WARNINGS:

I think it's a good time to clarify the direction of this story. For the most part this story has been light-hearted, except for some depictions of violence. But this is a mature fic and is moving into a place where explicit sexuality will be explored. Those scenes will in no way be the focal point of this story, but they are a natural part of the characters (very long story). This chapter contains some of this sexually explicit material as well as violence and sexual harassment. So please be sure to make the decision for yourself whether this fiction is right for you.

This week finds me throwing back to the actual chapter in OotP that I stole the title of the chapter from. I like to somewhat mirror what happens to Harry, but its not always in the same order. So now it's Penny's turn for detention! It's not pleasant :( I really hate Umbridge, but it gives good insight into what will be going on at Hogwarts for this year and what Penny will be dealing with!

It seems Ginny/Penny was well received, and that makes me happy ! These two have much to gain from each other and I look forward to seeing what the year has in-store for them. Given the place where Penny and the turn events take in this book, these two aren't super serious, but Ginny will be a consistent part of Penny's life and be especially important in Penny's 7th year.

Alright, enjoy the read and have a good week! 3

"Penny, wait!" Harry huffed, finally reaching Penny and grabbing her by the shoulder.

Harry forced Penny around to face him, his green eyes determined and his black hair sticking to his forehead, obscuring that lightning bolt scar of his. Penny crossed her arms, but made no reply, which caused Harry to frown. "You can't just keep ignoring me."

"I assure you, I can and fully intend to," Penny responded, a crispness to her voice that Harry did not miss. She made to leave, but Harry clung to her arms, refusing to give up.

"You haven't even told me what happened, and everyone is saying. . ." Harry said, looking away awkwardly.

"When was the last time they got anything about you correct?" Penny said, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Fine. But you've been avoiding me," said Harry.

"That couldn't possibly have anything to do with you acting like a giant git, now could it? You know, I got caught on my way back and have detention with Snape for the next month, so I hope you're happy."

"Well maybe next time you'll listen," Harry shrugged, not looking apologetic at all.

"Or maybe next time I'll just beat you to a pulp and take the invisibility cloak," Penny said through gritted teeth, yanking her arm free of Harry's grasp.

"I wasn't saying I'm happy you got detention, you know that. I'm worried about you, that's all." said Harry, his brows creasing in concern.

"You have a funny way of showing it," Penny said, backing away from the hand of Harry's that reached for her cheek. He stopped just short, the opening of the dungeon doors and appearance of Snape making him suddenly wary. Snape's eyes found Harry immediately and narrowed on the hand hovering near Penny's cheek, his lip curling.

Seeing this as her chance to escape, Penny dodged through students to the Slytherin side of the line, and waited for her turn to be let into the classroom, Theodore Nott coming up behind her, his hand clasping her wrist. He leaned into, his lips tickling Penny's ear and whispered, "How about a repeat of the other night-" his other hand reaching beneath her skirt to grab a fist-full of her butt. Heat flushed into Penny's cheeks and she turned in angry indignation on Nott, who hadn't so much as greeted her before molesting her. Penny was struck dumb for a moment, but then the anger within her boiled to the surface and she reached for her wand, however, before Penny could even think of the spell she wanted to use on him, Malfoy ran into Nott, knocking him over. Then he stepped over Nott, making an obvious effort to smash his nose with the heel of his shoe before taking Penny by the arm.

"What was that for?" Nott growled, clutching his bleeding nose.

"I warned you, you toe worm, not to put your dirty hands on things that aren't yours," Draco sneered, looking down on Nott as though he were as lowly as some insect on the bottom of his shoe

Enraged by Malfoy's insult, Nott jumped to his feet, his wand drawn just as a cold voice reached them.

"What's this? Fighting are we?"

Snape swept over to them, the dark fury on his features telling Penny he had been watching the entire exchange. He looked down on Nott as though he too desired to pull his wand, but instead, his eyes bored into Nott's, who hastily put his wand away. But that was not enough to appease the Potions Master, who's features betrayed to Penny that what he had stolen from Nott's mind confirmed his suspicions.

