The next day Penny reluctantly made her way to the Head Master's office, steeling herself for whatever the Head Master had to say. The gargoyle had been expecting her and moved aside as she approached rather than wait for a password. Knocking she let herself in when told. Dumbledore was sat at his desk, looking strained, the lines around his eyes seemed etched deeper than ever.
"Ah Persephone, good morning. Please, sit." He instructed. One his desk was his usual bowl of sherbet lemons, and beside them some Honeydukes caramels in another bowl. Penny's eyes narrowed slightly as she gave the Professor a searching look. "Dobby told me the house elves tend to find an excess number of these wrappers under your bed." He said, the corners of his mouth twitching in amusement as Penny looked taken aback. "I am quite partial to them myself, though I tend to favour sweets over chocolates." He said good naturedly as Penny continued to look sceptical. "Help yourself." He said gesturing the bowl. Glancing between the Professor and the bowl Penny debated briefly before taking one. Professor Dumbledore reached across and grabbed one himself, sucking it delicately as he considered her. The silence dragged on for a moment as Penny waited for him to speak. "So it would appear your mother did not tell your father she was pregnant." He said quietly, watching Penny as she fiddled with her wrapper. "How do you feel about that?" He asked, as Penny felt a stab of anger.
"Well he knows of my existence now, so how I feel about it is hardly of importance." Penny said calmly, with the hint of a shrug. Dumbledore's blue eyes peered at her thoughtfully over his glasses, as Penny emptied her mind as best she could.
"Snape has taught you well." Dumbledore noted. "He is safe." He answered to Penny's unspoken question. "For the time being anyway. I suspect he will return in a few days, no sooner." He said as Penny nodded, reaching for another chocolate. "Yes, Voldemort now knows he has a daughter. All the while he didn't you were safe, to a degree at least. Now though, you are in as much danger, if not more than Harry himself." Dumbledore said heavily as Penny swallowed the chocolate. He gave Penny a hard stare before continuing. "Harry he wishes dead, nothing more or less. You, however…" Dumbledore went on slowly.
"He wants me to join his gang" Penny cut in sarcastically rolling her eyes.
"I do believe he wishes to make use of your exceptional gifts." Dumbledore agreed as Penny snorted.
"People trying to use me for my abilities, what a novelty." Penny sneered sulkily. Dumbledore smiled sympathetically.
"Ah yes, people are quite happy to make use of a person's talents when it suits them, and to them ostracize them when it becomes inconvenient." He said with a bitter note. "You never really get used to how callous fickle people can be." He said before taking a sherbet lemon and toying with it in his mouth. "So, do you intend join your father's gang?" He asked abruptly, his piercing eyes watching Penny's face with the intensity of an X-ray. Penny's hand paused where she had reached for another chocolate, a scowl forming as she leaned back in the chair.
"Like I would tell you if I did." She said a slight snarl on her face, a ripple of anger at his intrusive stare. Professor Dumbledore watched her calmly as she remained stubbornly silent, fiddling with the wrapped chocolate in her hand. After a moment she sighed, her hand tucking a wayward strand of hair out of her face. "No. I don't." She said finally, realising he was not going to stop waiting for an answer.
"Why not?" He asked in the same calm voice.
"Why would I?" Penny shot back challengingly.
"Because your mother would have wanted you to." Dumbledore said as Penny hissed slightly. "Because Narcissa would want you to."
"You have no idea what Narcissa would want." Penny snapped before catching herself. Tossing the unopened chocolate back onto the desk irritably she paused before speaking again. "My father and the Death Eaters want to dominate the magical and non-magical world. They believe Muggles and Muggle-borns are scum and should be treated accordingly. That magical people, especially pure bloods should rule supreme" She went on quickly, rolling her eyes at the last bit. "Narcissa may agree with that, but I don't. And I have no intention to be someone's prize pet. I don't do following orders." She finished as Dumbledore continued to watch her.
"You seemed to have no issue following orders when couriering drugs for Joe." Dumbledore replied calmly as Penny's eyes widened in shock. Her jaw went slack before she closed it, a wary expression on her face.
"You are omniscient as ever, Professor." She said politely, deeply concerned by this revelation. Penny could have sworn she saw a slight flicker in Dumbledore's eyes at her choice of words, but it was gone as fast as it came.
"No, I merely read the Muggle newspapers. His garage was raided a few months ago and I recalled the Muggle that attacked you worked there." Dumbledore explained, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes as Penny's expression took on a reluctant look of awe. She considered him briefly but concluded if he had planned to punish her for it, he would have done so already. "So, it would not be the first time you have followed somewhat unscrupulous orders Persephone." He concluded as Penny pouted.
"That was different." Penny said defensively. "They may have thought they were in control, but it was always on my terms. I would take jobs as and when I felt like it. My father does not appear to be the sort to accept a casual follower."
"Agreed." Professor Dumbledore said, looking away for the first time, placing his finger tips together as he stared into space. Penny watched him in silence for a minute as he turned over whatever was in his head.
"Professor?" She said eventually.
