Special Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed Ginny's pov one shot Sixteen Candles! O Captain! My Captain! Rise up and hear the bells...I couldn't help going Walt Whitman with the title this chap. Although there is a death mentioned, in no way is the chapter dirge-like. :D

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Chapter 37- Captain! My Captain!

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Draco's white-blond hair shone like a beacon of hope. A corner of Blaise's mouth turned up at the fanciful thought. She followed her best mate and Ginny along with Wesley and Luna, allowing his confident stride to infect her with a cautious optimism.

They climbed the main staircase in silence until Wesley asked, "Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

Wesley caught Blaise's eye and shrugged. Her lips curved. He looked relieved that she wasn't hysterical. They climbed a final flight of stairs, stopping when they reached a door.

"We must be headed for the attics," said Luna.

"Smart girl," Draco said. "Any guess why?"

"Are there peepholes into the Headmaster's office?"

"Right thinking, Lovegood, but wrong idea. We don't need peepholes to learn what's going on. Follow me."

Draco was really enjoying the role of mysterious leader. Blaise's affectionate smile widened when she heard Luna tell her boyfriend, "Don't worry. Slytherin can't keep their cunning plans to themselves for long. They need admiration too much."

Wesley looked at Blaise for confirmation. She nodded ruefully. He grinned and gestured for the two girls to precede him up the staircase. Draco activated a series of enchanted torches to illumine the attics.

He caught her eye and smiled briefly before telling the others, "Blaise and I used to play Three Musketeers up here." Mock scowling, he added, "I always had to be the captain of the cardinal's guards while she got to be the musketeer."

Ginny reached for his hand. "That's because you're such a good, bad boy."

Blaise asked, "What's your plan?"

Draco said dramatically, "By blood and by name, I call thee Baron Malfoy!"

A familiar, dark spectre materialised.

Blaise saw Luna press closer to Wesley's side while Ginny smiled brightly. She realised the other girl had dealt with the ghost before, and was on friendly terms. That was interesting. Draco must have shared his fascination with the historical stuff in the attics. She asked the Baron, "Can you find out what's happening in the Headmaster's office?"

The Bloody Baron floated towards her. Up close, he looked a lot less intimidating and a lot more like...Draco...with black hair and eyes. The spirit wasn't as gorgeous as his descendent, but he was magnetic all the same.

A dark brow rose. "Thou art a saucy wench. Why should I help thee?"

"Because she is a Slytherin damsel in distress, my love, and you enjoy spying."

Without turning to face the feminine ghost that had appeared behind him, the Baron drawled, "I did not ask thy opinion, witch."

"I am not just a witch, I am your wife!"

The spectre's lips twitched. When the maiden in medieval dress drifted over to place her arm through his, literally, the fearsome Bloody Baron sighed. "For thou, Ginevra, I shall return shortly."

"Ginevra?"

The flaxen-haired spirit eagerly asked the three who had exclaimed simultaneously, "Wouldst thou wish to hear our story?"

They all nodded and made themselves comfortable on the scattered furniture and trunks. Blaise saw Draco roll his eyes, but she noticed that he was quick to pull Ginny onto his lap and rest his chin on her shoulder.

Eager for a distraction from worry, Blaise listened closely to a knight's tale of a love won, lost, and won again. No one asked why the Baron was bloody or how Ginevra herself had died. Personally, she didn't want to know. She was afraid that she would start crying.

The Bloody Baron's return made everyone sit up straight.

"I also have a tale to tell," he said. "I became part of Headmaster Black's painting. Within the office, a man and woman were most upset with their son. They accused the boy of betraying their trust in order to carry on an illicit rendezvous. He admitted to lying but denied that his relationship with the maiden was sexual in nature. Much shouting, crying, and accusations resulted."

Blaise covered her face with her hands.

The ghost must have realised that she was the maiden. He floated closer. "The parents demanded their child take Verisimilitude Potion. He complied. They now know that...Terry...was untruthful in order to be with the girl...you... The youth also admitted to certain knowledge." She looked up to see dark eyes flickering over her chest. "Of your person, but stated that does not include carnal knowledge."

Oh my gods, this was officially a nightmare. Blaise shook so hard Luna wrapped an arm around her shoulders before asking the spirit, "What did Mr. and Mrs. Boot say?"

"They threatened to send their son to Durmstrang."

Blaise felt light-headed. "No!"

