Penny was sat in the library reading 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' for a Defence Against the Dark Arts essay Lupin had set her class. She was just describing the fish like scales of a Kappa when Hermione came storming into the library and slammed her over-filled bag onto the library desk and sat heavily on the bench. Penny raised her eyes from her essay to glance at the other girl.
'What has Weasel done now?' Penny said quietly, returning her attention to her essay. Hermione huffed as she pulled out a Charms book and some parchment. After rummaging around her many books for a quill, Penny pushed across one of hers with a sigh.
'Thanks' Hermione said grumpily frowning at her Charms book. After a minute's silence she answered Penny's question. 'Harry has got his Firebolt back, turns out it was fine all along.'
'But there might have been something wrong with it' Penny mumbled as she finished with the first book and pulled a different book towards her and began reading down the page.
'Exactly!' Hermione exclaimed as she dotted an 'i' with more vigour than necessary.
'So Harry got his precious twig back and the Weasel still isn't happy?' Penny asked.
'It took him less than a minute to find something else that was my fault' Hermione said irritably 'Now he is saying Crookshanks ate Scabbers' She finished a tearful note in the last sentence, causing Penny to look at her above her book. As much as she didn't have much time for Hermione's furry pig of a cat, despite its many insistences on occupying her lap, Ron's rat was like an old smelly shoe brush that should have been fed to a python years ago.
'Well if anything you have done Weasel a favour' Penny said shrugging, continuing when Hermione looked puzzled. 'An owl, a cat or a toad' She emphasised 'And yet he gets to bring a rat with him.' Hermione made a noise of agreement and then the girls lapsed into silence.
'That for Professor Lupin?' Hermione asked after a while, peering over at the parchment Penny was working on. Penny nodded before Hermione went on 'While Professor Lupin was ill Professor Snape made us do an essay about werewolves' Hermione said pointedly. When Penny made no reply she went on 'There was a bit about how to identify a werewolf and...'
'And as Snape undoubtedly intended, you realised that Lupin is a werewolf?' Penny said in a unconcerned tone as Hermione made a squeak of surprise.
'Well I am glad I am not the only one who realises, Ron and Harry haven't got a clue' Hermione said bitterly.
'Well Weasel and Potter have never able to figure much out for themselves' Penny said rolling her eyes 'Well, Harry isn't completely stupid, but why you bother with Weasel I don't know. Anyway photographic memory makes it hard not to notice him being ill every four weeks whenever its full moon in Astronomy classes. I don't think it matters anyway' Penny added thoughtfully 'Half the population aren't safe to be around three days a month.' Hermione narrowed her eyes across the table but smiled none the less as she began scribbling notes from her Ancient Runes textbook.
A few days later Ravenclaw played Gryffindor, and as usual Penny went to wait in the Hospital Wing for any injuries that occurred. The girl who Madam Pomfrey had finally been released, her nose reattached, although Penny noticed, not completely central to her face. From the common room that night she found out that Harry's twig had been centre of attention, at least until Draco, Crabbe, Goyle and Flint had tried to pretend to be Dementors. On hearing this Penny moved across the room.
'Shame the Dementors couldn't come to the match again' Draco said, his back to Penny.
'Think it's funny do you, how Harry reacts to the Dementors?' Penny said in a dangerous whisper. Draco spun round on hearing her voice, and backed away from her glare.
'Well...erm..when its Potter yer, he has an unfair advantage with that broom' Draco said defensively, his eyes widening as Penny drew her wand.
'And Uncle Lucy buying you lot brooms last year wasn't?' Penny snarled.
'Look Penny, I'm sorry, it was shallow, but it didn't work anyway he shot a huge Patronus at us' Draco rushed on, his eyes darting between Penny's face and her wand. Penny frowned slightly.
'What's a Patronus?' She asked lowering her wand.
'Some kind of charm used against Dementors' Draco said shrugging, visibly relaxing.
'How on earth would Potter know how to do a Patronus?' Penny said curiously, she knew they had never come up in Defence Against the Dark Arts or in any of the books she had read.
'I don't know Penny' Draco said.
'Potter falling off his broom was funny though' Pansy Parkinson suddenly said from within the group 'Dementors are horrid but to faint is pathetic' She said laughing shrilly. Penny's eyes flashed as her wand sparked.
'Persephone NO!' Draco shouted grabbing her wrist as she raised her wand and holding her back by her right shoulder. Pansy looked shocked at her reaction.
'Get off me Draco!' Penny yelled, struggling in his grip 'Pathetic am I?' Penny roared as Draco yelped in pain and released her. He leapt between her and Pansy, trying to shield his girlfriend. 'Get out the way!' Penny snarled.
'Persephone, calm down' Draco said in a forced calm voice 'We don't want a repeat of Christmas' He said very quietly. Penny glared at him fiercely causing him to recoil slightly, but he held his ground. Growling slightly she pointed her wand threateningly at Pansy's scared face over Draco's shoulder.
