No idea what possessed me, but here is another update for you lovlies!

I just wanted to get to Snape's birthday, haha and here we are! There is a lot going on this chapter (Snape comes in at the end) so I hope you enjoy. I basically listened to three songs on repeat writing this: Kodaline - High hopes, Duncan Laurence - Arcade (This was a Dumbledore/ Grindelwald AMV and I just crieddd) , Radical Face - Welcome Home, Son.

Also, me being so very American is so terribly obvious in this chapter, my apologies!

As always, thanks for being here!

"How's Harry?" James said, holding her just a moment longer.

"Harry is the picture of moral purity, sometimes I don't know how he does it, he's so brave and he has this fire about him, like he'll never give up. He's perfect, you'd be so proud, dad, except he could do with studying a bit more," Penny gushed, her brain swarming with thoughts she wanted to share with the handsome creature staring down at her. How was she supposed to condense and prioritize fifteen years of life while also asking him about all 21 he also lived?

"Your mother will be glad to hear how close you seem to be, it's important you stick together," he replied, a hand ruffling up her hair at the top of her head affectionately.

"Mum?" Penny said, her heart jumping at the thought and looking over his shoulder half expecting to see her there.

Taking her hand in his, he gave her a sad smile looking down into her hopeful face.

"Please know, Penelope, your mother would have given anything to be here. You and Harry are the most important things in the world to her and she loves you so very much, but she isn't able to cross."

Penny nodded, her heart, though so full joy, deflating somewhat in disappointment.

"Can you tell me about her?"

"Absolutely," James said, taking Penny's hand and guiding her toward the side of the bridge where he sat down and pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her so she couldn't possibly escape.

"What do you know about my brilliant, wonderful, amazing, spectacular bride who also happens to be your mum?"

"Do I really look like her?"

He pretended to scrutinize her for a moment, "She's a bit taller, but other than that, you are 100% her carbon copy."

"Was she a good student?"

"Yes, she made me study far too often."

"What were her hobbies?"

"She always liked to do this weird muggle thing, knotting—cutting—knatting?"

"Knitting," Penny offered.
"Yes, that! Her sister taught her and she loved to make hair-bows for your adorable bald head."

Smiling at the thought of receiving a Christmas sweater from her very own mother, Penny leaned in a little closer to her father.

"Her favorite color?"

"Orange."

"Yours?"

"Red."

"You?"

"Blue."

"Ah, just like Moony. How is Moony, I assume he is the one who brought you here?"

"He would have liked to see you too, I think he regrets not doing things differently before you. . ." Penny said, unable to finish her sentence.

James pressed his lips against her hair in a gesture to let her know it was okay, Penny closing her eyes, her hand grabbing his again just to make sure he did not disappear.

"He's been there for me since the day we met. Remus, that is. I don't know what I would have done without him, he's the most caring, loving, beautiful man I've ever met."

"Aww, I don't get that title? That thief!" James sulked.

"What! N-no, I didn't mean it-I just—"

"It's okay, I'm teasing," James whispered into her ear, his voice full of amusement. "I know for a fact I could not have left you in better hands. And our Moony is lucky to have someone as sweet as you to love him, I'm glad for it. There is much I wanted to say to him, but there just wasn't time."

"I'll relay anything you ask of me," Penny said, turning to fix him with her fierce green eyes.

"Tell him to stop feeding you so much milk, you've grown much too quickly."

"I'm serious," Penny complained.

"Indeed you are, you get that from your mother," he sighed. "Tell Moony. . .tell him I think he deserves to be happy, I am."

"Well you don't have to worry, I know for a fact Sirius keeps him quite content."

"Pads and Moony? I guess this means your mother was right, she always told me there was something between those two," he said to the sky, running hand through his hair to mess it up a bit more as he smiled in disbelief before turning back to her. "And Sirius, how is he?" James asked, and for the first time Penny could sense sadness in his voice.

"He takes his godfather duties very seriously, no pun intended" she said, trying to lighten the mood. "B-but he misses you terribly. I don't think he'll ever forgive himself. . ."

"That idiot," James groaned. "I suppose he's gone and martyred himself, always loved theater, he did."

Though James tried hard to sound casual, Penny didn't miss the strain in his features, it was clear, the thought of Sirius unhappy for all these years was a thought that plagued him. Seeing him like that, it made Penny want to protect him. How could she tell him Sirius was imprisoned for his murder and spent thirtheen years in Azkaban? It seemed too cruel for such a beautiful creature. A pain Penny could not inflict on someone she loved so much.

"Between helping the Order and lecturing me about hanging around Snape, Sirius stays too busy to—"

"Snape! Snape who?" James said, whipping his head back to stare at Penny. "Don't tell me Severus Snape actually found someone willing to procreate with him? Why would Sirius let you hang out around the likes of his offspring?" James demanded.

The thought of Snape having a child both amused Penny and freaked her out. She did not like the idea of him having someone he liked better than her, especially not some annoying kid who would want all his attention. But the idea of a mini Snape, someone who might have been her friend at Hogwarts intrigued Penny, perhaps Snape junior would have been much less of a pain in the ass than Snape senior.

