Tidal - Part One

New Story! FFNandAO3

A Hinny Pirate AU

(Tumblr won’t let me post all 32K words in one post, so this is going up in two posts.)

Part of the @harryandginuary Big Bang Event! This is my first contribution. My second story is a Jily Muggle AU and will go up later this month!

Remus heaved the helm and Harry grinned as he felt their ship move, slicing through the waves towards their target. The Phoenix had never been bested in the nearly twenty years his father had captained her. This Deircian naval ship didn’t stand a chance.

“Man the cannons!” His dad’s voice roared.

Harry moved to his spot on the deck near the helm and Remus, then heard the high pitched signal of Marlene’s whistle.

Captain James Potter of the Marauders raised his saber above his head and waited.

Marlene’s whistle came once more and James’ arm sliced the air.

“FIRE!”

Tidal

Harry adjusted the rigging as his dad yelled out orders. If they moved quickly they could sink the Deircian naval ship that they’d come upon.

“Harry!” His mother called out as she threw him a second flintlock pistol. “Be ready!”

Harry slid the pistol in his belt before shifting their sails further with the other riggers. His mother believed in him being heavily armed, and truth be told, Harry didn’t mind. Having two pistols along with his saber definitely gave him a sense of security.

“Marlene!” Sirius called as he helped Harry with the ropes. “How much further?”

Marlene peered from the crow’s nest.

“Hold where you are!” She looked to the helm. “Remus! Hard to port!”

Remus heaved the helm and Harry grinned as he felt their ship move, slicing through the waves towards their target. The Phoenix had never been bested in the nearly twenty years his father had captained her. This Deircian naval ship didn’t stand a chance.

“Man the cannons!” His dad’s voice roared.

Harry moved to his spot on the deck near the helm and Remus, his assignment the protection of the helmsman. Remus gave him a grateful smile and then Harry heard the high pitched signal of Marlene’s whistle.

Captain James Potter of the Marauders raised his saber above his head and waited.

Marlene’s whistle came once more and James’ arm sliced the air.

“FIRE!”

The explosion of cannon fire filled the air and Harry gritted his teeth against the way the first shot made his ears ring. But the second shot, as it always did, helped to quiet the ringing and prepare him for battle.

His assignment in this battle was less a necessity and more a formality. They had no intention of taking the ship, being boarded would not be a part of this battle. The Marauders had no use for the ships of the King’s dismal armada. Military ships never had anything good on them anyway. Harry didn’t care for soldiers’ rations, and they always let their water turn green. But while he wouldn’t be pulling his pistol or saber today, standing beside Remus gave him a terrific view of the King’s sailors trying to load their cannons while under fire.

The sea heaved under them and Harry felt grounded as he watched her toss the Deircian ship, sending her crew stumbling. He chuckled as one of the failures with blazing red hair decided to swim for it, jumping overboard as James called for the third shot. Probably the only smart lad on that wretched vessel. Once the ship started sinking, she’d pull her whole crew under with her if they weren’t far enough away.

And sink she did, as the Marauders sent a barrage of cannon balls against her hull and down on her deck.

Harry sighed as the sea began to fill the ship. That was how he wanted to go. When his body tired of this life, he wanted to sink in the sea and finally let her have him, finally losing himself in her depths.

Captain James Potter called to the riggers when it was obvious the Deircian ship would sink and Harry jumped to it, Sirius and the others quickly by his side as they shifted the sails again. With the wind harnessed, James called out to Remus and within moments they were barreling away as another of King Thomas’ ships sunk below the waves.

“Well done!” James called to his crew after they’d made good their escape. “I believe the Marauders deserve a bit of celebration!”

Harry raised his first and cheered with the crew.

“Enjoy tonight my friends!” James grinned, “For I think it’s high time we head home!”

Harry cheered, though the way the waves rocked the Phoenix had him turning to the sea. He would miss being away from her, he did every winter. The little bit of rock he’d spent his childhood on wasn’t much, and he’d always feel attached to it, but the sea would always be home.

The rock, while the only place he had memories of as a child, was anything but inviting. It was an island in the most generous terms, uninhabited aside from the Marauders crew during the coldest months, their safe haven from the tyranny of King Thomas of Deircia.

Harry had been a babe when it happened, but he understood that when Thomas Riddle, the then Duke of Gaunt took the throne of Deircia, he was determined to kill off the high born families he didn’t care for, and give their lands and fortunes to those he chose. Harry’s own father, the Duke of Hallows, was near the top of King Thomas’ hit list.

One of his dad’s own friends betrayed the Potters and members of the Marauders crew, but Sirius’ brother had risked his life to save them, and while Regulus died, Harry and his family were all still here. So James packed up Lily and Harry, the entirety of the Potter family fortune, and a tightly knit group of friends - other nobles with targets on their backs - and set sail on James’ ship. They’d traveled for months before coming across their island, and after combing over it, set up lives.

The Marauders sailed the Phoenix to other lands besides Deircia to buy what they needed, the Potters not the only ones who brought all their wealth with them, but it wasn’t until the children, Harry, Neville, and Hannah, were old enough that they made the sea not just their home, but a battlefield against King Thomas’ armada.

“Think you’ll survive on dry land, Harry?” Neville grasped his shoulder and laughed.

“Aye! And I imagine you’re anxious to get back!” Harry laughed with him.

“Aye,” Neville grinned. “It’ll be good to be warm at night.”

Harry agreed, winter was the worst time to be at sea, though he knew Neville had other reasons for wanting to go back. He went to comment on exactly how Neville would be warm at night when his comment was cut off by the lady herself.

“Quit your lollygagging boys,” Hannah threw her arms over their shoulders. “We’ve got work to do before we dock for the winter.”

Harry and Neville laughed and Harry stepped out from under her arm so Neville could pull her closer.

“We have time, Hannah,” he chuckled. “We’re a good two weeks from shore yet.”

“All the more reason to get it done now,” Dorcas called as she moved towards the helm.

“See,” Hannah teased, “Chores now, celebrating tonight.”

Harry saluted as Hannah and Neville laughed at him, “Aye, aye, Hannah.”

The work moved quickly with the crew anxious to get on to the fun, the Marauders known as much for their merriment as they were for their ruthlessness with the King’s ships.

