Arithmancy went by in a blur the next morning. Still in a bad mood, Penny spoke to no one and made a point of skipping breakfast. She sorely regretted her decision because it made Herbology with the Hufflepuffs feel exorbitantly long. She managed to pay some attention to the subject of various water plants, some of which lived in the Great Lake, but found herself struggling to listen to the majority of the class. When it finally ended, she ran for the Great Hall, wanting to get in some food before she gathered the other house volunteers to meet with their head of houses.
When she arrived she compulsively glanced at the staff table, thankful the infuriating man was nowhere to be seen. He was normally also notoriously late to meals, much like herself. Harry joined her several minutes later.
"You alright?" he asked.
"I am now," Penny said with a satisfied sigh.
"Maybe don't skip breakfast next time, just a thought."
Penny scowled.
"Okay dad. I'm still a little tender today and was forced to visit Madam Pomfrey this AM. She said I still looked pale."
"You do, a bit. Maybe just take it easy, take a break from doing everything," Harry said, taking a large swig of pumpkin juice.
"Says the guy who saves Hogwarts every damn year. You're a shoe in for the Hogwarts champion," Penny teased.
The image of Harry forced into any more spotlight greatly amused Penny, she knew something like the Triwizard Tournament would be an experience her brother would loathe. To be fair, he had enough on his plate, and plenty of people who wanted him dead. Penny on the other hand thought she would rather like being the Hogwarts champion, but she was a showoff, much like her father-as the potions master would have her believe. The thought of Snape brought a scowl to her face. Penny felt in no mood to face the man after their row. He had given her detention! She had never had detention before in her life, that was Harry's job.
Harry jammed her in the side, evidently not amused by her comment.
"Be gentle, I've got detention tonight, and who knows what hard labor Snape will make me do."
"You got detention?" Harry and Ron choked.
"Yeah, I may have yelled at Snape last night," Penny said, shaking her head at her own stupidity.
Harry's eyes bulged. "And he didn't kill you?"
"For a moment I thought he would, he couldn't even get his words out and his vein was throbbing, you know, like Uncle Vernon's does," said Penny.
"It was good knowing you," Ron said with a look of disbelief.
"How many times do I have to tell you Ron, Professor Snape is a teacher, and Dumbledore trusts him," Hermione said in an irritated tone. "She'll be cleaning cauldrons or something."
"What do you do in detention, you two are always there," Penny asked Harry with a grin.
"I can't wait to tell Snuffles this, he'll probably hang your detention slip on the icebox with pride," Harry said, an amused look in his eyes.
"One day we really need to get the details of exactly what they got up to while at Hogwarts," Penny said standing.
"Where're you off to?" Harry asked, sounding a bit disappointed.
"To do too much and not take it easy. I'm about to go beg Professor McGonagall to let quidditch happen this year, even with the Triwizard Tournament," said Penny, ruffling Harry's hair as she went.
On her way out of the Great Hall, Penny collected Hannah Abbott, a blonde girl from the Hufflepuff table; Marietta Edgecombe, a serious looking fifth year from the Ravenclaw table, and Draco Malfoy joined them at the double doors.
"Who wants to do the talking?" Penny asked.
The two girls looked at each other nervously, they had not bargained for speaking.
"I need this to look like a school thing and not just a 'my thing,' anything any of you can say will help, it doesn't have to be long, just your experience," Penny continued when no one responded.
They nodded and headed towards Professor McGonagall's office.
"Snape isn't happy with me, I'll need you to work your magic," Penny whispered to Draco.
"It'll cost you," he smirked.
Penny eye'd the blonde boy, uncertain she wanted to be in his debt. She also felt a a tinge of betrayal for Harry before saying, "Fine, what do you want?"
"When I am ready to collect, I'll let you know." Draco said, pushing past her and leading the way into their meeting.
McGonagall was turned away from the door, speaking to Sprout and Flitwick, who stood near her desk, when they arrived. On the far wall was Snape, arms crossed, looking very disinterested in the current conversation. Penny refused to make eye contact with him and stared straight ahead as Draco Malfoy greeted the Professors in his smooth voice. Penny unfortunately ended up on Draco's left, nearest Snape. She felt his dark eyes boring into the side of her head, and the pull of her own eyes wanting to see what his held today. Was he still mad? Would his anger with her still be evident?
"I commend what you have achieved here, and I think all of us can agree we support your cause, however, we have many preparations for this tournament and I simply do not have the time to commit to supervision this year," Professor McGonagall said, startling Penny from her thoughts.
She looked genuinely sad when Penny met her eyes. It was evident whatever the other three had said had left an impression.
"I've also agreed to help ensure the safety of the tasks and with my commitments to the Hogwarts choir I do not think I can add anything else" squeaked Professor Flitwick.
