The next couple of weeks were the worst of Penny's time at Hogwarts. The only comparable time being in her first year where people suspected, in a way correctly, that she was the heir of Slytherin. However now instead of just whispers, jeers and hexes were shot at her so often she kept a firm grip on her wand at all times outside the Common Room. She also was receiving so much hate mail she had starting burning every envelope with an Incendio charm as it landed if it wasn't being delivered by Artemis. Whilst he disapproved of the many scorch marks along the House Table, Snape had not reprimanded her, even turning a blind eye to her returning some of the hexes sent her way. Juno had also had to remain in the Slytherin Common Room for her own safety, after a sixth year Ravenclaw Roger Davies had tried to kidnap her. Cassius Warrington, a gigantic sixth year Slytherin had hexed him with the Furnunculus Curse, putting him into the Hospital Wing with boils the size of eggs on his face. On returning a distressed Juno to her, Penny had thanked him and permitted him and his scrawny friend Theodore Nott to lurk around her gang during break and lunch times. Penny suspected Cassius had additional motives for his presence as more than once Penny had caught him watching Ursula wistfully. Any time he realised he had been caught the massive boy had hastily looked away from Penny's amused grin. Like Warrington and Nott, her own house for the most part, had embraced rather than rejected her, though Penny knew it was in the nature of a Slytherin to gravitate towards power, however unscrupulous.
On the way to class she had seen Ginny taking a trip to the bathroom alone and doubled back from her friends to follow the redhead at a distance. Glancing around to check they were alone Penny waited for the redhead to emerge before she had grabbed the smaller witch by the scruff of her neck, pinning her to a nearby column. The redhead had cursed and kicked out, making the taller witch grunt as her shin throbbed painfully. Seeing the wand in her face the redhead had stopped struggling and instead simply glared into Penny's blue eyes defiantly.
"Was it you?" Penny spat at her, the redhead stared at her. "Did you talk to the Skeeter bitch? She offer you money or something?" Penny growled at the redhead whose mouth hung open in shocked indignation. After a moment she shut her mouth, her jaw clenching in fury.
"No." She said fiercely, her eyes flashing with fiery insulted pride. Penny stared into each of her eyes in turn, releasing the redhead's robe on detecting no deceit, lowering her wand. "You really think I would sink that low?" Ginny asked quietly, as Penny took a half step back. The taller witch shifted her weight onto her back foot, crossing her arms and pursing her lips. She regarded the redhead, who met her fierce gaze unrelenting.
"I don't think I know who you are anymore Ginevra." Penny said coldly, a flash of hurt crossing Ginny's face before she recovered.
"I could say the same Persephone." Ginny shot back. "I know you only went to the Ball with Harry to get back at me. Tom Riddle would be so proud his daughter inherited his talent for playing games with people's emotions." She finished tartly, shoulder slamming Penny as she exited the bathroom. Penny stared after the redhead, contemplating if setting the other witch's arse on fire was worth the detention. Instead she raised her voice so it carried down the deserted corridor after her.
"I'll be sure to send Harry your love at our Hogsmeade date shall I?" Penny called nastily, sneering at Ginny as she half turned to face her, dismay all over her face before she turned back and hurried around the corridor. Sagging against the wall, Penny sighed. This was the redhead's own fault, she thought fiercely, even as her guts gave an unhappy squirm. Shaking herself firmly, and made her way to her next class determinedly forcing the redhead from her mind.
A couple days later Penny had gone to the library with her Slytherin friends and spotted Hermione, Harry and Ron sat at a desk further down the library. She had dismissed her entourage, who settled at a desk in an alternate corner of the library, Theo glowering at Harry from afar. As she approached the three of them the boys were fencing with a couple of wands that suddenly squeaked and turned into a haddock and a mouse. Madam Pince's glare made Penny chuckle as she drew close to the trio. They all looked up at Penny's laughter and Harry's awkwardly readjusted his glasses on recognising her.
