Penny Dredfule

One day, Penny woke to find herself looking into her cat's eyes. Morris, her cat, had assumed a post on her chest, and was looking at her expectantly.

"What?" she said. "Did I forget to feed you last night?"

Her cat looked at her with that sort of "shows what you know" look, leaped off the bed, and went to sit in front of Penny's closet.

Once there, he began to mew uncontrollably.

"What Morris? What is it baby?" And with that, Penny groaned, and dragged her tired thirty-three year old body out of bed. She went to where Morris was mewing, and looked down.

There on the floor was what looked like a stick. Or more aptly, a wand. Odd, Penny though, never had one of those. I wonder where it came from?

Morris began to nudge it with his nose, and meowed up at Penny. "What, baby? Am I supposed to pick it up?" Morris purred at her.

Taking this as a 'yes', she picked it up. There was a note attached to it. It was written on old, yellowed parchment and was written in green ink. Wierd, thought Penny.

Wierder still was what the note said. It read:

"Wave me around. Albus."

Penny read the note several times over, which didn't take very long as there was little to read.

Not being one to disbelieve the supernatural, or the bizzare, she did so. She closed her eyes and began flicking her wrist as if she were conducting a symphony of stringed intstruments. She heard cellos and violins, a few fiddles for good measure. She opened her eyes.

Morris had jumped into her arms, purring softly, and green sparkly dust was flowing out of the wand. It seemed to float in the air, falling on her hair and clothes. She studied it more closely. It was winding it's way around her and Morris, spiraling it's way from head to toe, with Penny in the eye of it all.

Penny heard a voice: "Just close your eyes, dear, it'll be over soon..."

* * * * *

She saw before her a gorgeous room, with portraits of old people on the walls done in great detail, a jewel encrusted sowrd laying against a bookshelf filled to the brim with books; books with titles like: "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", "Quidditch Through The Ages", "Magical Me" by Gilderoy Lockheart, and the list went on and on. Some of the other books looked quite old. One was called "Muggles, Who Are They?". It looked to be older than her, judging by the spine of the book.

There was also a roaring fire, with two comfortable overstuffed highback chairs in front of it, a perch beside the chair to the right. On that perch was a bird of fire.

Penny remembered something from Philosophy class in high school (she shuddered inwardly) about the bird called a Pheonix. This must be one, surely, she thought. And in the centre of it all was a man.

He was very old, with a pointed green hat, a long silver beard and silver hair. He had on half-moon spectecles and a happy grin. He was wearing robes of a deep gold, and they shone in the firelight.

Penny noticed his eyes last. Those are the eyes of a powerful man, she thought.

"Ah, Penny!" the man said, "you've come at last! I trust your trip was safe?"

"Ah...duh?" Penny said. Not the most intelligent response, she thought.

"Oh, yes, this is all a bit of a shock, isn't it? Sit down, sit down, let me explain. Sherbert lemon? They're quite good, aren't they? Yes, hello Morris! And how are we, my pet? Good good, shall we begin Penny?"

"Um....duh?"

"Still shocked, I can see that. Never fear. Here goes: You are in Hogwarts my dear. The school for Witchcraft and Wisardry, and I am Professor Dumbledore."

"Ah. I had an aunt that came here. Aparently. I just thought she was making it all up."

"Ah, yes, Hortencia! Quite a good Quidditch player, you know!"

"A quiet ditch player?"

"No, dear, Quidditch, but an explination of that will come later. Back to bussiness: We would like to offer you a position as a professor here. A coveted position at that. We would like you to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!"

"You mean like dark witchcraft, and that kind of thing?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes."

"But I don't know the first thing about magic! I'm not a witch! I'm a laywer for crying out loud!"

"Ah, but you see, there comes the point! We would like someone to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts from a Muggle standpoint."

"A who?"

"Muggle."

"And that is?"

"A non-magic person."

"Like me?"

"Yes dear, like you."

"Ah, I see."

"At any rate, we feel that in a witch and wizards education, one must show them the Dark Arts from both sides. That is why we would like to have a Muggle teach the class, let the children know what exists as Dark Magic in the Muggle world, for they must also prepare themselves for that."

"But how am I going to teach without any supplies?"

"Simple. Just think of any book you might need, wave your wand around and it will come to you."

"Free?"

"Well of course dear!" Albus laughed.

"Wow," Penny said, "better than a bookstore!"

"So, Penny, can we count you aboard?"

