AN: MY LOVLIES!
I am sorry I did not post last week :( please forgive me. My summer class is...well, let's just go with hell. :( I am having a bad time.
I went back and forth on this chapter and finally decided on this! I hope you like it :) Penny is having one eventful summer, that's for sure! (the summer I wish I was having HAHA. Cuddling Remus, hanging with Snape? YES PLEASE!)
Be happy this week and know that Iove you, MWHA!
Penny gasped, though her eyes were open she could not focus on what was before her. Her attention was drawn to the heavy weights restraining her arms and her thrashing body. Without consent, she struggled, dread swallowing her heart whole. She did not want them to come, did not want them to place that cursed object around her neck again. Fighting was useless, but if she didn't she felt sure someone important to her would suffer, so she kicked out wildly, her foot colliding with something soft that let out a groan.
"Penny, you just need to wake up," a pained voice said. It was familiar, but not familiar enough to penetrate the fear barricading Penny's consciousness.
"I won't do it, you can't make me," Penny growled.
"What're you doing, kid?" a gruff voice said close to her ear.
"She's dreaming, Sirius, get my wand."
"No! Please, don't put it on, not again. I can't do it, anything but that."
The ground beneath Penny sank, making her feel sickly disorientated. How could cement move like that? Wasn't she in that cold room with the walls that seemed to go on forever? Penny wasn't sure anymore, her head was throbbing horribly, like someone was trying to crack it open from within and escape. There were flashes of images seeping through, muddying the word around her. A face, a small face, of someone she needed to help, but Penny could not grasp the memory long enough, and instead it slipped through her fingers.
Light engulfed the room before Penny's eyes, disorientating her more. A warm hand was pressed against her cheek, a soft voice muttering above her. The confusion was receding, her limbs ceasing their struggle. She blinked several times, her eyes finally registering the scene before her, two sets of eyes looking down on her, one of the bearers reaching out to push her hair off her cold, sweaty face.
"Penny, you're safe, we're at Grimmuald Place. Do you remember who I am?" Lupin asked..
"The keepers, they were just here?" Penny mumbled, looking around in confusion.
"Look at me, Penny. What's my name?"
Searching eyes landed on the gentle face before her. It was handsome, prematurely aged, but familiar. She lingered on it for a few moments before her brain finally connected to her mouth.
"Pro-professor Lupin."
"I'm not your professor anymore," he smiled.
"I thought-the keepers. . .it must have been a dream," Penny started, apologetically, rubbing her eyes. Her brain still hurt, as though it were struggling to grasp at something lingering in the back of her mind. The only thing that remained was the word 'keepers,' but she could not recall what that meant.
"The keepers?" Sirius said, exchanging a nervous glance with Lupin.
"Sorry, I think I was just dreaming about the Department of Mysteries, I didn't mean to attack you both. I saw Yaxley the other day and I think it just brought all that back up," said Penny
"What do you mean, you ran into Yaxley?" Sirius said, his voice sharp.
"He was at Snape's house with Lucius Malfoy the other day."
"What is that slimy git playing at, inviting his Death Eater pals over for tea while you're there," said Sirius, his tone furious.
"They didn't stay long," Penny said, absentmindedly, getting to her feet. Her head was still throbbing and she thought maybe getting some water might help.
"Did they hurt you?" Lupin asked, the stiffness in his voice catching Penny's attention.
"What? Yaxley was being his usual charming self, said some strange stuff, but Snape walked in and they ended up in a duel."
"She's never going back there, Remus. I told you he couldn't be trusted."
"This isn't the moment to discuss this, Sirius."
Ignoring the voices floating after her, Penny slipped out the door and walked quietly through the dark hall to the staircase. She did not feel like going back to sleep, and did not want to answer more of their questions, so Penny made her way down to the kitchen. She flicked the light on and immediately got started making coffee. The process soothed her aching head, helping her to pull herself from her haze. She couldn't help but wonder, what had Yaxley meant when he'd said 'our first born'. It left her with a feeling of unease, which she tried to push aside by reminding herself Yaxley lived to torment and would likely say anything to get under her skin.
Ten minutes later, Penny sat sipping her warm coffee staring at the mug she'd filled for Cedric.
"Why did I waste so much of our time?" Penny whispered, knowing full well the person she wanted to hear her words never would. "There's so much I still want to say to you, why didn't I say it when I could, why'd I take tomorrow for granted," Penny went on, pushing through the pain growing in her chest. She closed her eyes, desperately imagining that Cedric was before her, considering her words, and was surprised when a different voice responded.
