because you're mine {donn}

Despite the frigid cold descending upon London, Diagon Alley was alive with holiday shoppers and Penny Patel found herself swept up by the holiday cheer. Holidays in the Patel house tended to be a quiet affair, and ever since her father had returned after the war a broken man after his time in Azkaban, Christmas had rather lost its charm for Penny. This year, however, was going to be different. This year Penny was going to spend Christmas with her handsome….well whatever Donn was to her — she still wasn’t sure —, at his castle in Scotland. Penny was looking forward to a relaxing week up in the Scottish countryside, filled with books and Donn. Donn, who made her feel like the most delicate flower in a garden of roses. Donn, who introduced her to certain pleasures in life, and always made sure to consider her needs first. Donn, the son of death eaters, and Donn, whose books of dark magic she was now bound to by blood.

Yes, there were things about Donn that should have sent her running, but there was also the gentle and kind Donn that made her feel like the center of his universe. And right now, walking arm in arm down Diagon Alley, Penny felt exactly like that. They were going to floo out of the Leaky Cauldron, but first they had stopped to pick up certain essentials they would need over the week. Penny had been somewhat surprised when Donn first brought up the idea of spending Christmas at the castle (because rich boys like Donn had homes that could be referred to as simply “the castle”). They had only been dating for about a month, and it seemed like a big step for them to spend the holidays together. Especially because Donn was sensitive about anything having to do with his family, and the castle was, after all, his family home.

Then again, Penny reasoned, their relationship was anything but typical so far. Just in their first date they had been as intimate as two people can be, Penny had been cursed by a book, Donn had spilled all his secrets to her and almost hexed her, and they had done unspeakable things on the kitchen table. Ever since that action packed night (and morning) Penny met up with Donn a few times a week. Sometimes for lunch, more often for dinner that ended at Donn’s place. After initially consulting on the very book that ended up binding her to secrecy (on pain of death), Penny provided Donn with some crucial books on translating Middle Eastern runes. Initially Penny was under the impression that he wasn’t very bright, and while it was true that runes were not his strong suit (Penny often found herself correcting his translations), he did have a wealth of knowledge about magic that she would never learn about at Hogwarts; magic that she would come across at work, only to find further inquiries censored by the ministry that sought to avoid anything considered “dark”.

All in all, Penny was happy with Donn, and she wanted Donn to be happy with her. Which is why she pulled herself from her thoughts, and gave Donn’s arm a little squeeze. They had arrived at the shop that Penny had secretly wanted to take Donn to. Sensational Satins was the kind of store that you went to if you wanted to be unwrapped like a present. The storefront itself was tasteful, with some of the more beautiful satin and lace pieces modeled on moving mannequins in the window. The sign was scarlet red with a flourishing font.

“Let’s see if we can’t find something in here for the weekend, shall we?” Penny said with a wicked grin, pointing Donn to the store. He really brought out the more daring side of her, and she slipped out of his arm and dashed into the store without waiting for his reply. She knew that it would leave him a little shocked, which greatly amused her.

A few months ago Penny would have felt immensely uncomfortable and self-conscious at such a store, but at that moment she felt giddy with anticipation. She browsed the different racks, surprised by how many fabrics, colors and patterns there were. Vibrant and dark colors she thought to herself, repeating the helpful advice that her friend (and wealthy, beautiful fashion designer) Nikola had given her. In fact, she half wished that Nikola could be there with her. She had impeccable taste, and also clearly liked women and would therefore know what kind of lingerie would have the….maximum impact.

Penny purposefully kept distance from Donn, wanting to surprise him with her choices.

“I’m just going to try these on and I’ll be back.” Penny said to Donn, giving him a swift kiss on the cheek before going over to the dressing room. She wished he could come back there with her and help her choose, but she didn’t exactly think that would be appropriate. Acutely aware that she had left Donn in a store full of nothing that he could get for himself, Penny hurried up and tried on the negligible pieces of fabric. Ultimately she decided on two sets; one black lace and the other dark purple satin. Penny hurried to ring up her purchases, and then found Donn again, who looked a little lost in the store.

“Ready to go?”

@Donn Bane

The wizard knew he had been acting like a schoolboy almost all month. His desk drawer at work was full of little scraps of paper with silly notes like: I miss you, Last night was fun. and  What are you doing for lunch? If he send every little note he wrote to Penny, she would have likely received 3-5 paper airplanes from him, everyday of work. He just barely been able to contain his enthusiasm, especially with the approaching holiday. Also, how bad things ended with Delaney really put things with Penny in perspective for Donn. He realized having a pureblood girlfriend was not the most important thing. Instead it seemed trust, loyalty, and some other “L” word that Donn had yet been willing to admit to himself, which seemed to matter the most. If he ever did admit it to himself, he would understand just why he felt like he was walking on air most of the time when he was around her, and today was no different.

Although he was normally reserved in public, the holiday cheer filled Diagon Alley proved quite infectious. They walked quite informally side by side as if glued together at the hip. Their joyful smiles, willingly stole kisses from each other as they passed under any mistletoe garlands with a berry still left.  Last-minute shopping excursions was turning out to be a date with in itself. Technically Donn, who always like to be prepared had already made almost all the arrangements. Which had included picking up the bare necessities to restock the long unoccupied castle and sent them ahead of time with one of his elves. Instead todays little fun escapade was to find what him and Penny might still need before they take the floo straight there.

Still, it came to a complete surprise that Penny stopped, gave Donn a squeeze and announced that they should see if they can’t find something in here for the weekend. Donn’s jaw dropped as he saw just what store she ran into. He took a second to realized that this was every guys dream… and likely a guarantee that his Christmas holidays would be one to remember. So after a few moments of hesitation he followed her in.

Inside the sheer number of varying colors, cuts and patterns of women’s unmentionables overwhelmed the 23 year old wizard. He looked around the flirting and winking manikins to find his Penny who was weaving in out of the rows, checking tags before grabbing and clutching an item or two tight against her chest. She seem secretive about her selection and Donn thought for a second that maybe he should wait outside. Yet within a few minutes she zipped up, kisses him on the cheek and announced she was going to try them on! Surely it was an invitation to watch her. Yet when he tried to follow her passed a Women’s fitting room sign, it rudely flashed “Women ONLY!” So he thought it more prudent to wait for her in the main store area. Yet not having Penny to watch made him feel even more awkward. He ended up hanging near the register which held small bottles of lotion, massage oils and perfume. The sales witch talked into one or two items which he purchased and hide in his pocket. Having more time then he thought, he asked a sales lady where was the men’s section. He was directed to a section, that Donn felt even more embarrassed to appear to be shopping at. Lucky for him, Penny soon appeared, made a quick purchased of some dark garments and it was not long until Penny was once again draped on his arm and they were heading out the door.

“So, what did you get?” He made a poor attempt to sneak a peek in her bag, for he realized it by now she wanted to keep it a surprise. She of course made a big stink of keeping the bag away form his prying eyes. As he pushed the door open for her, he placed his hand on her back while asking “Do you need to get anything else or shall we head straight to my place so you could put that on for me? I wouldn’t mind…”

Donn’s voice trailed off as he noticed an older angry looking Indian wizard couple standing a few feet away as it they were blocking their way. Donn training took over and he stepped in front of Penny while slipping his wand out of his pocket as casual as possible.

