hey friends!
Hope your week is going well. Mines been relaxing. I'm getting some pumpkins this weekend and way too excited. I love fall things.
You've all been so lovely and patient with me that I wanted to get another update out quickly, so here you are. This one was a lot of fun and I laughed way too much while I tormented Snape. Whoops. I swear I love the man! The Half-Blood Prince moves so fast that I just wanted to get some of these fin quintessential Hogwarts moments before like goes to shit.
"I've never done anything like this before. I feel a little silly," Penny admitted, opening one eye to peer at Adrian, who smiled back at her.
"You wouldn't feel silly if you were not so easily distracted," Adrian chided.
"How can you accuse me of being distracted when I don't know what I'm supposed to be focusing on. Everything is so loud, it is impossible to distinguish the things you're describing."
"Hmm, it must be your expression. From the little I understand your pathways are connected to much more than the average person. Think of it as causing interference. Maybe it would be better if I helped you."
"You can do that? I kind of figured being a seer was a solo gig."
"If that were true, my family would be out of the job. But our ability to share is limited in most cases except ours. Guides do not have such limitations due to the strength of the magic that binds them to their pupil."
"It really would have been nice if someone mentioned that before letting me sign up," Penny said, an edge to her voice.
Adrian's bright features furrowed. "It was not my intent to mislead you."
"Oh, I didn't mean you! Of course I don't blame you. I just think a certain headmaster may have strategically withheld some pertinent information," Penny said sourly.
A stifled snort made Penny turn and glare at Snape, who was standing at the window across the room, his arms folded. He was not looking at them, but rather gazing out the window at the grounds below.
Still upset with Snape after his little power trip over the amortentia, Penny turned decidedly away from him. Why could Dumbledore not have assigned Professor McGonagall to supervise these sessions? It would have been a much less irritating endeavor.
"Honest," Penny pressed when Adrian's features remained concerned. "Whatever you have to show me, I want to learn."
Nodding, Adrian scooted forward, his hand finding her shoulder. "It would be best if you laid down for this," he said, guiding her backward onto the floor. She felt the chill of the floor, even through her robes and it sent goosebumps shooting down her bare legs.
"Now, close your eyes," he said, sitting cross legged beside her, his hand taking a gentle hold of hers while his finger found the inside of her wrist. His touch was like a furnace compared to Penny's and very welcome. While she still wasn't used to the over-familiarity Adrian approached her with, he was starting to grow on her. So she closed her eyes, eager to finally make some progress.
"What part of six feet apart at all times did you find confusing, Mr. Martikov?" intruded Snape's cold voice.
Penny's eyes opened reluctantly to find Snape glowering over them. Maybe if she just kept them closed he would go away. Alas, Penny's mouth lacked all restraint or common sense that might have helped her avoid an argument.
"Don't be such a prude," Penny replied for Adrian, who looked confused by the accusation in Snape's features.
"I would remind you, Ms. Potter, that I have been asked to supervise these little lessons because you are not to be trusted. And considering your recent behavior, it seems a stiff hand is required."
"How exactly is your over-protective nature my fault?"
"Need I detail for present company your recent escapades," Snape said, eyes flashing with his threat.
"I like to make use of a good stiffy from time-to-time, so what. Don't pretend like you don't," Penny argued, convinced her point was valid and not completely ridiculous, something neither Snape nor Adrian seemed to agree with because Adrian was forced to stifle a laugh, and Snape's face went from sour to an impressively deep shade of puce.
"What I do and don't do is of no concern to you, Potter. I know you love to believe yourself above the rules, but I am the professor here and I will not have this time wasted on some desperate attempt by you to get laid!"
"Because I would be making those attempts with you around? Hate to be the one to break this to you, professor, but you don't exactly inspire my promiscuity. But needless to say" —Penny went on before Snape could cut across her in his fury— "It was a joke! Try not to be so predictable."
It was at this point, looking between Penny and his shaking professor that Adrian muttered to Penny, "I don't think you're helping the situation."
He had a point, but it was a terrible flaw of Penny's that once engrossed in an argument she found herself wholly incapable of backtracking and admitting any weakness. Even though she knew she was only derailing her lesson, Penny could not stop now, and especially not when she was already so annoyed with Snape.
"Please, sir. I meant no harm and certainly would not be touching Penny if it were not necessary. It's just that there is a direct pathway from the wrist to the heart, so I can easily connect with her senses from—"
"I am too familiar with the tactics of boys your age to be the least bit convinced, Mr. Martikov. Six feet means six feet," Snape cut across him, not bothering to look at Adrian.
"Don't be rude to Adrian just because you were the kind of teenage boy to touch girls without their permission," Penny said. "But perhaps it is better if we end this lesson here and Adrian and I can continue this elsewhere. I know the perfect broom cupboard a few floors down," Penny said, trying to get to her feet, but Snape's foot moved to her chest just in time to keep her firmly on the floor.
"You may go, Mr. Martikov. This evening's session has reached its conclusion. Ms. Potter here seems to require a different sort of lesson," Snape said in a low, dangerous voice.
"For Merlin's sake, it's a wrist not a clitoris!" Penny raged, trying to pry the foot planted on her chest from her to no avail. "You can't honestly be this paranoid."
