Author's Note: Betaed by Liza, who was also the one to force me to write Omegaverse. (peer pressure, y'all. sometimes it works)

Written for...

Hogwarts Assignment #4. Lesson: History of Muggles, task 2b. Task: Write about someone discovering a world or place.

The Triwizard Tournament. Prompts: ABO, Remus/Sirius, James Potter, a desert island

Duelling Club. Prompts: Omegaverse, blanket, alarming, "I won't leave you"

(Writing Club) Second Chance Soulmates. Task: Omegaverse Truemates

The After-School Club. Prompts: pirate!AU, pirates, a populated island

(Writing Club) TV Show of the Month. Prompts: Sirius, waves, game

(Writing Club) Showtime. Prompt: (action) Searching

Roald Dahl Event. Task: Write a pirate!AU


Hidden Treasure

1,627 words


"We're lost, aren't we?"

Sirius didn't look up from the map he'd been studying for the last hour. He hadn't even heard his first mate enter the cabin, but then stealth was always one of James' talents.

"The fool sent us so far off course I doubt we have any hope of making it home on schedule."

"We'll run out of food if we don't make port soon," James said quietly.

Sirius scrubs a hand over his face, feeling a headache coming on. He was aware of his ship and crew's limitations already. Fish could get them far, but they needed more than meat.

"We have faith in you, Sirius. You'll get us home."

:-:

The rumors spread through the crew quickly, that Pettigrew had fallen asleep at the wheel. That he had doomed them all them all to an early death at sea. Yet no one dared to concern the captain with such rumors, lest the first mate resign them to the brig for the remainder of their journey.

Sirius and James shared duties at the wheel, one sleeping while the other steered, until two days after Pettigrew's mistake, when Sirius was roughly shaken away at dawn.

"I've found something," James whispered excitedly, pulling Sirius from his bed.

The captain was still wiping sleep from his eyes when James was pointing out something on the horizon, barely visible to the naked eye. He thrust an eyeglass into Sirius' hands.

"It's an … island?" Sirius said uncertainly, watching the landmass come into view through the glass.

"I checked the maps already and I can't find anything like it."

"We're farther off course than we thought we were. God knows how long we were drifting while Pettigrew slept."

"Wherever we are, this is a blessing."

News of the island spread quickly throughout the ship and soon Sirius found himself surrounded by his excited crew as he sailed them to land.

"It looks untouched," Benjy commented, having kept his eyeglass trained on the island for an hour at least.

True enough, Sirius could see nothing but palm trees and sandy beach. It looked like paradise, but not somewhere he was keen to spend the rest of his days.

"Do you think there could be treasure there?" asked young Gideon eagerly. He and his brother never had gold far from their minds.

"There are more important things than hidden jewels, lads," Frank noted. He turned to Sirius at the helm, squaring his shoulders. "Permission to take a boat out to investigate, Captain?"

Sirius nodded. Frank was new aboard the Golden Howl, but Sirius had no doubts about his capabilities, despite all the warnings he received when he showed interest in taking on the Omega boatswain.

"Aye, and take Fenwick with you. Two boats. Drop the anchor, Mr. Longbottom."

"Aye, Captain."

Sirius watched as the crew scurried off to prepare the boats, and no doubt to begin betting on whether there would be treasure on the island. When they had all gone, leaving him and James by the wheel, he turned to his first mate.

"I'm going to the island as well. There may be clues about where we are. Man the ship."

"Aye," James said, taking the wheel. Sirius turned to collect the maps from his cabin when James called after him. "It wouldn't hurt to check for gold, eh?"

:-:

Sirius reached the island first and began investigating the beach for any sign that the land was populated, but by the time Frank and Benjy came ashore, he'd found no evidence. Not the news he had been hoping for.

"I'm going to take a look around. You two collect as much food as the boats will carry. Longbottom's in charge," he added quickly. Benjy didn't do well with authority at the best of times.

He hiked through the tropical landscape, searching for signs of life and gold as he'd promised James he would. He hadn't expected to find anything in the middle of nowhere, and yet he was not ten minutes through the woods when he caught a scent. It was faint, as though someone had walked by there hours ago. His gut said it belonged to an Omega but it was too hard to tell

Sirius hurried back to the time to catch Frank and Benjy loading the boats with the first batch of fruit as waves threatened to fill the boats. The wind was picking up alarmingly fast and the sky filled with storm clouds. It would have been safer to head back, but he needed to follow the scent before it faded away.

