Tonks had been oddly quiet on the way back to Grimmauld Place, her usual perky manner replaced by a rather tense expression. Neither of them said a word as they made it to the edge of town. Tonks pulled a broom seemingly from nowhere.
"Just get on." Tonks said sharply as Penny grimaced. Penny made a disgruntled noise, but the absence of Tonks humour confirmed her fears. She was in serious trouble. Juno and Penny exchanged a look before Juno slid without a single protest into her travel tube. Climbing on the back of the broom, Penny grasped Tonks tightly as the older witch kicked off harshly. Penny buried her face in Tonks back muffling her squeals. Although it felt like hours, Penny was surprised to feel them descend after only a few minutes. Feeling Tonks lower her legs to land, Penny did so too, clumsily stumbling as her feet touched the ground. She looked around them noting the rural location and beer garden.
"Another pub." Penny thought as they made their way in. Is every magical pub in the country on the Floo Network? Penny wondered.
"Put your hood up." Tonks instructed, pulling a pained expression before her hair took on a dull brown shade. She flipped her own hood up before entering the pub. She swiftly crossed to the bar dropping a couple of sickles in a pot then strolling to the fireplace. Taking a pinch Penny entered the flames, reluctantly muttering Grimmauld Place. Spinning she landed gracefully in the kitchen of the town house. The table was full of the Weasleys, Hermione, Sirius and sat at the head of the table, Dumbledore. The room fell eerily silent as Penny stepped to the side of the fireplace, Penny and Dumbledore's eyes met across the room, the Headmaster's piercing blue eyes blazing. Penny stared haughtily back, determined not to show the violent squirming off her gut, ignoring the other occupants looking fearfully back and forth between them.
The green flash and roar of the fireplace made Penny break eye contact, Tonks tripping slightly on the guard, Penny putting her arm out to steady her. A wiggle in her pocket made Penny release Juno from her tube, the large snake flicking her tongue out in agitation.
"Leave us." Dumbledore ordered, his voice lacking any of his usual cheery nature. There was a loud scraping of chairs as the Weasleys and Hermione immediately emptied out, Ginny and Hermione casting frightened looks at Penny. Tonks and Sirius hesitated, but a fuming look from Dumbledore made them both cower slightly, heading up the stairs.
"Go with them. Wait in my room." Penny hissed at Juno who didn't move.
"One should not be alone." Juno argued, unwilling to desert her mistress.
"Go. I don't want you in harm's way." Penny replied firmly, Juno hissing unhappily before reluctantly trailing after Tonks, an audible slam echoing into the silent kitchen as Dumbledore and Penny stared one another out again, the old man glowering at her from his seat. A second of silence dragged out for an eternity, the room pulsing with furious energy.
"Do you have any idea what your foolish behaviour has done?" Dumbledore said quietly, rage in every syllable. Penny remained silent, glaring back at him. "Weeks of cautious protection, of meticulous safeguarding hidden from the watchful eye of the Ministry, all thrown away because an impatient child could not do as she was asked." The Headmaster went on, the power radiating off him heightening with every word, even as he remained sat.
"Because a child chose to act whilst all the so-called adults sat here and did nothing!" Penny spat back. She flinched as Dumbledore virtually exploded.
"If you think nothing has happened over the last month perhaps you are not as omniscient as you believe!" Dumbledore shouted, his chair scraping as he finally stood, towering over Penny menacingly. "I have told you time and time again why Harry was safest where he is! Why he had to know as little as possible! I have told you more than you deserve to know and you still were foolish enough to risk everything! For what?" Dumbledore roared, his palm slamming the wooden table forcefully.
"What about what Harry deserves?" Penny shot back, her own rage making her reckless. "If you think Harry would have gone another month without doing something stupid, then you don't know Harry as well as you think you do!" Penny shouted back.
"If it weren't for you, he would have been protected even from himself!" Dumbledore bellowed back. "He might not like it but it's what's best for him!"
"What's best for him? Or what's best for you?" Penny shrieked back. "Have you ever thought not everyone wants to be a pawn in your stupid game?" Penny shouted, not backing down even as Dumbledore stepped round the table to face her, a faint rattling sound coming from the utensil draw. "But it doesn't matter right? Anyone can be sacrificed for the Greater Good!" Penny spat. There was a loud crack as the table split cleanly in two. Penny gave it a startled glance before seeing the flash of a wand being drawn. Her teenage reflexes allowed her to draw her wand in time to cast a shield. However as Dumbledore's spell made contact, the shield shattered instantly, Penny feeling herself flung across the kitchen and into the opposite wall. Dazed, Penny clutched the back of her head, feeling hot wetness there. Lifting her head, her dazed state evaporated as she took in the scene before her.
Dumbledore stood a couple metres away, his robes almost billowing in the power radiating off him. His wand tip was aimed directly at her heart, but more so than that, it was his eyes that made Penny's entire life flash before her eyes. His blue eyes were ablaze filled with rage, willing and capable of ending her life, Penny able to see the thought etched behind his eyes. It was the same look Tom Riddle had given her in the chamber. He wanted her dead.
With a shriek that was more frightened than she had ever been, Penny flung herself away from him, an odd sensation taking over her. She felt a weird compressed feeling then a bright light. For a split second she thought she was dead, before Hermione and Ginny's scared faces swam before her. She had Apparated upstairs by accident, Penny realised faintly, swaying slightly.
