It had been a really rough few weeks since Cutie Pie had appeared in the middle of the night. He had looked dreadful- only wearing ripped pants. He was covered in blood and dirt and looked heartbroken. He warned them about the threats made against Penny, against her family, against his own girlfriend, before assuring Penny she would be safe. He had people, dangerous people, who would be guarding her.

Dean raged against this. On principle. Her husband argued against her being guarded on principle. That thought made her tear up again.

She was so scared, so fearful, and her husband did not seem to notice. Or care. She wasn't sure which. Things had been hard.

—~—

Penny and Dean had been arguing again, for hours. She was begging him, pleading with him. What if the guards missed something? What if they were killed? She needed to know the spell.

"Dean please. You know the spell. Please?"

She begged her husband for the hundredth time. He yelled again.

"For fucks sake no Penny! Stop asking me. I'm not teaching you the killing curse!"

"But what if those people come? Get in here?"

"Killing isn't the answer Penny. Petrify them. Put them to sleep. There's no need to kill them for fucks sake!"

Penny closed her eyes as tears fell. She couldn't believe this.

"Do you even love me at all Dean?"

"Do you love me? Why can't you respect my wishes on this? My Dad was killed with the killing curse. I hate it! I'm not teaching it to my wife! All of this because of that little bastard-"

"DON'T CALL HIM THAT!!!" Penny screeched. She played with her bracelet again. The one Y/N had left for her Christmas morning. She did whenever she was nervous, anxious, upset. It seemed to infuriate Dean even more.

"Oh here we go. Taking his side again!"

"Well at least he wants to keep me safe!"

"I've fucking had enough of this shit! I'm going to the pub!"

Dean stormed out of their apartment and slammed the door. Penny broke down crying again. When did things get so bad? This isn't how she imagined living her life. How marriage would be.

Penny felt completely abandoned by her husband. She felt trapped, she felt overwhelmed, she felt suffocated. She needed to get away. She needed to breathe.

But where?

She had been warned by Cutie Pie not to go out. She could call Y/N if Dean hadn't smashed the Snitch during one of their arguments.

Cutie Pie. She missed him so much. Her baby boy. She regretted all of it. She should have told Dean he was wrong in Gringotts. She should never have let Dean close off her home to Y/N.

She thought back to when she first met him. He was so little. So sweet. She had no idea the abuse he was being subjected to. She remembered Y/N telling her and Hermione how he felt meeting her.

The manor.

It was abandoned, apart from the house elves. Maybe she could get some fresh air there. There were wards to protect it. They had been enhanced since Thomas's murder. She should be safe there. She just needed to breathe.

She apparated.

—~—

Penny appeared in the L/N ballroom. She had meant to go to the foyer. She guessed this was part of the warding, directing all visitors to one location. She looked around shocked.

There must have been a hundred people in here. They had been duelling? They all stopped and looked at her before... dropping to a knee? What on earth was going on? She looked around in shock until she saw a picture of herself on the wall.

She was stunned. It looked amazing. It looked like it had been created out of pure love.

"Uh excuse me. Sorry to interrupt- could anyone tell me where Cutie- where Y/N is? I'm his sister in law Penny and-"

"We know you, Mrs L/N. We are the Phoenix Bearers. We are sworn to protect you!"

Penny turned to the voice. She was shocked as the man stood and she recognised him from the papers.

Jackson Selwyn.

"Uh... Jackson Selwyn?" Penny asked intimidated as she backed away in fear. Jackson held up his hands and walked towards her slowly.

"I promise you are safe Mrs. L/N. We are sworn to Y/N. He is our Lord. We will get him for you now!"

"Penny!"

Penny heard a familiar voice and gasped as she turned.

"Chiara!"

The two close friends ran to each other as they cried. They hadn't seen each other for six months. They cried in relief. Penny had mourned her friend. She was one of the many who had disappeared.

"Chiara Thank Merlin. Thank Merlin! I thought you were dead!"

"No. I am here Penny. Serving the Phoenix Bearers. Serving my Lord!" Chiara smiled into the embrace.

"Y/N?" Penny asked shocked.