"For those who have probably never handed in homework on time, the twins definitely excel at Transfiguration." Penny said, swinging her legs over the bench gracefully next to Harry as Ron scowled at her. Hermione tutted disapprovingly at Penny's comment, smiling slightly despite herself as she readjusted her book. "Speaking of which" Penny went on leaning over Harry's essay "You might want to change that unless you want your hedgehog to have needles instead of pins growing out of it." Harry's brow furrowed as he looked at his calculations. On realising his mistake he scribbled it out and corrected it.
"Thanks." He muttered.
"Don't mention it." Penny replied, before an awkward silence descended on the group. Scowling Ron broke the silence.
"Bloody hell Harry" He said scolding his best friend "The bitch sent you flying like a Hippogriff and you're thanking her for homework help?" He finished as Penny's eyes narrowed at the insult. Harry shifted in his seat uncomfortably, his left hand unconsciously running through his hair, making the back stick up even more. He continued to take an interest in his essay as Hermione's eyes flickered between them over the top of her book.
"Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus" Penny muttered looking away from Ron with a scowl. After a moment Penny drew a folded scrap of parchment out of her bag and began making rough notes outside some elaborate calculations. She saw Harry glance at them briefly with a blank expression before he went back to his essay. After a while Hermione looked over her book at Penny's notes with interest.
"What are you working on?" She asked "Looks like some sort of hex" Hermione said a note of reproach in her voice. Penny smiled mischievously at the bushy haired witch.
"Might be." She said playfully going on as Hermione watched her questioningly. "When I have worked out how to limit the sensation to the hands, it should make the target's hands feel like they are burning whenever they handle a quill." Penny finished bitterly with malice dancing in her eyes. Both Harry and Hermione eyed her nervously as Penny jabbed her quill too hard and the nib broke.
"Skeeter?" Hermione asked carefully as Penny rummaged in her bag for a new nib, making a noncommittal noise. "She got Hagrid too." Hermione said sadly. Penny grimaced as she scribbled; although she did not take Care of Magical Creatures she had noticed the half giant's absence from meals. Draco, naturally, had been gloating about it constantly which Ron brought up now.
"Your darling cousin and his cronies were the ones that cow interviewed." He stated accusingly as Penny shot him a cold look their blue eyes boring into one another.
"I am not responsible for what my relatives do." She retorted icily, Ron recoiling as her anger was pushed into his mind. "I will speak to Hagrid." She said as she wrote, Ron snorted in derision. "I think I know better than anyone how he is feeling right now." She said looking at Harry whose green eyes watched her warily. "How about we all go… after Hogsmeade?" She suggested, the question hanging delicately in the air as Harry considered her before nodding. Hermione peered between the two of them as Ron fumed, but neither said a word as Penny smiled and turned back to her notes. A few minutes later Penny looked up to see Neville entering the library, his steps slow and hesitant. Advancing towards their table a green and black shadow appeared by the desk, towering over the nervous boy.
"Cassius." Penny barked a warning as Cassius flexed his bulk protectively. "Stand aside." Penny ordered, and Cassius moved to the side but continued to watch the short wizard menacingly. Penny watched the Gryffindor with an arched eyebrow as Neville stood hunched over, his eyes lowered before he spoke.
"I wanted…to say that I am sorry Persephone." He began.
"Penny." Penny corrected a bit too sharply making the round boy flinch. In a softer tone Penny continued "You don't need to apologise Longbottom." Holding up a hand to silence him she went on "I hardly think I am one to talk about losing one's temper." In her peripheral vision Penny saw the three Gryffindors all pull faces in agreement but she ignored them.
"Still….I..I wanted to…apologize." Neville stuttered, his hand going into his bag. Penny's hand shifted to her wand cautiously before he pulled out what had to be the ugliest plant Penny had ever seen, resembling an enormous slug. Cassius recoiled eyeing the plant with a look of disgust. "This is a" Neville began explaining.
"Bubotuber plant." Penny finished for him eyeing the plant warily. Undiluted the pus could do havoc to the skin.
"Yes" Neville said nervously. "They are amazing plants, I've been growing this with Professor Sprout, I was going to present it for the Grower's award" He went on prattling with enthusiastic pride as Penny's eyebrows worked their way up her face. She could see Ron sniggering into his book as Harry fought a smile. "Anyway…I…I want you to have it." Neville finished, shifting from one foot to the other as he placed the ugly plant in front of her. Nonplussed Penny barely opened her mouth to hiss.
