In an attempt to avoid demands for an explanation about her absence on Saturday and to avoid thinking about Snape, Penny retreated to the greenhouses on Sunday. He'd returned her mysteriously, for the second time, to her bed. Penny was bemused by how she could have been that exhausted from a day of walking around London and Paris to actually be out cold enough to allow Snape to get her home. She concluded he must have resorted to magical means because there was no way he retraced his steps with her on his back.

When she'd woken, it was to the blissful remnants of stale fire and bergamot on her shirt. It brought a smile to her face until she was awake enough to realize what she was happy about. It was at this realization that Penny felt the need to flee and made her way to the greenhouses where she found Fred and George huddled in a corner. She made her way over to get a better look at what they were so absorbed in.

"Is that.-"

"Penny!" Fred and George said in unison.

"-weed" Penny finished in an accusatory tone.

"Sh!" Fred hissed.

"We don't use that name lest Professor Sprout become wise to us. So far she hasn't questioned our new enthusiasm for volunteer work in the greenhouses," George said in a hushed voice, as though someone might overhear them in the empty greenhouse at 6am on a Sunday.

Penny couldn't help but grin and shake her head at their antics.

"Don't just stand there and shake your head like a prat, help us dry this lot," George said.

"What if we get busted for this?" Penny said, examining the leaves skeptically.

"You've got plausible deniability here if you don't ask any more questions," winked Fred.

Penny shrugged and reached for her magic, drying the pile they had harvested instantly. Both Fred and George admired her handiwork, slapping her on the back.

"Brilliant, Penny. For your efforts you can try the first joint," Fred said, turning to her dubiously.

"I'll pass on being the lab rat, thanks," said Penny, darkly.

"Fine. Seeing as you're our third, we don't really wanna trial and error this test batch on you anyway," conceded Fred.

"Test batch?" said Penny, plopping down, reaching for the dried leaves to smell them.

"We learned about all the amazing uses of weed over the summer, I suppose you wouldn't know, but most wizards don't really know about marijuana. Probably because growing the muggle stuff takes way too long, but with some magical tinkering, we've been able to up the potency to start our own. . ." said George turning to Fred for the word he was looking for.

"Dispensary," Fred said, innocently.

"What happened to the joke shop?" Penny asked, gathering the leaves and piling them into the containers Fred and George had waiting for them.

"This is just a means to fund the joke shop, so fret not, and don't look so worried, as long as mum doesn't find out, we're fine!"

"Yeah, and technically there is not a single rule at Hogwarts banning students from using-" said George, but Penny cut him off.

"You're really going to sell this stuff to student s?" she said, turning to them in bewilderment. "Whatever makes your dreams come true, I suppose, you know I'll support you. . .I bet Malfoy and his rich friends would totally buy some," Penny mused.

Fred and George looked at Penny as though they had never seen her true potential before and it frightened her. Perhaps she should have kept her mouth shut.

"Penny. . .you're popular," George said slowly.

"That's not even close to being true, I go to almost every class alone."

"You're a little socialite who likes to talk to everyone . . .and your boyfriend is the Hogwarts god, Diggory," Fred said, a wicked smile forming on his lips.

Penny set down what she was doing and backed away from the twins, shaking her head.

"No, I love you guys and will make your flyers but I won't be selling for you," Penny said, rubbing her tired eyes.

"How about a compromise? At least see if Draco will test this bunch for us?" George pouted, to which Penny reluctantly agreed, feeling as though this decision would come back to bite her.

Upon making her escape from the twins, Penny made her way into the Entrance hall toward the door that hid the staircase to the Slytherin Common room. The sooner she found Malfoy and got rid of the contraband in her pocket the better. However, she stopped dead in her tracks when that cursed head of dark hair appeared, posing a possible road block. Snape was almost to the Great Hall when he suddenly looked up. For Merlins sake, could he sense her or something?

When Penny looked at him, her stomach lurched. He studied her and she knew it was to gauge whether she had forgiven him yet or not, though he looked to have little hope for that. Penny didn't want him to feel compelled to try apologizing again, afraid his 'bad student sensors' would detect what was hidden in her pocket, so she set her jaw, looked at the floor, took a wide berth and made for the door leading to the Slytherin common room.

