A Pirate's Tale -
". . .When I awoke Harry had destroyed the diary, ending Riddle's hold on me." Ginny said, looking down at her folded hands as she sat on the bench. It had been hard telling Will her story. Sitting together, Ginny couldn't bring herself to look up at him. Instead she chose to glance out at the expansive grounds of Hogwarts from their view at the top of the astronomy tower. Tilting her chin up, Ginny closed her eyes and welcomed the cool breeze that blew against her face. Will had remained quiet as she told her story. She could feel his eyes on her now, as she knew they had been this whole time. Ginny imagined the disgusted look on his face and was sure that at any moment he'd be excusing himself from being anywhere near her and her tainted past. Unable to take his silence any longer she finally spoke.
"You must think me some sort of a monster," she said, glancing back down at her lap and tightening the grip on her interlocked fingers.
"What I think," Will said, placing his hand over Ginny's to her surprise, "is that you are one unbelievably brave woman. Anyone who would think differently of you is a complete fool and unworthy of your time."
Ginny looked up to see Will's serious expression as he squeezed her hand gently. His features softened.
"You have been through more as a young girl than most grown men could scarcely bear," said Will, giving her a reassuring smile. Ginny stared at him, biting her bottom lip worriedly. Will's smiled slipped slightly as he reached up to brush the back of his fingers down her cheek. "I think it's time I explained everything to you," he said, letting his hand drop away from her cheek. Ginny's eyes searched his face, watching a sad, far off expression come over him. Deep within her the strong desire to chase away whatever brought that look upon his face, surged forth and pooled together in the center of her chest causing a horrible ache. Will took a deep breath, turning to look out at the gray sky. Portions of sunshine fought to peek out in weakened areas of the fat clouds. Exhaling slowly Will squared his shoulders before speaking. "I think I should explain Elizabeth. It is because of her that, who I truly am came to be," said Will, turning to look down at his hand still covering Ginny's.
Ginny steeled herself, ready to hear the worst. Unlocking her fingers Ginny moved her hands so that Will's was encased in both of her own. She gave his hand an encouraging squeeze. Will looked up at her, smiling gratefully. She released his hand as Will stood and took a few steps away. Will gripped the rough-hewn stones of the protective half wall, looking out over the vast grounds of Hogwarts. He leaned on the stone for several seconds saying nothing.
"My father's name was William Turner." Will said, turning his head slightly to glance over his shoulder at Ginny. Will's eyes moved to the floor of the tower as he walked a few steps, letting his hand trail along the aged stones of the wall. "Only a few knew him by that name. He was most known to those around him as Bootstrap Bill." Will turned then to face Ginny, standing straight, hands at his sides. "The pirate."
Hermione hurried into the emptying hall as students milled about enjoying their Sunday off. She spotted Ron and Harry sitting beside each other along the Gryffindor tables talking quietly. Making her way around to the other side of the row she walked towards them, biting her bottom lip nervously. Before she was half way to the table she saw Ron tense, his head snapping up to look at her.
"Hermione," Ron said as she approached and sank down onto the bench across from him. Hermione anxiously gripped the lap of her robe beneath the table top. Ron's brows furrowed as he looked around the hall. "Where's Ginny?" he asked, turning his attention back to Hermione.
Harry glanced to the main hall doors with a growing frown.
"I. . ." Hermione began before letting out an irritated sigh, "I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?" Ron demanded in a harsh whisper. Hermione scowled at him.
"I spoke clear and proper English, Ron. I figured you of all people would be able to under stand that simple sentence," Hermione bit back at him. Ron leaned forward, opening his mouth. Harry pushed his arm in front of his friend.
"Have you spoken with her, Hermione?" Harry asked. Ron sat back frowning at Harry. Hermione looked at Ron for a moment before turning her attention to Harry.
"No," Hermione said with a defeated sigh.
"No," Ron mocked with an aggravated nod of the head and a wave of his hand.
Hermione closed her eyes, clenching her jaw as she spoke. "I tried to find her Ron, but Jack --"
"What about him?" Ron snapped.
"Ron, let her talk," Harry said impatiently.
