All right!!! Another chappie.... I liked writing this one. I introduce the headmaster.... I had fun creating him. :D

Enjoy.

Hermione tugged Jack over to the big man waiting for them. "This, sir," she explained, panting slightly, " This is Captain Jack Sparrow. He thought he was a Muggle, so he just sailed around as a pirate- until we found him and set him straight. Jack's actually a wizard. He wants to learn how to use his powers, so we brought him here to talk to the headmaster." She braced herself for an onslaught of doubt and suspicion.

However, the stranger just nodded and stood aside, saying "I'll take you up to Professor Taybur's office right away. He shouldn't be busy around now."

They set off across the stone hall and up the marble staircase. From there they set off along a path that had Jack completely boggled. The others, however, seemed right at home, and walked as though they were itching to race ahead of Bean, as they learned the man's name was.

Finally, they rounded a corner and halted in front of an unpleasant-looking stone gargoyle. Bean cleared his throat noisily and said, "Tickle me pink." The group of former Hogwarts students behind him raised their eyebrows. They had thought that Dumbledore, the former headmaster from their time, had had odd passwords. Jack, of course, was drawing his lips back again.

As the gargoyle came to life, however, and jumped aside to reveal a moving spiral staircase, the pirate's expression slid of his face and his eyes dulled. "Ah," he said limply.

Ignoring the shell-shocked captain, the procession hurried up the steps. Jack stumbled after them numbly, not wanting to be left behind with the gargoyle.

After a few dizzying moments, the staircase deposited them in front of an oaken door with a large brass knocker in the shape of a griffon. Bean tapped the door, and it immediately swung smoothly open to reveal a tall young man who was standing right on the threshold. Jack and his young companions jumped and edged backwards subconsciously; was this Professor Taybur, headmaster of Hogwarts?

The headmaster that Ginny, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco had known had been very old when they met him, and so they had just assumed that this man would be along the same lines. However, the person standing before them was youthful and handsome, maybe in his early twenties, with sandy hair, wide, expressive grey eyes, and a strong, lean build.

Bean murmured, "Guests for you, sir," and hurried away, leaving the visitors with the headmaster. Professor Taybur smiled at them, his white teeth flashing in his tan face. "Come in, come in," he said jovially, not the least bit fazed by the odd assortment of absolute strangers standing on his doorstep.

They shuffled inside, and the door clicked shut behind them. Hermione, Ginny, Ron, and Draco were looking around eagerly, having rarely (if at all, in some cases) been in this office. Harry, of course, looked right at home, having come to this room on many occasions in his time. Jack, on the other hand, was concentrating on making himself appear as small as possible.

As they examined the office, the group was uncomfortably aware that Professor Taybur was peering closely at them.

He murmured, "Hm… hm… you all are time-travelers…."

They stared at him. It hadn't been a question.

Taybur continued to gaze at them through narrowed eyes. His fingers drummed out a curious little beat on his leg while he hummed thoughtfully. Finally, he said, "Let's see… you lot wouldn't happen to be from Albus Dumbledore's time, would you?"

The teenagers gaped at him. "How did you know?" asked Ginny slowly, while her companions looked on, flabbergasted.

Taybur smiled benignly. "I'm a bit of a time-traveler myself, y'see," he explained. "I've gotten very good at recognizing when people come from."

He hummed for a moment more, and then suddenly clapped his hands together with a force that caused everyone else in the room to jump. Jack, who had had his back turned to Taybur, hastily slipped his hand into his pocket, and commenced to looking innocent.

"Formalities, everyone!" sang the professor cheerily. "I, as you know, am Professor Matthias Taybur, but I'd like you to call me Mattes. Now, if you please, what shall I call you all?"

Harry quickly introduced them all, and Mattes nodded. "Excellent!" he chirped. He skipped over to his desk, threw himself into his chair, and propped his feet up on the desk. "Now, may I inquire as to why my office is filled with six utter strangers? One of whom, by the looks of him, is a Muggle pirate, and the rest of whom are form the future? Hm?"

I hope you liked Mattes. He's a fun character.

If you liked it (or if you didn't, really), let's review! I've had some favorites, but reviews are greatly appreciated. I like to know why you like it. Or why you don't! :D I have 15 reviews, 5 favorites, and 10 alerts.

And no, I promise that that's a coincidence that it adds up. XD

~chickenwinglegolas