Skulls and Crossbones
By: Kneazle
Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling. Ideas are taken from Peter Pan, Peter Pan: Return to Neverland, Hook, The Adventures of Nate and Hayes, Disney's Shipwrecked, Captain Ron, Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the Princess Bride, Disney's the Little Mermaid, Disney's Muppet Treasure Island, Cutthroat Island and The Three Musketeers.
~*~
Chapter Four
Remus stood next to Severus, watching King Theodore pace in front of them. His hands were clenched tightly behind his back, making his red cape flare out behind him dramatically. He was red-faced and muttering things under his breath. Queen Elisa was pale and downcast.
"What made her decide to do such a thing?" Theodore finally roared. "How could she be so callous and… and… hormonal!"
"She only wanted adventure, your Majesty," said Remus softly from where he stood. "You took away her book - which had been her window to the outside world. She took the chance to see the world."
"See the world!" Theodore exclaimed. "Why would she want to do something like that when she can read and learn about it here in the castle?"
"Perhaps, your highness," began Severus in his silky voice, "She knew that there was more than just books and cleverness to life. Bravery, friendship, and the likes."
"Are you saying Princess Hermione did not have friends?" asked Theodore quietly. "What about her ladies-in-waiting?" he waved his hand and flustered about for their names. "Parvati? Rosemary?"
"Parvati and Lavender, your Majesty," said Remus with a small smile. "And no, Hermione never got along with them. They merely used her as a way to gain status and popularity amongst the nobles. The princess never liked them much."
Theodore was silent as he digested the new piece of information. He finally sighed. "So what are we to do? Send out the royal fleet to find the Marauder and haul my daughter back? What promises are there to her safety? And what of this Malfoy character? I know I have heard his name before, somewhere…"
Severus stood straight and spoke in a gravelly tone, "The name Mal Foi seems familiar to you, sire, because it is the name of the notorious French pirate, Lucius Malfoy. He works under the command of Captain Tom Riddle - a man who could rival Francois L'Ollonais in cruelty."
Queen Elisa started. "Francois L'Ollonais, that French pirate who forced one of his prisoner's to eat the heart he had just cut out of another prisoner?"
Severus nodded, regarding the Queen with hooded lids. "The very same."
"Then why would he be sending us a letter, informing us of Hermione's kidnap!" cried Elisa, stepping forward from the throne, her hands clenching each other tightly in front of her.
Remus, startled by the usually quiet Queen's outburst, hastened to say, "Probably because he wants a reward and an excuse to attack Harry outright."
"Harry?" asked Theodore, turning towards Remus sharply. Remus saw Severus cringe beside him. "Harry who, Lupin?"
Sighing and realizing his slip too late, Remus, in a subdued voice, explained, "Harry Potter, captain of the Marauder, and currently the guardian of your daughter."
"How would you know who the captain of the Marauder is, Lupin?" asked Theodore curiously.
Remus ran a hand through his hair. "Because I used to be part of that fleet."
Elisa let out a breath she was holding. "In… in Hermione's book," she started tentatively, "There was a young man by the name of Remus Lupin who was in charge of a boat called the Werewolf. Was that you, Remus?"
Nodding, his head bowed, Remus said quietly, "Before I became a tutor I was a part of the Potter fleet. We were given a letter of marque to hunt down rogue English ships and make sure our English merchants made it to the Americas safely. However, there had been a rival feud between James and Riddle for a long time."
Severus stepped into the conversation. "I was a part of Riddle's crew, too, at one time. I was, however, a spy. I knew that Riddle would attack the Potters and other English vessels so I made it my duty to know when and where, and inform my superior."
Remus swallowed as he began the next part of his tale, "After… after that night when Riddle came onboard the Marauder and killed James and Lily… I gave up pirating. I thought that Sirius was the one who betrayed us… not Peter… but then I learned the difference, and was there to see Harry sail off as an educated and skilled sailor."
Elisa noticed the tears in Remus' eyes and felt some in her own. She could almost feel the pain he was radiating.
"Will my Hermione be safe, with this Harry Potter?" she murmured, reaching for a handkerchief. She met Remus' eyes and held them.
"I wouldn't know anyone better to care for her," he replied earnestly. Elisa nodded, and sniffed. Theodore came close to her and wrapped an arm around her.
"So Hermione will be safe with him. What shall we do about Malfoy?" he asked, facing the two men.
