Still don't own Harry Potter.

Sorry for the long wait with summer finally here my life has gotten very busy. Hope you enjoy this chapter though! :)

Chapter Eighty-five

The Aftermath

Hermione and her brother both tried to talk Taylor into taking the morning off classes, but she refused. It wasn't so much the classes, it was that it would be the first time the Hufflepuff faced a student population who knew he was a werewolf. Also she didn't want to be alone with just her thoughts to keep her company. The talk with Dumbledore's painting raised some interesting questions, some new and some old.

She felt bad for her brother and Hermione who only had about an hours sleep between sunrise and when they needed to get ready for classes. She couldn't sleep at all. The thought of closing her eyes had her shaking again.

Walking down through the school, Taylor knew she was probably staying annoyingly close to her brother this morning but Ginny seemed to have gotten over her irritation from the previous night. She was carrying on as if she had anyway and that made Taylor feel better about it.

They were a little late getting to the Entrance Hall and the Head Boy was waiting for them along with his friends.

"Morning! I thought you guys weren't going to make it!" Greg called as he walked towards them, his friends with him. Ernie had suggested that they all go into the Great Hall together and the Head Boy had agreed. He wasn't sure if he had ever been more nervous. Last night in his own common room had been bad enough, though after a few awkward moments Connor had cracked a joke about having the baddest dog in the school and things had remarkably returned to close to normal. A few of the younger kids had eyed him a while but after one asked a couple of questions they also seemed to accept him. However, facing the whole school was… nerve wracking.

"Morning Hunter." Ron said with his usual grouchiness at this early hour.

"Good Morning Greg." Hermione greeted with a smile as she nodded to the others as well.

The Head Boy thought it was a little odd that his witch hadn't been in the lead as she usually was, but his worried mind didn't pick up on it right away until he caught sight of her pale face and the dark circles under her eyes. He was about to say something when he caught Hermione giving her head the tiniest shake. When he looked to make sure she did it again.

"So are you ready? We'd better hurry up or we'll be late for classes," Hermione said briskly, effectively bringing attention to her instead of the unusually quiet witch.

"Yeah, as ready as I'll ever be." Greg said nervously.

"Well at least you know you won't be thrown to the wolves!" Connor joked.

Ron snorted, and most of the others just rolled their eyes as they headed into the Great Hall as a group.

Greg fell in step with his witch who looked up and gave him a wobbly half smile. One look at her eyes told him that something had happened though she whispered. "It's going to be alright. Just be yourself. The students are behind you." He caught her hand to give it a squeeze and was startled when he noticed it was so cold. He looked down at her again. "I'm fine, let's get you through this." He would have liked to ask her what had happened but they were walking thru the oak doors into the Great Hall.

It seemed the whole school had been waiting for him to enter and even though he was near the back of their group, the Great Hall became silent as everyone turned to look. As if it was planned, the group spread out interspersing Gryffindor beside Hufflepuff until they stood in a line flanking the Head Boy on either side.

Taking a deep breath, he felt his witch squeeze his hand. Calling out in a calm, strong voice that belied his nervousness, "I want you all to know. Even… though I may… be a werewolf. I did not attack anyone during the full moon. Taylor Porter's memories cleared me. The charges have all been dropped."

There was silence for another few heart beats before, "What are you waiting for Hunter, an invitation? Sit down we're trying to eat!" It was a seventh year Ravenclaw.

"Man I'm tired of speeches! Merlin! Are you our Head Boy or are you trying for Minister for Magic!" It came from the Hufflepuff table, and laughter broke out before the buzz returned to normal.

Greg couldn't keep the relieved grin from spreading across his face as a few individuals called out greetings to him. The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs from beside him heading for their tables. He glanced at the teacher's table and saw most of the teachers smiling at him, as well as the Head Mistress before she turned to speak to Flitwick who was sitting beside her. It was then that he realized he was standing all alone and that even Taylor had left him to go eat.

His euphoria lasted only a few strides as he headed down the Gryffindor table, as the relief that he felt began to fade and his mind clicked in that something was wrong with Taylor. As he drew closer he saw even more evidence that something just wasn't right, as his witch sat beside Potter, not in her usual spot beside Hermione or Ginny.