"They will not do such a thing," the Baron said. "Not after the boy threatened to run away. Instead, the parents requested their son be confined to his House between classes and meals for the rest of the term."

"NO!"

The Slytherin ghost looked uncomfortable with the tears streaming down her cheeks. He said gently, "Regretfully, the Headmaster agreed. Professor Flitwick was informed and Ravenclaw Prefects were summoned to escort young Terry back to his House."

Blaise ran for the stairs. The others tried to call her back, but she couldn't bear to talk anymore. She had to act.

"No running in the corridors!"

Focused on getting back to her House and reaching the Melusine Mirror as soon as possible, Blaise ignored the Prefect's command. Rapid footsteps sounded. She sprinted. A hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her to a halt. The girl struggled to get away, "Let me go!"

"What's wrong?"

The gruff concern in the boy's voice made her stop and look up into a lightly freckled face. Her face crumpled, "Terry's parents saw the Intruder. They know he was really with me over holiday. I have to see him!"

Blue eyes were confused. "How is running to your House going to..." Ron shook his head. "I don't want to know, but you can't run. Come with me and walk really, really, fast."

They swiftly traversed the corridors. The Gryffindor's escort halted the protests of several prefects. Reaching Slytherin House, Blaise impulsively kissed his cheek in gratitude. "Thanks."

Dashing into the Common Room, Blaise pushed past several nosy housemates to stumble up the girls' staircase. Her room was empty. Opening her trunk, the girl reached for the padded box containing her precious mirror. With trembling fingers, she quickly lifted out the small square and spoke, "Terry."

Her stomach tied in knots when his face didn't immediately appear. Oh Merlin, what if they had found the mirror and taken it away? What would she do? Just when she was about to run find Draco and beg to borrow his broomstick, Terry's face appeared.

He looked awful, long brown hair obscuring stormy eyes. He tried to smile. "Hey, baby."

His voice was hoarse. She said, "Draco asked The Bloody Baron to spy. He told us what happened in the Headmaster's office. Are you okay?"

His lips turned down. "I'm not being sent to Durmstrang, but I'm pretty much under House-arrest." Terry's expression turned defiant. "I told them that they set it up, acting the way they did about you, and nothing they do is going to keep us apart." He smiled a little. "Acted like a dramatic teenager, just like they expected, but I don't give a damn."

Her fingertip traced his features in the reflective surface. "If they tried to send you to Durmstrang, I would've run away with you."

His eyes smiled more than his lips. "I wouldn't mind living on love."

She sighed, and then smiled lopsidedly. "We wouldn't starve. I've got control of my money now, and there are numbered accounts across Europe that no one could trace to us."

"When did this happen?"

"After we got back from holiday. Daddy told me he was going to sell my house, so I decided to make sure he couldn't do that. The money was an afterthought, but I'm glad I changed my accounts."

The look on Terry's face was startled, and admiring. "You're so Slytherin."

"And you love it."

"I love you."

Blaise stared into the face that she already missed touching. "I love you too, and nobody's keeping us apart. We might have to wait a few days, but I've got an idea."

"What?"

"This poor little rich girl's going to buy an Invisibility Cloak."

Terry didn't mention the exorbitant cost, or protest her dealings with the dodgy Mundungus. Instead, he returned her smile. "Why don't you buy two?"

-

-

Draco watched his mate run off and automatically moved to follow.

Ginny held his arm. "Let her go. She needs to see Terry in her mirror and hear about what happened from him, so they can work things out."

He cupped her cheek. "All right."

Luna's slightly protuberant eyes were staring off. Draco might not think she was loony anymore, but the girl was still odd. The blank stare was starting to make him uneasy. He snapped, "What are you doing, Lovegood?"

The girl said dreamily, "I was wondering...do you still have musketeer costumes around?"

"Why? Do you want to play dress up?"

"Yes."

It would be an amusing diversion. Draco had never fought more than one musketeer before. He eyed the three, considering. He would bet none of them had ever held a sword. Trying to appear indifferent, he looked at his fingernails and drawled, "I suppose I could find a few costumes in a trunk."

"Will you be the cardinal's man?" Ginny asked.

His girl sounded breathy. Liked the way he looked in red, did she? Well, it wasn't his favourite colour, but he'd humoured Blaise and all in all enjoyed the playacting. How much more satisfying would going along with Ginny be?

