The day before the students all returned to the school Penny was already there, wandering the castle grounds. She found it very strange to be in the castle without the sound of shouting and laughter from her fellow students, with just the ghosts and teachers around the castle was very empty indeed.
However, Penny was enjoying exploring the castle, finding the many secret passages and visiting areas she'd never been into before. She and Tonks hadn't had much time to explore the castle the previous year; they had pretty much just gone to class, their dormitories or sat around outside in the grounds.
She now found herself in a part of the castle that she'd never been before, but she knew it was known as the tapestry corridor because it was full of various tapestries and portraits. As she walked down the corridor towards the defence against the dark arts corridor, she caught a glimpse of a dark shadow sweeping round the corner. Curiosity getting the better of her she decided to follow it; however, when she got round the corner it had vanished.
For a few moments she thought she'd imagined it and continued walking towards the defence against the dark arts classroom, until she heard a noise behind her and then a voice. The noise she heard first was a kind of swooshing noise, almost like the wind but slightly more subtle.
'Who are you and what are you doing here?!' The voice said, loud and gruff, making the hairs on the back of Penny's neck stand on end.
When Penny turned to face the person who had spoken to her she was met by a very tall man, with dark grey hair, very pale skin and pale eyes, which Penny thought, for a moment, were tinged red in colour. He was dressed in a long black cloak and his whole demeanour gave Penny the creeps. She couldn't help think that he would even make Snape look cheerful next to him, something she never thought possible.
'I'm Penny, Penny Johnston. I'm a second year student.' She replied timidly.
'And what're you doing here?' He asked rather aggressively.
'Well, um...I…' She stammered before someone else spoke, a much softer voice.
'Ah Issachar I see you've already met our young Miss Johnston here. Penny, this is Professor Paton; he'll be our new defence against the dark arts teacher.' Dumbledore said as he approached them and Penny was really glad to see him.
'Penny is Minerva McGonagall's great niece Issachar.' He added.
Penny stared at the new professor and instantly felt dislike for him; there was something about him that made her feel on edge.
'Penny why don't you go for a walk in the grounds. I'm sure Hagrid would love to see you.' Dumbledore said as he watched Penny nod her head and disappear off.
She was grateful to be away from the new teacher, whom she wasn't looking forward to having lessons with this year. She hadn't been particularly fond of Professor Lochbridge, a particular squat wizard who's idea of teaching had involved him droning on and on about his time as an auror. He very rarely allowed them to use magic and when he did he would let them try the spell once, before going on for the rest of the lesson about what they were doing wrong. However, over this new guy she would have had Lochbridge any time.
She still thought it odd that Lochbridge had just disappeared one day, just before Penny and Minerva had left. He had left no indication as to where he was going, but one day a class turned up and was left the whole lesson without a teacher.
She finally made her way into the brightly lit grounds and was just walking down to Hagrid's hut when she met him, wrestling some sort of ugly looking creature. It looked like a cross between a snake and a lobster, as it had no legs but was covered in dark blue plates to help protect it.
'Amazin' creatures the serpdeloin.' He said as he struggled to hold the wriggling six foot long creature, made only worse when its armoured plating disappeared and Hagrid was covered in a green slime.
'I foun' a nest o' them by the lake at the start o' the school 'olidays. Amazin' defence system, you see; they try to wiggle 'emselves free and if tha' don' work, they shed their armour and produce this slime.' Hagrid explained as he finally got the serpdeloin into a crate and showed Penny the thick green slime covering his hands and moleskin coat.
'Anyway, what're yeh doin' here so early? Term doesn' start 'til tomorrow.'
'Oh, well…um…' Penny stammered at first, not exactly sure what to say.
'Tell yeh what; let's get a cup o' tea eh?' Hagrid said as he led her inside his cabin.
Penny smiled with delight and followed Hagrid into his large cabin, which was really just a single room with a large fire place, a bed, a table with chairs and a couple of very large armchairs. She sat down at the kitchen table, her chin barely reached the top of it, but she was glad to be back in Hagrid's company.
