeing him for so long. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk to him, just that she was dreading the disappointment she had glimpsed in his eyes last Sunday night.
Taylor sat on her bed and recounted the many things that had happened since their last talk, weeks before.
"You have managed to find another Horcrux. Very good! I suppose you are going to go in search of more Horcruxes over the holidays?" At their nod, Dumbledore continued, "The new census for the Ministry, is what we need to discuss first. As I told you last year Miss Porter, there is no record of your birth anywhere. I have spoken to Alaster Moody about it and he has been able to… acquire some documentation that should get you through the census. Alaster will explain it to you before you go to the Ministry on Monday, I am sure. As far as the fight in the fourth floor corridor, I am more then a little concerned," Taylor's, "But Professor!" Dumbledore ignored and continued, "From what I have been able to gather from talking to Minerva and Madam Pomfrey, they believe at least some of the students from Slytherin were indeed cursed, they are just not sure how or who did it."
Taylor was silent for a few moments as she thought about that. While she had no love for Parkinson, and she would bet all the gold in her brother's vault at Gringott's that Parkinson had not been under any curse, Taylor highly doubted that the Slytherin girl had the skill or the knowledge of how to work a spell that complicated.
"Part of the reason Professor McGonagall has had you in detention all week Taylor is to make sure that you do not have another altercation with the Slytherins. She, as we all are, is very concerned about what is going to happen after the Ministry's census, and she did not want to appear that the school did not punish your actions. A single fight between students, while unsavory, is not grounds for expulsion. The fact that you used Dark Magic, is like most of the stories circulating about that fight, merely hearsay and rumor. It, like all things of the sort, will blow over in time."
"Which brings me to a rumor that I have heard," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he continued, "about you Miss Porter and the Head Boy from Hufflepuff."
Taylor's jaw dropped. She was shocked that Dumbledore would bring up her three dates, if you could call them that, with Greg.
"Taylor, while I can understand your reluctance to open your heart at a time like this, and it may be considered by some to be unwise to involve another in your life right now, I must say to you, that the strongest magic of all, is love. Like I told Harry long ago, it is our choices that make us who we are. Your ability to use Dark Magic and still fight for the light side stems from your vast capacity to love, and in this area you are very much like Harry, Miss Porter. Be very careful in your decision to discount the true power of love." Dumbledore's eyes had taken on a piercing quality as his voice became very somber.
Taylor lay in bed long after her conversation with Dumbledore thinking about what he had said. As daylight started to creep in around her hangings, Taylor still hadn't yet decided what to make of Dumbledore's words.
By nine o'clock Taylor was all packed and heading down to the Great Hall with the rest of Gryffindor for a quick bite to eat before they headed out to the Hogwarts Express. Taylor knew that neither she nor Harry were going on the train with the rest of the students but instead would be apparating away with Moody.
The atmosphere in the Great Hall was unlike any that Taylor had experienced just before the school was to be let out for the holidays. The talk was subdued, and only a smattering of nervous laughter could be heard all meal. The conversation mostly revolving around the new census.
Taylor noticed that the Head Boy was at the Hufflepuff table but never glanced in his direction at all while she ate.
When Professor Flitwick came into the Hall and announced that the carriages were waiting Taylor rose with her friends and made her way out of the Great Hall. She was thinking about earlier when Hermione had quietly told Harry and the others about their conversation with Dumbledore.
"Taylor." When she didn't turn the voice called again, more insistently this time. "Hey Porter!"
Taylor recognized the voice and she was wondering if she might be able to disappear in the throng of waiting students in the packed Entrance Hall. A hand grabbed her shoulder and turned her around.
"Hey! I've been hollering your name." Greg said a little put out.
"Yeah, maybe the reason Taylor didn't answer, is because she doesn't want to talk to you!" Ron growled.
Taylor shot a glare at Ron then glared up at the Head Boy. "I can fight my own battles, Ron. What do you want Hunter?" Taylor demanded.
The Hufflepuff's eyes narrowed as he took in Taylor's angry tone and stiff body. "I want to have a word with you." He glanced at Weasley's and Potter's surly expressions and added, "Alone."
"I wouldn't think that you'd want to take the chance after hearing what everyone has been saying about me this week." Taylor growled angrily.
"Taylor, please. I really want to talk to you for just a minute." Greg said his voice slightly pleading.
Taylor glared at him for a long moment then with a curt nod she turned and made her way through the parting students to the wall where it was less crowded.
Turning and crossing her arms, Taylor demanded again, "What do you want Hunter?"
The noisy crowded Entrance Hall became muffled as the Head Boy slipped his wand back into his robes, an intensity burning in his eyes as he looked at Taylor.
"I want to know what happened last Sunday."
"You must have heard. It's all over the school." Taylor snapped.