"But you never will again," it said from the door. "Take tomorrow for granted, I mean."
Penny opened her eyes and watched Sirius cross the quiet kitchen, pull out a chair, twirl it around and straddle it, resting his arms on the top of it and watch Penny.
"I didn't hear you come in," Penny said, feeling slightly embarrassed. So far, only Snape knew she spent every morning talking to her dead boyfriend.
He shrugged and gestured to the mug in her hands. Penny offered it to him and watched him take a long sip before glancing at the empty space before Cedric's mug.
"I always knew your dad would propose to your mum, but it didn't hurt any less being his best man and toasting their happiness. It'd always been me and James, and when that changed, for a while, I didn't know where I fit in," Sirius said, taking another sip.
"Remus mentioned. . .but I wasn't sure if it was-"
"A secret?" Sirius said with a bark of laughter. "No, it was never a secret. James knew, and I knew he'd never have eyes for anyone but Lily, but it never mattered for us, he was still my best mate. My greatest regret is letting myself forget that."
"What do you mean?"
"Your mum wrote to me when they went into hiding. As I can attest, being locked up is miserable," Sirius said, his eyes scanning the room with the utmost loathing. "She asked me to visit to cheer him up. I hadn't been by much after you and Harry were born, it was like if I went I'd have to see proof that I was no longer James' family," Sirius said his tone distinctly tinged with bitterness.
"You idiot. Now you're stuck with us, sounds like karma," Penny said, reaching for the coffee.
Sirius grinned and gave his head a little shake.
"That I was. If I'd known what a nuisance you'd be I might have reconsidered accepting the title of godfather."
Penny reached out to smack his arm but he evaded her.
"I never did tell James what I was feeling, just let it fester and stop me from visiting him. The day I finally went it was to find your house in ruins."
"Sirius," Penny said, reaching out to touch his hand gently this time, uncertain what she should say to him.
"Don't worry, kid, when you and Harry accepted me as your godfather, I finally understood that James knew the whole time and thats why he made me godfather. One day I decided to let my regret go and to do better, not only for James, but Harry and you," Sirius said, his voice huskier than usual.
Penny smiled, sadly, thinking on Sirius's words, trying to imagine all the days he'd lived in agony, alone, surrounded by dementors. How he hadn't lost his mind and made it back to them and had been there for her and Harry since. Penny wasn't sure what having a parent felt like, but the comfort of knowing she could always rely on Sirius was unlike anything she'd experienced before and she wished she knew how to make him feel the same way.
"Everything happened so fast that day, I barely saw him. Cedric-" Penny started, feeling her throat constrict uncomfortably at his name. "He told me he loved me before he walked in that maze. I didn't-I wasn't able to say it back. I thought when he came back I'd get to-he didn't know. He died not knowing," Penny said, a silent tear sliding down her cheek. "I see him in that tunnel and I just want to yell, to pull him back, but I can't, the darkness always swallows him."
"Ah well, death is only ugly for those who are left behind, isn't it? In reality I'd wager it's you who's trapped. Wherever Cedric is, you can be certain it's not as bloody awful as being stuck here without him," Sirius shrugged.
Penny stared at him slightly dumbstruck, then she burst out laughing.
"There is an odd comfort in your words," she admitted.
"You learn a thing or two after being miserable for over a decade."
"I don't want you to be miserable," Penny said, stopping mid-laugh.
"Don't worry about it, kid. It's this house, I never thought I'd be back here after I ran away to live at your dad's," Sirius sighed.
"You ran away?" Penny asked in surprise.
"Course I did, think I could live in a house full of Voldemort supporters? The Potter's welcomed me like a second son."
"You never told me about that!"
"Spent every summer I could with the Potter's. James and I often wandered around muggle London, had a fascination with records, your dad," Sirius grinned, reminiscing.
Penny tried to imagine the younger Sirius and her dad she'd seen in the photo in his room, walking the streets of London. It brought a warmness to her heart.
"I've got an idea. . .a very bad idea that will make everyone very grumpy with us, but who wants to live life only ever being good," Penny said, sheepishly.
"What are you thinking?" he asked, a mischievous glint flashing through his dark eyes.
"Well you're stuck here because Wormtail knows your animagus form, and well, being a giant effing bear dog isn't exactly inconspicuous. But I could transfigure your size after you transform, and try changing the color of your fur-if you trust me that is," Penny replied. "And then we bust out of this joint and spend the day in muggle London, what do you say?"
Sirius let out a bark of laughter, "You might look like your mum, but you are James through and through, Penny."
