Disclaimer: Hermione, Ginny and the other HP characters belong to JKR, not me. Jack and Will from PotC belong to Disney.
A/N: In response to the overwhelming majority, I've decided to have Will and Jack end up at Hogwarts. I hope those of you who weren't as keen on that idea will still keep reading, for I will try to make it as interesting as possible. I had so much fun writing this; I hope it shows! Thanks to all that reviewed!
Ch. 8: Partying can be dangerous!
The Christmas holiday flew by too quickly for Hermione's taste. On the second of January, she returned to Hogwarts via floo. The start of the second semester began without incident unless you count Filch accidentally getting stuck in the remainder of the Weasley twins' memorial swamp. At breakfast, Hermione conversed with her friends, inquiring about their holiday and such.
Unfortunately, Ron didn't seem to want anything to do with her more than he did before the break. Young mister Weasley had his arm casually draped around his girlfriend's waste as he chatted with Dean about (what else?) Quidditch. Great – Lavender and Won-won are still going strong.
"I'm sorry, Hermione," said Harry, who had noticed what had drawn the now frowning witch's gaze. "I tried to tell him that he needed to stop believing everything that Lavender told him, but then he got all shirty with me. Since it was the holiday, I didn't want to press the matter."
"S'ok, Harry. Anyway, how was your break?" Hermione quickly changed the subject, hoping that her friend didn't see how much the news had hurt her.
"It was better than the Dursley's, of course. However, tempers were running high – especially between Mrs. Weasley and Fleur. And when Percy showed up, that didn't help either." Harry filled Hermione in about what happened at the Burrow as they contentedly ate their breakfast.
"Hi Hermione, Harry!" a cheerful voice greeted them from behind. It was none other than Ginny Weasley. Recognizing her voice, Harry spun around to face her, imitating a top.
"Hey, Gin!" Hermione said.
"How was your break?" Harry asked nonchalantly. Both Ginny and Hermione looked at him like he'd sprouted a unicorn horn.
"You were with me all break, Harry," Ginny pointed out lightly. Mr. Potter flushed and stammered,
"Right. Sorry. I've been asking people all morning…"
"No harm done," said Ginny. "Just don't let it happen again," she kidded him. Harry gave her a weak smile.
"I won't. I don't know what got into me."
"I do!" grinned Hermione. Ginny looked at her quizzically and Harry gave her a death glare before grabbing his books and mumbling something about being late for class.
"What's wrong with him? We still have ten minutes of breakfast left!" Ginny worried as Harry hurriedly left.
"Nothing," Hermione assured her friend. "He's just in loooooooooove with a certain redhead." Ginny bopped her in the arm.
"Get serious, 'Mione. He's not interested in me."
"I am serious!" she protested as Ginny shook her head in disbelief.
"Anyway, contrary to your belief, I did not come over to talk to Harry. I wanted to get your opinion on an idea that I came up with over break, regarding the daydream charms…" Miss Weasley went on to explain to her friend about her new theory: if they cast their charms around the same time, it was possible that they would see each other.
"Hey, I'm willing to give it a shot. It's been forever since I've seen Will; I was considering casting the charm over break even though I'm underage." The young witch stared off into the distance with a dreamy, glazed expression.
"It's been two weeks, Hermione," said Ginny, rolling her eyes at her friend's lack of patience. "Quit exaggerating."
"Oh come on Gin. Don't tell me you haven't been thinking of Jack over break?" Ginny opened her mouth to defend herself, but thought the better of it. Apparently she'd remembered something that made her blush and she had to look away from her friend. Smirking, Hermione teased her friend.
"Would you like to share what you're thinking with the class?" Poor Ginny blushed harder and ignored Hermione's friendly jabs by eating the rest of her toast.
"Well, I'm off. I hope to see you at lunch…or sooner." Ginny winked at her friend and then left the Great Hall for class. If this works, we're going to have so much fun together. Just us and our pirate boys. She finished the last of her breakfast and gathered her stuff.
