The week after the second task passed quickly. Hermione had endured constant teasing about Krum whereas Ron got to recount an ever wilder version of his experience in the lake.
"Both Krum and Cedric had their Yule Ball dates taken…" Harry said carefully, giving Penny a sideways look as they walked alone hand in hand along the corridors one evening, the chilly air outside too windy to face. Juno trailed silently behind them as they strolled aimlessly, Penny enjoying some chocolate caramel bites from Honeydukes. "You aren't bothered by the fact Ron was taken instead of you, are you?" Harry said hurriedly, as if saying it faster was less painful. Penny pouted, scrunching up a wrapper noisily and looked at Harry with an upset expression, jerking her other hand away from him.
"You said it yourself that you would break up with me if I didn't play nice with your ginger lover" Penny said folding her arms defensively as Harry looked bewildered.
"I..that's not..I mean" He spluttered, watching her with a wide eyed expression that cleared as he noticed the corners of her mouth twitching. Unable to contain it any longer Penny's face split into a Cheshire grin and she sniggered. Harry huffed and shoved her playfully making her stagger. Gasping in mock indignation she shoved him back before ducking under his retaliation and breaking into a sprint down the corridor, cackling as Harry gave chase. Scaling a staircase Penny got halfway along the third floor corridor before Harry caught her, spinning her round by her wrist. Clutching her waist Harry playfully pinned her to the wall beside the one eyed witch statue, surprising her with his unusual boldness. Penny chuckled at his triumphant smirk as the two of them panted, catching their breath from the run. Penny made a slight noise of surprise as Harry leant in to kiss her, the taste of chocolate still on his lips. A murmur of appreciation escaped his lips as Penny's hand ran up the back of his overgrown hair. She closed her eyes as Harry moved against her, closing the gap between them. As Harry parted his lips Penny felt a shudder run down him as she tentatively touched his lower lip with the tip of her tongue. Humming slightly she suddenly became aware of movement against her thigh, freezing as she realised what the growing bulge was.
Her eyes snapped open as images flashed through her head, yellow teeth, the stench of petrol and tobacco, the feel of a man's weight pinning her down, his erection pressed against her. Harry made an alarmed noise as Penny shoved him away, her magic slamming him against the opposite wall, winding him.
"Penny…" He gaped breathlessly, his face bewildered as he took in her bloodless face. Pausing only for a nanosecond, Penny bolted past him striding away as fast as her legs would go. "Penny!" Harry tried to shout after her as she headed back down the stairs. Spotting Juno heading up the stairs Penny paused momentarily to scope up the white serpent's four foot body, flinging her over her neck before continuing on her way. "Penny! Wait! I'm sorry!" Harry called as he caught up with her, wincing as his hand received a shock from her shoulder. "Penny what's wrong?" He asked, placing his hand on the wall beside her, blocking her path. Shaking her head rapidly, Penny's wide eyes darted around the floor, not meeting the concerned green eyes regarding her trembling form.
"Don't touch me!" Penny snapped a note of hysteria in her voice, retreating from Harry's outstretched arm. Juno hissed angrily at Harry, baring her fangs in warning. Harry's eyes flickered briefly to the snake before returning to Penny.
"Penny…" He said yet again, clearly unsure how to proceed. "That man…That Muggle…" He began as Penny's eyes snapped upwards to his face. "He…he hurt you didn't he?" Harry asked, recoiling slightly from Penny's dangerous expression.
"What has Hermione been telling you?" Penny demanded as anger replaced fear, her blue eyes bordering into the short wizard.
"Nothing." Harry said quickly.
"Don't lie to me." Penny said, her voice barely a hiss.
"Hermione hasn't told me anything." Harry repeated firmly, Penny's gaze softening slightly. Harry regarded her for a moment before speaking. "I would never hurt you Penny." Harry said sincerely, causing Penny to smile slightly at the ground, a hint of colour returning her face.
"I know you wouldn't." She muttered quietly, her arms wrapping round herself, squeezing briefly before offering her hand to the shorter boy, who took it hesitantly before they continued their walk in silence.
"Sirius is in Hogsmeade." Harry stated after a few moments to Penny's disapproving face. "I know." He answered, a despairing note in his voice. "We are meeting up with him this weekend." Harry went on, lowing his voice as a few people strolled past.
