I own only the plot and the charactors that you didn't recognize until you started reading this long tale!

This chapter was running around in my head before I even wrote about Greg getting bitten(and the main reason WHY he did as well!) Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Eighty-nine

The Full Moon

Taylor spent the rest of the day with the Head Boy, never leaving his side except to go to the washroom a time or two. Shacklebolt had tried to object when she had come out of the Gryffindor common room with the Hufflepuff that morning but when Taylor had threatened that she'd just follow under Harry's cloak her Professor had relented and allowed her. It hadn't been so much the witch's argument but the fierce look on the Head Boy's face. Shacklebolt knew he'd breathe a sigh of relief when the full moon was over.

This time around, going to the Room of Requirements wasn't an option, so the five Gryffindors instead opted to head for the Hufflepuff study room where they could relax and study a little, as well as stay near the Head Boy. Connor, Justin, Sally-Anne, Hannah and even Ernie put their studying aside for a while to keep the werewolf company while they waited for the sun to set.

The group ate supper in the study room together. Dobby had shown up and said the Head Mistress had asked him to serve them supper there that evening. The Hufflepuffs had been a little surprised. The Gryffindors and Head Boy hadn't been.

Taylor found that she couldn't eat, as worry ate at her. The Head Boy didn't eat either. When it was time to head for the Hospital Wing, the Hufflepuffs seemed to sense that the Head Boy didn't want them to come, so they said their goodbyes there.

Shacklebolt, Moody and Tonks were waiting out in the corridor to escort them to the Hospital Wing, and all five Gryffindors walked with the Head Boy up through the castle. Taylor held the Hufflepuff's hand, their fingers intertwined. They were almost there when the Head Boy spoke up.

"I need a word alone with my friends for a moment, please."

The three Order members glanced at one another and nodded drawing off a short distance. The Head Boy put up a silencing charm and turned to look at Potter.

"I need to ask you a favor Potter."

Harry met the werewolf's eyes, "What do you want?"

"I need you to promise me that you will keep Taylor with you in Gryffindor Tower, safe all night tonight."

Taylor wheeled and glared up at the Hufflepuff talking at the same time, "No absolutely not! How dare you ask Harry to make you that promise!"

The werewolf's eyes dropped from Potter's to his witch's as he growled, "I dare because you won't give me the promise that you will stay there safe!"

Taylor wheeled to glare up at her brother, "Potter don't you dare!"

Harry could see the anger in his sister's eyes, but also the determination. He knew he very well might have to stun her to make good on his promise. "You have my word Greg. I'll do everything I can to keep Taylor safe." Harry heard Ron, Hermione and Ginny all assure the werewolf that they would look out for the underage witch.

The words from her brother were like a betrayal. She couldn't believe he'd give his word to keep her from making sure the Hufflepuff stayed safe. She'd never felt more like hitting her brother than she did right then. She felt like growling herself. Putting all her weight behind it she gave her brother a big shove. "You barmy sodding git!" she hissed before she turned and stalked off down the corridor a ways.

The Head Boy knew his witch was furious, as he looked at Potter and the others. "Thank you Harry, guys." Then he turned and walked to where his witch had stopped, a part of him had to smile. Even furious, she seemed to know how far away she could be before he started to feel anxious. Making sure the silencing charm was still in place he put a hand on her stiff shoulder.

"I need to know you are going to be safe."

"Yeah, well I could say the same thing about you, but well, you've made sure that isn't possible didn't you?" Taylor said angrily still facing away from him.

"Taylor, I'm going to turn into a werewolf. I'll be able to look after myself."

Taylor spun and glared up at him. "And what if Voldemort comes after you? What happens in the morning? You will be wandless and defenseless! What then?"

The werewolf looked into his witch's eyes. Behind the anger he could see the fear and he gave her the only answer he had, "We don't know that Voldemort will try anything and there will be someone guarding the tunnel this time."

"There was the last time." Taylor said in a pained voice.

Greg sighed and pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight. He knew she only wanted to protect him. He needed to protect her from the werewolf, whom she didn't seem to have any fear of. "I'll see you in the morning. If all goes well I won't be the mindless beast and next time I will not have to leave you for the full moon. That is what I am praying for. You are my witch, my mate. To leave you now is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I have to know you will be safe. It's the only way I can go, please understand."