Barely able to contain her excitement, Hermione hurried to Charms. If they timed it just right, she and Ginny would be able to spend their daydreams together with Will and Jack. (Ginny had History of Magic at the same time) The girls would be casting their charms on the hour, and with a little luck, their plan would transpire beautifully.
"Psst, Harry!" Hermione hissed, vying for his attention during the commotion as her classmates reached for their wands and books.
"What?" he whispered back. "Let me guess. You want me to cover for you so you can go visit Wiiiiiiiiiill again." He raised his eyebrows as he emphasized Will's name, and she felt her cheeks grow hot. Smirking at her, he clearly enjoyed the effects that his teasing was having.
"That's right," admitted a still red Hermione, through gritted teeth. "But you'd better stop teasing me, or else I'll tell Ginny that you've fancied her for months." There, that ought to shut him up. Harry's mouth fell agape but he quickly recovered.
"I do not fancy Ginny! You better not breath a word to her…you wouldn't, right?" Hermione shrugged innocently and he glared at her.
"Hermione…" he said warningly.
"Oh alright; I won't tell Ginny that you like her," she reluctantly promised.
"Good," said Harry, looking extremely relieved.
"That's something you need to tell her yourself!" Harry groaned and shook his head. As he repeatedly denied his obvious affections for the youngest Weasley, Hermione wisely stifled her laughter.
"Save it, Potter; I'm leaving." Miss Granger looked around furtively and then cast the charm that would transport her directly to the handsome pirate extraordinaire, Will Turner. Upon her smooth incoming, Hermione found that Ginny was already aboard the Black Pearl, conversing with Will near the bow.
"You made it!" Ginny cheerily waved at her as her deep emerald gown swished in the pleasant Caribbean breeze.
"Yeah. You been here long?" Hermione asked as she sprinted towards them.
"Nope, just got here," Ginny answered as Hermione jumped into Will's open arms. He spun her around and she squealed happily. This definitely beats class. As soon as Will released her, she noticed a change in her pirate's normal attire. He was wearing light blue pants and a dress coats with gold buttons, and had tied back his gorgeous sun-kissed dark hair. Besides sporting new clothes, Mr. Turner looked considerably cleaner than he had last time.
"You look ever so dashing, Will, but why so formal? What's the special occasion?" Hermione asked, as inquisitive as ever. He smiled mysteriously.
"You'll see. It's a surprise." Just then she realized that a certain inebriated pirate captain was missing.
"Where's Jack?" Will let out a rich guffaw, and had to grip the side of the ship to keep from falling over.
"He's getting ready." She exchanged a look with Ginny, who shrugged.
"Getting ready for what?"
"Getting ready to go ashore," Will replied truthfully. Hermione looked around and saw that they were indeed anchored adjacent to land.
"So?" said a confused Hermione. "You must stop for supplies every once in awhile. Why is that funny?" Her question was answered as Jack suddenly appeared from below decks.If she didn't know better, Hermione wouldn't have guessed that the man standing before her was the notorious Captain Jack Sparrow. All of the grime and dirt had vanished as well as his braided beard. The dreadlocks had disappeared and when he smiled, somehow his teeth looked less gold. The pirate looked every bit as respectable as Will, but managed to come off looking as ridiculous due to his over large ornate three-cornered hat and (get this) a powdered wig.
Hermione was so shocked all she could do was stare. Ginny, however, had no qualms about expressing her feelings. She shook with laughter, and after she calmed down tears of mirth glistened in her eyes. Jack was not fazed one bit by the girls' reactions; he was enjoying the attention as usual.
"Yeh like me new look, girls?"
"It's interesting," said Hermione, truthfully, not knowing what else to say.
"Don't be stealin' me lines, luv," Sparrow said playfully. Hermione was confused, and Will just shook his head in amusement. Ginny's curiosity got the better of her.
"I hate to ask, Jack, but why have you decided to become respectable?"
"You wound me, luv," Jack clutched his chest dramatically. "I would never think of doin' such a thing. Yeh see, Will and I wanted to take you to a party, but we needed to be able to blend in with the aristocrats. So I changed me look."