Trying hard to keep herself from laughing Penny replied. "No, dad, he doesn't have any kids."

"What's that slimy git doing hanging around you then? He's a Death Eater!"

"Was a Death Eater," Penny pointed out, thoroughly regretting mentioning Snape.

"You don't just stop serving—"

"He turned spy a long time ago. Dumbledore was the only one who knew. Snape is a professor at Hogwarts now, teaching potions," Penny cut across, hoping Dumbledore's authority would be enough to end her father's tirade.

He looked stalled for a moment, clearly having nothing to argue against Dumbledore, but then he decided to change tactics.

"And how exactly did you come to spend enough time with Snape for Sirius to feel the need to talk sense into you," he said in a measured voice, but the disapproval was written all over his face.

Penny felt the heat and anxiety rising under the piercing gaze of her father. Never in her life, not even before an enraged Snape had Penny felt at a loss for words, like she was guilty of something. Her mouth opening and closing several times, she tried to find a way to explain, to make her father understand.

"I-I don't know, potions has always been my favorite subject, and we just got along real well."

"Snape getting along with anyone, pfftt," James snorted under his breath.

"But then over the last year everything kind of changed, and then after I stayed at his house for the summer—" Penny rambled trying to figure out how to explain to him that Snape was her coordinate in the gentlest manner possible, but in doing so she made a great blunder.

"WHAT?" he bellowed, startling Penny and causing her to fly out of his lap. By the time she gathered herself and realized what she'd just said and how it must have sounded, James was on his feet, pacing back and forth. "He wouldn't— right under the nose Dumbledore—my daughter—I'm going to—" he ranted, stopping when he realized Penny was on the ground still and helped her to her feet, his anger melting away and becoming unbridled concern. "Of course none of it's your fault, love, you are innocent, anything that vile, wretched bastard did—"

"Dad that's not what I meant, you misunderstood—"

"No, no Penelope, you don't have to explain anything, certainly not for scum like him. You must be so confused, does it hurt anywhere," he said, his panicked brain seemingly going through all the motions he assumed he was supposed to go through; holding her at arm's length and checking her all over. "Oh, no, I don't suppose—"

"DAD WILL YOU LISTEN TO ME," Penny finally shouted, her mortification too much to bear.

"Yes, of course, whatever you need to get off your chest you can tell me, because I'm your dad, I'll know exactly what to do," he said in a voice that sounded more like he was trying to convince both of them.

"Just sit down," Penny said, taking a deep breath and leading James back to the side of the bridge, sitting beside his hand in hers, she turned to him, "Now listen," but before she could say another word he was on his feet again.

"Oh Merlin, you're pregnant aren't you!" As soon as the words left his mouth, the reality of them seemed to sink in and he began pacing as though moving would enable to escape them. Then turning toward the end of the bridge he'd come from, Penny noticing for the first time that she could not see what laid beyond the bridge because a dense fog shrouded it, he yelled "Lily, I can't do this, not by myself! What to expect when you're expecting said nothing about situations like this! Please don't make me do this alone, what if I say the wrong thing or—"

"I'm not pregnant!"

James whirled around, his hazel eyes wide with disbelieving relief.

"You're sure?"

"Yes, considering how babies are made I'm quite sure," she muttered.

James bridged the distance between them, grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms and engulfed her in a tight hug. "Of course you aren't, my brilliant girl. I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions. I've never done this," he said, pulling away and gesturing to her. "I want to do it right, but I feel so nervous."

Leaning back in she squeezed his slender frame. "You could never do it wrong, dad. You're perfect, better than anything I could have ever dreamed. But—"

"Oh no, there's a but. You know what that means. . ."

"What's it mean?"

"That everything before the but is complete bullshit."

"Who told you that?" Penny laughed.

"Padfoot."

"Sirius would say that," Penny said, smiling at the thought of her reckless, rugged godfather. "But," Penny continued, pausing purposefully on the word, making James chuckle. "Snape would never do anything like that. He has only ever helped me, well he yells too, but he risked his life for me on multiple occasions."

"Please Merlin, what did I do to deserve this? My only daughter, indebted to Snivellus."

"You sound like Sirius," Penny grumbled.

"That's a compliment," James pointed out, pulling away to return to his seat for the third time.

They watched each other in silence, the breeze tickling Penny's sweaty face. Deciding it was much too ridiculously warm to wear so much, much-less argue in the many layers of clothing; she discarded the ridiculous ceremonial robes, tossing them at her father who didn't take his eyes from her. "Nothing turned out like I thought it would, like any of us thought it would," she said, pulling the hat from her head and dumping it on the ground.

"No, I wanted so much for you," James agreed, gazing toward the mist that hid what was beyond.

