Hello! Wow, 41 reviews! Thank you guys so much! So, the Marauders get a bit of action in this, and there's a big plot thingy in this chapter. By the way, I have finals all tomorrow (Friday) and next week.

Also, I probably won't be updating for a while since on June 22ndI'm going off to England (my home country) to visit my family and I won't be back for another month, at least.

So, if you want me to update before I go, I'm really going to have to get a wave of reviews!

Chapter 4

You Can't Kill a Woman

The ship was silent.

Every man was watching forlornly as the ship drew closer with each passing second. There were some positioned at cannons, waiting for the order to fire, some with pistols and swords, waiting for the cannons to fail.

From the crowsnest, Lily could see Benny, swallowing nervously and muttering something that looked like words of comfort to a young boy, a new recruit, next to him.

Benny glanced up at her and saw her watching. She smiled weakly at him and turned away.

Lily knew they could not win this. They were pirates. And pirates never lost.

"How much time do we have, Jones?" the captain yelled across the ship.

"Five minutes, captain," Lily shouted back. Maybe less, she added in her head.

"Fire the warning shot," Scrimgeour ordered the nearest ship-hand. He nodded and tapped the man who had the clearest shot on the shoulder and told him what to do.

(

A loud boom and everyone stopped talking.

James raised his eyebrows at the ship across the stretch of ocean. They obviously didn't want to get into a fight, and they were, from what he could see, just merchant ships. Nothing special.

But the crew was running out of supplies, and even a few pieces of bread would be welcomed.

James also planned to take captive a few ship-hands. After a tough storm last week, they were also in need of a few replacements and James didn't want to go through the havoc of sign-ups.

James smirked as another cannon ball was fired towards them.

A mistake, by the looks of it.

Another tug at the wheel and the ship was urged to even greater speeds.

Not long now…

(

Lily cursed as an inexperienced sailor accidentally shot out another cannon.

Honestly, she thought, men really are a bunch of idiots.

She glanced at the approaching ship.

It was getting faster now.

Great.

She cursed again.

The aggravated and nervous sailors on the deck would only have about two minutes now to compose themselves.

A low grunt below her made her whip around.

Benny was climbing the rope that lead to the crowsnest, a pistol in one hand, making his way up a deal harder than it was supposed to be.

"What are you doing?" she hissed.

Benny hauled himself over the ledge.

"I'm not leaving your side until this is over with," he told her.

She stared at him and shook her head, "You're mad."

"Only because I was driven crazy be you," Benny countered, checking his pistol to make sure it was loaded.

Lily grinned and shoved him in the stomach.

"That's good enough for me."

(

It wasn't the first fight Lily had ever been in, but it was certainly the bloodiest. Lily had expected that too. They were pirates, for Christ's sake!

Benny, true to his word, had not left her side for the ten minutes since it had started. He aimed down at enemy with his gun, but it was too far of a distance to get a decent shot.

Lily grabbed her sword from her belt, waved goodbye to Benny, and slid down to meet with a pirate who was fiercely attacking Caradoc.

The pirate, she noticed, was not the average smelly, drunken, sea thief, but he was rather well kept. He had elegant black hair that flowed into his eyes, and the eyes themselves were a stormy grey. She couldn't help but take note of the partially bare chest, which looked quite… nice from where she was standing.

It was a shame though, Lily thought as she swung her sword towards his stomach, If he wasn't a pirate, I'd marry him over Snape any day.

Suddenly, Lily got lucky. She wasn't a good swordsman, Benny, Sturgis, and Caradoc were all better than her. The only way she managed to keep her job was to be an excellent lookout. Lily could tell this pirate was an expert at sword fighting, and she also knew she had not a chance of winning.

The she had managed to slip through the man's defenses and give him a good slash on his stomach.

She smirked.

"Why you little…" the man didn't get to finish his sentence, and neither did he get to cut her to pieces like his sword suggested.

Instead, Lily, taking advantage of his distraction, rammed the man's temple with the butt of her sword.

"Very nice," Benny complimented her from behind.

