"Are you okay?" Tess asked, her brows pulled together. Hermione nodded silently, pulling her essay closer to herself and scribbling in a few things. "You don't look okay."
"It's harder than I thought it was going to be," Hermione said carefully. She sighed and dipped her quill in the pot of ink. She pulled a scrap bit of parchment out from under her essay and wrote, color changing ink pot; appears black, actually pink/purple/yellow. Then she wrote another line of her essay. Tess's patient eyes followed her hand. Hermione scratched her hairline absently. "We . . . decided not to write."
"'Cause they're checking all the mail?" Tess asked, glancing over her shoulder. Madame Pince had been slowly cycling through the library toward them. So long as they appeared to be studying, they shouldn't be bothered though. She couldn't imagine Madame Pince reporting to Death Eaters.
Hermione nodded, "We know that the Ministry has been infiltrated before."
There was a small pause. Hermione gave up on her essay, and Tess stopped pretending to read the book she'd been flipping through.
"Hey, erm, just — ahem — by the way, would you, uh, mind if I, you know, stayed with you over the holidays because my father tossed me out for good the day before term started?" Tess said, hesitant at first, then speeding into nothing less than a flood of words. Hermione blinked, working through the words as quickly as they were spoken.
"I don't mind at all," Hermione said immediately, offering her a small smile.
"Thanks," Tess said, her face red. She looked down at the book on the table in front of her. She just stared blankly at it though.
"What happened?"
"I said that, well, he wanted me to-to . . ." Tess sighed. "My parents belong to another century. And a couple years ago, I nearly killed my . . . betrothed, but he didn't tell them 'cause he didn't and I didn't tell them 'cause they would've killed me."
Hermione coughed, glancing around, waiting for someone to pop out laughing. But the library was unnervingly silent. Tess still refused to look at her. Hermione leaned over the table, "You have a betrothed."
"He's an asshole," Tess muttered. "And I obviously could never be with him."
"So why'd you . . ."
"He heard 'I don't know how I feel about you because I've never felt this way about anyone' instead of 'I don't feel anything at all for you except disgust because you are letting this happen,'" Tess said, each word careful and devoid of emotion. "When I found you the day we first met, Jacob was afraid I was going to kill Sinclair because pretty much the same thing had happened to me. Confunding Charm, threw me around, destroyed my favorite set of robes . . . Only I didn't get rescued."
"Oh, Merlin, Tess," Hermione took her hand. Tess shuddered.
"Yeah, I'm kind of past it," she said, but Hermione could tell it was a lie. "Wasn't nearly as bad as when my ex's dad found me and her screwing around. That was fun."
Hermione squeezed her hand. "What did your dad learn that made him kick you out?"
"I told him that I wasn't leaving Hogwarts to marry an asshole four years older than me; that when I turned seventeen, I wasn't going to- to go through with it," Tess said, an out of place Cheshire Cat grin creeping onto her face. "It's my choice, and I told him so.
"The next day he brought Death Eaters into our home. Sinclair's dad was one of the guys who broke out last year, did you know that? Ministry kept it quiet. But when he showed up at my house, I started screaming and throwing things. My mother had taken my wand; I couldn't do anything else. Sinclair — the old one — just laughed. My father tried to use the Imperious Curse on me," Tess swallowed. "But I fought it. He was going to snap my wand. He was going to do it; he doesn't make idle threats. I sort of punched him when I took my wand back. It wasn't my brightest moment.
"I can understand why people can lose their minds when the Cruciatus Curse has been used on them."
Hermione shoved to her feet, pulling her hands through her hair, "How are you still alive?!"
"I'm tougher than I look," Tess said with a slightly cocky smirk. "I didn't even get the chance to tell him I was into girls. I just hexed him, sprinted out of the house, and kept running. They expected me to Apparated but seemed to forget that I can't Apparate. It's honestly a miracle that I'm as smart as I am; my parents are complete idiots."
"I had no idea," Hermione said quietly.
"Slytherins are all about tradition, Purebloods too. It's how they keep power," Tess rolled her eyes, then frowned, continuing much quieter, "How we keep power."
"You aren't like them," Hermione said.
"Yeah, believe me, that point has been more than made to me," Tess grinned. "I don't mind it so much."
"Are the other Slytherins being-"
"Hermione, right now, a lot of the younger kids are terrified," Tess said quietly. "It's not just the other 'good' houses. Not all of us agree with our parents, and some of them are scared. It's playing right into his plans; the other houses are so scared of us just because of our parents and the colour of our ties. It's really easy to think that things will be better if You-Know-Who ran things some times."
"I-I didn't realize," Hermione said quietly.
"Do you know what the Order is?" Tess asked. Hermione tensed, looking back at her. "My father said there were Order traitors outside the house one night. Said he could smell 'the wolf' or something."
"What?" Hermione demanded. That could only mean Remus. "When?"
"Couple of months ago," Tess shrugged. Hermione let out a breath. She would've heard by now if he'd been hurt.
"Maybe the Order is a bunch of vigilantes or something," Hermione shrugged her shoulders, "Or a part of the Ministry? I'm not sure."
Tess checked her watch, "Hey, you want to check out the Quidditch try-outs? Potter's Captain this year, might be interesting."
"You just want to watch Katie fly around," Hermione said with a smirk, collecting her things.
"You just want to make sure your future brother-in-law makes the team," Tess winked. Hermione laughed, and Tess took her arm with a suggestive eyebrow flail. Hermione pursed her lips and feigned seriousness.
"I hope you know that I am taken," Hermione said as they left the library.
"Taken?" Tess scoffed. "Please, you took him."
Now, Hermione Granger Confunded Cormac McLaggen for three reasons; Ron actually wasn't a bad Keeper and would likely work better with the team than a cocky toe rag, Hermione was getting less fond of said cocky toe rag by the second, and it was definitely what Fred would've done. Plus, Tess had called him an asshole and she only reserved that word for — actually she called everyone assholes at all hours of every day — but Tess had thought it was a good idea, and Hermione also really wanted to, and it was highly amusing to watch him stumble around the rest of the day.
The only problem was that Harry seemed to have noticed.
She hid from the boys in her room so as not to give anything away, carefully selecting her Daydream. She needed to see Fred soon — the real Fred. Daydreams could only get her so far.
~m~
Hermione pulled a grape of its vine, thoroughly enjoying the simple task. She nodded to the guard and he nodded to the next. Hermione examined the lines of color as they extended across the grape's skin. She didn't doubt that she could order someone to peel the grapes for her. But that would take the crunch out of the grape, and that simple sound of the skin rupturing between her teeth was indispensable. Hermione threw the grape into her mouth as the great wooden doors were thrown open and her next visitor entered. She paused in her chewing and sat forward slightly, beginning to smile. This visitor was interesting.
His scarred hands were shackled together. His once white shirt was covered in dirt and torn in some places. It barely reached his elbows. His shoulders were broad and he was shorter than the two guards who escorted him forward with menacing faces, but he wasn't necessarily short as a categorization. His face was just as pleasing as the rest of him looked be, well proportioned and all. Red hair brushed his shoulders, with just enough volume to be considered wavy. Unlike most her visitors, he smiled plainly and had a bright light in his eye.
"And who is this?" Hermione asked. The guards shoved him to his knees before her dais. She plucked off another grape and ate it, watching him.
"Frederick Gideon, of the Westerly Isles," the guard beside her said. She eyed his manacles as he continued to grin fiendishly at her.
"And your crime, Mister Gideon?" Hermione met his brown eyes lazily.
"Repossession," the man smiled ever broader. "Nothing too serious, just a spot of-"
"Pirating," said Hermione's guard over the man. His condemning glare did not faze the accused.
"Interesting," Hermione leaned forwards, "And who's goods did they find in your cargo hold, Mister Gideon?"
