And FINALLY here is the chapter that many of you have been asking about for a LONG while! ;) Enjoy!

Chapter Ninety-Five

A Horcrux Unveiled

"Argh!" Ginny's frustration reached the surface. "I think those two are going to drive me insane! Why do they have to go off all secret like again?"

"Ginny, you know there is nothing between Harry and Taylor. They just need…" Ron began to try to explain to his sister.

"Ron's right. They just have a totally platonic relationship. Just like Harry and I." Hermione tried to reassure her friend.

While the others were distracted, the Head Boy slipped out of the common room and, quickly looking around, heard a door down the hall click and he ran in that direction. It was a room that was used for storage though what its original purpose was had been lost with time.

He glanced farther down the hallway and saw the broom cupboard that he had used to snog Taylor in countless times and hurriedly slipped into it. He'd discovered that a crack in the wall made listening to someone in the other room possible. His previous two years as a school prefect hadn't been a total waste after all. He'd caught the Head Boy from two years ago and a seventh year Gryffindor witch in a rather compromising position by hiding in this very broom cupboard to avoid Peeves one night. He'd overheard their rather loud snogging and had interrupted them.

He knew if this was as important as it seemed, that Potter was likely to seal the room and silence it, but maybe in his hurry, if he didn't seal it… he might have a chance. Pulling a bunch of long stringy like stuff from his pocket that he had confiscated the other day from a couple of second years, he put one end in his ear and the other end of the Extendable Ears, from Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes, he pushed through the crack along the floor. He knew what he was doing was wrong but his concern for his witch overrode everything else. Potter's voice came through loud and clear.

"… if it's that hard maybe you could tell me where this happened."

He could hear his witch breathing hard, "It's not where… it's what."

"You're not making any sense. Here sit down." A pause. "Now you left the common room fairly early this morning."

"I took the Map. The Death Eater yesterday gave me some memories to see. He said they were clues to the last Horcrux." He could hear her voice was a little steadier.

"So you went to use the Pensive in the Head Mistress' office. Was Dumbledore there?" Silence. "Okay then what? I take it you figured out how to use the Pensive?"

"Yeah… Most of the memories they were just… They just explained… They weren't about the Horcrux." He could hear breathing starting to get ragged again.

"Here breathe in this and lean forward. Look Taylor whatever it is you can tell me." He could hear the rattle of the paper bag as his witch tried to calm her breathing once more.

"Harry…" the voice was choked in anguish, "the… Horcrux…" an anguished cry.

"Shh sis, it's all right. Shh…"

Greg froze in place. Sis? As in sister? Realization spread over him and he drew in a ragged breath himself. Of course! Why hadn't he realized it before? It made perfect sense. The incredible bond the two shared… they were siblings!

"Come on little sister. You've faced a Manticore and Death Eaters. A pit of snakes and even Ole' Voldy. You can tell me."

"Harry… I… it's you… the Horcrux… is you!" The anguished sob this time was followed by his witch gasping for air. The sounds were agonized and sounded like they came from the depths of her soul.

Greg felt paralyzed as the ramifications of what his witch just said pushed through his mind. In order for Voldemort to be destroyed… all the Horcruxes had to be destroyed. If Harry was a Horcrux… Silently, he swore bitterly. As the words his witch had said to him on their first date came back to him. She had sworn to protect Harry, her brother… with her life.

The other room was silent except the sobs coming from his witch for a long time.

"Are you sure?" Potter's voice was heavy.

"The memory… the memory is from… Dumbledore."

Silence.

"Dumbledore?" the wizard's voice was full of disbelief.

"He figured it out… sometime last year…" his witch's voice was choked and wavered, barely recognizable.

The Head Boy listened as his witch explained what had happened in the memory, the sound of betrayal resounding in her voice. When she finished there was silence once more.

"I suppose it was another thing Dumbledore didn't want to tell me until he had too…"

"How…? Harry, I… I'm sorry!"

"I think in a way I always knew… It was always supposed to come down to just Voldemort and me. Now… I have the power to make sure he never comes back."

