Pirates and Dragons

okay, so this is my first. i will finish the story if at least one person reviews. I already have six chapters, so i am really going to finish the story. one chapter a day and then after i run out one a week!

Please Read and Review!

Chapter One.

Captains

I just entered the great hall and sat down between my two best friends at the gryffindor table; Harry Potter, the boy who lived and defeated the dark lord, Lord Voldemort, and Ronald Weasley, the one who was at his side though and though the battle, and my other close friends, Susan Bones, a hufflepuff who always sat at the gryffindor table with us, seeing has she has no other friends in hufflepuff, which is a shame. She's really a smart one. Beside her, Seamus Finnagan, a fellow gryffindor, Dean Tomas, also a , Danial Markosion, a Ravenclaw, and Ginny, Ron's sister and only female in the group other then me and Susan, and also my best female friend, even if she's a year younger. The eight of us were a fine group of friends, that even Draco Malfoy sometimes got jealous of, I think. I chanced a looked over at the slytherin table. Not the best idea. He was talking to his best mate, Blaise Zambini, and laughing intently. Listening hard I heard a few words, "I wonder why they still let her in, I mean, she's not even a witch, just a hippogriff, beaver, and elephant mixed in together!" I knew they were talking of me. Blaise only half-laughed. I always found this strange. While Draco has always been a pain in the bum, Blaise never seemed to like to talk much about anything. I wonder how they could be friends. I mean, they are like dark and light, two completely different things. Pansy Parkinson turned around and saw me looking into nothing, lost in my thoughts, my head turned toward the slytherin table. I must've looked so stupid, just looking at them. "Ohhh, look! Granger's dreaming of sitting here!" She shouted to the others. Draco's team consist of Blaise Zambini and Theodore Nott, known also has Theo, those are his best friends, and then there's Pansy Parkinson, his annoying girlfriend - who made sure the whole school knew it -, Marietta Edgecome, Crabbe and Goyle – I never did learn their full names - , Marcus Flint, Adrian Pucey, Millicent Bulstrode, Terrence Higgs, Malcolm Baddock, Morag MacDougal, Daphne Clearwater, Carlisle Warrington, and John Tomk. The Fourteen of them always sat together, but rarely talked to each other other then to laugh or make fun of them or someone outside the group. "Yes, I see your point!" John stated.

"Hey Mudblood, were you born that way, or did you do that to yourself to try to improve your looks? I can see you at least did the later!"

He laughed. I turned back to my friends. Blaise was silent, not because he wanted to keep out, but because that's what he usually did. "Don't worry, Hermione, you don't look to bad." Ron said to me, noticing were I was looking, but as he did, Lucius Malfoy, Death Eater said to have changed and father of my and all my friends mortal enemy, walked - no, more of a stride - up next to Mcgonagall, the new headmistress after Dumbledore passed.

"Now, welcome back to Hogwarts, all new, and all older. I have some announcements to make, and I expect you all to read them all." She said has soon has the sorting and feast ended. Lucius just looked on, almost has if he was watching her daring a test, and I should know, considering Ron and Harry look over my shoulder every second of a test, too. But why read? That's odd. Mcgonagall waved her wand in a odd sort of turn and flick, and hundreds of parchments floated over the tables, landing so one got to each student. Dumbledore always said the announcements out loud, but I know Mcgonagall was doing the best she could. After all, Dumbledore was an odd headmaster. The page read:

ANNOUNCEMENTS

First, no school for those in the fourth and up years.

Second, see Filch for his usual rules, all first years.

Third, no headboy or girl will be assigned this year.

All fourth and older will get another year when this

new activity is over.

That is all,

Headmistress of Hogwarts,

Mcgonagall

I thought over this for a moment. New activity? No headboy or girl? I had thought that when no headgirl badge came with my letter before term that I was just not picked, but at least I'll have another chance next year. Muttering broke out as soon as the last student finished reading the announcements. "Oi, Hermione, what do you think the 'New activity's' are?"

New books and new classes? Even better, new library and more classes?

"I don't know. Hopefully some more subjects." Ron gave me a exasperated look. "Honest, Hermione, your hopeless."

Hopeless? Hopeless? And just what do you mean by that, Ronald?

