Nah, I still don't own Harry. I'm just playing in his sandbox.

Chapter Sixty-seven

A Hufflepuff's Need

Taylor walked into the Hospital Wing after lunch dreading the coming confrontation. Her slow steps faltered half way across the ward and she called herself every form of coward. With her heart already pounding uncomfortably, she took a deep shuddering breath and forced her legs to carry her the rest of the way to the screen. Her wand flicked putting up a silencing spell as she stepped around the material that hid the Hufflepuff from view.

She caught her lip in her teeth and braced herself when she saw him sitting up in bed looking directly at her. The seconds dragged slowly by as her heart pounded loudly in her ears but all he did was stare at her. Knowing it was likely to set him off, though not sure what else to do, she said quietly.

"I brought you the book for Ancient Runes."

The Hufflepuff was trying hard to figure out the best way to try to apologize to his witch. He had heard her slow footsteps as she crossed the ward and had seen her wand flash as she put up a silencing charm. Now she stood waiting apprehensively, her voice had even been slightly hesitant. He could have kicked himself and he called himself every form of a fool.

"Taylor…" even though his voice was soft he saw her flinch and he had to close his eyes for a second to try to find the right words to say to her. When he opened them he could see that hers were suddenly wary and her hand was curled into a fist as if she were waiting for something terrible. He felt his heart break, especially knowing that this was all his doing.

After a long moment he spoke again keeping his voice soft. "Taylor, would you come here please."

He could see she was even more wary now, as her eyes became guarded, much like when he had first tried to get to know her and he wondered painfully if what he had done to her was irrevocable.

"I promise I am not going to yell," he added gently.

Slowly she stepped towards him until she stood in the space between the beds, though she didn't move much past the foot of his bed.

He sighed as he closed his eyes again briefly before opening them. "Would you please have a seat," he pointed to the bed beside him knowing she wasn't likely to sit with him on his bed, not that he could blame her. "There is something I need to say to you."

He saw her eyes widen fearfully briefly, before her face became extremely wary and her eyes became heavily guarded again. She did move forward a step though and then sat on the edge of the bed, her whole body tense.

Taking a deep breath he started. "I need to apologize to you. I have been incredibly cruel to you this past week. I really can't blame you if you don't forgive me. I've been a true monster. Wanting to hurt you, because I wasn't man enough to accept what happened to me… I know it isn't an excuse… What I did was inexcusable."

Greg looked down at the floor and waited for the witch to decide what to do. He wondered if she would hex him, he deserved that and more. The silence stretched on for an uncomfortably long time.

"I'm sorry too…"

Greg's head came up and he looked fearfully over at the witch, her voice was low but void of emotion, as were her eyes, though her face still looked wary.

"I should have accepted your wishes and… stayed away."

Shifting in his bed he saw the witch flinch again, so he slowed his movements and getting out of bed carefully, as if afraid she would suddenly run away, he knelt on the floor in front of her.

"Oh Taylor, you have nothing to be sorry for. You tried to be a friend and all I did was hurt you. I didn't want to accept what happened. All I could think about was me and my pain and how sorry I felt for myself."

The witch's voice was guarded, "It must have been… terrifying. I can only imagine how difficult it was."

Greg sighed, he wanted to reach out and touch the witch in front of him but the wariness on her face stopped him. He didn't think she would accept his touch at the moment. He had the distinct feeling she was waiting for him to try and hurt her again. Pain sliced through his heart once again.

"I'm not going to say it was easy but the way I handled it made it even worse. I pushed everyone, who only wanted to give me support, away. I was terrible to my father and uncle. The things I said to them…" he looked away ashamed, "well I'll be lucky if they ever want to speak to me again."

"Your father loves you Greg. He understands that this is a very difficult thing to try to deal with." The witch's voice was gentle, if still guarded.

"I hope you are right. Though I have my doubts about Uncle Mike."

"Your uncle loves you too. Just be honest with him, I'm sure he will understand."

Greg looked up at the witch in front of him. He had been unbelievably cruel yet here she was trying to comfort him, even as she looked at him still warily. With a hesitant hand he reached out and took her hand in his. She didn't try to pull it away, though the guarded look didn't go away.

He looked down at the hand in his, it was soft and warm. Gently he stroked his thumb across the back of it. When he continued his voice was suddenly thick and pained. "I don't know how I can ever make you see how truly sorry I am for the way I have acted and treated you this week. I was such an idiot. The only thing I can say is that I went crazy with fear and self-pity. Last night I got the kick in the ass that I should have gotten six days ago. It made me realize what I am truly afraid of…" Greg looked up into his witch's guarded eyes and he swallowed the fear that had consumed him all week, as he whispered, "I am terrified of becoming a… werewolf… but I don't think I can do it on my own. I need you Taylor. I need you so much it hurts to breathe."