Taylor closed her eyes and leaned against him. She could feel his heart pounding hard, as well as the tension rising in him. She didn't doubt for a second that it would be hard on him to leave her. She would give him no promise that she couldn't keep but she could be strong for him and make it as easy as possible for him to go. "I know," she whispered.

The werewolf breathed, deeply inhaling his witch's scent, trying to commit it to memory so it would sustain him on the long walk out. He saw Moody start to move towards him and he released his witch, keeping one of his arms around her and started towards the Hospital doors just down the corridor.

Taylor put her arm around the tall Hufflepuff and walked beside him to the doors where Madame Pomfrey opened them and came out.

"Ah, Mr. Hunter. Good. We need to get going soon. We will need a little longer tonight to get you out to the Shrieking Shack with the added security." Pomfrey said in her brisk professional manner.

Taylor felt the Hufflepuff flinch a little and then he squared his shoulders and stepped purposely away from her. He nodded and walked away. She stood rooted to the spot watching until the Hufflepuff turned the corner with Pomfrey, Shacklebolt and Moody. Waiting until she knew he couldn't hear. Harry, Hermione and the two Weasleys came to stand by her, but she studiously ignored them. It wasn't until Tonks finally said that they needed to get going that Taylor moved.

Striding down the corridor she headed for the common room without looking back. She could hear her brother hurrying to catch up with her.

"Taylor!" Harry said as he grabbed his sister's arm turning her to face him. "You are acting like a child! You can't go with him! Surely you weren't planning to pull a stunt like you did last time!"

"Piss off Potter!" Taylor nearly snarled, turning to go again.

"You were! Merlin, Taylor, are you nuts!" Harry exclaimed gob-smacked.

Taylor wheeled back around and drove her finger into her brother's chest, biting out each word. "What would you do if it was Ginny being lead away to be left for Voldemort? Answer me that!"

Harry stared at her but he had no ready answer. His sister took his silence as an admission. "Exactly. I rest my case!"

Wheeling Taylor set out towards the common room again ignoring the calls of the others. She was furious and she held on to the anger with all she had because lurking beneath that anger was fear, worry and helplessness. She knew she'd have to deal with them all soon enough.

The sun was setting behind the castle making the grounds appear bathed in fire. Staring out the windows she was passing she could see the Whomping Willow and she could see the four figures moving across the grounds towards it.

"Auror Tonks!" a voice called from behind them, "Mr. Timmons sent me to tell you that he is having trouble with the charm for sealing the castle doors…"

Taylor stopped listening as she turned to stare out the window. A movement not far from the Forbidden Forest caught her eye, as the red of the setting sun lifted towards the tops of the trees. A figure was sneaking along just inside the tree line, moving steadily towards the Whomping Willow and the four unsuspecting figures.

A scream behind Taylor made her whirl as her wand slid into her hand. She could see Ginny's red hair swirling as she fell, and Harry diving, wand drawn, firing at the figure down the wide hallway. Tonks was firing as well, but the figure reached the corner and was gone. A second later a loud claxon began to sound, vibrating off the castle walls.

"That's the signal that the castle is being attacked!" Hermione yelled as she looked around fearfully.

Taylor rushed to her brother as he bent down beside Ginny. Tonks bent down as well.

"She's been hit with a real nasty stunner. We need to get her to the Hospital Wing. Harry, you carry her." Tonks ordered as she stood up again looking around cautiously.

A bright white light came racing towards them in the shape of a cat.

"It's a false alarm! Get Potter and the others to Gryffindor Tower! Keep all the students there inside the common room until further orders! Trust no one!" McGonagall's voice ordered sharply before the cat Patronus began to fade away.

Wheeling, Taylor raced to look out the windows as the last of the red glow disappeared from the trees, she could see that only Moody remained with Pomfrey and Greg. The alarm had done its trick. It had drawn Shacklebolt away from them back towards the castle.

"Oh my god." Taylor breathed as she watched in horror as the figure that had just come from the Forbidden Forest leaped out from behind a rock and fired at Moody who was looking towards the school. She saw Moody fall and then Pomfrey before she saw Greg raise his hands up. She knew right then that his wand had already been taken.