Adrian did not wait for Snape to reply. His golden complexion now as red as Snape's, he got to his feet. "Yes, sir," he said, shooting Penny an apologetic look before abandoning her to the wrath of her potions master.
In unsettling silence, his dark eyes watched her as his heel dug painfully into her ribs. In righteous indignation, Penny glared back at him, fuming internally at the turn this whole situation took. If Snape had no intention of actually letting Penny accomplish anything during her time with Adrian, why had he agreed to supervise? It was a new low, even for him to try to sabotage her earnest interest in figuring out what the hell it meant to be a seer.
Their standoff did not end until the door thudded closed behind Adrian.
"What do you think you gained from that little display, Potter?"
"A lot—"
"Nothing. You accomplished nothing except to earn yourself a detention and lose your house 20 points. Whatever you think this new edgy phase of yours is, you would do well to get over it quickly because I do not tolerate disrespect from anyone!" he spat, giving her chest a last little jab of his heel before releasing her.
Retrieving her dignity, Penny got to her feet, jaw set.
"Anyone except Malfoy," she said, not the least bit put off by Snape's threat.
"If you hadn't noticed, Mr. Malfoy—"
"Has ignored your summons, what is it, three times now? And hasn't turned in any of his homework either. Yeah, I had noticed. Funny how he hasn't been on the receiving end of such a lecture or any repercussions for that matter."
"How I deal with those of my house is not of your concern and will not acquit you of the lack of discipline and respect you just displayed. If you are frustrated with the outcome, then I suggest you spend less time concerned with matters regarding Mr. Malfoy and consider learning how to control yourself and your hormones."
"Control myself! That's a rich lesson coming from you! Was it not but two weeks ago that you decided to indulge your more reprehensible side and mock me for coming to you with something I genuinely wanted your counsel on!"
"If you are embarrassed, Potter, about what you admitted, perhaps you should try holding your tongue once in a while!"
"Perhaps I'll do just that. I find my breath is wasted on you anyway. But while we're sharing scathing criticism, I will suggest you stop making the fact you're a frigid control freak so apparent. Maybe one of those hookers in Hogsmeade you like so much can help you release some of your pent up frustration, and better your mood," Penny fired back.
And with that, she turned, marching straight for the door. But when she yanked it open, a hand above her pushed it closed.
"Wait," he said, his voice wavering in an obvious effort to calm himself that surprised Penny.
Penny froze, not because of his request but because of the hot breath that hit the back of her neck. She was much too unnaturally aware of Snape's proximity to her and it infuriated her. He was a melodramatic, irritating man, how could she let him have this much of an effect on her.
Swallowing hard in an effort to push away the heat rising to her cheeks, Penny spun around. Finding his face much closer than she anticipated, she regretted her decision, but did her best to hide how disquieted he made her by scowling.
"What else could you possibly have to say after slut shaming in front of my friend; refusing to help me; ridiculing me for expressing my frustrations and giving me detention?" she said tersely.
His features contorted momentarily, making Penny wonder if he would scream at her, but a second later they were smoothed and composed. Damn those skills being a spy gave him, she wanted to push him as off kilter as he did her.
"I realize. . ." he began in a deliberate calm, "as a woman, there are times where your mood and actions are outside of your control," he went on, pausing for a jarring amount of time between each word. "It is obvious that this is one such time. . ." he stopped, evidently at a loss for how to put to words whatever came next.
Penny blinked, her brain not entirely sure she heard him say what she thought he said, so she just stared at him, an entire minute ticking away on the clock behind them before Penny burst out into laughter, making his dark eyes narrow.
"You can't be serious," she said through stitches. "Are you really accusing me of PMSing, sir," Penny said, trying to straighten her face as she uttered the words, but once they escaped her mouth she devolved into another fit. "Surely you, a grown man, would never be so utterly stupid," Penny said, all laughter dying away, her features becoming stony as she straightened to face him.
"Spare me your foe outrage. You cannot deny that biology has made women prone to these types of outbursts!"
"Ah yes, I see what you're saying," Penny said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully for a moment. "But you forget biology has victimized you as well—cursed you to be a bloody idiot!" Penny fumed.
"I have already warned you, Potter that I will not tolerate—"
"You just accused me of being a raging PMSing bitch! I don't rightly care what you will or won't tolerate right now. And for the record, I'm actually ovulating, but I suppose you had a one in four chance of getting the week right," Penny said vehemently.
Shaking with rage, embarrassment or a mixture of both, he opened and closed his mouth several times to no avail. Penny's look of smug indignation doing nothing to coax him into an apology, but she did not care nor want it.
"Out!" he finally sputtered, satisfying the evil little leprechaun inside of Penny that reveled in avenging the humiliation he'd wrought on her. There was something immensely pleasurable about making Snape concede.
Whatever the cause for the stick stuck up his butt, Penny did not have the time or energy to commit to it because it was all being dedicated to the absurd workload that was NEWT classes. Even given all the extra study time, Penny was barely keeping up with her classes, something that seemed to be a common theme among the 6th years. Penny, at least, had the advantage of having mastered non-verbal spells long before her classmates. Something that greatly pleased professor McGonagall, who assigned everyone except Penny one roll of parchment on the subject.
Penny found no such mercy in Defense Against the Dark Arts, which was quickly becoming her least favorite class.
