The start of the summer term was the first time in Penny's career at Hogwarts she was dreading the return to school. As always eyes and whispers followed her everywhere she went, the fear level ever higher with her latest episode. The Easter break had given her some respite with most of her company having some level of their own Occlumency but her laziness with practice hit her hard whilst wondering the hormone drenched hallways. Her Slytherin friends continued to act as a convoy around her, which came in useful when trying to avoid too much contact with either Harry or Ginny. She wasn't sure which was worse, Ginny's overt glaring or Harry's pitiful attempt at feigning indifference. That and being acutely aware of the additional love triangle within her own Slytherin group made the whole environment exhausting. How Theo could be so blind to Heather's affections was a mystery.
"One could simply speak with him Mistress" Juno commented on the second day of term as Penny and her friends made their way down a corridor, passing Harry and Ron both of whom looked determinedly away.
"Nothing simple about it" Penny replied bitterly as they entered the library.
"You can calmly threaten your uncle, a powerful and wealthy wizard who intimidates you, but you cannot have an honest conversation with a fourteen year old boy who loves you?" Juno asked exasperated as she slid between the wooden table legs. Scowling at her pet Penny didn't respond. No words could express the sense of conflict she felt about the triangular emotional mess she had put herself in. "So alternatively your master plan is to avoid both Harry and Ginerva until you expire?" Juno went on in response to her Mistress' silence.
"Exactly." Penny answered shrewdly as her group found large desk far back in the shelves. Nott as usual sat at a separate desk, speaking little as he worked, the rest of the working on their first homework of term, chatting quietly amongst themselves. Juno had slide off to roam around the library, with Penny's warning to not wonder too far, the young witch still reluctant to allow the snake out of her sight.
"Penny, can you give me a hand?" Theo asked Penny gesturing his essay on defensive hexes in preparation for Moody's next class. Having finished studying Dark creatures, the Professor felt they were ready to move onto studying hexes and curses. Before Penny could move however, Heather had leant to look over Theo's shoulder, her hand gripping his arm lightly.
"Oh you can just copy mine Theo" She said quickly, glancing sheepishly at Penny who smirked slightly at the brunette's possessive grip. Standing Penny wondered off down a row of book shelves, unsurprised to spot Hermione sat at a desk alone, reading enthusiastically.
"Hey" Penny said as she sat on the bench beside the bushy haired witch. "Seeing whilst unseen, a beginner's guide to sleuthing?" Penny read aloud as she glanced over at the book Hermione was reading.
"Hey Penny" Hermione said without looking up, pressing on with a look of determination.
"Unless you have suddenly decided a career in some sort of magical secret service, I am guessing this has something to do with Skeeter." Penny concluded as Hermione finally looked up, her face darkening.
"I want to know how she keeps eavesdropping on private conversations. Especially when she is banned from the grounds." Hermione said huffily. "I asked Moody if he had seen her wearing an invisibility cloak, he said he hadn't" She went on as Penny made a disbelieving noise. "What?"
"You trust the half man?" Penny asked, wrinkling her nose.
"Well yes. He is a very famous Auror. Plus Dumbledore trusts him" Hermione answered conclusively as Penny rolled her eyes.
"I agree on your first point" Penny replied, thinking of Tonks' admiration for her mentor. "But I would consider your second point an extra reason not to trust him." Penny said as Hermione pulled an offended face. "In any case I doubt Skeeter has an invisibility cloak." She went on before Hermione could protest. "Those things cost a fortune to buy and I doubt Skeeter has the skills to make one herself." Penny concluded as Hermione considered her.
"You are properly right." Hermione agreed with a sigh.
"Usually am." Penny said with a wink as Hermione laughed as Penny felt Juno sliding past her leg.
"Harry suggested I might be bugged." Hermione said dismissively, catching herself as Penny's lips thinned slightly.
"Muggle technology doesn't work in the castle grounds" Penny answered promptly bending slowly to scoop Juno onto the desk as a way to hide her face.
"Exactly." Hermione replied before falling silent watching Penny closely as she straightened up, a blank mask on her face. Fighting a scowl at Hermione's intrusive gaze Penny busied herself, pulling Hermione's book towards her.
"I take it this is from the Invisibility Section?" Penny asked, rising from the bench to wonder off.
"Have you spoken to Harry yet?" Hermione asked quietly, disregarding Penny's question. Penny scowled deeply, Professor Snape's voice scolding her in her mind for her response. In a futile attempt to evade the subject she ignored the question, wandering off down the rows of books. After a minute of scanning the shelf she grabbed a book from the Legal section and headed back to the desk where both Hermione and Juno eyed her.