Sitting down beside her he studied her profile for a moment before he happened to look up at Potter. The warning in the Gryffindor's eyes was clear. He inclined his head a fraction. He'd wait until they were finished breakfast and alone before he brought it up.

The post owls arrived then bringing with them the Daily Prophet as well a higher number then normal amount of letters to students, as predicted parents wrote their children out of fear for their safety.

Hermione skimmed the paper and finally found the article acquitting Greg of any wrong doing as well as stating that the matter of him being a werewolf and staying on at Hogwarts was to be left to the school to deal with. It was on the second to last page in small print.

Grumbling was heard all through the Great Hall as students read bits and pieces of their letters aloud before the Head Mistress stood.

"My I have your attention please. I would like to let you all know that I have informed all your families of not just my decision but also the result of the vote that you all took part in last night, that Greg Hunter will remain at this school for the remainder of the school year, as well as retain his duties as Head Boy." Loud cheers went up from all but the Slytherin table and McGonagall waited for a moment for it to calm down. "I also want to let you know that the vote that you participated in last night was magically binding. It showed that you were willing to stand beside one of your own to ensure justice was served and that he remain here where he should be. It is something you should all be proud of. That being said if anyone has any concerns of their own or from your parents please feel free to come and see me."

The noise level rose once again as McGonagall sat back down.

Greg could feel the grin return as he ate. Yesterday had been very difficult. His father and uncle had caught word about the werewolf attacks early and headed straight for the school. Madame Pomfrey had tried reassuring them and they were fine until Moody had come and informed them that his name had been specifically used in connection with the attacks in Hogsmeade. That was all after he had found out Taylor had followed him to the Shrieking Shack. His father had wanted to sneak him out of the school right then and there, knowing the Ministry would come after him. It had taken a lot of convincing from both Moody and McGonagall to get his father and uncle to relent and wait until the Ministry came for him. They had said that to run would look guilty. Shacklebolt had flooed the Minister, stating that they had a strong case that Greg was innocent and that they wished to meet with him about it. The Minister had sent his Under Secretary and Shacklebolt and McGonagall had presented their case even taking the Under Secretary to the Shrieking Shack and personally showing him the wards surrounding it and that none of them had been breached the night before. The only weakness in their proof was the trap door and the tunnel that they couldn't prove someone hadn't let the werewolf out of. Taylor's memories had been the evidence they had needed to clear him completely.

On one level he was still angry with his witch for taking such a risk and following him to the Shrieking Shack but he knew that if she hadn't have, he wouldn't be sitting here today a free wizard. He'd probably be in Azkaban right now if Taylor hadn't taken her promise to stay with him through all this so literally. It was a lot to come to grips with, and to be eternally thankful for.

Grabbing another piece of toast he glanced sideways and saw his witch hadn't even touched the bowl of cereal in front of her. She just stared at it fiddling with the spoon. Worry flooded him once more, what had happened? He remembered she had been exhausted last night even leaning against Potter some. Had she been worse off? Did something happen while Moody was reading her mind? He knew it had been a strain on her and that strain had come from not using Dark Magic to shield her mind…

With an effort he kept his questions to himself until it was time to head for first class. Standing with the others he put his arm around Taylor and felt her lean into him just a little as they walked out of the Great Hall, Ginny heading off for her first class with some other sixth years. He was silent until they were up one floor and heading down an empty corridor.

"All right guys I want to know what's going on," his voice was firm and hard. He wasn't about to be put off any longer.

"Look you toss pot!" Ron snapped as he turned to face the Head Boy.

Only Harry put his hand on his mate's shoulder and after glancing around said quietly, "In here!" and he led them into an empty classroom, immediately sealing and silencing the room.

Greg's stomach clenched. He knew this wasn't going to be good if Potter felt the need to go that far so they weren't overheard. Looking down at Taylor he asked quietly but firmly, "What's going on? What happened?" He could feel the slight tremors in her with his arm still around her. It was Potter who spoke up.

"Taylor had another one of her nightmares last night."

Greg's head snapped up and his eyes met the Gryffindor's, the worry clearly evident in them. "You mean, like… the one she had in the Hospital after Christmas?" Potter nodded and he felt the tremors in his witch increase. He wrapped his other arm around her and held her close. Ignoring the other three for a moment, he whispered in her ear, "Are you all right?" He saw her nod but her body gave him a different answer. Looking up again, "When?"