“To the Marauders!” Sirius called as the crew toasted with him.

“And to the death of King Thomas!” Benjy shouted.

“The long life of Captain Potter!” Kingsley yelled.

“Drink already!” Edgar shouted.

Harry smiled at his family. Pirates tended to be a ragtag bunch of outcasts, but the Marauders only fit the definition of outcasts. Once Harry was old enough, his dad had explained who everyone had once been. Dukes, Barons, Viscounts, Marquees, Earls, and Baronets of Deircia, all of them had picked up their riches and boarded the Phoenix nearly twenty years ago. These twenty-three people were his family, and Harry loved them.

He thought he saw a flash of red out of the corner of his eye but when he turned, Harry only saw Gideon and Fabien arm wrestling. It was strange though, their hair seemed much less red than the color that had caught his attention.

Neville shoved his arm, “Plans to take the winner there, Harry?” He motioned to the Prewett twins.

“I’m not far enough gone for that, mate.” Harry toasted his oldest friend. “Where has Hannah gone?”

Neville waved his drink towards the Abbotts, “She’s planning with her mum.”

“When do you think you’ll have Dad perform the ceremony?” Harry chuckled as Neville took a large swig of his drink.

Neville grimaced and then coughed. “Hannah’s thinking before the Christmas celebrations.”

Harry nursed his drink and smiled over at Hannah, “You’ll give my mum ideas, the two of you getting married.”

“You never know, you might meet someone the next time we go for supplies.” Neville teased. “Forsake the sea and take up as a landsman permanently.”

“May your tongue turn black for that!” Harry shoved him and laughed. “The sea is all the woman I need, Nev. I reckon I’ll never be happy on land for more than a winter at a time.”

The night progressed and Harry let the rocking of the ship lull him into that moment of perfect happiness. Only an hour or so into the festivities, Harry moved up to the top deck and leant on the railing, watching the stars as the Phoenix carried them closer to their winter home.

“It’s calmer up here, eh?” James leant over the railing with him.

“Aye,” Harry grinned at him. “I like to be out here with the sea when the stars are out.”

“You were born to navigate, my boy. The sea claimed you that first journey and she’s never letting you go.”

“She claimed all of us,” Harry took in a deep breath of the chilled night air.

James chuckled, “We chose her, Harry. I thought after my three years in the Deircian Navy were over I wouldn’t spend much time at sea. I would have had too many responsibilities to attend to. Coming back to her felt like our only option.”

“It worked out well for us in the end.” Harry smiled out at the black surface of the sea, listening to the waves hit the hull and how the sound made everything right. “I can’t imagine a better life than sailing nine months out of the year.”

“What if I told you of a grand castle and mountain chalets? Banquets and balls and beautiful women? People bowing when you walk by and everyone calls you ‘your grace’? About people turning to you for everything?”

Harry shook his head, nothing would ever amount to life with the sea under him. “It’s better this way. We don’t bow to anyone and no one bows to us. Our only responsibilities are the ship and each other. This life, this is everything I’ll ever want. The sea, the Phoenix, and the Marauders.”

James chuckled and put his hand on Harry’s shoulder. “I agree, having you and this life has become more than I dreamt possible. I’ll be forever grateful it worked out this way. The alternative would have robbed us of not just this life but any life at all.”

Harry was glad he wasn’t on watch that night and he could watch the stars glow bright and clear for a few hours. Leaning against the deck railing watching the stars and listening to the waves only seemed to deepen his love for the life he lived, for the sea that rolled beneath the Phoenix and through his heart.

He stayed on deck a good hour after the laughter had died down below not long before the end of the second watch. He bid Emmeline goodnight as she walked the deck, scanning the sea, and descended to his hammock. But as he moved to the room he shared with Neville, Gideon, and Fabien, Harry heard something thud by the stairs behind him.

“Emmeline?” He called looking back.

“Alright, Harry?” Emmeline called down from the deck.

“Aye, I heard a thud, wanted to make sure you hadn’t fallen.”

“Nay, off to bed with you now. My watch is nearly done, and Sirius has the third. He’ll talk your ear off just for the fun of watching you struggle in the morning.”

Harry grinned. “Aye, sleep well.”

“You as well, lad.”

Harry crept quietly into his room and wrapped his blankets around him as he let the sea rock him to sleep, listening to the quiet song of her waves.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Land ho!” Frank called from the crows’ nest. Harry rushed to the bow and looked out at the rock the Marauders called home.

Cragged and jutting out from the ocean like a pod of whales rose the intimidating mass that would easily sink any unsuspecting ships. If you didn’t know the island, you’d think it an uninhabitable, foreboding, sort of place.

But the Marauders knew the secrets; knew that on the far side the cliffs parted wide enough for a ship and fed into a natural dock; knew that the rocks and the sea had formed shallow caves that served as homes for them all during the few months they spent away from the sea; knew how to climb down its cliffs to the ponds that formed at low tide that filled with small fish and crustaceans; knew that at the center of the island several plants found shelter, and a freshwater pond bubbled up. The Marauders knew how much the island had to offer, and they never took it for granted.

“Come on, Harry!” Neville called to him from the rigging. “We’ll have all the supplies to unload and you can gawk at it then.”

Harry laughed and helped take in sail. “Yes but we’ll be manning the oars in a bit and so I won’t see it until we’re docked.”

“I think you’ll live,” Edgar laughed as he and his wife Patricia helped pull the ropes. “Besides, you didn’t have to row in last time we docked. We all take a turn, even your dad. We’re a lucky group to have a captain that isn’t afraid to swab a deck or man an oar.”

Harry beamed. “Dad says we’re a family.”

“That we are, laddy” Patricia ruffled Harry’s hair.

Harry and Neville moved below deck to the oars, and as Harry went to turn the corner, a flash of red caught his eye. He frowned and looked again. He’d been seeing the same red flash over the last couple of weeks. But anytime he went to investigate, nothing was ever there. Maybe it was a sign that he needed some time on land more than he might care to admit.

But getting back his land legs always took Harry a couple hundred feet, and the first few trips of hauling casks of water and crates of food and goods off the Phoenix were wrought with missteps and near crashes until his body remembered how to walk without the ebb and flow of the sea beneath him.

