Penny sat on the train with her Slytherin friends, who acknowledged her obvious bad mood and didn't attempt to engage her in conversation beyond simple greetings. She glared out of the window, lost in her thoughts. Narcissa Malfoy was her aunt, the mother of that arrogant loser, meaning that she was related to that weak coward. As for her mother… Penny sighed, since her Nana had died and she'd lived in that orphanage she'd always dreamt of long lost relatives coming to take her away but now…. Within months she'd discovered her family included both Voldemort and the Malfoys. She was started to wonder if she had over valued the idea of a family after all.
As the train travelled her friends had discussed the escapee Sirius Black, she listened wearily as they mentioned he was a big supporter of You Know Who. This probably increased the likelihood of her being related to him, Penny thought sadly, another rotten nut on her family tree.
She hadn't told anyone about the revelation in the Chamber, only Harry had been consciously present and aside from Ron, Hermione and Ginny he had agreed not to reveal it to anyone else. Despite finding their heroic tendencies tedious, Penny knew their sense of honour meant they would keep their word, even Ron, who overtly loathed Penny. She didn't care, the feeling was mutual. Why Hermione insisted on remaining friends with the useless toe rag, Penny didn't know, she could do so much better.
The hours pasted as her thoughts whirled round. After some time she decided to explore the train, where she ran into Ginny. The young red head chatted happily away, and Penny slowly relaxed and pushed thoughts of her family away. After all, she thought, Ginny's family now, omitting one member, appeared to accept her as their own.
'What did Mrs Malfoy want?' Ginny asked curiously. Penny looked at ground for a few seconds before answering.
'To make me wish to burn my family tree down even more' Penny said before continuing 'It appears she is my mother's sister.'
'What!' Ginny stared opened mouthed 'Then who is your mother?' She wondered allowed.
'No idea, but guessing by her taste in men…' Penny trailed off disgusted 'Where is Hermione anyway?'
Penny had started to follow Ginny down the train to where Harry and Hermione were, when the train had drawn to a premature stop and the lights had gone out.
'What's going on?' Squeaked Ginny, clinging to Penny.
'No idea, Lumos' Penny said, the tip of her wand illuminating. Her and Ginny edged down the train, finally reaching the compartment with Ron and Hermione on one side and Harry, Neville and a shabby man on the other. They had just about managed to squeeze themselves in when the shabby man had woken up. As he had stood up with magical flames in his hand the door had opened. In it stood a dark hooded figure, which appeared to be looking in at all of them, before turning towards where she and Harry sat. Her grip around her wand tightened and she raised it defensively towards the creature. It appeared to notice the movement and sharply drew in what sounded like a breath.
Penny felt cold spread rapidly her insides, she was drowning in cold, her vision stared blurring as the world span.
'Flipendo!' She screamed, a jet of light erupting from her wand. It just seem to bounce off the creature, which seemed to suck in the air even harder than before 'Fli..fli' Penny stuttered before the mist engulfed her. She was screaming, her Nana lay on the floor, her eyes empty but wide and staring, her hand clutching her chest…
'Penny! Harry!' Someone was shaking her roughly. She opened her eyes to peer up at Hermione who was knelt beside her, Penny blinked noticing she was no longer on her seat. On feeling something stirring beneath her she realised she had fallen across Harry who had also slid to the floor. She managed to pull herself to her feet but stumbled, Hermione catching her and pushing her onto a seat whilst Ron dragged Harry to his feet. Looking across at Harry, Penny saw he looked even worse than she did. Ginny sat shivering in the corner whilst everyone else looked shaken but otherwise ok.
'What was that thing?' Harry asked as the shabby man handed out chocolate.
'A Dementor. One of the Dementors of Azkaban' the man replied before heading out. The rest of them had discussed their various experiences before Harry turned to Penny and stared intently at her.
'You collapsed too' he said bluntly. Penny shrugged slightly, she didn't want to discuss what she'd seen in the mist. The rest of the journey had been silent before they got onto the platform where Penny had rejoined her friends. Reassuring them she was fine, they had headed up to the stone steps. Penny could see Draco barring Harry's way and walked over to them.
'You actually fainted?' Draco jeered.
'So did I, Draco' Penny said stepping around Harry 'Got a problem with that?' Penny glared challengingly at his pale face, which twisted in competing emotions. Finally he took a deep breath before replying.
'Not at all Persephone' he replied turning away and walking up the stone stairs.
'PENNY' Penny shouted after him.
'Since when were you and Draco besties?' Ron asked grudgingly.
'Since his mother told him to be polite to his cousin' Penny said bitterly. Harry and Ron looked surprised before she stormed up the stairs. Harry mumbled his thanks and followed her up to the Entrance Hall. Before they could get to the Great Hall they heard McGonagall calling across the Entrance Hall.
'Potter! Granger! Black! I want to see the three of you!' She shouted. Exchanging bewildered glances with the others, the three of them made their way over to the tall Professor and followed her to her office. Madam Pomfrey had examined both Harry and Penny who both insisted they were fine. The two of them had waited outside whilst Hermione was speaking to McGonagall.
'So why were the Dementors looking for Sirius Black on the train?' Penny wondered aloud raising an eyebrow when Harry looked uncomfortable.
'Apparently he thinks killing me will mean Voldemort will return' Harry said after a moment.
'Do any of my relatives not want to kill you?' Penny asked.
Harry laughed in response.