"Well, I think you look positively dashing," Ginny told him, and Jack beamed. "Except for the wig." He sighed and turned to her as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I want to look convincing, alright? One of us had to wear it, and since the whelp refused, it was left up to me."
"Will you stop calling him that!" Hermione defended Will furiously. Will gave Jack a smug smile and the Captain threw up his hands.
"Alright, Will refused ta wear the wig. Ya happy now?" Hermione nodded primly.
"I don't mean to be rude, but our time here is slipping away," Ginny interjected. "Can we go now?"
"By all means, luv!" exclaimed Jack. "The sooner we get ta the party, the sooner I can have me rum!" He linked arms with Ginny, and Will held out his right arm and Hermione graciously accepted it. The pirates helped the girls walk down from the ship across a make-shift bridge of wooden planks. Using their swords, Will and Jack hacked a path through the bush until they found a worn dirt trail.
"Jack where are we?" Hermione asked as they trudged along, shaded from the scorching Caribbean sun.
"Well, I believe the storm blew us off course, putting us on the side o' Jamaica farthest from Port Royal." He paused for a moment, scratching his now-beardless chin. "And if me eyes are correct, we're approachin' civilization." Jack was right; a minute later they'd reached the outskirts of a settlement, and judging by the sign, it was called 'Elizabethton'.
"There it is, the town hall; where the party is being held," Will announced, pointing to their left.
"How are we going to get in without an invitation?" Hermione worried.
"Yeah! And we can't keep calling you by your real names. What if someone hears?" Ginny pointed out. Jack grinned, looking at the girls as if Christmas had come early.
"Leave that ta me, savvy?" Hermione gave Will a look that said why does that not make me feel better? But when he pulled her close, nuzzled her, and kissed her neck lightly, Hermione miraculously forgot all her previous concerns.
It did not take long for the group to reach the town hall. Jack wasted no time in knocking on the French doors, and the young witches barely had time to brush off the dirt they'd accumulated. Since Ginny was making sure Jack's wig was securely in place, she didn't notice when Hermione's hands began to shake. But Will did.
"You look beautiful," he told her softly. "You'll be the envy of every gentleman at the party. Don't worry; we're going to have a lot of fun in there. Jack can talk circles around these pompous lords and ladies." She nodded, feeling a bit better about their situation. Suddenly, the door was opened and strains of lilting classical music reached their ears.
"Good evening," said the butler. "Whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?" Jack took a few stiff steps towards him and cleared his throat.
"I am Baron von Crowe and this," he gestured towards Will, "is my newly-appointed partner, Lord Baylor." Hermione had to admit; Jack's thick German accent was pretty decent.
"May I present to you, Lady von Crowe." Ginny curtsied on cue and the butler gave her an appreciative nod. Now Will spoke up.
"May I present my lovely wife, Mrs. Baylor." Again, the butler gave her an admiring nod, but his eyes quickly returned to his list.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you aren't on the list. You may not enter without an invitation under Lord Cromwell's direct orders." The butler frowned at them suspiciously, but Jack had anticipated this.
"Son, I'm Baron von Crowe, owner of the finest sugar refinery in all of the Caribbean. You have heard of me?" When the butler regretfully shook his head no, Jack barged on.
"My wife and I, along with my partner and his wife, have just disembarked from a rather perilous journey. We have already missed the beginning of the party, and do not wish to dishonor our host any further. Lord Cromwell and I have a long history of business deals; I can't understand why we're not on the list!" Jack's face was starting to redden and his fists were clenched.
"Darling, now don't get into a temper. I'm sure it's only a misunderstanding," Ginny tried to 'soothe' him to no effect. "Remember what the doctor said…" Jack cut her off.
"This is an outrage! When I see Cromwell, I'll be sure to tell him how incompetent you are!" The butler shrank back in fear, as Jack looked just short of a tantrum.
"Oh no, sir! Please don't do that! I'm sure it was a mistake – why don't you go on in."
