After Voldemort had vanished, Ginny had quickly come to. Between sobs and stutters Harry had managed to convince her to come with him back through the Chamber. Penny had followed silently, too lost in her own thoughts to comment. They had rejoined Lockhart and Ron, and then Fawkes had partly carried them and then led them all the way to McGonagall's office. Once there Penny had stood to one side quietly as Harry had explained to Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore and the Weasleys how the last year had unfolded. Some of it she knew, but she was surprised to hear about the boys' trip to the forest, and just how the diary had worked. When Harry got to the recollection of the encounter with Voldemort in the Chamber, he had glanced in her direction before pressing on, leaving out the conversation between herself and Voldemort.
'Thank you' She hissed so softly that nobody else seemed to notice. Harry's eyes flickered to her briefly in acknowledge before he continued.
She felt some level of gladness on hearing Ginny was not to be punished and more so when she heard Hermione and the other victims were going to be ok. But her thoughts were too tormented and too dark to fully engage in the conversations. All the occupants apart from Dumbledore glanced somewhat nervously towards the young girl, but perhaps picking up on her dark mood they didn't question it. Slowly the occupants left, the Weasleys then McGonagall, followed by Ron leading Lockhart out, glancing back at Harry, Penny and Dumbledore curiously.
When the three of them were alone Dumbledore gestured for the two of them to sit down by the fireplace with him. He looked between the two of them thoughtfully, one set of eyes full of nerves and admiration, the other sullen and dark.
'So the two of you met Tom Riddle, I imagine that was interesting for him.' Dumbledore said softly. Penny glared at him before looking away stubbornly. Harry on the other hand, after glancing at Penny awkwardly, launched into the details of his conversation with Voldemort, how he felt about being too similar to the dark sorcerer. Penny rolled her eyes at him; he wasn't the one to worry about that. Dumbledore explained softly why Harry could too speak Parseltongue.
'Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?' Harry said, thunderstruck as Dumbledore nodded gravely 'So I should be in Slytherin.' Finally Penny snapped.
'Will you stop hating on the fucking Slytherins?' She snapped 'We are not all serial killers you know! As for him putting a bit of himself in you it would seem he put more than a little bit of himself into my mother!' Shouted Penny, her shoulder shaking from trying to contain her emotions. Items on the nearby table started levitating and trembling in the air. Dumbledore's eyes slid over the items casually before coming to rest on Penny's face, her eyes glaring at the floor. Harry sat silently, looking from Dumbledore to Penny.
'Persephone…' Dumbledore began slowly.
'PENNY' Penny corrected angrily 'You knew.' She accused the old Professor fiercely.
'I suspected.' Dumbledore said softly, keeping his voice calm.
'And my mother? You know who she is too' Penny pressed him. He smiled a small sad kind of smile before continuing.
'Persephone, as I would say to Harry with the Sorting Hat placing him in Gryffindor, and with you and your parents, it is our own choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities, or our genetics, or our past' Dumbledore finished firmly. Penny acknowledged the evasion of her question, but her head was spinning too much to push the matter.
As they all began to leave, a very tall blond man stormed into the room, followed by a very odd looking creature. It became apparent that this was Lucius, Draco's father. An angry conversation followed where accusations were sent both ways. As Malfoy went to leave, his eyes glazed over Penny for a second. He froze. Turning back to face her, he stared into her eyes, taking in her wild hair and prominent cheek bones. His face full of wonder he approached the small girl. Penny glared up at him, shifting as he got closer. He stretched out his hand in greeting.
'Lucius Malfoy' He stated questioningly as she contemplated his hand. She didn't take it. 'And what is your name, girl?' He asked lowering his hand with an indignant sniff.
'Penny Black' Penny answered, noticing a flicker across the grey eyes that studied her.
'Penny?' He asked 'Short for Penelope perhaps?'
'Persephone' Penny replied stiffly.
'And your parents?'
'I think that is enough questioning Lucius' Dumbledore cut in sharply, much to Malfoy's annoyance 'Persephone and Harry have both been through an ordeal and need to rest now.' Malfoy's mouth twitched before he turned and opened the door, kicking the odd creature through it. Harry exchanged a quick few words with the old Professor before charging out the door after Malfoy. Dumbledore wished Penny a good night with a curt nod as she too left the classroom.
The next few weeks passed in a haze, aside from Malfoy, the castle seemed overflowing with happiness Hermione had come and given her a massive hug and thanking her repeatedly, causing the smaller girl to blush and mumbled about it being nothing. Penny was reluctant to board the Hogwarts Express. Back to Muggle world, without means of contacting anyone. Not by magic anyway. Penny spent most of the journey using the last few hours to practice magic, and to think of how she was going to survive the summer without it. By the time she stepped through the barrier at King's Cross she was smiling to herself.
She had a plan.