-Meeting Dumbledore and Eurynome's Wrath-
The group continued on their way through the dark and quiet corridors of Hogwarts. Jack and Will looked around the castle in mute amazement as pictures waved and suits of armor shifted to better position themselves.
"I must admit Love, you have us at a bit of a disadvantage," Jack said, placing his hand over Hermione's in the crook of his elbow.
"And what would that be?" Hermione asked, keeping a look out for Mrs. Norris or Peeves.
"Well, you know our names, but we don't know yours," said Jack with a cocky smile.
"Well I'M still bloody well waiting for someone to tell me your names," Ron snapped from behind Ginny and Will. Ginny turned around and shot Ron a dirty look before facing forward again. Harry's grip tightened on his wand.
"My name is Hermione Granger," said Hermione, turning them at a corner of the corridor.
"Hermione," Jack said, rolling the name around on his tongue.
"And what would your name be, Miss?" Will asked, turning to look down at Ginny as they continued down the corridor.
"Her name is Ginny Weasley. And you are?" Harry rudely interrupted just as Ginny opened her mouth to speak. Ginny's eyes grew wide and her eyebrows shot up. She whipped her head around and stared hard at Harry.
"My name is William Turner," said Will, giving Harry a level look. The two men's eyes locked for a moment before Will turned his gaze again to Ginny, "But you may call me Will, Miss Ginny," he said, smiling down at her.
Ginny blushed and smiled, clasping her hands in front of her as she walked, "Thank you, Will."
Ron and Harry passed dark looks between each other.
"You still haven't told me your name," Ron rudely called out.
Jack stopped in his tracks causing everyone else to join. Jack spun around on the spot and sauntered up to Ron, stopping mere inches from colliding into him. Despite Ron's amazing height, the Captain, a good head shorter, held himself tall, giving the impression of towering over the angry red-head.
"My name, mate," Jack paused, looking Ron up and down, "is Captain Jack Sparrow. . . Savvy?" Ron frowned hard but said no more. Jack grinned broadly and gave Ron another passing look. He pivoted and walked back to Hermione's side. He extended his arm to her again. "Lead away, Love," Jack said, giving Hermione a charming smile.
"And what… do we have here?" A cold voice said from behind them. Will and Jack whirled around, swords instantly in hand. Will thrust his arm out and pulled Ginny behind him. Harry and Ron jumped back out of the way of the swords and looked over their shoulders at the intruder. Professor Snape glared at the group, eyeing the two strangers with weapons in hand. As quick as a striking snake, Snape had his wand pointing at the two men.
"No wait!" Hermione cried, pushing her way past Captain Sparrow to stand yet again between him and the end of a wand. "Professor Snape, we can explain," Hermione pleaded. She looked back at Will and Jack, "Put those things away!" she hissed. Jack narrowed an eye at Snape for a moment and sheathed his saber.
"Explain, Granger," Professor Snape demanded, sneering at the group.
"Ah, well yes," Hermione began. Will hesitated to allow Ginny to step back out from behind him, much to Ron and Harry's displeasure.
"It's alright. He's one of our Professors," muttered Ginny, smiling reassuringly.
"We were on our way to see Professor Dumbledore, Sir," said Hermione, struggling for the right words to explain.
"That still doesn't explain these two," said Snape, openly glaring at the two pirates.
"We're still waiting for the same answer," Ron said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Snape turned his vicious glare onto Ron. Ron looked out of the corner of his eye at Snape then did a double take before uncrossing his arms and taking a step back away from the Professor.
"Please Professor Snape, if we could go to Professor Dumbledore it will all be explained," Ginny begged. Snape's wrath was brought around to Ginny, his venomous glare becoming glacial and downright hateful.
"Very well Weasley," he said lowering his wand and jerking on the front of his robes to straighten them. "We shall clear this up once and for all," Snape bit his icy words out, his lip curling into a sneer as he glared down at Ginny. Will's grip on his sword handle tightened from where it hung on his hip as a dangerous spark flashed across his eyes.
"I do not believe that be the way you speak to a lady," Will said with barely restrained anger. Snape's eyes flashed dangerously as he stared down the man before him. Jack stood back, content to let the little scene play out while keeping a sharp eye on the Professor.
"It's alright Will," Ginny said, gently pulling on his arm.
"No, it isn't Miss Ginny," Will said, looking down at her, his features softening, "But for you I will concede. . . This time," he said, his features hardening again as he looked back at Snape.
"Err. . . Right then," Hermione said, trying to get a hold on the situation again, "Let's continue."
