Disclaimer: Hermione, Ginny and the other HP characters belong to JKR, not me. Jack and Will from PotC belong to Disney. Balian belongs to Fox and Ridley Scott. (He's from the movie 'Kingdom of Heaven'.)

LighteningExperience: So you like the Ron/Hermione idea huh? I'll keep it in mind. No, I'm not going to go into Ginny having another daydream with Jack, but if you (or anyone for that matter) want to write one, be my guest! Thanks, I rather liked that scene myself.

Salyer: Thank you so much for your sweet review! And don't worry, I plan on finishing this one! Even though it may take awhile…

Psychochick2006: You are awesome too:D

Inwe-pirateelf: Glad to have you back! I'm glad you like it, lol. I was afraid my descriptions wouldn't do Will justice. (And they probably still don't) But thanks for saying so anyway!

Rcaqua2: Yay, another Orlando fan! waves hi Yeah, I like the Hermione and Will pairing too. I'm not sure if anyone's ever done that before, so I decided to take a shot at it.

Captain-Ammie: Aw, thank you so much! That's like me reading a JackOC. And I only read the really well written ones. sends a big hug

SenatorSolo: I love Will's personality…I've watched PotC a million times so he isn't too hard to write, lol. But thanks for telling me so. :D You'll have to come over and watch KoH with me once it comes out. We should go see Elizabethtown together too with Elz.

A/N: The story will follow the guidelines of HBP, with a few 'smaller' events of my own added in. Yes this is a crossover, but it is also a HP story too, so you'll get both elements.

Ch. 3: Veiled Threat

"Wow, 'Mione. To say that you liked your daydream would be an understatement," remarked Ginny. Hermione had just finished telling her friend all about Will and what had transpired on the pirate ship. "You know, I'm not really this immature as to say 'I told you so', but I will anyway. I told you so!" Hermione laughed good-naturedly.

"You were right. I more than liked it!" she admitted. "Do you know if I can have an extension on this particular daydream? I mean, I know the incantation only works once, but perhaps your brothers could figure out something." Ginny grinned at her friend's eagerness to have another fantasy experience.

"It's funny you should ask - Fred and George are working on that right now. Believe me, you haven't been the first to suggest that idea. Just don't throw your box away; they might need for you to send it back," Ginny cautioned.

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of getting rid of my box, if it means I might have a chance at seeing Will again," replied Hermione, with a far away expression. "Will you tell twins to let us know if they discover a way to lengthen the daydreams?"

"Of course I will," promised Ginny, putting her hair up in a ponytail. She shifted her feet and glanced uncomfortably at her older friend. "Er, Hermione, I hate to leave, but I've got Quidditch practice tonight. Harry called an emergency practice, in preparation for our match against Ravenclaw next weekend."

"That's alright, Gin." Hermione scanned the room to see who else she could hang out with and her gaze fell on Parvati Patil. The pretty Indian girl looked extremely downcast, with her shoulders slumped and eyebrows furrowed.

"You should go talk with Parvati; ask her why see looks so depressed," Ginny suggested, following Hermione's gaze. Sitting alone, Parvati was hunched over her homework. Every now and then she would glance up sadly at Ron and Lavender.

"I think I will. Have a great practice!" Hermione called, waving goodbye to Ginny. The Prefect crossed the room, but had to confiscate some dungbombs from some over eager first year boys before she could reach her suitemate.

"Hey, Parvati, what's up?" asked Hermione kindly, coming over to sit beside her on the couch. The Indian girl looked up from her homework in surprise.

"Oh, hi Hermione," she said gloomily. When Parvati didn't initiate a conversation, Hermione knew that something was seriously wrong. Usually, Parvati was very outgoing and friendly, although she was known as a gossip.

"Is everyone in your family alright? I couldn't help noticing that you seem a little down," asked Hermione, with concern.

"Yes, they are fine; it's nothing that serious," Parvati informed her.

"Then what's bothering you?"

"It's Lavender," she sniffled. "We've been best friends ever since first year, but now that she's going out with Ron, she never has anytime for me. I don't know why she doesn't like me anymore," Parvati confessed while Hermione gave her a comforting hug. They watched Ron kiss Lavender goodbye before he left for practice along with the rest of the Quidditch team.