"Malfoy started it, sir. He attacked me because I was talking to Penny."

Penny couldn't help but snort with laughter at the sheer audacity of the claim. She turned in her rage, ready to hit Nott, not caring that her Professor and head of Slytherin house was standing over her and would surely give her another month's worth of detention.

Malfoy seized Penny by the elbows to keep her from Nott.

"I'll show you talking," Penny hissed.

"Is that so?" Snape said, not sounding the least bit convinced, his eyes wandering lazily to Penny, who was struggling against Malfoy. "Get in the classroom, Ms. Potter, before you land yourself even more detention, this doesn't concern you."

"Doesn't concern me?" said Penny, flabbergasted. "It was my ass he grabbed!"

" Now ," Snape said quietly, his eyes flashing dangerously.

Holding his gaze, Penny thought about all the violent thing's she'd like to do to Snape, and all the curse words she'd like to hurl at him, before stalking her way angrily into the muttering classroom. That stupid man and his passion for pissing Penny off. Of course he wasn't going to let her have a say with Nott, he felt vindicated in his previous anger at her and was clearly taking pains to press his point. It was infuriating, how Snape did seem to have a better gauge on the situation, and Penny did find herself regretting ever getting the attention of Nott. The entire situation made her feel like some sport. It didn't help anything that it was one of Penny's bad days, and she would need her medicine the next morning. Snape had deemed it essential that she take it as sparingly as she could endure, apparently afraid its effectiveness would wear off overtime. So today, not only did Penny feel like her head was splitting open, she was also perpetually on the verge of exploding at people.

A few minutes later, a very angry looking Nott, who's nose had stopped bleeding, entered and slammed his cauldron onto his table. Seeing him gave Penny some sense of satisfaction, but that quickly dissipated when Snape followed hot behind Nott, his gloating smirk finding Penny. She turned away, intent on ignoring him for the rest of the class and found a murderous looking Malfoy setting up beside her.

"He's going to be a bigger problem than I anticipated. You really couldn't have just snogged an imbecile like Davies? No, you had to choose the likes of Nott. I hope you're happy."

"Yeah yeah, I get it, I'm a bad drunk. I'll be sure to make note next time."

"Call me pessimistic, but I don't believe you," Draco said, a tone of exasperation in his voice as he followed Penny to the ingredients cupboard.

"Someone has to keep things around here interesting," Penny said, wryly.

This was enough to earn a small smirk from Malfoy, giving Penny the opportunity to change the subject.

"I wanted to to talk to you about something before Nott so rudely interrupted," Penny whispered, pulling hawthorn from Malfoy's grasp and replacing it with hogthorn. He inclined his head in thanks, his grey eyes looking over her and alternating between suspicion and intrigue. But Penny was not able to continue because the rest of the class was pressing in beside them, many of them paying particular attention to the pair of them, so they made for their table and busied themselves with starting their concoction.

When Penny felt she had reached a place where her potion did not require so much of her attention, she glanced nervously at Malfoy, feeling distinctly awkward.

"Yes?" he said in a bored voice, somehow knowing Penny was watching him without ever looking at her.

"How did you know you were. . ." Penny said, glancing around anxiously, but she did not continue her sentence when she'd assured herself that everyone else was preoccupied with their own work. Instead she struggled, very audibly to find anything coherent to say.

When she turned back to Malfoy, he was looking at her as though he believed she was mentally ill and that he pitied her greatly, which did nothing to encourage her.

"You know," she said, lifting her eyebrows several times as though that would convey the word she wasn't saying.

"Actually, I don't. . ." he said, slowly.

"Oh all alright-attracted to men," she blurted out, glancing around again to be certain Snape was nowhere near them.

"Probably the same way you knew you were," Draco said with a hard laugh.

"That's not what I mean!"

"Then please, clarify," he said, adding crushed beetles to his mixture.

"Something happened last night and-and I don't know what it means," Penny said, avoiding his gaze.

"Did you and Snape finally-" said Draco, suddenly snapping to attention.

"Finally what?" Penny said, darkly, turning on his much too intrigued grey eyes.

"How big was it?" he smirked.

