The week leading up to Christmas Penny barely saw Harry or any of the Gryffindors for that matter. She knew Harry hadn't told anyone they were going to the Ball together, and she wanted to keep it that way. Most of her own house remained over the holidays due to the Yule Ball, the Slytherin Common Room full to bursting. On the odd occasion she saw Ginny across the Hall or in the corridor, she couldn't help but smirk maliciously, making the redhead recoil nervously. A couple days before Christmas Penny finally managed to catch Harry alone; she had dragged him to an empty classroom where she had a record on standby. She tapped her wand on the keyhole, muttering in Parseltongue to lock it before running her wand along the doorframe with a Silencing Charm. Harry had looked like a deer in headlights as he realised what she intended.
"I don't dance." He said quickly as she turned to approach the record player.
"I don't think you have a choice Potter." She said condescendingly. She turned back to face him, her hand on her hip and an eyebrow quirked. He shuffled awkwardly under her haughty gaze. "Look it this way, you can either wait until the Ball, and have no idea what you are doing or" She paused, flicking her wand lazily at the record, which started playing a slow mournful tune "You can make the most of some practice. Make yourself someone Cho wished she was with." She finished standing in front of the skinny boy, with her hands on her hips, their equally chaotic black hair level with one another. Penny stared challengingly into Harry's startling green eyes, before he lowered his in defeat. As predicted, Harry had clearly never danced with a girl in his life, without the slightest idea where to begin. Taking his hands, Penny placed one on her waist and thread her fingers through is on his other hand, muttering instructions as she did.
"I'm over here" Penny teased as Harry held her awkwardly at arm's length. Penny smiled as Harry reduced the gap between them, his face scarlet. After Harry made a few terrible attempts at leading Penny broke away from him.
"I thought you were a Quidditch player?" Penny demanded as she rubbed her foot angrily. "Pretend it's Quidditch moves" She snapped as Harry stammered "You move, I mirror, I move, you mirror. Get it?" He paused giving this thought. After a further half an hour, Penny called their session quits. He had improved, Penny decided reluctantly, even if her feet were still suffering occasionally.
On Christmas morning Penny awoke to find a pile of presents at the foot of her bed. Most of them were from Lucius and Narcissa, one from Draco and a suspicious box of heart chocolates Penny had no doubt were from Theo. She had pulled a couple apart, examining the contents closely before she ate one, satisfied he hadn't tried to sneak her a Love Potion. She also had one from Hermione, a book on Healing Charms she had already read. She noticed there was no gift from Ginny, a bitter pang in her gut she quickly suppressed. The goodie box of Instant Sticking Glue and other items she had planned to give the redhead had spontaneously combust during an Astronomy class and had to be flung from the tower. What a shame, she thought sardonically.
The day past fairly fast, Draco had made use of the Zonko firecrackers Penny had gotten him, flicking them next to unsuspecting Hufflepuff first years in the corridors. The gun shot explosion would make them leap a foot in the air with a yelp, making Draco and his cronies roar with laughter. Filch had tried to find the source of the firecrackers to confiscate but on searching the Slytherins had come up empty handed, as Juno conveniently curled up filling a nearby crevice.
As the afternoon wore on Penny had entered the Common Room and approached the third years gathered around the fireplace.
"Urs, Heather." She beckoned before leading up to the dormitory, Juno slithering from her shoulders onto her bed. Closing the door the two girls stared at her apprehensively as she dragged her dress robes and laid them on her bed before turning to them. "I shall go to the Ball" She said, inwardly cursing herself as they obviously missed the Muggle reference but lit up in shock.
"Oooooh!" Heather squealed excitedly "With who?" She practically begged.
"That is none of your concern" Penny snapped, softening as they flinched at her tone "I'll tell you later." She promised as they whined slightly "For now however, your mission, should you choose to accept it" She said, again knowing the reference was futile "Is to make me look as gorgeous as legally possible. Up to the task?" She said raising an eyebrow as Ursula's face suddenly lit up in excitement.
