Next morning the Hogwarts letters finally appeared, the day before term began. Mrs Weasley marched from room to room looking harassed, preparing to head to Diagon Alley for everyone. Penny had been sat next to Ginny who was laid along the bed admiring the golden bracelet on Penny's wrist, noting bitterly how pretty it was when Mrs Weasley had come in double checking their lists.
"Can Ginny and I come?" Penny asked Mrs Weasley, Ginny sitting up sharply. Although getting out of this house long term was within sniffing distance, another day stuck with Sirius and Harry's foul moods was more than Penny could bear. She saw Mrs Weasley hesitate, sensing her mild guilt over Narcissa's gift lingering. "Ginny and I can help you carry everything. Come on, please. Don't make me suffer through another day of Harry's moping." Penny begged. "Consider it a late birthday present." She added quickly.
"Fine." Mrs Weasley conceded, Penny feeling a little victory dance in her chest. "But one toe out of line and I will glue your knees together!" She threatened pointedly at the pair of them as Ginny grinned widely. Juno had initially asked to come, but when Penny revealed she would have to travel in her tube, she decided against it, content with the knowledge she too could wander freely from tomorrow.
Whilst Ginny and Penny were waiting in the kitchen the twins appeared looking revolted.
"Prefect! Ickle Ronnie is a prefect." Fred said with distain. Glancing at Ginny, Penny saw she had the same puzzled look.
"Are you sure?" Ginny asked, snorting when Fred nodded and George made a retching sound. "I would have thought Harry would have been Prefect." Ginny said thoughtfully. Penny made a non-committal, wondering despite herself how the messy haired boy was taking being second place for once. Badly, she assumed. Perhaps that's why Dumbledore had done it, she considered, seemed like one of his mind games. The thought of the professor made her eyes darken slightly.
"Mum's going to be unbearable. Enjoy!" George said gleeflly as they heard Mrs Weasley heading down the stairs. She looked happier than Penny had seen her in weeks.
"Ronald is a Prefect!" She announced joyfully as she swung her cloak over her shoulders. "I am so proud!" She went on, her look hardening a little as Ginny rolled her eyes. "You might want to watch your attitude young lady, if you want a chance to be made Prefect next year!" Mrs Weasley said as she crossed to grab the Floo Powder pot by the fireplace. Meeting Ginny's eyes behind her back, Penny got the impression Ginny had no desire to be Prefect.
"Do you think I would make a good Prefect, Mrs Weasley?" Penny asked coyly as Mrs Weasley turned back round. The older witch hesitated, clearly considering her words before answering.
"I guess we'll have to see won't we, dear?" She said evasively after a long pause. Ginny smirked behind her mother's back. Penny was the last to enter the Floo Network, landing gracefully in the grate of the Leaky Cauldron. She and Ginny trailed after Mrs Weasley, who hurried about, looking stressed every time she had to reach inside her coin bag. Penny bought them ice creams from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, despite Mrs Weasley's assurances it was unnecessary. Whilst they ate Penny noticed Ginny's eyes watching her mother scraping the last few coins out of her purse, looking tense.
One of their last stops was Madam Malkin's Robes for All occasions. Ginny's robes were old and faded, but as they were barely an inch off the ground, Mrs Weasley decided against new ones. Penny's, however, were now easily three or four inches off the ground, her growth spurt meaning she had overtaken Mrs Weasley. Madam Malkin had just finished pinning the robes into place and popped out the back when the doorbell jangled loudly. Penny and the Weasleys had glanced round to see Narcissa Malfoy and Draco entering the shop. Penny saw Narcissa's mouth slacken very slightly, the smallest intake of breath before she fixed her expression.
"Penny." She acknowledged, Draco looking wordlessly between her and Penny.
"Narcissa. Draco." Penny replied, her mouth a little dry. She had imagined many times what she would do when she next saw her aunt, but nothing prepared her for the winded feeling she now had in her gut. She could tell that behind Narcissa's porcelain exterior, a sadness and hurt existed internally.