"Sorry kids, with the greenhouse I just don't have the time," Professor Sprout said in her deep voice.
Heart sinking, Penny finally looked at Snape, his dark eyes watching her, calculating quietly.
"This was Ms. Potter's club, was it not?" Snape said, giving the slightest hint of a smile at Penny's obvious irritation at his use of her surname,
"I mean I did start it, Sir," Penny replied.
"Yet I have not heard you speak a word, albeit Mr. Malfoy's appeal was very eloquent, but I'm curious, why do you think I should give up my free time for this?" said Snape in a cool voice.
"It did start as my idea, but I'd hardly call it mine. As you've seen, many others have taken an active part in it. The success of this was only possible because of Draco, Hannah and Marietta, they organized those interested in their houses. I ask of your time Professor because I believe it helps Hogwarts feel more like a community and less like four houses in continual competition. I also know it helps many students with find relief for their anxiety and stress. It's also less exclusive than the house teams," Penny said, refusing to look away from the dark eyes that threatened to unsettle her.
"How very poetic," Snape smirked, finally moving away from the wall, "Because Mr. Malfoy made such a compelling case, I'll do it."
Anger flared in the pit of Penny's stomach. Snape had done that on purpose and his dark eyes were searching her face for the satisfaction of knowing it had worked. Biting her lip, she turned resolutely away from him, refusing him the knowledge. The other head of houses looked shocked by Snape's kindness. Then McGonagall clapped her hands and sent them on their way before they were late for their afternoon classes.
Hannah and Marietta hugged Penny and rushed off down the corridor leaving Penny and Draco just outside the office.
"Thanks for that, pretty sure he wouldn't have agreed if it weren't for you," Penny said with a small smile, still irritated.
"It is my pleasure, I look forward to collecting," Draco replied, stepping into her space and nudging her into the wall just behind her, his right taking up residence above her shoulder.
He leaned in just close enough to make the breath catch in Penny's chest. For a moment she thought he intended to kiss her, but instead he looked down at her lips and touched her warm cheek with his thumb. Draco was handsome, his complexion as bright as his hair. Against her better judgement and opinion of her brother, she had liked him, but she had never imagined anything more than their flirtatious back and forths. Penny suddenly regretted the deal she made with him. Thankfully, loud steps broke the moment and both of them turned to meet the unamused expression of Snape. He looked from one to the other, his eyebrow raised.
"Get to class Draco," he said to the boy.
"Of course, Sir," Draco said in a sickly sweet voice.
He turned to Penny, winked, and then swept from the hallway. Penny remained, dumbstruck and trying to gather her composure. Normally she was the forward one, she had never been caught off guard before.
"Does he like me. . ." Penny said, not realizing the thought left her lips.
Snape snorted, returning Penny's attention to the man. She briefly forgot her anger, trying to see whatever Snape was thinking.
"That was a serious question? Ms. Potter, who has an answer and argument for everything, is finally stumped by the hormone's of teenage boys," Snape said, a note of derision in his voice.
"If only I had your expertise with teenager boys," Penny replied darkly.
She moved away from the wall, touching her cheek, trying to remember the feeling of Malfoy's fingers.
"Having been one, I imagine I could clear up a great many misgivings you may have. Lucky for you, Draco is learned in the art of female hormones, and I daresay you will find yourself educated in no time," Snape said dryly.
"What! No-what have I done! Professor, what do I do to get out of this!" Penny said, pacing in an anxious circle.
"I am the potions master, not a counselor."
"This can't happen, there must be some potion, you must know of one, like an anti-love potion, but you know, makes someone un-attracted to people."
At this, Snape rolled his eyes.
"Ms. Potter, I do believe most people simply use their words."
"What words?" said Penny, with a stupid expression.
"And to think just last night you were saying I needed to pull it together to be an emotionally capable person," Snape sneered.
Penny scowled, hitched her bag on her shoulder and turned away from him to head towards Defense Against the Dark Arts. She refused to let him find any more pleasure in her suffering.
"Your detention will be at 6 o'clock tonight, after quidditch. I look forward to seeing how this situation progresses," he said before she was out of earshot.
She made it to class just before the bell chimed, taking a seat beside Harry. Mad-Eye Moody entered a few moments after her, his wooden leg clunk, clunking after him. His magical eye zoomed around and settled on Harry, who shifted uncomfortably in his seat. It seemed natural that one of the best aurors in the ministry, who had brought more dark wizards in than anyone else, would be interested in the boy who lived.
"You are in your fourth year and the ministry thinks you are still too young to learn the truth about dark magic. A load of codswallop if you ask me, you need to be prepared, you need to know," Moody growled.