“Can I help you?” Although relatively friendly words, they held a cadence that alluded to more of a challenge.

@Penny Patel

Penny rolled her eyes at Donn’s attempt to see what was in her bag. Of course he just had to try, instead of merlin forbid accepting a surprise. Well, he certainly wouldn’t find out what was in the bag before she was ready to show him, and she even had a few more surprises up her sleeve.

“No peeking!” She said, gently bumping her arm against his in a playful push. Suddenly her original plan of waiting until they were at the castle, and after dinner to try on the things she just purchased seemed like it involved too much waiting. Penny laughed to hear her thoughts voiced by Donn as she was thinking it. Maybe they could make a quick stop by his place and….

Then Donn’s tone changed, almost within the same breath. He was like that; one moment fun and flirty, and the other moment angry about merlin knows what. Penny knew this tone well, though. It was the tone that usually signaled that there was some man who dared to look at Penny in some way, or like, walk too close to her. She thought it was silly that he got that way, as usually it was all in his head, and little did he know that there was women to worry about too….

Her thoughts trailed off as she followed Donn’s gaze, her eyes landing squarely on her parents. See, he has nothing to worry about was her first thought. And then the reality of the situation hit her fully and she realized that they both had quite a lot to worry about.

“Donn, these are my parents, Naveen, Juliette.” Penny hastened to introduce them; maybe they would leave after that. “Mum, dad, this is Donn.” One look at her parents face told her that they were not happy at all. Donn had been a bone of contention in their little family.

“So this is the man you have been spending all your time with; going days without stopping at home?” Juliette started, her tone not entirely hostile; they were in public, after all.

“So this is the man that you’ve decided to spend the holidays with instead of your parents?” Naveen’s tone did sound entirely hostile, and Penny felt hot shame creeping up into her cheeks. Penny squeezed Donn’s hand, urging him to stay quiet. She didn’t exactly trust him to say the right thing in situations like these. Sometimes Penny thought he was entirely too sensitive.

“What are you doing here anyway?” Penny asked, trying to inject some accusation into her voice. They were, after all, right outside of a lingerie store. Penny was attempting to use the “misdirection” tactic she’d learned in training. When asked a question, redirect and ask another question to try and throw off the interrogator.

“What are we doing here?!” Naveen spat out. Juliette tried to squeeze his hand to hold back some of his ire, and in another situation Penny would marvel that it was almost the mirror gesture of what she had just done with Donn.

“Two house elves just popped into our house, and took your stuff!” Penny’s eyes went wide; she had forgotten to warn her parents that Donn’s elves would be dropping by to take her stuff to the castle. And now Donn knew that she lived with her parents. Great.

“Well dear, we wanted to come see for ourselves what kind of man it was you were running off with.” Interjected Juliette, still trying desperately to keep her tone calm, but rather failing by the end of her sentence. Penny had told them that they were stopping for a quick run in Diagon Alley before heading off to Scotland, and they must have followed her.

“A kind, thoughtful man. Why, is owning house elves a crime now?” Penny challenged. She knew what their thought process was; rich + pureblood = dark wizard, if not death eater.

Naveen looked as though he wanted to challenge her right back (after all, Penny learned the art of debate from her father), but held himself back.

“Donn…Bane is it? That name carries quite the reputation, son” Penny narrowed her eyes, suspicious about her father’s intentions, but he merely stuck his hand out to be shook. Penny held her breath, not knowing how Donn would react. She hated situations like this; people were so unpredictable, and Penny clung to predictability.

"Your parents?" Donn asked a bit surprised. He looked at Penny, at her parents, then back again. Now he could  see the similarities. Penny seemed a bit wary and her parents didn't seem that happy to see him. Well, he guessed it was because he was not acting like a proper wizard and obeying the niceties of society.  "Sorry,... It is nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Patel. I am Donn Bane."

The young blonde wizard extended out his hand to the wizard that Penny introduced as Naveen, presumably her father, although he looked a bit too old and weary. It was the look a dog got when he spent to long without a master to care for it. Usually you had to be weary of that type of dog for you never know if they would cower in fear or try to bite you. Mr.Patel looked like he preferred biting Donn right now. Done took back his hand seeing that they were acting like he was the dirty dog in the alley.

So this is the man that you’ve decided to spend the holidays with instead of your parents?

Donn realized he had created such a big mistake. His mother raised him with moral values that society expects out of a young gentleman wizard. He knew at a certain time he should have ask permission from her parents, to formally date their witch daughter. Although he was not sure just when this should have happened. Presumably sometime after the first date, ... but definitely before they go away for the Christmas holidays and shack up to shag in his castle.

"Yes,..I..." Donn started but halted as Penny's hand squeezed his, he knew intuitively to stop talking. He looked down at their intertwined hands, then over across to her. He noticed her cheeks were blooming, but it was not with the lust or passion he was used to seeing. Instead this time... it was with shame. A fierce anger bubbled up within him... for the sake of niceties he tried to stamp it down.

While Donn tried to calm down, he watched Penny and her mother talk aggressively back and forth. He did not understand why there would be some issue about his house elves collecting Penny's things. Then he realized Mrs. Patel said 'our house,' What? Did penny still live with her parents? He had been under the impression that she lived in a cramp apartment with some annoying roommates. He was not sure where he got that notion, maybe from the amount of time she spent at his apartment and how she was never in a rush to go home. Then he remembered during their first date they ate at a shawarma restaurant... who's owners knew her from the time she was a child and her parents were friends with. So, why would Penny get her own apartment if her parents live in London? Why would she not tell me she still lived with them? Why did she not have me meet them?

...what kind of man it was you were running off with...

What kind of what? What was that supposed to mean? He was a wizard, not a man. Did not Penny tell them anything about him? He would have introduce Penny to his mother...well maybe not. But still, he was not living with his mother and he certainly would have introduce them when he took her to the castle, if she was still alive and living at the castle.

A kind, thoughtful man. Why, is owning house elves a crime now?

He heard her compliments but there was something else, there was hidden meaning in that word crime. Donn was trying to juggle his frustration wishing to get rid of it, but not knowing were. Was it Pennies fault that her parents practically thought that he kidnap her or did she have a good enough reason not to tell them about him? Were they pureblood haters? He turned his head, to study her father, and remembered that Penny had once told him that her father was muggleborn. He was likely the reason Penny didn’t introduce him, He also made penny blush, with shame. NO ONE WAS GOING TO MAKE PENNY DO ANYTHING BUT HIM.

Donn…Bane is it? That name carries quite the reputation, son.

Something snapped in Donn, a cool darkness instilled by his mother rolled out of him. The one that made him good at his job during the worst situations. The one that was able to serve the Dark Widow so well. The one that made him good at manipulating Muggles... and this pitiful wizard was not that much better than one.  teased his mother's voice in his head.

Put at ease, disarm and manipulate... Donn leveled his eye at his target, smiled and step forward while smoothly slipping his wand back into his pocket. "Bane, yes, you are right. Sorry, I don't talk to the Bane side of the family anymore, not since the war anyway. It is good to meet you Mr.Patel. I am sorry that Penny did not introduce us before. I realize it was quite an injustice."

