𝗕𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗔𝗟

ACT TWO, CHAPTER FIVE
a grand fucking exit and a
damn good quidditch match.

THINGS AT HOGWARTS were getting worse.

After the snitching of Marietta Edgecombe, Dumbledore had left the school after overcoming two Aurors, the High Inquisitor, the Minister of Magic, and his Junior Assistant (Percy Weasley, Ron wasn't very talkative about him) and left it in the hands of none other than Umbridge herself.

And then — oh, get this — Umbridge created something called the Inquisitorial Squad. She had hand-picked the students herself, ones that were supportive of the Ministry of Magic. Members included Draco (who's surprised?), Pansy (wouldn't put it past her), Millicent (how disappointing), and some other miscellaneous Slytherins. It was basically a Cornelius Fudge fan club, which Penelope found really fucking weird. She had even been invited to join — of course she didn't accept, but seriously? Umbridge must've thought that she would be a spy or something being friends with Harry and Hermione and dating Ron. Oh how mistaken she was.

They also had the power to dock points — like they wouldn't abuse that at every chance they got. Penelope had even found Draco removing points from Gryffindor because he didn't like Harry, Ron's shirt being untucked, Hermione being a Muggle-born, and Venus being American. She knew that Draco wouldn't remove points from Slytherin, so she basically spoke her mind and sent him away with a real big fuck you. Pansy had tried to yell at her for it later in the dorm but Penelope didn't listen. She never did.

Their dormitory seemed to have divided — Tracey and Daphne with Penelope, Millicent with Pansy. Penelope would be lying if she said she didn't miss the old days, when all of them would sit in a circle on the floor and just tell each other secrets and gossip without a care in the world. She noticed a change as they got older. Pansy and Millicent seemed more swayed to Pureblood ideals (even though Millicent could be indifferent about it at times) and Penelope, Tracey, and Daphne just didn't care. Third year was when things really started to go south.

The only one managing to lift Penelope's spirits was Ron — naturally. After discovering that he was her happiest memory, she tended to stick around him a little more. They had to sneak around because apparently Umbridge decided people fraternizing with each other was totally against the rules, but it was sort of fun running through the halls with interlocked hands as they hopped from broom closet to broom closet to hide. Well, maybe they did more than hide in those broom closets sometimes, but Penelope would never admit that to anyone out loud.

Exams were approaching, forcing Ron and Penelope to not see each other for a little while. Penelope knew that if she studied with him she would get distracted, so she stuck close to Tracey and Daphne to review material. As if they couldn't be more stressed, a batch of pamphlets, leaflets, and notices had appeared on the tables in the Slytherin common room that concerned various Wizarding careers. The notice on the board read that every fifth year would attend a short meeting with their Head of House during the first week of the summer term. Penelope found her appointment at one on Monday with Snape. Being alone in a room with Snape would be dreadful, but . . .

There was really no thought to what Penelope wanted to do. Especially after visiting St. Mungo's, she knew being a Healer was right for her. She had picked up the leaflet with the crossed bone and wand emblem and immersed herself in it. According to the requirements, she needed at least an E at N.E.W.T. level in Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. She could do that. All she needed to do was do well on her O.W.L.'s to get into N.E.W.T. level classes, and then she was golden.

Finally, it was Monday. She left lunch a little early to go meet with Snape. Penelope descended down the steps to the dungeons and pushed open the door to Snape's office. He was already sitting at his desk, his hands clasped together. There was a folder marked Penelope Lestrange next to him. Surprisingly, Umbridge was also there — why, Penelope didn't know. She was wearing an ugly pie-frill around her neck and sat a little ways behind the desk with her clipboard on her knee.

"Come in, Miss Lestrange," Snape drawled.

Penelope shut the door behind her. She approached the desk and sat down, crossing one leg over the other as her back rested against the seat.

"You're aware of why you're here?" Snape continued.

She nodded. "To discuss my career path. But, I don't see much to discuss, because I already know what I want to be."

His lip curled slightly. "And that is?"

"A Healer," Penelope stated firmly.

