Here starts Book Two of The Ordinary Road Series: From Now On

WELCOME TO PENNY'S SIXTH YEAR! I'm SO EXCITED TO BE HERE. For ease, I'm going to stay here, but chapters for From Now On will be labeled FNO example 'FNO: A Toast' to make it easier for anyone wanting to look back for anything specific.

I'm really looking forward to Penny's sixth year, it will be a lot of fun and I think with Penny being older, the dynamics with Snape will be able to change over the course of the year. Not to mention a ton of fun stuff happens in this book!

Please enjoy and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Her head down, hoodie pulled over, fully aware it was much too warm for such a garment, Penny continued down the dark streets, the welcome summer rain hitting the bare skin of her leg and cooling her. To her right, a man whistled, his friends calling after her as she sped past, her feet moving through London almost mechanically, her mind trying its best not to settle on a single thought. Normally, she would walk these streets with music blaring in her ear, but at this time of night she needed to be aware of anyone who might approach her.

Taking a right on Byward street, she glanced over her shoulder, a creeping up her spine making her feel someone was following her, but her eyes only found an empty street so she continued, checking her watch and cursing, she was late. Speeding up, she arrived in less than ten minutes, stopping in front of an old shop-face, whose windows were boarded up, the word 'condemned' roughly spray painted over it and an old sign hanging on one hinge reading The Rose and Crown

Pulling out her wand, she stepped up to the faded gnome statue that sat beside the door, knelt down and poked its eye with her wand. A moment later, someone pushed the door open, a tall burly man with dark hair and a prominent bald spot saying "You're late."

"Yeah yeah," she said, pushing past him into the loud pub.

Weaving through people wearing robes of all sorts of colors holding steaming and bubbling tankards and glasses, she avoided their glances. She was dressed like a muggle, making her stick out like a sore thumb, but she didn't care, she'd found what she was looking for. Pushing the hood from her head and freeing her red hair, she leaned over to feel the cheek of the person passed out on the table, a beer still clutched in his hand.
"Remus?" Penny said gently, brushing his hair from his sweaty face. "I need you to wake up, love," she continued, placing a kiss on his cheek, that tight ball in her chest squirming defiantly as she looked down at him. She didn't know why, but everyday she allowed herself to hope today would be the last, that Remus would round that bend, bringing the man she knew and loved back to her. But everyday she found him here, buried ever deeper in his pit of despair.

Someone cleared their throat from behind her, jarring her from her thoughts.

"Yes, Olly?" she said impatiently.

"His tab."

Reaching in her pocket she fished out a galleon and shoved it into the man's calloused hand.

"That ain't gonna cover it."

"Are you blind, that's a galleon!"

"And he's been here since noon."

"Whatever happened to cutting someone off!"

"Why would I when you always pay?" Olly grinned.

"Get the hell out of here, Olly, before I hex you," she said, angrily handing over three more sickels.

He looked on the verge of demanding more, but seemed to decide better. Relaxing the hand in her pocket that was clutched to her wand, Penny moved back to Remus, taking a seat next to him, hand instinctively returning to his hair.

"Mind if I finish your beer?" she said to his motionless form.

The beer was lukewarm, but Penny still found a sense of relief in it, something she was loathe to admit, because she wanted so badly to be sterner with Remus, to be the person who helped him find sobriety, but she couldn't be that person, not in good conscience when she, more than anyone understood the kind of escape he sought. Penny was much too guilty of seeking that same escape—it was a blessed relief, a relief she would let no one steal from her. And so she followed him to these pubs, hoping that helping him find his own bed would offer her some kind of redemption, or at least secure her a less direct path to hell.

Green eyes trailed over his tired, unshaven face. Even asleep his bags were ever noticeable, and getting deeper by the day. His hair was unkempt, with the addition of new greys, the lines in his face betraying his fitful sleep. Despite it all, Penny could not help but feel he was the most beautiful man she'd ever laid eyes on, but seeing him so full of despair, it broke her heart.

With a sigh, she finished the beer and made for the bar figuring a bucket of ice water would be the only way to rouse Remus today, but a strange stillness seemed to crash over the pub, a low muttering replacing the loud conversations. Turning to the door, Penny found six hooded figures entering the pub.

"Fuck," she said under her breath, freezing where she stood and watched as the Death Eaters began harassing various patrons, many looking at the floor in an attempt to go unnoticed. Several were shoved toward the door, but others were clearly of interest and were rounded up.

