A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment #8 Criminology Task #3: MO (Modus Opperandi): Write about someone doing something in a specific way.

Word Count: 5065

The storm raged above the waves. Ginny sighed happily watching as the waves pitched and the world tossed and turned. She loved storms, loved swimming in the rough waters. She dove down letting the currents send her spiraling through the waters.

She laughed, splashing as she popped her head above the water. The wind whipped at her red hair. She could feel the rain falling on her face. It felt so different from the water of her home. It felt cleaner somehow. It didn't smell of salt. She glanced around watching the waves toss and turn anything that was caught in their grasp.

In the distance, she could see a ship pitch onto its side. She blinked, wondering if she should do something? Humans controlled the ships. According to her father, they were horrible creatures, dark and twisted inside. They couldn't be trusted. They murdered mers without a single thought of remorse. Sighing, she dove back beneath the waves.

Maybe if she swam to where the ship was about to wreck, she might find something interesting, something so completely human she had no idea what it was. She swam with a purpose this time, her tail swishing through the water. Ginny loved mysteries, loved finding things that no one else would think twice about. She'd already found several human items that confused her.

One was a rectangle made with some kind of hide. It opened to reveal sheets of plant matter that had fallen apart the first time she'd dared. She'd been sad at the time, but kept the strange hide part of it on her shelf. The second thing she'd found had been a bit more sturdy at least. It was long, the length of her fore arm, and made of a hard substance. It was round and tapered as it went. It fit in her hand nicely, but she could not fathom what it could be used for. She kept that treasure with her. It was in her bag now.

She swam faster, passing a school of dolphins. Any other time, she might consider racing them. She loved how fast she could glide though the water. This time, she was on a mission though. This time, she wanted to see what she could salvage. She had nearly reached the sinking vessel. She could see humans above her, see their legs moving through the water. She wondered how it was they could swim without tails. They didn't seem to move very fast.

The ship had finally settled on the ocean floor. Ginny swam over, her eyes wide as she looked it over. It was nice to see something that hadn't been eaten away by the salt of her home. She swam inside, marveling at everything. She paused seeing the door to the captain's chamber. The door was closed. She peered through the small round opening. She gasped swimming backwards quickly. There was someone in there. There was a human left on the ship. He would drown if she didn't do something.

"Would it be so bad though?" she asked herself. "Father does say they are evil," she whispered, peering in again. The human was unconscious. Ginny studied him. Studied the way his blond hair floated around his face. She studied the way he looked, how he was dressed. She could see a long object sticking out of his pocket, same as the one she was currently carrying.

Knowing he might have the answers as to what it was, she yanked the door open. The water didn't shift much, but just enough that the human floated towards Ginny. She grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him from the wreckage. She knew humans couldn't breathe under water so she swam faster than she'd ever swam before. Her head broke the water and she yanked the human's head up. He didn't take a breath.

Frowning, Ginny dragged him to the closest beach. She laid him flat on his back and studied him. He was beautiful, with long blond hair. Ginny wasn't sure what to do now that she'd pulled him from the water. He breathed air, how was she supposed to get air into him? She knew humans had lungs, like her own, only his must be filled with water. She pushed down on his chest, admiring the softness of his shirt. She did this a few times, ignoring the squawking of the seagulls above her. Slowly water began to trickle from his mouth. She turned his head letting it pour out. He took a breath, his chest rising and falling. Ginny sighed with relief. He was alive!

"I wish you were awake, I have so much to ask you," she whispered. "What is this? What does it do?" she asked, pulling the item from her bag. She waved it a little, making designs in the sand with it. She sighed, as she sat on the sand next to him, watching the water. She wished she could stay, get the answers to all her questions, but she could feel herself drying out.

She dove back into the water, watching from there. The human moaned, slowly sitting up. Ginny could make out his eyes, they were the same grey blue as the water during a storm. With a sigh, she dove back under the waves. Even if he did have the answers, he was still a human, still dangerous at least according to her father. She was crying as she swam, wishing she could have stayed just a little longer.