"You have to be kidding me right now."

"Oh come on, Penny, we all know he was keeping you as his drunk captive, and drunk Penny- well, let's just say I wouldn't put it past her to beg Snape to tie her to his desk and. . ." He finished his sentence with a wink, allowing Penny's brain to fill in the rest. The suggestion left Penny gaping at him.

"It sounds like you have this fantasy all mapped out," she finally replied when she'd composed herself.

"Just because you're in denial doesn't mean the rest of us are, he has to be kinky," Draco said in a much too matter-of-factly way for Pennys liking.

"You know what, I'm just gonna back out of your Professor fantasies and wish you luck on your endeavor to get Snape to shag you. But that wasn't what I was talking about," Penny said, turning away in disgust.

"A threesome could be interesting," Malfoy mused out loud, giving Penny a once over that made her feel naked.

"Can you stay focused!" she said, stomping on his foot.

"Make your confession then, I am ready to absolve your sins," Draco said cooly, leaning forward onto both of his elbows to observe a very fidgety Penny.

Penny felt very much like she'd like to hex Malfoy, but her dilemma was too pressing. She needed someone to ask, to help her understand and she knew Malfoy was exactly the person. If she went to Harry, he would tell Ron and that would get awkward way too quickly. Then there was Hermione, but Penny wasn't that close with Hermione, and she felt like Hermione might lecture her about how kissing in the dormitories was breaking some school rule. The only person who could help her understand the situation was Malfoy, but he never made anything easy.

"After Snape finally let me go with a month's detention-"

"A month?" Draco repeated, glancing at Snape. "He caught Davies too but he only got a week," Draco said, considering Penny for a long moment. "You confessed, didn't you?" His eyes narrowed on Penny's reddening face, seeing far too much. She turned away quickly, and pretended to be too preoccupied with her cauldron, but Draco caught her wrists and pressed, "Exactly how many details did you give him?"

"Don't look at me like that, you know how he is, once he realized I was intoxicated he wasn't going to let it drop and I'm not exactly good at filtering anything!" Penny replied, quickly.

"You are so hopeless. You might as well say goodbye to any chance at a normal dating life," said Draco with a shake of his head. "But it explains his tirade against Nott, today, which I won't complain about."

They both turned, Penny only just noticing how Snape was hovering over a very flustered looking Nott, who's potion appeared fine to Penny, but Snape was thoroughly criticizing. Penny couldn't help but be confused. As far as she understood, Nott was one of the best students in class. Obviously, he could not hope to be as good as Penny, but she could not remember a time he had achieved below an exceed expectations. In fact, Theodore Nott was considered one of the smartest in his year, second only to Hermione in overall academic achievement. So it both surprised and confused Penny to see Snape berating him when he was normally named among the ranks of Malfoy and deemed one of his favorite students.

"Can we get back to the point ," Penny said, turning quickly away from Snape when his dark eyes snapped to her face. It was annoying how attuned he was to her.

Setting his concoction on a low simmer, Draco took her hands in both his hands, batting his eyelashes prettily. "You have my full attention," he said.

Penny refrained from scowling, and plunged in, not really certain how she was going to explain the situation. "I was hiding from Harry with Ginny and we were talking-and then we were doing a lot more than talking, and she touched my nipple in this way, oh merlin, I've never felt anything like it. . .and-and-"

It was almost comical, the way Draco's pretty face creased in confusion, and then widened in comprehension only to narrow in disbelief.

"And just how, exactly, did you go from talking to nipples?" Draco said, quietly, his his pointer finger moving back and forth along his lower lip.

"I don't know! I said some things and then she was saying- well it doesn't matter what she said," Penny blushed furiously.

"Oh, but it does. Don't be shy, tell Father Draco exactly how easy it was for her to seduce you," he said, not bothering to keep the amusement from his voice.

"Stop being so annoying, this is serious!" Penny said, annoyed.

"Penny, Penny, Penny, don't tell me you're afraid to say you liked it? Hasn't anyone ever told you we are all at least a little gay. Of course you liked it, I imagine she knew exactly how to make you like it," Draco said in a tone of exasperation.

