"Better."
Penny looked across Snape's office as the dark Professor lowered his wand. A dull ache throbbed gently behind her eyes, now as consistent a companion as Juno as for the third night in a row she was repelling Professor Snape's repeated mental attacks. Neither had spoken about the disaster that had been the first night, though it never left Penny's mind. She was incredibly suspicious of the dark Professor's leniency, he could easily have had her expelled for outright attacking a teacher and yet he hadn't spoken a word about it let alone hand out punishment. Part of her was burning to know if he understood what he had seen but felt questioning it was only tempting fate. Instead, she focused on bettering her Occlumency, and submitted to her Head of Houses orders far more meekly than was her custom. Penny had no doubt he had noticed, but again, said nothing which she willingly mirrored, as though the two of them had reached a curious understanding not to revisit that particular evening.
"That will do for this evening." Professor Snape concluded, returning his thoughts from the Pensieve and pocketing his wand. Penny watched him silently as he contemplated her. "You have improved vastly over the last couple nights." He commented "Have you been able to block people's thoughts from your mind?" He asked.
"Yes sir." Penny answered quietly, not entirely truthfully. A large amount of her Slytherin friends had visited her in the Hospital Wing the last couple of days, Heather reluctantly bringing her the holiday homework that had been set. Although she could still sense a jumble of emotions and images, the volume had thankfully decreased somewhat from the previous day. With an effort she had managed to shield her mind from their penetrating thoughts, and resumed fairly normal conversation, although Theo's exhilaration over her break up with Harry occasionally pierced through, making Penny scowl. Hermione had visited on the third day bringing a hand crafted get well soon card, which when Penny flipped it over, she saw a S.P.E.W stamp with "All proceedings go to S.P.E.W to help end the inhumane treatment of our fellow species." Quirking an eyebrow, Penny smirked at the bushy haired witch who beamed at the card happily.
"Well the badges don't seem to be selling very well" Hermione said with a disbelieving tone in her voice. "So I thought I should expand into other merchandise. Obviously it's better if people actually cared about house elves rights" She huffed indignantly "But at least if they buy these it is promotion and adds funding for our cause." She finished. "What?" She asked as Penny stared at her with intrigued puzzlement before she burst into giggles. "I don't see how the mistreatment of those who cannot fend for themselves is funny." Hermione said snippily as Penny continued to laugh, muffling the sound with a pillow.
"It's not." Penny assured the irate witch once she could breathe again. "Just your…erm...expanding merchandise…is… adorable" Penny finished with difficulty as she descended back into muffled cackles. Hermione had huffed indignantly before pouting, only succeeding in making the younger witch cackle louder as the matron shot them irritated looks as she strolled past them.
"Just be sure to display it so all your friends can see where it came from, and hopefully want to get their own." Hermione insisted, a smile working its way onto her face despite herself. Then with uncanny speed the smile dropped from her face. Penny blinked as Hermione's emotions gave her mental whiplash as Hermione hesitated. "Harry keeps asking after you." Hermione said quietly as Penny pulled a face, placing Hermione's card with unnecessary diligence on her bedside. "What happened?" Hermione asked, recoiling slightly as Penny gave her a withering stare.
"You know what happened." Penny snapped "I know Harry tells you and Weasel everything." Penny said with a bitter tone, feeling her Occlumency shield wobbling as she took a steadying breath. Calm, she thought. Pulling a roll of parchment from her bag she glanced up to see Hermione still watching her intently. "What?" She huffed as she dug around for some ink.
"I want to hear your version." Hermione said gently.
"He told me he loved me, we broke up." Penny said bluntly, shrugging as she fixed Hermione with a haughty gaze. "All there is to it."
"So you broke up with him because he came on too strong, and it freaked you out?" Hermione said conclusively, her eyebrows raised in silent judgement.
"In a nutshell." Penny muttered, scowling at Hermione's disapproval.
"Well I imagine that having only planned to use him to hurt Ginny, his falling for you must have come as quick a shock." Hermione said coldly as the ink pot shattered across the bedsheets. Penny glared at Hermione but as fast as her mouth opened to retort it shut again. Clenching her jaw Penny looked away determinedly as she repaired her ink pot with a cross flick. Lifting the bed sheet to examine it despairingly she tried to think of any decent household spell as Hermione spoke again. "I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt you know." Hermione said quietly, Penny looking up at her hurt tone. "I thought maybe you wouldn't hurt him when you realised you were falling for him too." She said as Penny recoiled from her words with a noise that resembled a cornered feline.
