Penny was surprised to see the Slytherin Common Room entrance in front of her, her chaotic thoughts distracting her from her rapid pace. Entering she crossed the Common Room in four strides, ignoring the concerned looks cast at her distressed face as she trotted up the staircase two at a time.
How could he be so stupid? She thought as she sank onto the edge of her bed, a shaking hand pushing her chaotic locks out of her face. Feeling a strange shape, Penny pulled a small twig from her hair, the sight of it breaking the last of her control, sobs coming in shuddering breathes.
"Mistress?" Juno's voice came as her head popped out from under the covers. Uncoiling Juno slithered to Penny's side, her tongue tasting the air as Penny covered her face. "What has caused you distress?" Juno asked as Penny felt the serpent's considerable weight on her thighs.
"How could he be so stupid?" Penny hissed, slamming her fist onto the duvet beside her.
"Potter?" Juno asked taking Penny's silence as confirmation "What did he do?"
"He told me he loves me" Penny answered in the quietest whisper, her face contorting as she recalled the heady wave of emotions coming off the spectacled wizard as he professed his love.
"Yes." Juno replied her tone making Penny lower her hands to frown at the serpent. "And you love him." She stated bluntly, recoiling as Penny leapt to her feet shoving the serpent from her lap, fresh fury on her face.
"I DO NOT!" She shouted at the serpent, who looked taken aback by her mistress' outburst, having never been on the receiving end of her temper. Hissing uncomfortably the serpent nevertheless pressed on.
"You desired his affections to upset Ginevra, have you not obtained that goal?" Juno asked as Penny began pacing in agitation, shooting the snake dirty looks.
"His affections yes, not for him to fall in love with me" Penny replied scowling "How could he possibly think it was anything real?" She cried twirling her wand distractedly.
"The same way you thought it was real with Ginerva." Juno stated.
CRACK! Juno hissed frantically as a spell narrowly missed her, a rancid smell accompanying the large scorn mark that ripped across the bedsheet. Penny froze her wand still aloft as her beloved pet hissed furiously, slithering with uncanny speed underneath the bed and out of reach.
"Juno!" Penny called, flinging herself to the floor to reach under the bed, yelping as fangs dug into her outstretched hand. Retracting her bloodied hand Penny warily looked under the bed as Juno hissed vehemently at her. "I'm sorry" Penny whispered softly, tears starting to flowing uncontrollably. Sitting up with her back to her bedside cabinet Penny buried her head in her arms and wept.
An eternity later, Penny quietened enough to hear the minute sound of Juno's long body sliding slowly along with floor. A small outstretched head peered cautiously from under the bed to regard the witch, meeting the serpent's eyes Penny felt a pang of guilt at the mistrust within them. "I will not hurt you" Penny hissed softly, Juno visibly relaxing knowing the witch could not lie in the Serpent's Tongue. Sliding slightly further out Juno continued to watch the young witch in interest.
"You humans are peculiar." Juno stated, continuing on Penny's questioning eyebrow. "You knowingly perform actions to achieve outcomes, and then appear completely astonished and distressed when it occurs. You purposely acted in a way to gain an emotional interest from Potter and then are angry with him when he develops that emotion, which you encouraged." Penny frowned at the serpent but did not attempt correct her, any protest that came to mind proved impossible for her to say in Parseltongue. "I am a serpent, I have little emotion or understanding of them, and yet you humans seem to understand social parameters of your own kind even less than I. Even you Mistress, who can see into the very souls of others, seem to have been blind in emotional matters." Juno finished with an exasperated tone. Penny rubbed her eyes thoughtfully as she took in the white snakes words. After a long pause Penny finally spoke.
"I guess I did know that Potter was falling for me" Penny said slowly as she considered the memories that danced behind her eyes "I just did not want to know." She went on "Us humans are good at lying to ourselves to believe what we want to believe rather than accepting painful truths" She finished with a shrug.