Donn took the man's thin hand in a short shake, while noting how sickly the Muggle born appeared. Donn had the notion that he might be ill or recovering from an illness. Either way Donn certainly had the upper hand if it came down to brute strength although it was rear for that to happen between wizards. He needed to know more.  "It is a pleasure to finally meet you." Although a better pleasure to kill him. He willed his thoughts away from his mother’s voice and he motioned them forward. As if the four of them were about to continue their stroll. "I am so sorry, I have not heard much about you. I would love to get to know you two better. " Good find their weaknesses. "I assume you live locally. May I ask, what do you do?"

So far so good, Donn Penny thought to herself, as Donn’s words were polite, and he shook hands with her father. Penny was shocked to see how frail her father looked compared to Donn. She could remember when her father had been the rock of the family; physically and emotionally. He had always been strong and sturdy, and held their little family together with his dependability and quiet strength. Ever since coming back from Azkaban, however, it seemed he had fallen apart at the seems, and was unable to put together the pieces again. Penny was frustrated at him; he didn’t even try to get better. All he did was stay at home most days, unable to leave the bed, exhausted from nightmares the night before. Juliette had taken to silencing their bedroom so that his screams wouldn’t wake Penny, but she knew what was going on.

Penny knew that spending time in Azkaban was a traumatic affair, but couldn’t he move on? Couldn’t he at least try? Instead of spending his days moping and talking about how Pureblood wizards had almost destroyed their world. Couldn’t he see that he was becoming just as fanatic as Death Eaters going on about muggleborns like himself? Penny was angry at her father. Angry that he had just quit, and stopped being the father that she had loved.

Still though, she thought perhaps that this anger her father had might be the way out of his depression, so it was a good thing to see him out and about and yelling at someone, even if that someone was her….(lover? Boyfriend?)…Donn. She relaxed a fraction as Donn spoke, and wondered if it was possible that this wouldn’t be a total disaster.

And Penny was glad to see how Donn was handling things, as well. Her father had all but insulted his family, a most touchy subject with Donn, and he was responding civilly. Not just civilly, but with social grace and charm! And then he asked about their jobs. Did he really just? Penny thought in outrage. Penny might not be the most knowledgeable in social graces, but she was pretty sure that was an immensely rude question. And even worse, she knew why Donn was asking it; he wanted to judge them, and grandstand his own wealth. Well, she wasn’t about to let that happen. She answered quickly, cutting off Naveen, who was clearly about to speak.

“Mum works at Binding Books, right near Diagon Alley, and dad works at Cyrus and sons, a law firm near where we had shawarma.” This was a quickly calculated response. She included the names of the business to indicate that they were magical establishments, but neglected to mention that her mother was a shopkeeper, and her father was just a secretary. Let him think they were business owners and lawyers. Penny’s parent’s jobs were always a source of slight embarrassment to her. She felt that they could have achieved much more in life, and didn’t understand why they settled for such mediocre lives. That’s why when she had gotten an invitation to do Unspeakable training she immediately jumped on the chance. No one was going to say in the future that Penny’s life had been mediocre.

Feeling that they had already pushed their luck with how this impromptu meeting was going, Penny wanted to get away from her parents, fast, before things devolved.

“Right, well, we must be off! There’s a storm brewing up north so we should get there before the weather gets bad!” Penny lied, and tugged Donn’s arm to indicate that they should get moving, now, and fast.

“Not so fast, young lady!” Naveen stopped her in her tracks with his no nonsense tone.

“You aren’t going anywhere with Donn before I have a word with him” he said, clamping his hand on Donn’s shoulder. He led him across the street, and Penny saw them talking, wishing that she could hear what they were saying.

OOC comment: permission granted by @Chaw to jostle Donn about

They stepped a few feet away from the store front. Donn thought he was doing a good job at manipulating Penny’s Parents, when Penny called out the answer to his question behind him. He turned to her with his eyebrow slightly  raised. He knew that tone. It was when she was uncomfortable and wanted to nip something in it's butt. Did he say anything wrong? Certainly, did not dignified wizards introduce the third party into a conversation by stating their name, and what their specialty is or what of relevance they had to offer? The social injustice here was that he was breaking all the ice.

“Cyrus and sons. Ah” Looking back over Penny’s father, trying to fake being impressed. He hated lawyers, but that was another matter for another time. He still needed to fully disarm the situation and was trying to derive an plan to do so when Penny hooked his arm and declared that a storm was brewing up north and they had to be off. Donn was getting the distinct feeling that Penny did not want him to talk to her parents. Other been raging assholes what more could there be left to know? He found out that she is living with them (which she failed to tell him.) That they were pureblood racist (also, what she failed to tell him.) That they were not happy that Penny was leaving on a little holiday vocation (another thing she failed to tell him.) What else could have Penny failed to tell him? What could there possibly left for him to know? Wait, what WAS left for him to know?

Donn hesitated just long enough for Penny’s father to intercept and grab Donn. As a reaction Donn had out his wand and gave a flash of a frown, before he gave a shrug, to illustrate no-contest. If Penny’s O’Man wanted to discuss things he will discuss things with him. He was losing patients for this Muggleborn and was lightly curious what more he did not know about the witch that he shared his bed and books with. So, he willingly let the sickly wizard lead him across the alley to an unoccupied stoop.

Donn step back to look slightly up at the thin wizard. He probably was more formidable in his heyday. He certainly had the attitude for it. He was waiting for yelling, or snide remarks like his mother would do when she wanted to tare him apart. Instead Penny's father looked him over once more spending time on his casual dress robe, before simply saying as if they were waiting for the train. “So Donn Bane, what do YOU do?”

Donn was slightly taken back by the sudden simple question. So now they were being civil to each other? “I am a field agent for the Ministry’s, Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. Worked there for three years. “

"Field agent for Magical Accidents & Catastrophes?” Mr.Patel seemed to be rolling the words in his mind as if he had to remember just what it meant. Donn squinted at him thinking maybe Penny’s father mind like his body, might not be what it used to be. Yet the information seemed to finally click into place. “Ah, that is good. It looks like you're doing something with your life… which is good"

Really? He dragged me over to the other side of the street so he could know what I do for employment? It then occurred to Donn this as the talk. The one he always picture having with two glasses of whisky in a grand study behind double wooden doors with the father of his Pureblood sweetheart. Like always, nothing ever happens like it should in his life.

Donn tuned back into her father’s rambling, "I know you said you're not in touch with your family and I respect that. I'll try not to judge you based on their prejudices, but I have one question to ask you: Penny is a half-blood witch; do you see her as equal to you in magical skill and prowess?"

“Equals? No, I don’t think we are equals at all.” Donn’s eye slid over to Penny standing with her mother across the way. “Your daughter is brilliant. I have not met a witch more brilliant then her since my mother. Everything comes so naturally to her. You know, her skills is completely wasted at her job in the Ministry.” Donn shook his head and looked back at the her father, just in time to catch a confused look which soon melted away to something like understanding.

“Well, ya. Anyways…” Donn got a feeling the wizard was uncomfortable. Maybe he did not like to admit the intelligence of his witch daughter. Donn was not liking this wizard at all. “She is my only daughter. I don’t want to see her hurt, ever.” There was a short pause before he added. “Even if I have to go back to Azkaban. I will. I do anything for her.”