"I'll probably need to change my hair too, perhaps blonde?" Penny mused out loud, imagining the silver haired bikini clad model she'd seen plastered on Sirius's wall beside the other, barely clothed muggle women.
"Impressive," Sirius said, taking a strand of her hair in his hand.
"Before we do this, if I mess this up-"
"I understand the risks," he said with an eye roll before changing into the bear-like dog.
Penny considered him for a few moments. If she intended to get around London, she needed to make him a believable service dog. She opted for shrinking him into a golden retriever, though his ears looked odd but she dared not try to change them, for fear of altering Sirius's normal form. Then she swung the vest she'd transfigured from a blanket over him, finishing with a leash and color. Crossing her fingers no one would wake up, she summoned some clothing and a jacket, changed quickly and then scrawled a quick note with her apologies and when they would return.
Creeping as quietly as they could, Penny and Sirius stepped out into the brisk air of dawn. Orange and pink were spiraling across the groggy sky. Golden-Retriever Sirius pulled Penny along toward a bus stop where she spent some time reading the map to get an idea how many stops and transfers they'd need to take.
Waiting for the bus was anxiety inducing, Penny wholly expecting everyone from Grimmauld Place to pile out the front door to drag them back in. But in the short ten minutes they waited, no-one stirred on the dark street. Penny paid their way with the muggle money she'd earned from doing Dudley and his friend's homework for them. The bus driver gave Sirius a suspicious look but said nothing when his eyes fell upon his vest.
Sirius sat like a well trained dog, Penny grinning widely at him as the bus jutted forward again. He laid his face on Penny's leg, keeping her warm when the bus's doors opened to let in the morning commuters. Many of them stared at Penny and Sirius, their eyes lingering longer on Penny more than she was accustomed to. It wasn't until she caught the reflection of herself in the window that she realized how vibrant the silver sheen of her newly blond hair made her eyes. It was a very shocking combo.
After several transfers, Penny and Sirius got off the muggle underground around mid-morning. By this time, Penny was starving.
"Let's find some breakfast," Penny said to Sirius, who wagged his tail happily in reply.
They decided on a small diner because it was quite empty. The old woman inside doted on Sirius and did not question Penny when she ordered him his own sausage and biscuit breakfast. Penny couldn't help but laugh hysterically watching dog-form Sirius sitting in the booth eating from a plate. She pulled out the rickety old camera of hers that she'd lifted from Dudley after he'd broken it (and she'd fixed) and set the camera across from them on timer. It flashed just as a giant tongue licked its way across her cheek.
After a few moments the polaroid appeared and Penny laughed, they both looked ridiculous, but the photo seemed to contain so much amusement that Penny thought it was lovely.
"What do you say we add this to the others?" Penny said to Sirius, looking at the wall lined with photographs of the various diners that had come before them, all smiling around their meals. Sirius barked his approval, so Penny took a pin from the jar on the table and added hers.
Upon returning to the streets, Penny noticed how much louder London seemed. Tourists buzzed around them, workers rushed to and fro while Penny and Sirius moved as the wind bade them, following the endless stream of chatter. The heat of summer was upon them by midday, Penny feeling it was much worse than the heat in Cokeworth. She stopped for an ice cream and found herself a bench near a park to sit on, wiping the sweat from her brow. She offered Sirius a lick of ice cream, then poured a large puddle of water for him, which he lapped up thankfully.
Penny laid down on the bench, dumping some of the water over her head to cool down, but stopped as soon as she heard several passing men whistle at her. Sirius growled at them, which they thankfully heeded and moved across the sidewalk and left her alone.
"The record shop is about 20 minutes from here. I've got enough to buy a record for you and we should probably bring one for Lupin as a peace offering," Penny mused, turning to Sirius as though it were not highly unusual to have a conversation with a dog.
Sirius wagged his tail in approval, rolling onto his back to allow Penny to pour some water onto his stomach. Penny laughed, feeling mildly guilty for the worry she knew they were causing, but she pushed it to the back of her mind and reminded herself to be thoroughly committed to their one day of freedom, because no doubt when they returned to Grimmuald Place they would be put under house arrest.
"How do we even begin to choose? What's Remus even like?" Penny muttered to Sirius, not but 30 minutes later as she stood in the back of an old record shop that had no air conditioning, where she sifted through piles of neglected records with sweaty fingers.
"The irony of selecting Nine Inch Nails for a werewolf is too much, even for me," a cold voice sneered from beside Penny.
Sirius let out a low growl as both he and Penny whirled around to find Snape's towering figure looming over them. He was clothed in his usual robes, clearly not looking to go unnoticed by the muggles.