"I was not falling for him" She spat with disgust. "Why does everyone keep saying that?" Meeting the brunette's eyes Penny yelped when fleeting images of herself in third person rushed past. She was laughing with Harry at the Yule Ball… she was sat in the library staring at Harry with an odd intensity before kissing him… she was dragging Harry from the lake, an arm flung possessively around him…
Enough Penny thought, forcefully retracting from Hermione's mind as a slight whimper escaped the older witch. Turning away Penny stood, folding her trembling arms across her chest. Hermione made no further sound but Penny could feel her eyes burning into the back of her head. "I'm sorry." Penny said, barely turning her head. "I think you should leave." She said, feeling rather than seeing Hermione's nod.
"See you later Persephone." Hermione said as she left the dark haired witch to her swirling thoughts.
"Your Occlumency is decent" Professor Snape said, snapping Penny back to the present. "However your retracting Legilimency may be due to your waning menstruation" Snape stated indifferently as Penny internally squirmed. Despite the professor having broken into her mind repeatedly, somehow his careless talk of her cycle seemed inappropriately intimate. "We shall resume these lessons following the Easter break. Your next menstruation should occur within a week or so of term resuming, so we can gather a better understanding the impact, if any, your cycle has on your abilities." He finished as a faint blush crept up Penny's neck.
"Yes Professor." Penny said quietly, masking her discomfort as best she could. "It won't still be every night will it?" She asked as a slight sneer curled on her teacher's face.
"No, once a week should suffice once term resumes. This frequency was designed to help you master the basics in a short space of time."
"A crash course." Penny commented nodding, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand as Snape's eyebrow quirked.
"Pardon?" He said enquiringly. Penny lowered her hand to look at him surprised.
"A crash… never mind." Penny said waving her hand dismissively as she remembered herself. "I guess I shall see you after the Easter Holidays then Professor." Penny said politely as he opened the door for her to leave.
"Indeed" He said as Penny crossed the threshold. "Enjoy your time with your aunt." He said, the smallest quirk of amusement on his lip making Penny's stomach do an uneasy clench. "Good night Miss Black." He said silkily as he closed the door on her concerned face. As she walked down the corridor Penny couldn't help but believe Snape knew exactly which aunt she was planning her Easter with.
The next day Penny rode down to the train station in the chariots with the others leaving for Easter Break, Juno draped over her shoulders. However, as the others boarded the train Penny hung back before casually made her way down the platform to the end where a hunched old lady stood. Dragging her trunk Penny drew level with the old lady, her eyes scanning the wrinkled face, the twinkling dark eyes familiar as they roamed over the white serpent that peered intently at her.
"Hello Tonks." Penny said in an undertone, struggling to keep a straight face as Juno tasted the air with a flick of the tongue.
"Wotcher Penny." The old lady muttered back with a wink, leading the dark haired witch down a side street and into a small grubby pub. "Hey Abe" Tonks called into the back as she resumed her usual appearance. An irritated grunt came in response as an unkempt old man appeared, an odd musky smell occupying him. As he looked past Tonks to the young witch Penny was met with startling blue eyes she knew had pierced her before. He made a noise of impatience as Penny scanned his face, pushing past her to throw some Floo Powder on the fireplace before he looked back towards her. Neither said a word as his eyes did the usual flick towards Juno, whose lips pulled back ever so slightly to expose the tips of her fangs.
"If you put the snake in here" Tonks said, drawing out a small tube that resembled a spectacles case. Penny took the end off and peered into it, noting it had an inner Extension Charm, before offering it to Juno who spat at it.
"It's to keep you safe in the Floo Network" Penny explained to a recoiling Juno.
"No cages." Juno hissed fearfully, trying to uncoil from Penny's shoulders, as the witch looked at her in surprise.
"It will only be for a minute beautiful, I don't want you to get hurt" Penny said softly, stroking Juno gently as she reassured her. Eventually with gentle persuasion and coaxing Juno reluctantly slid into the tube, her long body coiling inside as she hissed unhappily. Penny carefully placed the tube into her pocket before looking back at her cousin.