Hermione looked up just as Professor Dumbledore slowly walked past. The Headmaster glanced down giving Hermione a ghost of a wink before moving on. Her eyes roamed to the doorway of the main hall and scowled.
"Hermione," Ron said, attempting to gain her attention once again. Harry and Ron turned to see what Hermione was staring at. Standing in the arch of the doorway Jack Sparrow stood, smiling broadly at the group. With a slight nod of his head he made to walk around the end of the Gryffindor tables to Hermione's side but was stopped by the approach of Professor Dumbledore.
"Git." Ron said under his breath as he turned back to the table.
Hermione saw Jack's brow crease with disappointment as he glanced over Dumbledore's shoulder at her before allowing the Professor to lead him out of the main hall. For several seconds Hermione continued to stare at the entrance, her brows furrowed as her mind raced.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" said Harry, watching her carefully. Ron's frown slowly slid from irritation to concern.
"Hermione?" Ron said hesitantly.
Hermione turned her gaze to Ron's and held it before looking at Harry. "I don't think we have that much time left."
Ron looked down at his plate, balling his fingers into a fist.
Harry glanced back at the entrance before looking between his two friends. "Then we haven't a moment to lose."
". . .Everything was fine for the longest of time, but soon the call of the sea became more than I could handle." Will said, shifting on the bench as he starred out at the gray sky, lost in his own thoughts. Ginny brought her knees up and wrapped her arms around them as she listened quietly. "Elizabeth said she understood, but I knew she didn't," Will went on, giving Ginny a slight glance before returning to look out at the horizon. "We had many harsh words and ended things very badly," said Will, looking down at his hand.
Ginny glanced at his open palm and watched as Will traced his finger over a faint silvery scar that ran across it. For several seconds Will remained silent, lost in his own thoughts. Slowly he balled his scarred hand into a fist. Taking a deep breath Will looked up again.
"I will never forget the last thing we said to each other," Will paused, staring out at nothing. Ginny lowered her chin to her knee, stroking her upper arm with her thumb as she listened. "We were arguing and I was too brash with my words. 'Perhaps you should have married Norrington.' I threw at her. She stared at me, her warm eyes growing cold as her back stiffened and her chin rose. 'Perhaps I still may.' She whispered before she turned her back on me and walked away." Will said, finally turning to meet Ginny.
His expression was pained, his eyes full of hurt as Ginny looked at him. "That was the last time I saw her. For all I know, she has moved on and married him," said Will, slowly blinking. When he opened his eyes again the pain that was there had faded to that of a distance memory now reflecting back at her.
"I'm sorry," Ginny said.
Will frowned looking at her closely. "You have nothing to be sorry for. You did not cause me the pain," he said, standing up. Will turned to lean against the half wall, his hands against the weather beaten stone as he looked down at her.
Ginny shrugged before dropping her arms to turn and put her feet on the floor. "I know I didn't, but that still doesn't mean that I don't feel sorry that you hurt," she said, reaching up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
The appearance of a brown owl interrupted their conversation. Will pushed off from the wall attempting to get away from the owl that landed and hopped towards him.
"What is the creature's trouble?" he asked, side stepping the owl that hooted impatiently as it chased after him.
"It's trying to deliver you a message," Ginny said, quickly getting off of the bench to kneel near the bird. "It's alright, let me get that," Ginny said, reaching out for the owl's leg. The owl flapped its wings at Ginny and hopped again towards Will. "You're going to have to take the message, it won't let me," said Ginny, sitting back on her heels.
Will gave Ginny an uncertain look before slowly kneeling down. The brown owl hopped over to Will and stuck out its leg where a small roll of parchment was tied to it. Will quickly untied the thin string that held the note to the owl's leg. He no more than had the note in his hand when the owl took flight again, causing Will to jerk back.
Will watched the owl fly off for a moment before standing up. Ginny began to move to rise as well when Will held out his hand for her to take. Smiling Ginny slipped her hand into his and allowed him to pull her the rest of the way up.
"Thank you," she said with a small smile.