"What will my title be?"

* * * * *

Penny Dredfule Part Two
The Reading List

Penny looked at the list of books that the students were supposed to use for the course. She was sitting in her office, the minutes ticking away to the start of term. As she watched students pass by her open door, she realized how nervous she was. It wasn't every day that a Muggle taught a course in a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In fact, it was never. 'Oh well', thought Penny, 'leave it to me to start a trend.

A tall, greasy looking man with black hair, pale skin and long flowing black robes entered the room. He looked Penny up and down. "Oh, I see they sent a woman to take up the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts " he paused, "and a woman at that. How delightful!"

"Um, hi." Penny said, "Can I help you?"

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Snape. I am the Potions Master at this school."

"Ah. Okay. And you want what?"

"I'm sorry?" Snape was not used to being addressed in such a way.

"What did you want?" Penny was beginning to loose her patience. She couldn't stand ignorant men.

"I have come to see how you are fitting in being the only Muggle professor can bring a person down."

"I'm doing fine." Penny wanted him to go away. Now.

"May I see your reading list? Perhaps I could offer a few suggestions?"

"No. I don't want your help, thank you." Penny sighed, why doesn't he go away? And can't he bathe, honestly!

Snape looked at Penny again But this time in a new light. This one was feisty. Snape liked feisty.

"Well, I must be going call if you need anything, Miss Dredfule." He purred, "What a wonderful name. Can I call you Penny?"

"No, you may not."

"As you wish. Until later, Miss Dredfule." And he slipped out of the room, his black robes flowing behind him.

Penny watched the door close and shuddered. "That's all I need," she said, "a gross man with a crush. Let alone a man that doesn't bathe! Ugh!" she shuddered again. She seemed to be doing a lot of that lately.

She glanced down at the reading list.

"Werewolves and Their Habits."
"Gnomes and Children, Why The Two Shouldn't Mix."
"Blenders and Other Weird Muggle Things."
"The Special Books of Curses, Why They're Bad, and Why You Shouldn't Use Them."

Penny blinked. She didn't know anything about this kind of stuff. She thought she had a better idea of what she would need for the course. Now where was that want?

She looked around. The office was full of wood. Wood desk, chairs, floors, and bookshelves. It was all a glorious shade of scarlet, Cherry Oak being the main ingredient of wood in here. It even smelt like cherries, and a little bit like apple blossoms.

She finally saw the want underneath her desk. She would have to keep an eye on that. She picked it up and waved it around. Nothing happened.

"You have to think of what you want." Said a voice at the door.

Penny looked up. This was the woman who must be Professor McGonagall. She looked strict, in a sexy kind of way. She had her black hair pulled into a severe bun that accentuated her facial features. Very nice.

"I'm sorry?"

"You have to concentrate on what need, Professor Dredfule. How are you getting along?"

"Fine, I think, Professor McGonnagall."

"Call me Minerva."

"I'll call you anything you want.." Penny said under your breath.

"Sorry?"

"Oh! Nothing, I was just saying 'Can I think of anything I want?"

"Yes, that's the general idea. Whatever books or supplies you need, just wave it around thinking of what you want, and it should appear post haste. Must be running along, have to get the first years to the Sorting Ceremony."

"Sorting Ceremony?"

"Oh! Yes, I quite forgot, you'll be wanting to see that. Meet Professor Dumbledore at your quarters in half an hour, he'll take you to the feast. Perhaps afterwards, I can show you around Hogwarts?"

"That would be wonderful. I'm sure you know all the most special places?"

Professor McGonnagalls thin mouth curved up in a small smile. "Yes, you could say I do. See you soon, Penny."

And Professor McGonnagall swept out in a whirl of green robes.

"Well," Penny said to herself, "this is certainly shaping up to be an interesting job." She looked down at her cherry wood desk. Think, think, what would I teach? What would I deem to be something to defend yourself against?

She waved the wand, and concentrated. This time gold glittery sparkles fluttered down, and on her desk popped a book. "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus."

"Hm, close, but no. To gender biased." She tried again.

"Get In Touch With Your Uterus." Penny squealed. She tried again.

"Muggles, and the Mind Games They Play." Ah! Thought Penny, now we're getting somewhere!

Penny Dredfule Chapter Three
Trelawny's Replacement and Her Prediction.

Penny looked down at the list of books she had magicked out of her wand.