Pulling the hood over her head again, wanting very much not to be recognized, Penny raced back to Remus' side.

"Remus, wake up! I really need you to wake up now," she said, frantically shaking the man to no avail.

Trying to think fast, Penny glanced back behind her, the crowd in the pub was quickly dwindling, and if she did not hurry they would garner the very unwanted attention of the Death Eaters, so staying low, she darted for the kitchen, finding a pitcher of butterbeer, dumping it out, hastily filling it with water and tossing in a few ice cubes.

Moving as quickly as possible, she made her way back to Remus, her heart dropping as soon as she left the kitchen and found three Death Eaters standing over him, kicking him unceremoniously as they jeered. Remus fell from his chair, into a bleary-eyed mess, clearly still too gone to recognize what was happening.

In a decision that probably wasn't her best, Penny walked back to Remus, stopped near the Death Eater digging his boot into Remus' ribs and threw the ice water at him. "Get off him or I'll hex you," she said, her wand pointing at the man's chest as he turned on her with an angry yell.

The other two figures turned, their wands almost finding Penny's heart but stopping shy when their eyes registered her stature, both breaking into laughter.

"You'll pay for that, wench," the tall burly one Penny had drenched said as he made to reach for her.

"Hold on, Rowle," the one to his left said, extending a hand. "That's not just any wench," he went on, Penny knowing it was Alecto beneath that mask.

"Why if it isn't Penny," Amycus said from beside her as he tugged the hood from her head. Pulling his own hood from his face, his eyes trailed lazily over her face.

"Am I supposed to know who the bloody hell this brat is?" Rowle said.

"Honestly, Rowle, you are so daft. She is none other than Severus' slut," Alecto said, following suit and freeing himself from his own mask.

"This thing?" said Rowle, looking as though he were sure the brothers were lying to him.

"My sentiments exactly," Alecto mused as he glanced down at the groaning heap that was Remus. "Why don't you introduce us to your friend, Penny. Amycus here seems to think he's none other than that irritating half-breed, Remus Lupin. But I find myself skeptical, he looks more like an average vagrant, and I hadn't heard of Lupin being prone to the drink."

"He wasn't, but if you took any pains to pay attention to anything other than Snape, dear brother, then you would know Black was the werewolf's partner, so it's only natural he would be drinking his sorrows away after Black's untimely passing," said Amysuc, causing the three of them to laugh again.

"Trust Bellatrix to be the end of the Blacks, her own cousin too" Rowle said, shaking his head almost in awe.

"Even still, the werewolf has a certain reputation. So tell me, Penny, what's your unfortunate friend's name?' Alecto went on, looking unconvinced.

"His name is Ted," Penny said stiffly, the fury in her chest quickly becoming a calming numbness.

"Ted who?" Alecto pressed, with an impatient click of his tongue.

"Ted Montgomery. He's no-one."

"And what would you be doing with a no-one who looks to be 20 years your senior, I wonder? Does your fiancé know the company you keep?" Amycus said delicately, an arm wrapping around Penny's shoulder and pulling her close to him as he observed her. "You wouldn't be lying to us, would you?" he breathed.

"Drinking, because as you already noted, my godfather is dead," Penny said, turning to meet his gaze, her voice not so much giving away an inflection of emotion as she uttered the words.

"How's it feel being orphaned for the second time?" Alecto asked with a cruel smile.

"You're a mean bastard, Alecto," Rowle laughed. "Can't imagine Snape will like it very much if you make the girl cry."

"He's so preoccupied with Miller over there, he hasn't even noticed her. So come, Potter, entertain us with your tears."

"I have a better idea, why don't we have a drink for this dearly missed godfather," Amycus said, his eyes still fixed on Penny, the challenge evident in his voice. "And when your betrothed is finished with his task, he can confirm if you're telling the truth or not."

"Fine, but I'll be getting my friend off the floor first," Penny said, shrugging herself out of his hold and pushing past Rowle to reach for Remus.

"About time things got interesting," said Alecto,

The other three took a seat, Penny pulling Remus into a chair near the table they sat, but far enough away to not disturb his slumber seeing as he had returned to unconsciousness. Returning, Penny was forced to take the seat between Alecto and Rowle, Amycus sitting across from her, his face leaning lazily on his hand.

