No I do not own Harry Potter, but I can keep wishing I did!

Okay people, you know how I told you before that this story was like a roller coaster? Well the last few chapters were just a lull in the ride! I suggest you grab a hold because as the shrunken head said in the POA movie... "it's going to be a bumpy ride!"

Chapter Eighty-one

Friendship

A short while later Taylor left with Moody to go to her research session in the Defense classroom and Greg stayed behind for a few more minutes to talk to the older werewolf. He asked a few more questions about what he could expect in the next two days, though the older werewolf assured him that while the senses could become a little stronger, that nothing else changed until the full moon Saturday night.

An idea occurred to the Hufflepuff and he acted on it. "Lupin, you seem to know Taylor well… do you know if she has any family? A brother maybe… somewhere?" If he hadn't been watching the older werewolf very closely he would have missed the slight tightening around his eyes and the tiny bit of firming in his jaw.

"No, why? What makes you ask?" Lupin's voice was steady, if only mildly curious, as he shut his thoughts away. Though he was sure the younger wizard didn't know how to do Legilimency, he knew the young werewolf was very perceptive.

"No real reason." The Head Boy said as the older werewolf stared hard at him for what seemed like a long time.

When Lupin spoke his voice, though light, held a warning. "Greg, I know Taylor has taken you into her confidence and told you certain things. You must understand just by what she has told you that knowledge is a very dangerous thing. If she hasn't told you everything it's because it's too dangerous. From what I have seen, I believe you care very much for her," he paused as the Hufflepuff nodded. "Then you should know asking questions about her is dangerous! Very dangerous, especially for her."

The Head Boy looked down at the floor, the censure at the end very clear. "Yes sir, it's just that she is such a mystery…"

Lupin sighed. He knew all too well how a mystery about a friend could drive friends to figure it out. "If she has secrets still, maybe now you can appreciate a little how hard it is not to be truthful with your friends."

The Hufflepuff sighed. Yeah he knew that all too well. Justin especially wanted to know what was the matter with him but he just couldn't bring himself to tell his friend the truth that he was a werewolf. "Yes sir. I do."

"Concentrate Porter! You won't be able to do this in battle if you can't do it here!" Moody barked as Taylor once again picked herself up off the floor, wiping the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.

Taylor had no doubt now that the spells and wand work they were working on were only taught in auror training. The spell she was struggling with was a complicated combination blocking and hexing spell all in one. They had been working on it for the last few sessions and Harry had gotten it down pat but she was still hit or miss on it. When she missed… well with Moody as a partner she picked herself up off the floor.

Turning to face Moody again she caught sight of her brother and Shacklebolt watching her over by the far wall. Pushing them from her mind she prepared herself to duel with Moody again. Taking a deep breath she raised her wand, to simulate a true duel they were to use at least two spells before they tried the new one.

Moody's wand was a blur as Taylor easily blocked his first spell and then attacked with one of her own, stepping sideways she ducked the next one fired at her and then fired before conjuring a shield to block the next. Moody's spell hit her shield hard, and without even thinking, she dropped her shield and fired as her necklace burned against her neck.

"Oh! No, you don't!" Moody roared and he blocked the Dark Magic spell and then hit the witch hard with a vicious stunner.

Taylor groaned as the blackness receded and she woke up after being revived by either her brother or Shacklebolt. Rolling over she pushed herself to her feet.

"Miss Porter, how often do I need to tell you, no Dark Magic!" Shacklebolt said sternly.

Wiping the sweat from her face, "Sorry Professor. It just happened… again. I really didn't mean to." She found that when she faced Moody she usually ended up reaching for the Dark Magic at least once a session. Though Moody could always tell somehow, she suspected that it was his magical eye.

"Porter the next time I'm going to Crucio you!" Moody snapped, his gravelly voice adding menace to the words.