The Phoenix safely anchored and their supplies unloaded, the Marauders began moving back in.

“Harry, you’re on dinner and taking the first watch tonight.” James looked down at his parchment.

“Aye aye, Captain,” Harry saluted as he moved to help with dinner.

Arabella set him to filling pots with Elphias while she prepared the ingredients for stew and Hestia baked fresh bread. The smells were heavenly and Harry happily moved to kneading loaves once the water was ready for Arabella.

“More logs?” Sirius asked as he and Marlene dropped another couple dozen next to the oven they’d made years ago.

“I think we’re all set now,” Hestia smiled and handed Harry another loaf to knead, “But you’re welcome to speed up the making now that the baking has all it needs.”

“Aye,” Marlene pushed Sirius towards where Harry was kneading. “You knead, I’ll mix more dough.”

Sirius whispered something in her ear and then moved towards Harry while she laughed.

“Save it for when you’re alone.” Harry teased and Marlene tossed a bit of flour at him.

“For that, I’m going to wish a woman on you, Harry.” Sirius laughed and took the next round of dough from Hestia.

“So that I can whisper inappropriate things to her?” Harry smirked and set his loaf on the proofing board.

“That is a benefit,” Sirius winked at him.

“Leave him be, love,” Marlene handed Harry more dough. “We’d be hard pressed to find a woman to tame our Harry; married to sea I say, fickle mistress that she is, trying to kill you one day and then loving you the next.”

“Our Harry’s a sailor to be sure,” Hestia pulled the baked loaves from the oven and slid in the proofed loaves. “He’d need a woman just like the sea herself.”

“Oi!” Harry protested their teasing. “I’ve no plans to settle down and take a wife.”

“The thing with love, Harry,” Sirius smiled over at Marlene, “Is that you never plan for it.”

Harry had rolled his eyes at his godparents, but gave the matter little thought after the exchange.

It wasn’t that Harry was blind or made of ice. He had looked after a woman and more from time to time.

When he was twelve he thought he might have been in love with Hannah, until he realized that would involve kissing her and the thought had made him recoil. Hannah was the closest thing to a sister he had and Harry learned to tell the difference between love for a sibling and romantic attraction.

When he was around fourteen Harry thought he loved Hestia, but realized a bit later it was her bread baking he really loved.

It was when he was sixteen that he thought he loved Mary McDonald, going so far as to contemplate asking his dad to assign them to the same tasks on the Phoenix, but those feelings were dashed when Mary mentioned that she would always see the little toddler running around the deck when she looked at him. That was when Harry realized he was best not to pursue any feelings of attraction towards anyone who watched him grow from infancy.

He’d spent a little time with a girl at one of the supply ports the Marauders had selected to work on the Phoenix; and while he rather enjoyed the sort of company she liked to keep with him, Harry could not fathom going after her to renew their arrangement let alone ask her hand in marriage. He wasn’t even sure she had told him her real name, she always seemed surprised when he said it. Besides, whatever he might have felt for her was nothing compared to what he felt for the sea.

He attributed it to his injured pride, but after Mary had gently let him down - for now he could see it as it was - Harry had spent a night looking out at the sea, and he decided, under that starlit night, that he didn’t need anything more than her, than the sea and her waves. She seemed to respond to his thoughts as the spray of the waves had reached up to kiss his face and the ship bowed him closer to her. He briefly contemplated jumping to her, but stopped himself, letting the closeness, the intimacy, be enough, be everything.

Not that the sea was an easy mistress. Marlene hadn’t been exaggerating, the sea was a fickle thing. She did often try to send ships below her waves, but for the most part, Harry felt that the sea was the perfect partner. She was exciting, reliable, always strong but surprisingly gentle as well. Everything about her was captivating, encompassing, and he never wanted to be away from the ocean. His dad was right, the sea had claimed him all those years ago, and Harry surrendered. He was sure he could live a very happy life sailing the Phoenix through the sea till the day he died.

Having the first watch their first night back, Harry was lucky enough to eat just as soon as the stew was ready, which meant he also got a loaf of Hestia’s bread right as it came out of the oven. Arabella’s stew and Hestia’s bread were probably his favorite meal and Harry saved a bit of his loaf to wipe his bowl clean. A side benefit of that being that washing his dishes was much easier.

“I’ll be relieving you tonight, love.” Lily squeezed his shoulder as Harry moved to the path that connected their caves to the anchored Phoenix. “Don’t let me find you asleep from your meal.”

Harry laughed and hugged his mum. “I promise, I’ll be awake when you get there.”

Harry picked his favorite rock to use as his main spot for watch over the ship and camp. It was really the ship that the Marauders kept watch over. The cliffs they used as a dock were the only way to gain access to the island, unless you could jump from your ship and scale sheer rock. Harry enjoyed the sense of security it gave him. They’d been safe here for nearly two decades.

Then Harry saw the flash of red again against the quickly fading sunlight.

He was looking over at the ship when it caught his eye. But where every other time the flash was gone as quickly as he’d seen it, this time Harry caught full view of the person the red was attached to.

He swore as the sailor he’d seen jump from the ship they’d sunk crept from the Phoenix to the island. His flaming red hair was matted in a braid down his back and his Deircian naval uniform was filthy with dirt and dried salt water. He had a sword belted to his hip but Harry saw no other signs of weapons on him. Harry cursed himself for not having brought his pistol and quietly unsheathed his sword. Carefully he crept back behind the rocks and watched, hoping the sailor would be foolish enough to come this way.

And the lad did. Slowly, with his sword held out in front of him as he moved over the rocky terrain, the sailor approached Harry’s hiding spot.

It was the rocks that gave Harry away. The sound of pebbles shifting as he moved for the kill. And rather than the sound of a quick death the sound of steel against steel clanged around him.

Quickly he jumped from his position for even ground, putting himself between the sailor and the camp.

“Wait!”

Seeing her properly and hearing her voice, Harry realized that he was a she! He shoved his shock aside at the apparent reality that King Thomas had started allowing women to become sailors and moved to strike again.

She parried and tried to force him back but Harry gave her no ground.