Remus shrugged and turned to Severus. "You knew young Malfoy."
Severus nodded. "I did. He'll probably go after Potter. They have their own rivalry to battle out. Killing Potter is his only goal."
"But with Hermione onboard!" protested Elisa, "She'll be hurt!"
Severus shook his head. "Doubtful. I think they already met and she was hardly scared of Draco."
"Met? When?" thundered Theodore.
Remus spoke first. "When we were attacked. That was Draco's ship, the Dragon. Harry and Hermione came back to the castle to look for a piece of the Marauder's Map."
"Ha!" Severus suddenly shouted. "I knew it existed! I knew it! I knew there was some way that explained the way the Potter fleet managed to fade into a ghostly myth! Like a ghost ship, some say. Sometimes here, other times there… never in one spot for too long. Now I know how it was done!"
Remus smiled wryly. "Congratulations Severus, for learning the truth. We made a map - one that would allow us to move quickly from place to place like a ghost."
"And Harry was looking for a piece here in the castle?" asked Elisa, aghast.
"I had my piece stored in the book I gave Hermione," he flushed guiltily. "I was the one who gave her the pirate book."
Theodore chuckled. "No need to look so guilty, Remus! I figured it was you who gave it to her."
"And you didn't say anything?" asked Remus, flabbergasted.
Theodore turned away from his wife and two tutors. He moved to stand beside a window, staring out over the sparkling sea before speaking again. "I didn't want to say anything because I knew how Hermione felt. I knew that keeping her cooped up in this castle day in and day out would sooner or later break her. I couldn't see all the dreams I had as a lad fade away like they were doing in her."
His eyes grew dark as they remembered a past time. "She wanted adventure. I'm just a parent worrying about his child. I don't want her to get hurt… but if this Potter is whom you are coloring him to be… then she will be safe. But that doesn't mean I can't worry about my little girl."
"She's hardly a little girl any more," said Severus, in an odd gentle voice.
Theodore nodded, his voice gruff when he answered. "I know. And I know that sooner or later, I'm going to have to let her go - either to a Prince… or maybe to a pirate."
Remus felt a small, sad smile grace his lips. "Let Hermione have this one last adventure, my liege. Once it's over, let her make her choice. You might be surprised by what you learn."
Theodore turned and nodded, surreptitiously wiping his eyes. "You're right Lupin." He stood tall, and with a booming voice, continued: "Tell the guards to send out the royal fleet! I want my daughter protected while she is out there! I will not let this Malfoy harm her or this Potter fellow while he's taking care of my daughter!"
~*~
Draco sat in his captain's quarters, wondering if he'd get a reply from the English royal family soon. If they believed his letter, he'd be allowed to go freely after Potter, who'd no longer be a privateer… he'd be a common pirate, like himself, where pirate laws exist only between the two of them.
Draco grinned, his eyes settling on the flicker of a candle that burned in the middle of a table in his quarters. Everything around him was dark; the curtains were drawn across the windows, and the door to his quarters was shut tightly.
Finally, Potter would be his and he wouldn't have his father's displeasure reign down on him again, in the form of the cat.
Suppressing a shudder, Draco stood from his seat and moved to the window, shoving the curtains aside.
He was still in Tunis, and he could still see Potter's brig just a few leagues from his. There were lights on the Marauder, meaning some of the crew was still onboard. He wondered if that tiny red-haired Weasley chit told anyone of their meeting yet… if she had, there would be hell for him to pay.
Usually, pirates and locals minded their own business, and the business of two pirates was between them only. Although, Draco was worried about the guards here… they seemed to cluster close around the Marauder, keeping a watch on it.
Like it was a treasure, or something important… Draco let his eyes glaze over as he thought, before slamming a hand against a wood post between the glass panels, swearing colorfully in French.
"Potter's got Tunisian protection!"
"How do you think Potter managed that, Captain?" asked Blaise, who appeared behind him silently. It took every effort of self-control for Draco to not turn and knock his fist into Blaise for sneaking up on him.
"I don't know," Draco snarled instead, clenching his fist tightly against the drapery of the curtain. "I don't know and I want to, instantly. Where's that worm, Peter? Send him out to snoop and learn some information."
"Will do, Captain," Blaise promised, before adding quietly, "Your letter came today."
Draco spun on his heel, his eyes gleaming. "Did it? Excellent. Let me read it."
Blaise nodded, and left the room. Draco waited until he was gone to tear open the letter, breaking the seal.
