Second Chapter. I like it, do you?

I don't OWN!

Enjoy!

Viktor sat opposite to Ron as he contemplated his next move.

Ginny and Luna were off dancing around the ship, Neville was in the quarters, tending to his plants, and Hermione and Harry were creating plans for the deal.

"What happens if he breaks it?" Harry questioned.

"He won't. We have been dealing with Scriminger for over two years now, he won't back out." She assured him. They were startled out of their planning by a shriek.

"What's going on?!" Hermione demanded as she and Harry burst out of her quarters.

Ginny was the one to shriek. She and Luna were watching Ron and Viktor make out on the deck, the chess board and pieces scattered around them.

"Really Ronald? Two days? You've known him for two days." Hermione shook her head in disappointment.

Ron looked up at her sheepishly.

Hermione turned to Harry and dug five gold coins out of her pocket.

"You should have waited another day." She muttered as she gave the coins to a triumphant Harry.

"You bet on me?" Ron asked before clearing his throat.

"Please. You had stars in your eyes the second you laid eyes on him. Same for him. I was just hoping you would wait three days before you made your move." Hermione smiled sweetly.

"Viktor made the first move. Harry, two gold coins please." Luna held out her hand. Harry handed them over.

"Luna." Ron squeaked.

"Did Ron make the first move?" Neville came crashing onto the deck.

"Nope." Luna smiled. Neville grumbled as he pulled out three gold pieces and handed them to Luna.

"Gu~uys." Ron mumbled in embarrassment as he hid his face in Viktor's shirt.

"You guys are betting on my brother's love life?" Ginny asked them, a noticeable green tint to her face.

"Ugg. I think I'm gonna be sick." She rushed to the side of the ship and made exaggerated up chucking sounds.

"Oh ha ha." Hermione smirked when Ginny came back with a grin.

"Take it to your bunk Weasley. And try to be quiet, we have a planning session to finish." Ron was completely red, but didn't try to stop Viktor as he pulled him to their quarters.

"Well, we won't be able to finish our session now. Wanna play a game of chess?" Harry turned to Hermione with a hopeful look.

She was just about to deny the request, but a loud moan interrupted her.

"Okay. I'm white."

The building around her was burning, she could hear her mother screaming. Her fathers voice was hoarse as his own screams started to fade. She felt as the air around her filled with smoke, it encircled her and started to fill her lungs.

"NO!" Hermione screamed as she bolted from her bed. Her breaths were rapid and uneven as she tried to pull fresh air into her lungs.

After a minute or two her breathing returned to normal. She stood, it was too late to go to sleep now, the sun was just coming up. She walked into her crews quarters, she let her eyes roam over them. They had followed her, even when they didn't have the assurance that they would live.

Harry, the first to follow her. He and Neville were born on the Gryffindor, they had been friends long before any of them had come aboard, and he was willing to leave him to follow her.

And Neville? The boy was the most timid Hermione had ever seen. He was not fit to be a pirate. He would do well in a greenhouse somewhere on the main land. Oh but he had proved her wrong. He had left his parents and followed them, and has fought by their side in every situation. He is a pillar she didn't know she needed before.

Ron and Ginny were a surprise. They were actually being trained as diplomats and spies. They were two of six of the children who the Hogwarts Fleet were training. They had tutors and lessons and were kept separate from the other children. So on the night Harry, Neville, and She left the Gryffindor, they didn't expect to find the two ready and waiting in their getaway boat. Hermione didn't have the time to kick them off, the patrol was almost upon them, so they took the siblings with them.

It turned out to be a blessing.

Luna, a small slip of a girl. She had slipped aboard her ship when they fought the crew of the Ravenclaw. By the time they realized she was there, it was too late to give her back. She too was being trained as a spy and had bonded with both Ginny and Ron.

Hermione shook her head with a fond smile.

Harry was draped half on half off his bed, one wrong move and he would fall.

Ginny and Luna snuggled against each other on their shared bunk.

Neville was mumbling something into his blanket, which had somehow bunched up under his head like a pillow.

And Ron and Viktor were tight against each other under Ron's thin blanket.

Hermione mused about getting a larger ship. If she wanted to get more crew members, four beds would just not be enough.

"Harry, up." Hermione whispered against Harry's ear. It was his turn for morning meals and to watch the ship. She had only been asleep for a half hour and Harry had fallen asleep halfway out of bed.

"Captain!" Harry exclaimed as he fell out of bed, unfortunately, the thud of him falling woke Neville, who let out a yelp as he banged his head on the wall. The bang woke the rest of the crew.

"Good job watching the ship Harry." Hermione said dryly. Harry blushed a brilliant red. The others grumbled at their early wake up, but, that was just another day on the sea.

Well? Poor Hermione. Poor Harry. Oh well. R/R

Mars