"Why do you think that is the best career path for you, Miss Lestrange?" Umbridge questioned sweetly from her own chair.

Penelope pushed down her repulsion and looked over at her. "The Lestranges have done nothing in their life but hurt people, but that's not me. I want to heal them instead. It's time for a change."

Snape reached over to a leaflet on his desk and pulled out the St. Mungo's one. "You need a minimum of five N.E.W.T.'s with nothing below Exceeds Expectations. Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts." He looked up at her, his scowl most prominent. "I will be taking students into my N.E.W.T. Potions only if they receive a Outstanding. There is no exceptions."

She nodded once. "I understand."

He opened up her folder and pulled out a piece of paper. "Right now, you are only at an Exceeds Expectations in Potions and Herbology, so concentrate, Miss Lestrange."

Penelope resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She was concentrating.

"Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts have high marks, however." He shut her folder. "Are you quite sure that this is what you want to do?"

"Yes, Professor," Penelope replied.

Umbridge then cleared her throat with a small hem, hem, making both Penelope and Snape look over at her. "If you were to join the Inquisitorial Squad, Miss Lestrange, I would be more than happy to put in a recommendation for you."

"I'm honored Professor, but no thank you," Penelope responded, smirking slightly at the way Umbridge's face melted into anger. She stood up and slung her bag on her shoulder. "May I go?"

"You are dismissed, Miss Lestrange," Snape approved in his monotone voice.

She walked out of his office and climbed the stairs from the dungeons. Leaning against the wall at the very top was Ron. Penelope smiled at the sight of him and held her hand out. He instantly laced their fingers together — with Ron's cheeks turning the slightest shade of red — and the two of them began to walk down the corridor to Penelope's Arithmancy class.

"Hey, you," she greeted, swiftly kissing his cheek.

"How was the meeting?" Ron questioned.

Penelope shrugged. "Just told him I wanted to be a Healer — he said some shit about how he only lets students into his N.E.W.T. Potions class if they get an Outstanding on their O.W.L., Umbridge was there trying to get me to join the Inquisitorial Squad, and Snape was telling me to concentrate in Potions and Herbology." She looked up at Ron. "What are you going to tell McGonagall in your meeting?"

Ron shrugged in a very off-hand way, his cheeks turning even more red. "Uh, I was thinking . . . I don't know, it would be cool to be an Auror."

"Yeah?" Penelope inquired, and Ron nodded. "You'd make a great Auror, love. I could see it."

He kissed the top of her head. "And you'd make a great Healer . . . even if they're completely insane."

"And you're saying I'm not insane?"

"I'm not going to answer that question."

She laughed slightly. "I told you that night you kissed me at Grimmauld Place that you would have to put up with a psycho bitch. Well, here I am, baby."

"You're not psycho," Ron argued gently as they started to approach the door to the Arithmancy classroom.

"Whatever you say."

"I mean it." Ron tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as they stopped in front of the door. "Listen—"

"Shut up and kiss me," Penelope cut in.

Ron's eyes slightly widened. Penelope rolled her own before pressing up onto her toes (he was so fucking tall) and kissing him softly. He responded as enthusiastically as she did for a moment before Penelope ultimately pulled away.

"I'll see you later," Penelope revealed quietly. "Walk after dinner?"

Ron nodded. "I'm there." He leaned down and kissed her again quickly. "Have a good class."

Penelope grinned brightly at him once more before moving inside the classroom. She took her usual seat next to Elijah Rogers and once everyone arrived, Professor Vector started the class.

They were about an hour in before they heard a lot of shouting and movement echoing through the walls. Penelope's eyebrows knit in thought as she glanced towards the door with a frown. Vector scurried out of the classroom at once, and Penelope quickly put all of her things in her bag before rushing out of the door as well with everyone else. All of them descended down the stairs after Vector in the direction of the noise. Turns out it was in the entrance hall.

Penelope slowed to a stop at the top of the staircase. She suddenly felt a presence beside her, and somehow, Ron was standing there. Penelope didn't question how he was able to hear everything from the North Tower, but she then studied the scene in front of her.