The room held its breath, entranced, or frightened by the grizzly looking man.
"Who can tell me what the three unforgivable curses are," Moody asked, magical-eye zooming in all directions again.
Hermione's hand shot up.
"You, Ms. . .?"
"Granger, sir. There is the Cruciatus curse, the Imperius curse, and the killing curse," Hermione answered, glancing nervously at Harry.
While she answered, Moody pulled a large spider from a container on his desk. The sight of it elicited a small groan from Ron, who seemed to recoil from the sight of it.
"The Imperius curse," Moody said, placing the spider on his desk, "was used extensively when You-Know-Who was in power. With it, you can make a person under its control do whatever you wish."
Pointing his wand at the spider he whispered, "Imperio."
The spider immediately stopped its desperate attempt to escape. Instead, it stood on two legs and seemed to do the waltz. Penny watched it with a sickening feeling in her stomach, deeply disturbed by the look of enthusiasm on Moody's face.
"The Cruciatus curse was good for loosening the tongue of unwilling informants, and was a favorite form of torture for You-Know-Who," Moody continued, lifting the Imperius curse. "Curcio!"
The spider immediately began to twitch and writhe in a disturbing manner. It's muscles contorted and spasmed, and Penny was sure it would rip itself in two. For some reason Penny could not tear her eyes away from it.
"Stop it! Can't you see you're upsetting him!" Hermione yelled.
For a moment Penny was confused, thinking she was referring to the spider, but then her eyes fell on Neville, and she understood. His face was ashen, he was shaking and clearly overcome by what he was witnessing. Moody simply shrugged and released the spider. Neville's face remained blank and unmoving from the spider.
"The Avada Kedavra curse, or the killing curse as Ms Granger called it, is the worst of them all. A single curse to take a human life. Only one person has been known to survive it and he's sitting right in front of me."
All eyes turned to Harry, who stared resolutely at Mad-Eye. Moody lifted his arm, eyes not moving from Harry
"You can't, it's illegal!" Hermione cried, but it didn't matter.
"Avada Kedavra!"
A blinding green light shot from his wand causing Penny's head to explode with pain. Something was tearing at the inside of her head, someone was screaming; she was screaming and a woman was pleading
"Not Harry, please not Harry!"
"Take your daughter and move aside!" demanded a shrill voice.
But it didn't matter, the woman was not going to move, and then the green light erupted, and the sound of a limp body hitting the flood resounded. She was screaming-Penny-red eyes drawing nearer, but then someone was shaking her.
"Penny! WAKE UP," Harry roared.
His green eyes loomed over her, full of panic. She was on the floor, the class gathered around her. Penny's face was covered in a cold sweat, she touched it, blinking against the bright afternoon sun that poured through the windows.
"What happened?" Penny asked Harry, trying to ignore the muttering around her.
Then she glanced at the spider, dead, on the table and she understood
"Come on, I'll take you to the Hospital Wing," Harry answered, helping her to her feet.
Moody nodded his agreement, his magical eye observing Penny now. Once they were out of the classroom Penny turned to Harry and said, "I heard her Harry."
The horrible expression on his face told her he understood, and already suspected. He had told her what he experienced every time a dementor came near him, the thought made her shudder. He wrapped his arm around her,
"When I was learning how to do the patronus charm, I'd hear hear every time, a part of me wanted to faint just to remember the sound of her voice," he admitted.
"That's all it took, that one stupid spell to change everything,"
"Yeah, I wish I knew how I survived it, maybe she could have lived too."
"And dad," Penny added.
Harry helped her into a bed inside the Hospital Wing.
"We still have each other," Harry said, forcing a smile, but his eyes were distant.
"I heard you too Harry, you were trying to talk, probably trying to tell Voldemort to leave, so very like you,"
Before Harry could respond, Madam Pomfrey rushed over and demanded an explanation. Harry told her what happened and received a great many scandalized comments, before rushing off to Care of Magical Creatures, leaving Penny to the clutches of Madam Pomfrey (with an apologetic smile.) Penny was still clammy, and she was shaking uncontrollably
"What this school has come to, and an already frail child, and of course you fainted dear, you have experienced such trauma," Madam Pomfrey muttered, forcing Penny to lie back with a cool cloth before leaving to fetch a few other things.
Penny's insides squirmed, she felt awful. The sensation of something pressing against her brain was the worst part. It was almost like an intruder had taken up residence and was trying to force its way into every crevice in her head while her brain throbbed in protest. She had always wondered what it had been like, Voldemort coming after Harry. She had not imagined she had been near Harry, or that her and her mother could have gone free. Why would Voldemort have said that and why was he so bent on killing Harry, a baby? It made no sense to her. Penny had been reluctant to share that information with Harry, unsure how he would have taken it, or whether he already knew-Voldemort only wanted him.
