The castle floor was cold to the touch as Penelope crept around the tower corner, wand held aloft. She hadn't thought to slip on her shoes before heading out with the search party. Flitwicks troubled face at her chamber door had distracted her from such trivial motions. He was almost sweating with worry as he explained the emergency. It appeared that there was a mad convict loose in the castle. As worried as they all were, Penelope couldn't help feeling a thrill as she peered into the dark corners of each staircase she passed. Her retirement to teaching was a recent change, and her short career as an auror held fresh memories. Memories of chasing. Hunting down scum like this one, feeling electricity in her bones as she snared them with no prejudice. Reveling in the satisfaction of knowing they would get sweet justice for the pain they had caused. Justice served in an all you can eat buffet for the dementors of Azkaban.
"Lark! You almost took my breath creeping around like that. I thought I'd run into Black, me by myself up in this damp place!" Sprout took a few calming breaths, then chuckled grimly, " Dumbledore reckons he's long gone by now. Probably not sticking around after the upstart he raised with the weasley boy." Penelope grunted in agreement, still a bit puzzled by it all. "It just doesn't add up," she grumbled. "He tears into a dorm of sleeping boys and gets the wrong one, but Potter was two steps away. He had no problem shutting up what, a dozen muggles in an open street? But I suppose that was nothing to him. All of that pureblood nonsense… still, he hates Potter enough for all that. I don't know, it just bothers me Sprout."
"Troubling stuff, 'tis. But lets come now and get back to the students. The Gryffindors are camping out in the great hall for the night. They'll need us to take shifts."
The great hall was spread out with puffy sleeping bags. The students were already tucked in, looking like overgrown potatoes. Dumbledore wasn't there. Instead, Hooch stood there in an intense whispering match with Snape. Seeing the new arrivals there to relieve their post, Snape nodded at them and marched out with a flourish of his robes. The scowl on his face betrayed his barely contained rage.
"Hello Hooch. Any news?"
"None to speak of. Dumbledore is out on the grounds speaking with the dementors. The prime minister just arrived to assess the situation. Apparently wonder boy has slipped through their fingers again. Filthy ba- quaffle socker." She quickly corrected herself, well aware of the not-quite-sleeping little ears. "I hope he's long gone too. If he'd run into one of us, he'd already be reduced to bits." she mimed kicking and cursing an invisible lump in the air. "Maybe less than a finger," she added bitterly.
"Oh he would be worse for wear before we handed him back to the dementors that's for sure. Especially after Snape got ahold of him. I wouldn't mind having a go at him either," Penelope added darkly.
She thought back to when she heard about the attack. Back in the dark days, she was still training to be an auror. But as crazy as things were, even the rookies had to take to the field sometimes. Usually to deal with nasty inferi that popped up. Sometimes a cursed muggle or two. That time, she wasn't there. The ministry was in a flurry that day, and Mad-eye had gone on a rage about the whole thing. No one could wrap their head around the fact that Sirius Black, a known friend of Dumbledore and James Potter, had betrayed them all. Not only betrayed them, but had just snapped. Blood ran in the street after he exploded poor Pettigrew and all those muggles. His face was splattered across the Daily Prophet, laughing his head off. He looked sick, and just watching him had made her stomach flip. But they all slept better knowing he was secure inside the hellhole they tossed him in. Until he wasn't. That is, until this summer.
Penelope had taken this position reluctantly. If it had been anyone but Dumbledore- but it was Dumbledore. He personally invited her to teach history at Hogwarts. She had always been a whiz at it, almost as much as in defense against the dark arts. And after her accident, being an auror was no longer an option for her. So began her depressing exile to life as a professor. The thing is, she was finding that this job was a lot more exciting than she had anticipated. The children's hijinx kept her on her toes, and this business with Sirius Black and the dementors had practically brought more action right to her front door. Her first year on the job was looking pretty memorable already.
A few days had passed since the Black fiasco. Already, the students were shaking off their nervous jitters in the hallways. Penelope usually kept to her chambers when taking her meals. She and Mad-eye shared a lot in common that way. She even kept her own flask like he did, although she was much less suspicious that she'd end up poisoned. Still, it never hurts to take precautions. This morning was a muddy, rainy type that made the castle candlelight seem cheery by contrast. She was making a visit to the great hall for a change of scenery. Sometimes pouring over runes in her tower and office just became suffocating. She plopped down in a seat next to Hagrid and McGonagall, then began piling sausages and potatoes onto her plate.