“Listen!” She grunted as she was forced to take the step back.

“So sorry, the Marauders don’t find much use in listening to the King’s sailors.”

“I’m not-” she was cut off by Harry’s attempt to knock her feet out from under her. Harry wasn’t interested in whatever lies she had to spew. He was however impressed at her technique. She was better trained than any of the King’s sailors he’d fought before.

“No, stop!” She tried to shove him back and Harry heard a low whistle, the signal that help had arrived. A rush of adrenaline accompanied the sound and he parried and shoved his attacker back.

She just caught herself on the rocky terrain as she managed to ground out. “I need to talk to Captain Potter!”

Harry grinned as his mum stepped up behind the woman and grabbed her roughly around her shoulders, setting a knife against her throat.

“Interesting request, as you’re currently trying to kill his son.”

The woman held still and shot Harry a glare that made him laugh. She apparently thought her captured state his fault, which he was proud to take some credit in - as long as his mum didn’t know.

“You can let go of the sword now.” Lily knocked the woman’s sword with her boot.

The sword hit the rocks with a clatter.

“Very good,” Lily smiled at Harry as he picked up the discarded weapon. “Now, why don’t we all move slowly and you’ll get to meet the Marauders.”

“My message is for Captain Potter.” The woman objected but dutifully stepped forward.

“You seem to be confused about your situation.” Harry chuckled. Their prisoner wasn’t all there if you asked him. After all, what person in their right mind makes demands of their captors?

“I’m not after whatever loot you’re burying here! I’m here to deliver a message to Captain Potter and nothing more!” There was an accusing edge in her voice and Harry felt his amusement start to fade as she glared at him, but his mum beat him to the retort.

“You’ve obviously been fed quite a bit of false information if you think we have buried treasure here, but we’ll get to that later. Now let’s move.”

The woman nearly stumbled into Lily’s knife at his mother’s words, but Harry watched impressed as his mum kept the woman from killing herself.

Before he could comment further, they were met at the mouth of the camp by the Abbotts.

“Everything alright?” Hannah eyed the woman.

“We’ll find out,” Lily nodded to Hannah’s parents. “David, Lisa, will you take a group and sweep the ship? We’re not sure if she’s alone.”

“It’s only me.” The woman growled.

“Just to be certain, we’d hate to wind up dead, you see.” Hannah laughed, but it lacked humor. “Do you want a sweep of the island too, Lily?”

Lily nodded. “Good idea, grab the rest of the crew and some torches. Be careful.”

“Aye, aye,” the Abbotts moved to the camp while Harry and his mum led their prisoner to the Potter’s cave.

“We’ve had a stowaway,” Harry called to his dad as they pushed the heavy leather cloth away.

“Get some rope, dear,” His mum gestured to one of the chests. Harry tossed her a length and then took the knife and watched as the woman sat still and his mum bound her wrists and ankles.

“Well, well,” James approached the prisoner. “I didn’t think the King would be this clever.”

“Captain James Potter?” The woman asked looking up from the floor.

“Lily, where did you find her?” James ignored the question.

“Harry found her. Now that she’s bound, we can take her out to wait for everyone to get back from sweeping for more of them.”

“My message is for Captain James Potter only!” She protested again.

But James had already swept out of the cave calling orders to the assembling crew.

“Well come on then,” Harry hefted the woman up by her arm. He rolled his eyes when she ripped away from his grasp before moving forward on her own.

“Here,” James gestured to the fire. “She might as well have a bit of bread and a cup of water while we wait for the search party to clear the ship and island.”

The woman looked suspicious, but any protests died on her lips at the sight of one of Hestia’s loaves and brimming cup of water.

“Thank you,” her voice was quiet and her eyes were wide as she watched James.

“Eat up, then,” Lily nudged her forward.

Harry expected the woman to inhale the food, but she ate it in small, measured bites, sipping the water as she slowly ate the bread. Harry wondered who on earth their prisoner was. She acted unlike any of the King’s sailors he’d ever encountered, or any sailor at all for that matter.

At her slow pace of eating, David and Lisa and their search group had returned before she was finished.

“All clear, Captain,” David reported to James away from where Lily and the prisoner sat by the fire. “It doesn’t look like any others stowed away. We found traces of this one, though, places she was hiding for a decent bit.”

Harry felt guilt bottom out in his stomach at David’s words.

“I noticed her,” he hung his head a moment as he faced his dad. “I noticed her hair several times, and once I heard her, but I never thought someone would stow away. I’m sorry, Captain.”

James put a strong hand on Harry’s shoulder. “My boy, none of us expected this. Honestly, I don’t know if we would have felt it possible had you said something. We’ve all grown accustomed to the Phoenix being secure against our enemies.”

Harry nodded, “I still should have said something to you. You’re the captain, you need to know these things.”

“I’m your father first and always, Harry.” James squeezed his shoulder. “We’ll make sure the island is safe and then we’ll find out what the King is up to now.”

Harry tried to feel assured, tried to let his dad’s words wash the sour taste from his mouth and sponge out the images of what could have happened if this woman hadn’t had a message to deliver. But Harry still shivered knowing she could have killed them all in their sleep. He could have been the reason for the end of the Marauders, and the thought made his blood run cold.

The prisoner had finished her bread and water at her snail’s pace by the time Hannah and the rest of the crew returned.

“It’s only her, Captain.” Hannah reported. “The island is clear.”

James thanked her and beckoned the crew to the fire. “Let’s get this started then.”

“Well, Madame,” James sat himself across from the prisoner as the crew came to sit near. “You’ve given us a rather eventful night. I think the least you could do is offer us some explanation.”

“Like how you managed to get aboard our ship?” Remus asked.

The woman glared at the congregated crew before answering. “I was impersonating one of the King’s sailors when the Phoenix attacked the ship I was on. I recognized your banner, jumped overboard, and swam for it. I managed to scale up the hull to the anchor’s rope and I tied myself to it. When evening came, I climbed over onto the deck and then hid myself aboard the ship.”

“Very clever to tie yourself to the rope.” Marlene hummed. “Kept you from having to exert yourself to hold on.”

“What’s your name?” Fabien asked.