'Another word from you about Dementors' She said in a dangerous whisper before lowering her wand. Without a word she stormed through the Slytherin common room, the crowd parting to let her through. Sitting on her bed her eyes wondered over the friendship bracelets on her wrists. Running her fingers along them she sighed. God she missed Ginny. Hesitating she plucked Ginny's bracelet and waited. After several minutes fruitless waiting, she gave a sad wail and threw herself face down on the pillow.
The next morning the common room was buzzing with whispers that were typical of hot gossip. Assuming it was to do with her outburst Penny crossed the common room only to have Theo cross into her path.
'Penny, have you heard?' He said, looking excited when she looked puzzled 'Sirius Black broke into the Gryffindor common room last night! Nearly stabbed one of them!' He finished staring into her suddenly pale face. 'Penny, where are you going?' Theo asked as Penny bolted out of the dungeon wall, leaving Theo behind as he tried to keep up with her.
Penny reached the Great Hall in record time and scanned the Gryffindor table and quickly spotted a dash of red next to a bushy brunette eating breakfast, apparently talking in rapid tones. She walked briskly down the table and without thinking grabbed them both around the shoulders into a tight awkward hug.
'Penny! What on earth!' Hermione said as her porridge landed on her lap. Penny stood back but didn't completely relinquish the girls.
'Theo said...Black...Gryffindor Tower...Stabbed...I thought...' Penny struggled, partly out of breath and partly emotional. Hermione beamed up at the dark girl before replying.
'Don't worry we are fine, its Ron that nearly got stabbed' Hermione said, her smiling vanishing as fast as it had come. Looking down at the redhead's averted gaze Penny suddenly became uncomfortably aware this was the first physical contact they had had since their kiss. Removing her hand Penny glanced to the floor.
'Gin...' She mumbled, a slight pleading note as Ginny twirled her spoon in her apparently fascinating breakfast. Hermione looked rapidly between the two of them.
'What happened between you two anyway?' Hermione asked innocently
'Nothing' Penny and Ginny said in unison causing Hermione's eyebrows to move rapidly into her fringe.
'Well' Hermione said flicking her wand at the remains of her porridge 'I'll let you too work out nothing, I have to go to the library' She said putting her bag over her shoulder.
'And there was me convinced you were going to say the Quidditch pitch' Penny replied sarcastically. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the redhead grin into her bowl.
'Oh hardy ha' Hermione said equally sarcastic but she smiled as she left. Turning to the redhead, there was an awkward pause.
'Shall we go for a walk?' Penny said eventually. Ginny hesitated before nodding and the two of them walked out of the Great Hall and without conferring headed out into the grounds. After a few minutes silence reached a beech tree near the edge of the lake. Ginny leant against the tree her arms folded, glancing at Penny's face before staring out onto the lake. Penny ran her hand through her messy hair awkwardly before folding her arms too.
'So...' Penny began completely unsure what to say. 'How are you?' She finished lamely. Ginny scratched her nose before replying.
'Well I've been fine, Ron is in pieces over Scabbers though'
'Yer, Hermione said he thinks Crookshanks ate him' Penny said 'He can't have tasted very nice' She added causing the redhead to laugh.
'I've missed you Penny' Ginny said chuckling before realising what she had said and blushing.
'I've missed you too' Penny mumbled, her pale face reddening as well. 'I've had to put up with Theo trailing me like a hound' Penny went on in a disgusted tone as Ginny pulled a face. 'Gin... about... about what happened' Penny started before Ginny cut her off.
'You know I like Harry right?' Ginny said quickly. Penny shot her a look.
'There isn't a person in this castle that doesn't know you like the wonderful Harry Potter' Penny said unable to keep the bitter tone out of her voice. Ginny raised her eyebrows as she looked at Penny.
'You sound jealous.' Ginny stated. Penny scowled as she looked across the lake.
'Maybe I am' She eventually said shrugging. 'Last time I checked you could barely speak a word in front of him though' Ginny glared at Penny whose blue eyes pierced her straight back. 'Look' Penny went on 'You are my best friend...I don't want to lose you...I don't know where that kiss came from...but...' Penny trailed off and sat down on the grass. Ginny looked at her thoughtfully, before sitting beside her.
'You aren't going to tell anyone are you?' Ginny said, a desperate note in her voice 'They wouldn't understand. I mean can you imagine Hermione's face?' Penny cringed in response.
'Of course not. This is between you and me' Penny said reassuringly 'Whatever...this is' She added pointedly. Ginny's face turned to hers as they scrutinized into each other's faces.
'Just between us?' Ginny whispered as Penny nodded. Rapidly looking around them to assure herself they were alone Ginny turned back to Penny and purposefully leant across and briefly kissed her, pausing meaningfully before pulling away. Looking around again Ginny shot Penny a mischievous smile before the two of them looked out at the lake, both with a guilty smile on their faces.