WARNING: There is some, not graphic, nonconsensual kissing in this chapter AND violence!
I'm also sorry to the rest of you as well, I had a comic con this past weekend and I'm a huge con-goer and was trying to finish my cosplays and so it ate up all my my time. My two big hobbies are writing and cosplay, so sometimes writing has to put on the side for a bit! But con season is over for me :( but good news is I'll be back on my schedule for writing. (weekends PST)
This chapter went long, but I'm feeling 6-8k words is just standard for my newer chapters now. My 5k feels too little. Enjoy reading and I'll see you in the end notes.
"Are you bloody insane? Do you want to die too!" exclaimed Penny.
"No, Potter, what I want is for you to stop wasting time feeling sorry for yourself and perform the task at hand."
"If you hadn't noticed I don't know how—"
"Did or did not that half-breed teach you the patronus charm?"
"He did but—"
"Then shut up and use it unless you prefer to witness a dementor's kiss."
Eyes snapping back to Malfoy whose limbs were twitching unnaturally as the dementor drew him nearer its mouth, if you could call it that, Penny closed her eyes trying and failed to recall any happy memory until the hand pressed against Penny's chest pulsed, imparting to her a flood of feelings.
The familiar hum that drifted between them jarred a sense of something, was it nostalgia? It reminded her of a memory Penny hadn't thought about for some time and encompassed her in its vividness.
Clinging to it, Penny cast the formless orb for the second time and sent it soaring at the dementors who parted like a wave; the one holding Draco dropping him. It was feeble, but it was enough.
"I still haven't been able to produce a corporeal one," said Penny, feeling irritated by this fact. She'd never had issues with a patronus before, so why now of all times did it insist on being utterly useless?
"It will suffice so long as you provide them with something to keep them preoccupied."
Being barred from Draco, the dementors now turned their attention on the pair of them and were descending with purpose.
"Why can't you just produce a patronus and get us out of here?" Penny fumed.
"And how do you imagine we will escape with the Dark Lord and a dozen of his servants there to stop us?" Snape said impatiently.
"If you're asking me how I'd prefer to die, my choice is certainly not going to be at the hands of a dementor!"
"I have no intention of letting your lack of discipline kill either of us. Now cease your blathering and focus!"
Though Penny would have liked to respond, indignantly, a wave of insidious cold moved through the cracks in her, paralyzing her. She was a hostage in her own mind. The putrid emptiness of death, it was in her blood, eating away at her from the inside, plunging her beneath the surface. Darkness was descending into her most private places, pulling her apart by the seams. Completely unaware of the long shuddering breaths that were ravenously sucking away at her memories, hope and happiness like they were some buffet, Penny stood frozen locked in the brown eyes that she loved, but only looked back at her with resentment.
"I couldn't help but wish it had been him," he yelled at her, shaking her as he did so. "You have become the eternal reminder that—"
But he didn't need to finish that sentence, because Penny knew what he'd wanted to say. She'd felt it in her bones. She alone carried the burden—failing to bring Sirius back with her, and the guilt of that fact refused to allow her any peace.
When a body had reappeared in the veil, what torturous hope would have filled Lupin's heart; would it have told him that his life-long best friend and lover had made it back to him? A moment of relief only to have Sirius torn from him a third time. It was a cruelty that made Penny sick to imagine and disgusted with herself.
Because of this, Penny couldn't blame Remus. Could not defend herself against the truth—she should not have been the one to return. But reality was a cruel joke, and the dementors preyed upon it, trapping her in the pain she'd spent all summer trying to escape. Confined to this place, she could not find the strength to try nor the will to go on. What difference was there? What could Penny have to look forward to anymore? She was alone, utterly alone.
It would have been easy to let go were not her self pity interrupted by the intrusion of another. No longer was Penny sinking through the confines of her own despair, but instead enveloped in another's consciousness, The feeling of his mind, while familiar and comforting, was also foreign and confusing. The labyrinth of thoughts were impossible to traverse, making Penny lose any sense of orientation.
Thankfully she wasn't required to navigate anywhere because the other seemed to pull her where she needed to be. The memory in which she was thrust was one of her own, but something was utterly changed about the scene before her. It was almost as though it were a painting that used all different shades and colors from the original, giving focus and contrast to things Penny's mind had not.
The scene before Penny was so unlike the depths of darkness she was just freed from. This place was brimming with a brightness that almost blinded her, but it kept the cold at bay. It took Penny a good long moment to realize the brightness was not due to the sunny day that looked down upon them, but radiated outward from somewhere else.
Blinking, Penny's sluggish mind finally caught up and she recognized the Eiffel Tower before her and understood this was a memory of the day that Snape took her to Paris. And yet, in his memory of it, the colors of Paris were dimmer somehow, less pronounced and more muddled, as though Snape had never really noticed them. Instead, all attention was focused on a single form slumbering in the grass.
Her complexion glowed with a radiance Penny was sure she had never had. Penny's eyes were drawn to her own bright pink lips which were parted slightly to allow her to breathe rhythmically through them. The wind rustled gently across her face, sending a strand of brilliant red hair onto her eyes. It was then that Penny finally noticed Snape, silent beside Penny's sleeping form, his eyes never leaving her face.
The experience of this memory was distinctively different from viewing one in a pensive. When in a pensive, Penny was only able to view the events as a spectator which meant she often had to guess about the context. Viewing this memory from what she now realized was Snape's mind, Penny's experience included, along with viewing the events from his perspective, all the emotions and thoughts associated with it.
