The rest of September passed uneventfully and Hogwarts was now into the second week of October. The quidditch team trials had been held and Tonks and Penny were pleased to have been chosen as chasers, although sadly on opposing teams. However, their delight at this was soon short lived when they realised that Sally-Ann Barton had also been chosen for her team.
Since the first Friday of the term Penny hadn't felt the presence of anyone watching her and she was beginning to put the whole incident to the back of her mind. Once again she was at the top of her class for most of her subjects and she was enjoying being back in the full swing of her work. She was still being escorted to and from classes, usually by Minerva, and was regularly being coached in using her powers by Dumbledore in the evenings, but she couldn't have been happier.
She was now getting very good at controlling her powers and was finding it easier to move much larger and heavier objects. She'd now taken to moving Professor Dumbledore's chairs and other items of furniture across the room. She was also now able to freeze things and unfreeze them again with a flick of her hands.
Once again, as they had done the previous year, Minerva and Penny enjoyed spending their evenings together in her study. Penny would often use the time to practice her powers and was happier than Minerva had seen her in a long time. So happy in fact, that Minerva still hadn't had the heart to broach the subject of Penelope's letter.
Each night she would gear herself up for it, remind herself that it was for the best, that Penny had a right to know, but she couldn't bring herself to do it as soon as she'd see Penny's happy face.
However, now that Penny was getting used to her powers and her destiny, she was starting to ask more questions and Minerva knew that the night was going to eventually come where she was going to have to tell Penny more, if not all, of her story.
That night came during the third week in October after they'd shared an evening meal in Minerva's room. It had been a question that Penny had been building up to for some time, but only now did she feel ready to ask it.
'Aunt Minerva, what was my mum like?' She asked tentatively in her seat by the fire, sipping a hot sweet cup of tea.
Minerva took a deep breath and then smiled slightly. She knew that Penny sometimes found her family's silence about her mother difficult. Naturally the child had questions about her mother and where she came from, but everything Jenny related had been difficult to talk about for any of them for some time.
'She was a wonderful person Penny. Kind, loving and very brave; she had wisdom beyond her years but she also had a wicked sense of humour. She was your grandparents' world; like you would have been hers had she lived.' Minerva explained fondly.
Once she'd begun to open up about her niece, Minerva found it easier to talk until, finally, the story came out.
'You're so much like her Penny, her looks, her talent; like you she loved books and enjoyed studying. Whilst here at Hogwarts she was part of many groups and clubs, she was a chaser on the quidditch team and won many awards and prizes. But beyond all of that she hid a certain sadness.
'Do you remember Professor Dumbledore explaining to you about familiar guides for some witches and wizards?' Minerva asked and received a curt nod from Penny, who was hanging on her aunt's every word. 'Well they're still very much in existence and your mother met hers in the form of a black and white cat just a couple of years before leaving school. Naturally she didn't realise who he was at first and it wasn't revealed until she started working at the Ministry.
'His name was Scott Samuels and for the two years leading up to her death they worked well together. He was very protective of her and often helped her in her pursuits of the evil across the world.' Minerva explained as she found her rhythm, but her voice soon became shaky again.
'However, a few months before Jenny died, her working relationship with Scott came under jeopardy. You see Penny, the Ministry of Magic decided some centuries ago that a familiar guide cannot have any romantic affiliation with their charge. If any familiar was found to be romantically involved with their charge they were punished most severely; in some instances they had their abilities as a familiar revoked.'
'Mum had a relationship with her familiar?!' Penny exclaimed as she realised what her great aunt was telling her. 'Then that must mean he's my father!' She added.
'Yes Penny it does.' Minerva replied quietly, feeling sorry and ashamed that this was the first time Penny was ever hearing about her father.
'What happened to him?' Penny asked as she felt tears prickle at her eyes. She'd never really thought much about her father over the years, but now that she was being faced with the truth it made something well up inside her, something she'd never felt before.
'Well after Jenny died he was devastated and disappeared. I only met him a few times whilst he was your mother's guide and I don't think your grandmother saw him again after he left.'
'Well what about me? Didn't he care about me?'
It was a question that pained Minerva more than anything else, the truth was something she was still trying to get her head around and even after all this time, she still didn't know how to answer the young girl's question. The answer was incomprehensible and impossible to explain.
'It wasn't that at all, Penny; I'm not sure you're ready to hear the truth about that yet. It's been more than I can handle, let alone you. I will explain more to you one day, but not tonight. Tonight you need to return to your dormitory.' She replied as she downed the rest of her tea and rose from her chair.
It was now nearing nine o'clock, a lot later than a second year student should be out of bed, but in the company of Minerva, no other teacher would say anything. Minerva led Penny to the portrait of the fat lady and bid her great niece goodnight, before turning on her heel and walking away once she'd watched Penny disappear through the concealed entrance.
She took the long way towards her office, choosing to patrol the corridor for a short while. Occasionally she met a prefect or fellow teacher, but otherwise the corridors were quite empty. That was until she came to a stone corridor with large windows down one side and empty classrooms on the other.
