AN: WARNING character death!
I have finally come to the point where I cannot put off writing the third task any longer :( So here you go, best of luck friends.
As the third task approached, Penny found herself having more and more trouble sleeping. A horrible sense of foreboding had overcome her and she could not seem to shake it. She tried to remind herself that the ministry, all of her professors as well as Dumbledore would be present, making it unlikely Harry would come to any harm, but the assurance of this quickly dwindled away after Harry had another dream in divination, much like the one he had over the summer.
Penny did not know what these dreams meant but Harry was adamant they were real the feeling of certainty of this point oozing from his mind to hers. This dream had been about Voldemort threatening Wormtail. Apparently Voldemort was planning on feeding Harry to something named Nagini. To make matters worse, Rita Skeeter had somehow got wind of Harry's passing out in divination and wrote a particularly nasty article about his mental capacities.
The Slytherins wasted no time harassing Harry about it, but thankfully practicing for the third task kept him preoccupied enough to not let it bother him too much. Meanwhile, Penny tried to squeeze in time with Cedric every spare moment she had. They spent their afternoons sitting on the grounds in the warm sun, relishing their dwindling time at Hogwarts together, neither of them very excited about what the end of the term would mean. Penny was not much looking forward to not having Cedric with her at Hogwarts the following year. He was a luxury she had not know before.
Penny was always a bit of an odd ball and never fit in with a group of friends the way Harry did. Most of the time at Hogwarts, she'd walk with different groups of people or by herself to class. It was a new kind of happy to find Cedric always waiting for her at the breakfast table, a seat reserved just for her beside himself. He took round about ways to get to his own classes just to be able to walk her to class, give her a tantalizing kiss, holding her hand always, his laughter ringing like a pretty wind chime beside her.
The orphan inside of Penny clung to these gestures, to how she felt like her and Cedric just fit together. Even his friends had opened to the idea of her and stopped groaning when Cedric brought her with him. Penny knew these days couldn't last and she vocalized her sadness about it many times to Cedric, who would stop what he was doing and turn to her with his bright eyes, intent upon her own. He'd tuck her wild hair behind her ear, smile and say, "Distance might separate us but there is no bend in life that can keep us apart, so don't be afraid Penny, if you're lost, just remember I'm always waiting just around the corner for you," the same line every time she'd despair.
Of course, then he'd pull her into his arms and drag her into all his dreams about the future. It was during these times Penny learned that Cedric Diggory dreamed of being a broadcaster for the Wizarding Wireless Network. Though Penny assumed at first he meant he wanted to be a sports reporter she found he was actually interested in more serious reporting. Cedric also wanted to a build a small cottage, on enough land for the various animals he wanted to raise. Apparently, he wanted five kids because he'd grown up as an only child and was envious of large families, though he admitted to this being negotiable considering he was no the one who would have to be pregnant. He confided to Penny that he hoped by the time he became a dad that it'd be more acceptable to be a stay at home dad because he really wanted to take time off from working to build a strong relationship with his kids.
In his more short term oriented dreaming, he wanted Penny to go traveling with him on her summer vacations; was determined they would co-write a story of epic proportions; and wanted Penny to take him to a muggle cafe to try the perfect cappuccino that she had described to him when she told him about what life growing up as a muggle was like.
These conversations were precisely what Penny's heart needed, but Cedric did not stop there, he left lists and notes for her in her notebooks, which he said hoped would give her comfort when he was no longer at Hogwarts to do himself.
Cedric's company also helped distract Penny from the fact Snape refused to relent in his decision to put distance between them. He seemed to have doubled down after he let her remain in his office with him after he healed her. In vain, Penny went twice a week to his office during the hours they normally spent together for his office hours, only to find his office locked and dark. Snape being nowhere to be found so Penny sat on the cold dungeon floor, her back against the door of his office. She spent the hour they normally spent together mulling over their situation and getting nowhere.
