Disclaimer: Hermione, Ginny and the other HP characters belong to JKR, not me. Jack and Will from PotC belong to Disney.
Mae-E: What a long review! Yes, I tried to soften the break up, because those are never fun. At least they parted on good terms. Hehe, catfights are fun. I don't want Harry to perform the Imperious Curse (where you can control people's actions) because that's illegal. But don't worry, I've got something even better in mind.
Legolover: You know, Jack dressing up like a woman and trying to woo the Commodore is not exactly what I had in mind, but it sure sounds funny! Thanks for the nice, long review. I'm glad Jack finally got his rum again. Yes, I'd rather Will love me as well! Will is just so loveable like that! Your other me is interesting. Have fun dreaming of dear William!
Inwepirate-Elf: Yes, the Commodore arriveth. Grrr on him indeed! But he's needed for the plot so I'm afraid I'll have to subject you to his incessant whining. The almost-catfight was rather amusing, wasn't it? I think Anamaria is jealous! I'm sorry about the break up, but that's how it had to be. They belong in different times; what can you do?
SenatorSolo: Yay, I'm glad you liked Jack being a lefty! Lefties unite! They are way cool people in my mind. :D Don't you worry, Jack's plan is a good one. Keep reading!
WillsOneLove: Wow, you sound pretty excited, lol! Yet another person who liked the 'catfight'. I'm glad that you liked it – I aim to please. ;) You'll just have to see what Anamaria meant by that statement…perhaps she and Jack have a history? Thanks for the extra long review – you're spoiling me!
Pureangel86: Well, seeing as I'm not JKR, I don't know why she wrote about pirate daydream charms. Somehow I doubt it was because she thought someone would take that idea and expand upon it, lol. That would be funny though. Thanks for reviewing.
Smithy: It's too bad you're not a HP fan, cause we're a lot of fun! But I'm glad that you can enjoy this for what it is. That means a lot.
BlacknessAngel: Yes, they are in 6th year. I'm glad that you discovered my story! It gets funnier as you read on, I guarantee it!
Chocolatrouxluv: Aren't double entendres the best? Thanks for the review…I hope your story is coming together. Bad writer's block, bad!
Kerowyn882: Wow, really? Thanks! This would definitely be my ideal break-up scenario, lol. I just had to have them part as friends because the break-up wasn't either of their faults. Hmm, revenge on Norrie? Sounds good. I can do that for sure. Keep reading and reviewing!
Ch. 16: Rescued
Will, Jack, Gibbs, and Anamaria stood transfixed, watching as the royal navy boarded their beloved ship. Jack gripped the steering wheel in frustration, as if he never wanted to let go of his 'Pearl'. Hermione, Ginny, Ron, Harry, and the rest of the D.A. looked on as one officer in a particularly puffy wig approached the captain.
"Commodore Norrington…it's so good ta see ya again," Jack greeted his archnemesis with his usual sarcastic charm that he saved only for him.
"Well well; if it isn't Jack Sparrow," deadpanned the Commodore. "I can't say I feel the same."
"That's Captain Jack Sparrow," Jack reminded him with a wink to Ginny. Norrington scoffed, adjusted his wig, and refused to call Jack by his proper title.
"My my – I was only going to charge you with piracy, which is bad enough. But now it looks like I can add kidnapping to the list of your grievances." He gestured at the members of the D.A. who just gave him confused stares.
"That's not true!" Hermione defended the pirates. "We're here because we want to be, and of our own free will." This got the Commodore's attention – for in his time, women never spoke their minds like Hermione just did. Norrington's eyes fell on the pretty girl who was clutching Will's hand.
"Mr. Turner," the commodore said darkly.
"Norrington," Will acknowledged, just as darkly.
"I see you are still hanging around with this riff-raff," Norrington commented, disapprovingly, pointing at Jack. Will ignored the jab at his friend.
"What have you done with Elizabeth!" Will asked forcefully. Norrington gave a terse chuckle.
"That doesn't concern you, Turner. She doesn't love you. The woman can't stand you, remember?"
