AN: HI FRIENDS! I'm sorry for the long delay in updating. I can't believe it's been two weeks, waah. I was having struggles with knowing what to write this chapter. After my midterms I just felt so mentally exhausted that I just didn't have the brain power to commit to writing something. So I took a bit of a break and watched (and then read) Shadow and Bone! (Helloooo Ben Barnes)

This chapter became absurdly long, sigh. A lot goes on, so I hope it makes sense as one chapter and you accept it as my apology for not keeping to my updating schedule! This chapter had too many great moments to writee, ahh, all the things I wanted to happen with the darkling in shadow and bones... whatever.

enjooyAND STAY WELLLL

For the first time in Penny's life, she stood before the mirror scrutinizing her appearance feeling oddly self-conscious. Her fiery red-hair fell in wild waves just past her shoulders. Penny always wore her hair down and did not think much of it, tying it up just felt unnatural to her. Normally, Penny did not think much about her attire, but this morning everything felt like it did not sit right on her frame, which unlike Harry's was not scrawny, but quite muscular.

Cedric's words about her skirt and what she'd seen the previous night brought a new sense of awareness of her own reflection to Penny.. She wanted to look pretty for Cedric but was not certain how.

"That's the fourth outfit you've sighed at, why don't you tell us why you're suddenly so worried about what you're wearing," Ginny said, knowingly. She was sitting beside Hermione on her bed, petting Crookshanks.

Penny turned on them, feeling slightly silly but also desperate.

"Why is it so hard to look pretty!" she exclaimed.

Both Hermione and Ginny snorted and exchanged glances.

"You always look pretty, Penny," Hermione said, gently.

"No I don't. I don't wear any pretty hair bands or frilly shirts like Lavender or Parvati!" said Penny in dismay.

"Because you have better taste than them," Ginny scowled.

"It's just-Cedric always looks so good and effortlessly attractive, and then there's me next to him," said Penny.

"Yes. . .another effortlessly attractive person," Ginny murmured, trying not to roll her eyes.

Hermione swatted Ginny on the knee, which made Ginny shrug, "What? You know it's true Hermione!"

"I do, but Penny doesn't." Hermione said, sternly and then she turned to Penny. "You don't need to be anything or do anything to impress Cedric, it's quite obvious he is taken with you just the way you are."

"If you want some advice on what to wear, why don't you put on that emerald green oversized sweater and that abominably short skirt of yours? You'll definitely get Cedric's attention with that," Ginny grinned, evading Hermione's disapproving look. Taking her advice, Penny added a pair of long socks so she didn't freeze, finally feeling less self-conscious.

After eating a light breakfast, Penny decided to head to the kitchens to collect some food for Sirius, whom she intended to visit. She wasn't meeting Cedric until the afternoon in Hogsmeade, so visiting Sirius seemed like a good way to spend the first half of the day. She would have asked Harry to join her, but Hermione had him on a very strict practice regime to prepare for the third task. (She turned out to be a very scary teacher, but her methods were effective.)

Being horrible with her own wand work, having mostly relied on expression, Penny was not much help in these sessions. However, sometimes she joined to morally support Harry and try to get better with her own wand.. She very much wanted to be less reliant on her expression, fearing the connection between her and Tom would only strengthen. If she could just act like a normal wizard, perhaps this annoying problem would work itself out.

The walk to Sirius's was refreshing, the path was lined with early spring blooms and the snow had been replaced with vibrant greens. The birds dipped and dove, their singing lulling Penny into a sense of tranquility. She was so lost in her own head when she arrived at the cave she did not notice there was murmuring coming from within.

It wasn't until she rounded the bend and the table came into view that she realized Sirius was not alone.

"Penny!" Sirius's voice barked in surprise, causing Lupin to stop mid sentence, his head shooting in her direction.

Sirius glanced nervously back at Lupin, and then stood and made his way toward Penny.

"Am I interrupting something?" she asked, her brows furrowing.

"No!" they both said, their tones ripe with false sincerity.