"Let's get going Penny before Auntie Snob notices you are gone" Tonks said brightly gesturing the green flames. The violet hair witch stepped into the flames and shouted "Moonstone Cresent!" before vanishing. Looking back to the elderly wizard Penny peered at him before he scowled.
"Are you going or what?" He snapped, his tone gravely and impatient. Fixing him with a haughty gaze Penny stepped into the emerald flames and disappeared.
Landing at the other end Penny staggered slightly but remained on her feet as she entered into a cosy sitting room, a comfortable sofa lining most of the opposite wall. Before Penny could take in any more details of the room her eyes were drawn to the woman stood beside Tonks, who stepped between the two of them, looking between them in fascination. As blue eyes met chocolate, Penny felt her stomach drop out of her body, a breathless gasp escaping both their lips as they stared at each other. Penny looked over Andromeda's high cheek bones, the curve of her jawline and the mad mass of light brown curls that cascaded over her slender shoulders. It was as if she were looking at her mother with deliberate mistakes, the resemblance tearing her apart at the seams. A strong wriggling in Penny's pocket broke the trance and she drew out the tube, removing the top as Juno slid out rapidly, hissing profanity as she draped herself back over Penny's shoulders. Looking back at her aunt Penny saw a flurry of emotions flash across her face as she looked between Juno and Penny.
After seconds that lasted an eternity her aunt made her way forward slowly, as if each step was a struggle. As she closed the gap her features smoothed out in a cautious mask as her lips parted to speak.
"Hello Persephone." Andromeda said formally, in a cut glass accent that matched Narcissa's so well that it took Penny a second to respond.
"Penny.…I mean, hello…Andromeda" Penny said slowly making the taller witch smile widely, the familiar Cheshire grin making Penny blink in surprise before feeling herself smiling back.
"Blimey, you sure she isn't your daughter not me?" Tonks laughed as their matching smiles faded.
"I am certain Nymphadora." Andromeda replied sharply as Tonks pulled a face. "You do look so very much like Bella" She said as Penny scowled, a smile reappearing on the brunette's face as she chuckled "Particularly when you pull such an expression." She said warmly as she turned. "Come, I am making supper, does the snake need feeding?" She asked looking nervously at Juno as Penny shook her head. "Be sure to take your shoes off first though" Andromeda added glancing at Penny's feet before she left the room. Tonks smirked at Penny behind her mother's back as Penny tugged her shoes off, a difficult task with Juno's added weight.
Following her aunt into a small kitchen diner Penny looked around herself, noting the small table and chairs in one corner, with addition stools along the kitchen peninsula. It was small, Penny thought as she looked around, but every inch of space was put to good use.
"It's no Manor" Andromeda said seemingly reading Penny's thoughts as she twirled her wand over a pot on the stove, her dark eyes watching Penny closely as she turned to face her aunt. Nymphadora sat on a peninsula stool, leaning on her hand as she looked between the two of them, peering intently as if memorizing their faces. Screwing up her face, Tonks' features began to change; her hair erupted from her scalp, falling in chaotic dark brown curls, her cheekbones raised slightly and her lips thinned. Opening her eyes she smiled a Cheshire smile as her doppelgangers looked at her, one with a matching grin, the other with amused disapproval.
"How is she doing that?" Juno asked as she looked warily from Penny's shoulder. Tonks and Andromeda's eyes flickered between the snake and Penny as Penny answered.
"She is a Metamorphmagus" Penny explained having found the term in the library. "Can change her appearance as she pleases"
"Then how do you know what she really looks like?" Juno asked as Andromeda flicked her wand, four bowls settling neatly in front of the stools. The older woman glanced at the clock on the wall behind her, before she went back to tend her bubbling pot.
"What is he saying?" Tonks asked, playing with her new locks with curiosity.
"She" Penny emphasised. "Juno was wondering if you had a natural form, given you can look however you want." Penny asked, settling on a stool as Andromeda added more ingredients to her mixture. As the smell hit her Penny's stomach gave a loud growl making Tonks snigger.