Draco stared at the blue sky. Just a moment ago, it had been storming. There had been waves so tall they had encased the ship. The last thing he remembered was being in the captain's cabin, then... blackness. He remembered opening his eyes, seeing the silhouette of a girl, a beautiful girl. She'd smiled at him, he was sure of it. Now, she was gone, maybe he had only dreamed her?

"Draco! Goyle, I found him!"

Draco sat up slowly as he heard his friends voices. Looking around, he realized there were hand prints in the sand next to him. He stared at them. They were too small for his hands. He hadn't been alone! The girl had been real! He realized there were designs drawn in the sand. She must have done those too. He traced the designs with his fingers, wanting to remember every swoop and swirl.

"Draco, come on. We need to get you home," Crabbe stated, pulling Draco to his feet. Draco nodded, his head was spinning from nearly drowning and from thoughts of the girl. He had to find her.

"You have to help me find her," he stated.

"Find who?" Goyle asked.

"The girl, the one who saved me. I was on the ship, I remember it sinking and then I was on the sand. She was the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."

"We didn't see anyone?"

"She must have left, look, she drew these designs on the sand! They must mean something!"

"Sure, we'll help you find her, Draco," Crabbe stated. "Right after you rest and see a healer," he added. "You did almost drown."

"Right, you're right," Draco agreed, allowing Crabbe and Goyle to lead him back to the manor where his family's healer could make sure the water hadn't done any permanent damage to him.

"You did what?!" Arthur screamed, looking at Ginny.

"I watched a shipwreck, Daddy."

"While it was going down?"

"Yes, I wanted to see what happened. I mean, it's not like anyone saw me," Ginny said, with a shrug.

"You could have been hurt, or killed! They're dangerous, Ginny. After what happened to your mum..."

"She was only there because you! Because you wanted to know everything too. Don't deny it!" Ginny yelled. "Your love for the human world got Mum killed and I'm just like you! I want to know everything about them. I have questions, I want to know what things do, how they work. That's why I saved him!" Ginny screamed. Her eyes went wide as she realized what she had just confessed.

"You saved one!"

"He was drowning, Daddy, I mean, I thought, maybe he might be able to answer my questions, since you forbid anyone talking about anything human. I... he... he wasn't like them. He was so... handsome," Ginny whispered.

"You not only saved one of them, but are attracted to him? I'll have this taken care of," he stated, swimming out of the room leaving Ginny alone. She watched him go. Ever since the death of his wife, Arthur had turned hard. It had been his fault, he'd been toying with a human device when it had suddenly released a projectile that had pierced Molly's heart killing her instantly. Ever since then, Ginny's fascination had become forbidden. Human items were not allowed in the house. She'd started keeping her treasures in a cave. In tears, she fled to this refuge.

"Ginny, Dad's yelling again," Percy stated, having already found Ginny's hide out. He was waiting for her.

"It's not... I mean..."

"You did something stupid, very stupid. Almost as stupid as keeping these things here. If he ever found out."

"You won't tell him!" Ginny yelled. Percy shook his head.

"Wouldn't I? I mean, you're breaking his heart with all of this."

"I should be allowed to have my own life, Percy! I'm almost seventeen!"

"And you're still my daughter," Arthur stated, appearing behind Percy. Ginny watched in horror as he destroyed everything in her cave of wonders.

"Now, stop thinking about those humans, unless it's luring one to their deaths. You are not to have anything to do with them or the surface, do I make myself clear?"

Ginny nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Everything she'd ever loved was gone. She sank to the stone floor, tears flowing freely from her eyes. Percy looked at her and shook his head.

"You brought this upon yourself, Gin," he whispered, before following their father back towards their home.

Ginny wasn't sure how long she sat there crying.

"It's not over, you know," a soft voice whispered. "Those were things, replaceable. Your heart... well, you've kind of given that away, now haven't you?" the voice added. Ginny looked around. To her right was a large yellow moon snail. It seemed to be watching her.