She could not figure out where they were meant to go from here and was struggling with the fact that one day Snape had been there, like every other day before, the steadfast figure in her life that she'd found she could not do without; only to arrive to the next day, alone. The pain evoked in facing the reality that Penny could not reach Snape because he did not want her to caused her to pull her knees to her chest reflexively, as though trying to keep herself from falling apart.
In Potions, he took such pains to ignore her that everyone could not help but notice. They murmured amongst themselves and Malfoy would give her a curious look when Penny would raise her hand for a question and Snape would never so much as look at her, much-less verbally address her. But Malfoy never asked, having better intuition than anyone else and realizing the topic clearly upset Penny.
Penny was glad for Draco, who took it upon himself to keep her as distracted as he could manage during Potions, preventing the melancholy trapped in Pennys chest from rising and suffocating her while being in Snape's presence, which forced her to accept he wanted to be nowhere near her.
The day the third task arrived, Penny had exams (which Harry thoughtfully gloated he was exempt from taking.) Giving him a little punch, Penny made her way to have her usual breakfast with Cedric, finding him looking nervous, something Penny had not seen on him before.
"No point in stressing, pretty boy. You have prepared as much as you could hope, now you just gotta let destiny take the wheel," Penny said, giving Cedric a grin as she plopped down beside him.
"Your motivational speaking needs work," Cedric said, filling Penny's cup with tea before she could ask.
"So you'd prefer me to lie to you at the important moments. Duly noted," Penny mused out loud.
"I said no such thing! You'd better never lie to me, Penny Potter," Cedric said in what she assumed was his attempt to sound stern, but it only had the effect of reminding Penny how irresistible she found him.
Penny almost lent in for a stolen kiss, but stopped a moment before Professor McGonagall showed up.
"I did not realize you were a Hufflpuff now, Miss Potter," came her stern voice accompanied by her reproachful look.
"Morning Professor," Penny said, trying to discreetly inch away from Cedric, realizing just how close she was sitting next to him. "I've always believed it's important to maintain friendly relations with other houses."
"Yes, I can see you and Mr. Diggory both seem to be committed to some extremely friendly relations," Professor McGonagall said, fixing her stare on Cedric.
"With her brilliance and charm, I'd have to be a fool not to be, Professor," Cedric said, charmingly.
Penny felt her face glow red with embarrassment. She did not realize professors paid attention to the goings on of students, and she had not expected Cedric's admonition, though it was very sweet. To both their surprise, a small smile spread across Professor McGonagall's thin lips.
"How reminiscent your answer is of that of James Potter's after he finally won over your mother," McGonagall went on, turning to Penny.
Penny's eyes flickered with interest and she looked over to the Gryffindor table where she tried to imagine a younger version of her father and mother, discussing their future much in the same way Penny did with Cedric. It brought a sad smile to her face knowing she would never be able to ask them how they fell in love.
Professor McGonagall made no comment, but she grasped Penny's shoulder in an oddly affectionate gesture before turning back to Cedric.
"The champions will spend the day with their families, if you'll make your way to the corner door, you'll find them waiting for you, Mr. Diggory," she said and turned to leave. However, she paused and said "Good luck, Mr. Diggory, you have always been an excellent student and I have no doubt you will do Hogwarts proud today. And Miss Potter, do try to focus on your exams today," she said with a severe arch of her brow.
Cedric got to his feet startling Penny with his abruptness. She was not ready for their breakfast to be cut short. He gave her a an apologetic smile.
"Penny," he said gently, taking a hold of her hand. "You will do brilliantly on your exams," he whispered, kissing her right cheek. "And I will come out of that maze with the cup," he said, kissing the other cheek. He pulled away and paused just before her lips. He watched her for a moment before continuing, "And tomorrow we will eat breakfast together and think how silly we were to be so nervous," Cedric said, placing the tenderest of kisses on her lips.
Penny wanted to pull him closer, kiss him deeper, to hold him a moment longer, but they were in a room full of onlookers, so Cedric pulled away.
"Come back later for a more private one," Penny said, sulkily, which caused Cedric to laugh.
"Only if you do well on your exams," he winked, leaving Penny to watch him disappear from view.
