Story Summary:

Melody hated pirates. She always had. She'd probably inherited the bias from her mom, Queen Ariel. Definitely a mermaid thing. Whatever it was, she'd managed to avoid interacting with any of their sort since the barrier was destroyed last year. Until today, when she was forced to partner with the worst of the lot, Hook's son, on a class project.

But when her locket goes missing, Melody begins to see that some of the students at Auradon U are hiding things from her. Harry Hook most of all.

And she can't decide if Harry's flirty touches are just a means to an end or if there is something real behind those piercing stares he keeps giving her. The worst part is she's not sure she'll be alive long enough to find out because another, bigger threat has come for her. And, you guessed it, it involves pirates. Yes. More pirates.

This was going to be a long semester.


Chapter 1 - Hooked

Melody hated pirates.

She always had.

Even before she had met one in person, she hated them.

She guessed she could blame that on her parents. She'd probably inherited this particular prejudice genetically. Ancestral bias has a way of creeping through the family tree, tainting the blood of relatives down the line. And mermaids were pretty much raised to despise these types of sea-faring ruffians. Her mother, Queen Ariel, was no different. In fact, Melody was pretty sure her mother still couldn't stand to be in the same room with any of the pirates from the Isle of the Lost.

And she could finally see why.

Melody scrunched her dark brows together in disgust, trying not to be distracted by the mud-caked leather boots propped onto the chair next to her. She tried not to be affected by the incessant clink clink clink of the pirate's hook hitting the metal legs of his desk. She was attempting to focus only on the oceanography professor's voice as she detailed the importance of the coral reefs surrounding Auradon.

Melody had been so excited to finally take a class she knew she would enjoy. She loved the subject and she even knew the instructor, who also happened to be her aunt Attina. Her aunt had received a special magical pass from Atlantica to lecture on the subject for the entire semester at Auradon University.

Yup, her aunt had traded her fins for legs just to teach this class. And Melody had been beyond excited for the semester to begin.

Until he waltzed in like he owned the entire classroom on the very first day and claimed the chair at her right side.

Harry Hook. Son of Captain Hook and the most insufferably arrogant human she'd ever had the displeasure of sitting next to, had somehow been accepted into Auradon's most prestigious university.

King Ben could shove the Second Chance Higher Education Program where the sun didn't shine.

She squeezed her golden scallop locket in her fist. Feeling its weight in her hand and the tug of the chain against her neck, usually helped calm her. It worked now and she managed to pull in a breath.

"- tell us the answer to the question of the hour, eh Melody?" Professor Attina leaned over her lectern, a lock of hair falling from the starfish clip holding her bun together.

Oh no. She'd missed the question. She'd been daydreaming. Actually, dayseething was more accurate.

Melody rubbed her face, as if she could scrub the blush from her cheeks. "I'm sorry Aunt Attina… um, I mean, Professor Attina, could you repeat the question?"

Harry leaned back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. "Looks like our wee Princess is findin' this lecture as riveting as I am, Professor."

Aunt Attina's eyes narrowed, shooting the pirate a look that could freeze the seas.

"Harrison James Hook," she snarled. "You may be new to our education system, but that does not give your snarky mouth free reign over my classroom."

The pirate plastered on an expression of fake-hurt, bringing his hook to rest over his heart. "I dinnae mean teh disrespect the leading expert in all things ocean," Harry drawled, in his honey-thick brogue. "I truly apologize for any disruption I may hae caused."

A sickening wave of giggles erupted from the other side of the classroom. Some of Auradon's prettiest princesses were probably eating this up. The bad boy act was still very much in demand. After all, it had only been a year living with all the villain kids once the barrier keeping them separate had been destroyed. The villain kids were still novel enough to attract ample attention from the Auradonians. What had further fed the novelty was the fact that most of the villains had opted not to fully integrate, choosing to form their own villages across Auradon instead.

Unfortunately for Melody, Harry hook had opted to integrate.

"Well," Aunt Attina huffed, "At least someone has been paying attention in Goodness 101. You are certainly improving in the apology department."

Melody wanted to scream. Didn't her aunt see how dangerous it was to let this behavior slide? The pirate should have been ejected from class for that comment at the very least. But somehow everyone seemed to let it go. He'd managed to erase his insolent words with one flash of that swashbuckling smile.

Aunt Attina pursed her lips and returned her gaze to Melody.

"Back to my question, then, Melody, I was just asking whether you could tell us more about the role of ocean temperature and the health of the coral reefs around Auradon."

