News of the attack on Colin Creevey spread like wildfire, although relieved to hear he had been Petrified like the cat and was not dead, Penny couldn't help but feel guilty for leaving him. What if the 'horror' had gone back to finish him off she thought, well you'd be dead too she concluded. The other person who seemed more affected by the attack was Ginny, who seemed to spend every spare second scribbling in her diary.

'What are you writing in that bloody thing?' Penny asked at last as they sat down in Defence Against the Dark Arts as Ginny silence began to annoy her. 'Writing about your dreams of being Mrs Harry Potter?' Penny snorted, before snatching the little black book out of Ginny's hand.

Ginny's reaction was unprecedented, turning in her chair she lunged at Penny knocking her out of her seat and onto the floor. Before she could react Ginny had her knee pinning her down as she wrestled the black book out of Penny's hand. Staring at the red head's face, Penny felt real fear as she saw the small girl's eyes flicker, the young girl she knew was absent, her eyes full of cruelty and cunning, somehow seeming lighter, with a strange blend of bluey green dancing in them….

Ginny quickly climbed off Penny, shoving her diary under her robes, looking about her rapidly. Everybody stared as the young red head flushed and returned to her seat, her face terrified. Just as Penny stood up however, Lockhart pranced into the classroom, bringing in his usual props for acting out his books. Staring at Ginny, Penny lowered herself slowly back into her seat, engulfed by the chaotic emotions emitting of Ginny, she saw a tear run down the red head's cheek.

After sitting the rest of the lesson in silence the bell ringing couldn't have been more welcome. Penny packed her stuff quickly and made off down the corridor bumping into a very sheepish looking Hermione with the two boys.

'Oh hi, Penny' Hermione said quickly 'How was your lesson?' Penny glanced at the bulge in Hermione's robe before answering.

'I'm worried about Ginny' she stated simply 'She seems….off' she finished shrugging as she tried to word her nasty feeling.

'What do you care about Ginny?' Ron growled. Penny glared at him as she answered.

'She happens to be my friend, and I care a great deal more than you it seems' Penny snapped at him, his ears going dangerously red. Hermione quickly stepped between them as Ron took a step forward.

'Ok Penny, thanks for letting us know, I'll speak to her' Hermione said, one arm pushing Ron the other way as the other cradled her bulge. Penny's eyebrows rose as she looked back at the bulge.

'What are you three up to anyway?' She asked, smirking as Hermione blushed.

'Nothing' Hermione said, her voice going a tad higher than normal.

'I wondered if the phrase 'nothing' was ever believed?' Penny said, her smirk widening as she felt the three of them squirm uncomfortably. Just then she heard a fellow Slytherin calling her, so with a final knowing smile she turned and walked away from the three of them.

A week later she attended the Duelling club she had heard about. Despite her intentions to be a Healer she couldn't help but be drawn to the idea of learning to duel probably. It could help her in case she had to defend her patients, Penny told herself.

Penny's excitement quickly faded as she spotted Lockhart entering the Great Hall. She watched in delight as Snape had disarmed him, fascinated by the effect of the tiny wand movement. When put into pairs she quickly mimicked Snape's spell, sending her unsuspecting friend's wand flying across the Hall. As he went to fetch it Penny wandered over to see Hermione trapped in a head lock with a girl in Slytherin.

'Flipendo!' Penny shouted, knocking the girl off her feet, Hermione dropping to the floor too, gasping for air. 'You ok?' Asked Penny as she helped the older witch to her feet.

Following this everybody gathered around Harry and Draco as they were paired to fight. Penny saw Snape whisper in Draco's ear before taking a step back. Meeting her gaze, she narrowed her eyes as his lip curled into a cruel smile. A second later Draco's wand exploded as a large snake burst from the tip. Penny watched in horror as Lockhart sent the python flying into the air, it hissing furiously as it landed close to a Huffelpuff boy Penny didn't know who stood a little ahead to her. Penny saw Harry suddenly come to life, moving forward to follow the snake.

'Leave him!' Penny heard him shout, shocked to hear another speak in the language. Moving round the Huffelpuff, Penny stepped between him and the snake, a smile spreading across her face as the snake relaxed in front of her.

'Greetings' She hissed, uncomfortably aware of the crowd's gasps, but ignoring them 'Come to me you beautiful creature.' However as the snake started to move towards her Penny saw Snape's wand do the smallest of flicks 'NO!' She shouted too late as the spell hit the snake in the middle of its body causing it to disintegrate into a pile of ash. Staring at the spot the snake had been Penny raised her eyes to meet Snape's black ones. His expression was calculating and curious.

'How dare you' she said, her voice shaking from anger 'It was harmless'

'Watch your tongue Miss Black' Snape warned 'It was a threat' he answered coldly, his eyes looking from with curiosity between her and Harry.

'It was not a threat to ME' spat Penny before spinning on her heel and storming out the Great Hall, aware of the crowd parting as she moved through it, as if afraid she was contagious. She ran all the way to the girl's bathroom, fighting back burning tears, before locking the door behind her.

Over the next couple days she began to hear the rumours. Soon everybody in the castle had heard about the incident in the Great Hall, how her and Potter were the only two Parselmouths in the school. How people were taking bets on which of them was the Heir of Slytherin. Apparently defeating Lord Voldemort meant Potter was also a powerful Dark Wizard but she was the one in Slytherin house. Although she found it amusing, knowing she had nothing to do with the attacks she felt her stomach twist as she recalled the Sorting Hat's words.

'based on the blood that runs through your veins….SLYTHERIN!'