Of course I didn't say this out loud, but that was the last thought I thought of the matter because Lucius suddenly stepped forward, has if on cue, and looking very high and mighty like he owned the place. I see where Draco got it. Draco stiffened, a look of hatred in his eye that caught me by surprise. But only momentary. I quickly recovered, though, because Lucius was now pointing his wand at his throat, a signal as clear as in the muggle world when a man or women puts a microphone to their lips that someone is going to talk. All silenced.

"Welcome, as Professor Mcgonagall has stated, to Hogwarts all. I'm sure your aware of new events taking place for over this term." He said in a cold, almost frozen voice. I shuttered. "Hermione, what's the matter?" Dean asked. He had obviously seen this. "Oh, its nothing. Just that voice makes me want to throw up last years meal." I whispered back. "Hermione? Telling a joke? You've changed!" Ron looked at me in wonder, as if I had just turned into a chocolate frog. "Yes, well, over the summer you tend to do that, Ronald. Not the same with you, I see." I replied, looking at him from toe to head to face. Harry leaned over to whispered to Ron. "Nope, still Hermione." I gave him a 'shut up now or I'll hex you to tomorrow' look, and he quickly did so. "Whoa, Hermione. I was just kidding No need to give me the death stare."

"Sorry, it's just I'm a little tense right now. I never did find my parents" I don't want to talk about it, but since your might be wondering, before I agreed to help Harry defeat Lord Voldemort, I sent my parents to Africa, and they no longer know I exist. Its really weird. I lived at the Borrow for some time last summer, and now that I'm of age I will hopefully find my own home to live in, maybe find my love - yes, I have a crush on Ron, but I don't know about love. He never seemed to care, really - and marry and have a family. Maybe. But I never thought to far off at this.

"Students, quiet down. Now, I have set up a sort of game in celebration of the Dark Lord's defeat. A game much like life. You all under 14 are dismissed." Mcgonagall shot him a angry glare. "That is, if

Professor Mcgonagall has no more to say?" He asked, one blond eyebrow raised. Professor Mcgonagall looked mad beyond what I have ever seen her, but remained in a falsely claim state, for the sake of the school. I reckon that the look she gave him will give first years nightmares for years. I was surprised that Mister Malfoy did not burst into flames by the intensity of her glare. "No, it is not all, Mister Malfoy. Good evening." She nodded has he passed her and sat in a chair beside Hagrid at the teachers table, and he looks extremely out-of-place looking beside the giant of a man. Or whether, Hagrid looked it beside the other teachers. But Lucius still looks out of place, to me.

"Now, has I said before, first years, before you leave the great hall go to Filch, who's in that corner," She gestured over beside the great hall's two double door's, "And he will give you all the rules on a sheet. One will also be put up in the gryffindor, hufflepuff, ravenclaw, and slytherin commenrooms. First to third years may and please leave, all others stay. And Mister Malfoy, just because you payed half the money used to repair this castle after the war does not mean you own it. Thank you." She said with anger. Just what he deserves. Ron was sniggering and I elbowed him good-naturally "What? Did you see the look on his face! Set him right!" I couldn't suppress a giggle.

"Okay, so it did. But -" I never finished this, because again, has if on cue, Lucius Malfoy walked back up to the front of the great hall. I thought I saw the slightest down-turn in Mcgonagall lib's. I never would have admitted it then, but I did look somewhat beautiful. Over the summer only my hair seemed to have changed. It was still bushy and untamed, but it fell to the middle of my back now, and my lips were red and full, and my figure more curvy and tall, more grown like, but not to much. I almost never wore makeup, not that I needed it.

Okay, back to present

The first - third were gone, and the great hall was mostly empty. Okay, so more empty.

"This game has no name, and it has been a way of Hogwarts for over 2000 years, and it takes place a year or so after a great historical event has taken place, like the downfall of the Lord Voldemort. This game is based off of the Golden Age of Pirates. There will be explorers, commoners, and pirates. Explorers will serve the King, who will send them out to find new islands to have towns on. The more towns the explorers has founded, the more wealthy he or she is and the more power the king has. The commoners live in these islands, sometimes having to take a ship to get to newly discovered homes. The first town is Astering, not exactly small since it is the capital, but will grow with time. The king decides who goes where, and other wizarding schools are to be playing also, more coming then for the tri-wizard cup, so it is needless to say exactly whom. You will meet them soon enough. The commoners have different jobs they will be assigned to. Some will be farmers, some shop keepers, others will work in the palace. The king sometimes can decide to change the jobs if needed. Now, the pirates will raid small towns and attack ships of other pirates and the king's royal fleets. They will live mostly on the sea, and like commoners, they will have tasks and some will be of higher standards then others. Captain is the highest potion. They can kill and take privileges from the other pirates. But this also gives danger. In sea battles other pirates will come for the captain first, for if the captain is killed or somehow captured, the battle is won, the ship and treasure lost. Each person has three life's, so if you die three times, you are out and have to spend the rest of the year at Hogwarts normally. I have chosen your potions on the fleets, towns, or ships. But only the goblet will decide where you go." I was wondering what goblet he was talking of when he suddenly - he seems to do things suddenly - swished his wand the famous Goblet of Fire appeared.