"You gave us everything, Harry and I get to live because of you and mum. Rightfully we should have died that night, but we didn't. So remember that, remember that I am reminded every time I wake to a new day that my being alive is gift from you, because it hasn't been pretty or easy, but it's mine, this life is mine. I just want you to be proud of it," she continued, her hand shaking as she pulled the sweater Mrs. Weasley had made for her from her head, revealing the white spaghetti strap top she was wearing beneath. James was on the verge of responding, but his eyes found the barely-healed mark on her chest, his mouth falling open in shock "I didn't take it willingly, and I don't think I could even begin to explain how it happened, but Severus Snape is the only person standing between me and all this. If he's a lost cause, then so am I," Penny said, her entire body shaking as she stood, finally seeing what Voldemort had done to her in the eyes of another, but she did not find what she expected. Instead of revulsion, pity, anger, there was a fire in James' eyes and perhaps. . .a deep admiration?

"Come here, Penelope," he said softly, offering her his hand

Crawling into his lap, Penny rested her head on his chest, closing her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks as he hummed a soft tune to her, rocking her back and forth like one might a small child. For several minutes he said nothing, he simply held her, and in doing so he accepted all she was; all she'd done; and all she would continue to do. With a gesture that was absurdly foreign to her, James Potter did what fathers every day do and exactly what Penny had never experienced: he made her feel whole, just right the way she was, he made her feel loved, completely and utterly loved.

Penny wanted to stay just like this, listening to his breathing, far from a world where anything else mattered. Sitting here with James, it was a happiness Penny had never felt before and she could not convince herself to let go, but the sky darkened above them and they both turned to look to see what caused it. Blocking a sun Penny couldn't see with their massive forms, several flying-somethings were making their way in their direction.

"Dammit, I thought we'd have more time," James cursed under his breath. "Get up, quickly, darling."

Following her to his feet, James grabbed her sweater and pulled it over her head, not bothering to turn it right-side out, jamming her hat on her head while she pushed her arms through.

"There isn't much time, that Martikov's are here and they will not be happy with either of us,"

"Why—"

"Just listen, there isn't time to explain it all. I had to make a choice long ago to make this happen. But opening this portal, it has consequences that won't go unnoticed. But it was my choice, Penelope. Do you understand me? Mine, and I'd do it all over again."

She nodded, feeling anxious by the serious turn their conversation had taken.

"I trust you have gathered this is the bridge between your world and next, our family has a long, complicated history with it because our ancestors created it, but the details aren't important, what is important, and what the Martikovs will care about, is it remains open so long as you and I stand on either side. As soon as you cross over, it will close. For various reasons, the Martikovs want and have kept it closed, for good reason, but there is one among their ranks, some goofy kid who will help you. I've seen him several times when I looked into your future. You can trust him."

"Adrian? He came with me, he's on the other side of the bridge," Penny said, the idea felt outlandish, but what her father said, it made Adrian's behavior less peculiar. Had they seen the same future?

"If he came with you, then it's him. Now you must go to him."

"Dad, I can't, I'm not ready, we've only just found each other."

"I know," James said, pulling her close to him, hot tears hitting her face as he kissed her head. "I've waited my whole life for this moment, did you know? And here you are, infinitely more amazing than my wildest dreams, Penelope, I'm so proud of you and I know that whatever comes after this, you will be alright. Tell Pads," James paused, his voice catching in his throat. 'Tell him to enjoy it, all of it because expect him to have the life we promised we would before he ever dreams of joining me down here, and Harry, tell Harry your mother wasn't afraid that night, that we both love him and would choose the same thing if we had to do it all over again."

He was cupping her cheeks now, looking down on her, Hazel eyes full of tears, Penny's own green eyes blurring as uncontrolled sobs overtook her.

"I can't—Let me go with you, dad, please," she begged.

"Even if I could take you, I wouldn't. You have too much waiting for you. I know it doesn't feel like it, but I swear to you, Penelope, your life is going to a wonderful one and you will find a great love and they will make the sunshine when you never thought it would again."

"That great love, it's you, please just take me with you," she said, clinging desperately to his wrists.

"You're tethered, darling, you can't pass on not while that's intact," he said looking giving an agonized nod toward her right ankle. Following his gaze Penny found that something akin to a vibrantly blue shackle secured around it, and tied to that was a long blue light that extended upward further than Penny's eyes could see. It confused her, she hadn't felt it or noticed until James had pointed it out, but she didn't have time to ponder it, or to free herself from it because James was pulling her face back toward him.

"The person on the other side of that thread will make you happier than I ever could," he whispered, kissing her one last time before letting her go and pushing her in the direction of Adrian. "Now go, run as fast as you can and don't look back, I'll buy you as much time as I can," he said, scooping up the long ceremonial cloak Penny had discarded.

The shadows descending upon them looming larger, Penny stifled a sob. "Will we get to each other again?"

"I think we will, the future is full of possibilities after all," he said, giving her a handsome lopsided grin, his messy hair rustling in the wind and youthful features full of mischief.

With all the strength she possessed Penny tore her eyes from James Potter, her heart shattering as she did so, "I love you dad," she yelled, turning on her heel and running like she had never run before.