"Yours, your Excellency," said the man. "It was a terrible mistake. Funnily enough, I discovered the goods off Basilisk Bay, in the wreckage of one of your magnificent vessels. I was on my way to port to return the lost goods when I was boarded. I did not fight your men, my Queen, because I have done you no wrong."
The guard stepped closer to Hermione and bent to whisper, "We verified that he collected the cargo in the Bay, as he says. However, it is not clear whether or not he sunk the Lightning Bolt. And it is doubtful he meant to return anything."
"He didn't resist the boarding?" Hermione asked quietly.
"He merely asked if it meant he was going to see you, and that his crew be allowed to stay on the ship," the guard said, "It might be a plot to distract you; he may mean you harm."
"He doesn't have shoes on, and you expect him to kill me?" Hermione laughed openly. She addressed Gideon, "How fast is your ship?"
"The Flighty Owl caught us without much of a fuss," answered the man.
"He speaks the truth; the Lightning Bolt was the fastest ship in my fleet, he couldn't have caught her if he tried," Hermione turned to the guard, "Any word from Captain Potter?"
"We guess him to be marooned on the island," the guard responded. "It's doubtful that he should have perished in the waters."
"I want him retrieved at once," Hermione stood.
"And Gideon?"
Hermione took a step down onto the stone floor. She touched the man's chin and forced him to look up at her, "Undoubtedly it was those Silver Isle fiends that destroyed the Bolt. If you are fond of Griffin gold, you shall have it, so long as you bring me the spoils of snakes."
"They call you the Queen of Pirates," Gideon said with a low chuckle, "I am happy to see that the rumors are true. And to keep my head."
"Next time, don't admit so easily to being a pirate," Hermione released him and started off, the familiar sound of her ladies scurrying after her greeted her ears, "I shall now retire. Have Mister Gideon released and given new things. But keep him nearby."
"I won't fly the Whizz Bang under your banner, my Queen. We are . . . Independent."
"Master Tortin, have Mister Gideon cleaned up. I will not negotiate terms with a man who smells and looks a pig," Hermione called without looking back.
"He does not look a pig," said one of her ladies with a giggle. "I bet he's handy in a duel."
"I wonder if he's handy anywhere else," Hermione said slyly. She ordered a meeting with the pirate and changed into another of the ridiculous dress she was obligated to wear. The evenings offered her more freedom from her advisors and the men seeking to rule her kingdom without her knowledge. She excused herself after dinner from an extremely boring meeting about some useless party her advisors were planning for the solstice and changed out of her encasing attire. Adorned in brown breeches that reached just to her tall boots and a tight shirt without sleeves, she made her way to the barracks. She had a bit of business she had to attend to before her meeting.
"My Lady, this is no place for you," said the soldier at the door.
"Nonsense; I own the building. It is my place," Hermione waved him away. "I need to talk to your... Lieutenant William."
"For what reason?" asked the soldier as he began to follow her. The other soldiers frowned at each other, trying to determine what woman could walk so confidently through their midst. They were the best fighters in the archipelago, without any doubt and against steep competition.
"I believe we might have caught his brother," Hermione said. She spotted the man easily enough. He was one of the few officers willing to spend time with the enlisted. Perhaps it was because they were of a similar age. William had risen through the ranks quicker than most. His intellect was considered superior, and he was a genius at defensive stratagems. Hermione sat down on the cot behind him and cleared her throat. The copper headed man looked back and jumped to his feet. "Oh, stop that, I don't need a stir. Sit."
He did. "Your presence honors us."
"Does the name Frederick Gideon bear any significance to you?" Hermione watched his face carefully. He was surprised to hear the name, and he definitely recognized it. William swallowed nervously.
"What has he done?"
"Nothing terribly illegal," William rubbed his neck. Hermione smirked knowingly, "Well, he hasn't been caught doing anything too out of order, this time. I suspect there will be other times, and there have been, where he's on the other side of things."
"Then why are you talking to me?" William asked slowly.
"I need his ship, and for that, I need leverage," Hermione said, crossing her leg over the other. "I'm not demanding anything, Lieutenant Gideon; I won't ask you to forsake blood for me. But anything helps."
"He has a thing for brunettes," William admitted, "But I haven't spoken to my brother in some time."
"Why don't you accompany me? We can make it a . . . family affair," Hermione stood. William jumped to his feet after her.
"Of course, your majesty," William extended his arm, "But isn't it a little latefor dinner?"
"I don't dine with pirates, it's only a meeting," Hermione said with a laugh.
They managed to leave the barracks, but only after the entire assembled men had bowed to her, apologized, and saluted her. There was never a discreet soldier, at least not in Hermione's opinion. Some could not stop staring at her bare arms.
Once alone, or as alone as two people could be while being tailed by guards, Hermione said, "Do you have any other brothers I need to be worried about, Lieutenant?"
"Well, there's Charles, who's never one place long enough for a letter to find him. He's searching for a beast large enough to kill him," said William. Hermione nodded, wishing she could leave Griffin, and not for the first time. She'd never set sail, but she understood the call of the sea. Perhaps this was why she admired sailors so. As for having one of the most feared navies on the sea, she rarely felt deserving of their command. She returned her attention to her soldier, "Then there's Percival. Last I knew he was accounting for a merchant company . . . George was Frederick's womb-mate, he also engages in — repossession, I think they call it — I doubt he's far off if Frederick is here. Ronald sails under Captain Potter; he's first mate on the Bolt. I haven't heard from him in a while though."
"Here we are," Hermione gestured to the door on their right. A guard, likely stationed there to stop Frederick's escape, pushed the door open for them. She pulled her arm out of William's and lingered by the doorway, watching him look around the small room. Frederick shoved a book back into its place on a shelf and turned toward her. His eyes never made it to her.
"Bill?" He laughed, rushing forward and meeting his brother's tackle with one of his own. Hermione was concerned for a moment that they would fall over. They didn't, and she couldn't help but smile. Their laughter was something she needed to hear.
"What did you do this time?" William demanded, holding his brother at arms length. William looked him up and down, likely surprised by his attire. He wore the navy breeches, black boots, and lightly dyed blue shirt of a sea man in her navy. The dark brown coat that completed the uniform was laid over a chair beside the map table.
"Did I not promise to sabotage your career at every turn?" Frederick laughed, pushing his older brother slightly, "You have more bars on your sleeve than the last I saw of you."
"Your plans are failing miserably," William said with a chuckle.
"It would seem so," Frederick pulled on the gold stud in his ear, "How did you know I was here?"
"That would be me," Hermione said, stepping forward. Frederick turned to her, the smile on his lips changing into something less natural. It was something to hide his nerves. He was probably concerned about the effort she had taken to find his brother.
"I won't fly under your flag, it'll keep me from being allowed to port and that isn't good for business," Frederick said quickly.
"Fred," William muttered.
"No, let him speak his mind," Hermione held up a hand. Frederick stood taller. Hermione smirked slyly at him and tucked her hands behind her back. "I prefer candid conversation anyways, it generally leads to less miscommunication, yet here we are. Mister Gideon, I never said I'd make you fly the Griffin on your mast, I only said that I'd pay for snake silver."
William started to laugh as Frederick stared. Frederick narrowed his eyes, "You let me think that so I'd prepare my arguments for the wrong thing."
"Did I?" Hermione smiled. She arced around him toward the windows. He was smarter than she'd suspected. It was a pleasant surprise, "Do you need another hour? Or can we discuss the value of silver and gold?"
"I suspect you are about to cheat me," Frederick sighed. His brother dug an elbow into his side, and he wheezed, "As is your God given right."
"We are going to negotiate a fair price," Hermione twisted on her heels to face him, "Besides, if you think you can fetch a better price elsewhere, you aren't obligated to come to me. My interest is not in getting silver; it is in depriving my adversaries of it."
"You're a very odd woman," Frederick said bluntly. William smacked the back of his head.