Taylor's arms wrapped around the Hufflepuff's head and shoulders and she pulled him against her as his tears soaked her shirt.

"Shh, I'm here. I'm here for as long as you want me to be."

Greg slid his arms around her and held her tight, as he gave into the fear that had ruled him all week. Here, in his witch's arms, he knew he was safe to finally grieve the loss of his life the way it had been before.

"I'm not going anywhere Greg." The witch whispered into his dark hair as she rested her cheek against the top of his head.

It was a long time before either seemed willing to move. Finally the Hufflepuff was the first to break the silence.

"I'm so sorry Taylor."

"Shh, it's okay."

Greg pulled back a little and looked up into his witch's hazel eyes, "It's not okay. It's so far from being okay… Somehow I will make it up to you, I promise."

"You have already made a good start." Taylor whispered softly as she cupped his face in her hand.

"You are far too forgiving Gryffindor," Greg said softly.

Taylor smiled sadly as she looked into his eyes. "No, I've just found it hurts far too much to be away from you."

Greg shook his head slightly as he laid it against her again. "I have nothing to offer you. I will be an outcast, unlikely to ever find a job. Once a month I am going to become a horrible monster, one that I will have no control over. I could hurt you, or even kill you. I can't give you the life you deserve." His voice was raw and full of anguish.

Taylor took a hold of his face in both her hands and pushed him back enough so that she could look into his eyes again, ignoring the wetness on his cheeks. "Do you think I care about what anyone else thinks of you? I have fallen in love with you. As far as you being a werewolf, that is only one night a month. There is no need of you becoming that mindless creature. I am going to learn how to make the Wolfsbane Potion, so you won't have to worry about that. I know that it isn't going to be easy. I'm not trying to say that it will be. What I am saying is that I will be there with you and together we will get through it."

Greg searched her eyes for any doubt or fear and found none at all. His hand trembled slightly as he reached it up to brush his fingers across her cheek, before sliding his hand around behind her neck and gently pulled her face down to his. Hesitantly he brushed his lips against hers. An emotion, a combination of love, desire and something far more primitive rocked him to his soul as his witch responded to his kiss. He inhaled deeply and her scent intoxicated him. His lips moved over hers as he sought to deepen the kiss and when she willingly complied something savage and wild inside of him roared in triumph.

Soon they broke apart each breathing hard.

The Hufflepuff leaned back slightly so he could look into his witch's eyes and he could find no trace of doubt or fear in them now either.

The sound of a door being shut brought the two back into awareness of their surroundings, that being the Hospital Wing in broad daylight.

With a bit of an impish grin the Hufflepuff came to his feet and caught his witch's hand before stepping back and sitting on his bed, pulling her with him. He got under the covers and Taylor sat beside him.

Madame Pomfrey came around the screen a few seconds later. Her eyebrow rose slightly but that was all before she checked him over.

Taylor remembered the silencing charm and removed it as inconspicuously as possible.

When she was done the nurse turned to look at her patient, taking particular note of his more relaxed body language. "Mr. Hunter, I have been asked yet again if you are up to having visitors. There are several Hufflepuff seventh years who I think feel I am holding you here against your will."

Taylor glanced at Greg and saw him tense at the mention of visitors and she gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. He glanced at her before taking a deep breath and nodding slowly.

"Yeah, I… I think it's about time I see my friends."

Pomfrey nodded approvingly as she said. "I will be sure to let them know the next time they stop by." Then she left again and they heard her walking to her office.

The two were quiet for a few minutes before Greg sighed. "I guess I need to face them sooner or later." He glanced over at her before dropping his eyes away.

"If you want I can stay when the others come. You don't need to face them alone you know."

Greg glanced up at her and then down shaking his head a little.

"Hey Hufflepuff, you know you can tell them as much or as little as you feel comfortable with."

Greg's head snapped up and he looked at her sharply. "What do you mean? As much or as little what?"

Taylor smiled gently as she answered. "No one, other then the teachers and well Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny of course, know why you have been in the hospital all week. So tell them only what you feel comfortable with. You… well… if you are going to that is," Taylor said as her voice became unsure. There was a lot they hadn't discussed yet, "…finish school, you only have two more months left, so… just tell them what you want."

The Hufflepuff stared at her for a moment before he asked. "No one knows? But how…?"