"My pleasure," Will said returning the smile before looking down at the roll of parchment in his hand. Ginny wrapped her arms around herself as Will unrolled the note and read it.
"Your Headmaster wishes to speak with me," Will said, letting the parchment roll back again. "I'm sorry but I must go," Will said regretfully.
Ginny nodded, looking down at the stone floor as Will walked over to the door to the stair well.
"Ginny?" Will said, holding the door open. Ginny turned and looked at Will's expectant face.
"You go on, I think I'd like to stay up here a bit longer," she said, rubbing her arm lightly.
"Oh," said Will, his expression falling. "We shall meet up later then?" Will asked, looking hopeful.
Ginny gave him a slight smile and nodded. "I would like that," she answered. Will stood by the door silently staring at her for several seconds looking very much like the last thing he wanted to do was leave.
Ginny was surprised to find herself walking towards Will. He watched her silently as Ginny approached him, standing with his hand still on the door knob. Ginny stretched up onto the tips of her toes, pulling on the sleeve of Will's borrowed robe so that he bent forward. Ginny tilted her chin up and placed a light kiss on his cheek. She allowed her lips to linger only briefly before she pulled away and brought herself down to normal height. Will looked down at her, startled. A slow grin spread across his handsome face.
"Thank you for telling me, Will. I'm sure it must have been very difficult," said Ginny, taking a step back. Will nodded, his grin remained as he turned and headed down the stairs, pulling the door closed behind him.
Ginny returned to the bench, bringing her knees up again to rest her chin on. Too many thoughts were swirling around in her brain. She remembered hearing about a pensieve and was half tempted to ask if she could use one to help her sort out all of her jumbled thoughts and emotions. Turning her head to rest her cheek on her knees Ginny lightly touched her finger tips to her lips. Heaving a sigh Ginny wrapped her arms around her legs, trying her best to clear her head. Now more than ever Ginny wished she had an older sister to confide in. Ginny mentally kicked herself. 'Honestly, you moping git, what would Fred and George think of you sitting here pining like this?' she thought to herself. "They'd be asking me if I was going to be writing a poem next about rich chocolate eyes or fresh pickled toads," she said to herself as she sat back up. Ginny looked around at the empty tower. "Well, sitting around here isn't helping me," she said to herself. Getting up Ginny went to the tower door. 'I need a good laugh,' she thought as she opened the door. "And I know just the two who can give it to me," she said aloud, shutting the door behind her as she hurried down the stairs.
"Where could she be?" Ron asked as the trio walked along a corridor.
"How many times are you going to ask that?" Hermione snapped, turning the corner she looked back over her shoulder at Ron. Harry rolled his eyes, preparing for yet another row between his friends. Ron glowered at the back of Hermione's head.
"Well we've been all over the castle, where else could she be?" Ron bit back.
"Oh come on you two," Harry growled, he looked up to see Neville walking down the hall.
"Hi guys!" Neville said cheerfully, switching his Herbology text to his other hand.
"Neville, have you seen Ginny?" Ron asked quickly. Neville thought for a second before his face lit up.
"I saw her just a few minutes ago heading towards the Owelry," said Neville, pointing back down the hall. "I can't wait for the dueling demonstration tomorrow, can you?" Neville asked. Before he had finished his sentence the trio was racing down the hall.
"Thanks Neville!" Harry called out over his shoulder.
"Yeah, no problem," Neville mumbled, raising his hand in a half hearted wave before turning to continue on his way.
Ginny stood at the window watching the gray school owl as it became a small spot in the distance. By the angle of the sun Ginny knew she had already missed lunch and wondered if she could go down to the kitchens for something to tide her over until dinner. Ginny glanced once more out at the tree tops of the forbidden forest when she heard the Owlery door open behind her.
"What are you doing here Weaslette?" drawled the voice of Draco Malfoy as he walked into room and looked for his eagle owl.
"None of your business Malfoy," Ginny snapped, turning to brush past him and make for the door. Draco sneered down at her from over his shoulder before turning his attention back to tying the envelope to his owl's leg.
