It was on the front page of the Quibbler the next day; Xeno must have pulled everyone in out of bed to get it out. A list of the captured Death Eaters joined the article, and Alex and Hermione sighed as they read it, knowing many of those listed had kids that they taught. They saw one name though and knew that Draco would be overjoyed, after that first lesson with them the previous term; the blonde had started vocally admitting that his father was a bastard. Now with him arrested and not going to be able to get free of the trial he should have had years earlier, their friend would be overjoyed.
"Come on Penny; if you want to meet Firenze and Nye, you'd better be here in the next 3…" Alex didn't get a chance to finish as the satyr clopped out in a rush.
"Keep your pants on, I'm coming," Penny said as she pulled her hair back, "You have no idea how hard it is to get pants on, even after all these years."
Simply groaning dramatically, the wizard waited and then the trio jogged down to the forest, each of them sighing in pleasure as they breached the tree line. As was the case every time, the demigods were barrelled over the second they entered the clearing, "I'VE MISSED YOU!"
With Penny laughing heartily, the two demigods groaned beneath the weight of their familiar, "Nye, mate, you've got to stop doing that."
"Did you miss me?" The horse wasn't going to move until they answered.
"Of course we did, now get off!"
Snickering, Nye moved, and trotted over to the new person, "Who's this?"
"I am Penny, a satyr and Alex and Hermione's protector. You must be Nye," Penny told the stunned Pegasus.
"She can understand me too?"
"Of course mate, satyrs can understand all creatures, sort of like how Firenze can understand you as you're an equine also," Alex explained, "Penny's going to be here with us all this term."
Nye gave her a sniff before head-butting her shoulder, "Fine."
From the trees, Firenze walked out, a large smile on his face, "I see that your prediction came about Hermione, that's another one. Soon you'll be reading the weather to within a minute of rain falling."
Penny was much shorter than the large centaur, but even still, she was the one who looked the newcomer up and down, "At least you're like Chiron and not those bloody Party Pony centaurs."
The man shuddered, stamping a hoof, "We do not have those here, they are reserved for the Americas only. Insane beasts, drinking, impregnating unsuspecting women, cavorting about like common animals."
"That's pretty much how Chiron sees them also, though he's much more into fighting than his Sight, something about how the future depresses him."
"As it would after the death of so many of his family, being immortal is not all that it is cracked up to be apparently," Firenze sadly stated, "Shall you be joining Alex and Hermione in their training?"
"If I am allowed, though perhaps I should start with just yourself, as a satyr, I've little practice with true weapons," Penny blushed lightly.
The centaur nodded, "Yes, you are all sent out with nothing more than your natural talents, an instrument, and perhaps a gift from Pan. I shall do as I did with your friends."
"That's great Firenze. So, what have the stars been saying lately?" Alex asked, leaning against a stump.
"This tournament will be a problem, bringing the return of the monster, but after that it will be time for you both to leave," despite that news, the man wore a great smile.
"What's with the smile?"
"I am happy as you will return for the next term, this time with a freedom," turning his eyes to the only one with true Sight, he said, "Observe the stars Hermione; they will tell you everything you need to know."
The witch nodded, "Of course."
The group chatted for a while longer, mostly about training schedules, as Penny wasn't attending classes, she would be able to spend more time training than the other two could, and also the goings on in the forest, the Acromantula colony was growing in numbers once more but they were moving further into the forest. Nye spoke up a few times, complaining about how he would need to fly over to Camp Half-Blood when the time came, no one in their right mind would miss him if he were to go Muggle and they were going to hide their movements from the Magical world as much as possible.
When lunch came, the trio of teens said goodbye and went up to the castle for a meal. Walking in they saw the usual professors present, those who never returned home over the summer, and said their hellos to them all, introducing Penny. Minerva pondered aloud whether they should start another class, completely optional, but on the various mythologies that they were in the center of. Most of those present liked the idea but had no clue how to handle it, so it was chosen that they would simply discuss it in their own classes through the term.
Penny got her hands dirty with Pomona, who was excited that the satyr was a blank slate when it came to magical plants, intent on teaching her all she could, and inviting her to many classes. Being one with nature, the girl felt right at home assisting in the greenhouses, it actually fuelled her powers to be that close and as the plants were powerful themselves, it powered her even more.
The last few days of the summer flew past, and for once, the demigods weren't riding in on the train, not wanting to deal with the bother, so simply kicked back with a book each while the day passed by.