Disclaimer: JKR Disney get credit. This will be roughly 8 chapters when it is complete. Short chapter this time but the next few will be quite long. I hope to post every week from here forward.

That Effect

By WittchWay

Harry watched as the professors, the lone Auror and Sparrow exited the great hall. Sparrow looking back over the room, to the students a sad look upon his face as if he was walking to his death. Harry had a sudden urge to follow, wishing desperately that he had his invisibility cloak with him.

"Queue up, lets put the swords back where you got them" Flitwick squeaked signaling the end of the dueling club for the night. The tiny professor waved the students into groups in front of the sword racks. "Hurry now, everyone back to your common rooms."

Ron pulled on Harry's robe"Come on, I want to nip down to the kitchens for a snack before bed."

Harry shuffled forward in the line until it was his turn to return his sword only there was no slot for his sword. His sword handle didn't fit into any of the narrow holes, he moved along and tried another. Smiling Harry realized he had no choice but to return the sword to its rightful own, Professor Dumbledore.

"You okay mate? You look like you got hit with a cheering charm." Ron said slinging his schoolbag over his shoulder, his sword now back in its rightful place.

"I'm fine I just have to return Dumbledore's sword." Harry twirled the sword in his hand, the ruby red stone flickering in the candle lit room. "I'll meet you in a bit." Not waiting for his friend's comments, Harry all but skipped from the great hall and dashed to the second floor.

As Harry came around the corner the group of wizards and a single pirate were just stepping upon the winding wooden staircase of Dumbledore's. The stone gargoyle which has stepped aside to let the group pass slowly slide back into place as the last person stepped onto the platform.

As Harry neared he could hear the soft hum of the stairs as they moved, and then it was silent as if reaching the top. Harry looked to the gargoyle, its stone eyes watching him closely. Waiting for its password.

Harry balanced the sword in his hand, trying to think what the candy password might be. Fidgeting Harry kicked at the stone base with the edge of his trainers. "Chocolate frog" Harry groaned as he said it that was to easy a password"Ice mice, acid pops, peppermint toads, Fudge flies" Harry replied quickly all in session and was startled when the gargoyle sprang to life, quite unaware which of the treats was the correct one.

Harry stepped slowly onto the wooden platform and waited as they began to move. He nervously tapped his foot, he didn't know what he was going to say when he arrived there, 'Just returning the sword,' seemed pretty lame. Unfortunately Dumbledore had a keen sense and could usually tell he was there, and for what true reason he was there.

But harry didn't care, he had to know what was happening to Sparrow and just why Kingsley had been brought in, was it an Order matter or Auror matter. And loathed, as he was to admit it he also wanted to find out just what Sparrow's and Snapes relationship was. The looks Sparrow gave Snape at odd moments of the school day and dueling club just didn't add up to the looks Sparrow received from Snape, furious angry looks and something else he just couldn't put his finger on. It was a softer look that Harry was sure of, but what it meant he just didn't know…yet.

Harry slid off the top step and crossed carefully to the closed door to Dumbledore's office. He looked cautiously around the waiting area, it held a lone plush looking chair, though on pervious occasions here it had held a small sofa, and once a pile of very soft looking pillows. Harry twisted the sword in his grip he supposed he could just lean it against the chair and Dumbledore would discover it as he usually walked his guest to the door.

"No absolutely not." Barked suddenly from behind the door. Harry half jumped and turned toward the door the sword in a half-raised fashion. Inching forward Harry pressed his ear to the thick wooden door. Squinting as if that would help, Harry listened intently. At first there was nothing, then just a soft murmur of words he couldn't make out, and then the sporadic shouts which he was sure was Snape but those gave him no clues as to what was happening, it was just random words about pirates and idiots.

Harry was so lost in thought he didn't even realize when the door opened suddenly and the headmaster stood before him looking down at him.

"Is there something I can help you with Mister Potter" Dumbledore said.

Harry straightened up, looking embarrassed, Dumbledore's tone was more than curt with him, which he realized had been happening since the arrival of Sparrow. He tried looking past the headmaster to see if he could get a glimpse of the men within the office but Dumbledore shifted so he could not.