"What the hell do I say?" She whispered to Harry, the corners of his mouth twitching as Hermione looked pityingly at Neville. "Erm…thanks Neville…but I think you would…er…give it a better home than me." Penny finished lamely as Neville looked disappointed.
"Smooth."
"Shut up Harry."
"What I think Penny is trying to say Neville" Hermione interjected giving Penny a sharp look "Is it is better to be with someone who can really appreciate it." Penny gave Hermione a grateful look before joining in.
"Yes, exactly" Penny said nodding enthusiastically. "With your…talent… in Herbology I suppose you could….win the Grower's award in my honour" Penny said with an awkward laugh that she stifled seeing Hermione's unamused face. Neville however seemed to like this idea and took the plant and walked away with an unusual touch of pride on his face. Looking round Penny narrowed her eyes at Harry and Ron who were shaking with laughter.
"Really smooth."
"Shut up Harry." Penny repeated as a Cheshire grin split her face.
As the bell rang the others all left before as she lingered to check out a couple of books, looking round she groaned on seeing Theo's stocky frame stalking Harry determinedly. A few minutes later Penny had found the two of them duelling on the staircase to the sixth floor, many spectators forming a growing crowd around them. Drawing her wand with a sigh Penny cast a Shield Charm between them before glaring between the two of them, hands firmly on hips.
"Explain yourself." She demanded, glaring at a dishevelled Theo, his badly spiked hair plastered all over his face. The surrounding crowd had stopped in its tracks to watch, but Penny ignored them.
"I challenged him to a duel" Theo said gruffly, not meeting her piercing eyes. An unscathed Harry watched them through the shimmer of Penny's Shield Charm, apparently unsure what to do.
"I can see that." Penny shot back "Why on earth would you be so stupid" Theo shifted unhappily, comprehension not doing much to improve Penny's mood. "Oh I see." Penny said her voice dropping to a quiet but dangerous tone. "You thought" She began emphasising each word with venom "That if by some miracle you out matched Harry that I would fall gracefully into your heroic arms?" Penny said, unrelentingly cruel as Theo gritted his teeth. "Sorry to disappoint you Theo but I am not some trophy or some piece of meat you can fight over. If you want to have any association with me you will accept that who I do or do not date is none of your business, do you understand?" She finished with a dangerous hiss causing Theo to flinch away from her drawn wand.
"Yes Penny." Theo muttered meekly to the floor, his face reddening in shame as the crowd jeered. Satisfied Penny lowered the Shield Charm and looked between the two boys.
"Shake hands." She ordered, clicking her tongue irritably as both boys looked outraged.
"No way." Harry said immediately, whilst Theo shook his head adamantly.
"Harry James Potter shake hands this instant." Penny repeated sternly "Fawley. Now." She said as the crowd laughed, the two boys hesitating before moving very slowly to each other glaring, shaking hands so fast it was a blur. With a victorious smile Penny turned and walked past Theo. "Good boys. Come Theo, we are late for Runes. See you later Harry" Penny said smiling over her shoulder at the bemused boy. The gathered crowd parted to allow her through, Theo at her heels.
The Hogsmeade trip had come round fast, and Penny had made her way down to the gate with Harry, Hermione and a reluctant Ron. Passing the Durmstrang they had seen Krum diving into the lake to swim. Ron had made a comment about the Giant Squid, as if hopeful it would eat Krum.
"Please, even the Giant Squid has standards." She said causing Ron and Harry to snort and Hermione to bristle angrily. Watching Krum's head bobbing in the lake Penny's eyebrows creased slightly, his determined manner seemed like more than just casual exercise. Hermione's voice dragged Penny back from her thoughts.
"He is really nice you know." Hermione said in a hurt voice as Penny rolled her eyes. She hadn't told them Krum had asked her to the Ball first, as she rather liked Ron's sourness over realising Hermione was too good for him. That said, the thought of Krum with Hermione irked her nearly as much as the ginger boy. Both, Penny thought, were like uncivilised monkeys compared to Hermione. It was only natural she disapprove, Penny thought.
