Still looking for a couple of things for the PolyJuice Potion... ;)

This chapter may be a little AU from what we know in the Potter Universe about werewolves... but this is my take on them. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter Eighty

Unforeseen Symptoms

Taylor walked down to lunch with her friends, laughing and joking about the hangover potion. When they reached the Great Hall it was relatively empty, a common occurrence on Sunday when many would have just eaten breakfast not so long ago.

Taylor was still laughing at Ginny's tale about something that had happened after the match, when a group of mainly seventh and sixth year Hufflepuff wizards came in and sat down at their table. The Head Boy was with them and she was glad to see that he did look a lot better, if maybe a little tired. She also noticed Binns was with them and she glanced away.

She knew it would be very easy for her to remain irritated with the Hufflepuff captain, but she didn't want to. She would just leave him alone, and he'd just ignore her, and they'd both be happy.

When they finished eating, the five-some remained just enjoying each other's company and talking. A few Ravenclaws came over to congratulate Harry, Ron and Ginny on their win yesterday. Finally, deciding that they had better go start on the mound of homework they had waiting, they stood about the same time the group of Hufflepuffs did and walked out through the doors just ahead of them.

"Oi, Porter!" a male voice called and Taylor cringed. She recognized Binns' voice right away.

Turning slowly she looked back over her shoulder, coming to a stop, as did the others. "Binns." Taylor said shortly.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry for my words yesterday. As well as thank you for the potion. That…" the burly wizard looked away not accustomed to making apologies, "well that was very considerate, considering… How'd you know about it?"

Taylor smiled as sweetly as she could, "Sorry Binns, that's a family secret. But you are welcome."

A confused look came across his face, "But I thought you were muggle-born?"

"I am. But my great uncle was a wizard."

The burly wizard nodded, "Well, thanks Porter. Potter." The quidditch captain acknowledged his counterpart before turning and walking away. A chorus of thank-you's followed and the Hufflepuffs all headed across the Entrance Hall. All except the Head Boy.

"What'd that tosser say to you that he needed to apologize for?" Ron demanded loudly glaring after the Hufflepuff captain.

"He apologized Ron, so it's a moot point." Taylor replied firmly indicating that she wasn't going to say anymore about it.

"A family secret?" Harry asked raising an eyebrow at his sister. He'd deal with Binns sometime when there weren't as many witnesses.

Taylor tried and failed to keep in her giggle, "Well I didn't say whose family!"

The Head Boy rolled his eyes at his witch and grinned. "So where are we studying today?"

"Our common room! You tosspot! You think we're going to let Taylor hang out with blokes that need to apologize?" Ron asked glaring at the Hufflepuff.

"You know Ron, you had better be nice or the next time I'll let you suffer! Especially after you spit the first vial out!" Taylor threatened as she caught the Hufflepuff's hand and held it.

The ensuing discussion had them all laughing by the time they reached the Fat Lady.

That night at their research session, Moody was there for the first time since he had interrogated her. Though he didn't do anything to her, he also didn't do anything to put her at ease. The result was that Taylor was incredibly tense and ended up nearly blasting a hole in the Defense classroom when she reacted too aggressively. Earning her a reprimand from Shacklebolt and apologizing to her brother for singeing his hair in the process. After that she tried to relax and managed it, somewhat. The following sessions were easier at least.

By Monday morning the antagonism between the Gryffindors and the Hufflepuffs, that had arisen as the big match approached, had all but dissipated. No one was more relieved by this than Taylor. She was greeted heartily by Sally-Ann and Connor in the Entrance Hall as she approached them and the Head Boy. The only ones who still seemed upset, or maybe they were being their usual surly selves and everyone else was just happier, were the Slytherins.

Taylor really didn't notice it in the morning, or even at lunch, but by supper she could see it, and that was how tired looking the Head Boy was. When Sally-Anne mentioned it at supper he just passed it off as having a hard day and the Hufflepuff witch was content with his answer, though Taylor knew different.

That night she had suggested that they study in the Hufflepuff study room and she began to notice how unsettled the normally unflappable Head Boy was. She didn't blame him at all, with the full moon only five days away he had to be getting very anxious. She worked at joking a little more to make him laugh and also just holding his hand or touching him to show that she was there.

Tuesday morning she noticed he looked tired and a little drawn when she met him in the Entrance Hall for breakfast and she went and sat with him at the Hufflepuff table, after telling her brother and friends that she'd see them in their first class.