"I love you too," the charming tones called back to her like music on the wind.

Her sobs blinding her and lungs screaming, Penny pushed herself, as a huge shadow flew over her and she realized it was a bird—a wereraven. Deciding it was better not to look, Penny sprinted, breathing a sigh of relief when the several shadows passed her, making toward the end the bridge her father was on.

Some distance away she saw the outline of Adrian, he was pacing back and forth, but as she thundered toward him he looked up, the barrier still preventing her from hearing him, but he resorted to waving frantically at her. With a last burst of energy that was thanks to Sirius' training, Penny collided with the barrier between her and Adrian, the impact knocking all the wind from her lungs. Her legs hanging in mid air, Penny was frozen, caught between sides, the barrier trying to force her back towards her father.

Adrian's concerned dark eyes were there, so close she could touch them, except she couldn't move. He reached for her, also prevented by whatever was separating them.

"You can do it, Penny," she thought he said, but she wasn't quite sure.

From behind her the thunderous sound of birds screeching met her ears, Adrian's now desperately concerned features telling her that whatever time her father had bought her was now up.

"Only those who want to live can pass, think on what you want to live for," he said in a deliberately exaggerated fashion so Penny could read his lips.

"I do want to live," Penny yelled, not sure why she was saying this out loud when he could not even hear her. "For my brother, I need to be there to help him; for Sirius and Remus, I need to relay what my father said; for Snape, he can't do this alone; and for you Adrian, I want to thank you, to thank you for giving me this."

And like a glass hitting the floor, the barrier around them shattered into a million tiny pieces, and the force with which Penny had entered tossed her right out into Adrian's waiting arms. "Don't thank me until we make it out of here. Hold on tight," he said, his arms instinctively wrapping around her to keep her from falling.

And then in a blink of an eye, the shoulder Penny's face was leaning on was gone, and in its place was something massive and feathered. Looking up, Penny found a large raven's eye watching her, the raven bigger than any bird Penny had ever seen before. Without hesitation, Penny clambered onto Adrian's back, burying her hands in his feathers and held on, Adrian taking off with two giant flaps of his wings.

"Follow the blue light!" Penny said, instinctively feeling it would help them find their back to the door they'd tumbled from.

A part of Penny wanted to look back, to see the head of messy jet black hair upon the bridge one last time, but the words of her father echoed in her head and she gritted her teeth, forcing her emotions back under control and focused on what was straight ahead as Adrian flew with unbelievable speed toward the gateway that hung in the are like the door to a cage.

Moving back through it was considerably more painful than entering, all the sadness, fear and dull aching sensations returned to her, reminding her what it felt like to be alive—awful. Bursting through the rock at full speed, Adrian had to make a couple of tight turns, hitting a monolith he could not dodge and sending Penny flying to the ground. Rolling over and spitting dirt from her mouth, Penny watched as the bird hopped toward her, turning effortlessly back into Adrian as he sprinted the rest of the distance to her.

"Penny—I thought you might—but I wasn't sure—it was bloody brilliant," Adrian said, gazing at Penny with the utmost admiration.

"My dad was there," Penny said, accepting Adrian's hand.. "He said your family won't want the gate open—"

"He isn't wrong," Adrian said, becoming suddenly serious as he seemed to remember they had just been fleeing from several other wereravens. "You must get out of here, I brought this," he said, and reaching in his pocket he pulled out the wine stone Penny had picked from the Mad Mage's bowl. "It's the only way out of here that's not straight through Valaki. It'll take you to safety," he said, placing it in Penny's hand. "But it only has one charge. Now go."

"Why are you helping me?" Penny said, unable to stop herself despite the urgency of the moment. "This is your family, won't they be upset with you?"

"The decisions my family made have often been in self-interest, you met my father, there are things I cannot abide, Penny. And if I will not try to change things, then who will?"

"But you don't even know me."

"I may not officially know you yet," he corrected. "But the things I do know are enough for me to be certain this is the right decision. Now hurry, they won't be far now."

"Fine, but I hope you know you'll be answering with a few more details the next time we meet, now where's Remus?" Penny conceded looking around wildly for the handsome man she loved to loved.

"They would have taken him as soon as the portal opened, you'll have to go without him. They will not harm him, though, he's a lycan, and I can probably get him out. But you will fair so well, I can't express the danger you're in—"

"I'm not leaving without him," Penny said, setting her jaw.

"They'll be half way back to Valaki—"

"How many would have followed us through the portal?"

"What?"

"How many!" she pressed impatiently.

"All the wereravens," he answered in exasperation.

"That leaves three?" she muttered.

"Four," he corrected.

"I've had worse odds," she grinned, and pushing past Adrian she ran toward the path she'd entered the field by, her feet pounding against the wet grass in perfect sync with her raging heart. Though she knew she was running straight into certain danger, Penny felt no fear. She could not leave Remus, not when he'd made this all happen for her. He would scold her and be very upset, but he would not be left here to the mercy of the Martikovs. Penny knew what it felt like to be left behind, to be a prisoner, and that was a fate she would sooner die rather than let Remus endure.