"Figured Skeeter would not be opposed to illegal means of eavesdropping" Penny said with a fake lightness, gesturing her book to an unperturbed Hermione, who barely glanced at it. Settling back on the bench Penny opened the book and began scanning the pages.
"So no?" Hermione pressed on even as Penny scowled again, the brunette's persistence grating on her nerves.
"Why would I?" Penny snapped, inwardly cursing herself for her reaction. "He might get the wrong idea again and start planning our wedding." Penny scoffed cruelly as Hermione frowned at her, Juno's serpent eyes looking between them.
"Penny…" Hermione began cautiously, pausing as she seemed to weigh up if continuing was worth the risk of Penny's temper. "I know you do like Harry" She went on, recoiling slightly as Penny glared at her. "I'm not saying you like him as much as he likes you" She added quickly putting up her palm defensively. "But you do like him." She repeated as Penny remained silent. "Is it Ginny you are worried about?" She asked abruptly jumping as her book slammed shut beside her. Glancing at it Penny exhaled slowly with difficulty, trying her best to control her emotions. Snape would be proud, she thought tartly. "Look whatever happened between you, I am sure you can sort it out." Hermione went on, even as she glanced nervously at her book, as Penny gave a bitter laugh. "I know Ginny has liked Harry for a long time but you are best friends, I'm sure if you speak with her, explain how you feel about Harry, I am sure she will understand." Hermione finished as Penny chuckled to herself. Looking at the older witch Penny smiled at her naivety. She was both extremely right and so very wrong, Penny thought to herself.
"Hermione" Penny began gently, amused at the girls startled expression. "I know you mean well, but there are certain things even your enlarged brain does not understand." She added tersely, rising off the bench, regarding the book she had taken off the shelf before tossing it in front of the other witch. "Good luck with your…witch hunt" She emphasised as she turned to walk away, Juno slithering off the table after her.
"So you are gonna avoid them both for ever?" Hermione asked with a sigh as Penny trudged off.
"Fair question" Juno hissed as she followed.
"Shut up Juno." Penny snapped, even as the snake made an amused noise. Returning to her Slytherin friends she quickly distracted herself, chastising Ursula's error riddled essay, scribbling all over it in red ink before returning it to the blonde witch.
At the end of the first week she received a note from Professor Snape instructing her to visit his office on the Friday evening. Reluctantly she made her way there, trying to push any stray thoughts out of her mind. Vaguely she wondered how many more lessons he would insist on before she didn't have to worry about him coming across secrets he had no right too. Both Tonks bunker and her deal with Lucius were not entirely legal, she mused.
"Enter." Came the usual call as she knocked. "Good evening Miss Black." He said curtly as he stood, the Pensieve in its normal spot on the desk.
"Good evening Professor." Penny replied politely, taking up her position in the centre of the room. Standing opposite her the dark Professor gazed down at her.
"Did you have an eventful Easter?" He asked, the smallest of smirks forming on the edge of his lips.
"Did you?" Penny replied staring him down calmly. Staring intently, Snape seemed pleased by her demeanor, fishing his wand from inside his robe.
"I hope your little break did not make you lazy." He said, continuing to stare at her.
"No Professor." Penny lied careful to keep her expression neutral. If he detected the lie or not, Penny wasn't sure as he too showed no response.
"Your menstruation is due in the coming week is it now?" He asked callously, the smallest flicker betraying Penny's irritation.
"Yes." Penny replied a little stiffly.
"As I understand it the first few menstruations are not always regular. No matter." Snape went on, apparently unconcerned by the discomfort he was causing the young witch. "Brace yourself." He announced before raising his wand. "Legilimens!"
The next couple of weeks felt extremely long to Penny, whose period came like clockwork, sending her Legilimens into a frenzy. Keeping her Occlumency peaked during these times drained her of energy, making her even more cranky than usual. Most people kept their distance for fear of a hex being shot their way. More than once Penny had excused herself from company, taking to wandering in the Forbidden Forest away from so many whirling thoughts. She had considered visiting the kitchens, the lack of teenage minds and ad lib tasty food was very tempting, and yet the idea of explaining to Dobby about her relationship with Harry deterred her.
On one of these walks Penny entered the edge of a clearing in the trees, shrinking behind a tree as she spotted a dirty blonde wandering round the clearing apparently talking to herself. Peering round the tree Penny was puzzled as she observed the girl. Luna held a sponge aloof, making movements as if washing something only she could see. Clicking her tongue she patted the air before moving away and drawing out a brush. Penny raised an eyebrow as the blonde proceeded to mime brushing a tail of some sort.