The day was cruelly slow, the kind of slow where you're aware of every tick of the clock. Penny watched it, willing it to move faster so she could be free. She forced herself to look back down and re-read her exam essay for the third time. The question had been mundane and Penny had no issues answering it. She'd written for thirty minutes and then re-read her work, changing topic sentences on a few paragraphs. Otherwise she was content with her answers. Hermione, however, was still scribbling fervently beside her, making Penny wonder if she should add more.
Penny glanced at her twins' empty seat, her heart sinking as worry washed over her again. Thankfully, the next twenty minutes passed faster than the last and Penny was released for lunch where she found Mrs. Weasley and Bill Weasley already sitting with Harry.
"Penny, dear, how good it is to see you," Mrs. Weasley smiled, pulling Penny into a warm hug. "We missed you over the summer."
"Mrs. Weasley!" Penny said, just as Ron yelled "Mum! Bill!"
Mrs. Weasley released Penny to hug her youngest son, and Penny turned to Bill, who she was surprised to find was quite handsome.
"Good to finally meet you, Penny, we missed you at the worldcup," he said pleasantly.
"I was sorry to have missed it, it sounded quite exciting by the re-telling," Penny replied, before squishing in beside her twin.
Harry looked like he'd forgotten all his nerves, which Penny smiled at. Perhaps the night would go better than she originally thought. Even still, she'd had an idea while staring at the clock and she wanted to get Harry alone before he headed off for the third task. But she decided to let him enjoy the company and would share her idea with him later.
The rest of the day went by in a blur, with all her exams requiring much more of her attention than her History of Magic one. By the time dinner came around, she was exhausted. Before Harry made in inside the Great Hall, Penny managed to extract him from the group unnoticed and pulled him into a nearby corridor.
"What's up?" he said, looking concerned.
"I'm not letting you go into that maze without some way of knowing what's going on, that's what's up," Penny replied, forcing Harry inside an empty classroom.
"Penny, we can't cheat-"
"This isn't cheating! You'll be on your own if anything happens, but. . .I can't sit in those stands waiting, you know I can't," Penny said, her voice pleading.
"You're worrying me," Harry frowned.
"You should be worried, you great prat! Someone put your name in that cup and this is their last chance to do whatever they intended," Penny exclaimed.
"I know I know!" Harry sighed.
"Good. Then you'll understand and let me perform a mirror charm," said Penny.
"What's that?"
"Do you ever pay attention in class? Hermione was discussing it with Professor Flitwick right beside you just the other week!" Penny said, exacerbated.
Harry blinked as though that were enough of an answer.
"How you managed to survive this long," Penny grumbled before continuing, "Basically I charm two items to create a sort of link between us. I'll be mirroring you, so whatever happens to you, will also happen to me. If you scratch your left cheek, a scratch will appear on my left cheek."
"No. What if something kills me in there," Harry said, with such resolution Penny was fearful he would go on one of his stubborn tirades and not allow her to do it, but she persisted.
"If you die, the tie breaks. We are magically linked through the inanimate object, so it's not possible for the magic that kills you to kill me. But if you die, both our items will break."
He considered her for a moment.
"What if I get seriously hurt. . ."
"Then I have Madam Pomfrey literally feet from me. And I'll know something is wrong and can raise the alarm."
"I don't know, Penny," Harry said slowly, looking away from her.
"If it were me going into that maze, would you be able to just sit in the stands wondering? Could you do it, Harry? Because I can't and if you won't consent, you know I'll overpower you and force you," Penny said, crossing her arms stubbornly.
"Fine!" Harry grumbled. "But what are we linking?"
"Our watches of course!" Penny said, throwing her arms around her twin's neck and kissing him vigorously on the cheek several times.
Harry looked down at the watch Ron had given them for Christmas. It was fashioned after the Weasley family clock where the hours were replaced with various locations such as home, school, work, traveling, lost, hospital, prison and mortal peril. Instead of the hour and minute hand of the clock, there were hands inscribed with their own names. Sometime after Ron had gifted them Penny had added Sirius and Lupin to both their watches, Harry agreeing to the additions.