"What does the princess drink?" said Rowle. "A lime and soda?" he mocked.

Waving her own wand, Penny sent Olly's best whiskey and a glass flying to her. Without so much as acknowledging him, she uncorked the bottle, poured her glass, downed it and poured a second, finally looking up to find Alecto's normally bored blue-eyes watching her with interest. Gulping down the second, she passed the glass and bottle to him.

"Something's different about you," said Alecto as he poured himself a glass and took a slow sip. "How old are you now?"

"16."

"Since when?"

"Since today."

"Birthday girl? You should have said," Amycus said, raising his own wand and sending three more cups flying over, which he began filling.

"16? Snape really is grotesque, but at least you're less peppy these days," Alecto sighed as he gave her a disapproving once over.

"A toast to our young friend," Amycus said, passing out the glasses. "May you make the most of the angst of adolescence, orphan girl," he drawled, raising his own.

"And not get too bored of wasting your good years on Snape's cock," Rowle said, adding his own.

"May we see less of each other," said Alecto

"And may there be lots of coke," Penny said, hitting all the other cups and downing her drink as Rowle snorted with laughter, and the corners of Alecto's lips upturned in amusement despite himself.

"See, she is different," Alecto said to Amycus.

"Of course she is, brother, our rebellious little birthday girl followed Black through the veil and made it back out again."

"So?"

"So, she's seen the other side and now she's decided she's invincible."

Penny couldn't help but snort with laughter at this assertion. "Invincible, nah, I'm just not afraid of going back."

"Wishing to join your dear, godfather? What would Severus say?" tutted Amycus."Where's the fun in that? Stay and struggle a while," he said, his eyes watching her hungrily over his glass, making the scar on Penny's abdomen twinge.

"You can't actually believe this, brother?" said Alecto impatiently. "No doubt this was Dumbledore's concoction so one one would touch the girl for fear of some kind of curse."

"Except I'm not Harry, so Dumbledore is not interested in who touches me. But your buddies were there, so why not take a little trip to Azkaban and ask them if I'm a liar or not," Penny said, as she twirled the contents of her glass, resisting the urge to finish it off, she needed to remain level headed.

"Careful, little dove," Alecto said in a low voice, causing Penny to look up and find her companions looking very much like they wanted to curse her.

"Settle down, settle down. I meant nothing by it. But at least what you lost can come back," Penny shrugged, taking a deep drink and reaching for the bottle again. Perhaps one more drink would not hurt.

"If you did not find Black on the other side, I'm curious what you did find," Rowle said, Penny noting how he had barely touched his drink. The other two re-filled their glasses, Alecto casting his eyes around in a snobbish fashion before settling on Penny, looking reluctantly curious.

"A Death Eater," Penny said so matter-of-factly, the three paused for a moment to exchange glances that quickly became smirks.

"Someone we know?" Alecto said with an eye roll.

"Nah, pretty sure he was before your time," Penny answered, her eyes giving Alecto's handsome form a shameless once over.

"Give you some divine words of advice, did he?" said Rowle, looking amused, it was evident neither he or Alecto believed her, but Penny wasn't so sure about Amycus, who observed her with a strange kind of attentiveness.

"Sure did. Said he was glad to die because you're all a bunch of pussy's who don't know how to drink," Penny said, finishing her 4th glass and slamming her empty cup in the middle of the table. "It's been lovely boys but I'd prefer not to waste my entire birthday on such a dismal celebration, so if we could take this to the door, I'll be going now," she said, getting to her feet.

"We're not done yet," Alecto said, also on his feet, his hand grabbing Penny's wrist threateningly.

"Don't test my patience," Penny bit back, what little resolve she had, long gone. Her impulses wanted to hit the pretty face and make it bleed, but as soon as she did that the other two would be on her, and any hope of Penny getting Remus out of here would be long gone, so for his sake she stopped herself.

"Tell me, how is it I've come to find you three drinking, when we are far from accomplishing what the Dark Lord has asked?" a cold voice said, taking Alecto's attention from Penny, and turning it enthusiastically on her Potions Master.

"Oh, but Severus, we aren't drinking for just any old reason. It turns out it's our young friend's birthday, and seeing as she is your fiancé, we figured you wouldn't mind if we showed her a good time," Alecto said, throwing his arm over Penny's shoulder and forcing her around to look at Snape, who, like the others was dressed in his Death Eater robes, mask pushed up. "Sweet 16," Alecto added delicately, his tongue skimming his bottom lip.