Biting his bottom lip Harry extended the handle of the sword toward the professor"Thank you for the use of your sword for dueling club."

Dumbledore looked down on it as if seeing it for the first time and then looked over his shoulder, Harry got a glimpse of Snape.

Who took the look Dumbledore was giving him with little fanfare, simply crossed his arms and looked down his nose at the headmaster.

"Thank you Harry, I assumed it served you well."

The Gryffindor nodded.

"Was there anything else you needed"

Harry opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Sighing"No headmaster." His shoulders slumping what could he possibly say, 'I like the pirate and want to get to know him better or better yet, Snapes giving me strange looks an I want to know why.'

"Then I suggest you return to your common room for the night Mister Potter, curfew is in a few minutes." Dumbledore closed the door.

Harry kicked at the air and turned to go. Something was definitely going on. Something he was quite sure had nothing to do with Voldemort and the death eaters.

Harry proceed back to the wooden steps and began the slow process down. He was frustrated, within himself, with Dumbledore and with the heavy door that kept all the noise in. he had learned nothing in coming to Dumbledore's office. Not a thing.

Once back out in the main corridor Harry strolled causally toward the staircase that would take him up to Gryffindor tower.

Then thought better of it and wondered if Ron was still in the kitchens getting a snack. Harry turned to head in that direction and ran smack into the chest of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Sparrow smirked"'ello love." He caressed a lean finger along Harry's' cheek. "Just came to wish you a good night." Sparrow smirked, his voice dropping"And if you like tuck you into bed." he gave a soft click of his teeth.

Harry moaned"I like." As Sparrow slipped an arm around his waist, pulling their bodies together.

"My good boy" Sparrow whispered, stepping them backwards till Harry's back was pressed firmly against the stone wall.

Harry's eyes fluttered shut, his lips parted as he waited for the kiss to follow.

"SPARROW" Snape screamed down the hall.

Harry's eyes shot open as the lean body of the pirate flew from him, his eyes darting to Snape who was quickly striding down the hall, his wand before him. "You will keep you filthy hands off the students."

Sparrow picked himself up, smirking the whole while. "Aye Snape." His tongue between his teeth"I was just giving the lass a good night kiss… I believe I promised a tuck in as well… and a pirate never breaks a promise." Sparrow gave a brushing sweep of his pants and moved slowly toward Harry.

Snape stepped forward, his wand raised"Back to the dungeons with you and if I find you detoured again you find will yourself facing the wrong end of my wand."

Sparrow frowned"Oi, Snape you know the only detour I need is to the kitchens for a new bottle of rum."

Snape gritted his teeth"Fine… I'll just walk Mister Potter back to his common room so that he does not find a detour of his own."

And with that Snape grabbed Harry's arm and hauled him toward the moving staircases, they seemed to agree with the professor as they received no wrong turns on their way up the seventh floor.

Snape said nothing as they moved down the corridor and did not lessen his hold on him once, Harry felt like a naughty child caught by the ear and was just glad it was after hours and that there was no one up to see this humbling moment for the boy who lived.

Once at the portrait of the fat lady Snape gave him a shove toward the entrance and turned to go, then stopped suddenly and turned back"Mister Potter If I were you… I would avoid such familiarity with a pirate… a pirate who will not be here much longer." Snape narrowed his black eyes and stalked away.

Stunned Harry could only watch as the potion master swept down the hall his black robes billowing in the dark corridor, one had to squint to see where the robes ended and shadows began.

"He's always been an intense one" the fat lady said smiling sweetly at Harry.

Harry blinked that was an understatement.

"Password dear."

"Light" Harry said stumbling through the portrait as it swung open.

Harry was thankful the common room was empty, he crossed toward the boy's staircase and was nearly to the top of them when he realized he had been clenching his fist.

Slowly unfolding his hand, flexing his fingers he took out the crumpled piece of parchment Sparrow had slipped to him just before he went flying down the hall.

Unfolding the ripped parchment, he blinked heavily, 'Astronomy tower Midnight.' Was all it read.

Harry groaned, tonight had been a tiring night and it wasn't' over.

TBC…

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