Most of the school was assembled around the entrance hall. They stood in a great ring, some of them covered in a strange substance. Teachers and ghosts were also there. Prominent among the on-lookers was the Inquisitorial Squad, all looking very pleased with themselves. Peeves was bobbing overheard and gazing down upon Fred and George, who were standing in the middle of the floor with the look of two people who had just been cornered. Umbridge was standing a few stairs above the floor of the hall, looking down upon her prey. Another person then appeared by Penelope's side, and she turned to see Tracey trying to catch her breath.

"What's going on?" Penelope asked her.

"The twins," Tracey revealed, taking deep breaths. "Corridor. Swamp. Long way."

"So!" Umbridge exclaimed triumphantly. "So . . . you think it amusing to turn a school corridor into a swamp, do you?"

"Pretty amusing, yeah," Fred answered, looking back up at her with no fear at all.

Filch then elbowed his way through the crowd of students, pretty much crying with happiness and waving some piece of parchment. "I've got the form, Headmistress. I've got the form and I've got the whips waiting . . . oh, let me do it now . . ."

"Kinky," Penelope whispered, leaning her head closer to Ron's.

Ron's face turned a brilliant shade of red and he elbowed her side. "Quiet."

"Very good, Argus," Umbridge approved. "You two—" she gazed down at Fred and George "—are about to learn what happens to wrongdoers in my school."

Penelope almost laughed. Her school? She really didn't know how things at Hogwarts were run, considering they had a whole secret club for months with the purpose of learning Defense without her knowledge . . .

"You know what?" Fred replied. "I don't think we are." He turned to his twin. "George, I think we've outgrown full-time education."

"Yeah, I've been feeling that way myself," George agreed lightly.

"Time to test our talents in the real world, d'you reckon?"

"Definitely."

Penelope's eyes widened slightly in realization. Their business, that conversation on the Quidditch pitch . . . it was starting now? Penelope couldn't have been more proud of them, but she found herself also feeling sort of sad. The twins always brought a sort of light to Hogwarts.

"Accio Brooms!" the two of them shouted together before Umbridge could say a word.

There was a loud crash in the distance. Fred and George's Cleansweeps — one of them still trailing the heavy chain and iron peg that Umbridge used to fasten them to the wall — zoomed down the corridor to their owners. Penelope was forced to move out of the way as they streaked down the stairs and stopped sharply in front of the twins, the chain clattering loudly onto the flagged stone floor.

"We won't be seeing you," Fred told Umbridge, swinging his leg over his broomstick.

George mounted his broom as well. "Yeah, don't bother to keep in touch."

Fred looked around at all of the assembled students — even catching Penelope's eye, whom he gave a small wink to. "If anyone fancies buying a Portable Swamp, as demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three, Diagon Alley — Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. Our new premises!"

"Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear they're going touse our products to get rid of this old bat," George added, pointing to Umbridge.

"STOP THEM!" Umbridge ordered.

However, it was too late. Fred and George kicked off from the floor just as the Inquisitorial Squad closed in. The twins shot fifteen feet into the air with the iron peg swinging dangerously below.

Fred looked across the hall at the Poltergeist, who was bobbing on his level above the crowd. "Give her hell from us, Peeves."

Now, Peeves had a mind of his own. He never followed orders from anyone, nevertheless students — but Penelope watched as he took off his belled hat and saluted the twins. Fred and George circled around to take in the applause from the students below before speeding out of the open front doors into the glorious sunset. Penelope shook her head before clapping as well. She then glanced over to her boyfriend to see if he was happy as well, but instead, he was staring wistfully out at the small figures of his brothers.

"You all right?" Penelope questioned.

Ron sighed. "It'll be strange not having them here anymore."

She linked her arm through his. "We'll visit them in Diagon Alley. Promise." Penelope kissed the side of his jaw for a second. "Come on, maybe we can take a walk now. I feel like the teachers won't try and get us to go back into class now."