"I'm sure she still likes you, Parvati. But she's caught up in her boyfriend right now; perhaps she has no idea that she's hurting you," Hermione suggested. The Indian witch sighed, and the brightened.

"Maybe you are right. Well then I hope they break up soon, because I want my best friend back! Do you think that's selfish?" she asked worriedly. I wouldn't mind if they broke up either. Not at all.

"Not really. You have every right to want your friend back," Hermione reassured her. "Would you like me to proof read your Potions essay? Professor Slughorn expects every little thing to be perfect. I'd say he's only a minor improvement over Snape." Parvati chuckled, and gratefully accepted Hermione's help. Soon they were finished and Hermione let it slip that she'd tried one of the popular daydream charms.

"No way!" squealed Parvati. "I never would've expected that you would buy one…" She realized how rude that sounded and hastily apologized. "I mean…sorry, er…it's just that you are so serious and all."

"That's all right; there's no need to apologize. Besides, I didn't buy it," Hermione admitted. "Ginny gave it to me and it took awhile for her to convince me to try it. But wow, am I glad that I did!"

Well, how was it? Tell me everything," Parvati demanded, looking at Hermione expectantly. The bushy-haired witch closed her eyes, dreamily remembering as many details as she could about Will and the daydream.

"It was absolutely brilliant! I met this absolutely gorgeous pirate named William Turner, who was caring, loyal and brave. Now that I look back, if he'd been born a wizard, Will would've been a perfect candidate for Gryffindor house…" Enthralled, Parvati listened as Hermione told her story. "…And then he kissed me."

"Augh!" shrieked Parvati, clasping her hands over her mouth as other students began to turn around and stare at them. A bit more quietly she asked, "What happened then!" Hermione sighed regretfully.

"Then, my thirty minutes had run out. I barely had time to say goodbye before I awoke in my own bed."

"Rotten luck, Hermione," Parvati said sympathetically. "Perhaps you'll get to see him again. Did you hear that the Weasley brothers are developing ways for extending the charms?" When Hermione nodded Parvati plunged on. "I can't wait to see my knight again. Merlin, he was perfect…if only Hogwarts had boys like him."

"I take it you performed a charm too," laughed Hermione at Parvati's vacant expression. "A knight huh? I didn't know they made those," she mused. "So, tell me all about your daydream." Finally Parvati came out of her trance-like state and began her story.

"At the start, when I picked my location, I chose near Jerusalem. Ever since I took Muggle studies, I've been curious about their disputes over that sacred land. For my knight, I chose traits similar to those that you did. And I decided to make myself look thinner…"

"But Parvati, you look fine!" Hermione interrupted, disapprovingly. "You are not fat. Besides, looking thinner isn't going to help you attract boys. Muggle surveys show…" Parvati beamed at her.

"I know that now. That's exactly what he told me. Now, are you going to let me tell my story or not?" Hermione apologized and Parvati continued her tale. "I landed on a bed in a deserted room. When I looked outside my window I realized I must be in a large house of some sort, as the ground was far below. In the distance I saw Muggles working the land with their animals. Not wanting to waste my time, I immediately went to go look for the knight. I ran into a man covered in dirt in the hall and I asked him, 'where is the knight who owned this place?' He laughed and said 'you've found him'. I didn't believe him because it looked as if he'd been out working in the fields himself. And from what I remember in Muggle studies, knights had tenants to do that for them…they considered themselves to be above peasants. But then a servant came by and addressed the dirt-covered man as Sir Balian, and I realized my mistake." Parvati cleared her throat and started again.

"I was so embarrassed, as you can imagine. But Balian didn't seem to mind, in fact he was rather amused at my stumbling apology. After I introduced myself, he invited me to dine with him, as he was rather hungry after working outside all day. Hermione, he had the most incredible voice. By this time of course I'd noticed how sexy this knight was. Balian had haunting dark eyes, and long brown hair. Like most men of his time, he sported a small beard – and while I'm no fan of facial hair, it actually looked good on him."

"I'll take your word for it," Hermione commented, disbelievingly. Parvati glared at her.