He said, "I'm a good, bad boy, remember?" Waving goodbye to the spirits, he imperiously crooked his finger. The three followed while he navigated through the piles of accumulated history to reach the right area. Throwing open the lid of a large ironbound trunk, the teen lifted out three costumes embroidered with the trite fleur de lis. Placing a floppy gray hat with a feather on Red's fiery locks, he promised, "I'm going to show you no mercy, petite musketeer."

"Promise?"

Laughing softly, he nodded and moved away to change. When Draco sauntered back, the three musketeers were looking at their swords dubiously. He said, "They won't stab or cut. The blades are charmed to bend harmlessly whenever they touch human skin."

Wesley waved his sword about. "How do we play?"

Grey eyes narrowed when Ginny smiled at the other boy. She couldn't find the cheeky monkey attractive, could she? He smiled dangerously. "Musketeers try to find a place to hide and get the drop on the enemy while the captain tries to hunt you down and dispose of you."

Luna said, "Do we get a head start?"

"Of course. Five minutes to be precise. Go."

They went, Roberts and Lovegood to the left, Red to the right. Hmmm...which way should he go? Practising a few lunges, Draco adjusted his black hat and gloves. Deciding to take care of the couple first and save the beautiful musketeer for last, he turned left, slipping into historical fantasy while stalking his prey.

-

Cardinal Richelieu wasn't a good man, but he was the power behind the throne of France. The musketeers threatened his power, and that of the men wearing his colours. Adjusting his red cape, the captain of the cardinal's guard silently unsheathed his sword. An informant had revealed that three of the recently disbanded forces were refusing to acknowledge that the musketeers were no more. He would retire their uniforms at sword point if need be, not resting until every threat to his ambitions was nullified.

A harshly indrawn breath halted his steps. Inside the next chamber, miscreants awaited. Slithering into the room, the captain waited patiently for the musketeers to make another misstep.

A stifled cough gave away their exact location. With cat-like tread, he pounced. His blade met another. One musketeer sat on the floor, rendered unable to fight due to a coughing fit that sounded remotely like giggling. The other was a worthy adversary. Swords clashed and parried. Eventually, the man in red wore down his opponent in blue. A bold thrust and engagement of the musketeer's blade disarmed his foe.

The captain stared in disbelief when the other man dropped to his knees and pleaded simply,

"Please. Please, I need to live."

"Why?" He hadn't planned on killing the wretch, but refrained from saying so. This was vastly entertaining.

"True Love."

"I suppose that sorry excuse for a musketeer wench over there is your true love?"

"Oui."

Sacra Bleu, he was getting soft. Scowling, the captain stalked away, leaving the pair cooing in each other's arms. Forgetting those he left behind, the man concentrated on the last musketeer to elude capture. Stealthily searching chamber after chamber, he reached a vast space filled with more items than he could count.

The pretty vixen had gone to ground. The hunter would have to try another approach to capture his prey. Taking off his hat, the man tossed it onto a table. "The other musketeers were such a disappointment. No challenge. This one's probably even more boring."

"Watch your tongue before you lose it, Capitaine."

Pulling off his gloves, one finger at a time, the captain dropped them beside the hat, smirking. "It will take more than an empty threat to silence my tongue, Cherie."

Removing his cape, the man slung it negligently over a chair, whistling.

From her place of concealment, the fiery vixen snapped, "What do you think you're doing?"

His fingers paused and then resumed slowly untying the laces of his white shirt. "I am making myself comfortable...you object?" He pulled his shirttails out of his breeches and began to draw the garment up in preparation to remove it. A sword point stopped him midway. A white-blond eyebrow rose at the sight of the blade tip pressed against an interesting part of his pectoral.

He smiled devilishly at the pink-cheeked angel before him. "You seem to have the advantage of me."

Dropping her sword to help drag his shirt over his head and throw it aside, the girl glided her palms up his chest before sliding possessive fingers into his hair to pull his head down to hers. Against his lips, she murmured, "Don't you forget it, mon capitaine."

He felt it was a bon thing to have one's tongue silenced in such a way. If only she were not a musketeer. Ruefully acknowledging that the traits that had captivated him were the ones that made her such a worthy opponent, the man willingly gave up duty for the woman he loved.

-

Nimbly removing his girlfriend's cloak to enable his hands to pull out her shirttails and smooth his palms up the slender plane of her back, Draco knew his playacting had a ring of truth to it. He would willingly give up what Father called 'his duty' to the Malfoy name to keep Ginny in his arms. He tightened his hold. "Mon Coeur."

