*WARNING** There is some inappropriate sexual-ish conduct in this chapter, with adult themes, so be awares!

Hi friends! I hope you are all healthy! I got my grades back and am happy and less stressed now! This chapter moves away from the grieving process a bit and explores what living with a Death Eater might be like! I'm looking forward to the next few chapters and exploring Snape's dark side and how Penny fits into that!

Stay healthy and safe!

"This is ridiculous, no one assigns this much homework for the summer. The point of summer is for us to have a break," Penny grumbled, flipping angrily through her textbooks as she worked on an unusually irritating potions essay.

"Need I remind you that you will be sitting your OWL's, this is a mere preview of what's to come," Snape said, not bothering to look up from the large leather bound book he was reading.

"I don't need a preview, I need a break. I am curious though, how many OWL's did you receive," Penny said, peering over her book at Snape's stiff form across from her. "The question is purely academic, of course. After-all, I need to know how much better to be than you in order to take your job when I graduate." Penny said, smugly.

"I'm sorry to be the one to inform you, but my qualifications surmount to more than OWL's and are extensive ."

"Yeah, well I have to start somewhere, So your grades were?" Penny pressed, mischievously.

"Are none of your business," Snape replied, finally turning away from his book to fix her with a severe look.

"You're so unfair. You've seen all my beautiful grades. Yours must be bad because you love a good opportunity to gloat."

"I am not required to be fair, that's the point of being a professor."

"No one should allow you to teach, but I'll admit it's impressive you've convinced Dumbledore to let you stay. I imagine that has to do with your extensive qualifications," Penny said, giving him a dark look.

He smirked his gloating smirk, irritating Penny. She'd forced herself to bite her tongue, almost blurting something out about being a Death Eater. The look in his eyes told her that he knew she was struggling against her anger at the fact. Penny couldn't understand why it felt like a part of him seemed to like being a spy, especially knowing the kinds of things he was likely asked to do when fulfilling that work. Maybe he was just good at doing his job, but Penny couldn't shake the feeling that part of him was still lured by it all, a thought that was further solidified by the fact she knew Dumbledore would not let Snape have the position he actually wanted, DADA.

"Can you at least tell what aconite is, then? I haven't been able to find it in any of the last three books I've looked through."

"Look harder," he said with an eye-roll.

"Just one hint," Penny begged. The look of cruel excitement that skittered across his face at the possibility of annoying her further prompted Penny to continue, "Or-or I'll need to go bake something to clear my head," she threatened, her brow arched in challenge.

The vein in Snape's temple throbbed several times as he evidently re-lived what Penny had managed to do last time she was in the kitchen. He'd all but banned her from being in there unless he was serving her food. Admittedly, Penny hadn't fought him on it, but would be prepared to just be done with this essay of his.

"I received nine OWL's, a feat I wouldn't expect one as lazy as you to accomplish. As for aconite, it also goes by the name of monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant," Snape said, snapping his book shut and getting to his feet.

"How was I supposed to know that, we don't get to wolfsbane in Herbology until 5th year!" Penny said, exasperated.

The fireplace burst into green flames, a message fluttering out of it to Snape's outstretched hand. He read it quickly, walked to his desk to scribble his reply and then tossed the note back into the fire. After that, he reached for a small glass of dark powder and sprinkled a small handful into the fireplace before turning on Penny.

"You have a guest," he said.

"I don't want a guest," Penny replied, forgetting her paper and jumping to her feet.

"Be sure to let him know then. I'd prefer you got rid of him quickly, the stench of half-breed sticks to the furniture," Snape drawled.

Behind him, the outline of a figure was forming in the fireplace, getting larger by the second. Penny turned on her heel and made a mad dash for the door, only to be intercepted by Snape's arm pushing the door shut over her shoulder, trapping her in the room.

"I don't think so," Snape said, softly.

"You know my feelings on seeing-"

"Indeed, however, you will be unsurprised to learn Black was dissatisfied he is not the center of the universe, so be sure to make yourself clear," Snape hissed in her ear.

"Penny?" came's Lupin's warm tones.

Heart sinking in her chest, Penny remained glued to the spot. She knew it'd been unreasonable to avoid Lupin for this long, that she couldn't do it forever and his intentions had been well meaning. But the prospect of facing him just felt too hard.

Snape forced Penny around and pushed her unkindly towards Lupin. Penny stumbled, but caught herself on Lupin's shirt, his tanned arms steadying her.

"I don't think that was necessary, Severus," Lupin said, his voice tinged with reproach.

"And I don't think you being here is necessary, but alas, here we are," Snape replied, and Penny could hear the distinct sneer in his voice.