Ginny and Hermione began speaking to her, with words that didn't penetrate the loud ringing in her ears. Hearing a shout from a couple floors below Penny leapt into action. Raising her wand her belonging swirled chaotically, forcing themselves haphazardly into her bag.
"Get in." Penny hissed at Juno, her heart pounding like crazy, hearing echoing footsteps hurrying up the stairs.
"KREACHER!" Penny yelled, the House elf appearing next to her, his eyes wide at the look on her face. "Get me out of here! Now!" Penny ordered, a fearful plea in her voice. Hermione and Ginny's voices went up in pitch, their words lost in the chaos as Penny and Kreacher disappeared with a loud crack.
Blinking Penny looked rapidly into the darkness around her, they were a few streets away from the house. Kreacher stared at her uncertainly.
"Mistress Penny didn't say where to go. Kreacher hopes this is ok. Is Mistress hurt?" He asked quickly as Penny's head jerked to and fro.
"Yes Kreacher this is fine. Thank you." Penny said distractedly. Now what? Her thoughts whirled so fast it was a jumble. Penny saw the house elf flinch. "What?"
"Master calls Kreacher back, Kreacher does not want to go, but Kreacher must." The House Elf raised his hand before Penny caught it.
"Wait. You can't tell them where you took me. Yes, I know you can't lie to Sirius." Penny said quickly as Kreacher went to interrupt. "Here." Penny said meeting Kreacher's eyes for a moment, rapidly she found what she was looking for and deleted it from his mind. "Thank you Kreacher. Go now." She said, releasing the elf, who immediately vanished.
Penny stood there frozen for a couple of seconds, trying to get her muddled thoughts in order. She had to move. Anywhere away from the murderous anger that replayed behind her eyes. Penny moved off rapidly, darting down into the underground, not really paying much attention to where she was going. Where could be safe from the most powerful wizard in the world? A title she currently had no doubt about. She couldn't go to Malfoy Manor, even if she thought her father could hide her, she doubted he would be a better jail keeper.
"Hey! You can't do that!" Penny looked around as she jumped the barrier. A rail worker walked hastily towards her.
"I used a ticket to get through." Penny said in a low tone as she met his eyes. He blinked a couple of times in confusion. "You saw me use a ticket remember?" Penny said in the same tone, flashing up an image of herself with a ticket. The man stopped, blinking a few more times. Not entirely sure if it had worked, Penny made off, the man remained where he was, seeming uncertain but he didn't pursue her.
Magic leaves traces…Penny thought to herself, boarding a line to Hackney. Maybe her best bet was to hide without magic. She decided, exiting the train and wandering somewhat aimlessly along the very quiet and dark backstreets. Her heart wasn't racing quite so fast now, but she was still breathing heavily, a flighty feeling in her gut. Stopping abruptly she saw the building in front of her, somewhat startled as to where her feet had led her. A rusty decrepit "Joe's" hung over the entrance of a worn out garage. Curious she peered at it, noticing the tired wood and the mild air of decay. Nobody had been here for some time. She realised, vaguely wondering what had become of Joe. Lost in her thoughts she didn't hear the car pull up behind her, its headlights off. Hands suddenly grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth and dragging her forcefully. Struggling she saw she was being bundled by two large men who threw her ungracefully into the back of the car. Attempting to plunge her hand into her robe she felt a rough hand grab her wrist. He gasped as pain shot through his wrist, Penny able to wrestle out of his grasp.
"It's ok Persephone!" The other one said quickly, holding his empty palms up. Penny paused at the use of her name, staring at the two of them. They were Muggles, she thought as she put her hand on the hilt of her wand, but didn't draw it. Using it would draw both the Ministry and Dumbledore to her, she thought. Looking quickly between them she realised she recognised them, even with the shadows on their faces. She had seen them both following her before. One outside the orphanage, and one around the tube station.
"Who are you?" She demanded, the ringing back in her ears.
"I'm Jack, this is Steve." The smaller one said, gesturing the guy who had grabbed her wrist. "Our boss said to tell you we mean you no harm, he said you would know this to be true." He said as Penny gave him a searching look. She breathed a little easier but didn't take her hand off her wand.
"Who is your boss?" Penny asked, surprised when the Muggle's mind went strangely blank.
"He said to tell you it's not your father, but a new friend. He told us to take you to him." The small man said as Penny frowned.
She had no idea who these men were, or who they worked for. Not Voldemort, and a new friend suggested not Dumbledore. They had no obvious ill intentions, and frankly, she had no other plan in place. She nodded in agreement, the men visibly relaxing. The smaller man got in the driving seat, and the larger man got in the front passenger seat, shooting disgruntled looks at Penny, still rubbing his hand. They made their way through the brightly lit city, heading towards Islington, Penny glanced around nervously as they neared Grimmauld Place, wondering if this had been a trap by the Headmaster after all, but breathed a sigh of relief as they took a different turning.
A few streets away they pulled up outside what looked like a disused warehouse. The larger guy went to grip her arm as if to frogmarch her, retracting his hand when Penny glared at him. She felt a jiggle in her pocket but ignored it, unsure if it was safe to release her pet.
"Hush Juno." She whispered, putting a firm hand on the tube, stilling it. Following the men they went into a large room upstairs, a large fireplace alit.
"Sir, she is here." The smaller man said, respectfully inclining his head before leaving with the bigger guy. Penny peered into the shadows at the tall thin man.
"Good evening Persephone." He said in a deep voice.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Penny demanded as he moved into the light of the fireplace.
"Both of those have long answers, but for now, you can call me The Scorpion."