Sirius pulled Penny into a rough hug, lingering longer than usual for him.

"You will be the reason I grey prematurely," he said into her ear.

"How am I the cause of that and not Harry?" Penny grumbled into Sirius's firm chest.

Irritated and reluctantly she wrapped her arms around her godfather.

"Harry doesn't-"

"Get himself into life threatening situations?" Penny offered, looking up at Sirius to condemn him with her look of skepticism.

"He's a boy, it's different," Sirius tried to say in an off-handed manner.

Penny heard Lupin's groan, but it did nothing to stop the tirade from spewing forth from her.

"Do tell me, what makes having a penis so different? Other than the fact Harry isn't subjected to bullshit opinions about his capabilities," Penny said in a dangerous voice, pulling herself free from Sirius's hold to give him a scathing look.

"Look, Penny, It's well and good to hope for equality, but the fact of the matter is, being a girl leaves you at a disadvantage. There are-biological-differences that even your wit cannot overcome," Sirius said, awkwardly, looking to Lupin for help.

"Are you kidding me!" Penny fumed. "He is kidding me, right?" she continued, rounding on Lupin.

Lupin's eyes were closed, his face in his hand, massaging the bridge of his nose.

"Of course I'm not kidding you, I'm preparing you for reality," growled Sirius.

"A reality where I courtesy and apologize for having an opinion?"

"Can you try listening for once in your life, Penny!"

"You haven't said anything worth listening to!"

"Let's face it, you have a tendency to let your feminine naïveté cloud your judgments, an excellent example is your recent involvement with that Diggory kid," Sirius said, crossing his arms.

"And what would you know about Cedric," Penny said, her hands balling into shaking fists.

"I know his type all too well. I'm sure he has put a lot of effort into convincing you he thinks you're special, but there is only one thing he wants," Sirius said, almost angrily.

"I-I never realized. . .how foolish I've been,"Penny gasped, her hand flinging to her mouth.

"Exactly, I'm glad you are finally understanding," Sirius said, looking relieved.

From the table, Lupin snorted with laughter, causing Sirius to turn to him, his brow furrowed in confusion. It wasn't until Lupin cringed that Sirius turned back to Penny. Her wand was out before he'd registered her fury.

" Levicorpus!"

There was a flash of light and Sirius was dangling upside down midair as though held there by something tied to his ankle. He yelled and floundered in shock.

"You little brat, pulled your wand on me!" he said in clear irritation.

"Moody told me I needed to practice my wand work so I'm not so reliant on my expression, what do you think, Lupin?" Penny said, looking past Sirius at Lupin, who was trying very hard to retain a neutral expression.

"Where did you learn that spell?" Lupin asked, his brows raised in curiosity.

"Snape taught it to me in my third year. There were some Slytherin boys who decided harassing me was the best use of their spare time and he thought this jinx might do the trick."

"Some things never change." Lupin muttered. "Your dedication to practicing shows, I'm very impressed" he added, smiling affectionately at her.

"Excuse me, Remus, this is not a teaching moment!" Sirius said, incredulously.

"Oh yes it is!" Penny said, rounding on Sirius. Their faces were level, so she poked his nose.

"I figured you must need some extra blood in your head for that shriveled brain of yours to work properly. I refuse to listen to you spout some 1940's-American-gender-norms propaganda. While I am confident you probably had no issues treating girls like objects in your youth, Diggory is not you. But really, who I date is none of your business."

"Like hell it isn't. I won't sit around here waiting until he gets you pregnant!"

"I don't belong to you. I'll get pregnant with whomever I please whenever I please!" Penny retorted, her eyes narrowed. "And as it turns out, womanizers tend to be better in bed so if I'm gonna do it, I might as well have a good time doing so," Penny said, haughtily, not caring that her argument was absolutely ridiculous.

"Remus do you hear her she sounds-"

"Like you," Lupin interjected with a little sigh.

