A/N: lmao look at me.. planning a story in 2013, posting half in 2018, and suddenly appearing in 2021... story of my life hahaha. Actually I've been itching to write something lately and when I was about to plan it out (and probably never write it like the 29837492 other stories I have pre-planned in a little book I have), I opened this chapter for the heck of it and somehow finished the last couple of dot points I had for this chapter lol so... here you go? Don't keep your hopes up for the next few parts anytime soon though... sorry :(
The click of a lock turned, likely meant as a reassurance of their privacy, only served to draw Harry's reflexive glance at Will's hand of the door; body tensing in an ingrained fight-or-flight response to being locked in. At least the other man – Bill? – had been dismissed earlier to go join the rest of the crew doing… whatever they did in town, and now it was just the two of them. He forced himself to take a breath and relax when the man opposite him spoke again.
"I still don't know who you are, but given you seem to have been truthful to us thus far and you have… the key, I will be truthful to you in turn." Will motioned for the young man to take a seat across from his work table as he took his own seat. "As I said earlier, my name is William Turner, and I am the captain of the Flying Dutchman. The purpose of the crew of the Flying Dutchman is to ferry souls lost at sea to the afterlife, as set by the sea goddess, Calypso." Will watched Harry's reactions as he gave him a brief overview of how he came into the role of captain, and aside from a splash of incredulity, the man didn't seem all that shocked or disbelieving of his story.
Harry felt… oddly sympathetic for the man across him. Even if it saved his life, he was still unwillingly thrust into this never-ending role. It reminded him of his own unwilling participation in his so-called destiny, however where Harry may have to face the eternity alone, Will apparently had the ability to bring aboard crew members who were not yet ready to face their own afterlives to stay with him. Honestly though, Harry didn't know which of them had the worse deal.
"Okay… so I understand how all this came to be…" Harry nodded slowly once Will had seemingly finished his tale. "But what about the key? It must have some significance for Elizabeth to have kept it and passed it down for safe-keeping. Yet when I asked the goblins, they could not find any record of it."
"Goblins?" Will asked half incredulously, half in disbelieving amusement. However the faint smile melted as he faced Harry's unchanging expression.
Considering, Harry supposed that Will and his crew had to fit some sort of… exception to the statute. They were neither of the muggle nor magical realms; almost a sort of forgotten existence altogether. And from what he heard, it wasn't like they had many chances to interact with muggles or anyone, really. Not to mention Will didn't seem the type to blab about such things to just anyone.
Sighing, "okay," Harry decided to return the favour and explain a little more about his side of things. Granted, it was a very brief overview of the magical world, and he only told Will the bare minimum he needed to know for context; including highly glossing over the war and his involvement in it. His story came full circle as he returned back to when he found the key, started on his search, and ended up where they were now.
"Wow," Will leaned back in his chair, taking in Harry's story much more surprised than when it was vice versa. "That's… really something." He chuckled, "definitely a little too detailed to have been made up just then".
Harry smiled beguilingly at the rather positive reaction to his story, but it soon faded as he remembered the… interesting revelation that came with hearing William's side of the story; that they had to be distantly related, assuming Elizabeth had no other children. And wasn't that just another notch in the crazy life that was his. He assumed the man had already pieced it together when he pulled out the key outside, given his reaction. Harry wasn't sure what he could really say to that if William was ever going to bring it up. Hearing William sigh loudly, Harry looked up and saw the other man clap his hands on his thighs and straighten in his seat.
"Alright, I suppose since we've been open to each other thus far…" William seemed to be saying more to himself than Harry, "the key," he nodded to the rusted key still being loosely fiddled with between Harry's fingers. "It corresponds to a chest in my possession. Something very important to me." Thinking for a moment, "well, not exactly in my possession, so to speak. It's buried somewhere secure."
Raising a brow, "like… treasure?" Harry guessed, going on the assumption that they had been pirates after all. William and his father both barked out a laugh.
