How? Penny thought in a panic. How could this be happening now, now of all times, the one time he wasn't being guarded. The odds of the situation would have been hilarious if the circumstances weren't so dire. She darted forward into the pitch-black alleyway, her breath ragged, following the sound of raised voices. The darkness must have reached them, there was a moment of silence before Penny heard them speak again, the tones drastically changed. Penny heard a cracking thud and Harry swearing again, the telling sound of a wand clattering onto the floor. She drew her own wand, following the sound of his shout.
"DUDLEY, COME BACK! YOU'RE RUNNING RIGHT AT IT!" Harry shouted in a panicked tone before there was a horrible squeal. "DUDLEY , KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT! WHATEVER YOU DO, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!" She heard Harry yell. There were two of them, Penny released with a shudder as she approached the scraping sound of hands searching frantically.
"Lumos!" They said in unison, Harry jumping out of his skin as Penny's tall figure was suddenly illuminated. "Penny!" Harry gasped, snatching up his wand. There was a long pause as they stared at one another, Penny momentarily noticing she was now taller than him, before his eyes shifted over her shoulder, Harry raising his wand. Penny spun around, her wand at the ready. A towering robed figure glided towards them, Penny feeling like she had stepped through one of the Hogwart's ghosts. Harry's and her breaths were coming in ragged icy gasps.
"Expecto patronum!" Penny said loudly, a pathetic wisp of silvery vapour squirting from the tip of her wand, instantly evaporating as the Dementor approached. Something happy, Penny told herself crossly. She knew how the spell was meant to work. She needed to think of something happy. But it was impossible. Unwelcome thoughts invaded her mind as the creature approached them, images flashing rapidly behind her eyes. The Longbottoms, the Muggle's look of terror, her Nana's motionless and ashen face…. Penny shivered violently, shrinking away, barely noticing Harry stepping protectively in front of her.
"Expecto patronum!" He yelled, his wisp of silver barely any bigger than Penny's, slowing the Dementor slightly but not stopping it. Penny saw his brow crinkle as colour drained out of him. They were going to lose, Penny thought abruptly …perhaps it was for the best… perhaps the world would be better without her anyway…
An erratic wiggle in her pocket snapped her out of her thoughts for a second. Juno, she thought suddenly, her hand jumping to her pocket automatically. Blinking a couple of times she raised her wand weakly.
"Expecto patronum!" She shouted, this time a shimmering oval forming from her wand tip between her and the Dementor, its glowing shape swirling rapidly. The Dementor halted beyond the shield, but it did not retreat. Penny felt Harry's eyes on her and turned her face towards him. The shimmering oval brightened a fraction as their eyes met inches apart, its light reflected in his emerald eyes.
The joyful moment past as the temporary warmth that her shield granted them was choked by the presence of the Dementor to the rear of them. Her silvery shield flickered jarringly and died, the cold returning as if a heat lamp had been unplugged. They both gasped painfully, Penny shivered more vigorously, the invasive thoughts coming faster than ever. She saw Harry stagger backwards against the opposite wall, his strength failing him.
"Harry…" Penny whispered in a small voice, her knees buckling beneath her. The Dementor revealed a slimy hand, stretching towards her. Maybe death wasn't so bad, she thought as it reached for her, somehow no longer afraid, no longer anything.
"Penny…." A weak voice reached her through the haze. Looking across the alleyway she saw concerned green eyes watching her, scrutinising the look of surrender on her face. Penny saw a flame of defiance ignite in the boy's eyes as the edges of her vision began to blacken.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry bellowed fiercely, this time a large silver stag erupting from his wand, catching the Dementor on its antlers. An angry hiss signalled its retreat as it vanished into the night. Penny gasped a warm breath, her vision snapping back into focus. Staggering to her feet she saw Harry's stag Patronus turning back towards them. "THIS WAY" Harry shouted to his Patronus. "You ok?" He asked gently, Penny nodding. The dark haired wizard broke into a run down the alleyway, the silver stag hot on his heels, Penny half-hearted tailing them.
The second Dementor stood bent over his large cousin, its head lowered most of the way to his mouth. "GET IT!" Harry told the stag, which charge the Dementor, sending it sailing into the night.
They were gone, Penny realised with relief, still panting as if she had run a mile. Looking at Harry she saw him wiping sweat off his brow. The sound of running footsteps made the two of them turn, wands raised, to see a wrinkled old lady running towards them. It was the lady from earlier, Penny realised, glancing at Harry before they both stuffed their wands out of sight.
