Penny didn't know how much time had passed when she heard a soft knock on the bedroom door. She remained motionless on her front, not turning her head on the silk pillow as she heard the door open. A few soft footsteps and a light weight on the side of the bed told Penny her aunt was beside her. A few moments past in silence then Penny felt a warm hand gently grip her shoulder.
'Persephone?' Narcissa said softly as Penny continued to be still. 'Well, for all your saying that you are not your mother, you definitely certainly share an affinity with fiery outbursts. Albeit hers were not usually quite as spectacular as yours.' Narcissa went on, as Penny pressed her face further into the pillow. Narcissa evidently noticed this and added sternly 'Persephone, look at me.' Penny reluctantly turned towards her aunt, the back of her head where her face had been. She peered under her eyelashes at her aunt, not wanting to ask. 'Lucius will recover.' Narcissa said, as if reading her thoughts. 'Fortunately I was able to put the flames out quickly, so he only suffered surface burns. Had I not been there...' Narcissa trailed off, giving Penny a very meaningful look.
'He shouldn't have hit me' Penny said stubbornly looking away.
'No, he should not have.' Narcissa replied 'But that does not make it acceptable to set him on fire Persephone. If you do not learn a bit of control, you'll land yourself in Azkaban.'
'Oh brilliant, I can have slumber parties with my mother' Penny said bitterly. Narcissa's lip narrowed but she didn't challenge it. The mention of Azkaban brought the thought of the Dementors to mind and Penny shuddered involuntarily.
'Lucius will return from St. Mungo's tomorrow. When he gets back you shall apologize to him.'Narcissa said. Penny glared at her aunt angrily.
'I will not' She replied.
'You will apologise to him.' Narcissa repeated in a soft and low but indisputably firm tone, meeting Penny's glare unrelentingly. A few seconds as Penny tried to form an argument, but somehow she was unable to. A mother's ruling, she supposed bitterly. Eventually she sighed and reluctantly nodded.
'Good.' Narcissa said rising. As she reached the door Penny called after her.
'Narcissa?' Her aunt turned in the door way. Penny hesitated as she considered how to phrase it. 'The Dementors...when they come near me...' Narcissa stepped back into the room as Penny started playing with her sleeve. 'Sometimes I hear things, well, kinda hear them, its distorted. A man, I think, possibly with a woman, they won't stop screaming, and another female...shouting at them...I think...I think I was in the womb' Penny trailed off as she watched her aunt sink back onto the bed, she had gone exceptionally pale. 'What was that? What was happening? Who were they? My mother...?' Penny fired off quickly, bursting with unanswered questions. Narcissa didn't speak for a second, then seemed to shake herself. She rose again and spoke.
'I do not know Persephone' She said tonelessly, almost like a robot, Penny couldn't sense anything from her aunt, as if she had blocked all emotion. 'Dinner will be soon, be sure to tidy yourself up.' Narcissa said and went to head out the door. Leaping from the bed Persephone quickly crossed the room and blocked the doorway.
'Tell me the truth' Penny said, as Narcissa tried to push past her 'Please I need to know' She begged, which seemed to crack Narcissa's emotional armour. Her aunt's face struggled with emotion, then she returned to the bed yet again to sit down with the young witch. A few moments past as Narcissa seemed to carefully consider her words.
'When your father...died...' Narcissa started with difficulty 'Your mother was frantic, she was desperate to be reunited with your father, I understand even more why now. She used any method to try and find him.'
'Including torture' Penny whispered.
'Including torture.' Narcissa repeated nodding.
'Who were they?' Penny asked, despite being certain she would not know of them.
'Frank and Alice Longbottom. Their son, Neville is in Draco's year at Hogwarts.'
'She killed them?' Penny asked, her thoughts on the lump of a boy she had seen with the third year Gryffindors. She did not believe she had ever spoken a word to him.
'No. They are insane, they permanently live in St. Mungo's. No cure. But then my sister shall never see the sun again either, so you could say justice has been done.' Narcissa finished bitterly staring into the distance. Penny looked at her aunt, sadness in her eyes.
'You miss her?' Penny asked surprised.