Deciding it was better not to take chances with her shoddy wand work, Penny reached for her expression, Harry held her right hand as Penny muttered for several minutes. Finally, a large cord sprang from Harry's watch and wormed its way toward Penny's, twisting around it before disappearing.
"Did that work?" Harry said skeptically.
"Of course it did," Penny replied, indignantly.
Harry grinned mischievously before he brought his foot back and kicked the desk in front of him very hard. Penny's foot erupted in pain causing her to yelp.
"I guess you're right," he said, shaking his foot.
"I'm going to strangle you," Penny said through tears.
"Looks like I'm the tougher twin, after all," Harry grinned.
He pulled Penny into a hug before dragging her back to the feast where they managed to slip their way back into the fold mostly unnoticed. The festivities ended far too soon, Penny feeling uncomfortably full, but exceedingly more relaxed than she had all day. Then Dumbledore rose beckoning the champions forward. Penny pulled Harry into a tight hug, whispering "If you need me, cut an x into your left palm," into his ear. Harry nodded, disappearing to a roar of cheers from the Gryffindor table. It wasn't until Penny saw Cedric's perfect head of hair follow after Harry that she realized she had not seen him since breakfast and had not wished him luck.
While everyone else was preoccupied, Penny snuck out and sprinted her way to the quidditch pitch. She managed to skirt past most of the ministry officials and waited in the tunnel that led from the team locker rooms to the stadium. She hoped they would enter this way, and crossed her fingers that no one would kick her out before Cedric came through.
She only had to wait about ten minutes before she heard Ludo Bagman's voice and turned. Penny did not care they were all staring at her, giving her a questioning look, Ludo Bagman asking her what she was doing. She pushed past all of them to reach Cedric, who smiled broadly at her.
Without a greeting, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, her hands tangling in his hair. He kissed her back, his hand lacing around her waist.
"Love birds, eh? That's enough of that you two, there will be plenty of time for that later," Bagman laughed, his voice loud and intrusive.
They both pulled away panting slightly.
"Good luck" Penny breathed, grinning stupidly up at his handsome face. She wanted to look into those pretty eyes of his forever, wanted to lay in his arms and feel the wonderful sensation of his lips on her body. But Bagman was grabbing Cedric by the arm, pulling him away. Cedric hung on for a moment, giving Penny's nose a last little kiss,
"I love you Penny. I'll be back soon with that cup, I promise," he grinned.
Penny's heart sped up in her chest as she registered the words he'd used. She was dumbstruck, too dumbstruck to respond. She whirled, needing to respond before Cedric was too far.
"I love you too!" she said, but the tunnel was empty. Penny stood staring at the spot where Cedric had just been, touching her own lips, trying to recall the feel of his on hers. That was what love felt like. . .
Penny could have kicked herself for not responding, but at least she'd not forgotten to wish him luck. She would not have been able to stand it if she had not seen him before he entered the maze. On the bright side, the desire to reciprocate his words when he returned from that maze would help her pass the time while they all waited and watched.
The whistle blew and Penny knew they were off. So she made her way to the stands, finding Malfoy, who pulled her unceremoniously into the spot beside him.
"How could you miss your lover boy entering the maze?" Draco said, looking through his heavy lids at her.
"I went to wish him luck in the tunnel," Penny said, defensively.
Draco's eyes widened slightly, and then he smirked. "Good girl," he drawled. "I'm sure that was disgustingly romantic. What'd you say?"
"Good luck and I kissed him," Penny said, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"And him?" Draco pressed, trying not to look condescending.
"He said he loves me," said Penny, touching her lips again.
Draco choked on the pumpkin seeds he was chewing on. He turned incredulously in Penny's direction. "Please, for the love of Merlin's beard tell me you said it back to him."
"It all happened so fast! I didn't realize what happened . ." Penny stammered.