She's nuts, Penny thought to herself as she watched, torn between concern and amusement. As she turned to go she was surprised to hear a dreamy voice follow her.
"Hello Penny." Came the call, making Penny turn back to the clearing.
"Hello Luna" She replied, as the blonde smiled. Having been caught, Penny figured she may as play along. "What you doing?" She asked as she walked into the clearing towards where Luna stood.
"Just grooming a Thestral" Luna answered brightly, continuing her brushing motion. "Be careful or you might startle her." Luna warned as Penny neared her.
"Oh I wouldn't want that" Penny answered sarcastically, wondering what a Thestral was meant to be. "Very pretty thing" Penny commented looking what she assumed to be the imaginary creatures face, fighting the urge to giggle as Luna beamed.
"Oh yes, they really are" Luna replied brightly "I am glad you can tell that even though you can't see them." She added, startling Penny who gave her a piercing stare. Though she could see into Luna's mind to an extent, the bizarre whirl of the blonde's mind was always erratic and baffling to the taller witch.
"What makes you think I can't see them?" Penny asked carefully.
"Well to most people they are invisible." Luna replied promptly.
"Of course they are." Penny muttered with a snort.
"You think I am insane?" Luna asked without shame making Penny blush slightly. "Most people do, though I thought you might be more open minded." Luna went on silencing Penny's defensive mumble as the dark haired witch stared at the other witch. This was not the first time Penny felt she had greatly misjudged when it came to the eccentric girl. "Here." Luna said abruptly, approaching the dark haired witch and grasping her hand. Raising it up she began to lead the taller witch forward. "Easy girl, its ok, she's a friend" She muttered softly as they went, gaining a sideways look from Penny. Suddenly Penny felt something cold solid beneath her palm, making her snatch her hand away.
"Shh shh shh, its ok" Luna said quickly as a small but horrendous shriek filled Penny's ears. Backing away Penny stared into the empty clearing with wide eyes, her hand plunging into her pocket. "Don't draw your wand." Luna instructed sharply, the dreamy element of her voice vanishing, replaced with a very serious tone. "If they see you are a threat they will attack you." Luna went on quickly as Penny froze.
"What do you mean they?" Penny asked, looking round herself rapidly. "How many are there?"
"Calm down Penny, they'll only hurt you more if you try to fight them." Luna said, the dreamy tone returning slightly as Penny made a noise somewhere between a huff of disbelief and a yelp. "Come on" Luna said offering her hand back to Penny, who took it very gingerly. Placing it back on the invisible figure Penny's eyes flickered as she took in odd sensation. The skin she felt was a strange mixture of leather and scaling, not that different from that of Juno, Penny thought to herself as Luna allowed her to wander. Feeling along the creature's body Penny felt bone after bone, then what felt like it might be a wing, which was ruffled irritably away from her.
"What is it?" Penny asked this time her voice full of intrigue.
"A Thestral." Luna replied brightly, smiling at Penny's interest. "They are a bit like the Abraxan the French school have, though a lot more bony." She concluded as she dug into her bag. Drawing out a strip of steak she held it out on a flat palm and it rapidly vanished with an unpleasant squelching noise.
"You can see it?" Penny asked as she walked back towards Luna still staring at the apparently empty space. "How come you can and I can't?" Penny questioned as Luna nodded.
"Oh Thestrals can only be seen by those who have known death." Luna said with the casualness of discussing the weather. Frowning at the blonde Penny felt her stomach squirm unhappily.
"That's can't be right." Penny said stiffly "Cuz I should be able to see them then."
"Your Nana?" Luna asked gently, not evening flinching as Penny gave her sharp look, before nodding slowly. "Might be that you have not come to terms with it yet then." Luna said as Penny pulled away from her.
"It was a long time ago." Penny snapped as she made to move away.
"There is no time limit on grief." Luna said with a sad smile. Staring at the blonde witch Penny felt once again like she was only seeing her for the first time. Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure, Penny thought to herself.
"You saw someone die too?" Penny asked as Luna nodded.
"My Mum." She said, the sadness in her eyes digging into Penny's mind.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know." Penny said sincerely, silently wondering why it had never occurred to her that Luna only ever mentioned her Dad.
"You never asked." Luna replied as Penny squirmed away guiltily. Looking round at the blonde Penny's excuses died on her lips as she saw a twinkle in Luna's eyes and realised she was being teased.
"My bad." She said, smiling back at other witch. Glancing at her watch the two of them made it back to the castle just in time for the bell.