"I apologize for my little brother, he's not often on land, it does funny things to his minuscule head-"
Before Frederick could do more than scowl and Hermione hold up her hand again, there was a quiet boom. Hermione frowned, she couldn't recall there being any storm clouds on the horizon. Funnily enough, the boom was followed by no less than five more. Hermione took another step toward the window.
"Was that-"
"Get down!" Frederick tore through the room and pulled Hermione to the ground. The wall facing the sea exploded, the window shattering and allowing the light of the moon in. Hermione shut her eyes as the noise repeated several times. She could feel Frederick curl sideways to block stone from hitting her, and she gripped the front of his new shirt unconsciously.
"We're under attack," William said. He climbed to his feet, a risky move considering the room was still falling apart.
"Those bastards," Hermione crawled out from underneath Frederick and toward the hole in the wall. There was an entire fleet sailing by, but only one had stopped to fire at her castle. She didn't doubt that the rest were heading for town. A firm arm gripped her by the waist and she was pulled backward. She knew not to struggle, but she twisted to find the elder Gideon. "Lieutenant, mobilize your men to protect the townsfolk-"
"Fred, get her on the Whizz Bang and get her away from here!" William ordered.
"Lieutenant!" Hermione protested.
"I'm following the Rose Plan, your majesty," William said quickly. Hermione's mind raced. That couldn't be possible. How did he even know about that?!
"But-"
"Come on," Frederick released Hermione temporarily. He grabbed his sword from the remnants of the map table and took Hermione's hand, pulling her across the rubble. William followed them, drawing his sword from his side. He passed them in the hallway, running toward the main courtyard. There was a sharp whistling, and Frederick pulled Hermione against his chest, then against the wall, "Bill!"
A cannonball tore apart the hallway between them, an involuntary cry leaving Hermione's lips as the ceiling caved inward. Frederick dragged her backward as she stared in horror at the hallway's abrupt end, "Lieutenant!"
"Fred, go!" came the immediate reply.
"We need to move," Frederick said, wrapping an arm around her waist to get her to move faster. Hermione continued to look over her shoulder. "Your worshipfulness, he's fine!"
"Don't call me that!" Hermione ordered.
"I'm no expert on your palace, what's the fastest way to the East Docks?" Frederick demanded. Hermione shoved him away from her and began to run down the long hallway. "Your majesty, wait!"
Hermione stopped three corridors down. She cursed herself for being foolish enough to leave her weapon in her rooms. Unarmed, she faced no less than seven Vipers, the elite of Silver Isle's impressive army.
"We've caught ourselves the Pirate Queen," said one, chuckling. Hermione took several steps back as they advanced as wolves do. "I doubt we'll wait till dawn to hang you."
"Leave her alone!" Frederick barreled into their midst. He made quick work of three of them while they were still surprised. The rest fell soon enough. Hermione grabbed one of their unused swords and slew the last as he tried to cut at Frederick's ankles from the ground. Frederick met her eyes, and some unspoken communication flew between them.
"First right, then we have to sneak out the kitchens," Hermione pointed. Frederick nodded and took her hand again. "You don't-"
"As if I'd let you out of my sight again," he grumbled, yanking her into a run. They escaped into the chaos of the streets without further incident. There were Silver Isle men everywhere. Hermione was terrified; her city was aflame, the screams tearing apart the night seemed to blame her for every wrong act occurring. Frederick was forced to drag her away from a group of people, but on the next street he froze and released her, whispering, "Fleur."
"Who-" Hermione panted, but the red head was already sprinting down the street toward a group of men pulling a blonde woman out of a house.
"Fleur!" Frederick shouted, forcing Hermione into motion. He wasn't thinking straight. This woman must have been important to him. Hermione found herself mildly disappointed.
"Fred, please!" The woman sobbed, kicking at the men. She landed an impressive punch. Hermione snuck around the group as they turned to Frederick. He engaged them, his furious face lit by the burning of a nearby shop. Hermione gave a sharp cry as she beheaded the man holding the blonde. She parried several strikes and helped Frederick dispatch the vile intruders. The woman threw herself into Frederick's arms, "Where is Bill? Why are you even here, Fred?"
"I'm just here- it was- it doesn't matter. We have to get you to safety," Frederick said, looking over at Hermione, "Are you all right?"
"I'll be much better when I hold Malfoy's head in my hand," Hermione growled. She cleaned off her stolen sword carefully.
"This way," Frederick pulled away from the shaken woman and led them down to the docks. There were Silver Isle men attempting unsuccessfully to board his ship. He brandished his sword and shouted up to his crew, "Jacob! Albert! Lee! We have visitors!"
Hermione hefted her sword and placed herself between the enemy and the woman. She managed to edge around the Silver Isle men and the woman slipped between two of Frederick's men and climbed the wooden planks up into Frederick's ship. Frederick fought his way beside her, "Is this why you never come to shore for long?"
"We can handle this," the captain said instead of answering her. He grunted and swept at the leader of the enemy. "Get on board."
"Not until-"
"Jacob, hold them!" Frederick ordered. He hefted Hermione up over his shoulder and carried her onto his ship, ignoring her profane protests. He set her down, "Finnigan, man the canons! Let's give these silver bastards a proper farewell! Thomas, keep an eye on this one! You three, we're off!"
The crew members who'd been fighting climbed up onto the deck. Hermione grabbed the pistol out of Thomas's holster and shot one of the men trying to stop the three's escape. The sail above her dropped and the ship began to move.
"On my mark! Fire!" The canons sent their deadly projectiles across the sea.
"I told you to keep an eye on her," Frederick said angrily to Thomas, pulling the pistol from Hermione's clenched hands. She'd fallen asleep leaning against the wooden railing of the ship. She didn't quite know how she'd managed with all the canons going off. They'd been sailing quietly for some time. She was starting to believe that Frederick had understated the speed of his ship.
"I can take care of myself," Hermione murmured, her eyes drifting shut again. Without anything to hold, her hands fell awkwardly to the deck. There was a touch against the back of her knees and around her shoulders, then the wood around her disappeared into cold night air. She shivered and pressed closer to the warmth beside her.
"Your majesty," a nice, deep sort of voice said softly, "Don't fall asleep just yet. Look up."
Hermione fought to open her eyes. There was a chin and a nose above her, both handsome, then a sight so amazing she gasped. The sky was the clearest, deepest blue, speckled with the light of a hundred thousand stars. Each winked and flickered. A wide orb of white light shone brightly down at her. It was beautiful. Hermione mumbled something incoherently about the moon and buried her head in the warmth beside her, closing her eyes.
"Your majesty," said the voice again. There was a creak and the light turned softer. The air was replaced by something more substantial. Hermione caught the hand as it left her back, sighing quietly and turning her head into something plush and comfortable. She liked the voice. She didn't want it to go away. "My lady?"
"Captain," Hermione said sluggishly. "Find the captain."
"I am the captain."
"Of course you are," Hermione smiled and closed her eyes, pulling on his hand. "Don't tell anyone."
"Tell them what?" The voice asked.
"Don't leave," she answered. She liked the warm hand and the nice voice.
She woke alone. It took her a moment to realize where she was. Hermione groaned, the events of the previous night flooding into memory. She had to make it back to Griffin. She couldn't leave it to the snakes.
A knock on the door made her start. She sat up, pulling at her hair in vain. It was hopelessly tangled. She adjusted her shirt, "Lady, the captain needs you."
"A moment, please," Hermione dragged herself out of the bed. She pulled her boots on, wondering when she'd taken them off. Hermione began to hastily braid her hair, pulling it tight to her scalp. It was the only thing she'd ever learned to do with her hair. Hermione opened the door and frowned at the man before her. "You are?"
"That's the captain's study," said the pirate, pointing across the wooden hallway. "You must be damned good between the sheets for him to take you on."
