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 Five
At the dawn of the next morning, Harry was spotted talking to D'Orrlyon, muttering things about a 'map.' Now, most of the crew knew that there was something they were hunting and whenever they saw their captain in such a happy state they knew that he received his booty. Only a precious few knew just how valuable the treasure Harry was seeking was.
"Do you have any idea where the last three pieces are, Francois?" asked Harry, leaning against the wood wall that lead up to the main deck.
D'Orrlyon frowned and a glazed look came over his eyes. "I believe, if my informants have been successful in their… ahem, interrogations, that one piece of your father's map, Potter, is in the Caribbean."
"Can you pinpoint it to make it any more specific?" Harry pressed, his eyebrows coming together in a V. He brought a hand up to shield his eyes from the glare of the Mediterranean sun.
"I do not know exactly," sighed D'Orrlyon. "I would suggest aiming for the Lower Antilles, Potter - head for Isle de la Tortuga, where the lowlife pirates and thieves gather. If anyone knows where a part of the Marauder legend is, they'll be there."
"Then I suppose that this is goodbye," replied Harry, a smile on his lips. He held out his gloved hand for a shake. "It was excellent making your acquaintance, D'Orrlyon. I hope to meet you again, and perhaps next time under different circumstances?"
D'Orrlyon laughed, pumping Harry's hand with his. "Me too, Viscount. Me too." He went into a loose bow, straightened and then glancing over Harry's shoulder. Out of the corner of his mouth, he whispered, "Your woman is coming this way."
"She is not my woman," Harry responded fiercely, his eyes narrowing. He changed his entire face though, when Hermione spoke from behind him.
"Are you leaving us, D'Orrlyon?"
D'Orrlyon bowed and gave Hermione a brief smile. "I am afraid so, Princess. My time onboard the Marauder has come to an end. You are in safe hands."
"I've always known that," Hermione replied, glancing surreptitiously at Harry out of the corner of her eye. D'Orrlyon gave her a smile and a wink back, leaning over her hand and placing a gentle kiss on the smooth skin above her knuckles.
Beside her, Hermione felt Harry stiffen.
"Au revoir, Princess."
"Goodbye, D'Orrlyon," Hermione replied when he stood straight, beaming at him. "And D'Orrlyon? If you're ever in Richmondshire, please drop by the castle. I'd love to see you again, even if it's only for a while. After all, it's not every day that a Princess like myself can entertain a real-life pirate in her home, can she?"
D'Orrlyon laughed loudly, drawing the attention of the crew towards them. "Of course, Princess. I would treasure such a moment." The three of them walked to the edge of the brig, where a rope ladder was placed, leading down to a wherry to take D'Orrlyon back to the main land.
"I wish you both the luck in your quests," he said, placing a foot already on the lower rung. "I hope you both find what you are looking for."
Hermione smiled at the cryptic message but Harry merely frowned, before raising a hand in a silent, still wave goodbye.
They both stood next to each other, watching as D'Orrlyon cut through the water with the wherry's oars, until he stood on the wooden dock. He stopped once, to turn and glance back at the large brig, before turning and walking with his garrison away.
As soon as he disappeared, Harry turned, his eyes catching Hermione's, before he shouted, "Weigh anchor! All hands on deck! Hoist the main sheets, ready the sails!"
Hermione sighed, brushing a strand of corkscrew hair away from her eyes as Ron shouted the orders back to the crew from where he was next to the helm.
It was going to be a long journey, Hermione thought sadly, before she walked across the deck and down the hatch towards the galley. And a long journey meant hungry stomachs.
>><<
Harry, yet again alone, sat with his head in his hands as he ran his fingers through his hair periodically. He could no longer deny that he was intrigued and attracted to the bushy haired Princess that was once a stow-away on his ship, and he could not deny that when he saw D'Orrlyon kiss Hermione's knuckles he felt jealousy like he'd never experienced before.
A jealousy that screamed, Mine!