Taylor only nodded, as she shook herself, mentally getting ready to face Moody again. She didn't doubt that he meant what he said. In their sessions school rules, and a lot of Ministry ones, didn't apply. Like Shacklebolt had told them, these sessions were to prepare them to be able to face down Death Eaters when they finished school, so they practiced just shy of doing major, lasting bodily harm. The 'lasting' part being the key to making Moody's threat very real.

Turning Taylor raised her wand again. Her wand was a blur as she fired and blocked looking for a place for the new spell, shifting sideways she whipped her wand through the air and performed it flawlessly.

"Good Porter, now let's see if you can do it again!" Moody barked.

Walking up the hallway after their session was through, both brother and sister showed signs of fatigue as well as the workout they had just endured.

"That was a better work out than quidditch practice!" Taylor said after a short while.

"Yeah because you've had so many of those!" Harry teased, bumping his sister in the shoulder.

"Oh yes, I forgot, the great quidditch star here!" was Taylor's saucy comeback.

"I would have thought Moody took some of that sauce out of you witch!" Harry cut back in a mock stern voice.

Taylor laughed at the comical look on her brother's face as he tried to look serious but the corner of his lips kept twitching. When she stopped laughing she noticed the tall Head Boy leaning against the wall in a supposedly casual attitude, though from the tenseness in his whole body he was anything but. She could tell that he had been listening to her conversation with her brother and made a mental note to caution Harry about the Hufflepuff's new hearing range.

"Hello Hunter." Harry greeted as he drew close enough.

"Potter," the Hufflepuff greeted in a tight voice and a jerky nod.

Taylor felt like groaning but didn't. She could tell the werewolf was holding on to his control, though it wouldn't take much to bring out that dangerous side. She was well aware of the tension between the two at the best of times. "Hey Greg," she greeted with a smile, "You finished patrol early?"

The Hufflepuff nodded as he took a deep breath. He could feel himself starting to relax as the smell and sight of his witch soothed the beast that seemed to lurk just inside his chest. "Yeah, I think I walked poor Hermione's legs off though."

Taylor sighed, "I think she understands, Hufflepuff, what with your furry little problem making you a little anxious and all."

The Head Boy looked down for a moment, "So, where to now?"

"Well for starters I need a shower! And then I suppose I'd better tackle that essay for Professor Sprout, ugh three feet long! Maybe Hermione has it started…" The tall Head Boy fell in step beside his witch and they talked about their homework assignments all the way to the Fat Lady. Harry only commented once or twice the whole way.

The rest of the evening passed easily as the five Gryffindors and lone Hufflepuff secured their usual spot in front of the fire and worked on their homework. The tension between the three wizards almost non-existent in the presence of the three witches, though they did enjoy teasing one another at times. Especially the Head Boy who thought it rather amusing that the two Gryffindor wizards had the Head Girl check their work when they were finished.

Taylor was pleased early on to see the Hufflepuff relaxed and acting like his normal self, though as the hour grew later she noticed that he was becoming tenser and tenser. When the curfew bell rang the Head Boy nearly jumped off the sofa. Glancing over at Hermione and then the others, she could see it hadn't gone unnoticed by them either.

"I suppose I'd better get going," the Hufflepuff said quietly, refusing to meet anyone's eyes as he began to gather his books together and put them in his book bag.

Taylor could hear the worry in his voice and was shocked to see his hands actually tremble. "Hey," she caught his trembling hand and bent down to look in his eyes, the fear in them plain to see. She didn't need to ask what was wrong, she knew. Helping him put his things away she made up her mind. She wasn't going to make him leave her again tonight. Though she knew he had to leave the common room, there were just too many Gryffindors there and she didn't want it to get out that he was staying, because she knew they would both get into trouble. "Come on, I'll walk you out." She said quietly as she packed his quill and ink in his book bag and then shrunk it for him so he could put it easily in his pocket, where he normally carried it. Standing she caught his hand and started across the common room.