Hermione's hand twitched. The man was begging to be slapped. She settled for glaring coldly at him and entering the study. As soon as the door clicked shut, she hissed, "Frederick Gideon I swear by the sea that if you do not teach your men some respect, I will do it myself!"
"What did Lee say?" The captain asked, looking up from his maps with a grin. Her scowl grew deeper than the sea they sailed. The man beside him was staring at Hermione, that is, until Frederick nudged him, "Probably should've sent you, eh, Jacob?"
"This is not a day when I am easily amused, pirate," Hermione said, taking a step forward. He rolled his eyes lazily, and she used her most authoritative voice, "You will return me-"
"Did we kidnap her?" The second pirate asked, looking at Frederick. Hermione growled under her breath. She was not at all accustomed to being interrupted. Frederick watched her with far too much amusement.
"No."
"Yes."
"I will not argue with you," Frederick stood taller, his amusement gone. He, too, was used to being in power. Hermione would have to fix that.
"Good," Hermione smiled, "Now, take me-"
"This is my ship," Frederick came around the table to look down at her. Hermione steeled herself, staring between his eyes so she didn't have to look into them. "You don't order me around on it. We aren't on Griffin anymore."
"I've definitely missed something," said the second pirate. Hermione didn't so much as spare him a glance, even as he continued, "You never listen to anyone, on land or sea."
"Jacob, meet Queen Hermione of Griffin," Frederick said, still looking down at her. Hermione took a deep breath. He smelled of gunpowder.
"Er, she's not going to hang us when we get back, is she?"
"Of course not."
"I haven't decided yet," Hermione said. She stared up at the captain, trying to gauge his emotions. She'd hurt his ego. He was going to try and assert himself. Hermione smirked and raised an eyebrow, daring him to do something. If he wanted to be in control, he would have to make Hermione relinquish her own. No man ever had. At her unspoken yet oh-so-clear challenge, Frederick's eyes seemed to darken.
"Jacob, I need the room," he said slowly. Hermione watched him as his crew member left. She was trying to figure out why he was looking at her so strangely. Perhaps he'd accepted her challenge. She hoped so; she wondered what he'd cook up. He waited for the door to shut and turned away from her, resting his hands on the table and glaring down at the maps. "He'll spread the rumor. They might not believe him."
"Why shouldn't they?" Hermione asked. She followed him to the maps. The familiar sight of the Archipelago greeted her. Griffin had been marked in red, Silver Isle in green, Riverhome in blue, and Humbleby in yellow. The remaining islands hadn't been filled in at all.
"What's the Rose Plan?" Frederick asked. Hermione did not intend to answer. He was trying to gain leverage and control. Hermione preferred to keep both. She picked up a pencil from the table and reached into his jacket to grab a small dagger. She'd noticed it the night before. She suspected he had another in at least one of his boots. Honestly, she would've been disappointed if he didn't.
Her hand lingered on his chest longer than was necessary. Frederick was a fit man. She sharpened the pencil mutely, leaning against the table. She watched the shavings fall over the map. "Your majesty-"
"You know, I hate the way most people say it, but you've managed to turn those two words into the worst audible sounds in history," Hermione said sharply. It made everything too easy. They gave her things when she would have liked to fought for them. Sometimes she doubted that she'd ever earned anything.
Although it did keep her from being interrupted.
"Tell me what the Rose Plan is," Fred whispered, brushing the thin wood away from the map gently. He was entirely too close to Hermione but that was exactly where she needed him to be.
"No," Hermione said simply, setting the deadly sharp pencil down and meeting Frederick's stare. He was going to have to pry that information out of her with more than a soft voice. Alcohol would likely have to play a role. He moved sideways, grabbing the hand holding the dagger. He pulled it out of her grasp with his eyes locked onto hers. One of his legs fit between hers as he set the dagger down on the table behind her. Hermione struggled to breathe properly. He loomed nearer. Hermione's eyes fluttered closed as his lips pressed against hers. Hermione grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer. His tongue danced along her lips and she opened her mouth, trying not to make the sounds she wanted to. She could feel his lips twitching into a smile.
Frederick backed away, grinning, "Your majesty, imagine the uproar when they discover you fraternizing with a pirate."
"Oh, I get it, you think you're the irresistible man and I'm the foolish girl," Hermione said, masking her breathlessness carefully. She wasn't fazed by his attempt at nonchalance. She'd seen the way he watched her. That kiss may have been cold and calculating at the start, but the look he now gifted her with wasn't. It's was fiery and needy. Hermione could easily make him fail now, but there was no sport in that.
"Your majesty, I could never think you a fool," Frederick said with a smirk. "You know the consequences of your actions, don't you?"
"Of course," Hermione smiled back.
"And you know silence has a price?"
Hermione stood and approached him. She watched his reaction carefully, but he didn't have much of one. He was good, and he was in control, or at least he thought he was. She tested that thought with a whisper, "Just think hard about what you want your prize to be, pirate."
Frederick grinned back as her, truly unfazed now that his invisible mask had fallen back into place, "I'm no fool either, your majesty."
Hermione stepped back to the map, "Just use Hermione. It'll be much simpler. Call your men; we need to discuss strategy."
"You don't give orders on my ship, your majesty," Frederick said. "If you are trying to fill the room so you cannot jump my bones, you won't be getting any sort of satisfaction."
"Perhaps I should like to return to my home," Hermione looked over her shoulder at him. "Where there are respectable men capable of giving a woman what she needs."
Frederick's gaze turned to steel, "I find it difficult to believe that a man can be respectable and capable."
"And I suppose you're respectable?" Hermione asked drily, looking back to the map. Riverhome would offer her temporary sanctuary-
Frederick's arms were around her waist without warning. His teeth nipped at her ear as he whispered, "I think you'll find me more than capable, your majesty."
Before she could answer, the door opened, "Captain, the Dastardly Devil is approaching."
"Thank you, Lee," Frederick grumbled, running out of the study, leaving Hermione reeling. This was not a part of the plan. Yes, she'd planned on taking him to bed on Griffin, but she hadn't planned on him being as good at the game as she was. She would not allow him to win it.
"Is it true what Jacob's saying?" Lee asked suspiciously. Hermione followed Frederick from the room, pausing only to deck the idiot pirate.
"Decide for yourself," Hermione spat. She pushed into the open air of the ship. The smell of salt hung thick around her. She'd expected the crew members to be preparing for battle, but they merely lazed about as the second ship approached them. The Dastardly Devil came alongside them, and ropes were thrown between the two ships, which were of near identical size and shape. Hermione was almost completely unnoticed as several men swung across onto their ship.
Frederick greeted each as they boarded. Hermione edged closer, trying to see around the Whizz Bang's own crew. Frederick embraced a man who looked nearly identical to him. The only difference between them was the ear in which his golden stud was embedded.
"Guess what I found on Basilisk?" The second pulled another red head out of the pool of men gathering on the deck.
"Ron!" Frederick exclaimed happily, hugging him as well. Hermione spotted a familiar head of unruly black hair and rushed forward.
"Harry!"
"Hermione!" He shoved through several men and crushed her into a hug. She smiled as he touched her hair and laughed.
"What did you do to my ship?" Hermione demanded, stepping back to look at him. He didn't seem very hurt.
"Malfoy's son on the Serpent ambushed us in the bay," Harry said. "Most of the crew managed to get to safety- hold on, what are you doing here?!"
"Freddie, do explain why you've got a girl on board," his twin said through gritted teeth.
"Not just a girl," his younger brother said, growing pale, "D'you know you kidnapped the Queen of Griffin, brother? Or was it an accident?"
A murmur spread through the crowd and Harry lifted his sword, arm still around Hermione's waist, "I swear, Gideon, if you touched a single hair on her head, I'll take yours!"
"Griffin is under attack. We had to follow the Rose Plan," Frederick said. Hermione scowled as she forced Harry's weapon down.