"Oh and Miss Granger," Professor Snape said as the group started back again towards the headmaster's office, "Sixty points from Gryffindor for being out after curfew with strangers. I expected more of Head Girl, but as it is you, I can not say I'm all that surprised."
Ron's face burned brightly and his jaw clenched, apparently biting back a protest. Harry scowled hard. Silently they turned and began to move again, escorted now by Professor Snape to Dumbledore's office.
"I'm not liking this," Ron grumbled low enough for Harry to hear, "I'm not liking this one bit."
Harry nodded in agreement.
The group arrived at the stone gargoyle standing guard before the passage leading to the Headmaster's office. They hesitated and looked between each other, some shrugging and shaking their heads.
"Don't you know it?" Ron said expectantly to Harry.
"Know what?" asked Jack.
"The password," said Hermione, placing her hand on her forehead and sighing.
"Incompetents," said Snape, pushing Ron out of his way to step forward. "Rum Balls."
Will and Jack watched with amazement as the gargoyle side stepped to allow passage through.
"Come," Snape ordered, leading the way up to Dumbledore's office. He rapped sharply on the door and after a pause they heard Dumbledore's voice welcoming them.
Snape walked in first and held the door as the rest entered. Professor Dumbledore sat behind his desk, taking notice of the two new people entering his office over the rim of his half-moon spectacles. He slowly rose from his seat and walked around his desk, reaching up to gently stroke the back feathers of his phoenix, Fawkes as he passed. He stood beside the desk and waited for the group to adjust themselves before speaking.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said calmly when he finally spoke, "I am Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster, and you are?" He looked at the two pirates expectantly. Jack stepped forward sweeping his hat from his head and he bowed low.
"Captain Jack Sparrow," he said, standing again and placing his hat onto his head. He gave a curious look at the phoenix before turning his eyes back to the Professor. "This be William Turner." Jack gestured to his friend standing beside Ginny.
Ron and Harry hung back from the others, frowning deeply with arms crossed.
"Captain Sparrow, it is an honor," said Professor Dumbledore, inclining his head slightly. "You as well Mr. Turner." Dumbledore nodded to Will. Ginny turned and watched Will bow slightly in return. "Now that we know each other's names, per chance you could tell me how it is that you happened to come to Hogwarts?" Dumbledore motioned to the many available seats for them to sit.
Hermione and Ginny sank down beside each other in a row of four chairs. Before Will or Jack could think to take a seat, Harry and Ron sprung into action and each nabbed the outer seats beside the girls. Will scowled. Jack took note of the young men and found it highly amusing. He grinned and turned his attention again back to the headmaster reclining in a nearby armchair. Curiosity got the better of Will and he wandered towards the fireplace to look at a sword which sat upon the mantel containing a ruby the size of an egg encrusted on the end of the handle.
"Well, Professor. . . Dumbledore," Jack said after the need to think for a moment for the correct name, "We don't know how we came to be at your castle," Jack flippantly waved his hand to his surroundings. Will had turned from fireplace and brought his attention closely back to the conversation. "One moment I be sitting in me cabin, with me first mate," Jack waved his hand behind him, indicating he meant Will. "We were looking at a newly acquired possession . . . an heirloom if you will." Jack smirked. "I had just begun to open it when the next thing I know, I be standing in a strange room with these two bonny lasses at my feet," Jack said, cocking a half grin towards Hermione and Ginny.
Hermione frowned at Jack's choice of words but remained silent for the moment. Professor Dumbledore stood leaning against his desk, his sky blue eyes crinkling at the corners as he grinned.
"Miss Granger?" Dumbledore said, turning to look her. Hermione quickly turned her attention from frowning at Jack to Dumbledore.
"Ginny and I were in my dorm working on a sensation-enhancing potion that Ginny was to be tested on come Friday when Ron's owl, Pig, flew in and knocked a jar over, shattering the glass and spilling the contents into the cauldron," Hermione said, shooting Ron a dirty look for the part his owl played in the entire situation. Ron cringed. "After the explosion began to clear we found them standing there," Hermione said, turning her attention back to the Headmaster.
"Boy did we," Ginny said under her breath, grinning as she looked at Hermione from the corner of her eye. Harry sharply turned his head and frowned at Ginny.
"This. . . heirloom you spoke of earlier, Captain Sparrow, is there anything of significance about it?" Dumbledore asked, turning his attention back to the man in the chair.
Jack hesitated a couple of times before choosing his words. "Well, there was this one small thing," he said, bringing his hand in front of his face holding his fingers slightly apart and he squinted his eyes a bit. "Something about there being a bit of a protective curse on it or some nonsense," Jack said with a dismissive wave of the hand.