"Anyway, he told me that he needed to change for dinner and for me to wait for him outside his room. But before he went inside, he stripped off his shirt to wipe off all the sweat and grime from his face." Parvati sighed dreamily, recalling her knight's extremely striking looks. "I had a brief glimpse of his chiseled body and rippling muscles." Hermione had to poke her to get her to continue. "Er, right, where was I? Oh yes, dinner. We had a delicious meal, but what I ate, I'm not sure because I was preoccupied with Balian. He asked me about myself, and for a moment I inwardly panicked. I knew very well that I couldn't tell him that I was a witch! So I just told him that I was on a pilgrimage to the holy city – which was not an uncommon thing back then – and turned the tables. His life was a sad story…his father left his mother before he was born and his wife killed herself after their child died. He'd been a blacksmith but had left for Jerusalem with his long lost father, who unfortunately died during the journey. Balian was knighted and received all of his father's lands. I told him how brave he was to have lived through all that and he gave me a genuine smile, which made me shiver.

After dinner, we went for a walk around his lands and he told me how he'd promised to fight for the King of Jerusalem if the need ever arose. When he asked about me again, I felt at ease enough to confide in him about some of my problems. While we were talking, I noticed him gazing at me appreciatively. He told me I was beautiful, if a bit too skinny. I told him it was just the dress…'Mione, did your clothes change during yours too?"

"Yes, it's a great effect, isn't it?" smiled Hermione.

"It sure was," said Parvati, a bit wistfully. I wish I'd gotten to keep mine. Anyway, I gave him a hug for the complement and he just held me there for awhile. He was so gentle with me, and then he brought my head up for a kiss. It turned into a full-blown snog…Merlin, that man can kiss! But then my time ran out."

"Wow," breathed Hermione. "Your knight sounded a lot like my pirate. Do you think Fred and George use the same model each time?" The two girls looked at each other, pondering that for a moment.

"Nah," they said simultaneously. Parvati's not so bad after all, once you get her away from Lavender. Just then Professor McGonagall's magically magnified voice resounded throughout the common room.

"All students must go to the Great Hall immediately; please come dressed as you are. Prefects, it is your job to ensure that everyone leaves in an orderly and calm manner." Everyone leapt to their feet in alarm and Hermione automatically looked around for Ron, who was also a prefect. Oh no! The Quidditch team is still outside – all my good friends could be in danger! Thankfully, just then the portrait swung open to reveal Ron, Harry, Ginny, and the rest of the mud-splattered Quidditch team.

"Alright, first years leave first; line up behind Seamus here. He'll take you down to the Great Hall," ordered Ron. Hermione was grateful that he'd already taken charge. "Second years follow them so I can count you, then third years and so on…" In no time at all, all the younger students were safely on their way downstairs. After making sure Gryffindor tower was completely empty, the trio, Ginny, and the seventh years made their way down to the Great Hall.

When they arrived, Hermione was not surprised to see the four house tables on their sides leaning against the wall, leaving a large space for the students to congregate. The Hufflepuff and Slytherin students were already there; most of them looked bewildered as to why the entire school had been called here at bedtime. This is just like the time the teachers thought that Sirius Black was a murderer, and they had to get everyone out of bed to search the entire castle. Something awful must've happened. As the Ravenclaw students quietly filed in, Hermione turned to her friends to see if they knew anything.

"What happened out there? Did something disrupt your practice?" Ron and Ginny paled, as if they'd just seen a dementor.

"It was a Death Eater, Hermione," Harry quietly told her. She gasped and squeaked, "But how? You can't apparate onto Hogwarts grounds…"

"We don't know," said Harry, wearily. "I suppose that's why we've all been called down here. But in the middle of practice, a figure in a black hood can flying straight at Ginny. She shot a well aimed hex at him, but he blocked it at alarming ease. By that time, the rest of us had heard her yelling, and I told the others to stay back as Ron and I rode towards her."

"Oh, Harry! Did he try to kidnap you?" Hermione fretted. Harry shook his head.

"No, surprisingly not. He halfheartedly shot a few jinxes my way, but he seemed to be intent on marking the field. That really stumped me…why didn't the DE take out a few of Hogwarts' students?" Harry ran his hand through his thick black hair, trying to smooth it and failing miserably. "Once we had Ginny with us, the team flew straight towards the castle, away from the DE who was still circling the Quidditch field. We entered the Great Hall and saw Nearly Headless Nick was floating around nearby…we sent word to Dumbledore with him. And then we ran up to the tower to warn you, and then McGonagall's voice sounded." Hermione was going to ask him more questions but then Dumbledore appeared and the room instantly calmed.