"Then why are you not already in Humbleby?" Harry demanded.
"She refused to tell us what it was," Frederick glared at Hermione, but she'd focused her attention on Harry.
"We can retake the kingdom faster-"
"I won't risk your death," Harry said plainly. "You have to hide."
"Set course for Humbleby!" Frederick ordered.
"George!" The blonde woman from the night before greeted the pirate with a kiss on each cheek.
"Come along," Harry touched the lower part of Hermione's back and steered her toward the captain's study. Hermione could feel Frederick's eyes burning through the back of her skull. "You can tell what he wants from just one of his looks."
"He's not very good at hiding it, no," Hermione said. Harry held the door for her. "He thinks you've gotten what he wants."
"As if," Harry snorted. Hermione sat down in the one chair. "Why haven't you told him-"
"About the Rose Plan?" Hermione said shortly, "He is a pirate. He can be amused, fed, clothed, entertained, and perhaps even taken to bed, but he cannot be trusted. Besides, we can do this on our own."
"Aren't you the one who said it wasn't a bad thing to have friends?" Harry leaned against the wall and leveled his gaze on her.
"Friends are indispensable but allies are wars waiting to happen," Hermione said very clearly.
"Naturally," Harry sighed.
The door flew open, "Scar face, George needs you. We're splitting paths. Close the door on your way out."
Harry winked at her roguishly and did as ordered. He didn't usually do that.
"You can't talk to him like that!" Hermione stood angrily. Frederick dug a hand into her hair and gave her the bruising sort of kiss she'd only dreamed of. He pushed her against the table roughly. She gained enough of her wits to pull away from him, "You cannot ignore me."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Frederick rolled his eyes and looked back over his shoulders to the closed door. "Your sweet captain is a fool."
"You shut your mouth," Hermione said, shoving his shoulders to no avail. He was firm as iron. "Harry has been a brother to me since we were young."
"Brother?" Frederick scoffed. At Hermione's snarl he laughed, "The boy doesn't know what's in front of him."
"And what is that?"
"A beautiful, terrifying, intelligent, frightfully independent woman in want of a capable man," Frederick whispered, invading her space once more. "But I do suppose he is respectable."
"In every manner," Hermione stared at the space between his eyebrows because there was no other safe place to look. Then she met his eye as courage flowed through her, "And here you claim to be capable, yet you've brought no evidence to help your claims."
"All in good time," Frederick winked. He lingered within inches of her, waiting on her. It was torment, but it was also smart. He wasn't going to touch her again unless she admitted that she desperately wanted him to. She didn't want to cave. She vowed that she wouldn't. "Go on, little queen. Say it."
"You're imagining things," whispered Hermione, "You're the one boasting, and yet you kissed me, two times now."
Frederick played with the strings on the front of her blouse. He unknotted them quicker than she'd expected him to. "I seem to recall you grabbing me."
"Keep your enemies closer," said Hermione, letting him pull open her blouse slightly. She knew she should probably stop him but she couldn't deny herself this one moment of relaxation. The captain's fingers traced down to the waistband of her trousers. They ran along her skin as he untucked her blouse. "Captain."
"Oh," Frederick put his mouth to her ear again, "I like how you say that."
Hermione shivered as his hands trailed across her skin under her blouse. "You are the least respectable man I've ever encountered."
"You live a sheltered life," Hermione's breathing hitched as he kissed her jaw down her neck. He kissed back up to her chin and smirked, "Perhaps I should broaden your horizons."
"When was the last time you had any control over what you were doing?" Hermione asked.
"Sometime before I was conceived," Frederick shrugged. He nuzzled her neck, sucking on her collar bone. Hermione let out a small sound before she bit down on her tongue. Frederick chuckled, pleased with himself. "Sorry, I didn't catch that-"
Hermione brushed her hand against the seat of his trousers. His taunt died without a chance. Hermione grinned pleasantly as he took her hands and pinned her against the table. "Do anything else and I'll have you drawn and quartered."
"Oh, will you?" Frederick asked. "And how, exactly, do you propose to get off this ship?"
"I have a keen mind, I'm sure it won't be so difficult, captain," Hermione whispered. He stared at her, breathing labored. He released her hands and took a step back.
"You've played this game before," he accused.
"I'm undefeated," Hermione admitted, gripping the hem of her shirt. She pulled it over her head unceremoniously and threw it at him. "And to be honest, Captain Gideon, I plan to remain that way."
He dropped her shirt, grabbed her waist, and pressed himself closer to her than before. Hermione struggled to think as his mouth worked against hers. His hands roamed freely across her bare back.
A knock on the door interrupted them once more. Frederick's twin had his head in the room before Hermione had a chance to cover herself. Luckily Frederick had most of her blocked from view. He held her against his chest.
"George!"
"Fred, I swear to the sea-" George seemed to realize Hermione was hiding against his twin. "YOU CAN'T TAKE THE BLOODY QUEEN'S SHIRT OFF!"
"The Queen is a woman and a woman has needs-" Frederick said hastily as George turned his back.
"You shut your mouth," George ordered. "You've lost your ruddy mind!"
"Maybe I have, but I don't see how you're helping!"
"You need to catch up with Ron and Captain Potter," George said, rotating to glare at his brother, "And when we're through with them you and I are going to have a long conversation."
He closed the door when he left. Frederick had his shirt and trousers off before Hermione could do more than blink, "I won't wait any longer."
"Do you usually lose the game so easily?" Hermione yelped as he ridded her of her own trousers. He picked her up and set her down on the table. Hermione fused her lips with his. His heaving chest brushed against hers in the most brilliant fashion. "What are you waiting for, captain?"
She squirmed as he pressed two fingers against her. He met her eyes as he began to move them slowly, "Say it."
Hermione doubted her capability to say anything. She bit her lip and let her head fall backward, still groaning softly as he maneuvered his digits expertly. She could her climax building, let a small moan loose as she neared it-
Frederick pulled his hand away, pressing a feather soft kiss to her earlobe. "Don't you want the entire sea to know how much you're enjoying yourself?"
"You're- a bastard," Hermione panted, reaching for his cock. He pinned her hands to the table and kissed up the column of her throat. Hermione arced her back closer to him, pressing her chest further into his with her eyes closed. His thumbs made circles over her wrists as he attacked one nipple with his tongue. Hermione let out a soft mewl, "S-Stop doing-"
Her mind went blank as his tongue found her slit. He released her hands but she only twisted them into his brilliantly red hair. She stopped caring about control and the others on the ship and anything other than the rather skillful man between her legs.
Her climax crashed through her, leaving her gasping. Frederick pulled away from her, staring. Hermione held his eyes, breathing hard. His eyes kept flickering down to her exposed breasts.
"I have a meeting to attend," Frederick said, stepping away. Hermione wrapped her legs around his waist and used them to pull him closer.
"You have something to care of first," Hermione said, draping her arms over his shoulders. She looked down at his member with an arched eyebrow.
"I need to get back to the others," Frederick said, perfectly apathetic. What a skillful liar he could be. Hermione pushed her breasts against his chest as she yanked his head closer to hers.
"The others can wait," she said.
"What will your precious Captain Potter think?"
"He is not asked to think, and when he does, he is to keep his thoughts to himself unless they are asked for. He is my soldier before all else," Hermione said. Really, Harry was an obstinate fool who rarely listened to a word she said.
"Is that what you want of me?" Fred asked as she pressed a kiss to his jaw. "Obedience? Because you won't get it."
"Obedience is about the last thing I could possibly want from you," Hermione breathed, letting her hands wander over the hard planes of his chest. He pushed close to her once more.
"I hope we don't agree on anything more," Frederick whispered, kissing her cheekbone. Then he stepped away again, nearly pulling Hermione off the table with him. He dressed himself hastily and left.
