Nope I still don't own Harry!

This chapter is a little dark. It has a bit of self-injury in it... I just want to warn you in case this might bother you.

Chapter Seventy-two

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It was a long silent walk back to the Gryffindor common room.

When they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, Ron muttered the password and they filed into the empty room and sat on the sofas around the fire. Greg sat beside Taylor with his arm still around her, Ron took a seat beside Hermione who was still upset, and Harry sat on the other side of Hermione, the after effects, as well as the content, of the vision itself weighing heavily on his mind.

The five seventh years sat silently in the weird gray light of midmorning as rain fell softly against the windows for a few minutes before they heard the distant rumble of the students being let out of the Great Hall and heading for their common rooms.

It was Hermione who broke the silence in the room when she asked quietly, "Do you think the rest of the school knows what happened?"

Ron shrugged his shoulders, "Don' know."

The rumbling sound of many feet moving through the castle got louder and louder until the portrait swung open, but it was a very quiet bunch of Gryffindors who filed in through. The few who were talking did so in whispers, though they all noted the four seventh year Gryffindors already seated, as well as the lone Hufflepuff.

Seamus was the first to approach the sofas. "So it wasn't any of you that was killed then."

Harry's head came up as well as the others and stared at Seamus in surprise.

"Killed? How do you know someone was killed?" Harry asked in a tight voice.

"Well why else would they round up everyone and put them in the Great Hall for a head count? What exactly happened out on the grounds anyway? The Hufflepuffs that came in last didn't say anything." Seamus turned to look at the lone Hufflepuff when he said this, before looking back at Harry as he continued. "Though there was a rumor that there was a Manticore out on the grounds."

The common room was silent as everyone waited to hear what Harry was going to say. They never did get a chance as the portrait swung open once again and Kingsley Shacklebolt stepped through before straightening up to his full height and surveying the silent room.

"Professor McGonagall has asked me to come and speak to you on her behalf." His deep voice solemn and easily carried through the room. "I am sure you are all wondering why you have been sent to your common rooms. It is my sad duty to tell you that this morning there was an attack on a class out on the grounds by a Manticore." Gasps and a few soft curses were heard. "The third year class that was attacked was lucky enough to escape mostly unharmed, though a few will need to be hospitalized for a few days, because of the quick action of some seventh years. I am afraid though that two of the seventh years were, sadly… killed."

Harry's and the Head Boy's eyes met for an instant. The Gryffindors who had been there were all accounted for that left only…

The Hufflepuff's voice was strangled as he asked, "Who…?" but it wasn't the only voice asking.

"Joshua Morden and Candice Ward."

"But those are Slytherins," Ron said confused.

"Yes, Mr. Weasley. We are very aware of that." Kingsley said but there was a warning in his voice.

"Where were they found?" Taylor asked, her voice hard as she met Shacklebolt's eyes defiantly. Anger burned through her for the first time since the numb, empty feeling had taken over. If two Slytherins were killed then that meant they were somewhere they shouldn't have been, because no Slytherin had come to help.

Shacklebolt's voice was cautious as he answered. He had a good idea that Porter had already come up with where the two dead students had to have been. "Not far from where the Manticore was killed." He turned away from the angry witch to address the room once more. "Needless to say the grounds need to be searched to find out how the Manticore was able to cross the wards protecting this school. You are all to remain in this common room until either I or the Head Mistress come to let you out." With a wave of his wand the tables in the room were covered with platters of sandwiches and jugs of pumpkin juice before turning and heading back thru the portal. A shimmer, when the Fat Lady swung closed, indicated the sealing charm on the doorway.

As soon as the Professor left, a buzz of talk erupted in the room as everyone started talking.

Hermione went to talk to a couple of first years and Ron went to get something to eat, bringing back a whole plate of sandwiches offering it to first Harry and then to Taylor and the Head Boy.

Taylor shook her head a little and then, pulling the cloak around her, she brought her knees up and leaned her head against them, noticing distractedly that it was Tonks' cloak that she was still wearing. The numbness had returned, seemingly swallowing her anger, and she welcomed it. The numbness didn't hurt.

Greg watched as the Gryffindors all dealt with the news in different ways. Some talked, some even joked though they kept it down and some, like the silent witch beside him, didn't say anything. Some might think she was almost bored, but he could feel the tension in her body and see the whiteness in her knuckles as her arms were wrapped around her knees. After a while he glanced over at Potter. Ginny had joined him on the sofa but he noticed the quidditch captain wasn't eating either, his face was still a little pale. Weasley didn't seem to have any troubles eating however and was contentedly munching away on the stack of sandwiches.

When Hermione finally joined Ron on the sofa again, the common room was decidedly emptier as students drifted off to their dorm rooms to talk or do school work. The ones that did remain seemed to sense that the seventh years sitting on the sofas wanted to be left alone.