Snape's calculating eyes considered Alecto, his face betraying none of the irritation she knew he was feeling at finding her here.

"You can't be mad, darling," Penny said, pulling herself free of Alecto and stumbling towards Snape, where she caught herself, arms around his neck and looked up at him with big green, puppy dog eyes. "It's my fault, I was trying to get Ted here home when they asked me for a drink, and I couldn't rightly say no? They're your friends, after all," Penny said, nodding toward Lupin and watching as Snape's eyes found him, the vein in his neck giving the faintest of throb. "But how about a birthday kiss, hmm? For your fiancé?" she said, getting to her tiptoes.

His eyes finally flicked down to her face, the look of suppressed annoyance she'd become accustomed to returning as he gave her a once over, his brow arching every-so slightly as he took in the hoodie that was assuredly his, his arms looping much too naturally around her waist and squeezing tightly, his anger emanating through the fingernails digging into her flesh.

"As much as I would love to indulge your exhibitionist tendencies, you will have to wait until later—"

"You're no fun," Penny pouted.

"—because the Dark Lord does tolerate being made to wait," Snape finished, looking pointedly over Penny's shoulder at the three behind her. "Now go assist Travers and Gibbons before my mercy runs dry," said Snape in a low voice.

The three sauntered off, muttering to themselves and glancing back at Remus, as though trying to decide if it was worth possibly angering Snape further to bring it up, but they seemed to decide against it and disappeared around the corner, leaving Penny alone, still caught in the clutches of Snape.

"Welp, good seeing you, but places to be and people to see, so I'll just be taking Ted and going," Penny said, trying to pull free of his grip, but Snape held her a moment, the fury in his eyes scalding her, but then he released her and watched her struggle to try to get Remus on his feet before sighing impatiently and levitating him; the three of them taking the back exit into the alley out the back.

"Are you an imbecile!" Snape hissed as soon as the door snapped shut behind them.

"As curious as I am to how you've come to that conclusion, all things considered, I'm a bit busy now," Penny said sardonically, moving to catch Remus, anticipating that Snape would drop him in a heap on the ground.

"You are not getting away that easily," Snape sneered, grabbing Penny by the wrist. "I have been patient, but I grow tired of this phase of yours."

"And what phase would that be?" Penny said dangerously. "The one where I'm trying to support my grieving friend, or the one where my godfather died a month ago?"

"Pretend all you want that this is standard, but we both know you have taken to these reckless acts in your refusal to grieve, to accept—"

"Shut up," Penny said, her voice low, furious. "What would you know about it! You weren't there, not when that friend of yours killed Sirius, not when he fell through the veil and not when I followed him! You hated Sirius, you're probably happy he's dead! So shut the fuck up and leave me alone, I don't need you following me around demanding I grieve like a 'normal' person, whatever that means."

"You're sixteen, you need supervision!" he spat.

"Yeah well like your buddies so kindly reminded me, I've just been made an orphan for the second time, so I guess I'm shit out of luck."

"How convenient, now you want to play the poor grieving orphan card, except I'm not buying it, Potter, not after you have insisted on refusing my every attempt to—"

"Make me conform to your idea—"

"TO HELP!"

"I don't need or want your help!"

"Don't lie to me, Potter. The only thing you don't want is to face reality. Why else would you be running around London, sleeping around and doing every muggle drug under the sun. That isn't experimentation, or some teenage phase, that's escapism and no different than what that useless half-breed is doing!" Snape fumed, his hands balled into fists.

"You know what you're right, absolutely right, I am looking to escape, to get the hell away from, you! So maybe if you just took the hint, I'd get better," Penny said icily.

"You aren't listening, Potter, " he said through gritted teeth, attempting to steady his voice.

"No shit I'm not listening. It's my fucking birthday, do you think I want to listen to you berate me?"

The lines on his face softened, and his black eyes held her green ones for a long moment. They were like deep pools of regret as the anger pulsing from him slowly ebbed away, but Penny refused to get caught in them, not this time, not ever again. So she turned away, lifting Remus onto her shoulder.

"I-I'd planned on giving this to you later," Snape said, clearing his throat and pulling something from his pocket, extending it to her.

"Keep it, there's nothing worth celebrating. Not when the people who care about me either end up dead or like this," Penny said, nodding toward Lupin. "I'd prefer if you weren't added to the list."

