A/N: Sorry for taking so much time to upload this chapter. I saw a prompt on reddit and I just couldn't help myself writting it into a full story lol (It's We're No Stangers to Each Other).

But now, I'm back to continuing this fic!

"Hey, which country do you want us to visit next?"

"What about somewhere sunny and hot? I'd love to get some sunlight after spending a month here."

"Well, you're the one who wanted to be the first known witch in history to reach the North Pole."

"..."

"I just received the wedding invitations from Astoria!"

"So Britain is our next destination?"

"Only for the wedding. I would love to visit India next."

"..."

"Never thought I'd attend Draco Malfoy's wedding ceremony, yet here I am."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"Oh, it's not. Not anymore..."

"..."

"And I pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss the bride!"

"..."

"That's going to be us next year, Daphne. I promise you."

"..."

Harry walked out of the Captain's Quarters with a sigh. He had once more dreamed of his past with Daphne, this time the road to Astoria and Draco Malfoy's marriage. When they had watched the newlyweds share their first dance, Harry had promised Daphne – by then his fiance – that they would be the ones to marry the following year. But only a few months before their wedding day, the duo met with Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. Suffice to say, Harry failed to live up to his promise, something that brought him a lot of grief whenever he thought about it.

He climbed up the stairs to the quarterdeck to join Sirius, who was standing behind the helm. "'Morning, Sirius." Harry told him with a small yawn.

"Good morning, Harry. Sleep well?"

"Not less than usual." he answered.

A knowing look appeared on his godfather's face. "I understand." he said. "Even the best of memories can be haunting. You were dreaming of Daphne, weren't you?"

"Dreaming of a promise I made to her. I said we would be the next ones to marry after her sister. It never happened."

Sirius gave a low nod. Changing the subject, he said "You mentioned Daphne's sister a few times but you never told me about her."

"She's two years younger than Daphne. She was also in Slytherin when she attended Hogwarts. She was very kind to everyone, not caring who you were or about the blood of your ancestors. In fact, she was one of the most outspoken against pureblood supremacy in Slytherin, something which did not sit well with her and Daphne's parents. It didn't sit well with Daphne too, now that I think about it, but that's only because she feared someone would hurt Astoria to silence her."

"She was right to be scared." Sirius said. "I remember your father and I doing the same thing and facing retribution from Voldemort's students recruits in Slytherin – and we weren't even in the same house!" He then frowned. "Of course, it might also been a result of the pranks we pulled against them, now that I think of it."

Harry snorted. "Somehow, I don't doubt that." he said. "As for Astoria, she never stopped speaking her mind about the issue even during Daphne's seventh year when the Death Eaters were in charge of the school. Which make it even more surprising that she married Draco Malfoy."

"What?!" Sirius exclaimed in shock. "That I didn't expect!"

Harry smiled. "I was surprised too when I found out. They started dating during the school year. I think Draco protected Astoria from the Carrows and helped her during that year, which is what sparked their relationship. They were already dating by the time Daphne and I became an item."

"Uh. I really thought Lucius' son would turn out like my brother: a loyal Death Eater until he was uselessly killed by snake-face in a fit of rage." Sirius muttered with some bitterness.

For a moment, Harry wondered whether to tell Sirius Regulus Black died trying to get one of Voldemort's horcruxes after turning on him. He knew it would have to be part of a long and tiring conversation so, instead, Harry decided to wait until they were in Nassau to do so. Sirius wanted him to give a detailed version of what happened after his supposed death anyway, so giving him these news would be a good time to do it then.

"I don't think Draco ever truly believed in pureblood supremacy." he commented. "He certainly pretended to do so when he was younger because he trusted and admired his father. But, as he grew up and Voldemort came back, he was forced to face the harsh reality of the world. He realized his father had been wrong the entire time – that neither he nor his ideals were to be idolized. He only became a Death Eater and attempted to murder Dumbledore because Voldemort held his parents hostage. And, even then, he couldn't even do it." he said, remembering the day Dumbledore had been struck on top of the Astronomy Tower.

"Seem like you thought about him a lot to see him in such a light."

Harry shrugged. "I saw his reluctance to kill Dumbledore and hurt others – and even fight during the Battle of Hogwarts. Even then, I spent a long time thinking he was simply a coward. It wasn't until Daphne got tired of me sharing my doubts about him and forced me to speak to Astoria that I learned all that. We all got closer as a result. While I wouldn't call Draco Malfoy my best friend, I'd certainly say we were friendly with one another – enough to be one of his groomsmen."