Letting out a shaky sigh, Harry murmured in to the room, "What am I to do?"
Silence greeted Harry, pressing in from all sides of the cabin that had once belonged to his father and mother. It pained him to stay too long in the room, in the dark, knowing that he could very well be standing in the exact spot his father last stood, or where his mother gave her last breath.
Feeling agitated, Harry rose from the bed he was sitting on and stalked towards the door, yanking it open. A rush of sweet, salty sea air filtered into the cabin, brushing Harry's hair away from his face and caressing his skin.
Inhaling deeply, Harry strode out of the cabin, hands on his hips, and looked around the Marauder with a proud captain feeling. This was his; Harry thought proudly, everything he had done to make the brig his own. Only his.
"Cap'n!" shouted a female voice, carried on the wind. Harry felt his heart leap, only to sink when he realized that it was Ginny shouting at him, not Hermione.
"Yes, Ginny?" Harry asked once the younger girl was near him.
With her coppery hair flying all over the place, Ginny reached up and wrapped her hand around the bulk of it. "Harry…" Ginny hesitated.
"Go on, Ginny. Off the record."
Nodding, Ginny took a deep breath. "I was wondering how long we will be at sea, Harry. This is only because I'm worried a bit for Hermione. She's a landlubber, but has sea legs. I'm just worried that this extended sea voyage will cause her some seasickness."
Harry frowned. "I don't think it will, Ginny. If she does get a bit sick down in the forecastle with you and Luna, send her up to stay in my chambers. She might relax a bit better there instead."
Ginny grinned widely, saluting him. "Yes sir!"
She then bounced off, slipping down through the hatch, presumably to tell Hermione their conversation.
"You just got your bollocks twisted, mate," Ron's voice from behind him chuckled, clearly amused.
Harry turned to regard his tall redheaded friend. "And why do you say that, Ron?"
"Hermione doesn't have t' worry about seasickness. I've seen her go to the crow's nest without glancing down at the height when we were swaying to and fro - you've been conned into letting Hermione share a bed with you."
Harry's jaw dropped. "Ron!" he stuttered, "But… but that's only if she gets seasickness. I specifically told Ginny that! She wouldn't disobey me!"
"I reckon she would," Ron nodded, chewing his inside cheek. "Women are a strange species, y'know? Once you've got a couple women onboard they'll take over the whole crew. Just you wait."
Harry scowled and crossed his arms. "That won't be happening; not while I'm Captain."
"Mmm hmm," Ron nodded absently, as Luna had just emerged from the hatch, Hermione in tow.
Harry followed Ron's line of sight, his eyes latching on to Hermione as she gracefully glided across the deck, the sunlight catching her glossy brown mane. She seemed right at home, laughing and handling herself with ease.
"It looks like she was born on a ship," Harry murmured, unaware that he had done so.
"She sure does," commented Ron, his eyes torn from Luna to smile carelessly at his shorter friend. "Take some advice from your mate Ron, Harry - just tell the Princess you love 'er and be done with it. It'll sure make things easier on the crew when you're not berating yourself about messing up your chances with the wench."
Harry turned to his friends, a teasing tone in his voice as he spoke. "Ron, sometimes I wonder why I just don't toss you overboard."
Ron hitched his thumbs against the top of his pants and rocked on his heeled boots. "It's 'cos you love me, Cap'n. After all, I am your best mate."
Harry shook his head and turned back to Hermione, only to see her talk to Seamus, who was in charge of looking for storms and other vessels. Hermione laughed and something the Irishman said, making Harry unconsciously clench his fingers.
He excused himself from Ron's side without so much of a "goodbye", and stalked over to where the object of his affection was standing with a rake.
"Finnigan! Standing around and talking to wenches won't help us if there is an enemy vessel in the waters!" he snapped uncharacteristically. Seamus and Hermione exchanged worried glances.