They had become good friends over the previous school year; she loved going down to his hut to visit him and was fascinated by all of the creatures he would talk to her about. In turn she used to tell him about some of her grandmother's adventures and about all the creatures she had met abroad.
'Here yeh go.' Hagrid said as he placed a bucket sized mug in front of her. 'So are yeh goin' to tell me why you're 'ere so early?'
'Well you know how Grams died at the end of last term? Well I'm now living with my great auntie, she's planning to tell the rest of the staff today anyway, but my great aunt is Professor McGonagall.
'She obviously needed to be here today to finish up a few things before the start of term.' She explained as she heaved the large mug of hot, sweet tea in front of her, trying not to spill any of it as she drank, which was a difficult task as Fang, Hagrid's boarhound, kept trying to stick his head in the way.
'Ah I see; that'd explain a few things I 'eard o'er the summer. There was a rumour yeh see that she'd left, started no doubt by one o' the students, but someone 'ad said she'd gone after 'er sister'd died.' He explained, taking a few sips of tea from his own large mug. 'Course I never believed it, but I think a few of the other teachers did.'
'I don't think Aunt Minerva will ever leave Hogwarts Hagrid, she loves it here too much.' Penny explained with a large smiled.
Hogwarts wouldn't be Hogwarts without Minerva McGonagall.
'So are yeh goin' ter stay 'ere until tomorrow then?'
'No, Aunt Minerva and I agreed that I'd be getting the express up. If I'm not seen on the train but suddenly appear here, we think a few questions may surface from some of the students; I don't mind the teachers knowing so much, but if the other students find out…' She shook her head slightly and took another sip of tea.
At that precise moment there was a knock on the door and Fang began to bark loudly and excitedly. Penny hopped off her chair to answer it for Hagrid, to find her great aunt standing on the threshold.
'Penny I've been looking all over for you.' She said sternly; clearly her teacher demeanour had returned now she was back at school.
'Tha' was my fault Professor. Young Penny 'ere was jus' filling me in on 'er summer.' Hagrid replied as he clapped a hand on Penny's shoulder, nearly making her collapse from his weight.
'Very well Hagrid. I needed to ask a wee favour of you anyway.' Minerva said as she entered the cabin and took a seat in one of the armchairs.
'I needed to ask if you would be willing to escort Penny to the train tomorrow Hagrid? I would do it myself but if the other students were to see me there with her, well it kind of defeats the point of the exercise.' She said tartly.
'O' course Professor; it'd be my pleasure.' Hagrid replied with a grin, beaming at Penny who grinned back at him.
Both Minerva and Penny stayed with Hagrid for a further hour until Minerva realised how much work she still had to complete. They said goodbye to Hagrid, who turned his attentions back to the serpdeloin, with Fang gambling around the paddock near the Forbidden Forest.
Minerva led Penny back up to the castle, where she enlisted Penny's help in tidying the transfiguration classroom and sorting out all of the books for the students. Penny was pleased to discover that the first class she had on Tuesday morning was to be transfiguration, followed straight after by the Gryffindor personal studies class. Sometimes this class would involve the whole of Gryffindor and at others it would just involve her year.
They continued well into the evening before Minerva agreed to call it a day. Exhausted and hungry they went back to Minerva's study where they ate a small meal and then got ready for bed. As Dumbledore had done the night they returned from St Mungo's, another bed had been placed inside the hidden bedroom chamber in Minerva's study for Penny to sleep in until all of the students returned.
The bedroom was hidden through a secret doorway in the wall, which could only be accessed by tapping the correct stone brick with your index, then middle and then ring finger on your right hand in sequence against it. It was a very plain room, with a four poster bed, like the ones found in the student dormitories, a chest of drawers and a wardrobe. Much like her study though there were photographs of her family dotted around in silver frames.
'Right I want you to go straight to sleep Penny. I'll come in shortly, there are just one or two more things I want to do before I come to bed.' Minerva instructed as Penny climbed in under the covers.
Within seconds Penny was asleep. She'd felt exhausted and ready for sleep as soon as her head had hit the pillow and was pretty glad she felt rested and wide awake when Minerva woke her early next morning.