"Blinded to other's emotions by your own emotions." Juno stated as Penny made a noise of agreement. "So are you angry with Potter because he contradicted your self-denial over his emotions, or because he made you question your own emotions?" Juno asked slowly, retreating slightly under the bed, a continued act of mistrust that caused Penny another pang of guilt in her gut.
"I do not.." Penny began as her voice caught in her throat "I don't…" She again found herself unable to continue. Blasted language, Penny thought bitterly as she scowled, the memory of the dark haired wizard's warm embrace contradicting her internal dialogue. "I have… feelings for Potter" She eventually admitted with an indignant blush "But I am not in love with him" She denied adamantly frowning at Juno's sceptical silence.
"How will you proceed?" Juno asked as Penny ran a distracted hand through her wild hair.
"Proceed with what?" Penny asked evasively, sighing as Juno simply stared at her. "What would you have me do? March up to Potter and be like, hey I am sorry I freaked out but I only ever intended to use you to make my secret girlfriend jealous, but now I kinda like you too?" Penny said sarcastically, grimacing at how callous she sounded.
"That is the truth so why not?" Juno asked in a tone that suggested a shrug, Penny snorted at her snake's blasé nature.
"My dearest Juno, you are amazing naïve when it comes to human behaviour sometimes" Penny said fondly stroking her pets head. "I am never dating again" Penny said shaking her head "It's more hassle than it's worth" She declared, a bubble of misery brewing in her gut as she pondered the endless trail of heart break that seemed to have come from her brief romances. Stroking Juno's head once more Penny regarded her pet affectionately. "I am sorry I took it out on you, I never meant to hurt you." She told the snake who started curling on her lap.
"That appears to be a common theme" Juno said bluntly, causing Penny to let out a stung hiss, but she did not correct her pet who flicked her tongue out to taste the air. "In this case perhaps your sudden shift of hormones is to blame." Juno stated, making Penny's eyes widen.
"What?" Penny asked dumbly as Juno continued to taste the air.
"I believe you are about to menstruate" Juno clarified to a dumbfounded Penny who blushed. Settling down for the night Penny dug out a enchanted sanitary towel, a product that promised regular Vanishing charm every hour for twenty four hours, and got into bed, Juno beside her. The other dorm girls had come up later in the evening, speaking in undertones as to not wake the witch who feigned sleep behind her curtains.
The next morning Penny woke, grunting as her stomach clenched painfully, a thick ache running the width of her. Through her foggy brain Penny was faintly aware of what must have been the girls whispering to one another beyond her curtain, strange given the early hour. Reluctantly Penny reach for her wand and carefully drew her curtains, surprised to see all the other curtains drawn, and no sign of the other girls stirring. Yet as Penny blinked groggily, she was sure she could hear the faintest of whispering, though she could not detect the source. Puzzled Penny disregarded it, rummaging through her page for a small vial of Musculus Relaxat, downing it before settling back down and falling back to sleep.
Penny didn't know how long had past, when she was woken by a flurry of words, which felt strange to Penny's ear despite her blurry state.
"She looks sick" Came the odd voice Penny vaguely recognised as Heather "Potter…she seemed upset…maybe shouldn't wake her…scary" Penny pressed her face into her pillow as the incoherent phrases hurt her head. Lifting her head she saw Heather stood by her own bed watching the dark haired witch, looking startled as she noticed Penny stir. "Say something clever" Penny quirked an eyebrow at the peculiar statement as Juno stirred beside her.
"You never say anything clever" Penny said as Heather's eyebrows shot up her forehead so rapidly Penny thought they might launch off her face.
"How..reading my mind? Don't think about…Theo..I love Theo..STOP THINKING…LALALALALA"
Penny stared at the brunette, the quick fire statements bouncing in her own skull. At the same time it dawned on Penny the brunette had not moved her lips once she became aware of more dialogue sprouting from the other girls in the dorm. Fleeting jumbled thoughts that moved on as fast as they were formed. Shaking her head Penny rubbed her temples as she tried to block out the invading snatches of information that were whirling round her own mind. What was going on? She thought loudly, trying to drown out the others thoughts with her own.