"O' course, Cap'n." Seamus frowned, raised one sandy coloured eyebrow at Hermione who shrugged, and then turned to the shrouds and began to climb them. He paused a couple feet up off the edge of the rail, and tilted his head down to Hermione, who was standing next to Harry (or was it the other way around?), watching him.
"Would you like to see what the ocean looks like from up on the Crow's nest, Princess?" Seamus asked in his Irish lilt. Harry's frowned etched deeper.
"I'd love to! Last time, George took me up, and had me hanging on for dear life when he tossed me over his shoulder" - Hermione would have continued if it wasn't for Harry's explosive, "WHAT?"
Hermione turned towards him, confused. "Something the matter, Harry?"
"Damn straight something is the matter!" he all but snarled. Turning to Seamus, Harry snapped, "No one is to take Hermione up to the Crow's nest or on any of the masts, jibs, or booms, is that clear?"
Seamus nodded. "Yes, Cap'n."
"Good," breathing heavily, Harry turned to Hermione, grasping her firmly but gently around the wrist. "And you, well, we're going to have a little talk, Ms. Granger."
Opening her mouth wordlessly, Hermione gapped. Finally, she choked out, "Are you insane, Potter? Let go of me! I will not speak to you in private - if you wish to talk, do so here!"
Harry raised one jet black eyebrow before asking, "Are you sure that you do not wish to speak with me in private?"
"Absolutely!"
Harry sighed. "You leave me with no choice then, Hermione." With one sweeping motion, Harry had Hermione off her feet and grasped gently in his arms, being carried towards his cabin.
"Now, Ms. Granger, you and I are about to have a long delayed talk," he growled out, kicking open the door to his cabin, and then kicking it shut again once they were inside. A simple chandelier swayed gently to the roll of the ship above them, the candles' flames flickering.
Harry tossed Hermione down onto his bed, where she bounced before settling. She was on her feet immediately, hissing and spitting.
"How dare you!" she hissed. "How dare you treat me like your whores! How dare you humiliate me in front of your crew!"
Harry let a smile lazily appear. "Are you finished?"
Hermione heaved a breath but said nothing more.
"Good."
Harry stepped closer, deliberately invading her personal space, making Hermione take small steps backwards until she hit the bed and sank back down on it. Harry continued moving forward, leaning over her with his arms braced on either side of her shoulders.
"Now you listen to me carefully, Hermione," he whispered in a deadly voice that sent shivers up and down Hermione's spine, "You will not knowingly endanger yourself by doing any of the tasks that my crew, with the exception of Luna and Ginny, do. You will obey my rules and understand that you are, in all reality, my prisoner. Do you understand?"
"Y-Yes," Hermione stuttered out, her breath little more than a whisper. Her eyes were wide and dark, trained on his face.
Harry watched her silently, his gaze unwavering, until he leaned in with a slight groan and kissed her on the lips. He pulled back as suddenly as he kissed her, swearing under his breath. Harry then turned on his heel and marched out of the cabin, slamming the door behind him.
It was going to be a long month.
>><<
The sky was dark and stars littered the inky blackness when the Marauder entered Isle la Tortuga, a small island off the coast of Hispania. Hermione stood next to Harry by the helm, amazed at the sight of wavering candles and torches that hung on walls and in windows, and of the raucous laughter that floated over the water like ghosts.
"This is Tortuga?" she asked carefully, her face blank.
Harry nodded.
"And we'll find a piece of the map here?" Hermione glanced up at Harry questioningly. "Are you sure?"
Harry grated his teeth. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't think a piece was here, Hermione."
"Oh," Hermione gave a small sigh, looking back at the harbor. "Where do you suppose it'll be?"
"I have no bloody clue." Harry all but tore his hair out in frustration. Damn, this woman asked a lot of questions.
"You shouldn't curse in a woman's presence. It's not gentlemanly," reprimanded Hermione, her tone scathing. Harry felt his jaw drop open. "In fact," she continued, "as a viscount you should be the perfect gentleman."
