Atonement -
Ginny entered the main hall and walked over to sit down at the Gryffindor tables. The excitement in the air was so thick you could almost touch it as people all around whispered about the upcoming demonstration for the next day. Jack and Will sank down on the bench on either side of Ginny as she reached for a serving fork. Will was quiet and rather serious as he poured himself a glass of juice, furrowing his brow in deep thought. Jack grinned from across the table at Parvati and Lavender as he reached for an apple.
"Jack," Lavender began. "I mean Captain Sparrow," Lavender quickly corrected herself. Jack's grin broadened as he looked at her, causing Lavender's cheeks to flush. "I was wondering..." she began, Parvati gave a quick elbow into Lavender's arm causing the girl to look at her friend with eyes slightly widened before turning back to Jack. "We were wondering if the story books are true to exactly what it is that a pirate does?" Jack chewed a bite of apple for a moment before answering.
"Well, darlin', that all depends on what it is you have read," Jack answer, pointing at Lavender with the hand that held his apple before taking another bite.
"Oh, dreadful things," Parvati breathed out in awe.
"But we want to hear from you what it is you did." Lavender said, leaning forward a bit, her eyes wide with wonder.
Ginny sipped her tea while Jack talked to the two Gryffindor girls. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw Will's jaw clench as he turned his head away from the conversation to stare off into the distance. She set her cup down gently, furrowing her brow and biting her lip in thought.
Jack grinned again, swaying in his seat slightly. "Well darlin', we'd sail along where ever the tides would take us in search of treasure to be found. Cutting throats and destroying those ships that stood in our way. And when we found a port suitable for our needs. . ." Jacks grin darkened, "We'd raid, lout and plunder our Weasely black-hearts out." Ginny's eyes widened and her chin dropped, turning to look at Jack. Parvati and Lavender both sat with matching looks of amazement.
"Oohh" the girls said in unison.
"Hey!" Ginny said indignantly, frowning at Jack.
Will brought his attention back to his captain, "Jack!" he said sternly. Jack outwardly cringed, turning an apologetic face towards Ginny.
"I'm sorry darlin', a mere slip of the tongue, honestly," he said with a wave of his hand.
"Perhaps you should consider rephrasing that," Ginny snapped.
"Indeed," a hauntingly misty voice said from behind them.
"Oh, Professor Trelawny!" Lavender said excitedly, "what an honor that you have come to the great hall."
Professor Trelawny gave a shadow of a smile, "I was gazing at my crystal orb and was overwhelmed with the strong desire to come down here today."
Jack slowly turned around and raised his eyes up to finally meet those of the Divinations Professor standing behind him, her many shawls layered over her shoulders slowly slipped out of place as her bangles clinked on her arms. She frowned down at him through her spectacles giving her a menacing bug like appearance.
Jack's facial expression quickly flashed that of being startled. He winced before attempting to smooth over his features. Setting the remainder of his apple aside Jack quickly stood to face her.
"Professor Trelawny, this is Jack Sparrow," said Parvati as Jack made to bend over the Professor's hand.
"Captain, luv," Jack growled, "Captain. Jack. Sparrow."
Lavender elbowed her friend in the arm.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Parvati said, blushing as she slouched down on the bench. Will gave a slight grin at the two Gryffindors before turning his attention back up to Jack and the Professor.
"Captain Sparrow you say?" Professor Trelawny asked, gracefully pulling her hand away from Jack's grasp. "Captain Jack Sparrow?" she said again slowly, her back straightening further and her shoulders squaring.
Jack slowly rose, giving her a curious look. "Yes," he said furrowing his brow a touch and looking her up and down, "You seem somewhat familiar. Have I threatened you before?"
Without warning Professor Trelawny's open palm struck Jack across the face with a resounding crack. Parvati and Lavender sat back and gasped.
Jack's head swung around so that he was looking at Ginny and Will with a surprised yet bewildered expression. "I know I didn't deserve that."
Ginny sat with eyebrows raised and eyes widened, looking back between Jack and the Professor who stood calmly adjusting her many shawls as if nothing had just happened. All around them those students in the great hall sat in shock of what they just witnessed.
"On the contrary." Professor Trelawny said, her misty voice taking on a tinge of steel as she spoke, "That, you very much did deserve."
At the head table Professor McGonagall made to stand but was stopped by Dumbledore touching her arm.
"Let us see where this leads," Professor Dumbledore said with a small smile, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Professor Snape sat in his chair, pressing his finger tips together and smiled darkly at the pirate's misfortune.