Donn nodded mutely as he processed the information. This was why he looked so ill. The dark circles under his eyes. He realized it was rude That he did not answer, so he said a simple, “I understand.” 

Mr.Patel's red rimmed eyes studied him for a few more seconds before he nodded and gave a simple “Good.” He then surprisingly, throw an arm on Donn shoulders and turned him back to the two ladies that each looked slightly beside themselves with anticipation. “We are good.”

Donn was not good. Penny’s father had been a Azkaban inmate… for Merlin knows for what, and for how long, and he just made a threat against Donn’s live. He will kill Donn if he ever hurt Penny! FU** What will this guy do if he finds out about the curse his mother’s books put on her? After a moment of an awkward reunion once they returned to the pair of waiting witches, Donn blurted out, “Penny and I were going to take the floo network strait to Glengarnock. If you want, we could do tea before we go." Yet the very moment the words fell out of the young wizard's mouth, he regretted them. All he wanted to do was grab Penny and get the HELL away from her psychopathic Muggle Blood father. For if he did not, he might have to kill him, in self defense, and Donn would be likely assigned the crazy wizard old cell in Azkaban. This was why Purebloods did not date Mudblood relations, for at least one member of their family was guaranteed to have a screw loose.

Penny saw Donn and her father talking across the street, and wished that she could control what was coming out of both men’s mouths, for surely they were both saying something stupid.

“Penny.” Her mother’s calm voice interrupted her musing. With a sigh, she turned to face her mother, disappointment written all over Juliette’s face. She seemed to have aged a little, and Penny immediately felt guilty. For what, she didn’t know.

“Why didn’t you tell us about him, dear?” Juliette sounded sad, and a little bit resigned; like this was the beginning of a pattern familiar to her.

“I told you I was dating someone.” Penny started, voice calm and level. “And I told you that I was going to spend the holidays with him. What’s more to tell?” Penny always tried to use reason with her parents. With her father it usually worked. With her mother….not so much.

“Well, you didn’t tell us that he has house elves. And that his last name is Bane.” Juliette began, as if this was the most obvious thing in the world. Penny was starting to lose her patience; she did not want to be having this conversation with her mother. She wanted to be focusing on Donn and her father’s facial expressions to see how their conversation was going.

“I wonder why, mum! With dad acting like all Purebloods are evil, and I didn’t deem in necessary to brag about his wealth. Merlin knows I’m not dating him for his surname, or because he has five house elves!”

Juliette mouthed five looking shocked, and Penny knew she slipped up some.

“This isn’t like your job, honey. You can’t keep everything in your life secret from us.”

Penny felt her chest fill with shame. She had gotten so used to keeping her job secret from everyone, and before Donn her job was everything. Her parents knew she worked in the Department of Mysteries, but she remained tight lipped regarding anything having to do with her work. She had just continued with the secret keeping, not even recognizing it for what it was. She just neglected to tell her parents anything. Then again, how much could she tell them about Donn? Certainly not about his family, and certainly not about his books. What else was there left to tell? What they do at night in his apartment when she doesn’t come home? Not really. The problem was that Penny didn’t understand the point of sharing information with her parents. What good would it do her?

“I’m sorry mum. I don’t know what to say about him really. But when I come back, you can ask me questions and I’ll answer them.” Penny offered, to keep the peace. She couldn’t see why her parents would be that interested in knowing anything about him anyway.

Juliette seemed pleased with this arrangement, and enveloped Penny into a hug, which Penny tolerated, because she didn’t want to fight with her parents.

Naveen cleared his throat, and Penny and Juliette broke their hug. Penny looked at the two men that had just joined them; her father looked somewhat pleased, but Penny thought Donn looked rather peeved. What a great start to the holidays Penny thought sarcastically.

Penny laced Donn’s hand in her own, itching to leave the critical gaze of her parents. Which is why she wanted to yank his hand from its socket when Donn invited them to tea. Was he a complete masochist? Penny could see Naveen start to say yes, but Juliette quickly interrupted, seeing the look on Penny’s face.

“That’s kind dear, thank you. But we must be off now; have a good trip up north!” and Juliette dragged Naveen away, the couple muttering to themselves as they hurried down the street. Penny could just make out Juliette saying “they don’t want to spend time with us, Naveen; remember us at that age?” and Penny couldn’t hold back a smile.

The smile quickly slid off her face as she felt the tension between her and Donn. She hadn’t told him anything about her parents, intentionally, and she hadn’t told him that she still lived with them. And Penny knew how touchy Donn was about secrets.

“Right, well that was awkward” Penny started. She knew she needed to clear the air between them if they were going to have a fun trip.

“I’m…I’m sorry Donn. I owe you a few explanations about my parents. Let’s sit for a moment?” Penny pointed to a bench nearby, and they went to sit on it.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you anything about my parents” Penny quickly jumped in, wanting to explain before Donn reacted, “I didn’t want you to know I live with them because, well, it’s embarrassing for me. You live in such a great apartment and I’m just Plain Penny who lives with her parents and reads books all day. With you I…I escape that boring life, which is why I never mentioned it.” Penny hated admitting this because these feelings about her parents weren’t rational. Rationally, why would Donn care that she still lives with her parents? She was after all, only 19, and just started working. Surely it was normal. Except that Penny wanted to be exceptional to Donn. She wanted to be in his eyes everything that she hadn’t been at Hogwarts.

“And I’m sorry if my father offended you in any way. He…” Penny hesitated a bit; should she tell Donn that her father spent time in Azkaban? She didn’t want to, but she remembered their first night together, how Donn told her everything about his family. There were some secrets, like her job, that she couldn’t tell him, but surely he deserved to know the truth about her father?

“During the war he was wrongfully imprisoned in Azkaban, as a muggleborn accused of stealing magic.” Penny took a deep breath, and continued, “Ever since he came back, he hasn’t been the same…he equates all Purebloods as Dark Wizards, if not Death Eaters. So I didn’t tell them who you are, and I didn’t tell you about him. But I wish it was just his prejudice against Purebloods that changed after he was released…” Penny felt the words flowing out of her now with ease; she never spoke to anyone about this, and if felt good.

“He’s just so…weak. He’s given up on life in many ways, and it’s frustrating. It’s been four years and I don’t see why he can’t just…” Get over it was going to be the next words out of Penny’s mouth. The words that she never let be spoken out loud. She knew she was being tough on her father, but she couldn’t understand why he didn’t take life into his own hands and stop dwelling on the injustices of the past. The thought of it formed a hard lump in her throat, her last few words rather choked, and she felt hot tears welling up in her eyes…

Penny turned away from Donn, not wanting him to see the emotions overwhelm her. I am not going to cry she thought to herself, even as she felt the hot tears rolling down her cheeks, her breath getting more and more choppy.

Apparently the women had a better bonding moment. A Frustrated Donn spat in his head when they joined the hugging women, before his emotions lessoned slightly when Penny’s hand found his. Although he would have took the more formal approach by offering his arm, especially in front of his parents, but that was not Penny’s way. She did not hold to the restrictions of formal niceties in public… At first, he had found it shocking but now he found that it made him feel closer more intimate then he was to any one before. It dissolved the outer layer of frustration within him.