Neither said another word, letting a comfortable silence take place. Harry looked away at the sea. The wind had calmed down since he went to sleep but clouds were more prevalent in the sky, especially on their starboard side (north of their position). "I wonder if its going to rain soon..." he muttered. It would make sense, after all. The calm before the storm and what-not.

"I hope not." Sirius said. "I like the current weather. The water is easy to sail."

"I like it too but we might not have a choice." his godson sighed.

The two wizards continued to stare at the sea in silence for a few minutes until something else suddenly crossed Harry's mind.

"Hey, did our passenger wake up last night?" he asked.

"Not as far as I'm aware." Sirius answered, shaking his head. "I didn't see an inch of him."

His godson hummed. "I'll go check on him." he told his godfather.

Harry walked down the stairs of the quarterdeck to one of the grates leading down to the lower deck. A few minutes later, he was standing at the entrance of the 'infirmary' (which he was sure was not the proper name for the room) where the man they had found adrift was staying. He took a moment to take in his features. The man had long brown hair tied in a messy ponytail and a short days old beard. Already, he looked much better than the state he was found in. His skin and lips had returned to a more natural colour.

Harry found that is arrival was well timed as the man began moving under his scrutinizing eyes. A hand went to his face and the man blinked in confusion. His eyes opened fully and he raised from his hammock, taking a look around. He gave a start when he noticed Harry standing there.

"Hello there." Harry said aloud, hoping the man spoke English.

The man looked at him in curiosity, though Harry noticed some wariness and even a hint of fear in his grey eyes. "Who are you?" the man asked.

"Harry Potter." he said, extending a hand for him. The man hesitantly shook it. "We found you adrift and brought you aboard."

"You saved me?" he asked, rubbing his chest. Harry gave him a nod. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The man stayed silent for a few seconds. Then, he asked "What ship am I on?"

"The Phoenix." Harry answered.

"Never heard of it."

"I doubt you would. It's a recent... acquisition." he said with a smile. "Now, what is your name?"

"Turner." he answered. "Jeremy Turner, but people call me Jay."

Harry nodded. "What faction do you serve, Jay?"

"Faction?" Jay asked, confused.

"Spain? Britain? France? Pirates?" he clarified.

Jay looked flustered for a moment. "Oh – uh, I'd rather not say."

"Pirates it is." Harry snorted, making the man flush. He gave him a friendly tap on the shoulder. "Hey. Don't worry about it. My godfather and I don't serve anybody so we couldn't care less if you are a pirate – as long as you don't try to steal from us!"

The man snorted. "I doubt I could steal your ship or your valuable cargo by myself, especially with an entire crew to stop me."

"Who said anything about a crew?" Harry asked with a smile before walking toward the exit. "If you feel better, you're free to follow me to the top deck. I doubt you'd want to stay here rather than feel the breeze."

"Uh, yes. Better outside than the sick bay." the man agreed, dropping from the hammock to follow him.

"So that's the name of the room." Harry muttered before walking outside.

Jay looked around as they walked through the lower deck. "Where is all the crew?" he asked.

"There isn't any." Harry answered. Jay looked at him in shock.

"What do you mean? I can clearly hear the sound of the sea as the ship sail through it!"

They arrived at the ladder and Harry climbed it, pushing the grate open and walking on the top deck. Jay followed him only to see that nobody was on deck. Harry could tell the man was shocked to the core and couldn't help but feel amused by it.

"Like I said, there isn't any." he said before turning to Sirius. "How are we at, Sirius?" he asked.

"About eighteen hours from reaching our destination." his godfather answered.

Jay spoke again. He was stuttering. "B-But how is t-that p-possible?" he asked, looking up at the sails which were rose two feet up by themselves.

"It's a neat trick of ours. Maybe we'll explain more later." Harry simply said, unwilling to reveal the existence of magic to a muggle he had barely met. "Now, we're currently sailing to Nassau, making a quick stop to the village at Salt Key Banks along the way. As you are a pirate, you are free to stay with us until we reach Nassau. But, if you prefer, you can get off at Salt Key Banks."

"C-Can I think about it?" he asked, still looking shaken.

"Feel free to." Harry nodded. "Now, my godfather is likely exhausted and I need to relieve him so think about your decision. You have eighteen hours to decide." he said.

Jay nodded and Harry walked up to the quarterdeck. "Do you want to continue or are you ready to rest?" he asked his godfather.

"I think I could go for another hour or two. But, after that, I'll need to sleep." Sirius answered.

