Such peculiar and frightening happenings have been occurring in Hogwarts! It is so difficult to comprehend, and the staff (e.g Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, Professor Kettleburn, Professor Vector, Professor Trelawny, Professor Lockhart, and Professor Dumbledore) won't give us any information about it, even me, a prefect! A cat and a student have been petrified! Yes, petrified, frozen and still, their eyes glassy and unseeing. The younger students have been scared out of their wits, and move about huddled together nervously. All the teachers are extremely solemn and insist on moving us from class to class. Harry, Ron, and Hermione have been curiously quiet and continue to whisper secretively among themselves in the common room, but I don't have time to sternly question them about it with such somber and horrible things happening around the castle.
I don't think I'd be able to get through my additional duties without Penelope. Of course she can't assist me with my responsibilities as a Ravenclaw, but with our daily meetings she keeps me optimistic and determined to go on.

I hurried through the corridors, briskly and hastily. I was due for Divination in twenty minutes but was determined to meet Penelope beforehand. She had asked me to meet her - where was it again? Oh yes, another classroom, a Transfiguration one this time, as Professor McGonagall is terribly severe with Peeves and he never dares to disturb her classrooms. I located the place and entered. Penelope stood by the window, and turned to me smiling in welcome. We had been to Hosmeade twice after our first visit there together, and our frequent meetings in the school had made us firm friends. Or perhaps even more than that.
I grinned as I shut the door behind me, and moved over to her. Her eyes sparkled, and she came over to greet me. We clasped hands a moment, and then, both caught by a sudden awkwardness, looked away, both reddening and embarrassed. However, overcoming our sudden shyness, we both looked back up and caught eye contact.
"Penelope." I said her name softly, tenderly, deeply appreciating the beauty of the sound on my lips.
"Percy," she replied, pushing a curl behind her ear.
We continued to look fondly at one another. She moved forwards a step - I did the same, then stopped, and studied my feet thoroughly. I wanted to - but should I? What if it was the wrong thing to do? What if I had mistaken the tacit signs she had given me - the signs that neglected oral assistance and was expressed through mental looks and loving smiles.
I swallowed. She moved nearer. I squeezed her hands tighter, and considered following her example. But no, this was wrong, so wrong, so terribly wrong...
But was it? She mouthed my name, and I looked up. Before I knew it she had stepped forward again and I could count each of her eyelashes. Then it happened.
At first I was completely unaware of the door opening. But then Penelope jerked away and I saw a flash of scarlet hair. I gaped. Then I let go of Penelope's hands and skidded out the door.
How I lacked dignity in that moment that I raced down the corridor, following the red-headed person hastening ahead of me. Conveniently I had longer legs. I caught up, and seized her arm.
I tugged her to a halt. A breathless, anxious Ginny looked shyly up at me, with a slight flicker of amusement in her eyes.
"Ginny!" I ejaculated furiously. "Ginny, if you ever breathe a word of what you saw -"
"I'm sorry, Percy, I'm sorry!" She apologized hastily. "I won't tell anyone, I swear -"
"You promise!" I said angrily.
She nodded quickly.
"Never tell anyone - anyone, what you -" I paused, blushed, and finished - "witnessed. Now go, and - and remember my words! If you disobey then you'll have me to deal with!"
She nodded hurriedly again before sprinting off.
I exhaled sharply. Then I hurried back to the spare classroom. I entered. Looked around.
Penelope was gone.