"Why thank you very much," she turned to face him.

"Shall we?" he gestured to the other pirates defeating their crew.

"We shall," she sighed, "What would they do without us?"

Together, they both jumped into the sea of bodies, fighting for their lives.

Lily took on a sandy-haired pirate.

Damn, she thought, Where's the captain getting all these gorgeous pirates? I'd like to go there.

Lily grinned cheesily at the pirate, and was surprised when he smiled back and gestured for her to go first.

She shrugged and made a sudden slashing cut to his head.

He parried it.

Then the fight truly began.

(

James hurried along the small corridors of The Ministry with Amos Diggory, Edgar Bones, Fabian and Gideon Prewett.

Their job was to raid the rooms of anything valuable. Then, James would make his way to the captain's quarters, raid that, kill the captain, and then recruit one or two men to board his ship.

Simple, quick, and easy.

"Split up," he ordered his men, "Then meet back here in ten minutes, you got that?"

The pirates nodded and scurried off to separate rooms.

James, however, turned around, intending to search a cabin himself, then rush off to the captain's quarters.

He paused at the first door in the hallway, then pushed through it.

It was small, with a single bed with three levels. The first level, surprisingly, was completely empty except for a couple of letters. The second was messier, but the bed was made and there was a rucksack at the end of it. The third looked like there had been a storm up there. Covers were dangling over the edge of the bed, pillows were strewn across it, and items were just spread across it.

James walked over and picked up the letter.

Benny and Charlie,

Life at the burrow could never be better.

Molly is brilliant, and still an excellent cook (she sends her love, by the way), Charlie and Bill are as mischievous as ever. Just yesterday, they brought home a stray dog and tried to hide in their room. They begged us to keep it when we finally wondered why the upstairs was barking. We, of course, said no, but you know how persuasive those boys can be.

Its name is Benny, after their dear 'uncle'.

Molly also says that you should send in your requests for dinner the next time you come.

She knows Lily likes the tarts she cooks, but Benny prefers cake and turkey. She also adds that if you, Benny, pass anymore bad habits onto our children, you're a dead man.

By the way, send note if you come across Gideon and Fabian Prewett, Molly's brothers, at sea. Molly says they've been gone for months now, and she's quite worried.

I'm missing you all, as cheesy at that sounds. I hope you tell Caradoc and Stugis 'hi'.

-Arthur

James took a look at the second letter.

Mary,

I'm so jealous of you!

It seems you're getting the perfect fairytale. Perfect husband, perfect daughter, perfect house, and pregnant again!

How are Claire and Ethan?

I'm so pleased you named me Claire's godmother. She's a wonderful child, and I know that she'll go far, even if she hates the sea!

Good Lord, if I ever become a pirate- God forbid- make sure she stays away from me. Don't think I didn't hear her last time:

"Stinky, smelly, rotten pirates!"

She's adorable, but I think she just might claw my eyes out.

Tell Ethan to take a bath.

Love,

Lily

The letter didn't look sent or opened, so James assumed it was probably written in the past couple aboard the ship.

But that didn't make sense-

The name, Lily, it couldn't possibly be a man.

So there was a woman on the ship. Fun.

But then James went back to the previous letter. There was something that just didn't sound right.

James frowned at 'Gideon and Fabian Prewett'. They were men on his ship. But now that the letter mentioned it, he recalled the twins telling Sirius and Remus that they had a sister, Molly.

He tucked the letter into his pocket to show the pair later.

Next, he looked through the rucksack on the second bed. There was small portrait of a family, two daughters, a son, and the parents, a hankerchief, which James thought weird for a boy to keep, and some clothes. Nothing really of importance, but he stole the portrait and the hankerchief anyway. The hankerchief could easily be sold in a port to a lady… but the portrait couldn't be sold. He just had a feeling he might need it someday.

James didn't bother to look at the top bunk, as he could already see he was quickly running out of time.

Tucking the acquired objects into his jacket, he exited the room and ran strode confidently towards the captain's quarters.

(

Lily, though in a position of great danger, was actually enjoying the fight with the sandy haired pirate.

