Standard Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to Harry Potter or Pirates of the Caribbean. All properties therein are those of their creators. I am only a writer working on my skills with worlds and characters that I love.
Chapter Two - Making A Name
"So let me get this straight," Barbossa stood beside his new captain as the frigate sliced effortlessly through the singular calm stream of ocean otherwise occupied by angrily churning waves, "You are a wizard who fell through time. You have a magically wrought ship manned by yourself and a mystical elf that makes amazing tea." He held up his delicate saucer for emphasis, feeling ridiculous for holding such a thing in this environment, "and your goal is to become the most famous pirate that ever lived using your advanced knowledge of the future?"
"In a nutshell." Harry spoke from his place at the helm. He was dressed back in his loose pants and leather vest. He found his new powers worked better when the tattoos were exposed to the elements.
"Why the hell would you bring me out here then! I could expose all of this!"
"I don't think you will though. Especially not when my other goal is to free as many slaves as possible in transit to the colonies."
Barbossa stilled. This was a new piece of information to be sure. When Harry had brought him onboard the ship the night before he'd been too drunk to notice any of the oddities on the deck. But now that he was awake, and sober with the practice of a career seaman, he couldn't help observing the lanyards and ropes that tied themselves, the brushes scraping across the decks with no hands, or the way not a single mote of salt from the waves seemed to breach the sides of the hull. The story of how the captain-to-be had come to be here had followed soon after.
"You wish to free slaves?"
"Yes. I was one for a long time, and I would wish that fate on no one. I have a powerful ship, magic at my command, and the sea answers to me to a point. All of this together means I can get rich, make a name for myself, and free slaves in transit without issue. The best part is, it'll piss of England at every turn. Hell, liberating those slaves will straight up terrify them if I do it right."
"You really hate England that much?"
"After the life I had there? Hell yes."
Barbossa could clearly guess why. Even with the vest he could see the scars peeking up from the young captain's back to his neck and shoulders. Though his interesting tattoos helped to cover a good portion of the latter. "None of that explains why you want me here."
Harry grew silent for a while at that question. A state Barbossa had noticed he spent much time in. Then he answered, "I have dreams, Hector, and goals that I want to achieve. But in spite of my knowledge and abilities, I stand apart as a foreigner does in a new land. I need a…. tie, to this place. To these people. Someone to show me the ropes of the sea and its occupants. Oh I can sail well enough, but interacting with those who also sail is something different. I guess you could say I'm looking for a guide. A mentor. Someone to advise me on how things are best done. Tia Dalma thought that could be you, and after hearing your story last night I heartily agree."
It would be a lie to say Barbossa was not flattered by that statement, and the more he thought about his current situation the more it held merit to him. He had no other plans for what to do with himself, his commission with the navy was null and void, he hated slavery as much as this young man seemed to, and the idea of high-seas infamy tickled at his fancies quite well. It helped that the young man was quite likable too. He made his decision. "So what would I be in regards to this ship?"
"As I said last night, my first mate."
"I'm honored." Barbossa strutted up to his side, still marveling at the view of their clear track of sea ahead of them. "What's our first stop?"
"Crew. Then a treasure that will make our names known to the world."
"You know where to get both?"
Harry smiled darkly, "I never advertised it in my old life, Hector, but I was a big fan of history. Especially 'pirate' history. So two things stuck out to me very well. One was the trade routes that the British used to transport their prisoners and slaves to the New World, and the other was the July 23rd, 1715, flotilla of treasure ships that will leaving Havana for Spain. It's laden full of gold and silver."
Barbossa's eyes bulged. "You can't seriously expect to take on a whole flotilla! The Spanish protect them with hundreds of cannons!"
"I do not. That particular flotilla is marked in history as a monstrous disaster. It will sail foolishly right into a hurricane, decimating the fleet. Eleven galleons will be wrecked, the remainder will limp their way back to Havana, and the fortune they carried will be scattered off the coast of Vero Beach, Florida. We're going to be the first ones to find it, and we're going to take that fortune."
Barbossa was smiling now too. He loved this plan. "So wealth, liberation, and fame all within the same couple of days. Effective and ambitious I must say, Captain."
"Thank you."
"But July 23rd is not so far away."
"I know, so we'll need to hurry."