Harry turned to see Gideon and Fabien sticking to the shadows and whispering quietly to each other.

“I’m Ginny Weasley, youngest child and only daughter of the Marquee of Ottery St. Catchpole.”

Harry rolled his eyes, no wonder this woman didn’t act like a sailor, she was a noblewoman. He turned back to see if Fabien would ask more, but saw Gideon whisper to Sirius then he and Fabien moved deeper into the shadows. Before Harry could try and catch Sirius’ eye, James continued the line of questioning.

“And what sort of message could be so important to risk your life for, Ginny?” James put another log on the fire. “Let alone trying to assimilate with the likes of the King’s sailors?”

“I bring a message from His Grace, Albus Dumbledore, Duke of Godric for Captain James Potter of the Marauders.”

A low chuckle rumbled through the crew.

“Dumbledore, eh?” James shook his head. “So the old windbag is still sending others to do his work for him? Pity I thought he would have learned to do his own work by now.”

“What’s the message?” Alice asked.

“My message is for Captain James Potter!” Ginny nearly shouted.

“Calm down,” Lily shot back. “Captain James Potter is sitting right in front of you. There’s no need to shout.”

Harry grinned, finding the woman’s frustration manifested on her face amusing. This was definitely not going how she thought it would.

She took a deep breath. “I was told to give the message to Captain James Potter and only to Captain Potter.”

“Then Dumbledore obviously doesn’t learn.”

Harry turned to see Gideon and Fabien moving to stand behind James. The prisoner stared at the twins, her mouth agape and eyes wide.

“How’s your mum, Ginny?” Fabien asked.

Ginny turned away from them. “Probably would be better if her brothers hadn’t run away to become pirates instead of tending to their responsibilities.”

“Oh,” Sirius jeered. “I think our little lass is a bit confused about what really happened, along with what we are.”

“Pitty, that,” Gideon grinned at Fabien. “So much for a happy family reunion.”

“Maybe reunion is the wrong word,” Fabien smirked, “Seeing as we haven’t met little Ginny here before.”

Gideon laughed, “Ah, but she’s so much like our Molly already, might as well be a reunion.”

“I don’t think we’re going to get much further with this tonight.” James stood and looked at Hannah. “Can I count on you to look after our guest?”

Hannah nodded confidently, “Aye, aye, Captain.”

“Captain Potter,” Neville stood. “Permission to look after Hannah while she watches over the prisoner?”

Harry bit his tongue to keep from laughing at the way Hannah rolled her eyes at her fiance. Several of the Marauders didn’t manage to keep their laughter quiet.

James being one of them. “Alright, Nev, how about a compromise, I’ll assign Harry to watch our guest first and you can enjoy your fiance tonight without any distractions.”

Neville grinned sheepishly. “If it’s alright with Hannah.”

“It’s fine Captain,” she nodded to James before turning to Neville, “However we are going to have words.”

The crew all laughed at Hannah’s comment, even Neville.

Harry, while he chuckled, internally groaned at being given the task of watching their prisoner.

“Can you wait with her while I scrounge up a blanket or two?” Harry asked Dorcas as everyone started heading to their caves.

“Of course,” Dorcas gave him an encouraging smile. “It’ll be alright. Captain will rotate the responsibility, just like everything we do. We’re a family, we all help pull the line.”

“Thanks, Doe,” Harry finally smiled.

Dorcas was right, he told himself. This assignment was just like any other, one that would rotate. He would take his turn and move on to other things, like hauling water or cooking breakfast.

He found a couple of old blankets and a mat that didn’t look too worn out in one of the caves they stored supplies in. No point in listening to the woman complain all hours and keep him from a warm night’s sleep. He returned to the fire to find his parents and Remus with Dorcas and the prisoner.

“Your mum and Dorcas checked her for anything sharp.” James smiled as Harry approached. “So we shouldn’t need to worry about her wandering off in the night.”

“We had Kingsley, Edgar, and Sirius move a small boulder into your cave,” Remus added, “You’ll be able to tie her to that.”

Harry nodded gratefully. “And I’ve got some extra blankets and an old mat. I think we’re set.”

“Excellent,” Lily kissed his cheek. “Pull some rocks from the fire and we’ll see you in the morning.”

Harry used the tongs and selected the rocks he wanted for himself and a few for the prisoner. He looked at his basket of rocks, the pile of sleeping things, and then at the prisoner.

“We’ll walk with you,” Remus took the basket of rocks and Dorcas took the blankets and mat.

“Thank you,” Harry turned to the woman. “Alright, let’s get you set up.” He reached for her arm but she pulled away.

“I won’t be manhandled, and don’t think I won’t defend myself if you decide to take advantage of my person.”

Harry rolled his eyes and grunted, “For someone fighting against the King, you sure do seem to believe a lot of his lies.”

“That’s plenty said,” James cut in. “I promise you Ginny, as long as you aren’t attempting to harm us, no one will harm you.”

Harry heaved a sigh and looked at his mum who smiled encouragingly. He took strength from it and turned back to the woman.

“And I promise that as long as you aren’t trying to kill me or cause trouble, I won’t lay a hand on you.”

She glared up at him and Harry noticed that she had the potential to be rather pretty, though right now she was a sight to be sure. She looked a bit like she’d come up from Davy Jones’ locker.

“Lead on, then,” she nodded.

Harry shook himself from staring down at her and moved.

His cave was at the far end of camp. He used to share one of the closer ones with Neville, but when Neville proposed to Hannah right before they took ship in the Spring, Harry and Neville went and found Harry a new cave. The couple even helped him clean it out and tidy it up. Hannah hadn’t officially moved from her cave with Emmeline yet, but Harry was sure that it would happen in the next few days.

“Benjy’s on watch right now,” Remus set the basket of rocks inside while Harry lit his candle. “He’ll come if you need anything.”

“Thanks, both of you.” He took the blankets and mat from Doe.

“Sleep well,” Doe gave his shoulders a squeeze and then took Remus’ arm as they walked out of the cave and let the leather cover fall closed over the opening.

“Well,” Harry took the rope that bound their prisoner and tied it to the enormous rock that had been brought in. “That ought to do it for tonight. I’ll lay out the mat and can help you with the blankets and putting some rocks nearby.”

