Sorry for the delay with this one, I had to change the ending a bit, but there are some characters that write themselves on their own, it was actually difficult to stop until I saw that I was going out of the plan and was just rambling about other things, you'll notice. Anyway, we're at the tenth chapter! (*throws confetti*) For a story that was supposed to last only three chapters, this is amazing, you dear readers are great, without your support this story would probably be long forgotten, now I don't know how long it will be. Thanks again for reading, commenting and following, I know I'm not the best writer here, but I'm happy to know that you still like what I do (for a Mexican with some troubles in grammar and no friends willing to read something in English… sometimes I need someone to plan this things…).
Now I just hope that you stay with the story until the end, even if the next one is not that good. I promise not to let you down with this. Read, enjoy and comment please. Let's see where it takes us.
10. - Unexpected visit.
The girls squealed in surprise when a burst of yellow sparkles started to come out of the old printer on the floor, where the saw started cutting into the metallic parts inside the machine, the robot, controlled by Raj, looked great, it was 25 inch tall an it was painted in purple blue and yellow, it had attached a powerful saw, a fire thrower and it had a compartment full of a sticky substance that was able to slow down any kind of wheels and it was inflammable, the guys had actually made a good fighting robot and by the way it was making little pieces out of the printer it could have a good advantage in battle.
Once they had finally left the fair behind and where on Penny's car back to the apartment, the girls had started making comments about the predictions made a few minutes ago, Bernadette expressed her sadness at knowing that there were some years to come before her promotion at job, since she wasn't willing to have a child in the near future (something that Sheldon doubted a bit, because Howard still had the tendency to make inappropriate comments about their sexual lives, his promiscuity might get them to parenthood sooner than Bernadette expected).
Amy was daydreaming about her possible romantic affair with some random man, and saying out loud what she would do once she found him (Sheldon believed that Amy's intention was to make him feel jealous, or guilty, but he really wished that she could find someone that could make her that happy). The only one not making a big fuss about her prediction was Penny, it was a surprise given her love for such unwarranted 'seers', he knew about the divination branch and the accuracy of some predictions, but it had been proved that sometimes the result could be changed and that expecting something to go as planned had more chances to change in a matter of minutes than anything.
He was still looking at her warily, there was something about the way she had 'acted' after that thief (yes, no one could make a prediction out of a single word) had told her that her big break into the lime lights was coming 'soon', and maybe she had noticed that it had been strange, because she was also trying to avoid the whole topic.
Once they had all gathered at the roof to see the robot demonstration, the group had separated a bit, the guys showing off all the things and changes they had done to the machine, Sheldon had made some comments about safety and possible disadvantages to the model, but at the end he was actually very happy with the result, Amy, Bernadette and Penny were watching, saying that they couldn't really understand why they wasted time doing those things, but at the end the excuse to make them scream (as in Howard's words) had worked.
After the demonstration while Howard checked that the robot had no important damage in itself, Leonard, and Raj started to clean up, while Amy ran down the stairs to get a trash bag; Sheldon approached Penny and stood beside her, not wanting to lean against the wall where she was.
"Penny, please explain what happened at that 'Shaskary's' booth." He saw her flinch a little, but then she turned to look at him with her usual smile.
"She made some predictions about our future, looking into her crystal ball and everything, I don't know why you of all people want to know what happened there, you don't believe in it anyway."
"Penny" he said looking around to see that the others where still busy ", you know now that I had a façade to stick to, that doesn't mean I don't know a thing or two about those techniques, within the wizard's world there are true seers that can make real predictions, the fraudulent ones are those who work in the muggle world."
Penny looked at him, her expression changing from her cheerful smile to a scared one.
"Then…" she looked once again back to where the others where almost done with the cleaning "then I don't know what happened… Should I worry?"
Sheldon shook his head, thinking about what he could do with this new discovery. Penny had the ability to develop divination skills, as much as he wanted to do something about it, he had never been fond of that practice and had never really been good at it when he tried, there was only one person in the world who could help him with this (well, not the only one, but the one he trusted more).