"Men," Hermione growled, scrambling to follow him. She didn't bother putting her boots on. She was scowling as she emerged. The Dastardly Devil had fallen back with some new heading, and the Whizz Bang had turned against the wind. They were on course for Humbleby.
"Are you unwell?" Harry called, looking over Frederick's shoulder as he and his first mate conversed. Hermione cut her eyes at him and made a face. He barely managed to stop the grin spreading across his tanned face. Hermione's scowl deepened.
"I'm fine," she snapped, standing between him and Frederick.
"Humbleby offers a safe haven to anyone, but they won't help us wage war. They might agree to stop the Silver Isle's ships from coming to port, but I'm afraid that's as far as they'll go," Harry started.
"We could always go to the Queen of Riverhome," Hermione said, shaking her head. "The Silver Isle has been encroaching on her territory-"
"And she doesn't have the nerve to stop them. What makes you think she'll help us?" Harry rolled his eyes.
"She doesn't have the army or the navy to stop them. We have enough willing men, we just need their scouts and intelligence-"
"I am not going to war," Frederick chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. "I run a business. War is not good for business."
"War is upon us whether you want it or not," Hermione snapped. "They invaded my home. They took my land. And you dragged me away from it. You are going to help me take it back."
"Is that so?" Frederick scowled.
"Captain!" Harry and Frederick both looked to Jacob, "Snakes off the port bow!"
Hermione followed the others' gazes to a whole fleet of Silver Isle ships. Silver and green sails on the fastest ship, which was closing on them alarmingly fast.
"Make for shallow water!" Harry ordered, "Their boats don't ride so high across the surface as we do."
"What are you standing around for, do it!" Frederick shouted. "Or would you rather be sunk here, where you cannot swim to shore!"
Hermione took a step closer to the railing. Could she swim in water so dark and endless?
"You don't give orders on my ship," Frederick pointed at Harry, then chased Hermione and grabbed her arm, "And you stay away from there."
He began dragging her to the back of the ship, her stumbling bare feet barely keeping up with his long strides. "Let go!"
"You're staying out of the way, where they won't see you and blow you to Hell with a cannon," Frederick growled. He threw open the door to the room she'd slept in and pushed her inside. "Enjoy my quarters."
He shut the door. Hermione rattled the handle, but he'd locked it. She pounded hopelessly on the door, "YOU RAT BASTARD! GET BACK HERE!"
She jumped as he gave an answering pound back, "Stay silent and out of sight! If they board this ship and try to find you-"
"If they sink this ship, I will be trapped!"
"This ship does not sink!" Frederick answered. "Not while I live!"
"Frederick!" Hermione hit the door again as his footsteps receded. "Gideon!"
He didn't answer, not that she expected him to. She let out a frustrated scream and scanned his room for something precious she could destroy.
It was bare. He had nothing, absolutely nothing. Hermione pulled the sheets from the bed and kicked them across the room. Anything to keep her focus away from the booming cannons and faint shouts. She tried the door again and again and-
Stay silent and out of sight!
Out of sight!
"There's a hidden space," Hermione whispered, putting her back to the door. Her eyes scoured the room, looking for anything out of place-
The chest in the corner had not moved when she'd kicked it, not at all. She approached it quickly, but she was thrown across the room as the ship rocked violently.
Hermione groaned, picking herself up carefully. That was going to leave quite the set of bruises. As the ship writhed beneath her feet, she stumbled to the chest. She threw open the top. There were neatly folded clothes in it. She pulled them out and aside, reaching for the bottom of it-
The cannon fire had stopped; the shouting hadn't. Her hands scraped against wood and she searched it for anything to grasp onto and there was a tiny little hole. The bottom layer was set beneath the floor; it slide aside with a push and a small breath of relief.
It was hardly even a crawl space, but it was better than nothing. She tried to put as many clothes as possible back in the chest before shutting the top of the chest, then replacing the false bottom.
Hermione thought she must have been in some corner of the hold. She pulled her knees up to her chest and listened. She could hear Frederick's angry voice. Most likely directed at Harry, for ordering his men about. They must have out run them.
The door made a rather cannon-like sound as it hit the wall; it was opened so forcefully. Hermione rolled her eyes. Frederick was being dramatic.
She still didn't move as men entered the room. Mad as he was, Frederick would've started by shouting something or other.
"We know she's on board," drawled a calm, frigid voice. "We will find her."
"Go to Hell," Harry growled. "This isn't even my ship, dumbass."
There was the low sound of fists on skin and Hermione cringed.
"Fair enough. Get the angry one," ordered the voice. Hermione stopped breathing as his heeled boots clicked on the wood above her. They came closer with alarming speed.
It sounded like they were trying to herd a wild boar into the room. People crashed against the walls of the ship.
"What, you want to take me to bed? Nothing's in here," Frederick snarled.
"Perhaps I ought to seek out your sister, Gideon, to encourage your cooperation."
"You should; she'll tear you to pieces with naught but her own fingernails. Bring me along that I might watch," Frederick suggested dangerously. "You were planning on making me, weren't you, you slimy little-"
Malfoy took several steps closer to the chest. He must've done something else as well; there was no way Frederick would give her away so easily.
"Such a temper," tsked Malfoy. He kicked the chest and Hermione closed her eyes. Then again. "You had a chest bolted to the ground?"
"I keep valuable texts in it from time to time. Magic scrolls and-"
"You are a more clever liar than Potter," Hermione curled into a tighter ball as the chest opened. A single beam of light reached through, touching on her collar bone. "No more organized I see . . . Oh, my."
"Did I leave someone's head in there? I thought I told Jacob to move that-"
"Do you smell that, Gideon?" There was wooden scraping and Hermione's beam of light disappeared. If she'd been looking, she would've noted Frederick's fear. Malfoy had pushed him over the chest, and he stared intently at the hole that almost left Hermione visible from above. "There's a woman down there. A very satisfied woman at that."
"You're mad," Frederick growled. "I don't smell anything."
"Was it you or Potter doing the satisfying? Somehow I don't doubt that filthy peasant stooped low enough to be with a pirate."
"Peasant?" Frederick was dragged backward as someone started pulling the clothes out of the chest. "I'm sure I have no idea who you speak of."
"She calls herself a queen," The invader said. "Apparently she's gotten more attractive since her father refused to wed her to me-"
"I don't know any queen," Frederick snapped.
"It was Potter, wasn't it?" Hermione opened her eyes and the false bottom scraped aside. She met the hateful silver eyes with her fierce brown ones, "You let that fool Captain touch you."
"Who are you?" Hermione asked allowing her fear to leak into her voice. She knew him though. It wasn't hard to tell, what with his pale skin, hair, and eyes. Malfoy stepped back and jerked his head.
"Leave her be!" Frederick tried to push past the snakes between them. "She isn't anyone, I swear it!"
Hermione scratched and flailed as the Silver Isles men pulled her out of the chest, earning her several more bruises. When she was free of the chest, they held her somewhat still. The others began to drag Frederick away, but he fought much better than she did. They couldn't force him anywhere.
Malfoy grabbed her chin, "Griffin will be mine, one way or another."
"Get away from her," Frederick growled. "She isn't your pathetic queen!"
"Leave," Malfoy touched the pistol at his side. "Or I will kill her where she stands."
"Fred," Hermione whispered, finding his eyes over Malfoy's shoulder. "It'll be all-"
"Get off her!" Frederick pulled against the men holding him. They started dragging him out, more men aiding the original. "Jean!"
Hermione found herself in the terribly painful predicament of having her head slammed into the wall. Malfoy laughed as she touched her bleeding forehead.
His fist took her hair and pulled her, dragged her, out of Frederick's room. She was twisted around, shoved toward the open deck. Harry and Frederick both tried to push through the line of snakes separating them. It was useless.
Hermione's eyes smarted in spite of herself as a blade was pulled to her throat, her head yanked back at an awkward angle. She looked up at the clouds in the sky. Her eyes wouldn't focus as they were supposed to.