To Mr. Draco Malfoy, it began, The English royal family grants you the right to pursue Captain Harold Potter, the once privateer of England. His letter of marque has been ripped and nullified, allowing him to become a free agent. If you are able to retrieve the Princess of Richmondshire safely without any harm coming to her, you will be elevated to Viscount. Do to Potter whatever you wish.
Draco crumpled the letter in his hands, smiling fully now.
Do to Potter what you wish, the letter said. Oh, Draco would. He knew exactly what he wanted to do to Potter.
~*~
Hermione watched Harry under lidded eyes, wondering what he was about to say. After conversing with d'Orrlyon for nearly two hours in his chambers, the two had left the captain's quarters and seemed to be the best of friends. Both Hermione and Ron shared a confused look.
Harry clapped his hands to get his crew's attention. "We're going on shore now - some people will need to stay onboard and keep watch."
A group volunteered, pulling out a deck of cards and a bottle of rum. Hermione watched with awed rapture, and an image of Harry looking like Blackbeard popped into her mind.
She pictured him with a storm-filled background, by the main boom with one arm wrapped around it.
She could clearly see his sea-soaked hair clinging to his face, smell the salty air in a turbulent ocean, and feel his emerald green eyes penetrate hers.
"Hermione?"
"What?" Hermione jumped nearly a foot in the air, so lost in her daydreams that she hadn't noticed Harry standing next to her.
"I want you to stay onboard with the others. It could be dangerous for you to go on shore with us," he explained, his eyes filled with concern and worry.
Hermione felt her jaw drop. She knew that she must have been a sight; wearing men's clothing, her corkscrew hair knotted and in dreadlocks, and her mouth gapping open. "You cannot be serious."
Harry blinked. "Of course I am," replied the nineteen-year-old, "I'm the captain of this brig, and as a crew member, you are to do what I say."
Hermione barely noticed the rest of the crew watching their argument. "I am a Princess, Harry! I do not get ordered around, because I damn well do as I please! I will not stay onboard like a common prisoner - I am here because I wanted a grand adventure, and going on shore to see Tunis up close and personal is what I will do!"
Harry had listened carefully to Hermione during her lecture, not batting an eyelash. She could clearly see him thinking. His mouth was set in a straight line, his eyes dark and impossible to read.
"Fine," he gritted out between his teeth. "But don't call me for help if you're in need."
Hermione smiled sweetly. "I won't forget, Captain."
Harry nodded, and spoke in a low, dangerous tone, "Make sure you don't."
~*~
The first place that they decided to stop by was a tavern with a seedy reputation. Ron had briefed her on this before she left, making sure she knew what to expect when she went into the building. She wasn't to speak to anyone, or speak at all, and she was to stay near Harry the whole time, without running off, looking for her 'grand adventure'. That definitely spoiled her mood.
There was hardly any light when Harry, Ron and Hermione entered The Bottom's Up Bar. Hermione nearly grinned when she realized that double innuendo.
Not only was "Bottom's up!" a common term used with sailors and merchants when they were together to drink beer, it was also a term for the girls who lounged in the dark corners on men's laps - a term of what they'd be doing later on in the evening.
Hermione disguised her grin behind her hand, smothering a giggle. She had always wanted to see a whorehouse, and it seemed that she finally had her wish.
Oh, how her father would yell at her for this!
Harry headed immediately to a girl in the back, dusty corner. She was Asian, with long, straight black hair that was clipped back and placed in a messy bun. On the woman it looked seductive and sultry; on Hermione, it would have looked just plain messy. A feeling - one she might believe as jealousy - began to creep into Hermione's stomach and move up into her heart.
"Cho," greeted Harry with intimacy that shocked Hermione. He leaned forward and pecked the woman on the lips chastely and pulled back to his full height. "How are you?"
Cho, the woman, grinned in the dark, making her an exotic beauty from far.
"I'm well, Harry, and you, love?"
Hermione bristled. How dare she talk to the Captain like that! He hates it - he'll smack her down with that tongue and cold disposition, I'm sure of it!
But, to her surprise, Harry did not. He laughed and slid into the seat across from her while Ron moved to stand with his back to them. Hermione didn't know what to do, so she continued to stand where she was, trying to look like she was bored out of her mind. In reality, she was listening very carefully to the conversation.
"What's the news around here, Cho?" asked Harry in a low tone.