"I am not-I was never-"

"You can. . . try to lie to her," Lupin said, pausing to give Penny a small grin. "But you cannot lie to me, I am too intimately aware of all your teenage escapades. And even if I did believe you, Penny has a point, whom she dates is her business, and whether or not she decides to move into a sexual relationship, which I will remind you, is a perfectly normal desire to have, is a decision for Diggory and herself and no one else," Lupin went on, his voice taking on a paternal sternness Penny had not heard there before. "I think it's time to let him down, Penny," Lupin finished.

Penny sighed, she couldn't argue with Lupin after he'd just defended her, even though she very much wanted to leave Sirius dangling for the rest of the day to get her message across. With a flick of her wand, he fell to the floor in a crumpled heap.

Not bothering to help him to his feet, she made her way to sit beside Lupin while Sirius dusted himself off looking mutinous. He, however, seemed to agree to the truce Lupin established and made no protest. Penny unpacking her bag full of cakes, ham, sandwiches and meat pies she'd stolen from the kitchens seemed to improve his mood, but only moderately. The three of them had a strained conversation over tea, that near the end became useful as Lupin and Sirius helped Penny compile a list of the most important spells they believed Harry should spend his time mastering for the coming task.

Penny made her excuses for needing to leave, avoiding mentioning the fact she was meeting Cedric, Lupin offering to walk with her.

"So. . ." Penny said, unable to stand the silence that had lingered between them the last five minutes of walking.

"Hmm?" Lupin said, looking at her as though just realizing she were beside him.

"Are you upset about something? I know I was a bit mean to Sirius back there, but I kinda felt like he deserved it," Penny said, searching his eyes tentatively.

"Why would you think I'd be upset with you about that? It's good for Sirius to have some to keep him on his toes," Lupin said, coming to a stop.

"I don't know, you just seem different today?" Penny said to her toes. "I didn't get a chance to talk to you after. . .you know, passing out and all."

"The full moon is the only thing that could have compelled me from your bedside. But I'm still sorry I was not there for you when you did awake," Lupin said, reaching for her hands to hold them in his own warm ones.

Penny looked up from her toes into the prematurely aged face. The sunlight shone brilliantly on it, highlighting his handsome cheekbones, but it could not blur the sadness etched in those lines.

"Don't be sorry, you are the only reason I woke up at all," Penny said, fiercely.

"That's kind, Penny, but I'm the one who put you in that situation to begin with, I should have realized it would not be so straightforward. But I wanted it to be the solution you needed so badly that I let you be the guinea pig," Lupin said, his features becoming suddenly rigid.

"You stupid man," Penny whispered, throwing her arms around his neck and burying her head in his chest. "Don't you dare blame yourself. There was no way for you to know and I knew I was taking a risk."

"You're just a child, I should have protected you from those risks," he said, clenching his fists into balls at her side.

"Life will always be full of the unknown. . . Remus ," said Penny, getting to her tiptoes to whisper in his ear. "But that unknown doesn't scare me, you know why?"

Lupin shook his head.

"Because when I was alone in the dark, it was your voice that reached me. You gave me the strength to come back."

Warm hands found their way into her hair, his nose pressing against her ear and his cheek flush against her own. He remained silent, his tears finding their way to her cheek and rolling down, streaking her with his love and tenderness.

"Penny-there was a moment. . .I thought you were go-ne," he said, his voice breaking.

"But you didn't give up on me, you've never given up on me," Penny said, pulling away to hold his gaze to ensure he understood. "I flourish because you believe in me."

"I have always been undeserving of you, as a werewolf, true friendship has been scarce, and such selfless love, nonexistent. I told myself I should be selfless like you; you would be better off without one like me, and that there would come a time when you finally entered wizard society and you understood what I am, that things would need to change. . .but," said Lupin, losing his willpower the further he went in his sentence.

"Don't say things like that. I'd never-"

"Wait," Lupin said, pressing his fingers to her lips to silence her. "I love you Penny, I love you more dearly than my heart has loved anyone. That's why I'm full of such selfishness. My greedy heart wants things to remain just as they are, to keep you this near to me."