Harry's emerald eyes swung to glare down at the chit. "For your information, Princess, I am hardly a gentleman." He allowed his eyes to rake up and down her body; Hermione was now wearing an old dress of Luna's that didn't cover much of her chest and hugged her nipped waist thanks to her corset that she had from her ball gown. The dress barely reached Hermione's mid thighs, but was the perfect outfit for a wench to wear.
Hermione shivered beneath the intense stare, but forced her blush away. Whatever Harry said, she knew in her heart that he cared about her and wouldn't jeopardize her safety unless it was necessary.
"Let's go over the plan once more," she suggested instead, licking her lips nervously. She felt Harry's gaze linger there before he nodded in the pale moonlight beside her.
"All right, Hermione," he said softly. "We'll go into a local inn and bar where I will go around and ask the right people the right questions. You just listen and if you hear anything interesting, listen in. Hopefully this will all be over in a couple of nights."
Hermione nodded. "Very well. Am I to be your wife?"
Harry let out a chuckle of laughter. "Princess, you're to be my whore, not my wife. Seamen don't bring their wives on their voyages, and no respectable sailor from a merchant ship would be caught in the inn we'll be at."
Hermione felt her face flush, and cast her eyes to the ground. Damn you, Potter, she cried out inside, I know you care about me - why do you put me through such torture?
Biting her inside cheek, Hermione felt tears well in her eyes but blinked them away. It would do no good for Harry to see her and assume that she was scared. She wasn't, not really, more so she anticipated a new adventure in a new environment.
After a couple terse orders from Harry, the Marauder's anchor was lowered and the wherry readied. Hermione, Harry and Ron settled themselves comfortably in the small rowboat, before they were lowered to the dark blue water.
Harry and Ron rowed towards the harbor, jumping out of the wherry and dragging it the rest of the way to a sandy beach. Harry leaned forward when Hermione stood, and wrapped his hands around her waist. He lifted her and she clung to his shoulders as he swung her out of the wherry and onto the beach.
Then, he and Ron upturned the wherry and hid the oars beneath it. Satisfied, Harry took Hermione's hand and nodded once to Ron, who nodded back and disappeared into the shadows.
"Where is he going?" Hermione asked breathlessly. She was far too close to Harry to think rationally.
"No where you need to worry your bonny head about," Harry replied, before tugging her towards an inn that sported drunks outside of it and whores kissing men. "Remember, don't look disgusted, don't talk in that high-born accent of yours, and whatever you do, avoid men like him."
Hermione followed Harry's lifted hand to a man who lounged half in the dark by the door of the inn. His arms and ankles were crossed, and he sported a sword and pistols.
Hermione nodded and gripped Harry's hand just a bit tighter. He maneuvered her throughout the throng of people towards a dark corner where Hermione could see the faint outline of a man smoking a cigar.
"Viscount," the man said when they approached, with a London accent.
"Shacklebolt," greeted Harry coolly. "What do you have for me?"
Hermione saw his eyes drift towards her, and felt Harry remove his hand, only to bring his arm across the back of her waist.
"Don't worry about her, she's trustworthy," he assured the older man calmly, squeezing her waist to reassure Hermione.
Shacklebolt inhaled once before tossing his cigar to the ground and grinding the heel of his polished boot into it.
"The man you're looking for is known as Viktor de Krum. He's a notorious drinker, gambler, and officer of the Bulgarian army stationed here through the Dutch. You be careful with him, Potter, he's a might bit bigger than you are and although you're good with a shot, he's a bitch to take down in a fight." Shacklebolt glanced at Hermione again. "My apologies, milady, for the coarse language."
"'Tis fine," Hermione murmured, absently. She had heard the name de Krum before, but she couldn't in her life remember from where.