Chiara smiled and nodded. "He's a great man Penny. Far greater than we could have ever imagined!"

Penny hugged her friend, confused by her words until she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Pens?"

Penny turned to see her baby boy. Her Cutie Pie. The people in the room dropped to a knee again.

He was so tall. So strong. So Lordly. He had a presence now, a stature. He was no longer a boy. He had definitely grown into manhood. She rushed him, squeezed him tight. She broke down in his arms.

Y/N wrapped his arms around her tightly. He towered over Penny now. She cried into his chest.

"Shhh. Shhh. It's ok sweetheart. It's all ok. I'm here. I'm here."

Y/N calmed her. Soothed her gently. Lovingly. Everything her husband had refused to do out of anger and pride for weeks.

"Thank you my Bearers. I'm gonna take Penny to our cabin. Chiara if we need anything I'll summon you via the mark!"

Chiara nodded as Y/N apparated the pair of them from the manor.

—~—

Penny emerged from Y/N's chest and looked around slightly stunned. Hermione was smiling at her. There was a Hippogriff and a giant white wolf asleep on the floor. A Phoenix resting on a perch, a Niffler, a cat and a Bowtruckle happily playing. The house was beautiful.

"Where are we?" Penny asked as she emerged from the hug and rubbed her eyes only to be hugged by Hermione. She happily returned it.

"Our home Pens. Still on the estate, but this is our private home!"

"You have your own home?" Penny asked stunned.

"He built our home. With his own hands!" Hermione smiled and gushed. Penny looked at Y/N shocked.

"Are you ok Penny? My Bearers reported Dean leaving but said you hadn't left the house. This is why I told you not to apparate."

Y/N spoke to her warmly, yet firmly. Penny broke down again. Y/N pulled her into a hug and down onto the couch. He held her tight as she cried. Releasing all the stress and pressure of the past weeks. Hermione sat on her other side, rubbing her back gently.

Penny felt so safe.

—~—

They talked for what seemed like hours. Penny told them what had happened. How things had been the last few weeks. Y/N had smiled and rubbed her back tenderly. Hermione could sense the rage that was emanating from her lover from the other side of Penny, but Y/N did well to hide it. Penny needed calm and love.   Y/N would hold the rage deep and release it later.

He told her about the Phoenix Bearers. Who they were. Why they had been formed. The truth about the Knights. The apocalypse. Everything. Penny was shocked beyond belief but listened intently. She couldn't believe it all. She fought with it. She still looked at Y/N as her little baby boy. But he wasn't anymore. Not really.

He was a man. He was a warrior. He was a soldier.

She yawned.

"Tired?" Y/N asked smiling.

Penny nodded.

"C'mon" He said standing and holding her hand. "I'll show you your room."

Penny argued as they walked up the stairs before Y/N stopped at a room and opened the door. It was beautiful.

"Cutie Pie, 'Mione! You didn't need to make up a spare room for me!"

Hermione giggled and Penny turned to see Y/N smiling. Not his cheeky smirk- a genuine smile.

"Penny this isn't a spare room. This is your room! I made it for you!"

Penny's eyes opened wide. Her mouth dropped open.

"You.... how?.... why?"

"Penny. No matter how far away I will always love you."

Penny smiled and played with her bracelet. Those words still choked her up to this day.

"You were always there for me Penny. You mean everything to me. I understood why you said what you said and why you felt you had to support Dean. I would never judge you for it. But you will always have a place in our home. You're my sister. My mum. I don't know what exactly but you mean more to me than I can ever say. There isn't anything I won't or wouldn't do for you."

Penny rushed him and hugged him tight. It was returned with Hermione joining in on the group hug.

"But come on. You're not sleeping in here tonight."

Penny looked at Y/N shocked.

"What do you mean?"

"Penny it's been a long emotional day and you are feeling super vulnerable. You're bunking in with me and Hermione. Come on."

Y/N smiled and pulled her by the hand.

"No I couldn't possibly intrude I-"

"It's ok Penny" Hermione smiled. "Trust me having Y/N next to you makes you feel so incredibly safe. You'll get a great night's sleep."