"Are you talking to me?" she asked.

"In a way. I just give advice, if you take it, well, that's up to you. I'm Luna, by the way," the snail added.

"What do you mean, I've given away my heart?"

"You love him, the human you saved. You can't stop thinking about him, can you?"

"No," Ginny admitted. "I mean, I can't be in love with someone I've never met. He might be horrible!"

"He might not be. There's really only one way to find out, isn't there?" Luna asked. Ginny paused, thinking about. She didn't want to go home tonight, or any night for that matter.

"Do you know where he lives?" she asked Luna.

"No, but I'm sure you can find him," she stated. Ginny nodded, before taking off through the water. She knew where she'd seen the ship. She knew which way it had been going. Now, she just needed to figure out if it was returning home or heading out somewhere else.

The next morning, Ginny swam back to the ship wreck, searching for anything that might give her an answer as to where to find the human she'd saved. She knew going back to the beach wouldn't yield anything. It had been low tide when she's saved him, the ocean would have come and erased any trace of him and her by this point. Searching every inch of the ship, apparently named The Slytherin, Ginny finally found something useful. She knew it was map, sealed beneath a glass top attached to a table. The water had not been able to penetrate it. She sighed happily, tracing her fingers over the oceans, the land masses. She had never realized there were so many. The closest one had to be where The Slytherin had come from, it was marked with a fancy drawn X. Ginny memorized the map and started out back into the waters. How was she even going to find him? He lived one land, not the water. She couldn't stay out of the water for long. She continued to mull this problem over as she swam. Her memory pulled forth an old story about a sea witch who could do anything, for a price. Ginny blinked, freezing in the water. Could that be the answer? Could she find this sea witch? She searched her memory for every detail. The sea witch lived in the kelp forest where the light never shown to the bottom. Ginny shuddered thinking about that place. She knew where it was, it was near enough she could swim there today. Pushing herself forward, Ginny found the kelp forest and swam inside. The water was dim, and she was sure she saw things moving.

"Hello dearie," a voice said. Ginny looked at the speaker. She had eight long legs, her hair sat on top of her head, her skin was an almost unnatural shade of pink.

"Hello," Ginny whispered, her voice trembling.

"I believe you are looking for me?" the creature asked.

"You're the sea witch?"

"I am! And who might you be?"

"Ginny, just Ginny," Ginny answered, thinking her father would disown her over this, might as well accept that she was no longer, would no longer be Princess Generva.

"Very well, now let's get down to business. What is it you want, dearie?"

"Legs, I want legs, I want to be able to survive on the surface."

"I see, there's a boy, isn't there?" the witch asked, hovering her hand over a large circular pearl, images appearing on its white finish. Ginny could see herself saving him, could see him waking up later.

"Yes," Ginny said, knowing better than to lie.

"I shall give you legs, make you able to walk the surface, but there is a cost."

"Anything!" Ginny exclaimed before she even thought about it.

"Anything? He must mean everything to you then," she laughed. "What I want is simple. I want your voice, you will have three days to get him to kiss you, but not any kiss. No, it must be a kiss of True Love. If you succeed, you will become human forever, and your voice shall be returned."

"What happens if I fail," Ginny asked, knowing she couldn't fail, that she wouldn't fail.

"Then you are mine," the witch hissed, her face contorting to be more squashed, more toad-like. Ginny shivered.

"Do we have a deal then?" she asked, holding out a glowing sheet of parchment and a quill to Ginny. Ginny bit her lip, her entire body trembling, but she grabbed the quill and signed her name on the line. Immediately her entire body felt like it was on fire. Ginny clawed at the water, pushing herself towards the surface. She broke the surface, her chest aching and her legs, her new legs kicking her towards the shore. She collapsed on the sand, tears of pain and joy in her brown eyes. Ginny hadn't even realized how exhausting it would be to swim to the shore. Her legs felt wobbly as she tried to climb to her feet only to end up falling back down on the sand. True to her word, the sea witch had taken Ginny's voice. She couldn't make a sound. Finally standing, Ginny looked around. She could see the ocean behind her. A small tinge formed in her heart when she realized she could never go home.