"We should get going." Said Penny snapping him out of his thoughts with a hand on his shoulder, the rest of the group had already walked downstairs, leaving them alone in the roof. He nodded and followed her.
Once back in the apartment Howard and Leonard placed the robot in a safe spot, the girls entered behind them and Raj hurried downstairs to dispose of the now useless printer. Amy closed the door behind her.
"Have you noticed that Sheldon and Penny had been spending more time together than usual?"
Howard and Leonard shared a glance, and Bernadette walked towards the couch to sit down.
"I mean, I know they're friends and I've always know they are very close, but when we were all together they stayed with the group, now they are just… by themselves."
"It's true," said Leonard crossing his arms "they had been seeing each other more than usual.
"Hey," chuckled Howard "you are not suggesting that they might be more than friends now, are you? Because we all know that there's no way that Sheldon and Penny would… ever."
"I don't know Howie" said Bernadette touching her hair ", you know what people say about opposites, and they couldn't be more different from each other, it's actually surprising that they both get along."
"I wish I knew what the thing that they had in common is; there must be something other than just us being their friends."
The group nodded trying to think of something that could explain why the physicist and the blonde had no trouble getting along. Their thoughts were interrupted when Sheldon pushed the door open, with Penny right next to him.
"…Mew maw used to do something with the tea…" He was explaining, but by the look on everyone faces, he stopped. " What? I was just trying to tell Penny how my Mew maw usually prepared Christmas treats when I was a kid, she's a wonderful cook and if Penny pretends to do something good for the holidays this year she should learn something from an expert."
The following morning Sheldon knocked on Penny's door at exactly 11 am. She stood up from her bed a bit annoyed by the interruption of one of her rare free Mondays. Still Sheldon was someone that wasn't going to give up just because she didn't opened at the moment, so she patiently waited until he had finished his second knocking round to open the door.
"Good morning Sheldon, what is it?" She asked leaning against the wall feeling still a bit sleepy.
"Good morning Penny. I came here because I wanted you to come with me.
"Oh no… you need me to drive you again. Where to now?" She said rubbing her eyes and walking towards the kitchen to prepare coffee.
"No, don't worry Penny. You wouldn't need to drive anywhere; in fact I think it's going to be a quick journey. You should finish your morning ablutions and when you finish your coffee we can leave."
She looked at him with her eyes still half closed. "If I weren't so sleepy right now I would ask again, but I think I can wait to know where we are going until I am fully awake."
"Go, take your time. I'll make you coffee." Sheldon's statement worried her a bit, not because she wasn't used to Sheldon making hot beverages every now and then, he probably knew where every one had their personal coffee maker and tea bags, her kitchen was actually cleaner than usual thanks to the handy spells he had taught her, so she wasn't fearing a lecture on that, no, what worried her was that he wasn't hurrying her to be ready, that he was actually willing to wait until she had finished, he usually had a plan for every minute of every day, specially when going somewhere, what kind of thing or place where they going to that required him to forget a schedule? Or maybe the schedule was so special that he wanted her in the road before she could say no!
She decided to wait, by looking at him she supposed it had to be a good place, because he was actually happy, maybe she was just being dramatic and Sheldon had just planed a day at the local train expo or something.
A few minutes later freshly showered and dressed she walked into the kitchen to find Sheldon sipping a cup of tea and a steamy cup with coffee waiting for her. She thanked him and took the warm and delicious drink in her hands. Once she finally was feeling a bit more ready for the day she remembered.
"Sheldon, is Monday, shouldn't you be working?"
"Yes, I should." He said sipping again his tea. "But I asked for the day off, somehow I never find troubles to get free time at work." Penny nodded feeling as if she had to tell him why they did that.
"So, where are we going?"
"Oh, I would like it to be a surprise, just wait and see" he said emptying his cup "I was going to offer you breakfast, but the best we could do is just go."
Penny finished her coffee and stood up, looking for her keys and her purse, and a jacket for later. "I'm ready, let's go." She said opening the door.