"Thank you," Will said, flippantly. He and Jack escorted the girls past him without another word. Once inside, they had to contain their awe regarding the lavish environment. Chandeliers glittered in every room, ornate tapestries decorated the walls, and servants moved about offering refreshments. (To their amusement, Jack badgered one of the maids into finding him some rum.) Gathered here were the most affluent Muggles that Hermione had ever seen. Before long, the group found themselves in the ballroom, where couples performed the 'latest' dances to music provided by a live orchestra. Spotting a particularly snobby-looking man, Jack practically dragged Ginny towards him.
"How are you, good fellow! It's so good to see you," Jack offered his hand, which the bewildered man shook warily. "Don't you remember me? We made a business transaction a few years back." The poor man just stared at Jack, not knowing how to answer.
"Thomas," his wife chided him. "Say something!" Will chuckled.
"That's alright, m'lady. Your husband was one of our best customers, which is why my partner remembers him so well. It is my privilege to introduce to you, Baron von Crowe." Thomas obviously decided it was best to fake recognition.
"Ah yes. I remember now." Jack laughed,
"Of course you do, Thomas. In fact, I have a new proposition for you…" The gentleman looked increasingly uncomfortable as Jack continued to converse with him, and Hermione could barely contain her laughter. Concentrating on the scene before her, she didn't hear someone approach her from behind. When she felt a tap on her shoulder, she jumped in surprise.
"My apologies miss, I didn't mean to startle you." A handsome blonde haired and blue eyed youth smiled at her and Hermione sighed. "I was watching you from across the room, and I wondered if you might fancy a dance. That is, if it's alright with you, sir." Indeed, Will had turned around to see what was happening. Hermione was expecting him to tell off the young man for approaching his wife, but Will only shrugged. Perhaps he doesn't care. But then she noticed the hint of jealousy in his narrowed eyes.
"Thank you, but my husband forgot that he promised me the first dance of the night." Hermione stood in front of Will, allowing them to assume their dance positions as the young man quaked under Will's glare and dashed away.
"You could've danced with him, you know," Will mumbled as they glided across the dance floor. Hermione leaned in and whispered in his ear,
"I could've, but I'd rather dance with you." He beamed at her and she grinned back. Hermione had perfected her dancing for the Yule ball in her fourth year, and she was amazed to discover that Mr. Turner made an excellent dancer. When waltzing with Will, time seemed to stop. I could do this forever, stay safe and warm in his arms. They whirled together until the music finally came to an end. Out of breath, they went to find Jack and Ginny. They weren't too hard to find. Apparently, 'Baron von Crowe' was a big hit with the guests. Hermione and Will found them in the midst of a large crowd; Jack was chatting up a stuffy old man who he'd convinced was his long-lost uncle.
"Lord Baylor! This fine man has wanted to meet you." Jack gestured for Will and Hermione to join them. "This is my uncle Fred. He was a great seaman back in his day. In fact he was just telling me how he was notorious for catching pirates. Isn't that right?"
"Aye," boomed 'Uncle Fred'. "I could smell a pirate a mile a way," he slurred, having had too much to drink. Will could barely contain his laughter, and even Hermione had to grin.
"Uncle Fred, tell us about the time that you went after the pirate Blackbeard," Ginny egged him on."
"Yes. Well, you see, it went like this…" The man began his fabricated tale and the crowd listened, spellbound. However, about a minute into the story, Will stiffened beside Hermione and gently grabbed her wrist. He prodded Jack with his other hand.
"Lord Baylor, not now," Jack hissed, still enthralled by the story. Just then, a man stood up sporting a look of gleeful recognition.
"It's Sparrow and Turner! After them!" Oh no. The man must've recognized Will and Jack, even through the disguises.
"Run!" Will shouted. He pulled Hermione with him through the many rooms until they reached the entrance. Jack and Ginny were right behind them. As they paused to catch their breath, Jack yelled,
"We've gotta keep movin'!" Several off-duty naval officers happened to be at the party and they hastened after the fleeing group. Jack had seen them on their tail, and knew that they had to get out quickly. "Split up!" Will and Hermione were reluctant to leave their friends, but when Jack gave him a direct order, Will couldn't disobey his Captain. While Ginny and Jack sprinted down the street after taking a left, Will and Hermione quickly took a right and then ducked into a dress shop.