He wasn't a great swordsman, but neither was she. The only way she managed to overcome Sirius was because she had got in the lucky slash to his stomach.

However, she had a feeling this man was merely playing with her for the time being.

This was going to be difficult.

(

James disarmed the captain easily. He was a good fighter, but no match against a pirate. Shaking his head in mock sorrow, James bent down to give the captain a good kick in the head.

It wouldn't do if he started shouting out plans to his crew when James took him out as proof that they had to surrender.

James sighed as he stooped to swing the body of the other captain over his shoulder. Merchant captains these days were always overweight.

James stepped out onto the deck displaying the captain for everyone to see, "Surrender! You've lost your captain and my crew out number you."

This, actually, wasn't true at the moment, but James could see that the crew were inexperienced fighters and their numbers were dwindling fast.

There was a moment of silence… but, wait…

Somebody was still fighting.

They were far down in the deck, and James recognized one of the men of his own, Remus Lupin.

(

Lily wasn't aware that anything had stopped. It was just her and the man.

She decided she wanted to know his name. It was uncomfortable fighting to the death with someone she didn't know the name of.

"What's your name?" she yelled suddenly, ducking a swift slash of the sword.

"Remus Lupin," he looked faintly amused as he parried a blow, "Yours?"

"Charlie Jones," she replied, grinning, "Pleasure to meet you Mr. Lupin."

"The pleasure's all mine, Mr. Jones," Remus retorted.

And the fight went on.

It was only when Remus looked behind her shoulder and noticed something that he stopped with the games.

He immediately turned offense, directing a surge of blows towards Lily that she desperately blocked and ducked.

But it was no use. Her sword leaped out of her hand and into the man's and she was left standing with two swords at her throat.

Remus should've known better. Lily ducked and knocked the knives out of his hand with the dagger Charles gave her five years ago.

A couple more strokes and the situation was reversed. Lily smirked… A smirk that slowly faded when another sword was pointed at her back.

"I suggest you give up now," a man's voice drawled behind her, "You're welcome to join the rest of your shipmates."

Lily, though reluctantly, dropped her weapon in the deck. The sword poked her in the shoulder gently to turn her around.

The sight she met was a ghastly one.

The whole crew, including Benny, were on their knees, a group of pirates nearby taking turns to poke guns in their faces.

James shoved her towards the line. The message was clear: get in the line and don't struggle.

Lily stood next to Benny, strong and resolutely.

"Now that all are present," James continued, "I think that introductions are in order. I am Captain James Potter, and I am commander of The Marauder. I have room for one of you scallywags to join my… delightful crew. Who will step forward and become a pirate?"

Nobody moved.

"Anybody?" James raised his eyebrows, "Well I guess you'll all have to die."

Oh no you don't, Benny thought angrily.

He pushed Lily to the floor, also tugging on the ends of her bandana, the only thing standing in the way of the mass of red hair.

There was a stunned silence.

There, before them, was a woman. A beautiful one at that too, some men noticed.

Nonetheless, it was a woman, in a man's breeches, on a man's ship, taking under a man's position.

James looked at the woman, and the boy that had pushed her.

A couple, maybe?

He obviously cared about her.

James thought about his earlier threat.

You can't kill a woman.

Ooooh, that's something major, right there. So, whadya think? Good, bad…

I just want REVIEWS!

Also-

Don't be a drag just be a queen

Whether you're broke or evergreen

You're black, white, beige, chola descent

You're Lebanese, you're orient

Whether life's disabilities

Left you outcast bullied or teased

Rejoice and love yourself today

Cuz baby, you were born this way

Me and my friend do this rap all the time.

THE COMPETITION'S STILL GOING ON UNTIL THIS STORY ENDS!

Like I just said, enter anything funny! Like a funny quote, I got a few pick-up lines, something you did that totally embarrassed you, or something completely random!

Elephants are so smart they can remember a water-hole they went to thirty years ago.

TADAA!

Update 6/3/13- A new chapter will be up soon, it's in progress, I'm just editing at the moment!