Chapter two: off the coast of Ireland

Five years later…

Harry Potter was increasingly glad that he had cast a rain-repelling charm on his glasses. He had added to that an anti-breaking spell, and a little sticking charm that kept them on his face. If there was one thing that Harry had discovered through his various exploits, it was better to see than not.

All Harry saw that moment was the fist that slammed into his jaw, jerking his head backward. He would have fallen over backward, had two bulky men on either side not held him up, while the third had hit him.

Though Harry could see, he was still soaked by the pouring rain. The deck of the cargo ship rocked beneath him, the waves beating against it. With the moon hidden by dark clouds, the only light came from the yellow searchlight placed on the cargo ships deck.

During my life, Harry thought, I've had times where I've thought things through better.

"Crucio!"

The unforgivable curse was nothing new to Harry. But that didn't make the pain any better. Just more familiar.

When Harry's vision cleared, he saw that the sailor who had been beating him had stepped aside to show another figure. One Harry recognized. Even after six years, the man still wore a white linen suit under a gray trench coat, and a panama hat kept the rain of his baldhead.

Harry managed to smile, though there was no humor in it. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"Mr. Potter," sighed the man in the linen suit. "A shame we could have not met under better circumstances. I owe my life to you, we all do. Yet this is the second time I have found you trying to relieve me of my property, and it cannot be excused."

The man drew the Cross of Coronado from his pocket, holding it up to catch the light. "It is a very fine piece indeed, but why is it so important to you."

"It's just not yours, that's all," said Harry.

"But legally, that cannot be verified. It has come into my possession, and it will stay there. I tire of this conversation," the man in the linen suit said to the sailor beside him. "Throw him overboard." He strode away, still carrying the Cross in his right hand.

The two sailors dragged Harry toward the railing, his feet dragged through the water covering the deck. The third sailor had reached the railing, and turned to face them, water ran down his face, twisted into a cruel smile. But Harry looked past him, at the massive wave rolling directly toward them, and steeled himself.

The wave hit, tipping the boat to an uncomfortable angle. Just as the man in the linen suit was reaching the door below decks, he stumbled away and fell, his head going below water. Water sloshed over the deck and as Harry was already soaked, it made no difference to him. The men holding him, however, focused on throwing the auror overboard, were taken by surprise, and lost their balance.

Harry kicked out, hitting the third sailor in the chest, sending the man sprawling backward, and over the railing, into the ocean.

Another, smaller wave slammed into the cargo ship. Harry twisted free of one of the men holding him. He drove his elbow into the other's stomach, and shoved him away. The other had fallen, he stumbled toward Harry through the water, but Harry kicked him in the face, sending him spinning away.

Harry reached into the pocket of one of his now unconscious captors, and slid out the man's wand. Now armed, he sprinted across the deck. This was harder than it may have been, due to the two feet of water covering it.

"Expeliarmus!"

The spell hit the man in the linen suit in the back. He fell foreword, slamming into a cargo container, one of the few that had not been swept away. The Cross of Coronado was torn from his grip, and plopped into the water, ten yards from Harry.

Harry ran toward it, but he was shoved away as a sailor slammed into him. Harry shoved the sailor away, and felled another with a stunning spell.

The water swept the Cross away, across the deck. Harry snatched it just as it was about to be washed over the side. He spun, and punched a sailor with the cross in his grip, the man spun away. Another charged him, but Harry swung his wand, and the man was thrown off the ship.

A jet of light hit Harry's right arm. It felt as though it had caught on fire, Harry's stolen wand fell from his grip, and was washed away.

Harry looked across the deck, and caught the gaze of the man in the linen suit, whose wand was held at the ready. They stared into each other's eyes. The moment was lost as another wave drove into the vessel. Between them, Harry saw several barrels of fuel break free from their moorings. One rolled across the deck, toward a giant container. Harry read the containers label, and time seemed to slow.

TNT handle with care.

The barrel hit, and Harry jumped. As his momentum carried him over the side of the boat, the dynamite exploded. The cargo ship was ripped in half. Harry plunged under water, behind him he saw the flash of flame flicker and die.

Harry kicked toward the surface. He broke free of the cold water, taking in huge gulps of air. The Cross of Coronado was still safely in his grip. As he trod water against the storm, a panama hat drifted past.

The hat was followed by one of the ships life preservers. Harry wrapped his arms around it, hardly believing his luck. Exhausted as he was, he began to kick his legs against the storm.

It was going to be a long swim home.