"Taylor," it was her brother's voice, "I need you to help me with that potions question."

She knew it was his way of telling her he expected her right back in. The snarky reply that came to mind made her bite her tongue to keep from uttering it. She gave a jerky nod knowing if she opened her mouth some, if not all, of the cutting reply would fly out. She was glad when the portrait of the Fat Lady swung shut behind her. The sound of the Hufflepuff's shaky voice drove all thought of her brother from her mind.

"I don't know if I can do this or not."

Looking up she could see the fear and worry in the werewolf's eyes, "Hey, it's going to be okay. Just let me think for a moment." She stepped in to give him a hug and was nearly crushed in his arms as his body trembled slightly around her. This more than anything solidified in her mind the need to come up with a plan for the Head Boy to stay here tonight.

A conniving smile curled across her lips as she worked through the details. Finally she asked quietly, "So what are your dorm mates going to think if you don't return tonight?"

The Hufflepuff gave a shaky laugh, "They'll probably be glad. I've kept them up the last few nights with my restlessness. I knew I couldn't go into the common room alone, the temptation to leave and come up here would have been too great."

Taylor could see the sorrow for what he had put his friends through, as well as the conviction for what he said in his eyes. "I have an idea, but you are going to have to wait out here for a little bit while I go and get something. Do you think you can do that?" A wave of something close to panic passed through his eyes, before he nodded resolutely.

"Yeah I think I can do that… as long as you promise that you will come back out."

Taylor smiled gently, "I promise. Now go on down to the broom cupboard so no one will see you if they come along and I'll be back as soon as I can." She watched him as he walked slowly down the corridor glancing back at her several times, before he reached the broom cupboard halfway down and opening the door slipped inside, once again glancing at her before he shut the door.

Turning she said the password and climbed back through the portal. Straightening she made her way quickly over to her friends, discreetly putting up a silencing charm as she sat down beside her brother.

"I need the cloak." She said without preamble.

"What for? It's after curfew!" Ron asked staring at her.

"You can't go with the Hufflepuff! For one thing you can't go wandering about under the cloak. It's too dangerous. For another you ARE NOT spending the night with that wizard just because…" Taylor cut her brother off.

"Potter, I AM NOT letting him suffer through another night alone! Now you either let me use the cloak to bring him back in here where you can keep an eye on us if you so wish or I am leaving without it and staying where ever we can find an empty room!" Taylor glared at her brother making sure he knew she wasn't joking.

"Taylor!" Harry growled in warning.

"Potter!" Taylor snarled back, "I'm not trying to sleep with the guy you bloody berk! He is terrified! Something you would see if you'd only look instead of snipping at him every chance you get! Merlin! You can be such an ass at times!" Taylor yelled coming to her feet, furious at her brother.

Hermione and Ron's admonishments blended together, one saying to calm down, the other yelling in outrage.

"Dammit Taylor!" Harry roared as he came to his feet too. "You don't think I can see that? What do you think people will say if they find out you've been staying with a guy?"

"You are going to start worrying about my reputation now? After I spent three weeks last summer alone with you? As well as you and Ron at Christmas! Bloody Hell! I can do Dark Magic and you're worried about my bloody, stupid virtue?" Taylor yelled as a few of the younger Gryffindors in the common room peeked over towards the four seventh years. Even without sound it was easy to see they were in a heated argument over something.

"Yes I worry about your virtue! Merlin Taylor, you are an underage witch! You being able to use Dark Magic has nothing to do with it!" Harry shot back, as he glowered down at his little sister.

"Fine!" Taylor snapped and wheeled to go, Harry caught her arm stopping her.

"You are not leaving this common room again tonight!" there was a steely quality to his words.

"Potter unless you are going to stun me, which I will say if you do I will hex you into next week for! Then you have no say over where I go or where I don't!" Taylor bit back, meeting her brother's furious stare with her own.

