Ok, this is the (beginning of) the story that Call of the Sea was meant to be, before it developed a life of its own. I hope you all enjoy it...
Background info:
Potter:
Books 1 - 7 not including epilogue, with (giant) liberties taken as listed below.
Remus died, Tonks didn't, and Harry wasn't made Teddy's Godfather for whatever reason.
Following a Marauder vow about the first Marauder child, Sirius, Remus and Peter used an adoption ritual when Harry was born, making him their blood heir until they had their own children. Sirius is the only one who has relevance to this story.
Ron's a selfish narcissistic prick who only stayed close to Harry for the fame. His kiss with Hermione was a spur of the moment need to feel alive for her, and both staking his claim after leaving her with Harry so long and a need to have something Harry couldn't for him.
Ginny is still in love with the legend, not the boy, now man, behind it.
Hermione doesn't see Harry as a brother.
Anything canon regarding Harry's feelings after coming back from the dead is to be disregarded.
Anything else differing from canon I'll explain in-story or in an Author's Note, or I've forgotten it was/wasn't canon in the first place, feel free to point it out and direct me to the relevant section.
Pirate:
Films 1 - 4 including post-credit scenes only no games, short films or other works.
Jack Sparrow is a Black, his paternal grandfather was a Black squib.
Anything else relevant will be explained in-story or in an Author's Note.
On with the story!
Harry was tired. Through his bones, down to his soul tired. He had finally defeated Lord Voldemort, the last of the Death Eaters were fleeing or being arrested, and he knew he had to leave before any more of the masses descended congratulating and thanking him. Like he wanted to be thanked for this. For all the death and destruction. For Hermione having to remove herself from her parent's memories. For Remus. For Fred. He knew it wasn't technically his fault, but that didn't stop it feeling like it was. He made excuses about needing the loo, then ran into a passageway, threw on the invisibility cloak and went to look for Hermione. It was time to get his house back, and write some departure letters. He didn't know where he was going, or how long, but he wasn't staying in Britain, wizarding or otherwise.
By all rights, Jack should be happy, or something approaching it. He was rid of Barbossa, hopefully permanently as he now had The Queen Ann's Revenge. He no longer had to worry about Jones. The sea goddess Calypso had a bit of a soft spot for him, or at least wouldn't kill him out of boredom. He was on relatively good terms with the new captain of the Dutchman, as the whelp owed Jack his life, or at least existence. Lizzie, as the Pirate King, had cleared all of his piratey debts as his reward for multiple things, not the least of which being his saving her new husband's life and dealing a hefty blow to the East India Company, gaining a few more years for pirates the world over. On top of it all, he had the Pearl.
Angelica was doubtlessly after him for having a hand in her father's death (never mind the killing of Blackbeard was the saving of her) and marooning her on that spit of land, but he could handle her, so why did he have such a large feeling of foreboding?
"Hermione." Harry murmured next to her ear. Knowing his voice anywhere, and instinctively knowing he was at her back after fighting together so long, she did no more than tilt her head a little to show she'd heard. "I'm leaving, 'Mione. I'm going to get Grimmauld back, tie up some loose ends, and then I'm going. I don't know where, but I can't stay here. You're welcome to come with me, but the only other person I'm inviting is George, and I'll talk to him later. If you do want to come, remember the apparition wards are down, and I'll be waiting in the Shack for an hour." With that, there was a gentle brush against her shoulder, and he was gone. Ten minutes later, she was at the Shrieking Shack.
They cleaned up Snape's body, and took him to a deserted Welsh glen. Hermione made a detour to Kew Gardens, and picked two lilies the same deep red as Harry's mother's hair. She transfigured one bloom into a beautiful urn, patterned with a doe standing amongst lilies, while he cremated Snape's remains, then put them in the urn. They then apparated to Godric's Hollow cemetery, where while he spoke quietly to his parents, she transfigured the last bloom into a simple marble headstone. She briefly toyed with the idea of making it white, but she didn't want to be haunted by the shade of Severus Snape, he was scary enough alive, so it was black. After a few minutes, Harry moved over to her, and they took the stone and put it next to Lily's side of the Potter headstone and set it, then Harry carved it with two lines and a small image.
