I've been having a awful time getting the ingredients for that Polyjuice Potion so... nope I'm still not JK Rowling so I don't own Harry!

Chapter Ninety-one

Explanations of a Werewolf

Taylor waited in the bed beside the Hufflepuff, separated by a curtain as she listened to the nurse look after the Head Boy. She heard the nurse clicking her tongue and wondered what she had found. A commotion out in the hallway made her stand. She could hear her brother's voice. Hurrying around the screen she could see him through the doors as Moody attempted to hold him up.

"Moody what do you mean I can't go in there! I want to see Taylor!"

"Look Potter…" was as far as Moody got before Taylor made it to the hospital doors.

"Taylor," Harry breathed in relief as he closed the distant between them and pulled her into a bone crushing hug. "Thank Merlin! Do you have any idea how worried I've been? I should have my head examined for letting you go last night!"

"Can't breathe…" Taylor managed and the arms slackened their hold a little.

"Are you all right? What happened? The rumor is someone was killed." Harry asked as he pushed his sister arms length away and ran his eyes over her carefully, noting the grass and dirt stains on her clothing as well as the rips and holes in her shirt. Several colorful oaths fell softly from his lips before he asked horrified, "Are those teeth marks?"

Taylor shook her head, "Harry I'm fine. And it really isn't as bad as it looks. Greg saved my life last night, on more than one occasion." She could see the fear and worry in her brother's eyes. She was going to reassure him some more when McGonagall arrived.

"Miss Porter, are you all right? Mr. Potter what are you doing here?" the Head Mistress asked briskly.

"I came to see if Taylor was all right." Harry answered quickly beating Taylor to it.

"I can escort Potter out if you wish Head Mistress," Moody offered in his gravelly voice and Harry gave him a dirty look.

McGonagall sighed. She knew that it was probably better not to try to separate the two siblings, plus Potter might as well hear this first hand. His sister would undoubtedly tell him anyway. "No Alaster, Potter can stay. As soon as Remus arrives would you please seal the ward? I'm sure Poppy will want her patients to rest so the sooner we are through the better." Moody nodded and McGonagall walked over to Greg's father and uncle, who had watched the exchange curiously.

Taylor looked up at her brother with a raised eyebrow and saw him shrug ever so slightly.

"Miss Porter! I distinctly remember pointing you to a bed." Pomfrey's voice called briskly and Taylor quickly headed for the bed she'd been shown to and laid down so the nurse could examine her. She watched as the nurse passed her wand over her several times and like Greg, lifted her shirt to visually inspect her stomach for marks. When the nurse was finished, she healed the cut on her palm and a couple of odd scratches here and there. "You were exceptionally fortunate to escape last night with only a couple of scratches, Miss Porter."

The nurse waved her wand and she vanished the screens separating the beds, as well as blocking them from the view of those waiting over by the nurse's office or the door to the hospital. "Head Mistress these two are fit enough for you to question them, though Mr. Hunter needs to get some rest as does Miss Porter.

"Thank you Poppy. We'll keep this as short as possible." McGonagall said as she made her way towards the two students in the beds. Greg's father and uncle following her as Moody, Harry and an exhausted looking Lupin did too.

Taylor glanced over at the Head Boy, who was staring at her. She smiled at him. His answering smile was a little tight, his blue eyes were suddenly cautious. She wished she could hold his hand to reassure him.

"Alaster?" McGonagall gave the old auror a questioning look.

"All warded and sealed Head Mistress." Came the gravelly reply.

Greg's father and uncle sat on the bed beside his. Harry sat on the one on the other side of Taylor, and Lupin joined him there looking like he couldn't stand a whole lot longer. McGonagall drew up a chair and sat down, while Moody chose to stand.

"We need you two to tell us what happened last night. Unfortunately this cannot wait. I need to report to the Ministry right away. I'm sure I do not need to stress to either of you the gravity of this situation." Professor McGonagall said in a grave voice.

"No Professor," Taylor and the Head Boy chorused, and then he started off.