"I don't have a wand, Penny I can't—" Adrian huffed, reaching her as she rounded the bend in the large thicket that separated the field from the gate.

"Take mine," she said, reaching in her pocket and offering it to him.

"You would give me your wand?" he said, flabbergasted.

"Just remember to give it back."

She'd already known what this task would require of her. It'd been many months since Penny had used her expression, but her wand skills were too poor to be of any use against four. So against her better judgment, against the anxiety using it made her feel, she resigned herself to whatever means was necessary to free Remus.

Ahead she saw the three men, one of which was dragging a gagged and bound Lupin behind him, the other three turning at the sound of their approach.

"Duck!" she screamed, hoping Remus would respond fast enough as Penny reached for the energy around her, her veins immediately igniting as though pumped with adrenaline. Pulling the stones around her from the ground, Penny sent them flying at the men, all of whom yelled, trying to dodge as the bombardment rained down upon them. From beside her, Adrian sent several jets of light out blazing out without muttering a single spell.

The surprise was enough to allow them to get the jump, Penny skidding into combat distance as they regained their ground and started casting their own spells. Throwing her palm out in front of her instinctively, a protection spell appeared, sending several others whizzing off in various directions.

Having no idea what possessed her, Penny reached out and caught a jet of light to her right that had been headed straight for Adrian. Holding it like a javelin, Penny threw it back, the spell transforming into several beams of light that assaulted them. The man closest to her fell, Penny diving onto him with a rock in hand and smashing him across the face, sending him unconscious.

When she jumped to her feet again, Adrian had the other two stunned, the third taking a good look at them and turning the high tail and fleeing.

"Adrian!" she called, and without so much as another word, he understood, tossing her the wand which she caught and cried "Accio Lupin's wand!"

Bursting free from the fleeing man's pocket, Penny caught it effortlessly before searching frantically for Remus. Just to her right she spotted him laying in a pile of rocks. Dashing over, her and Adrian uncovered him, he had a small gash on his forehead but otherwise looked alright.

"Penny, that was utterly reckless of you, what if it'd turned out differently," Lupin said, his voice full of paternal disapproval, as she undid his gag and bind. "A wretched man like me is not worth the risk."

"Yeah yeah, you can thank me later. We need to go, now," she said, handing him his wand.

Yelling was coming from their right, and the sound of several sets of feet racing toward them from their left, leaving them nowhere to run and less than a minute until they would be surrounded.

"We can't apparate here," Lupin said, eyes quickly taking in their surroundings looking for any way out.

"Don't worry, Adrian here planned ahead. He gave me this, says it'll take us somewhere safe."

"What is that?" Lupin said, turning and scrutinizing the wine stone with skepticism.

"It's an old family secret, there's no time to explain, but we call it the misty step," Adrian replied.

"And why should we trust you?" Lupin said, features steely as he looked at the boy, distrust evident in every crevice of his face.

"I understand you might not be inclined to after everything that just happened, but either you trust me or you trust Penny's life to my father," Adrian said, standing a little straighter and not wavering beneath the gaze.

"Remus, I trust him and I swear I will explain it all once we're out of here," Penny said, grabbing his arm and tugging.

Finally looking away from Adrian, Remus nodded, and laced his fingers through her own.

"How does this work?" Penny asked, turning urgently on Adrian.

"You need only command it, it will listen," he said in that annoyingly vague way of his.

"Come with us," she blurted out, startling herself as she glanced over his shoulder and found 50 or so people nearing their clearing.

"I can't, I must face my father."

"But you're not safe, and after what you've done for me. . ."

"Don't worry about me, Penny, you'll see me again," he said, taking her hand in his and giving it a soft kiss.

The light squeeze from Lupin's hand telling her to leave it, Penny said, "Fine, then won't be saying thanks until I see you next."

Taking a step away with her and giving her a tooth smile he inclined his head, Penny closing her eyes and imagining leaving while conjuring the first image she associated with safety in her mind's eye. And without a word, the stone responded, growing in Penny's hand and swallowing them up, spitting them out onto some cement a moment later.

There had been no possible way to prepare themselves for whatever it was that'd just taken place, so neither had landed very gracefully. In a crumpled heap, Penny blinked looking around, Lupin already getting to his feet.

"Where did you take us?" Lupin asked, evidently not recognizing the porch they were currently standing on.

"The place I feel safest," Penny said, surprised by her own mind. She'd been certain they would have landed at Grimmauld Place, or Hogwarts even, but she had not expected this.

Dusting herself off, Lupin and Penny turned as the door opened, a very disgruntled Snape saying, "Can you not read? The sign says no soliciting," His hair dripping wet and his chest unusually bare, Penny looked him over, realizing he'd just gotten out of the shower and clearly did not expect it to be them.

Shamelessly, Penny's eyes traveled down Snape's sleek and nicely toned chest. The skin was smooth, hairless and milky. Traveling further down, she found his slacks unbuttoned and splayed open, as though he'd simply thrown the pants on to answer the door.