"No! Harry there has to be a way! I know there is! I can feel it! I will not just let you die! You have power he knows not! Remember! I will not accept that you have to die too! Neither can live while the other survives! It doesn't mean you have to die too! It doesn't! I know where we can fight him! I know where a Horcrux can't survive! The Horcrux is in you, it is not you! I know it!" Her voice had gained strength as she spoke. There was power and complete conviction in every word she spoke.

"What do you mean you know a place where a Horcrux can't survive?"

"The power he knows not! Harry don't you see. At first it was Mum's sacrifice that saved you! Voldemort couldn't touch you because you were protected by Mum's love! What has Dumbledore always said? Love is the most powerful magic! That's why Voldemort couldn't possess you in fifth year! Or now! That's why your Patronus is so powerful! You possess the power of love!"

Silence

"Oh come on brother! Don't be so dense! Can't you see it? It's your compassion! The fact that you still love after everything that has happened to you, after everyone you have lost! It's that same power that resides in the Room of Love! You are a powerful wizard Harry, there is no mistaking that. But your power comes from everything Voldemort shuns and has no respect for! You have love and that is the power he knows not!"

"A Horcrux is an evil thing. We both know that. So like a Dementor can't stay where a Patronus is. A Horcrux won't be able to survive in the Room of Love."

The wizard's voice was astounded, "How do you know?"

"Because I can feel it. Way down in the bottom of my heart."

Silence again for a long while.

"So we have a where, now we just have to plan when." Silence "So what are we going to tell the others?"

"We can't tell anyone this…"

"Really Taylor? You think I have any intention of telling anyone?"

"Sorry… So we have Nagini left on our list of Horcruxes to destroy. We have to come up with a plan but it has to be soon and well coordinated so that when we kill Nagini that Ole' Voldy doesn't have much time to think before he comes after us."

"Us? No. There will be no us! Just me!"

"Really Harry? Since when can you use Dark Magic? How are you going to open the door to the Room of Love?"

"Taylor I am not letting you come with me to fight Voldemort! It's just too dangerous!"

"You're right you aren't letting me. I am going. You need me brother and I will be there. Now we can fight about it. Which I will kick your ass! Or we can plan this thing so that with any luck we can keep our friends from getting hurt."

Silence.

"So you have a plan already started don't you?"

"Yeah I do. We know we need to lure Voldemort to the Ministry and down to the Department of Mysteries. I was thinking that we let it slip to someone… maybe Parkinson, or another of the Slytherins, that we are going to the Ministry after… I don't know… something big."

"What makes you think Voldemort will come himself? He's more than likely to send his Death Eaters."

"Because he wants the two of us. And we are going to be all alone. And my Death Eater friend is going to tell him that I am willing to switch sides and hand him the last Potter."

"That is going to be risky. Are you sure you can trust this Death Eater?"

"I'm willing to bet my life on it… I have a meeting set up with him Saturday night. I think we should plan to do this Sunday night. The Ministry should be completely empty that night."

"In four days!" Potter's voice exclaimed and then started again thoughtfully, "Yeah… that might just work… Hogwarts doesn't let out until the following Friday. So there won't be any kids around… If this thing should go south… we need to set up a contingency plan. Someplace we have set up to meet… What are we going to tell Ron and Hermione?"

"Keep it as close to the truth as possible. We need to kill Nagini and that the last Horcrux is in the Department of Mysteries. They can't come into the Revolving Room with us. It's just going to be too dangerous. I was thinking they could run a little diversion. Let them think we will need some time to get the Horcrux. I'll need time to get the locked door open anyway." Silence "What are you going to tell Ginny?"

"I don't know."

Silence

"What are you going to tell Greg?"

"Nothing. I broke up with him because I know there is a good chance I… or neither of us is going to… Harry I never intended to fall in love with him. I never wanted to hurt him like I probably am going to…"

"Sis, the bloody bloke loves you. Breaking up with him didn't change that. Today should tell you that. He doesn't love you any less. If… Merlin help me if it does, but if something should happen to you… Your breaking up with him isn't going to make it any easier on him. You need to find a way to say goodbye to him, just like I am going to have to say goodbye to Ginny. We owe them that. We can't let them think that they are somehow to blame. They need to know that this is just something we had no choice in doing."