However, it was incredibly difficult to decipher which feelings were attached to the memory and which the memory evoked, but it mattered little to Penny. Watching Snape brush the hair from her cheek, his fingers lingering momentarily to ensure she was not getting too warm; Penny recognized all too keenly the penitence buried deep in his heart as it poked its way to the surface. He was a man who regretted that she suffered for his sake. She also thought she felt a sort of bitter remorse, not because he hadn't returned her admission of feelings, but because he knew that loving her would only make her life worse for it. And if there was anything Severus Snape couldn't stand, it was to see her hurt yet again. That's why, sitting here watching her as she laid there, peaceful, like some angel fallen from the sky to be a constant reminder of his purgatory, he felt a reluctant contentment; a longing to remain like this.
Penny was startled to learn that the Snape sitting before her felt she was more than he'd ever expected from his life, and infinitely more than he could be deserving of, and that even in the admission of these facts to himself, there was a certain kind of greed that bubbled beneath the surface, which he seemed to struggle with. And it was this greedy nature of his that compelled him ever into her company despite his reservations. Because here it was, the fixture of his addiction: that tranquility of hers that made him forget all else.
He could have taken her back to Hogwarts, should have taken her back. But in no part of himself could he find the motivation to do so. He reasoned within himself that the day away had done her some good. Color had returned to her cheeks and the light in her eyes, which had been irksomely missing for the last week, came with it. More than that though, he could not berate the greed within him, because if it were not for it, he would not be sitting here with her—that guard of hers more relaxed than he had ever witnessed before.
The peculiarity was not lost on him that in the four years he'd known her, he'd never really seen her sleep before, whether by her severe case of fomo, or his failure to notice; it did not matter because after all of his ill attempts, he was given his second chance now. And he would not waste it.
Watching her slumbering form, the way the tension she normally carried relaxed out of her, filled his heart with a terrible ache, and Penny realized it was the cause of the diminishing color in his memory. The complexity of that ache, Penny could not comprehend. It was like she was trying to finish a puzzle but with pieces missing. Even still, Penny knew enough to know what she was watching was the expression of his love: Muddled, confused, reluctant, and wholly unwavering in devotion. And bound in this love was a single wish—that their serenity would last.
The feelings following this realization surged over Penny, overwhelming her with heart-rending emotions that she did not know how to put words to. Somehow managing to grasp the hand on her chest, though she still looked at the Eiffel Tower, Penny squeezed, and forced back the irksome tears that burned at her eyes. Never before in Penny's life had she been moved to tears in this manner. They pressed relentlessly against their confines not because she was sad, but because, though she was the biggest idiot on the entire planet, Snape had deemed this memory worth holding onto.
It no longer mattered how impossible it felt; how frightened and beaten she was; nor that she did not want to do it. Time and time again, Snape had done whatever was required of him to show up for her; including now, despite the risk to himself.
Searching deep within herself, not because she owed it to him, but because she wanted him to know that it mattered to her, his being here; it changed everything—he made life bearable, pleasant even. And for that, for him, she found that place inside of her that she'd kept locked up for so long, and lifted the lid.
The magic within her roared to life and surged through her veins as naturally as the blood that pulsed alongside it. Though she was nervous, her muscle memory did not forget. But she knew she needed to push herself beyond her limits if this was to be successful.
The blur of black had stopped its advance. Focusing on the visage before her, Penny arose from the stupor of Snape's mind and found that a force of magic exuding from her like gale was pulsing in the rhythm of a heart beat, and with each thump, the dementors were pushed a little further away. Just behind them the mist parted in response to the barrage of Penny's magic, exposing the hideous scene that lay hiding beneath it.
Further than Penny's eye could see, what used to be a field was now a blanket of vines, spiraling outward from a half dozen strange looking trees. In place of leaves on their branches were large sacks of puss that had an orangish glow to them. Though disgusting, Penny's eyes were drawn away from this and to the abominations tangled between the vines. Standing over a meter tall, lumpy and oozing some sort of green mucus were what Penny could only guess were eggs. Inside of which must have been the dementors the Dark Lord wanted her to set free.
When the force of her magic collided with them, they began to emit the most disturbing sound. It was a shriek at a pitch that no earthly being Penny had ever encountered was able to reach, and she was certain the sound of it would make her ears bleed. The eggs shaking violently as they did so, they shrieked almost ravenously, evidently unsatisfied with her offering.
Her own body shaking and on the cusp of blacking out, she reached inside once more, searching further into the recesses of herself.
In what she knew was her last chance because her legs were shaking so violently, Penny released all the energy she had left in her with an angry yell. For a moment she thought she failed as everything fell silent and still. But then, in a delay that reminded her of an atom bomb, her magic burst from her in all directions, shattering the eggs in its path.
The magic escaped from her with such ferocity it blew her and Snape off their feet and backwards several meters. Penny collided so hard with the ground it knocked the breath out of her and made her head spin. Utterly spent from the effort, she could not even muster the concentration to turn her head and see what was happening.
"Get up, Potter. We need to move," intruded Snape's voice.
It took her a moment to realize she was staring up at him, her breathing unusually shallow. Snape bent down, his arm pulling at her wrist, tugging her to her feet away from the awful squelching that had erupted behind them. Were newly hatched dementors joining the world? Penny dared not look, knowing she would never be able to unsee what her efforts had wrought.
The mist was gathering again now that the magic keeping it at bay had disappeared, but its breadth seemed to be expanding and threatened to engulf them if they did not move.
