young ⇢ f.wealsey

chapter 10

❝tonight, the foxes hunt the hounds❞

"What do you mean you can't come watch me try out?" Lily asked, as her and Penny walked around the Great Lake, the Saturday after the meeting in Hogsmede.

"Lils, I have something else I have to go to, I'm really sorry." Penny tried to explain, not wanting to talk about the DA, as they had all sworn secrecy.

"Oh," Lily shrugged, "guess I'm just not important enough, huh? I'll see you around." She started to run, seemingly to join Yasmin and Izzy, who were sitting under a tree, chatting.

"Lily!" Penny called after her, "you know it's not like that!" But it was no use, Lily was already out of earshot, and the damage was already done. Penny continued to walk, her head drooping slightly.

Penny and Lily hadn't argued in ages, not since third year when Sirius Black was running around. It hurt, to be frank. It hurt not being able to tell her best friend about this club Penny had joined, it hurt that she had to miss Lily's tryouts, it hurt that their equilibrium- Ester- was gone. As Penny turned around to go back into the castle and read, she was stopped.

"Well, if it isn't Freddy's girlfriend!" A booming voice called, running up behind the green eyed girl. A pale hand landed on her shoulder, and it was attached to a tall redhead, George, Penny recalled.

"Not his girlfriend," Penny mumbled, pressing her lips together.

"Nice to see you again," Lee joined them, putting his hand on her other shoulder. "Penny, right?"

Penny nodded, and Lee smiled at her, "I get why Fred wants to get with you, you're beautiful."

"Ugh," Penny pulled a face, shrugging his large hand off her shoulder. "First Fred, now you. God, is everyone in your year a creep, or just the Gryffindor boys?"

"W-what do you mean, aren't you in our year?"

"No, I'm three years below you." Lee's face dropped, his smile disappeared.

"You're not serious, are you?" George asked, a hint of humour on his lips.

Penny slowly nodded, "yeah, I'm fifth year."

"Blimey!" Lee laughed, "sorry! I thought you were our age."

"S'alright," Penny shrugged, smiling slightly.

"Hey, but aren't you a little too young for him?"

"That's why I'm not with him." Penny moved George's hand off her shoulder, "sorry, I gotta go, Potions paper due on Monday." She walked towards the castle, appreciating the warmth from inside, as autumn had just begun, and the temperature was beginning to drop.

"Wait!" George called after her, "you're coming to the DA meeting tomorrow right?"

"I'll be there," Penny continued to walk on, climbing up one of the large staircases.

△

Penny stood in the Room of Requirement, the day after, waiting for everyone to join her. Hermione was already there, and reading quietly in the corner, as Penny had been for the previous five minutes.