"Last night! You tosser! Weren't you listening?" Ron said with a huff.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the redheaded wizard before she answered the Head Boy, "Not long before midnight." And she quickly filled the Hufflepuff in on waking Taylor up and trying to downplay the incident to other Gryffindors and getting them back to bed.

He knew he only had one episode to compare to but he was surprised that Taylor was still so… impacted by the nightmare when it had happened over eight hours ago. "You should go to the Hospital. You're far from fine." He suggested, concerned as he looked down at the witch in his arms.

Taylor shook her head, "No! There isn't anything Pomfrey can do. I'll be fine I just need some time…"

"Then take some! Skive off your morning classes and get some rest. Taylor you're shaking like a leaf and you look exhausted. You could just…" The Head Boy said trying to persuade her.

Her voice was harsh, as she pushed away from him. "No! Absolutely not! Look no one can know I had another nightmare all right! Also I don't want anyone to think that getting my mind read last night was anything big. My exhaustion can be easily passed off as being worried about this morning as long as I don't give anyone a reason to believe otherwise. I'll be fine. Now we need to get to class!" Taylor immediately regretted her harsh tone and it softened, "Greg, I'm sorry. I…" she ran a tired hand over her face.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm just worried about you, that's all." The Hufflepuff said, his voice full of concern.

"I'll be fine." Taylor said tiredly.

"We really do need to get going or we'll be late," Hermione said as she put her arm around the witch. "Taylor's right, we need to appear like everything is normal. As do you, Greg. You need to get to class and appear normal, until some of the sensation of you and your furry little problem dies down. We'll see you at lunch. Good luck!"

Taylor allowed her friend to lead her out of the classroom, after bidding the Head Boy so long and good luck. He'd returned the sentiment as he hurried off in the other direction.

They just barely made it to their first class, Potions, on time and as far as Taylor was concerned the day just went downhill from there. Being distracted by the lingering effects of the nightmare, her potion wasn't up to par and Slughorn took notice to the point of nearly beleaguering the fact. Her next class wasn't much better and by the time she was heading to lunch with a ton of homework, she still felt strangely shaky and either from her exhaustion, or something else far more ominous, her head was starting to throb.

They made it to the Great Hall before the Head Boy and the Hufflepuff seventh years, something to be thankful for at least, Taylor thought as she dropped tiredly down beside Hermione. She wasn't hungry and she wondered distractedly if it'd look too strange if she just laid her head on the table, not that she had any wish to close her eyes. No that was for sure, but to just let her tense body relax. She found a compromise and propping both elbows on the table, she dropped her head into her hands and watched as her brother and Ron dug into the food on the table across from her.

It wasn't long before she heard the greetings different students called as the Head Boy came into the Hall and headed for her. A few seconds later she felt him sit down beside her.

"Hey!" he said by way of greeting as he picked up a bowl and ladled soup into it. Hermione and Ginny both said hi, but the two wizards just mumbled something as they ate. He noticed his witch's lack of greeting as well her exhausted appearance. His eyes met the Head Girl's and he could see concern in them.

Leaning down close so he could speak right into her ear he whispered, "You need to try to eat something."

"I'm not hungry."

"When's the last time you had anything to eat?" He asked, knowing she didn't eat anything this morning, and he'd seen her on the Gryffindor table last night before the meal was served… "If you pass out in class they will make you go to see Pomfrey you know." He was hoping the threat would work.

"You're a nuisance Hufflepuff." Taylor griped as she tiredly picked her head up off her hands.

Ron snorted from across the table and said in a low voice, "And you're just figuring that out?"

"Stow it Weasley!" Taylor sighed, as she took some soup, hoping that it wouldn't come back up. She found that the soup actually did help and wondered distractedly why she didn't feel hungry.

Afternoon classes were just slightly better, though by the end her head was throbbing. She managed to eat a little more soup for supper and she nearly cried when Professor Shacklebolt stopped by and told them that they would have a research session as soon as they finished supper.

"Wonder what Moody will do to me if I turn him into a toad?" Taylor groaned.

Their research session that night was every bit as bad as Taylor thought it would be. Though she didn't turn Moody into a toad, her very poor performance had both Moody and Shacklebolt on her case and, to add insult to injury as Taylor saw it, she had detention with Moody right afterwards until midnight.