"What do you call this?" Snape demanded, slamming what was obviously her paper on dementors before her when he'd made her stay after class.
"An Exposition on the Efficacy of The Patronus Charm," Penny said, reciting the title of her paper and pointing to it with her finger.
"Are you desirous of another detention, Potter," Snape said, eyes narrowing in annoyance.
"No," Penny scowled, remembering all too vividly how Snape had forced her to sort through all the rotten flobberworms at her last one. Her nose still hadn't quite recovered from the smell of it.
"No, sir."
"No, sir," Penny muttered begrudgingly.
"This is not the essay I asked you for."
"Technically, you did not clarify what you wanted from the essay," Penny pointed out.
The stony silence told Penny this was not the correct answer, so she decided it was probably the time to shut up.
"How is it that all your peers managed to hand in essays on the best method for dealing with dementors?"
"Oh come on, sir. You can't really be getting angry at me for not plagiarizing your argument like every other dunce in this class. I actually put some thought into this—"
"You disregarded everything I said in class and came to some half-baked anecdotal conclusion!"
"Anecdotal?" Penny said darkly. "Tell me, sir, what part of walking into a nest of dementors and barely coming back alive with my friend is anecdotal to you?"
The color drained from his face faster than he could open his mouth to come up with some feeble argument in response.
"I argued in favor of this," —Penny said, pulling out her wand and producing her patronus non-verbally— "Because Jirius saved me and Draco from becoming dementor chow," Penny went on in an icy voice.
"Jirius. . ." Snape repeated, the irritation suddenly returning to his features.
"For James and Sirius. He's so handsome like my dad, but something in the way he prances about reminds me of Sirius," Penny said, turning affectionate eyes on her patronus. When she turned back to Snape, he was taking a long shuddering breath, fingers massaging the bridge of his nose.
"You will write it again," he said quietly.
"I won't—"
"YOU WILL WRITE IT AGAIN," he yelled, eyes bulging.
"And Malfoy?"
"Excuse me?"
"He didn't even turn in a paper!"
"And why is it you seem to have developed an unnatural interest in what Malfoy does and doesn't do these days?" Snape breathed, eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Seeing as he's my friend," Penny said, a little more aggressively than she intended. "I could not help but notice how unwell he seems since returning to Hogwarts. He's irritable, jumpy, distant, and seemingly preoccupied with something, but certainly not his homework," Penny went on as casually as possible, watching Snape very closely as she did so.
"It sounds to me like you thought more of the friendship than he. If he does not feel you are someone to confide in, perhaps you should bring it up with him," Snape said cruelly, getting to his feet and indicating that their meeting was over.
His words cut at Penny because she was guilty of thinking the same thing herself. She'd been obsessively mulling over their years of friendship in her head, trying to figure out if she'd misread something. Anything to explain why, whenever she went looking for Malfoy, he was nowhere to be found; why his eyes were distant, guarded even, when they did speak during their double potions lesson.
Getting to her feet, she shoved her chair back rather impolitely.
"I expect the corrected essay no later than 4pm Thursday," he said, opening the door for her.
"Fine. But the headmaster will hear my complaints about being graded on my ability to stroke your ego by agreeing with you."
Penny did not have the patience to rewrite the essay so she would not give it a serious effort. Not when she was trying to get the bottom of two mysteries: What Draco was up to was important, but so far she'd found no leads. So it was time she put her focus into the second— Harry. He was making it painfully obvious he was hiding something from her.
It'd all started with him going missing one evening, Hermione and Ron getting bizarrely flustered when she asked them about his absence. The next morning, Penny asked Harry about it, and he'd given her some lame answer about having gone to bed early while conspicuously avoiding her gaze. Yet, when she asked Seamus Finnegan, he'd told Penny that Harry hadn't gone to bed until late, having been awake in bed practicing his non-verbal spells.
In addition to this very suspicious activity, Harry, Ron and Hermione had taken to huddling together in corridors to have whispered conversation, which in and of itself was a pretty typical thing for them, except whenever Penny walked up they would abruptly end their conversation and pretend they were speaking about nothing of import.
The attempts were an insult in Penny's opinion, and because of that insult she set her mind on not confronting Harry, but instead snooping on him. As of yet, it had yielded nothing, but she would not give up so easily.
Herbology was a welcome class after being cooped up in the castle. The weather was crisp and the sky blue, making the walk down quite refreshing. Leaves crunching beneath her feet soothed her mind as she walked alone, purposefully ignoring Harry when he called out to her.
Once inside the greenhouse, Penny took the seat beside Hannah Abbot, who chatted merrily about the upcoming house quidditch team tryouts.
"I think I might try for, keeper," she said, eyeing the snargaluff they needed to deseed warily.
"Keeper?" Penny said, turning in surprise from her book to Hannah. "When did you start playing keeper?"
"I've always played, I just prefer chaser but the position isn't open. What, are you afraid of finding out which of us is the better player?" Hannah winked.
"No worries there, I won't be on the team," Penny laughed.
"What!" she exclaimed, wrestling with the gnarled stump in an effort to give Penny an opening to snatch the seed. "You're the captain's sister and amazing!"
"Don't remind me. It's going to be that much harder to get him off my back when I break the news to him," Penny winced, getting hit with a sharp branch that wiggled free from Hannah's grasp.