Penny had made it half-way and thought she was home free when Snape changed directions, making a b-line for her. Penny tried to quicken her pace and not make eye contact with him, but he stopped her before she made it to the door.

"Ms. Potter, what's the rush?" Snape said softly, scrutinizing her intently.

"No rush, sir," Penny said, avoiding Snape's eyes.

"Just felt like casually running across the Entrance Hall?" he said, sounding unconvinced.

"Have to get my exercise somehow," Penny shrugged. The effort to avoid his gaze was getting awkward now, but she dare not look, lest he trap her.

"And where were you headed, in no rush."

"Through that door, so if you'll excuse me," Penny replied, stiffly, becoming suddenly aware of the fact she smelled distinctly of weed. The longer she engaged with the man, the more likely he was to notice, if he'd ever come into contact with the stuff, that is.

"This leads to the Slytherin Common room," Snape pressed.

"Yes, I am aware of where this staircase leads after 4 years of living here, but thanks for the reminder," Penny blurted out. Not her best plan, snarking Professor Snape was a surefire way to make this exchange go on longer.

"Why, pray tell, would you be going down there?" Snape said, his dark eyes glinting with the malevolent suspicion he normally saved for Harry.

"To find a Slytherin, obviously," Penny replied with an eye roll.

"Which Slytherin?"

Penny sighed heavily, exasperated, still avoiding Snape's gaze. She knew he required eye-contact to tell if she were lying, but not looking at him definitely made him suspicious she was lying to him, there was just no winning.

"Is there a reason you're so nosy today? I didn't realize I needed to fill out a survey of intent to go about my business."

"Well you see Potter, it is my business as a Professor to know why you, a student, are in such a hurry to find a student from my House, while reeking of pot," Snape said, his voice dripping with the threat behind his words.

Penny couldn't help but close her eyes, why did she have to run into Snape of all people. Deny, deny until they believe it's true; it was her only option.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I was merely out for a walk earlier, perhaps it's pine you smell, and now I'm on my way to find Draco to-" Penny said, pausing horribly when her brain came to a crashing halt.

"To what?"

"D-discuss the rest of the plans for-karaoke," Penny said, blurting out the first thing that came to the top of her head.

By the crossing of his arms, she knew her story did not convince him in the least.

"And at this hypothetical karaoke you were intending to smoke weed? Is that what I am to understand?"

"It's not hypothetical!" Penny said defensively. "And I made no mention of smoking anything! You accused me! With no evidence, mind you."

Before Snape could respond, Penny's worst fear was realized and the door to the stairs opened and Draco Malfoy entered the hall, his cool grey eyes looking between Snape and Penny.

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, just the person I wanted to see, could you clear something up for us?" Snape said delicately, giving Penny a cruel grin.

"Certainly, Professor," Draco said, glancing toward Penny, who was struggling not to shift uncomfortably beneath the hawk eyes of Severus Snape.

As he stepped up beside them, Draco's small, pretty nose crinkled and he turned his head as though looking for the source of something, "Why's it smell like weed out here?" he muttered loud enough that Penny knew Snape caught what he'd said.

Penny could have kicked the boy, who's grey eyes landed on her own angry, bulging ones that were trying to communicate telepathically with him.

"A question I have been trying to get to the bottom of here with Ms. Potter. You see Mr. Malfoy, she claims that she was on the way to find you," Snape said, watching Penny intently, as though daring her to give herself away.

"How. . .nice," Draco said, uncomfortably, catching onto what was unfolding before him.

"Has Ms. Potter ever come to find you in your common room before, Mr. Malfoy?"

"No." Draco said, giving Penny a pitying look.

"So why would she be doing so now?" Snape pressed. He looked like a cat relishing the terrified squeaks of a rat he'd just cornered.

"I don't know, sir." Draco said, blankly.

"Oh for heaven's sake, I told you already, I was looking to discuss karaoke!" Penny fumed, finally looking at the Potions Master in hopes that it would give her indignation an air of sincerity.

The grin that spread across Snape's face at this terrified Penny, so she chanced a glance back at Draco's utterly confused face.

"Tell me Draco, what is 'karaoke'?" Snape said, delicately, finally turning his gaze from Penny to the boy.