Shacklebolt continued, speaking in a hushed whisper to Harry, and handed him a piece of paper. "It's rumored he's got a piece of the infamous Potter map, and gloats about it only when he gets drunk enough. Been goaded into trading it in card games but never rose to the bait. If he's got it, he wants to keep it."
Harry nodded once more before reaching into a hidden pocket. He procured a handful of gold guineas and handed them to the man. "Thank you for your information, Kingsley. Give my regards to your lot."
"Will do, my Lord," Kingsley gave a brief smile before pocketing the gold. "My pleasure."
He bowed and faded into the darkness, leaving a confused Hermione in his wake.
"Who was he?" she finally asked quietly.
"Kingsley Shacklebolt. Works for Her Majesty's Royal Navy but only as a Bow Street Man," answered Harry. "A private detective," he clarified for Hermione when he saw her expression. It cleared instantly.
"So where are we going now?" Hermione asked.
"To de Krum."
"Where is he?"
"Here."
"Here, where?"
"Here, Hermione, that's all you need to remember and know," Harry finished gently, smiling at the bushy-haired young woman. "It's… better if you don't know."
"Harry Potter!" Hermione stamped her foot. "If you don't tell me right now I'll-"
"You'll what, girl?" Harry asked, turning abruptly to face Hermione, his eyes glittering dangerously in the soft light. "You'll what?"
"I'll… I'll…" Hermione tilted her chin up. "I'll wallop you."
Harry threw his head back and laughed loudly, causing some drunks on the street to rise from their stupor and glance about.
Tugging Hermione towards him, he wrapped an arm around her waist and planted a kiss on her lips, delving his tongue into her mouth and thoroughly tasting her before pulling back and laughing again.
"My dear Princess," he whispered in her ear, making Hermione shiver, "The day you wallop and trounce me is the day I agree to be your husband."
Hermione raised her head slowly to look into Harry's eyes, before answering carefully and slowly, "That day may yet come, my Lord."
Startled, Harry took a step back, clearing his throat as he did so. His expression changed, melting into a blank face, before motioning Hermione to step beside him. "Come," he said stoically. "We'll head to the Scurvy Dog, where de Krum is staying currently."
Hermione followed silently, wondering about the change in Harry's demeanor. Surely he knew how she felt, especially by now, Hermione wondered. It wasn't like she went around kissing potential suitors back in Richmondshire all the time. After all, she was an innocent.
Their pace was brisk but not too fast, for they soon reached the Scurvy Dog Inn. Hermione heard laughter and smelled the ale before they even entered the establishment. She forced a grin from her lips and placed an aloof mask on her face before they entered. Harry made his way to where the bartender stood behind the bar, cleaning a drink. He glanced from Harry to Hermione often, before returning to Harry in time to see him slip a couple guineas across the bar towards him.
The bartender looked startled before answering Harry's question. Harry nodded once and took Hermione by the arm, leading her up a flight of rickety stairs.
"Where are we going?" she whispered as they made their way down the dark hallway.
"Towards de Krum. He's in room nine, alone, I was assured," replied Harry coolly. Hermione had to skip to keep up with him.
When they reached room nine, Harry had drawn his pistol and leaned sideways before kicking open the door, the pistol drawn.
"Halt, de Krum! Do not move if you value your life!" he snarled, pointing the barrel of the weapon at a burly man with a crooked nose. He was wearing a loose shirt and black pants, a green scarf around his waist.
He was sitting on a chair with a bottle of Ogden's Old Firewhisky in his left hand and pistol in his right - the pistol that was carefully trained on Harry as he moved into the room further.
"I believe that you have something of mine, de Krum," said Harry evenly, raising his eyebrows slightly.
"I do not know what you are talking about," snarled the older man in the chair, his accent thick but not impossible to understand.
"Really?" Harry looked bored. "Perhaps I can refresh your memory. Small, square in size, parchment, ink on it, a… map perhaps?"
"I have no map," the man insisted. "Now, get out of my room!"