"Wait, we need to get Draco," Penny said weakly, her feet stumbling over each other as she tried to muster the energy to walk.
"We can't—they took him inside ," Snape said, voice hoarse.
At first Penny did not understand. His words made no sense, who and inside where? Looking around furiously, Penny realized he meant the dementors, and worse still, into the mist, into that nest of vile monsters Penny had just set free.
"Then we're going after him," she said tugging back.
"That's a death sentence, Potter. I can't let you—"
"I didn't ask for permission," Penny growled. And adrenaline pulsing through her veins, Penny managed to find enough energy to summon her magic and used it to hit Snape with enough force that he was blown away from her, freeing her. She knew she did not have time to argue with him, not if the new dementors would be looking for a meal after their hatching.
Stumbling forward, Penny ran through the mist not caring that what waited on the other side would be very unpleasant, ignoring Snape's yells as she went.
Crossing the threshold of mist felt wrong and made Penny's insides scream out in protest. There was something unnatural and odious about this place, but she could not focus on that she had to move forward, something the new landscape seemed dead set on preventing.
Foot stepping ankle deep into sludge, Penny tried her best not to vomit; a difficult task when the stench of death hit her. For a moment she thought she might pass out from it and was not entirely sure she could even breathe due to it. Still, it was not enough to deter her, and one sticky, disgusting and arduous step at a time she moved, tripping over roots as she went.
It was impossibly dark, so Penny was forced to use something other than her eyes to find Draco. Without understanding how, her senses became attuned in other ways and she found herself following the warmth he emitted. It was not all that difficult considering his life-force was such a stark contrast to the icicles she knew were the dementors, but his warmth did feel as though it was dimming as time progressed.
Sheer desperation pushing her forward and no longer able to remain upright due to the vast amount of vines winding their way above her and below her, Penny crawled her way toward Draco. When she came free of the patch of vines, she remained low, knowing Draco was close. This far in, the sludge was nearly deep enough to swim in, making pulling her limbs from it an even more difficult task, especially since it seemed not to want to let go of her.
Arms outstretched, Penny searched blindly, hands sliding over every inch of sludge, debris and dirt until she collided with something soft.
"Draco?" she said, desperately,.
No one responded, but she was certain she felt robes beneath her hand so she crawled further forward, hands guiding the way. She was certain she'd found his leg and kept moving upward until she landed on his chest. Wanting to be sure he was alive, Penny placed her ear on his chest and listened—he was breathing, but just barely. Sliding up beside him she felt his cheeks and tried to shake him awake.
"Draco, please wake up. I found you, I bloody found you, but we need to go, now . Whatever they're doing in there," she said, glancing toward the thunderous array of noise, "they won't be occupied forever."
Still no response, so Penny extracted herself from the muck with great effort and got onto her trembling feet and placed her hands under Draco's armpits and started pulling, making a point to try and go around the maze of vines because there was no way she would be able to get Draco through there without magic.
"Merlin's beard, you're a lot fatter than you look. What have you been doing all summer?" Penny demanded, stopping only after a short distance to catch her breath. Nowhere near accomplishing that, she started heaving again, there was an eerie stirring coming from somewhere in the darkness that Penny did not think it wise to linger and find out what it was.
"All I wanted to do this summer," —Penny grunted, yanking Draco over a particularly large root— "was get high, drunk or both together and have lots of sex." She paused, breathing heavily. "So explain to me how after all the shit, and I mean all of it, I end up here ? Where is the good karma I earned by not blowing up the Ministry of Magic? It was my god damn sixteenth birthday yesterday for fucks sake."
She looked around as though her eyes could help her navigate her way out and found nothing. The realization that she no longer had any no way of knowing which way to go was beginning to sink in, that and how utterly fucked the two of them were.
The least-worst-course of action was to move in the exact opposite directions of the dementors and try to put as much distance between them as possible.
"Since I know you're dying to know, I met this American. Bloody hell he's hot. Muggle, so you'd hate him, you prat. But that's what I honestly like about him. When I'm with him, Ed's his name, I can just forget,"—she heaved—"all this shit," —and then tripped over a root, landing hard on her back with an angry yell.
It was here, motionless in the rotting decay ready to give up that Penny realized something had changed. Silence had fallen over the expanse around her, and now that she was focusing, she realized the dementors were moving—towards them.
Jumping to her feet, Penny pulled with all her strength against the dead weight of Draco, cursing herself for being lax on her bicep curls and no longer trying to tread kindly over what was on the ground. She just raced, still having no concept for how far they still had left to travel.
That fact was quickly becoming irrelevant, however, because the dementors were moving in from all sides, encircling them and blocking Penny's way forward.
With no way out, Penny dropped Draco and reached into his pocket and found his wand.
"Haven't you soul eating parasites had enough yet. I gave you what you wanted, the least you could do was let us pass!" Penny yelled.
Several low rattling breaths told her they had found them. Cold spiraling from all sides, Penny could feel it attaching itself to herself; feel how they wanted to drag her downward again, deep into her despair where they could take her without a fight. But Penny had no intention of going this time, her resolve to free Draco from her mess was too stubborn.
"I don't care if I have to die here, you aren't taking him, so you can piss off," Penny growled, knowing full well her words meant nothing to them.
Still they loomed nearer, closing in ranks around them.
