Penny felt her anger flare up at the red-head's dismissal of her and Harry's relationship. Sure there was a small age gap between them, but that was no one's business but their own! The Law of Magical Britain literally had a 'Seven Year Clause' in it for couples that started dating in their teen years. Hell, most people in Magical Britain referred to it as the 'Hogwarts Clause'! It basically stated that if one partner attained their Maturity before the other their relationship would not be deemed 'illegal' or 'inappropriate' in the eyes of the Law. It had been on the books for almost four hundred years already. No one had any inclination to try and change it. So Percy bringing it up showed he either didn't know the Law, or he just didn't care and was going after her because he wanted her for himself.
"Harry Potter is the youngest Artificer in History." Penny began as she whirled around with a glare. "Harry Potter is a wonderful young man that treats me like a Queen. Harry Potter is intelligent, kind, thoughtful, admirable, and brilliant! Harry Potter is a better Wizard and a better Person than you'll ever be! You are a dismissive, arrogant, pompous, self-righteous, brown nose who can barely think for himself!"
Percy reeled back as if he'd been struck and stared at Penny wide-eyed.
"Get this through your head, Weasley! I. Am. Not. Interested! Leave me alone!" Penny practically growled at the Head Boy. She held up her right hand and flames appeared, swirling and thrashing around as if they were alive. "The next time you try to talk at me like I'm lesser than you; or the next time I hear a single bad word about Harry from you, then you'll be facing me in an Honor Duel. Do I make myself perfectly clear?" Penny demanded as she glared into Percy's eyes.
"Y-Yes…v-very well then, Penelope…I'll just be going." Percy turned and quickly walked off, just short of jogging away from the incensed blonde. Penny huffed as she dispelled the flames in her palm and continued on her way. Maybe now the prat would finally leave her alone.
Walking up to the door to the Hidden Workshop, Penny felt a smile return to her face reflexively. Having been keyed into the updated Ward Lock near the end of last year Penny opened the door easily. Seeing Harry floating against the ceiling with a plate of metal tied to each of his shins was a surprise, but it only made her giggle as she closed the door.
"Having fun, Harry?" Penny asked with a grin.
"Loads." Harry smiled down at her from the ceiling.
"Can you get down?" She asked with a suppressed chuckle.
"I can fall down…" Harry admitted after a moment.
"No control?" Penny giggled as she reached out with her mana and slowly brought Harry down. There was quite a lot of resistance to her spell though. Almost like trying to pull an air-filled beach ball underwater.
"The Directional Sequence and the Altitude Sequence both failed." Harry explained as he deactivated the metal plates. He untied them from his shins one by one and set them on top of his work desk. "I'm not sure why they failed though, so until I can figure that out I'm back to square one for my own Flying Item."
"Hmm, I think I can take your mind off that." Penny smiled at him, she then pulled him into a sweet kiss and the two enjoyed their lip lock for a few moments.
"Forget what?" Harry asked as they separated.
"Exactly." Penny giggled as they held each other. This affection and love was what that prat Percy would never understand. Harry and Penny would spend the rest of the afternoon cuddling. Penny told Harry of Percy's attempt at 'wooing' her and Harry shook his head. All of Hogwarts already knew about their relationship, so Harry didn't understand what the Head Boy thought he was going to accomplish. If he was being honest, Harry was surprised their relationship hadn't made it into the Daily Prophet yet. Then again, that was probably only a matter of time. Maybe he should talk with Sirius about getting a Solicitor just in case.
-Friday ~ November 19th – After Classes-
"Expecto Patronum!" Harry called out as he held his wand aloft. From the tip of the Holly and Phoenix Feather wand came a cloud of bright silvery mist. Harry sighed as the mist spread, thinned out, and then disappeared.
"That was very good, Harry." Remus congratulated the Artificer.
"Not complete though." Harry huffed as he thought over the spell. The Patronus Charm worked off of understanding the spell itself plus a powerful happy emotion. At the moment Harry was using the memories of his relationship with Tonks, Penny, and Fleur. They'd shown the most results so far and had taken him from mere wisps to the bright mist.
"The Patronus is very advanced spell work, Harry." Remus assured his surrogate nephew. "Most Wizards and Witches never learn it, and even those that do learn often can't complete it and make a corporeal Patronus."
"Maybe not," Harry shook his head. "But I don't like leaving spells unfinished and not mastered." Though, to Harry's annoyance, without his wand he couldn't get the Patronus Charm to form at all. Not even a wisp of the silvery mist. This frustrated the teen Wizard to no end. He was used to being able to cast spells without need of a focus. To find a spell that he couldn't use wandlessly, and then find out he couldn't complete it even with a wand, was maddening to the Harry.
"Give it some time. You've only been practicing for just over a week. Try to find an even happier memory if you can." Remus advised. "It can only help."
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