Taylor met his eyes, "It wasn't my place to tell anyone. I had to tell Pomfrey, McGonagall, Shacklebolt and the auror that was with the Head Mistress, of course, when we got back into the castle. Harry and the others showed up a few minutes after we reached the hospital. I suppose my Patronus must have told them something was up. They will never tell anyone and they will never judge you either. We've known a werewolf since third year, so it's not a big thing for them. Plus Ginny and Ron's oldest brother Bill, was bitten at the end of last year by Fenrir Greyback, he's one of Voldy's Death Eaters. He is a real nasty piece of work. He will bite people at any time of month. Pomfrey figures that because he has bitten and killed so many people over the years that he always remains part werewolf. Anyway Bill, he doesn't have the transformations or anything, but he does have a few mild symptoms."

Greg was staring at her with a rather incredulous expression.

"What?"

"You've known a werewolf since third year?"

Taylor raised her eyebrows as she said slowly, "Well, yeah… That's the year Lupin taught us. Don't you remember? Snape took over his lessons and set us the essay on werewolves when we were only on, like Red Caps and Kappas. Anyway Hermione and I figured it out in first term. It wasn't until third term though that we had a run in with him as an actual werewolf."

"I remember all the hoopla about Black and of course the Slytherins spread the word about Professor Lupin… You were outside on the grounds that night?" The Hufflepuff asked disbelievingly.

Taylor grinned and then she told him most of the story from that night, leaving out only a few of the more private things about her brother.

They talked for a while about that night in third year.

Greg found it was easy to talk to his witch about even the scariest things. She had an incredibly open mind and there was never a hint of censure or distrust when she spoke of Lupin. As there wasn't when she spoke of him. Slowly he began to realize what Lupin had been talking about last night. This was truly a remarkable witch.

The sound of voices at the door made the Hufflepuff shift nervously.

Taylor took his hand and whispered. "Just tell them what you want. If you want to tell them more later, I know they will understand."

Greg tried to smile at her but it faltered and she squeezed his hand. "I'll be right here. They are your friends."

A few seconds later Justin, Ernie, Hannah, Sally-Anne and Connor walked around the screen.

Taylor shifted on Greg's bed so she could see the Hufflepuffs and also, with a little push the blanket covered their clasped hands, giving the Head Boy the option of either accepting her silent support or letting it be known.

"Well I'll be damned! You are alive!" Connor crowed loudly.

"We thought you must have been on your death bed. Pomfrey refused to let us in to see you all week!" Ernie said rather pompously.

"We've been really worried mate. How are you feeling?" Justin asked his eyes flickering to the Gryffindor witch and then back to his friend.

Greg swallowed and felt another reassuring squeeze. His voice was a little shaky as he answered. "Well, I ah… I haven't been myself all week." He found it hard to meet any of their eyes, fearing what he would see.

"What happened anyway Greg? Were you cursed or something?" Sally-Anne asked gently.

Greg felt his whole body go stiff, as some of the anger and fear he had felt all week returned. He didn't want to lash out at his friends and he closed his eyes fighting to get control over his roiling emotions.

"That would be a good way to describe it." Taylor spoke up softly, as her hand tightened on his. "He finds it really hard to talk about… with anyone. He is going to need some time to adjust to things." She glanced at the Head Boy and saw he was starting to relax a little, though the grip he had on her hand hadn't relaxed any yet so she continued cautiously. "When he is ready, I know he will tell you, but right now he needs all his friends to be here for him, to help him, like I've seen him help you when you need him."

The Hufflepuffs stared at the Gryffindor witch for a second before-

"Greg, you can count on us! You know that right?" Sally-Anne said warmly.

"Yeah mate, we are here for you. Whatever you need." Justin said with feeling as he looked at his friend in concern.

"Oh! You know I don't handle this stuff without getting all teary eyed! Can I give you a hug before I start to bawl!" Hannah asked in a stuffy voice as she waited for her friend to agree or not.

Greg looked up at his friends and a lump formed in his throat as he nodded slightly and Hannah threw her arms around him and gave him a big hug. He hugged her back with his left arm. His right hand he still held under the blanket holding on tightly to his witch's hand. After Hannah, Sally-Anne gave him a hug and then Justin stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Aww… This is just too much! Isn't that sweet!" Connor said in a high whiney voice as he pretended to puke.

"Very mature Connor! Jesh what are you seven?" Taylor asked as she rolled her eyes.

"As far as I know yeah!" Connor shot back waggling his eyebrows.

The Hufflepuffs stayed for close to an hour just talking and joking good naturedly as if nothing had happened, before they decided to go, promising to be back tomorrow.