Draco held up another sheet of parchment.

"This is her! Have you seen her?" he asked the shop attendant.

"No, no I've never seen her," he stated. Draco sighed. He'd been searching for the girl all day. No one had seen anyone like her. He'd even given Crabbe and Goyle images of her, begging them to ask everyone they could find. Draco wandered down toward the beach, staring out at the water.

"Where are you?" he asked, watching the small waves crash against the shore. He was about to head back to the palace when he noticed someone further down the beach. Maybe this person knew the girl? Or had at least seen her? Grabbing his sheet of parchment again, Draco ran across the sand. He reached the lone figure and his mouth nearly dropped open. The girl standing there was beautiful. It only took him a moment to realize she was completely naked.

"Are you alright, Miss?" he asked, sliding off his shirt and handing it to her. She blinked taking it and slowly started putting it on, upside down.

"No, it goes like this," Draco stated, helping her. "What happened to your own clothing?"

The girl just shrugged, giving him a wide eyed look.

Ginny couldn't believe her luck. She'd done it! She'd found him! Now he was standing before her, helping her into this strange garment. She'd never worn clothing before! She marveled at how soft the fabric was, how it moved and flowed as it wasn't stiff with salt.

"Do you have name?"

Ginny nodded, opening her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. She touched her throat suddenly wondering how she was supposed to communicate with him who she was. She noticed the parchment in his hand. She pointed to it.

"Her? This girl saved me from a sinking ship. I'm trying to find her," Draco explained, still unable to stop staring at the girl before him. Ginny frowned at the picture. He had her all wrong! Her hair was red, not dark, and her face wasn't quite right either. Sighing, she pointed to the picture and then to herself. Draco watched her, blinking as if trying to understand. Ginny realized he didn't think she was the girl, but there was no way for her to tell him.

"Are you lost?" Draco asked. Ginny nodded. Yes, she was lost. She no longer had a home. She had no place to stay here.

"Alright, come along. I'll see if I can help you find your way home," he said, reaching out and taking her hand. Ginny blinked as it felt as she'd received a shock. Draco looked down at their hands.

"Interesting, it happens. I'm Draco by the way. What's your name?"

Ginny tried to mouth her name, knowing no sound would come out. Draco didn't seem to understand, but they were already leaving the beach for what appeared to be a small town.

"You're going to need more than just my shirt," he commented. Ginny nodded, noticing how all the human girls were dressed. They stopped by a small shop selling clothing. Draco bought Ginny a blue dress with a large white bow on the back.

"Go ahead and put it on," Draco urged, pushing Ginny gently into a small room with a curtain for a door. She pulled it closed and finally managed to get the dress on. When she stepped out, she could see the expression on Draco's face. She smiled at him, sliding his hand into hers. Three days, she had three days to get Draco to fall in love with her and kiss her.

They walked slowly, Draco talking about the kingdom, his kingdom apparently. They had nearly reached the palace when two guys ran up to Draco.

"Is that her?" one of them asked, looking at Ginny. Draco shook his head.

"No, I found her on the beach, I think she was in a shipwreck," Draco answered.

"Are you sure? Kind of looks like her," the other one said, holding up the parchment. "I mean, she fished you out of the water, maybe your vision was blurry?" he suggested. Draco ignored him, leading Ginny inside. She stood there staring at everything. She had never seen so many human things before, never been inside such a large place before.

"Are you alright?" Draco asked. Ginny nodded, her eyes still taking in everything.

"She acts like she's never seen the inside of a palace before."

"Shut up, Goyle, most girls haven't. Oh, right, Miss, these are my friends, Goyle and Crabbe," Draco introduced.

"You don't even know her name?" Crabbe asked.

"She can't speak," was Draco's only answer.

