Following the First Task the mood of the school shifted, and even most of her own house seemed to accept Harry as having earnt a level of respect. Draco, naturally, still attempted to ridicule him over Skeeter's article at every opportunity but aside from his loyal bodyguards and Pansy, very few were still laughing. Penny had to endure him criticising Harry's flying and assuring her how and why he would have done it better.
Hermione had told Penny she had worked out how to get into the kitchens and had spent time talking to the house elves in there. She had tried to talk Penny into going to visit the kitchens, to which Penny half-heartedly agreed, mostly to avoid a row, and partially intrigued by the prospect of free food.
The main event that came with December was the approach of the Yule Ball, which every other girl in Hogwarts seemed obsessed with. Penny had received a parcel and a letter from Narcissa in the first week of December, which she read up in her dormitory.
"Penny
I have enclosed the new bra you requested, I hope it is the correct size, or at least shall be adequate until we can visit Diagon Alley at Easter. Furthermore, I enclosed some dress robes for you to wear in attendance to the Yule Ball. I have instructed Draco to escort you as I understand it you will not be permitted to attend otherwise. Clearly if you wish to attend with attend with another Pureblood boy from a reputable family that is acceptable. Just remember that you are representing both the Black and the Malfoy family name, so whilst I wish you to enjoy yourself, please try to behave appropriately.
Lucius and I have discussed making another donation to St. Mungo's Hospital after Easter next year, it seems appropriate to act as a reminder of your connections when you spend the summer working there.
With love,
Cissy"
Penny had tried on the new bra and dress robes, swirling in front of the mirror. Both were made from incredible soft material that hugged her growing curves but had a modestly high neckline, which Penny had no doubt was intentional. Penny smiled at her reflection but later that morning when Draco brought up the subject she quickly rebuffed him.
"I am not going with you!" She said incredulously looking at him in disbelief. "You're my cousin" She said disgustedly when Draco went to protest. He gaped at her for a moment before his usually pale cheeks glowed pink.
"It wouldn't…I don't…" He said spluttering as Penny started smirking at his obvious discomfort "It wouldn't be a date" He said, shuddering at the word like it was offensive as Penny pretended to pout.
"You don't think I'm pretty?" She said with an exaggerated note of hurt that made Draco's face blush even brighter.
"Well of course…I mean…but…I can't win this!" He said exasperatedly as Penny's grin reappeared as she sniggered. "You're like my sister" He said hurriedly wiping the smirk off Penny's face as she too blushed. "I could never…" He said trailing off, scratching his nose distractedly. Penny looked away from him at the sweetness of his comment, as usual caught off guard by the intimacy. After a second she reached up and patted his shoulder awkwardly before speaking.
"The feeling is mutual" She said slowly "But I am still not going." She stated "It's a stupid event where girls get paraded around like trophies in a popularity contest" She huffed as Draco rolled his eyes. This was part of the reason, she thought, but really she felt if she couldn't go with Ginny, she shouldn't really go at all. After all if she did go with some 'Pureblood boy', as Narcissa had suggested, Ginny wouldn't like it, she thought decisively. Imagine if she went with Hermione, the unbidden thought causing Penny to chuckle to herself. No, Ginny definitely wouldn't like that. Neither would Narcissa. Wonder if Hermione is going, Penny thought as she made her way to her Arithmancy class.
Unfortunately Draco was not the only one to attempt convince her to attend the Ball with them. Cassius Warrington, a sixth year Slytherin had asked barely half an hour later, his enormous frame towering over Penny. Penny hadn't even answered, she was laughing too hard. He had stormed off, his pride clearly dented as Theo glowered after him. If she had laughed then, it was nothing to when Crabbe and Goyle had asked one after the other, Ursula and Heather had doubled over in laughter, stopping abruptly when the two boys had turned their attention to them instead. Over the next week and a half Penny had rebuffed so many of the older students it began to grate on her nerves. They all seemed convinced she would eventually agree to someone, as no girl would possibly pass up the opportunity to attend the Yule Ball. She and Ginny hadn't had much opportunity to discuss the Ball as Ginny had received detention for persistently turning homework in late, and she spent all the evenings of the week leading up to the end of term polishing silver in the trophy room or catching up on her work. Penny had tried to help but after a brief time got banished for giving the red head a headache with her elaborate explanations.