"Muggles, and the Mind Games They Play"
"Bobby, the Muggle Who Thought He Was A Stud, and Wasn't"
"Muggle Dating, Does It Make Sense To You?"
"Muggle Men, the Secrets Behind Their Words"
"Muggle Women and Their Love For Life."

"Hmm " she said out loud, a little to gender biased. But it'll have to do. " She sat down exhausted. Doing magic takes a lot out of a lady, she thought.

Morris jumped up on her lap. "Hey baby, hows my special man?" he purred loudly and rubbed his head against her hand. "You want some lovin'?" she smiled and began to pet him right between the ears.

There was a knock at the door. Professor McGonnagal opened the door, and stood there in a robe of flowing red. "I thought I'd wear something a bit more festive. It's not to much is it?"

Penny looked McGonnagal up and down. "Not at all." She said smiling.

"We should get going," McGonnagal said, "The sorting ceremony is about to start. Morris can stay here, if you like, or he can lounge in your quarters."

"My what?"

McGonnagal laughed. "Where did you think you would sleep? On your desk? Come, I'll show you your rooms before we head down."

Morris seemed to understand that there would be a bed in the rooms, because he jumped up into her arms and let out a cute little mew, to show his appreciation.

McGonnagal led Penny down long corridors and brought her in front of a painting. In the painting, a lovely woman in white was standing next to an old well, surrounded on all sides by trees and a lake. The womans white dress seemed to move, it was so well painted. Penny paused. The womans dress WAS moving.

"Hello!" the woman said, "My names Brigit! Welcome to your room, Professor Dredfule! Oh, and what would you like your password to be?"

"Password?" said Penny.

"Oh, yes," said McGonnagal, "every Professor has a password to protect their rooms privacy. As do all the dormitories. Security reasons too, as well. You can pick anything you like. I'll plug my ears while you whisper it to Brigit."

Penny thought for a moment. Password, password, password. My kingdom for a password! She thought for a little bit, and a word came to her. She leant over to Brigits ear and whispered:

" .Fireska "

Brigit gasped. "My Lady," she said, "I haven't heard that word spoken for several years. How did you come to know of that word?"

"I just thought of it."

"Surely?"

"Yes, Brigit, why?"

"That word is a powerful word from the Before, only able to be spoken by a powerful Enchanter! It is said, that when the Enchanter is very young, and he or she whispers that word, their magic shall bloom!"

"Your pretty knowledgeable for a painting."

"I may be a painting, my Lady, but I've been around."

"But I just thought of the word, that's all."

"It is said that when the magic is ready to be used, the word will come to them. Truly I have been blessed to guard such a woman as yourself."

"Um, kay." Penny said. "Minerva?"

McGonnagal unplugged her ears, and came over to Penny. "Yes?"

"Repeat after me, Fireska."

McGonnagal tried to say the word, but her tongue couldn't manage it. She tried again. Her tongue seemed to grow in size. As soon as McGonnagal stopped trying to say the word, her tongue shrinked back to normal size. "That was fun dear," she said, "but highly unproductive. Shall we look at your room?"

Penny looked at Brigit. Brigit winked.

The painting opened up to reveal a large spacious room of Dark CherryOak. A large four poster bed hung with blue gauze draped over it's poles. There was a beurau with a mirror, large and beautiful, and a small bathroom off to the side. It was a magnificent room.

Morris, sensing comfort, leaped down from Penny's arms, and settled down for a nice snuggle with the down comforter.

"It's beautiful " Penny breathed.

"Glad you like it. I oversaw the decorating myself. I felt it needed another womans touch."

"But aren't there other woman professors here besides yourself?"

"Oh, yes. There's Professor Sinistra, the Astronemy profssor, and Professor Trelawny, the Divination Professor. However, Trelawny is off on holiday, thank the Gods, and we have a replacement. Another new professor such as yourself."

"Oh?"

* * * * *

The sorting ceremony was over quickly, and all the new students were sorted out into their houses. Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Heffleump. Everyone looked really happy, and glad to eat after such a long trip.

Penny was seated in between Albus Dumbledore and McGonnagal. Across from her, there was an empty seat.

McGonnagal and Dumbledore chatted pleasantly with her, and Hagrid, who was to Pennys right, kept shouting out for more wine. He seems like a nice enough fellow, Penny thought, if a little lonely.

She looked down the table at those she had been introduced to. Professors Flitwick, Sinistra, Binns, Sprout and Snape were at the table. The others were seeing to the state of the dormitories, and readying them for the students, old and new.