As she got about half way down this corridor she felt an icy blast and thought someone had perhaps left a window open, but on closer inspection all of the windows about her were tightly shut. As she shook the feeling from her mind and began walking farther forward, she heard a sound behind her like a draft of wind. She instinctively reached into her cloak for her wand and drew it, lighting the wand tip to look around.
'Who's there?' She said strongly, unafraid of what was stalking her; for she knew she wasn't alone in the corridor. She remembered what Penny had said about her attack. 'Show yourself!' She barked.
At the precise moment something formed from the shadows around her and engulfed her in a type of smoke. It whipped around her and disorientated her until she fell to the ground, her wand bouncing a couple of feet from her. The smoky figure continued to whip around her and occasionally she could feel something corporeal hitting and scratching at her face. Eventually the smoke evaporated and a fully corporeal figure formed at the end of the corridor and advanced towards her. Dazed and confused she couldn't make out who it was, only the big red eyes Penny had described.
The figure had a wand in its hand and he raised it high above his head. Minerva scrappled for her wand, which was now just centimeters from her grasp, and closed her fingers round it tightly once she'd found the handle.
She sent jets of red light at the figure at the same time he sent jets of green light at her. Their spells clashed in mid-air and sent a shower of sparks dancing round them. Minerva fired more spells at her attacker, who sent as many spells equally back at her. They continued to duel until a spell hit Minerva, almost rendering her unconscious immediately, but before she passed out she saw a whip of black cloak and heard shouts above her, which in her dazed state sounded too muffled for her to understand.
She felt someone's hands touching her arm before everything went dark. She drifted into unconsciousness with no idea of where she was or if she was safe. The person who found her lifted her onto a stretcher and carried her up to the hospital wing.
Professor Dumbledore was alerted immediately and he made his way quickly to the hospital wing. He decided to wait until morning to tell Penny of her aunt's attack. She needed to rest before dealing with the distress of the situation and from what Issachar Paton had told him, Minerva was hurt badly.
Indeed, when he got to her bedside his friend was still unconscious and had many cuts and bruises all over her body. Madam Pomfrey was, once again, working tirelessly to heal the older woman, but was struggling to stem the blood flow coming from of the cuts.
It occurred to Professor Dumbledore that she may have been poisoned like her sister had been and he prayed hard for her to be alright.
In the early hours of the morning Madam Pomfrey had successfully stopped the flow of blood and the effects of the poison didn't seem to be having any instant effect. Professor Dumbledore surmised that Minerva mustn't have received as great a dose as her sister had done.
'Madam Pomfrey I'm going to get our young Miss Johnston now; she'll need to be informed and I think it better it come from me.' He said quietly as he excused himself from the hospital wing.
The kids were all now making their way to their first class and he wanted to catch Penny before she started her first lesson.
He disappeared down into the dungeons towards the potions corridor and saw Penny waiting outside with her fellow classmates. The Gryffindor students were standing on the opposite side to the Slytherins and were clearly arguing about something, but everyone became quiet when they saw their headmaster.
They were all a little startled at first as they had never seen their headmaster in one of their classes before, but their questioning looks were soon interrupted when the door to Snape's dungeon was opened by Snape himself.
'In!' He barked simply at the students and they all began to traipse into the room, some giving Professor Dumbledore furtive looks. As Penny drew nearer though, Dumbledore put a hand on her shoulder and pulled her away from her class mates.
She heard Sally-Ann Barton whispering in delight at the thought that Penny might be getting into trouble and that it must be serious for Dumbledore to be involved. However, both Penny and Dumbledore ignored this.
'Severus I was wondering if I could borrow Miss Johnston for a short while as I have a few things I need to discuss with her.' He said to Snape softly and didn't seem to notice the sniff of distain Snape gave.
'Certainly Headmaster.' He replied, before sweeping into his room and slamming the door.
'Is everything alright Professor?' Penny asked as she looked up quizzically at him.
'Come with me Penny.' He said as he led her, not toward the hospital wing but to his office.
Once there he made Penny sit in one of the comfy chairs beside his fire. Penny glanced round once sat and expected to see her aunt waiting for them, but when she didn't see her, sudden recognition dawned on her.
'It's Aunt Minerva isn't it Professor?' She asked quietly.
'Yes I'm afraid it is. Now I don't want you getting yourself too upset Penny, as your aunt is in good hands. She is being cared for by Madam Pomfrey; but she was attacked by the shadow demon last night.' Dumbledore explained carefully to her.
He had expected her to cry, but Penny was determined not to. She'd already experienced too much to allow the shadow demon yet more satisfaction at upsetting her and she could tell that Professor Dumbledore was being honest with her.
'Can I see her?' She asked.
'For now I think it best you don't. I want you to return to your classes as that's exactly what your aunt would want. When she comes round she will ask me about you and she will be most displeased if I tell her you weren't in class again.' Dumbledore said and Penny nodded.