Draco gave Penny an apologetic shake of his head and turned to his Professor, "I don't know, I've never heard of it, Professor."

"Is that so. Well, Ms. Potter, what do you have to say to that? Ready to confess yet?

Growing up in the muggle world might actually be a curse, Penny thought. How was she supposed to know wizards didn't partake in something like karaoke? Who doesn't like singing? Snape knew he'd trapped her, caught her in her lie because of his knowledge of the wizarding world. He hedged his bet on Draco having no clue what she was talking about. To be sure, Penny was doomed, but she would not go down without a fight. She had one last idea to save herself.

She stepped forward, turning to face the Potions Master, Draco positioned to just behind her right side. There was one chance to rid herself of the evidence, without evidence, Snape could not punish her. But the magic necessary, while also engaging Snape enough to distract him, which would be incredibly difficult and Penny was never very good at multitasking.

"As I stated a the beginning of this conversation, since when are my daily activities any of your business? Students in this castle are allowed to go about their activities free of harassment," Penny said in a biting tone, her eyes narrowing angrily.

Even though she was blatantly at fault here, Penny was able to muster true outrage and to burn fiercely with the belief that Snape was being unjust. She hoped if he took a shallow look at her mind he'd be distracted enough by that not to notice what she was trying to do.

In the back of her mind, Penny concentrated hard, reaching for her magic and focusing on the bag of joints in her pocket, willing it into her right hand, which she casually tucked behind her, her palm open and facing Draco.

"Potter!" Snape spat.

"Don't interrupt me, I'm not through! You know what I think? I think you came over here to harass me because you felt like it. Feeling bored and lonely today, Professor? Or is it just that you're obsessed with me?" Penny said loudly, jabbing his chest with her left pointer finger.

Penny was not paying much attention to her words, trusting her drama instincts to make it believable while she focused on the bag, which successfully vanished from her pocket and appeared in her hand. She could have smiled, but knew better, instead she shook the hand very slightly, catching the attention of Draco, who took it from her and then stepped away.

It wasn't until relief swept over her that Penny realized that an unusual stillness had swept over the entire hall. She glanced around and saw shocked students watching and muttering to each other before fleeing from the area. She turned to Draco, who looked back at Penny as though she were a dead woman, and then took several more steps away from her, glanced at Snape, and when he was satisfied his Professor was not going to call him back, shamelessly abandoned Penny.

Her heart sinking faster than a rock thrown into a lake, Penny turned back to Snape, the realization of what exactly had come out of her mouth hitting her full force. Snape looked down at her, his face the color of a cherry, his features were livid and his hands were balled into fists, shaking at his sides. The sneer on his face told Penny she'd hit what she'd dubbed the 'James nerve' , the one that exploded inside of him whenever she reminded him of her father.

His jaw clenched and unclenched several times before he took an aggressive step toward her, Penny stumbled away from him instinctively. He took another, forcing her to continue to back away from him, fear swelling in her chest.

"I-I didn't mean it, I swear. Professor, please, can't we discuss this." Penny stuttered as he corralled her toward the stairs leading to the dungeons one angry step at a time. The worst part was how he refused to say anything, and his bulging eyes never left her face.

The last thing Penny wanted was to be trapped in the empty dungeons with a murderous Snape. The look on his face was terrifying and ignited the fight or flight response within her. The dark corridor to the dungeons was looming larger and larger, Snape forcing her toward it, his body physically barring other options. The darkness was expanding and Penny was reminded of that distinct feeling of that torturous collar suffocating her. The way Snape advanced on her, his anger reaching its angry tentacles out to her was too reminiscent of the way the collar was forced onto her neck, both of which would grow tighter until all control was taken from Penny to force her to comply.

Penny's chest constricted at the memory of it, the horrific images from those events flashing through her mind with each shaking step she took away from Snape. He was reaching for her now, he would drag her down into that abyss with him, and Penny was helpless, just like she had been in the Ministry.