Walking through the streets of Hogsmeade Penny was irked by the stares following her and Harry. Smiling mischievously swirled her wand, chuckling as she saw the crowds visibly flinch at the bang that echoed as a Catherine Wheel shot out the type of her wand tip. Flying skyward it span whistling shrilly before exploded with a bang. Smiling at Harry and Hermione's awed faces she waved her wand in a complex pattern, causing the shards of ice on the floor to rise in the air, forming shining swan silhouettes that fly gracefully through the air before disassembling and falling as snowflakes. Looking round her grin spread as Harry stared at her in fascination.
"What?" She said innocently "Didn't know I was such a good Charmer?" Penny said coyly as Harry laughed nervously and looked away. As they continued walking she saw Harry looking around for any trace of Hagrid. On concurring he wasn't in any of the shops they headed for the warmth of the Three Broomsticks. Entering Penny felt as much as heard the hush that suddenly spread through the bar, drawing herself to her full height, she strolled confidently to the bar with Harry. Hermione had to ask the barwoman Madam Rosmerta three times for their drinks before the pretty woman drew her wide eyes from Penny's haughty expression. The bar woman's trembling hands caused her to spill their drinks, her eyes darting nervously to Penny's scowling expression. Glancing at Penny Hermione cleared her throat.
"Perhaps you and Ron can find a table, Harry and I will bring the drinks over." Hermione suggested as Penny and Ron exchanged a scowl. "Fine." Hermione sighed and found a table with Penny instead. "Does he ever go into the office?" Hermione said peering over Penny's shoulder. Looking round Penny could see the judge Ludo Bagman looking tense in conversation with a group of goblins. Penny got the impression Bagman was afraid of the goblins, but reflecting on what she knew of the goblin wars, Penny didn't really blame him. He then spotted Harry and had accosted him, Ron making his way to the table alone, even his large hands struggling with four Butterbeers. Penny watched Bagman with Harry with narrowed eyes, his secretive manner arousing her suspicion greatly. A couple minutes later Bagman made his way out the pub with a look of disappointment, goblins in toll and Harry came and sat at the table.
"What did he want?" Ron asked the moment Harry sat down next to Penny. Harry had explained Bagman had tried to get him to cheat, Hermione had voiced her disapproval and Harry had avoided her gaze as Penny sensed his lie about his progress on the egg. Despite being very curious, Penny was sure Harry's independent pride would not allow her to help, even if he really needed it. They had speculated about his motives and the goblins, Penny dismissive about their search for Mr Crouch.
"That was a lie." Penny said swigging her Butterbeer. "There are plenty of people in Gringotts that speak Gobbledegook, they could easily find one of them instead of looking for the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation as an interpreter. It would be like going to St. Mungo's for a broken arm." Penny concluded. Her expression darkened as she spotted Rita Skeeter entering the pub. Harry followed her gaze and the muscles around his jaw tightened.
"Trying to ruin someone else's life?" Harry said loudly, making Skeeter look round, her eyes widening as she saw the source of the voice, with Penny sat beside him.
"Harry! Persephone! How lovely, why don't you come join us?" She called beaming, Harry and Penny looking at her in disgusted disbelief.
"I don't think so." Penny said coldly, Skeeter's expression flicking slightly. "Coming after me is one thing, but Hagrid deserves better." Penny said feeling rather than seeing Harry's warm look, and seeing Skeeter's eyes flicker between them. Opening her bag, her Quick Quotes Quill appeared as she raised the quill Penny wondered if she should test her new hex on the blonde.
"How about giving me an interview yourself, about the real you?" She said to Penny before turning to Harry "Or one about the Penny you know, your star crossed romance and who you see beneath her dark history?" She continued, Penny's lip curling angrily, the Butterbeers on their table crackling as they froze. Shooting them an irritated look Penny raised her eyes back to the blonde reporter before speaking.