"You really care for her, don't you Captain Potter?" said that soft, cruel voice. "So much fear. This ship, it reeks of it."
"You're going to release her," he answered, glaring behind Hermione at the man restraining her. She let out an involuntary whimper as she was jerked to the very edge of the ship.
"No!"
Hermione clawed at the hand on her throat. She'd been pushed until she leaned back over the railing. Any more force from her silver haired captor and she would fall into the sea. He watched Harry and Frederick instead of her.
"Please," Harry said quietly, "You- You don't have to hurt her. Just take me and leave the rest-"
"Is she going to bear your name?" asked the man, grinning, "Your child?"
"Leave her be," Frederick said slowly, "She's just an innocent woman we rescued from Griffin when-"
"Innocent?" scoffed her captor. His hand tightened around her throat and he yanked her closer to his sneering face, "I take it you don't make them pay for your services any longer?"
"You shut your mouth," Harry growled, reaching for the weapon that was no longer at his waist.
"I suppose you're going to make me," Malfoy pouted, pushing Hermione back to the edge. She teetered dangerously, trying to find better footing while she was forced onto the tips of her toes.
"Please," she ground out.
"Let her go!" Harry snapped.
"All right," he pushed her backward, the small amount of security he offered her gone. She flailed backward, driven over the edge with a second push.
"Hermione!"
She hit the water hard.
Hermione had never learned how to swim. Her parents had never meant for her to leave Griffin's shores. The Rose Plan was only for when all other plans failed. She doubted it mattered much, now that she was being dragged down through the crystal waters. The ship looked so strange from below.
Someone dove into the water nearby. Perhaps Malfoy had tossed someone more prepared into the water.
Hermione let her eyes close as her lungs threatened to burst. It was such an odd feeling. Painful, too.
Then there were arms like iron bands around her, hauling her upward to the surface. Hermione gasped, blinking water out of her burning eyes with a cough.
"You can't swim?!" hissed a remarkably angry man. "You have the most extensive navy to sail the Sapphire Seas, and you can't swim?!"
"Thank you," Hermione let out a small breath, kicking her feet in the same way Frederick did. "Admittedly, pretending to be someone he didn't need wasn't our best idea."
A rope landed on them. Frederick looked up at the source of it.
"We'll bring her up first," Harry called.
"No," Hermione shuddered, still aware of Frederick's arms keeping her afloat. She glared up at Malfoy as he glared down at her.
"Hang on," Frederick ordered, wrapping the rope around his hand and wrist.
"You'll pull your arm clean off!" Hermione reached to remove the rope.
"Griffin is mine now. A birthday present from my father," Malfoy grinned. "Good-bye, little queen."
Harry drove his elbow into Malfoy's nose and grasped the rope. He was yanked out of sight before he could do anything.
"Harry!" Hermione cried, daring to paddle away from Frederick slightly. The rope dropped uselessly into the sea.
"Full sail! Leave them to the sharks!"
"That's my ship, you bastard!" Frederick bellowed.
"How long can you tread water?" Hermione asked. She knew it was definitely longer than she could. She gazed at the back of the ship — what did they keep calling it? The aft? She didn't remember — as it sailed away, picking up speed at an alarming rate. She twisted to look around. There was still a fleet of Silver Isle ships ahead of the Whizz Bang. "Where's your brother's ship?"
"Hopefully, halfway to Wereone Island," Frederick answered. Hermione paddled back to him. "Yes, yes, your precious captain told me where your sizable navy is rendezvousing, what a terrible crime."
"So long as he comes back for us," Hermione grumbled.
"Try not to drown. We're swimming there," Frederick pointed toward the island to his left. Hermione knew she wasn't going to make it. "Don't do that. You can rest whenever you need to, but you can't give up. You can't."
"I can hardly keep afloat as it is," Hermione shook her head. She could feel the familiar weight of her wet hair dragging her head back. Her scalp still ached from Malfoy's hands.
"I don't give a damn about what you think you can do!" Frederick snapped, floating closer to her with the aid of a small wave. He glowered at her. "You are the most intelligent woman to be born in a century. You are the ruler of the second most populous kingdom in the Archipelago, and your people need you. You are going to swim to that island, and after that, I'll fuck you against a goddamned tree if you want.
"But you are making it to that island."
Frederick Gideon was a difficult man to argue with. It took . . . Hermione didn't even know. Hours, probably, judging by how much the sun had moved. She'd just about give up when her toe touching something. She looked down, expecting, hoping even, for an aquatic beast with an appetite. But it was sand. Beautiful, golden sand.
Frederick started laughing, took Hermione's hand, and pulled them up onto the beach. He kissed the ground as Hermione rolled in the sand, panting. She lay on her back, not floated, but lay. She began to giggle. Escaping death was a good feeling.
Frederick rolled half onto her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as he buried half his face in the warm sand, chuckling still.
"Told you so," he panted. Hermione laughed louder, staring up at the sky.
"You're wet."
"Bet I can make you wetter," he said slyly.
"There's no way you have the energy for that now," Hermione shook her head, not caring that it made sand take root in her curling locks. She licked her lips, tasting the salt left by the water.
"Please, I can swim all day, then some," Frederick picked up his head and surveyed their little island. "Stay here. You need water."
"I've had enough of water," Hermione groaned. She could feel the small amount she'd swallowed in her lungs if she took too deep of breaths.
"Trust me," Frederick gave her a devilish grin that completely negated the severity of his request. He wiped a bit of sand from her cheek and watched a wave roll in. Then he kissed her gently, as though they had eternity. He, too, tasted like salt. "Can't be too much trouble for you to stay clear of here. Try not to get eaten by the land sharks."
"Land sharks?" Hermione scoffed as he pushed himself up to his knees. "There isn't such a thing."
"If you say so," he winked and stood. Hermione noted his shaking legs as he strode up the beach toward the palm trees. The center of the island appeared to be something of a jungle. She pushed herself up and watched him go.
"Watch out for the jaguars!"
"You'll feel bad when I return, half-mauled!" Frederick turned and walked backwards for several steps.
"I think I'll say, 'I told you so' and leave it at that!" Hermione said, raising one hand to her mouth so he could hear. She snickered as he backed into a tree. His brief scowl was well worth it as he side-stepped the tree and wandered up the hill into the jungly heart of the island. Hermione rolled back over and decided to take a nap.
He'd clearly made a game of her slumber. There were pebbles, shells, and sand covering the lower half of her body.
"Gideon!"
"Please, call me Fred," he said, standing over her head, grinning down at her. His hair was wet. It dripped down onto her forehead annoyingly. "If we're going to be stuck here, you may as well."
"Any luck?" Hermione asked, pushing herself back and out of the sand. She tried to get to her feet but Frederick kicked her over once she'd crouched. "Stop being a prick."
"Here," Frederick reached down and handed her a hollowed out coconut. She raised an eyebrow but drank from it. Hermione had never been a fan of coconut, but it was the best thing she'd ever had. "There's enough fish and crabs to eat. We can make a fire at the edge of the beach, use some of the more dead wood from the jungle. I've already speared a decent amount of food."
"I didn't know you could do that," Hermione admitted quietly, narrowing her eyes slightly. "There's not a tribe of people at the jungle's edge you're taking credit from, is there?"
Frederick laughed, "No, this island isn't inhabited by much. Birds mostly. I managed to do a full lap of it. 'S'not that large."
"I don't like sharing small things. We ought to draw lines in the sand; mark my half and your half," Hermione said seriously. He laughed again, as expected. Hermione smiled just a little, "I think you need to find some shade soon, Captain. You'll get sun sickness if you aren't careful."
"I'm not a careful person," he said, offering her a hand. She took it and stood. She looked out over the water. He pulled the coconut from her hands and grabbed a stick out of the sand. There were four fish stacked at the top of it. He gestured at the spear he'd dropped in the sand and she picked it up. He'd used the shard of a shell as a spearhead.