"A hooded wizard stunned and disarmed Moody and Madame Pomfrey after Professor Shacklebolt left to investigate the alarm in the castle. Moody already had my wand. The hooded wizard told me to put up my hands and go with him or he'd kill Madame Pomfrey. He took me down by the forest and then he stunned me too." The Hufflepuff glanced over at Taylor so she took up her tale from there.

Taylor told them about seeing the Head Boy being taken away and then leaving. Harry interrupted and explained how his sister had helped Ginny before she left. Taylor gave him a dirty look and he just shrugged before she continued on with going out through the secret passageway to the Forbidden Forest.

"There's a secret passageway out of this castle that isn't sealed and you just happened to know about it?" Moody asked glaring at her with both of his eyes.

"It's the one the Slytherins have been using all year, and I suppose that auror too." Taylor said thinking, "That's why it was never sealed, I bet any money! Because that auror would know how to vanish the wards guarding the tunnel." She explained about reaching the edge of the forest and hearing the voices on the wind and the conversation she overheard from where she had hidden in the quidditch stands.

"Did you recognize them?" McGonagall asked sharply.

"Not right then. The moon hadn't come up yet and it was quite dark. I heard the pop from a Portkey and then I did recognize Greyback's voice right away. I couldn't let them take Greg away so I summoned the Portkey and ran." Taylor continued with them chasing her and destroying the Portkey and binding Greyback. She could feel her heart start to pound when she came to the part of Greg's transformation and she skimmed over it. "Then I ran, I heard Greyback transform and I headed for the Whomping Willow."

Greg took over. He'd noticed the change in her voice when she spoke about his transformation even as she struggled to gloss over it. "I didn't know anything until I felt the start of my transformation… when it was over, the first thing I smelled on the wind was Taylor. I headed over to the stands where she had been and then started to track her. That's when I heard Greyback and caught his scent. I caught a glimpse of someone running and set out after them. It wasn't until I got nearly to them that I realized it wasn't Taylor. It was a wizard, but not the one who had taken me at wand point. I turned to head back down towards the forest to search for Taylor when I caught someone else's scent. It was close by so I investigated. It was Professor Shacklebolt. I couldn't wake him up and I didn't dare leave him on the ground so I…"

"Tossed him up on top of the greenhouse." Moody finished in his gravelly voice.

Greg's face turned red and he looked down at the floor guiltily, his voice rather sheepish. "I was a little overzealous. I really wasn't used to my strength. I didn't mean to toss him so hard, but…"

"Don't worry Mr. Hunter, Professor Shacklebolt was just fine when he came to this morning, if a little confused as to how he ended up atop the greenhouse." McGonagall said reassuringly.

"Oh well that's a relief!" Greg sighed as he glanced up at the Head Mistress before he continued. "I set out after Taylor then."

Taylor swallowed as she remembered her race across the grounds. The howl down by the forest had been Greyback… "When I reached the Whomping Willow I saw Moody and Madame Pomfrey… How were you up? The auror out on the quidditch pitch said you would be out for hours?" she asked as the thought occurred to her.

Moody grunted disgustedly, "I hate shoddy wand work and that so called auror couldn't stun worth a damn! It's a good thing though." He said, filling them in on how he and the nurse woke up to hear howls and then saw Taylor running towards them. They related the short conversation where Taylor had insisted on going to look for Shacklebolt and a brief description of the night they had spent in the Shrieking Shack waiting for Taylor to come.

"Why the hell didn't you go to the Shrieking Shack?" Greg demanded as he narrowed his eyes at her.

"Because Shacklebolt was out there somewhere stunned and there were two werewolves running loose! I couldn't leave him! And Moody didn't have a wand!" Taylor snapped as she met his angry look.

Harry snorted and muttered, "And they say I have a hero complex!"

Taylor gave her brother a dirty look.

"But you didn't know the Wolfsbane potion worked at that point!" Lupin spoke for the first time, his voice incredulous.

She sighed and looked over at the exhausted older werewolf. Shaking her head, "No I didn't."

"Bloody hell Taylor! What were you thinking?" Harry asked suddenly furious. "You knew there were two werewolves!"

"What would you have done, Harry?" she demanded and saw him glance away.