"My goodness, these two are taking the game to a whole new level," Roberts said to his smiling girlfriend.

Draco growled, "If you don't take that smart mouth out of here..."

Bowing with a flourish that matched the uniform perfectly, Wesley grinned. "Ma belle Luna and I are going to change and head back to our House. Good fight, Capitaine Malfoy. We'll have to duel again one day."

Something about that cheeky grin made Draco suspicious. "Why are you smiling?"

The musketeer unsheathed his sword, tossed it into the air, and then grasped it with the opposite hand. "I am not left-handed." He jauntily saluted before taking his appreciative girlfriend off.

Draco's eyes narrowed. Wesley had been holding back during their swordfight. Next time, he would not let the musketeer off so easily. Slightly disturbed that he was even considering that there be a 'next time,' his scowl transformed into a smile when gentle fingertips traced his lips.

"An amazing fighting ferret can beat a cheeky monkey any day."

He was no longer sure of that, but knew better than to admit it--especially not when his girl was looking at him with admiration in her soft brown eyes. He stepped away to gather his costume, saying regretfully, "I think it's time that we return to our Houses, too." Enjoying the way her gaze lingered on his body, Draco lifted her hand to his lips.

She sighed and then brought his hand up to kiss his palm before holding it to her cheek. "Mon Coeur."

Draco felt guilty. Blaise and Terry were separated because of their holiday, while he and Ginny were closer than ever.

While his girlfriend went behind a screen to change clothes, Draco drew on his school robes. He was broodingly studying a tapestry when slender arms reached around him in a hug. "Je t'aime."

Happiness outweighed guilt. He would find a way to help his mate, and somehow, things would work out. In the meantime, he was going to make the most of every moment that he could spend with Ginny. Softly, with a sincerity that caused her to lift her lips toward his, he said, "I love you too."

-

-

Ginny entered the Gryffindor common room, manoeuvring around the chamber to avoid the trio sitting on a sofa in front of the main fireplace. She had almost reached the girls' staircase when Hermione called, "Ginny! Over here!"

Shite. The last thing she wanted was to go have a natter. Since running up the staircase and refusing to chat would only make them suspicious, she slowly turned.

The three watched as she sat in a chair across from them. After an awkward silence, Hermione brushed back a length of bushy hair. "Do you know the real story on Boot and Zabini?"

"Why do you care?" said Ginny.

Hermione said, "Everyone's talking about the Intruder article, and saying that Terry's parents have come to transfer him to another school. I was wondering if it was true."

"Want to know it all, do you?"

Ron said, "Hey, that's not fair. 'Hermione's only asking what other people are thinking."

Ginny nodded. "Sorry. It's just that I get sick of all the gossip at this school. Everybody wants to talk about everyone else's business. Why don't they just live their own life and let other people do the same thing?"

Hermione said, "I don't know."

"Probably because those other students have way more interesting lives, mate." Colin had joined the group. Ginny stood and hugged her friend. He smiled. "Will you think I'm nosy if I ask about Blaise too?"

Her brother's wide mouth turned down. "I thought you were going with MacDougal, Colin?"

"I am, but Blaise is still my friend, and I hope she's okay."

Ginny said, "I don't know much more than you. All I've heard is that Terry isn't going to be transferred, but his parents have pretty much confined him to Ravenclaw House."

Harry spoke up. "I don't like the girl, but I think that's harsh. Boot's parents sound like people my Aunt Petunia would like." He laughed a little. "If they were Muggles."

Having a girlfriend was good for Harry. Ginny said wryly, "They do wear matching jumpers a lot."

Harry grimaced.

Ron said, "I saw Blaise running in the corridor earlier and escorted her to Slytherin house. She seemed really upset."

"You escorted her?" said Hermione. "That was nice of you."

"Yeah, she said she had to see her boyfriend. How could she do that?"

Hermione replied thoughtfully, "Maybe she scrys in a bowl of water or..." The girl looked stricken. "Perhaps she's using Dark magic."

Ron said unhappily, "I don't want to believe that, but..."

Ginny shot to her feet. "Every time I think you might be fair and give a Slytherin a chance, you prove that you're just as prejudiced as ever." She told the three, "Don't ask me about Blaise anymore. As far as I'm concerned, you're not her friends so whatever she does is none of your business." There was a group of girls whispering furiously in another corner. Ginny sneered. "Get your gossip from Lavender, or borrow somebody's Intruder."