"Oh, Penny. . .what will I ever do with you," Draco sighed, putting his arm around her shoulder in a show of moral support. "A passionate kiss is not all that bad, but you'll need to rectify this when he comes back. A sexy blow job in the locker rooms should do the trick," Malfoy said, offering Penny some seeds.
"What!" Penny said, turning her bulging eyes on Draco.
Draco stared at her as though he was confused by her sudden outburst, then a knowing look shadowed his.
"Penny. . .Penny? Penny!" Draco scolded, his eyes narrowed. "You're dating, Cedric Diggory, you know, the most attractive straight man to ever grace these halls, and you haven't even looked below the hood?"
"I thought about it-I wanted to, but I just didn't know how to bring it up."
"You bring it up by touching it," Draco said, rubbing the bridge of his noise.
"I know that! I meant talking to him about it," scowled Penny. "You know, to find out if he wants to."
"Oh, he wants to," Draco said with a dry laugh. "It's fine, Penny, this can work out in your favor. It'll make it even sexier when you spring it on him."
"I'm not-" Penny began, but she was forced to stop mid sentence.
Red sparks had flown into the air, causing people all around to gasp and murmur. They all waisted with bated breath, wondering who it 's heart thumped uncomfortably, she knew it wasn't Harry, she felt fine. But Cedric. . . A moment later, Professor McGonagall appeared on the field, her arm around Fleur Delacour. Penny sighed in relief and accepted some of Mafloy's snacks.
She kept glancing down at her watched, as though expecting Harry's hand to point to mortal peril at any moment.
"So, now that I've got you alone, care to explain what's going on with you and a certain Potions Master of ours?" Draco said, lazily.
"I don't know what you mean," Penny replied, setting her jaw.
She could hardly explain the entire situation to him, but she really wished that she had someone less prejudiced against Snape to speak to about it.
"You expect me to believe him ignoring you after being his favorite student for four years, isn't out of the norm?" Draco said dryly.
Penny was saved from responding as more red sparks flew into the air. Again, she waited, her heart hammering, fearful of who's face she would see. But relief spread through her when Flitwick appeared, levitating an unconscious Krum.
Draco and Penny looked at each other, both evidently thinking the same thing. Harry and Cedric were the only one's left in that maze.
"I swear if you're brother comes out with that cup," Draco said darkly.
"You'll finally have the excuse you need to kiss him," Penny winked.
Draco gave her a look that told her he was not at all amused by her. He reached over to flick her in a reprimanding manner on her cheek. Penny yelped, but it wasn't her cheek she reached for, but her leg. It felt like it was being split in two.
"What the bloody hell is that?" Draco said in horror, his eyes following her hands to her leg.
Penny followed his gaze too and found her leg split open like someone had cut right through it and bleeding profusely. Fighting back her fear, Penny grabbed Draco's shoulder.
"Don't draw attention to us, I need you to help me get down stairs. I need to see Dumbledore, now," Penny said in his ear, her voice steady, though she wanted to yell in pain.
Draco pulled Penny to her feet, slipped his hand around her waist and half-carried her down the stairs. Whispering in her ear as they went.
"What is this? What'd you do?" he demanded.
Half way down the stairs, Penny's feet buckled, the wind suddenly knocked out of her. Her back ached like she'd fallen off a 2 story building. She clung to Draco, wincing and gasping in pain.
"Hurry Draco, something is wrong, Harry is in trouble."
"How would you even know that, and don't tell me it's some twin shit," Draco panted as they rounded the corner into the tunnel.
Penny's leg wobbled from pain and she stumbled again, the blood hot and sticky on her skin.
"Just get me to Dumbledore," Penny panted.
"You're bleeding everywhere! Perhaps I should leave you here and just go get him myself," Draco said, pausing mid-step as he pondered his idea.
"No!"
"Mr. Malfoy, what seems to be the problem? Shouldn't you be in the stands with the rest of your house?" said a cool voice from behind them.
Draco set Penny against the wall and turned to face his head of house.
"Sir, it's Penny. She-well, look," Draco said, stepping away from Penny so Snape could get a better look at her.