"Are you telling the truth? Because I need to know, I never knew it could feel like that, and I'd really like to do it again. "

"Tell me again exactly how Diggory stopped himself ripping all your clothing off? Because that doe-eyed expression of yours is just begging for someone to blow your mind."

Penny crossed her arms and turned away from Malfoy, who seemed to realize he went too far.

"Don't be such a virgin. This little development of yours is exactly what you need. Women's pleasure is an art form, I honestly don't know how you poor things survive intercourse with heterosexual males. But I approve of this, if anyone can teach you, it's Ginny."

"And what exactly is Ms. Potter trying to learn?" Snape's soft voice said from behind them.

Penny's startle reflexes were so violent that she fell from her chair and landed square in the chest of Snape, who's own reflexes managed to catch her before she hit the ground. The absurdity of the response caught the attention of her classmates, many of them murmuring at the sight of Snape holding Penny. Penny, meanwhile, was trying to pull herself free, but Snape had no intention of letting her go, relishing forcing her to squirm like a fish on land while her classmates looked on.

"Cat got your tongue? Were you two not just having a very involved conversation? Now tell me, Ms. Potter, what is it that you are so eager to have Ms. Weasley teach you that you feel you can not pay attention in my class?" Snape pressed, his lip curling in cruel pleasure.

"She's just going to be teaching me some moves on the quidditch pitch," Penny tried, knowing perfectly well he would never believe her.

"A poor attempt at a lie, Ms. Potter. Do you know what I do to liars in my class?"

"I don't care what you do. Your over-enlarged self importance is not entitled to the details of my conversation " Penny said, snobbishly, yanking herself free and tripping towards the table and nearly knocking her cauldron over.

"Is that so?. Would to be more forthcoming, Mr. Malfoy or would you prefer to serve detention with Ms. Potter?" Snape said, turning his dark eyes on Malfoy, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

Penny's chest filled with dread, Snape knew exactly what he was doing. Malfoy always valued his good standing with Snape, and he knew better than to get involved in their squabbles. But Penny hoped, given the situation, he would lie for her, seeing the private nature of their discussion,

Malfoy looked between the pair of them and then mumbled something that even Penny could not make out.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Snape replied, delicately.

By this point the entire class was watching the exchange. Snape did not often harass Penny and Draco, but when he did, everyone knew to expect a show.

"Penny is trying to lose her virginity," Draco said, loudly. Much too loudly.

The entire room went silent, all of them unsure they'd heard what they thought they did. Snape too, seemed to doubt his ears.

"Am I to understand that you are suggesting Ms. Potter is asking Ms. Weasley to take her virginity?" Snape repeated in that waspish voice of his.

Penny closed her eyes, wishing very much that she could melt away into the floor and never return. But she was far too cursed for such a quick death.

"Yes, sir," Draco said, glancing momentarily at Penny with that pitying look of his before turning back to his cauldron.

The Slytherin boys in the room burst into laughter and began jeering, several voices yelling out things like "oh baby, I can take it from you!" "I'll show you a good time!" and "Don't waste it on her!"

If Penny was disgusted and angry, it was nothing compared to the cold rage of Snape, who'd gone unnaturally still, his eyes no longer seeing. A wave of fury crashed into Penny as he yelled. "SILENCE!" The bell ringing when the room finally went still. "All of you will get out!" he spat, Penny noticing how the vein in his head was throbbing so badly she thought it might burst from his head.

"But sir, don't you want us to bottle them?" Hermione said, in that 'I'm-concerned-about-my-grade' tone.

"GET OUT!"

Every chair was pushed aside as the students quickly fled for the exit, Penny turning on her heels and trying to be among them, but Snape's hand found her shoulder and shoved her onto her stool "Sit!" he commanded.

"You can't keep me here!" Penny protested to the floor.

"I assure you, I can!" he breathed, his whole body shaking.

Without bothering to say goodbye, Draco left, abandoning Penny to her fate with a thud of the door. Penny didn't know whether to be angry or mortified, but either way she was avoiding her Professor's gaze wishing very much she was anyone but herself.