"Yeah I've heard that you jumped fifteen Slytherins, produced You-Know-Who's death mark and performed Dark evil magic before you were discovered. And I don't believe one word of it! I remember Parkinson and the other Slytherins attacking us. I remember you using a shield charm and then I can't remember what happened after that." The Hufflepuff said slowly as if he were trying hard to remember more.
Taylor looked away, over the heads of the waiting students to the oak doors.
"When I woke up in the Hospital Wing, I didn't remember anything. Not even the start of the year. Slowly this week my memory has come back to me. When I finally remembered you…" The Head Boy paused his voice reflecting the pain and confusion in his eyes. "I couldn't find you. I thought at first maybe you too had been hit by the same spell that took my memory or… that you had been hurt." He paused again to search her face. "I heard then that you've been in detention all week. Why'd McGonagall punish you when Parkinson and the others weren't?"
Taylor bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes. "Why do you think I got detention? You've heard the rumors." She said quietly.
"I don't believe that you are into the Dark Arts, Taylor," The Hufflepuff said firmly.
Taylor looked down at the floor refusing to meet his eyes, knowing it would hurt too much to see disappointment or the fear that she had seen in most peoples eyes all week. With a shrug she said in a flat tone. "Everyone else does."
"Taylor," the Hufflepuff reached out and gently lifted the red-haired girls head, noting that it was a lot shorter now, so he could look into her hazel eyes. "I'm not everyone else." The lack of muffled talk made him glance around to see that only a few students remained in the Entrance Hall. "Sit with me on the train. Please."
Taylor turned to look over at where Harry and her other friends were waiting by the oak doors. "I'm sorry. I can't"
The Hufflepuff heard the regret that tinted Taylor's voice, and followed her look over to Potter. "I can sit with you then, if that is easier."
Taylor heard the hope in his voice and it pulled at her heart. Sadly she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Greg. I really am. But you can't." She could see the confusion in his eyes, then they narrowed.
"You're not going home on the train are you? You're leaving with Potter." It was a statement.
Taylor hid her surprise quickly but she knew the Hufflepuff had got his answer as his face hardened and his eyes darkened in anger.
"I will give you this now, then," as Greg handed Taylor a slip of paper. "My invitation from last Sunday still stands. This is my address, read it, so I can burn it. I don't want it falling into the wrong hands."
Taylor glanced down at the piece of paper in her hand.
Hunter's Place
1948 Lindsaylands Road
Biggar
"Memorized it?" Greg smiled a little when Taylor nodded then taking the paper back from her, he burned it with a flick of his wand.
Taylor looked at the Hufflepuff a little dumbfounded that he would give her such information.
"I don't know what happened last Sunday Taylor, but I know how I feel about you. I trust you." Greg continued in a hurry as Professor Flitwick was beckoning them to come as he walked towards them. "If you are going away with Potter… promise me that you will be careful! And that you will come to my place for supper some night."
"I…" Taylor began as the Head Boy flicked his wand and Flitwick's call for them to hurry came flooding back into the area where they stood.
"Please Taylor, I really don't want to go a whole month and a half without seeing you." His deep voice hushed and slightly pleading.
"I'll try." Taylor whispered before she turned and headed across the hall at a jog as her four friends headed out the door.
Taylor hadn't looked back as she hurried out the door and into the school carriage hauled by a Thestral. She had been able to see them ever since fifth year when she had seen Sirius die in the Department of Mysteries. Sitting down beside Harry, the carriage lurched ahead and began the trip towards the train.
"What did Hunter want?" Ron asked from the seat across from Taylor.
Taylor shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. Inside her emotions were all a jumble. How could he trust her? He must have heard the grain of truth in every rumor, that she had used Dark Magic. Was his invitation to his house what he said it was? Simply his desire to see her over the holidays, or was it something more sinister?
"Taylor?" Harry's voice interrupted her musings.
"He… just wanted to talk." Taylor said quietly as she gazed out the small window in the carriage at the frozen grounds of Hogwarts and the cold gray sky overhead.
It didn't take long to reach the stone boars that stood on either side of the gates at the school. Moody and Lupin were waiting on the other side.
"Remember our plans! Our rendezvous! And be careful, you two!" Hermione said in a hurry just before the carriage slowed to a halt and Taylor and Harry jumped out.
Lupin quickly grabbed Taylor's arm as Moody did the same to Harry. The last thing Taylor saw before she was squeezed by Lupin apparating her away, was Greg's grim face in the window of the carriage behind the one she had been in.
After a quick check that they were all who they were supposed to be, Lupin and Moody led Taylor and Harry into a small neat little house.
A middle-aged witch smiled at them and introduced herself as Muriel before she showed Harry and Taylor each to a small bedroom at the top of the stairs. After telling them that lunch would be in an hour she went back down the stairs.