Hermione swallowed hard and looked back and forth between the two. She remembered where she heard the name de Krum before. He was an excellent solider in the Bulgarian army, stationed in Tortuga because he was injured in a battle. Sour, he retreated somewhere where Europe had not heard of him to recuperate before returning to his homeland.
"I will not be leaving until I get what I have come for," Harry answered steadily, a glint in his eyes that Hermione had never seen before. Who was this man?
Without warning, he fired one shot that hit de Krum's pistol and sent it flying across the room. Harry said, "Hermione, go get the pistol."
Hermione, trembling, did as she was told and held it at an arm's length away from her. She walked in a wide circle around the two and plopped herself down on an ottoman, pale and shaking.
"All right, Mione?" Harry asked, never lifting his eyes off de Krum's face.
Hermione smiled briefly at the nickname. "Just fine, Harry," she whispered back, before settling to watch the interlude.
De Krum was watching her carefully, his eyes looking her up and down, appreciation easily read in his eyes. Hermione shivered and Harry growled.
"I want my map," Harry snarled, stepping closer to where Hermione was and shielded her body with his. The Bulgarian had no choice but to look at Harry now.
"Fine. If you want it so badly, you can take it; it's there on the desk top," de Krum waved his hand vaguely, lifting the other to take a swig of the Firewhisky. Harry warily moved towards the desk, the pistol still on the man's chest when he turned to glance at the desktop. It was that moment that de Krum needed to launch himself at Harry and tackle him to the ground.
Grunting with pain, Harry dodged a blow to his head and retaliated with a punch to de Krum's side, before tossing him off with a roll. In the background, he dimly noted Hermione screaming at him to get up and fight.
He frowned and then wondered why she didn't just jump in and help him, if she thought it was damn easy.
Rubbing the back of his head, Harry stepped to the side as he and de Krum began circling each other. A chair was knocked towards Harry who nimbly danced out of its reach.
"Hermione! Damn you, wench - give me the pistol!" Harry roared as de Krum charged again at Harry, who only managed to twist away in time to face a pale and grim-faced Hermione.
Hermione fumbled with the pistol but managed to toss it to Harry who caught it and cocked the firearm.
"Stop where you are, de Krum, and you may live," ordered Harry, sounding every bit of his pirate and roguish self. Hermione felt herself start to swoon and managed to stop herself.
De Krum stopped, his eyes dark and still as he glared at Harry.
"What is it that you want, Potter?" he finally asked.
"I want to know where you got my map," Harry replied.
De Krum shrugged. "Won it in a game of vingt-et-un down at the Hog's Head."
"From whom?" Harry persisted, motioning Hermione to get the map piece.
"I don't remember his name. He was a boisterous man, though - loud and fond of his drink. Very big too - reminded me of a giant," de Krum shrugged again, and made for his Firewhisky, which Harry allowed him to drink from. "That's all I can really tell you, Captain."
"Do you think he might have more information regarding the other pieces?" Harry asked evenly.
De Krum frowned. "Can't say, really. Seemed to think he knew your parents very well, but he doesn't look like the seaman type. More like heavy labor on the mainland."
Harry frowned. "Anything else to tell us that might be helpful in the future, de Krum?"
"Yeah," the foreign man snarled. "Learn to knock."
>><<
"Well," smiled Hermione, "I think that went rather well, don't you?"
"Save it, Princess, we're not out of the woods yet," Harry replied, glancing this way and that as they exited de Krum's room. When Harry made no move as to leave the hallway, Hermione frowned.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I need a place to hide my map."
"Put it in one of your pockets," she suggested, bored and ready to head to this Hog's Head to find a man who knew Harry's parents.
"If I get robbed, wench, that's where they'll look first and I'll not lose a piece of my father's map that I just found!" Harry replied hotly.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "And where am I supposed to keep it, Potter? My garter belt? Down my corset?"
A wicked smile graced Harry's lips at the very thought. He turned to Hermione, who backed away in surprise.