"But why don't you want to play? If you don't mind me asking."
Penny glanced sideways at Hannah, who gave her a reassuring smile.
"Every time I'm on that pitch I can't help but think of him. . .Cedric," Penny admitted, her voice constricting on his name.
Hannah's hold slackened on the writhing creature as a saddened expression fell across Hannah's face.
"We're never really the same, are we—when our loved ones leave us," Hannah said quietly, giving Penny's hand a little squeeze. "Don't feel like you owe anyone an explanation for it."
"Thanks Hannah—" Penny started, the pair of them getting distracted by the greenhouse door opening and Professor McGonagall walking in.
Most of the class was sufficiently occupied with the little gremlin they were trying to subdue, but Penny watched, a little perturbed as McGonagall made her way to Professor Sprout and started whispering to her, the pair of them glancing in their direction.
Not at all as interested in the appearance of the Gryffindor Head of House, Hannah had turned back to the plant. "Here, Penny I got it, you can grab the seed."
It was at this point that Professor Sprout turned and started walking in their direction, filling Penny with a horrible sense of dread.
"Hannah, wait—" Penny tried.
"No, it's right there!"
"Miss Abbott," Professor Sprout in an unusually low and gentle voice.
"Sorry, Professor, we're just about to get our first one—"
"Hannah!" Penny said, putting her hand on hers so she would look up.
Confused, she looked at Penny, who nodded to Professor Sprout.
Hannah let go of the snargaluff, which rolled off the side of the table and began attacking the ankles of the students nearest them.
Dark eyes teary, Professor Sprout said, "Come dear, the headmaster wishes to see you."
"What is it, what's happened," Hannah said, her complexion instantly losing all its color.
"It would be best if we discussed this in private," Professor Sprout said quietly, aware the rest of the class was now watching them.
"Why can't you tell me here?" Hannah was trembling now, her own eyes sick with worry.
"Hannah, I think you should do as Professor Sprout asks—"
"Tell me what happened!" Hannah demanded, voice strangled with fear.
"It's your mother—" came Sprout's reply, evidently unable to finish the sentence.
"Mum? What's happened? Has she been hurt? Is she at Saint Mungo's?"
Silence followed these words, a silence that sent Hannah's eyes glimmering with tears. "She's okay, isn't she?" she tried again. At this point Professor McGonagall had joined them.
"Miss Abbott, your father is waiting, he will explain everything," she said in an uncharacteristically tender voice, her hand finding Hannah's shoulder.
"No. This can't be. Mum wrote just last week. She said she was going to visit me," Hannah said in disbelief, her sobs nearly choking her.
"Please, Miss Abbott." But Hannah would hear none of it, her mind far from the people standing before her, wracked with a pain that Penny knew all too well; one that was still freshly lodged in her chest, making several tears fall down her own cheeks as well.
"Hannah," Penny said in a shaky voice, taking both her hands and forcing her to look at her. "Your dad needs you right now. You should go to him."
Eye's focusing on Penny, she said. "I c-can't. I'm afraid, Penny. So afraid. I've never been brave. And dad—if she's really—he'll be so—" but she was unable to finish the thought, overcome by her sobs.
"Being brave doesn't mean you are never afraid. So don't ever feel ashamed for it."
"C-come with me," she said.
Penny glanced at Professor McGonagall, who blew her nose on her handkerchief before nodding.
"Of course, Hannah. Whatever you need." And interlacing their fingers, Penny led Hannah back up the grounds after her head of house, listening attentively as the girl recounted her fondest memories with her mother.
They wrenched Penny's heart from her chest, the loveliness of them making her envious of the bond Hannah seemed to share with her mother. Learning of them, however, also made Penny uncomfortably aware of the pain that awaited Hannah when the reality of that loss sunk in. There was nothing that could prepare anyone for such pain, but Penny still found herself wishing she could spare the girl from such an experience.
Trembling and barely able to manage one foot before the other, Penny somehow found the strength to lead Hannah into that reality waiting for her in the headmaster's office, Hannah insisting she not leave her at the foot of the stairs.
The moment Hannah and her father laid eyes on each other, embracing in a quaking sob of emotion and grief, Penny lost all ability to fend off her own grief, and ducking out as quietly as possible, she ran, wanting nothing more than to escape the pain surging through her chest.
Chest heaving and unable to run any further, Penny found herself on the top of the astronomy tower, taking in deep gasps of air and letting the cold wind sting her tear-streaked cheeks. She was desperate for a distraction, anything to pull her free of that monster wreaking havoc within her. It was the kind of all consuming torment that made her delirious with need—need to make it end. Anything to take her mind off it became appealing, even impaling her hand on the speared railing along the edge of the tower.
A hand on her shoulder was the only thing to pull her from the depths of such desperation. Turning bleary-eyed, and knowing it would be Snape's dark eyes she found long before her bleary ones settled on her, Penny felt an explosion of relief, all the dams within her bursting at once and letting loose those emotions she had kept bottled up for so long. A cigarette hanging loosely in his hand, he scanned her face, his own darkening in understanding. He did not need her to speak, because all of those thoughts that were tormenting her collided with him. And yet, it was not enough. She needed to speak them, to admit her sins in order to find the absolution she desired.
