Chapter 4: Are You Sure They're Pirates?

Disclaimer: Does any one actually still believe I'm making money off of this?

After pulling me up the two pirates said nothing to me. They appeared to think I needed some thinking time. I appreciated that, it gave me mourning time. After a bit we made it back to the shoreline and docks. I was going to leave then, but Remus turned to ask me a question.

"Would you like to come with us?" I thought he was mad but he continued. "I mean to find your brother. You look so sad that I thought..." He trailed off and waited.

I couldn't refuse an offer to get my book back. "Yes! Thank you for letting me aboard." I'd get it back! No more worries. Or so I thought, for right then a voice broke in to our conversation.

"And what would give you that idea?" I turned around only to find the mailman staring at me with both of his eyes.

"What?" I couldn't see why he wouldn't want me to go.

But, apparently, he could. "Do you realize what you said?! You just accepted a ride from pirates! Terrors of the seas!" I decided he was mad.

"Well excuse me if they don't seem all that ferocious." I groused.

He blinked but continued. "But you haven't heard of what has happened to other little boys!" I was about to ask when he answered. "Boys with pointed ears have been getting captured from all regions of the Great Sea. They're all being taken to the Forsaken Fortress!"

"The Forsaken Fortress?" Remus said astounded, "Isn't that where...?"

"Yes." Was the man's replied. "And besides you don't even have a shield!" I blinked at him then ran to my house. I had a shield; it was just hung up on my wall at home. I yanked the door open and ran up the ladder only to find the shield missing. I went down the ladder and was about to leave when a voice stopped me.

"You're leaving aren't you?" I turned and found my grandmother with her back to me. "Were you looking for this?" She turned around to show me that she had the family shield in her arms. She then smiled and said, "Take it with you." I could have killed her. But instead I took it and left back for Remus' ship.

Upon arrival Remus smiled at me. "I don't see why we can't let you on now." He said. I walked up the gangplank and turned around to watch the islander's wave at me. I was too disgusted however and went further towards the mast. Only to be stopped by Remus. "Wait. I haven't introduced you to the crew!" I suddenly wanted to go back.

"LINE UP!" he shouted and the whole crew stood ready for whatever was to come. "This," he said while pointing at the girl who came to the forest, "is Angelina." Angelina waved at me and I could see that she had some muscle on her. "That," he said pointing at a pirate with frizzy hair and a book, "Is Hermione." I didn't ask as I was getting used to this whole doubling of peoples. "Then," He pointed at a girl with wide eyes and a telescope, "Is Luna." Luna was too busy staring into space to do anything. "That's," He turned towards the oldest and creepiest pirate, "Sibyll." I got the impression of a large bug. "Then there is Tonks," Tonks moved so she could be seen easier but only succeeded in tripping and falling at the next pirate's feet. "And finally, there's Peter." The last pirate looked as if he had whiskers and at the sight of him I had to ask.

"Why is Peter the only male pirate on your ship?" Remus looked at me and grinned.

"We don't know. But Peter will be training you bellow decks, so I suggest you head there." I was about to ask why I should go there when he was right in front of me. But I thought better of it and went down. I had barely set foot in the cargo hold when Peter spoke up.

"From this moment forward, I shall be your superior. No doubt you have mushy swabbie brains but I shall start you off with a simple test." I couldn't believe this. Was he crazy? Or simply stupid? Most people I knew fell into both categories and he struck me as fitting in perfectly. He jumped on a switch that caused platforms to rise into the air. "All you have to do," he said, "Is jump from platform to platform and get to the other side. But, the platforms only stay up for a little. You also will have to use ropes to swing across." He was obviously one of the worst pirates on the sea. "I give you a year to complete this. One good hard year, full of bumps and bruises before you can make it." That made my blood boil, I hate it when people say I can't do something. Especially stupid little worthless creatures "However," he said, "If you can make it before then I'll give you a reward." Screw the reward; I was going to shoot him.

With out wasting a second I hopped onto the platforms and swung from the ropes, making it over on my first try. Peter stared at me as if I had grown a second head. I felt rather accomplished. "What?" I asked but he just stared at me.

"It took me a whole year before I could do that! You made it look so easy...."He then began to whisper to himself, "I suppose I could give him that...I doubt I'll get busted for it anyway...." Apparently he thought I couldn't hear him. How...pathetic "OK!" He began to speak normal again, "You can take the treasure that is in that chest there. Consider it a gift from the great and generous Peter!" I opened the chest only to find a bag. "It's a Spoils Bag! You can keep whatever your enemies drop in it"

I left with out saying thank you, wondering why I couldn't just store all my items in the same bag. When I came out on deck I noticed a full moon. I looked around but couldn't find Remus right away.

"HOY SNAPE! UP HERE!" Looking up at the crow's nest I found Tonks waving at me. I paused for a second but scurried up the ladder. At the top I couldn't help but ask, "Where is Remus?"

"Um..."

Bellow decks in a locked room.

"ARWOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" Growl, bark, "ARWOOO!"

Back in the crows nest with Tonks and Snape.

"Somewhere," Was her response. "Look over there Snape." I had a feeling she didn't want to talk about Remus so I turned to look at the fortress. "That," She said, "Is the cursed isle know as the Forsaken Fortress."

I looked across the choppy waters to gaze at the awful place. I stared at it, knowing that somewhere in there my book was waiting.

"So what's the hold up?" I asked turning my attention to Tonks, who had changed her hair color.

"Well...you see we can't get in." I could see where this was going. But I asked anyways.

"What do you mean? We're on a pirate ship! We can just bomb the door, rush in, get my book and leave." She scratched her head and turned to me.

"Purple isn't my color is it?" I was confused in tell she pulled at her purple locks. "I mean, blue would be better right?" I wanted to kick her over the railing of the crow's nest.

"There's a lot of security, and I don't mean a couple of small things. I mean a lot of problems." I turned my attention to Hermione who was also staring out at the fortress. "The best way to get in is stealth..." When did she get here? "Snape? Didn't you say that gulls like to play with your brother?" I nodded my head wondering how she could say that if I hadn't said anything. "Look over there."

Pulling out my telescope I looked in the direction she was pointing. And there, in a flock around a window, were seagulls; lots and lots of seagulls. With a huge grin I nodded my head.

"Well that settles it!" Hermione slid down the ladder and was followed by a blue haired Tonks. Settles what? I climbed down after them only to discover a barrel being put onto their catapult. I turned to Luna who was grinning wide and staring at the window.

"Hope you make it," She said. Before I could try and decipher what the crazy pirate meant I was lifted into the air and put in the barrel.

"We'll want to aim slightly higher than the window to make this work..." I heard Hermione say, "Other wise it won't work and he'll hit the wall." Hit the wall? It was like someone had started a pack of fire works in my pants.

"YOU'RE GOING TO LAUNCH ME??" My eyes were wide as I continued to unsuccessfully get out of the barrel. "YOU'RE MAD!"

Hermione gave me a hard look and told me, "Don't worry, us pirates do this all the time." I added another name to my hit list.

"I'm not a pirate you loon!" I howled that out and for a moment she looked like she might let me go.

"Well shoot! We're gonna launch you anyway. 3,2,1!" And before I could think I was flying.