Cho twirled a piece of hair around her long, manicured finger. "Why, Harry, you know that's going to cost you."
Hermione ogled shamelessly. Cost?
Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm in no mood tonight Cho, some other time, okay?"
Pouting, the Asian beauty batted her eyelashes. "Are you sure…?"
"Very."
Laughing slightly, Cho swatted his arm. Hermione winced. "News from London or from here?"
"Both," answered Harry, his tone brisk.
Cho stopped twirling and glanced at Hermione. "Both? Something the matter, gov?"
Harry narrowed his eyes. "Nothing that would concern you, Cho. Just answer me."
Widening her eyes, Cho nodded. "Fine. I had a couple of English soldiers come by here a week ago and mentioned something about a Princess gone missing."
Hermione stiffened.
"Anything else?"
"There are rumors that the Royal family will turn their eyes on you, Harry - someone saw your boat sail away, and speculated that this Princess was onboard."
Harry nodded, drumming his fingers on the table. "Who is the leak?"
"I'm thinking Malfoy."
"Figures," he snorted. He waved Cho on, and Hermione felt her hands begin to shake.
Cho took a deep breath. "Watch your back. I can't help you this time - your marque would be taken and you'd become a common pirate, easy to hunt, easy to kill."
Harry stood. "Thank you for your help, Cho."
Cho stood as well, coming up to Hermione's height. "It's always a pleasure Harry," she purred. Harry nodded, reached into his pocket and leaned close to hug Cho. She wrapped her slender arms around him, a grin sneaking onto her lips as she looked over Harry's shoulder. Her eyes caught Hermione's and held them. An almost feral grin overtook her normal one, and her eyes glittered in the dark. Hermione felt her hands clench and her eyes narrow.
A burning coil lay in her stomach, rising up and squeezing her heart. Her vision narrowed to just the woman across from her. Cho sensed Hermione's jealousy and allowed her hands to slip lower on Harry's back to -
I'm going to kill her, thought Hermione dangerously. Ron glanced sideways at her, and noticing her trembling figure, wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her away, turning her attention to him and away from Harry and Cho.
"She's always like that," he told her as they began to leave the Bottom's Up Bar. "Don't mind her, I reckon she never got over the fact that Harry did not get along with her."
"Really?" asked Hermione. "What happened?"
"Old dispute over Cho's former beau. He's a sailor for the Scots, and does not come into this harbor often, so it was a long-distance relationship," explained Ron. "Harry blows in - pardon me - and Cho is instantly infatuated, but Harry… well, he was dazzled by her beauty but that raven has got claws."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Her? I could easily take her on."
Ron just grinned. "Sure you could, little lioness. I'm sure you could," he just said, turning them down a narrow cobblestone alleyway. They were heading back towards the harbor. Finally, Hermione spoke up.
"I wasn't jealous."
"Uh-huh."
"I am not jesting!"
"Neither am I," chuckled Ron. "Look, me an' the whole crew can see it, Princess, you and the Cap'n fancy each other," Ron wagged a finger in Hermione's face when she opened her mouth to protest. "Don't try to deny it; we can tell."
Hermione crossed her arms.
Ron mimicked her and turned another corner in the dark alleyway; they arrived at the harbor, stopping just in the shadows before entering the dock. Hermione could see d'Orrlyon's guards standing around, listening and watching the area carefully.
Hermione turned and faced Ron. "Fine. You win, Ron. I fancy Harry, the Captain of the Marauder, the privateer-almost-pirate. Are you happy now?"
"Yes," replied Ron in a bubbly tone. "Now I reckon I am."
"Brilliant," groaned Hermione.
~*~
Back onboard the Marauder, Hermione sat next to Ron on Harry's couch in the captain's quarters. D'Orrlyon and Harry were standing before her, watching her reaction carefully.
"No," replied Hermione stubbornly. "I won't go back."
Harry sighed and threw his hands up in the air. "Bloody hell, she won't go. What are we going to have to say, Princess, to make you realize that the situation has become undoubtedly more dangerous?"
"Nothing, I understand it already," remarked Hermione, crossing her ankles. "I want to stay." She jumped up from the couch. "This is the adventure I was waiting for! To chase down Malfoy and to find your father's treasure! What's an adventure without treasure?"
"She's right there, mate," piped up Ron from his position.
"Belay, you," snapped Harry, turning to his best friend. "This is all your fault!"