As he continued to watch the rigging moving itself he had to ask, "With Dobby maintaining all of the ship's main functions, do we even really need a crew?"
"Yes." the captain gazed fondly at the blue creature flitting all around the deck as he worked. "Dobby is amazing, no doubt, but he is only one creature, and even he grows tired after a while. Asking him to maintain everything long-term is just a rude thing to do to a friend. When we get enough men to form a crew he'll be our cook."
"So we reach the trade routes and then what?"
For the first time since he'd met the lad, Barbossa saw him look sheepish as he paused at the wheel to rub the back of his head. "I was actually hoping you could help me out with that. You see I have an idea for what to do, especially with the image I want to create for myself, but I could use some pointers before we arrive. One of the biggest things I read about high seas piracy was that image is everything after all…"
Some Time Later
It was near midnight and the crew of the Saint Augusta were just swapping out the watch on deck. The newcomers went topside, and those retiring for the night went down to their quarters below, all trying desperately to block out the sounds of sobs and miserable singing from below their feet. Those noises haunted them all to a man, except for the captain and his officers. The crew at this point had become certain that the East India Company only hired the worst bastards imaginable to head their ships based on the sheer joy those monsters seemed to take in these poor people's suffering.
All was calm in the sea, the light of the moon offering a light haze to see by if one tried, but the four men now on deck didn't really put in the effort. They were on the open water, and sure a sudden fog had started rolling in out of nowhere, but it wasn't truly an issue. Contrary to popular belief, ships, especially ships under way, were not quiet. No, between the cutting of a hull through wake and wave, the creaking of wood, and the squeaking of ropes on pulleys, they'd know long before any vessel came close enough to issue a challenge. Or so they thought.
The first sign they had that something was wrong was the screeching of an owl of all things. The rear port-side guard heard the sound and ducked as a snow white owl dived upon him and only barely missed scratching his eyes out. When he looked back up it was directly into the barrel of a cannon. A fearful step back and a closer look revealed that to be only one of many, and all of them were angled down at their deck. The man could only gasp, and by now his fellows were doing the same as one of them finally managed the wherewithal to run for the alarm bell. The new ship was absolutely huge and it was right next to them! Where had it even come from?
On the other side of things, Harry was grinning widely as he marched over to his railing, braced one foot against it, and leaned over to look down at the scurrying slavers. He'd used his abilities of sea and sky to smooth out the water beneath his ship until no wake or sound crashed, and to create a fog to hide them from view. Dobby had worked his magic to eliminate the regular sounds of his vessel.
Now, as Hedwig landed proudly on his right shoulder, and Barbossa stepped up to his left, he got ready for the next part. "Show of force now, right?"
"Aye." Barbossa watched as lamps began to alight below, "You've scared them shitless, but the officers at least will scare the crew into trying to drive you off. You need to show them they don't have the ammunition to fire with."
Instead of responding, Harry commanded, "Dobby."
The excitable creature popped up behind him. "Master Harry be's calling for Dobby?"
"Yes. Can you see the mounted cannons on the other ship?"
"Yes indeed. There's being ten of them."
"Guess they skimped on heavy weaponry to have more room to carry people. Well, Dobby, it would make me really happy if you blew those away."
A smile so wide it became terrifying crossed the little one's face and he said, "Right away, Master Harry, sir!" Then he popped away. Not even two seconds later, as the British crew was starting to swarm the deck, several of Harry's own cannons fired, blowing their mounted defenses completely clear of the vessel. The Brits immediately counterattacked with small arms fire, but Harry merely wrapped his hand around the grip of his special pistol (his wand had been fused inside the barrel) and an invisible shield sprang into life around himself and his first mate. With the fog, height difference, and the notoriously hard to aim firearms of the time, everyone just thought they'd missed.
"Another two shots to the bow and stern." Harry ordered, knowing Dobby would hear him, and two instant explosions met his ears in response.
Then they waited. Barbossa had told him of this moment. The time between discovery, first impression, and final action. The moment when a situation could turn into a gain for his crew when he took the vessel, or a salvage when he was forced sink her and fish for her supplies. Considering he was trying to save lives here, he was relying on the other men's fear. Fear of a ship that could come up to them with no sound. Fear of an insurmountable armament difference. Fear that any number of people could be on a vessel of his size.