"Professor!" Penny stammered, startled by his appearance. "Aren't you supposed to be at Midsomm-" Penny blurted out, stopping herself as his dark eyes narrowed on her.
"Been snooping into business that isn't your own, have we, Potter?"
"I don't know what you mean, you just surprised me and I was confused for a moment. You must know by now how terrifying your face is," Penny said in what she hoped was an offhand manner.
"Or perhaps you're afraid I'll discover what you're hiding" said Snape, his thin lips twitching.
"Well if we're sharing secrets, why don't you go first," Penny challenged, setting the record in her hand down.
"What would you like to know?" Snape said, softly.
"What're you hiding in your basement?" Penny threw out, trying desperately to move away from the topic of Midsommer.
"Hiding? I hardly need to hide anything in my own house. Honestly, Potter, does your imagination ever rest."
"Evading the topic, I expected nothing less of you," Penny said with an eye roll.
She took a casual step away from Snape, glancing around the shop, searching for the best way to escape with Sirius. Snape would not take her day from her, she was determined to let Sirius have a day of enjoyment. But apparently Snape was not going to let that happen because he advanced on her as she stepped around the side of the table.
"My turn."
"Honestly professor, don't you know how the rules work? If you don't answer the question you don't get a turn."
"I was giving you the chance to ask the real question you wanted answered," he pressed, a cruel grin spreading across his lips.
Penny looked away from him, afraid to maintain eye contact and allow him access to her thoughts. Images of him in orgies and murdering muggles kept forcefully intruding on her thoughts and she did not want to share them.
"I'm sorry to tell you this, but you're just not that interesting. You're a very predictable old man, you don't leave much to wonder about," Penny said, nonchalantly, putting more distance between them by pretending to be interested in the next pile of records.
"I don't believe you."
"Yeah well, it's not a secret you're paranoid. Might be time for a new line of work," Penny said, glancing sideways at him and grinning when she saw him redden with anger. Sirius barked his approval, breaking any of Snape's pretenses.
"Tell me, Potter, how is it that you came to decide that wandering muggle London alone, when the Dark Lord desires obtaining you only second to killing that idiot brother of yours, was a good idea?" Snape asked, his eyes flashing dangerously.
"Voldemort doesn't-"
"Don't say his name," Snape hissed.
Penny turned to face the shaking form of Snape.
"Sometimes I wonder if you even know what side you're on anymore," Penny replied, eyes narrowed.
"Off load your faults on me, how expected. Your arrogance is just like your father's," Snape spat.
Sirius let out a low, threatening growl as Snape almost bridged the gap into Penny's personal bubble. Dark eyes flashed down to the dog and he receded half a step, a sneer forming on his lips.
"As much as I'd love to continue to listen to you make excuses for worshipping the literal devil, I have a day planned with Sirius that I'd prefer to return to," Penny said, venomously.
"You aren't going anywhere, Potter, you will return to Grimmuald Place with me."
"Like hell I will. Don't you have an orgy to get back to?" Penny said, turning on her heel and making for the door.
He made to follow after her, but Sirius managed to charge into a large stack of records and sent them toppling onto Snape, allowing Penny and Sirius to make a run for it. They scampered form the store and ran full speed down several streets, only stopping to catch their breath in a deserted side street.
"Did they really send everyone out here to find us? I told them when we'd be home," Penny panted, looking away from Sirius to peer down the far end of the alley, but Sirius's yelp sent her swirling back in his direction.
Her eyes found him in a heap on the ground, wiry cords spiraling around his limbs and immobilizing him. Penny took a half step forward, stopping when her eyes fell on the furious Snape who stepped past Sirius toward Penny.
"What do you think you're doing you psycho. You can't just tie him up," Penny fumed, making to push past Snape, but he snatched her by the upper arm.
"What am I doing?" he all but yelled, pushing her backwards until he pressed her back against the wall, knocking the breath out of her.
"Have you lost all sense? You are acting like a self absorbed child!"
"Here we go, 'Penny you're so selfish, so arrogant.' Aren't you bored with that line yet? Because I know I am," Penny coughed, trying to replace her lost air.
"You do not care who you inconvenience as long as you get what you want!"
"May I remind you, no one invited you here, you showed up like a stalker, I was just having a normal day with my godfather," Penny fumed, trying to wriggle free of Snape's grasp on the front of her shirt.
"Because what I wanted to do with my day was deal with an insolent brat! There are things I'd prefer to do with my time. But you insist on constantly one upping your own stupidity!"
"What are you on today? It's not an abnormal thing to visit London."