Hagrid had arrived to take her, by floo powder, to the Leaky Cauldron in London, where they'd then walk the half mile to King's Cross station and Penny would catch the Hogwarts Express from platform nine and three quarters.
Penny was looking forward to the train journey as she loved trains. She found there to be something therapeutic about the motion and often fell asleep on train journeys. Not that Tonks would allow her any sleep once they had caught up with each other.
'Are yeh ready then Penny?' He asked her gruffly as he let out a loud and shaky yawn.
'Yup sure am Hagrid.' She replied sounding much more awake and bubbly than he felt.
They said goodbye to Minerva, who watched them disappear into the fireplace together and vanish in the green flames, finally leaving her alone to her work and thoughts.
The journey to King's Cross proved uneventful, unless you counted the odd stares and comments Hagrid met with once they were walking through the streets, which she guessed was to be expected for someone over eleven foot tall.
Once at the train station Penny met with Tonks and her family, who agreed to see her onto the train. They all bid fair well to Hagrid, who walked off in the direction of the Leaky Cauldron once more, for, Penny suspected, a couple of tankards of mead before returning to Hogwarts.
Tonks and Penny boarded the train, which was billowing smoke on to the platform, and found themselves an empty compartment. As the Hogwarts express moved out of the station, they both waved to Tonks' parents until they had disappeared from view.
They talked animatedly about what had happened over the few days they had been apart and then Penny filled her in on Paton.
'Who he sounds like a right creep.' Tonks said as she tucked into a pumpkin pasty from the food trolley that had just passed by.
'He really is; I dread to think what his classes are going to be like. Aunt Minerva tried to persuade Grams to come and teach a few times, but she always refused. She said she'd miss the excitement of being an auror too much. I guess if she had, though, she'd still be alive now.' Penny explained with a smile at first, which then slipped into a saddened scowl.
The two girls remained silent for a while as they stared out of the window as the busy city now gave way to the greener countryside. However, their silence was interrupted by the arrival of Sally-Ann Barton.
'Well look who it is; if it isn't little orphan Annie and her sidekick.' She said maliciously, much to the pleasure of her friends Debbie Symkiss and Helen Roarquinn.
'Go away Barton!' Penny shouted as she leapt to her feet.
'Aw is ickle Penny all upset? Does she need to be taken to the hospital wing for a good cry?' Barton replied mockingly.
Before she knew Penny had stormed up to her and thrust her curled fist into Barton's face, breaking her nose and knocking her flying into the other two, who were no longer laughing. The three of them gathered themselves up and ran off back up the train.
'Wow Penny! Where'd you learn to punch like that? That was amazing!' Tonks said in awe.
'Grams taught me. She always thought I should learn to fight physically as well as magically.' She explained with a small smile, which disappeared instantly when she saw Sally-Ann reappear with her older sister, Laura, who was now also a prefect to boot.
'How dare you attack a fellow pupil Johnston!' She spat angrily as she entered the compartment. 'You've just earned yourself a week's worth of detentions and I'll be informing Professor McGonagall of this.' She said, clearly enjoying her new found power.
'Well you just do that! And the lot of you can all bog off and leave me alone, or there'll be plenty more where that came from!' Penny shouted back and slammed the compartment door in their faces and pulled down the blinds.
The rest of the journey was pretty uneventful after that. Penny and Tonks played exploding snap for a while and traded chocolate frog cards until they caught the first glimpses of the castle. They quickly changed into their robes and collected their things together, making sure they hadn't left anything behind.
Over their heads they heard Hagrid's familiar voice shout out "Firs' years this way, firs' years" as a hundred or so frightened looking new students walked forward. The rest of the school all made their way to the horseless carriages that would lead them through Hogsmead and into the castle grounds.
Penny and Tonks took a carriage with Olivia Black, Ewan McRae and Jessica Knight; two fellow Gryffindor and Hufflepuff second year students.