Jack opened his mouth and worked his jaw around as he frowned at the Professor. "And what, pray tell, leads you to believe that?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at Professor Trelawny. Ginny was surprised to see the Professor pause before smiling at Jack. Professor Trelawny leaned forward a bit and crooked her finger. Jack looked at her warily before leaning in towards her.
"Does the name, Giselle, mean anything to you?" she said quietly, her smile still in place. Will's eye's widened in surprise. Jack's head snapped back as if he'd been slapped again, looking the Professor up and down. With a dramatic sigh the Divinations Professor gave her shawls another tug, causing her bangles to click together noisily. "My ancestor's wrongs have been atoned and I shall now return to my tower once more," Professor Trelawny said softly and turned without another word and walked back out of the hall.
Jack sat down slowly on the bench, looking at Ginny and then Will with a look of shock, "I guess I did deserved that."
Hermione glanced up from her Advanced Potions text from where she sat in the arm chair to watch Ron stalk past again, muttering under his breath as he cast an anxious eye towards the portrait entrance. She fought back the urge to order him to sit down, knowing she would receive only a nasty comment thrown back at her. It had taken Harry hours to calm Ron down enough last night, after their argument with the two pirates, to stop him from attempting to storm up to Ginny's room, ("I don't care about the ruddy alarm, I'll use my broom if I have to!") and tell her everything. After Harry had sent Hedwig with a note begging Hermione to return to the common room, she was forced to put her grievances aside for the time being and try work things through. Finally it was decided in the wee hours of the morning that Harry should speak to Ginny personally as soon as day broke.
". . . threatens to go too, honestly. . ." Hermione heard Ron grumble under his breath as he made another pass by her chair. Hermione's back stiffened and chin rose slightly, knowing that he didn't realize he had said that out loud. It took all of her will power to sit still, holding her beloved text in a death grip as they waited for Harry's return. She reminded herself again that it was for Ginny that she was sitting there. The portrait entrance opened and a very agitated looking Harry entered. He glanced around quickly taking note that the common room was empty for the moment except for Ron and Hermione, who were waiting on him. Ron spun around and advanced on Harry.
"Well?" Ron demanded, looking at Harry expectantly.
"Well what Ron," Harry asked, lowering his Firebolt from his shoulder and tightening his grip on the broom handle.
"Did you talk to her?" Ron asked impatiently. Hermione watched as Harry's face hardened a fraction as he looked at his best friend.
"Not exactly," Harry said, taking a step towards the boys' staircase.
"What does that mean?" Ron asked, narrowing his eyes and stepping in front of Harry to prevent him from going any further.
Harry dug his fingers through his hair, making it stand further on end and exhaled noisily, "She doesn't know, alright? I didn't tell her."
Ron's eyes widened as he took another step forward. "Why not? What were you waiting for?" Ron asked angrily. When Harry didn't answer Ron looked around the room quickly as if searching for something, his eyes pausing for a brief second on Hermione. "Never mind. . . I'll go talk some sense into her myself," said Ron, making to step towards the portrait.
"No!" Harry said sharply, reaching out and grabbing a hold of Ron's arm. Hermione snapped her book shut and sat it on table beside her.
"Ron, I'm not sure that's a good idea." Hermione warned, watching her two friends closely.
"Are you mad?" Ron yelled, jerking his arm out of Harry's grasp. "Of course it's a good idea. I don't want my sister going off with that. . . that. . . Pirate!" Ron shouted, glaring down quickly at Hermione before rounding on Harry again, "And neither do you – I thought you both liked her!"
Hermione began to silently count to ten as she stood up. "You're right," she said coolly. "I don't want Ginny to leave, as I have told you repeatedly. But it is exactly what she will do if you tell her not to – you know that, Ron." The slight tremble on Hermione's hand was the only outward appearance that she was nothing but calm. "You also know how much Ginny hates being told what to do."
"I'm her brother," Ron retorted, his ears bright red as he struggled to show as much restraint on his anger as Hermione, "It's my job to protect her. She may not like being told what to do, but she doesn't know what that pirate is up to ---"
"And you're not going to tell her," Harry said firmly, looking Ron straight in the eyes as the angry red-head turned to look back at him.
"Oh yeah? And why is that?" Ron demanded, puffing his chest out and crossing his arms defiantly.
"Because I've been trying to convince her that I care about her more than he does," Harry hissed, "But if she finds out Will wants her to leave with him, she'll never believe it's true.... She'll think I'm only trying to make her stay."