"I have been waiting over two years for you to say that!" Ursula gushed, leaping over her own bed, dragging enough make-up and hair products to supply an army. Penny's eyes widened as the contents of Ursula's make over kit simply took over both her own and Heather's bed, Juno hissing angrily as some of the items narrowing missed her.
"I want to look elegant, not like someone has dragged me face first through a paint factory explosion" Penny said quickly. Ursula merely laughed, and muttered to herself rummaging through her supplies, debating her options. Penny looked pleadingly at Heather who gave her a reassuring nod and thumbs up and went to help Ursula. For the next couple hours Penny felt violated as Ursula pulled and prodded her like a lab rat, making sometimes derogatory comments as she did. Evidently Ursula was in her element when giving make overs as Penny knew she wouldn't dare behave towards her in such a way normally, and did her best to give her a free reign as the blonde witch applied obscene amounts of Sleekeazy Hair Potion to her scalp and brushed it through. At half seven Ursula finally seemed satisfied and Penny went to examine herself in the mirror. Looking back at her was a stranger with sleek thick black locks flowing elegantly over her shoulders. Ursula had applied black eyeliner in a delicate winged line, and modestly dark pink lipstick. The whole effect of the black dress and hair made her pale skin almost glow in contrast. Her piercing blue eyes and distinct cheekbones even more noticeable through the dark make up. Overall she was pleased with the results and her face broke into a wide wicked grin as she tilted her face one way then the other. She heard a sigh of relief behind her and turned to see the girls visibly relaxing at her pleased smile.
"How do I look?" Penny hissed at Juno who was now dangling down from the top of her bed posts. Juno peered into her face as she smiled.
"I believe you will have no issue finding males who desire to mate with you" Juno replied making Penny laugh at she turned back to the girls.
"You did well, Ursula" She purred as Ursula beamed happily
"Elegant enough for you Penny?" She asked, her smile widening as Penny nodded, then the blonde twirled her wand nervously as she clearly considered pushing her luck. Penny however answered the question before it was asked.
"I am going with Potter." She said simply as Heather and Ursula shared a look of surprise. "Anyway, best not keep the Champion waiting." Penny said winking. "Thanks, see you later." Penny said before tucking her wand in a thin sleeve pocket built into the cuff of her dress. Entering the Common Room she felt the collective silence spread at her arrival and Draco quickly went to her side.
"I thought you weren't going? I thought it was a stupid event" He challenged, looking at her dolled up appearance with disapproval. She merely pouted in response. "Who are you going with?" He asked sternly, frowning when she didn't answer. "Fine." He said grumpily, offering Pansy his arm before leading her out, Pansy tried to conceal her jealousy and look disgusted as Penny smiled nastily after her. The rest of the Slytherins made their way out of the Common Room, and as they reached the Hall Penny spotted Harry lurking nervously at the base of the Grand Staircase, Ron at his side, partner-less. As his green eyes fell on the younger witch his jaw noticeably dropped as if he had never seen her before. He took in her appearance, his eyes drifting down her figure before fixating on her piercing eyes. She smiled knowingly as she approached, putting the tip of her tongue between her teeth teasingly as he ran his hand through his hair distractedly. Even Ron looked taken aback before fixing a look of loathing on his face as he shot Harry a dark look as if betrayed.
"Persephone." Harry said too formally as she reached his side, his face flushed. Her grin only widened in the knowledge Ursula had done her job well. She felt the various glares of anger and jealousy as the collective realisation ran round the Great Hall. Looking round she saw Draco's look of enraged disbelief, Krum's moody scowl and with a stab of bittersweet satisfaction she saw Ginny's appalled expression standing out from the crowd. She smiled spitefully at the redhead before turning back to Harry who looked away so suddenly Penny was certain he had only just torn his eyes away from her.