"I was jealous of her," Penny choked. "She'd just lost her mum and I couldn't help being envious of all the memories she got to make—the sheer amount of time they had," Penny said, wiping the tear from her cheek pointlessly because three more took its place. "I just wanted to know her—who Lily was; the sound of her voice; the ring of her laugh; her mannerism. But when I miss her, I have none of that, not like Hannah. It's not fair, he stole that from me, stole it from Hannah too."
Openly crying now, Penny was unable to go on, looking away in shame instead, Snape silent beside her. Had she not yet learned that it was better to remain silent than to betray such feelings? To admit them was only to allow them control over her. A control that made everything feel desperately pointless. She needed to stop, get a grip and—
But whatever it was she thought she needed to do was lost in the wind because his hand found her wrist and was tugging her around to face him, tossing the cigarette to the ground and pulling her into his chest. And then his arms wound their way around her, holding her like he was afraid the wind might take her away or such feelings might pull her somewhere he could not reach. Snape held her in an embrace that enveloped Penny with a bitter compassion that whispered to the rage in her heart, telling her he knew of the injustice she felt inside, because his own regret reminded him of it daily. Their sorrow intermingling, Penny found herself clinging back, burying her face into his chest to let loose the anguish that choked her with sobs.
Entangled in their misery, Penny caught a glimpse of a truth she was certain Snape wished to keep secret—one, in the short moment Penny caught hold of it— he believed there was no coming back from. But as quickly as it was there, it had disappeared. Penny too incensed by the electricity pulsing through her body that offered her a comfort she did not know was possible to grab hold of it. She was afraid of this secret, afraid to know why it caused the man before her such grief, and so she all too willingly ignored it, focusing instead on that which was much more precious—the present. Penny clung to Snape as though doing so would make it so time could no longer slip from her fingers. Like, somehow, she could stop it from taking more from her. It had taken her mother, father and now godfather, she would not let it have Snape too.
"No, I will not," Penny reiterated, more forcefully this time. "So stop pestering me. You have more than enough hopefuls. I have no doubt you can form a decent team without me."
"I don't want decent, I want to win," Harry said, looking irritated by the fact she did not seem to understand how important quidditch was.
"The best are trained, not born," Penny said, reaching for the milk.
"But being born with some talent vastly improves the odds the training produces anything worthwhile," Harry countered.
"Lucky for me, my only talent is in potions," Penny said as Hermione sat down.
"Are you talking about that awful book? Please tell me Penny has spoken some sense into you about it," Hermione said with a small frown.
"Book?"
"Harry," Hermione said scornfully.
"It hasn't come up!"
"What book," Penny said again, looking between the two.
"Harry's new found brilliance at potions is not entirely earned," Hermione said, sounding slightly bitter.
"It's not just because Snape is gone?" Penny asked, turning to Harry, who looked away sheepishly, evidently feeling a little guilty that his twin had such faith in his abilities.
"The potion's textbook Slughorn leant me had a few tips scribbled into the margins," he shrugged.
"What kind of tips?" Penny asked, interested.
"Try whole new instructions!" Hermione objected. "Go on, Harry, show her."
"It'll have to be later, I have to get to tryouts now," Harry said evasively, shooting Hermione a dark look.
"Good luck."
"Just come down," he tried one more time, but Penny avoided his gaze, refusing to get trapped in his puppy-dog eyes.
She gave in some time later and ended up on the field, laughing heartily as Harry got thoroughly annoyed by all the people there who had only shown up to get a closer look at him and had no real interest in the team. Penny watched the chasers try-out, sitting next to Hermione and admiring what a good chaser Ginny was. Penny had always known she was good, but had not realized she was this good.
Cheering heartily when she was selected, Penny bailed before Harry could shove a broom into her hand. She was headed to a Slug Club dinner and wanted to get changed before showing up. Though Harry was the evident star of Slughorn's little collection of students, he'd taken an instant liking to Penny, always chortling about her fiery remarks, and gazing affectionately at her. According to Slughorn himself, Lily was a favorite student of his, and being the spitting image of her mother, Penny was the walking reminder of that affection. This garnered Penny a place in the Slug Club, though Slughorn fiercely contended that she had a natural talent for his subject, and raved about her essays to Snape. A sentiment her Potions Master did not share, having been thoroughly irritated by Penny's rewrite of her dementor essay that Penny purposefully wrote in a tone dripping with sarcasm. Worse yet, she filled every footnote, which were many, with the same thing: *Though evidence shows the patronus charm is a more effective method than this. Snape, beyond furious, could not even bring himself to berate her for it, but the subject remained touchy and was best avoided.
Before Penny knew it, October was half-way over, bringing with it terrible weather and their first Hogsmeade visit of the term. Being on the outs of Harry, and Draco making up a pathetic excuse for why he could not join Penny, she was not all that enthused about the excursion until Adrian approached her the Friday before.
"Penny!" he called, catching up with her half-way to the astronomy tower. She'd been on her way there in hopes of finding Snape. She wanted to weasel a cigarette out of him to help her current blah mood. She was startled to be found in such an untraversed location of the castle, but Adrian seemed to find Penny no matter where she tried to hide. His knack for it gave her the inkling suspicion there was something more to it than he let on, but he only laughed it off when she brought it off.