"Did ye see that save that Angelina Johnson made a' the last match? She's a spirit'd one, that lass!" Hagrid enthused, chomping down on a boiled egg. Mcgonagall began gushing about the talents of the Gryffindor quidditch team, but Penelope tuned them both out. Quidditch was never her thing, and besides. She may have never really fit in with them, but Slytherin was her house. She still owed them a little allegiance. Just as she took a large bite of sausage, a quiet voice reached her from her other side. "Hello Ms. Lark. I don't see you in the great hall often. Then again, I'm not often here myself. How do you do?" She almost choked on the link before getting it down too quickly. "Morning Lupin. I'm doing just fine, thank you. I needed a break from my dusty tomes in the tower. I must admit I kind of envy you that office of yours. There are rumors going around about all types of specimens you're keeping down there. Maybe next year we can trade." She hardly ever spoke to Lupin. He and she were similar in that they kept to themselves. But they were both the newbies, and he seemed friendly enough for a werewolf. So sure, she'd make small talk. After all, talking to children all day gets old. "Oh I don't think I could part with it. The location is just too perfect for defense training. It does feel nice to be envied though. I wonder, you were hired before me, weren't you? Why didn't you take the defense against dark arts post? I would have figured it's right up your alley." It was no secret that she had worked as an auror for the ministry. And the idea had crossed her mind when Dumbledore approached her. But she knew it was best this way, and he'd known it too when he hired her. " I'm not taking a cursed job, too superstitious for that. And besides, I left the defense industry for a reason. I'm not too keen on returning anytime soon." That's the end of that conversation, she thought as she shoveled potatoes into her mouth.
Suddenly a long robe sleeve brushed past the back of her neck, and she heard Severus Snape join in, "Giving away your post so soon? Is it really so hard to bear? That's no shame, really. I'm sure Ms. Lark here would do an outstanding job at it with her background." Snape sat down on Lupin's other side, directing his words at Lupin but looking at Penelope. "You flatter me, Snape. However Lupin here can hold his own. Besides, I'm not interested in the dark arts…any more." She finished lamely. She stood to leave, but before she could excuse herself, Snape added, "I don't believe that. I think you still live and breathe defense against dark arts, even if you choose to avoid them. After all, you were a Slytherin in your Hogwarts days, right? Slytherin's always take to it. It can't be helped." Snape looked up at her where she stood, a knowing gleam in his eye, and also something else. A probing question. "I guess you're right Severus. I still love it. But defense against dark arts and I have parted ways, and I'm not looking back." She turned to walk away, but after two steps he replied, "Come to the dungeons tonight. For old times sake. An alumni is always welcome back to tour the common room. After all, you've been here almost a year. It's a visit overdue." She paused, turning her head slightly over her shoulder. Then she gave a stiff nod in agreement before marching on her way again. She'd go back, because he was right. It was overdue. No matter what kind of memories it stirred up.
As Lark exited the great hall, Lupin put down the toast he had been nibbling on. "Wow. I can't believe I hadn't noticed before. After all, you've been so discouraged over Black's escape. But somehow you've found time to fancy a woman. I must say Snape, you are tireless." Lupin couldn't help getting a jab in after Snape had tried discrediting him. It was all in good fun. Snape's face turned red, and he bristled "I wouldn't bring up your traitor friend if I were you Lupin. Any idea how he got into this castle? It's almost so foolproof he would have needed an inside man." Before Lupin could defend himself, Snape continued, "But don't you worry, I'll prove it in time, mark my words."
That evening, Penelope braced herself to head back to the dungeons. She had been avoiding them, trying not to bring up bittersweet memories from her Hogwarts days. For the occasion, she wore a neat emerald dress that swished around her knees. She even pinned a retro slytherin broach to her neckline. Topping off the look, she wore a black hat with a stylish point and a wide brim. Ready as she'd ever be. What did Snape mean by inviting her down here? He hardly spoke to her all year, but she supposed talking to his schoolboy nemesis had drawn his attention.
