56. Penelope Clearwater

Harry searched for Susan and others using the marauders map and found them in the library.

"Let's go. They are all in the library. I will leave you both at its entrance as I have some important work to do." Harry said.

"Harry, we might as well go have lunch. You skipped lunch yesterday too, it will raise questions.

We can all go back to the Dorms after lunch, I too have something I want to ask you." Hermione advised.

" you are right Hermione. I should have thought. Okay, let's go to the Great Hall." Harry agreed with a sigh.

" Hey Harry. Where are the others? " Penelope asked seeing them alone.

"Hey Penny. They must be coming in a few minutes. We had some doubts so we stayed half an hour more with professor Flitwick after the class." Harry answered sitting beside her.

" You can also come to me if you have any doubts, I'll at least be able to solve lower years questions for you." Penny said. Harry knew that she would not really be able to help with his questions but was still grateful that she was willing to take out some time for him from her busy OWL year.

Just when he was about to thank her, he felt someone coming behind him. Looking behind quickly he found none other than Percy Weasley.

" Hey Penelope, I saw you were excellent with Transfiguration during our last class. Would you be able to give me some time to learn from you.. " Percy said smoothly. Harry knew where he was coming from and decided to help Penelope.

"Penny! You told me you would help me clear some doubts. You know I have a whole room for myself this year, I'm sure you too will be more comfortable there." Harry said taking Penelope's hand in his hand.

Harry could immediately see an ugly scowl forming on Percy's face which he was trying very hard to conceal.

" Hello Harry. I'm Percy Weasley, fifth year Gryffindor prefect and the top of my year in the previous year. Why don't you tell me what questions you have and I will help you answer them." Percy said looking down at Harry.

Harry knew he couldn't compete with Percy in height so he didn't bother to even reply. Others looked from their seats, enjoying all the altercation.

"No worries Percy. I'm sure Panny will be able to solve all my doubts." He smirked and ignored him.

"Oh come on.. Hermione and Daphne will be there too. What are you afraid of, I'm not going to eat you." Harry said and started dragging the dazed Penelope towards Ravenclaw common room with Hermione and Daphne tailing behind them silently.

Harry took a peek at Percy from the corner of his eyes and quickly looked forward.' Sure enough. I now have a new enemy. ' Percy's face was as red as his hair in anger while his twin brothers were making fun of him making the whole great hall laugh at him.

Reaching the common room, Harry didn't stop and really brought Penelope to his room. Hermione and Daphne were obviously following with a sharp gaze.

"Sorry Penny for doing that, but listen to me carefully. Do not patronize Percy Weasley and never agree to go out with him. You do not know but he is a very selfish man who only wants to use you.

He will use you to get excellent results in his NEWTs so that he can be employed in some good position by the ministry after Hogwarts. After all he is a pure-blood even if his family is dirt poor and not liked in that circle.

After that he will leave you for some other girl who can let him climb the ladder.

Please don't ask how I know all of this. Just know that I have no ill intentions towards you and Don't tell anyone what I told you just now." Harry said in one breath as even he was feeling some pressure because of the stares of three girls.

"Harry, her mind might not be protected. What if..." Hermione said in a low voice but all of us heard her.

"I understand what you are saying Hermione but I could not bring myself to watch her life getting ruined." Harry said massaging his aching temples.

'Looks like doing only good for the last 999 lives affected me more than I thought.'

Harry knows that he will not back out when it comes to being cruel to his enemies. He just couldn't bring himself to ignore the innocent's plight.

"If I can help innocents without affecting myself negatively, then I will step forward to help them." Harry said slowly but with resolve.

Hermione and Daphne looked at him with a broad smile on their faces while Penelope looked at the three of them with a complicated expression on her face.

"Harry, are you a seer? Did you see my future?" Penelope asked.

"Penny, these are some very complicated matters.

Hermione, give her your Occlumency ring for now please." Looking at Hermione's reluctant expression, he said," I will make you a new and improved one in a few days."

" Umm.. What is Occlumency? " Penelope asked, interrupting them.

" Occlumency is the act of magically closing one's mind against Legilimency. It can prevent a Legilimens from accessing one's thoughts and feelings, or influencing them. A person who practises this art is known as an Occlumens." Hermione explained.

" From whom do I need to protect my mind? " Penny asked.

"Don't worry Penny. With that ring you will be safe. If anyone asks you about this just say I gave it to you." Hermione did not answer her question.

" Harry, I would have never agreed to stunt my own growth to help him. He talked to me for the first time, I definitely would not have agreed to go out with him. If you are not a seer then you must have some misunderstanding about the situation." Penny said slowly.

Harry knew that she had already believed him but was saying all that to make him say the truth.

"My name is Penelope Clearwater. I'm a half-blood, my father was a muggle-born wizard and my mom is a muggle. After my father died in a death eaters attack in diagon alley, I grew up with my mother in the muggle world.

My aim is to become a charms mistress and let my mother live a happy and comfortable life." Penny suddenly started to introduce herself to them seeing that Harry remained silent.

" If you can't really tell me what you know, then please at least teach me Occlumency. I can't always depend on the ring and you won't always be there to help me." Penelope did not doubt Harry. She knew that he did not need to lie to her.