It didn't take long for the officers to come to the logical conclusion. That combat would yield them nothing, and surrender would be their best option. Sure, their cargo was bound to be looted, but there was a procedure set in place by this point with the East India Company. Their lives were worth more than a bundle of slaves.
The white flag was raised, the men fell to their knees with hands on their heads, and all stared on with wide eyes when they suddenly found their hands bound with thick rope to the main mast. How had that happened? But the officers were staring at their hands with growing understanding. They stared even more when a gangplank was lowered to the deck and only two men stepped down. One, older with a wispy beard and the confident swagger of a career sailor. The other a teenager, heavily tattooed, and wearing a thick leather vest over his chest.
The slaver captain turned to the older man, obviously the leader in his mind, and said "I hope you realize just who you are making an enemy of sir. And using magic no less in the open, have you no shame!"
To the captain's surprise, the younger man leaned down to the other man's level and turned his head so he could whisper in his ear, then the older man faced the crew entirely. "My captain be saying that if ye sit here and shut yer gobs while we work, ye'll not be harmed. This ship now belongs to Silent Harry. Take that back to yer masters when we release you."
For their part, the crew was just relieved to hear they'd be let go, but the captain… he was fuming. "That 'Boy' is your captain?" He seethed, not noticing the twitch that particular word earned from the youth. "I'll not have it said my command fell to a youth too young to adequately shave! Come at me! I challenge you both to a duel of honor! I'll have your-"
BANG
The formerly shouting officer slumped and all eyes, including Barbossa's, turned to look at the younger captain, a smoking pistol still held in his hand. One of four such non-magical varieties attached to his belt. He gave his first mate a look and moved off to inspect the ship.
Hector merely said, "The captain doesn't appreciate disrespect." and moved off to join him.
"You know," he said when they were far enough away to not be overheard, "typically pirates try not to kill members of the crew if it can be avoided. The navy puts a lot less effort into hunting down thieves than they do murderers."
"I know." Harry clasped his hands behind his back and stared out at the moonlit sea. "He reminded me of my uncle, and he called me boy. I do. not. like. that. word."
In spite of all the grisly things he'd seen in his life, Barbossa still shuddered at the hate in that tone.
"That man was a slaver. I'll not feel bad for ending his life. And by now I'm sure his junior officers will be a lot more helpful as we go. Interrogate them, would ya? Learn what else this ship might be carrying besides people. I'll head below and start setting them free."
"Want me to ask them where the keys are first?"
Harry loosely gripped the magical pistol strapped across his chest. "I'll not need them."
"Right. Magic. I keep forgetting about that."
They separated then, each man to their tasks.
The world grew dim as the wizard made his way belowdecks, and the smell of hundreds of unwashed bodies crammed into a small space hit his nose like a sledgehammer. As long as he lived, Harry knew this first look at the horror that was a fully loaded slave hauler would stay with him. The bodies, the waste, the utter inhumanity of the economical placement of the ranks to maximize the use of space for profit. There was no god here, not even a sliver of goodness or right.
Gripping his wand/pistol once more Harry amplified his voice to get their attention, "Does anyone here speak English?" A hand raised amongst their number, and Harry followed it to a bald man taller and more well built than all the others. "What is your name?"
"Adewale." He said simply in a heavily accented bass voice.
Harry pulled his pistol, aimed at his chains, and cast a concentrated reducto. A second later the man was free and staring at his emancipator with wide eyes. "Shaman…" He whispered, earning a raised brow from the other man.
"Not quite, but I guess it's a close enough term. I take it you had people that could do what I do where you come from?"
"Yes. They stood beside the chief of our village. Why do you cut my chains?"
Instead of answering right away, Harry cut several more chains nearby. "I'm here to cut all of your chains. I've taken this ship, and I mean to free every man and woman upon it."
"But…." The formally chained man seemed about to say something and then apparently changed his mind. "You are not the same as the other white men I've met."
"I'll take that as a compliment. Help me with the rest would you? I can cut the chains but it would be a big help if you could tell everyone I mean no harm as we go."
"I would be glad to."
Together they made their way through the ship's hold, freeing everyone in sight and gathering them together for a final address. When that happened, with Adewale standing next to him to translate, everyone listened. All three hundred and sixty of them.