Snape took several steps forward, his eyes scanning Penny and landing on her leg. He stared at the gash there, clearly perplexed. Penny forced herself to step forward, ignoring the pain. She grabbed a hold of Snape's robes.
"I need to see Dumbledore, its Harry-he's in danger," Penny gasped.
"As adorable as this display of sibling affection is, if Harry is in need of saving, he can shoot red sparks into the air like every other participant," Snape sneered. "Now explain to me what happened to your leg."
"No, he needs help now, we can't wait!" Penny said, desperate to make Snape understand.
"What happened, Mr. Malfoy," Snape said, prying Penny's hands from him and turning on Draco.
"We were just sitting in the stands, Sir. And then out of nowhere Penny just yelled and her leg was suddenly bleeding."
Holding herself against the wall, Penny limped her way slowly down the tunnel. She did not have the time to argue with Snape. Penny reached out with her mind, searching for the familiar vibrations of Harry's mind. It seemed to be located somewhere deep in the maze, but when she tried to force their connection closer, it disappeared. The spot where she'd felt him a moment ago was empty.
Harry was gone.
Penny fell to her knees and began to vomit, fear spiraling through every vein in her body. And then the pain was erupting in her head, blinding her. She spewed again before Snape forced her around to face him.
"What is going on, Potter!" he spat.
"Something is wrong, Harry is gone! I need to see Dumbledore," said Penny, unable to see clearly through the pain.
Again, pain erupted in Penny's body, this time coming from Penny's right arm. She floundered, reaching her left hand to touch the spot that ached. Sticky blood met her trembling fingers, which were snatched up by Snape.
He looked from them to her arm for a moment, before turning his narrowed eyes on hers.
"What did you use to link the two of you," Snape said in a low voice. "That was a foolish thing to do, but I can fix it," he went on, his voice getting lower still.
"If you won't listen, then get off me and let me find Dumbledore myself!" Penny yelled trying to pull away from his grasp.
""If your brother is too pig headed to call for assistance-"
"HE ISN'T HERE" Penny bellowed.
"And how exactly would you be privy to that information?" Snape hissed, shaking Penny.
"Does there seem to be a problem?"
Penny knew that pleasant voice, it was Dumbledore's voice.
"I was in need of the little boys room and could not help but notice the yelling," Dumbledore said, politely, staring intently at Penny through his half moon spectacles.
"Professor!" Penny half-sobbed half-yelled.
Snape did not attempt to stop her while she stumbled her way toward Dumbledore. She fell just before she made it, but he caught her, following her gently to the ground.
"She's used the mirror charm on that brother of hers, but refuses to tell me what the link is," Snape offered before Dumbledore could ask where Penny's injuries came from.
"Ahh, I'd expect nothing less from one as clever as you, Penny," Dumbledore smiled.
"Please, Professor, it's more than that. Something is wrong, Harry isn't here," Penny said, blinking through her tears. Her head felt like someone was slowly chiseling it open.
"She was spouting this nonsense to me-"
"If you'll please remain silent, Severus. I'd prefer Penny explain, herself," Dumbledore cut across him, looking suddenly serious. "What makes you think Harry is not here?" We all saw him go into the maze."
"Because when I went to search for his mind, he disappeared before I could contact him," Penny said.
The urgency was building in her. Harry was in danger, why could nobody understand that?
"Am I right to believe that you are suggesting you and Harry have some sort of mental connection?"
Penny winced at another painful throb of her head. "Yes, not only can we always feel each others' presence, we are able to share thoughts when close enough,"
"Why have you never mentioned this?" Snape hissed, looking down his hooked nose on Penny.
Staring into the dark eyes, Penny felt what was a-kin to a thousand hot-knives forcing their way into her skin. Her bones were on fire, her body in more pain than she'd ever experienced before. She was yelling, no screaming, her body convulsing against her will. She wanted nothing more than for the pain to end. . .to die. And then it did end and she was panting, staring unseeing into the two faces above her.
"Who would be using an unforgivable curse on the boy?" Snape said, kneeling down to press his cool hand to Penny's forehead. Even in the haze of her pain, she could see how unnerved her potions master looked.