Penny smiled and stopped arguing. Y/N transfigured the pair into pyjamas. He stripped to just shorts as the three got into bed. Y/N was on the left, Hermione on the right and Penny in the middle. She felt warm and safe as the pair hugged her. She was about to say good night before the trio heard a whimpering and scratching at the door. Y/N chuckled.

"Yes. If Penny is sleeping in here you lot can as well!"

The door opened and the six magical creatures all came in excitedly and set themselves up in the parents retreat area.

"Kids" Y/N chuckled as he kissed both his girls on the head and closed his eyes, smiling.

—~—

Penny woke up and yawned. She felt a huge weight over her chest and down to her stomach. She looked in front of her where Hermione was sleeping peacefully. She peeked over her shoulder and saw Y/N had wrapped his arm over her, hugging her tight.

She smiled. For the first time in weeks she felt safe. She felt protected. She felt loved.
She smiled as Hermione's eyes fluttered open.

"Morning Penny" Hermione smiled, chuckling as she saw Y/N's arm trapping Penny in place.

"Morning Hermione. Sorry about..."

"Don't be silly. You're family. Enjoying that?" She giggled.

Penny smiled. "He's very strong and warm isn't he."

Hermione smiled.

"He is. Usually I sleep with my head on his chest. Otherwise that happens."

"What?" Penny asked, slightly confused.

"Try and get up" Hermione giggled.

Penny did with no success. She was trapped.

"That" Hermione added. "I was pinned for an hour once. Admittedly I enjoyed it, but the big lug isn't the easiest to wake if he's tired."

The two witches giggled. After five minutes of trying unsuccessfully Hermione grew a devious smirk.

"I've got an idea. Hati!"

Penny heard a loud dog like grunt and felt the presence of the giant wolf next to the bed.

"Hati can you please wake Daddy up?" Hermione giggled.

The wolf licked. A lot. Penny felt the arm move as Y/N coughed and spluttered.

"Mmmm. Hati! Hati! Hati! I love you too good morning. Stop mate!"

Y/N shot up in bed, wiped his face, chuckled and patted the Direwolf before stretching and yawning.

"Really? Mummy put you up to that did she? Good boy for telling Daddy" Y/N chuckled as he rolled on his side and glared at Hermione who giggled.

"You had Penny trapped baby. Desperate times."

Y/N chuckled, kissed the two on the head and got up, stretching again.

"I'll start breakfast. C'mon kids, time to go out for your business."

—~—

Penny sat talking to Hermione enjoying a cup of tea as Y/N cooked breakfast for the trio. She tried to help but Y/N insisted.

"He enjoys it honestly Penny. It's one way he likes to show his love, cooking for people close to him."

Penny smiled at Hermione's words, thinking of all the times Y/N would cook dinner when he stayed with them. When he would bring her breakfast in bed. She thought at the time he was just trying to be helpful but he was actually saying, even before he learnt how, I love you.

—~—

The three sat in the lounge. Y/N had agreed to Penny's request. He started teaching.

"Ok Penny. To cast the killing curse you need three things. Skill, power and intent. I honesty don't think either of you could pull it off. You two are both sweet, kind, loving. I can teach you the skills- the incantation, the hand movement; you both have the power- but the intent..."

Y/N looked down in thought.

"So the thing with unforgivables especially but any nasty curse in general is you need to have the desire to cause harm to the other person. Penny you've never used an unforgivable have you?"

Penny shook her head.

"I know you haven't baby" Y/N said to Hermione who shook her head as well.

"Ok so if I was to capture a Knight and bring him here. You and I were both to use the torture curse on him Penny. He would probably get mildly irritated by yours. I would have him begging for death within a few minutes just for release."

Penny looked slightly hurt.

"That's not an insult on your power or ability Pens. You're one of the kindest people I've ever met. I don't know if you could hurt them significantly. You should be able to kill someone in a pinch, to protect yourself but..."

Penny looked at Y/N shocked.

"You're a sweetheart too Cutie Pie. How could you know you could do that to someone?"

Y/N sighed.

"Because I have Penny. Many many times. When I have to be I am an evil sadistic son of a bitch. But everyone who has experienced that has deserved it."