"You think I'm scared of you? Fill me with all the despair you want, it's nothing compared to the hell I've been through. You hear me? Nothing!" she jeered. "I don't need you fucks to remind me how bloody hopeless my life is, I get by fine doing that on my own. But I swear to Merlin that if I accomplish anything with my pitiful life it sure as hell will be getting him out of here because Draco, he's brilliant, kind, talented and loved. He deserves to get out of this cesspool and that mother of his deserves to enjoy him." She was bellowing now in a desperate attempt to muster all the fight she had left within her. Because as she stood, screaming, wand shaking in her hand, trying to act more confident than she felt; she understood that if she didn't pull through for them—this was the end. "Do you hear me!" Still they closed in, unperturbed by her tirade.
She knew it would do nothing to help, there was only one thing that could. Legs swaying dangerously, Penny yelled "Expecto patronum!"
This time, instead of trying to recall a memory of her own happiness, she thought of the happiness Draco still had left to experience once he got out of here. Going back to Hogwarts, giving Blaise blowjobs, hating Harry and helping Penny spread gossip. He had a normal teenage life waiting for him and Penny would not let them steal that from him.
A brilliant burst of light exploded from her wand and charged straight toward the dementors, sending them scattering. Hand covering her eyes to shield them from the light, she wasted no time; she pocketed the wand and grabbed Draco again under the arms and heaved, yelling in pain, agony, and sheer determination in order not to faint. She dragged Draco onward while her patronus forced the dementors away from them.
When she was satisfied it had cleared a safe perimeter, she called to it.
"Find us a way out!"
Turning, it obeyed her command, blinding her again when it passed her and made for her left. Though Penny could not see and her head was spinning dangerously, she forced herself onward with sheer adrenaline. Her patronus was much faster than her, but it paused and waited for her to catch up. When it noticed her glancing over her shoulder for it, it turned its head indicating Penny should step through, and as she passed, the patronus following beside her to move through the wall of mist, she finally noticed its form.
Standing proud and nearly to her shoulder was a lion, his mane blazing with a brilliant radiance. Penny could not help but gape at him, wondering how and why she had produced him when she barely had the strength to move, or what had changed to cause her toucan to transition into this… Regardless, Penny was not complaining, looking at the beast filled her with immense pride and it was evidently much more powerful than the last, making her feel perhaps she had done something right.
Attention returning to the task at hand, Penny gulped in the fresh air once they'd crossed through. She pulled Draco as far as she could and then collapsed beside him, her patronus patrolling the perimeter and ensuring no dementors crossed after them.
Looking down and seeing her friend clearly for the first time, Penny realized something was seriously wrong with Draco. His features were unnaturally grey, sending Penny into a panic when she feared for a moment that he was dead. But hands immediately moving to his wrist, she found a weak pulse, but still a pulse. Whatever this was must have had something to do with the dementors, or whatever that green sludge they were trapped in was. Either way, this was now beyond any of her skills.
"Help!" she screamed. "Someone help him!"
Grimy hands reaching for his face, Penny frantically tried to wake him, to prove to herself that she hadn't been too late, they hadn't taken him from her. "We made it, Draco. It'll be okay now, Look for yourself, we're out," she said, several tears sliding down her cheek as she ran a finger gently across the cheeks that normally radiated with that handsome vibrance of his.
Head whirling frantically she yelled again, "Help!" This time she was heard.
A tall figure loomed over Penny, his red eyes considering the spectacle before him with a look of utmost satisfaction.
The Dark Lord—if anyone could help Draco, he could.
"Please, my Lord. I beg you, help him. I did as you asked. Spare him, for me ," Penny pleaded, her voice quivering with fear now that the adrenaline had worn off.
Others followed behind, all watching Penny with a mixture of awe and revulsion. Some ways off, Penny could see Narcissa Malfoy screaming, her sister restraining her with the help of another Death Eater, Rowle.
"Our Penelope has done well. Because she has pleased me, she is to be granted any wish her heart desires. Come, Severus, bring the boy. Carrow, clean her up and bring her inside."
When the others nodded, Voldemort looked back down at Penny again, pausing to reach down and caress the side of her head almost lovingly. And then he walked languidly toward the manor.
Before Penny, Draco's limp body lifted from her hands and floated into the air as Snape stepped up, his eyes flashing with anger when he glanced down at her. He did not spare a word for her, but instead made quickly for the house, muttering over Draco's body as he went.
"Quite the performance," Amycus said delicately, his eyes tracking the lion still prowling.
"Yes, how charming of you to go after the boy and make this"—Alecto motioned at all of her— "our problem."
"Exactly how old is the dirty-blooded wench?" another Death Eater who Penny did not recognize said. He too was watching the lion, eyes wide with surprise.
"16 and a day," Amycus almost purred, the delight evident in his tone. He knelt down, hand reaching out in the same manner Voldemort had and reached for her cheek, but this time Penny recoiled, staying just out of reach.
"She was able to produce a patronus that powerful, in there ? Blimey, I think I'd like to take her off Snape's hands. Imagine what she can do in bed" he grinned, rubbing the stubble on his face and turning his eyes on Penny. The proposition was revolting to Penny, but she had little energy to spare for the man because she was trapped in the clutches of Amycus' gaze.
Though Penny was wary of all the Death Eaters, and for good reason, Amycus was the only one who made her truly afraid. she was all-too-familiar with his twisted ways and wanted to keep as much distance between them as possible. Unfortunately, that seemed to be easier said than done as of late.
