Chapter 3

The next day, Penelope woke up feeling as if she slept far too long. Luckily, it was a weekend. She dragged herself out of bed, brushed her teeth, and tugged on a comfortable set of purple robes. Typical to her time in the auror office, she was still sporting all black shirt, pants, and boots underneath. She even took the time to braid two locks of hair on either side of her head to keep it out of her face. Yesterday was a disaster. What an embarrassment for her coworkers to see her in that state. Including Severus, her mind couldn't help but chime in. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she recalled how he carried her up the stairs. He was stronger than his slim figure would suggest. Against her will, she replayed the moment, this time imagining she had been his bride. If only they had been entering a room they shared, ready to begin a blissful honeymoon. She was out of her mind. The sickening sweet daydream filled her with self disgust. She shared one cup of tea with the man and he already had her head over heels like she was back in her fifth year at Hogwarts. Where was her self respect? She had been an auror for goodness sakes. She interviewed criminals in Azkaban. She chased down illegal artifact dealers. She dueled with trolls. Time to put on her big girl pants and control her feelings.

She reached for her wand from the table by the window, glancing out at the forest treeline. A figure, sly and dark, slipped around a tree near Hagrid's hut. It was a man, she realized. He was bent over and she couldn't make out his features. Who was he? He moved and a ray of morning sun illuminated his face. Far away as she was, she made out ripped, ragged clothes and an unshaven face. Black? Yes she was certain. Wait, was she? Who else could it be? The man disappeared back into the shadowy woods.

She was sprinting down the stairs, dashing across the corridor. She flung open the door and startled a first year who had been balancing pumpkin juice on a stack of books. In what felt like thirty seconds she had bounded across the grounds to the Forbidden Forest. Not knowing where to start, she entered near Hagrid's hut. In spite of his reputation as the servant of the world's most evil man, Penelope felt more eager than afraid. She was just getting information, she told herself. She wouldn't approach him rashly. If there was even a him to find. What if it had been Filch, she realized? Probably not, too tall. But still…

Just as she tracked out the trace of a bare footstep in some mud, a snapping twig caught her attention. She whirled around with her wand raised in defense.

"Er- I surrender?" Lupin smiled with his hands raised. She breathed out, releasing the tense feeling.

"Lupin, good morning. You surprised me."

"My apologies professor, I just thought I'd check on you. I saw you leaving and thought something might be wrong."

"Actually, it is probably nothing. I…well I thought I saw a man out here. Probably just Filch, but still. I had a gut feeling so I had to check things out."

"A man? What did he look like?" Lupin seemed intent now. She didn't want to give him false hope that it may be his old friend, but still. She had seen something.

"He was far away for me to see clearly, but from what I could tell he had long dark hair. Facial hair too. And his clothes looked rough around the edges."

"I see… I'll send Dumbledore a message and let's canvas this area together. Just to make sure it is safe for now. He shot a burst of light from his wand that sailed away toward the castle.

They carefully walked through the trees, looking for any sign that a wizard was camping out. Penelope saw hoofprints from the centaurs, and a few stray thestrals grazing on a bush. She stopped to stroke one on the nose.

"Sorry again for yesterday. I should have realized what might show up when I faced a boggart. I had a recent tragedy in my family and it gave me quite the shock last night to see… my brother again."

"No need to apologize, Penelope. May I call you Penelope? I'm just glad you are feeling back to sorts and no one was harmed. Although, if you don't mind me asking, has your brother been a werewolf very long?"

"He passed away, actually. But yes, he was turned about thirteen years ago. He started running with some death eaters back in dark times, then Fenrir Greyback recruited him." She tried skipping any messy parts of the story, focusing on the main facts.

"I'm very sorry to hear that." Lupin's sympathy seemed more genuine than she anticipated. "Me too."

Penelope decided to climb a tree to get a better look around. After a fruitless view of nothing but branches, she plopped back down to Earth. Lupin was nowhere to be seen. "Lupin?" She called out. No answer. "The git left me behind out here." She muttered sourly to herself. Suddenly the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She was being watched. Wand in hand, she slowly turned all the way around. A large black dog lay in front of her, stretched out like a sphinx. His dark eyes were focused right on her and he tilted his head in curiosity.