"Hm?" He said, blinking as he zoned back in. "Forgive me Persephone, sometimes I delve so deep into my thoughts I completely forget the present. I am sure you know the feeling." Penny nodded slowly. "The question is, what to do with you now." Dumbledore said sighing. "Clearly you cannot return to Malfoy Manor." Penny made a noise of agreement before she sighed unhappily. She had grown rather accustomed to the comforts of the Manor and the familiar if somewhat dysfunctional family unit with Narcissa and Draco. She pulled a face as she recalled having to avoid her cousin for the last day, much to his annoyance. "The most obvious place would be your Aunt Andromeda's, but even with Nymphadora it is not a permanent fit, as it is most likely the first place your father will look for you."
"Why don't I stay at the castle?" Penny suggested.
"I can see the appeal of being able to still use magic, but the Ministry would never allow it all the while they refuse to acknowledge Voldemort's return." Dumbledore replied. "Cornelius' attitude causes many extra difficulties." He added with a frown, the lines on his face deepening. "I think we shall put it out officially you are at Moonstone Crescent, but the Burrow will have to be your temporary base before we find a more permanent solution."
"No way." Penny shot back immediately making Dumbledore raise an eyebrow.
"I understand that you and Miss Weasley have had your differences over the year, but I think given the circumstances the two of you should rise above it." Dumbledore said as Penny scowled.
"Easy for you to say." Penny muttered.
"Friendships often get strained when it comes to romance, but they are often far more enduring than people believe." Dumbledore said wisely as Penny rolled her eyes.
"Now you sound like Luna." Penny muttered under her breath. "Fine, whatever." She said waving her hand dismissively and going to stand.
"Not yet Persephone." Dumbledore said quickly, gesturing for Penny to sit back down. Clicking her tongue impatiently as she flopped heavily back on the chair. "We must talk about your relationship with Harry." He said, Penny's lips narrowing rapidly.
"No, we must not." Penny said icily. Dumbledore smiled slightly, which did nothing to improve Penny's temper.
"I know you care about Harry" Dumbledore said gently "I know you do, however the relationship came about or how it ended." He added as Penny continued to glare. "And I know he loves you. But regardless, you must stay away from Harry for his own good." Dumbledore said as Penny let out a low hiss.
"I don't think my relation…" Penny choked slightly before continuing. "What goes on between Harry and I is none of your business." Penny said haughtily. "But knowing you there is some bigger game plan going on, so please, enlighten me." Penny challenged, her expression still icy. Penny saw Dumbledore contemplate her for a moment, clearly considering how much to tell her.
"How much do you know about Harry's scar?" He asked eventually. Penny thought for a moment before answering.
"It forms some sort of connection between Harry and my father." Penny answered simply as Dumbledore nodded.
"Yes. I believe it connects Harry's mind to Voldemort's mind." Dumbledore said "Until now I do not believe your father has been aware of it, given his feeble state. Now he has returned to full power, there is no telling if and when he will become aware of it, and to what extent he shall be able to make use of it."
"You mean my father being able to access Harry's mind?"
"Access it, manipulate it…there really is no telling what if any limits he may have. Your father's Legilimency skills are legendary after all." Dumbledore said. Penny ran a hair through her chaotic locks distractedly.
"But opening the gateway would be dangerous, a door opens both ways." Penny said frowning.
"It would not be without risk certainly" Dumbledore agreed. "However, should the potential rewards of breaking through be worth it in the eyes of your father, it puts Harry at greater risk." Dumbledore said giving Penny a meaningful look.
"Potential reward." Penny said bitterly. "So, me." She answered as Dumbledore nodded.
"Yes, Persephone, you." He confirmed. "The same applies to me. Voldemort cannot know that Harry and I have a relationship any more than Headmaster and student or be giving the impression that you and Harry remain close." He said.
"Why can't you explain this to Harry? Or at least get someone to explain it to him. He isn't going to like being cut off with no explanation." Penny protested as Dumbledore shook his head.
"No Persephone, the less Harry knows, the safer he is. The safer we all are, in fact. He may not like it at the time but hopefully eventually he will understand it was for the greater good." Dumbledore said, Penny frowning slightly at the twitch in Professor's temple at the last bit. Penny glared at him for a few minutes whilst he looked calmly back.
"Fine." She muttered eventually, the Professor giving her a stern look. "Yes, Professor." She added dropping her gaze even as she scowled. Standing abruptly, she shoved the chair back.
"Where are you going Persephone?" Dumbledore asked as she turned to leave without dismissal.
"To find darling Ginerva. I take it I am allowed to talk to her?" Penny said sardonically over her shoulder, not turning back.
"Very well." Dumbledore said permissively as Penny reached for the door handle before pausing. Stomping back to the desk she shoved her hand in the Honeydukes bowl, grabbing a large fistful and shoving it in her robe pocket before turning on her heel and walking out the office, ignoring the light chuckle behind her as she slammed the door. Reaching the bottom of the stairs she took a chocolate out and popped it in her mouth before considering where Ginny might be.
"All that chocolate will make you fat" The gargoyle said, making Penny jump.
"All those comments will make you rubble" Penny shot back with a snarl, turning and walking away, heading to the Training Grounds will a reluctant sigh.
Sorry this update has taken so long. Busy couple months, got married in September :D Also a very difficult chapter to write, so been avoiding it a bit. Hopefully worth the wait. Reviews appreciated!