Y/N spent the next half an hour teaching his girls the hand movement for the killing curse. They knew the incantation already.

"I hope that can help you Penny, if you ever have to use it. Hopefully you won't. You saw the Bearers in the manor. You are watched constantly. Protected constantly. You're safe Pens. When I go away next week and you go to Hermione's parents with her you won't need to worry."

"I am?" Penny asked shocked turning to Hermione before continuing:

"Would that be ok?"

Hermione smiled and leant over hugging Penny tightly.

"Of course it is."

Penny smiled into the hug before releasing and turning to Y/N.

"When did you first use the killing curse Y/N?"

Y/N sighed.

"Are you sure you both want to know?"

They nodded.

"Alright. I hope you won't look at me any different. It was a couple of weeks before you and shithead picked me up for my 11th birthday. Jacob and I were on the Isle of Man. We were hunting down that stolen Goblin gold."

"I remember" Penny said sadly. It had been a big story at the time. Penny had been so shocked when Y/N told her he had been the one to find it with Jacob.

"Well we caught one of the guys. Took him to an abandoned cabin. Tortured him, got the information out of him. Then Jacob wanted me to do it. I cast it. All it did was give the guy a bloody nose. Jacob got angry. Real angry. After he had slapped me around a bit-"

He paused seeing the looks of both Penny and Hermione.

"Do you want me to stop?"

They two shook their heads no.

"Yeah. After that. Jacob said I needed the proper motivation. He gave the guy Veritaserum, asked him about Muggleborns, what he thought of them. Getting me angrier and angrier. Then he asked the guy about you."

Penny gasped shocked.

"The guy said some horrible things. I screamed at him to shut up. Jacob made him keep going. Asked him what he would do to you if he had you in the room"

Y/N snarled as he looked away, out the lounge window, the memory angering him to this day as he said quietly:

"He was dead a couple of seconds after that."

The room went quiet. Penny spoke quietly after a prolonged silence.

"What did he say?"

"Penny I-"

"What did he say cutie pie? Please?"

Y/N made eye contact with Penny. Her eyes were watering. Y/N didn't know if it was because of what the guy said, or his story, or what it was. Y/N sighed again.

"He said he would rape you Penny. I didn't even hesitate. I ended him then and there. I knew right then. Right there I guess 'the Punisher' was born. I knew people like that, monsters that could do that. They don't get to live. Innocent lives, innocent women and children are at risk with people like that around..."

Y/N looked out the window again.

"The world is a better place without them in it. Sometimes I just hope I don't become a monster like them as well..."

Penny stood and walked over. She sat next to Y/N and hugged him tighter than he thought possible. Hermione smiled as she wiped a tear out of her eye.

"You've been protecting me all along haven't you cutie pie?"

"Of course I have Penny. You're my big sister. I love you. No matter what happens you will always be my family."

Y/N hugged her back as the three of them sat in a happy silence.

They spent the afternoon together. Just the three of them, in the cabin, happy. A family.

—~—

Dean arrived back at his apartment. He was still pissed off. It had been just over 24 hours since his wife left and he couldn't find her anywhere.

He checked her parents. He checked their friends. He checked the Burrow. He checked the Grangers. A thought came to him- the manor? It was abandoned but could she have gone there looking for Y/N. He hadn't been at the Grangers- they hadn't said where he was now Dean thought about it.

He apparated to the family manor and was shocked to be met with a number of wands pointed straight at him.

"Who the fuck are-"

"Silence. Get an acolyte!" One of the Wizards spoke to another. The second man left the room. Dean looked at the six men surrounding him with wands drawn and the other twenty or thirty people in his families former ballroom who stared at him with what looked like hatred. He looked up and saw a portrait of his wife? What the fuck was going on? He turned his head as he heard people entering the room and was shocked.

"Jackson Selwyn? What the fuck are you doing in my family's house?"

Jackson ignored his question as he turned to the woman next to him.

"Vinda. Alert our Lord. Bearers. Keep him at wandpoint."

—~—

Y/N was sat in the lounge with Penny and Hermione chatting happily. It was a very warm evening- the two girls in dresses, Y/N sitting in just shorts.

