The next couple of weeks were relatively quiet for Penny. Apart from hexing the Creevey brothers with Tarantallegra jinx, a few others had fallen prey to a couple other pranks as well. Penny smirked to herself as she recalled them dancing erratically round the courtyard, to the laughter of those around them. She couldn't help but be quite proud of her dual cast aim from the second floor window. The window being so narrow even the few that had seen the direction the spells had come from couldn't make out who shot them. Penny and her Slytherin friends had quickly vacated the room before Filch could make his way to them, cackling as they went.
The morning of the Third Task was met with a buzz of excitement from the whole school. Draco was in a suspiciously good mood as they headed up to breakfast. Penny gave him a searching look that he quickly evaded. Making her way up to the Great Hall Penny muttered softly to Juno, the huge serpent heavy on her neck and shoulders. Theo had offered to carry the serpent, but quickly retracted his arms as Juno hissed threateningly at him.
"Thanks Theo" Penny replied with a snort of amusement "But she is shedding again in a few days, she is a tad temperamental at the moment."
"Again?" Theo said with distain, Heather and Ursula sharing a strained look as Penny chuckled.
"She is getting close to a year now, gonna be her puberty before you know it!" Penny said stroking Juno's white body affectionately as Theo groaned. She was getting huge, Penny thought to herself as she looked at her beloved pet. Five foot already, she could easily reach ten foot in the next two years before adulthood, if not more, Penny mused. Her orange patches were not as vivid in contrast as they had once been either. Guess time would tell, Penny thought to herself as she sat in the Great Hall, heaving her pet onto the table beside her. She looked forward to seeing her pet reach maturity.
It wasn't long until her suspicions about Draco were confirmed as Daily Prophets dropped on the table around her. A few glances cast her way caused her to tug Ursula's copy right out her hands, flicking it to the guilty page.
"Harry Potter 'Disturbed and Dangerous'"
The first couple of paragraphs alluded to Harry and an apparently collapsed from the pain in his scar during a class. Penny glanced across at Harry, who was also reading the article with a bemused expression. Penny frowned slightly as a pang of sadness spread through her that she hadn't known, but then why would she? How did Skeeter know more importantly? Reading on her frown deepened as she saw Draco's name appear. "Potter can speak Parseltongue, he lost his temper at a Duelling Club and set a snake on another boy." Further on it mused about Parselmouths and their known association with the Dark Arts. "Indeed, the most famous Parselmouth of our times is none other than You-Know-Who himself, an ability he has passed on to his equally powerful daughter, Persephone Black." It then speculated that perhaps The Boy Who Lived's association with Persephone could in fact, be the reason behind his erratic behaviour. "It has been suggested by some, that this interest in Dark Creatures and power may in fact, be a teenage boys desperate attempt to rekindle the doomed romance between himself and Black. Black herself, after all is known to get gratification from the seeking attention, having had a similar fit herself not many weeks before hand. Furthermore, like her parents she also enjoys hexing those she considers lesser than herself, to the extent many of her peers are extremely fearful of her outbursts. Therefore Potter's behaviour could be a desperate plea for affection from his ex-girlfriend, or in a more sinister twist, Black could, in fact have caused some level of brain damage the last time she was reported to a have had a Legilimency based fit. After all, it is not the first time the Daughter of Darkness has caused havoc in another's mind. Perhaps, this is simply the beginning of a once charming boy descending into Legilimency induced madness."
Penny scowled as she finished reading. Feeling eyes on her she glanced down the house table Penny spotted Draco jeering loudly at Harry across the Great Hall. Looking across Penny saw Harry watching her, their eyes meeting briefly. Pulling a face Penny rolled her eyes, a slight smile appearing on the Gryffindor's face before he looked away. Scooping the last of her scrambled eggs into her mouth Penny stood before quietly making her way down the table to stand directly behind Draco. Seeing his friends eyes staring fearfully over his shoulder Draco froze before Penny whacked him extremely hard over the back of the head with her rolled up newspaper. Rolling his body to the side Draco put up his hands defensively as Penny rained down more blows on him.
"Penny g'off!" He said as people nearby laughed.
"What. Did. You. Talk. To. That. Bitch. For." Penny asked, reinforcing each word with a smack of the newspaper. Leaping to his feet, Draco ducked out of the way of her strikes, taking a couple steps backwards out of her reach.
"I was hoping if she focused more on Potter she might leave you alone more" Draco whined defensively as Penny rolled her eyes.