"Not you too, Travers," Alecto scoffed. "Look at the form of that beast for Christ's sake. Could she be any more bland? I don't even need to ask to know what house you were sorted into. And we both know there is nothing more boring in bed than a Gryffindor."
The others laughed derisively, something that might have annoyed Penny if she was not as exhausted as she was. Feeling very much that she would like the conversation to end so she could go inside, she flicked Draco's wand and the lion disappeared in hopes to end the discussion on it. She held up the wand, hoping Alecto would take it from her because she did not want to get any closer to Amycus, but he merely took a repulsed step away from her.
"It's Draco's," she said irritably.
"And? He should have done a better job holding onto it," Alecto said, allowing Amycus to lean forward and take it from her, his eyes still watching her with that terrible excitement she recognized.
Once he pocketed it, he pointed his own wand at her and wordlessly cleared the filth from her, something she was immensely relieved for because the stench had been awful, but she would not tell him that.
Bored eyes wandering over her frame and fixing on her cleavage, Amycus said, "Come now, brother, must you insist on hating the girl merely on principle? I'm sure she is about as interested in Snape's cock as you are her cunt. And now that we know her weakness, not only could she be quite useful to us, but obliging."
At these words, Alecto turned his narrowed eyes on his brother.
"Honestly, Amycus, I have neither the time nor patience for you or any more of your scheming. But in case you hadn't noticed she's—"
"A foolhardy Gryffindor who just risked her life for Lucius' boy," Amycus cut across.
Pretty blue eyes upturning in vicious delight, Penny tried her best not to betray her worry. She did not like the way this conversation was going.
"Friends with Draco, are you, little dove? Well, that certainly makes things interesting."
"His dad's one of you. So make all the threats you want, but I'm calling bullshit," Penny said.
"Don't tell me you forgot your little excursion to the Ministry so soon," Alecto said.
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"Our dear Lucius was taken to Azkaban."
"Him and all the others, so what?"
" So , Lucius was in charge, so it's Lucius who has lost favor with the Dark Lord," Alecto said delicately.
"That means nothing," Penny said, trying to convince herself more than them.
"Oh? Are you sure about that? Because when Yaxley nearly killed his son today, the Dark Lord did not seem to mind."
"Found it," another voice cut in. Yaxley stepped into view wagging that damned collar of his as he approached Penny with that mocking smile of his. "You didn't think you were getting free that easily did you?" Yaxley stopped, cocking his head, horrid lines around his eyes crinkling as he watched the little color left in Penny's face drain away.
"I'm not putting that back on. I already did what you wanted. Now piss off," Penny said vehemently, making to get up, but Yaxley planted a foot on her chest and shoved her back down.
"That's cute. But we aren't through playing yet. And I simply I can't let you be a party pooper," Yaxley said, following her to the ground. He took advantage of her sluggish response, straddling her with ease and looking gloatingly down at her.
"No!" Penny growled, trying to squirm free, but it was no use.
"As much as I love to see a wench put on her back, I'll be having no part in this. I have no interest in being on the receiving end of Snape's vindictiveness when he hears you touched his favorite toy," Travers said, backing away with a shake of his head.
"Th-the Dark Lord said I can have anything I want," Penny said, scrambling to figure out a way to get out of this. "I want him nowhere near me," she said, turning hopefully on the Carrow twins.
"Did he say that, brother?" Alecto said, turning to Amycus as Yaxley wrestled with Penny trying to pin her arms.
"I must have missed it," Amycus replied with a cruel grin.
"You were standing right there!" Penny yelled, infuriated now.
"Perhaps we could be persuaded to remember," said Amycus.
"I won't be coerced into being your little minion, if that's what you're getting at."
"Then it seems we can't help you,"Alecto shrugged.
"A little friendly advice, struggle less," Amycus said, squatting down to look at her. "You're only giving him exactly what he wants." Bringing his pointer and forefinger to his lips he kissed them and then pressed it against her cheek. Penny stared in furious disbelief as he got back to his feet and followed Alecto, who flung a hand into the air and said, "Toodles."
"Fuck you," screamed Penny.
"Can't say I'd mind if you did," Yaxley cackled.
"Shriveled limp dicks aren't my thing," Penny spat.
Yaxley had finally won the war against Penny's squirming and now had her pinned beneath his legs and was clicking open the collar.
"Then I suppose that means you're engaged to the wrong man, doll. But don't worry, I'll make sure you have a good time regardless."
Almost as soon as the collar snapped shut around Penny's neck she was convulsing, Yaxley straddling as he watched her writhe in pain, laughing in cruel delight. He let it continue until it became evident she could not take much more, but only gave her just enough of a reprieve so she would not pass out and he could prolong her torture for as long as possible.
Stupidly, Penny tried to convince herself that at some point someone would come looking for her, but they never did and how long she was forced to endure the pain she did not know. But after what felt like an eternity, Penny's over exhausted body succumbed to the pain and a welcome darkness took her.
"So, the princess has decided to rise from her slumber. How about I return you permanently. "
Penny turned her head, trying to find the owner of the voice, but the room was dim and her grogginess had not allowed her eyes to remember how to focus.
"Don't, Bella—"
"And why shouldn't I, Cissy. She is a dirty-blooded abomination! The Dark will forgive me—"
"No! I will not allow you to put Draco in any more danger because you're envious of her—."
"Jealous of that!" Bellatrix shrieked.
At this point, Penny had gained her bearings and sat up-right, heart pounding. Before her stood Bellatrix, her back now turned to Penny, who sat on the couch. Across the room was Narcissa, seated in a soft chair at a bedside.