As she stomped away, Ginny thought it was no wonder Draco stalked off so much. It really helped to vent temper and keep you from hexing bloody idiots.

A hand touched her arm and got a Stinging Hex. "Ouch! Damn, Ginny, I just wanted to talk to you!"

She halted. "Sorry, Colin, what's up?"

"How was your holiday?"

"Funny you should ask when no one else did." Her face softened with memories. "It was the most amazing time of my life."

"Then I'm happy for you...jealous, but happy, mate."

Ginny swallowed hard. "Thanks, Colin." Trying to steer the conversation away from subjects she didn't want to talk about in a room where eavesdroppers were everywhere, she asked, "How did you get together with Mindy?"

Still rubbing the redness on his hand, the boy smiled angelically. A group of passing third year girls practically swooned. His grin turned devilish. "She came over for a swim the day Blaise sent me a basket of oranges. Mindy got jealous and started throwing them at me." Smugly, he concluded, "She grabbed me, snogged my brains out, and declared that she was my girlfriend. Mindy's crazy about me, what can I say?"

"Are you crazy about her?"

"I think so."

That wasn't a vow of devotion, but maybe Colin enjoyed playing hard to get. Mindy's dramatic actions seemed to be what he liked. She said, "Then I'm happy for you too." Ginny waved goodbye, determined to go up and get her assignments and supplies organised in preparation for school the next day.

Inside the chamber, two of her roommates were poring over a familiar tabloid. Rosaline Kells was writing something at her desk. The icy blonde girl remarked without looking up, "That photograph is good, but not worthy of rapt attention, unless you girls are just drooling over the gorgeous male bodies."

Isabel and Grace giggled madly. Lifting the page to show Ginny, Isabel said, "I love the way she kisses his hair. I wish my boyfriend had long hair like Boot, or his face, or even just that body."

Grace snatched the paper away and cradled it against her chest. "Are you blind woman? Draco Malfoy has the bod of a god. Eros, Apollo, I don't know." Waggling her eyebrows at Ginny, she asked, "Doesn't watching all those scrummy muscles in action make you want to run your hands all over that divine skin?"

Yes, it did. It also made Ginny want to hex the girl now kissing Draco's image. She wanted to hex so badly her fingernails were digging into the hands she clenched in anger.

Rosaline said to Ginny, "You and Zabini are friends, aren't you?" Turning to the others, she advised, "If you don't want to wake up with purple pustules on your faces, I'd lay off slavering over her mate's boyfriends."

Ginny took a step toward Rosaline. "Terry is Blaise's boyfriend, not Draco."

A pitying look crossed the other girl's face. "If you believe your friend when she says that, then you're too trusting for your own good, Weasley."

"You're too cynical for yours, Kells."

"Time will tell."

Yes, it would. One day, when she and Draco were able to walk down the corridors holding hands, Rosaline would remember this conversation. If she didn't, Ginny would be happy to say 'I told you so.'

Isabel and Grace were fighting over the Intruder article. They each had a hold on a side of the photograph, tugging.

"It's mine!" said Isabel.

"You gave it to me!"

"That was before I saw how fine Malfoy looks in a swimsuit!"

Ginny incinerated the picture. The girls jumped back from the curling ashes.

"Why did you do that?" Grace whimpered.

"Are you mental?"

No, she was angry that stupid girls were drooling over her boyfriend's picture, wanting to touch him, and she couldn't even tell them to shut the hell up or get their arses hexed. Maybe she was mental, because Ginny lifted her wand and cast a hex anyway.

Her roommates started to scream. She watched for several satisfying moments before rescinding the Bat-Bogey Hex. The girls snivelled that they were sorry, they wouldn't do it, whatever it was, again. Unable to confess what really upset her, she made them promise not to gossip.

They promised before she had finished asking. Ginny reached into her trunk for some nightclothes and her Melusine Mirror. She walked into the lavatory and turned on the water. "Draco."

His smiling face appeared. The smile faded when he saw how upset she looked. "What's wrong?"

Her lips trembled. "My bloody roommates were practically snogging the Intruder picture."

"Not the first time desperate females have obsessed over my image. I ignore the idiocy, Red. Why don't you?"

"Because..."

"I understand. When I thought Potter was hovering over your shoulder trying to look down your Quidditch robes, I wanted to hex him."