"What's up?" she said with a smile. As terrible as her mood today, Adrian always seemed to have a way of brightening her up.
"I just finished with my classes. I haven't seen you all day," he said.
"Missed me, did you," she said with a smug smile.
"Absolutely!"
"The ever popular, mysterious Mr. Martikov missing me? I am quite honored considering how many people I'm sure were sorry to see you come running up here after me."
"Shush, you," he said, bopping Penny on the head in what he tried to make a reprimanding manner.
"Oh don't be bashful. All I hear in the girls bathroom these days is how handsome you are."
"You've been talking about me in the bathrooms, have you?" he teased, tossing his arm around her shoulder and pulling her nearer him.
"If you wanna know you'll have to teach me how to decipher all these weird dreams I keep having."
"Seer's do not decipher anything, we look," corrected Adrian, giving her a look that said she should know that already.
"I've learned a lot about what seers do and but not a lot about how to do it," Penny complained.
"You have a habit of just wanting to skip to the good part."
"Can you blame me!"
"No, I can't, but that does not mean what I'm trying to teach you isn't important," he frowned.
"Don't give me that look," Penny said sulkily, pinching Adrian in his side. "Today has been dreadfully dull and I do not think I can endure another person's displeasure after an earful from Snape in DADA."
"My poor troublemaking friend, getting in trouble for telling your professor that your dildo was more interesting than his lecture. How hard your life is."
"You heard about it?" Penny turned, open mouthed to Adrian.
"I think everyone heard," he laughed. "Apparently it has gone down in the epic-things-Penny-Potter-has-done-to-Snape history right alongside making him open a tampon."
Penny couldn't help but grin like a fool at the memory.
"Now that I've got you in a good mood, I was hoping you'd agree to go to Hogsmeade together tomorrow. There is supposed to be so much wizarding history associated with the village—"
"There is!" Penny said, perking up. "You really want to learn about it?"
"Only if my guide is as cute and witty as you," he said, eyes bright.
"A reversal of roles for the day, I like the sound of this," Penny said with a dubious look at Adrian.
"Is that a yes then?" he said, looking too adorably hopeful for Penny to confess to him it was absolutely a yes because she wanted to torture him the way he had her for the last month.
"It's sad to see everything boarded up," Penny said the next day, bundled up with her scarf against the storm blazing around them.
"The cost of war is wide reaching, maiming everything we care for."
"But Zonkos?" Penny said, stopping before the shuttered shop, thinking about the many occasions she'd ventured inside with Fred and George to choose which items would be best to annoy Filch with.
Now cast in darkness, and nothing left but memories of the life that once existed within it, Penny found looking at it made not only the war, but the the loss of Sirius a little too painfully real so she turned, shivering against the wind.
"How about a butterbeer?" suggested Adrian, his dark eyes seeing more than any normal person's would.
"Are you sure? This isn't exactly what I'd promised."
"Yeah. There will be plenty of time for history lessons some other time, and preferably in warmer weather," he said, leading the way into the buzzing and gloriously warm Three Broom Sticks.
"Adrian!" a bunch of students clad in blue robes called, waving at him.
"I'm just going to say hi, do you mind?"
"No, of course not," Penny said, suddenly distracted when she spotted Draco's familiar head of blonde hair.
Waving Adrian off, she raced toward the hall she saw Draco disappear down, startled by a long, muscular arm that stopped her from entering.
"Sorry, Potter. Snape's Missus or not, Draco is busy," Blaise Zabini said in a tone of distinct dislike.
"I didn't realize you were jealous of all the boys and girls at Hogwarts now, Blaise. I promise not to do anything untoward," Penny said, making to push around Blaise, who gave an impatient sigh and moved from the beam he was leaning against to block her way.
"Now's not a good time," he said, his face merely inches away from hers.
"Why?"
"Hell if I know. Draco just told me to keep your meddling out of here."
"Is that so?"
"It is. So if you wouldn't mind pissing off, I cannot be seen with the likes of you." he sneered.
"Yes, Imagine you and your inferiority complex couldn't handle that," Penny said absentmindely, watching Katie Bell make her way toward them, clutching something in her arms.
"Hey, Katie, did you see Draco down there?"
Katie however, did not acknowledge Penny, walking straight past her with an oddly dazed expression to her face.
"What's wrong with her?" Penny said to Blaise.
"How should I know, I don't even know who she is," Blaise said with a shrug, an irritating hand now manually turning Penny to push her back toward the bar.
"Fine. Just tell Draco I need to speak to him—about Snape," she called over her shoulder, wanting very much to hit the snobbish boy in the face.
Seeing Adrian still submerged at the very rowdy table of Ravenclaws, Penny made for the bar, opting to get them a few butterbeers before joining the others. In actuality she was trying to keep an eye on the hallway for Draco, but the people milling about made it virtually impossible. What was he up to and why had he told Blaise to keep her away? The question was perplexing if not irritating. But it did nothing to stop her sudden interest in the conversation going on next to her.
"I hope that dark haired fellow returns tonight," the woman to Penny's left said.
"The Professor?" her friend clarified, sounding appalled.
"Is he a professor?" the first said, sounding impressed, Penny glancing sideways at them.
She found a very curvy woman with long red hair seated beside her. The friend who was looking very appalled was blonde and wearing a very short top, despite the weather, to show off her immaculate abdomen.