"You're lying!" Will spat angrily. The young pirate took a few steps forward until he was standing directly in front of the Commodore.
"I received a letter from Elizabeth the other day; I know you're holding her against her will. She told me that only reason she called off the wedding was to save my life – apparently you and your men were waiting outside and if she hadn't broken up with me you would've killed me." Norrington raised his eyebrows at this; obviously he wasn't aware that Elizabeth was able to send letters.
"Now tell me, where is she!" Will threatened. He grabbed the naval officer by his collar and gave him his most menacing look. Needless to say, Norrington wasn't frightened in the least. He shook off Will and had his men clap him in irons along with Jack, Gibbs, and a very disgruntled Anamaria.
"Mr. Turner, I suggest that you forget all about Elizabeth…"
"I'm afraid I can't do that, sir," interrupted Will and glared at Norrington, who gave him a chilling smile. The naval officer yanked Will by his
"Oh, but I suggest that you do – because she is now my wife." A gasp went up among the members of the D.A. Hermione covered her mouth with her hand in horror.
"No! I don't believe you! You couldn't…she wouldn't," Will said in disbelief.
"How can I get it through your pretty head that a high-class woman like Elizabeth would rather have a man of status and a respectable occupation than a lowly blacksmith-turned-pirate like you?" Norrington smirked as he watched Will's face fall, apparently pleased with himself. "Now I will spend my life protecting her from the likes of you." Will shook his head sadly.
"She was never yours to protect." Will glared defiantly at Norrington, whose face was turning redder by the second.
"Not another word, Turner," Norrington screamed. Hermione could tell that the Commodore was being dishonest by his body language and his reactions to Will's accusations.
"Don't worry, Will, he's lying," Harry Potter stated quietly. "Elizabeth Swann doesn't want anything to do with you. In fact, she'd rather die than marry you." The boy-who-lived was not an accomplished Legimens for nothing. Norrington turned around and sneered at Harry.
"How would you know, boy?"
"Don't do anything stupid!" Jack called out.
"Because I was there – in your mind. I saw it all, how you kidnapped her, how she begged for you to let her go and return to Will, and how she rejected your marriage proposals time and again," Harry answered truthfully.
"Like that," Jack moaned. The Commodore narrowed his eyes at Harry.
"What do you mean by that, boy?" Hermione elbowed Harry, who finally understood his mistake and shut up. "
I don't think I mentioned her last name – how did you know it? Answer me!" Norrington roared, but Harry firmly refused. "How could you know that? It's impossible," he muttered. "Unless…you've been practicing witchcraft, the work of the devil?" Harry wisely remained silent.
"Aha!" Norrington crowed triumphantly. "You've refused to answer, which confirms your guiltiness. Men, clap the devil-worshipper in irons as well!" Two redcoats rushed forward with yet another set of handcuffs but before they could force them onto Harry, the entire D.A. pulled out their wands and pointed them at the men. Before Norrington's men knew what happened, Harry pulled out his own wand, and shouted instructions.
"Remember what we practiced this morning? On three: one…two…Obliviate!" Norrington's eyes slid out of focus, and his arms fell slack. Being an expert at this spell, Harry's memory charm was a particularly strong one.
Hermione aimed her wand at a particular nasty-looking redcoat, which hit home immediately. All around her, the young witches and wizards were hitting their marks.
"Obliviate!" yelled Ron, catching a low-ranking officer off guard.
"Stupefy!" Ginny cried, stunning Norrington's right hand man, Gillette. "Obliviate!" This went on until all of the navy men had their memories magically modified. The Commodore was the first to recover his senses.
"Where am I?" he asked the nearest person, who happened to be Jack Sparrow.
"Welcome ta the Black Pearl, mate!" Jack exclaimed. "Yeh're standing on the finest pirate ship tha' ever sailed."
"Am I a pirate?" asked a puzzled Norrington.