"I know. But I had to try. I never meant for Greg to get hurt, or his family…"

"I know sis. But we have no more control over who falls in love with us than we do over who we fall in love with."

"Thanks Harry. I love you, you know."

"Yeah I gathered that. So you feeling better now? No more trouble breathing?"

A little laugh, "Yeah, much better. It was such a shock… and I was so terrified I was going to lose you… Now though, we have a plan. I can live with it now that we have a focus. That sounds so weird."

"No it sounds like you, and your kickass attitude, are back."

"What can I say? With a father like James Potter did you actually think I'd be a wallflower?"

"No just the pain in the ass you are."

"Git!"

"Barmy witch!"

Greg stayed completely still as the two Potter siblings left the room next door and when he was sure they had gone he pulled the Extendable Ears out of the crack and stuffed them back into his pocket. Standing carefully he leaned against the wall for a while, letting the information he had just overheard sink in. He wondered if maybe he was in shock. All within the span of an hour he had learned his witch had a brother, wasn't a muggleborn and planned on helping her brother go up against Voldemort themselves.

When he could finally move he headed in the direction of the Gryffindor common room once again. He didn't know what he was going to do but if his witch was going to fight Voldemort so was he. Reaching the Fat Lady he gave the password Hermione had used earlier and even though the painting gave him a funny look she swung open to admit him.

When he straightened up he saw the five of them gathered at a table strewn with parchment and all five looked up at him. Taking a deep breath he said, "Taylor could I please have a word with you. It's really important."

He noticed his witch glance at her brother and noticed the absence of annoyance that he always had before. Even the quick silent assent that Harry gave didn't bother him. He was surprised at how quickly the green monster died when he knew that Harry truly wasn't his rival.

"All right Hufflepuff. But it has to be quick. I need to work on something with the others."

He went out through the portal and waited for his witch and then, placing his hand in the small of her back, guided her down the hallway, down a set of stairs to an empty classroom with no cracks so they couldn't be overheard. He sealed and silenced the room just to make sure.

"So what did you want?" He noticed the crossed arms and the aggressive stance on his witch.

"Taylor… I… I overheard everything you said to your brother upstairs."

He saw the blood drain out of her face and wondered if maybe he shouldn't have tried a different tactic.

"You… overheard? Everything?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I was worried about you and, I'm afraid, I was even jealous of Harry. So I snuck into the broom cupboard and used some Extendable Ears to listen in." He said it a little sheepishly, watching as emotions crossed her face, relief, anger, fear and worry were the most dominant.

"I… don't know what to say…"

Greg stepped toward his witch and put his hands on her shoulders. "I know you couldn't tell me about Harry and I know why you broke up with me now… I can even understand a little why you did it… But Harry was right, if something happened to you I would never have forgiven myself. I love you, and right or wrong, whatever might happen… I'd rather face it with you… than be left to question all the "why"s that have no answers."

Taylor closed her eyes against the tide of emotions flooding through her. In a way she was glad that the Hufflepuff finally knew about her brother, and even though she had tried to push him away it hadn't worked. Somehow the knowledge that he still loved her made dealing with everything else just a little easier.

His voice was soft and gentle, "I know you've had a rough go of it this morning. I probably should have waited but… I needed you to know I am here for you."

Emotions overwhelmed her. Stepping forward she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest, as his arms came around her holding her tight. She was safe in his arms once more and able to fight her painfully constricting chest and the inability to breathe that went with it.

He just held her for a long while, content to just be able to touch her once again. His hands rubbed circles on her back as he listened to her ragged breathing, wondering if she was once again going to suffer an attack. It made him wonder at the depth of his brave witch's emotions for this to affect her so profoundly. He could begin to understand where the conviction to help her brother came from and her willingness to lay her life down for him.