"I take it you received your birthday gifts? They didn't take them off, of you?" Narcissa asked, the emphasised word thick with disgust as her eyes drifted over the Weasleys. Penny didn't have to look round to sense their hackles rising at her tone.
"I got them. Thank you." Penny replied, noticing Narcissa's eyes lingering on the glinting bracelet that rested on Penny's wrist. The Weasley's eyes travelled to it too, their expressions showing a different emotion than Narcissa's. Penny self -consciously scrunched the bracelet up into her pinned sleeve and out of sight. Narcissa's eyes then moved critically over the rest of her robe. A long moment of silence past before Narcissa broke it again, her instinct to tidy Penny's appearance apparently overwhelming.
"You really ought to have it tightened more around the waist…" She began, taking a few steps across the shop. Her progress was halted however by Mrs Weasley stepping protectively between Narcissa and Penny, staring defiantly up at Narcissa, apparently unconcerned by the fact the blonde witch towered over her.
"I am more than capable of helping her pick her robes thank you." Mrs Weasley stated crossly. Narcissa looked down her nose, a proud sneer on her face.
"I think her family is better placed for knowing what she needs." Narcissa replied haughtily as Penny's face contorted. "And has far better taste." She added, her nose crinkling in disgust as her eyes trailed over Mrs Weasley's faded and patchy robe. Mrs Weasley's face flushed but she stood her ground.
"Our family is more than able to provide…" Mrs Weasley began but was cut off.
"Please, your family cannot even provide for its own litter of children, let alone anyone else's." Narcissa sneered deeply, a laugh coming from the otherwise silent Draco. An angry hiss omitted from Ginny as Mrs Weasley's white lips thinned. Seeing the young red head charge past her, Penny side stepped and grabbed Ginny's wrist as it plunged into her pocket.
"Gin, no." Penny whispered, pulling Ginny into a bear hug to stop her launching herself at Narcissa. Penny winced as all the pins dug into her. At that very moment Madam Malkin reappeared, looking shocked to see the family matriarchs stood inches apart and Penny restraining a livid Ginny.
"How may I help you, Mrs Malfoy?" Madam Malkin began politely as the matriarchs stepped apart. Narcissa looked over Mrs Weasley's shoulder at Penny for a long moment before turning on her heel.
"Another time, perhaps." She said briskly as Draco made to follow her out. "Stay safe." She said over her shoulder to Penny, a sincere look in her cool eyes.
"See you at school." Draco said curtly to Penny before following his mother out. The tense air lingered as Madam Malkin finished altering the robes and Penny paid for them.
None of them said a word as Mrs Weasley loaded up Ginny and Penny's arms with the rest of their shopping before heading to Quality Quidditch Supplies. Ginny wondered around admiring the stuff on sale, Penny glancing around indifferently as Ginny chatted about the speeds and stats of the different models of broom.
"Of course, Ron just had to ask for the latest Cleansweep. No way Mum and Dad can afford it." Ginny muttered bitterly. Penny could tell Narcissa's comments had struck a nerve with the Weasleys. Penny looked round at the young muscular male shop keeper and Mrs Weasley who had a pinched expression.
"I'll have a quick look round and get back to you." She heard Mrs Weasley say in a fake cheery tone. Looking between Ginny, Mrs Weasley and the shop keeper Penny paused thinking hard. Taking a step back, she spotted a pile of Beater bats lined neatly on top of the shelving a couple aisles down. Focusing hard on the display, it miraculously collapsed, Beater bats clattering nosily to the floor. The shopkeeper looked startled but hurried down the length of the shop to investigate. Ignoring Ginny's suspicious look, Penny casually made her way down to that aisle, faking interest in the objects as she went.
Spotting the shopkeeper scoping up the bats, she approached quickly, putting a finger to her lips as he went to address her.
"How much?" She asked in a quiet tone, so the Weasley's a couple aisles away couldn't hear.
"What?" The young man asked straightening up, as Penny shushed his volume.
"The broom." Penny asked impatiently.
"Which one?" He asked innocently.
"The one with the twigs in its tail." Penny sniped sarcastically. "I don't know, which one was she looking at?"