"I am afraid that we've had an unwelcome visitor on our grounds tonight. A Death Eater was sighted during Gryffindor's Quiddich practice." At this, most of the student body gasped in horror. Dumbledore held up his hands, calling for silence. "While it is highly unlikely that he or she is still on the premises, we must take every precaution – and that means searching the entire castle. So to make up for this inconvenience, I've decided to turn this occasion into a slumber party." He flicked his wand casually, and hundreds of fuchsia colored squashy sleeping bags appeared on the floor. Students excitedly grabbed sleeping bags and dragged them into little groups so they could discuss the latest happenings. As Snape, Flitwick, and McGonagall passed the trio, they overheard something about 'the Dark Mark' and 'an empty threat'.

"Psst…Ron, Hermione…" said Harry, finally getting their attention over the din. "Will you come with me back to the field? I want to have a closer look at the Death Eater's dirty work." Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but Harry shushed her with a look. "We'll wear my invisibility cloak to be extra safe."

"I'm in, mate," agreed Ron. Sighing, Hermione gave in. After all she was curious as to what the Death Eater had done to the field. Why would he want to defile school property when he could cause just as much damage to its students? Like Harry said, it doesn't make any sense. They slipped out of the Great Hall, climbed onto Harry's broom, (which was a tight squeeze even with an extension charm) and kicked off. Soon Harry had them airborne high enough to where they could see the Quiddich field from an aerial view. The three students gaped at the message along with the ominous green Dark Mark that hung nearby.

Burned into the Quidditch field were the words, 'The Dark Lord Is Watching You'. Harry brought his broom down to rest on the field so they could perform a more thorough inspection. When Hermione examined the singed grass more closely she noticed that the letters D, A, R, O, and C were etched deeper than the others. She shared her theory with the boys and they agreed that she was onto something.

"Do you think those letters mean something important? More than the initial threat?" Ron asked dubiously.

"More than likely – but what?" pondered Harry. Most of the students only saw the message as an empty threat, but the trio knew better. "Maybe the letters form a word. 'Mione, you're good at this sort of thing – do you have any ideas?" It only took her a few seconds to figure out the little puzzle the hooded Death Eater had left them.

"Draco," breathed Hermione. "Rearranged, the letters spell Draco."

"Wicked…our slimy git has fallen out of favor with the Death Eaters," said Ron, smugly.

"'Told you he was a DE," Harry gloated. "Whatever Malfoy is doing, he's not succeeding. Or maybe he's going about it too slowly. Either way, you two will have to let me keep tailing him. Perhaps I can find out where he goes when he disappears from my map."

"I don't know, Harry…Malfoy has probably learned how to effectively cast 'Avada Kedavra' by now," she worried.

"Lay off him, 'Mione," said Ron. "Harry's a big boy; he can take care of himself."

"Excuse me if I happen to care if something happens to him, Ronald," snapped Hermione.

"I care, he's my best mate!" Ron defended himself. "But there are some risks that we all need to take in order to rid our world of You-Know-Who and his followers.

"You should talk; you can't even say his name!" Hermione retorted, smirking in satisfaction as Ron failed to come up with a come back. Well, it's true. When has Ron ever said Voldemort? Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself.

"Cool it, guys!" Harry yelled. "Can't you two ever give it a rest? I'm tired from practice, I want to go to bed, and tomorrow is McGonagall's exam. Let's go back inside." Begrudgingly, Hermione and Ron followed Harry back to the castle, and refrained from arguing the rest of the long night.

After the castle was thoroughly searched for possible new entrances or other ways that the DE could've gotten inside the Hogwarts grounds, classes returned to normal on Monday. The next week was relatively uneventful; except for the day Hagrid's nifflers got loose and caused general havoc when someone accidentally let them in the castle. On Saturday, Hermione was enjoying a peaceful afternoon in the library when Ginny burst through the doors.

"Fred and George..." she panted, trying to whisper. "They've managed to do it!" There was no need for Hermione to ask what the twins had managed to do, as she already knew. I get to see Will again!

"Yes!" Hermione shouted, jumping up to give a shocked Ginny a bone-crunching hug. That was the only day in Miss Granger's seven year career at Hogwarts that Madam Pince had to throw her out of the library.

End Ch. 3

Review please! It really helps me write faster. Thanks. :D