AUTHORS NOTE: First of all, a disclaimer: All the characters in the story, aside from Penny, are property of J. K. Rowling. All events that take place are fiction, and not based on real events.

Now that that's out of the way, time for an explanation. All of this takes place in Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts. Lord Voldemort is dead and gone. As well, this all takes place in an "alternate universe" if you will. This is not Howarts as we know it, but another reality of it.

**I also must pass along credit to Amanda for her Death Eater theory. THANX AMANDA!!**
Now read on!


Penny Dredfule Chapter Five
Death Does Not Become Him.

Penny found Sheryll's room fairly easily, almost as if her feet were guided. Perhaps they were. Things such as this were beginning to lose their surprise factor.

"PENNY!"

Then again, she thought, maybe not. She turned around, trying to force her heart back into her chest, and Peeves was standing in front of her.

"Peeves, I'm not really in the mood right now. What is it?"

Peeves began to fidget. "Um, nothing, um…"

"What IS it Peeves?"

"Well, I, um, just wanted to say….um," he reached forward and grabbed her nose, "GOT YOUR CONK!!!" and flew away through a stone wall.

Penny sighed and resumed pace.

* * *

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Peeves said to himself, "why am I so stupid?" He paused for a moment in thought. "But I touched her nose!" he sighed.

* * *

Penny looked at the painting in front of her. It featured a crystal ball. Inside the crystal ball was a note. It read: "tickle me". Penny did so.

The painting began to laugh and giggle, and opened up for her. She stepped into a lovely room draped with purple gauze and gold cotton cloth. Penny thought it was lovely. Sitting amongst a pile of pillows, petting a large brown and white cat, was Professor Townsend.

"Ah, Penny!" she said, "I was wondering when you'd show up! Come in, come in, make yourself comfortable!"

"I'm surprised I found your room." Penny said, sitting down.

"I'm not, but I'm a clairvoyant after all!" she smiled again, filling the room with her brightness. "Now, down to business. What can I help you with?"

Penny began explaining about the weird dream she had, the books, especially the black one, and handed her the orange covered "How I Love Snape".

Sheryll sat for a while, holding the book with a smile on her face. After some time, she said "Odd, I didn't think he was into that." She smiled and stood up. "I believe a cup of tea is in order, two sugar, no cream?"

"Yes please". Said Penny as Sheryll magicked up two mugs of hot steaming tea. She handed one to Penny, and sat back down. "So, I expect you want to know what I think?"

"It would help."

"Ah, I suppose it might. Here's how I see it: these books are part of you."

"Excuse me? You lost me there."

"These books are your thoughts, your dreams, they're part of you."

"You mean I have books inside my head?"

"Not only books, dear. These books are part of your inner self. Everyone has one, it's just we can't see it. But you are an Enchanter!"

"I'm a Muggle!" Penny said stubbornly.

"Now, Penny, you know Muggles can't do magic, or work a wand. I KNOW you know that, stop being so stubborn."

Penny sighed.

"Now as I was saying, you are an Enchanter. One of the most powerful kinds of wizards and witches known to us. There are very few in existence. You, Penny, are one of them. Your library, or perhaps a better term is your Memory Palace, is a place where your dreams and thoughts reside. Dreams are powerful magic on their own, you know."

"Yes, but that doesn't explain why I was able to bring a book back! Or who the black book belonged to?"

"Well, I can't know EVERYTHING! I'm a Clairvoyant, not a genius."

"Sorry."

"Forgiven. Now, I suggest you go and rest. It's your first class tomorrow, and you want to be rested for it." She paused, "besides, I have to give Poly his bath." At this, her brown and white cat hissed and growled. "Oh, Poly, stop! I KNOW you hate the water, but you love the bubbles, and that's consolation enough isn't it?"

Penny left smiling, her wand and book in her robe pocket, Morris in her arms purring contentedly. She did in fact have a lot to think about. And one of those things was walking towards her.

"Penny, darling!" Snape gushed, "And how are we tonight, dove?" he came up close to her, and smiled. Morris took this time to flee as if there was a ghost at his heels. "Cheater." She said under her breath. "See if I brush you ever again."