Donn though that their intimate jester must have affected the Mrs. Patel’s sensibilities for she quickly excused her and her husband and left Penny and Donn alone on the cold crowded street. A relief filled moment waved through Donn but as he turned to Penny he realized how many questions he had and how he still had deep layers of frustration over everything she been hiding.

Sensing this she made a dumb joke, apologized and then offered an explanation asking for then to sit on a bench. He would rather be doing this in his castle and not another discussion in public, tucked off to the side of Dragon Alley. In Donn’s opinion these types of discussion should have been confined to the wall of a study.  Yet he obediently followed his little half-blood with a psychopathic Muggleborn father, curious of what explanation was she going to give, or new secrets she was going to confess to keeping.

Both apologies and confessions poured out of her so thickly it did not let Donn much time to process let alone get any word in. At first, he was confused with her statement ‘it’s embarrassing for me.’ Thinking at first she meant she was embarrassed of him… but as she went on about her home state and her father. Who apparently was not a murderer (yet) but only one of the unlucky muggles-borns rounded up by the Ministry. Understanding bloomed in Donn. He wasn't someone to fear, just a broken man making threats. Donn was a little mad at himself for fearing such a wizard at all. Yet the last of the frustration completely melted when he heard her voice quaver and glimpse a tear stream down her cheek before she turned away.

“Penny, No. Penny. It’s ok. It will be okay.” Was at first all he could reply. Then at that moment faced with his lover dissolving into tears, he didn’t care if he was in Diagon Alley surrounded by shoppers. He pulled her to him, letting her face hide in his chest if she wants while she gains her composure. After a second he realized he should offer his handkerchief, seeing that she never seemed to have one. So, he pulled it out and offered it, before wrapping his arms around her again, He finally continued to talk, whispering into her hair, so no one else on the street could hear.

“Remember, my father was in Azkaban too. I don’t know what type of wizard he was before going in there, but after fifteen years he was a strange shell of a wizard coming out.” Shit this was not helping. He continued fumbling foursome thing to comfort her. “He was only out for two years before he died. He did not fully recover during that time, but it was at my mother’s side and… protecting me, that was when he seemed to be the most alive again. Penny, you can’t fix him… only he could do that. You are right. I think, it is only by living and doing what he loves that he might just come back around.” 
   
A remorseful thought popped into his head. What if I was able to get my mother back? Would I want her to be broken?  I would want her back, yes. Yet knowing her, she would never be happy not being the powerful brilliant witch she was. “It is hard. We can’t change things. All can we do is move on, and somehow find happiness again.”

He had found it in this half bloodwitch. He just needed to convince her of it.

“And you are not ‘plain Penny.’ Remember, I am the one who asked you out, practically the moment you arrived at the Ministry. I was worried that someone else would snatch you up.” He stopped to chuckle to himself. Before adding “I LITERALLY thought that I was under a love potion when you arrived at the restaurant. YOU were so beautiful, and you still are just as…  every moment I see you. I don’t think you could ever, ever be plain to me.”

He looked at her hoping something he was saying was helping.

The moment he took her into his arms, Penny lost the last threads of her composure, and sobbed into his chest. Penny hated crying; in fact she hated displaying any kind of emotion. But Donn’s arms gave her the permission she needed, the safe bubble to let loose and just feel what she was feeling. That was part of what drew her to Donn again and again; he so thoroughly disarmed her. When they were apart this aspect of him scared her more than anything; more than his dangerous books and more than his death eater parents. The control that he had over her, the way that all of her defenses melted away when she was near him; it was terrifying. And then she’d be in his arms again and she wouldn’t even remember that such a fear existed.

Penny took his handkerchief and wiped at her eyes, settling her head on his shoulder as she listened to his soothing words. Deep down she knew that she couldn’t change her father, but she had been in denial of that for years.

“I don’t like not being able to change, to control things.” Penny said with a shaky laugh. Only Donn could expose her weaknesses so, get her to voice out loud what she tried to deny in herself for so long. What was it about him?

Penny winced at hearing the words ‘Plain Penny’ coming out of Donn’s mouth, even though she knew he wasn’t calling her that. She hadn’t even remembered saying those words. It had only been once or twice that someone at Hogwarts had called her that, and now the only one cruel enough was Penny herself. But why was she being so hard on herself? Donn’s words couldn’t erase years of insecurity, but they started to erode them, little by little. In Donn’s arms Penny was never Plain Penny, and she was starting to understand that that would be the case even if she was more open with him. After all, he knew how bookish she was, and still he did not find her plain.

Penny blushed with the compliments, unable to think of a response. Instead, she pulled Donn into a deep, slow kiss, hoping that he would feel her gratitude.

“Take me home?” She asked in a quiet voice, against his lips.

When she admitted that she did not like the fact she couldn't change things Donn just nodded. He understood. There was so much he wished he could change in his life, but he couldn’t. His job, the lack of people he felt like he could trust, not having a family anymore. Penny seemed to be the one good thing he had. He could be the true him with her. She knew almost all his secrets. Well except for the ones he was keeping for others, but that wouldn't be an issue…. At least it hadn't so far.

He saw her wince. He was sorry. He did not mean to say something that hurt her. It was just she mentioned it. It was a rear voiced insecurity that he had picked up on before. He was not sure where she got the consent that she was plain… by the had seen her undressed and she was everything but. He wanted to let her know so.

The blush……. Sweet god of the Scots. Yes. How he loved to see her blush for him. He had completely forgotten that they were in Dragon Alley that they were surrounded by holiday shoppers. That there was no less than 5 women, 2 men, 6 children and one owl looking at then at that moment. They were in fact kissing in public. Not the sensible kiss on the hand, head or cheek. It was a lip to lip. It was a 'I am in love and I don’t want to let go' - kiss.

What what? Was he in love? Sh**. What else was this bloody thing that was wrong with him? He wanted to protect and care for this halfblood with his life, damn the consequences. He knew it the morning after they slept together the first time. Why else would he be willing to let a Muggleborn-a mud-blood talk to him and threaten him. It was because he knew he was her father and he wanted to keep Penny. Protect her guard her… give his life to her.

What was wrong with you? ……...I am in love.

He was about to kiss her deeper... but Penny’s soft lips pulled form his and whispered something. Three simple words that at first made no sense in the confused wizard’s head. Take me home. Did she mean her home? Was the Christmas holiday trip over? No, she wouldn’t be kissing him like that if she wanted to go home to her Parent’s flat. Then did she mean his London flat instead?  His heart quickened a beat. They were going to his family castle. His mother line ancestral home… Did she mean that home?

A grin grew on his face. He suddenly felt like a groom and she was his bride. Given permission to marry and bed the little witch. They had been planning to hide out during the holidays there. In a way it was playing house. Wasn’t that what they called it? Pretending to be married, living together for a few days. Seeing how the happy ever after ending might feel like. But you are not married and you can never have that happy ever after wedding with a half blood. he imagined what his mother would say in his head. Defiance now poured into him. It was not fair. He wanted Penny. He never could imagine willingly giving her up, blood status or no status. Even if they have no kids. Even if they never get married. Even if the he had to will the castle and the books away, to be inherited by some second Sinnoway or Bane cousin after he dies. He wanted to be happy ...and Penny was the only one he found in this wizarding world that made him feel like this.