"Mr. Hunter, what happened next?" McGonagall asked directly.

"I saw Taylor running up away from the Whomping Willow and saw Greyback closing fast. She stopped and turned to face him. I couldn't let her try to take him on, so I went after Greyback…" the Hufflepuff said.

"You mean you came up behind me and scared the bejebers out of me! And knocked me on the ground! And then attacked Greyback." Taylor exclaimed pointing an accusing finger at him. He merely shrugged.

"If you had gone to the Shrieking Shack…"

"So then what?" McGonagall prompted.

Taylor quickly told about running and then the two werewolves chasing after her and then jumping at her and how she ran again. When she came to the next part she faltered and her heart pounded.

Greg again took up the story, "I knew Taylor was running away as I fought with Greyback and he waited until I looked to see where she was going, to get away from me again. I raced directly towards her, but for some reason Greyback circled out around. I'm not sure if he caught the scent of that wizard and decided he'd be easier prey than Taylor or not, but I saw him making for the wizard so I grabbed her and dragged her away. The smell of the blood was very pungent and I didn't think I'd remain in control if I went any closer. Taylor's scent helped me stay in control until I was farther away."

"That's very impressive. I don't know if I'd be able to do that. Even with as much practice as I've had. The smell of blood is an incredible lure, as is something running away. It triggers the most primitive instincts in the beast," Lupin spoke again as he stared at the young werewolf. "That is truly quite astounding."

"Well I wouldn't say that. It was more the protective instincts than anything I thought that made the werewolf pull Taylor away. If she had been too close, Greyback would have gone after her and I might not have been able to stop him." The Hufflepuff said simply.

"So you had nothing to do with the auror who was killed up near the castle?" Moody asked to clarify and the Head Boy said no.

"The werewolf pulled me a ways away and then I realized it was Greg. We headed for the forest as fast as I could run." She told them about waiting down by the edge of the forest and then Greg pulling her towards the quidditch pitch once more.

"I caught the smell of Greyback and decided that maybe facing him out in the open would be better. I'd planned on pushing Taylor into the changing rooms while I went to get him but that wizard who stunned me in the first place was waiting up by the quidditch stands. Then Greyback came out. He'd used the wind to his advantage and circled up around us. He challenged me, he'd been after my mate all night. There was no way I couldn't take him on. My only concern was that Taylor was too close. Then that wizard summoned her away…" the Head Boy paused as he struggled to put the reasoning of a werewolf into words. It was kill or be killed. If he went down, Greyback would have killed Taylor, probably very slowly just out of spite.

Taylor started again, "I recognized the wizard then as one of the aurors that had been in the school all year for security. I was able to disarm him… I could hear Greg fighting with Greyback… I put a binding spell on him and left him. When I rounded the stands again I saw Greg had beaten Greyback. After he… made sure I was alright, he took me down to the forest where he found a place to lay down and we stayed until this morning."

"Why take Taylor to the forest? Why not just leave her up by the changing rooms? It would have been safe enough by then." Greg's father asked a little perplexed by that move. He knew how dangerous the forest could be.

Greg looked at his father and struggled to again put the instincts of a werewolf into words, "I had just… killed to protect my mate. The werewolf was ruling my thinking, just like it had for the fight. Its instinct was to take its mate as far from what it perceived as danger as it could. The forest isn't a danger to the werewolf. That's why it had taken her there before."

"Your mate? What do you mean your mate?" Greg's father asked sharply as his eyes narrowed.

Greg sighed, he'd never used that term before with his father, but he knew that was exactly what the werewolf thought of Taylor. It wasn't that the werewolf wouldn't have killed Taylor without the influence of his mind but the beast's instincts didn't look at her as food and were much closer to protective. Though just what the werewolf would do he never wanted to find out. "Yes, that is what the werewolf views Taylor as… my mate." He knew it was a little confusing, even in his own mind.