"Here, Miss, maybe you can write it?" Goyle suggested, handing her a sheet of parchment and a quill. Ginny smiled brightly scribbling her name onto the parchment. She handed it back.

"Um, I don't recognize these letters."

"Let me see, I know every language of the lands around here," Draco bragged, taking the sheet. His eyes widened seeing Ginny's writing. It was the same as the symbols he'd seen drawn in the sand of the beach after he'd been rescued.

"You," he whispered, looking up at Ginny. She nodded, pointing to the letters. She pointed to the picture Goyle was holding and back at herself.

"You're her, you're really her," Draco said, taking Ginny's hands in hers. He leaned in, his lips brushing against hers. The air filled with light, as the spell over Ginny was broken, as Love's True Kiss freed her voice. Slowly, Draco broke the kiss, staring at the girl he'd fallen in love with without even knowing her true identity.

"Hello, my name is Ginny," she said, in halting words.

"Ginny," Draco repeated, "My Ginny, will you marry me?" he asked. Ginny nodded, happily. She knew he loved her, that she loved him, otherwise the spell would not have been broken. At first, Ginny thought Draco would be surprised by the magic swirling around them, but he only laughed.

"You are not surprised by magic?" she asked softly.

"Ginny, I'm a wizard. I can use magic, my whole family has been wizards," Draco explained. Ginny blinked. Wizards, she'd never heard that word before.

"How?" she asked. Draco pulled one of those long sticks from his pocket. Ginny's eyes widened as she beheld it.

"This is a wand. It's a tool I use to channel my magic," Draco explained. By this point, Crabbe and Goyle had left, leaving just Ginny and Draco.

"Can I try?" she asked. Draco handed her the wand. Ginny waved it a bit, but nothing happened. She laughed and handed it back. She hadn't expected it to work for her, she was a mermaid, no a human now, not a magical person. Still, this world had so many wonders, and now, thanks to Draco, she could finally experience all of them.

The day of her and Draco's wedding loomed closer and closer. Ginny wished her family could see how happy she was, how humans were nothing like her father thought. She found herself walking the shore near her home, the water lapping her feet.

"Ginny?" a voice called. Ginny turned out the water and looked.

"Percy? What are you doing here?"

"Father is searching for you, looking everywhere. And you're... you're one of them?"
"I'm happy here, Percy," Ginny said, sitting down on the sand. Percy swam as close to the shore was he dared.

"You found him then, didn't you? The one you rescued?"

"I did, his name is Draco. He's a prince, if you can believe it! I mean, I thought I'd escape being royal, but apparently not. We're getting married in two days."

"You and him."

"Yes, I know Father would never... but I wish you could all come. Draco doesn't know that I was.. well, I was a mermaid," Ginny admitted.

"You should tell him, it's not good to keep secrets," Percy whispered. Ginny nodded, running her hand through the water.

"Where's the wedding boat going to be? It's going to be on a boat, right?"

"Yes, just under the cliffs under the palace. You'll come?" she asked, wondering what Percy could have meant about secrets, why he was even here. Had he and Father had a falling out also?

"I can only promise a maybe. I need to go," Percy said, diving back into the water as Ginny heard someone behind her.

"Ginny? Who was that? What was that?" Draco's voice asked. Ginny sighed.

"I need to tell you something, Draco, something about when we first met."

"What is it?" Draco asked, sitting down on the sand next to her.

"That day, I was swimming and I saw your ship go down. I pulled you from the wreckage, but the thing is, I wasn't like this at the time. That man you just saw, the one who jumped into the water when you approached, he's a mer. We're a part fish part human species."

"We?"

"I was one, the day I saved you. That's why I was able to dive that deep. That's why you couldn't find me. I made a deal with a sea witch for legs. I had to find you, I gave up everything to find you," Ginny whispered. Draco took her hand in his.

"Ginny, I don't care what you used to be, I love who you are now."