When they were gone the Head Boy was silent for a moment before he said softly, "Thank you. For… well for helping me…"

"Hey Hufflepuff, I told you, just what you are comfortable with. And I was only too glad to help. Besides it was nice to hear you laugh again." Taylor said with a smile.

"It felt good to laugh. Lupin was right about that too."

"Lupin was in to talk to you? When?" Taylor asked curiously as she settled her back against his headboard beside him.

"He was my proverbial kick in the ass I needed to stop acting like an idiot. He came to see me last night." Greg told the witch basically what the older werewolf had told him, especially the part about how precious friends were. He left out the part about Voldemort. He didn't want to do anything to upset his witch, not when he was stuck in the Hospital until tomorrow when his father and uncle came to see him again.

Taylor smiled, "Yeah Moony had some good friends." her smile faltered as she continued, "They are all gone now, though I suppose he has Harry, and the rest of us, but it has to be hard on him. He told you about finding someone special?" A huge grin spread across her face again. "I'm going to have to have a little talk with Moony. I think it's time to hear wedding bells with those two!"

They talked until Pomfrey came to check on her patient again and ask him what he wanted for supper from the kitchens.

After the nurse left Taylor stood up reluctantly, "I need to go to. I promised Harry I'd hang with them tonight. If I'm not at supper he's likely to come looking for me. I haven't exactly been myself this week either." Taylor glanced away from the Hufflepuff.

Greg caught her hand, "Hey, I… well I wanted to thank you for this afternoon…"

Taylor looked down at him and saw the uncertainty return to his eyes. "I'll be back."

He knew he had no right to ask her, not with her face already starting to show the first signs of fatigue, and especially after the hell he put her through that week, even knowing all this he couldn't help but ask, "Will you still come again later tonight?"

He watched as his witch became very still and she asked in a small voice, "You know about that?"

"Not until last night, well not for sure. I'd wake up every morning with the faint smell of your hair and a vague memory of you being here. I just thought I was imagining something I could no longer have," He paused to look up at the ceiling trying to get control of his emotions. "Last night Lupin told me, well he hinted at it, and I knew it hadn't been just wishful thinking. I… well last night I saw the door open when you came in… I didn't know if you would stay if I didn't pretend to be asleep. I know I have no right to ask, I…" Fear welled up in him, powerful and irrational. He didn't want to face the night alone.

Taylor wasn't sure if she should be angry or relieved, though when she saw the naked fear in his eyes she couldn't refuse. "I'll be back before Pomfrey locks the door. I promise, okay?" Leaning down she cupped his cheek in her hand and waited until the fear faded from his eyes. She kissed him on his forehead before looking to his eyes again. His blue eyes though were focused a little lower and she felt him touch the necklace that she always wore. He held it in his fingers for a moment before looking up and into her eyes.

"That's a nice necklace."

"My uncle and aunt gave it to me when I was just a little girl. It's one of the few things I have from them." She explained softly, as she saw something flicker in his eyes.

Greg nodded and looked away. "I… well I just always wondered why you never wore the one I gave you."

Taylor cocked her head slightly as she stared at him a little confused and then she smacked herself in the forehead with the palm of her hand, as she groaned. "Oh Merlin! I'm so sorry Greg. I… well I never unwrapped your gift," She saw the hurt that sprung into his eyes and hastened to explain. "When I got back to our camp that night, well Hermione was pissed! I was late and well to make a long story short, so were Harry and Ron. Things were… a little tense for a couple of days. Plus, well…" Taylor could feel her face turning red, "I never had a present so nicely wrapped. I put it up, intending to open it sometime when I had a quiet moment, but well… with exploding restaurants, Death Eaters and getting caught, I just… I'm so sorry I forgot all about it."

Greg smiled faintly. Only his witch would find a present wrapped too nicely to open. "That's okay," He saw she was going to start apologizing again and put his finger over her lips. "It's okay, really. I just wondered sometimes why you didn't wear it."

A/N Ah Ha! I know you thought I forgot all about the present Greg gave Taylor back at Christmas time didn't you? :) Well I didn't, but you will have to wait for the next chapter to find out what it is! LOL! I know I am evil! Well what did you think of Greg's apology? Was it good enough? Was it believeable? I know that Greg and Taylor can't go right back to normal... they will need to talk a lot more about what has happened but hopefully this is a good start! Please let me know what you think.

THANK YOU to those who left a review! I LOVE them! As well to those who Alerted and Favorited this story! PLUS a BIG THANK YOU for just reading(I know I say this everytime but as a writter knowing people are reading my story that is very gratifying in itself!) As well thank you to my beta barbc! Well until next time, cytpotter.