My good friend SunFrog31 said of all of my stories, I should update this one first, so, here it is! Chapter 5 of Cage the Elephant! Enjoy! ^^
…
Hermione was woken early the next morning by Harry shaking her shoulders lightly, telling her that Mrs. Weasley had packed them an early breakfast before they needed to catch their portkey. Hermione followed him downstairs, having gone to bed dressed so she would be perfectly ready whenever she had to be. All she had to do was lace up her boots and cover her hair with a hat and she was ready.
"Alright," Sirius said, peeling his hard-boiled egg. "What's the official plan?"
Hermione spread out their map on the table, holding it open with glasses of orange juice. "I copied the maps for you two last night. It appears as though we'll all need one." She handed one map to Sirius and one map to Harry. "I was examining the map closer last night, and it appears that the island we are searching for is in fact three islands. It was very lucky Remus chose three volunteers, as we are each going to have to take our own ship and explore each of the three islands."
"So we each need our own ship and our own crew," Sirius summed up. "Is that safe? Should we get a few other people to come along?"
"It wouldn't hurt," Hermione agreed. "But it's such terribly short notice, and I'm not sure anyone would want to volunteer at such an awful hour. Merlin knows I wouldn't be up this early under normal circumstances." She added that last part mostly to herself.
"Pardon me." Hermione turned in her seat to see Neville was leaning up against the wall just behind them. He grinned at them. "Sorry to interrupt, but none of you seemed to notice I was here when you came in. I wouldn't mind volunteering to come along. And my stuff is all still packed from moving in here. I don't need any preparations, so if you really need someone, I'm open to the idea."
Sirius grinned. "Neville. You sure have grown since I saw you last. I do believe you just found yourself a job. You can go with Hermione. Is that all right with you, Granger?"
Hermione smiled at Neville. "Of course it is. Welcome to the crew. You're my new first mate."
Neville laughed, taking a seat at the table, setting down the glass of milk he must have come into the kitchen for in the first place.
They continued their planning over breakfast until their clocks let them know they had about ten minutes to get to the portkey, which happened to be a spoon, set out in the middle of an old amusement park just down from where Grimmauld Place was. They all left the kitchen to retrieve their bags and were out the door in a matter of minutes. They apparated to the amusement park and, when the time came, each grabbed a hold of the spoon and allowed it to drag them to where they needed to be.
The Isla de Medusas was one of the main pirating communities left in the Wizarding World. It was full of ready sea-men, and many people who would jump at an opportunity to be a part of a crew, good side or bad. Sirius, Harry, Neville and Hermione decided that the best course of action was to get an amount of people triple the size of what an average crew would need to be, and split everyone up according to talents. They each asked questions as they interviewed people outside of a bar, catching people as they went in and trying to avoid those who came out.
They'd been interviewing for nearly three hours, and still didn't have as many people as they desperately needed.
Finally, when they needed just about five people more, someone walked passed, headed into the bar. He looked as able-bodied as any other man who'd signed on, so Sirius called him over. His face was covered in mud and dust and scars, his hair was in complete disarray and coated in so much mud that Hermione couldn't distinguish whether or not he was blond or brunette. His clothes were dishevelled and he wore no shoes. But he was well muscled, walked with his back erect, and seemed like a soldier.
"Hey, you there!" Sirius called out as he passed by. The boy seemed to recognise them immediately, but Hermione wasn't so sure. He could be…but why would he be here?
"Yes?" His voice was too scratchy from sleep-deprivation and lack of use for her to really be sure of his identity.
"Which side?"
The boy shrugged. "Does it matter?"
"Do you have a job?" Sirius questioned.
"No."
"Then yes, it does matter. Which side?"
"Previously Voldemort's side. Recently dropped out and went my own way."
He approached the little desk Sirius was seated at, apparently curious. "Are you looking for a pirate crew?"
"Indeed," Sirius said, grinning. "Are you interested?"
"Why?"
"Because I need more members for my crew, of course."
"No, I mean, why are you forming a pirate's crew?"
Sirius grinned. "Lean closer."
The boy did.
"We're looking for something so amazing that it could bring the end to the Death Eaters."
The boy's eyes brightened. "I'm in."
"Atta boy!" Sirius exclaimed, turning a piece of parchment around and handing him a quill. "Sign in here, right here."
"Do I have to use my real name?"
"I don't care who you are, just so long as you're not a threat," Sirius said. "Anyone who wants a hand in ridding the world of the other side is a friend of ours, right, crew?"
Harry and Neville seemed just as suspicious of this boy as Hermione, but, like Hermione, weren't able to distinguish him through the thick layers of grime.
"Of course," Hermione said finally, looking into the boys eyes. "Welcome aboard."
The boy smiled, and just then, Hermione was almost sure she knew who he was.
But why would Draco Malfoy be on the Isla de Medusas?
…
The next day, when they were sure everyone they had hired had met up at the pier by the newly purchased (previously refurbished) ships the four had gotten the day before, they split up the crew. Hermione was given the most trustworthy men, and a majority of the men Sirius had known to be trustworthy men in his past, along with Neville and a few other men who appeared to be on track. And the boy who could quite possibly be Draco Malfoy. Sirius had sent her to his side because he appeared to be "almost as bright as the brightest witch."
Then, they packed onto their ships and were off.
Hermione had read plenty about ships in her Hogwarts days, so much so that the role of Captain came almost naturally to her. She directed her crew in the direction she wanted to go, using as many nautical terms as she could, and they understood her. That was imperative, that she was able to communicate with all of these men.
She didn't really have to do much besides make sure all of the men were doing what they were meant to and consult her map to make sure they were going in the right direction. The morning before, when they'd been going over plans, they'd split up the three islands that somehow created one country sort of thing. Hermione got the one on the far right, and she'd magicked their course onto the map and the position of their ship so she knew where they were at all times. It was a fun job, being captain. She kind of enjoyed it. Maybe she'd be a pirate after the war. Or a privateer. It all depended on which side won this war. She almost caught herself rooting for the Death Eaters. Hermione chuckled and said to herself, "A pirate's life for me."
And they were off. The trip would take almost two weeks, and that was if they ran into little or no obstacles during the course of the two weeks. Obstacles were almost inevitable, and just as they were headed off into the hot, afternoon sun, Hermione could see a storm off on the horizon.
…
Oh, my gosh, you have no idea how much I'm already in love with this story. Those of you who've read my other stories, have you noticed a pattern? I'm obsessed with pirates…maybe I should write a Pirates of the Caribbean fic…hm…just a thought!
Speaking of thoughts, let me know yours! What did you think of this chapter? Like it, love it? Hate it, indifferent? It matters to me. ^^ Review if you get the chance, love you all, bye! ^^