"Snape's mudblood slut! You dare accuse me—" Bellatrix continued.
"I accuse you of nothing more than a loyalty to the Dark Lord that on occasion has led you to act rashly. But after Lucius—" Narcissa paused, seemingly unable to finish her sentence. "We must tread carefully. You saw Corban today, it was blatant."
"What do I care about Corban? I alone am the Dark Lord's most faithful!"
"Don't be so blind, Bella! The Dark Lord is displeased that you were the only one to escape the ministry, and now he is seeking someone to punish. Do not put a target on our back when you know very well that he is pleased with the girl."
"You expect me to just twiddle my thumbs while she," —Bellatrix jerked her head towards Penny— "prances around defiling everything she touches! She's a Potter! We cannot trust her. No, no, Cissy, I will tear her to pieces for her arrogance."
"No, Bella. I'm asking you to play smarter," Narcissa said, on her feet now, pretty face stony. "There are many who were waiting for Severus to show any weakness. It is only a matter of time before one of them cleans up the mess for us."
"Sit back and let another enjoy the pleasure of making the bitch pay? After her display today, you think I would—"
"Then you will pay the price for it, and I will have no part of it!" Narcissa said, voice suddenly loud and cutting across Bellatrix. "Come child, the Dark Lord requested your presence when you awakened," Narcissa said, eyes turning on Penny.
Penny wasn't sure what to do, but decided it was better to go with Mrs. Malfoy than try her odds with Bellatrix. So she scurried toward the door, Narcissa making after her but Bellatrix grabbed her arm.
"Cissy. . ." she tried, but Narcissa ripped her arm free and led Penny into the hall without another word.
In silence they walked the beautiful halls, Penny struggling to keep up because her body ached. Her mind was reeling and dread was filling the pit of her stomach. She just wanted this day to be over and really did not want to see what more torment they had waiting for her. To make matters worse, it had been over 24 hours since Penny had taken her last pill, and having relied on them daily for the better part of a month, she was feeling their absence.
Head pounding, Penny ran straight into Narcissa, not realizing she'd come to a stop. The woman was watching her with beautiful blue eyes that were very much like her son's. Penny looked back quizzically. Narcissa's eyes trailed down Penny's form, her arm reaching for her dress and straightening it so her cleavage was more secure and less in-your-face.
"You are not but a lamb thrown into a den of lions," she muttered, a look of scorn darkening her features.
"Sorry?" Penny said, uncertain if she was supposed to understand those words or if her brain had been permanently fried from her collar.
"You not only went after Draco when none of those other cowards would, you brought him back." she went on, hand moving from her dress to Penny's cheek. "I won't forget that."
The gesture surprised Penny who wasn't sure how she was supposed to respond. The entire exchange felt almost maternal, something she hadn't expected, muchless from a Death Eater's wife. "Now go, child, and if you do not want to be torn apart, stick close to Severus."
And without another word, Narcissa opened the door, hand on Penny's shoulder and pushed her through the door. Penny wanted to say something, she needed to say something to Narcissa, but she snapped the door shut in Penny's face, leaving her there standing awkwardly.
"Come play, little dove, we are in desperate need of some real entertainment," came Alecto's voice.
Turning, Penny found the Death Eaters sitting at a table in the middle of the room, cards in their hands, all eyes fixed on her. It was too much too soon for Penny, who still had not really come to from her sleep, so she merely stood there staring at them.
"Don't be shy, we won't bite," Alecto said, patting the empty seat beside him.
"Yaxley does," added Amycus. "But Penny already knew that."
The seconds stretched on, Penny succumbing to the resignation that there would be no getting out of this one. One step at a time, her tired legs moved toward the empty seat, but was surprised when a hand caught her around the waist, pulling her into a lap. In a very ungraceful manner, she landed with a small gasp, his arm remaining tightly fixed around her. She turned, the wave of bergamot meeting her long before her eyes found the curtain of dark hair and dark eyes. Remembering Mrs. Malfoy's words, Penny did not argue, and allowed him to have his claim, certain she much preferred sitting here than being stuck between Alecto and Yaxley.
"Oh come now Snape, must you ruin all the fun? Share your toy, I promise not to break it, yet, " said Alecto.
"Your fun is not my problem, Carrow, but I hardly think even you can find fault in me merely securing my own. Of course, if that displeases you, feel free to bring your own toy next time, perhaps it would bring you better luck," Snape drawled, flipping over his card and revealing a 19, making Alecto tch in irritation when he saw it. Not bothering to even turn his over, he threw them at the dealer.
"I've never had much need for luck, myself. I find taking what I want generally has better results," Yaxley chimed in, flipping his cards to reveal a 20. "You should try it sometime, Alecto, I guarantee you won't be disappointed," he went on baring a horrid yellow grin at Penny.
Across the table, Alecto smirked, the others snickering as they tossed their cards at the dealer for the next round.
"I think we are all well aware you have much to over compensate for, Yaxley. But go ahead and delude yourself into believing it's about your preferences and not theirs," said Penny, reaching for the glass of champagne in front of Snape, daring him to try and stop her. There was no way she was going to sit through this shit-show sober, especially not when they appeared to have decided objectifying her was to be the topic of entertainment.
The drink, while necessary for her mental sanity, was also a welcome distraction and attempt to gain her bearings. Snape's arm was curled around Penny's waist, sending her nerves haywire, his hot breath blowing rhythmically against her ear, making her heart pound. They did not often sit this close, and while she wanted very much to strangle him for engaging in this degrading conversation, she could not tame her out of control hormones that had been searching for this kind of attention all summer. It was absolutely the worst moment for them to mutiny against her and fixate on him of all people.