Penny cried out, closing her eyes in fear, a thunderous sound ripping through her ears. Something was pushing, or maybe pulling her? Yes, it was pulling her, but not in the usual sense, instead it was pulling her apart atom by atom. She was scattered into an endless number of pieces, bouncing with an infinite amount of energy, until the atoms colliding with each other started putting her back together. But before she was whole again, her pieces were being sucked through some sort of vacuum that was stretching and elongating every fragment of her person. With a sickening, slosh, she was dumped out and reassembled, however, notably missing the fear that had been so suffocating, in it's place was pain.

With a loud thud, Penny landed hard on her back, all the air being knocked out of her. She coughed and tried to sit up, but wobbled unsteadily. She felt horribly weak, her entire body was shaking as though she'd run a marathon and hadn't eaten in days.

"Not again" Penny moaned, rubbing her temples. Her head felt like it was going to explode, and her right hand ached horribly like it had been cut open, but when she looked she found no injury.

She was dazed, but she made every effort to look around. Another forest surrounded her, though this one seemed more familiar, and she guessed it could be the Forbidden Forest, but that did not make her feel better about any of her prospects.

Assuming no time had passed and based on the little amount of light that made its way through the dense forest, Penny got to her shaky feet and followed the sun west, in what she hoped was toward Hogwarts. The progress was slow and Penny was feeling more and more fatigued, her thinking becoming cloudier. It felt like a battle was being waged inside her head, one for control, and Penny had the horrible feeling that the only thing keeping her from losing was staying conscious.

Deciding a small break to catch her breath was necessary, she stopped but regretted it when she heard the dreaded sounds of sticks crunching in the distance. Making its way through the trees, the large form of a centaur came into view. Penny nearly gasped when she looked up into the startling blue eyes of the blond-haired creature before her, who looked down upon her solemnly. Penny backed away instinctively, bowing her head to him.

Centaurs, for good reason, were not friendly to humans, and Penny knew they did not like them trespassing in their forest, except for Hagrid.

"I see you have lost your last host, but your taste for a cursed half-life has not changed. You should have known not to return to this forest after your desecration," the centaur said in a low voice.

Utterly confused, Penny took another step away, but had to cling to the nearest tree as dizziness overcame her. The centaur moved forward, reaching out with its human hand to touch Penny with a bleeding thumb. He muttered under his breath while drawing a circle on her forehead. Penny screamed, the pain blazing in her head. She was filled with a sudden surge of energy that seemed to blast through each of her four limbs, connecting to the earth below her, lifting her off her feet and suspending her in midair. Bright white light swirled every direction, twisting around her limbs and coming together at a larger blue beam that seemed to extend above Penny, reaching into the sky.

The centaur stepped away from Penny and looked at her, his brows furrowed in concentration. What the Centaur had done to her, she did not know, but she found herself unafraid. The bands of light vibrated pleasantly like Snape did, calming her anxiety and relaxing her muscles. Every fiber of Penny's body reached out, much in the way her magic reached out, and connected with the life around her, opening the forest to her. Contrary to her former beliefs of the Forbidden Forest, it was full of life, a kind of life Penny had never felt before. Hidden in its crevices were ancient secrets that Penny dared not look at. Where before she wanted to leave, afraid of what existed beyond the edge of the forest, she was now eager to stay just like this, but gradually her connection ebbed away and the bands of light faded, returning her to her feet.

Penny's thinking was clear, the pressure in her head was gone though she was panting like she'd been running. While she certainly didn't feel 'normal', she no longer felt on the verge of collapse.

"How'd you do that?" Penny whispered, flexing her fingers before her face.

"What was done can only be undone through death, but it must be undone, or succumb to death. Centaurs cannot see the path of those who transmute, but I can see the one who's path connects to yours. When the time comes, you must sacrifice your path to be rid of this parasite, if you do not, you will lose him, as you've already seen," the centaur said, his voice grave.

"I'm not following you, are you sure you have the right person. . .?" Penny said, furrowing her brow.

"I have told what was meant to be shared, but it is not for me to make you understand. Now be gone from the forest before my brethren discover your presence, they fear those whose paths are hidden," he said, pawing the ground in agitation.

Penny nodded and made her way past him, pausing to ask, "Who are you?"

"I am Firenze, young wanderer."

"I am in your debt, Firenze."