"I am Silent Harry. Captain of the Freedom. I have taken this ship under my own power and now offer you a choice. Any that wish to experience freedom on the high seas with me as a member of my crew may do so. Any that wish to return home may stay and I will spell this ship to return from whence it came. I will await your response." Short, simple, and effective, just how Harry preferred to speak.
He stepped down and Adewale said to him, "Many here have families and will wish to return home."
"I figured as much, which is why I made the second offer. A quick return to sender spell and they'll be right as rain. You only said many…."
The big man grinned, "Yes. For freeing me of my chains I wish to stay and be the voice for my people on your ship. If you would have me, I'll be your quartermaster."
"Pleasure to have you." Harry clapped him on the back and started making his way topside again, "I have some more searching to do, see everybody is sorted out down here, would ya?"
"Aye, Captain."
With that situation seen to, Harry joined his first mate in the ship's captain's cabin. The space was richly dressed in rugs, paintings, a heavily fluffed berth, and a grand desk of black wood that the wizard immediately decided he wanted. Along with another two items that he quickly pulled off the wall and weighed in his palms.
"Seems the captain spent some time in Egypt." Barbossa commented on the weapons holding his leader's attention. "Khopesh blades do be unseen in these waters.
"Khopesh?" Harry held the blades up before his eyes and further admired their make. They were not overly long, perhaps the length of the average saber each, but midway up their length the blades curved into something resembling a reversed scythe. Yes, these swords were clearly meant for chopping and slicing more than stabbing. Perfect. He looked at Barbossa then, "I want you to teach me to use these."
"Both of them?"
"Yes."
"Aye, I can do that. Do you want an inventory of what else the ship was trafficking?"
"Yes," he quickly shrunk the desk and pocketed it to set up later in his own cabin, "but help me search this room while we do it. I can't believe that prick didn't squirrel some interesting items away in here."
Their search turned up no less than four hidey holes throughout the space containing small boxes of jewels and gold. The last occupant had apparently been skimming off the sales of his product. The ship itself, in addition to its slaves, had apparently also been carrying a few casks of whiskey for sale in the colonies.
"Tell Dobby to send the casks over to the Freedom, see to it the men that want to join with us get settled, and I'll see to the ones that want to leave."
A few minutes later Harry stood next to Adewale as the big man translated his words. "Does anyone have a clear memory of the shore they left from?" One man stepped forward and after asking permission to see his memory, the wizard retrieved it and then powered the helm with a much overpowered Point-Me spell tied to that location. Then he explained, "I will send a steady wind to your sails and the helm is spelled to take you right back where you came. Do not touch the wheel, and you will be home soon enough."
The people cheered and hugged one another in a raucous crowd as Harry made his way back to his own vessel. It was rather fun to watch the new additions scampering around where Barbossa yelled and Dobby directed. The fact none of the former slaves seemed surprised at the sight of the floppy eared helper only helped to reinforce Tia Dalma's words from back in her home. Magic was a lot more common in this time, people just tended not to talk about it openly.
It didn't take long for his new quartermaster to arrive at his side. "They are ready to go, sir." The big man watched his captain as he too viewed the scurrying activity ahead of him.
"One hundred and twenty men and women." Harry mused. "More than I expected from the number I found."
Adewale shrugged, "I speak for myself, but their stories are the same in many cases. Not all of us have families waiting, or trades to return to. Some of our number were sold by our very own neighbors, and the prospect of making our future out here as free men sounds much better than being chained once more should we return."
"I'm glad." Harry drew his special pistol, aimed it at the ropes mooring them to the slave ship and fired. A concentrated cutting curse left the barrel and without the weight bearing them down, the Freedom took on the wind and moved off into the currents of the sea. All the while the former slaves of the other ship waved and cheered for them as they disappeared on their own path back to the African continent.
They left behind a small dingy that carried the slaving crew survivors and a weeks worth of supplies. True to his promise, Harry hadn't harmed them. The ocean and the elements would do that for him. If he was lucky, at least a couple would survive long enough to be rescued and spread his name, but he wouldn't really mind if exposure got them all.
Moving back to his place at the helm, Harry was just settling his hands into their customary positions when he felt a presence at his side and an odd weight on his head. He looked up and beheld the shade of a wide brimmed black hat with a feather trailing off behind him. Barbossa stood next to him, a far too innocent expression on his face. "Found a hat like me own on the ship. A good captain needs a good hat."