"Got it."

Harry looked down to see Jeremy Turner continue to stare around in both confusion in shock. Said man slowly made his way to the entrance of the Captain's Quarters and sat down, leaning on the wall of the left staircase. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breath.

"Are you sure he's alright?" Sirius asked, half concerned, half amused.

"Oh, he's fine." he said, waving his concerns aside. "He's just shocked we can sail without a crew."

"That would do it." he agreed with a snort.

Jay stayed silent and alone for the following few hours, even after Sirius walked past him to go sleep in the Captain's Quarters. From time to time, Harry could see him take walks around the deck, looking at the horizon for something or maybe nothing. He did not try to engage conversation with the man, leaving him to make the first move once he felt comfortable enough.

That came in the early afternoon when Jay attempted to make his way to the quarterdeck. To Harry's confusion, he stopped in front of the stairs, looking hesitant.

"You can come up, you know." Harry told him. "I don't bite."

"Sorry." Jay said, sounding embarrassed. "I once served for a captain who refused for anyone but a select few to be on the quarterdeck when he was there. I didn't know if that was what you did either."

"I don't, so don't worry about it." he told him.

The man nodded and climbed up the stairs. "I would like to stay until you reach Nassau." he said.

"Alright."

The man seemed to hesitate a moment before saying "Is there anything I can do while aboard the ship? You saved my life and I will be forever grateful for it. Giving you a helping hand would be the least I could do to repay my debt."

"I don't consider you in my debt." Harry told him. "I saved your life because it was the right thing to do." He stayed silent for a moment before adding "However, I understand your wish to make yourself useful. So, what do you think you could help us with? As you likely guessed, Sirius and I got the sailing down – and I doubt you could sail the ship alone without your help."

"What do you mean?" Jay asked, blinking in confusion. "You can clearly do it, so why couldn't I learn to do the same?"

As an answer, Harry grabbed his wand and put it in Jay's hand. "Give it a wave." he said.

Jay looked at him like he had grown a second head. "This stick?" he asked in disbelief. He nodded and Jay did what he was asked to. Nothing happened.

Harry took back his wand. "You need a certain ability to sail the way we do. If you had it, the 'stick' as you call it would have reacted like this." he said before waving the stick. Sparks of red and gold shot out of the wand like they had all those years ago when he first found it at Ollivander's.

"What was that?" Jay asked, staring at the wand in shock.

"An explanation for another time." Harry said simply. "Now, what else other than sailing could you help us with as of this very moment."

Jay shook himself out of his daze and answered. "Uh – I'm a good fighter?" he said hesitantly. "Many told me I was one of the best swordsmen on a pirate ship. I could help defend the ship in case we get in a battle."

Harry stared at him as he thought about the answer. He did not tell Jay how useless defending an entire brig with a single sword and pistol would be – especially since he had neither of those. However, it did bring an idea in his mind.

"Could you teach me how to fight?" he asked.

Jay looked surprised at his question. "I can." he answered. "Do you have any weapons I could borrow?"

Harry froze for a moment. No, they didn't have any weapons because they were all in the possession of the soldiers they had dropped off on the island! He suddenly felt very stupid that they had not taken their weapons before leaving them behind. It left them very vulnerable in case he or Sirius were unable to use their wands.

"I could go get them." he eventually said, an idea forming in his mind. "Can you hold the helm for a while? You just need to keep the ship in its current heading."

"Of course!" said Jay, looking very enthusiast at the thought of making himself useful.

With a quick "Thank you.", Harry made his way down to the Captain's Quarters and entered it. He took a quick glance at a snoring Sirius before apparating away.

He arrived on the beach where he and Sirius had landed after crossing the Veil. Funnily enough, he did so just behind three Spanish soldiers. Two regulars with swords and one with a long musket with a bayonet. They were all looking at the two rowboats in the water which brought the last of the soldiers on a large three-mast frigate. As Harry had predicted days before, a ship had come and found them.

"We'll finally be able to get off this forsaken island. Fucking pirates." commented one of the soldiers in Spanish.

"It's lucky we were only the scouts to the royal convoy." another soldier said. "Who know how long it would have taken for us to be found otherwise?"

Before Harry could be noticed, he quickly stunned the three soldiers. He detached their scabbards and grabbed them and the musket before apparating back to the Phoenix.

His pop of apparition startled Sirius awake. "Wha's goin' on?" he asked semi-coherently.