"Penny?" Heather spoke outloud, her uncertainty clear in her thoughts as her tone. "Are you ok?"
"Can you guys stop thinking so loud?" Penny said rubbing her temple "Or so much?" She begged as she caught snippets of each girl's general consensus she was insane. Frowning Penny dressed quickly as Juno uncoiled to look at her.
"What's wrong Mistress? Is your menstruation causing too much pain?" Juno asked concerned, Penny looked at her pet, relieved to find she could not hear the serpents thoughts.
"I can hear everything they are thinking" Penny said a note of panic in her voice.
"Can you not normally?" Juno asked as Penny scooped her up and made out of the dormitory.
"Not like this. Something is wrong." Penny said as she reached the Common Room, grimacing as the thoughts of those around her intruded her mind, the volume increasing dramatically. Suppressing her annoyance at some of the derogatory comments she made her way out of the Common Room, striding rapidly through the castle, the Hospital Wing her destination. Madam Pomfrey will know what to do, Penny thought as she trotted up the dungeon steps. Reaching the Entrance Hall the noise level in her mind hit her like a hive of furious bees as the crowds made their way into the Great Hall. Swaying as a wave of nausea hit her Penny staggered against a column, rewarded with the angry buzz of a real beetle as she nearly swashed it. Penny's vastly preoccupied mind barely had the capacity to query the beetle's indoor presence before Penny looked up as she sensed a familiar mind heading toward her through the unintelligible buzz of thoughts.
"Penny?" A troubled voice reached her as she looked up, Harry approaching her warily. Meeting his shockingly green eyes Penny felt her mind throbbing as his thoughts and heavy emotions flooded in, the last of the colour from her face fading.
"Get away!" Penny shouted as she shoved past him, making a break for the Grand Staircase. A hand snatched her wrist as she went, turning her back to face him.
"What is wrong with you?" Harry demanded, his voice and mind a chaotic swirl of hurt and rage as he confronted her. Unable to take it anymore, Penny retched violently as her empty stomach contracted. Taking a quick step back Harry's thoughts did a violent swerve from anger to pity, the angry buzz of onlookers making Penny's head pound. Becoming too much Penny clamped her hands over her ears, as she fell to her knees and began screaming. Telepathically reaching out as far as possible she screamed and screamed, feeling the crowd wince as her internal screams filled their heads, many of them clamping their hands over their ears in vain. The crowd quickly reared, the majority of people dashing away to escape the agonizing pitch the young girl was reaching. Oblivious to this the dark haired witch continued to scream, the sound of her pain barely drowning out the buzzing in her head as she heard a single spell come her way.
"Stupefy!"
As Penny stirred, she groaned audibly as her muscles resisted her with stiff movements. Opening her eyes Penny realised she was in the Hospital Wing, Juno alert on her lap keeping watch. A rush of affection for her pet soon gave way to a gasp as she could still hear the faint whispers of minds nearby. Sitting up frantically Penny felt a firm hand holding her shoulder, looking round she saw Professor Snape sat beside her watching her with what appeared to be mild curiosity. Penny's eyes flicked across his face, both relieved and wary that she was met with silence.
"I take it my Occlumency is adequate?" Snape asked he took his hand away and allowed the young girl to sit up, wincing as her stomach cramped slightly.
"As always" Penny replied, the Potion's Master's lip curling into a slight smug smile at the note of bitterness in the young witch's voice. "Who stunned me?" Penny asked as the Hospital Wing doors opened and none other than Dumbledore crossed the threshold.
"I did." Snape replied simply as Dumbledore reached the end of Penny's bed.
"Miss Black" Dumbledore said politely.
"Professor." Penny muttered carefully as she warily scanned the old professor's face, again met with silence. "An Occlumens as well? Of course you are" Penny finished in an undertone.
"Yes it does appear your wandless Legilimency does not overcome a skilled Occlumens" Dumbledore replied, seeming to speak to himself as much as to her. "But your actions in the Entrance Hall show to the untrained mind you have unprecedented access, which is not acceptable Persephone." He said warningly, causing a disproportionate spike of anger in Penny at his apparent condescension, making a nearby bed rattle.