"You expect me to believe it is chivalry that compels you to push me away, Potter? It is cowardice! You are afraid of the price of love, but you're deluded if you think shutting me out can change anything now, I made my choice, and I will not regret it," he all but yelled, his resolve to calm down long faded.

"Well, I'm making mine now," and turning on her heel, Penny disappeared, leaving an angry Snape to curse into the cloudy sky.

The dark street became a soft field and before Penny and Remus stood a small cottage that emanated a soft, warm glow. Hoisting Remus further onto her shoulder, she pulled him up the steps, through the threshold and into his room, where she managed to get him on his back on the bed. Starting with his shoes, she began undressing him, struggling somewhat to get his pants off, and blushing slightly when his boxers tried to come free with his shorts. Getting his shirt off, she pulled him up to his pillow and then opened his window to let the breeze in, pausing to look down at his slumbering form.

She should head out, if she didn't the others would worry, but she didn't want to. Sitting here with Remus in this cottage of his, far from the world at large; it was the only place her brain could settle, where she could find peace without chemical assistance, or feeling the need to drown anything else out. With Remus, she could bear to sit with herself and hear her own thoughts again. So she sat in the rocker beside the window, sometimes gazing out toward the stars and other times watching Remus's rhythmic breathing, happy that in sleep there was some reprieve for him from the pain.

She thought about Snape and the gift he'd held out to her, neatly wrapped with a bow tied around its middle. She imagined him wrapping in at his desk in Spinners end, her hand clasping instinctively around the key in her pocket as she did so. She'd almost relented, wanted to accept the gift, to feel something other than the anger welled in her chest, but she couldn't falter, because if she did, Snape would undo her.

A choked retching pulled Penny from her thoughts and she raced to Lupin's side where she coaxed his head over into the bin to allow him to spew, Penny brushing hair out of his face.

"I'm sorry, I'm a nuisance," he muttered between groans. "I should have never—please believe me."

"Shh, Remus, it's alright, just lay back down."

"I need you to forgive me," he begged, large hands grasping Penny's wrists with surprising strength. His warm brown eyes looking at her, but seeing someone else.

Remus often did this when he drank too much, and at first, Penny had tried to explain to him that she wasn't Sirius, but these days, she found it better to just let him hear the things his brain needed to hear to find peace; to offer him some closure even if he didn't remember it come morning.

"I forgive you, Remus. I love you too much to hold it against you."

With a relieved smile he pulled Penny toward him, making her collapse into his chest, his arms crushing the breath from her. Then he rolled her over, his warm body pressed against hers, his soft lips kissing her neck, causing her to gasp. Part of her felt guilty for liking the way his lips felt against her skin, the childish heart in her that had always loved Remus, wishing the kiss had been for her. But it wasn't and it never would. That kiss was Remus, lost somewhere in his dreams where Sirius was still with him. And though she missed him dearly, she could not tear him from that place, just do whatever she could to help him contain the aftermath.

"Remus, you're not well, you need rest," Penny said in his ear, catching the hand straying down her side and holding it firmly. "There will be time later, just sleep, love," she said, kissing the side of his head and closing her eyes, a tear trickling down her cheek as the overwhelming smell of sweat and stale alcohol collided with her.

Thankfully Remus did not have the wherewithal to continue and not but a moment later, he was limp, head on her shoulder and chest rising and falling rhythmically. She did not want to disturb him so she let him remain where he was, her own eyes nearly drifting off to sleep and own heart greedily accepting his nearness. But just when sleep might have taken her, a commotion from somewhere in the house jarred her back to reality.

Early morning light was streaming through the window when she slid out from beneath Remus and tiptoed through the house, the sound of rhythmic chopping meeting her ears. Clutching her wand in her hand, she rounded the corner into the kitchen and found Snape standing beside the stove. With an impatient sigh she lowered her wand and walked over him to reach across him for the coffee pot. "Must you be so persistent."

"I would have little need if you were not so stubborn," he said, looking at her from the corner of her eye.

"Worked up an appetite after torturing innocents, did you?" she said, ignoring his jab and eyeing the array of food he had going.

"No, arguing with emotionally repressed imbeciles did that."

"Because you of all people can complain about someone being emotionally repressed," Penny muttered under her breath as she took her coffee and made for the table, Snape following after her and placing a pile of pancakes and some compote before her.