That night she had a research session again and the Head Boy was on late patrol. Though when Hermione returned to Gryffindor Tower after her patrol, she made a comment about how tired Greg looked.

Wednesday morning started out much the same way, except the Head Boy was more on edge and Taylor tried to reassure him with her presence by keeping one of her hands on him all through their breakfast; even going so far as to walk with him to his first class, which made her late for hers, though it was Potions and after a gentle scolding Professor Slughorn let it go. When the bell rang to end class, Taylor took her time packing up and was the last one to leave.

"You had better hurry up Miss Porter, you don't want to be late for your next class." Professor Slughorn chided jovially.

"Professor… I was wondering if you would mind showing me how to make the Wolfsbane Potion that I asked you about a while ago. I could come by the next time you make it." Taylor suggested, smiling sweetly at him.

"Ah yes! You did ask about that didn't you? Well I suppose it won't hurt. Come by after supper tonight. That's when I brew up the new batch. Now you had better run along Miss Porter, you're going to be late!"

Taylor called a thank you as she hurried from the class and had to run all the way to Defense and was still nearly late, something Professor Shacklebolt commented on.

At lunch she told the Head Boy about needing to go to see Professor Slughorn after supper. She could tell he wasn't pleased but he didn't say anything.

She sat at the Hufflepuff table again at suppertime. She could feel the tension in the wizard beside her and almost decided against going when she saw Slughorn leaving after he was finished eating.

"I thought you said you needed to go see Slughorn," The Head Boy said quietly beside her ear.

Taylor sighed and glanced up into his troubled blue eyes.

"Go, I have early patrol tonight but I need to see you before curfew." He squeezed her hand and gave her a tight smile.

Standing Taylor gave him a kiss on his cheek saying quietly, "I'll meet you in the Entrance Hall." Before she grabbed her bag off the floor and hurried to the Potions room.

An hour later, a fine sweat covering her brow, Taylor stirred the potion simmering in her cauldron as Professor Slughorn beamed down at her. "Very well done Miss. Porter! Ten points to Gryffindor! That is a perfect Wolfsbane Potion! I couldn't have done it better myself! I think I need to watch out! The Head Mistress is likely to hire you as the next Potions Master!"

Taylor grinned as she ladled it into a goblet that Slughorn had given her. The potion had to be made fresh every day leading up to the full moon, though one cauldron was enough for two werewolves. She vanished the rest of the potion from her cauldron, knowing that it didn't do Greg any good this time around. She made a few more detailed notes on the parchment with the instructions, as well as the ingredients, for the Wolfsbane Potion and then packed it away with her things.

"Well my dear, I must get this up to Mr. Lupin. Please close the door when you leave."

"Thank you Professor!" Taylor said, and she meant it. Now she had the knowledge to help the Head Boy, so that he wouldn't have to become a mindless bloodthirsty beast. After this full moon she'd be able to help him.

She was still thinking about it as she headed for the Entrance Hall. She knew she was a little early, so her feet traveled at a leisurely pace as she carefully went over each difficult step in the potion and committing it to memory. She was so absorbed in thought that she didn't even notice when someone stepped out in front of her before she bumped into them.

"Oh sorry!" Taylor said automatically as she stepped back and looked up, and then she groaned.

"Hey Porter! Can't say, as I'm so sorry. Maybe you and I should get close again," Derek Smelter, the Hufflepuff that she'd petrified at the Hufflepuff party, leered down at her, making her feel exposed even in her school robes.

"Shove off Smelter!" Taylor snapped and made to step around him. His hand caught her wrist, on her wand arm.

"Oh I don't think so, witch," he made it sound like a dirty word, "the way I see it you and I have some unfinished business! You owe me!"

"I don't owe you a thing unless it's a good hex! Now let me go!" Taylor snapped angrily.

"Oh you're not so fierce without your wand are you, witch?" The way he was looking at her made her skin crawl, his voice low and sinister as he stepped towards her and she stepped away, right into the wall.

"Smelter!" the voice was hard and dangerous.

Taylor looked and saw the Head Boy stalking down the hallway and felt a flicker of fear at the dangerous look in his eyes, as he glared at the wizard now pinning her against the wall. The look wasn't lost on Smelter.

"Hunter, I… I was just talking…"

"Let go of her!" the command was snarled out as the werewolf reached them.

Smelter's hand released her as if she had suddenly burned him and he stepped back warily. "No harm, no foul. I… I was just…" his voice trailed off frightened at the sound of a growl coming from the Head Boy standing only five feet away.