At that moment he would have picked her up and carried her off to the Leaky Cauldron like honeymooners. But sensibility flared in the young wizard. He stood up and offered his hand, to help her stand, while announcing, “Our castle awaits.”

Donn walked as of floating on clouds toward the end of the row of shops with her on his arm. They passed the wall and entered the inn walking strait to the fireplace. He had the floo powder in his pocket. It was such a large fireplace and Glengarnock Castle Keep’s fireplace was even bigger so he knew he they could travel together.

“Hold tight” He said stepping onto the hearth before saying loud and clearly. “Glengarnock Castle” while throwing down the pinch of powder. Her arms were wrapped under his, still he made sure he had his hands on her elbows to avoid them getting bumped or scraped just incase. Yet Donn was right, there wasn't any problem with both of them going between the two large hearths. A few fireplaces swished pass before he saw the old pink couches appear and he stepped out into a two story Great Hall of the castlekeep.

“Welcome to Glengarnock,” he said leading her by her hand, out of the large fireplace. He kept quiet for a second while he let her look around the Keeps Great hall. It did not consist of much more than a large two story room, with a dining area in one end, the traditional screened entry on the other and a sitting room in the center. It was adorned with wood paneling, dead elk heads before his so many time great Uncles's time and faded wallpaper, but it was where he learned to walk as a baby and he wanted to show it to her.

The wizard said bit apologetically, "It is not as nice as some other great keeps. It was originally built in the 15 century." He gestured to the coat of arms above the fireplace consisting of a wand an arrow and under a checker band while he continued, "If I remember right, the MacAulay wizards acquired it shortly after the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. They like the remoteness of the small castle, but they never felt the need to make much modern additions. " He walked over to a niche across the main fireplace, which hid two door on either side of a narrow ripple glass window that looked out onto a small snow laden courtyard. He opened the door on the right and let her look in side. "This is one of the few restrooms, well if you can call it that...it's more of a medieval style toilet. You have to wand your self clean." He cleared his throat little embarrassed.

"Most of the stairs are still built into the wall." Closing the toilet, He opened the door on the left to show her a stone spiral staircase. "This goes to the main bedrooms, where we will be sleeping. Do you want to go up and pick out a room?" He said in a slight teasing tone before grabbing her by her waist and adding "We can test the beds out."

Penny thought Donn was a handsome man. He was handsome always; when he was angry, when he was at the ministry looking bored, when he just woke up in the morning, and when he wore a suit. But when Donn smiled? He was positively radiant. It was that smile, or perhaps their kiss before that broke the awkwardness of their chance encounter with Penny’s parents. Now, she felt, their holiday could really begin. Penny giggled at our castle awaits, and she hooked her arm in Donn’s in what she was sure was the “proper” way for a man courting a woman to walk around the streets. And Penny knew how much Donn liked things to be the proper way.

Penny held Donn tight as they flooed out of the Leaky Cauldron. Penny had never flooed with another person before, but sure enough the fireplace was just large enough for the both of them, and the one at the castle larger still. As she emerged from the fireplace, Penny’s eyes went to the ceiling first. It was so high! The walls were beautifully adorned with rich wood trimming, every corner of the room seeming to provide another example of ornateness. Penny ran her hand across the wood paneled walls. There was something about the room that made Penny want to touch everything. There was such history here, and she felt that if she could only touch it, she could feel part of that history. Penny was so wrapped up in this fantasy that she only half heard the things that Donn was telling her, as she walked the perimeter of the room, inspecting the beautiful craftsmanship surrounding her.

“It’s absolutely beautiful, Donn” Penny said with all her heart “Maybe I’m just easy to impress, or maybe it’s the fact that I haven’t really seen any other keeps, but I think it’s grand.” Penny felt that Donn took certain Pureblood traditions for granted. Things that seemed completely normal to him; the ability to compare the grandeur of keeps, having house elves, knowing all of the social niceties that told one what to say when…these were all things that were not a part of Penny’s life. As she looked around, however, she started to think that maybe she wouldn’t mind if they did become a part of her life.

Penny followed Donn around the room, as he showed her the loo. It looked clean enough (as she would expect when one has FIVE house elves!), but positively rudimentary. This impression proved to be true, as Donn explained just how simple it was. He seemed a bit embarrassed, so Penny tried to make light of it.

“Ah yes, toilet paper; how utterly muggle!” She said, winking to show him that she was joking.

Penny was delighted when Donn opened yet another door that she hadn’t even noticed. It seemed this castle was full of surprises; little nooks and crannies everywhere she turned.

“The stairs are beautiful!” She blurted out.The stairs are beautiful? Seriously Penny? She chastised herself; to Donn there was probably nothing out of the ordinary about those beautifully spiraling stairs. There was no need to remind Donn just how differently she had grown up.

And then Donn suggested they go upstairs to the bedroom already. To be honest, Penny was surprised he managed to restrain himself from suggesting that to her earlier, though she suspected that his ingrained politeness kicked in and made him play the part of gracious host. Still though, there were more things Penny wanted to see, and she rather felt like teasing him a bit.

“Not so fast, Donn! I’d love to take advantage of the fact that I still have my cloak on, and see the grounds before we lose the light. And then I’d rather like to see the library, if you wouldn’t mind. Besides…” She added, with a wicked grin, “I don’t intend to let you leave my bed all night, so we should get everything else out of the way.”

He always thought his Mother would be welcoming the witch he brought home and she would be showing her the castle. Now it was just Donn who owned this ancient pile of stones. So it was up to him to see that it was taken care of.  Which he had been doing a horrible job of. If it wasn't for the small family of House elves he inherited from his father, his mother, and her great-granduncles’s line, the place would be rotting from the inside out. Still he had imagined that someday he would move back in when he was ready to raise a family.     

Yet he knew with Penny things might be different.

His thoughts were pushed aside by the sheer fact she was just so impressed by everything. It gave him such pride. Even the ancient toilet that his parents never felt the need to upgrade with more modern Muggle technology seemed to bring joy to her eyes. He could not help but smile.  Donn loved holding her close to him and he wanted to do more than just hold her, but she had a point. They were losing light. The sun set early in Scotland and he would not be a good host if he did not show her enough of the castle to get some barring if she needed something when he was not around. 

He stole a quick kiss from her natural mauve colored lips, before taking her hand and leading her back through the Great room. Just pass a screened wall they go to a great oak front door. “This is the main door. I'll give you a tour of the land tomorrow. For now, you might get a better orientated if we go out side real quick and see the castle form the courtyard.” 

Like most of the castle the doors were built for security and to withstand the siege of the largest of beast or mob of man. It took both his arms to get the great heavy door open and exposed an opening big enough for a horse. The cool crisp coastal air would have had stung more but for the keeps far wall blocks the direct winds.  "From out here I'll show you where everything is, then I’ll bring you around the main rooms." He helped Penny walked down the ice covered wide keep stairs to the center of the bare snow covered Courtyard. If there was anything still growing in the courtyard it  lay dormant under the Christmas snow.