"Oh, no, no you don't, Harry," pleaded Hermione, "You are not stuffing a piece of paper down my - Gah!"
Harry had grabbed Hermione by the strays of her gown and tugged her towards him and then pressed her tightly against the wall. He pulled out the map from his hidden pocket in his leather belt and folded the paper into a tiny square before looking pointedly at the flesh that showed around the bodice of Hermione's dress.
"Don't even think about it," warned Hermione, glaring at him. "You might have my hands pinned with one of yours, but if you think that it's entirely proper or decent or"-
"Or gentlemanly or even nice," Harry finished. He looked up and grinned at her. "Don't worry so much, Mione, no one has complained about my touch before. In fact, I think most rather enjoy it."
"Oh?" Hermione simmered. "Like that Cho?"
"What about Cho?" Harry asked absently as he loosened the strays at the front of her bodice that held the gown's shape around the corset. Once they were loose he tugged the dress away from Hermione's chest and concentrated on his task.
"Cho - did she enjoy your touch? Is she your whore?" Hermione asked bluntly, trying to ignore the fluttering in her stomach and the electrifying touch of his fingers sweeping across the swell of her breasts.
Harry's hand stilled. "My whore?" he glanced up and found Hermione's eyes dark - with passion and anger. "Nay, she was never my whore. Wanted to be, and I thought her bonny enough as well, but I never bedded her, if that is what you're asking."
"I am," Hermione replied.
"Well, then the answer is nay, Mione," he winked. "So quit your chattering and look thoroughly kissed, we might have some company soon."
"With me dressed like this?" Hermione near shrieked. "No! I will not be found like-"
Harry cut her off with a bruising kiss, his chin rubbing against hers and creating a whisker burn. Hermione heard someone start up the stairs near them, and chuckle as they walked by. But, she lost all thought when she felt Harry's hand slide down between her breasts and tucked the piece of the map into her corset.
He then leaned away and began doing her strays up again, tugging enough to get the gown back in shape. Once he was done, he leaned back in and gave Hermione a chaste kiss on the lips.
"Thank you, Hermione," he near whispered.
"For what?" Hermione replied.
"For not blowing our cover," he responded.
Hermione frowned. "I would never do that, Harry. Never."
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"I swear it, Cap'n," Hermione said again, this time in a perfect imitation of his pirate crew. Harry laughed and stole another kiss before taking Hermione's hand and leading her down the steps.
"Aye, I know you won't," he told her once they reached the bottom. "And I don't think you ever will."
Hermione smiled at him, and he smiled back.
"Come," he chuckled, "its time we find the Hog's Head and this man who gambled a piece of my father's map."
"What will we do when we find him, Harry?" Hermione asked, turning to face him as they began their walk.
Harry's eyebrows drew into a V. "I'll question him about the map, then my parents, and his loyalty to them. One would never gamble a piece of the map away if they cared about my parents."
Hermione said nothing but allowed him to tuck her to his side. He draped his arm possessively around her shoulders and leaned down to inhale her scent.
"Ah, 'Mione, what did I ever do to deserve you?" he rasped.
Hermione figured that that was as good as it was going to get and smiled up at the pirate. "Nothing," she replied, as they disappeared into the shadows around them, unaware of the pair of gray eyes following them.
>>*<<
AN: Okay, sorry for the lack of updates (A month! Ack!) But real-life caught up with me with a vengeance. Had to drop a class, and with tests coming towards me like crazy, I need to study! Anyways, more clueless Harry that will soon start to clue in, some more characters, and of course, more Draco! BIG-BIG Thank you to everyone who reviewed at Fanfiction.net, Portkey.org, or anywhere else and I just don't even remember where this story is posted now. *Winks* Read, review and enjoy, Kneazle [Nov.20.03]
PS: Thanks to am who noticed a Severus-problem from chapters 2 to 4. Noted and changed! Also, thanks more to Katie for beta'ing. Always.