"Don't put them away idiots! What if there are more of them around? Oh I am going to kill Mundungus Fletcher!" She shrieked. Penny's eyebrows shot up her face as she looked at the woman in front of her.
"What?" Harry said weakly next to her, his confusion apparent even in the single syllable.
"He left! Left to see someone about a batch of cauldrons that fell off the back of a broom!" Mrs Figg went on, oblivious to the slight flicker that went across Penny's face. "And who are you?" Mrs Figg said sharply, staring at Penny's dark shape.
"Nobody." Penny said in a surly tone. Mrs Figg opened her mouth to reply but Harry interrupted her.
"You're – you're a witch?" Harry asked incredulously.
"I'm a Squib, as Mundungus knows a full well" She replied stiffly, before going on a rant. "What's Dumbledore going to say?" She said, wringing her hands. Penny's jaw tightened, a feeling of panic spreading across her. After the skirmish, reality felt like it had been dropped on her from a great height. What would he say indeed, she thought, when he figured out it was her that had purposely lured Mundungus away from Harry. And figure it out he would, she had no doubt of that. And what of the Ministry? It's not like they would hesitate to relieve her of her wand given half a reason. The thought of being wandless again made her stomach clench so hard she thought she might vomit.
"Get up, you useless lump, get up!" Mrs Figg's shrill voice cut through her thoughts, Harry scoping down to heave Dudley to his feet. She had to go. Now. She turned on her heel and made off.
"Penny where are you going?" Harry's strained voice came, as he struggled to turn with his cousin slumped over his shoulders.
"I'm sorry, Harry" Penny apologised "But the Ministry already have it out for me, they can't know I was here." She said hurriedly.
"I have a record too Penny!" Harry shouted angrily. Penny paused mid-step, knowing his case would barely be better than hers.
"You aren't going anywhere!" The grey-haired woman said shrilly, Penny scowling at her.
"I'd like to see a Squib like you stop me." She spat nastily before turning and running.
"Penny!" Harry's shout followed her, a tug in her chest as she continued on.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She whispered to herself as she hurried away, suppressing the heavy feeling in her heart. She made it to the edge of the village, panting heavily as she scanned the Muggle Bus time table. They had stopped, she realised cursing loudly. She couldn't use the Knight Bus, she was too recognisable. A Muggle taxi perhaps? Too long, she decided. Glancing along the traffic of the main road she made her decision. She would have to hitch hike. Not ideal, but hard to trace. She thought, heading down to a layby.
A sudden bright flash of fire made her jump out of her skin. Phoenix fire, she realised, spotting a letter flittering down towards her, smoking in the corners. A lump rose in her throat, knowing who this Howler must be from, she quickly tore the sill before stuffing her fingers in her ears.
"PERSEPHONE BLACK! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!
YOU FOOLISH CHILD! IN A SINGLE RECKLESS MOVE YOU HAVE DESTROYED OVER A MONTH OF CAREFUL PROTECTION AND GIVEN THE MINISTRY THE EXCUSE THEY NEED! DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE DAMAGE YOU HAVE DONE?
GET BACK TO PRIVET DRIVE AND STAY THERE UNTIL TONKS COMES TO COLLECT YOU. DO NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE. DO NOT DISOBEY ME AGAIN. GO!"
It roared before bursting into flame. Penny lowered her trembling hands, her breaths coming in shaky rattles. Shit. She thought, it all whirling around in her head. She glanced at the passing traffic, considering. Where would she run anyway? She considered, and dare she disobey him again? She did not, she decided, at least, not now. If he knew she was here, probably so did the Ministry, she figured. She couldn't undo what had happened, but perhaps she could limit the damage. She made her way heavily back into the village. An angry jiggle in her pocket made her pop the tube open and allow a long white snake to pour out onto the pavement, landing heavily.
"What is happening Mistress? It was cold…so cold….then shouting…where are we?" Juno asked quickly, staring up into Penny's wide eyes.
"Still in Little Whinging. Dementors…they attacked us" Penny said, the words feeling unreal as they poured out her mouth. "Harry managed to cast a Patronus to drive them away…I panicked, tried to get away, don't want to lose my wand…but Dumbledore...he…" She trailed off as they made their way back through the alley ways. A slamming door to her right made her yelp in surprise before hissing angrily. She would be useless if they came back, she thought nervously, her strides lengthening, Juno barely able to keep up.
"Dumbledore knew you were here?" Juno asked.
"I don't know how he found out so fast, the woman with Harry is a Squib, she can't Apparate. Tonks probably told him I had disappeared and he guessed were I had gone. If the Ministry has picked up the Trace someone has probably told him and he has figured it out." Penny rambled on mindlessly, turning into Privet Drive.
