The Pearl's Cabin
The large cabin was made of dark aged wood and lined along the outer walls with paned glass windows. An elaborate table which was covered in a mass of gold coins, various sizes and shapes of different colored gem stones, and a large bowl of fruit took up the center of the room. An ornate chair sat at the head of the table like a throne. Jack slowly stepped into the room looking around.
"The Pearl," he breathed out heavily. Will followed, looking around cautiously. Ginny stared around in awe. Inhaling deeply, she could smell the salty sea air, gun powder, and wood oil.
"Hermione," Ginny whispered, "look."
Ginny pointed to the head of the table where a beautiful box sat. The outer of the box was heavily worked gold and encrusted with pearls around the top edge. The lid of the box was open adorn with a beautiful goddess made from mother of pearl. Ancient etchings were beautifully carved along the bottom edge. The interior was lined in dark red velvet. They approached the head of the table and Hermione knelt down to examine the box closer without touching. The inside appeared to be filled with golden sand.
"We must tell Professor Dumbledore about this. I'm positive it will be most helpful in his research," said Hermione, carefully standing again.
"Bonny idea, lass," Jack said, leaning against a cabinet crossing his arms.
"I'll go tell Professor Dumbledore right away," said Hermione, heading to leave. "Don't touch anything," Hermione warned standing at the door, staring directly at Jack.
Jack looked at her and grinned uncrossing his arms and moving to sit in a side chair at the table.
"Yes, Love," he said watching her as he sat. Hermione scowled and turned to go. Jack chuckled to himself as the door clicked shut. He propped his feet onto the table, rested his head against the back of the chair, and closed his eyes.
Will watched Ginny as she slowly looked around the cabin in wonder. She paused to examine an elaborate sword that rested across a cushioned window seat. He studied her as she reached a tentative hand towards the sword, her fingers came a hairs width away from the handle before she curled them and drew her hand back. Turning around, Ginny caught sight of Will staring at her with an unreadable expression.
"May I ask you something personal, Will?" Ginny asked from where she stood.
"Of course, Ginny," Will answered, stepping closer to her. Jack peeked out of the corner of his eye at the couple then closed them again.
"Have --" she hesitated not sure if it would be appropriate to ask. "Have you always been a pirate?" Ginny asked, quickly looking down.
"Actually, no," Will answered. Ginny risked a glance at him; his friendly smile caused her to relax. "I was a blacksmith," said Will, walking over to the window seat where the sword lay and nodded to it, "I made that."
Ginny turned her attention back to the sword and stared at it, "It's beautiful," she whispered.
"Yes, she is," Will answered quietly.
Ginny turned back and realized he was staring at her as he spoke. Ginny felt compelled to step towards Will. . . drawn to him, unable to do much other than stare into his eyes. Will searched her beautiful face, inching closer as he became fixated on her full rose tinted lips.
Jack cleared his throat loudly as he pretended to adjust himself for more comfort in the chair, his eyes remained closed. Ginny jerked and took a step back. She looked at Jack tucked her head snuck a glance at Will as she moved past him.
Will closed his eyes and seemed to struggle to hold back a sigh of frustration. Opening his eyes, he gave Jack a dirty look, balling his fingers into a tight fist before releasing it.
Several minutes later, the cabin door opened and Hermione entered followed by Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape. Dumbledore seemed curiously delighted as he glanced around the room. Snape stepped in with his customary sneer properly in place, he spied Jack reclining on the chair and his sneer deepened. Jack took his time sitting up to watch Snape.
"So this is a pirate's cabin," said Snape, looking around the room in distaste. "How. . . quaint," Snape mocked, wrapping the edge of his black robes around the front of him, giving the strong impression he didn't want to touch anything for fear of being soiled. Jack slowly stood and swaggered over to stand before Snape.
"I'll tell you what, mate. I'll be not insultin' the way you walk like you have a stick up yer arse if you be keepin' to yourself concernin' the Pearl," said Jack, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Snape, "Savvy?"
Snape jerked back as if he had been slapped and began to puff himself up, reaching for his wand in his pocket.
"I swear I will . . ." said Snape.
"Ah, is this the 'heirloom' you had mentioned earlier, Captain Sparrow?" Dumbledore spoke over Snape, not bothering to suppress a large grin.
"Yes," Jack said, turning away from Snape to join Dumbledore, "That would be it."
Professor Dumbledore leaned forward to study at the ornate box. "Very well, very well. I thank all of you then and will excuse you while I examine this," he said, peering closely at the box's contents.
Jack gave Snape another look of displeasure over the Professor's slight on his ship.
"I may have need to speak to you and Mr. Turner later, Captain Sparrow," said Professor Dumbledore, not taking his eyes off of the elaborate box on the table.
"Of course," said Jack, walking out the door.
Ginny walked with Hermione talking with great interest about the cabin of the Black Pearl. Jack smiled at hearing the girls compliment his ship. Will continued to walk along silently, watching the back of Ginny's fiery head as she spoke, moving her hands animatedly as she described things she had seen.