Warm brown eyes held Penny's green one's with an intensity so different from the tentativeness she'd seen in them moments before. They made her heart thump a little faster and a smile form on her lips. His words, Lupin's words, they'd always brought her true happiness, a happiness she tried so hard to share with him. Yet, they also caused her brain to screech to a halt and she found herself speechless, unable to know what to say, so she recited the first thing that came to her mind.

"There might be millions of roses in the whole world, but you're my only one, unique rose."

Lupin cocked his head to the side, his lips upturning at the corners.

"To me you shall be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world."

"You've read The Little Prince?" Penny said, a grin spreading across her face, feeling thoroughly impressed.

"I don't know whether to take your surprise as an insult or a compliment," Lupin said, arching his brow and tossing his arm over her shoulder to start them walking again.

"If it helps, I never believed in kindred spirits until you shared your reading list," Penny quipped, feeling relaxed in his embrace.

"Using me for my reading list, eh? I'd make you pay for that, but I wouldn't want to make you late for your date," he laughed. Beneath Penny's perplexed gaze he added, "Dressed like that, it's obvious you are seeing Diggory," he said, selfie-assuredly.

"Speaking of Diggory. . ." Penny said, awkwardly, seeing her only opening.

"Hmm?" he said, glancing sideways at her.

"Well the thing is, I saw something last night. . .something. . .ehh, risqué?" Penny mumbled, searching for the right words. "And you said if I had questions. . ."

"Of course Penny, anything you want answered," Lupin answered, his voice a little too assuring.

"It's just, I saw. . .a person. Oh, well I guess you won't tell anyone so there is no harm in just saying it. I saw Draco giving Nott a blowjob last night," Penny blurted out.

Lupin's arm stiffened slightly around her neck, but when he spoke, his voice betrayed no such strain.

"Draco Malfoy?"

"Yeah. He hasn't really told anyone about it, well, other than those he blows, I guess."

Lupin coughed in an evident attempt to suppress his snort of laughter.

"So what is your question?" he said after clearing his throat.

"When Nott. . .erm, finished. He pulled out and. . .sprayed? Malfoy all over the face and hair," Penny said in bewilderment remembering the scene and how sticky the whole thing looked. "I tried asking Snape if it always has to be so messy, but he wouldn't answer me. So I was wondering, why the face? He definitely got him in the eye. . .Does it always have to end like that ?" Penny said, turning to Lupin in earnest curiosity.

Lupin came to an abrupt stop, he seemed to really be struggling with his coughing at this moment.

"Snape? When did Snape come into this?" he croaked between fits.

"He found me watching, said I was a voyeur, which seemed rather unfair considering he was watching too,"

A dark shadow fell across Lupin's face at these words.

"Snape watched a student ejaculate all over another with you," Lupin said, his voice deadly calm.

"Not like that!" Penny squealed, throwing her hands up as though to protect herself. "It was an unfortunate moment of being caught by my Professor. He thought I was up to something and happened to look right at, err. . .the big finale. He forced me back to my common room after that."

Lupin only looked partially appeased, but seemed to deem it not the important issue to discuss at the moment. He ran both hands over his face vigorously a few times before looking back at Penny.

"Penny, some people find it attractive to see their. . .oh, alright, cum, on another's face, likewise some like having it on their face," he said, quickly, grimacing apologetically.

"Oh. . .So I wouldn't have to if I didn't want to?" Penny said, feeling suddenly very relieved.

"Of course not. But Penny, if I may ask, does that mean you and Diggory. . ." he said, leaving the question open for her.

Penny felt her face become embarrassingly red beneath his scrutiny, so she quickly looked away.

"N-no! But seeing that, well, I won't lie, I liked watching it and it made me think about if Cedric and I might ever try."

There was a long pause while he watched her squirm beneath his gaze.

"My only advice is that you understand your own pleasure before that day comes" he said wrapping his arm around her neck again "and advocate vigorously for it," he added, sternly.