The dungeons had a welcoming coolness, refreshing after the stuffy heat of the north tower. She'd tread down these steps a hundred times before, and her feet remembered the way well. Soon, she arrived. Penelope drew up to the familiar stone wall, a pang of dread weighing down her stomach. Before she could turn back, or wonder how to get in without the password, Snape emerged from a nearby doorway.
"You came," he grinned at her teasingly. "I'm glad. Let's go in shall we?" He tugged her hand into the crook of his arm and firmly said "Bloody Baron!" The passage appeared leading them to the common room, so in they strolled. "It's been many long years since I saw this place." She told him. "Never thought I'd be back though," she added wearily. "What a pleasant surprise it is, hmm? I'm sure you'll notice that it looks much the same as ever." He seemed oblivious to her discomfort. However, against her better judgment, she was enjoying how her hand fit in his elbow. She was close enough to smell the faint cologne of fresh potion ingredients on his robes. Get a grip, she told herself. She was over him, had been for years.
In the Slytherin common room, things were just as she had left them. The fire burned comfortably in the fireplace. The same sleek couches and chairs hadn't moved an inch. Fish swam lazily past the window on the wall. Home sweet home. Honestly, she hadn't expected to feel so nostalgic for this room. Apparently more happy memories existed here than she thought. Sure there was the bullying, stressful studying, and loneliness. But it was part of her childhood. She felt safe here too. She sank down in a sofa near the fire. "What year did you say you graduated again?" Snape asked. He had a look of concentration, like something was nagging at him. She suspected that he was starting to remember more than he needed to. "I didn't say, actually. So, where are the students?"
"They aren't usually in at this hour, clubs and whatnot after dinner." He waved a hand for a house elf to come forward with a tray of tea and biscuits. He turned to her teasingly. A dancing light in his dark eyes told her that he already remembered the answer as he asked, "So tell me, you can't be that old. Really, when did you graduate?" She cleared her throat and gently extracted the flask of firewhiskey from her pocket. She poured a modest amount into her teacup, then tossed it down the hatch. "1980." She mumbled, a bit breathlessly. She couldn't hide it any longer, and he knew now. "1980! Why I knew it, I just put it together now as I saw you in the same room again. You're Elliot's little sister, little Penny Lark! This whole time I had no clue! I suppose you were only two years behind me… who would have thought…" He seemed a bit lost in remembrance. She cringed when he mentioned her brother. But they both seemed happy to ignore that topic. "I'm not so little, Severus. Just two years younger after all. Anyways, yes I remembered you. But I'm not so fond of remembering my Hogwarts days, so I didn't bring it up. I must say though, it is nice to be back."
He reached for the flask of firewhiskey and poured a generous helping in his own cup, then a dash in hers. "I know you were only two years younger, it seemed more though. At the time anyway… Do you remember!" He added, suddenly excited. "You sent me a card! For Valentines!" She started to cringe, but the whiskey was emboldening her. She sat up a little straighter and answered, "yes I remember. It was-"
"It was a red heart that always sparkled! And it said "The object of my deep desire, just how ardently I admire you, Severus the cleverest, Happy Valentine's to You!" He barked out a laugh on the final you.
"Yes and the Gryffindor girls pummeled me for half an hour for writing you that stupid note." she said sourly. Then she started to chuckle. Then she was doubled over laughing.
"It was actually really sweet." Snape said, kindly, " It was the only Valentine I ever got, actually." He added with a hint of gratitude. "I think I still have it."
Penelope was bursting with laughter, but as tears stung her eyes from the effort, she managed to quiet herself down. "Thank you. I'm glad to know my efforts and humiliation weren't wasted at least."
"You must have had quite the crush on me back then, huh? But of course I wouldn't have noticed. I always did think you were a bright little witch though. I remember you hexed Barutha Bial with warts for three months! Now that was impressive." He looked at her then meaningfully. She suddenly felt like he was seeing her then. For the first time really seeing her maybe. Heat rose in her cheeks and she stood up. " Still do have that little crush, actually. But I don't like to get stuck in the past. I'd better get going-" The sound of students tromping down the corridor reached them. She smiled apologetically at him. He suddenly reached out and caught her wrist, but then quickly let go as students filed in. "Have a good evening." She said, turning to go. "You too. Let's have tea again soon." Each deep chord of his voice seemed to ping around inside her. GET A GRIP her inner voice seethed. But a happier, hopeful feeling was already winding around her stomach.