As though in an answer to his own question, Snape snatched his hand away from Penny's forehead to grip his left forearm, grimacing. In a fluid motion, he undid the button and pulled his sleeve upward, releasing his arm and exposing the dark mark that had once looked so faded it was hard to tell what it was, but now burned black upon Snape's skin.
"As I suspected, Voldemort has returned," Dumbledore said gravely.
"Harry!" Penny sobbed, rolling herself onto all fours. "We have to help Harry!" She tried to crawl forward, not even knowing what she intended to do. All she knew was she could not sit here a moment longer, talking casually, as if Harry, her own twin was not in mortal danger. She looked down at her watch, desperate for it to tell her something else, but the hand that read Harry did in fact, point at mortal peril .
"You are making your injuries worse," Snape seethed, pulling Penny back into a sitting position and restraining her.
Before Penny could respond, that horrible pain was back. She collapsed into Snape's lap, convulsing again, cries of agony passing through her lips. The pain was relentless, lasting for an eternity. Every breath was agony that would not end. But then she was looking through tears at Snape who had one hand clasped over her chest and the other one on her forehead.
"If you'd just tell me what you used for the link, your agony could end," Snape said through gritted teeth.
"Please. . .he'll kill him, you know he'll kill him. I don't want to be alone, Harry is all I have," Penny begged in nothing more than a whisper, silent tears pouring over her cheeks.
Voldemort had returned. The most evil wizard the world had ever known; who was only stopped because he tried to kill Harry. And now he had his second chance. . .But the watch had not shattered yet, Harry was alive, but for how much longer. . .
"He will kill the boy, Albus, you know as well as I do," Snape said to Dumbledore, unable to look at Penny a moment longer.
"You cannot go Severus, it would be futile, Voldemort would not let you leave with the him, and Harry is not defenseless," Dumbledore said, pacing on the spot "Someone in our midst has betrayed us," Dumbledore pondered out loud.
For a moment, there was a tense silence as both Snape and Penny stared, bewildered at Dumbledore.
"How is a fourteen-year old boy not defenseless against the Dark Lord," Snape said, quietly.
"Harry has always surprised me," Dumbledore said, still pacing. "And I have a hunch."
"You're going to wager Potter's life on a hunch," Snape went on, his voice waspish now.
"It would have had to be someone close to the him, but who?" Dumbledore muttered, ignoring Snape.
"HE IS ONE CHILD AGAINST THE DARK LORD AND HIS FOLLOWERS, ALBUS," Severus screamed, the arms that held Penny shaking violently.
Dumbledore stopped pacing and fixed Severus with a peculiar gaze, the look was almost one of pity.
Penny could not even begin to follow the conversation, Snape advocating for saving Harry while Dumbledore acted as though the matter were not pressing at all. What alternate universe had she landed in? But she did not have long to dwell on it, because the door in the back of her mind that linked her to Harry began to rattle violently.
"He's coming!" Penny gasped, tugging at Snape's arm.
Penny didn't know how or why, but she'd never been more certain of anything in her life. "The pitch, take me to the pitch. Take me to see Harry!" Penny said, not caring she made zero sense.
Dumbledore was already half way down the tunnel by the time Snape got Penny to her feet, pulling her close to him so he could carry most of her weight.
Like a breath of fresh air, Penny felt Harry's presence. He was somewhere just outside the tunnel, a distance that had never felt so horrifically far. But they managed it, Snape making it just before a rush of people began descending the stairs of the pitch. They were so near Penny could make out Harry's dark hair, but their progress stalled, Snape pulling Penny to a stop, his entire body stiffening.
"Why'd you stop? I need to see Harry, take me to Harry," Penny demanded, trying to clear her head from the haze of the pain.
"I won't take you another step further," Snape said, tersely.
"Then let go, I'll go myself," Penny said, her impatience overwhelming her.
"N-no, Penny. You'll never be able to unsee it. . ." Snape said, his voice almost pained as he stared over the people blocking them at something just out of Penny's eyesight.