Snape smiled again. "I find you most lovely tonight, Penny."

"Yeah, you mentioned that. Anything else?"

"I feel the urge to kiss your lips and proclaim my love?"

Penny squealed and fled to her room faster than Peeves could have even done it. When she stepped into her room, she saw that it had been adorned with candles that lit it with warmth and filed the air with the scent of warm wax.

Floating in front of her was a scroll with poetry written upon it. Flowers adorned every possible surface. Hearts were glittering down from the ceiling.

Morris, surrounded by flowers, did not look happy.

Penny screamed, magicked it all away, and ran from her room.

* * *

Albus Dumbledore opened the door to his rooms to find Penny with her arm raised in a fist. "Penny dear," he said, "if you with to pound me to a pulp, I would suggest you do it when my back is turned. It would have a better effect that way."

"Oh, Albus, he's driving me up the bloody wall!"

"Oh, goodness, heaven forbid it's bloody! I can't condone so much carnage. Now, why don't you come in and explain what the problem is."

Penny sat down in one of the high back chairs, now comfortable with familiarity, and was enjoying her fourth cup of tea when she finished explaining about Snape. " I mean, when my aunt came here, he was apparently a nasty piece of work!" she finished.

Albus simply smiled. "I feel I should take some blame. I have some explaining to do." Dumbledores smile faded, and he looked quite serious as he began.

"You see Penny, when Lord Voldemort was in power, he marked all of his followers with what we know as The Dark Mark. It's actually a skull and crossbones that was burned into their skin, and some say their souls. It was to ensure that all followers would be truly faithful to Lord Voldemort. For you see, when he died, his followers died with him. There was one catch however." He paused, "Snape didn't die. For some reason we cannot name, Snape has lived. By all account, he should have died. In fact, we all thought he was going to. But he didn't! He lived!

Penny sat in silence for a while thinking for a time on what she had heard.

"Okay," she said finally, "but how exactly does this explain the way Snape is behaving?"

"Snape was forever living in fear, Penny. Imagine, knowing all the time that Voldemort had not died, constantly living in fear of his previous master. Snape lived in a metaphorical prison, always living in fear for his life, and the lives of the students and teachers of Hogwarts."

"Okay, I'm with you so far. So, he didn't die." She paused. "He has a new lease on life, doesn't he?"

"Exactly Penny! Exactly! Snape felt so renewed, no longer in his prison. No longer a prisoner of choice. He worked for a year towards Voldemorts death, positive he was going to die. He was willing to sacrifice his life for others. When he did not die, he felt he should enjoy life to it's fullest." Albus smiled, "and it seems he's over doing it. But never fear, I'll have a word with him."

"But, Albus, what did he do for the year away from Hogwarts.?"

"Ah, my dear, alas, the first question you ask me I cannot answer. There may come a time when you feel comfortable to ask him yourself, but I cannot answer for him." He smiled. "Now, I feel you should go and get a good night's rest. You teach your first class tomorrow! I can't wait to hear how it goes! On that note, let me give you this."

He went to his desk, and brought her out a book entitled Wizards Without Magic: What They're Capable Of, and How To Protect Yourself", by Albus Dumbledore.

She looked up at him. He smiled. " I wrote it years and years ago. I thought it might come in handy for a course one day. Every student has a copy, along with their reading list. They get a copy of it during the summer, so they can buy the books." He smiled, "and study them if they wish. Read it through, I think it's a wonderful read, if I do say so myself! As well, here is a copy of your timetable and student list for each class. As well, feel free to add what books you choose to the second term. It would give them a little bit more to think on, don't you agree?" He chuckled and showed her to the door.

* * *

Outside Howarts Castle, a figure stood in shadow at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It observed the castle for a moment, and retreated back into the trees. The time had come.

* * *

Penny laid down, relaxing in comfort. Morris was lounging by her head, purring contentedly.

Penny was exhausted after her first full day at Hogwarts, and she had not even taught her first class. She closed her eyes, the orange book beside her on her night table, and hoped she would have a dreamless sleep.

She didn't.