Face burning hot, Penny could not tear her eyes away from the sight before her, her brain completely forgetting the entire ordeal she'd just been through.

"What in the blazes—" Snape said, his eyes finding Penny and taking in her appearance as Lupin placed a hand on Penny's shoulder.

"Is it safe to enter," he said, not even bothering with a greeting.

Black eyes snapping to Lupin's face, Snape stepped aside, Lupin guiding Penny inside, her head twisting around like a bobble-head to get one last look at Snape, certain the perfectionist in him would compel him to go and finish getting dressed before interrogating them.

"Honestly, Penny, do you have to be that obvious," Lupin muttered begrudgingly in her ear.

Snapping the door shut, Snape followed them, apparently he'd decided on torturing her and sat down, not bothering to find a shirt, though he'd done up his pants. Trying to look anywhere but at Snape and feeling Lupin's accusatory gaze upon her, Penny sat on the sofa awkwardly, all of them unnaturally silent.

"Well?" Snape finally snapped. "Mind explaining why you have arrived on my doorstep in various states of undress," he said, his eyes finding Penny's inside-out sweater and giving it a look of distrust.

The accusation nearly made her snort in laughter considering his own state of undress, but her eyes found her chest again and she had to quickly look away. "With this," Penny said, tossing the wine stone at Snape, hoping to distract him from her humiliation.

"Where did you get this?" he said quietly, his eyes looking to Remus to answer.

Seeing her opportunity because Remus was too busy explaining the morning's events, Penny chanced another glance at Snape. The man did not have an ounce of fat, it was absolutely astounding. Penny's stomach rolled more than his did when sitting and she exercised all the time, but the difference might have had something to do with his impeccable posture and her tendency to slouch.

Without realizing it Penny forgot to look away and did not notice she was ogling until Lupin cleared his throat. Shaking herself out of her stupor, she looked between the two, not knowing why they were looking at her.

"Well, Potter?" Snape said, somewhat impatiently.

"Well what?" she said stupidly.

It was at this point Lupin took pity on her. "Severus, please, it's a lot to process. Penny," he said, turning to her, warm eyes full of worry. "Are you able to tell us what happened?"

"You won't believe me," Penny said, suddenly remembering the events Snape had distracted her from; the memory of the face of her father smiling at her sending her gaze into her lap.

"You don't know that," Lupin said, softly. "Give us a little more credit than that."

"It opened to a bridge, the bridge between this world and the next, my dad was there—he was waiting for me," Penny said one word tumbling out after the other in a single rushed breath.

"You saw James?" Remus repeated.

"I did!" Penny said, turning her tearful eyes on him. "He was there I swear it, Remus. Tall, handsome, funny and utterly perfect, it was him!"

An annoyed grunt coming from Snape made Lupin shoot him a look of warning before he coaxed Penny into explaining exactly what had happened in such detail Snape could not remain seated and began pacing the room, the aura around him reminding Penny of an angry storm cloud.

When Penny had finished, Lupin reached for her hand and smiled prettily down at her. "You don't know what it means to me that you brought that message back to me, Penny. But more importantly, I cannot even begin to comprehend what it must have meant for you, I know how you have longed to know James, he was a truly extraordinary individual—"

"You can't seriously be entertaining this, Lupin," Snape finally cut in, apparently having reached his limit on remaining silent, especially while James Potter was being praised.

"Are you suggesting Penny is lying?" Lupin said, tersely.

"No," Snape said, his eyes narrowing. "But that boy could have done any number of things after you let him get her right where he clearly wanted her."

"Don't say that, it wasn't like that at all," Penny said weakly, looking between Lupin and Snape, neither of them paying her any mind.

"I'm sorry, but if I'm being honest, your argument feels a bit like a projection—"

"She says she saw her dead father for christ's sake, Lupin! Explain to me how that is remotely possible," Snape seethed.

Standing now, Lupin faced Snape, his voice low, but not angry. "No one is asking you to explain how it's possible, just to believe that Penny knows herself well enough to tell us what she saw with confidence."

"He's dead! People don't come back—" Snape bellowed, but Penny was on her feet now, marching toward him and not stopping until she was so far into his bubble he nearly recoiled from her. Looking dubiously down at her he waited.
"See for yourself if you don't believe me. Some of it, all of it, I don't care. Look, and if you still don't believe me, fine,"Penny said defiantly..

"Penny, you don't have to—"Lupin said, but Snape cut him off. "Shut up, Lupin, no one asked you," he sneered. "Fine, Potter. I just hope you are prepared for whatever we find."

Reaching into his pocket, his eyes still locked on hers, he reached for his wand. Neither blinking, Penny held her breath, her heart pattering in excitement at the thought of seeing her father again. When she finally did blink, the room around her disappeared, and instead, images were racing past. She saw the portal open before her, felt the tug and watched the world pass her by. Then she was standing there, on that same bridge, her head giving a painful throb as Snape pressed further, clearly not trying to be delicate.