・゜・。・゜。・。・゜★

IT WAS THE last Quidditch match of the season. Slytherin had narrowly been defeated by Hufflepuff — much to Draco's disdain, who had nothing but malice towards the House of loyalty for no fucking reason — yet Hufflepuff did not have as many wins as Ravenclaw and Gryffindor to qualify for the Quidditch Cup.

Also, Fred and George's departure was monumental. The swamp that they had put on the fifth floor of the east wing was still there. Umbridge and Filch had been trying to remove it, but there was no success, so it was roped off and Filch had to punt students across it to their classrooms. Penelope knew the other teachers — even Snape — could've removed it, but it just seemed like they enjoyed seeing Umbridge struggle. Students were also using Dungbombs and Stinkpellets so often that Penelope now had to use a Bubble-Head Charm after she left each lesson. Skiving Snackboxes were also a huge hit, and Peeves, just like Fred had asked, was causing absolute hell.

Okay, back to the Quidditch match. It was a big day for Ron, so therefore, Penelope decided to be the best girlfriend she could be and go out and support him. He didn't even have to ask. She was already planning on it, anyways. Here's kind of how the conversation went:

"Hey, Penelope—" Ron began.

"Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw match," Penelope cut in. "I got it."

"How did you even know that's what I was going to talk about?"

"Because I know you."

Everyone was going to the game — Hufflepuffs and Slytherins included. Penelope knew that none of her friends would want to cheer for Gryffindor with her (except Daphne and Tracey.) Pansy and Millicent even told her that they didn't want her cheering for Gryffindor while next to them because they were going to hope for a Ravenclaw win. Okay, it might seem bitchy, but Penelope sees their side. Those two don't like her dating Ron because his family is the biggest blood traitors there are, but to be honest, Penelope doesn't give a fuck. She likes him a lot and she's going to support him as Gryffindor Keeper no matter what. If that means doing it without them, then so be it.

She got an invite from Charlotte Thomas to watch the game with her, Elijah Rogers (who Penelope knew only wanted to come to see Ginny, because God forbid he would leave his O.W.L. studying to do anything else), Hermione, Harry, and Venus. Penelope accepted. She was thankful — she didn't want to look like a total loser being one of the only Slytherins in a sea full of Gryffindors. Tracey and Daphne were also to join them as well.

Just to deck out in more support, she wore one of Ron's Gryffindor shirts (which was oversized on her, but in a cute way), which obviously matched the crown necklace hanging from around her neck. Tracey had also drawn the numbers 02 on her cheek with eyeliner and surrounded it with some red and gold heart and star rhinestone stickers Penelope had picked up in Hogsmeade at one point. And with her tied back into a half-up half-down, she was ready to rock this shit.

Her, Tracey, and Daphne ascended the stairs to go to the Great Hall. When Penelope entered, she instantly made a beeline for the Gryffindor table while Tracey and Daphne went to go to the Slytherin one. She spotted Ron sitting very grimly at the table. Penelope frowned a little before approaching him.

"Hey," Penelope began, tapping his shoulder and making him look up at her. "You all right?"

"I guess I can't get any worse," Ron responded.

"Don't say that about yourself." Penelope placed her hands on his shoulders and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I'll be rooting for you. Remember, twist the words around. Make Weasley Is Our King your own. You got this."

With that, she went back to the Slytherin table. After a quick breakfast, her, Tracey, Daphne, Charlotte, Elijah, Harry, Venus, and Hermione found seats in the topmost row in the Gryffindor section of the stands. It was a very clear day, making Penelope hope that Ron would do better. His goal-keeping record wasn't the best, but on this last game, she wished that he would block some goals to get more confident in himself. It made Penelope's heart break every time she noticed him get disheartened because of his performance in Quidditch.

Lee Jordan was commentating the match as usual, although he was a little dispirited since the departure of the Weasley twins, which was heard in his voice as he named the players. ". . . Bradley . . . Davies . . . Chang. And they're off! And Davies takes the Quaffle immediately, Ravenclaw Captain Davies with the Quaffle, he dodges Johnson, he dodges Bell, he dodges Spinnet as well . . . he's going straight for goal! He's going to shoot — and — and—"

"Come on," Penelope whispered to herself.