"We need to find a place to hide," Will told her, as a group of redcoats ran past outside the shop. Hermione pointed at the dressing room, and Will readily agreed. Ducking into the small room, they barely escaped the attention of the shop owner, who'd just returned from her break. The room was so tiny that Will and Hermione could barely fit, but somehow they did. Will was holding her to him, protectively; Hermione felt the thumping of his still racing heart from their little run. She prayed that Ginny and Jack had found safe refuge for the moment.
"Bring!" The shop's bell sounded, announcing the presence of a band of redcoats. Hermione and Will both tensed, and he hugged her even more tightly. Will's breath was hot on her cheek.
"I'm sorry to bother you, M'am, but have you seen anyone come in lately?"
But Ginny and Jack were faring much worse. In their haste, they ran smack into some redcoats coming from another direction. Jack did his best to fight them off, but not even Captain Sparrow could defeat ten men. When they finally detained him, he did his best to save Ginny.
"I'm sorry I kidnapped yeh, miss…" But Ginny cut him off, shaking her head.
"I'm with him, and if he goes to jail, so do I!" The soldiers were only too happy to escort them both to the town prison.
"What're yeh doin'!" Jack whispered to Ginny.
"I'm not leaving you, Jack," she told him firmly. "I might have a way that can get us both out…"
Back at the dress shop, Will and Hermione were holding their breath, waiting for the woman to answer.
"I haven't seen anyone. Not since this morning." They breathed a little.
"Still, do you mind if I take a look around?" She shrugged.
"By all means." The redcoats spread out and began to search the shop. Inevitably, one yanked back the curtain to their hiding spot and Will and Hermione were discovered. Will knew it was useless to fight, and bravely allowed them to clap him in irons.
"She didn't have anything to do with it…" Will tried to save Hermione, but she wouldn't hear of it.
"I'm just as much pirate as he is," she proclaimed, and they were led directly to the jail. Will glared at her for not trying to escape, but she just gave him a tiny smile.
"I'm staying with you, Will. I won't abandon you – ever." She held onto his chained hand as the redcoats prodded them inside the malodorous prison.
They were unceremoniously shoved into a damp cell adjacent to Jack and Ginny's. As she dusted herself and Will off, Hermione noticed the three guards were stationed in front of their cells. Apparently, the navy wouldn't take any chances that the infamous Jack Sparrow would make another escape under their noses.
"Can't you unlock the door with your wand?" Will whispered. Hermione gave him a sad look.
"I wish I could, Will. And there are too many of them to perform a memory charm. I can't expose the secrets of our world. Especially in the past…who knows what kind of chaos that would create for wizards in my time!"
"I understand," said Will, patting her knee.
"Hermione!" Ginny yelled from her cell. "It's almost time to go back." No…I won't leave Will here to die! "Hold onto Will's hand as tightly as you can!" Puzzled, she did what her friend suggested. It didn't take long for the familiar fog to descend upon the jail, shading the young witches from view as they were transported back to their own time. "Don't let go!" Ginny screamed, as they spun through the air.
When Hermione felt it was safe to open her eyes, she took in the familiar sight of the Charms classroom. But, for some reason, she had the entire class staring at her, along with Harry, Ron, and Professor Flitwick. The class was buzzing with excitement.
"But you can't apparate in Hogwarts!" Seamus exclaimed.
"Who's he?" asked Lavender, interestedly.
"He's gorgeous," one of the girls whispered to her giggling friend. All of the witches were elbowing each other to have a better look at the new arrival.
"Huh?" said Hermione. Then she realized she was clutching something. Or rather someone.
"Will!" she breathed happily. The young pirate had been saved from certain death by being transported directly to Hogwarts, thanks to Ginny's quick thinking. Hermione turned to her professor, ready to explain Will's sudden appearance.
A/N: Ok, who got the huge Orlando in-joke? (Couldn't resist, mate.) ;D Also, yes Jack did arrive with Ginny. Her history class had the same reaction.