Lupin spoke up once again. "It is rare for our kind to find someone who is understanding of our condition and willing to endure it. What Greg is speaking about is even more rare. As Moody explained to you the other day, the toxin that infected him is a hybrid from up to three different werewolves, making it unique. That is why we didn't know if the Wolfsbane potion would work. Unfortunately with all that happened last full moon, you weren't informed about your son's strong symptoms leading up to it." Lupin explained the heightened sense of smell and hearing as well as the particularly powerful protective instinct and his need to be with Taylor at all times.

His father stared from the older werewolf to his son, unsure what to say.

"It's not as bad as it sounds. I just get… anxious if I'm not around Taylor, particularly the two or three days before the full moon."

"So what does that all mean? And what's with the mate business?" his uncle Mike asked, speaking up for the first time.

"It means that the werewolf has claimed Taylor as its mate as well and while I doubt that it wouldn't kill her if Greg didn't take the Wolfsbane potion, it will, as it demonstrated last night, not hesitate to kill to protect her… Something that one needs to keep in mind for the future." Lupin answered regarding the young werewolf carefully.

"But Lupin, you told me that male werewolves often fight… to the death. So what's so different about what Greg did to that?" Taylor asked curiously.

"Because even after killing Greyback, when its instincts should have been to claim the prize, which would have been you!" Lupin reprimanded as he stared at the witch. "The werewolf, instead of going after you… which Greg admitted he wasn't in control at the time, instead led you off to the forest."

Taylor nodded slowly as she thought about the werewolf springing at her and then carefully sniffing her.

"So getting back to the main issues here. You killed Greyback in a fight, right Hunter?" Moody asked once again clarifying.

"Yeah, it was kill or be killed, but yeah I did." Greg said in a tight voice.

"Don't worry son. No one blames you, nor will there be a Ministry investigation. Greyback was a known killer, as well as a Death Eater. It will only take two tests to clear you of having anything to do with the auror's murder. As for you Miss Porter, I know you will need to testify to the Minister and Head Auror as to what you overheard him say and his subsequent capture by you." Moody informed them as he settled his magical eye on the witch. "You used a Dark Magic spell to bind him did you not?"

Taylor met Moody's stare and said unflinchingly, "You know I did, so why ask?"

"Because, Miss Porter, everyone in this room might know you can use Dark Magic but the Minister for Magic and the Head Auror do not!"

Taylor sighed and she couldn't help but glance at Greg's father and uncle who, other than wearing nearly identical scowls, were not surprised. She wondered how long they had known.

"Can the auror that Taylor bound with Dark Magic, prove it?" Harry asked quietly.

"No. It will be his word against hers, if he brings it up. All traces of the Dark spell have dissipated by now. He was creating illegal portkeys, which we can trace back to him. The evidence against him, along with Porter's testimony, is enough to send him to Azkaban for the rest of his life." Moody said.

"Miss Porter, you said he was using the Slytherins, did he expand on that any?" McGonagall asked and Taylor shook her head. "Well I believe that is all I need for now. Until things settle down, I want Moody to stay and keep an eye on you three. So Potter you will remain here until Tonks or Professor Shacklebolt comes to escort you back to Gryffindor Tower. Miss Porter, I will send word when the Minister and Head Auror will wish to speak with you. Mr. Hunter, I believe you need to rest. Dan, Mike please come to see me before you leave, there is something I wish to discuss with you." McGonagall stood from her chair when she finished speaking and with a wave of her wand vanished it.

She turned to go and as an afterthought added to Greg's father and uncle, "I know you have questions and need answers but please remember that both wizards are in need of rest." She glanced meaningfully at Lupin before she continued on out of the Hospital as Moody released the wards and took up a position by the door.

Harry glanced at his sister and then over at the two men who were sitting on the other side of the Hufflepuff, and he felt very out of place. Standing, he met his sister's eye. He excused himself and headed over to the door to stand with Moody.

Taylor felt just as out of place as her brother and swung her legs off the bed. "I'll go too!" she said and was standing before Mr. Hunter spoke.

"No please Miss Porter, stay. I believe I need to speak to you as much as my son." His voice was firm, if not slightly commanding.

Taylor turned and looked at Mr. Hunter for a long moment, not backing down one bit from his stare. Finally nodding she resumed her seat on the bed.