"Penny hasn't written to anyone, surely you can understand we are concerned-"

"What I understand is your denial of the reality of Potter's wishes, which I relayed to you. But, be my guest, ask her yourself. I do, however, think her fleeing speaks volumes in and of itself."

The sound of the door closing met Penny's ears, leaving her alone with Lupin. She stared resolutely at his chest, unable to meet the eyes she knew were upon her now.

"Penny, I didn't come here about the letters, it's okay to look at me," Lupin said, gently.

"I-I can't."

"Why?"

She gripped his white t-shirt, searching for words safe enough to share, words that would not wake the beast within her.

"I don't want to see that look in your eyes."

"What look do you expect to see?"

"The one with the desperate need to make my pain go away," Penny whispered.

"You don't want it to go away?"

Penny struggled, the words lodged in her chest and emotions brimming in her eyes.

"That's all I have left of-Cedric," Penny choked.

His warm hands gripped her shoulder kindly for a moment before he spoke again.

"I can appreciate what you are saying, and right now, your grief is the most tangible expression of Cedric's presence in your life, but I do not agree that it's the only thing you have left of him. You loved-"

"Stop!" Penny yelled, smashing her fist against Lupin's chest several times. "Don't say it," she panted, tears breaking through the box she kept them buried in, sliding down her cheeks.

The guilt within her was wrapping itself around every inch of her, squeezing the resolve and breath from her.

Lupin's form stiffened beneath Penny's hands and she knew she'd filled the warm brown eyes she loved with such worry, but she couldn't do anything about it, she couldn't give him what he asked of her.

"It's alright, Penny. I hear you, you're safe. But can you answer one question for me?" Lupin asked, his voice quiet, almost like he were speaking to someone who was terribly ill.

Penny nodded, biting her lip in an attempt to stem the tide of emotions crashing against her.

"Why Snape?" Lupin said, his voice stiffer than usual.

The question was not one Penny had expected, but now that he said it she imagined everyone was asking it. For some reason, Penny's relationship with Snape had always been an anomaly to everyone else, or a phase they expected her to outgrow. In everyone else's eyes, Snape would not, could not care for another, and certainly no one would have a reason to care for him. Penny never understood this line of thinking, Snape was an enigma to her. Something she craved to study, dissect and prod, but most of all, understand. She could not keep herself away from him, did not care what anyone else thought, and did not want to believe Snape was the man they accused of him being-she wanted proof he was hiding beneath the surface of that front.

"Because he makes me feel like I can. . .like I want to breathe again."

Penny watched as the broad chest took in a deep breath and then released it slowly. One of Lupin's hands moved from her shoulder to entangle itself in her hair, tugging her into his chest, his other, wrapping around her waist. Pressing his face into her hair, he kissed her head.

"I won't be narcissistic enough to say I could be that for you, but I'm here to support you in any way that you need, and if - this- is it, then so be it. But please, Penny, just don't let it be because you're afraid that I have some expectation about how you should be coping."

Penny was relieved by his words, by his body holding hers, but they did nothing for the stiffness in Penny, for the distance between them that she was too afraid to cross. But she she knew she had to try.

"The world keeps moving-without him," Penny said, startling even herself. "I want to hold on. . .Just for a while."

"Hold on for as long as you need, but remember, you won't fall when you let go, because I'm holding on too, I'll always hold on to you," Lupin's deep voice whispered in her ear.

Penny buried herself into his shirt, breathing deeply, swallowing hard against the tears she'd only barely managed to get under control.

"I'm sorry-"

"Shh, Penny, you have nothing to apologize for. My love for you is not so frail that ignoring a few letters is enough to change it. If this is what you need, if Snape has managed to surprise us all and be available to you, then that's all that matters. I care little for anything other than your wellbeing," Lupin said, holding her at arm's length.

Nervously, Penny looked up, finally meeting his soft eyes. She could see how his worry for her had etched new lines into his handsome features, but they all visibly softened when her green one's held his. A small smile flitted across his face as he wiped a few rogue tears from her cheek with his thumb.

"I'll take my leave, but I only do so begrudgingly. I've missed these eyes," he said, leaning down to press his soft lips against her cheek, remaining for a long moment.

"Come home when you're ready," he said, almost sadly, and then he turned and the fireplace swallowed him up.

Feeling very much like she did not want to see Snape with her eyes still wet, Penny made for the bathroom, thankful the upstairs was silent when she crossed the hallway. Rifling through all Snape's soaps, Penny poured herself a relaxing bubble bath and sank herself into it and stayed put for so long, her entire body became a prune.

The days were warmer, the heat wave of summer finally setting in. Penny searched through her trunk which Snape had the wherewithal to bring for her, and decided on wearing some shorts and a sports bra because everything else just seemed impossibly hot to put on after the bath.