The common room was relatively quiet when Hermione glanced around to see that students were either working on homework or, in the case of a couple of second years in the corner, playing wizard's chess, before she put up a silencing charm.

"Are you feeling okay Harry?" Hermione asked as she turned to her friend in concern. She could see that he was a little pale and quieter then usual.

Harry glanced up from gazing at the fire to meet the Head Girl's eyes as he slowly nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little drained, I guess."

Ginny was brimming with curiosity but she had held her tongue knowing that Harry and the others would tell her when they were alone. She sensed that whatever had happened, some of it wouldn't be known by any but a select few. She had found that throughout the years, that was the case with Harry, Ron, Hermione and Taylor in many situations.

Keeping the curiosity mostly out of her voice she asked, "So what really did happen? Did you guys really fight a Manticore?" though keeping the incredulity out of her voice was harder.

With a nod, Hermione told Ginny what had happened. Ron filled in what Hermione didn't know as she was later getting there and the Hufflepuff told the others about how the Hufflepuffs had arrived. They explained to the sixth year about trying to use magic against the Manticore and how useless it was. Harry saw his girlfriend's eyes fill with fear as he told her about having the vision from Voldemort. He couldn't remember anything past that, so Ron took over to say how Taylor had used a Dark Magic shield to protect Harry from the Manticore.

Ron then opened his robes and pulled the silver sword out, that he had used to kill the Manticore. Laying it on the low table in front of them they could see the name Godric Gryffindor clearly inscribed on the blade. It was the same sword Harry had used in second year to kill the basilisk.

Hermione gazed open mouthed at the sword as she whispered, "Why didn't you give it back to McGonagall? How did it appear out on the grounds in the first place?"

"Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it…" Harry said in awe as he remembered the words Dumbledore had said to him all those years ago.

Hermione's eyes were round as she whispered, "You did ask for help. Wow Ron, you called Gryffindor's sword to you! That's… wow…"

"Well, you know… I do have my moments," Ron muttered as his ears turned red, his voice a mix of pride and embarrassment

They went on with the rest of the tale, talking about everything except the horrific details of Harry's vision, just that Mrs. Briggs and her family had been killed.

"So how did the Slytherins get killed?" Ginny asked thoughtfully.

Taylor sat quietly as the others talked, only really hearing bits and pieces of it as her mind wandered. She had never really ever lost someone close to her. Sure Sirius had been killed, but he hadn't been particularly close to her she hadn't known about her brother at that time so she'd felt sad, but… Then there had been Cedric Diggory… again sad but still not like this. When Dumbledore had died… that had been hard and probably as close to how she felt now.

It was the senselessness of Mrs. Briggs death that made her heart ache. The kind old witch had never hurt anyone, only opened her home to an orphaned witch. Fighting the tears that threatened to fall, she wished she had been sent to an orphanage to stay for the summers.

A truly disturbing thought occurred to her, as she once again listened to the voices of her friends around her. If one of them was killed… she didn't think she would ever survive it. If it was her brother or the Hufflepuff… She shook her head trying to dispel the terrifying thought.

It was nearly suppertime when Shacklebolt unsealed the entrance and stepped into the common room.

His deep voice sounding slightly weary as he announced, "You make leave to go down to the Great Hall for supper now. The grounds have been searched and are once again safe."

The Hufflepuff stretched and glanced down at the witch beside him. She hadn't moved barely all afternoon. He'd have thought she might have fallen asleep except that her body hadn't relaxed at all. When he looked up, Potter met his eyes and he could see the worry that he was feeling reflected in the other wizard's eyes.

Slowly the common room began to empty as students headed down to the Great Hall for supper.

"Hey Harry, we still have practice tonight right?" asked one of the Gryffindor beaters as he went past the sofas on his way out.

Harry hesitated for a second as he looked at his sister, but the anger that was in her eyes when she lifted her head to look at him made it clear what she wanted his answer to be. His voice was a little sharper than he meant it to be when he answered, "Of course there's practice tonight."

The walk down to the Great Hall and the subsequent meal all passed in a sort of haze for Taylor, and even though her friends tried to get her to eat something she just couldn't seem to drag up the desire. She knew she wasn't being much of a friend, or a girlfriend to the concerned Hufflepuff beside her, but she just couldn't make anything work. Words that she thought she should say died on her tongue, as fleeting, disorganized thoughts kept running through her mind.

When the others finished eating, her brother leaned across the table and asked her if she wanted him to cancel practice tonight. She had shaken her head and he had reluctantly left with Ginny, Ron and the other team members. The Hufflepuff stayed with her and Hermione until they walked out of the Great Hall. He had been even more unwilling to leave her to go see the other Hufflepuffs, but as Head Boy he felt it was his duty as well. He was concerned about his fellow house mates, especially the third years.