"I think you have succeeded in making Cho jealous" Penny said to Harry, who suddenly looked across the Hall having apparently temporarily forgotten about the Asian girl. Penny chuckled quietly to herself.
"Champions over here, please!" McGonagall called over the heads of many students, and Penny walked over with Harry, standing beside the doors into the Great Hall. Cho looked between Harry and Penny with a peeved expression, even Fleur looked down at the dark haired witch with a less critical expression than was custom. As Krum and Hermione joined them however, it was Penny's jaw's turn to drop. In a shimmering blue dress Hermione looked simply stunning. Getting level with them, Hermione looked surprised to see Penny but then beamed happily.
"Penny! You look beautiful!" Hermione gushed genuinely her bright smile causing a strange tug in Penny's gut as blue eyes met brown.
"You too" Penny murmured, looking away as the rest of the school filed past the eight of them. After the crowd had settled at tables in the hall, the eight of them paired up, Penny clutching Harry's arm delicately. The crowds applauded as they entered the Hall behind the Professor, and Penny spotted a small wizard with a camera hopping about snapping photographs rapidly.
"You are a Black, behave like one" Narcissa's voice suddenly echoed in her head, Penny had rolled her eyes at her Aunt's many lectures on lady like behaviour but they abruptly seemed necessary. Tossing her hair back Penny straightened her posture, her chin jutting up proudly. Her blue eyes stared intensely down the camera lens before turning her attention to the large table at the head of the Hall. Dumbledore beamed at them all, whereas Penny noticed Karkaroff was glaring at Hermione with a look of sourness. As Penny narrowed her eyes at him, Karkaroff's eyes shifted to hers and his expression did too, to a nervous smile, fingering his goatee. Harry lead her round to a thin redheaded man she recognised as a Weasley. As he prattled on Penny looked eagerly at the menu, digging in the moment her food appeared.
"So, Persephone" Karkaroff said carefully leaning across the table as Penny frowned, her mouth too full to correct him without her internal Narcissa chastising her "Have you had a chance to look at the book I leant you?" Penny swallowed forcefully to answer him.
"I have finished it." She stated to his surprise. "Very informative." She said evasively taking another bite. She felt Dumbledore watching them with curiosity as Krum spoke to Hermione about Durmstrang before Karkaroff cut him off.
"One would think you don't want visitors" Dumbledore had said playfully as Karkaroff's cold smile didn't meet his eyes. Dumbledore went on to mention his trip to a mysterious bathroom, to which Harry had snorted in laughter.
"And what if I wished to visit?" Penny challenged, as Karkaroff looked uneasy. Krum turned his head away from Hermione to listen to their exchange.
"Then you would be most welcome Miss Black" Karkaroff said with a polite incline of his head.
"And yet you do not seem to extend the same invitation to Hermione." Penny said, keeping a stern expression as she chuckled internally at the Professor's quivering lower lip. "Anyone would think you have an issue with her being a Muggle Born." At once Karkaroff spoke hurriedly.
"Not at all" He reassured her "Any friend of yours is a friend of mine" He said unctuously.
"Good, after all" Penny said, looking past the Professor to smile at Hermione "She is brilliant enough to make most people seem like they have taken too many Bludgers to the head" She said smiling as Hermione blushed, her eyes moving onto Krum whom she sneered at "But then some people probably have" She finished, jumping slightly as she heard a spluttering noise next to her. Looking round Harry was choking next to her, having obviously just taken a mouthful of pumpkin juice.
"Anapneo" Penny said flicking her wand at Harry, whose airways cleared and he continued sniggering softly. Penny smiled at him as she returned her wand to her sleeve pocket. "Honestly, all my father's attempts on your life and I almost kill you on the first date" She said cackling slightly as Harry both blushed and his sniggers increased in volume. "Harry Potter" Penny went on through her own giggles "The Boy who Laughed." At that Harry completely lost it and roared with laughter, making nearby tables stare at the pair of them as Penny's cackles increased too.