"Taylor go!" The werewolf ordered not even glancing at her.

The menacing threat in his voice made her move, but not away like he had ordered. Instead she stepped between the two wizards and put her hand on the werewolf's chest. She could feel the anger radiating off him and knew that if she left he'd do something he'd later regret.

"Greg, no! I'm fine," The look in his eyes was truly frightening when he glanced down at her. She could see his nostrils flare as he inhaled. If she hadn't have known deep down that he wouldn't hurt her she probably would have stepped away.

The werewolf stared at the unmoving witch who stood in front of him, her hand still on his chest, as he fought to rein in his desire to hurt the wizard who had been touching his witch. He could see a hint of fear in her eyes but still she didn't back down or move away. That, more than anything, helped him again gain control.

Looking up at the other wizard he could see the fear that seemed to root him there in the hallway. "Smelter, go! If you ever touch my witch again…" the threat was clear in the low snarled voice.

Taylor didn't breath an easy breath until Smelter disappeared around the far corner. Even then she wasn't sure just what to expect when she looked back at the tall werewolf.

His voice had lost its menace even if the dangerous look still hadn't left his eyes. "He hurt you." It was a statement as he took her arm gently in his hands and pulled up her sleeve, revealing a mark there that was already starting to darken into a bruise.

"I'm fine," Taylor said again as the tall wizard nudged her back until she was once again against the wall, though this time her heart was starting to pound for a different reason.

"You are now." The low timber of his voice vibrated in his chest as he moved his arms to cage her in as he stared down at her. "You were scared. What did he say to you?"

Taylor swallowed. She wasn't about to tell him that it wasn't so much what Smelter had said, as it was how he said it or the creepy way he looked at her. "It doesn't matter."

The tall Head Boy dropped his head down by her neck and inhaled deeply before lifting his head again to meet her eyes. "I finished patrol early and was coming to meet you. I heard your voice first then his. I really should have pounded the piss out of him. I just might yet," his voice turned menacing again.

"He didn't do anything, Greg. He just insinuated, okay?" Taylor was suddenly scared not for herself but what the Head Boy might do. She shivered as Smelter's voice seemed to echo in her mind making her feel somehow dirty again.

"Hey," the gentle rumble of his voice as he gathered her against him went a long way in chasing the echo away. He kissed the top of her head as he rubbed her back soothingly and she relaxed into him, unaware until then just how tense she had been. "Come on. Let's go before someone comes along." Keeping his arm wrapped around her protectively, he led her down the hallway, up two sets of stairs to a broom cupboard.

By then Taylor had shaken off the way Smelter had made her feel and was back to her old self. "I suppose this is your answer is it?" she teased as she willing slipped through the door he held open, "Snog me senseless?"

"Yeah, witch that is the plan," his voice was low and husky as he closed the door behind him and pulled her hard against him. "It's either this or go and find Smelter and make him pay!" the last came out as a low growl.

"Oh, I way more prefer this." Taylor whispered as she slid her arms around the wizard tipping her head back as his lips came down on hers in a demanding, hungry kiss.

Thursday morning Taylor hurried down to the Entrance Hall a little earlier than usual. Her brother, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were all way behind her. Of course Ron and Harry had started in on her again this morning about the fact that she hadn't gotten in last night until well after curfew and looked, as Ginny had claimed with a grin, thoroughly snogged. A fact her brother and Ron just weren't about to let her off easy about.

That was her ready excuse anyway, that she had told herself, as she jumped onto a moving staircase and easily got away from her friends. Her real reason though was worry. She was worried about the Head Boy. She'd seen his reluctance to leave her last night, had even needed to remind him that the curfew bell had gone sometime ago, and still he didn't want to leave. She hoped he didn't do anything rash when he returned to his dorm…

Hurrying down the last of the marble staircase she moved across the Entrance Hall at a jog and was nearly at the corridor that led to the Hufflepuff common room when the reason for her haste walked into sight.

Taylor gasped and saw his head come up sharply as his eyes fastened on her. Dark circles were under his eyes and his face looked drawn and ragged, though at the sight of her, his whole body seemed to relax and he moved toward her with a ghost of a smile on his face.

"Hey,"

She heard the relief and exhaustion in his voice and she smiled reassuringly at him, "Hey, how are you feeling?" She asked as he pulled her into a quick hug before catching her hand and leading her away from the Great Hall to a small alcove where they were fairly hidden. She went quietly, though she raised her eyebrow at him when he turned to face her, leaning his shoulder against the wall.

