On returning to the Hospital Wing Penny found Harry laying on one of the beds with a look of despair on his face, cradling a blanket full of broken bits of broomstick like it was a sick child. When Penny suggested he throw it away he had looked at her as if she had two heads.
'It's only a broomstick, you can buy another one of the same model surely!' Penny reasoned exasperated. Harry looked so much like a child with his bottom lip stuck out Penny almost felt like laughing. 'I hope they catch Black soon' Penny continued 'Sooner the Dementors are gone the better.'
'You are lucky you didn't come to the match' Harry said innocently, surprised by Penny's expression. 'Did you?'
'No, I went to send a letter though, and one of the Dementors seemed to take a fancy to me' Penny answered.
'Why on earth were you sending a letter in a thunderstorm?' Harry asked bewildered.
'Why were you playing a dangerous sport hundreds of feet in the air in a thunderstorm?' Penny snapped back. In a forced calm voice she went on 'Mrs Malfoy has invited me to go to the Malfoy Manor for Christmas.'
'And are you?' Harry asked and continued when Penny nodded 'I guess it will be nice to be able to enjoy Christmas with your family' Harry said in a sad voice. Penny looked intently at him, his grief and sadness washing over her. She sometimes forgot she was not the only one that had grown up as an orphan, only unlike her, his family would never come back. She was starting to wish hers wouldn't either, she pondered amused.
The next few weeks passed without much event, Ginny and Hermione had seemed revolted when Penny revealed she was spending Christmas with the Malfoys.
'Ugh, you should have said, I would have suggested you come to my house instead!' Ginny insisted, before standing and doing a slow, purposeful walk with her nose raised in the air 'I am Narcissa Maaaalfoy' Ginny said in an exaggerated imitation of Narcissa Malfoy's posh accent. Penny and Hermione both laughed as Ginny continued to walk around their library table like this.
The end of term came very quickly and Penny packed her possessions into her trunk slowly, deep in thought. What was the Manor going to be like? What would her aunt be like? Would there be pictures of her mother there? What might Narcissa be able to tell her? Could she explain the voices in the mist?
Once she was done she went down to the Common Room to find Draco waiting for her. Penny sensed he seemed almost as apprehensive as her. With a nod to Penny he turned and headed out of the Common Room. He lead her down to the Great Hall where a line of students were waiting, with Filch the caretaker standing beside the lit fireplace with a quill and a piece of parchment. Penny turned to face Draco, very puzzled.
'Tell me again how we are getting to the Malfoy Manor?' Penny asked. Draco stared at her.
'The Floo Network of course' He stated as if this was obvious. When Penny continued to look blankly at him, he gestured for her to watch as the student at the front of the line took a pinch of powder, cast it into the flames which turned emerald, step into the fireplace and yelled 'Wolfbane Avenue!' The next second the fireplace was empty. Penny stared opened mouthed at the fireplace, far from reassured.
'It's easy, just make sure you say "Malfoy Manor" clearly.' Draco shrugged. When they reached the front of the line Filch looked at Penny with contempt and checked his list.
'Destination?' He snarled.
'Malfoy Manor' Penny replied stiffly. Filch's snarl deepened as he gestured for her to proceed. Sensing her unease Filch's snarl turned to a gleeful sneer.
'Oh don't worry, you don't really need your elbows anyway' He cackled before adding 'Or your teeth.' Draco stepped around Penny as she paled.
'Don't speak to a member of my family like that you filthy Squib' Draco spat. Filch's face contorted in rage and he made as if to approach the pair, but Draco already had his hand on the handle of his wand. With a glance at this movement, Filch's eyes narrowed but he backed away, muttering curses under his breath. Draco went to put his arm around Penny's back but she moved out of his grip.
'I don't need you to protect me, I am perfectly capable of looking after myself' Penny snapped, scowling at Draco.
'A Malfoy looks out for his own' He said shrugging, not looking at her. Penny continued to glare at him, refusing to acknowledge how touched she was by this. Instead she focussed on taking the pinch of powder from the pot, threw it into the fireplace, which erupted into emerald flames. With a glance at Draco who nodded, she took a deep breath and took a nervous step into the flames. To her surprise they didn't burn her.
'Malfoy Manor!' She yelled and immediately felt herself spinning at high speed. The darkness was punctured by flashes of fireplaces, whizzing around her. She felt her elbows knocking against a hard surface as she span so she tucked them in as much as possible. She soon became very nauseous and clamped her eyes shut tightly waiting for it to stop. Then all of a sudden her feet hit solid ground causing her to stagger forward, her foot catching on something. As she began to fall forward, warm arms grabbed her around her waist, holding her up. Opening her eyes she looked up to see blonde hair and blue eyes looking down at her. Narcissa Malfoy's mouth formed a reserved smile and she hoisted Penny over the fireguard and gave her a quick dust off with a brush. As Penny started looking around what appeared to be a living room Narcissa gestured around the room and beyond.
'Welcome Persephone' She said 'To Malfoy Manor.'