"What? Too tired of pining away for the affections of the famous Harry Potter that you chose to become the whore of a pirate instead?" Draco said with an evil smile as he finished the knot of string and stepped back. The eagle owl flapped its wings and took flight as Ginny spun around, wand in hand.
"What did you say?" she hissed, her eyes flashing dangerously as she faced Draco.
Draco calmly watched the bird out of the window before turning his attention to Ginny. He smirked down at her, his cold gray eyes glittering with malice. "Oh, I think you heard me."
Ginny could feel the hairs rising on the back of her neck as a growl escaped from the back of her throat.
"You'll pay for that," Ginny hissed. Draco had no time to react, his eye widening with shock as Ginny screamed a spell at the top of her lungs, raising her wand high and bringing down within the time of a blink. Draco was thrown backwards with the force as a blinding orange light hit him. He began to yelp in pain as one by one small pinch marks began to erupt in a continuous stream all over his body.
The pounding of feet and the Owlery door flying the rest of the way open with a bang brought a surprised looking Harry, Ron and Hermione into the room.
"We heard yelling," Hermione gasped, trying to catch her breath.
The trio looked back and forth between Ginny standing a few feet away, her small frame shaking with anger, down to Malfoy who rolled around on the straw and owl dropping covered floor howling in pain.
"What happened?" Ron asked, stepping past Hermione to stand next to Ginny.
"Nothing I couldn't handle," Ginny said, glaring down at Draco as he screamed in pain bringing his knees up and cupping his nether region. Ginny looked down at Draco in disgust and turned to storm out of the room. Ron glanced down at Malfoy with a mixture of pride and delight before turning away.
"Ginny wait!" Harry called from behind her as Ginny descended the steps quickly. Her anger still pulsed through her pushing down the hurt that was just below the surface. Malfoy's words had stung. Regardless if they were a lie it had cut none the less. Ginny stopped and turned around as Harry came down the last couple of steps between them. From above they heard Draco's howls of pain become muffled as Ron and Hermione stepped out of the room closing the door behind them.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked, looking Ginny over for any signs of injury.
"I'm fine Harry," Ginny said impatiently. Harry frowned looking at her closely. Ginny sighed feeling her anger slowly fading. "Really Harry, I'm fine."
Harry gave her a doubtful look but held his tongue. A slow grin spread across his face as another muffled yelp came from the Owlery.
"What did you do to him?" Harry asked.
Ron and Hermione came down the stairs towards the couple. Ron's face was lit with brotherly pride.
"I don't know what you did in there, but you have to teach it to me," he said. Hermione made a tisking sound at Ron but said nothing more.
"He got no more than he deserved," Ginny said. Harry smiled causing the hurt of Draco's words to fade further into the back of her mind.
Hermione glanced over her shoulder biting her bottom lip. "I should report this you know," she said looking back at the group.
Ron goggled at her in disbelief. "You have got to be kidding me, right?" he asked.
Hermione debated for a moment as the rest of the group watched her. "I could lose my Headgirl's badge over this," she said looking back at the Owlery door and then to Ginny once more.
Ginny said nothing, ready to accept whatever Hermione chose.
"But I've suddenly become blind and deaf and know not what is going on," Hermione said with a grin.
Ron's face lit up in a huge smile as he leapt forward to wrap his arms around Hermione in a quick hug. "You're the greatest."
Hermione's eye widened in surprise. She barely had time to return the hug when Ron seemed to realize what he was doing and pulled away from her. Harry and Ginny looked at each other and smiled before turning to walk down the stairs.
"Right then," Ron said, attempting to recover himself as a blush creep over his freckled features. Hermione ducked her head down to hide her own blush as a shy grin took over her. "I'm starving, what do you say we nip down to the kitchens and grab a bite," Ron asked, taking a few steps down to follow.
"That sounds like a brilliant idea," Harry said over his shoulder as he walked behind Ginny.
Ron paused, turning to look up at Hermione, extending his hand. "Coming?"
Hermione smiled brightly, slipping her hand into Ron's as another muffled cry of pain fell upon the now deaf ears of the Headgirl.
"I'm rather famished myself," said Hermione, letting Ron pull her to hurry down the stairs after Harry and Ginny.