"Should have put some damn air conditioners in here" Y/N chuckled.

Penny was about to speak when there was a knock at the front door. Y/N smiling at the two as he got up to answer it.

"Vinda. What can I do for you this evening?" Y/N smiled.

"My Lord" Vinda bowed. "Your brother is in ze ballroom!"

"Jacob?"

"Non my Lord. Deen"

—~—

Dean waited in frustration before he was shocked to see his younger brother apparate into the room with the woman from earlier. He was more shocked as everyone in the room, minus the wizards who held him at wandpoint, dropped to a knee and bowed their heads at   Y/N's presence.

"What do you want Dean?"

"My wife. Is she here?"

"What do you want with her Dean?"

"None of your fucking business you-"

Dean stopped talking as the wands dug further into his throat.

"Again Dean. What do you want?"

"I want to talk to my wife Y/N, Jesus!"

"I'll be back in a minute!"

"Y/N-"

His brother was gone before Dean could continue.

—~—

Y/N apparated back to his house. He put on a brave face and smiled at his two ladies as he entered the lounge.

"Everything ok babe?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah baby. Penny, Dean is in the manor" Y/N said gently. Penny looked instantly concerned.

"Hey hey it's ok love" Y/N said as he got on one knee if front of her and gripped her hands.

"He said he wants to talk. I can bring him here, or I can make him leave. It's up to you sweet."

Penny sighed then smiled.

"It's ok Cutie Pie. We can talk."

Y/N nodded and apparated. He reappeared a minute later with Dean who glared at his wife.

"Cmon Penny. We're going home and we can talk about it there!"

Y/N stood in front of Dean. He looked at him with fury.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing Dean?"

Hermione wrapped her arms around Penny who teared up as the two brothers started screaming at each other.

"She's my wife. I'm her fucking husband!"

"You are a gutless cunt. I have an army. Where do you think she is safer?"

"That's not your decision to make!"

"You're right. If she wants to go I will let her. But remember she ran to me for help. After everything she was terrified and YOU DID NOTHING! You call yourself a husband so fucking act like one!"

Hermione squeezed Penny tighter. She could see how upset she was as the two men screamed at each other. She glanced over to the window and saw Buckbeak and Hati glaring through it. They were staring at Dean with murder in their eyes.

"She's coming home! I can look after her!"

Dean tried to move passed Y/N but was shoved back hard, hurtling back several feet. He looked up to see his younger brother's wand pointed between his eyes.

"Leave now. Or I send you to Dad. You will have a guard but I am NOT letting you take Penny. She isn't an object for you to own. She's scared and needs something you can't or won't provide her. Now get the fuck out of my house. You aren't welcome here!"

Dean's face tightened further, hearing his own words thrown back at him.

"I don't want some fucking killer guarding me you prick!" He said as he apparated away furious.

Y/N sighed and sheathed his wand. He turned and got down on one knee in front of the two women he loved more than any other.

"You two ok?"

Hermione smiled at her lover. Penny was lightly sobbing but nodded. Y/N kissed her temple and she dove into a hug, wrapping her arms around him.

"Thank you!"

"You never have to thank me Pens. I knew you didn't want to go..."

He lightly tapped her temple.

"...and I didn't want to come between a married couple but now I'm the arsehole. I'm the one who wouldn't let you leave, and you have time to think about what you want. This is your home as long as you want it to be Pet."

She cried louder now as Hermione rubbed her back and joined in the group hug.

"Dobby!" Y/N called as he held his girls.

"Yes Lord L/N?"

"Can you please withdraw Dean's apparition access to the estate. If he wants to come back you will be summoned to him like everyone else. Also inform Jackson to remove the guards from Dean and Penny's house. I'm not wasting manpower on someone who doesn't want it."

"Right away. Good night my Lord."

"Good night. Thank you Dobby."

The elf smiled, nodded and disappeared as Y/N released the hug. He kissed Penny on the forehead and Hermione on the lips.

"How about I make us some hot chocolate? Settle things down before bed?"

The two witches smiled and nodded as Y/N headed to the kitchen.