Snape shook Penny, smashing her against the wall several times.
"Use your brain, Potter! The Dark Lord has returned!"
"That has nothing to do with me," Penny said, flabbergasted.
"You understand nothing!" Snape spat. "Who does the Dark Lord wish to kill more than any other?"
"If you hadn't noticed, I'm not Harry!" Penny said, kicking the man in the shin.
He did not so much as flinch, but his violent shaking of Penny stopped. "He will stop at nothing to make him suffer, and what do you suppose is the easiest way to do so?"
"I don't know, you're the Death Eater, why don't you tell me what murdering bastards like to do to innocent people," Penny said in a cutting voice.
Snape let go of her, his countenance becoming very still, terrifyingly still. He looked down on Penny through his perfectly constructed walls, revealing nothing to her. It unsettled her as she wondered what would come next.
"You are that which is most important to the Dark Lord's greatest opponent, that makes you that which he wishes to secure most. And if he were to secure you, it would not be death you would fear. He would keep you within an inch of your life, pressing you to the brink of your agony, teetering on the edge of death, making you beg for it, and then bringing you back from it, to trap you in an endless cycle of torment," Snape said, his voice so low, Penny flinched.
A cold prickle worked its way up her spine at Snape's words. He spoke with such authority that even she could not formulate an argument. She had never considered that Voldemort even knew she existed. She was just Harry's sister, Harry Potter being the famous one, the chosen one, the savior. Penny had only ever been a bystander, caught up in whatever took place between Harry and Voldemort. Snape's words unsettled Penny and frightened her, making her realize how she'd never really considered the position that Harry was in.
Snape yanked Penny from the wall, turned on his heel and the two of them disapparated, Penny landing hard, but Snape kept her upright and began dragging her unkindly by the neck of her shirt, choking her, before tossing her onto the step of Grimmuald Place.
"You can't leave Sirius there like that!" Penny yelled, landing hard on the cement and scratching her palms.
"Black was so desperate for some excitement, I'm sure he will welcome the challenge," Snape sneered.
"You're an asshole, go back and get him or I will!" Penny said, getting back to her feet.
"Black carelessly put you in harm's way for his own amusement, so pray tell me how I'm the asshole for trying to spare you from a slow and painful death" Snape yelled, his features suddenly deranged.
"Going was my idea, not his!"
"You are a child, I expect stupidity from you, not from the adults trusted to care for you," Snape said, turning around and making his way back toward the street.
"Why can't you just say you were worried about me instead of being...whatever you are," Penny floundered, following after him.
"I'm not here to flatter your ego, Potter. I was asked to find you, and I did so. Now, goodbye," Snape said, refusing to meet her gaze.
He was trying to flee again but Penny refused to let him go, so she dove for him as he turned on his heel, grasping his arm just in time. A horrible lurch tugged her just behind her belly button and pulled her with him. In a very ungraceful manner, Penny tumbled into the ground with a soft oof , stars popping up around her vision.
"About time you returned, Severus, Amycus here was just suggesting you'd lost your taste for Midsommer. But here you are, and with an offering too," a low male voice said.
Penny rolled over to meet the dark eyes that were boring into her head, calculating, furious, and somewhat fearful.
"Look at her, Amycus, she might even tempt Lucius," the voice went on.
"He stirs for anything with blonde hair, to me she doesn't look to be anything special," a second, somewhat stuck up voice said.
"Where'd you pick her up?" the first voice said, slapping Snape on the back.
Snape gave him a look of utmost loathing, "London," he said, stiffly, before reaching down and yanking Penny to her feet. Confused and terrified, Penny allowed Snape to drag her close to him without protest.
"The Dark Lord is just about to select tonight's offerings, so you'd better hurry."
Snape gave a curt nod and made his way toward a handsome manor in the distance, one of what appeared to be brothers, following after him, the other remaining where he was, scowling after them. The three of them turned right into a wide driveway that led off the lane. The high hedge curved with them, running off into the distance beyond the pair of impressive wrought-iron gates barring their entrance to a very handsome looking manor-the Malfoy manor, as the sign indicated.
It was at this moment Penny realized how foolish she'd been, how terrified she was. She was about to walk into a festival of the Death Eaters; into the hands of Lord Voldemort. If he discovered who she was there would be no escaping.
The description of Malfoy Manor comes from JKR!
oooh Penny, what have you done? But I get to write Snape in his Death Eater role next chapter :) SO BWAHAHAH. What is he gonna do and will anyone recognize her? HMM
Also- I decided I wanted the Carrows to be twin brothers, was never into the brother sister dynamics between those two!