She could see from the look he was giving her that it was going to be no use arguing with him; she was going to have to return to class and it was a decision that was not up for discussion.
'Ok Sir.' She replied and raised herself from her chair, just as there was a knock on the door and Professor Sinistra walked into the room, clearly looking to speak with Dumbledore.
'May I be excused Sir?' Penny asked and for a moment Dumbledore hesitated.
He would have preferred her to be escorted back to her potions class, but he could clearly see that Professor Sinistra was desperate to speak to him. So against his better judgement he dismissed Penny and allowed her to exit alone.
'Yes you may be excused Penny.' He said.
Penny instantly disappeared into the school and for a brief moment she considered going to the hospital wing, but a voice in her head, sounding scarily like her aunt's, told her not to. Dumbledore had been right, Minerva wouldn't be pleased if Penny missed any more of her lessons; especially not now Penny was doing so well once more and definitely not on her account.
So, reluctantly, Penny made her way back down towards the dungeons, but she was now much more on edge than she had been before and as she got closer to the potions classroom, she felt the familiar icy cold draft. He gave an impatient sigh, fed up of the shadow demon tormenting her.
'I know it was you who attacked my aunt and I know you're following me. Mark my words, if you continue to pursue me you will not win!' She shouted before walking briskly down the corridor and disappeared into the classroom, seconds before the smoky figure, which had been lingering behind her, lunged for her as it had done before.
When she entered the classroom Snape set her the task of writing about the potion they were attempting to make; he advised, loudly, that there would be no point in her starting the potion now, she'd never catch up. However, he gave her the potion to practice as homework; telling her that he expected a perfect draft the following day.
By the end of the lesson Penny was glad to escape and meet with her friends. She found Tonks in the Great Hall over break, sat desperately writing up their transfiguration homework.
'I can't believe I forgot to do my homework, McGonagall is going to go mad if I don't get this finished on time!' She exclaimed frantically.
'I don't think that's something you need to worry about Dora.' Penny said sadly and she went on to explain what had happened.
'Oh Pen I'm so sorry! Is she going to be alright?' Tonks said with shock.
'I don't know. Dumbledore seems to think she will be, but there was something in his tone…I don't know; but I know one thing, I need to find out who it is that's after me and why. I need to get him before he gets me or anyone else.' Penny said defiantly.
The next couple of days dragged on for Penny and there was still no sign of Minerva regaining consciousness. Penny was beginning to get really anxious, but both Professor Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey reassured her that this was to be expected, however, they were both hiding their own secret concerns for their friend.
As Dumbledore has suspected, Minerva had been poisoned by the same toxin that had killed Penelope. Whilst he believed her attacker intended for her death to be instant, it seemed that he only managed to administer enough to draw her death out. Neither voiced this to Penny though, as they did not want to upset her and they were both determined to come up with the antidote; however, time was quickly running out.
Penny visited her great aunt every day, before school, in between lessons and after school. She spent every waking moment she could with her great aunt and was beginning to notice that her aunt showed signs of getting weaker, not stronger.
She knew that the teachers knew something she didn't and one afternoon she briefly heard a conversation between Snape and Dumbledore.
'Headmaster the crushed bezoar is merely prolonging her symptoms not curing her and I daresay if we don't find a suitable cure soon, she will die.' He said in his usual drawl.
'I quite agree Severus, but I've never come across such poison!' Dumbledore replied in a tone Penny had never heard in him before, fear.
Penny felt a lump form in her throat and tears sprang into her eyes. She was going to lose her aunt as well and then that would be practically everyone she cared about gone. She made the decision that she had to do something, anything, to try and stop it from happening.
She didn't enter the hospital wing that evening, but headed straight to the library. She wasn't certain what she was looking for, but she was looking up every book she could find with information about shadow demons and poisons.
'There you are Penny, I've been looking everywhere for you!' Tonks said as she entered the library and joined her friend.
It was getting late and the library would soon be closing, but Penny was still determined to find something.
'Aunt Minerva's dying Dora, I have to do something!' She explained as tears ran down her face. 'I'm going after this thing and I'm going to end this once and for all.' She added.
'But Penny you can't, we don't know the first thing about this creature or how to defend ourselves against it!' Tonks said as she tried to make her friend see sense.
'Well I know more about it now than I did before. I think he's an Umbra demon, a sort of cross between a shadow demon and a human. He has many human like flaws, which makes him easier to defeat than a normal shadow demon and there's a spell to force him into his human form. See?' Penny explained as she showed Tonks a page in a book, just as Madam Pince began ushering students out.
'OK fine, if you're going to do this then I'm coming too!' Tonks replied in an agitated whisper as Madam Pince got closer.
'No Tonks you can't, it's much too dangerous!'
'I can take care of myself you know. So you're either doing this with me or I go straight to Dumbledore!'
For a moment Tonks and Penny stared at each other and Tonks saw Penny's lips contort into a really thin line, making her look like her great aunt.
'OK you can come, but I must warn you that it's entirely at your own risk.' Penny said as she gathered her things and they ran out of the library.