A few minutes later the Weird Sisters had gathered their instruments and Harry lead Penny nervously onto the dance floor with the other champions. Placing his hands gingerly on Penny, the dark haired witch smiling at him as he blushed yet again.
"You move, I mirror" She murmured to him, to which he nodded. After a few notes, other people joined them on the dance floor; Penny noticed that Ginny had immediately dragged Neville onto the dance floor, perhaps in a desperate attempt to appear unfazed. Penny snorted in derision as Ginny winced as Neville appeared to be an even worse dancer than Harry. As soon as the song ended Harry let go of Penny, eager to get out of the spotlight. Penny waved him off carelessly, and went to get them drinks.
Over by the bar she spotted Crabbe and Goyle stood around the punch fountain, practically blocking the view with their bulks. Watching closely she saw them emptying a bottle into the fountain. Glancing around Penny noticed everyone else was too busy dancing to the fast paced song to realise what the two goons were up to. Grabbing a glass Penny circled round to them and on seeing her they tried to hide the bottle into their robes but Penny simply held up her glass and looked at them expectantly. Looking over her head sheepishly Goyle poured a small amount into the bottom of her glass before shoving the bottle into his robes and shuffling away with Crabbe. Swirling the contents of her glass Penny took a sip and nearly spat it out as its strong taste hit her tongue. Dipping her glass into the fountain, she filled her glass to dilute it. She tasted it again, and satisfied grabbed a Butterbeer for Harry and walked back to find him sat at a far table with a furious looking Ron. Sitting down Penny took a long drink as she looked cynically at the redheaded boy.
"What's wrong with him?" Penny asked Harry, using the Serpent's Tongue to intentionally goad the fuming red head. For once Harry seemed to realise what she was doing and shot her a warning look. "What's wrong with you Weasel?" She asked instead, making Harry groan.
"Penny" He said, a pleading note in his voice. Penny rolled her eyes, but heeded him and fell silent, downing her drink, enjoying the heady feeling it gave. As the song ended Draco approached the table and offered his hand to Penny formally. She quirked an eyebrow at him questioningly.
"If you ever want there to be an end to the fit mother is going to throw over this" He said indicating Harry with a sneer "At least you'd be able to pacify her by saying you danced with me" He said reasonably as another fast paced song came on.
"Like you can dance" She said scoffing, Draco's grey eyes however, just watched her calmly.
"I think you'd be surprised." He said softly, his quiet self-assurance a far cry from his usual boasting. Glancing at Harry, the dark haired boy gestured for her to go ahead and she allowed Draco to lead her to the dance floor. As they reached their Penny looked challengingly at Draco who smiled and twirled her rapidly before he began moving in time with the music. Penny watched him in fascination, he wasn't lying. He really could dance. Smiling Penny quickly countered him, and before long the crowd had parted around them and people stopped to watch them. Despite his slim build Draco turned out to be very strong as he lifted her and spun the two of them before Penny landed gracefully. As the song went on they swirled and twisted and mirrored one another with almost uncanny precision and as the song reached the end Draco dipped Penny so low her long locks were just brushing the floor. A cheer and applause went round the crowd as Draco raised her back up, the pale boy smiling smugly as Penny smirked. "Still think I can't dance, cousin?" He said teasingly as Penny got her balance.
