A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any other characters you recognize.

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment #9 Archaeology Task #8: Dead Sea Scrolls: The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of 800 manuscripts found in 11 caves just 2km inland from the Dead Sea and in the vicinity of Khirbet Qumran, an ancient settlement in the West Bank.

Prompt: Pirate!AU - Alt: Write about finding a 'message in a bottle.'

Word Count: 726

Severus took a deep breath of the salty sea air. It felt good to be back on the ship after the disaster their last landing had been. Lucius had finally done it, he'd finally had enough of Captain Lord Voldemort and had almost drawn his weapon on the man. Severus had been glad he'd had the foresight to intervene before something had happened. Now, now they were headed to find another treasure, one that Captain Lord Voldemort seemed almost manic to possess.

"It's a golden locket, once owned by the dread pirate Salazar Slytherin himself," Captain Lord Voldemort bragged, laying the yellowed sheet of parchment across the table. Lucius and Severus peered at it, trying to decipher the key. However, it was written in a language neither man could read. The symbols seemed just slightly off from what they were used to seeing.

"But Captain-" Lucius started to say. Captain Lord Voldemort held up a hand silencing him instantly.

"Have no worries, Lucius. I have found someone who can read the map of my ancestors, someone whose own ancestory will add to our crew," Captain Lord Voldemort knocked twice on the door. It swung open with nary a creak. Inside stepped a young man, a little younger than Severus himself. The lad looked at the crew. Severus looked at him, taking in his curly dark hair, the grey piercing eyes. He nodded slowly.

"May I present Mister Regulus Black," Captain Lord Voldemort announced, putting a hand on the lad's shoulder. Regulus merely smiled at them, a smile that was slightly crooked. Lucius exchanged a glance with Severus. There was something about this young man that neither of them could trust. Captain Lord Voldemort ignored the looks on their faces and led Regulus up to the deck, putting him on the steering wheel.

Time passed slowly. Severus was sure he saw his siren following them. He was still sorely tempted to jump into the cold water to be with her. But his duty was to his captain, and if he was correct, Regulus Black was not someone to be trusted, could he in all honor abandon his captain in such a time?

"Land ho!" Lucius called from the crow's nest. Everyone rushed to the railing, peering out into the darken sea. Soon the boat smashed against the sandy brown shore. The men quickly jumped down, Captain Lord Voldemort leading the way. He held up the map and squinted at it before handing it to Regulus.

"You lead," he ordered. Lucius and Severus exchanged another glance. This was not going to end up well. Severus slid his hand around his piece, noticing Lucius doing the same. If it came to it, they would kill to protect their captain, or shoot their captain to finally be rid of his sea madness. The quartet reached a small clearing.

"This is it," Regulus yelled.

"Dig!" the captain ordered. Lucius and Severus wasted no time doing just that. Regulus joined them, digging slowly and carefully. Severus thought he saw something glittering in the dirt. Regulus reached down quickly and snaked something into his pocket.

"What are you doing?" Severus hissed. Regulus only smiled and turned to the captain.

"I've found it," he announced, pulling something shiny and covered in sand from opposite pocket where he'd just put his hand. Severus tilted his head, watching him. Lucius had noticed something was amiss.

Captain Lord Voldemort grabbed the item from Regulus. It was a large locket with an 'S' engraved on the front.

"This is it!" he yelled, "This is it! Back to the ship!"

Severus, Lucius and Regulus followed him. Regulus smiling as they boarded the Slytherin. Severus couldn't shake the feeling Regulus had just pulled a fast one on his captain, but...at the same time, if the mad captain was happy...who was he to question it.

They dropped Regulus off at the next port. Regulus glanced at Severus and smiled.

"You're not going to talk, are you?" he asked.

"No. You have it, don't you? The locket?"

"I have a locket, yes. But it's merely a replica, something to buy myself passage where ever I want," Regulus answered, his grey eyes meeting Severus'. Severus merely nodded and allowed Regulus to disembark, knowing the man was lying, knowing that carrying this secret would either eventually buy him his freedom, or, possibly, his death.