"Taylor! We need to go!" Tonks voice snapped right behind her.

"Look! They have Greg!" Taylor cried as she pointed and heard the auror swear.

"Oh no!" Hermione gasped.

"I have to get you to the Gryffindor common room! Now!" Tonks snapped as she conjured her Patronus with the message about the Hufflepuff, Moody and Pomfrey and sent it to McGonagall.

Taylor shook her head.

"Taylor! There is nothing you can do! The castle has sealed itself! Now we have to get to Gryffindor Tower! Those are McGonagall's orders!" Tonks snapped angrily.

Wheeling, Taylor fell in beside her brother as he carried Ginny. She glanced at her friend and could see how pale she was. "What was she hit with?"

"I don't know. It was something Dark," Hermione said worriedly from behind Taylor.

"Tonks, you said we needed to get Ginny to Pomfrey, but she's outside! Sealed out there!" Ron cut in as they hurried along.

"As soon as things settle down I'll get Professor Flitwick to come have a look at her. He's not a healer but he knows charms." Tonks said trying to reassure them.

"Are you sure it was a dark spell?" Taylor asked glancing back at the auror.

"Yes. It's a new one that the Death Eaters have started to use. It knocks a person out for hours and they are very weak when they wake up. It helps if you can get them to a healer quickly." The auror answered as she looked around continuously, her wand switching back and forth.

Taylor nodded as her brother hugged Ginny even closer to his chest. Taylor knew she didn't know much about healing anyone but she did know something about Dark Magic and while Dark Arts spells weren't Dark Magic they were not completely different. She shook her head. She'd need to think that through some other time. Palming her wand she looked up at her brother.

"Harry do you trust me?" She could see the worry in his eyes but he nodded. "Stop for a second, I want to see if I can detect what kind of spell was used on her."

"Taylor, we need to keep moving!" Tonks admonished.

Taylor ignored the auror. She felt the calm settle around her, as her necklace burned against her neck. Ron and Hermione's voices were lost in the background as she concentrated on the unconscious witch in her brother's arms. Waving her wand over Ginny, the ancient language fell from her lips, asking to see the dark that had been used. A pungent odor filled her nose and she knew. How she knew she had no idea, she just did. Closing her eyes, she concentrated as she felt her necklace turn white-hot and her wand vibrate, as words fell from her lips. Ginny coughed and Taylor's eyes opened to see her red-haired friend's brown eyes staring back at her.

"Hey Ginny," Taylor said softly.

"Bloody hell!" Ron said incredulously.

Taylor glanced up into her brother's green eyes as gratitude filled them.

"That was amazing Taylor!" Tonks said, "But we need to get going!"

Harry understood instantly. His sister had helped Ginny as a kind of offering before she left. She knew he'd never leave Ginny if she was hurt, though he knew Taylor needed to know Ginny was going to be okay too. "I gave him my word."

"We're not in the common room. You can't stop me. You need to look after Ginny." Taylor said it quietly as Ron and Hermione looked between the two trying to catch up to the conversation.

"He's going to be mad." Harry could see the determination burning in his sister's eyes and he knew without a doubt that if it were Ginny out there, he'd tear the front doors off the castle trying to get to her. "Be careful. He could be as dangerous as those after him."

"Porter you are not going!" Tonks said firmly.

Taylor looked at the auror. "You have your orders! Get Potter to the common room! McGonagall didn't mention me! Ron, look after them!" Taylor backed away from the group hoping Tonks would do as she was trained to do and that was get the group to safety and leave the individual. In another step she was at a tapestry that concealed a stairway. Wheeling she was behind it in a flash and could hear Tonks and Hermione yelling at her to come back.

Running at breakneck speed she pelted down the stairs and down another corridor and down again, heading for the dungeons. Skidding around the last corner she rushed to the stone statue of an evil looking serpent and opening the hidden passage she slipped inside and ran as fast as she could along the tunnel. Panting she reached the other end and, wand at the ready, she stepped out into the dark Forbidden Forest. A quick spell sealed the tunnel entrance, from werewolves or other such creatures at least. Turning towards the castle she ran as fast as she could.

She knew she had wasted so much precious time and that the figure could have taken Greg almost anywhere by now, but she needed to get back to the castle grounds before she could even start looking. Nearly ten minutes later she pushed through the last of the underbrush and emerged onto the lawn that led up to the castle, lit up in the distance.