"Oh, the Cleansweep Eleven." He said, realisation dawning he looked sceptical that she could afford it. Opening her purse, Penny grabbed a handful of Galleons and shoved them into the shop keepers startled hands.
"Now, this is what you are going to do." Penny ordered.
A few minutes later the three of them were walking back to the Leaky Cauldron, Mrs Weasley with a fresh spring in her step, her clash with Narcissa apparently forgotten.
"Such a sweet boy." She gushed about the shopkeeper. "I can't believe our luck, a discounted broom available. Who buys a broom and returns it after a single use?" She went on, as Ginny gave Penny a sideways look.
"Yes, seems a little...suspicious" Ginny muttered as Penny met her eyes calmly, her Occlumency shield firmly in place.
"And then him allowing me to set up a monthly payment. So wonderful!" Mrs Weasley went on as she crossed to the fireplace. Mrs Weasley's good mood continued all evening as they celebrated Hermione and Ron's being the new Gryffindor Prefects. Between Ron's mind-numbing ramblings about his new broom and everyone recounting whether they had been prefect in their day, Penny became very bored with the party. Her thoughts lingered on her aunt, wishing they could have met in some other way, without the Weasley's or other prying eyes, where they could talk openly, like they used to at the Manor. Harry too seemed subdued. Penny suspected it was related to Ron being a Prefect and not him. She noticed him leave the room shortly as Mad Eye had shown him some sort of album. He had seen his parents, Penny realised, recognising the precise mix of joy and grief that those sorts of photos drew out of you. She winced painfully, a wave of bitterness and resentment washing over her.
Glancing over the youngest male Weasley, Penny felt an ugly urge to reveal exactly how he came to possess it, to revel in his horror and disgust and shame that would come with the knowledge. A similar sense of power overcame her as when she had stood with her wand pointed directly at Barty Crouch Jr's chest, with him imploring her to give in to the urge.
Violently shaking herself, she turned abruptly, making a half-hearted excuse to leave the kitchen, making her way up to her room for one final night. She literally could not wait to be far, far away from here and back to the familiar corridors of Hogwarts. Going up the stairs however, she was caught by surprise at the sound of sobbing, and Harry's worried voice.
Entering the drawing room, a strange sight greeted her. Mrs Weasley was slumped against the opposite wall sobbing loudly. Harry stood over the shape of his own dead body, looking bewildered as Penny entered the room. Quickly, Penny realised what was happening.
"Mrs Weasley…" Penny said as she began to cross the room. However, as she stepped past Harry, there was a loud crack, and the boggart shifted. Harry's body remained, but this time looked far more bloodied and battered, a figure stooped over him. With a start, Penny recognised the figure as herself, covered in Harry's blood, the same hair-raising cackling laughter omitting from its mouth as before. Recoiling Penny drew her wand.
"Riddikklus!" Penny said, the form in front of her cracking again. Instead of disappearing however, the same bloodied mimic of herself stood laughing between two blonde figures. Gasping, Penny realised they were a sprawled shape of Draco and Narcissa, the latter's eyes looking empty yet somehow accusingly at her. Penny shuddered, feeling extremely sick. She barely registered Lupin, Sirius and Mad Eye entering the room. Barely felt their eyes upon her as Lupin cast away the boggart. Mrs Weasley sobbed loudly as the adult men comforted her. Penny didn't really hear any of their words as she stared at the spot Narcissa's body had lain. Without a word she left the room, walking briskly down the hall, jumping when she felt a strong hand on her shoulder. Turning she was surprised to see Harry there, looking intently at her as if he had never seen her before.
"What?" Penny snapped a little hoarsely. She was in no mood to discuss what they had seen, how she was feeling. They looked at each other for a minute, neither saying a word. Penny could see many things running behind Harry's eyes, none of which he could put into words. He seemed different, Penny noticed, older than she had ever seen him look. She saw him brush aside most of what had crossed his mind and stretch out his hand. Penny looked at it with puzzlement.
"To more important things." He said simply. Recognising a truce, Penny took his hand and firmly shook it.