"Tired and…" his voice trailed off and he dropped his eyes towards the floor but not before she saw the fear in them.

She felt her heart constrict painfully for him, and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. When she loosened her arms, she didn't let them fall. She just shifted away enough so that she could look up into his face. "I wish I could do something to help you with your furry little problem. Oh Greg, I feel so helpless, when I just wish I could take it all away!" She tightened her arms around him again and rested her head against his chest.

"You do help. You help by just being near me." His voice was slightly husky but there was another darker, possessiveness there as well.

It took her a moment to process his words, so when she finally looked up at him again she asked, "What do you mean?" his eyes didn't meet hers as he answered.

"You keep the fear and the…" she could see him casting around for a word, "beast at bay. It's easier to control when I can at least smell you."

Taylor felt her eyes grow wide and she swallowed trying to fully grasp what he'd just said. "You can smell me?" She asked and she gave her shoulder an unconscious sniff.

The werewolf chuckled darkly, "You smell good, witch." His voice became hard, "That's how I knew you were scared yesterday… I could smell it… as well as Smelter's… interest in you." The last part came out as a menacing growl.

Shocked she stared at him, unsure what to say. She'd never guessed when Lupin had said he'd be able to hear and smell more acutely, that he meant to this extent.

"Does that scare you witch?" he asked in a suddenly guarded voice.

"Well… no," she saw the skepticism in his face, "not exactly, scare… more like really surprise me. You didn't do anything to Smelter did you?"

"No. Even though I thought he bloody well deserved it."

Taylor felt herself sigh and realized that was one of the reasons she had been so worried. "So what do you want to do?"

The dangerous look flooded into his eyes and she noticed he seemed to be struggling for a moment, "Take you someplace where we can be all alone…" stunned she stared at him as a smile spread across his face and that dangerous look faded from his eyes. "I really don't scare you do I?" and she knew the words had been at least partially a test. "Though I suppose I will content myself with having breakfast with you before going away to class."

She shook her head and smiled up at him. "You, dear sir, are developing a dark sense of humor. And I am not scared of you! Now come on before Sally-Anne eats all the blueberry muffins at that end of the table!"

The rest of the day passed much like the previous ones, though when it was time for supper Taylor knew she needed to talk to someone. She needed some answers. The Head Boy seemed to sense it and asked,

"What's up?"

Taylor leaned over and said quietly, "I'm going to see Lupin. I have a couple of questions. Do you want to come?"

Twenty minutes later Taylor and the Head Boy stopped outside the makeshift office that Lupin had talked to her in a couple of weeks ago. Lifting her hand she knocked and a few seconds later it was opened by Moody. Irritation coursed through her as she looked up at the ex-auror.

"Miss Porter, Mr. Hunter, what can I do for you?" Both of Moody's eyes studied the witch carefully. He knew his presence unsettled her and he thought that wasn't a bad thing.

Working to keep the irritation out of her voice she asked, "I was hoping I could talk to Lupin. Is he in?"

"Taylor? Greg? Come in," Lupin called from inside the office.

Moody merely grunted as he swung the door open to let the two teenagers in.

Taylor was a little surprised when she walked into the small office and didn't see Lupin, then she noticed a door that was partly open and decided he had to be in there. A second later her suspicions were confirmed as her parents' friend came out pulling on his tattered robes.

"Sorry, I'm afraid you caught me napping. What can I do for you?" Lupin's voice was tired and the lines in his face more pronounced then usual.

"Oh, I'm sorry Moony. We could come back." Taylor apologized feeling sorry for disturbing the rest he looked like he desperately needed.

"Taylor, that's fine. It was time I had to get up anyway. What can I do for you two? I take it this isn't a social call?" Lupin took in the tired features on the younger werewolf, as well as the concern in the witch's eyes. He smiled to himself when he saw her concern only deepen as she studied him. The witch's concern deeply touched him.

"No, uhm, sorry for not coming by to see you…" Taylor said as heat flared up her cheeks, as she realized she hadn't seen her parents' friend in over three weeks.

"I've been away Taylor. Just got back day before yesterday actually." His voice became gentle, "I know you've had a lot to deal with. I was sorry to hear about it."

Taylor glanced away. "Thanks," she could feel the Hufflepuff's hand reach out and touch her back. She took a deep breath and pushed the hurt away. "I wanted to ask you a couple of questions, actually if you don't mind, about werewolves."

