The following week Penny approached Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom with a sense of dread. She had avoided the scarred Professor for the past few days, sticking closer to her fellow Slytherins than usual. She told no one of her encounter with him aside from Juno, who was perplexed by her turmoil.
"You still killed the spider no? So why does it matter by what curse?" Juno had asked as Penny sat on her bed, her leg jigging, frowning.
"Because a simple hex to kill a spider isn't purely used to wipe the life force from ANYTHING it touches" Penny replied twirling her wand rapidly.
"So you only care if it can kill a human?" Juno replied, in a tone that suggested she would have rolled her eyes if she could have. "Little specist isn't it?" She added, Penny stilled her wand considering.
"You have a problem with me killing a spider?" Penny asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I have no problem with you killing whatever or whoever you desire, Mistress. Morality is a self-made human phenomenon. I just see no logical point in killing anything unless for food or self preservation. The species is irrelevant to me."
"And the logical point of lunging for anything for anything that moves is?" Penny asked, a teasing smile forming on her lips when Juno flicked her tongue at her.
"Practice." Juno said stubbornly making Penny chuckle, stroking her young pet's head affectionately.
News had also spread like wildfire that the Bulgarian Seeker had been attacked the previous night. How and by whom was had to decipher but Penny had deduced Harry had been seen with Krum only moments beforehand. One day something will occur in this school that he is not involved in, Penny thought bitterly as she followed the others into the classroom, taking her usual seat at the back.
A dull clunk echoed as the door swung open, announcing the Professor's arrival. Limping to the front of the classroom Penny's brow furrowed as she scrutinised his face. Although difficult tell with his badly scarred face, the dark shadows under his eyes and a tightened jaw told Penny his sleep had been disturbed if even present. He had undoubtedly been involved in whatever had occurred, but why such a relatively trivial matter seemed to have affected the experienced Auror so much puzzled Penny. She didn't have long to dwell on it however, as she was sharply reminded of today's lesson.
"So" Moody growled drawing his wand. "I instructed you to conduct research into fighting off the Imperius Curse, for your sakes' I hope you have done so. Now" He barked ordering everyone to stand. Sweeping aside the desks with a wave of his wand Moody instructed everyone to form a wide circle. "Now, know that I will only perform this on each of you with your permission, but that unlike others, I will not ask anything that will harm you or others around you." Moody said, his magical eye swirling in its socket, resting briefly on Penny's scowling face. One by one he beckoned a student forward before placing them under the Imperius curse. Michael Corner bounced round like a rabbit, Heather jumped on the desk, Theo started speaking Mermish. None of them seemed to be able to resist the charm at all.
"Miss Black" Moody said gravelling, ushering her forward. Moving forward very warily Penny's fist clenched around her wand, though she refrained from drawing it. Moody watched her closely, both eyes sizing her up. Raising his wand he muttered "Imperio."
At once Penny felt her whole body relax, her mind blissfully blank, barely noticing her hand releasing her wand. She was vaguely aware of people around her, but they didn't matter. Nothing mattered, it was a peaceful feeling.
Hop on one leg came an unfamiliar voice in her head. Folding one leg out the way Penny felt herself jumping lightly, in a slow unbroken rhythm. This should be odd, Penny thought vaguely, yet remaining unconcerned as she hopped. Change leg. The voice came again. Switching legs Penny looked up slightly, noticing for the first time the wand pointing at her. Reality splashed down on her like an icy bucket of water, the smallest of gasps passing her lips. Losing her rhythm she stumbled, a sharp pain spiking through her knee cap as she hit the floor. A shriek escaped her as the mist lifted and the pain in her knee throbbed even harder.
"Miss Black?" Came the Professor's gravelly voice. Clutching her leg Penny quickly staggered to her feet. Glancing round Penny was certain the circle had widened ever so slightly.
"Did I overcome it or did you lift the curse?" Penny asked quickly, breathing heavily rubbing her knee.
"I lifted it. But you were certainly beginning to fight it Black!" Moody announced proudly. "Let's go again, everybody watch the eyes!" Moody said loudly to the class, readying his wand. Penny however took a step away from him.
"No." She said fiercely, hand back on her wand. Moody paused but didn't lower his wand.
"Miss Black" He began, a bite of impatience in his voice. "I am giving you a chance to practice fighting the curse without risk. Something less scrupulous sort will not do." He growled as Penny stood firm.
"I don't care. I'm not doing it." Penny retorted. "Unless you intend to try and force me, Professor?" Penny challenged, drawing her own wand meaningfully as Moody watched her, both eyes boarding into hers. A ripple of anger blazed in his human eye, coated in bitter disappointment. A moment later however he lowered his wand and he looked away.
"Very well. Your lost." He muttered. "Flint. Your turn." He barked, calling the blonde forward. A few moments Ursula was doing backflips and kart wheels gracefully. A few more students went through the same process, none of them showing any signs of resistance, to Moody's mounting annoyance. "Lovegood." He snapped irritably, Luna stepping forward obediently. "Imperio." He muttered flicking his wand at the dirty blonde.
Immediately Penny saw something different was happening. Instead of the relaxed stance the others had all taken, every muscle in Luna's body seemed to tighten. Glancing at Moody Penny saw him frown in confusion, swishing his wand slightly, as if tugging a piece of string. Luna staggered slightly but whatever order Moody was given her was clearly being resisted. Without really thinking Penny moved forward slightly, peering intently at Luna's face. The usual dreamy expression was missing from the Ravenclaw's face, a look of determined fire burned in her eyes. A few seconds later she gasped, staggering again, her expression flickered. Penny gave a little cheer as she recognized the eccentric girl's normal expression return.