Two days before the end of term Penny had wondered down the back shelves of the Undoing the Dark Arts section, pulling a large volume entitled Healing the Hexed: Volume VI and propped herself on a nearby desk and began reading. She soon sensed eyes on her and looked up to see the black eyes of Krum on her. He approached duck footed, shuffling a bit as he reached her, looking away from her piercing glare. Penny saw him flinch as she touched his mind, seeing his intention before miraculously she felt herself expelled from his mind.
"How are you getting into my mind inside vithout a vand?" The thick eyebrows knitted together in puzzlement as he turned his eyes back to her.
"How did you get me out your head?" Penny shot back challengingly.
"Ve learn Legilimency in fifth year at Durmstrang, so ve learn Occlumency also" Krum said thickly. "So…Pinny…"
"PENNY" Penny cut off fiercely, making the tall boy blush "I'm not going to the ball with you" Penny said sharply and went back to reading.
"Vy not?" He asked his voice full of disbelief "You know who I am, no?" He said proudly as Penny shot him a look of contempt. "Most girls vould vant to go vith me, I think"
"Then I suggest that you go ask them" Penny snapped, hopping off the table, strolling off with the book tucked under her arm as Krum scowled before slouching off to the other end of the library.
The next day Penny sat with Ginny who was writing a Potions essay so fast her hand was getting coated in ink, setting down her quill with gusto as she finished. Penny smiled at the relief on Ginny's face as she relaxed. McGonagall's threat to write to Mrs Weasley if Ginny didn't catch up had had the desired effect and Snape's essay was the last one to complete. Smiling widely Ginny stretched her arms behind her back, Penny glancing at the flat chest as Ginny let out a satisfied groan.
"So have you accepted any of your offers yet?" Ginny asked as she rolled up her essay carefully. Penny snorted in derision.
"Of course not." She said briskly "That Bulgarian asked me yesterday" Penny went on sniggering. Ginny looked at her in surprise.
"You turned down Krum?" She said incredulously "You turned down the best Seeker in the world?" Ginny said gawking at Penny like she had never seen her.
"I already told you, if I can't go with you I don't want to go" Penny said, scowling as Ginny, blushed. "I mean, you wouldn't go with anyone else would you?" She said fiercely, hurt pulsing through her as she read the truth in Ginny's emotions. Before either could say anything else however, Hermione came into the library and plonked herself at the other side of the table a flustered grin across her face.
"Hi you two" Hermione said, her smile fading as she scrutinized their faces "Not arguing again are you?" She sighed as the younger witches glared in opposite directions. "Honestly. Anyway…can I tell you something? You have to promise you won't tell anyone" She said, going red as she twirled a curly lock. Ginny and Penny muttered their promises before she went on awkwardly. "Viktor asked me to the ball…and…I said I would go with him" She finished quickly, blushing even deeper than before. Penny gaped at her.
"As in Krum?" Penny said as Ginny gasped, however as she went carried on, she felt an abrupt pain in her shin as Ginny kicked her incredibly hard under the table, Penny sucking her breath in sharply. Shooting a venomous look at Ginny, the redhead just gave her a warning look before she answered instead.
"That's great Hermione" The redhead said smiling. Hermione frowned in confusion at Penny who was still glaring at Ginny furiously.
"What's up Penny?" Hermione asked innocently, Penny giving her an appraising look, ignoring Ginny's threatening gaze.
"Nothing." Penny said eventually, for once deciding against siphoning her own hurt onto the bushy haired witch, she had done nothing to deserve it after all. Hermione looked sceptical at her answer.
"You don't approve?" Hermione questioned as Penny shrugged evasively.
"Just think you are far too smart for him" She said stiffly. Hermione beamed at the compliment.