Looking left and right she quickly crossed the street and walked up to the front door. Her hand froze midway to the doorbell, a thought occurring to her. Harry was protected by blood magic. Living with the blood relative of his mother was protecting him from her father. Would it also extend to her? She wondered as Juno finally caught up with her. Surely Dumbledore would have warned her? She considered, somehow doubting it. Pulling a pair of pins from her hair she poked them into the lock, practiced hands feeling ever so gently…
With a loud crackle a strange spark shot up her hand, stinging intensely.
"Fuck!" Penny cried snatching her hand away and rubbing it gingerly. Rapid footsteps approached the other side of the door, and the tip of a holly wand appeared in the small gap that opened.
"Penny?" Harry's voice said in a confused tone, lowering his wand and opening the door wider. Glancing suspiciously at the pins in the door his eyebrow raised. "Were you trying to break in?" He asked in surprise.
"Maybe." Penny muttered evasively. "But it appears you have to invite me in." She said stiffly.
"Are you a vampire or something?" Harry asked huffily. He hesitated a moment, Penny seeing his jaw tighten as he contemplated denying her entry, her abandonment fresh in his mind. Penny saw the spiteful idea disregarded in his mind almost immediately and he moved to the side. "Come in." He muttered reluctantly. Penny crossed the threshold delicately, Juno sliding in behind her and waited for Harry to close the door behind them. Peering curiously around the hallway Penny immediately noticed how immaculate the house seemed to be. As the scruffy boy traipsed past her, she immediately understood why he felt out of place, and felt the corners of her mouth twitch.
"What?" He asked, catching the movement. Penny half shrugged and he asked no more, going into the front room.
"Stinks of cleaning products in here" Juno hissed unhappily. "One is going to explore up above" She said and began slithering up the carpeted stairs. Penny watched her trail out of sight before following Harry into the lounge.
She was greeted with the sight of the Dursleys all staring at her with wide hateful eyes. They all looked exactly how she had imagined they would from Harry's comments, a sneer forming on her face. Her eyes roamed over them critically, before turning away from them.
"You look like Draco's mother when you pull that face." Harry commented sullenly, Penny scowling at him.
"EXCUSE ME!" Bellowed the large man suddenly. "FIRST EFFING OWLS, NOW YOU INVITE SOME STRANGER INTO MY HOUSE!" He shouted as Penny turned back to face him. "AND WHO THE RUDDY HELL ARE YOU?" He said approaching Penny rapidly. He stopped abruptly within a foot of her as Penny's wand appeared at his throat.
"I am none of your business, Muggle." Penny snarled, heavily emphasising the last word.
"So this is another freak from your freak school" Vernon snarled back, badly concealing his fear as his bulging beady eyes glanced down at Penny's wand. "You can't fool me with that, I know you freaks aren't allowed to do magic outside the freak house."
"Who says this freak isn't already expelled and on the run?" Penny shot back, sensing Harry grimace to the side of her, jeering slightly as Vernon's moustache twitched fearfully. Their eyes met and Penny forcibly expanded her conscience to fill the room. Without moving her lips, she spoke, her voice echoing in a low whisper within their minds. "Do you want to know what happened to the last Muggle that tried to hurt me?" The Dursleys all shrieked fearfully, clamping their hands uselessly over their ears. Harry winced painfully, his weight shifting. She retracted her mind just to Vernon's, his dark pupils like saucers now. Penny felt her heart excitedly thudding in her chest, a strange satisfaction pulsing within her, knowing all it would take is one spell, or one tug within his mind…. How reversed the roles felt this year as opposed to last…
Vernon jerkily raised his fist up before freezing, finding himself unable to bring it down. He spluttered strangely as Penny gripped his mind tightly.
"Penny that's enough!" Harry said sternly cutting through. Penny could see him drawing his wand out the corner of her eye.
"Why do you care?" Penny retorted sharply. "After the way they have treated you all these years?" She demanded, feeling Vernon's fear heightening as images of his mistreatment flashed behind his eyes.
"Let him go. Now." Harry insisted, raising his wand to point at her. Withdrawing gently from Vernon's mind, Penny looked away from the Muggle's face, ignoring the large man crumpling heavily to the floor. She turned herself towards Harry raising her wand to match his. Harry's eyes betrayed a nervous glance to her wand, but he stood firm.
"Why do you care?" Penny repeated. "So what if I have a little fun with them? It's not like they don't deserve it." She said, a hand resting on her hip as she stared Harry down. She felt the woman and Harry's cousin's eyes swirling rapidly between the two of them, unsure what to do.