That weekend Penny headed into Hogsmeade with her Slytherin friends, topping up her supply of Honeydukes caramels to such an extent both Theo and Heather had to give up some room in their bags. After a quick Butterbeer Penny made her excuses, scooping up Juno and walking down past Dervish and Banges just in time to see Harry greeting a large shaggy dog. Harry and Hermione smiled on seeing her, whereas Ron just looked sullen as always. Penny climbed with them up the mountain, cursing the sun as they ascended, Juno feeling twice as heavy as usual round her shoulders. Entering the small cavern all four bowed at the Hippogriff Buckbeak, who tossed his head nervously at the sight of Juno. Reluctantly Penny had placed Juno at the entrance, instructing her not to wonder too far before Harry gave Sirius his chicken which he devoured hungrily. Penny's eyes roamed over his torn Azkaban robes, Narcissa's judgemental voice echoing in her head.
"You four and Dumbledore are the only ones around here that know I am an Animagus" Sirius said with a shrug in response to Harry's concern.
"How do you become an Animagus anyway?" Penny asked curiously. She had read some fleeting snatches of information in some of her books but had yet to pursue it directly. Sirius grinned at her wolfishly as he gnawed on a chicken bone before discarding it.
"Planning on going on the run soon Penny?" He teased as she pouted. "Wouldn't want to desert your Prince Charming now would you?" He went on, letting out a bark like laugh that echoed round the cavern as Harry and Penny both went scarlet. "You are so like your father when it comes to women" Sirius told Harry shaking his head, grin still in place. Skeeter had published yet another article, this time in Witch's Weekly, outlining how Hermione had broken Harry's heart in her pursuit of Krum. This had lead, Skeeter had speculated, to Harry falling into the undeserving arms of Penny. All of them par Ron had laughed at the absurdity but Penny inwardly groaned at the thought of the morning post.
Harry had gone on to tell Sirius about the Crouch sacking Winky and his lost wand. Ron had speculated Lucius had stolen his wand before being shot down by Penny, who reminded him she had been sat with them. Both Ron and Penny had groaned as Hermione's shrill protests of Winky's innocence echoed around the cave.
"If you want to know what a man is like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." Sirius said wisely.
They spoke more of Winky, Bagman and Crouch, who Sirius revealed his rise to power being amid Voldemort's reign of terror. Penny remained quiet during this conversation, prodding a chicken bone with her wand as she felt the other four's eyes flickering to her, though none referenced Voldemort as her father. Sirius then described Crouch's fall from power, how his own son had been caught. As he said the boy had been caught with people he knew would be Death Eaters, Penny glanced up, scowling as his gaze confirming her suspicions as she looked away stubbornly.
"He gave his own son to the Dementors?" Harry said quietly.
"Not all of us have loving parents Harry" Penny snapped, the chicken bone at the end of her wand suddenly disintegrated into a pile of ash. Four set of eyes watched warily as she twirled her wand in her hand.
"No, we don't" Sirius agreed, a note of hurt and bitterness in his tone. Penny raised her gaze, a moment of understanding passing between them before Penny looked away again. She reached into her bag for the Honeydukes bites, only to find them all stuck together in one solid mess. Blasted sun, Penny cursed inwardly as the conversation moved on.
"Karkaroff showed Snape something on his arm?" Sirius asked in surprise as Harry outlined the two Professors conversation. Penny frowned too as her and Sirius digested all the information, Crouch's son, the missing Ministry worker, Harry's name coming out of the Goblet of Fire.
"It's all connected." Penny said quietly, Sirius and her eyes meeting as he nodded in agreement. "It has to be." Penny insisted as she twirled her hair with the tip of her wand distractedly. "But how?"
"How indeed?" Sirius repeated grimly.
The four of them left soon after that, making their way down past the boulders and back up to the school, discussing Sirius, all the events. Harry showed a bemused Penny the socks he had bought Dobby the house elf, as he had given him the Gillyweed for the second Task. Penny suppressed the sting to her pride with difficulty that she had been outwitted by a house elf.
The next day Penny joined the trio in the Owlery as they sent a letter to Percy to ask about Mr Crouch. She had finally written a letter, but addressed it to the violet haired witch Nymphadora instead, as somehow she seemed easier to approach than the elusive Andromeda. Artemis had swooped down and extended his leg, hooting indignantly when Penny rebuffed him in favour of a tawny school owl.
"Narcissa would skin you, I am doing you a favour" Penny snapped as he squawked angrily, making the tawny owl ruffle its feather nervously. Penny ignored the trio's questioning gaze as she took the tawny owl to the window and it dove out the Owlery. Walking with them down to the kitchens, Penny watched interestedly as Hermione tickled the pear in the fruit bowl painting, pulling the handle open as they entered, Harry leading her by the hand. Penny caught a glimpse of a huge brick fire place and a high ceiling before she felt herself ripped away from Harry by some unknown force, flinging her across the room. Landing on her knees, Penny barely had time to gather her wits before a small shape hurtled across the room towards her brandishing an enormous steak knife.
