ANTHEM OF THE ANGELS
act one, chapter eight
❛you're giving death a kiss,
oh, little fool now❜
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✦ 𝙋ENELOPE ✦
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            "𝙎tay safe my love, please." Penelope whispered to Remus on Christmas Eve night, a slight tremor in her voice. The friends had split up this afternoon because of a little spat James and Sirius had earlier on. Penelope had stayed with Remus in the Gryffindor common room, all cuddled up on the couch, exchanging gifts with James, who didn't look that happy, even when Penelope gave him an enchanted Snitch. She will admit, that slightly hurt her because she was sure James would be estactic, but then again, it's not like she knew that he and Sirius would have a fight. Peter had opted to go with Elora, something about presents and doughnuts.

"You know me love, safe is practically my middle name. Well after John."

Penelope giggled, placing a kiss on his lips. "You're such an idiot."

"Yet this idiot stole your heart." Remus grinned, then looked up to the sky. "Look, I've got to go prepare for the night. See you tomorrow. And if you can get James, Peter or Sirius in the hands, just tell them where to find me."

"I will." Penelope assured him, kissing him one last time before she walked away, beginning her search for James. She didn't know why James and Sirius fought, because they never fight but she wasn't going to pry in their lives. She had searched the kitchens without any luck, then the empty classroom on the seventh floor without any luck and she finally went to the Gryffindor Tower, where she threatened to kill Frank Longbottom if he didn't open the portrait. Once she was in, she bullied him into showing her where Remus' dorm room was, as she knew that her boyfriend shared with James and them. She found James sitting on the bed, shirtless and she softly sunk beside him. James turned to look at and Penelope noticed his red eyes and red, tear streaked cheeks.

Before she could begin the sentence she wanted to say, James was kissing her all over again, this time rougher, quicker, like he was angry yet hungry. He was gripping her tight and Penelope would be lying if she said that she didn't enjoy it but she couldn't do that to Remus. He was her everything, he understood her, he fought long and hard with her even when he had his own worries.

"James—no." Penelope pushed him away, a part of her missing his touch. James sniffed, resting his hand on her shoulder.

"Oh God you smell amazing." He sniffed again. "It's unfair, you know. That Moony gets to have an amazing girl like you by his side while I'm pinning over a girl who can't even stand my existence."

"I'm sure you have some agreeable qualities that can meet her expectations." Penelope hummed and she heard James let out a chuckle.

"My head's too big for my body remember?"

Penelope didn't say anything for a while, lost in her thoughts before she laid back on the bed, James following suite. "Am I just something to pass the time James?"

"Merlin no Penny, I love you, I really do. But you're with Moony and he deserves you more than I do." James whispered, turning on his side to face
Penelope, who sighed, not really satisfied with the answer but she let it be.

"James?"

"Yes Penny?"

"Will you kiss me again?" Penelope asked in a whisper and she saw James swallow hard before she closed her eyes and James' lips met hers, this time moving slower, more passionately and Penelope savored every second of it.

James Potter's wild hair looked most of the time like it was made of cement or some hard substance but it was soft as Penelope ran her fingers through his hair. They quickly pulled apart when they heard Peter's frantic yells coming from the common room up until the dorm room.

"James!" Peter burst through the door and he was too worried to even ask why Penelope was in their room or why James was shirtless. "Snape's heading for the secret passage way that leads to the shack!"

"He won't find anything there, Moony is only going tomorrow—"

"No you idiot!" Penelope cried out. "It's why I came here! To tell you that Rem is already at the shack!" She looked at Peter. "Which Snape is going?"

"Severus, Moony is going to kill him!"

"Not if we can stop him!" Penelope shook her head. "Peter, I need you to get Dumbledore or Madam Pomfrey or even both. James and I will try to stop Rem."

"But then you can't use your Animagus form, Snape will know that we're illegal Animagi!" Peter cried out and Penelope swallowed hard.

"I'm not going to allow that grease ball to let my boyfriend become a murderer and land him in Azkaban. It's a risk I'm willing to take. Now go get Dumbledore." Penelope ordered and watched as the mouse like boy ran off and she turned back to James. "Come on James, we have to help Sev."

"Yeah, but I'm not doing it for him."

"For Rem, James, for Rem." Penelope smiled, intertwining their hands.

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"𝙎ev! Wait!" Penelope rushed forward, nearly tripping but James quickly caught her. "Sev, listen, you don't want to go there!"

"So I was right! His mother can't just fall ill every full moon every single month Carrow! Your little boyfriend is a monster!" Severus spat out and Penelope growled at him, slapping him hard on the cheek.

"Remus Lupin is no monster!" She glared at him before her expression slightly softened. "Now please, this leads to the Shrieking Shack, people say that it's haunted there. Besides, James and I once went there, spooky shit I tell you!"

"That's only a cover up! I know Lupin is a monster and I want to see it for myself!" Severus yelled before running off and Penelope let out a scream before charging after him, James hot at her heels. For someone who didn't play Quidditch or any other type of sport, Penelope seemed to have good stamina and it worked well in her favor today as she gave chase after Severus.

Penelope knew they were too late when she heard a growl and her blood ran cold. Perhaps this is why Remus never let her come with, because he knew that deep down, she was utterly terrified of him. Penelope tried hiding it, honestly, she did. But sometimes it was hard to live with. Thankfully, they weren't at all that late. Remus had just appeared, a frozen in fear Severus staring at the werewolf in front of him.

"Sev, watch out!" Penelope cried out when Remus attacked and she tackled Severus to the ground, where they awkwardly landed and sudden pain shot through Penelope's leg. A scream left her lips when she noticed that Remus had scratched her leg and blood was seeping out.

"No! Penny!" James lunged for the werewolf, punching it and it only gave a slight whimper before it threw James back, a loud crack sounding from the impact.

"James!" Penelope searched for her wand and in her panicked state, she couldn't find it. She snatched Severus' and pointed it at her boyfriend. "I'm so sorry Rem. Stupefy!" Remus flew back and Penelope let out a sob before painfully scrambling to her feet, shaking Severus awake and rushing towards James, who was clutching his abdomen and that's when Penelope noticed that he too was bleeding. "We have to get out of here! Sev come on! The spell won't hold him for long!"

It felt like forever before they finally got out, Penelope and James clutching unto each other. Severus immediately ran for Dumbledore, yelling over and over again that he was right, that Remus was a monster and if Penelope wasn't in so much pain now, she would've hexed him.

"Oh my! We need to get you two to the Hospital Wing! This instance!" Madam Pomfrey cried out when her eyes landed on Penelope and James. The matron transfigured two stretchers and the last thing Penelope heard was Elora's shouts about how Remus Lupin was not a monster.

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❛friends stick together, no matter what❜
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