The Hufflepuff was relieved to find out that none of the third years were seriously hurt when he visited them in the Hospital Wing a little while later. His friends had been a little worried at first, but Sprout had informed them that he had gone to up to Gryffindor Tower and he told his friends about Taylor losing someone in a Death Eater attack that morning. He had early patrol again and went straight to the Fat Lady as soon as he was finished to see his witch again.

"I'm sorry Hunter, but you can't see Taylor tonight."

Greg stared at Potter for a second before he demanded, standing just outside the entrance to Gryffindor Tower. "What do you mean I can't see her?" He saw the Gryffindor's face turn belligerent.

"Just exactly what I said!"

It was everything the Hufflepuff could do not to take a swing at the shorter wizard and he shifted shoulders as his hands balled into a fists. He just might lose that battle with himself.

"What do you think you are playing at Potter?" the werewolf could see the Gryffindor was itching for a fight as badly as he wanted it also. It would only take a few more seconds…

"What is going on here!" Hermione's voice demanded as she strode down the corridor towards them. "Harry! What is going on?" Hermione was just returning from patrol with Ron also, and was shocked to see the aggressive stance that the two wizards had taken, when she came around the corner. Hurrying she made it to them but neither turned away as they continued to glare at one another.

Moving between the two she put a hand on each one's chest and pushed them back a step. "Greg, you are Head Boy! Now what is going on here!" She was relieved to see some of the anger leave his face, though his eyes were still alive with it, as he turned to her.

"Potter said I can't see Taylor tonight."

Hermione sighed and she sent a glare at Harry that made him look down and away. She would give him his dressing down shortly. "You won't be able see Taylor again tonight Greg because she already went to bed. I'm sorry. Shortly after returning from supper she headed up to bed." She felt bad for the Hufflepuff and she softened her voice more as she continued. "I'm worried about her too Greg. I've never seen her so… detached, but she just lost the closest thing to family that she has. We are going to have to give her time and support."

The Head Boy felt the last of his anger flee as the Head Girl defused the heated situation with ease. He even felt a little guilty about challenging what Potter said in the first place, but only a little. He nodded contritely. "Sorry Hermione. I just let my worry go to my head I guess. I'll see you in the morning." The Head Boy gave a jerky nod to Potter and then Weasley, before he turned and headed down the corridor.

Hermione watched, as the Hufflepuff's shoulders seemed to slump just before he turned the corner and she felt bad for him. She had seen the worry that covered his face as soon as the anger had disappeared.

"Git," Ron muttered as the Hufflepuff turned the corner and then flinched as Hermione smacked him on the arm, before laying into Harry and him for being so confrontational with the Head Boy all the time.

For going to bed so early the night before, Taylor knew she should feel rested, but she didn't. In order to feel rested one needed to sleep and she hadn't slept hardly at all the whole night. She had gone up to her bed so early because she hadn't wanted to face her brother when he returned from quidditch practice, plus she knew Hermione had early patrol and she could pretend to be asleep when she got back from that. A very cowardly way for a Gryffindor to act, true, but she hadn't wanted to see their worried faces any more. She just wanted to be alone.

In the hot pounding shower she tried to feel something besides this numbness. Her mind even felt groggy, sluggish. She remembered bits and pieces of McGonagall's speech last night at supper. Classes for today were cancelled because of the two Slytherins. Suddenly anger hot and potent flooded her stomach. The only thing she could seem to actually feel. She knew instinctively that the reason the two Slytherins were dead was because it was them that had somehow let the Manticore loose on school grounds. They had died because of their own stupidity. Still, they were senseless deaths, why? Why bring a Manticore onto the school grounds?

She hated Morden. He'd been one of the Slytherins who had attacked her and Greg before Christmas and when she hadn't had her wand. Ward was always hanging around with Parkinson and making snide remarks about her and others. Still, she didn't wish them dead.

Her fist smashed into the marble wall and then another and another until she was breathing hard and blood mixed with the water that swirled around the drain before disappearing.

"Taylor?" Hermione's voice called anxiously from outside the shower stall, before she heard the curtain move and heard her friend gasp softly. The blood on the pale gray walls stood out even as it mixed with the hot water and ran down the walls.

"I'm fine Hermione," Taylor said in a hollow voice as the anger receded once more to be replaced by numbness. The only difference was the dull throb from her split knuckles.

"You're not fine!" Hermione said sharply. Her voice softened a little as she chided. "Come on. Let me see if you broke anything. If you did, you're going to Pomfrey and then you can explain it to her. You know you scared Sarah half to death?"

Taylor just shook her head and turned off the taps. She could feel her hands already starting to swell and stiffen. Grabbing her towel she wrapped it around her body, getting blood on it as well.