"It's not up to you to decide what people deserve Penny." Harry asserted as Penny blew a childish raspberry and rolled her eyes.
"Please. You wouldn't stand a chance against me and you know it." Penny mocked, swaying coyly, a more playful look on her face, but Harry remained stoic.
"I did not cower away from your father. I will take my chances with you." Harry said defiantly, the fire back in his eyes. A spark of electricity seemed to pass between them as they stared into each other's eyes. A strange bluey green flicker across them made Penny start slightly, before recovering herself and looking away.
Penny let out a sudden cackle that made the Muggles jump, a smirk spreading across her face as Harry looked startled.
"Virtuous to the point of stupidity as always Harry." Penny teased lowering her wand lazily, paying no heed to the whimpers of fear from the Dursleys at her Serpent Tongue. "Honestly, you should have seen your face. Intense much." Penny chuckled. Harry's shoulders untensed as he let out a long breath, Penny frowning slightly when he didn't return her smile. "Did you really think I would render him permanently brain damaged simply because he is a rude Muggle?" She asked pouting when Harry hesitated. "Sometimes it's better for people to know what you can do, rather than what you will do." She asserted, her eyes sweeping over the Dursley's once more. "Like you have never used their ignorance to mess with them before." She asserted, Harry's lips twitching for the first time that evening, a mildly guilty look in his eyes.
Vernon was sitting up now, his beady eyes darted between them, his moustache twitching all over the place, but whatever thoughts were running through his head, he appeared too terrified to dare say them. His wife was crouched fearfully alongside her son gripping him tightly. Dudley still looked awful; Penny noticed.
"Did you not give him any chocolate?" She asked Harry sharply who shook his head. Penny rolled her eyes again and strolled into the kitchen and began unceremoniously opening cupboards at random. A disgruntled noise signalled Petunia warily crossing from the lounge, her horror at her kitchen being intruded overcoming her fear momentarily. "Where do you keep your chocolate?" Penny demanded shortly, Petunia's jaw going slack at her rudeness.
"Top left cupboard." Harry answered quickly, Penny stretching to grab a large bar.
"You can't just –" Petunia began to protest shrilly, before her jaw clicked shut again when Penny shot her a cold look. Just then a large serpent head appeared around the corner making Petunia shriek again. Diving for the knife block Petunia drew a large kitchen knife and swung it erratically overhead.
"Lay a finger on my snake and it will be the last thing you do." Penny said in a low threatening growl, her tone making it clear the difference between this and her previous comments crystal clear. This was a genuine threat.
"Upstairs smells just as bad, except Potter's room. His owl is out, wouldn't have minded a snack." Juno hissed in a disappointed tone.
"You can't eat Hedwig." Harry said quickly, his relatives jumping at his use of Parseltongue. Petunia lowered the knife weakly, shaking her head in bewilderment.
"Who are you?" She asked feebly, apparently too lost for words to even spit insults anymore. Penny didn't answer but went past her with the bar of chocolate, snapping off a large chunk and offering it to Dudley. He stared at it intensely, Penny feeling the cogs whirling in his brain. It went against all his instincts to refuse chocolate but the strange girl terrified him. Juno slithered past Harry into the lounge, making both Vernon and Dudley recoil.
"Don't eat anything she gives you Dudders." Vernon said abruptly, surprising Penny with his sudden nerve, even as his eyes bulged again at the sight of Juno. He really did love his son, Penny noted, blinking slightly.
"It will be the only time in your whole life it would be medically advisable for you to eat chocolate, Miss Piggy." Penny drawled, Harry snorting slightly. "Eat." She commanded. The large boy hesitantly took a piece and bit into it. Colour immediately flooded his face as he chewed, slouching slightly less heavily.
"The pig not eating the chocolate won't kill him, but one more bite might." Juno commented making Harry snigger.
"You should have seen this time last year." Harry replied. Juno affectionately flicked her tail against him, hissing softly.
Oblivious to the conversation going on Dudley reached across and shoved half a bar in his mouth, chowing down on it like a starved animal. "Such elegance and class." Penny commented smiling at Harry, who finally smiled back. "So what were all the owls about?" Penny asked suddenly, the conflict with the Dursleys having distracted her briefly. She saw Harry's posture stiffen at her words, his frustration and anger bubbling again.
"The Ministry expelled me." He said shortly, Penny scratching the back of her hand distractedly. Juno nudged her hand with her head, allowing her to stroke it gently. "Dumbledore seems to have convinced them to wait and hold a trial instead, on the 12th of August."