When she finally removed her face from his wet shirt, his hand came up and gently cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing the remaining tears from her face as he dropped his head down and gently, almost tentatively, brushed his lips over hers. Her hands slid up into his hair as she sought to deepen the kiss and with a moan his arms tightened around her. He gladly deepened the kiss, relishing in her unique taste as her scent filled his lungs.

Both breathing raggedly their lips broke apart, only the need for air forcing them apart. His lips trailed along her jaw and then up to her cheek, tasting the salt from her tears, to her ear.

"Merlin, witch, I have missed you so much," he breathed into her ear before he captured her lips again in a demanding kiss, his hands slipping inside of her robes and under her shirt, to roam the soft skin of her back.

Her fingers had tangled in his hair as she leaned into him, her body answering the need in his. Her skin tingled and warmed beneath his touch and she pulled her own hand down and slid it under his shirt reveling in the smooth feel of his skin under her fingers. The desperate need for air forced their lips apart once more but she willing tipped her head back so he could work his way along her jaw to the point on her neck that made a moan slip from her parted lips.

He returned to her lips with a potency that had her breathless in seconds, his voice husky and deep as he whispered against her lips, "Oh Merlin help me…" as he struggled to control his powerful desire for the pliant witch in his arms. He grasped onto the first sane thought that came to him and hung onto it as his hands encircled her waist and he tucked her head against his chest once more, laying his cheek on the top of her head. The faint smell of her raspberry shampoo not helping his bid for control, but he managed it.

Unwilling to let her out of his arms, yet knowing they needed to talk he pulled out his wand and conjured a large comfy chair and, sitting down, he pulled his witch onto his lap, still holding her against his chest.

It was some time before either spoke.

"Can I ask you something?" he finally asked quietly.

She nodded, "Yeah, I suppose you have some questions."

"A few… I was wondering… how, and why you could be unknown? I mean, I know the story about the Potters. I understand why you hated Wormtail now… How is it such a well known family could have a daughter who is completely unknown?"

Nestled against his chest, safe in his arms, she told him the story about how she was found and what, as well as why, Dumbledore erased her birth record.

"So he sent you to Canada to live with your great aunt and uncle… and you never knew you were a witch?" Taylor shook her head. "So when did you find out? Who your parents were, I mean. Why tell everyone you are muggleborn?"

She told him about coming to England and her first trip to Diagon Alley, as well as her first trip up to Dumbledore's office in her first week. "It was just easier, not knowing anything, to tell people I was muggleborn. No one expected to know who my parents were if they were muggles. Plus I didn't know that they weren't, so it wasn't exactly a lie." She paused for a moment, "I found out at the start of sixth year. It was a bit of a shock really… I didn't even know I was a whole year younger then Harry until then. Well not really… I thought my Uncle Herbert had somehow mixed up my age when I realized Harry, Hermione and the others were all a year older. He was a really great uncle, but rather different. He had all these sayings that he used for everything… I used to think they were so dumb when I was little."

Greg thought about everything his witch told him. He found it hard to believe that she had known so little about who she was… "You and Harry have always been close. Did you suspect he was related to you?"

She shook her head and told him about first seeing her brother on the train and how it was Halloween before they became friends. "I was his friend, like Hermione. Even after I knew… well, we really never started to get really close, not like we are now, until I left with him last summer."

"You really have no idea when your birthday is?"

She shrugged, "When I was with my uncle, we always celebrated it on July 1st. It's Canada's birthday. There was always a parade in town… I just thought it must have been then. When Dumbledore told me he thought I was only about six to eight weeks old the night I was found… well that would mean I was born sometime in September or the end of August."

He stared at his witch for a moment before he said, "If that were the case… if you were born in September… you should only be in fifth year! Merlin! That is incredible! You got a whole slew of OWLs and sat your NEWTs and you probably should have had another two years left at school! Why did Dumbledore send you so young?"

Taylor sat back a little and glared up at the Hufflepuff. Her age was still a sore spot for her. "What? You think I'm too young now?"

"No, nothing like that! It's just that Garret is a fifth year and his birthday is on September the third… He just sat his OWLs… You are a gifted witch there is no mistaking that!"