That night she practically crawled up the stairs into her room and didn't even bother undressing. Unable to keep her eyes open any longer, she passed out before her head hit her pillow. Pushed to its limits, her mind shut down as well and with the absence of any dreams at all, or the nightmare, she never heard a thing until Hermione shook her awake the next morning.

Over the next two weeks things settled down. The Hogwarts student population accepted the fact they had a werewolf as Head Boy and gossip turned from that to who was seen kissing whom.

First thing Tuesday morning, Hermione passed out the revision tables that she had been remiss in drawing up sooner. Taylor still half asleep as she tried to eat her breakfast and read her Herbology homework she didn't get done because of her detention, glanced at her revision table and said there was a problem. Hermione had snatched it back and glanced at it before handing it back and saying it was fine.

"But Hermione, you only have two hours a night for me to sleep!" Taylor had cried in disbelief.

Hermione's brisk reply was, "What's more important? Sleep or NEWTS?"

That night as soon as she finished supper, which was once again a working meal as she tried to eat and get a few questions done for the Transfiguration homework due the next day, she had another detention. Served this time with Lupin. She had thought the ones with Moody were bad. They had nothing on the way she felt after her parent's last friend had expressed his disappointment and displeasure at her for leaving the school Saturday night and staying in the tunnel under the Shrieking Shack. Her argument that she had helped clear the Head Boy had died in her throat at Lupin's furious look. Getting back after midnight that night she once again fell into bed, asleep when her head hit the pillow.

So it was Wednesday before the Head Boy was finally able to get a moment alone with his Gryffindor witch and confront her with his own displeasure over her jaunt to the tunnel. He caught her on the way to the Great Hall for lunch, where she was running late because Flitwick had kept her back because she hadn't had her homework assignment finished for Charms. Pushing her into one of the smaller empty classrooms, he had sealed and silenced it before he turned to look at her. He could see she looked slightly harassed and a little tired but the complete exhaustion and the look that had been close to despondency that had hung on her Monday was gone.

"We need to talk." The Head Boy said in a tight voice, as his anger over her recklessness came back full force.

Taylor looked up into his angry blue eyes and groaned aloud as she shook her head.

"What you did was…" he began.

"…was save your ass! Look Hunter I've had my ass chewed out enough. I did what I did because I thought I needed to and as it turns out I was right! I am not going to apologize to you or to Lupin or to McGonagall or even Harry for it! I'll serve my detentions and whatever more punishment anyone cares to dole out but I will not apologize and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!" Taylor yelled as her temper flared.

"Are you done?" the Hufflepuff asked in a clipped tone. At her glare he continued, "What you did was reckless! If that werewolf… if I had gotten through that trap door I would have killed you! Can you not understand that? I would have been powerless to stop it! But I would have killed you! God Taylor, do you have any idea how that has been eating at me since you told me Sunday morning that you were in the tunnel?"

Taylor turned away from the tall Hufflepuff as she pinched the bridge of her nose. She really hadn't thought about what he would think about it. She'd been so consumed by her own problems she hadn't stopped to think how her actions would make him feel. She shook her head sadly. She truly had to be the worst person at relationships. She waited for what seemed like an eternity, waiting for him to tell her he'd had enough.

The Hufflepuff's voice was low and pained as he broke the silence, "What I went through Saturday night… the transformation…" his voice wavered slightly before he continued, "was incredibly painful but it was nothing compared to how I felt when I realized what I could have done to you. I couldn't live with myself if I'd've hurt you." The Head Boy paused as he swallowed the fear that welled up in him at the very thought. It was a few moments until he said from his heart, "Taylor, I've realized I can face the transformations, even the prejudice, but I can't do it without you."

He stared at his witch's back, her head bowed, and he moved up behind her and turning her, he lifted her head with his finger so he could look in her eyes. "I need to know though, when I become that… beast, that you are not going to do something dangerous. You need to promise me this Taylor. I need to know that you are safe. Please…" he could see the emotions in her eyes, sadness, regret, love and determination.

Her voice was thick, "I only went there to protect you. I swear. I'm sorry I hurt you. It wasn't my intention. I was afraid that the Slytherins would try to set you free… If I hadn't have gone… if I'd stayed in the castle and you were taken away for those murders…" Taylor struggled to make him see her side of it as well. "I'm sorry Hufflepuff but my safety is not worth as much as yours or Harry's. I can not make you that promise."

