Chapter Eleven
Penny was finally allowed to leave the hospital wing, during her stay she kept badgering Madam Pomfrey to allow her to read her collections of books relating to magical medical care. Madam Pomfrey while devout in her position was lad to be rid of the Ravenclaw. She returned to Ravenclaw tower. Her friends Agnes, and Drew had visited her often but they were both excited to see her. The pair quickly organised a quiz night in honour of Penny's recovery. The Ravenclaw dormitory was a happy change of environment for Penny who was starting to become bored out of her mind in the Hospital wing. The Domed ceiling that is painted like the night sky felt so much more comfortable to Penny than the drab Hospital wings Ceiling. The quiz continued as usual with Penny the undisputed queen of the Ravenclaw Quiz. much to her surprise as a gift to celebrate her getting well Agnes, Drew and the other Ravenclaw's gave Penny small but beautifully crafted ring-shaped like Ravenclaws lost diadem. Penelope Clearwater explained that "since Penny is known as the Queen of quizzes she needed something to match the title". Penny was embarrassed but accepted the good will of her housemates. Drew happily explained that the materials are were all transfigured by Penelope and Agnes. He put them together with the knowledge he had growing up in a house of jewelers. He says "it's not as good as the work my parents can do but I hope you like it". Penny smiled and nodded as tears welled up within her eyes. She had made some really good friends this year at Hogwarts. She hugged everyone and thanked them.
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Late at night after everyone had gone to sleep an exhausted Penny was woken up to a "Psssst" sound coming from the bed site table. She rubbed her eyes sleepily to see an uncomfortable looking Sebastian. with a huge yawn and a stretch she sleepily asked "what's the matter Sebastian?" The bag sheepishly said "I'm sorry master it's just the egg you left incubating is moving. Penny shocked suddenly felt incredibly awake, she rushed from her bed over to the bag as Sebastian gently placed the moving egg within her cupped hands. The pair watched as the egg twitched and moved. Soon small cracks began to appear. With a huge smile on her face she saw the cracks widen as bits of the egg fell apart. Penny gasped in surprise, what Hagrid had told her was a bird was staring directly into her eyes. Its shining sapphire eyes seemed so large in comparison to its tiny little face. What Penny was most shocked by was its black and silver scales. Its three pure white horns looked almost crown like and majestic on its head. The creature slivered out of its egg and into Penny's hands. It was barely the size of her thumb and just a little thicker than a piece of string but there was no doubting what this creature was. She was looking at a Horned Serpent. There are several different species of horned Serpent and Penny is not that knowledgeable about magical creatures but she understood what it was due to it being the name of one of Illvermorny's school houses. Suddenly with a tiny hissing noise from its mouth Penny heard in a girlish little voice "Mamma". The horned Serpent seems to have imprinted upon Penny as soon as it hatched assuming her to be its parent. But what Penny found to be most odd is that she understood the Horned Serpent perfectly. Penny looked at Sebastian and asked "Did you hear it talk just Sebastian?" to which the bag shook its head. The bag answered honestly "No master it sounded like hissing to me". Penny not knowing what was going on was brought back from her confusion by the small girlish voice once again. "Mamma, hungry" Penny sighed somehow she was understanding Pasteltongue. She knew for a fact she couldn't understand Pasteltobgue before, the only explanation she could think of is that the part of Voldemorts knowledge that burrowed itself deep within her mind was his knowledge of Parseltongue. Unlike Harry who houses a part of Voldemort's soul Penny has no such thing dwelling within herself. Unlike his memories she was unable to rid herself of his knowledge and it seems there is more knowledge now in her mind than even she is currently aware of. Penny sighs and goes to take out her wand. She intends on providing something for the Horned Serpent to eat. Penny summons some small ingredients from the kitchen using the Accio Charm. Penny then uses some basic Food Charms as created by Helga Hufflepuff and watches as the Horned Serpent greedily devours a small rare cooked steak placed before it. it then washes it down with a small bottle lid filled with milk. With its belly full the tiny horned Serpent says "Mamma delicious, Love you" before falling asleep curled around Penny's little finger. Penny and Sebastian discuss how they are going to have to look after this little guy until they all fall asleep together on Penny's bed.
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The next morning Penny, Agnes, and Drew heads towards the Great Hall for the end of year feast. It was decorated in Slyverin's colours with their banners hung high. The students were all abuzz with the rumors of Harry Potter facing Voldemort. Almost every detail was somehow widely known and greedily discussed among the student. The fact that Quirrell was acting as Voldemort's body made all the students realize just how close the dark lord was to them. There were many a student who found this idea terrifying. This years awards were being happily handed out. Slyverin had barely won the Quidditch cup in what was deemed the most exciting Quidditch season in a century. In Gryffindores final game against Ravenclaw, Harry Potter was still in the hospital wing after his encounter with Voldemort. because of the absence of their star seeker and Ravenclaws outside the box tactics, the Gryffindore team suffered a crushing defeat which outright gave the cup to Slyverin who won the cup on points difference after they destroyed the Hufflepuff team. The Slyverin team oozed superiority when receiving the cup from Professor McGonagall. Next was the individual awards, these were handed out to students who have accomplished something of note that sets them apart from their peers over the last school year. After the personal awards were handed out Harry Potter entered the Great Hall, a hush descended upon the hall. all the chatting voices silenced creating an ominous atmosphere. Within seconds the hush was replaced by the chatting voices of all the students once again talking about the encounter between Harry and Voldemort. every voice merged together and created a wall of sound that Harry wasn't sure if he preferred this or the silence. He made his way over to the Gryffindore table where he was welcomed back by his friends and housemates.
