The feast (for it really couldn't be called anything else) held on the deck of the Pearl on Christmas Day had gone surprisingly well, and it was approaching time to distribute gifts while enjoying a drink.

Lucius's absence and Draco's personality change had smoothed the Malfoy-Weasley relations on one side, and Molly and Hermione's stern reprimands to Ginny and Ron had kept their hostilities to little more than silence and frosty looks, the rest of the family having long ago decided that the Malfoy's sentences, accompanied with their apologies, were enough for at least polite acquaintanceship for Harry's sake.

Bill Weasley had enjoyed talking with two of the other human employees of Gringotts, and had decided after they got home to talk to Fleur about them both moving to the Caribbean when their three children got to Hogwarts, even if just for a few years.

Bill Turner had been approached by Misters Gibbs, Cotton, and a third man named Marty, who were in fact descendants of the original Gibbs, Cotton and Marty who had sailed with Captain Jack Sparrow, and had heard tales handed down through their close-knit families of the adventures he had, and were curious about if he was really like that.

Will Turner was in deep discussion with the smithy Goblins about various techniques and artefacts inherent in blacksmithing, and breakthroughs he had missed during his time a sea. This deep discussion was the reason the elder Turner was approached by the three young crew members.

George and Draco had their usual talk about the shops and merchandise ideas, as despite living in France, Draco was in fact the accountant, stock manager and otherwise paper-pusher behind the two immensely popular Diagon Alley stores, and the only reason they ran as well as they did. This was a fact not known to anyone except Harry, George, Andromeda, Draco, Narcissa and Gringotts.

Andromeda and Narcissa were engaging in their own usual talk, of families, their homes, and fashions as the sisters often did, having met at least once a month since their reconciliation six years previously.

Charlie was in rapt fascination of Kailani and her talk of the sea, as was she of him and his beloved dragons.

Molly Weasley was sitting with Kreacher and Winky, complimenting them on the food, and requesting a sharing of recipes between herself and the other Black Point house-elves, as with almost all of her family grown and moved away, she had much time on her hands and not much to do besides cooking food to sell in Andromeda's shop, a practice the pair had been in since Andromeda ate a meal at the Weasley's after the opening.

Arthur had had small conversation with several people, but was content with exploring the deck, marvelling over the ship.

Percy, having become a bit more laid back since the war, was talking with the Director, and considering a move to Gringotts, as the bank was in the process of hiring witches and wizards of high intelligence, attention to detail and organisational skills to catalogue new acquisitions from archeological digs and to help ease talks between the Nation and Wizard-folk, much like the position Harry filled. Hermione had heard part of this talk and had eagerly joined in, hoping the Australian branch would be open to her filling a similar position, as her current job was immensely boring, even seven years after her yearly adventures with Harry. As much as she had no wish to see another war, she found she did miss the thrills she had with him, not that she dared mention that to Ronald, who - when his fame as a war hero wasn't enough to counter balance his utter lack of effort at work and had consequently been sacked - had become quite resentful of Harry and his success.

Fleur and Percy's wife Audrey were watching the children as they happily chattered and played, as well as talking between themselves, and - in wifely fashion - noticing their husband's hopeful looks about other lands or jobs, were discussing the pros and cons of a change in their circumstance in the future.

Ginny, still angry with Harry, had latched onto a crew member in the hopes of making Harry jealous, a tactic she had employed routinely throughout the years to no effect at all besides a mild familial embarrassment at the antics of their youngest child.

Ron, in his ever predictable fashion, had latched onto the food and showed no sign of stopping.

Harry stood at the helm watching it all with a deep contentment that -almost- everyone was getting along and that they all were happy, at least for that day. He then rang a bell to get everyone's attention, asking them to gather for gift giving.

The crew members, Turners and smithy Goblins had made small gifts for everyone from bits of wood or metal that were simple good luck charms or pretty ornaments to themselves, but great works of art to the recipients. They ranged from sea-themed toys and carvings for fair weather and safety from the crew to etchings and ornaments for prosperity and good business from the Goblins.

Molly, using her abundant time and extensive knitting skills, had made Weasley jumpers for everyone, reasoning that even seafarers and Goblins needed a good warm jumper at times. As she still lived at home, Ginny counted with this gift, and so didn't buy her own to give.

Kailani, having learnt from the Black Call, gave various pendants made from shells or sea glass as gifts from the Sirens.

George had given everyone a box of WWW products, suited to each person's tastes, so Percy got the perfected Spell-Check and Self-Inking Quills, the children got sweets and small pranks, and the Goblins got a few things he'd developed for the war that would appeal to the warrior-minded people.

The Malfoys had bought various jewels and baubles that were to them inexpensive but to others like the Weasleys pricey gifts that were layered with charms like protection spells and personal appearance spells.

Fleur had made several small French pastries as gifts for everyone, as Audrey had gotten Molly's help to make some English sweets.

Charlie had brought small bits of dragon tooth or hide, things found in abundance at the Reservation, but highly valued elsewhere.

Hermione had bought several Australian items for everyone, having spent a month agonising over what to get.

Andromeda gave everyone gifts from her shop, and each was appropriately enjoyed.

Harry and Teddy both gave and received the best of the gifts, as they were the reason everyone was gathered. Teddy received toys from everyone, including several ships, a contingent of metal soldiers, a yo-yo, a boomerang and a book on how to use it, and best of all, a compass with three dials, one that would always point towards Black Point, one that would always point to Harry, and one charmed like Harry's, to point to the thing you want most.

Harry however would always remember two gifts with fond thoughts. The sword and hat from the Turners, and the look on the crew's faces when he told them that they were all welcome as crew on his ship, provided they worked off their notice to Gringotts then helped him learn how to properly sail, as Captain Turner had other duties besides teaching.

Wearing his hat (that had been Jack's, Will had found it in the Captain's Cabin) and sword, Harry gave his first order as Captain that had Will flashing back to two particular Pirate Lords aboard this ship, the day he became Captain of the Flying Dutchman.

"Mr Gibbs."

"Aye Captain."

"Hoist the Colours."

"Aye Captain. Hoist the Colours!"

The assembled crowd watched as the flag, the bandana-ed skull and crossbones with a red sparrow from the Black chest, enlarged and rigged to the ship, rose and then moved in the wind atop the mast.

Their reverie was interrupted by a loud voice that hadn't been heard for two centuries as the hat was pulled from Harry's head.

"Oi! That's my hat!"