Greg starred at his witch too stunned to speak for a moment before he whispered, "How can you say that? How could you even think that?"

Taylor shrugged her shoulders, "Because I am alone. You have a whole family who loves you very much, and Harry has the fate of our world on his shoulders."

Greg shook his head slowly, "You are wrong witch. If something were to happen to you, do you think Harry would just carry on like nothing happened? I've seen him when you've been hurt. I've seen the fear and worry on his face. He would be devastated." The Head Boy knew as he spoke them the truth in the words.

"Harry has Ginny, she will help him."

"I'm not so sure about that but what about me? If something were to happen… part of me will go with you, Taylor. And no amount of family will ever be able to heal my fatally severed heart."

Powerful emotions welled up in Taylor. Her hand trembled as she reached it up to cup his cheek. "My life was so simple before you…"

The Hufflepuff's arms came around her and pulled her against him, his voice low and hard, eyes steel blue as they stared into hers, "Tell me you love me," he demanded.

"I love you Greg." Taylor whispered and his lips crashed onto hers in a demanding kiss that had them both gasping for air. Unable to tell his witch in words just how much she meant to him, he tried showing her in his kisses, some demanding and others incredibly tender. Only the bell signaling the start of their first class after lunch was able to break them apart.

The Head Boy had stopped outside the empty classroom watching his witch's back as she hurried to her next class until she turned a corner and he lost sight of her. He was still upset over what she had done and he knew that they would have to talk about it again. Despite that he knew he would be eternally grateful that she had risked her life and was able to clear him. The ache in his heart now was from her words, her conviction that she didn't matter, that she was somehow expendable because she had no family or destiny to fulfill. He needed to show her, somehow, that wasn't true.

Over the next two weeks their time together was limited to a couple of stolen moments in empty broom cupboards between classes and at meal times with their friends.

Even Taylor's weekend was taken up with detention, starting early in the morning and ending after curfew at night. Hermione finally took a little pity on her and agreed to help the underage witch with some of her homework, as long as Taylor stayed up until the wee hours of the morning doing it.

The second week of detention was just as bad as the first. Her days now consisted of getting up at the crack of dawn to try to get some of the homework done that was due before lunch, and she often worked while she ate at the Gryffindor table. At lunch she tried desperately to get something down for her afternoon classes, and at supper she was trying to get a start on what was due the next day. On nights that she had her research sessions she went to them and then her detention. On her off nights she left the Great Hall for detention as soon as she was finished eating. And she never returned to the Gryffindor common room before midnight. If she could she'd try to get a little more homework done but she usually just ended up falling asleep on her work.

One thing all the detentions did do was give her time to think. All of her detentions involved manual labor of some sort and with her hands busy it left room for her mind to sort through things. One of the main things she wrestled with was what had her nightmare meant. Other than the night it had happened, she hadn't had time to talk to Dumbledore's portrait alone, something she was going to need to do in order to lay her concerns to rest. She never mentioned it to anyone but what had happened in the nightmare gnawed at her mind like some sort of creature just waiting to be understood.

Hermione, Ron and Greg weren't finding it easy either to find time to do all their homework, as well as patrols and revision. Hermione had even made up a revision table for the Hufflepuff too. Harry had it a little easier now that he didn't have quidditch practice, but he still had the research sessions every other night.

It was in Taylor's second week of detention that Harry and Ron finally caught up with Derek Smelter in one of the boy's lavatories one evening and explained to him the error he made when he messed with the Gryffindor witch. The Head Boy happened to walk in on them during their explanation and after only a quick glance turned and walked back out suggesting a silencing spell might work well.

A/N Hope you enjoyed! I find it hard to believe but there are less then twenty chapters left! I am still working on fine tuning the end so that number isn't yet set in stone. I know I have to get my act together! I am just fretting about getting it good enough and not disappointing all of you who have been brave enough to read this far!

Thank you to all those who reviewed! Your comments and encouragement mean more then these words can hope to say! Thank you as well to those of you who Alerted or Favorited! Plus for just reading this far you deserve chocolate! :) Thank you to my wonderful beta who even with her busy schedule has been able to edit these chapters for me! Well until next time... which likely won't be until at least Tuesday as this is Canada Day weekend and I have Monday off! Yeah! Yours truly, cytpotter.