Penelope sank into a seat on the train, a heavy sigh leaving her lips, blowing her dark hair out of her face. It was like all her energy and passion had been sucked straight from her soul, leaving behind a husk of a girl with doused aspirations.
The door to her compartment slid open, and a strong, masculine smell reached her nose. Her body internally cringed as she forced herself to straighten and plaster on a smile.
The last sorting they'd see went like any other, but Remus couldn't help but feel sad that he'd never see another of these. Now he wished that he had paid more attention each year. It was a pretty special moment for these young witches and wizards.
The thought of younger witches and wizards brought his mind back to Penelope, who would be a sixth year now, and wondered how she fgared on her O.W.L.s. His wolf whined at the thought of their mate, and before Remus knew it, his eyes were searching the Slytherin table for her.
"She's towards the front end, sitting next to the younger Lestrange," Sirius whispered, leaning into Remus' side.
"Damn, Moons. She looks even more miserable than you do. I think you should talk to her," James threw in with a worried wince. Remus gave them both a wary look as he warred with himself over whether or not to approach her. He knew he couldn't while they were out in the open, for all of the students to see. Especially given who she was seated with at the moment; he didn't want to cause trouble for her. He didn't even realize he had decided to go after her if she left the Great Hall alone until he was rushing after her.
Remus pushed through the heavy doors, looking around the hall until he saw her hurrying away with her head down.
"Penelope!" He called, picking up his pace to a jog to catch up to her. She stopped in her tracks but didn't turn around.
Remus stepped around her and ducked his head to meet her gaze. "What's wrong?"
She turned her head away, refusing to meet his eyes. "Nothing's wrong," she said in what was obviously false aloofness.
"Penelope, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, I really didn't mean to, it's just-"
"Ah, Lupin! You're not bothering my fiance, are you?" A voice called. The murderous intent was masked with a teasing tone.
Remus felt his whole body go rigid as the wolf in him snarled and prowled around in his head. "No. Of course not." Remus used every ounce of control he'd developed over the years of controlling his furry little problem in order to keep him from ripping Lestrange's throat out.
Lestrange practically waltzed up to Penelope, wrapping an arm around her tense shoulders.
"I don't think anyone could truly bother her," Lestrange laughed. "She's quite the catch, isn't she?"
Remus could hear the threat in the other man's voice. If he said no, he'd be insulting the both of them. If he said yes, he'd be accused of having feelings for her. Which was true, but not something he should allow Lestrange to become privy to. In his emotionally confused state, Remus managed to mumble incoherently before spitting out a quick 'Congratulations,' and running away like a fool.
Penelope corned Remus the first day of classes, as she was leaving Potions and he was arriving.
"Congratulations?" She hissed, herding him towards a quiet alcove. "What was that?"
Remus looked around frantically for his friends, but noticed they were nowhere to be seen. Dirty rats, the lot of them. Probably took off the moment they caught sight of the younger Slytherin.
"What was I supposed to say?" Remus sighed. He watched in sorrow as her whole body seemed to deflate, sagging against the wall.
"I don't know."
They stood in silence for a moment before she lifted her hand, palm facing him. He could see the light glint off the backside of a metal band, and felt his stomach churn. She gave a deprecating laugh. "Isn't it the most hideous thing you've ever seen?" She asked, turning her hand around so he could see the front of the ring. Before he could school his expression, a heavy wince settled on his face. The rock was, well... A rock. It was huge, and looked heavy. "My thoughts exactly," she sighed.
Another moment of silence passed between them before she surged forward with renewed vigor, her eyes pleading.
"Remus, please, just be honest with me. I need to know what you meant. About not being good enough- I can't believe that. Just tell me the truth; is it that I'm not- not appealing to you? Is it my house? Remus, I- I'm in love with you."
Remus reared back in surprise. "Don't say that. You can't."
She took a step closer, hands clasped at her chest. "tell me you don't have any feelings for me, and I'll leave it alone. I won't approach you again, I swear it."
He avoided her eyes frantically, feeling cornered. His whole being screamed to tell her who she was to him, that he needed her, but his brain held that part of himself back.
She sighed again, seeing that she wouldn't get a response. "I thought you'd see that I deserve an answer, but I guess not. I remember you telling me that I deserve better than you, though." She met his eyes, hers now devoid of any emotion, and his heart twisted in pain. "Is Lestrange who you had in mind?"
Remus swallowed thickly, his own shoulders falling. "No."
Penelope nodded absently, turned away, and walked off into the thinning crowd.