"I didn't do it on purpose" Penny snapped defensively as she stood "I can't usually…" Penny trailed off, trying to word her sudden spike in power. "It's never been like this before. Normally it's just….like many turned down radios in the background. I can hear a specific people if I listen carefully but I can usually ignore it unless they are feeling particularly strongly about something." Penny went on as the professors watched her too intently for her liking. Shifting uncomfortably under their scrutiny Penny continued "Now it's like someone has turned up the volume to max. Too loud to think let alone take any of it in." Penny said as Juno nudged her hand with her head, closing her eyes contently as Penny absent-mindedly stroked the top of her head. Looking up at Professor Dumbledore she felt his bright blue eyes piercing her own and knew he was judging her honesty.
"If your Legilimency has suddenly increased in potency, there must be a cause." Dumbledore reasoned "Has anything of note occurred recently, other than the end of your romance with Harry?" He asked as Penny shot him a dark questioning look. "Harry has never been much of a Occlumens, much like yourself" Dumbledore answered as Penny glared at him.
"Maybe it's to do with your first menstruation" Juno offered innocently as Penny blushed, her arms folding across her chest.
"I am NOT telling them that!" Penny replied indignantly, blushing further as the Professors watched the exchange, both with raised eyebrows at her embarrassment. "Erm…." She replied, shifting slightly, her crossed arms doing nothing to comfort her as she pressed them into her aching chest. "I doubt it has anything to do with Potter" She said looking away.
"I think" Snape's silky tone that dripped with amusement "Miss Black may have advanced further into puberty" He finished as Penny's cheeks burned so hot she thought she would melt.
"Ah." Came Dumbledore's reply as Penny started intently at the ground. Suddenly Penny felt as if a jug of ice cold water had been dropped on her head and she gasped. Looking up she was met with astonished gazes that roamed across her.
"Mistress….I assume that was unintentional?" Juno hissed as Penny looked down at herself and made a yelp of surprise. Her body had been rendered virtually invisible, only a slight discrepancy of her outline that blurred her surroundings when she moved.
"Very impressive" Professor Dumbledore praised as he scrutinised her. "Apologies for making you so uncomfortable, I understand it is a somewhat delicate subject for young ladies. May I…undo this or can you do so yourself?" He asked tapping the top of her head when she consented. Reappearing Penny sat back down, her arms still crossed defensively. "Unintentional or not, your Legilimens must be controlled, for your sake and for others." Dumbledore said decisively. "It is impractical to get every student skilled enough at Occlumency to repeal you, especially when most of them are at an age when Occlumency does not come naturally. I believe your Legilimency is enhanced by your own emotional state, thus you learning Occlumency should work as a shield between your mind and others." Dumbledore explained as Penny and Snape listened. "The only question which remains, is whom is to teach you Occlumency." Dumbledore asked as he peered over his half-moon glasses at the young witch. "As you know, both Professor Snape and I are skilled Occlumens. Professor Moody is also." He added as Penny sized him up.
"Teaching me Occlumency would involve one of you accessing my mind" Penny stated as Dumbledore nodded.
"Attempting to at least" Dumbledore confirmed to a displeased face. She didn't like the sound of that at all.
"I don't want any of them in my head I don't trust a single one of them." Penny muttered to Juno who looked between at the two Professors, who looked warily back at the young snake.
"I don't believe there is any alternatives for you" Juno hissed as Penny twirled her hair on the tip of her wand "You cannot continue as you are, it will render you insane. So you shall have to go with the least offensive option, who you distrust the least" Juno said as Penny frowned in consideration. "I don't trust the incomplete Professor" Penny smirked slightly at the description.
"I don't trust Dumbledore. He knows too much as it is without getting inside my head too" Penny replied "Can't say I trust Snape either, you never know his motives. Still. Least offensive option." Penny concluded with a sigh.
"Snape." Penny said eventually "Professor Snape." She corrected herself as the dark professor gave her a stern look.
"I choose Professor Snape."