She could tell how tired Greg was by the sound of his voice as he told his father and uncle about their little adventure with the Portkey on Friday, as well as answered questions about last night. Lupin added or clarified a point here or there as his father asked about this and that. Mostly things Taylor already knew.

When they finally seemed satisfied that they knew everything that had happened to the Head Boy, Mr. Hunter said in an appraising voice, "It seems I owe you again for saving my son, Miss Porter. I have to admit I'm not sure I trust your motives. You seem to always be in the right place at the right time."

Taylor ignored the Hufflepuff's admonishment of his father, "I don't blame you for not trusting me, but I assure you that my being able to use Dark Magic does not make me a dark witch. My motives are the same as they have always been, and will always be. I will try to protect Greg to the best of my ability, whatever that ability might be. As for being in the right place, I've been best friends with Potter for seven years and I find trouble just seems to find me. Maybe it's because I refuse to turn tail and run from it." There was a clear challenge in her voice as she finished.

It was Lupin who broke the tense silence that ensued. "I can understand your hesitation and fear for Dark Magic, but I ask you to think about this one fact. In all that you have heard, and I'm sure Alaster has filled you in on more than what has been said here, when have you heard of this witch once using that power for personal gain? I sure haven't, only to protect. What dark witch could ever claim that?"

"Alaster told me the difference between Dark Magic and the Dark Arts. Though I'm still not sure there is much of a difference. A life time of believing is a difficult thing to ignore." Greg's father said in a hard tone.

"I'm not asking you to ignore anything. And I don't expect you to trust me. But I am not going anywhere unless your son asks me to." Taylor said quietly as she met Mr. Hunter's hard expression.

"Dad, that is enough! Taylor has more than proven to me that she is no dark witch. On more than one occasion. If you have a problem with her then…" The Hufflepuff started angrily but Taylor cut him off.

"Greg! He is entitled to his own opinion. I will not be driven away, but I also have no wish to separate you from your family. I will leave you three to talk." Taylor said firmly as she stood and walked towards her brother and Moody.

Lupin stood also and, even though he was exhausted, the look he gave the two adults spoke volumes. "I will not tell you what to believe, because in these times every man must defend his family as he sees fit, but Alaster's unrelenting suspicion of that witch is wrong. As will you be, if you try to cling to your beliefs and not use your mind where that witch is concerned." Lupin then nodded and walked away.

Greg laid into his father as soon as the older werewolf was outside the silencing charm that had been put up earlier. "Dad! How can you question Taylor's intentions? She risked her life not over twelve hours ago to sneak out of this castle and save me! Then she willingly faced two werewolves to go look for her professor!"

"It's my job to question her actions! Because she did sneak out of this sealed and warded castle! How did she know about that tunnel? How would she know it was unwarded?" Greg's father demanded sharply.

"Maybe because Harry, Ron and I went out that same tunnel not long ago to see where some Slytherins were going!" Greg shot back.

"Greg, your father is right to question that witch. You know Dark Magic or Arts are bad news. You've been taught that from day one!" His uncle Mike said backing up his father.

"So you are going to judge her on what Moody has told you? Well did Moody tell you he has used an Unforgivable on that witch? No? How about that he has goaded her time and time again trying to get her to snap and attack him with Dark Magic? No? How about that he tried to read her mind just a day after she lost Mrs. Briggs, the closet thing she had to family, and that she wouldn't let him? Yet when it came to saving me!? No matter what it cost her, she willingly let him! Yeah that sounds like a dark witch to me! She got a lot out of that! She wasn't the same for days afterward! She has no family! No one Dad, yet is she over here trying to get close to ours? No she walked away so you and Uncle Mike could stay!" Greg was furious, and on some level he was very glad it was after the full moon and not before, because he probably would have done more than glare at his father.

His father was silent for a few long moments as he stared at his angry son. It was Mike that broke the heavy silence.

"For being your witch, as you are trying to make us believe, she looked quite comfortable hugging Potter."