"Mine?" asked Ron, clearly confused. "What did I do? Say? Think?"
Harry groaned, rubbing a hand over his mouth. He stepped close to Hermione, hoping to intimidate her. "Listen to me carefully, Hermione. This is not a game anymore. I want you off the Marauder and onto one of d'Orrlyon's ships by midnight."
"No," rebuked Hermione. "I won't. You'll have to take me kicking and screaming."
Harry grinned. "I'd be glad to."
Hermione's expression changed. Terror began to seep into her features. "What? No, you wouldn't."
"I would."
"You wouldn't, Captain, because it goes against your code."
Harry frowned. Damn, how did she know that? He shook his head, trying to remove the thought. "All right, so that's true, but I don't want you onboard this brig."
"Why?" Hermione asked quietly, changing tactics. "What are you so afraid of, Harry?"
Harry frowned. How had she picked up on that so quickly? Harry opened his mouth and almost said, "Because I'm afraid of losing another person I love," but quickly clamped his mouth shut. He would not be saying that to her! Instead, he sighed and turned away.
"Because I don't want to risk your life. You have a wonderful life ahead of you, Hermione… you're a princess, and we're pirates. We lead a completely different life than you can ever imagine. We don't go to parties, we don't wear the latest fashions from Paris, and we don't know manners or even proper speech."
"You do," pointed out Hermione gently, "and so does d'Orrlyon."
D'Orrlyon, hearing his name, looked up from his shoes and said frankly, "Don't bring me into this, Princess."
Hermione sighed, and turned back to Harry, who had moved away to the window at the hull. "Harry, please. Listen. All that doesn't matter to me," she said, stepping closer to him whenever she could, with each sentence. "I don't care about the parties, or the people, or that fashion. I don't care about how you speak or how your manners are. I only care about who you are. I see too many people who pretend to care about me because of who I am. Here, on your ship, I can see the difference."
"It's no different, Hermione," laughed Harry bitterly. "People are only caring because you're valuable cargo." Instantly, Harry wished he could take back the words.
Pain shot across Hermione's face, and behind her, Harry could see Ron getting slowly to his feet behind her. D'Orrlyon was shaking his head at Harry's right.
Hermione backed away slowly. "I see," she whispered. "So even the slight friendship we have means nothing to you?"
Harry stepped forward, wanting to smooth over his mistake. "No, Hermione, I really value this friendship"-
"Or do you just value me, the cargo?" she interrupted sharply. Harry swallowed. He turned away, gripping the window frame tightly.
"You may stay onboard," he croaked out, in a tight voice. Clearing his throat, he continued, "Just write a letter to your parents telling them you are safe and that you'll be home as soon as possible. Keep updating them, because I don't want Her Majesty's Royal Navy on my heels."
Hermione nodded, although he could barely see her through the reflection in the glass, and turned on her heels. Ron held open the captain's door, and she passed through, her head bowed.
When Harry turned around, Ron shook his head. "Shit, you really messed that one, mate. Use your deadlights - she cares for you." He shook his head one last time. "And I don't know why."
Harry turned to D'Orrlyon, who turned his head away. "You should follow your heart, not your head," was all he said, before leaving the room, Ron on his heels.
Harry, left alone in the dark, sighed and moaned into his hands, "What have I done?"
~*~
Hermione went straight to the forecastle, knowing that Ginny was probably teaching Luna another new card game to pass the time while they were below, waiting for orders. As she neared the door, she could hear the two of them, and occasionally a raised voice going, "Snap!"
As Hermione pushed open the door, and stepped into the room, she immediately noticed the two. They were playing a fast-action card game, finishing piles of their cards and then slamming their hand down on that pile. Whoever was the fastest shouted, "SNAP!"
"Am I interrupting?" asked Hermione wryly as she moved towards the hammock that served as her bed.
Ginny and Luna both stopped, looking up. They stared at her. Finally, Ginny spoke in a hushed voice. "Why are you crying?"
Hermione lifted a shaking hand to touch her cheek. It was moist with her tears - tears she hadn't even noticed she was shedding. Her hand trembled as it fell to her side. Hermione turned her back on the two and sat on her hammock before lying and curling on her side. "I don't know," she whispered.
The wood creaked and groaned in the harbor, moving in a gentle up-and-down motion. Ginny cautiously moved to Hermione's side.
"What were they talking about, in the captain's quarters, Hermione?" she asked. Luna came up behind her.