He stopped her near a well at  the center of the convex quadrilateral  court yard to let her look up at the horse shoe shape cluster of large square and rectangular buildings and one tall tower. He pointed at the center one they just exited from. “As you know, that is the keep. Their it holds the master rooms above and I believe was the oldest structure. Next to it my parents built their library, the top functions as astronomy tower.” He pointed to an octagon tower that dominates the skyline. “It is windy up there but it has great views. Next to it is the north wing in has three bedrooms and below it the dungeons and stable master quarters, if we had one.” He corrected before continuing directing her to the opposite side of the courtyard. “The tall small building on the other side of the keep is the Kitchen. Below it and the Keep is a series of connecting cellars and storage rooms and my mothers old lab. Above the kitchen is the south suite. It is the warmest place in the… ”

Donn stopped as a set of booming barks came from the direction of the kitchen just before two tall four leg forms streaked out of a door under the kitchen area. Donn got out his wand and stepped in front of Penny. He was able to stun one of the beast but the other one jumped onto Donn's shoulders knocking into the snow. “Off, off. Penny this is Carlyle and that is Clyde … my late parents dogs. I am afraid they missed me.”

With the introduction Carlyle got off Donn and addressed Penny.  He jumped up to put his front paws on her shoulders, but was only halted by Donn who barked a command in Gaelic. Once to his feet he un-stunned Clyde and managed to grab the grey faced Scottish Hound dog’s collar. He attempted to only allow one dog to assault Penny at a time.  “Lets get them back inside.”

Donn whistled and the Dogs ran to his heels nipping at each other with excitement, as he walked across the courtyard to the door slightly ajar below the kitchen. It was then he noticed a pair amber eyes looking out from the dark opening. “Nanna! Come out here and greet our guest.”

The eyes blink once as with disbelief and a very grumpy wrinkly house elves whose ears looked like they wear almost completely deflated stepped out. She was mumbling something almost nearly incoherent but a few words were picked up. “... beasties should torn... Filthy Mudblood spawn to pieces. ...soiling my mistresses sheets… ugley mud.. bring dirty blood home....”

Donn gave his wand a sudden jerk and the elf grabbed her throat and seemed to continued to talk but no additional words escaped her lips. Donn growled at her as he marched closer trying to shorten the gap between them so Penny might not hear. “You will NOT disrespect my guest OR make her feel uncomfortable in any way you understand? Go, get the other elves and  have them meet us in the kitchen.” 

The dogs sensing tension barked at the elf but did not dare come to near to the magical creature. The wrinkled old female elf gave a cold stare at Penny before sliding her eyes to Donn before giving a nod and disappearing with a snap.

Donn turned to Penny, he waited. Letting her catch up to him, so he could put a protective arm over her. He kissed her head and tried to explain as they entered the kitchen entrance before making their way up the stairs, “Don’t mind her she is … old. I am afraid she was that way when she raised my mother. The other house elves will be a lot more friendly. Well the younger ones don’t have manors yet, but they are that way with everyone. I will make them behave themselves too.”

Penny felt warm with emotion towards Donn as he kissed her and they resumed their tour. Earlier in their relationship he might pout, and try to get her into bed anyway. Penny was flattered that he found her so attractive, of course, but she was even more flattered that he continued to date her for more than the carnal pleasure in their relationship. She took his hand as they walked around, pleased at the warmth she felt radiating between them.

Penny had to hold back a gasp as they walked outside. She had forgotten quite how beautiful Scotland in the winters could be. Everything was blanketed by snow that was still falling softly around them. The light was also falling fast around them, casting the blue light of twilight on their skins. Penny listened intently as Donn explained what each part of the building in front of them was. Ever since Unspeakable training it was a habit of Penny’s to immediately take stock of any building she’s in, noting directions and potential exits. Penny thought it was romantic how Donn referred to his parents building their library together. She wanted to be with someone with whom she could build a library with. Briefly she wondered if Donn could be that person; would they live in this castle, and build their own library adjacent to his parents? Penny was just imagining how warm it would be in there when she heard barking coming from across the way.

Penny drew out her wand immediately, but relaxed to see that these dogs seemed to know Donn, and their barking was not aggression, rather exuberance at the return of their master. She allowed the dogs to expression their excitement by jumping on her, as she dug her heels into the ground to stop from toppling over. The way they jumped on her with their tails wagging and their tongues lolling rather reminded Penny of Donn when he got excited. She laughed at the thought, and scritched the dogs behind their ears.

“You’re a good boy, aren’t you?” She said, as the dog (was it Clyde, or Carlyle?) squinted his eyes in contentment. Penny was impressed with the way the dogs immediately heeded Donn’s command to follow him. Then again, he was their master. Just like he was the master of this keep, and of the house elves that kept it. Would she become just another thing Donn was master of? The idea sickened her slightly, but Donn hadn’t given any indication that he was as old fashioned in his relationships as he was about other things. Penny wondered how the relationship between his mother and father had been, before his father had been sent away.

As Donn called out to someone, Penny whipped her head around to see who else was with them. Ah, house elf, of course. This was why Penny didn’t like house elves. They were always close by, always watching, always….judging….

Penny took the insults hurled at her with grace, although inside she was seething. Of course she had been silly to think that she belonged with a man like Donn, in a castle like this. Well of course she didn’t if she would allow something as silly as words to faze her. No, she would not allow Donn to see how these words bothered her. She would not give him reason to believe them.

Instead, Penny put on her haughtiest voice (channeling the persona of a wealthy Pureblood heiress), and addressed the old, saggy elf. Sure, Donn had reprimanded her, but she wanted both the elf, and more importantly Donn, to see that she didn’t take such things lying down.

“I may not have been graced with the customs of a great name like Bane, but if I am not mistaken, a good elf should serve their master with manners and grace, and that extends to invited guests of the master, of which I am one.” She sort of wanted to vomit at the sound of her own voice, but it was fun to play the part.

Penny was relieved when the pathetic old elf disappeared, and suddenly she wanted to be close to Donn. To erase any doubts she imagined he might have. Even so, she didn’t quite buy his explanations. Sure, the other house olds might be more friendly, but didn’t they have the same prejudices? Maybe they wouldn’t say it to her face, but they still thought it. Donn said he didn’t hold the same prejudices, but how could she be sure, if this was how he grew up? Clearly his mother had grown up with those prejudices, if this was the elf that raised her.

“It’s….fine. I just wonder…” If your mother would think the same thing about me was what Penny wanted to ask. But in their very first date Penny had promised that she wouldn’t blame him for the transgressions of his parents, and she didn’t think it would be fair of her to challenge him based on what his dead mother might or might not have said.

“…If a house elves’ magic includes sensing someone’s blood status? Or have you been talking about me to your elves?”

Carlyle and then Clyde took their turn harassing Penny and to Donn's amazement she seemed to love it. In some ways Penny was similar to his mother; passionate, beautiful and amazingly brilliant. In other ways they were completely different.  His mother had always demanded total control over the two dogs, to a point  they would not dare jump on her and guarded her with their life. The truth was his mother never showed any affection unless it was over something she achieved. Instead Penny's passion extended well beyond books, passed her few personal achievements, and somehow found Donn. She unknowingly gave him affection he never had. Over the last month Donn had lapped up every drop like a dog who finally given gravy of a roast he been smelling for hours. Oh,how he wanted her; her heart, her love and her passion. He thought she felt the same way about him.

His plan was to show her the cellars and the kitchen maybe the gardens before she got lost in the Library. He knew at that point he will have to use every method of distraction to get her out of there to have dinner or even get her up stairs in time to do something fun in bed. So when the Nanna showed up, he thought it might be good to finally introduce her to the elves. Yet he forgot about Nanna’s attitude to half bloods and muggle spawn.