Biting her bottom lip, Ginny said in a small voice, "I did hex them."

Silvery eyes opened wide. "You didn't!"

"I did."

Draco's boyish grin made him appear even more 'scrummy.' Thank Merlin he didn't unleash it on the female population at large. "What was the hex?"

"Bat-Bogey."

His delighted laughter made the knot in her stomach dissolve.

A knock sounded. "Are you all right, Ginny?"

She called, "Yeah, Rosaline, I'm about to shower."

Ginny watched Draco's eyes darken to rain-cloud as she said goodnight. She laughed at his request. "No, I'm not taking the mirror in with me so you can say we've showered together."

-

-

When Luna and Wesley returned to Ravenclaw House, conversations in the common room literally halted. It was decidedly odd, and for her to think that was saying something.

She began to realise why they were the centre of attention when Mindy rose from a chair. "Hey Lindy, you wouldn't believe some of the rumours going round. Some unintelligent people think that Roberts ran off to Spain to be one of Zabini's boyfriends. Isn't that the most asinine thing you've ever heard?"

In shock, she replied honestly, "No, Harry Potter being the heir to Slytherin House was the stupidest thing I ever heard. This comes close, though."

Wesley's smile deepened his dimples. He raised a hand and rubbed a lock of her hair between two fingers. "Thanks, love. Any chance of you wearing braids anytime soon?"

She gave him a serene smile. "For you, I'll braid my hair tonight."

The whispers of those who heard the conversation and spread the word started to rise. Luna led her boyfriend over to a sofa and picked up a book on a low table nearby. "The Passionate Pilgrim. Someone else likes Shakespeare, I see."

Wesley slipped an arm around her shoulders. "Read a bit to me. Your voice is very soothing, Buttercup, and will help me resist the urge to go knock the teeth down a few blokes' throats on the other side of the room." He made a face. "I have a feeling that I'd better get used to snickering and pointing." Sighing, he confessed, "I'm also a bit worried about how my folks will react when they get my owl. I figured it would be better to confess than have someone see my picture and give them the news."

Luna opened the book. A stanza caught her eye.

If love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love?

O! Never faith could hold if not to beauty vow'd,

Though to myself forsworn, to thee I'll constant prove.

"Well, that's interesting. What's it mean?" Wesley asked when she read it aloud.

Luna said, "I can tell you what it means to me." She smiled, but her eyes were serious. "Remember when we admitted that we'd all lied to be together, but promised not to lie to each other? It's something like that, vowing to never be untrue to love. Saying if I have to, I'll give up everything else but you."

"I feel that way about you, Luna."

A sense of peace washed over her. It had nothing to do with the mess that photograph put them in, and everything with knowing that Wesley was committed to staying together, no matter what. She reached for his hand, and smiled when he softly squeezed her fingers. "Good. Because I feel the same way."

Their housemates probably thought that they were the most boring 'scandalous couple' ever. They talked quietly, occasionally laughing at the absurdity of the situation, ignoring the stares and whispers. At curfew, they rose and strolled over to the girls' staircase.

Wesley would have kissed only her hand, but Luna had been hanging out with a bold Gryffindor and a Slytherin who never hesitated to take what she wanted. She kissed her boyfriend in front of anyone who cared to look. He grinned and strolled away with a strut in his stride. She knew there was a bit of a sashay in her own.

The next morning, Bindy shook her awake, exclaiming, "Lindy, Lindy, you've got to hear what people are saying!"

Pulling her pillow over sleep-mussed hair, Luna said in a muffled voice, "No, I don't."

Bindy rudely snatched away the pillow. "Yes you do! Almost everybody in our House is telling anybody who asks that Roberts was just trying to help his mate be with his girlfriend, and the Intruder article is gobshite." Viewing the less than ecstatic expression of her roommate, she said hesitantly, "Isn't that good news?"

"Do they say that about Malfoy, too?"

"Uhm...no...our friends still think he and Zabini are pulling one over on Boot."

Luna said flatly, "That's not fair. Draco wants Terry and Blaise to be together as much as Wesley does. The students at this school believe the worst about Slytherins way too easily."

"That's because they're the ones who go bad. Everybody knows that Malfoy's dad is a Death Eater and he'll be one too someday."