"So?" said Ron sticking his chin up, trying to save face, but his straight proud posture slouched a bit and his tightly crossed arms loosened to betray his true thoughts.
"Ron," Hermione groaned, rolling her eyes at his stubbornness.
"So it isn't true!" Harry snapped, walking around Ron to the base of the boys' stairwell. Ron turned to watch Harry walk away, dropping his arms dejectedly.
"Yeah. . . she'll realize that once she cools off, mate," said Ron reaching up to rub the back of his neck, trying to sound convinced of his own words.
"She might," said Harry, pausing to turn and look at his two friends from the base of the stairs, his green eyes flashing with determination. "But that's not a chance I'm willing to take."
Hermione watched as Harry squared his shoulders and turn to disappear up the stairs. She dropped down into the armchair and began to chew on her bottom lip.
"You realize what it took for Harry to admit that?" Hermione said quietly. She looked up at Ron who stood still in the same spot as before, staring at the empty stair case.
Ron eventually turned to look down at her, "Yeah, I do."
Hermione wrung her hands together, looking around the room anxiously. Ron watched Hermione for several seconds before speaking.
"She can't go, Hermione. I won't let her," Ron said quietly, balling his fist up at his sides, "I'll write Mum and Dad. I'll write the rest of the brothers if I have to," he threatened, "I'm sure Fred and George can think up something nasty enough to do to him."
"And drive her straight into Will's arms, "Hermione said crossly. Ron walked over to stand in front of her, forcing her to tilt her head up to look at him.
"Then help me, Hermione. You talk to her," Ron said softly. Hermione could hear the desperation just on the edge of his voice as he looked down at her.
She stared up at him from her chair as he towered over her. On the surface she saw the handsome man who faced possibly losing his only sister and the helpless frustration it caused him. A man who faced the growing threat to his best friend against that of Voldemort as well as half his family to the struggle against that great evil. Beneath, Hermione saw the brave eleven year old boy from her first year at Hogwarts. The boy who faced down a full grown mountain troll to save her. The boy who faced down possible death without flinching to make sure Harry and her could go further to find the Sorcerer's Stone. The same boy who stood up for her each time Malfoy called her a Mudblood. The man she saw standing before her still bristled at the mention of Victor Krum, still copied from her homework when she allowed it, loved chocolate frogs and playing chess. The man standing before her, who looked as if he was about to have his world crumble around him, had slowly been stealing bits of her heart ever since she first saw him with a smudge of dirt on his nose, riding the Hogwarts Express.
Ron looked one last time at the empty stairwell before dropping down into the armchair to stare down at the floor, lost in his own desperate thoughts. Hermione sighed, locking her fingers together on her lap.
"I'll try," she said quietly.
Ron looked up at her. "You will?" he said, somewhat surprised. Hermione felt her heart flutter at the look up hope on Ron's face.
"I'm not going to tell her everything, Ron. I'll see what I can do to help make sure she stays if it comes down to it," she said carefully. Hermione was caught off guard when Ron leapt up and hugged her quickly before standing up straight, his face quickly flushing.
"Thanks, Hermione. I'll go see about Harry and meet you down for breakfast," Ron said before turning to the boys' stairs and bounding up them two at a time.
"Bye Captain Sparrow," said Lavender, giving the pirate a shy grin as she wiggled her fingers. Parvati covered her hand over her mouth to contain a fit of giggles as the two hurried out of the dinning hall. Jack raised his hand and wiggled his fingers in return until the girls had turned their backs to him in which he then dropped his hand and rolled his eyes. Ginny grinned, cutting a bite of her food.
"I wonder where our lovely Hermione is," Jack mused as he looked around the great hall. He gingerly touched where Professor Trelawny had slapped him only a short time ago and wiggled his jaw.
"I don't know Jack. I was out on the pitch talking to Harry before I came in, so I haven't seen her yet this morning," Ginny said with a shrug of her shoulders before she put a bite of waffle into her mouth. Will's head snapped around to look at her closely. Ginny didn't notice the dark look that passed over Will's face as she continued to eat. Jack turned his head and leaned forward towards the table slightly to look around Ginny. Will's gaze traveled from Ginny's profile to meet with the kohl lined eyes of his captain. Jack quirked an eyebrow, silently communicating with Will before both men gave the merest shadow of a nod.
"Well, if you'll excuse me," Jack said, making to stand up. "I believe I'll be hunting down the fair Hermione," said Jack as he plucked a green apple from a bowl of fruit on the table and began to polish it on his sleeve.