Penny couldn't help but laugh. She was thoroughly glad she had Lupin for these moments, he never made her feel silly for asking.

Not but ten minutes later, Penny found herself giving Cedric a very enthusiastic kiss. He stood just outside the Three Broomsticks waiting for her and smiled prettily when he pulled away from the kiss to look down on her.

"I hate to dampen your good mood, but I have some bad news," he said.

"If you're here nothing can dampen my mood," Penny smiled.

"This will, trust me," Cedric sighed.

Penny rolled her eyes and waited for Cedric to elaborate.

"My parents are in Hogsmeade today and asked if we'd have tea with them," he finally forced himself to say.

"That sounds lovely," Penny said, earnestly.

"That's because you haven't met my dad," he mumbled, taking her hand and guiding her to Madam Puddifoot's tea shop.

Mr. and Mrs. Diggory were already inside. Mrs. Diggory gave Penny a warm welcome, her smile as pretty as her sons. It was immediately evident Cedric got all his good looks from his mom and dodged a bullet escaping the genetics of his father, who was nowhere near as pretty as his wife.

"The other Potter, eh? Has she told you how her brother cheated his way into the tournament yet, Ced?" Mr. Diggory asked, in what would seem like a good natured way, if what he said had not been so horribly offensive.

"Dad, I told you someone else put Harry's name in that cup," Cedric said, looking thoroughly exacerbated.

"Of course he said that, it plays to his tragic persona, but he's not a real champion like you, Ced, right Penny?" Mr. Diggory said, turning on Penny with his overly large grin.

Taken aback, Penny floundered for how to respond to such a question. Thankfully, Mrs. Diggory came to her rescue.

"Amos, I'm sure Penny gets tired of questions about her brother," she said, placing a hand on Mr. Diggory's arm.

Beneath the table, Cedric grasped Penny's hand tightly, and gave her an apologetic smile. Mrs. Diggory's powers over her husband were strong, because he did not make another outlandish comment for the rest of the visit, allowing Penny to have a nice conversation with Mrs. Diggory about how she and Cedric first met in their third year.

Cedric and Penny laughed and smiled at each other as they recounted the pranks they played on each other and how everyone believed the entire production was doomed because they could not take their practices seriously. Mrs. Diggory gave her husband a small, knowing smile, while Mr. Diggory insisted that Cedric had been an acting prodigy since he was three.

By mid afternoon they made their goodbyes, Cedric and Penny making their way back to Hogwarts hand in hand.

"Thanks for enduring that," Cedric said.

"It was hardly something I had to endure, it was nice," Penny said, earnestly.

"My parents are just a little overbearing sometimes, you know how parents are," Cedric said, offhandedly, kicking a stone from their path.

"Actually, I don't, but I'll take your word for it," Penny said, honestly, watching the rock roll down the grassy hill and disappear.

"Oh Penny. . .I didn't mean-I didn't think," Cedric said, hurriedly, realizing what he'd done.

Penny gave Cedric's hand a little squeeze and a tight smile.

"It's fine, Cedric, really. It was nice seeing how much your parents care about you. My aunt and uncle. . .well, let's just say they are looking forward to the day Harry and I move out, so sometimes I forget what families are supposed to be like."

A group of loud girls giggling pushed their way past them, none of them bothering to hide the fact they were ogling Cedric. Penny couldn't help but roll her eyes, causing Cedric to grin. He pulled her close to him, a mischievous smile playing around his lips.

"What do you say we give them something real to whisper about?" he asked in a velvety voice, glancing down at her lips.

Penny's heart sped up, the blush rising to her cheeks as those beckoned by Cedric. She didn't need asking twice, she pressed her lips on Cedric's, kissing him deeply. She felt a deep sense of satisfaction when he tried to stifle a moan. They could hear the girls squealing in disappointment, but neither of them cared.

When Cedric finally pulled away, he was panting, his handsome cheeks wonderfully flushed.

"What do you say we take the less frequented, scenic path back?" he asked, looking hopeful.