Professor Snape kept winking at her, and made some lewd gestures with his fingers and his tongue. She looked away quickly with a shudder. That'd be like shagging a mule, she thought.

There was a bit of ruckus as a woman came up to the professor's table and sat down across from Penny. "Sorry I'm late everyone," she said a little short of breath, "Peeves thought it was great fun chasing me up and down the corridors!" she looked around merrily, and her gaze stopped on Penny.

The other woman was quite pretty, with curly brownish blonde hair that hung to her shoulders, a kind face with dark eyes and a ready smile. "You must be Penny?" she said, "I'm Sherryl. May I see your hand?"

"I'm sorry?"

"May I see your hand?" she said, "Please?"

Penny gave Sherryl her hand. Sherryl looked at her hand.

"Oh, to hold the hand of an Enchanter!" Sherryl whispered.

Penny choked on some cocoa. "But I'm no Enchanter, I'm a Muggle!"

"Oh, on the contrary dear," she said, "for you have the mark of the star on your left palm. Did you never wonder about this?"

Penny looked at her hand. There, as always, were the grooves of her lifeline, her love line, and the lines of the planets. They all formed a five-pointed star.

"You're quite a powerful one at that, to judge by the lines. Usually, with Enchanters, the lines are broken in places. Your lines make a solid, five-pointed star. Well, well," she said, "this is going to be an interesting year."

"But I'm NOT an ENCHANTER!"

The rest of the Professors at the table looked at Penny. "Sorry, " she said, "just, um, voicing my opinion."

The conversation resumed around them. Sherryl leaned in close to Penny. "I know quite a bit on this. See you in my rooms later?" she smiled, leaned back, and began talking to Hagrid, who was complementing her on the way Sherryls hair seemed to glow like fire flies flying over a patch of dried grass.

Penny sat back and guzzled down her glass of cocoa. An Enchanter? She thought. "But how is that possible? ."

Penny Dredfule Chapter Four
Dreams of Penny Dreadfuls

Penny made her way to her rooms after the Start of the Year Feast without incident. Penny wanted to have a little lie down before she went to speak to Professor Townsend. She did have one slip up however; Peeves decided to introduce himself to her.

She saw him coming towards her, a white apparition with an insatiable appetite for mischief. Up close, he was about her height and slightly bald. Well, as much as it was possible for a poltergeist to be bald, thought Penny.

"Eeeee! It's Penny pookey poo!"

"You must be Peeves." Penny said. No insults came to mind.

"And, how are WE Penny pookey poo? You smell like poo! HA HA HA HA!!!!"

"Oh," said Penny with a wry smile, "do I? How lovely!"

This made Peeves stop his laughing. "What did you say, Miss Poo?"

"I said that was lovely. And everyone has told me SO much about you, you must be quite fun to talk to! You know, I was interested in writing a book on ghosts and apparitions! I'd just LOVE it if I could interview you!"

That did it. Peeves didn't know whether to howl, cry, laugh or what. He wasn't expecting it. Someone was actually being NICE to him! Him! Peeves! He couldn't believe it!

"Um," he said.

"You must have been so HANDSOME when you were alive. Slayed all the ladies, I bet!"

"Um, yes," he said, "well, um, must be, um, going that way " and he disappeared with a pop.

* * * * *

Once in her rooms, Penny gave Morris his obligatory pet and sat on her bed to take a quick rest. She closed her eyes almost immediately.

Her dream was an odd one, even for her. She entered into a large library. It was beautifully done, like something out of a fairy tale. Large floor to ceiling bookcases filled the room, a large picture window in front of her showing a picture perfect day. Then what the hell am I doing in here, she thought, if it's such a beautiful day?

She wandered around the library looking at all the books and titles, different coloured covers, gilded gold and inhaled the smell of aged paper. She explored every inch of the library shelves, and so absorbed in what she was doing that she was doubly startled by what she saw next.

It was a small glass case, in the center of the room. How could I not see that before? She thought. She approached it with eagerness and something bordering on anticipation. On the front door of the glass case it read:

THE COLLECTED WORKS OF PENNY DREDFULE

Which of course was ridiculous, she had never written a single story in her life! She opened the case, as her curiosity was getting the better of her.

She reached inside, and pulled out the first of what looked like twenty or thirty books. Small little chaplet books, piled in the case, some with blue covers, some with red covers, some with green covers. The one she now held was a yellow covered book entitled "Rosa's Lust".