Severus Snape
The one who died for love
(With a small Deathly Hallows symbol below it)
No dates, no elaborate embellishments save the urn, just a simple façade with hidden depths, like the man it was meant for. They set the urn in front of the stone, and proceeded to lay in every charm and ward they could think of, with a silent vow to come back and lay in any more they learnt, discovered or created as they grew older.
"Thank you, Professor. You were the bravest man I've ever known, and I wish I could've known you better." With those last words from Harry, the pair left.
Under the cloak, the pair apparated to the end of Grimmauld Place, and walked up the street to number 12, senses alert for any wards or enchantments. Instead, they found Narcissa Malfoy, patiently waiting at the top of the stairs. Hermione stiffened and went for her wand, Harry took her hand and stopped her, giving her a look that said 'it's ok'. He led her behind number 3's hedge, got out from under the cloak, told her to follow him, then walked out towards Narcissa.
"Mrs Malfoy, can I help you?" She snapped her head around to look at him.
"Mr Potter, I'd hoped to find you here. I realise I am being terribly impolite, but may we talk inside?" She asked with a hopeful expression on her usually stoic face. He thought a moment, then nodded.
"Kreacher." He called quietly. With a pop, the knife-wielding house-elf appeared.
"How can Kreacher help, Master Harry?"
"I need you to search the house for anyone I haven't invited, and any spells, wards or enchantments cast since I was last here as quickly as possible, then tea for Mrs Malfoy and myself please." Kreacher bowed low and popped away. "It should just be a few minutes Mrs Malfoy, last time we were here some...unsavoury people followed, I just want to be sure they didn't leave any surprises." Narcissa nodded, then turned back to watching the street.
10 minutes later, after Kreacher gave the all clear and Harry held the door open for her (and Hemione), they were sitting in the parlour with tea and sandwiches.
"What is it you wished to speak to me about Mrs Malfoy?" Harry asked. She sat there a moment, then seemed to make a decision within herself, and became resolved.
"What do you know of the Black family, Mr Potter?"
"Very little, and most of it from those with a bias against it."
"The Black family have always been a strong family, and thought 'Dark' by those on the side of the 'Light' because we used Dark magic. What not many understood is that we didn't use Dark magic because we are Dark, but because we use all magic. You may have heard of how intentions make a difference in magic, well that is true. Magic in itself is neither Light nor Dark, it simply is. It is our intentions and purposes that shape magic, for instance a simple Levitating charm can do just as much if not more damage than a so-called Dark spell. For this view, we were branded 'Dark' and shunned by many. This gave rise to family members like Aunt Walburga, who took the 'Dark' brand and ran with it. The words 'Tojours Pur' were intended to mean always pure to family and in intention and purpose, not blood. An ancestor took the words and perverted them to pure-blood meaning. Most family members don't know this, but as the youngest I could slip by unnoticed while the others caused trouble, they simply saw me reading, no one looked to see what I was reading. I never agreed with the pure-blood only views, and only went along as a meek superficial wife because I had seen what happened to Sirius, and then to Andromeda. The Black family is patriarchal, so I knew one day, Sirius would become Head of the family, because as much as Aunt Walburga wanted to, she could not make Uncle Orion officially disown his eldest son, and when Regulus died she had no choice, Sirius was the last male. This would give me a chance to appeal to my cousin, to make him see my perspective, and anul my marriage. Then he was imprisoned, and hope faded. When he escaped, and I heard he was going after you, I had hoped you would hear him out and get his name cleared, for I had always known he would never betray the friends he thought family more than his own blood kin. Unfortunately I hadn't realised just how much influence Lucius had over the Minister, and how incredibly stupid the Minister was to begin with. After the events in your fifth year, I did everything I could to find a way to make myself head of the family, as I knew my son would not take my words well, and in doing so I found something very surprising indeed. I could not become family head because there already was one. Sirius had a son. Stunned, I immediately paid hefty fees and bribes to the Goblins to find out who this son was, hoping he would hear my appeals. Imagine my surprise when I found out that son was you, Mr Potter. As you have no doubt heard many, many times, you are the spitting image of your father, and have your mother's eyes, so I knew there was nothing illicit going on, so I had them dig some more. It turns out, your father and his friends had made a pact in school, that any children born to one of them would be considered the child of all of them, until such time as each had their own. Your mother, ever the intelligent and resourceful witch, found a ritual that, performed some time after birth, would make the child the magical and biological heir of a person and be broken when that person sired or mothered a child. Because at the time of his death you were Sirius' son, your claim is stronger than Draco's, even though he is older. You are now head of both the Potter family and the Black family. You can do many things with those titles, including disown and reinstate members. Having heard what I have said, will you grant my wish to anul my marriage and become a Black again?" Harry sat in silence and thought for a moment, then spoke.