"You could say that," Will huffed out a last few chuckles, before turning a serious gaze towards Harry. "The chest contains my heart. My literal, beating, heart."
Harry frowned, before the wrinkles slowly smoothed out and confusion, disbelief, then some sort of mixture of amused shock flit across his features. "You're joking." When William said nothing more, the slight amused tilt to Harry's mouth fell, "you aren't joking."
"'Fraid not," Will nodded. He watched as Harry, slack jawed, dropped his gaze to the key in his open palm. For a second, he wondered what the boy's reaction would be. Would he throw it in disgust? Run off with it? Suddenly, the hand was thrust in front of Will's face, to his surprise.
"Take it," Harry said firmly. "That's—I—" Harry seemed a loss for words.
Raising a brow, Will slowly reached out and plucked the key from his fingers wordlessly. He kept his gaze at Harry as the other's mouth opened and closed a few times, trying to figure out what to say.
"I understand why you gave it to Elizabeth," Harry started, "but that's—it doesn't really have anything to do with me. I mean, I didn't even know my mother, so…" He sighed, then shook his head. "Take it back. You should keep it. Or give it to someone else—"
"There is no one else," Will interrupted. He uncurled his fingers and looked at the key he had not seen for what seemed an age. If you had asked him, he would have said this wasn't the same key, he truly could not remember what it was supposed to even look like. "But I appreciate the sentiment."
Harry pursed his lips, feeling uncomfortably awkward at such a clear declaration of devotion. He felt a faint pang in his chest, having wished many times that he could have had something like that in his life. Swallowing drily, he tapped his heels on the ground and stood up. "Well, that's settled then." He angled his body towards the door, but stood a bit awkwardly, not sure if it would be rude to just walk out like this.
Will jumped up and grabbed at Harry's forearm, "wait". Bright green eyes met deep brown, as Will continued, "I'd like to… talk some more. Well—only if you were inclined."
Considering the other man, Harry thought, well, why not. This is what I came all the way here for anyway, wasn't it? "Alright."
Will smiled, before he was reminded by his father; "William, the ship." His smile fell as he looked out the window, seeing only the faint shine of the stars, starting to fade. Once the new day was over, they would have to go again.
"What is it?" Harry asked, seeing the other man's forlorn expression.
Clearing his throat, Will said, "the ship. We can only make port once a decade…" His eyes went from his father, to the window, to Harry.
"Okay…" Harry raised a brow, "well I can just stay on board when you leave?"
Shaking his head, "no, the ship doesn't sail above the seas. It goes under it. And we won't be able to make it anywhere near land enough for you to swim." He watched a thoughtful expression cross Harry's face, and felt his own confusion rise at the lack of alarm or worry in his reaction.
"No worries," Harry shrugged. "I can manage underwater with some magic. I haven't been under for that long but…" his mind went to the Hallows. "I don't think it will be much of an issue. As for making port, I can always apparate, if need be. And I have my broom in my pouch," he patted the drawstring pouch in his pocket.
Both William Senior and Junior were looking at him incredulously. They hadn't understood half of what he had just implied or said. "Are you… sure?" was the only thing Will said. Harry nodded firmly in response. Letting out a breath, Will belatedly let go of Harry's arm that he realized he was still holding. "Okay. Okay. Well we—" he turned to his father, "we need to get some supplies and were going to visit the town for a while."
"That's fine. You leave at sundown, right? That gives me enough time to get my things, finish up what I have to do and meet you back here before then."
Nodding, "alright… yes, that's perfect." There was an awkward silence for a while as they didn't know what else to say, before both Will and Harry chuckled, and Bill shook his head good-naturedly where he had been leaning against the wall of the ship the whole time. "Let's go, I'll show you out."
They parted ways back on the beach, with promises to meet again before sundown. Looks like the Dutchman had just gained a temporary stowaway.