"And that worked very well didn't it genius." Penny said glaring at him, even as she stopped her attack. Brandishing the newspaper threateningly at her tall cousin she continued. "No more talking to journalists, got it?" She finished before turning on her heel and heading back towards her seat with a slight strut to her walk as people on her house table cheered. Glancing back at Harry she gave him a quick wink and a smile before she scooped Juno up, crooning softly in Parseltongue. Gesturing her Slytherin friends they had their way to their lessons without a backwards glance.
The rest of the day was fairly uneventful, Penny spied Mrs Weasley and Bill sat with Harry at the Gryffindor table. Following Harry's gaze Mrs Weasley saw the young Slytherin, her lips thinning so much Penny was starkly reminded of Professor McGonagall. Sighing Penny went back to her conversation with Ursula about the potential obstacles the champions might face in the maze.
"You don't reckon there will be Dementors do you?" Ursula asked with a shudder. "I hated those things being around last year." Penny enthusiastically agreed. Following the feast Bagman called the champions to go down to the maze. Standing, Penny made her way to the Entrance Hall, ignoring the curious looks that followed.
"Harry." She called as the youngest champion walked besides Bagman. Both stopped to stare at her as she approached. "Give us a minute." She barked at Bagman who was lurking.
"Miss Black the Third Task starts in…" Bagman fell silent as Penny gave him a withering glare. "I'll wait for you by the maze Harry." He finished in a small voice before turning and walking away. Penny watched him walk out of ear shot before continuing.
"Here, take this." Penny said holding out a tiny vial, the shape of a lion's head on its stopper.
"What is it?" Harry asked, turning it over in his hand staring at it in awe.
"Stamina potion." Penny said as Harry looked at her, a look of puzzlement on his face. "Just in case, you know, you need an extra bit of energy to get out a situation, you know you can run that little extra if you need to. Thought it might come in useful." Penny finished as Harry continued to stare at her, apparently lost for words.
"Thanks." Harry said eventually before the two of them fell silent again, the awkwardness intensifying.
"You best go." Penny said pointedly as Harry blinked.
"Yer, erm, thanks." He said again pocketing the small vial. Eyes meeting again Harry looked like he wanted to say something, but then walked down the front steps without another word and disappeared into the Champions hut. Penny watched him go, wondering if she should have said something more, something better but nothing came to her.
Barely a minute later Penny heard movement in the Great Hall telling her the rest of the school was on the move. Heading down, Penny joined Madam Pomfrey in her healing tent, watching the edge of the maze.
Before long the whistle was being blown and the champions were in, the crowds chattering amongst themselves as occasional bangs and puffs of smoke emerged from the maze, Bagman commentating on the likely sources of them and recounting the events of the previous two tasks.
About half an hour in there was movement outside the tent. An unconscious Fleur was brought in, covered in cuts and scratches. Examining her Madam Pomfrey frowned slightly.
"Stunned?" Penny said in surprise, Madam Pomfrey nodding. What would be in the maze that could do that? Penny wondered as Madam Pomfrey raised her wand.
"Enervate." Fleur's eyes flickered open, her eyes unfocused and rolling. "Easy." The Matron said as the blonde stirred, swaying dangerously. Placing a pillow behind her, Madam Pomfrey helped the girl sit up, propping her against the wall.
"Here" Penny said, holding a goblet to the older witch's lips. Taking a mouthful, Fleur blinked a couple of times, her eyes focussing on Penny's face.
"You are zat Persephone girl" Fleur said, her French accent thick in her drowsiness. "Somebody attacked me! Zey stunned me from behind!" She said, her voice rising in hysteria. Penny stared at her as her very pretty eyes widened. She wasn't lying, Penny deduced, the rough shout of "Stupefy" echoing in her head. Definitely a male voice, Penny thought frowning. But was it another Champion? Were any of them that desperate to win? Shaking her head Penny moved away.
Another twenty minutes later, sparks were seen deep in the maze. Moments later Krum's unconscious body was brought into their tent. Another stunning, Madam Pomfrey and Penny shared a perplexed look. Coming round Krum was as unhelpful as Fleur in explaining what had happened.
"I don't know, I not see…I am thinking I vas in my head not right…I don't remember." He rambled. Penny shot a concerned look to the maze. Something was happening, she decided, this wasn't right. Only one person came to mind as she stared into the maze.
"Harry." She whispered.
…
"On three, right?" Said Harry. "One- two- three!" Cedric and Harry both grasped a handle, the cup tugging them away from the maze and into darkness.