"Of course ye are, mate!" Jack told him brightly. "Yer only the most feared pirate who sails the seven seas!" Jack then gestured to Norrington's men, who were still looking bewildered. "And yeh're all his buccaneer crew!"
"But why am I wearing this naval uniform?" Norrington questioned the captain. "I thought pirates wore casual garb, like what you're wearing. Are you a pirate too?"
"I am," Jack solemnly answered him. "My name is Captain Jack Sparrow, an' yeh will address me wit' my real title at all times, savvy?" Norrington nodded vigorously.
"Aye aye, Captain." Jack smiled proudly.
"I've been waiting years for that," he told Ginny, who was shaking with silent laughter.
"Yeh see," Jack explained to Norrington, "Yeh masquerade as agents of the King's royal navy so that yeh can board other pirate ships and steal their loot. That's why yeh're wearing the uniform."
"Oh," Norrington replied, pretending to understand, when Hermione could tell that he was just as lost and confused as ever. "What's my pirate name then? I seem to be suffering from a bout of amnesia."
"Not to worry mate," Jack said, putting an arm around Norrington. "Yeh're known as the…the," he thought for a moment, "The Dread…Pirate…Norrie!" Hermione snorted with laughter but quickly turned it into a cough.
"The Dread Pirate Norrie," drawled the Commodore, trying it out. "I like it," he grinned at Jack, who was about to bust like a squishy tomato with laughter. "What am I famous for? Hoarding the most booty? Plundering the most towns in the Caribbean?"
"Actually," Jack began, "yeh're known for being this tough guy who commands the respect of pirates around the world…" Norrington puffed out his chest at this. "But what most of yeh're crews don't know is that yeh're famous for giving hugs to yeh're most trusted friends. You heard me right," he repeated as the Commodore frowned quizzically at him. "Hugging is what yeh do best."
"Really?" Jack nodded solemnly. "Are you my friend, then?" Norrington asked.
"Absolutely," Jack told him. "Friends don't turn in friends ta the authorities, remember tha'." The Dread Pirate Norrie nodded blankly.
Suddenly he rushed up and gave Jack a crushing bear hug. Trying to push him away and loosen the man's grip, Jack struggled to breathe.
"I must've been neglected as a child," the Dread Pirate Norrie sobbed into a terrified Jack Sparrow's shoulder. "Thanks for…sniff…telling me who I am. I never would've remembered without my good friend Captain Jack." Patting his back awkwardly, Jack hissed to Will,
"Do something!" Will nodded at his captain.
"Ah, Dread Pirate Norrie? Seeing as we are all friends of Jack's, could you order your crew to release us, please?"
"Men, release my friend," blubbered Norrington, resting his head on Jack's shoulder once more. Will, Anamaria, and Gibbs were soon set free to the delight of the D.A.
"Harry!" Will whispered. "See if you can find out where Norrington is holding Elizabeth." The boy-who-lived nodded, and started to delve into Norrington's subconscious mind.
"I can't get past the memory charm," he told them regretfully after a few minutes of trying. "Not while he's upset like this. He needs to be calm before I can try again."
"Jack!" Will hissed. "Calm him down!"
"Easy fer yeh to say, mate," he grumbled. "Yeh don't have the Dread Pirate Norrie sobbing all over yeh!" Norrington looked up at this.
"I'm sorry, Jack," he apologized. "I don't know what came over me."
"It's alright, mate. I have just the thing that might cure ya." Jack rummaged around in his coat and produced a large bottle of rum.
"Oooh! Rum!" yelled the Dread Pirate Norrie, grabbing the bottle out of Jack's hands. "My favorite! How did you know?"
"All pirates love rum, mate," Jack informed him with a grin. "We can't ever resist its lovely charms." Norrington uncorked the bottle and took a few gulps.
"Ah," he smiled, smacking his lips. "This is the best stuff ever."
"Isn't it?" Jack agreed. Will gave Jack the thumbs up sign, and Harry began to perform legimency on the relaxed Norrington.