The wizard smirked at his first mate. "Aye, makes sense." He couldn't deny it felt nice on his head. "We'll be making our way to the Florida Coast from here. See to it everyone is settled, knows their duties, and is ready to make a lot of gold."
"With pleasure." The smile on Barbossa's face was downright gleeful. And why shouldn't it be? In a matter of days he'd been saved from drinking himself into an early grave, met a captain that wanted to learn the things he had to teach him, and saved an entire ship-full of slaves when his former masters had wanted him to transport them. Yes, coming along with this crazy lad had clearly been one of the better choices in his life.
Several Days Later
The crew of the Freedom stared on in awe as thunder crashed through the air, lightning illuminated the sky, and vicious waves swelled dozens of feet into the air following hurricane winds. All the while they personally experienced none of it, kept safe and secure in a bubble of calm sea due to their captain's power. Their shaman's power, as Adewale had explained it to them. Some shivered at the mind bending sight, and were quickly equipped with mugs full of a calming sweet substance the little cook Dobby called hot chocolate. That had been another surprise. The ship had its very own imp in the kitchens. There had been a couple of cooks among their number, but the little creature had made it very clear that the only one preparing food on that craft was him.
On the other side of the vessel, Harry stood with Barbossa and Adewale. Both of whom were just as impressed by the present circumstances as the crew, and were equally trying not to look like it. They'd learned quickly about their captain's odd sense of humor and they wished under no circumstances to raise his pranking instincts.
"What are we waiting for here, Captain?" Barbossa asked. "Not that I'm not impressed by your powers, because I am, but we're only floating."
Beneath the new hat that cast his eyes in shadow, Harry grinned and pointed to the southwest, "We're waiting for that."
At first the others could see nothing, only the dark clouds and waves in the distance. But then they heard it. The shriek of many ship masts in distress, the screams of men in terror for their lives, and sloshing of hulls taking on water.
They saw them too soon after. A series of lightning flashes illuminated the flotilla in the distance struggling to make it through the hurricane they'd unwittingly sailed right into. Waves crashed, the light disappeared, and when it came back the fleet was a few ships less. More waves, more darkness, and once more less remained. Again and again and again the flotilla of Spanish treasure ships decreased in number, their guard ships long sailed off to save themselves, until once more the only thing that could be heard was the endless noise of the storm.
"Right lads!" Harry called, earning the attention of his crew, men and women alike, "To stations!" The crew rushed to their positions and within a few short minutes their parcel of peaceful waters surrounded the sinking site of the fleet. Each person crowded around one another as their captain stood upon the rail, desperate to see what he would do next as the man looked down at the sea below, and slowly raised his hands.
The sea, peaceful up to then, began to churn and roil, and out of that discontent rose hundreds of giant chests. Each man and woman present knew them to be absolutely bulging with Spanish gold. They quickly equipped themselves with ropes and hooks and began dragging them aboard as Harry, finding himself forced to suck in air after magically lifting that much weight with his power, moved off to sit before the mast, watching the ecstatic grins of his crew fondly.
"You seem very proud of yourself." A female voice spoke up from behind him.
Harry turned to behold a beautiful African woman in loose cloth pants and what looked like a linen shirt, no doubt taken from the crew quarters of the slave ship. "I am. This is perhaps the greatest haul of gold taken by a pirate yet in history, and I have done it. My name will be whispered and recorded for centuries to come. What's more, in the same vein I've freed a ship of slaves and made them rich in the same mark. Why should I not be proud of this accomplishment."
"Hm, you know for a man calling himself 'Silent Harry' you do talk quite openly."
Harry laughed lightly under his breath, looking up to enjoy the roiling clouds overhead as the woman took a seat next to him. Up close, she appeared to be perhaps only a year or two older than himself. "The name is meant as a way to get under other people's skin. That being said, I don't want my crew to see me that way. Please, to you I am only Captain Harry."
"Madi. I was a citizen of a maroon colony until a slaving band raided our home and picked a bunch of us up to sell. According to Adewale, I'm your ship's doctor."
Harry raised a brow, "You have medical experience?"
"Someone had to patch the runaways back up when they made it to our camp."