Penny shrieked. "WHAT?!" and looked at the cover again. It was definitely titled "Rosas Lust", but Penny couldn't think what the little book could contain. She opened the book to the first page.

And closed it almost immediately.

"SMUT?" she yelled, "I write smut?!"

She picked out another book. It was entitled "They Came At Midnight". She felt it safe enough to flip through this one.

It turned out to be a mystery story about her hometown, Laurenceville, London. It was about a group of children that she had known as a child. She had always suspected them of being aliens from another planet, as they were always rather weird. Not the most original conspiracy theory, she thought, but then again, I was only nine.

She saw a groups of three books that were done up in a box set. The covers were coloured a dark green. The titles read "Harry", "Hermione" and "Ron". When she opened them, she found them to be completely blank

Her gaze was then drawn to one book in particular. It was covered in black leather, and looked quite old. Putting down the other three books, she went to reach for the black book.

* * * * *

She woke with her painful hand clutched to her breast. She lowered the hand to look at the star. It was now etched in black, as if someone had taken a pen to it, and filled in the crevices of the lines. She heard Morris mew irritably.

"What baby? What is it?" she said, her voice quavering.

Morris then jumped up on her bedside table, and rubbed his nose against a book that wasn't there previously. She picked it up absently. It was a thin book covered in orange cloth this time. The title of this book was "How I Love Serveus Snape".

She screamed, and dropped the book as if it were on fire. "When the hell did I write that?!" she shrieked. "How could I write that? How could I have written that without vomiting?!" she shuddered.

Morris mewed again. He was pawing at the door to go out. Of course!, she thought.

* * * * *

Now that that's out of the way, time for an explanation. All of this takes place in Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts. Lord Voldemort is dead and gone. As well, this all takes place in an "alternate universe" if you will. This is not Howarts as we know it, but another reality of it.

**I also must pass along credit to Amanda for her Death Eater theory. THANX AMANDA!!**
Now read on!

Penny Dredfule Chapter Five
Death Does Not Become Him.

Penny found Sheryll's room fairly easily, almost as if her feet were guided. Perhaps they were. Things such as this were beginning to lose their surprise factor.

"PENNY!"

Then again, she thought, maybe not. She turned around, trying to force her heart back into her chest, and Peeves was standing in front of her.

"Peeves, I'm not really in the mood right now. What is it?"

Peeves began to fidget. "Um, nothing, um "

"What IS it Peeves?"

"Well, I, um, just wanted to say .um," he reached forward and grabbed her nose, "GOT YOUR CONK!!!" and flew away through a stone wall.

* * * * *



* * * * *

Penny looked at the painting in front of her. It featured a crystal ball. Inside the crystal ball was a note. It read: "tickle me". Penny did so.

The painting began to laugh and giggle, and opened up for her. She stepped into a lovely room draped with purple gauze and gold cotton cloth. Penny thought it was lovely. Sitting amongst a pile of pillows, petting a large brown and white cat, was Professor Townsend.

"Ah, Penny!" she said, "I was wondering when you'd show up! Come in, come in, make yourself comfortable!"

"I'm surprised I found your room." Penny said, sitting down.

"I'm not, but I'm a clairvoyant after all!" she smiled again, filling the room with her brightness. "Now, down to business. What can I help you with?"

Penny began explaining about the weird dream she had, the books, especially the black one, and handed her the orange covered "How I Love Snape".

Sheryll sat for a while, holding the book with a smile on her face. After some time, she said "Odd, I didn't think he was into that." She smiled and stood up. "I believe a cup of tea is in order, two sugar, no cream?"

"Yes please". Said Penny as Sheryll magicked up two mugs of hot steaming tea. She handed one to Penny, and sat back down. "So, I expect you want to know what I think?"

"It would help."

"Ah, I suppose it might. Here's how I see it: these books are part of you."

"Excuse me? You lost me there."

"These books are your thoughts, your dreams, they're part of you."

"You mean I have books inside my head?"

"Not only books, dear. These books are part of your inner self. Everyone has one, it's just we can't see it. But you are an Enchanter!"

"I'm a Muggle!" Penny said stubbornly.

"Now, Penny, you know Muggles can't do magic, or work a wand. I KNOW you know that, stop being so stubborn."

Penny sighed.

"Now as I was saying, you are an Enchanter. One of the most powerful kinds of wizards and witches known to us. There are very few in existence. You, Penny, are one of them. Your library, or perhaps a better term is your Memory Palace, is a place where your dreams and thoughts reside. Dreams are powerful magic on their own, you know."