"I can see Elizabeth in a large, white brick house," he whispered to Hermione, Ginny, and Ron after a couple minutes. By this time, Norrington and Jack had consumed large quantities of rum and Jack was teaching the Dread Pirate Norrie the words to the pirate song. Harry's eyes were screwed shut as he experienced the Commodore's memories.
"Norrington is saying goodbye to a distraught Elizabeth, he's leaving the house…he's locking the door, then he's getting in a carriage and they ride by the street name which is Bloomington Way." Harry's eyes flew open.
"That's it! We've got it!" he cried happily.
"You've found Elizabeth!" Will asked, not daring to believe him. "You're positive?"
"Yes," beamed Harry. "All we have to do is get to London, find Bloomington Way, and I can point you to the right house." Will was speechless for a moment. Then he remembered his manners.
"Thank you so much, Harry," he quietly told the boy wizard. Hermione was the only one who noticed the tears glistening in his chocolate brown eyes. "I'll forever be in your debt…I only hope we're not too late. Is she being treated well?" Harry did his best to eliminate the worried pirate's fears.
"I'm sure she's fine. Norrington left her food and water in the room, and she's got a bed and everything. She's just upset that she's being held against her will, that's all." Will gave a sigh of relief.
"Jack!" Will called out to his captain, who was now dancing and singing the pirate song with the Dread Pirate Norrie. "How far are we from England?"
"Only a few hours or so," Jack called back before taking another swig of his precious rum. He passed the bottle to Norrington, who drained it and then promptly passed out. Jack stashed the Commodore in a corner, and then joined the others.
"Did yeh find out where he's 'olding her?" Will nodded eagerly.
"We know the street, and Harry can point out the house." Jack grinned at Harry, who hesitantly grinned back.
"Well done, mate!" he cheered the young wizard. "Now all we can do is wait."
The next few hours were uneventful, and Jack was able to dock the Black Pearl at Southampton without any trouble. After promising Gibbs, Anamaria, and the D.A. to return as soon as they could, Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Ginny joined Jack and Will in a carriage that would take them to London. When they finally arrived in the capital city, the sun had long since dipped below the horizon.
"Where to?" asked the coachman.
"Bloomington Way," Will told him confidently, staring out the window as if he might already see Elizabeth's house that was serving as a prison. The coachman flicked the reigns and the horse plodded down the cobblestone lanes. Nervously, Will began rubbing his goatee and didn't quit until the coach lurched to a stop.
"Here we are, Bloomington Way," announced the coachman. "Should I keep going?"
"Uh, you'd better let us out here," Harry told him. Shrugging, the coachman got up and opened the doors for them.
"Shall I wait for you, then?" Will nodded.
"We should return shortly. Thank you." Jack was the last one to step out of the carriage and into the black of night. After they moved forward a ways, the pirate captain prompted,
"How are we ta see which house she's in?" Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione pulled out their wands.
"Lumos!" they cried softly in unison. Light ignited from the tip of their wands, illuminating the path in front of them. As they walked along the street, Harry shined his wand on each of the houses. So far none of them matched his description in Norrington's memory.
"Are you sure we're on the right street, Harry?" Ron asked as they neared the end of the cul de sac. "We should've found the house by now!"
"Of course he's sure, Ronald!" snapped Hermione. "We haven't seen all the houses yet; why must you be so impatient.."
"Stop bickering, you two," Harry warned. "Give me a chance, I…" He stopped mid-sentence.
"I found it!" Pointing his wand at the three story white house to their left, Harry confirmed to the group that it was indeed the house in Norrington's memory.
"Let's go!" Harry urged. Without any further ado, Will sprinted toward the front door with Hermione and the rest of the group right behind him.
"Damn, it's locked," he swore frustratedly as he jiggled the handle.
"Oh, move over!" Hermione commanded. She aimed her wand at the door lock.
"Alohamora!" The lock clattered to the ground and the door swung open by magic. Will dashed inside and the others followed.
"Do you know which room she's being held in?" he asked Harry, frantically, who shook his head.