Like an angel waiting to greet her into heaven stood her father beaming down at her, and Penny's heart exploded again in unbridled emotions. Trying hard to savor every grin, pout and toss of his hair as Snape played through the entirely-too-short conversation; she felt her heart break all over again when she was forced to say goodbye. Once Snape had seen their departure and fight to save Lupin it all disappeared and Penny found herself staring at the carpet, panting, her forehead pressed against the soft skin of Snape's chest. How or when she'd gotten there, Penny did not know, but one of his arms held her there, as though afraid she would continue on her way to the floor.

Closing her eyes, Penny remained very still, several fat tears hitting the carpet. The pain of reality was crashing in on her again, but this time Penny did not have any life threatening distractions to help her cope. Instead, she focused on Snape, the smell of his soap that was oddly floral for such a serious man; the way his unusually warm skin stuck to hers; the feeling of his hand holding her; those were all things that did not hurt, things worth dwelling on. So she let her hurting heart do so, lest the horrible emptiness James left behind swallowed her up.

"And?" came the challenging tones of Lupin.

"The teenager had to rescue you after your own brilliant idea turned out to be utter idiocy," came Snape's condescending response. "How alike you and Potter are in that way, you never did mind risking the necks of others for a good time."

"I don't care what you think of me, Severus, but it sure as hell matters to her if you believe her or not. So come now, why don't you stop with the avoidance tactics and give us your verdict about what you saw."

"I am by no means qualified to assess whatever it is I just witnessed, I imagine Dumbledore is the only one who can explain such things. But with regards to her memory, it was not altered," Snape said in a quiet voice. "I suggest the memory be taken to Albus with haste."

"Penny? Did you hear that? Would you be willing to part with your memory, I promise to guard it with my life," Lupins voice said, the tones distinctly gentler as he spoke to her.

"Just take it," Penny said, not moving from the spot, still trying to get herself together.

Snape's free arm moving to her temple, he pulled a silvery substance from her mind and placed it into the bottle Lupin held out.
"Would you like me to drop you at Grimmauld Place on my way?"

"Can I stay?" Penny said, more to Snape than Lupin.

Whatever the response, they decided on it silently, Lupin's soft footsteps making for the door and exiting with the creaking of the door.

"You knew him, I know you knew him. I don't care why you hated him, but please, just tell me, was it him? Or was it all imagined" Penny said, unable to keep the anxiety from her voice.

"There is no mistaking that arrogant, self-absorbed, prat," Snape said without a moment's hesitation, filling Penny with surprised disbelief that slowly turned into relief.. Pulling away, she looked up into his face, searching for a lie, but she only found fury, and that expression of utter loathing he only ever wore when speaking to Harry or berating Penny for being like her father. Staring at Snape, who was clearly lost in some unpleasant memory, Penny could not help but laugh at the sheer sincerity of his response.

Taking a startled step away from her when he realized it was him she was laughing back, his disgruntled features looked on the verge of reprimanding her.

"I never thought I'd ever be so thankful for whatever grudge you hold against him."

"Am I to know what that means, Potter."

"It means that somehow, in all of your attempts to be contrary, you are always exactly what I need."

Turning decidedly away from her, Penny thinking she saw his cheeks turn red as he did so, he summoned a sweater from upstairs. Pulling it over his head, Penny watched the lithe muscles along his back stress and flex, causing her to choke on her spit. Shaking her head several times to get a grip on herself she thought back to her father, the smile naturally working its way across her lips.

"I never thought he'd be that handsome. I mean, everyone says he looks like Harry, but Harry isn't like that. There's an air to him, a natural charm," Penny said, completely oblivious to how enraged Snape was becoming by her simpering over James.

"It is my birthday, Ms. Potter, but I swear to Merlin if I have to hear another word about James Potter it will be my last, and you will only have yourself to blame," Snape said coldly, as he reached for a sweatshirt.

"Your birthday?" Penny repeated. "It can't be, I'd know."

"Let me guess, you were somehow magically transported to my birth as well today?"

"It's your birthday?"

"Yes, Potter, I know it's probably quite astounding for you to learn, but we all have one," he said sardonically. "Now put this on so we can go."

"It's your birthday!" Penny said, her tone becoming a complaint now. "We have to celebrate!"

"I assure you, we do not," said Snape, still holding out the hooded sweatshirt he was trying to get her to put on.

"I can make you a cake!"

"You will do no such thing," he said, his voice entering the quiet danger zone as his eyes bulged at the memory of the last time Penny had baked him a cake. "We are leaving, now,"

"No! I refuse to go anywhere unless you let me celebrate in some manner. I can accept you are a contrarian, but I am not."

"If you do not put this on, I will do it for you," he warned.

"So you agree to my terms?"

His lack of an argument told her he agreed so she snatched the hoodie from him and pulled it over her head. The smell of bergamot overwhelmed her, sending Penny into a haze. When it was over her head and she could tell exactly how oversized it was, she realized this was his sweatshirt and not some old thing he'd pulled out, and judging by the intensity of the smell, one he wore often.