"Longbottom. I need your help."

Frank followed him back into the wilderness without question, and Sirius led him to where he'd picked up the scent.

"Do you smell it?"

Frank crouched low to the ground and took a whiff. He nodded slowly. "Someone was through here recently. Omega, I'd say."

"That was my guess as well." Sirius pointed passed a patch of exotic red flowers. "The scent picks up by that tree. I'm going to follow it, if you'll join me."

Frank considered the offer for a moment. "That's good thinking, sir. A lone Omega might be more trusting of another than one Alpha."

Sirius smiled and clapped Frank on the back. "That's why I get to wear the big hat, Longbottom. Let's go."

:-:

They walked for close to an hour, frequently having to backtrack and start searching again whenever they lost the scent. Eventually that reached a grassy hill atop of which stood a small wooden house. The scent was strongest here and undeniably that of an Omega.

Sirius inhaled deeply, finding the scent intoxicating.

"I should go out first so as not to scare them," Frank was saying but Sirius had stopped listening.

The captain marched to the house and knocked, but the door swung open at the slightest touch. Inside was full of simply-made furniture that suggested one or more people had been living there for a long time.

A table sat against one wall with three chairs. Books with yellowed pages sat open on the table next to a cup of sweet-smelling tea, as if someone had just left. The door on the other side of the room was slightly ajar and Sirius pushed through, eagerly scanning the room for signs of life. All he found were two beds and a few chests. Were it not for the overwhelming scent, he would've believed that the house was empty.

He stopped in front of the first chest and bent down to sniff at if to be sure. The game was over; he'd found the elusive Omega.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I stumbled across your little island and just wanted to say hello." Sirius moved away until his shin hit the bedframe, then he sat crosslegged on the floor and waited.

The lid rose slowly to reveal a pair of amber eyes, cautiously studying him.

"You … you're an Alpha?"

"Aye. Is that a problem?"

"You're dangerous."

Sirius smirked. "Now we've only just met. You don't even know my name."

"Mum said I had to stay away from Alphas or you would hurt me."

"I see. Is that why you're out here in the middle of nowhere?"

"...They said it was for my protection."

Sirius nodded, trying to think of some way to coax the man from the chest. "Well my name is Sirius. I have no proof that I won't harm you, but you have my word. I swear on my ship that you're safe with me."

The eyes widened a bit and the lid lifted some more, until Sirius could see the Omega's handsome face.

"You have a ship?"

"I do. That's the problem, you see. My crew and I are a bit lost and we needed food, so we stopped at your island."

"I can help you."

"I'd be very grateful if you could, mate."

The Omega smiled shyly and pulled himself from the chest, revealing a bare chest that he tried his best to cover. He gave Sirius a once-over before snatching a blanket from the nearest bed and wrapping it around his shoulders. He opened the next chest over and rummaged around inside for a moment.

"My father was a merchant sailor. He found this island by accident and, when he realized when I am, decided I would be safer here than out there." The Omega knelt in front of Sirius with an armful of scrolls. "These were the charts he kept of our journey from Wales. Maybe they can help you."

They were inches apart and Sirius could think of nothing beyond the fact that they were alone with a bed … but no doubt Frank was still lurking outside, and this Omega was still weary of him.

He realized suddenly that there were no other scents in the house. Despite the extra bed and chairs, Sirius suspected the Omega had been alone for a long time.

"What's your name?"

"Remus."

"Remus. Do you … enjoy my scent?"

Sirius' heart skipped a beat, wanting desperately to know that what he was feeling was not one-sided.

Remus gave a quick nod. "You smell like the sea."

Sirius grinned. "I have met dozens of Omegas, but no scent has ever made me feel the way I do right now. Perhaps your parents were right to hide you away, but you don't have to be afraid of me."

"But you're going to leave…"

"I won't leave you. Better yet, you could come with me. Would you like that? We can sail the world together."

He saw the glimmer of excitement in Remus' eyes, even if the man hesitated.

"It's been so long since I left the island."

"There's nothing to be afraid of. I'll always protect you."