Without answer, Penny took off at a run down the same hill the rock had rolled down, laughing heartily as Cedric chased her towards the wooded path. He didn't catch her until they were hidden beneath the cover of the tree's. He caught a hold of her shoulder, spinning her around to face him. Then he stepped forward, his eyes a-light with desire. He forced her backwards until he had her back prinned firmly against a large tree, ensuring she could not escape again.

His lips pressed forcefully against her own, his hand grasping at her waist. Pennys body melded to his every whim, pushing back against him, her lips parting to make way for his tongue. She gasped into his mouth, her nerves on fire with arousal. He pulled away, his lips red, tempting her again, so she moved to take them, but he denied her.

"Uh-uh," he said, teasingly, his lips trailing down her neck instead.

Closing her eyes, Penny shuddered, the sensation was more blissful than anything she could imagine.

"You're driving me mad," Penny finally said, her hands balled into impatient fists as Cedric laid a steady stream of tantalizingly soft kisses along her collarbone and jaw.

"Consider it payback for what I've had to endure all day sitting beside you looking like this," Cedric said, pulling away to look her up and down.

"I'd say it's in our mutual interest to put an end to this suffering," Penny whispered, her brow arched.

Unable to contain himself a moment longer, he forced his body against hers, squashing her against the tree, his hand grabbing a handful of her thigh and squeezing. Penny moaned involuntarily into his mouth as his hand pushed her skirt upwards pulling her leg around him, allowing his pelvis access to her own.

He began a grinding motion, that became gradually harder and more fervent against her swollen lady bits, sending Penny into a euphoric frenzy of moaning and trying to grasp every inch of him. She pulled, bit and licked, Cedric rewarding her each time with the friction she so desperately wanted.

Their clothing was disarrayed and both of them panting into each other, desperate to be closer when the crunching of footsteps broke them apart. Feeling mortified, Penny looked to the trail just as a group of Durmstrang students came to a halt before them, VIktor Krum leading the bunch.

He looked from one to the other making Penny annoyingly aware of her red face and panting. The muttering laughter of the other boys trying to crane their necks to get a glimpse, irritated her as she quickly tried to fix her clothing.

"You are the Hogwarts champion, Diggory," said Krum.

"Yeah, sorry for blocking the path, we were just bird watching," Cedric said, awkwardly.

"Is that what you British call it?" Krum asked, glancing back at the group behind him who snickered.

Penny scowled, pulling the knotted mess of her hair into a clean pony. Cedric and Penny glanced uncomfortably at each other, which apparently made Penny more visible, because a boy beside Krum began speaking quickly in Bulgarian, his eyes not leaving Penny. She distinctly heard the word " apostate" intermingle with the rest of what he said, causing Penny to instinctively take a step back. She suddenly realized this was the boy she'd decked in the face at the Yuleball, and he looked interested in a rematch.

Krum glanced at Diggory and back at Penny before responding quickly to the first in Bulgarian. From the corner of her eye she saw Cedric square his shoulders and his expression become dark. Clearly he'd heard the same thing as her. Penny did not like their odds, there were at least eight of them, and there was a good mile between them and the castle.

Cedric took Penny's hand in his, squeezing it firmly.

"Well, our friends are waiting for us, so we'll leave you to it," Cedric said, tensely, stepping forward to push past Krum. For a moment, Penny breathed a sigh of relief as Krum made no motion to stop him, but then another placed a threatening hand on his shoulder. The thick browed boy taking an unkind hold of Penny's wrist and yanking her free of Cedric's grasp.

"Let go of me you brute!" Penny yelled.

Cedric's wand was out and thrusted firmly into Krum's chest. But it didn't matter, six other wands pointed directly at Cedric, at least one of the spells yelled in Bulgarian colliding and sending his wand spiraling out of his hand. But Cedric didn't seem to care. His hand empty, he cocked it backwards and smashed Krum square across the cheek before the other boys tackled him, wrestling him into submission.