'You are an only child, I wasn't. To go from being so close growing up to knowing you will never see your sisters again can be very difficult to deal with'
'Sisters?' Penny shot back quickly. Narcissa looked startled, then annoyed with herself.
'I meant sister.' Narcissa snapped 'I must go sort dinner.' She said, storming out the room before Penny could react. Another Black sister? Penny thought, how many were there? What could they possibly have done to make her mother the one most appropriate to miss? Penny didn't know. How many skeletons could this family possibly have in its closet? So many secrets, so much shame. Penny shook her head and sighed. She rubbed her head, before heading to the shower to clear her thoughts.
The evening past without much event, conversation at dinner was tense and formal as they ate mostly in silence. Penny tossed and turned that night, much of her sleep disturbed by nightmares. The Longbottoms screams filled her dreams, the only memory of her mother hysterical yelling and cursing.
When she finally found the energy to rise from her tear stained pillow, Penny wondered down to the kitchen looking even more dishevelled than usual. Narcissa sat in the kitchen evidently waiting for her.
'Good morning Persephone.' Narcissa said coldly. Penny narrowed her eyes as she helped herself to some cereal. 'Lucius is in the lounge.' Her aunt continued as Penny scowled into her breakfast, eating as slowly as possibly under the stern glare of her aunt. Inevitably she finished her bowl and followed her aunt through to the lounge. Lucius sat in his armchair looking identical as he had done the day before, with Draco stood behind him looking uncomfortable. Seeing the two of them enter the room, Lucius rose from his chair and stood stiffly. His expression cold and calculating.
'Persephone.' Lucius nodded formally.
'Lucius.' Penny replied coldly.
'I apologize. I should not have struck you.' He said, Penny half glanced under her eyelashes towards her aunt, but felt rather than saw her glare.
'Apology accepted' Penny said, looking back to Lucius. 'I apologize for turning you into a human petrol bomb.' Faint amusement flickered across Draco's face but he quickly tried to disguise it as his mother shot him a look. Lucius's lip curled as he forced a look of amusement.
'Apology accepted.' He said before pausing. 'I hope you find the rest of your stay less explosive.' Penny narrowed her eyes at this.
'Actually, I was intending on returning to the castle this evening, or as soon as I have packed.' Penny replied curtly. Narcissa made a noise of surprise.
'There is no need to jump to such rash decisions' Narcissa snapped.
'It is not rash.' Penny shot back. Narcissa stared at the young girl.
'But you shall return in the summer?' Narcissa asked.
'No. I shall return to London.' Penny replied, her aunt making a noise of disgust.
'You shall not go back to living with Muggles when you have a perfectly good home here. Besides, what happens if you lose your temper then? You'll be expelled for sure.' Narcissa challenged.
'Those Muggles are my friends, so mind your words.' Penny said fiercely, her eyes flashing slightly 'Plus their inability to defend themselves gives me more reason to control myself than those who should be able to look after themselves.' Penny finished as Narcissa scoffed and tutted. 'I have made up my mind. You will not change it.' Penny said firmly. Her aunt looked furious but didn't argue. Lucius looked thoughtfully at the girl before him but said nothing.
Later that day Penny had her trunk and was stood ready by the fireplace with the Malfoys gathered around her. She turned to mutter a final goodbye as Lucius took a step forward.
'Good bye Persephone. We shall see each other again soon I am sure.' He said before retreating back. He glanced at Draco who looked away.
'See you at school.' He muttered miserably. Penny's was puzzled as she sensed he was unhappy about her leaving. She couldn't imagine she had been much company. Though, she was at least company, she reasoned. Looking round her aunt approached her, her usual flawless expression not quite up to its usual standard.
'Good bye Penny.' Narcissa said softly then surprised her by pulling her into a soft embrace. 'I hope you reconsider.' Narcissa whispered into the young witch's ear as she released her. Penny felt her emotions wobble as she looked into her aunt's face, seeing the resemblance between them toying with her feelings.
'Goodbye Cissy.' Penny muttered, looking away as she stepped into the flames.
'Hogwarts: The Great Hall.'