Taylor looked around the small bedroom. It was quaintly furnished with a small bed, a matching dresser and a window looking out onto a river.
"Hey," Harry said as he walked into Taylor's room.
Taylor's lips twitched but didn't quite make it into a smile.
"What's up?" Harry asked as he looked into his sister's sad eyes.
"Nothing." When Harry's eyebrows rose Taylor continued. "Nothing important."
Lupin appeared at the door then looking so very tired and worn. "Moody and I wanted to go over a few things with you two, before I have to leave. In here is fine." Lupin said as Moody clumped into the doorway too and Taylor and Harry sat on the bed. With a flick of his wand Moody conjured two comfy chairs, sealed and silenced the room.
"Now," Moody began in his gravely voice, "I wanted to let you know Miss Porter that I have been informed that you do not have any documentation to show at the Ministry tomorrow. I was able to acquire a muggle birth certificate that you can use. As it is not yours, you are going to have to be very careful how you answer questions. As Remus here told you a while ago, there are anti deception spells in place. However they can be fooled. Especially as you are muggle-born and have never tried to hide it, I doubt that you will be asked more then a few questions about your parentage. Our sources have informed us that the Ministry is looking to identify muggle borns and their parents, but as yours are dead, there is little information that they will be interested in. Here is the birth certificate I was able to get for you. Read it and memorize the names and birth date written on it, also the place where it says you were born."
Taylor took the small piece of paper and read it. "Are these people really dead?" Taylor asked as she handed it back.
"Yes, this is a real birth certificate. Just your name has been put on it." Moody answered.
"What happened to their real daughter?" Taylor asked, with a twinge of guilt at using this dead couple's misfortune to her own good.
"She disappeared shortly after the couple's death." Moody replied, and then began instructing Taylor on how best to answer the questions that they thought the Ministry was going to ask. When Moody was satisfied with Taylor and her answers, he moved on to Harry, so that he would be ready too.
"When they ask you where your current residence is I think it is best if you both say Hogwarts. As you are both of age (Taylor shifted a little at this) but still at school, it will not be all that uncommon for you not to have a place of your own. And that Miss Porter is why we are going over all this now!" Moody stared hard at Taylor with his good eye and his magical one. "A mistake like that will cost you."
Taylor looked down at the floor as her face turned red in embarrassment. Moody grilled them for another hour until their answers were automatic, correcting any indication that what they were saying was not the truth.
When they were finally finished to Moody's satisfaction he removed the spells sealing the room and clumped out the door. Lupin started to follow. He had made a couple of suggestions when needed, otherwise he had been silent.
"Lupin?" Taylor asked quietly to stop him from leaving. When he turned and looked at her, she continued. "I'm sorry about last Sunday. I didn't…"
"I know you are not a Dark witch, Taylor. So does Alaster, Kingsley, and McGonagall. She was just trying to keep you out of more trouble, you know, by giving you those detentions." Lupin said with a worn smile.
"Yeah, I know ah, Hermione thought that might be the case," Taylor replied, Hermione had agreed with Dumbledore about McGonagall's reasons for the detentions at least.
Lupin smiled again. "You have good friends Taylor." He glanced meaningfully at Harry and then back at her. "You two make sure you stick close together tomorrow, and be careful. Hopefully everything will go according to plan. I have to go. I'll see you later this week." Lupin put his hand on first her shoulder and then Harry's giving each a gentle squeeze before he left.
The rest of the day passed quietly. The house they were staying at was not the Order of the Phoenix's headquarters, as Taylor and Harry had originally thought they might be taken too. It was however one of the Order's houses, but for security purposes they weren't told whose house or where it was. Muriel was a pleasant witch and she made them both feel welcome. She was also a good cook and they had an enjoyable lunch and supper, as the witch told them tales of her days at Hogwarts with James and Lily.
A/N First of all I want to apoligize to any one who lives in Biggar... your name came up on Google Maps and when I pushed the little man it looked about like what I thought Hunter's Place would be situated, sorry if I don't potray it as it really is! I will readily admit that I've never been to the UK! Or Europe for that matter having been born and lived in Canada my whole life. I did try with my limited computer skills to find a place that sort of fit my story, again I hope I don't offend anyone! I guess I could of just made up a place but I like to use real places if I can to give my story a little more realism(a quirk from a quirky writter!) So... what did you think of Taylor's detention? Or Greg's reaction? :-) If you are questioning his actions then my job is accomplished! :) As for Taylor and her detention... well she is James' daughter! lol!
This is the second chapter that I posted today and I want to again say THANK YOU for the reviews, alerts and favorites! You guys just make my day! And I promise I will reply to those of you who have left a review! As soon as I get the chance! Thank you to my wonderful bata barbc!
Until next time(which I hope will be tomorrow!), cytpotter.