Checking quickly, Penny found the upstairs still empty, so she made her way to the kitchen. The downstairs was dark and quiet. The brooding potions master never opened his curtains, even on a bright summer's day. She glanced instinctively at the basement door, where Snape was likely to be, doing what, only Merlin knew because Penny was, under no circumstances, to disturb him, or set foot inside. She did try very hard to catch a peek through the door when he made his way through sometimes after breakfast, but his dramatic door snapping skills were too good from all the practise at Hogwarts.

Penny poured herself a drink of water and gulped it, not realizing how thirsty she was. She went to fill it again when several loud knocks startled her. At first she looked at the basement door, but then realized it was likely coming from the front door. While she knew it was perfectly normal for people to knock on front doors, it was unusual for Snape to have visitors, so she walked cautiously into the small sitting room, transfixed on the door. There were several noises coming from the other-side. It sounded like someone was having a conversation, but she could not make out what they were saying, so she stepped closer to the door, pressing her ear against it to listen.

The talking seemed to have stopped, but she heard the foot falls of someone on the porch, and part of her wondered if she should open the door, but then she remembered Snape's warning on her first night and thought better of it.

She was taking a step away from the door, intending to return upstairs when the lock clicked and the door creaked open. Penny's heart thumped loudly in her chest and she twirled around to look at the door just as a stocky figure with blond hair stepped over the threshold. He fixed Penny with ugly blue eyes and bared his yellow teeth at her, advancing on her before she could react.

"Yaxley!" she practically spat, stumbling away from him, her heart rate suddenly jumping.

"Penny, love, how I've missed that look on your face," he said, cocking his head and scanning her from head to toe. Penny felt suddenly self conscious, regretting her choice of clothing.

"You really should visit sometime, we've done some things I know would interest you," Yaxley said, taking several, slow deliberate steps toward her.

Memories of the last time she'd been in Yaxley's presence flashed through her mind, made worse by the uncomfortable reality that she did not know where Snape was. Instinctively, Penny turned and made a b-line for the bookcase. She reached for the book that Snape had magiced into a switch for her, intending to slip through, but a thick orange hand covered hers and pushed it back in. Pulling her hand away, disgusted, Penny turned around and squared her shoulders, trapped like a rat between Yaxley and the bookcase.

"Can't say I missed that ugly mug of yours."

"Awe, you don't mean that," he said, giving her a crooked grin and taking a strand of her hair to rub between his fingers.

"I suppose denial is a coping mechanism for the foul work you do," Penny said, scathingly.

"Foul is a bit unfair, working for the greater good is never glamorous work, Penny, but I do what I must," Yaxley said, crinkling the corners around his eyes, a gesture that only served to highlight the look of greedy hunger that lay behind his words.

"Is that what you told them after you tried to sell me to the MACUSA-that it was for the greater good of your pockets?"

Yaxley let go of her hair, his face placid, reminding Penny of a politician who was about to give a non-answer.

"Pity that, the whole ordeal, I mean. Still under investigation, it seems there is reason to believe the aurors neglected to follow up on some leads-it's quite the mess."

"How kind of Lucius to have a change of heart, but I supposed Voldemort couldn't have any infighting, now could he?" Penny said, her hands shaking fists now.

A twisted grin slithered its way across the misshapen lips of his.

"Naughty girl, making me cross with you when I promised Nina I'd deliver a message for her," Yaxley whispered, tapping her bottom lip reproachfully. "Now you've gone and made me a liar."

"Am I supposed to care? I don't even know who this Nina is," said Penny, jerking her head away from his hand.

Yaxley had clearly completely lost the plot because Penny had never known any of the names of those who routinely tortured her in the Department of Mysteries, and of those who had given their names did not go by Nina.

"Oh, but you do, you just need a little help remembering," Yaxley said, softly, ignoring her attempts to move away from him and caressing her cheek.

"Fine, 'll bite. Who's Nina?" said Penny, her eyes narrowed in disgust.

"Our first born," Yaxley said, leaning forward to whisper in her ear.

His putrid breath washed over her, giving Penny a distinct desire to vomit. Her skin prickled and a chill ran up her spine; her entire body wanted as much distance between her and the foul man as possible, so she reached behind her for a thick, leather bound book, pulling it free and swinging it, smashing Yaxley across the side of his face.

