Chapter 6
Harry stood at the crow's nest of his latest ship sailing across the shivering sea. It had been two weeks since his meeting with Tormund and in that time many plans had begun to be executed.
Tormund had left the day after their first meeting traveling to Ruddy hall where his supporters had gathered. The weak among them had been sent back to Hardhome while the strong had pressed on with him.
Harry had thought about going with them to the Frostfangs to help sway those that mustered under Mance Rayder there. But Harry had decided that completing the construction of the city and beginning the construction of a fleet was simply too important to delay.
Harry was by no means a shipbuilder and neither was Voldemort but he had magic, plenty of magic and with magic the impossible becomes possible. It had taken him a few days but he had worked out a way to copy his original ship almost perfectly.
Harry's original ship that he had arrived in this world on was a large ship with a quarterdeck and forecastle. It was square rigged and had two masts. Harry noticed upon studying it closely that it looked quite similar to the ship Durmstrang had traveled in during his fourth year; whether it was merely a coincidence or his subconscious had conjured purposefully looking that way Harry didn't know, However there were some differences: it looked far less skeletal and had no glass anywhere or really any embellishments.
This was quite fortunate as cutting down on transfiguration made ships far simpler to build as well as making them stronger in the end. Harry had made ample use of the great forests north of the wall to construct his ships, one of the few advantages of hisocation. It was very easy to mold the wood into a near perfect copy of his ship's hull and due to the wonders of magic no nails were needed as the wood simply flowed into a single solid piece. The wood wasn't the only part of the trees that he utilized. Because As far north as he was there was no cotton and few animals so fabric was hard to come by. So Harry had transfigured thousands of leaves shed from his trees into long sheets to serve as sails and for rope he strung together the inner bark.
The finished product was a poor copy in truth but still more than seaworthy and it reminded Harry greatly of the small boats made of twigs and leaves he had played with as a boy.
Harry's favorite ship by far he had made from several dead weirwood trees which combined to form a striking end result with its contrast of red sails and bone white body. And it was also by far the strongest, the timber collected from the weirwood being unnaturally strong.
However Harry had found a glaring hole in his designs for his grand fleet stationed at Hardhome; he didn't know how to sail and neither did any man north of the wall, at least not ships of this size.
Harry had been making due with animating the ships to move however it was a tiring process and he could not manage the entire fleet that way. Which led Harry atop a crow's surrounded by deep dark water as far as the eye could see sailing to Pentos.
StoneFist knew much about Pentos due to his frequent interactions with their traders and so had been able to plot a simple route. He had asked Tormund about possible locations to find sailors as well however he knew little having only ever seen whaling ships from ibben which was apparently as cold as one could get not north of the wall.
While Harry had managed the cold helped greatly by magic he still rather missed the warmth. The choice between a mysterious cold city with no almost nothing guaranteed from route to wares, and a warm hub of trade was quite easy; the outdated information barely swayed him as he doubted a city so successful would simply disappear.
Harry turns his head to the left and he notices the glimpse of sails on the horizon; they are tall, sharp, and black and Harry knows instinctively that nothing good can come from this. Harry wraps himself around a rope and slides down to the deck
"I always wanted to do that" Harry mutters with a grin on his face.
He walks into his quarters and looks at the route StoneFist had planned for him drawn out on a slightly misshapen map of the narrow sea and surrounding lands. As he had feared the ships were in the southeast directly in the path of his voyage.
Perhaps a more experienced captain could outrun or evade them but Harry knew if he attempted such maneuvers he would find himself lost at sea the only path forwards was conflict.
"Very well then conflict it shall be" Harry declared walking back onto the deck.
This should be a difficult situation. After all he was only one man boarding should be suicide and he has no cannons. Even before his rebirth Harry suspects that he would most likely get killed or captured.
However now his only worry is that there might be captives aboard and he could cause collateral damage.
If there wasn't a chance of captives Harry would have simply sat back and ripped the ships to pieces with bombarding charms. Harry waited until he began to see blurry figures on their decks before executing his plan.
He taps his head casting the disillusionment charm he feels a cold silky substance reminiscent of his old cloak flow over him and he becomes invisible. Then Harry casts "FLYTH" And shoots up into the sky.
Harry flies over the ships and keeps a close as they begin to pull up alongside his ship. He quietly slips onto the right ship and heads below deck casting silent stunners at any pirate he comes across. Soon Harry reaches the back of the hold casting a lumos to see in the all consuming depths. His light washes over the emancipated forms of several chained men who flinch at the light.
"I am here to rescue you, do not make a noise," Harry says quietly but firmly.
The men nod briefly. Alohomora Harry thinks pointing at their chains they fall off immediately.
"Follow me and stay quiet" he commands not waiting for a reply before heading back the way he came.
Harry comes along a few more pirates in the hold who he stuns before giving out their weapons and clothes to the prisoners. Coming across the pirate's stores Harry quickly ransacks it, storing it in his expanded bag before continuing on towards the deck. Busting out of the hold Harry swipes his hand sending the pirates on deck flying into the water. Pointing towards his ship that was attached to the one he was standing on by several grappling hooks Harry tells the captives. "That is my ship. I am going to board it, you stay here until I am finished."
Harry casts Flyth boarding his ship, and throwing stunners at any pirates he sees. Soon his ship Is cleared of pirates and he approaches the second, this one a more delicate operation as it's a galley rowed by over two dozen slaves.
Disillusioning himself again he Flys down onto the ship, Only a few pirates remain on board the majority having attempted to board his ship. Harry stealthily stuns them one by one then removes his illusion charm.
"All right, you are all now free. You can join my ship on its way to Pentos or you can stay here if that is your desire."
Harry tells them before they have recovered from the shock of a man appearing from thin air. The slaves made there choice easily rather sick of rowing all day and night.
Soon everyone was gathered on the deck of Harry's ship cutting free the lines attaching the ships, organizing provisions, and equipping themselves with newly acquired apparel.
"All right I am sure you're all wondering it Yes I am a wizard no I don't eat babies if there is nothing else you can sleep in the hammocks below deck" Harry addresses the former captives.
They voice no objections and some head down to sleep immediately.
Well I didn't exactly plan this but at least it will make my arrival at Pentos less strange and perhaps some might stick with me past Pentos Harry thought to himself. Staring at the horizon Harry can't help but let a smile spread across his face. The gold is a nice bonus too after all it is one thing I can't transfigure and It should help getting new sailors much easier Harry thinks continuing to smirk eagerly awaiting what he may find in Pentos.