Luna swung her legs over the side of the bed. "That's not true, and I'm tired of hearing it." She looked her friend in the eye. "I don't want to hear any more gossip, okay? If more people refused to listen to it, maybe everybody wouldn't be such humongous arses."

"Okay." Seeming intimidated by her friend's words and air of determination, Bindy tried to lighten the tense atmosphere. "I didn't go on a reducing diet to become a humongous arse."

Luna giggled at the thought. Bindy joined her.

During breakfast, the news that Professor Smalley had suffered an unfortunate death reached the students that had been on holiday. The man had apparently given into depression and sadly taken his own life.

The teacher's death overshadowed the Intruder scandal until Terry and Wesley entered the Hall. After the boys sat down, a feeling of expectancy hung in the air. Luna looked past her boyfriend to say, "Good morning, Terry."

Dark blue eyes showed their appreciation of her acting normally. "Good morning, Luna."

She was calmly eating porridge and listening to her roommates share what they had done on Easter holiday when the low hum of voices rose to an excited buzz. Draco and Blaise had strolled into the Great Hall. If she didn't know better, Luna would've thought the pair arrogantly contemptuous of the 'little people' who gossiped about their betters. She observed them closely, though, and saw how Blaise looked immediately toward Terry, while Draco's gaze covertly slanted Ginny's way.

"Hi Wesley, Luna."

Terry stayed face forward while the girl he was forbidden to associate with stood behind him, pretending to talk to her friends.

"Did you enjoy your holiday, Luna?" Blaise asked.

Amused at the contrast of calm conversation and the Slytherin girl's surreptitious fingering of her boyfriend's hair behind the cover of her schoolbag, Luna said, "I loved it. I had the best time of my life."

"That's good."

Flitwick rose from his stack of books at the staff table to shake his head. Blaise's smile turned wobbly. She whispered, "Bye."

Terry whispered back, "Before lunch, meet me in the unused corridor near the library."

The Slytherins moved on. Luna's appetite vanished. What if her boyfriend's parents reacted like Terry's? She turned to Wesley. "Walk me to Ancient Runes?"

In the main corridor, she hugged him tight. "I'm never going to hide the way I feel about you again. I love you and I don't care who knows it."

Luna froze when a coolly amused voice said, "I hate to interrupt such a touching scene, but I need a guide to my classroom. Say goodbye to Romeo, Juliet."

"Her name's Luna. I'm Wesley."

The girl looked up to see a wizard in crimson velvet teaching robes. His clear blue eyes gleamed upon hearing the boy's terse comment. "Charmed, I'm sure."

Not wanting Wesley to get detention, Luna said, "Are you the new Ancient Runes Professor?"

Wavy, slightly longer than shoulder-length brown hair slid forward when the man inclined his head. "Guilty as charged."

Luna told Wesley she'd see him later and gestured for the professor to accompany her up the main staircase. They climbed the steps in silence. A couple of times, she snuck curious sidelong glances at lean, compelling features. The wizard caught her looking and raised dark brows. She said, "I'm sorry, you look familiar. Do you know my father, Larry Lovegood?"

"Editor of the Quibbler? Never met him."

When they reached the classroom, the professor looked askance at the mirror covered in a white cloth. Luna explained, "Professor Smalley used that for self affirmation."

Pulling off the cover, the man gazed into the mirror and murmured, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me. Stuart, you poor, dumb bastard."

"Beg pardon, sir?"

He waved a hand. "You may go. Thank you for your assistance, Miss Luna."

"Uhm...I'm in your class."

"Ah, well, then, by all means have a seat."

The new teacher rifled through the desk drawers until the rest of the class filed in and took their seats. After several minutes of silence, the professor stood and smiled enigmatically. "I only arrived today, and have no lesson planned."

Sitting on the edge of the desk, he riveted the class by reaching up to smooth his small, neat moustache. Instead of a right hand, the man had a hook. The curving steel glinted.

"Today, I'll introduce myself and assign some silent reading while I look over your late professor's notes and plans." Lips curving with private amusement, he said, "My name is Hook, Professor James Hook--no relation."

Only a few students made sounds of recognition. Luna was one of them. She stared at the teacher, thinking Wesley's earlier response was the very natural reaction of one pirate meeting another.

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Just when you thought I couldn't use another Princess Bride quote, I found a way, and threw in Captain Hook for good measure. :D With our gang being all for one, and one for all, I couldn't pass by the opportunity for a little musketeer fun. Review and let me know how you liked the swashbuckling!