Sheldon shook his head, he approached her and closed the door, taking her hand and standing next to her, and then she knew why they she didn't have to drive. She was sure that the weird sensation in her stomach was because she was never going to get used to travel like this and had nothing to do with Sheldon's hand on her waist, not at all.
Once the pulling sensation was over the smell of warm cookies reached her, Sheldon had let go of her almost the instant their feet had touched solid ground, and she had to stabilize herself before taking in her surroundings.
They were in a house, the walls were painted in a light blue and most of the furniture looked old, there was a carpet at her feet, and an old television at her right, the room was divided by an arch and led to a dinning room where there was also a practical kitchen from where the smell of cookies came from. Next to the round table was Sheldon, hugging a tiny old lady with white hair and a happy expression on her wrinkled but nice face. She was wearing a green dress and an apron, her long hair was held in a braid at her back, Penny glanced out to the window, feeling the change in temperature.
"Hello Mew maw" said Sheldon stepping back from the embrace he had with the lady.
"It's good to see you Moon Pie." She said and suddenly Penny understood why Sheldon always said that Mew maw was the only one who could call him Moon Pie, the woman said the name in such a loving way that she felt envy of her friend. "And hello to you too Penny."
Penny widened her eyes in surprise, walking towards Sheldon's grandmother and extending her hand, only to be pulled in for a hug as well. "Hello Mrs. Copper, Sheldon has told me lots of things about you."
"Oh, you can call me Mew maw as well, come on, the cookies are ready, if we wait more they'll be cold later, let's have breakfast."
Penny looked at Sheldon wanting to ask him why they were at Texas but he was busy helping. Mew maw served them hot chocolate, a plate with scrambled eggs and some beans and of course some cookies, she told Sheldon how she had been, what she knew about his brother and sister, and how many she had made with the last harvesting she did of her personal garden.
"…You know I don't swim in money or galleons, what you send help me, and also your Paw paw's pension, but the day by day living gets harder, and it actually make me happy to be able to share at least some of my veggies with the neighbors."
"Speaking of neighbors" said Sheldon looking at Penny. "You know who she is, and I'm sure you know why we are here, but…"
"Oh, yes, I was hoping to meet you sooner Penny. " Said the old lady turning around to face her, leaving Sheldon mid sentence, but somehow she knew that he was not going to complain with her. Not for the first time Penny wondered if Sheldon had told her that they were going to visit, or something like that, and just how much and what kind of things he had told about her in his letters. "Just a few weeks ago Sheldon told me that you were becoming his apprentice; it's weird that after years of being friends he had just discovered you were a witch, just like with muggles he doesn't have many friends in the magic world, and it's actually fortunate that you were one without either of you knowing the truth."
"It's been great Mew maw, I have learned so much with him in this short time, and I kind of feel like I'm getting to know the real Sheldon now."
"Secrets must be kept some times, I know my grandson is very careful, he's so brilliant that I still don't know why he hasn't been honored with more titles, he's made some incredible discoveries and advances, he should have a 1st class decree on Merlin's Order (he has a 3rd), or at least a Great Wizard title, but no, he's happy with just being in the International Wizard's Confederation, but lets not talk about that or he will feel uncomfortable, straight to the point, why are you here today Penny?"
Penny opened her mouth, she really didn't know why they were at Mew maw's house, and Sheldon had just entered her apartment two hours ago and had explained nothing about their visit there.
"I was about to tell you why Mew maw; as you know Penny's classes had proven her to be a very talented witch, by allowing her the opportunity to explore and work with her innate magic powers has probably unleashed more than that. Lately I've been noticing some interesting skills in her and I thought that the best thing I could do was to bring her with you, because you know I can't help her with it."
"Interesting skills?" asked Penny looking at Sheldon.
"You think she might be a Seer? What kind of things have you seen Moon Pie?" asked Mew maw ignoring Penny's question, the old lady stood up and started looking at her from different angles, the blonde felt almost like with the measure tape in the wand store. "I will probably need some time to confirm your suspicions Sheldon, in the mean time, "she said looking at Sheldon with a gentle smile "could you go to the store and get me some ingredients I need to prepare lunch? Penny will be ready by the moment you come back." Sheldon smiled and stood up quickly.