Not only was the entire school about to find out about her and Ginny, they were all going to gossip about Snape's interest in it. Penny was already angry with her Professor after what she'd discovered, so she was not in the mood to listen to him berate her for trying to be like every other teenager, and humiliate her for having these feelings.

"Care to explain yourself?" Snape said, breaking the awkward silence between the two of them.

"No, I don't think I do because we both know you won't believe anything I say anyway, so what's the point," Penny said, stubbornly.

"Did you learn nothing yesterday!"

"I learned you're an unapologetic liar," Penny said, darkly, turning on Snape with the full force of her ferocity.

"We aren't talking about that!" he snarled.

"Then I guess we aren't talking."

Folding her arms, Penny turned away from him again. She was aware he was at his boiling point, but that wasn't her problem. He hadn't even tried to apologize to her and though Penny wasn't sure exactly how she felt about his choices, she knew she couldn't let it go so easily.

"You would do well to get over this phase of yours and learn to control yourself-"

"Phase!" Penny said, incredulously, springing to her feet. "Exactly what phase would you be referring to? Because I was under the impression that normal people enjoyed engaging in relationships and sexual activity!"

"You are 15!"

"Good job dad you can count! Where do you get off being mad, you were literally the one who told me not to trust teenage boys! You should be praising me for listening!" Penny fumed, jabbing her finger repeatedly into his chest.

"That didn't mean give the teenage girls a test drive!"

"Too late for that. And let me tell you, what a drive it was. The way she put her hands-"

"ENOUGH!" Snape bellowed, covering Penny's mouth with his long slim hand. "I will not hear another word of this. You will listen and listen well, Potter otherwise you will discover exactly how unpleasant I can make the last three years of your magical education!"

"Ger'off" Penny tried to say, but his hand muffled her words, so she tried to squirm away from him, but she could only lean back so far before she hit the table behind her.

"You will get over this incessant need to act out for attention and return your focus to all those pretentious hobbies of yours." he said, pressing in close to ensure she remained trapped, his dark features deranged and bulging. But after a couple of minutes scuffling with her, his hand finally relented against her when she kicked him in the shin.

Finding her dignity, Penny squared her shoulders and rounded on her potions master. "Is that how you want to play this? If you continue this way I swear to Merlin I will lose my virginity to the entire Slytherin quidditch team! I refuse to let a control freak like you tell me what I want to do. If I want to lose my virginity I will do so with whoever I damn well please and it's none of your goddamn business. Now get out of my way, sir, " Penny said, vehemently, reaching for her bag.

"You wouldn't," Snape said in a quiet, shaking voice.

"I warn you not underestimate the things I am capable of doing just to piss you off. So it's up to you professor, let me enjoy getting my rocks off with the Ginny or face the consequences," Penny said nonchalantly.

"YOU ARE IMPOSSIBLE!" Snape yelled.

"I'm glad you are finally taking me seriously," Penny smirked. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to have dinner before my detention with Dolores, and I wouldn't want to be forced to report your keen interest in my love life, it could cause problems for you."

A dark shadow fell across Snape's face, evidently he did not appreciate her threat because he grabbed her by the neck of the robes and dragged her to the door before tossing her into the hallway. "Get out!" he snarled. "And a word of advice, Potter, do try not to ruin the mood with those oaf-ish hands of yours, the clitoris requires a delicate touch, something we both know you are incapable of," and with a final sneer, he slammed the door in her face, leaving Penny feeling angry, humiliated and somewhat self-conscious she looked down at her own hands.

She did not want to be a bad lover, and she hadn't really ever considered if she was or not. When she was with Cedric she assumed, judging by his responses, that he was enjoying himself. But perhaps Penny had ruined the mood and that was why he never tried to do anything more than kiss her. And the previous night, if Penny were honest, Ginny did most of the touching, although Penny did pull on her hair and suck on her neck, which Ginny certainly appeared to like, but if things went further between them, would Penny know what to do and be any good at it?

These thoughts weighed so heavily on Penny that she found herself with a complete loss of appetite, which worked in her favor because she had no time to eat and made straight for Umbridge's office.