"Taylor! That is enough!" Hermione said sternly in her best McGonagall-ish voice, as she stepped between the two angry friends. "Harry, you too! Now if you two would just calm down we can think about this." For good measure Hermione pointed her wand threateningly at the two of them and motioned for them to sit down. When they had both complied she continued. "I agree with Taylor… Harry let me finish," she held up her hand towards the black haired wizard, "I saw how worried Greg was earlier, when we were on patrol this evening. I know he tried to hide it but… I also happened to overhear Ernie earlier today and he said Greg hasn't been sleeping at all, and that he's been very agitated. It has to be incredibly difficult to know what is going to happen in a few days without also having to deal with this anxiety he has over being away from Taylor." Hermione held up her hand again. "Harry and Ron, I know what you are going to say but he is not looking to do anything other than be near her. If that helps him then I say fine. I am Head Girl after all."

Taylor couldn't help the grin. The way Hermione had said she was Head Girl sounding so close to the way Ron's older brother Percy used to pompously say it, that it was uncanny. She could hear her brother muttering under his breath and decided she didn't want to know what he was saying, as words that sounded very close to berk, git, and werewolf could be heard.

"Fine! But we do this my way!" Harry finally relented. "I'll go out…"

Taylor cut him off, "No! I promised Greg I'd be back."

"…and get the Hufflepuff," Harry continued, as if his sister hadn't interrupted. "Taylor if you think you need to go to keep the Hufflepuff in line then you will be under the cloak. You both can come back in under the cloak and wait until the common room empties before either of you take it off." Harry went on to say that his sister could make a show of going to bed and then come back down under the cloak so no one would think she wasn't in bed. He also said he'd be staying in the common room all night.

Taylor agreed. She didn't care. She only wanted to make sure that the Hufflepuff wasn't alone tonight. When her brother came back down with the cloak she carefully slipped it into her book bag and then deciding to make it look good, "Well if that's the way you're going to be about it then I'm going to bed!" She made a bit of a show of marching across the common room and stamped her way up the stairs, slamming her door.

It was less than a minute though before, under the invisibility cloak, she was back down the stairs, after closing her coverings on her bed, and touching her brother on the shoulder from behind to let him know she was back. She then followed him silently out through the portal and down to the broom cupboard just down the corridor.

When her brother opened the door she could see the Hufflepuff grinning, relief apparent in his voice as he whispered, "Hey Taylor," looking past the Gryffindor wizard to where she was standing invisible to the naked eye.

"How?" Harry asked perplexed as he stared at the Head Boy.

"I can smell her, as well as hear her feet moving."

"Fine!" Harry held up his hand not really sure he wanted to hear that. "This is how it's going to work Hunter. You are going to get under my cloak and stay under it until the common room empties. Then you can sleep on the sofa. Come morning, you are to go before anyone gets up. Deal?"

"Deal!" Greg said with a sigh of relief. He could handle anything as long as he could be near his witch for the night. He waited until his witch slid past Potter into the broom cupboard. When she opened the cloak he slipped under it with her. Breathing deeply he bent down by her neck to make sure his feet stayed hidden, as well as to reassure the beast that his witch was well and right next to him.

Getting back into the common room was simple and the Hufflepuff and the witch went over to an empty corner and sat down to wait for the common room to empty. It didn't take all that long, being a school night.

A small argument ensued when Harry tried to make his sister go up to bed but after a few minutes and her threatening to slip back down anyway, he relented once more. An hour later Harry was sound asleep on one sofa as the Hufflepuff laid on the other with his head resting in his witch's lap.

Taylor's fingers brushed gently through the Hufflepuff's hair. His eyes were closed and a blanket covered him but she knew he wasn't a sleep. "What's the matter?" she asked quietly. "I thought you'd be asleep by now."

"Yeah, me too. I just can't seem to get what's going to happen out of my mind." Worry was clearly evident in his voice.