"Oohh, lookie what we have here!" An annoying voice came from nowhere. Peeves the Poltergeist floated through the ceiling to hover over them. The two men staggered back in surprise.
"Shut up, Peeves," Ginny ordered irritably.
"What is this?" Peeves said, looking closely at the men standing behind the girls. "Avast ye maties and blow the man down, Pirates I see before me!" Peeves said in glee.
"Peeves we don't have time for this," said Hermione said in exasperation.
"They'll loot and plunder and steal your knickers right off of your bonny bums they will!" Peeves cackled at his joke. Will leaned towards Jack.
"A bit annoying isn't he?" said Will, keeping his eye on the Poltergeist. Jack grunted his agreement.
"I see this castle be haunted," Jack said, "Too bad it's housing such unworthy spirits."
Peeves bristled stuck his tongue out, blowing a noisy raspberry at Jack.
"Oh, hello Baron," Ginny said with a wave, looking beyond Peeves shoulder. Peeves spun around in the air in fright. Hermione smirked and Ginny grinned, crossing her arms below her chest.
"Ha ha, very funny, weaslette," said Peeves, facing the group but still glancing apprehensively over his shoulder.
"Come on," Hermione said, walking on down the corridor.
"You wait and see, ol' Peevesie is right! They're tricksie and slicksie and will rob you bare!" Peeves called to their backs, rather irritated that he couldn't best them. They didn't bother to turn around and acknowledge Peeves, so he began a rather rude tune about pirates and rum and really bad eggs and zoomed down the corridor away from them, more than likely to find more mischief elsewhere.
"You'd think with all this ol' pirate's seen and done, I'd be used to the unexpected," said Jack, glancing at a portrait of dueling wizards casting wild spells that ricocheted off the portrait's frame, "But if this place doesn't end up turnin' me dapper whiskers gray before we find home again, I'll have me hat for lunch."
o-o-o
Dinner passed in uncomfortable silence with Ron and Harry silently kept a watchful eye on the two pirates while Will and Jack chose to ignore their presence. Lavender Brown and Parvarti Patil paused at their section of the table to make their hellos to the two pirates, giggling and batting their eyelashes shamefully causing Hermione to bristle. Jack was more than obliged to say hello, a little too enthusiastically for Hermione's taste. Will was a bit more reserved, keeping his attention quietly on Ginny, who ate very little staring down at her plate as her mind wandered.
"Is everything alright Ginny?" Will asked from across the table. Ginny looked up to see concern etched across his features. She gave him a half hearted smile.
"Yes, just thinking about practice after dinner," Ginny lied.
"I am looking forward to watching you practice this Quidditch. Perhaps later you could take me for a walk by the lake and we could talk some more," he offered with a hopeful smile.
Ginny's smile widened a fraction. "I'd like that," she said before going back to picking at her food.
Harry's face darkened as he sat close listening to the conversation. He stood, muttering about needing to get ready for practice, and left the hall. Jack, who bore witness to all of this, watched Harry leave. Jack's attention was brought back to the hushed angry voice of Hermione talking in low tones to Ron who had straddled the bench facing her.
"Well, Ron, I really don't care what you think at the moment," she hissed at him.
Ron clenched his jaw and spoke through gritted teeth.
"I still don't agree with what you are doing tomorrow," he growled.
"Well you know what, Ron," Hermione's voice rose louder. "We had a conversation painfully similar to this back in our fourth year and yet you still didn't learn the lesson so you are just going to have to deal with it," she said, slamming her fork down hard onto the table.
Several students sitting close by peered over curiously at the noise.
Ron's face paled before flushing red again. "Fine!" he said standing up quickly. "Completely missing my point yet again I see!" Ron turned and stomped out of the hall.
Hermione sighed, resting her elbows on the table and rubbed her temples with her fingertips.
"Now, Love, what could be troubling you so?" Jack asked obviously knowing the answer.
"That git! You'd think he'd learn by now," Hermione huffed.
"Aww now, why not let ol' Jack help you out of this mood." Jack rose from his seat. "I know there is plenty I have yet to hear about this castle and would love to have you do so during our Ginny's practice," said Jack with a very charming smile. Hermione gave him a hesitant look. Jack inclined his head slightly waiting on her answer.
"I have yet to hear more about this library we saw earlier, Love," Jack had said the right thing because Hermione's eyes lit up with the mention of her sacred library. "Now that's a good lass, no more frownin' while you're in the company of ol' Jack," he said giving her a charming smile.
"Ready for your practice Ginny?" Will asked, trying to pull Ginny from her deep thoughts. Ginny gazed up at him; the familiar feeling of falling took hold of her when she looked into his eyes.