When the door opened, Umbridge smiled down on her and beckoned Penny inside. The interior reminded Penny of Professor Lupin, although the current state couldn't have been further from his aesthetic. Her office was complete with drapes, lacy covers, cloths, and several vases of dried flowers that stood on dollies. One wall was home to a collection of ornamental plates, each decorated with a large technicolor kitten wearing a different bow around its neck. Penny found all of it together to be quite offensive and that it made her feel rather uneasy.

"Please, sit, Penny," Umbridge said, gesturing to a chair set up beside a table.

Penny froze where she stood, on the table stood the percolator-like device that Yaxley had attached to her in the Department of Mysteries.

"Good, you remember," Umbridge giggled, watching Penny's reaction with sheer delight.

Fear was burgeoning in her chest, making the world suddenly very small, and stealing from Penny her ability to form a coherent thought.

"Come child, we don't have a minute to waste," Umbridge said in that high-pitched voice of hers, an ugly stubby-fingered hand taking up residence on Penny's shoulder and steering her toward the table.

"W-won't I be doing lines?"

"Oh, no, no, Penny. It's much more productive if we focus on how you can help the Ministry. I know it's not pleasant, but being a responsible citizen rarely is," Umbridge said, sounding robotic, as though she'd rehearsed that line several times.

With a simpering smile, she took Penny's hand in hers and placed it on the arm rest where she began tying Penny to the chair. Penny tried to pull away, but the gentle grasp on her wrist suddenly became vicer-like. "Now, now Penny, you don't want to make me cross do you?"

"It's just, are you s-sure this is entirely appropriate. Perhaps Professor Dumbledore-"

"The Minister feels Professor Dumbledore is on his way out, so he appointed me to ensure things are done properly at Hogwarts, are you saying you disagree with the Ministry's methods, Penny?" Umbridge said, her voice light, but her eyes heavy with her threat.

"N-No, of course not," Penny said, quietly, looking down at her feet and trying to muster some form of calmness.

"Good girl," Umbridge said, caressing Penny's cheek approvingly.

Penny felt a wave of nausea rush over her as she remembered another grotesque hand doing the same thing. The two were made for each-other, Yaxley and Umbridge, the only difference between the two was that Umbridge terrified Penny in a way Yaxley never had. Yaxley was crass, brutish, and disgusting, his instincts as base as they came, but Penny understood his motivations, and when she looked into his eyes she knew what it was that he desired from her. Umbridge on the other hand, her motivations lay hidden behind her girlish demeanor and wide, slack mouth. But there was something Penny sensed in the woman, an utter lack of humanity. It was like she was an alien, trying hard to pretend to be human without ever understanding all the things that went into the experience. There was just something missing, and that missing thing made Penny feel as though Umbridge would have no qualms resorting to even the most debase methods if it produced the results she wanted.

By this point, Umbridge was tying Penny's other hand to the chair and Penny was searching wildly around for anything to keep her mind from the panic building in her chest. She envisioned Lupin sitting behind the desk and remembered the last time she'd sat across from him. It'd been a couple days after Harry had helped Sirius escape and Lupin was packing his things after he'd given in his resignation. He'd looked so ashamed of himself that day, and Penny remembered the crushing devastation she'd felt when she realized her words were not enough to convince him to stay.

A gasp escaped her lips when Umbridge broke the skin on Penny's arm with the long needle attached to the tube that fed into the device. Horrifically, she wiggled the needle around in search of something. It reminded Penny of getting her blood drawn and how often nurses could not locate her rolling vein. She recalled how painful that was, but this was ten times worse. Umbridge had pushed much deeper into Penny, and the tip felt as though it had expanded once inside of her. It was searching for something, but Penny did not understand what. She whimpered a few times, but was scolded by Umbridge, who was becoming agitated by the lack of a result.

"Ah, there we go!" she said in a crisp voice, clapping her hands together.

Dark black ooze had begun trickling from Penny's arm through the tube and into the percolator. Penny's arm was screaming in pain, causing Penny to bite the inside of her cheek in an attempt to stop herself from crying out loud. Whatever was going on inside of her, there was no way Penny was able to ignore it.