"Step up, one at a time, and cross this line. It will then shoot your name and potion"

A line was formed, but only Draco was confident enough to go first, and low-and-behold, Pirate Captain shoots out. Like that's a surprise. I thought he would be a king, but the goblet didn't seem to deem him worth. I wonder why. I was near the middle, behind Ron and in front of Harry. After Ron's turn finally came up - he was an explorer - I was next. I felt sooo nervous. After what seemed an eternity, my name shoots out.

Hermione Granger:

Crew Pirate for Draco Malfoy.

No! No, no, no, no, no!

Draco was sniggering and Pucey was patting him on the back. I looked around at Harry, but he looked has displeased has me, but only because he got potion has a royal stable boy. Finally, I huffed and walked over the other side of the room, where the pirates stood. I should have known that Lucius would chose me, a lowly mudblood, to be servant to someone like Draco. Susan had been sorted their too, but so had Blaise Zambini and Theodore Nott, along with Daphne Clearwater, John Tomk, Pansy Parkinson and another ravenclaw I hadn't known. Before all had been sorted, Dean and Seamus, and Daniel had also been sorted to obey Malfoy, too. Lucky us. The rest of the crew would be from the other schools. All were finally sorted, and Mcgonagall sat up again, apparently to say something.

"Good, all sorted? Good. Explorers and Pirates will have the same ships, but can change or add or take off to personalize the ship. Names must be carved either by magic or hand into the side of the ships. Once you enter this new world, no definitive spells will be enabled. Only ones that fix things like ships - though if you crash it will not - and summoning charms. No healing, has that would be cheating, and no blocking spells or spell from the dark arts, also considered cheating. If the pirates are caught by the guards of either explorers or royal or other, they will be taken to the prison to await the game out. Each pirate ship will get a small treasure, and in order for the pirates to win, they must have all 30 treasures When a pirate captain is caught, the treasure is not worth anything, so it will be up to the remaining crew to decide a new captain and treasure. For the explorers to win, they have have to discover all of the islands, and most will already be populated by pirates, who can claim an undiscovered island, so they have to win against the pirates, also, and other explorers. Commoners win if their King catches all the pirates, so they must work together to supply food and clean drinking water and rest for all of the towns. When you get to your new world, other schools will have gotten there too. There will be teachers there who will help you learn skills. One will be assigned for each ship, and five for each town. They will teach you how to farm, tend your shops, or other skills needed, such has blacksmith and others. For the ships it will teach all the crew and the captain to fight, mostly with pistols and muskets, but also some with swords. Understood? Good." Professor Mcgonagall flicked her wand, and before I or anyone could ask more, we were gone.

A second later, maybe less time, we all - all those said to be Draco's crew - were on a dock of some kind, facing about 15 ships. "What'a you thing we're doing here?" Seamus asked me, but I was looking at our cloths. I was in a shirt of some kind that was rather puffy and it showed some of my belly, and I was wearing black pants similar to the ones in my books of famous pirates I've read. "Okay, how did we change into theses?" Pansy whinnied behind me. "I think its something to do with the game, maybe a Disio Armardo spell. Or maybe.." I trailed off, and for a good reason.

"Wow..." The ships behind us were the most beautiful things I think I ever seen, though they were plain. "Ohhh, these are sooo ugly! Drakie, can you fix them?" I had forgot about the witless wonderboy. "Yes. Uh, which one is mine?" We all eyed him. "Okay, okay, ours." I huffed. "Gee, Malfoy, didn't know that word was in your spelling!" Seamus laughed. I couldn't help but laugh too, but wished I didn't at that second "You, Granger, go find out which ship goes to who." ( Sigh ) "Now, now, Drakie, no need to go around abusing your place has captain before you even set off, now is there?" I spun around, along with all the others, to try to find the mysterious voice. Then I remembered.