Hermione gave a shuddering sigh, knowing that she had to confide in someone. Being females, they had bonded, so Hermione decided to give just a little. "He said that I was just cargo."
Luna narrowed her blue eyes. "Who?"
Ginny answered for her, anger in her voice. "Harry did."
Luna's widened now. Hermione rolled to face the two, more tears making their way silently down her cheeks. "He said that no one cared about me - they only cared because I was precious cargo between passages, something that would be on and off just as easily as I came."
Ginny and Luna shared a dark look. "What else did he say?"
"Said that I should go back home. Back to my parties and latest fashion and manners and proper speech," her voice was flat and dead.
Ginny swore colorfully under her breath. Luna braced her hands on the table behind her, leaning against it in a carefree manner, a manner that was only betrayed by the whites of her knuckles.
Hermione finished, "He said he was just a pirate and I was a princess. Like it could never be."
Ginny stared down at the older girl, before wrapping an arm under her and making her go in a sitting position. "Harry," Ginny said slowly, "Is daft. He's nutters. He obviously doesn't see what is right in front of him."
"He's right, though, isn't he?" Hermione finally said with some emotion, a spark of understanding in her voice. "He is just a pirate, and I'm a princess."
"So?" asked Luna. "And, for your information, Harry is a Viscount."
Hermione's head shot up to look at Luna. "He is?"
Luna nodded, while Ginny just stared at her. Catching her stare, Luna looked slightly dazzled. "What? I didn't mean to overhear him and D'Orrlyon. It's not my fault I can understand French."
Ginny just shook her mane of red hair and turned back to Hermione. "Even if daft Harry doesn't take notice in you, it doesn't mean you should leave!"
"Why not? He doesn't want me here," sighed Hermione, going to lie back down. Ginny caught her.
"Oh, no you don't," she reprimanded. "I like you. Luna likes you. We care about you, Princess Hermione or pirate Hermione. You're just Hermione to us, and that's the way you'll stay."
Hermione, with unshed tears in her eyes, turned to Ginny with a hopeful expression, which instantly hardened. "You're right. You care, and so does Luna"-"Excuse me, I'm right here."-"And Harry can go sit on his arse all day for all I care!"
"Good for you, Hermione!" whooped Ginny. "So what are you going to do?"
Determinedly, Hermione pursed her lips and motioned for some paper and quill. "I'm going to write to my parents."
"What?" blanched Ginny.
Hermione laughed. "Harry wants me to write to them saying I'm safe and okay - and to send frequent updates. I can do that and stay… but for a couple minutes I was ready to give up and go back home."
"But you aren't?"
"No," Hermione shook her head. "I realize I'm made of stronger stuff than that. I always wanted an adventure, and this is my chance to get it." Her eyes gleamed. "This is my chance to experience a life without guards behind me, without my parents dictating me, without anyone watching me, judging. This is I, being me."
Ginny and Luna smiled at each other.
"Princess Hermione Granger of Richmondshire isn't on this boat," continued Hermione in a rising voice. She held her quill tightly in her hand like a sword, and brandished it about the room. "This is Hermione Granger, the pirate - off for an adventure of a lifetime!"
She swung the quill about, splattering ink. Ginny and Luna laughed at her embarrassed face.
"You mean Hermione Granger, the girl who needs to work on her sword-play!"
Hermione grinned. "Well, yes, maybe that too."
The three girls giggled and fell into a comfortable silence. Luna asked, "Where are we heading now?"
"I think the Caribbean," Hermione replied. "I saw charts in Harry's room."
Ginny winked. "Ooh, Harry's room, eh?"
Hermione threw her quill at the girl. "Quiet you." She watched Ginny duck and move back to her place at the table, with Luna in tow.
They settled back into routine, and Hermione twirled the quill she had lost and picked up from the floor in her fingers amidst "snaps!"
"What's in the Caribbean?" Ginny finally asked.
Hermione glanced up at her. Luna fell silent, slipping her cards free of Ginny's hand without her noticing. Hermione replied, "the rest of the Marauder's Map."
**-**
AN: Oooh, another chapter of swashbuckling adventure out - more of a plot piece without any real action, but there will be plenty more where that comes - after all, we need to find James' treasure, don't we? So, for the usual - thanks to Katie for beta'ing, and all of you for reviewing! Read, review and enjoy! Yours, Kneazle [Oct.19.03]