"Oh? Come take a seat on my lap and why don't we see? I'm all too happy to reenact for them what an enthusiastic roommate you were in our time together."
"Judging by the fact that Lysandra seems to have been unable to find her way out of Thicknesse's bed, I think we can agree you would only be a disappointment, and as her fiancé, I cannot abide that. I prefer making my toys come to me, so I cannot let you hinder the process with your performance, or rather, lack thereof, " Snape said delicately.
The insinuation mixed with the gravelly tone of Snape's voice made Penny groan internally, her cheeks burning in response to him, all too eager to out her as an enthusiastic participant to anything lewd.
"She's blushing," roared Rowle, thumping the table with his fist. "I think we know which of you she prefers now, Corban."
"I did not take you for the type who likes to be made to beg for it," Amycus mused, observing her with a sickening satisfaction. "Of course, I cannot fault Snape, I imagine breaking one as stubborn as yourself would be quite satisfying."
"A couple of words from him is all it takes to snare you? Are you really engaged to a virgin, Snape?" Alecto laughed dryly.
"Sorry to ruin your fantasizing, but I'm not the begging type," Penny replied sourly, taking another gulp of the champagne that the butler had so kindly refilled for her.
"Nor is Snape, but if I'm placing odds on who breaks the other first, my money is on him. You lack a certain finesse," Alecto said in a bored tone, tapping the table for another card.
"You say that like it isn't obvious he likes a brute," Penny said absentmindedly, distracted by the cards at play. "Every control freak is just looking for someone persistent enough to put them in their place," she went on, reaching forward to tap for another card and swatting away Snape's hand when it tried to stop her. They currently had a nine and an eight and she knew he was thinking they were going to bust, but Penny felt the odds were in their favor. "Do you want to win? Then let me, I'm decidedly better at cards than you anyway," Penny replied when the hand at her waist tightened warningly.
Forcing herself to ignore how much she enjoyed the feeling of it, Penny chanced a look up at him, black eyes like pools of intrigue and seduction, seeking to pull her into their depths, but she resisted, trying to force herself to see the man again and not the horrendously tantalizing character he was playing.
He considered her for a moment, lip curled slightly, but then he looked back at the table, evidently giving his permission. However, the permission was not unlimited, or so his hand told her when it moved hers away and tapped the table and then took up residence on top of hers to keep her in check.
At this, Rowle whistled before breaking into raucous laughter, "Can't say I'd mind her bossing me around either, brother."
Alecto averted his gaze in disgust, Amycus tapping the table with his fingernails contemplatively beside him, eyes moving between the pair of them.
"Why does it not surprise me you like playing the bitch, Severus," said Yaxley, taking a long swig of his drink and looking satisfactorily irritated.
"What can I say, I like to keep things interesting," Snape said softly, checking the card that was dealt to him.
Penny didn't bother to suppress a smirk, nothing made her happier than watching Yaxley lose, and the card that had been dealt to them was a four.
"Sorry, Yaxley, there doesn't seem to be enough luck in the world to compensate for your pitiful offerings, but it was a good effort," Penny said, squirming free of Snape's hold and turning the cards. "Black jack."
"Bravo, Penelope. But I confess I remain unconvinced that was anything more than your betrothed indulging you because I have commanded him to give you whatever your heart desires for your services today," a cold voice said from the corner making Penny jump.
She did not know how she did not notice him there, in the corner, watching them all. But there he was, that monster she just wanted to be free of. The monster that made all the blood drain from her face and her body shake. He stood now, languidly making his way toward her, red eyes glinting, Penny frozen in place like a deer in headlights, watching his progress.
"Shall we test her resolve? See for ourselves whether our young friend is a match for Severus?" he asked the room at large. Much to Penny's horror he received a much too enthusiastic response, making her instantly feel nauseous. What had she gotten herself into and how exactly was the Dark Lord planning on testing her?
"Fret not, Severus, it need not be anything overly vulgar, just a little experiment to see whether the Gryffindor is overconfident or not. I'm sure with your talents this will be over quickly."
Voldemort stopped before Penny, who's breathing had become erratic along with her pulse
"My Lord, if it is an answer you require, we need not bother, I can—" said Snape.
"I know your desires for this girl, Severus. It is her desires I'm curious about. But if you are concerned, I am asking for nothing more than a little provocation. Her mind can hide nothing from me, so your wishes with regards to the marital bed may remain intact."
"Th-there's no need. I'll admit it.," Penny stuttered, fear making her not care that she was conceding.
"Ah, but you see, the others were so looking forward to witnessing the lesson, Penelope, and I cannot go back on my word," Voldemort said softly, sending a chill up Penny's spine.
The rest of the room had gone still, eyes fixed with a malicious hunger on the scene unfolding before them, Yaxley's gloating smirk most prominent among them.
"P-please, My Lord," Penny tried again. "I don't want to."
"But I do, and you are here to do as I please," Voldemort said, leaning down and unclipping the collar from her neck before nodding at Snape.
The hand beside Penny's responded at once, fingers trail softly along her arm, pausing here and there to make small circles. The effect was instantaneous, Penny's heart ignoring her fear and responding to the commands of Snape and pumping blood furiously through her body. Though she was mortified, she could not deny the feeling was pleasant, Snape's touch being unlike anyone else's and full of an electric charge that set her nerves on fire.