"Yes, let's go so I can get changed." she said, standing.
o-o-o
Quidditch practice found Jack, Hermione and Will on the bottom bleachers near the rail as the Gryffindor team zoomed around the Quidditch field. The sun was already low in the gray autumn sky, off in the horizon where the clouds were thin you could see yellow, orange and magenta outline the otherwise dull-looking clouds.
Will sat, jaw set, watching Ginny closely as she flew with skill and grace, passing the Quaffle to her teammate in the dimming light. Hermione had been giving Jack and Will a review of the sport as the team practiced. Jack tugged on the edge of his elaborate pirate's coat. Seamus was more than happy to lend Will a cloak to wear to ward off the autumn chill. Will had not liked the idea of Ginny flying around on a broom after he got over the initial shock of it, despite Hermione's repeated reassurance that Ginny would be perfectly safe. Jack sat back listening to Hermione tell him the finer details of the game but paid more attention to the fact that the entire time she spoke Hermione keep her eyes on Ron as he maneuvered around on his broom skillfully blocking goal attempts. Jack's eyes scanned over Ron to watch Harry floating above the rest.
"Not doing much up there is he?" Jack asked, watching Harry loop around slowly.
"He's keeping a watch for the snitch," Hermione reasoned, even though to Jack, it looked like Harry was keeping his eye on Ginny.
Practice continued on as the group watched. Ginny would occasionally glance over seeing Will staring her. He'd give her a smile and a nod when he'd catch her eye. It was this distraction that caused Ginny not to notice the upcoming danger. Jack Sloper, one of the team's beaters, had hit the Bludger at the wrong angle and sent it hurtling towards Ginny.
"Ginny look out!" Ron shouted.
Ginny frowned and turned to see what the warning was about when she caught sight of a bludger coming towards her head. She twisted her broom and dove to the side but the bludger still grazed her shoulder and knocked her off balance.
Will vaulted from his seat grabbing the rail, "GINNY!"
Hermione and Jack jumped out of their seats and could barely keep up with Will as he dashed out of the stands towards the stairs. From above, Harry caught Ron's warning and had already begun to dive as he watched the Bludger knock Ginny off balance. He leaned forward onto his Firebolt, pushing it to go faster. Harry swooped beneath Ginny and caught her as she slipped off of the broom and fell a few feet into his waiting arms.
Ginny landed hard against Harry. She glanced around in shock before setting her sights back up to the intense emerald gaze that tore through her.
"Don't worry, I've got you," Harry said. He pulled her tighter against him and slowly lowered the broom towards the ground.
Ginny's heart slammed in her chest feeling his arms securely around her. There was something about the way he was looking at her that she'd never seen before, a hunger burned in his eyes hinted with longing. Her breath was caught in her throat and her heart hammered in her chest. The rest of the team hurried to the ground to wait on them. Hermione and Jack raced to catch up with Will as he went tearing across the field to where Harry was landing his broom with Ginny tightly held in his arms. Will had almost reached the crowd of team mates when Jack caught up, grabbing him by the shoulder to stop him. Hermione paid no attention as she ran past to check on Ginny.
"Let me go, Jack," Will said, shrugging his shoulder to be free of Jack's strong grip.
"You need to wait, lad," Jack said in a calm voice that hinted of sympathy. Will glared at him before turning to look over at the crowd. Ginny and Harry stood, staring at each other. They were quickly swarmed by their team mates.
"Ginny are you alright?" Ron said, grabbing her and giving her a once over with frightened eyes.
Ginny kept her head turned and her gaze locked with Harry's as she answered, "Yes Ron, it barely nipped my shoulder."
"Gosh, Ginny, I'm really sorry," Jack Sloper said, wringing his hands on his beater bat.
"It's alright Sloper, no harm done," said Ginny, continuing to stare up at Harry who watched her in return.
Ron turned his angry glare on the beater. "Twenty laps, now!" he barked the order as team captain. Sloper immediately took off begin his laps.
"Are you sure you're alright Ginny?" Harry asked.
"Yes, thank you, Harry," Ginny answered quietly.
Will jerked his shoulder out of Jack's grip as Jack was letting go. He rushed forward to stand next to Hermione.
"Ginny, are you hurt?" Will asked. Ginny tore her gaze from Harry's to Will, another sharp pang shot through her heart seeing the deep concern and terror in his eyes. Will's hands clenched and opened again at his sides as if itching to grab a hold of her and pull her close to him.
"I'm alright Will," she said, giving him a smile.
"All the same you should be seen by Madam Pomfrey," said Ron, leaving no room for argument.
"Come on Ginny, I'll take you," Hermione said, touching Ginny's arm.
Ginny stared at Will and nodded.
"Come on then," Hermione said gently, leading Ginny away with Will at her side.
Jack watched Ginny give a last passing glance over her shoulder to Harry who watched her closely as she walked off of the field, then turn to look up at Will as he spoke to her. Jack followed a few steps behind.
"Interesting," Jack muttered to himself, stroking his curled mustache as he walked, "It looks as if our bonny lass is torn."