Firenze bowed his head, and Penny continued on her way, utterly disturbed and confused by the events that had taken place. What was Firenze even referring to and what did he even do to her back there? It had felt 'right' but Penny could not explain why, and that unsettled her. Not to mention, she'd not heard of centaurs using magic, though they held ancient wisdom. More pressing on her mind as she stumbled through the darkening forest; what had happened when she left the Entrance Hall? Did she hurt anyone? Was Snape. . . Was she in worse trouble now?

Though Firenze had cured Penny's actual headache, she felt a figurative one waiting for her when she returned to castle. She was rubbing her temples as though that would make the nightmare go away when she tripped over something large and somewhat squishy. Annoyingly, she landed flat on her face and spit a mouthful of dirt out. As if the day could not get any worse. Wiping off her bleeding palms, Penny stood back up to see what she'd fallen over, it had almost reminded her of a person, but she would have seen a person laying in her path. Curiously, when she looked down she found nothing but dirt.

That couldn't be possible, she knew she'd fallen over something. She went to reach down to be certain what she was looking at was actually the empty forest floor, but a low growl stopped her.

"Potter!"

Penny's head snapped up and she turned to face the grizzled features of Mad-Eye Moody.

"Professor Moody! I-"

"So you ended up out here, aye? And you're in one piece too, at least that's one piece of good news I can return to the castle with. Get over here, it's not safe in the forest right now. I'll escort you back, your Head of House will be relieved to see you," Moody barked, gesturing for her to follow him.

"But sir, I tripped over something-" Penny said, still wanting to know if she'd imagined it or not.

"This is a forest, girl, I imagine there is plenty to trip on, now get moving. Someone attacked Viktor Krum after he asked that brother of yours to go for a walk. Lucky for Harry, he seems to have good instincts and left before the attacker showed up. So let's not linger in case they deem you a fine substitute," Moody said, grabbing Penny by the scruff of her robes and dragging her with him.

His insistence felt odd, all Penny wanted to do was check the floor and they could be gone. She also couldn't help but notice how Moody's magical eye remained fixed on the spot she'd been about to touch. But his mention of Harry barely escaping danger pushed the thought to the back of her mind. All she wanted to do was find her twin.

"Harry? Is he okay?" Penny said, moving quickly to follow after Moody once he'd released her.

"A little spooked, but he looks better than you," said Moody. "What's on your face?" he continued, scrutinizing her forehead with both eyes.

"Probably dirt," Penny lied, turning away from her professor and down at the dirt. She wasn't entirely sure if Moody's magical eye could tell what Firenze had done to her forehead, and she really didn't want to find out.

Moody escorted her all the way to Professor McGonagall's office. McGonagall was very relieved to see Penny. She gave her a severe once over and then told her they would need to see the Headmaster, which Penny protested about, insisting she needed to see Harry. McGonagall would not hear a word of it and assured her Harry was fine.

At the top of the staircase, Penny knocked on the door, which opened to reveal Dumbledore's dimly lit office. Dumbledore himself sat behind his desk, beckoning to Penny. Behind him stood Snape, he was looking out the window at the dark castle grounds. He turned as she stepped through the threshold. As soon as he registered it was her, he stepped forward, his crossed arms dropping to his sides and his tired eyes widening. But then Snape disappeared and Penny was engulfed in strong arms, warmth spreading over her like she'd been wrapped in an electric blanket. He clung tightly to her, his chest expanding as he buried his nose in her hair and breathed in deeply. After a moment, he pulled away to kiss her forehead.

"I'm so sorry Penny, I was such a fool," Lupin whispered, his hand holding the back of her head.

AN: Trying to make up for missing a post now that I have spring break here :) I like writing these silly little Hogwarts scenes, especially Malfoy ahhaha. But I slipped in some important things so I hope you were paying attention! Next chapter I get to gloriously write Lupin and Snape in a room fighting and Penny still being mad at both of them will make it that much more interesting. ahhh, the joys of fanfic.

Hopefully you like where this is going, feel free to leave your thoughts if anything is confusing, or you like anything particular. Otherwise, I shall keep on going with what I had planned! Have a good week! 33

PS: DO ya'll have a length preference for chapters? Normally chapters are 3kish but lately they've been 4-6k, and I kinda wondered if that was too long.