The dark haired witch just smiled as the small photographer started clicking rapidly, the two of them turning to face him, expressions abruptly serious. As he moved away again the two of them went back to the bar where Penny filled another glass with spiked punch, smiling mischievously as Draco's grey eyes looked slightly uneasy. As the evening wore on she danced with a few people but mostly danced with Draco, when Pansy wasn't draping herself on his arm, topping up her glass every now and then, despite Draco's increasing objections. Later on she practically dragged Harry back to the dance floor to dance to a slow dance, the only dances he seemed to cope with. Spotting Ginny sat on a nearby table Penny smiled even as the world swirled slightly. Turning back to Harry Penny looked intently at him, his green eyes seemed prettier than usual, or perhaps it was the way he was looking at her. Glancing back at Ginny Penny impulsively put a hand under the dark haired boy's chin and pressed her lips onto his. Harry froze in surprise, their slow dance suddenly still. There was an unexpected flip in Penny's stomach, and instead of pulling away like she had intended, she hummed slightly as Harry kissed her back, his lips warm and slightly rough. As her hand snaked round his face she felt herself shoved back from Harry, stumbling unsteadily as her eyes flying open to see Draco stood, his chest puffed out angrily as he glared at Harry.
"What are you doing?" She shouted at Draco, ignoring the fact people around them were staring.
"Getting his slimy hands off my cousin, that's what" Draco snapped as his knuckles cracked, Harry looking between him and Penny.
"It's none of your business" Penny shot back.
"It's my business if my cousin is acting like a slut" Draco spat as Penny's face flashed with anger, the air around her cackling. "You should know better after what happened…" Draco trailed off as Penny drew her wand, pointing it threateningly.
"Don't you dare" Penny hissed, sparks emitting from her wand as he flinched. She glared at him, becoming rapidly aware of the blurry edges of her vision. Shifting unsteadily Penny blinked a couple of times, abruptly feeling uncomfortably hot. Lowering her wand she glowered at him before storming out of the Great Hall and out into the grounds, the freezing air refreshing. Walking out Penny sat on the edge of the fountain, her head clutched in her hands, the world still spinning.
"You are a cruel bitch, you know that" Penny looked up to see Ginny glowering at her, her red hair gleaming in the fairy light. A moment of silence past between them as the hum of an insect echoed around them. Lowering her hands Penny smiled mockingly at her.
"I don't know what you mean Ginevra" She said sarcastically "All I did was take your advice, who knows, maybe Harry and I will be something real" Penny emphasised, twisting the words cruelly.
"The Boy Who Lived with you?" Ginny shot back incredulously "The daughter of the Dark Lord? The daughter of a witch, who is one of the most fanatical Purebloods in existence?" She laughed nastily as Penny flushed angrily, the alcohol in her system burning in her gut. "I'm sure mummy Bella would be so proud."
"Coming from you" Penny spat back "The pathetic little girl who poured her heart out into a cursed diary" She sneered as Ginny growled furiously, before the red head lunged at her, her fist slamming into the dark haired witch's jaw. The world span as Penny fell sideways, but not before grabbing hold of the red head and the two of them slammed into the ground. Penny grabbed the red head's locks, her larger size working in her favour as she pinned the red head down, her own fist pummelling the smaller witch. The two struggled, cursing, biting, clawing and punching any part of one another they could reach until they were suddenly blasted apart by an unseen force. Running down the steps, Draco and Harry at his heels, Snape lowered his wand as he approached the pair who lay five foot apart on the ground. Penny leapt to her feet, which turned out to be mistake, as the world span uncontrollably and the contents of her stomach churned nauseatingly. Without warning the dark haired witch doubled over by the rose bushes and began violently vomiting.
She heard rather than saw Harry move to help her, only to be shoved aggressively away by Draco. After a few words from Snape Harry tried to help Ginny up, who pushed him away before storming back into the castle. Losing her balance Penny staggered before falling back on her arse, narrowly missing the fresh pile of vomit. Draco sighed loudly as he bent to scoop her up; despite her colourful protests, and carried her threw the Entrance Hall, and all the way down to the Common Room, Snape in tow. Snape flicked his wand at the girl's staircase, a gurgling noise sounded, making Penny feel even more nauseous as Draco climbed. Laying her gingerly down on her bed, Ursula and Heather rushed to her side as Juno slithered down to her. Turning to face the boa, Penny frowned in puzzlement as Juno's hisses were unintelligible to her.
World still spinning, Penny closed her eyes and immediately blacked out.