"Yes, but that doesn't explain why I was able to bring a book back! Or who the black book belonged to?"

"Well, I can't know EVERYTHING! I'm a Clairvoyant, not a genius."

"Sorry."

"Forgiven. Now, I suggest you go and rest. It's your first class tomorrow, and you want to be rested for it." She paused, "besides, I have to give Poly his bath." At this, her brown and white cat hissed and growled. "Oh, Poly, stop! I KNOW you hate the water, but you love the bubbles, and that's consolation enough isn't it?"

Penny left smiling, her wand and book in her robe pocket, Morris in her arms purring contentedly. She did in fact have a lot to think about. And one of those things was walking towards her.

"Penny, darling!" Snape gushed, "And how are we tonight, dove?" he came up close to her, and smiled. Morris took this time to flee as if there was a ghost at his heels. "Cheater." She said under her breath. "See if I brush you ever again."

Snape smiled again. "I find you most lovely tonight, Penny."

"Yeah, you mentioned that. Anything else?"

"I feel the urge to kiss your lips and proclaim my love?"

Penny squealed and fled to her room faster than Peeves could have even done it. When she stepped into her room, she saw that it had been adorned with candles that lit it with warmth and filed the air with the scent of warm wax.

Floating in front of her was a scroll with poetry written upon it. Flowers adorned every possible surface. Hearts were glittering down from the ceiling.

Morris, surrounded by flowers, did not look happy.

* * * * *

Albus Dumbledore opened the door to his rooms to find Penny with her arm raised in a fist. "Penny dear," he said, "if you with to pound me to a pulp, I would suggest you do it when my back is turned. It would have a better effect that way."

"Oh, Albus, he's driving me up the bloody wall!"

"Oh, goodness, heaven forbid it's bloody! I can't condone so much carnage. Now, why don't you come in and explain what the problem is."

Penny sat down in one of the high back chairs, now comfortable with familiarity, and was enjoying her fourth cup of tea when she finished explaining about Snape. " I mean, when my aunt came here, he was apparently a nasty piece of work!" she finished.

Albus simply smiled. "I feel I should take some blame. I have some explaining to do." Dumbledores smile faded, and he looked quite serious as he began.

"You see Penny, when Lord Voldemort was in power, he marked all of his followers with what we know as The Dark Mark. It's actually a skull and crossbones that was burned into their skin, and some say their souls. It was to ensure that all followers would be truly faithful to Lord Voldemort. For you see, when he died, his followers died with him. There was one catch however." He paused, "Snape didn't die. For some reason we cannot name, Snape has lived. By all account, he should have died. In fact, we all thought he was going to. But he didn't! He lived!

Penny sat in silence for a while thinking for a time on what she had heard.

"Okay," she said finally, "but how exactly does this explain the way Snape is behaving?"

"Snape was forever living in fear, Penny. Imagine, knowing all the time that Voldemort had not died, constantly living in fear of his previous master. Snape lived in a metaphorical prison, always living in fear for his life, and the lives of the students and teachers of Hogwarts."

"Okay, I'm with you so far. So, he didn't die." She paused. "He has a new lease on life, doesn't he?"

"Exactly Penny! Exactly! Snape felt so renewed, no longer in his prison. No longer a prisoner of choice. He worked for a year towards Voldemorts death, positive he was going to die. He was willing to sacrifice his life for others. When he did not die, he felt he should enjoy life to it's fullest." Albus smiled, "and it seems he's over doing it. But never fear, I'll have a word with him."

"But, Albus, what did he do for the year away from Hogwarts.?"

"Ah, my dear, alas, the first question you ask me I cannot answer. There may come a time when you feel comfortable to ask him yourself, but I cannot answer for him." He smiled. "Now, I feel you should go and get a good night's rest. You teach your first class tomorrow! I can't wait to hear how it goes! On that note, let me give you this."

He went to his desk, and brought her out a book entitled Wizards Without Magic: What They're Capable Of, and How To Protect Yourself", by Albus Dumbledore.

* * * * *



* * * * *

Penny laid down, relaxing in comfort. Morris was lounging by her head, purring contentedly.

Penny was exhausted after her first full day at Hogwarts, and she had not even taught her first class. She closed her eyes, the orange book beside her on her night table, and hoped she would have a dreamless sleep.

She didn't.