He appraised her for a moment, Penny feeling mildly content that her in his clothing seemed to unsettle him nearly as much as his lack of clothing had her. But before she could rub it in he was pointing her to the door and ushering out into the afternoon rain Pulling the hood over her head, Penny marched, doing her best to remember the way to where she wanted to go. Slowing, she waited, Snape and his umbrella finally catching up with her.

'Oh, good thinking!" she said, making toward him, but he took a step away from her, his lip curling as he looked over her already wet form.

"It only fits one," he said delicately.

Rolling her eyes, Penny continued walking, going down at least three wrong streets before Snape grabbed her by the upper arm and dragged her to the convenience store they'd visited over the summer, Penny mildly impressed he knew that's where she'd been trying to go.

"Okay, you stay here," she commanded, turning and making for the door, stopping just shy. "I'll need ten dollars," she said, realizing she didn't have her money on her.

"Am I to understand that you are asking me for money to buy my birthday present?"

"I'll pay you back later,"she said impatiently, not liking the way his brows arched in derision.

"I'm broke," he drawled.

"Fine," she said, the tone in her voice telling Snape he should have just given her the money, her eyes finding a group of boys just a ways off.

Freeing her pretty hair from her hood hand and "Potter, what do you think you're doing," trailing after her, Penny pranced her way to the boys and struck up a conversation,; giving them a sappy lie of story, she asked them for the money she needed. The tall, blonde boy agreed with a wide-tooth grin, but only if she gave him a kiss first. Feeling the terms weren't that bad, Penny placed a kiss on his cheek, smiled prettily and made her back toward Snape, stopping just out of arm's reach when a brick wall of fury hit her.

"What was that!" he spat.

"What?" she said, genuinely bewildered. "I got the money I needed."

"By selling yourself!"

"Hardly, it was a kiss on the cheek, the easiest ten bucks I've ever made, actually. I was prepared to flash my boobs if that is what it'd take, but telling them you were my blind dad was enough for those suckers. Oh, maybe you should trip or something, to make the whole thing believable, you know?" she said nonchalantly, humming a tune as she made for the door, leaving Snape sputtering in his fury.

When Penny returned the boys were curiously missing and Snape was suspiciously much-less angry than he had been, but Penny decided to brush it off, she could hardly make accusations on the man's birthday. Stepping under his umbrella Penny pulled out a pack of Marlboros from the paper bag, yanking off the plastic and shoving it in her pocket before pulling out a cigarette.

"What was the point of debasing yourself if you were just going to steal them?"

"I didn't steal them!" Penny said, offended. "A lovely man, that Earl. Told me the Americans love these ones."

Rubbing the bridge of his nose he did not respond, Penny placing the cigarette in her mouth only to remember she didn't have a lighter.

"Do you have a light?" she said, keeping the cigarette expertly in place.

Giving her a look that told her he very much wanted to strangle her, he reached in his pocket, pulled out a silver lighter, flicked it open and held it for her. Green eyes finding back, Penny leaned in close to him, placing the cigarette in the flame and taking a couple of short puffs until it was lit.

Again, Snape's face changed, Penny watching it like it was a painting becoming some entirely else. His irritation melting away as he watched her, anger becoming uncertainty, concern becoming affection, she couldn't help but think how much she liked that he no longer ran away from her.

Taking several deep breaths of smoke, she held it in her chest for a long moment, feeling decidedly cool after all the practice she'd done with Sirius to learn how not to hack up a lung, and considered the curious man before her, as disgruntled as ever, even on his birthday. His black eyes hiding beneath the thick brows that loved to furrow were like deep wells, always pulling in further, making her feel she would never get free, not that she ever really tried. He was not as pretty as James Potter, or nearly as charming, but Penny could not deny that looking at him filled her with something comparable to her love for James—Severus Snape made her utterly content. When he was there, everything hurt a little less and her heart did not feel so hollow.

The rain pattering on the umbrella he held over them and Penny's lungs yelling for oxygen, she took the cigarette with two fingers, removed it from her mouth and tilted her head ever so slightly and blew the smoke at Snape. "Happy birthday," she smiled, offering him the cigarette.

Feeling certain he would sooner beat her than accept, he did something quite unexpected, he took the cigarette, placed it between his thin lips, took several huffs and held them much longer than Penny was capable of; all the while never releasing her gaze. Though he would sooner die than say it, Penny knew this is what he'd wanted. Stepping out of that tower of his, Penny saw in his eyes that for the first time in a long time, he was not irate that it was his birthday. Rather, he was glad, if not for the birthday, then her company.

Then, leaning toward her, so mere inches separated them, sending the annoying heart in Penny's heart jumping, he blew his own smoke into her face and said "Never listen to Earl," before taking a second drag and snatching the bag from her to see what else it was she'd bought.

I missed them arguing...can you tell? Snape is definitely going to bed happy thinking of how mad James was Penny likes him AHAHAH.