"I'm telling you, the things he did," the redhead gushed.
"But he was so—horrendously dislikable," the blonde said, looking concerned for her friend's mental health.
It was this description that confirmed all suspicions in Penny's mind—these women were speaking about Snape. Choking on the butterbeer she'd just been handed and taken a quick gulp of, Penny also came to the conclusion the redhead was likely talking about sleeping with Snape. It was a thought that made her much too interested than was probably normal. What would a man with his experience be like in bed? Was his frigidity all an act to keep better control of Penny? Was the reality that the control freak also happened to be a nymphomaniac?
The answers too these questions were too close and too alluring for Penny not to turn.
She leaned toward the women and whispered, "Sorry to interrupt, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation."
They both turned, looking annoyed at first until they saw the Hogwarts crest upon her chest, and then they smiled despite themselves.
"I think I know the man with whom you speak, and I find myself desperately curious, for reasons I hope you will not make me admit to."
"Well aren't you a naughty girl," the redhead, who Penny now saw had brown eyes and was very pretty, tutted.
"C'mon, Harper, you remember what it was like to be that age. Imagine having that kind of goss on your professor."
"I suppose I am feeling charitable. What's your name, little miss?" Harper asked.
"Penny."
"Alright Penny, what do you want to know," she said, taking a long swig of her firewhisky.
"All of it," Penny replied, a little too quickly, causing the pair to smirk and give her an appraising once over.
An hour later, Adrian finally found her, three fire whiskies in and completely blown away about what she'd just learned. Penny was howling with laughter as her two new friends recounted a few other, less fortunate experiences they'd had with men when Adrian touched Penny's shoulder.
"Pardon me, ladies, but my friend and I need to return to Hogwarts," Adrian cut in.
"Oh, who's this pretty fellow?" Harper asked, biting her lip. "Your boyfriend?"
"Her friend, Adrian," he clarified, offering his hand before tucking an arm around Penny's waist.
"Single and handsome? In a few years I might be tempted," Trish said.
"It's been a truly enlightening conversation. We have to do this again sometime," Penny said, stumbling to her feet.
"You know where to find us, doll," Trish said, getting up and kissing both of Penny's cheeks.
"And don't forget to tell Severus to come visit us,' said Harper, following with her own kisses.
"Will do, darlings," Penny said, dropping some galleons onto the counter.
"What was that about? Do you know them?" Adrian asked with a worried expression when they finally made it to the street.
"They're some hookers I just met. Bloody brilliant they are. The redhead has been sleeping with Snape!" Penny said with a giggle, not bothering to pull her cloak around herself so Adrian paused and properly bundled her up.
"Did they give you firewhisky?" he said, not nearly intrigued enough with the information she just divulged.
"Maybe."
"When you disappeared I honestly hadn't thought you went off to get drunk. . ." Adrian said, more to himself than her.
"What did you think?"
"Oh. Well, I figured there just was someone else," Adrian said awkwardly.
"Not unless you count my fiancé," Penny said sardonically, tripping over her own feet.
Thankfully Adrian had a tight hold of her and merely pulled her closer.
"Aren't you a bit young for a fiancé?"
"One would think. But Death Eaters have no standards, do they?"
"I don't understand your meaning, Penny."
"It's okay. It's really quite complicated if I think about it myself. I haven't even told my own brother. Right now the only people who know are the Death Eater kids and Dumbledore. But last year some shit went down and I ended up before the Dark Lord, and well, Snape ended up asking that excuse for a man for my hand in marriage," Penny said as casually as if she were talking about the latest quidditch match. "And now we're betrothed."
"P-Professor Snape?" Adrian said, bewildered.
"You know another Snape?"
"But why—he's your professor!" Adrian said, sounding thoroughly scandalized.
"Oh, it's complicated, like I said. But basically this other guy was hellbent on raping me. So he got engaged to me so he couldn't. It's not like Snape actually wants to marry me. Just doing me a solid."
"Penny. . .I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"
It was these words alone that made Penny stop, brows furrowed, and turn to Adrian.
"I-I don't know," she admitted. "What's being okay feel like?"
Adrian did not hesitate, he turned, engulfing Penny in a hug so warm, she thought for a second that he was Lupin, but his frame was far too slender. And yet, her heart still hoped for a moment, it had been. But then it remembered itself, and Penny sunk her face into Adrian's neck. Though he held her like he had done so a thousand times before, his embrace was most unfamiliar to her, Penny finding a certain comfort in that. It made her think, just maybe, these kinds of open displays of affection could be a natural part of everyday life. She found the prospect to be quite nice.
"I think I'm drunk, Adrian," Penny said after a moment's embrace.
"You think?" he laughed.
"Can you get me to Slughorn? He likes me well enough to give me something to sober up."
"I think so, but you'll need to remain silent when we see Filch or we'll both be in detention."
When they arrived at the castle, Filch was too preoccupied with something else, so Penny slipped by unnoticed, her and Adrian making their way as quickly as possible to the dungeons where Slughorn's study was located.
"Penny? To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Sorry to bother you, Professor. I realize this is an odd sort of request," Penny said, doing her best to remain straight and standing, but there were currently four Slughorns looking back at her, all of which were spinning, making her feel nauseous, so she naturally stumbled sideways.