“I’ll do it myself.” She reached for the mat.

Harry let her take the mat and watched as she attempted to lay it out with her wrists and ankles bound fairly close together. She struggled for several minutes before she seemed satisfied with the mat and repeated the process with the blankets. Harry found the whole thing rather amusing, if a bit annoying.

“I’m still going to set out the rocks,” Harry shook his head when she reached for the basket.

“I can do it myself,” she ground out as she glared at him.

“I’m sure you’d try but I’d like to turn in sooner than an hour from now, so I will insist here that I lay out the rocks or you’re welcome to sleep without them.”

Her eyes flashed and she stomped to her mat. “I’ll sleep without them then.”

Awkwardly she managed to crawl under her blankets on her mat and turned her back to him.

Harry shrugged. He wasn’t going to make her be warm while she slept.

He set about putting his blankets in order and sliding rocks under and around his cot to warm the air around him at least for a few hours. When the weather really turned cold they’d get out the water skins they filled with boiled sea water. That thought brought a smile to his face.

Once he had his rocks situated he went to blow out the candle and looked at the woman again. She was curled tightly against her blankets and Harry shook his head. She may not like it, but he apparently was going to make her be warm while she slept. He took the few rocks he’d grabbed for her and began setting them near enough to keep her warm.

“I said I’m fine,” she kept her eyes closed, but the glare was evident in her voice.

“And I don’t believe you,” Harry shrugged and set the last rock close enough to keep her feet warm. “Since they’re set out, you might as well enjoy them.”

He moved to his own blankets and blew out the candle. Once settled Harry sighed, missing the rocking of the ship in his hammock below the Phoenix’s deck and the steady song of the sea as her waves hit the hull.

Turning to look across the blackness to where he knew the prisoner lay he shook his head. So much for a nice quiet winter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry woke to the sounds of camp waking and smiled as he pulled his blankets closer. The soft sheep wool with the heavy leather backing made it his favorite blanket for how warm it kept him through the night. The others he used were sturdy and well put to their task, but the sheep’s wool was soft to distraction and warm as the summer’s sun.

He reluctantly opened his eyes to look across at the woman. She lay sleeping in her blankets, still wrapped tightly around her as she curled in on herself. Harry frowned. If she was going to be here for long they’d need to figure out something better or she’d catch cold. That was the last thing they needed. A sickness running through camp often happened once a winter, but Harry much preferred if it didn’t happen at all.

He pushed up out of his blankets and set one of his own over her. She snuggled beneath it and Harry watched her face relax as she slipped into a deeper sleep. He moved to untie her from the boulder and then pulled one of his books from the proper trunk. Quietly lighting the candle to read until she woke up.

It was nice having another person in the cave, even if they were a bad tempered mess. He’d grown accustomed to Neville and while he didn’t miss the occasional snoring, he did miss the company, and the way Hannah always ended up there with them. It felt like being surrounded by that sheep wool blanket, and while Harry wouldn’t necessarily admit it out loud, it was sort of lonely now with them off being in love. He’d never wish to take their happiness from them, he loved that they’d come together, he just had to adjust to this new way of being with them, somewhat on the outside.

That was another benefit of the sea, Harry mused. She never made him feel on the outside. She held him so close he knew her innermost emotions, her ebb and flow, she made him her own. She had claimed Harry completely.

Harry managed to read through several pages before the woman stirred. He looked over to see her first burrow further under the blankets before apparently becoming aware of her surroundings a bit more and bolting upright.

“Morning,” he marked the page in his book and set it down. “Sleep alright?”

She glared at him and Harry rolled his eyes.

“Will I be able to speak with Captain Potter alone today?”

“I would put a significant wager down on no, but you’re welcome to dream.” He stood and collected all the rocks back into the basket. “Let’s get to breakfast while it’s still warm.” He held out his hand to help her up but she turned away.

“I’m getting up, no need to grab me.”

Harry huffed as he shook his head. “I’ll be glad when it’s someone else’s turn to deal with you.”

“And I’ll be glad once Captain Potter lets me deliver my message and then I can be rid of you as well. I don’t have time for pirates.” She wobbled a little as she came to stand but continued to glare at him.

Harry held his tongue at her insult and pushed open the covering to the cave as he blew out his candle and waited for the woman to step out. She stood straight as a board as she stared defiantly back at him.

“I don’t care much if you aren’t hungry but I am and you unfortunately have to come along so let’s step to it.”

“I’m still tied to the boulder if you’ve forgotten.” She shot back.

“No you’re not,” Harry gestured to rope around the rock. “I untied it when I woke up. So pick up the slack and let’s go.”

She continued to glare at him as she picked up the bit of slack in her rope and Harry wondered if the woman ever smiled. She might be pretty if she did, but he was seriously doubting that she even knew how.

“I’m surprised you trust me with enough rope to strangle one of you.”

Harry rolled his eyes and took the rope from her hands. “There now you can’t attempt to strangle anyone in a camp where twenty-two other people would be there to slit your throat before you could get the job done.”

That earned him her meanest glare yet and Harry had to admit he was rather proud of it. She seemed to be upset with him on principle, so it felt right to give her a valid reason. One of the things Marauders were known for was mischief after all.

“Took you long enough,” Sirius called from the fire.

“Someone slept late,” Harry nodded towards the woman.

“Makes sense, probably the first night she’s slept warm and laid out for weeks.”

“We’ve got porridge this morning,” Benjy stirred what was left in the pot.

Harry grinned, “And honey?”

“Aye,” Emmeline pointed to the clay jar on the table.

Harry grabbed his bowl. “Do we have a spare for her?”

“Right here,” Marlene handed it to him.

Harry turned and the woman was now staring in the direction of his parents’ cave.

“Eh.”

She didn’t turn.

Harry rubbed his eyes and tried to recall her name.

“Eh, Ginny.”

She turned, “What?”

“Breakfast?” He held the bowl and spoon out to her.

“You ought to eat,” Marlene nodded to her. “I’m sure you’ve lost strength living off our scraps for the last couple of weeks.”

Ginny looked like she wanted to growl at Marlene but snatched the bowl and spoon from Harry instead.