The sky was totally dark overhead, only stars were shining down. The full moon had yet to come up.

Taylor peered around in the dark. She knew the figure had come from the forest here, but he was going to have a fully formed werewolf on his hands very shortly. Where would he go? He could have taken the Hufflepuff into the Forbidden forest… Taylor turned and looked back into the dark forest. She closed her eyes as she thought and then she heard it. Voices, very faint, on a gentle breeze that was blowing directly into her face. Knowing it was her best lead, she started towards them, moving carefully and as quickly as she could.

She was surprised to find that the voices were coming from all the way on the quidditch pitch. She couldn't make out what they were saying even as she crept along the backside of the stands. Finally she reached a small break in the stands and moved to stand in the deep shadows. She couldn't see well enough to see who was out on the pitch but she could finally make out what they were saying, and realized that they were arguing. Rather loudly.

"I told you this was a bad idea! The moon is due up at any minute and we still haven't seen that contact!"

"Will you calm down! Everything has gone exactly as planned! We have the werewolf and he's out cold. Moody and that nurse will be out for hours too! You got Shacklebolt, and that kid attacked Potter and set off the alarm. By the time they figure out it was a hoax and get the castle unsealed, if they even can tonight, we'll be long gone!"

"We'll be dead if that moon comes up before our contact gets here!"

"Look I made that Portkey myself! Just like the last one! It will work. We just need to wait!"

"I still don't understand why the Dark Lord is messing around with a werewolf! Porter would be a better target if you ask me. She can use Dark Magic! I seen her!"

"Listen you idiot! Don't go questioning the Dark Lord! That's a good way to end up dead! I don't know why he wants this werewolf and I don't care!"

"If you can make a Portkey, why doesn't the Dark Lord just come and take over the school?"

"Merlin! Are you really that stupid? A Portkey to carry more then two people is a lot trickier to make. Plus a single, small Portkey will get through the wards, anything any bigger and it just won't pass through the wards."

"So how did your free-be take Potter, Porter and the werewolf? Huh?"

"Because Porter is an underage witch! You idiotic git! Do you ever listen?"

A soft pop cut off any more conversation between the two and a new harsher voice asked, "Okay where's the pup? We haven't much time before the moon comes up!"

Taylor recognized that voice, it was Fenrir Greyback. He'd come by Portkey to take Greg away!

"Accio Portkey!" Taylor yelled as she pointed her wand at the voices out on the pitch. She needed to do whatever it took to stop them. She heard their startled yells as an old shoe flew into her hand.

"You dolts! That's Porter! Get her!" Greyback yelled.

Taylor wheeled and ran, the Portkey in her hand. Out behind the stands again, she raced towards the changing rooms and the bushes there that would give her some cover. She could hear the yells behind her and then spells started to hit around her. Firing blindly over her shoulder she made it to the changing rooms and the deep shadows there.

"Porter you foolish witch! I can smell you! Do you honestly think you can run or hide from me?" Greyback called out, far closer than Taylor expected.

She knew she had to get rid of the Portkey. If they caught her, or when they caught her was more likely, they couldn't get the Portkey. Hurrying along the changing rooms she paused, heart pounding, and thought quickly.

Dropping the shoe on the ground she could already feel her necklace burning as the ancient words tumbled from her lips, bright blue fire flew from her wand tip and instantly incinerated the shoe.

"That was a very stupid move, witch!"

Taylor wheeled as Greyback stalked towards her through the dark. Her wand whipped through the air and hit him with the same stunner she'd used on Bellatrix and he fell to the ground before she even thought about it.

Taylor didn't stick around, she turned and hurried towards the bushes and cover. She stepped behind the first bush and a glimpse of something caught her eye. Turning she looked up over the Forbidden forest.

The full moon was rising up over the treetops.

Taylor looked out towards the pitch where she suspected the Head Boy was laying. An anguished scream filled the air as the Hufflepuff stood up, the pale glow of the full moon poured over him and he arched backwards as he screamed. Suddenly he started to change shape, his face became longer, as well as his arms and legs. His clothes ripped from his body as his shoulders pushed out and grew, even from this distance she could see the hair that covered him. The scream stopped and the werewolf dropped onto all fours before throwing its head back and howling at the moon.