"By-golly, is she drunk?" he asked Adrian.
"Yes, sir," Adrian said reluctantly, but Slughorn boomed with laughter startling them both.
"My dear boy, Mr. Martikov is it? Were you feeding this girl drinks? You should have known she's a lot to handle!"
"Absolutely not! I got myself the drinks," Penny said indignantly.
"I should have known," Slughorn agreed, still chuckling. "What seems to be the problem then, hmm? You got what you paid for, did you not?"
"She talks too much when she's drunk," Adrian said, shooting Penny an apologetic glance.
Penny shrugged, she could hardly disagree.
"Ahh, and what stories were you telling that you shouldn't?"
"Shouldn't? I feel strongly everyone should know that Professor Snape has been fucking—" But Adrian's hand around her mouth stopped her from finishing the sentence.
"Please, sir. We were hoping you could help sober her up."
"You're no fun, my lad. I find myself all too interested to know how she was going to finish the sentence. But alas, I could not deny Lily's daughter anything she has asked of me, now could I?"
Pushing Adrian off her, Penny straightened herself up.
"Thank you, Professor. It's just a really bad time to be running my mouth."
"I will give you this," he said, pulling a small vial from his pocket, "only if you promise to come to the next Slug Club dinner and bring Mr. Martikov with you."
"We'd be honored," Penny answered, not bothering to ensure Adrian agreed.
Ten minutes later, Penny was leaning against the 3rd floor corridor wall, waiting for the potion to take effect.
"I owe you big time," Penny said, her slurred sentence telling them the potion was nowhere near taking effect.
"Don't worry about it, Penny."
"Like a blow job, big. You like blow jobs?'
"Really, Penny, just focus on feeling more yourself," he said, cheeks red.
"Oh no," Penny moaned, her eyes falling on a figure just behind him.
"Get out of here now, Adrian. It'll only be worse if he catches us together," Penny said, seeing that familiar stride and cloak billowing out like a bat, headed in their direction from the other end of the corridor.
"I'm not leaving you—"
"It's Snape!" she hissed.
Giving her a reluctant look, Adrian took off, rounding the corner before Snape could see who he was. Penny knew better than to even attempt escape, he would have known it was her the second he rounded the corner and she had no hope of moving faster than anyone in this condition. So she steadied herself against the wall, preparing for the worst.
"Potter," he said, stopping before her.
"Professor," Penny said, keeping her eyes decidedly closed.
"What's wrong with you and who was that who just fled around the corner?"
"Nothing's wrong with me and my friend."
"Is that so," he said in a tone that told her he suspected she was up to no good.
"And what were you doing?"
"I didn't realize loitering was now a banned activity in the daylight hours," she said, opening her eyes but careful not to meet his gaze. She could feel her drunkenness starting to wear off, but it was not yet gone.
He eyed her for some seconds, and then leaned in closer as though investigating something on her shirt. "You smell like a brothel!" he hissed.
Penny could not help herself snorting in laughter.
"I guess you would be the authority on what one smells like."
"You will not even deny it!"
"We hardly have a brothel here, but I do not deny making some new friends at the inn today. I think you're acquainted with one, her name's Harper," Penny said, relishing the look of shock that rippled across his features. "Hot redhead with a massive bust, ring any bells?" she pressed.
"You are very clearly drunk, Potter," said Snape, shamelessly ignoring her accusation.
"Technically I'm sobering up, but yeah, maybe a little tipsy still. But back to Harper. Boy did she have to say some things about you. I suddenly find myself a bit more excited for the wedding night."
"There will be no wedding night," he said through gritted teeth, looking like he very much was contemplating knocking her out with a spell. "What were you doing in such company anyway?"
"Learning a thing or two," Penny smirked.
"Detention!" he seethed. "And you are hereby banned from any future trips to the village!"
"Good luck explaining the reasoning for that one to Professor McGonagall," Penny said dryly. "But whatever makes you feel better. Before I forget," Penny said, straightening up because she no longer felt like she was teetering. "Harper wants you to visit and do that thing you do with your tongue again."
At this, Snape whipped out his wand looking murderous.
"What're you doing," Penny said, giving his wand hand a wary look.
"Ridding you of the burden of such memories," he said in a low, velvety voice.
"You can't just alter my memories, you'll lose your job," Penny stammered, not feeling at all confident in her appeal.
"Only if anyone finds out," he whispered, eyes glinting.
Not at all inclined to find out if Snape intended to make good on his threat, Penny turned tail and sprinted away like a coward, Snape screaming, "POTTER!" as she went. Taking a sharp right, a stunning spell skimmed just past her, telling her she'd made the right decision.
If she just made it to the common room she would be safe. Once she'd told some others about what she'd learned, news would spread like wildfire and Snape would no longer be able to get away with the heinous crime he was contemplating. Although Penny was certain she would very much dislike the consequences of such actions. But being still tipsy made it a little too easy to not consider those—and so she ran headlong into her own demise.
So, as you may have noticed, Harry is not telling Penny about his lessons OR THE HORCRUXES. Dumbledore always knows more than he should, and while he hasn't been exactly honest with Harry, he does not want this information getting back to a certain horcrux in Penny's head. It makes a lot of things to come a whole lot different! And I hope to explain my reasoning soon.
Happy weekend!