Chapter VI: Lingering Attachment
"Penelope? Are you in there?" Madame Pomfrey called in the door. Penelope had cried herself asleep, her eyes stung from the tears. "She's in here. She hasn't moved all day. The other girls are starting to worry," one girl said. It was the same girl who had tried to get Penelope to go to class earlier that day. She led Madame Pomfrey into the room. "Penelope, dear, what's the matter? The other girls have said that you haven't moved all day. They're worried sick," she said kindly, sitting herself on the end of Penelope's bed. "I don't care to talk, Madame. I'd rather be alone. I've had my heart shattered, and," she said quietly. "You've got a broken heart? Well, it's best to talk about it in these situations," Madame Pomfrey insisted. She sat there with Penelope for a long time, comforting her. Finally, she convinced Penelope to go eat something. So Penelope made herself somewhat presentable, and went to dinner.
* * *
"Wow, this is the best food I've ever tasted!" Oliver said merrily. He was seated next to Percy, Fred, George, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and some other Gryffindors. "Yes, I must say they've spoilt us tonight," Percy added. But his happiness was put on hold as his eyes wandered; Penelope stepped into the dining hall, eyes red and puffy. The rest of her looked fine, but it was her eyes that made Percy feel uneasy. "Look over there.Oliver," Percy whispered. "What? I don't see.anything," Oliver replied, as he followed Percy's gaze over to a forlorn Penelope. Great, just great. Now she's going to make him feel guilty, and he'll go running back to her, Oliver thought, cursing her for entering the room. She wandered for a bit, looking for someplace to sit. Percy pondered inviting her to sit next to them, but he felt that if he did, he would end up getting back together with her, and he didn't want that. Instead, he just sat and visited amongst his fellow Gryffindors, trying to ignore her, but it was difficult. She looks so sad. It's killing me to see her so sad, but.but I have to be strong. She can't trick me into getting back together with her. I don't want that, Percy thought to himself, forcing himself to look away and focus on his friends. Penelope glanced over in his general direction, but quickly looked away. After she ate a little, she got up and returned to her room, leaving Percy feeling troubled.
* * *
"Penelope? Are you in there?" Madame Pomfrey called in the door. Penelope had cried herself asleep, her eyes stung from the tears. "She's in here. She hasn't moved all day. The other girls are starting to worry," one girl said. It was the same girl who had tried to get Penelope to go to class earlier that day. She led Madame Pomfrey into the room. "Penelope, dear, what's the matter? The other girls have said that you haven't moved all day. They're worried sick," she said kindly, sitting herself on the end of Penelope's bed. "I don't care to talk, Madame. I'd rather be alone. I've had my heart shattered, and," she said quietly. "You've got a broken heart? Well, it's best to talk about it in these situations," Madame Pomfrey insisted. She sat there with Penelope for a long time, comforting her. Finally, she convinced Penelope to go eat something. So Penelope made herself somewhat presentable, and went to dinner.
* * *
"Wow, this is the best food I've ever tasted!" Oliver said merrily. He was seated next to Percy, Fred, George, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and some other Gryffindors. "Yes, I must say they've spoilt us tonight," Percy added. But his happiness was put on hold as his eyes wandered; Penelope stepped into the dining hall, eyes red and puffy. The rest of her looked fine, but it was her eyes that made Percy feel uneasy. "Look over there.Oliver," Percy whispered. "What? I don't see.anything," Oliver replied, as he followed Percy's gaze over to a forlorn Penelope. Great, just great. Now she's going to make him feel guilty, and he'll go running back to her, Oliver thought, cursing her for entering the room. She wandered for a bit, looking for someplace to sit. Percy pondered inviting her to sit next to them, but he felt that if he did, he would end up getting back together with her, and he didn't want that. Instead, he just sat and visited amongst his fellow Gryffindors, trying to ignore her, but it was difficult. She looks so sad. It's killing me to see her so sad, but.but I have to be strong. She can't trick me into getting back together with her. I don't want that, Percy thought to himself, forcing himself to look away and focus on his friends. Penelope glanced over in his general direction, but quickly looked away. After she ate a little, she got up and returned to her room, leaving Percy feeling troubled.
* * *