Madam Pomfrey allowed Penny to leave with enough time to make it to the quidditch pitch for their first game of the season. Draco was already there with the others and they were breaking into rotations. 30 or so had shown up. They'd have enough time to play two games, meaning almost everyone had a chance to play.
"I'll sit this one out, Madam Pomfrey says I can't fly," Penny offered when it came to deciding teams.
"Is it true you actually fainted in DADA?" Draco smirked.
"I haven't been feeling well," Penny scowled.
"Did the unforgivable curses scare you?"
The Slytherins all snickered, but the other students looked curious, as did Professor Snape.
"Real funny Malfoy, better stop now or I will join the game and knock you off your broom."
"Alright, alright, but tell me, do you remember it You-Know-Who killing your-"
"Get on your broom now Mr. Malfoy and start this game or I am rescinding the gift of my time," Snape cut across him, his lips barely moving.
The fury in his eyes startled Penny, and Malfoy too because he jumped into the air, leaving her alone with Snape. He turned his dark eyes on Penny, his expression almost pained, like her face was a torment to him.
Feeling uncomfortable, Penny moved past him and took a seat in the bleachers to watch the match, though she cared little for what was going on. She touched her red hair, thinking of the sound, that sound, of her mother hitting the floor. She pushed the image from her mind, afraid it would make her woozy again. From the corner of her eye she saw Snape make his way towards her and take a seat somewhat beside her, but with enough distance to ignore her if he wanted to.
"If you are still feeling ill from the other day, you should have come to me," Snape said in an angry tone.
Penny snorted uncontrollably, immediately realizing how rude it was of her when his eyes flashed dangerously in her direction.
"Is that an apology? Or are you afraid everyone will think you're trying to kill me?" she jested.
His face darkened and eyes narrowed, but he slid the distance between them, extending a hand out for her own. She stared at it confused, and slightly afraid.
"Let me check your pulse," he said with an eye roll.
"Oh," Penny said, obeying the request.
His skin was surprisingly warm to the touch and he held her very gently, turning her hand over to check her pulse. His smooth skin on hers made her heart thump faster, and she became embarrassed that he could hear it too. She never felt like she could hide much from the man, but she had never before felt this exposed. Her heart was betraying her anxiety, her confusion, her youth.
"What seems to be the problem, other than the obvious look of death," he asked, observing her critically, his fingers still holding her wrists.
"It's just been a strange couple of days, and I don't even think it's related, but my head, I can't shake the feeling I'm not the only one in my head. I feel this constant drain, this intrusion. . ." she said, lost for words.
Snape's eyebrows contracted towards his hairline, and his mouth creased more so than normal.
"I have not heard of a reaction to the withering draught addling the brain. . ."
"My brain isn't addled!" Penny fumed, trying to yank her hand away from his, but he held tight to it, his lips twitching.
"There is a method I know for relief, but it's. . .unorthodox," Snape said slowly, releasing her wrist.
"That doesn't sound sketchy," Penny said, still perturbed by the man.
Her skin felt like it was vibrating where he touched her. She rubbed it subconsciously, wondering what it was.
"It's a branch of magic most aren't trained in."
Even though she felt unsettled by Snape and certain this would only result in him continuing to gain the upper-hand, she could not refuse the possibility of relief.
"Yeah, okay, I suppose you can't make it any worse," Penny said with a shrug.
Snape appeared satisfied, but did not move away from Penny again. "Were you just trying to get out of Mad-Eye's class by fainting, I assure you I'd have the utmost sympathy if you did," he said, considering her for a moment.
Cheeks red in embarrassment, Penny looked away.
"No. Professor Moody was, erm, introducing us to the unforgivable curses,"
"Of course he was," Snape replied in a sharp tone.
He waited for her to finish and when she said nothing, he pressed, "And?"
"And, yeah, I fainted when he performed the killing curse," Penny replied annoyed, staring decidedly away from the man, "I heard her. . .I heard him kill her," she finished in barely more than a whisper.
The horror of the truth of it swept across her body, leaving her covered in goosebumps. She suddenly felt very much alone on the quidditch pitch and the evening breeze much too cold. Snape's prolonged silence distracted her for a moment, and she turned to face him. His eyes were cold, distant, and unseeing. There was pain in his eyes, a pain that Penny also felt in her own heart. Without a thought, she laid her hand on top of his. She did not meet his eyes, turning instead to look in the other direction. Snape said nothing, but he also did not move his hand away from hers, she almost thought she felt it relax beneath her.
Snape was infuriating, but he, more than anyone else, understood. There was nothing to be said, nothing that could be said. Instead, he was just there, he had always been there and Penny wanted him to remain so.