"Well aside from you I don't think there is anyone smart enough for me" Hermione said chuckling, Penny beamed back at her as she felt Ginny bristle next to her.
"Maybe next time" Penny joked, winking.
"Harry and Ron still haven't found anyone. Serves Ron right after his comments about Eloise. You going with anybody?" Hermione asked, recoiling Penny's smile turn into a dark snarl.
"No." She said fiercely as Ginny shifted uncomfortably. Hermione looked between them an eyebrow quirked.
"I'm surprised, it's not an opportunity that comes up much" She said, oblivious to the damage she was causing "That's why Gin is going with Neville."
"WHAT?" Penny shouted, the parchment littering the desk suddenly scattering into the air above as Penny jumped to her feet. Turning her eyes to the red head next to her, a cold fury etched on her face as she glowered. "Ginny." She beckoned icily, the redhead rising to leave with her, a worried Hermione staring after them.
As they walked down the corridor Penny grabbed the smaller witch's arm roughly shoving her into a nearby empty classroom, ignoring passer-by's stares, her rage boiling dangerous just below the surface.
"Persephone calm down!" Ginny shrieked as she stumbled backwards into the classroom.
"CALM DOWN?!" Penny shrieked, the nearby desks sliding sideways as she advanced on the redhead "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK GINNY?!"
"And you wonder why I didn't tell you!" Ginny shouted back, holding her ground despite the taller witch's curls practically crackling with electricity. "I want to go the ball! I had to accept!" She yelled, her own anger battling her fear as Penny snarled.
"BULLSHIT! Oh I bet you wished Potter had asked you" Penny sneered cruelly, Ginny looked down at the accusation, her cheeks flaming to match her hair. "Even if you could go without a date, or if you could go with me, you would go with Saint Potter wouldn't you? WOULDN'T YOU?" Penny screamed in the red head's face.
"YES!" Ginny yelled, the single word hanging in the following silence. Penny took a step back from the redhead, the pain in her chest taking the very air out of her.
"How dare you" Penny got out as her eyes stung "You dare get mad at some made up crap in your mind about Hermione…but you…you" She trailed off, unable to even put the betrayal into words. Ginny took a step back too, emotions conflicting on her face.
"That's different" Ginny said quietly, going on rapidly as Penny began to protest angrily. "She is a girl. I would understandif it were a guy….something real…."
"WE ARE REAL!" Penny interrupted but Ginny just shook her head.
"Two witches? Don't be stupid!" She cried, her eyes brimming reflecting Penny's. "What future could we have? Two witches getting married? Two witches having children?" Ginny went on incredulously her voice rising an octave as her words tore into Penny's very soul. "Mum would lose her mind! Narcissa would too! We would be a freak show!" Ginny wailed shaking her head at the thought.
"Ginny please" Penny said her voice suddenly as quiet as a whisper, making the redhead gasp at the pain in her voice.
"I'm sorry Penny…this was a stupid idea in the first place. We….we shouldn't see each other anymore" Ginny said suddenly unable to bear it anymore rushed past Penny, who stood frozen to the spot.
"Ginny" She called after the redhead desperately, but the other witch was already gone. Penny remained stood like a statue as she felt the hurt in her chest seeping through her veins, her breaths coming short and sharp as if her lungs were being crushed by an invisible hand. Finally her knees gave way, an agonized wail escaping her lips as she crashed to the floor, feeling like her world was crashing around her ears too. Her sobs became unrestrained as she grasped the floor with her hands, hitting it fiercely as she fought to unleash the agony in her mind and heart.
"Miss Black?" A quiet voice cut through to Penny, who looked up to see a concerned Professor McGonagall entering the classroom gingerly. "Persephone, are you ok?" The Transfiguration teacher said in a much gentler tone than usual as she approached cautiously. Penny screwed up her face with difficulty, leaping to her feet virtually flying past a startled McGonagall as she burst into the corridor. Rubbing her eyes on her sleeve she ran to her Common Room, shoving people out the way left right and centre, ignoring their protests. Storming through the Common Room her house literally scrambled to get out her way, not a single person brave enough to approach her.