Lupin really wasn't surprised. It would only be natural to have questions or concerns as the full moon drew closer. "Of course. Why don't we have a seat?" He drew his wand and conjured two more chairs, that he waved at for them to sit in, as he sat in one that was already there. "What did you want to know?"

Taylor really didn't want to ask or talk in front of Moody. Even though the old auror knew about Greg, she still didn't feel comfortable with him. She was just trying to figure out what she was going to do when the Hufflepuff spoke.

"I was wondering if it's normal to become… very aware of the whereabouts of certain people."

Lupin's eyebrows rose. "What do you mean by very aware? And by certain people do you mean Taylor, or someone else?"

Greg thought for a moment as how to best to describe his feelings. He could sense his witch's unease with the old auror and he couldn't blame her. He was a little surprised that he didn't view the old wizard as a type of threat. "Most definitely Taylor. I've become very… aware of her. When she's with me there's no problem but when she's not… well it can be a bit of a problem."

"What do you mean by a problem?" Moody asked gruffly as he studied the young werewolf.

"I find I'm becoming very… anxious. It doesn't help that last night I happened to find someone…" his voice dropped low and menacing, "threatening her."

"Who was threatening her?" Lupin demanded immediately.

"It wasn't what you think Lupin. It was just a git, being a bigger git. He didn't do anything." Taylor hurried to let her parent's friend know that it really wasn't anything.

"You mean he didn't get the chance!" the Hufflepuff growled. "He still bruised your arm, as it is!"

"Taylor, what happened?" Lupin demanded, surprised by the surge of anger that coursed through him that some guy had laid a hand on James' daughter.

Taylor sighed but told the brief story of the night before. "So, see he didn't do anything."

"Taylor I'm surprised you didn't report this. That is not acceptable behavior. What if the next witch he decides to pick on doesn't have someone to break it up? I want you to go and report this to the Head Mistress." Lupin's voice was full of concern for the underage witch, as well as disgust that a wizard could be such a bastard. He had no doubt what James would do if he were alive. "You didn't tell Harry either did you?"

Taylor snorted, one furious wizard was enough to deal with at a time. "No! And I don't intend to! I'll go to Professor McGonagall if you want, but that's it! We are getting off topic. We came here to ask about werewolves, not talk about me."

The Head Boy felt the usual ping of irritation at the mention of Potter, but he was more curious why the older werewolf had wanted his witch to tell Potter as well as McGonagall. He hadn't failed to notice none of the other Gryffindors had been mentioned. A thought nagged at the edge of his consciousness, but then it was gone. He knew it was something important but the harder he tried to reach for it the blanker he came up. Moody's voice brought him back to their current discussion.

"It is a little unusual for a new werewolf to experience such an awareness. Especially, before your first transformation. Most new werewolves, as well as young ones, tend to be leery, if anything, of others in the days leading up to the full moon."

Taylor was watching Lupin while Moody talked and saw the way he looked at Greg, almost as if he didn't quite believe the Hufflepuff's claims.

"So I'm different? What does it mean though?" the young werewolf asked staring at the older one.

"It's not a common occurrence for werewolves to find a mate, a witch in this case. It's much more common for us to go through life alone. Though when we do find… a mate… the feelings around the full moon tend to be … strong." Lupin spoke slowly as if he were speaking about himself as much as about the younger werewolf.

A/N Well there we go another chapter! And #80... WOW! I know like I said at the first of this chapter that the werewolves seem to be a bit different then the ones that were protrayed in the Potter books but when I thought of werewolves well... in my mind they were just a bit different. This will be explained in coming chapters. Hopefully you enjoy!

I know some of you have expressed concern about Greg's attitude toward Taylor, and said he is jealous and overbearing... well I want to give you a bit of insight as to why he is like that. I am a woman's advicote I really am! I think girls/women can kick butt! That they are as good as men in nearly every job there is! I was a tomboy growing up and I set out to prove I could do everything a boy could do! And I did! But when it comes to writting... and reading I like a strong female charactor(as evidenced by Taylor) but I also want to know that chivilry isn't dead. I want a male charactor who is going to protect and fight for his love... so Greg has become a werewolf with senses that will help him to do that. I hope that you enjoy the result of that need of mine!

Thank you for those who Reviewed, Alerted, Favorited and read this story up to this point! Thank you to my wonderful beta barbc! Until next time, cytpotter.