"You're clever, you know," Hermione touched the plant fiber he'd used as rope. It was probably part of some kind of vine.
"I am quite the man," Frederick shrugged his shoulders with a cocky smirk. "I'm capable at a lot of things."
"Thank the seas for that," Hermione said under her breath, twisting around the spear. She was a master swordswoman, but she wasn't sure how she'd fare with a spear. She wasn't planning on killing Frederick, though, so it didn't really matter.
She taught him how to weave mats out of palm fronds as the sky began to darken. The fire crackled and popped. Even the driest wood wasn't dry. They weren't worried about being spotted. They'd been left for dead by the snakes, it wasn't likely that they'd bother to come and kill them. Even if they did, it'd take a quite feat to get to the island before Hermione and Fred spotted them.
"Fuck," Fred cursed, undoing a portion of his mat. Hermione laughed under her breath as her fingers moved expertly. "How are you so good at this?"
"I like to work while I think," Hermione said. She glanced at him and grinned. "I used to be worse than you are. And you're learning quick."
"It's 'cause I'm so clever," Fred said solemnly. There was a small moment of quiet. "You know Ron's a fair chess player. You wouldn't know it by looking at him, but he's a strategic mastermind."
"Harry gets by on sheer luck most times," Hermione admitted. "And stubbornness."
"I have a feeling that Harry and I are going to get along well," Fred said, finishing off his mat and handing it to Hermione for inspection. She looked it over quickly and placed it on top of the others. They needed something to sleep on. "If we ever get off this blasted island."
"We will," Hermione said quietly. She met Fred's eyes. "Our brothers . . . They'll come through."
"Don't forget: I'm a leader too," Fred laid back in the sand. "I can recognize a hopeful lie."
"I suppose so," Hermione sighed. "Come on, pirate. We need to spread these out."
"What should we name our island?" Fred asked as they made a square around the fire. They were careful not to get too close to it. They didn't need all their hard work going up in flames.
"Something about nearly drowning to death after being tossed off the side of a ship," Hermione suggested. Fred chuckled, straightening a mat with his bare foot.
"Really, can't you be a little more optimistic? Maybe . . . Queen's Salvation?" Fred gave her a gentle push.
"Pirate's Grave?" She pushed him back. He laughed.
"There's a million of those, come on now, be a little more creative," he commanded sternly. Hermione stuck her tongue out at him.
"The Island of Everlasting Annoyance," she said, dodging him as he tried to tackle her. She spun away from his lanky arms, again and again, as she called out names. "Stubborn Foolishness . . . Red-Headed Idiocy . . . Freckled Baboons . . . Lackluster Weaving . . . Incapable Hands-"
He grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her up onto her shoulder. She shrieked through her laughter as he began to spin.
"Stop it, stop it, stop it!" She swatted at his chest. He cackled madly but stood still.
"I recall you enjoying my hands not so long ago," he said. Hermione tried to lift her head enough to see him.
"Put me down," she ordered.
"Where do you think the best spot to watch the sun set is?" Fred asked. Hermione looked to the sky and pointed. Fred started off through the sand.
"Your shoulder is going to go clean through me," Hermione grunted, hitting him lightly. "Put me down."
"You'll have to pay for it."
"With what?" Hermione scoffed. "You want me to build the fire for a week?"
"Fair enough," Fred chuckled. Hermione tensed as he slid her off. He steadied her slightly, "All right?"
"You're more attractive in the dark," Hermione lied, giving him a wicked smirk before sprinting off down the beach.
His laughing chased her to the edge of the island where the sun was setting. She paused as she saw the burst of color, skidding to a stop in the sand, sending it flying. She'd seen a lot of sunsets. This was the first she'd seen off Griffin. It was almost the same, except more peaceful. Quiet.
Fred finally managed to tackle her. She cried out as he dragged her to the ground. He pinned her easily, "You're cruel, you know."
"Did I hurt your feelings?" Hermione pouted.
"You did," Fred sniffled and picked himself off her, sitting in the sand facing the sunset. "I'd like you to apologize."
"Queens don't apologize to pirates," Hermione said, kicking Fred as she sat beside him, watching the sun glisten on the water. The world had become brilliantly orange. She leaned her head against Fred's shoulder with a sigh. "This is the longest I've gone without talking about taxes in five years."
"Why ruin a good thing?" Fred murmured, touching his head to hers. They watched as the colors shifted and darkened.
"Did Malfoy throw you off, or did you jump?" Hermione asked as the sun became a sliver of red.
"What do you think?" Fred murmured. He kissed her cheek lightly. She tilted her head so her lips met his.
"You jumped," Hermione whispered. Fred kissed her again, bringing his hand up to cup her face.
"I don't like it when beautiful woman I'm planning to do unspeakable things to die," Fred bit her lip gently. Hermione groaned slightly and pulled him closer to her. He growled low in his throat and pushed her onto her back. She yanked him along, threading her hands into his hair. He fell onto his elbows, fitting his legs between hers. He pulled away after a long moment, "If there was a bed within twenty miles of here . . ."
"I don't give a damn," Hermione said quietly.
"I know," he kissed her neck down to her collar bone. "But I doubt you want sand involved down there."
He slid his hands under her shirt, tracing her ribs. She kissed him again, distracting him long enough to twist and push him underneath her. She pulled her hair back over her shoulder and kissed him until she could hardly even remember to breath.
"At this rate, the island might have a couple more inhabitants before we're found," Fred grunted. Hermione smiled and tossed her shirt over head.
She didn't muffle a sound as his mouth trailed lower.
~m~
Hermione panted herself aware. She rubbed her forehead and glanced around at the curtains surrounding her bed. Her heart was pounding.
Being alone on an island with Fred really did sound like a dream. She let her head fall back against the pillows heavily. She needed to touch him — feel him against her. She dug her nails into her palms. Fred was sneaking in products to Hogwarts. She could mail order him.
She grinned at the thought.
Then jumped at the silver otter that danced into her lap.
"I'm working Hogsmeade tomorrow night. Coming in early under the pretense of checking out Zonko's. Meet me at the One-Eyed Witch statue at nine. I might go mad if you don't."
Hermione's grin grew and grew.
.o0O0o.
Not gonna lie: I've been working on this guy since last summer. Tossed in the island bit at the end 'cause why not. To any and all confused about the Zutara thing - I'm working on it. It's not nearly ready for reading yet, and I don't think trying to upload two fics at once will go well, but I'm willing to try it. Maybe once it's summer again and I'm not mock trialing.
Also, didn't think last chapter was all that good but you guys just gave me the biggest ego boost ever with all your love for it! Thanks to all of you!
Infernalbooks: You know, I was thinking about uploading the Daydreams as separate fics, sort of one shot type deals, but I could probably expand on both of these stories and numerous more.
Raven that flies at night: I have seen Fantastic Beasts, and I have adopted Newt Scamander as my actual child.
nerd-herd leader: Thank you so much! I can't really think of anything to say, except I might try the whole stand-alone Daydream thing.
I was BOTWP: Thanks! I kept ending it and then continuing it once I read through it again and ending it and stretching it out, so I might end up not ending it at the end of things.
LoonyGleek: I don't blame you. I've thinking about how to keep the whole not-Daydream-no-Fred parts of year 6 interesting, so there's going to be a little more Lavender than the past, especially with the whole her dating Ron thing.
afraidofspiders: Zutara gives me life.
Fandomqueen104: Don't you dare throw away your education to read my shitty little Fremione. Don't take naps when you get home from school, keep away from Monster and coffee, take breaks when you study but keep studying, and go to sleep no later than 11:20 pm if you have to get up before or at 6:30. Otherwise we will be seeing each other in Hell very, very soon.
Newsie35: :D I pick out episodes of A:tLA to watch just for the Zutara bits.