Hermione waved her wand and bandages flew out and around her friend's hands before she walked out of the washroom and to their dorm.

A half hour later the two headed down to the common room as Hermione continued her lecture, making Harry and Ron turn to see what was going on.

The first thing Harry noticed was the same closed off expression his sister had been wearing since they returned from the Head Mistress' office yesterday, except now there were dark circles under her downcast eyes. It wasn't until she stopped behind Hermione that he caught sight of her hands and did a double take at the redness of her knuckles, immediately recognizing the look as that of a healing potion on new cuts.

Hermione's bossy, "Never mind, Harry!" cut off his inquiry but just barely.

He might not have listened to his bushy-haired friend except she mouthed, "I'll tell you later." so that his sister didn't see and he nodded. Other than a quick glance, he noted that Taylor didn't look up at all and didn't meet anyone's eye. Stifling his irritation he walked down through the castle to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Even though classes had been cancelled for the day, most of the tables were nearly full, except the Slytherin table which was empty. The talk was much quieter than a normal morning also.

Harry noted that the Head Boy was sitting at his table when they walked in and didn't immediately get up to join them. Though it wasn't five minutes before the annoying Hufflepuff dropped down on the seat next to his sister. One thing he could say for the Head Boy, he was very intuitive when it came to his sister and instead of speaking to her when he greeted everyone else, he leaned in close and spoke softly in her ear. Harry saw his sister nod, as she continued to play with the spoon in her cereal.

He wasn't surprised to see the Hufflepuff frown, when he spotted the redness on his sister's hand, nor to see him pick her hand up and examine it closely before leaning in once again to speak in her ear. His sister shook her head that time. The Hufflepuff's frown only deepened but he left it alone.

A few minutes later the post owls arrived. Harry was used to ignoring them. He never got any mail so he went on eating. It wasn't until he heard a gasp from across the table that he looked up again.

Hermione always bought the Daily Prophet, so he wasn't surprised to see it but then he saw what was on the front page. A huge headline he could easily read upside down Another Death Eater Attack. A full color picture below it of Briggs Cottage, mostly destroyed, with Voldemort's sign still visible above it.

Harry felt his stomach roll unpleasantly as the images of what he had been forced to watch yesterday flashed past his eyes. It wasn't until he felt the table move and someone shout his sister's name that he gave himself a shake and saw his sister racing from the Great Hall.

"Bloody Hell!" Ron groaned as he pushed to his feet, to hurry after his best mate's sister and the Head Boy who had already rushed out of the Great Hall after her. He wondered at the common sense of a paper that would publish a photo like that. Even as he hurried beside his best mate, he could see the effect the photo had on him. His white face testament to the horrors he had been witness to.

As soon as they reached the Entrance Hall, Ron saw the Head Boy come out from behind a tapestry.

"Where is she?" Harry demanded.

Greg looked at the four Gryffindors as he shook his head, "I don't know. She was gone by the time I got out here."

"We need to find her." Harry said adamantly. "Hermione, you check the second floor and the girl's lavatories. Ron, you take the third floor in case she got that far. Hunter, you take the Hufflepuff side of the ground floor and I'll take the dungeon side. Ginny, I want you to go up and get the Map. We'll all meet back here in twenty minutes."

"You don't think we'll find her?" Ron asked, raising an eyebrow. Harry's bleak expression was answer enough.

A/N I know this chapter was quite dark and I'm sorry but this is how Taylor poured out of my mind as I wrote. She isn't like Harry in some ways... sure she lost her parents but she never knew them... not even a memory like Harry had. Her aunt died a natural death when she was around 3 and then she lost her uncle to a heart attack just before she started at Hogwarts, however while she was at Hogwarts she never had to really deal with a close personal death like Harry did. Harry seen Diggory die. And while I think of Taylor being in the room with the Veil at the Department of Mysteries she wasn't close to Sirius so she would of been sad for sure but not devistated like Harry. Dumbledores death would of been hard on her but Taylor wasn't as close to Dumbledore as Harry. The Headmasters need to keep Taylor away to protect her true identity would of made it so that she wasn't as close to him... plus she again didn't see Snape kill Dumbledore. She would of been fighting in the Entrance Hall with Hermione, Ron and the others.(Yes in every situation in the first six books I could tell you where and what Taylor did... I might not of written it down but that doesn't mean the story didn't already play out in my mind!) So this is the first close personal death that not only Taylor has suffered but she also blames herself for it happening... The next chapter will explain that more. So hopefully that explains where I came from for this chapter and hopefully it wasn't too... for lack of a better word, dark. Please let me know what you think!

Thank you to those who reviewed, alerted and favorited! As well to you for reading this far! Thank you to my beta barbc! Well until next time, cytpotter.