“I think we should try and get her a bath and some new clothes,” Marlene turned to Emmeline. “The King’s uniform turns my stomach.”

Emmeline laughed. “I bet Hannah would have a few things. Her shirts would fit at least.”

“I’ve a spare set of trousers,” Marlene nodded, “I think they’d do nicely.”

“I don’t need other clothes,” Ginny objected.

Her attitude was starting to grate on Harry. “So you enjoy displaying the King’s colors?”

She turned to him looking like he’d slapped her.

Sirius laughed, “I think you got her that time, Harry.”

A part of Harry felt guilty for the way she looked at him, shocked at his words, but the larger part was glad that he’d knocked her down a few pegs. Her high and mighty attitude was about to drive him mad.

“See Ginny,” Sirius continued, “We’re a carefree sort of crew, but we do have our lines. You’re walking on them right now with many of us. Lighten up, smile a bit, I think you’ll find you might like us, even with how hard you’re trying to hate us.”

“I’m not here to like any of you, I’m here to deliver a message to Captain Potter and then return to Lord Dumbledore and report.” Ginny added a very large portion of honey to her porridge and Harry hid his smirk. Ginny may play the hardened warrior, but he was starting to suspect this was mostly an act; there was apparently a sweeter, perhaps softer, side to Ginny.

Harry fell easily into conversation with those around the fire and enjoyed his porridge while Ginny sat sullen and silent beside him.

“Good morning,” James and Lily approached the fire.

Harry smiled and went to greet his parents when Ginny jumped up. “Captain Potter, permission to deliver my message to you.”

James laughed, “You’ve had permission to do so since we caught you trying to run Harry through.”

“Privately, Sir,” she ground out.

Harry thought it a wonder she still had teeth for how often he’d seen her grind them together.

James sighed and sat down before patting the spot next to him. “I’m going to explain this once, Ginny.”

Ginny reluctantly sat next to him.

“I know that Dumbledore is a secretive sort. He’s probably told you that the success of your mission is dependent on the secrecy of it. And while making sure the King’s sailors didn’t know you weren’t really one of them was fairly important, I am not a man of secrets. I hold no secrets from my crew. And we make important decisions together. We’re united, a family, and I wouldn’t break their trust for anything.”

Harry felt his heart swell with pride at his dad’s words.

“So Ginny, here is your choice: you can relay Dumbledore’s message to the entire crew, or we can drop you off at the nearest port.”

Ginny looked up, surprised. “You’d take me to a port?”

“Why wouldn’t we?” Lily laughed.

“I thought,” she trailed off and focused on the rope binding her wrists.

“May I have the day to consider it?”

“Aye,” James patted her shoulder. “We’ll make sure you have what you need to get home, regardless of your choice.”

“Now,” Marlene stood, “Why don’t we heat up some water for the crew to bathe, specifically you Ginny, and then we’ll get you some new clothes.” She looked around at those assembled. “Is there any need to keep her bound?”

Lily turned to Ginny, “Can you restrain yourself?”

Ginny nodded. “I promise not to harm any of you.”

“I’ll make sure that’s enough for the others, but she’ll need to be free to bathe at least.” Emmeline stood and cut the rope around Ginny’s wrists and ankles.

“Here,” Harry reached for her empty bowl and spoon. “I’ll wash them with mine.”

She wordlessly handed them over and Harry glanced at his dad as he moved to clean the dishes. James smiled approvingly and nodded him on.

It was nice to see Ginny less combative. If she was going to keep behaving the way she had the night before Harry was pretty sure he’d need to ask his dad to rotate watch over her to someone else within the hour.

The ladies insisted the men bathe first, and Harry insisted they first get the boulder out of his cave. But once the boulder was out and the men cleaned, the ladies took Ginny with them for their turn with the water. Harry pulled on a clean shirt and trousers and decided to lounge about with Sirius and Remus near the Black’s cave until it was time for him to start back up his watch over Ginny.

“How did things go last night?” Remus pulled out a piece of driftwood and a whittling knife.

“She’s even more standoffish with me than she is when the whole crew is around. I asked where she wanted the rocks from the fire last night and she told me that sleeping cold was preferable to my help.”

Sirius turned to face Harry, “Did you let her sleep in the cold?”

“Of course not,” Harry frowned. “I just put the rocks where I thought they should go and then this morning when I woke I gave her one of my blankets.”

Sirius nodded, “You’re not what she thought we’d be.”

“What do you mean?” Harry leant forward.

“That your godfather suspects what we all suspected when we left.” James came and sat down next to Harry.

“You see Harry,” Sirius continued, “We have our own flag, we don’t fly the Deircian banner or the Jolly Roger.”

“I know,” Harry nodded. “We fly the Marauders’ banner. You all designed it and Marlene, Emmeline, Hestia, and Alice made it.”

“Right, but the name we get from the Deircian crown, and probably from others in Deircia as well, is pirates.”

“We’re not pirates, we’re welcome in ports outside of Deircia.” Harry defended. But his dad studied him and Harry ran his hand through his hair. “But, I guess we do some of the same things as pirates do. We sink ships in the King’s armada.”

“Exactly,” James smiled encouragingly, “so to the Deircians, the name isn’t totally unfounded, even if it is inaccurate. I would say that Ginny believed she was coming into a den of bloodthirsty pirates. Then you not only don’t force yourself on her but ensure that she sleeps warm.”

Harry shook his head, “Well, she’s seeing that we’re not really pirates, so why not just tell us whatever Dumbledore’s message is? Then we can get her home.”

“Dumbledore has a different way of functioning.” Remus looked up from his knife. “He probably didn’t bother to tell her anything about what to do if we wouldn’t allow her to complete her mission the way he told her to.”

“But that doesn’t make sense. This is her mission now, she should make the decisions on how it goes.”

James chuckled, “We’ve raised you in a different way than I’m sure Ginny’s been. Have you forgotten she’s Gideon and Fabien’s niece?”

Harry blinked, “Er, aye, I did forget.”

“She’s the daughter of a Marquee.”

“And you used to be a Duke,” Harry shrugged. “What difference does that make?”

“But she grew up in that environment, Harry.” James ran his hand into his hair. “Do you remember that night on the deck? I asked you about castles and people bowing to you?”