"Now who are you," she asked, stepping towards him. He had no collar, and didn't seem threatened as she approached. Tentatively, she reached out and ran her fingers across his fluffy neck. There were matts of dirt and twigs, but he was still soft. He leaned into her hand, welcoming more pets. "Good boy. I suppose friends can show up out of nowhere, huh?" After plucking out a few twigs and leaves from his fur, she brushed her hands off and stood. "Sorry dearie, I must be on my way. Good luck out here." She smiled as his tongue lolled out looking like a goofy grin. Then he perked up, alert. He heard something moving through the trees. In a moment he dashed off, leaving her far behind. She turned to face the ruckus. "Lupin?" She called hopefully.

Someone else appeared, maneuvering over tree roots and rocks. "Severus!" She greeted him, pleasantly surprised. His face relaxed seeing her standing there. "Penelope, there you are. What are you doing wandering out here alone?" His tone was a bit reproachful. A pang of annoyance shot through her. "Well I am a grown woman, I'll go where I please. But Lupin was with me and I seem to have lost him. Have you seen him?" Snape's nostrils flared. Was that… jealousy? Ok Penelope, she thought, don't be ridiculous. "Actually Professor Lupin returned to the castle. He said that you had wandered off while looking for Sirius Black, so I came to ensure you hadn't found him by yourself. He is extremely dangerous." Penelope did not like the way Snape was insinuating she couldn't handle Black by herself. Nor that he thought she was foolish enough to try. "Well I haven't found Black. I thought I saw him, but it must have been my imagination. So thank you for the trouble, but I'll be heading back now, Severus." Somehow, saying his name in the quiet forest while they were alone felt…intimate. No no no, not the thoughts about him carrying her again. She felt the hot blush in her cheeks.

"I hope you're right and he isn't getting so bold. Although that would make the dementors' job easier. Would you please join me in my office when we get back? I have that elixir I prepared for you." She had forgotten about that. "Oh, thank you." The rest of the way back an awkward silence hung between them. She was stuck between being annoyed by him and touched that he had come to find her. Although, Snape probably was more curious about whether Sirius Black was there.

Back in the castle they made their way to the dungeons. Hermione Granger raced up to Penelope. "Professor, do you have those law texts on magical creatures that were acquitted after injuring wizards?" Penelope answered, "Yes, Miss Granger. You'll find that they have been delivered to your bed this morning." Impatient to continue, Snape snapped, "Have you nothing better to do with your time than hassle teachers with your impudent questions, Granger? Your time would be better spent not fighting for a lost cause." Snape turned on his heel and strode away, signaling that they were done with this conversation. "Thank you professor." Hermione said to Penelope, directing a rude look towards Snape. "Good luck with your research, dear."

In Snape's office, Penelope was surprised how cozy it felt. It smelled of old books and she sat in a worn chair across from him. The elixir he offered her was a cool blue, and she took a tentative sip. Tart, like a berry. "Thanks for this. Although, I really am feeling much better this morning."

"I'm glad to hear it." He seemed a bit lost in thought. Suddenly, he asked, "Lupin said that the man you saw had long hair and facial hair, correct?"

"That's right. And his clothes were tattered-looking."

"Couldn't have been Filch, he has no beard…" Snape was talking more to himself than her.

"I didn't see any signs of a wizard staying in the forest. At least near the castle grounds, so if it was Black he would have to risk running into the centaurs."

"The man is elusive. But you shouldn't risk going after him alone." At her expression, he continued, "Yes I know you can hold your own as an auror. But still, you don't know what he's capable of like I do."

"Because… you know how death eaters operate?" She asked, probing. She knew it was probably a sore subject, but she was curious. What had led this man to infiltrate the ranks of He Who Must Not Be Named and risk his life to bring Dumbledore intel? "That, and because I've known Black since he was a spoiled, ruthless schoolboy. He is a sociopath. Utterly devoid of morals and human empathy." Snape's expression turned grim. A chill ran through her at the picture he painted of the man. He looked at her then, grabbing her hand in both of his. "Promise me you won't go looking for him by yourself. If anyone knows how to handle this maniac it's me. I want to be there to deliver him to the dementors, to see them administer the kiss. He will not be escaping again." She nodded, "I won't go alone. I have more sense than that." He smiled and kissed her hand, sending goosebumps up her arm. "I know you do."