"I'm not sure, but I'd have to guess it's a bedroom. Without another word, Will sprinted up the stairs and tried all the doors to the rooms. When he couldn't find one that was locked, Will moved on to the third floor, the others trailing behind them, their wands at the ready. At the very end of the hall, Will tried to open the last door. It was locked.
"Alohamora," Ginny whispered, and the lock fell off. Will threw open the door only to be bonked on the head by a candlestick.
"Ow!" he yelled, clearly in pain.
"Will!" a new female voice called out in the dim light. "Is it really you?"
"Elizabeth!" Will said disbelievingly, rubbing his forehead.
"Oh Will," breathed the blonde, her golden hair reflecting in the wand light. "I'm so sorry, did I hurt you? I thought you were Norrington!"
"I'll live," he told her. "Besides, I deserved it for believing you and not coming to rescue you sooner. Can you forgive me?" She held out her arms and Will ran into them.
"There's nothing to forgive," Elizabeth reassured him, shaking in his arms. "I just had to be convincing that day so that they wouldn't kill you. That would've been awful!" She began to cry softly into Will's shoulder. "I love you so much!"
"Shh, don't cry. I've never stopped loving you, Elizabeth. We're both safe now," he told her and the newly reunited lovers held each other.
"You should talk, Will," she laughed through her tears as she wiped away a few tears from Will's cheeks.
"I'm just so happy that you're alright," he admitted. "He didn't hurt you did he?" Will narrowed his eyes. "If he did, I'll murder him!"
"No, I've been treated well," Elizabeth assured him. "The only thing that tortured me was knowing that I'd broken your heart just days before our wedding!" She began to shake again.
"Sweetheart, it's alright. I understand why you did it," Will soothed, rubbing her back comfortingly. "Norrington told me that he'd married you –"
"He tried," Elizabeth admitted. "Every night he proposed, and every night I gave him the same answer – no way in hell!" At this Will laughed, his adorable rich laugh that made Hermione's stomach churn a bit as she watched him with his true love. As much as she wished that she could be with Will, Hermione knew that these two were made for each other.
"William, my boy! Thank heavens you've come." An elderly rotund man dressed in finery and sporting a large wig ambled out of the room behind Elizabeth.
"Governor Swann, it's good to see you," said Will politely.
"I'm so glad you're here; my daughter has prayed every day and night that you'd return to her. You have my blessing if you still wish to marry her."
"Thank you," Will said quietly. He then turned to his love.
"Well, now that I know that you still love me, is the wedding still on?" he asked Elizabeth anxiously.
"Oh, yes, Will! Yes!" Elizabeth laughingly told him and he spun her around in his arms. They shared a long kiss, and Ginny and Hermione shared a grin. Harry and Ron were uncomfortably watching the scene unfold while Jack was just grinning proudly, glad that his best friend had found his love again.
"You don't know how much I've missed you 'Liz," Will murmured. "Those last months would've been unbearable if not for my new friends." He gestured to the four Hogwarts students who were staring at Elizabeth curiously.
"I'd like for you to meet Miss Hermione Granger, who convinced me that it wasn't too late for me to come and rescue you."
"It's very good to meet you, Hermione," Elizabeth beamed as she shook her hand warmly. "Thank you for taking care of my Will – he can be a handful at times." Hermione grinned.
"It was my pleasure." Will continued to make introductions.
"And this is Ginny and Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter." Elizabeth shook their hands in turn.
"How ever did you find me?" Harry opened his mouth to speak but Jack cut him off.
"I hate to interrupt, but the carriage is waiting. I don't think it's wise for us to linger."
"Jack!" Elizabeth cried, and gave him a big hug. Jack looked pleased, especially when she thanked him for looking after Will and giving him a place to stay.
"Let's go, dear," Will offered his arm and Elizabeth took it beaming. The couple descended down the stairs and out of Norrington's house with the rest of the group right behind them. As they walked towards the waiting carriage, Will vowed,
"I swear to you; I shall find a way to make Norrington pay for all the pain he's caused us."
End ch. 16