The man knew her weaknesses too well, Penny could hardly turn her nose up at her favorite breakfast food, so she begrudgingly filled her plate and began eating, Snape scraping the contents of his cutting board into a pan and joining her.

"You're wasting your time with the half-breed," he said as he shook out a paper.

"That's your opinion."

"It's not an opinion, Potter. It's an observable fact. He has allowed himself to fall into dependency, you will not reach him unless he wants to be reached."

"So then I'll wait," Penny said through a mouthful.

"It will get worse long before it gets better, and near the full moon you are only putting yourself in danger—"

"I trust him," Penny said angrily.

"It's not a matter of trust. This is a territory neither you nor he has ever traversed. You may find him unchanged or he may become more erratic, aggressive."

"And let me guess, now you're going to forbid me from seeing him," Penny said, the eye roll thick in her tone.

Putting the paper down, he looked at her, his eyes narrowed.

"If you want to be a full time babysitter, be my guest. But I imagine that muggle goon of yours may not like it much; he may even find someone else to occupy his time with," Snape said delicately, looking far too happy by the prospect.

"You know, jealousy really isn't a cute look. But seeing as you're so concerned about my love life I'll let you in on a little secret, we're secure in our relationship, but thanks for your concerns," she said, downing the last of her coffee and getting to her feet to stir the potatoes.

"Just don't be stupid, Potter. If you're committing to this futile attempt, recognize when it's time to leave," he said, also on his feet, standing beside her and taking the spoon from her to be sure he had her attention. "Don't let emotions impair your judgment. He will still be here when you come back."

"Fine. Since you're being so unusually reasonable today, I can agree to that.

"Good, now take this to him and lets go, the stench of half-breed has made me lose my appetite."

"Go where?"

"You have a twin, do you not? Though you so dramatically declared there is nothing to celebrate, I imagine you still wish to keep up pretenses," he said cooly.

"I can get to the Weasley's myself, thanks," she said darkly.

"You can but you will do no such thing. Unlike your brother, you can rest assured the Ministry will expel you for breaking the decree for the reasonable restriction of underage sorcery," Snape said, shoving a plate into her hands.

Taking the plate with an annoyed huff, Penny made her way to the bedroom and left it on Remus' bedside table, pulling her sweatshirt over her head as she went in search of Snape again. Finding the kitchen empty and cleared up, she made for the yard. He was standing a ways off, looking toward the sunrise, his long hair billowing just slightly in the morning breeze. Glancing sideways at her approach he offered his palm, Penny hesitating as she reached for it, Penny glanced back toward the beautiful expanse of gold and green, preparing her heart for the onslaught that would come with showing her face at the Weasley's.

Though she wanted very much to avoid the place, it did not feel right to spend her birthday without Harry, so she clasped his hand, Snape turning as soon as their skin met. Miraculously, Penny landed on both feet, it seemed Lupin teaching her to apparate in his drunk escapades had also improved her abilities in side-along apparition.

Feeling quite smug with herself, she straightened up, "Cheers, I'll give them your hello's," she said, trying to make her get-away, but the hand holding hers did not let go, but rather gave her a good tug and pulled her into him. Stumbling, she looked up quizzically at him, finding his head already bending low and not stopping until his lips found her cheek, where he placed what would have been the gentlest of kisses there if not for the electricity that exploded between them when his skin touched hers, sending her heart thumping and blood boiling in confusion. "Happy birthday," he said, placing something in her free hand.

Pulling away, their eyes caught for the merest of seconds, Penny's heart skipping several beats as she tried to figure out how she was to respond. But the dark haired-man was already turning when Penny glanced down at what he'd placed into her palm, finding a torn open envelope Penny recognized as her OWL scores, the same ones she'd thrown in the bin without even looking to see how she'd done.

"Bravo, Potter, it turns out you are not the dunce I took you for. It seems you do in fact, have some potential. But I will be expecting much more than what you were giving at the end of last year if you wish to succeed at the NEWT level. I will not accept the excuse of a dead godfather come the end of summer." And with a loud crack he vanished.