Greg felt a little twinge of jealousy but it hadn't been Potter that she had risked her life to save. "Harry and Taylor are closer to brother and sister than they are to best friends. Harry, Ron and Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger are the closet she has to any family at all. They all share an incredible friendship that has bonds that I would say are as close to family ties as it is possible to get. I've watched the five of them interact and they are like a family. It's really quite amazing. They have even integrated me into that group. And me being a werewolf wasn't even a tiny issue. They just accepted it the same as Taylor." Greg looked at his father imploring him to listen to him and think.

"If anyone was a candidate to turn to the Dark it was Taylor. She was alone, with no family from a young age. She was quiet and, believe it or not, soft spoken. But never have I ever seen her back down from a challenge, or a fight! Even when she was wandless she found a way to protect herself. But other than pulling a prank on some well deserving Slytherins, I have never seen her try to bully anyone. She takes no shit from anyone though! But she does not look for attention and usually avoids it at all costs."

"I can't explain her use of Dark Magic. I don't think she can either. It's like being made a werewolf. It's something she has no control over. She can simply do it." Greg looked over where his witch was standing by Moody and Potter listening to what they were saying and he wondered if there were a couple of fresh burn marks on her neck. "It's not something she is proud of, but she has accepted it and has sworn to use it against Voldemort in any way that she can. What's more important is that I have accepted that she can use Dark Magic. I've known since just after Christmas.

"She might be willing to step aside and allow you to not trust her but I am not. She is my mate. She's the witch I plan on marrying as soon as she will have me when we finish school. I do not need your permission, but I would like to have your acceptance." Greg looked back up at his father and waited.

Dan Hunter stared at his son for a long time, taking note of the exhaustion on his son's face but also the set of his jaw and the look in his clear blue eyes. A man lay in that bed looking up at him. Gone, even from the month before, was the little bit of boy who had remained. His son had watched a wizard die and been forced to kill one, all in the span of three days and it had changed him. Dan could see it. His son had just spoken to him as a man, not a pleading son, but firm and resolute.

"Are you sure you are not mixing desire up with something else? She is a very pretty little thing if you look past the dirt and short hair." Mike said as he looked across the hospital ward at the witch causing the problem.

Greg's voice was hard and had a distinct warning in it, "Uncle Mike that is the witch I plan on marrying. Unless you are looking for a fight I suggest you curb your comments in the future."

Greg's father put a hand on his brother's shoulder to stop him from speaking, so that he could address his son. "I think what your Uncle is trying to say, in a rather crass sort of way, is that are you sure you are thinking straight? A lot has happened to you in just two short months. And if you are experiencing such strong symptoms from the werewolf then maybe you aren't thinking…"

Greg interrupted his father. "The symptoms are not some strange new feeling. They are more of a magnification of what I already feel. The werewolf is not choosing Taylor. I have chosen Taylor and the werewolf simply agrees with that choice. I loved Taylor before I ever became a werewolf. Those feelings have only grown deeper since."

Greg's father nodded, "Okay son. We are only trying to look out for you. I don't want you to make a mistake, or alienate your family who loves you very much."

"I know that Dad. I'm not making a mistake. I love her so much it scares me at times. I don't want to be an outcast from my family but I will not stand for them to judge her unfairly either." Greg met his father's eyes and saw that at least he accepted that much from him.

They talked for a little while longer about easier topics before the two wizards said they needed to be on their way.

"Good luck on your NEWTs son. I'll give your mother your love," Dan Hunter said as he clasped his son's hand with one hand and squeezed his shoulder with his other.

A/N I know that this chapter rehashes what happened in the last two but there are some very important... how should I say it? Charactor awarness reminders in this chapter that are very important to understand what happens in the next chapter. Plus You just knew that Greg and taylor would have to tell if not the Ministry then McGonagall what happened out on the school grounds! Hope you enjoyed!

Well this chapter will take us over 400,000 words... WOW! Who knew I could write so much! I sure didn't when I started this story almost 5 years ago! We are appraoching the end... only about 10 or so chapters to go. So if you are reading this... then THANK YOU for sticking with this story for so long! I am honoured that you have taken the time to read this far! I only hope you enjoy the rest of the story! Until next time, cytpotter.