Chapter 2 - Settling In

Previously:

He smirked, "That was impressive, and now for a very important question luv...would ye happen to be able to conjure up a nice bottle of rum? I seem to have run out of it." He gestured to the empty bottle he had slipped out of his belt.

Jack Sparrow sat in the Headmasters office, an impatient look upon his face as he waited for the man to speak. His hands kept drifting to his belt, wanting a swig of rum which he currently had none of. The little minx wouldn't conjure one up for him, he knew she could do it, at least he hoped that having magic meant you could do that sort of thing. His mind continued to drift, wondering just what kind of mess he had gotten himself into this time when a cough broke through his thoughts. He looked up to see the humorous eyes of the headmaster staring at him, about to speak.

"I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School for..."

"Miss Granger explained everything to me." Jack cut in, desperate to leave so he could find a bottle of rum somewhere in this massive school.

Albus smirked at the younger man and continued as though he wasn't just interrupted.

"Well given your age and background I have decided to place you on staff as a fellow professor." Albus said.

"A professor? What will ye be having me teach?" His nose crinkled in displeasure at the idea of becoming a teacher, the idea of attending school had horrified him as a child, now he was to become a teacher?

"Muggle Studies seeing as you come from a muggle background. Meanwhile, as you get settled in here, Minerva and I shall be working on getting you back to the right time."

Jack nodded in understanding, his eyes darting to the older woman who graced him with a firm smile as the old man proceeded in flooing Miss Granger. "Hello Mr. Sparrow, I am Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Transfigurations Professor." She stuck out her hand to shake his own.

He grasped her hand firmly and shook it before giving her a questioning look, "Deputy Headmistress? Transfiguration?"

"Oh I'm sorry, I forgot you aren't familiar with...erm...this time." With that, Minerva went on to explain everything there was to know about Hogwarts, magical people, the difference between muggles, muggleborns, squids, purebloods, and halfbloods. As she went into detail, Albus walked over to the door to his office, swinging it open to reveal one Hermione Granger. The young witch strode in, taking a seat next to Jack as Albus went to his own chair behind his desk.

Hermione struggled not to laugh at the pirates look of concentration upon his face as his took in everything the professor was telling him, Hermione knew the older witch was practically quoting pages out of Hogwarts A History, she would know since it was one of her favorite books to read.

Albus patiently waited until his colleague was through speaking before he turned to Hermione, "May I borrow your time turner?"

She nodded her head and unfastened the chain around her neck, dropping the necklace in his hand.

"I shall give it back to you soon but for now I wish to use it to test some theories on getting Mr. Sparrow back to his own time." He explained, noticing the questioning look in her brown eyes.

"That's fine professor, whatever it takes."

"Thank you Miss Granger, now I trust you to show our new guest to his rooms." With that said Albus made his way around his desk, sitting down in his chair, signaling the end of the discussion.

She nodded before standing up, Jack doing the same, following her out of the Headmasters office.

Jack was having the time of his life and it was only his first day in this strange new world. At first he thought he'd be homesick from being on land rather than at sea but everything was so different here, offering a very appealing distraction for him. From moving portraits to talking suits of armor to little goblin like creatures called house elves whom served your every whim. He could defiantly get used to this. He mused over the difference between this time and his own time, completely consumed in his thoughts before the young woman walking next to him broke him out of his train of thinking.

She had beside the captain in silence, millions of questing racing through her mind, desperately wanting to ask him about his life, the time he lived in, his obvious pirate lifestyle which she still couldn't understand for some reason. She voiced this out loud, "So you really are pirate?"

"I am." Jack replied, pulling up the sleeve of his shirt, a branded P stood out on his tan skin. "Was branded by the head of the royal navy, Cutler Beckett."

Hermione's eyes widened in horror; images of his arm being burned by a brand flowing through her mind. "I'm sorry, that must have been terrible."

Jack grimaced at those words...

Must have been terrible for you Jack... The familiar words of one Elizabeth Swann echoed through his head. Thinking back on the day he'd been marooned with her made his chest tighten painfully.

Hermione noticed the haunted expression on the pirate captain's face.

She silently wondered what she said to bring on such a sad expression, tucking a stray hair behind her ear as they walked towards the newly appointed professor's rooms in an awkward silence.

Passing through the corridors, they stopped at a large arched painting. Hermione pulled her wand out and quietly unwarded the entrance.

Jack watched her in awe as she moved the stick they referred to as a wand gracefully over said painting, eyebrow raised in question. He knew that if she had been back in his time, she'd have been burned at the stake or worse for being a witch, everyone here at this magical school would have suffered that fate. He shuddered, realizing that perhaps he and this strange witch had more in common than he thought. After all, he was a wanted man; the fact that he was a pirate made him a prim candidate for a hanging by the noose.