"A curse!" Will spoke up for the first time since the conversation began. He stepped forward looking down at his Captain. Jack's face scrunched in a wince as he slowly turned around to face his friend. "Had we learned nothing from the coins?" Will growled.
"How was I supposed to know this would be the end result?" said Jack, looking irritated.
Professor Dumbledore turned back to look at Hermione, "This jar you mentioned earlier, what were the contents?" Dumbledore asked.
"It was a complicated powder that I had been working on for my advanced potions class Sir," Hermione said, pulling at the hem of her pleated skirt.
This brought Jack's attention down to her legs where his eyes lingered on the curve of her slender calf. Grinning to himself, Jack steepled his fingers and raised an eyebrow, enjoying the view. Ron caught Jack staring out of the corner of his eye. He followed to where Jack was looking before jerking his head back up again to glare at the pirate, positively fuming.
"And what was it called, if you please," Dumbledore politely asked.
"Eurynome's Wrath," Hermione said, looking up at the Headmaster.
From behind them, they heard Snape gasp sharply, his crossed arms dropping to his sides in shock.
"I had it on my table so it could cure by the full moon," Hermione explained. Dumbledore nodded in kind understanding as he turned again back to Captain Sparrow.
"Were there carvings of a Goddess on this heirloom?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
Jack thought for a moment, "Well now that you be mentioning it. . . ." he said, leaving his sentence unfinished.
The Headmaster slowly nodded, a small smile crossing his wrinkled features. "Well since you are here, you will stay as our guests until we can better straighten things out." Dumbledore pushed himself from the desk and moved back around it. "Professor Snape, if you would be so kind as to inform Professor McGonagall of Gryffindor's new guests." He glanced over his glasses at the potions master. Professor Snape merely nodded, giving Jack a quick glare before leaving. "Now for your lodging," Dumbledore said, taking a seat again behind his desk. "As it is, we happen to have spare rooms in each house for just such an occasion." Dumbledore shifted some papers around on his desk.
"You have occasions like this arise often, Sir?" Will spoke up.
Dumbledore looked at Will over his spectacles and grinned, "Hogwarts has been known to entertain some -- interesting guests over its many years," the headmaster said, smiling at the group. "Now seeing as tomorrow is Friday, I will grant permission for Miss Weasley and Miss Granger to have the day off from their studies to be good hostesses to our company," Dumbledore looked over at the two women. Hermione and Ginny grinned at each other.
"Yes, of course, Professor Dumbledore," Hermione answered.
Ron and Harry shot to their feet in protest. Jack leaned back into his chair, crossing his legs and watched the display with complete pleasure.
"Now, now Mr. Potter -- Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore said, his eyes glittering merrily, "I am sure one day will not ruin their academic careers."
Seeing that their argument was a lost cause Ron and Harry fell into a sullen silence.
"I will have the house elves lay out some proper sleepwear for you, and have your clothing pressed for the next day." Dumbledore said, standing again. Hermione gave the headmaster a sharp look.
"What exactly be house elves?" Jack asked.
"I'll have Miss Granger explain that to you," Dumbledore answered with a grin. The headmaster moved to the office door, indicating that their meeting was to come to an end. "When you arrive back to the Gryffindor common room, I'm sure Professor McGonagall will have been brought up to speed on what is going on and she will show you to the guest room," Dumbledore said, placing his hand on the door handle. He turned to look at the group of people standing behind him.
"This Saturday we will be celebrating the Harvest Ball. You are invited to attend as our guests. In fact I insist you come," Dumbledore said with a smile. Harry and Ron scowled but did not dare say anything to the Professor. "If I am not mistaken both Miss Weasley and Miss Granger are in need of an escort for the event." Dumbledore looked rather pleased with himself.
Ron's jaw dropped open in shock, Harry's face darkened and he frowned at the headmaster as Dumbledore opened the office door.
"Indeed," Jack said, grinning at a very surprised looking Hermione. "I believe we will take you up on that invitation Professor Dumbledore. It be something to help pass the time until I be back on me ship. I'm much grateful for your generous accommodations and your ready willingness to assist us in our -- situation," Jack said, bowing and exiting the room. Harry and Ron were left spluttering as the rest walked out of the office behind Captain Sparrow.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow waiting for the two men to leave. "I believe they are probably down to the corridor by now. Alone," Professor Dumbledore said, pointedly looking at Harry and Ron.
This had the desired effect on the two as they rushed out of the headmaster's office, almost shoving each other to reach the stairs. Professor Dumbledore chuckled to himself and closed the door.