Meanwhile, Penny was flailing against her assailant, who had both of her arms pulled uncomfortably behind her, growling obscenities in her ear.

"Ve must not hurt him, he is the Hogwarts champion," Krum said to the boys now kicking at Cedric.

They didn't need telling twice, and opted to pull him up into a restraining hold.

"You will accept my apology, Andrei here desires a rematch with your heretic," Krum said, not sounding apologetic at all.

"If you wanted another broken nose, all you had to do was ask," Penny growled as Andrei slammed her against the same tree she'd just been pressed up against with Cedric.

His fist slammed into her stomach before Penny knew what happened. She coughed, all the air forcing its way out of her, disorientating her. A second fist collided with her cheek, giving her a mouth full of blood.

Stars burst into her vision, but she had the wherewithal to take a hold of his shoulder to steady herself and drive her knee into his groin with all the force she could muster. He yelled, involuntarily, bending forward to protect the sensitive area, giving Penny the opening to drive her elbow into his ear. He lost his balance and tumbled to the ground, gasping in pain.

Unfortunately, Penny's hope that she would now be free could not be further from reality. She turned to find seven other angry faces looking back at her. They threw Cedric to the side, and all except Krum charged towards her. Penny reached for her wand and yelled " stupefy" but nothing happened.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" she yelled in frustration at the stupid piece of wood.

Next moment, she was being barreled to the ground, muddy boots colliding with any part of her body they could reach. Something inside of her cracked sickeningly, and she felt hot, sticky blood on her face.

She didn't want to, but Penny knew she had to reach for her magic and hope she did not lose control to Tom, afraid of how far the Durmstrangs intended to take things. Reaching for the life she felt all around, tree roots sprang from the cold soil and began slithering like snakes towards the Durmstrangs, wrapping their way around their limbs and dragging them back into the earth with them.

Realizing the danger, they all began yelling and firing jets of light at their attackers. This allowed Penny to roll, agonizingly, onto her feet. Ignoring their writhing and clutching her side, Penny limped her way back to Cedric who was bound mouth and body by some leathery ropes. Krum gave her a look that said he would have liked to stop her, but he made no attempt.

Trying her annoying wand again, she waved it over Cedric, his bounds disappearing. He accepted her hand, retrieved his wand and followed Penny, who was already marching wordlessly back to the path that led to Hogwarts. Every part of her was trembling, anger intermingling with pain. She spat several times to clear the blood from her mouth.

"Penny-" Cedric said, gently, tugging at her arm.

She hadn't realized how far she'd marched, the desperate need to just keep moving, to put distance between herself and such hatred. But Hogwarts loomed overhead, the windows bursting with the light and warmth that existed within.

She turned on him, seeing for the first time that his face was bruised and dirt was still in hir hair. She reached for his face, wincing as her rib cage screamed in agony. But she didn't care. She brushed the dirt from his cheek, her heart sinking as her fingers traced the purple spot on his cheek.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"What do you have to be sorry for? You just rescued me after being a total badass and taking on all those idiots all by yourself. It's me who should be sorry, sorry for being a useless prick."

"You idiot," Penny sighed in relief, laying her head on his shoulder.

"That Durmstrang dropping like a bag of bricks before you was probably the sexiest thing I've ever seen in my life," he murmured dreamily into the sky.

"You are so absurd, Cedric, but you're exactly the kind of absurd I need," Penny said, pulling away to laugh.

Cedric demanded Penny get checked out for injuries, but she refused to go to Madam Pomfrey, so he left her outside of Snape's office, a pitying look on his face. It was a long shot, especially with Snape's current attitude towards being in her proximity, but she hoped some part of him would take a look at her and relent, and if not, well at least she tried.

Penny pushed the door open, finding it unlocked. Surprisingly, Snape's office was empty, but the fire was glowing hot, the only light to illuminate the shadowy room. Penny knew she should just leave, but she felt compelled to move forward, desperate for the solitude the office gave her. She walked across the room and stood before the desk she'd sat at so many times, Snape occupying the other side, always willing to entertain her company in his forever snarky manner.