"That's more like it!" Roared the Professor making everyone jump. "See that everyone! Lovegood fought, and Lovegood damn well beat it, FIRST TIME!" He praised. Smiling Penny gave a louder cheer and clapped, her Slytherins sharing a look before following her lead. Looking over at Penny Luna beamed happily at her as the clap died down. "Now, Miss Lovegood, could you explain to everybody else how you overthrew it so easily?" Moody asked.
"You asked me to impersonate a chicken." Luna said in a dreamy tone. "I didn't want to, so I didn't." She said in a tone that implied it was obvious. "I am always having to get Wrackspurts out my head so it was easy really." She concluded. Penny sniggered at Moody's perplexed expression as he sized the dirty blonde up, clearly unsure what to make of her.
"I see." He said finally.
"No you don't but that's ok." Luna replied sympathetically as Moody's magical eye swivelled to the clock.
"Well that's enough for today. Any of those who didn't participate today can have their turn next lesson, and if anyone wishes to have another turn" Moody said, looking pointedly at Penny. "May do so. Class dismissed." He said as the bell rang. Whispering excitedly the class gathered their things and exited, walking down the corridor. Spotting Harry, Ron and Hermione coming the other way Penny's eyes locked onto Harry's green ones momentarily before her group moved past them. Like Moody, the three of them looked exhausted.
Glancing over her shoulder Penny saw Harry look away quickly as they made their way to Moody's classroom. Moody, who had just been emerging, stopped in the doorway before re-entering it with the three of them.
"You alright Penny?" Heather asked as Penny turned back down the corridor, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Yer, think I left something behind." Penny lied, waving them off dismissively. "Go on, I'll catch up." She said as she walked back. Behind she sensed rather than saw Theo's disapproving scowl before he allowed Heather to pull him along. Thinking rapidly, Penny strolled casually past the door, knowing that Moody's eye would undoubtedly be tracking her every move. Reaching the next corner, Penny could see the edge of a pipe running along the base of the wall. Pretending to kneel to tie her lace she jabbed the pipe with her wand, muttering incantations rapidly. Her wand shuddering she felt it pierce the pipe before vines sprouted out, rapidly running along the winding pipe. One vine curling towards her Penny listened closely, following the sound of Moody's signature voice, redirecting the growing vine cautiously. As the Professor's voice echoed down the vine Penny jumped slightly, surprised just how clear his voice came through. Standing Penny leant casually against the wall, carefully hiding the vine behind herself, puzzled as they mentioned Crouch.
"You're another one who might think about a career as an Auror" The Professor said "Mind works the right way Granger." Penny could virtually feel Hermione's elevated pride from her spot down the corridor.
"Someone could've pulled him onto broom and flown off with him couldn't they?" Ron's voice came. Penny rolled her eyes at his suggestion, knowing he was desperate for praise from the Professor.
"So do you believe it Professor?" Penny heard Harry say. "That Voldemort is getting stronger?"
"It is possible." Moody said quietly. "All that we know for certain is he seems to be on the move." A moment of silence followed this comment before Penny heard Harry speak again.
"But if he does return…" He began slowly, his hesitation extremely pronounced. "What would that mean for Penny?" He asked so quickly it was barely audible. At the other end of the vine Penny blushed, almost able to feel Harry's scarlet expression.
"She really has you don't she laddie?" Moody said, a rough guffaw escaping him.
"It's stupid, she's a bitch ("RON!") mateand you know it" Ron said, Penny snorting as Hermione tutted at him.
"She certainly is…captivating in her own way" Moody admitted making Penny shudder in repulsion. "But then so was her mother." He went on, Penny could have sworn she heard a note of affection in his voice. "No, I think its best you put Black out of your mind. Her time to choose a path will come. You cannot allow yourself to be distracted, Potter you just keep your mind on the third task." He went on sharply.
"What? Oh yeah." Harry said, clearly having completely forgotten he was a Champion. Penny hastily withdrew her vines as the four of them wrapped up their conversation, making her way down a couple of passageways to join her Slytherin friends out on the front lawn. Standing beside where they were settled, she stared out into the lake absorbing what she had heard.
They had definitely mentioned Mr Crouch, the tournament judge, she thought as she picked up a stone and skimmed it. She knew he was apparently very sick, so how was he involved in any of this? Penny recalled snippets of information from Harry and Sirius about Crouch's son and Voldemort's last known movements. Could any of it really be connected to the Tournament? Was her father really pulling the strings in this whole mess? If so why was Harry still alive if it was all to do with getting to him? It was baffling, Penny concluded frowning.
It seemed everyone was convinced her father would return, Penny thought uncomfortably. How he could possibly do so was beyond her, as far as she knew he seemed to be little more than a demonic creature. What magic could possibly return him to any meaningful power? Penny didn't know and wasn't sure she wanted to. What would it mean for her if he did return? She pondered. Though she had no interest in joining a lunatic that had killed many and tortured thousands, she gathered by Uncle Lucy's comments that her father would likely take an interest in her. What would become of Narcissa? Of Draco? How far would they really go to show their apparent loyalty to Voldemort? Would they simply support Lucius in whatever action he took? She grimaced unhappily. Her father returning was not something she liked the sound of, not at all, she concluded skimming a stone across the lake, bouncing several times before sinking below the surface and out of sight.