"Thank you, but it's not that simple. My father is the king of Atlantis, now that Percy knows where I am, he might tell Father and Father... he hates everything involving the surface world. He's... if he finds out..."

"I will keep you safe, Ginny," Draco promised. "Even if we are forced to move away from the ocean. I have properties in other places, landlocked places."

Ginny nodded, leaning her head against Draco's shoulder. She hated the idea of leaving the ocean, of not being able to see her home again, but if that's what it took to be with Draco, then so be it.

The sun dawned brightly on the morning of the wedding. Ginny had more people fussing over than she'd ever had before. One did her hair, putting a diamond tiara in her fiery hair. Three of them helped her into her wedding dress. It was white with long lacy sleeves, a soft v neck line, and was decorated with pearls, glass beads, and sparkling crystals to mirror the diamonds in her tiara. Ginny's face was touched up with just a hint of make up.

"Ginny? Draco sent me to give you this," Goyle said, standing in the doorway of Ginny's room. She was in one of the rooms beneath the deck of the wedding boat. She smiled at him as he handed her a small silver box. "It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding,"he explained. Ginny simply nodded. Goyle slipped back out and Ginny opened the box to find a necklace with a pendant in the shape of a shell hanging from it. The shell was silver on the back and the front was clear and full of water and sand. A piece of parchment fluttered to the floor. She picked it up and read,

My Dearest Ginny,

I know you wish your family could be here today. I had this custom made for you, so you will feel as though you a piece of your home with you at all times. The water is from your ocean and the sand from the beach where we met.

All my love,

Draco.

Ginny squealed as she had the necklace clasped around her neck. She rose to her feet, walking unsteadily in the shoes that had been purchased for her. Carefully, she kicked them off and hid them under the vanity. The dress was long enough that no one would notice her bare feet.

"Ready?"

"Ready," Ginny answered, stepping out of her room. Goyle held her hand to keep her steady as he walked her up to the deck. Draco stood there waiting for her. She smiled at him, walking up to him. He reached over and took her hands in his.

"We are gathered here today to unite Prince Draco and Ginny in matrimony. If any one objects to this union, please speak now or forever hold your peace," the minister droned. Ginny's heart pounded in her chest. What if her father showed up? What if he objected? She could hear the water moving around the boat. Suddenly plumes of water shot up from the ocean, one of them holding her father. Ginny's heart sank into her chest.

Draco stared at the merman before them. He could see some of Ginny's features in his face. They also shared the same red hair. He knew instantly that this must be Ginny's father.

"Good morning, your highness," Draco said, bowing to him as was custom to do to a foreign dignitary. Surely the king of the sea must count as such?

"So you are the human Generva has fallen for," King Arthur stated, looking at Draco.

"I am," he replied. Ginny watched her father study Draco, scowling the entire time.

"And will you make my daughter happy?"

"I will, sir."

"And you will be loyal to her?"

Ginny bit her lip. This was a trap, she knew this trap. If Draco swore his loyalty, should he ever stray, even under the influence of a curse, he would be killed.

"I will do my best to be the husband she deserves," Draco replied. Ginny felt her entire body relax as he spoke the correct words. How had he known of the trap? She looked to him and he merely smiled at her. She smiled back.

"Very well then, this union has my blessing," King Arthur stated, his plume of water sinking slightly to a less intimidating position. The minister nodded, continuing the ceremony.

"Do you Prince Draco take Ginny to be your wife, in sickness and health, rich or poor, until death do you part?"

"I do," Draco answered, sliding a silver ring on Ginny's finger.

"And do you," the minister paused as Arthur whispered something in his ear. "Princess Generva take Prince Draco to be your husband, in sickness and health, rich or poor, until death do you part?"

"I do," Ginny answered, sliding a matching ring onto Draco's finger.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride."

Draco's lips crashed against Ginny's as everyone applauded the couple. Water sprouts filled the air, creating rainbows in the sunlight. Ginny and Draco broke apart, smiling at each other as they greeted their guests, including all of Ginny's family, as husband and wife.