Jordan then swore very loudly. "And he's scored."

She let out a breath of disappointment. And, as if on cue, the Slytherins began to sing again.

Weasley cannot save a thing,
He cannot block a single ring . . .

The match continued on. To be honest, Penelope wasn't really listening to Jordan commentating anymore. Her eyes were locked on Ron as he floated around the goal posts. He looked a little pale, but as he scanned the crowd, their eyes met. The chorus of the Slytherins singing was just nothing but a way to get him to lose his confidence. She reached up, gently touching the red and gold crown necklace around her neck.

"Turn it around!" Penelope shouted as loud as she could. "Gryffindor perspective! Weasley is our king!"

Bradley had been zooming up to the Gryffindor goal post. Penelope clutched her necklace a little tighter as he threw the Quaffle. However, Ron had apparently taken Penelope's words to heart. He dove and kicked the Quaffle away with his foot, and Johnson caught it in her hand. Penelope's eyes widened and she cheered loudly for Ron, along with the rest of the Gryffindors and her friends. Tracey and Daphne even seemed to be having more fun in these stands than the Slytherin ones.

Johnson scored another one for Gryffindor. Chambers then came in hot on Ron. Penelope held her breath, but Ron actually saved the goal again.

"Yes!" Penelope screamed. "You got this, baby!"

Suddenly, Ginny was zooming on the pitch, Chang not far behind her. However, in a very intense race, Ginny's hand had closed around the small golden ball that was the Snitch. Penelope let out a laugh of amazement and cheered loudly again, along with the rest of the Gryffindors. The scores had been tied, but Ron had saved some goals, and Gryffindor had won.

Without really thinking about it, Penelope started to make her way down the Quidditch stands excitedly after noticing Ron had landed. She didn't even care if none of her friends were following behind her — she only had one destination in mind, and that was the boy with flaming red hair who had a large crowd forming around him.

It took a little bit of work, but she managed to push through the crowd and get to the center. His eyes instantly locked on hers, making Penelope smile. Ron's face brightened more — if that was even possible — as he approached her.

"P!" Ron exclaimed. "We won! We—"

He was cut off by Penelope taking his face into her hands and kissing him hard. Ron seemed to tense up at first — like he was realizing the large crowd around them — but he relaxed into it and wound his arms around her waist to pull her in tighter. They continued to kiss as the cheers from the crowd got louder, but they didn't really hear them. It was like it was just the two of them.

The two of them finally pulled away after a while — it honestly felt like an eternity, not that Penelope minded. She chuckled a little as she ran her thumbs back and forth across his cheeks. Ron moved his hand and clasped it with hers as some members of the Quidditch team and Gryffindor House suddenly hoisted Ron onto their shoulders. They handed him the silver Quidditch cup, which he raised high into the air, making everyone cheer loud again.

Weasley is our King,
Weasley is our King,
He didn't let the Quaffle in,
Weasley is our King . . .

They walked from the pitch to the castle. Penelope looked up at her boyfriend and watched him practically glow.

Weasley can save anything,
He never leaves a single ring
That's why Gryffindors all sing:
Weasley is our King.

Penelope smiled brightly to herself. The stupid song that Draco had come up with was finally being used for something good rather than bad.

Weasley is our King,
Weasley is our King,
He didn't let the Quaffle in,
Weasley is our King . . .

She looked over. Standing there was Harry, Hermione, and Venus. Now that Penelope thought about it, she really didn't talk to them at the match at all . . .

"HARRY!" Ron shouted, waving the Quidditch Cup in the air. "HERMIONE! VENUS! WE DID IT! WE WON!"

The swarm of Gryffindors and Penelope went into the castle, still singing a chorus of Weasley Is Our King. She finally let go of his hand at the stairs to the dungeons, where she knew all of the other Slytherins probably were. And as she kept her eyes locked with Ron's as he was carried up the stairs, a feeling of euphoria settled in Penelope's chest. Ron Weasley really was her king.

☆ 彡

aw cuties 🥺