AN: Hello! I'm Jimmie and Welcome to my new story. I've been reading fanfics for forever but it's my first time writing so please be gentle. I appreciate any and all comments. Let's start this then!
The Old Man and the Sea
A woman sat in the corner of a pub in a long embroidered black coat. She was leaning intently as she listened to her companion, an older fellow who was indistinguishable from any other, except for the long gray beard that fell gently to his waist. (And even that was not out of place in a dingy place like this).
"The Malfoys are still in England. You already know of the wealth they possessed before the war. Well it must have grown ten times its size. Can you imagine what such fortune could do for your cause?" the old man started to cough loudly into his grimy sleeve.
"I'm well aware of the Malfoy fortune, but how on Earth would anyone be able to take it? The entire estate is saturated in dark magic. Not a soul would be able to penetrate such a fortress."
The eyes of the old man sparkled, "Ah but what if I were to tell you that I knew of a way in?"
"Into Malfoy Manor? Are you daft or just a fool?" the woman threw back her head laughed. She then took a long pull from her cup of mead.
"But there is a way. The Manor has always been run by house elves. All you and your crew would need to do is talk to Tipsy. She's a lower house elf, in charge of the Malfoy boy. Every week, she goes with the Malfoy boy to Hogsmeade. She would be able to get you into the Manor undetected. "
The woman looked quite skeptical. "Old man why are you telling me all of this?"
"Because my child, there is something in the Manor that I desperately need."
"And what is that?"
"Just a small thing. A token for this information."
"And what say I don't just take this information and go? You've already told me enough of a lead."
"Ah but Captain Granger, that's not really you is it?"
"Do not claim that you know me!" She slammed her glass of mead on the table, the thick liquid sloshing over the side.
"Yes the war was hard on us all, but I've heard a great deal about you. I know that your desire for you cause will take you to the ends of this world. That you are willing to do whatever it takes to protect the less fortunate. You will accept my offer because you do not see greed my child. Because you are a great deal better than the rest of this lot that you see before you." Stretched his hand, waving to the rest of the patrons.
"And because I have not given you all you need to know." He tapped his finger on his temple. "I have much more to tell you."
"Fine, you have my word that I shall give you what you seek in return for your knowledge."
The old man smiled, showing nothing but blackened teeth. It took everything in the woman not to wince. "But you will be accompanying me and my crew on this expedition." she replied.
The old man's face fell. "But-But-But Why?" he stuttered.
"Well if me and my crew are to partake in such a dangerous mission, I'll need to know that you can be trusted." She finished her mead. "We shall sail at dawn."
Dawn was a rather foggy affair. It was impossible to see an outstretched hand, let alone the horizon. The large grey ship in the port was scheduled to take off at first light, but exiting the port seemed too dangerous. "Close the bar!" a bespectacled man yelled as he walked the docking port.
"What's the problem?" Hermione Granger asked. Although small, her voice alerted anyone around her that she was the one in command.
"I can't see a damn thing. There's no way that we would be able to know that we're going in the right direction to leave the port, let alone out to sea." Frustrated Harry pushed his hands through his unruly hair, "We'll have to wait until the fog clears."
"And how long is that expected to take?" Hermione said indignantly.
"I'm not sure, but usually the fog clears by mid-morning."
"Alright then. We meet back here at the earliest clearing. No one travel too far. You all got that?" Hermione turned to her crew. She could see nods from the most and grumbles from a few. Everyone was anxious to leave. They are knew that they were in traitorous waters.
Scotland was the last place any of them wanted to be. The Scotland Hit Wizard Squad was heavily populated in near the ports and were quick to assemble. Strike first ask questions later seemed to be their motto.
For a pirate crew, there would be no sympathy.
Hermione took a glance at the ship from the dock. The maidenhead from the grey Gryffin ship loomed. Formidable, frightening, twenty-five gun ports on a side, and rail guns to boot. This was a ship made to strike fear in their enemies. She smirked and turned slowly walking away from the port, whistling a tune. "Yo, ho, yo, ho, it's a pirate's life for me…"
Edinburgh seemed almost dead at this hour. Hermione felt unsettled as she left the port, walking toward the fisherman's borough. She sat on an outside bench and pulled out her map.
"You know it's bad luck to be singing about Pirates Captain." Harry threw back his head and laughed. Hermione smiled and glanced over.
"Also bad luck to have a women on board but you know how well I do with superstitions. Bunch of Divination crazy shyte."
"Aye. Saved my life once upon a time." Harry gathered a faraway look in his eye. "But that was quick some time ago."
"Aye." There was a pregnant pause as they looked upon the rest of the crew, both lost in thought.
It had been quite some time since they thought of the past. Of the global war that was held between the dark and the light. That's how they found themselves in such a predicament in the first place, riding through from coast to coast saving muggles and muggleborns from the enslavement of their kind. Dark Wizards had taken over the world.
Hermione and Harry had managed to escape, vowing to die before they hand their lives over the Dark side. That's how they became pirates.
And now Hermione had a new plan; to no longer blinding run into the abyss as they had been for the last two years. They were saving muggles sure, but at a great cost. Many muggles and wizards alike had fallen for the cause. Their lives, but a small price to pay for freedom.
Dawn had finally passed them now, and the crew were quickly making way to the ship. Once on board and out of the port, the crew looked at their Captain expectantly.
"Where to Cap'n?" a man with a burly long brown beard asked.
Hermione glanced at her crew, all eyes waiting expectantly, "We will be heading south - to London!"
"London? But ain't that where we are all trying to escape from?"
"Aye" she replied, a devilish grin slowly making its way across her face.
AN: So what did you guys think? I'll be trying to upload the next chapter within the next week or so (hopefully no longer than 2 weeks) but yeah.
Lova Yah!
*Jimmie