Umbridge tapped the glass of the percolator in disapproval as the black ooze moved slowly through it.

"This won't do," Umbridge said, turning back to Penny with a wide smile. "Try using some magic, dear."

"What?" Penny said, straining to keep her voice even.

"Use some magic, we want to get the juices flowing, if you will."

"I don't have my wand," Penny replied, wishing very much that she could wipe the cold sweat from her forehead.

"Come now, Penny, you know of what kind of magic I wish you to use," she said, her smile widening.

"I c-can't. If I lose control-"

"Don't be silly, I'm here."

"You don't understand," Penny panted, tugging at her restraints.

"Are you saying you won't help me?" Umbridge said, her voice going even higher and her beady eyes fixing Penny in an unnerving snare. "You leave me no choice then, we must try to go deeper."

And to Penny's horror, Umbridge took a hold of the tube in her arm and began pressing down and shaking it at the same time. Penny screamed, unable to endure the pain. "No, stop, I'll do it but please!" Penny said, gasping through sobs.

Umbridge's attack paused, and then she took Penny's chin in her hand so Penny would meet her gaze and said, "That's a good girl."

Wishing very much she could turn the evil woman into an actual toad, Penny focused on the objects on Umbridge's table and summoned them to herself. One after the other, they obeyed her command. In response, Penny's arm pulsed, and the slow ooze of the black liquid became a steady drizzle.

Ignoring Penny's quiet tears of pain, Umbridge forced Penny to repeat the process whenever the drizzle slowed again. It was a battle of wills, Penny rallied every fiber of her mental fortitude to endure the pain, to think on something, anything but the feeling of intrusion in her arm. Over and over again she returned to thoughts of Lupin, to his wide smile and warm brown eyes, to the sound of his laughter and the feeling of being engulfed in his embrace. The longer she thought of him, the more she regretted her actions over the summer, and the more she desired to speak with him, to feel close to him again and to stop being so afraid of being honest with him.

Umbridge spent her time at her desk, her quill scratching across parchment, pausing now and then to check the progress, or to ask Penny to perform some magic. This continued until Penny hung limply in the chair, completely overcome by pain and exhaustion. With a flick of her own wand, Umbridge cleared the table and then rather unkindly yanked the tube from Penny. She pressed a bandage to Penny's bleeding arm, and handed her a handkerchief for her face.

"I think that should do for tonight," Umbridge said sweetly, picking, pulling free the container of fluid and holding it as though it were her most prized possession.

Utterly disgusted, and holding her bleeding arm, Penny mumbled goodnight and ran back to the Gryffindor common room. Shamelessly dodging Harry, Penny bounded stairs to the girls dormitory, but she didn't stop at her own, she continued until she found herself at Ginny's. She pushed open the door and found it full, the girls glanced at Ginny and then crawled into their beds and closed themselves in.

Ginny took one good look at Penny, crossed the room, and led her gently to the bed, laid her in and then pulled the hangings around them before whispering muffliato.

"What did that witch do to you," Ginny said, angrily taking Penny's arm from her, peeling back the bandage so she could wave her wand over it, closing the cut and leaving a warming sensation behind.

"I'm a freak, aren't I, Ginny. That's what these things happen to me," Penny said, unable to stem the flow of fears.

"Do not let that vile woman in your head, Penny. She's evil, and things that are evil like to prey on the most beautiful and lovely things in life simply because they cannot stand how they remind them what worthless creatures they are. You aren't a freak, Penny, you're perfect," Ginny whispered, getting on top of Penny and cupping both of Penny's cheeks in her hand.

In the darkness of the bed, Penny could not make out Ginny's features, except for a very vague outline. So she chose to feel them instead and reached up for Ginny's own cheek. She caressed it for several seconds before skimming her knuckles over Ginny's lips.

Ginny kissed her fingers, her own fingers finding Penny's mouth and pushing eagerly inside. Penny mimicked Ginny and found Ginny's mouth gloriously enthusiastic, sucking Penny's fingers further in, her tongue exploring every part of them. The exchange was strangely erotic to Penny, who never imagined simple gestures producing such feelings inside of herself.