Taylor's heart hammered in her chest, as her mind processed what had just happened. Greg was a werewolf now! And by the sounds of the snarls she could hear from this distance, he was only a werewolf. The Wolfsbane potion couldn't have worked!

A second inhuman scream filled the air and her head whipped in the direction of the changing rooms where Greyback was. He was changing too!

Wheeling, Taylor ran. Her only thought was to get to the Whomping Willow and to the Shrieking Shack. If it could hold a werewolf in, hopefully it could hold two out!

Running as fast as her legs would carry her, she heard the second, deeper howl and knew Greyback was done transforming. Deciding that straight was better than trying to stay hidden, as both werewolves would be able to smell her, she ran across the lawns aiming at the huge tree that offered her only escape.

She was getting closer, another few seconds and she would be there. A howl off to her right made her look and she tripped over something and fell. She felt the sting on her hand as it skidded along the ground. Scrambling to her feet she started to run again, as memories flashed past her mind of a full moon two months ago. It was almost in this same spot that the Hufflepuff had been attacked.

Running full out she could see the Whomping Willow waving wildly, then two figures came into sight. Moody and Pomfrey!

She skidded to a stop in front of Moody.

"Porter what are you doing here?"

Taylor ignored the old auror and pointed her wand at the knot, freezing the tree. "Get in the tunnel! And run! There are two werewolves!"

For once Moody didn't argue, and he pushed Pomfrey towards the tunnel entrance. Taylor was right on their heels.

"Moody, where is Shacklebolt?" the thought stopped her.

"I don't know. We just came to a few minutes ago." Moody said as Pomfrey disappeared into the tunnel.

"I'll go look for him. You two head for the Shrieking Shack."

"Our wands are gone. I can't ward the trapdoor. And you can't take on two werewolves!" Moody snapped.

"I'll unfreeze the Whomping Willow. It'll give you some protection. Put something heavy on the trap door. I'll knock when I get there." Taylor said as she backed away from the safety of the tunnel.

"Porter!" Moody growled.

"I can't leave the Professor. Go!" Taylor hit the knot on the tree trunk and ran as the Whomping Willow came to life again. She didn't stop and raced up towards the castle to where she hoped she'd find Shacklebolt. She hadn't gone all that far when a howl ripped through the air, way too close for comfort. Then she could hear it as great paws pounded towards her. She had nowhere to go.

Sliding to a stop she turned to face the werewolf head on. She didn't know which one it was; Greyback or Greg. In one sense it didn't matter, they both would kill her if they could. She could see the werewolf pounding towards her, and she reached for Dark Magic. She didn't want to hurt it but she had no other choice.

The sound of a deep snarl behind her made her blood run cold. She had made a fatal error. She hadn't even considered that the two would come on her at the same time, maybe even work together. Heart pounding as if it were trying to escape her chest she turned to see the huge werewolf behind her, not over fifteen feet away. She could see its teeth easily as it snarled and then leapt at her.

She didn't have time to cast a spell or try to jump before the werewolf collided with her and knocked her to the ground. She could hear its snarls, vicious and terrifying, but it took her a moment to realize that she didn't feel any pain, or feel its two inch long teeth sinking into her. Dazed she looked up to see the huge werewolf was standing directly over her, snarling. Slowly she looked out between its two front legs and could see the other werewolf snarling at this one, or her… or both.

Suddenly the werewolf above her leaped away at the other one. The two collided in midair and fell back to the ground fighting viciously, snarls and snapping jaws filled the air. Shaken Taylor pushed herself up off the ground. Her only thought was to go, get as far away from the two as she could, while they were distracted fighting with one another. A sick feeling filled her stomach as she remembered what Lupin had told her about males often killing each other. Her feet actually stopped and she turned and looked back at the fight. She teetered on what she could do, or should do. A moment later the decision was made for her as the two broke apart and turned as one to look at her.

The wind was pushing past her face and blew directly at the two werewolves.

A/N Surely you didn't think Taylor was going to stay safe in the castle with Greg out on the grounds did you? LOL! This chapter and the next almost wrote themselves! I know this is a VERY nast cliffhanger! Not to worry I won't keep you waiting for long! ;)