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Finally the time came for the house cup. Currently the progress of each house are tracked using four giant enchanted hourglasses. Within each hourglass is different jewel that represents each house. Gryffindore's are rubies, Ravenclaw's are sapphires, Slyverin's are emeralds, and finally Hufflepuff's are diamonds. It is clear to anyone with eyes that the house with the most points are Slyverin. Over at the Slyverin table the usual few are dripping with a smug self-aggrandizing attitude that its easy to dislike them. This is just a minority however, there are many Slyverin's who don't fit the stereotype. Dumbledore arrives to hand out the house cup but before he does his voice echoes within the Great Hall. "Another year gone!, I must trouble you with an old mans waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast". The students except a small vocal minority are almost hypnotized by the headmasters voice. "What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are a little fuller than they were" Dumbledores eyes directly at Penny, They match each others gaze before he carries on. "You have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts" many students laugh at the Professor finding this rather amusing. "Now as I understand, the House Cup here needs awarding and the points stand thus: in fourth place, Gryffindore, with three hundred and twelve points, in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two, Ravenclaw have four hundred and twenty-six, and Slyverin, four hundred and seventy-two". The Slyverin table broke out into a cacophony of cheers. Malfoy banging his goblet on the table looked garnered quite a deal of resentful looks. Dumbledore waited patiently for the cheering to die down. Penny fully aware of what was about to happen watched Malfoy intently. It might sound mean but she wanted to see the exact moment his facial expression will change. "Yes, yes well done, Slyverin, however recent events must be taken into account". The room went silent and Penny almost burst out laughing seeing Malfoy. His face looked as though he had just swallowed a bitter-tasting bug. "Ahem, I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes.... First to Mr Ronald Weasley". The red-headed Gryffindore face went purple. "For the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryyfindore house fifty points". The Gryffindores cheered so loudly that the stars on the enchanted ceiling seemed to shake. "Second- to Miss Hermione Granger.... for cool use of logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindore house fifty points". As the cheers erupted again Hermioned buried her face in her arms. "Third, to Harry Potter" the room regained an eerie silence, if one listened you would be sure not a single person in the room was breathing at this moment. "For pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points" Every student was currently doing mental arithmetic and working out the current standings, The quickest among them realized that Slyverin and Gryffindore were now neck and neck. The chatter in the Great Hall continued. The Slyverin table were yelling their complaints, to them their year-long hard work is being undone by an old man playing favourites. Dumbledore raised his hand causing everyone to fall silent once again. "There are all kinds of courage" said Dumbledore lost in thought. Penny keenly aware of Dumbledore's history knew he was thinking about someone from his youth who he was forced to confront. "It takes a special type of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr Neville Longbottom" All the Gryffindores piled upon the shocked young Gryffindore. Everyone hugging Neville their faces filled with rapturous joy that it was almost contagious. The Slyverin's were voicing their discontent, not one on their table remained silent. With the combined noise that if someone outside said an explosion occurred one would be inclined to agree. "Which means, we need a little change of decoration". In an instant the Slyverin colours and banners were replaced by those of the Gryffindore house. The Ravenclaws who had likewise had a bitter rivalry with Slyverin this year broke out into cheer themselves and the Hufflepuffs likewise joined the cheer. Professor Snape was shaking the hand of Professor McGonagall. Upon his face was the most forced smile. Afterwards the feast began with everyone eating happily. The Slyverin table looked as though they were at a funeral and not an ounce of cheer could be seen.
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The following day the exam results are displayed. Penny got top marks in almost every subject, From the looks of it Snape marked her down for deviating from the potion recipe. No doubt as an act of revenge for the times she got the better of him. With her potions grade going against her the one who finished with the highest grades in the year was Hermione. Penny however didn't really care all that much about finishing top. Penny just found it odd that the deviation was marked down, especially when in an advanced form of the potion in the Half Blood prince's copy of Advance Potion Making Snape himself wrote about this change. Oh well no use crying over spilled milk is what Penny thought. Afterwards the students are led by Hagrid back towards the boats. Penny, Agnes, and Drew were discussing their first year at Hogwarts. The three promised to write to each other over the holidays. Drew is disappointing and complaining that they can't use magic outside. Agnes explains the law forbidding the usage of magic by under-age wizards. With her parents working for the ministry she is more familiar with wizarding laws than most people. The trio continued talking happily across the Great Lake. The Thestral pulled coaches were once again thought to be pulled by magic alone by the two. When they boarded the Hogwarts Express the three quickly found a compartment. Penny was sat with the Horned Serpent and the mouse from Christmas cuddling up together inside her pocket. Before long the train began moving and took the students back to platform nine and three-quarters.
Epilogue
Penny and her friends said their goodbyes after meeting up with their parents. Penny's Father was so glad to see her that he hugged her tightly the moment he saw her. Penny heard from within her pocket "Mamma, ouch it hurts" she gently pushed her Father away much to his displeasure. The Father and daughter happily caught up and discussed the happenings of this year at school. Penny's Father explains that once he found out she was in the hospital wing he got into a heated discussion with one of his superiors who forbade him from returning from america. He apologizes that he wasn't able to come back but his worries were soothed by Dumbledore who explained that Penny would be fine. As soon as they leave Kings Cross station they head home. Penny felt glad to be home. Although she loved Hogwarts there was something about home that the school just couldn't compete with...