"I know right, Mum's cooking is to die for" Tonks said as there was a crack noise in the distance. "Dad's home." Tonks added as Andromeda watched Juno uncomfortably as the snake coiled onto the kitchen surface, a slight pout forming on her face. "I do have a…what did you call it?" Tonks continued "A natural form, but why look ordinary if you can look unique? Only thing I can't change is my eyes." Tonks finished as a round middle aged man entered the kitchen, his fair hair laying flat on his head as he crossed the room straight to his wife, kissing her cheek affectionately.
"Sorry I am late love" He said as they embraced, Andromeda's hand rest lightly on his chest before she turned him towards Penny who watched the interaction silently. Looking round at the dark haired witch his face flickered briefly as his eyes wondered over her. A second later a good natured smile spread across his features as he looked between the three women in the kitchen with him. "Wow I feel outnumbered by lookalikes" He joked with a laugh as the three women smiled. "I'm Ted" He said addressing the youngest "You must be Persephone" He said warmly, the corners of his mouth hitching upwards as Penny's face flickered in dislike.
"Penny." Penny corrected as Andromeda scoped her concoction between the four bowls evenly.
"So you are the same as Dora when it comes to your full name" He said taking a bowl of stew and carrying it over to the table with him.
"Nymphadora is a pretty name." Andromeda said defensively, a pout on her lips as Tonks and Penny took their own bowls across to the table, Tonks spilling over slightly as she placed it down unevenly. "So is Persephone." Andromeda said joining them at the table, lifting Tonks bowl to wipe under it.
"Persephone is not too bad" Tonks commented before shovelling a mouthful of stew in her mouth. Penny followed suit, blushing slightly as a moan escaped her mouth. Andromeda smiled as Penny looked at her, the two of them still intrigued by their resemblance. Feeling a pressure against her leg, Penny automatically leant down to scope Juno onto her lap, the serpent peering at the other occupants from under the table.
"I grew up in Hackney." Penny muttered as she swallowed her mouthful. "Not exactly a Tom Dick or Harry." She said as Tonks and Andromeda looked at her in confusion as Ted smiled. "It's the kind of name that would get you beat." Penny clarified as their faces cleared in understanding.
"That is the Muggle born wizard Andromeda married that got her estranged by her family?" Juno asked as Penny took another mouthful of stew. Ted's eyes flickered to the source of the noise as Penny nodded. "She must have desired him as a mate a great deal to have left the social unit of the family. Would you say your species generally find obesity sexually alluring?" Stew sprayed across the table as Penny choked, ripples of laughter rocking through her body as the other three occupants watched her in surprise.
"Anapeo!" Andromeda said as she flicked her wand at the young witch who howled, her cackles echoing as Juno struggled to balance on her lap.
"Sorry." Penny choked out as she tried to steady herself "I love you Juno." She said as the snake hummed happily in response. Feeling three sets of eyes watching her questioning Penny sniggered as she took another mouthful.
"I take it you understand what the snake is saying then?" Ted asked as he scraped the bottom of his bowl. Penny nodded, the corners of her mouth struggling to keep down.
"Juno. She is…very literal." Penny said evasively. "She was curious about how you two came to…be together." Penny finished carefully as Andromeda stood, gathering the now empty bowls back to the kitchen. Ted's eyes followed his wife, full of affection as he stood, following her as she began rinsing off the dishes.
"Tis a tale as old as time" Ted began in deep dramatic voice.
"Oh no" Tonks said cringing "Dad loves to pretend he is a knight in shining armour." She said wrinkling her nose as Andromeda smiled into the sink.
"The unworthy stable boy, pursuing his beautiful princess" Ted went on as Andromeda picked up a dish cloth and made to go past her husband, her kind eyes glowing as he blocked her path, taking her hands in his.
"Ted I need to wipe the table…" She began as Ted grasped her waist.
"A tale of wit and chivalry" He said twirling his reluctant wife around him as she huffed unconvincingly "Against demons, dragons and terrifying in laws" He went on dipping her down romantically "Until I got the woman of my dreams" He said as he peered down into Andromeda's melting face. As Ted brought her back upright Penny looked round to see Tonks mimicking vomit as her mother resumed cleaning the table of Ted and Dora's spillages with a stupid grin all over her face. Meeting Penny's bright eyes the young witch couldn't help but smile back up at her aunt's beaming face.