Penny yelling,"You can't just go through someone else's trash, you know!" after him. Fuming with anger for several minutes, curiosity finally got the better of Penny, so she pulled out the letter she had been so angry at two weeks prior. Unfolding it she read

Ordinary Wizarding Level Results

Pass grades: Outstanding (O) Exceeds Expectations (E) Acceptable (A)

Fail Grades: Poor (P) Dreadful (D) Troll (T)

Penelope Evans Potter has Achieved

Ancient Runes: A

Arithmancy: O

Astronomy: E

Care of Magical Creatures: E

Charms: O

Defense Against the Dark Arts: E

Herbology: O

History of Magic: O

Potions:O

Transfiguration: O

Penny stared at her ten OWL's, uncertain if she believed they were actually hers, and then she suddenly broke into a fit of furious sobs as she sank into the grass clutching her results, the heart in her chest sending waves of pain through her chest.

With no godfather to show and Remus too blitzed out on alcohol to even remember her results had come, Penny could only feel angry at the injustice of life for stealing the rewards of her hard efforts from her; for taking something she'd been striving for and transforming it into something that only caused her pain. Kids all over Britain had been allowed to celebrate their results with their family, but not Penny, she'd been relegated to the suffocating grief that her OWLs reminded her of as she looked a the loathsome letters, remembering Sirius walking happily into the afterlife, leaving her behind like everyone always did.

"Penny, dear is that you?" came the soft tones of Mrs. Weasley, who Penny had not noticed approach her.

Kneeling down beside her, she quickly realized Penny was crying and pulled her instinctively into her soft embrace. "Oh dear, what's wrong, are you hurt?"

"He was supposed to be here, he promised he'd be here," Penny cried, almost incoherently. "Why did he have to leave and take Remus with him?"

"Oh, Penny, darling," Mrs. Weasley said, her voice breaking as she squeezed her tighter.

"I'm so angry, I know I shouldn't be, but I can't forgive him for leaving me—for leaving Remus. He broke his promise and I won't forgive him."

"And that's alright. Whatever you feel right now, you don't need to apologize for it or let anyone think you should be feeling something else. You just let it out in whatever way you need, okay?"

"He stole this happiness from me, made me an orphan for the second time and I just don't understand why. Am I so loathsome? Was there nothing redeemable about our time together?" Penny cried, her whole body shaking as she clung onto Mrs. Weasley for dear life.

"No, Penny, that's not it at all," Mrs. Weasley said, suddenly stern. "Sirius was reckless and selfish, and well, you know I did not much approve of his choices. But he loved you, Penny. Loved you so very much. We could all see the joy you gave him, that you give to all of us, do you hear me? He loved you," Mrs. Weasley said, taking both of Penny's wet cheeks in her hands and looking down at her, her eyes red and full of tears as well.

"I just wanted to show him my OWLs, for him to be proud of me," Penny stammered, a fresh wave of tears pouring down her face.

"Then let's tell him, right here, you know he's listening," Mrs. Weasley said with a steadying sniffle as she took the letter from Penny and opened it.

"Look, Sirius, Penny is as brilliant as we all knew she was, ten OWLs! With five outstandings! She may have scored even better than you and James," Mrs. Weasley said, beaming down as she read Penny's scores. "With marks like this, she can do anything. Do you know what you want to do, dear?"

"I thought about being a teacher," Penny hiccuped.

"A marvelous choice," Mrs. Weasley smiled, wiping several tears from her cheek. "I'm so very proud of you, dear. You worked so hard, and with everything that happened, this is truly an outstanding achievement, and while he may have expressed the sentiment differently, I know Sirius would have agreed."

Penny nodded her head, not trusting herself to speak as she tried to reel in her emotions. She had cried very few times since Sirius' passing and she did not want to get in the habit of doing so now.

"Mum? Is everything alright?" someone called from across the lawn.

"Yes, Ginny. Penny and I will be in a moment, keep the others inside please."

"Alright," Ginny said, sounding uncertain, but she turned and went back inside.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to break down like this," Penny muttered, cheeks red in embarrassment.

"Nonsense, Penny. You are allowed to cry, so please don't apologize. Here, if you don't want the others to know," she said, pulling out her wand, waving it and scrutinizing Penny's face. "Good as new."

"Thanks."

Dusting herself off, Mrs. Weasley pulled Penny by the hand and led her toward the house. "Now, what do you want for breakfast dear, it's your birthday so I'll make you whatever you want."

"Even cake?" Penny asked.

"Even cake," Mrs. Weasley smiled.

! A lot has changed for Penny since Sirius' passing, but she's doing the best she can. After all of it, can anyone blame her?