Taylor was quiet for a while. The only sound was her brother's soft snores and the snap of the dying fire. It was the only light in the dark common room as well. "Hufflepuff, how about I tell you a story?" She felt him chuckle as much as heard the soft sound. "My uncle used to tell me stories when I was a little girl before I went to sleep at night, or if I woke up and was scared. The thunder and lightening storms out on the prairies could be really bad and they used to wake me up." Taylor told the wizard about her life before she started at Hogwarts until his breathing deepened and she knew he had finally fallen to sleep a little after midnight. Conjuring a blanket for herself she tipped her head back and soon fell asleep too.

The werewolf slept, able to reassure himself subconsciously with each breath that his witch was nearby. The first good sleep that he had been able to get in several nights, ever since he'd slept on this same sofa the night of the Gryffindor party with his witch. He only woke once, not even fully awake he picked up his witch and laid her down beside him and then wrapping his arm around her protectively he fell right back into a deep sleep.

In the morning Taylor woke up as the sun began to rise up over the trees in the Forbidden Forest. Waking both wizards she watched the Hufflepuff go out through the portal, promising to see him shortly.

Friday seemed to speed by and Friday night the Hufflepuff spent the evening in the Gryffindor common room going out through the portal when the curfew bell rang, only to slip back in under the invisibility cloak behind his witch when she came back in. Later he fell asleep listening to her voice again as she talked in a soothing voice, telling him the story of Beauty and the Beast that she remembered from when she was a little girl.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny and Taylor laid beside the sleeping Head Boy with his arm wrapped around her holding her tight, with one of his legs slung over hers. She could hear the soft snores of her brother who had insisted on again sleeping in the common room, though for what purpose she wasn't sure. He had fallen asleep well before she had.

She could feel the tension already forming in her stomach. She knew today was going to be especially hard on the Head Boy. Tonight was the full moon. She and the others had already planned today out. Ron and Harry had helped also which had made her feel thankful. She let the Hufflepuff sleep for as long as she dared before she roused him. She had no intention of leaving his side today, so after waking her brother also, she ran up to her room, quickly changing her clothes, and then going back down to the common room, only to exit through the portal a few seconds later with the Head Boy.

After going to the Hufflepuff common room where the Head Boy had a quick shower and dressed in jeans and a rugby style shirt, the two left heading for the Study Room where they could be alone for a while before breakfast. The two didn't talk much really, just sat quietly together. They met Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny in the Great Hall for breakfast at ten and then they all headed outside with their brooms, the ones that had them anyway, for a fly around the quidditch pitch. Taylor borrowed a school broom and they played an impromptu game of quidditch while Hermione cheered and laughed from the side.

Actually laughing, the six headed back into the castle for lunch around one and just caught the last of the food before the tables cleared. Their light mood dissipated when Professor Sprout came into the Great Hall and told the Head Boy that Madame Pomfrey wanted to see him after he finished eating.

As one, the five Gryffindors rose from the table and accompanied the lone Hufflepuff up to the Hospital Wing.

"Ah Mr. Hunter," Madame Pomfrey greeted him when they walked through the doors. The nurse took in the Gryffindors, "I thought maybe I should go over with you once more what is going to happen this evening. If you will come into my office please."

The Head Boy's hand found Taylor's and he held it tightly as he followed the nurse into her office, taking his witch with him.

The nurse didn't say anything about the witch as she said in a brisk professional tone. "The sun sets at seven forty, so you need to be here by seven thirty so we are not late. Moody and I will accompany you out to the Whomping Willow, through the tunnel and to the Shrieking Shack. Once there we will leave you, and close the trap door behind us. The moon is due to rise at eight ten. I will be back at the Shrieking Shack at sun rise tomorrow morning to treat you for any wounds that you may incur, as well as bring you back to the school where you can rest here until you feel well enough to return to classes either Monday or Tuesday. Do you have any questions?"