Ginny pulled her fingers away and leaned in close to Penny, stopping just shy of Penny's lips. "I heard through the grapevine that you want to give your virginity to me," she breathed.

Resisting the overwhelming urge to kiss Ginny, Penny said, "I didn't mean for everyone to find out. Snape overheard me and Malfoy-"

"I don't care who knows," Ginny cut in, pressing her finger firmly against Penny's lips to silence her. "You and Cedric really never?"

"Never," Penny whispered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"What about other things?"

"We only ever kissed," Penny admitted, feeling dazed by Ginny's hot breath on her face.

Moving away from Penny's face, Ginny pressed her blissfully warm mouth against Penny's ear and asked, "Do you want to have sex with me?"

"Yes, merlins, Yes. . .But- what if I'm not very good at it?"Penny said, turning her face toward Ginny.

These words, though they had been worrying her all day, were surprisingly easy to share with Ginny. Snape's words had made Penny insecure, but Ginny, she made Penny feel so different, especially when her hands were on her.

Ginny chuckled softly, "Judging by last night, I don't think it's possible. But if you're worried, we can take it slow. Just explore a little bit," Ginny suggested, swirling her finger around Penny's earlobe.

"I like the sound of that," Penny said, pulling Ginny back toward her face so she could capture her lips. They pressed together delicately at first, the two of them savoring the feeling of the other, their fingers intertwining. And then the desire began to spiral through Penny and she found her hands wandering again to Ginny's hips and squeezing.

In response, Ginny flung her head back and let out a moan as she ground her pelvis against Penny's. Penny bucked her hips in return, but whimpered pathetically, wanting Ginny's lips to return. Ginny obliged, but this time, Penny pressed deeply into the kiss, thrusting her tongue into Ginny's soft, wet mouth. Their tongues battled for dominance as they breathed into each other, their hips swaying together.

Pulling away, Ginny moved to Penny's shirt and began unbuttoning. Penny tried to unbutton Ginny's in return, but Ginny stopped her. "Uh,uh, Penny. You're going to lay there and tell me exactly how much you enjoy this," Ginny said, her voice thick with desire. Her words sent Penny's heart pounding, she couldn't help but moan when her soft, warm hands touched Penny's bare sides once she'd ripped the shirt free. But the pleasure was nothing compared to that of the two hands that cupped her breasts when Ginny released them from her bra.

Head smashing back against the pillow, Penny let her body respond as it saw fit to the every sensation Ginny sent spiraling over her.

"How's that feel?" Ginny asked.

"Like I never want you to stop doing it," Penny said, arching her back into the fingers that were pinching her nipples.

"How about this?"Ginny whispered before engulfing Penny's nipple in her mouth.

The pleasure it evoked in Penny took her by surprise, and she gasped, pleasure surging through her every limb.

"My god, Ginny," Penny panted, half sitting up to look down through her pleasured-haze at Ginny on her breast.

Finally managing to get herself under control, Penny tossed Ginny over with ease, and pinned her hands to the bed, which earned her a gloriously vocal response from Ginny.

"My turn" Penny grinned as she began undressing Ginny.

Once she'd free'd her, Penny's hands moved over Ginny, soaking in the way she pressed back against her touch, begged, panted and shuddered. Ginny seemed to like Penny's roughness, the way she liked to grab hold and dig in, to pinch her nipple almost unkindly.

They went back and forth in this manner for some time before Ginny deemed it a good time for them to stop, but she refused to let Penny put her shirt back on, and cuddled up behind her, both hands cupping Penny's breasts as they fell asleep wrapped together.

Ginny's closeness was a different kind of nice than their kissing. Her warmth eased Penny into drowsiness, and made her feel at ease, even though her mind had wandered to Cedric. She thought of the way his hands had held her in his sleepy moments, and her heart panged, but only for a moment, because Ginny shifted and a content sigh escaped her lips, the sound of which made Penny smile. Feeling wholly satisfied, Penny went to sleep fantasizing of what a topless Ginny would look like come daylight.