Ginny nodded her goodbye as she chewed and watched Jack walk away for a moment before turning back to her breakfast.
"So, Ginny," said Will, hesitantly, "what would you enjoy doing today?"
Ginny swallowed her bite of food, feeling it somehow swell to an almost unmanageable lump as she tried to force it down her throat. She nervously glanced at Will.
"You're the guest Will, although not by choice. So what would you like to do?" Ginny asked, placing her silverware onto the table.
"I'd like," Will said, turning to face Ginny, placing a tanned calloused hand over one of hers, "to simply spend time getting to know you even more." Ginny blinked, glancing down at Will's hand over her own before allowing her gaze to travel back up to meet his.
"Oh," she said. Ginny was not used to others wanting to talk about her. She was, after all, the last in line of six older brothers who normally out shined her at every turn. Leaving Ginny with the title of youngest Weasley, or only daughter, but nothing that she ever felt made her note worthy or special. Aside from her first year of course, which she would happily forget if she only could.
Ginny felt a sudden rush of guilt and apprehension at the idea of telling Will about her first year and what he might possibly think of her afterwards. Slowly Ginny slide her hand out from beneath Will's, taking notice to the saddened confusion that flashed across his handsome face.
"You may not like what you hear," she said quietly, suddenly aware of exactly how full the main hall was with students eating their breakfast.
"That I doubt," Will said, giving her a warm smile as he reached for her hand again. "I dare say if you had heard my tales I would probably be staring down the long blade of your sword," he said with a slight chuckle.
"You mean wand?" Ginny said with a half grin.
"Aye, a wand," Will said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before letting go. "Why don't we go for a long walk and we can share our tales. Then we can decide afterwards exactly the wretched creatures we really be," said Will as he stood, extending his hand for her to take.
Ginny looked at his offered hand for a moment. To be Ginny Weasley in someone's eyes. Not Arthur and Molly's daughter. Not Ron's little sister, or even the girl who was possessed by Tom Riddle. Just Ginny. She looked from Will's hand to his eyes once again, so warm and inviting and she smiled, slipping her small hand into his. "A walk sounds lovely," she said.
Hermione found Jack wandering the corridor slowly with a swagger to his step, looking around at his surrounding with mild interest.
"Ah, Hermione my darlin', just the lass I was looking for," Jack said when he spotted the bushy haired female as she made her way towards him.
"Jack, have you seen Ginny?" Hermione asked, glancing past the pirate to the corridor beyond. Jack turned around and looked behind him for a moment before returning to face her.
"Ginny? You be looking for Ginny?" Jack asked curiously.
"Yes, Jack. I am looking for Ginny. Have you seen her?" said Hermione impatiently.
"I do be believin'," Jack said making a face of thought, "that she said something about the library."
Hermione looked at him closely, "The library?" she asked.
"Aye, the library," Jack said, looking proud of himself as he nodded his head and pointed to the corridor to his left.
"Thank you Jack. Now if you will excuse me I need to speak with Ginny," Hermione said, turning towards the corridor.
"Wait!" Jack said, throwing his arms in front of himself as he hurried to step in Hermione's path.
"What is it Jack? I need to find Ginny," Hermione said, making to step around him.
"How about I join you? That way you can tell me more about this fascinating castle," Jack said with a wave of his hand.
"Very well then, hurry up," Hermione huffed before turning to walk quickly towards the library. Jack walked a few paces behind, grinning to himself.
Hermione frowned after spending a good amount of time searching the many aisles of the vast library for the fourth time as Jack sat, with his feet propped up onto the chair beside him, at one of the center tables located in the large tome-filled room. Walking to the restricted section again she located Madam Pince restocking a book and inquired to if the librarian had seen Ginny. Madam Pince informed Hermione that she hadn't seen Ginny in the library for a few days. Hermione made her way back up the long shelves of books to find Jack examining his finger nails as if he didn't have a care in the world.
"Jack, Madam Pince just told me that she hasn't seen Ginny in here," Hermione said, standing over the pirate captain. Jack glanced up at her, dropping his feet to the floor, giving her a half cocked grin. Hermione's eyes widened in shock, "You lied to me!" she accused.
Jack stood before her leaning in slightly towards her ear. "Pirate," he said, with a satisfied grin.
Hermione took a step back, glaring at him before turning on her heels and storming to the library exit.
Jack watched Hermione leave in a blaze of fury, chuckling to himself at the lovely female's temper. He slowly followed her out of the door humming as he sauntered down the corridor behind her, singing under his breath, ". . . and really bad eggs. . . "