Taylor could feel the tension in the Hufflepuff as he stiffly shook his head. She glanced at him to see his face set in a grim expression. He didn't look at her he just thanked the nurse and led her out of the office. Hermione turned when they drew near and the Head Girl led the way out of the Hospital Wing and up through the school to the Room of Requirement where the five Gryffindors spent the rest of the day with the Hufflepuff. They played chess or exploding snap, sometimes they would just sit and talk about school or something that had happened outside. When suppertime came, several plates of food appeared on a table and they sat and ate, except the lone Hufflepuff.

"I think if I ate right now it would just come back up." Greg said in a tight voice.

"That's alright. Ron will eat your share." Taylor said in a light voice that she really didn't feel, trying a little gently teasing. She wanted him to know that it was alright to feel nervous and scared. A bit of light humored teasing followed as the Gryffindors all tried to help the Head Boy cope.

When it was time to go, the Hufflepuff had decided that it would be easier to say goodbye up here to the others. He wasn't sure just how he was going to make out leaving his witch to go face this on his own and he didn't want to have Potter and Weasley there if he broke down and started to bawl like a baby.

Ginny was the first to step forward and give him a hug. "Good luck Greg. I'll see you in the morning."

"For a git, you're all right Hunter. I'll see ya tomorrow too." Ron said with a nod.

"Ronald!" Hermione admonished to her counterpart, before she turned and hugged him tight. "Greg, I know you will be okay. I'll be thinking of you, we all will. I'll see you in the morning, okay?" She pulled his head down and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Harry found himself standing in front of the Hufflepuff, no thanks to a shove from Ginny. "Hunter, oww!" his sister had kicked him in the shin, not even trying to be subtle about it. "I still think you're a git," he sidestepped his sister's next kick. "but I agree with Ron, you're alright. See you in the morning."

"Boys!" Hermione said in an exasperated tone as she rolled her eyes. "You need to get going or you're going to be late."

Greg nodded, "Thanks guys… for today…"

Taylor took his hand and together they walked out of the Room of Requirement and down towards the Hospital Wing. Neither said a word. By the time they reached the Hospital doors, tension rolled off the Head Boy. Pulling her wand out she put up a silencing charm and turned to him.

"Hey, listen to me." She looked up into his worried eyes. "I promised you long ago that I'm not leaving you and tonight will be no different. I love you Greg." She put a hand on the side of his face and he turned into it closing his eyes. "I promise you, I'll be waiting for you in the morning." She stood on tiptoe and kissed him tenderly on the lips. His arms came around her and pulled her into a heartrending hug, as he tried to overload his senses with his witch's smell and feel, enough to get him through what was coming.

A noise behind them, the werewolf knew it was Pomfrey and Moody, made him reluctantly let go of his witch, as he steeled himself to go and face this thing that was now going to happen for the first time, as well as the rest of his life. His eyes met his witch's and he could see her love burning brightly in them. It was a look that helped him to step away from her as the beast roared in his chest, knowing it was going to be let loose soon, as well as knowing it was going to be separated from the one thing that helped to calm it.

"I'll see you in the morning!" Taylor's voice rang strong as she told him with her eyes and heart that she wouldn't leave him. Vanishing the silencing charm she watched him nod once more. Straightening up to his full height he squared his shoulders and turned to the nurse and the old auror.

"I'm ready." The voice was strong and firm.

A/N I know! A cliff hanger! I'm sorry but this is just were the chapter felt like it needed to end. I promise I will post the next chapter on Monday! As I warned at the first the next few chapters are... a little intense. I will try not to keep you waiting too long in between! A lot happened in this chapter... some things that might not seem important right then but will be in the coming chapters so hopefully you were paying attention! ;)

Thank you to everyone who has left a review! They mean so much to me! I really apperciate the add to Alerts and Favorites as well! Thank you for just reading! I also need to thank my wonderful beta barbc! Who without all of her hard work this story wouldn't be what it is! Well until next time, cytpotter.