"You can go in now." The young woman's voice cut through his thoughts, "I have it set to accept whatever password you choose. All you have to do is tell the portrait and she'll open the door for you once you've spoken the password, you can also set it to where no one can enter but you."

He nodded in understanding as he looked up at the painting, "So once I give it a password then the painting will open right?"

She nodded back in response.

A black female panther sauntered up towards the new inhabitant of the newly furnished room, "Password?" She purred.

Jack thought for a moment before replying, "Pirate."

The panther stepped back, swinging its portrait open to reveal a door behind it. Jack stepped forward, opening the door and allowing Hermione to go first. He followed behind, taking in every inch of his new rooms.

"One very important feature of this room is the fireplace Jack; did professor McGonagall explain to you what it does?"

"Something about a floo network set up to be able to transport me self wherever I need to go, all I needed to do was say the name of the person I wanted to see and step through the flame with floo powder."

"Correct, you can also just communicate kind of like being on the telephone except you can actually see the other person you are talking to without ever leaving your rooms." She smiled at him.

Jack smirked, "I think I'm gonna like it here with ye."

"I hope so; the headmaster wants you to be comfortable until he finds a way to send you back home."

"Aye, home."

"Well I'll leave you to your room's sir." Hermione turned to leave.

"It's Jack luv." He reminded her once more, a devilish grin upon his face as she blushed and nodded before walking out of his rooms. Oh yes, he was defiantly going to like it here.

Later that day…..

Everyone sat in the great hall, excited talking taking over the large room. Students whispered and giggled, pointed and stared, blushed and laughed over the newcomer sitting at the head table with the rest of the teachers, many of them all curious as to who he could be.

Hermione sat in between her Harry and Ginny as usual, Ginny giggling over the rugged face of one Jack Sparrow. Ron sat in front of them, devouring the meal before them with no class whatsoever, chicken pieces flying everywhere as he spoke though chewing, "Oi so this is the bloke you saved is it?"

Hermione nodded, "He is, his name is Jack Sparrow and he isn't from around here. Oh and Ron do learn to swallow your food before talking." She scolded him, a disgusted look upon her face.

"He looks like an interesting fellow Hermione, what is he going to be teaching?" Harry inquired as he helped himself to some food.

"Muggle studies."

"He's ever so sexy." Ginny whispered in her ear.

Hermione groaned, rolling her eyes once more at her friend. Before she had the chance to reply, the Headmaster stood from his seat, calling everyone to attention at the front of the room.

Jack sat up at the head table, seated in-between a little man whom reminded him vaguely of his crew member Marty, named Filius Flitwick and Minerva. He watched as Albus stood from his chair at the center of the table, welcoming everyone back to another year at Hogwarts. As he spoke, Jack looked down at his belt, unlatching the compass that hung from it.

Slowly, he opened it, curious as to where the arrow would point in this time. He opened the compass, watching as the needle spun wildly, thinking of what he wanted most in this world….to find that blasted fountain of youth, he was sure of it. Just as he was beginning to think that the needle would point to nothing seeing as the thing he wanted most was in another time, the needle stopped abruptly, pointing towards the table. He followed the arrow with his eyes, looking up past the table. He saw Hermione Granger sitting in front, talking amongst her friends; he glanced back down at his compass and looked back up. Sure enough, the blasted thing seemed to point right at her. It couldn't be right, surely she couldn't be what he wanted most, he barely knew her for bloody sake!

She's cute, ye know ye like her…she saved yer life savvy

Shut it you, I dom't like the las; I barely even know her….he argued with himself in his head

"…introduce you to the new muggle studies professor, Professor Jack Sparrow." The pirate barely registered his own name being called out from the headmaster, all eyes glued on him.

With a sly smirk, he stood from the table, tipping his worn hat towards his audience in a warm greeting,

A few catcalls were made from the sea of students along with a few whistles; it seemed he would be quite popular amongst the people of this time.

Albus smiled before continuing, "Thank you Professor Sparrow. Now as usual the forbidden forest is indeed strictly forbidden; Hogsmeade trips shall be starting up this weekend and you must of course have permission to…."

Jack sat back down, listening intently to the old man; forbidden forest, his interest heightened, he had so many questions which would have to be put on hold for now. He felt a pang of longing for the sea, its salty air and gusting winds calling to him; teasing him. He shut his eyes momentarily picturing himself at sea behind the captain's wheel, barking out orders to his crew. His braided hair blowing in the wind, the waves lapping against his ship, Hermione standing….his thoughts came to an abrupt halt….Hermione? Why on earth was he thinking of her like that again?

A/N: Sorry it took me so long to post another chapter; I was busy with school and work, should be updating twice or even three times a week now. I hope ya'll like it, read and review please hehe. Thanks.