"But the watch didn't break, Harry is fine. I can feel him," Penny said, staring disbelievingly at her watch, struggling as hard as she could against Snape.
"Harry didn't come back alone," Snape said, his tone suddenly hard as he yanked Penny around to face him, his hand clutching her chin like a pincer.
"I don't understand?"
"He brought a body back with him," Snape pressed, looking deranged.
"I don't care. I told you I need to see Harry!" Penny fumed. Why was Snape doing this? Had he lost his mind? They were so close to Harry, why was he being vindictive now?
"It's-" Snape began, clenching and unclenching his jaw. "It's Diggory's body," he finished, his voice breaking and his dark eyes willing Penny to listen him.
"You're not funny. Now let me go before I make you," Penny said in a deadly calm.
Snape was being ridiculous and Penny did not know why. Cedric was not. . .he could not be. . .but the words were reverberating off the walls of her chest, her fear building until it was suffocating her the longer she stared into those agonized black wells of pity.
"Penny. . .Diggory is dead," Snape said, his left hand reaching for her left one.
"No!" Penny yelled, reaching up to grasp his hand, her magic working on its own and burning his pale skin beneath her.
He yelled and released her, giving Penny the chance to force her way through the people now crowding around, murmuring. She ran, ignoring her aching leg, forcing her way through people. She saw Harry, he was on his feet, being pulled away by Moody. He looked as horrible as Penny felt. He was reaching for something, muttering, looking towards the ground.
Penny followed his gaze, seeing the cup first, but then her eyes found him. Dumbledore stood over Cedric, who laid at an odd angle at Dumbledore's feet. He was much too still, and why wasn't anyone helping him? Cedric's face was turned away from Penny's. She needed to look into his eyes, to hold his face in her hands and tell him she loved him too. She hadn't told him yet.
Penny was on her knees Dumbledore speaking to her, but she heard none of it.
"Cedric," Penny said, softly, reaching a trembling hand to turn his face gently towards her.
Penny could have screamed when the empty grey eyes, staring unseeing, met hers. His mouth hanging in a grotesque fashion.
"Cedric, wake up," Penny pleaded, reaching for his hand, his warm hand that had always comforted her. But she found it cold and limp in her own hand, never again to intertwine with her fingers.
"No, no, no!" Penny all but yelled, the tears pouring from her eyes, the pain bursting in her heart.
The world was collapsing on her, Penny could not breath, she could not think.
"You promised you'd kiss me in Belgium,'' Penny cried, laying her head forward in a desperate attempt to find his heartbeat.
She was met with that horrible silence, and the realization that Cedric would never again smile; turn to her and laugh; walk her to classes, or kiss her like she was the only girl in the world. Penny would never get to tell him, he'd never know-she loved him too. The future the two of them dreamed would be one Penny would live without him.
"Why Cedric? You said we'd have breakfast tomorrow. Don't make me face tomorrow without you. . .Please Cedric. I want to write a book with you, to see you graduate. I wanted us to live our life together. Cedric, come back. . ." Penny begged.
But Cedric would not answer. Never again would Penny see the sparkle in those eyes. Voldemort had taken him from her just like he took her parents.
"We were supposed to have breakfast tomorrow. . ." was all Penny could repeat again and again as people pushed into her, trying to pull her from Cedric's body.
Penny just wanted to understand why Cedric had gone around a corner Penny could not follow.
AN: This was hard to write. I never expected to become as attached to Cedric as I did. But I found him a joy to write and felt he brought Penny a lot of comfort and happiness. Their relationship was something that uncomplicated and effortless in a confusing time for her. This loss will have a great impact on her, but it is important for her character development.
There will be one more chapter for the GoF and then we move onto the the OotP! I never imagined I'd be writing 170k for the first book, but I am happy where this story has gone! I will miss Cedric, and writing Penny through her grief will be no easy task, but I think she will find surprising wisdom from a certain potions master who is accustomed to the process. ;)
Be well friends, and stay safe! RIP Cedric Diggory 3