She rolled her eyes, "That is ridiculous. I studied just like everyone else. Merlin, don't tell Harry that, he'll have a canary! Besides I'd hate to have been held back another year, let alone two!" she then explained Dumbledore's reason for sending her early.

Nodding he said with a smile, "I guess I'll have to wait another few months… and a lot of cold showers…"

"You prat! What are you talking about?"

"Well I haven't got a ring yet… but we'll have to wait until after you turn of age to get married." The look in his eyes made her shiver in anticipation, making her hope again for a future she might not have.

"You might not even want me by then. You could have come to your senses by then and not even…" His finger on her lips stopped her from saying any more.

"Witch, if these two weeks have taught me anything, it is that I can't stand to be apart from you. It's not just the week leading up to the full moon… I missed you every night, and every day that I had to stay away… I'm not sure I could have handled many more…" he looked into her eyes and knew that this wasn't the right time. That they had just gotten back together and still needed to talk about so much more… He'd even said he'd wait until after they finished school…

Swallowing hard he stood and sat his witch down in the chair as he pulled his wand out of his pocket and walked to the other side of the room.

Taylor watched as the wizard walked away from her, not sure just what was wrong. She didn't know whether to go to him or give him some space. She knew he'd been upset when he set her down. She still was undecided when he turned and walked back to her, stopping in front of her. Slowly he knelt on one knee in front of her.

"Taylor, I know that this is probably the worst timing. I know what you need to do… I respect that. You told me on our first date that you didn't know if you would make it through this coming fight… Maybe it is because of that, or maybe it is that I want to know you are mine… This isn't even a real ring… But it will do until I can buy you one… What I'm trying to say is… Taylor, I love you. With my heart, soul and werewolf, will you please… Marry me?"

Taylor looked into those blue eyes so full of love and hope. Her heart swelled until it nearly choked her, "Yes. Maybe it's wrong but yes… I will."

Greg's hand shook a little as he picked up her left hand and slipped the silver sickle he had transfigured into a thin carved ring onto her finger. His heart was pounding but lighter than it had been in weeks. He noticed that even as rotten a timing as this was, his witch hadn't hesitated to say yes.

Tenderly he leaned forward and kissed her, putting the promise of forever in the kiss.

Standing, he picked her up and settled back in the chair with her once again on his lap.

"That'll make the cold showers a little easier to bear."

Taylor couldn't help but giggle a little as she looked at the ring on her finger. She wondered at her sanity for ever saying yes, though she knew her heart had made her agree.

They sat in contented silence for a while and then they talked about what else the Hufflepuff had overheard. It was mid afternoon when they finally returned to the Gryffindor common room hand in hand.

"I was beginning to wonder if we were going to have to come looking for you." Ron said as he glanced over at the pair.

Hermione saw her friend and the Head Boy holding hands and after a quick glance at Harry and Ginny said casually, "So you two settled your differences did you?"

Taylor shook her head slightly and rolled her eyes, "You might say that. So what did you get done while I was gone?" Looking down as she reached the table she could see the diagram of the Ministry was almost complete.

A/N Well... there you go Greg FINALLY knows! :D So what did you think? When I thought about HOW he was going to find out I just couldn't see Taylor breaking down and telling him. Sure she loves Greg but Harry is her brother and she would NEVER betray her brother and tell Greg. So that left me with him overhearing the truth... and I hope you read VERY carefully because a LOT! was in that conversation that the Hufflepuff overheard! It was likely the most important conversation that I wrote in this story. It (hopefully) explained how I construed what the prophecy was meant to mean. Hopefully it explained it well enough! Plus yes I know... Greg proposed to Taylor... but really is that a surprise? Let me know what you think! I would love to know your thoughts on this chapter!

THANK YOU to all of you who left a review! I know I say this alot but your reviews really do make my day! :D As well thank you for just reading this far! That means alot! Cause hopefully NO ONE is gonna punish themselves by reading over 400 000 words and not like what they are reading at least a little bit! :D

And THANK YOU to my wonderful beta barbc! Who has been fixing my grammer and spelling mistakes now for over a year and a half! You are the best girl! Well until next time, cytpotter.