He trailed his way upward, slowly and tantalizing, his breathing loud in her ear. When he made it to her collar bone, his nose touched her ear and he paused, Penny knowing he was being deliberately careful to avoid her breasts. Here, his touches became softer, making Penny visibly shudder, causing Voldemort to chuckle softly. Trapped in the red gaze knowing he would not allow her to look away, Penny tried to calm her breathing, which was responding to the nearness of Snape's mouth, blowing his hot, minty breath across her face, lips much closer than they ever had been, but remaining at a torturous distance.
It did not take long for the eagerness of her hormones to bulldoze their way through to the surface and make everything worse. The yearning desire was rising, making Penny frustrated with Snape's respectful touching. His fingers were trailing up, along her neck and Penny found herself embarrassingly disappointed, her body wishing he had chosen to go down. Nevertheless, the caress along her jaw was still blissfully erotic, and Penny found her lips parting ever-so-slightly, as though begging him to enter. But he would not oblige her, skimming just past them instead. His forehead pressed against the side of her head, his bottom lip now touching the uppermost part of her ear, Penny found herself barely able to restrain herself from turning and kissing him full on the mouth. She was utterly overcome, delirious with arousal, but she needed to remember who it was she wanted to grope her so badly, and the audience that got a cruel delight from watching them.
"My pet is thirsty, Severus, stop teasing her and give her a taste," chided Voldemort, almost breaking Penny from her haze. But Snape would not allow her to escape so easily.
In response to his master's command, Severus' lips found Penny's neck. Though Penny expected the wet heat, she was staggered by the spark that ignited from Snape's soft lips, pleasure cascading outward from the place they touched her and overcoming her with the sensual bliss of it. Eyes slamming shut as she let it wash over her, Penny grabbing Snape's thigh in a last ditch attempt to anchor herself, but it was no use because her moan had already escaped her lips, causing all the lightbulbs in the room to explode.
But Penny did not notice, did not care that a shower of darkness and broken glass had fallen over them. There was only Snape's lips; the body shaking delight of them; and her need for them to touch more of her. But before she could make that demand of them, they were gone.
It took a moment for Penny to comprehend that Snape had pulled away, and that she sat there in his lap, in the dark, panting heavily. Wands all around her flickered to life, exposing her humiliation.
"Well, well, Severus, it seems you have been neglecting your betrothed's needs and she is in desperate need of an outlet. You will take her and tend to them now so she remembers that Lord Voldemort rewards those that serve him."
Several people were shouting, laughing, and hooting at her, but Penny could not process any of it. The only thing she was aware of was the body beneath her rising, hand taking hers and pulling her from the room, Penny stumbling to keep up with him.
The electricity still pulsed between them, but it was nowhere near as strong as it was before, however it left a lingering haze that she tried to shake from her, brain slowly processing what exactly just ensued, the guilt of it trying to suffocate her.
"I'm sorry—" she said weakly.
They were outside now, on that long drive when he turned on her. "Are you mocking me?" he demanded.
"What? N-no!"
"If you desire my torment as justice for what just happened in there, I can assure you my own mind has it under control."
"Why should I desire your torment? You didn't do anything," Penny said, utterly flabbergasted.
"Why?" he repeated, chest heaving. "Even you and your pestilent persistence to find anything redeemable in me cannot acquit me of that loathsome—" but Snape did not seem able to verbalize what just ensued and instead stood there seething, fists clenching and unclenching.
"While I am all too familiar with your need to martyr yourself. You're an absolute tosser if you think I'll let you blame yourself for that! If I hadn't run my mouth he would not have made you—"
"I am the adult, Potter, not you!" Snape screamed, startling Penny. "You have become too accustomed to neglect! It is because of me you ended up here at all. My failures are the reason they are allowed to—that I—Me, Potter! Me! You will bear no part of this burden, and you will never apologize to me, do you understand me?" his hands were on her shoulders now, shaking her. "It is I who beg your forgiveness for—not protecting you from myself."
The self-loathing and disgust coming from Snape was palpable, the agony he felt for what just ensued contorting the features of his face. Looking at him filled Penny with such sadness that she wanted to argue with him, to rail against him and berate him for allowing that vile man to lay the burden of blame at his feet when it was his evil that did this to them. But she could not find the words strong enough to convey this. So she opted for the only thing that felt right in this situation and pushed his arms from her shoulders and flung herself at him, wrapping him in a tight hug around his middle.
He stiffened, and for a moment Penny thought he might push her away, but she doubled-down on her hold, no longer a feeble girl and pressed her face against his ribs.
"Fine, if it's my forgiveness you need, then you have it, so long as I have yours too. Everything is fucked up, but you're the last person I'd blame. Do you hear me, the last."
The body beneath her relaxing, his arms found their way around her, squeezing Penny back with such force that she thought he might break her bones, but she did not complain.
Standing there, his face pressed into her hair, Penny wondered how, after everything, it had taken them this long to share a proper hug. Breathing in the smell of him, she hoped the next would come easier, because holding onto him was the only thing that made any sense to Penny these days.
SO one thing that always stood out to me that readers mentioned was how they just wanted Penny and Snape to HUG. And in their disfunction, it never really did! BUT NOW IT HAS, and it came after the kiss? My only defense is it wasn't a real kiss?!
One day, Penny, you will get a real kiss and it will feel even better than this one!
Alright, love you all, toodles. Thanks for the patience and support