'So we heard you were responsible for giving Barton a bloody nose on the train; nice one Penny! What I wouldn't have given to have seen that.' Ewan said with a smile.
'Thanks. Although it's not something I should be proud of really, I dread to think what Professor McGonagall is going to say when she finds out.' Penny replied with the smallest of giggles.
She knew she was going to have to explain herself to her aunt sooner or later, she only hoped her detention wasn't too bad, but was glad Minerva would be the one to decide her punishment, seeing as she was head of Gryffindor house.
The five of them chatted happily about their holidays until they reached the great hall for the start of term feast, where they then parted company to their separate house tables. All of the teachers were sat at the large table at the top of the hall, except for a chair next to Professor Dumbledore and another further up the table. Penny guessed that the empty seat were for Hagrid, who was now leading the new first years across the black lake, and for Minerva, who would be waiting in the entrance hall for their arrival.
'I hope the sorting is over soon, I'm absolutely starving!' Olivia said as her stomach gave a loud gurgle.
'Me too.' Penny agreed. 'I haven't really eaten anything this morning; I didn't want to spoil my appetite for tonight.' She added with a giggle and then everyone fell silent once the doors swung open.
She saw her Aunt Minerva walking up the centre of the house tables followed, somewhat reluctantly, by the first years, who all looked absolutely terrified. Penny remembered being there last year; feeling scared about what was to come and feeling worse about being watched by a thousand other people.
Minerva made her way to the front of the hall to where the sorting hat sat on its three legged stool.
'Now when I call your name I want you to come forward, place the hat on your head and the hat will call out which house you are in. You are then to make your way to your house table.' She advised as she then unrolled the long parchment in her hand and called the first name.
Each house table would clap loudly as another student was added to their midst until, finally, all students had been appropriately sorted. There was a babble of excitement around the room as they all welcomed each other, until Dumbledore stood up. The whole school went very quiet as their headmaster spoke to them.
'Welcome to our new students and welcome back to our old hands.' He said enthusiastically with his arms outstretched in greeting. 'At the end of our feast I will make a few announcements, but for now, tuck in!' He added and at once the tables filled with food.
Penny filled her plate with potatoes and vegetables and anything else within her reach. She chatted happily with Olivia and Jessica, who were sat either side of her, and to Ewan and his younger brother Michael, who had just entered first year.
She received condolences from some of the other students, some had met her grandmother through their parents, some students' parents had worked with her, whereas others just wanted to say they were sorry. The whole of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw seemed supportive; Slytherin, on the other hand, did not.
Clearly her "un-provoked" and "uncalled for" attack on Barton had spread through the whole of her house and they were now all staring daggers at Penny and whispering about her, although they clearly weren't bothered if she heard them.
'Just ignore them Penny.' Olivia said.
'Don't rise to their bate.' Tonks added from the seat behind Penny.
Much to her annoyance she did as they advised and didn't doing anything, although it took all of her self-control not to do anything.
Finally, as everyone finished their pudding and the noise increased considerably, Dumbledore stood up and an instant hush fell around the room.
'Before you all go off to your dormitories, may I remind you that magic is forbidden in the corridors at all times; the Forbidden Forest is exactly that, forbidden to all students and quidditch trials for the house teams are to take place a week on Tuesday.
'Now, I'd like to introduce our new defence against the dark arts teacher, Professor Issachar Paton. I'm sure you'll join me in wishing the professor good luck in his new post.' Dumbledore said as he clapped; something the students did half-heartedly.
All eyes turned to face the new teacher, who looked just as creepy as he had the previous day when Penny had first seen him.
'You may all go to your dormitories now and get ready for your lessons tomorrow.' Dumbledore said as he dismissed the school, who instantly erupted into talk as they made their way out of the great hall.
Penny said good night to Tonks, who disappeared to her common room and dormitory with the other Hufflepuffs, as she followed the Gryffindors up to their common room. Everyone was too tired to stay up late that night.
They all made their way to their four poster beds, where their belongings were already sat waiting for them. Penny felt glad to be back to normal, in her bed at Hogwarts, surrounded by her friends with a fresh year ahead of her.