She scrubbed her sweaty palms against her jeans, as she mulled over a coherent response. But before she could get a chance, Harry interrupted again. "Temperature doesnae make much difference to a mermaid though, does it Princess? Thermoregulation and all that."

This time Melody actually turned to scowl at the pirate. She was pretty sure this villain kid had no idea what thermoregulation was. She doubted the guy could count backwards from ten without losing track of which number he was on.

The pirate quirked a lip into a half-smile, his bright eyes made somehow more striking by his characteristic heavy eyeliner.

She clenched her teeth so hard, her jaw began to ache. Someone so obnoxious had no right to eyes as blue as his.

Seeing her caught in his gaze, that cheeky sac of chum actually had the audacity to wink at her.

Melody suppressed a groan.

"I'm just teasin' yeh Princess, dinnae let it gum yer sweet little gills."

Oh seas, she was going to need to transfer. A whole half a year of this would be intolerable.

She had enough trouble fitting in with the others. She'd always been a bit of a loner – talking to fish when she was a kid had been just the beginning of her social awkwardness. She did not need an out-of-control pirate contributing to her anxiety in her first semester of college.

But if she transferred, that might put her behind. She needed Intro to Oceanography as a prerequisite for her higher-level studies on Marine Science.

"Melody, should I try back with you later?" Aunt Attina prompted, her smile looking more forced this time.

Melody took a deep breath and attempted to find her brain. "No, professor. It's ok, I read the chapter. The text states that a spike of 1 to 2° Celsius in ocean temperatures sustained over several weeks can lead to bleaching. If corals are bleached for prolonged periods, they eventually die. Coral bleaching events often lead to the death of large amounts of corals which would disrupt the entire ecosystem."

She snuck a glance at the pirate. Ha, that had shut him up. She might be socially awkward, but she was probably one of the best students in the class.

"That's right, Melody. Which is why it is important to regulate the types of energy production on Auradon to reduce carbon emissions."

This launched her aunt into a lengthy discussion of coral reefs on the island. Melody was familiar with all of them from books, but she'd only seen two of the reefs in real life – the ones in Triton's Bay. Her parents didn't let her adventure much after her run-in with Morgana, Ursula's sister, when she was younger. And no matter how many years passed, they were still super overprotective.

Were overprotective she reminded herself. This is college. Her parents weren't here to supervise.

She was nineteen now and her life was finally hers to live.

"Which leads me to the introduction of your final project. Throughout the semester, you are to research one of the six coral reef beds surrounding Auradon. The Eastern or Western Coral Reefs in Triton's Bay, Skull Rock Reef, The Reef along the Straight of Ursula, The Neverland Ridge, or Hook's Bay Reef along the sunken Jolly Roger."

Melody's heart sped up. This was what she'd been so excited about. The chance to research, to get out on the seas and really discover the life that lay below the waves. It could lead to a career in research, maybe even a ship of her own to use for her research projects, away from the eyes of Auradon and finally free to…

"You will choose a partner to work with and present your findings at the end of the semester. All of the details, including due dates along the way can be found in your syllabus."

Her heart was now racing for a different reason. Students were already turning and looking to each other to partner up. Carlos had paired with Jane. Some gorgeous tanned princess from the Borderlands paired with Audrey, likely bonding over their matching pink handbags. Everyone was looking at someone else which left Melody with…

A metallic scrape announced the appearance of a shiny hook on her desk. She jumped at the sound, looking up to find Harry Hook grinning down at her from where he'd perched himself on the end of her desk.

He dragged his hook lightly along her upper arm, the cold metal making her gasp as a shiver of gooseflesh erupted across her skin. She prayed a silent prayer that he couldn't see it.

So much for appearing indifferent.

He walked his fingers up her arm, her shoulder, across her face and pressed his index finger against her nose.

"Looks like it's just you and me left, sweet gills."


Author's Note:

What am I doing writing a Descendants Fan Fiction? I honestly don't know. I just know that I had the urge to write this idea, and I haven't written anything on any of my fanfiction projects for a long time. I've had lots of family loss over the last year and I've struggled with writer's block for a long time. So, when a fun little idea crossed my mind, I figured it would be a good place to find my muse again. Maybe this little drabble will help me find my way back to my other projects. Besides, who doesn't love mermaids and pirates? Don't skewer me for inaccuracies, I'm new here. And with that, buckle in for a slow burn, enemies to lovers adventure starring my favorite Descendant, Harry Hook!