"What would I need to do for that to happen?"
"Hold out your wand and say "I, Harry James Potter, as Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, do hereby anul the marriage of Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Malfoy on the grounds of acting against the Family, and grant Narcissa Malfoy the name of Black as is her birthright."
"I will do it on conditions. You give Kingsley Shacklebolt all the information you can about the Death Eaters, using pensieves, Veritaserum, or whatever magical oaths are required so long as it will not harm you. You will no longer live the life of a trophy wife and will work in whatever capacity you can to build good standing for the Black name and your own, as long as you find the work at least pleasing if not enjoyable. And speak to Draco about this, he may be more receptive to it than you think. The only reason he did the things he did was fear for your lives. When you speak to Kingsley, tell him I sent you and he can find me here to verify it, though I do not want anyone else to know I am here. After all I've been through the only things I want to be disturbed for is family or emergencies."
"I shall seek out Acting Minister Shacklebolt, then speak with Draco before I return for the anulment, is that agreeable?"
"It is, thank you. I shall do my best to see you and Draco are not sent to Azkaban, regardless of other actions, you both risked yourselves to save my life, and if you hadn't, Tom Riddle might never have been defeated. The world owes you thanks, no matter your side in the war, I intend to see they know that."
"Thank you, Mr Potter."
"If I am to be head of the family, I insist you call me Harry." He said with a smile.
"Very well, Harry. Call me Narcissa, Mrs Malfoy will not last too much longer I hope." She replied with her own small smile. He nodded and rose to show her out.
When he came back, Hermione was sitting in his seat with his tea and a sandwich. He smiled and called for Kreacher again as he sat down.
"Kreacher, could we have fresh tea set, then bring something for yourself and join us please." The elf bowed and left.
"I'm glad we had that talk about house-elves while we were in that tent Harry. I'll never be fully comfortable with giving orders, but I know you're right, not all elves wished to be free as Dobby did, and as long as we make sure they are happy, then giving them orders isn't wrong." It had taken hours of rational argument to make her give up the views about house-elves that had made her so adamant about S.P.E.W, but it had clearly worked. Just then, Kreacher had reappeared.
"Take a seat, Kreacher. I've decided I'm leaving." Rather than being upset as Harry had half expected, Kreacher simply had six words.
"Where are we going Master Harry?" The wizard had to smile.
"I don't know yet, and I don't know exactly when, I have some affairs to settle first. When I go, I will be inviting Hermione and George Weasley to come with me." Kreacher simply nodded. Pleased he wasn't going to rant about mudbloods and blood traitors, Harry continued. "Kreacher, you have several options. You can come with me-"
"Us." Hermione interrupted. Harry smiled.
"With us." He ammended. "You can stay here and take care of the house, you can come with us and come back to the house as often as you wish, if Narcissa holds to her end of our bargain you may become hers when she is a Black again, you can do whatever you wish, you need only tell me." He knew better than to mention clothes to the elf whose greatest wish was to have his head mounted on the wall with his predecessors. Hermione had a sudden thought.
"Harry, what about Winky? All she wants is a family again, and as good at his work as Kreacher is," never let it be said Hermione didn't know how to use words to her advantage, "surely if we are away it would make more sense to have two elves? Kreacher of course would be Head Elf, and when his time came he would have a little plaque beside his head saying that. Two elves is just more logical." Harry beamed. His talk with her must have really sunk in. Now she was focusing on what would make the elves happy rather than what she thought was best for them. He turned to Kreacher.
"Would you like to be Head Elf Kreacher?"
"Kreacher will become Head Elf and train Winky to be a proper Black elf while Master Harry settles his business, then let Master Harry know who will be going with Master Harry and Miss Granger."
"Excellent. Thank you Kreacher." With that, Hermione pulled a notepad and pen from her ever-present bag, Harry called for Winky hoping she would answer, and they set to planning.