The next few days nothing was talked about more than Sirius Black, people kept looking sideways at Penny, as if her name hadn't always been Black. Draco seemed to be trying to keep the other Slytherins from questioning her too much.
'So is Sirius Black your father?' Yet another person asked. Draco spoke before Penny could answer.
'Black is not an uncommon name. I suggest you stop pestering Persephone.' He said, attempting and failing to puff out his chest impressively. Penny just rolled her eyes. He was still walking around in his bandages, much to her annoyance. She knew it was only to get out of the Quidditch match in the bad weather.
On the day of the match Penny had gone to help in the Hospital Wing, awaiting the inevitable injuries that came with the sport. Draco had come in with a sullen expression and handed her an envelope with neat calligraphy addressing her on the front.
'From my mother' Draco muttered before turning and following his henchmen out of the Hospital Wing. Penny stared down at the envelope, mixed emotions filling her. She didn't want anything to do with Draco's family, and yet…did she? Her mother's sister….
Penny tore open the envelope decisively and unfolded the thick parchment with more of the neat curly handwriting.
'Dear Persephone,
I am hopeful that you have had time for the knowledge of your family to sink in. Given the current state of things I believe it would not be wise for you not to stay at Hogwarts over the Christmas period. However, the idea of a member of my family contaminating themselves with the presence of Muggles makes me sick to my stomach. Therefore, I invite you to travel with Draco to join us at the Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire. The owl should be resting in the Owlery at this time, so I await your reply
Your Aunt,
Narcissa Malfoy'
Penny stared at the letter, feeling rage bubbling through her. 'contaminating themselves with the presence of Muggles'…..Penny snatched up her bag, made a quick excuse to Madam Pomfrey before storming out of the Hospital Wing.
Fuelled by anger Penny walked fast through the corridors of the castle, exiting into the foul thunderstorm outside. Despite not having remembered to bring a coat with her Penny pressed out, staggering across the grounds in the fierce wind, determined to reach the Owlery in the grounds.
'Muggles'….. How dare she, her Nana had been one of the 'Muggles' As she fought her way through the rain Penny's thoughts whirled before she felt a familiar wave of cold that had nothing to do with the storm around her. Almost at the Owlery she glanced to the Quidditch Pitch in the distance where most of the school was in attendance. Up above she could see a swarm of the Dementors passing over her. Most of them continued towards the crowd but one seemed to sense her presence and swooped down towards her. Penny broke into a run trying to make it to the Owlery. A hundred feet, fifty feet….Her legs gave out beneath her and she slammed into the ground as the mist surrounded her.
'Where is the Dark Lord? Where?' A harsh female voice demanded, the voice sounding muffled, as though something was distorting the sound.
'We don't know! Please! We heard he had been defeated, that's all we know! Please!' A male voice screamed, this time almost impossible to hear.
'Lies! The Dark Lord cannot be gone! You lie! Crucio!' The first voice shouted, sounding hysterical. Screams of agony, endless screams….
'Penny! What ya doin' out 'ere!' A rough voice reaching her through the mist, Penny felt herself being lifted off the ground, but could not move to help. She felt cold and drained, soaked to the skin. Her eyes rolled to the side giving her a brief glimpse of her rescuer before she fell back into unconsciousness.
Penny felt warm. She opened her eyes to see a fire burning right in front of her. She yelped in surprise, nearly falling of the chair she was on, only to find she was virtually cocooned in place by old smelling blankets. Penny blinked a few more times trying to gather her wits. She was in Hagrid's hut.
There was a rustle on the other side of the cabin and Hagrid emerged carrying a large hamper. Glancing across at the girl he smiled and addressed her.
'Ah ya awake, that's good, wouldnta wanted ter call Madam Pomfrey out in this storm' Hagrid said, coming across the cabin and placing the hamper next to Penny, drawing out a large slab of chocolate and breaking it into several pieces before passing some to Penny and eating some himself. Penny took the chocolate and bit down on it, savouring the internal warmth that spread through her.
'What happened?' Penny asked.
'I was gonna ask ya that, seen as you were wandering around the grounds in a thunderstorm, you could have frozen to death' Hagrid replied.
'I was sending a letter' Penny answered sullenly, remembering her reason for being in the storm.
'Musta been an important letter' Hagrid noted.
'Why were the Dementors in the grounds? I thought they were meant to stay guarding the entrances' Penny asked ignoring Hagrid's comment.
'They were hungry, not being allowed in the grounds they haven't fed properly in ages. With everyone concentrated in one place…' Hagrid shuddered and took an enormous bite of chocolate. Penny frowned.
'Why do you have all this chocolate?' Penny asked innocently, Hagrid was known for making his own unsuccessful concoctions of 'food', not for buying prepared food.
'When I heard that the Dementors were going to be surrounding the school I decided to stock up on the only known remedy' Hagrid shrugged not meeting Penny's eyes.
'How did you know chocolate is the only remedy?' Penny asked puzzled. Hagrid gave her a sideways glance before replying.
'I ended up spending some time in Azkaban last year when all those attacks were happening…my…. Record…. was against me' Hagrid said still looking sideways at her. Penny suddenly understood.
'Because of my father getting you expelled' Penny said, blushing slightly as she looked away into the fire. 'I'm sorry.' She muttered feeling guilty.
'S'not yer fault, can't pick yer parents, I know that' Hagrid replied, looking into the basket and pulling a few more bars out. He past them over to Penny who look questioningly at him. 'I don't expect I'll be needing much more of it, with Malfoy Senior looking to get me fired for what happened to Junior' Hagrid shrugged again looking downcast as he stared into the fire. Penny looked up into his sad face, guilt filling her for this defeated man. He had prevented her freezing to death in this storm yet her family responsible for all his misfortune. She couldn't decide what her family did though…or could she?
'Hagrid' Penny said causing him to look away from the fire. 'You are not going to get fired.' She told him decisively.
'What da ya mean?' Hagrid said confused.
'Narcissa Malfoy, my aunt' Penny acknowledged reluctantly 'has invited me to stay at Malfoy Manor over Christmas. I shall speak to them and ensure they won't ask for you to be sacked.'
'Penny, ya don't need to do that fer me' Hagrid said, gratitude filling his face anyway.
'Yes I do. My family will not be responsible for you having to leave this castle again.' Penny said, filled with fresh determination. She thanked him before making her way up to the Owlery, and pulling out a quill, ink and parchment. Pausing with the quill in her hand, Penny spent a while organising her thoughts before writing.
'Mrs Malfoy,
I shall accept your invitation to stay at Malfoy Manor over the Christmas period on one condition. None of the family may try to prosecute Rubeus Hagrid for the incident involving the Hippogriff and Draco. I owe Hagrid a debt and I wish for him to remain at Hogwarts.
Penny'
Penny stared at the parchment for a long time, unhappy with what she had written but unable to think of a way to phrase her words so her demand did not appear rude, but clearly was non-negotiable. Sighing she folded up the parchment and pushed it into an envelope. Looking around the Owlery she spotted the eagle owl Draco used and approached it. It looked her up and down before extending its leg for her. She tied the letter down before it took off, flying out the Owlery.
She watched it fly over the mountains and out of sight.