Up in her dormitory she shoved her face deep into her pillow, stifling her wails as they came. Juno scrambled onto the bedside cabinet, clearly disturbed to see her Mistress in such a state.
"Mistress are you injured?" Juno enquired, her limited features bewildered as Penny just continued to howl. "Should I alert someone?" Juno persisted, but Penny just shook her head.
"How could she!" Penny hissed turning her tear stained face to Juno "How could she say we were never real?"
"Ginny Weasley?" Juno replied, to which Penny nodded, weeping "I do not understand human relationships. My kind only interact to mate and produce offspring."
"Pretty much what she wants" Penny replied pain and bitterness thick in her voice.
"Emotional attachments are not something I understand" Juno hissed quietly "I understand fear, and anger, and pain. But beyond the desire to mate, I do not understand love. I care for you, Mistress, but I cannot claim to love you as you do me." Juno hissed. Penny rubbed her eyes pointlessly as the tears kept flowing before reaching over and lifting Juno onto her lap, stroking her head fondly.
"I know gorgeous" Penny said sadly "But at least I know you will never lie to me"
"A snake cannot lie" Juno replied factually. Penny barely slept that night, her dorm mates knowing better than to ask, left her alone with her silent tears. The last day of term was awful, though Penny had never been so grateful she did not have any lessons with Ginny on a Friday. Once or twice she spotted the red head in the crowd and felt like a lead weight dropped in her stomach, making her feel nauseous. On her way down to dinner she spotted Harry walking dejectedly the other way. A cruel calculating smile danced on her lips as an idea came to her.
"Harry!" She called, the Serpent's tongue reaching him through the hum of the crowd. "Can I have a word?" She asked, his sad emotions irking Penny as she lead him away from the crowd. "Still not got a date?" Penny asked, a sweet sympathetic note forced into her tone. He shook his head. "That Ravenclaw taken?" She asked to which he pulled a face and nodded. "Well we can't have you going without a date now, can we" Penny went on cheerfully, Harry looking at her puzzled. Penny looked pointedly at him, rolling her eyes as he didn't catch on. "I hope you can dance" She said smiling sexily at him to which he blinked.
"Oh." He said dully, finally realising. "I thought you didn't want to go?" He said carefully to which Penny shrugged.
"I don't particularly, but as champion you need a date." She said in an indifferent off-hand tone. "Besides, be a good opportunity to make Cho jealous, no?" Penny said, smiling her mischievously smile again. Harry blinked at her again, clearly unsure how to respond.
"Yer…ok" He said finally nodding enthusiastically.
"Excellent. It's a date" Penny said brushing the side of his face gently with her fingertips, smiling as the area she had touched flushed. "Oh, and don't tell anyone yet" Penny added "Especially not Weasel."
"How come?" Harry said surprised.
"Well" Penny said sadly "I wouldn't want Ginny getting upset" She said, surprising herself how well she kept the sarcasm out of her voice. Harry raised his eyebrows but didn't comment.
"Ok." He agreed before a thought came to him. "What about Ron?"
"What about him?"
"Do you know anyone for him to go with?" Harry asked desperately as Penny scoffed.
"Weasel can take Goyle for all I care" She said scathingly as Harry scowled. Smiling sweetly Penny winked at Harry as she walked away, waving as she went. As she rounded the corner, an evil glint formed in her eye, there was an extra spring in her step and a sway in her hips as she joined the Slytherin table for dinner. The boys were taking turns flipping olives with their spoons on victims on other tables, with limited success. Penny cackled cruelly when Draco got a direct hit on the back of Dennis Creevey's head, the olive splattering into his hair on impact. Sensing eyes, Penny's blue ones met bright brown ones as Ginny watched her warily. Penny's smile widened into a sneer as she dramatically blew a sarcastic kiss at the redhead who recoiled. Penny looked away her chin jutted up arrogantly, reckless and bittersweet satisfaction burning amongst the pain in her gut.