Harry nodded.

“What we left is what she grew up in. There are people who bow to her, people who make her meals, people who clean her dishes. Her time in the King’s navy would have been different, but she still grew up in that environment. They think differently than we do and she’s having a bit of culture shock.”

“You all grew up in that environment and you don’t think that way.” Harry countered.

“It’s a conscious choice,” Remus responded. “We realized that the old way wasn’t going to work after we left. We agreed that we’d be on an even footing, no longer concerned about the order of precedence or anything to do with our old lives.”

“It took us a while to get this down, Harry,” Sirius chuckled. “This family had it’s growing pains, but you were too young to see it when it was the hardest for us.”

“So maybe,” Harry looked towards the center of camp as he saw the women coming back from bathing. “If I can explain to Ginny how we function, how we’ve let go of that old way, she’ll understand why it has to be all of us.”

“It’s worth a try,” James nodded. “Are you willing to be the one to do it? I can find someone else if you need a break from her. I was actually thinking of having her uncles do it.”

Harry thought about it for a good moment. Ginny had been a pain since she’d stowed away on the Phoenix, but trying to see it from her side, as his dad and uncles had just helped him to do, Harry felt some compassion for her. He’d probably feel the same way as Ginny did now if he was in her world.

“I’m willing to give it the first go. If she won’t listen to me then maybe we should find someone else, but she knows I won’t force anything on her, she has proof of it. I think I should be the one to try it.”

“I agree,” Sirius nodded and stood, “Let’s go see how much nicer the camp is without a King’s uniform in its midst.”

Harry chuckled and approached the women with Sirius, James, and Remus.

And then he caught sight of Ginny.

He’d been sorely mistaken when he thought she’d be rather pretty cleaned up. Ginny was breathtakingly beautiful. She wore a pair of Marlene’s brown trousers and one of Hannah’s linen shirts, the standard garb for all the Marauders, but her hair that had been a matted and tangled mess pulled back behind her head when he’d found her was now flowing in long, damp strands over her back and shoulders. And her skin that had been smeared in dirt and dried sea water was now a creamy porcelain like color and covered in freckles.

Ginny, when not in her Deircian sailor’s uniform, was something Harry wanted to keep seeing forever.

“She’s a right side prettier now, eh?” Marlene called out to them.

“Aye,” Sirius laughed, “I reckon she feels a bit better too?”

Ginny didn’t quite glare at Sirius but she didn’t necessarily look pleased with his comment either.

“I definitely prefer being clean to being covered in dirt.”

“You look much nicer,” Lily handed Ginny a dry towel for her hair and then took one for herself. “And the crew agrees you don’t need to be bound while you’re here, as long as you understand that an attempt against any of us would result in unpleasant results.”

Ginny huffed, “I understand that I’m your prisoner, yes.”

James shook his head, “No, you don’t understand. If you want to go home we’ll get you to a port within the week. You get to leave when you want to.”

Ginny frowned. “But you won’t let me deliver my message.”

“He will, to all of us.” Harry interjected.

Ginny turned her almost-glare on him. “I’m starting to think no one can hear me.”

Harry looked around at his family and back at Ginny. He needed to get her off her guard and he didn’t think he could do it with everyone around. “Come on,” he gestured, “Let’s take a walk and I’ll explain it to you.”

Ginny rolled her eyes but moved with him towards his cave.

“Ginny,” he started again when they were a ways off. “Will you let me try and explain what’s going on?”

“It seems pretty obvious to me. Your dad won’t let me complete my mission.”

“But do you understand why?” Harry pressed.

“Arrogance would be my guess.”

Harry clenched his fists. “That’s not it at all.”

“Fine, what would you call it?”

“Loyalty to his family.”

“What do you and your mum have to do with this?” Ginny gripped the towel in her hands.

“That’s where you’re confused,” Harry gestured around the camp, “We’re all family. We don’t distinguish the Potters from the Longbottoms from the Prewetts. We’re the Marauders and we’re a family. We threw rank out to the sea when we left. We’re equals. We operate as a unit, making decisions together, working as a team. Dad is Captain, but he still takes a turn at the oars, or washing, or cooking. We all do.”

“You realize that sounds ridiculous right?” Ginny scoffed. “Pirates that aren’t after treasure and work as a unitedgroup.”

Harry pushed his hand into his hair. Wherever Ginny was learning about the Marauders, let alone pirates, was sorely misleading. He determined that while she might look like a dream, she was still behaving closer to a nightmare.

“Think about it from my point of view. How you grew up sounds ridiculous to me. Having people bow to you, clean for you, having to bow to others? To me that’s idiocy.”

Ginny stopped walking, “What?”

“You heard me, bowing to another human sounds like idiocy to me.”

She huffed in frustration and stormed forward, past his cave and towards the center of the island.

“I bet you don’t realize how wrong you are. I bet that you don’t see how messed up your little family really is.”

“Really?” Harry followed after her. “Please, enlighten me then.”

“Alright,” She rounded on him, “Explain to me why there are no children in your perfect family, because it’s obvious to me at the very least Sirius and Marlene aren’t celibate.”

Harry sputtered. “What are you suggesting?”

Ginny smirked at him and Harry felt his blood boil.

“We aren’t murdering children or giving away babes,” he spat. “There’s a leaf from the far east, the Marauders found out about it when they first left Deircia, and it will allow a person to control when they bear children if they eat it regularly.” He took a breath to keep from shouting. “We barely had enough people to sail the ship when we started out, and Neville, Hannah, and myself were causing quite a bit of trouble being less than two-years-old. It wasn’t easy having three children on board that needed tending when every hand was needed to sail. The crew decided that it was better this way, to keep our numbers right where they were rather than create a small town here.”

“So it was your dad’s decision.” Ginny’s smile was triumphant and Harry felt his temper flare again.

“No! You ask any Marauder and they’ll tell you it’s their choice! Dad doesn’t use the title of captain for anything other than to ensure if we ever do get caught by Deircia he goes to the gallows and the rest of us stand a chance at life! We’re a family, not some aristocratic hierarchy! We left those titles and the life they represented for something more!”

“Oh please, you weren’t even two, how would you know?