He stumbled but not enough to free Penny, so she hit him again before he could reach for his wand. With a hard shove, she went to veer past him to make a break for the backyard, but his hand caught a hold of her. Penny braced herself for his yank to pull her back to him, but it did not come; he seemed to be frozen in place. After a moment, Penny realized why. Looming in the kitchen door was Snape, who studied the scene before him with cold, calculating eyes. Then, without a word, he bridged the distance swiftly, Penny noting how his dark eyes flashed with malice. The anger exuding from him sent a chill and relief up Penny's spine. Yaxley seemed to read all the same signs as Penny, letting her go and taking a step away from her, trying to look unperturbed.

Snape stopped just beside Penny. "When I said make yourself comfortable, I did not mean put your grimy hands on that which does not belong to you," Snape said.

"Now, now Severus, no need to worry, Penny and I were just reliving old memories, but I must say I preferred her when she didn't. . .bite," Yaxley said, casually.

Dumbfounded by the conversation happening before her, Penny whirled around to see Yaxley straightening himself up, he was much shorter than Snape, closer to Penny's height, making him appear rather childish, except for the lines that made his already ugly face even more haggard. On that face was an expression of utmost gloating, infuriating Penny.

Overcome with rage, she lunged forward, raising the book in preparation to smash Yaxley again, but this time he was ready and knocked the book from her hand, taking a first full of her hair and twisting her neck sideways. He shook her once before a black cloak billowed into Penny's peripheral vision.

"Give me a reason," Snape's cold voice said quietly.

Yaxley considered Snape and the wand pointed at his chest for a moment, seemed to think better of his actions and then in an exaggerated motion, released Penny, shoving her into Snape.

"Your dog bites, Severus, I suggest muzzling her. I guarantee you'll find her much more pleasing," Yaxley said, coolly.

Snape caught Penny with one hand, his wand not moving. Penny straightened herself up, still fuming, Snape kept a tight grip on her, locking her against his chest, almost like a child clinging to it's favorite toy.

"Afraid of a teenager are we? Those with no talent always do prefer cowardice," Snape said in a velvety voice.

"I'll show you a muzzle you foul-" Penny panted, struggling against Snape's grip.

"Shut your mouth, Potter," Snape sneered, not bothering so much as to glance down at her.

"Excuse me, what? You let this psycho into the house without so much as a warning, so no, I won't shut my mouth. Let me go so I can shut his!"

"If you don't shut up, I will gag you."

At this, Yaxley broke into a loud cackle.

"Please do keep going Penny, I am certain our dear friend here desires nothing more than the excuse to shove something down your throat. I, myself can attest to it being a most magnificent sight."

The hand on Penny's shoulder became suddenly very rigid and she knew Yaxley had finally pushed Snape too far. In a fluid motion, Snape tossed Penny to the floor behind him. The couch sprang to life and scuttled in front of her to protect her from the ensuing flashes of light.

Penny hit the floor hard on her side, rolled over and covered her head with her arms as several loud bangs reverberated off the walls and sent objects shattering around her. Then as suddenly as it began, all became quiet.

"I am but a few minutes late and this is what you devolve into?" drawled a cool, familiar voice.

Penny shot up and peered over the couch. Before her, Yaxley and Snape were squared off, between them stood Lucius Malfoy, holding both of their wands from the doorway. His cold grey eyes fell lazily on Penny, narrowing in irritation.

"So, the rumors are true. Honestly Severus, you might as well open an orphanage." Lucius said. "I suppose she's the cause for whatever I just witnessed," he went on, turning knowingly on Yaxley.

"Severus didn't want to share his toy, forgetting it was mine first. "

"Really, Yaxley, you are so crass. You forget Severus kindly allowed you here on my good word you'd play nicely," said Lucius, tossing their wands back to them as he made his way across the room to stand before Penny and look down on her with his cold grey eyes.

"The fascination you have for the filthy thing, I will not try to understand. But she has her uses," he continued, his condescension thick in the air.

Penny stared around her, her anger being replaced with fear. She registered that she was standing in a room with three Death Eaters, all of whom knew she knew what they were and that they'd been in the graveyard torturing her brother when Voldemort returned just a few months prior.

Yaxley and Snape finally looked away from each other to watch her as well. Beneath their gaze she felt suddenly overwhelmingly vulnerable. What was actually standing between her and them dragging her away to Voldemort? They were full grown, accomplished wizards, who could have their wands in their hands before she could even blink. If they wanted to take her, there would be nothing she could do to stop them.

In a moment of terrible doubt, Penny's terrified green eyes fell on Snape's and she wondered why he'd invited these two into his house. Surely, he would not sell her to Voldemort, what use would she be to Voldemort anyway? But as hard as she tried to rationalize, Penny could not stem the fear growing in her chest.

Snape's eyes were cold and hard, was this the practiced spy, or the real Snape? Penny was terrified to discover which.

I'M SORRY. YES YAXLEY IS BACK. Don't count on him going away anytime sooon.