"A court hearing?" Penny asked, ignoring Harry's accusing eyes as best she could. "I had one of those last year, hence the community service at the hospital. Makes us even I guess." Penny tried to joke, Harry's expression not softening.
"I had you down for a criminal the moment I saw you." Vernon piped up suddenly, his fists clenched. Penny snorted, the ignorance of his comment amusing. None of the Dursleys seemed able to take their eyes off the large boa in their lounge, but dare not approach her.
"They didn't expel me, because it was in self-defence. It will be the same with you." Penny went on as if the large man hadn't spoken. She purposely left out the influence of her uncle, and the Ministry's vendetta against Harry. Harry grunted in an unconvinced way, his fear over being expelled pulsing off him.
"What were Dementoids even doing here?" Vernon demanded. Penny and Harry shoot each other a look, Juno curling into a large coiled pile observing the scene. "You." Vernon said sharply, gesturing at Penny who looked at him haughtily. "If they guard some sort of prison, you are on the run, you said it yourself. I'll not harbour criminals in my house!" Vernon said as Penny huffed in amusement.
"I was joking, I'm not on the run - at least not yet" Penny said more to herself than anything. "And if I was, the Ministry would be the least of my worries." She added quietly.
"It's still got to be to do with you two, you're the only abnormal people around here." Vernon said angrily, wincing when Juno hissed at him in warning.
"He must have sent them." Harry muttered. Both Vernon and Penny looked at him.
"Who?" Vernon demanded, Penny remaining silent.
"Lord Voldemort." Harry replied flatly, Penny and him sharing a long look, before Penny looked away.
"That name…he is the one who…"
"Killed my parents." Harry said in the same flat tone, but Penny felt the stab in his gut.
"But he is dead." Vernon went on, apparently oblivious to Harry's pain. Juno hissed again, making the large man jump.
"He's back." Harry said shortly.
"Back?" A whisper came from the kitchen, Penny and Harry turned to see Petunia staring at Harry, her wide and fearful eyes lacking the hatred and anger that had been present the rest of the evening. Harry looked at her, as if for the first time in his life. The long silence made Penny feel uncomfortable, as if she were invading a private moment of intimacy.
"Yes." Harry said to his aunt, his back to his uncle and cousin, who had run out of chocolate and watched the scene silently. "He came back a month ago. I saw him." Harry looked across at Penny for a moment before continuing. "I can only guess he sent them after me… unless he knew you'd be here?" Harry asked Penny who shook her head.
"Nobody knew I was coming." Penny asserted firmly.
"Why would he be after you? Who are you?" Vernon demanded again, Penny remaining sullen and silent. Uncle Vernon seemed to be swelling, Penny sensing an outburst coming. "I WANT YOU BOTH OUT OF THIS HOUSE! YOU ARE NOT STAYING HERE IF SOME LOONY'S AFTER YOU!" Vernon shouted, his anger drowning out his fear, to the point he ignored Juno's rearing up, until she sank her fangs into his calf. Howling in pain, he staggered backwards when Juno released him. Penny sprung in front of her pet, as an owl swooped in and dropped a smoking red letter at Petunia's feet.
"It's addressed to me." The Muggle woman said, stunning the occupants of the room into statue silence. Stuffing her hands in her ears, Penny heard a familiar voice roar into the kitchen.
"REMEMBER MY LAST, PETUNIA." It roared before bursting into flame, the Muggle woman sinking into a chair. They all stared at Petunia flabbergasted, even Juno tilted her head in puzzlement. A deafening silence followed before she spoke again.
"The boy will have to stay, Vernon." She said weakly as she rose from the chair. She didn't look at any of them, Penny bursting with nearly as many questions as Harry. Vernon protested but was cut off.
"Who was that Howler from?" Harry asked getting cut off too. "Do you know who that was?" He asked Penny.
"No idea." Penny lied as a silver jack rabbit burst through the window making the occupants shriek. It stopped in front of Penny and stared at her expectantly. Sighing Penny pulled out Juno's tube and gestured for her to get in. "That's my cue. Lovely meeting you all." She said sarcastically, her steps heavy towards the door. The Jack Rabbit sprung ahead leading the way.
Leading her down to the end of Privet Drive, Tonks stood at the corner by the signpost, the Jack Rabbit evaporating as she came into sight.
…
Sorry for the long wait, on top of everything else my grandmother died in November, so with that and Christmas, have had neither the time nor will to write.
Thanks for your patience, and your reviews. Hoping 2020 will involve at least 12 chapters.