"You shall not harm Harry Potter!" The house elf shrieked as Penny leaped to her feet. Before she could fully draw her wand she felt a strange splitting sensation to her shin, followed almost instantly by an intense burning pain through her skin as she fell back to the floor with a scream.
"Dobby no!" Harry shouted, dive tackling the elf away from Penny as Hermione rushed over, followed by many huge eyes of the other house elves who were watching in horror. Looking down Penny whimpered as her robe rapidly became coated in blood. Raising a trembling hand, Penny ran the tip of her wand along the wound, hissing in pain as her wand tip dipped into the wound as it sealed. Reaching a shaking hand into her pocket Penny drew out a small bottle, it rattling as she struggled to take the lip off. Hermione reached out, her gentle hands taking the bottle from her and undoing it, drawing the liquid up into the pipette before dripping it carefully along the wound.
"Thanks" Penny muttered weakly, looking over to wear Harry had pinned a still struggling elf's back to the floor. Meeting her eyes upside down the elf froze, puzzlement crossing his features, his eyes as round as tennis balls. Looking down at the elf, Harry slowly released the immobile elf, who eventually rolled over cautiously, his eyes never leaving Penny's, who remained on the floor, unsure her legs would work.
"Dobby this is Penny my girl…." Harry stopped abruptly blushing.
"Penny is not Mistress Bellatrix?" Dobby asked, his high pitched voice worried as he shuffled nervously from foot to foot. Huffing Penny stood, Hermione supporting her arm as she wobbled slightly.
"No." Penny said icily. "You think I want to look like her?" She snapped angrily as the house elf flung itself at her feet.
"Dobby is sorry" He wailed, huge tears rolling down his cheeks as he lay a trembling mess at her feet. Stepping backwards Penny regarded him in disgust, weirdly reminded of the Longbottom boy. "Dobby is a bad elf" He went on before running to the fire and shoving his head into the hearth. Harry flung himself after the elf, dragging him out of the fireplace by his tie. "Dobby is a bad elf" Dobby repeated wailing as the skin on his face became waxy and he struggled to reinsert his head into the flames, the other house elves nodding enthusiastically.
"Penny tell him to stop!" Hermione begged as she watched the scene unfold. Penny looked from the other elves to Dobby with a revolted look.
"Dobby that is enough." She ordered forcefully as Harry dragged him once more from the flames. Whimpering in pain, Penny sighed as she hobbled over. Swooping down to examine the elf, Penny pouted as he flinched at her approach. "I am not going to hurt you" Penny grumbled wondering with a pang just how often her Aunt and Uncle had done so, tilting his chin with gentle firmness to examine his injuries. "You lot" She said turning to the other elves "Fetch me some Boom Berry paste." She ordered as a couple elves scurried off, ignoring Hermione disapproving noise to her tone. "I will also need some clean robes, these ones need washing." She went on, another couple scarpering to obey. Pausing she looked up at Harry who was cradling Dobby like a child. "Whilst you are at it, I need some extra food and some more robes, suitable for a man who is about five foot ten. " She said, answering Harry's look "For Snuffles." She said "If you have any Mac and Cheese I would appreciate it too" She added as an afterthought. The first pair of elves returned, carrying the ointment which Penny undid, lathering a liberal layer of orange paste to all of Dobby's face and a large amount of his neck. After a couple minutes Dobby sat up carefully, looking even more bizarre than usual, his large green eyes peering out through the orange paste.
"Miss Penny is too good to Dobby" He whimpered softly "But Dobby should have known if Penny is with Harry Potter she must be as noble, as selfless…" Dobby gushed on as Penny waved off his flattering. "Is Miss's leg ok?" He asked nervously as a new pair of robes and a huge steaming bowl of Mac and Cheese appeared next to her.
"Gonna be sore for a few days" Penny said grumpily, shrugging "Not life threatening." She said simply, wondering when she had taken on Madam Pomfrey's no nonsense tone. "And I am only being nice to you because you helped Harry" She said scowling "Next time you won't be so lucky" Penny said warningly as she dug into the Mac and Cheese, ignoring Ron's longing look.
"Dobby promises there will not be a next time Miss" Dobby said nodding, his ears flapping. Penny regarded him considering as Harry gave him the many patterned socks he had bought for him.
"How did you fling me across the room without a wand?" She asked curiously.
"Elf magic is different from wizard magic" Hermione said promptly before Dobby could answer. "People always underestimate other magical creatures." Hermione huffed "Which is why it's ridiculous they have to obey humans, and that they never stand up for themselves." She went on irritably. "Where is Winky?" Hermione asked, going over to speak to the dishevelled elf as Penny continued to dig into her steaming bowl with enthusiasm.