"My boyfriend will not be speaking with you ever again" Penny snarled, placing her hand on Harry's possessively before eyeing the quill in Rita's hand. "Especially not with a Quick Quotes Quill, a product banned by the Magical Press Standards." Penny finished, sneering as Rita recoiled, sheepishly concealing her quill as Hermione stood up. A few words were spat between Hermione and Skeeter, as Penny watched Hermione approvingly before the four of them stormed out. As Hermione lead them, strolling rapidly, Harry looked sideways at Penny before speaking.
"Boyfriend?" He said quietly, a ghost of a smile on his face as Penny grinned wickedly.
"What better way to make sure Cho know she has competition then the world's biggest rumour mill?" Penny said smugly, seeing Harry's smile fade slightly.
Taking his hand in hers Penny and Harry broke into a run to keep up with a fuming Hermione who was dismissing Ron's warning over Skeeter. Reaching Hagrid's hut Hermione shouted and pounded the door relentlessly, going very pink when none other than the Headmaster opened the door. Penny scowled as his twinkling eyes wondered over the four of them, pausing at her and Harry's entwined hands. Entering the cabin Hagrid looked an absolute mess as Dumbledore summoned cakes and mugs of tea. All five of them tried to convince Hagrid they wanted to know him, Dumbledore getting a tad impatient with Hagrid's self-pity.
"Yeh…yeh're not half-giant!" Hagrid said croakily. At that Penny snapped.
"Are you fucking kidding me Hagrid?" Penny said standing up. Ignoring Hermione's gasp and Dumbledore's slight frown at her language Penny went on. "You have one parent, who is a different species that can be violent, and by all accounts a brilliant father. I am the daughter of the Dark Lord, responsible for countless murders, daughter of a Pureblood fanatic who…" Penny paused, closing her eyes briefly in a grimace as the Longbottoms' screams filled her head. "Who tortured Neville's parents into insanity, and heir of Slytherin." Penny said, a note of pride entering the last statement. "Not to mention my cousin is a git and my aunt belongs in the eighteenth century." She went on, a slight fond smile forming even as she rolled her eyes. Meeting Hagrid's large black eyes she shook her hair backwards and continued. "I of all people know what it is to have a family to be ashamed of. Father dearest hopefully will stay in whatever hole he has crawled into. And my…" Penny paused, a muscle twitching near her eye "My mother can rot in Azkaban for all I care." Penny said forcefully, her eyes narrowing as Dumbledore x-rayed her over his glasses. She scowled as she saw Harry watching her with sympathetic understanding and turned her back on him to face Hagrid. "People want to hate me simply by association? Fine. Fuck 'em." Penny finished with a dismissive wave of her hand, before folding her arms and pouting again, her fierce gaze on Hagrid whose kind eyes glistened as he smiled slightly at the dark haired witch's passionate rant.
"Not quite the wording I would use, but I whole heartedly agree with Persephone's sentiment." Dumbledore said, Penny eyeing him warily as his eyes twinkled behind his glasses. The corners of his mouth twitched at her suspicious look.
"In your case not just by association" Ron muttered so quietly into his mug Penny nearly missed it. Penny's fists clenched as Hermione hit Ron's arm with a noise of disapproval. "What?" He said defensively. Scowling at him Hermione turned back to Hagrid and begged him to come back to teach, and Dumbledore had refused Hagrid's resignation.
"Good afternoon to you all." Dumbledore said as he walked out the cabin, his blue eyes regarding Penny as he passed her. "Persephone." He said inclining his head politely.
"Professor." She replied stiffly.
Hagrid had cried some more, Penny and the boys sitting awkwardly whilst Hermione patted his arm repeatedly. He had shown them a picture of his dad and proclaimed he wanted Harry to win. Penny sensed Harry's guilt and glanced at him, certain he hadn't the faintest idea what the egg clue was. Walking back to the castle holding his hand, Penny broke the silence.
"You know what the biggest question is?" She pondered out loud. The other three glanced towards her. "How on earth did that tiny man get a giantess pregnant?" She asked, the three Gryffindors pausing in horror at the thought before all of them fell about laughing. Their laughter carried them all the way back into the castle, tears of mirth falling down all their faces.