"Nothing, Sirius. Go back to sleep." Harry answered quietly. Sirius nodded and laid back down on the hammock. He was already sleeping by the time his godson left the room.

Harry walked up the stairs to the quarterdeck. "There you go." he said, giving one of the sword and scabbards to Jay.

"Thank you." Jay said, attaching the scabbard around his waist. Harry did not bother doing the same, simply grabbing the sword.

"Since the Pheonix simply need to continue on its current heading for another few hours, are you up to teach me how to handle these things now?"

"If you want, Captain." he answered before blinking in confusion. "Wait. Are you the captain or is it the older man?"

"Technically, I am. But, as we've been sailing alone for the past few days, Sirius and I decided to share the duties fifty/fifty."

"I understand." Jay nodded before walking down the stairs. "If you would follow me, Captain." he said. Harry quickly locked the helm in place before doing just that.

For the next few hours, Jay thought Harry as best he could about sword fighting. To his joy, he found that most duelling stances he learned during and after his time at Hogwarts applied as much with a wand as it did a sword. However, that was only the first part of the fight. Everything else he had to learn from scratch.

At the end of the afternoon, Harry knew he would need a lot more time to become proficient but, both he and Jay were confident he had learned the basics and could handle himself in a fight against regular people wielding swords and even less skilled soldiers if the need arose.

After giving something to eat to Jay, who returned to the helm to his delight, Harry decided to grab the musket and move further down the deck near the front most mast.

While learning how to use a sword with Jay, Harry thought about how they only had two swords and a musket and how they would have to share. He quickly got interested in using the musket as his main weapon, believing it to be a better weapon than a sword as it allowed him to kill someone from a distance. However, muskets were very different from modern day rifles as they needed to reload after every shot, and it took quite some time to do so.

Thus, Harry had the idea to modify the gun with magic in the hope to make it as good – if not better – than a modern rifle. He wanted it to reload immediately after firing and stay cool all the time. It was something he knew he could do with runes. Lastly, he wanted the gun to be black – both to differentiate it from other muskets, but also so it would not stand out on his back from afar. Thus, he dismantled the weapon and did his modifications.

As the sun set below the horizon, Harry was putting the final touches to the musket. He assembled it back together before testing it. Harry pointed the black musket at the lowering sun and fired. He waited a second before pressing the trigger again. It fired again. Harry grinned and did it again and another bullet shot out.

"Almost perfect. All it need is a sight to allow for more precise shooting and everything will be perfect." he told himself. Oh, and maybe something to vanish the smoke as it escaped the barrel and keep the gun silent – now that he thought of it.

Happy with his work, Harry went to the Captain's Quarters where he dropped the modified musket before making his way back to the quarterdeck to stand with Jay. "No problem so far, I assume?" he asked.

"Nothing, Captain." he answered. "However, I fear a storm is building up north of our position, sir. And, it seems to be coming in our direction."

Harry let out a tired yawn. "Yes, I noticed this too. Hopefully, it won't be a problem. If it is, we will just have to sail around it." he said. Jay nodded.

Harry spent the next hours getting to know Jay better as he subtly used his magic to adjust the sails and everything else needed while Jay steered. By nine-o-clock, Harry was starting to get tired. Thus, it was with great delight he welcomed back Sirius to the quarterdeck when the man awoke.

"So, how's the sea tonight?"

"It's getting windier, sir, but we are otherwise sailing good." Jay answered before Harry could.

"What he said." Harry added. "That remind me, you weren't introduced to one another! So, Sirius, this is Jeremy Turner or 'Jay' as he his nicknamed. Jay, this is Sirius Black, my godfather and the one in charge of this ship when I'm either not aboard or asleep."

The two men shook hands. "Nice to meet you." Sirius said cheerfully.

"Nice to meet you as well, sir."

"Now that's out of the way, I'm getting tired so I think I will go to sleep. What about you, Jay?"

"I am getting tired as well, Captain." the man answered.

"Well, for now there aren't any assigned hammocks so you can choose any you want to sleep in – except the one in the Captain's Quarters, of course." he chuckled. Jay gave a nod of acknowledgement. Harry turned to his godfather. "Sirius, can you wake me up an hour or two before sunrise, please?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Thank you." he said. "On that, I'm off to bed. Goodnight, guys."

A/N: I was intending to add the trip to Nassau in this chapter but because it had been some time since I uploaded the last chapter AND because this chapter had already reached the average length I'm targeting for this story, I decided to upload it now and make the trip + Nassau first impressions into its own chapter, which will come next.