"Yes, of course, just tell me what you need." He said, Mew maw took a list out of her apron pockets and gave it to Sheldon.
"The ones without a check mark." She said and turned again to her apron, pulling some coins from it.
"No, don't give me any money, I'll pay for it." He said walking out of the house, saying that he would come back soon.
Penny then was left alone with Mew maw, she felt a bit out of place but, the lady was looking at her with a smile.
"Such a gentleman he is, isn't he? Now, look at me dear" said Mew maw sitting next to her. "My grandson has a brilliant mind, and he's very talented in almost everything he does. It's not the first time he spots true talent, I am a Seer, been my whole life, and I can sense it in you as well. Unfortunately I can't teach you, both of you live too far away for it to be possible, but I'm going to do something for you."
"Really? But I really don't know what Sheldon is talking about, I'm clumsy and I still have trouble with some spells, I don't know what those 'interesting skills' could be at all." Mew maw had walked out of the room and came back holding a couple of books.
"You don't have to explain yourself dear, Sheldon can see over your clumsiness, and he's hardly ever wrong, and you can't fool me." She handed Penny one of the books. "This, is my personal notebook about divination, when I went to school the books about this topic were rare and expensive, so I had to make my own notes, I'm sure it will help you train yourself, some of them you can do without a wand, some others require previous knowledge about potions," Penny looked through the pages of the hand written notebook in her hands, noting that there were sections between techniques requiring the use of the wand, and potions, some pages had beautiful illustrations and she had no trouble understanding the neat calligraphy of the woman "if you ever have doubts you can tell Sheldon to contact me, he knows how to do it without coming here or send a letter. And" this time Mew maw gave her a little velvet bag "these are my cards, Missy gave me a new one a few months ago so you can keep this, it's reliable and it will help you learn, take this with you as a gift, please."
"I… Thank you very much, I promise I'll do my best to learn. I always wondered how psychics did their work and … This is amazing, thank you very much."
"Oh, it's nothing dear. But if you want to give me something in exchange, I would love to have great grand children…" Both ladies laughed, but Penny wasn't really sure that it was a joke.
Sheldon came back a few minutes later, placing all the ingredients on the table and smiling proudly.
"If you need anything else just say it Mew maw. I hope you can tell me something about Penny now, so I can focus her future classes on specific subjects. Let me tell you, she's a natural empath, I struggle to know what people are feeling in certain situations, in others I can deduce it, but Penny knows, she can sense how somebody is feeling without having to ask, and she usually does something about it, either by talking or suggesting a different activity. She's always liked psychics, she managed to make some conjectures about me when we met, and last night she probably made a prediction." Mew maw was at the content in the bags when she heard this, and looked up at Penny's eyes.
"Well, she is certainly learning fast, and she can manage divination easily, your sister Missy can do it as well, not using all the techniques of course, but I've always believed that she took your divination skills with her, you two should have shared a bit more, it would have been great to have you two learning magic together, anyway, you're right Moon Pie, your lovely apprentice could do a powerful Seer. This prediction you mentioned, what did it said?"
"'At all hallows eve night, the secret will be discovered, dangerous night, leads a group to different paths'" recited Sheldon by memory, Penny looked at him, not quite sure of having said that the previous night.
"I wouldn't pay much attention to it" said Mew maw thinking. "If she's starting to be receptive that prediction could be for anyone, maybe even for one of the persons passing by when it happened. I have already given her something to practice, make sure to contact me if she has doubts," Sheldon nodded and then Mew maw pushed the other book towards him "this one is for you, I don't really do that much magic this days, and I know you have a good memory, but it'll be better at your place, I have a list with what I need, so don't worry, and please come visit me again soon."
Sheldon took the book and ca"Thankthe cover. "Thank you Mew maw, I'll take good care of your Grimoire."