The old bat was older then most house elves he knew. She had raised nearly 150 years of generations of the Bane children. It was a task seemed to make her more bitter and more nasty with every generation. Still Nanna and Donn’s mother seemed to get along which was why she was given to his mother. No one would trust their bairns to her. Thankfully she had not completely raised Donn. The castle had come with one middle age male elf who took pity on the small blond boy and saw that his needs were met.

Donn knew that Nanna’s desecration of Penny and social background, was likely aggravated by her frustrations over Rosaline Bane's recent Marriage. Which him and only a few of the family knew that would not have met with Pureblood social standards. Still, he did not think Nanna would have said that to his guest, in his house. Apparently Donn had been gone to long and Nanna had forgotten just who was the new master of the castle.

Donn turned to Penny as she started to talk. He was hoping she wouldn't have caught much if any of the old crazy elf’s rantings, but she did. Yet what came out of her mouth shocked Donn. At first he thought it was a joke. She was using accent and words so not her own. Then it sent a sudden shiver up the wizard’s spine. When she concluded he realized why he thought it so disturbing. It was as if his mother was reborn into a witch with a high class London accent. Donn forced a uncomfortable laugh.

They continued into the service entrance to the castle. Once inside, he shut the door to the cold outside air.  On either side of the room connected the cellars and storeroom. A set of stairs on the opposite wall leads to the kitchen above. In the corner just clear of the underside of the stairs was a door which held a window that streamed in the cool winter light into the otherwise dim stone room. The garden supplies on the wall near it, allude to what was beyond the door. Donn hisitated in the room while he addressed her concern. He let his hand slid down her back why he looked into her dark brown eyes that looked nearly black in the room's dim light. The castle had always been a safe place for him and he wanted it to also be it for her.  “Elves can tell blood status? No. At least I never heard of it. It seemed like they do at times. I think it's because elves tend to keep a good eye on their masters and who their master’s friends are. I am sure she heard of you form Auly and Isla. They are the pair that I let tend to my flat."

Her face made it clear, that even with her accented rebuttal to the elf, she had been shaken up by the old Elf's hateful comments. He did not want her to be. Both of his hands had trailed down her forearms by now and were holding her hands. He gave them a squeeze. “You know, I want to show you something. I was thinking about showing you later but I think now is the best time.” He said this while he walked pass the baskets and rakes, before opening and guiding her through the garden door. This section of the castle wasn't only protected by the coastal storms but was facing due south. Because of this the garden only had the finest and lightest of layers of snow. Most of the taller plants still had leaves.  Although  beautifully designed it also functions to provide the castle fruit and vegetables through spring and fall and other ground vegetables during winter.

From the garden you get a view of the ancient oaks lining Lugton river way and the rolling scottish hills of Clyde Muirshiel beyond. He let her check out the view of the countryside without interruption . Yet it was not the view he wanted to show her. So after she got her fill, he led her to a bench near the centerpiece of the garden. He brushed off the snow with his gloved hand directed her to sit on it, facing not the view but centerpiece, which consisted of a raised round bed. In the bed stood a single glass jar protecting a long stemmed lavender rose sprouting with bright new leaves. He took the seat next to her and studied her beautiful profile as she looked at it.

“It was the one you left in my apartment, after the first night we had together.”  He had clarified, but he realized he didn't need to. Still he needed to explain. “Auly and Isla, are the ones that decided to plant it for you. I did tell them I wanted to keep it, but I expected that they would dry it. Instead they did this. I think they really liked you. They saw how you make me feel and I guess they knew or at least hoped I'll take you home to Glengarnock.”

Penny marveled at how warm the inside of the castle was, despite the cold wind outside, and despite the large stones that made up the castle that looked like they would retain cold. Her question to Donn had been somewhat rhetorical. She didn’t pretend to be an expert on house elf magic, but as far as she knew they did not possess such powers. His response left her frustrated. Sure, the old elf might have heard of her blood status from the younger elves, but why did they know? Why was her blood status the stuff of conversation to begin with? These were questions that she was sure Donn wouldn’t understand. For him it was probably as natural as asking someone’s occupation. That was not how Penny led her life. She didn’t make a habit of asking people she met what their blood status was, nor would she care about their response. But did Donn care? It had been one of the first questions he asked her, even before their first date, yet despite her answer he agreed to the date anyway. And another, and another. And here he was, bringing her to his ancestral home. As she mused over these thoughts, Penny remained silent, not quite wanting to get into it with him. This was supposed to be a fun vacation, and she didn’t want it devolving into an argument about blood supremacy.

She could tell too, that Donn was still feeling bad about the sour encounter. She supposed she could forgive him; after all, he was clearly trying to move beyond some of his family traditions, and maybe she was a part of that. How could she fault him for it? She took took his arm, and followed him past the garden paraphernalia, ready to see what it is he wanted to show her.

As they went through the door, she almost didn’t realize that they had stepped outside. Sure, it was a bit colder than the the previous room, but there wasn’t blankets of snow on the ground, and the area seemed to be sheltered from the wild wind they had felt in the front of the property. The light dusting of snow on the ground, however, told Penny that they were indeed outside.

“This is brilliant!” She said truthfully, “A genius idea; I bet that this garden here would keep the castle from starving in the winter” She mused. For here there were plants that weren’t completely frozen over. She figured it was probably quite rare in those parts to have such a garden, and Penny marveled at the ingenuity of Donn’s ancestors.

Penny walked through the garden to get a better look at the sweeping view in front of them. The rolling Scottish hills were completely covered in snow that almost glowed a light blue in the twilight. It was the kind of view that would be breathtaking in any season, and any time of day.

“This is all so beautiful. Careful; I’m not quite sure I’ll want to leave” She joked lightly.

Penny followed Donn to a bench at the center of the garden, as her eye immediately caught the glass jar in the center of the raised garden bed. The glass was spotless, and within it was a beautiful lavender rose, new petals sprouting from its long, green stem. Her breath caught in her throat. It was the rose from the bouquet Donn had given her their very first date. She had meant to take it home with her, but had left it at his apartment. The rest of the bouquet in her room had long wilted and been thrown out, but she was touched that he had kept his memory of their first meeting.

Penny leaned into Donn’s side, letting him explain as she sorted through her emotions. She was feeling some kind of emotion that she couldn’t quite explain; all she knew was that it threatened to completely take over, as she felt her chest expand with it. She pushed it away, frightened by its intensity, and focused on other emotions. She was happy that those two house elves, at least, seemed to like her, and happy that she was here with Donn. Behind all of that, however, she was still holding on to the old elf’s words, and Donn’s response to them.

“You make me feel like that rose, there.” She said, pointing to the delicate flower. “When I’m with you I feel unique, protected, cherished.”

She paused for a moment, thinking through her next words. “But sometimes I feel like I don’t belong in your world. We were raised very differently. I can’t understand why my blood status would ever come up in a conversation, and I’m sure you can’t understand why it wouldn’t. I didn’t grow up learning the importance of certain social graces, and I’m not used to things like castles, and house elves…But I want to learn. I want to be a part of your life, but I just ask that you try and understand my world too.”