The ease with which the two of them always argued back and forth seemed so foreign to Penny now, like that was a life she only dreamed and never lived. The thought deepened the despair pressing at her heart, a despair she did not want to share with Cedric, afraid he would blame himself. She was glad he was impressed by her, but there was a heaviness that came with being on the receiving end of such violence. It brought her a loneliness that reminded her that the only other person like her was an international criminal and murderer.

She dwelled on these thoughts, her fingers running back and forth across the smooth exterior of the desk until a low humming caught her attention.

She followed the sound, making her way into Snape's store cupboard. There was nothing in there that was out of the normal. So she moved past the shelves, trailing her fingers along the tiny glass jars, realizing each one was calling out to her, their sounds intermingling together creating the comforting humming noise that drowned out Penny's own thoughts. At the other side of the cupboard, she slid downward against the wall, pulling her knees to her chest, and just let herself be engulfed by the sound, hot tears rolling down her face.

Things were different, Penny was different, and at some point she had to realize how futile it was to keep trying to get her old life back. Tears continued to roll silently, for how long Penny did not know. She only became aware of herself when the door creaked open and Snape's long shadow loomed over her.

He did not seem surprised by her presence there, he probably had magical protections that told him when people entered his office. Penny noted how his face moved through a range of emotions, beginning with irritation and ending on concern as he got a better look at her countenance.

Without so much as greeting her, he strode across the room and pulled her gently to her feet, looking sharply at her when she gasped in pain and clutched her side. He led her to his desk, turned her around and sat her on its edge before him.

Penny positioned herself between his legs, one hand wrapped around her to clutch her side, her teeth chattering subconsciously, though she was not aware of being cold. In fact, when Snape's thin hand took a hold of her chin to turn her sideways to get a better look at what she assumed must have been the cut she felt bleeding before, his hands felt quite cold.

His wand in his hand before Penny could see him reach for it, he was gliding it along her left cheekbone muttering under his breath. When he was satisfied, he reached down to take a hold of her hand and move it so he could examine the rest of her. He pushed her large sweater up to examine her ribcage, his cold fingers grazing gently along her abdomen and side. Penny bit her lip to keep herself from gasping, Snape's dark eyes glancing back up at her momentarily to gauge whether he hurt her or not.

He worked for several minutes there, Penny still unable to adequately ground herself to what was going on before her. Instead her mind drifted back to the thoughts she'd been trying to escape in the cupboard.

There were things that no matter how hard Penny tried, she could not change. She could not make her expression go away; could not make the Durmstrangs stop hating her; could not make Snape understand how much she wanted to go back. . . Back to when his words were less harsh, when, even in silence they understood each other. There was an unknown distance that spanned between them these days, a truth Penny could not grasp that he held between them. It made her feel terribly lost.

The tears were back, but Penny did not care, she sat there listening to his low tones mutter combinations of spells she'd never heard of, acutely aware of the way his every touch sent a shock of comfort through her, reminding her how every fiber of her being yearned to be close to the man.

His murmuring had stopped, the world still except for the flickering of shadows caused by the fizzling fire behind them. He stood before her, his thighs pressing against her knees, his hands resting at his sides. He still hadn't said anything and nor had she. He just watched her while she cried silent tears.

Finally, unable to bear another moment wondering what he was hiding behind those dark eyes, Penny leaned forward, resting her forehead against his chest, her right hand grabbing a handful of his shirt, as though fearful he would blow away if she didn't hang on.

His hands remained at his sides, but he did not move away from her; did not push her away, or tell her to go back to her common room. Instead, he stood there, letting Penny cry into his black shirt, breathing in the smell of bergamot that was so familiar to her, listening to the rising and falling of his chest. He was the much needed anchor in the stormy seas that life had thrown at her.

Though she knew the moment would come when he would finally pry her fingers from him, she did not think of that, rather, greedily relishing his silence because when Severus Snape was silent, Penny could hear what was written on his heart-he too did not want to let go.