"Well," he reached out his hand, "I'm glad to have you on board."
She took his hand in her own, "I'm glad to be here, and free once more. Thank you for that."
"No thanks necessary. Now let's go help the others. If I've timed things right we're going to have some very interesting visitors sooner rather than later."
And so they did. The two joined the crew in hauling the chests onboard one after the other until their expanded hold was full to bursting with gold, and there was still an ungodly amount left still in the water. Some of it clearly getting pushed with the powerful tide toward the shore.
Eventually the storm broke, but the Freedom did not depart. Indeed, the captain insisted that they hold anchor as his eyes scanned the horizon, constantly searching, waiting. Until finally a black flag appeared with one or two more following in its wake.
"Yes!" Harry cheered, earning more than a few surprised looks from his crew before he addressed them directly, "Get the cannons ready and be at positions but do not light the fuses. We want to look tough but not overly threatening."
"Aye sir!" The men and women scuttled out to do as ordered and he turned to Barbossa, "Raise the black flag."
The older scalawag smirked and ordered it done. The men had not been idle over the course of their wait and more than a few had experience with sowing. In record time over the main mast flew a black flag depicting a white skull with twin khopesh blades crossed behind it and a pistol gripped in its teeth. Harry's new personal colors.
It didn't take long for the newcomers to see the big-ass ship sitting atop the visible signs of sunken treasure, nor to note the same shade of colors flown as their own and the as yet unfired canons. Soon enough a white flag was raised, then seconded, and the lead ship pulled up to the Freedom, raising a gangplank a moment later.
Harry waited on the center deck, hat firmly on his head, swords on either side of his waist, and his 'pistol' in its usual place slung over his chest. Barbossa stood to his right, and Adewale his left. Madi stood nearby behind them in case things went south and they needed patching up. It didn't take long to hear the clomping of leather boots upon the gangplank, and then they appeared, three men, faces worn by the sea, but eyes bright with energy and mirth.
The first, and clearly the man in charge, was light of hair with a salt and pepper beard and a short ponytail. The second was perhaps ten years younger with a full black beard and a bandolier full of pistols. The third, was a black fellow a good two heads taller than his companions. They stopped six feet away from them and waited. And waited.
Harry simply stared at them, waiting, letting the silence grow uncomfortable in that way that he loved. Finally the first man clearly began to get jittery and could no longer take it as he said, "Well, we have ourselves a situation here don't we."
Harry nodded to Barbossa and taking the que the older man offered, "Seems we do. Perhaps introductions?"
"Captain Benjamin Hornigold." He said before gesturing to the others, "My first mate, Edward Teach, and his companion Black Caesar. Who are you?"
"This here be my Captain, Silent Harry. I'm his first mate, Hector Barbossa, and this here be our quartermaster, Adewale. Pleased to meet ya all."
At the front of his little group it was all Harry could do to keep from shivering in place with excitement. Benjamin Hornigold, Blackbeard, and Black Caesar all on his ship at once! It was a dream come true.
Hornigold eyed the young man and said, "Silent indeed. Is he a mute?"
Answering for himself this time, Harry said, "I simply choose when to speak very carefully. Wasting words is not my forte."
The older man raised a brow and nodded, "I can respect that. Now introductions are out of the way then, what are we gonna do about this here wreck?"
"Nothing." Harry answered.
"Nothing?"
"I already have all I need and I'm more than willing to step aside and let you have your fill as well. Though you'd best be quick about it. I don't imagine Spain will wait long to come looking for all of this."
"Just like that? You'll move away from even more wealth without a fuss?"
"Well…" Harry jerked his head aside and getting the message, Hornigold followed him to the railing where they could both look out over the glittering waves. When they were far enough away not to be overheard, Harry began to set the groundwork. "I have it on good authority that you're working on setting up a pirating colony on Nassau. One with a written set of rules, laws, and expectations, where freedom and profit are prized above all things." As the other man stared with shocked eyes he added, "I want in as an equal partner. I want to become one of the founders of this new Pirate Republic."
"I-I haven't even shown anyone our writ of rules yet, or formalized our lives there. How is it you know these things?" When the younger man only smiled mysteriously without saying anymore, Benjamin sighed, "You take this Silent thing seriously. You have yourself a deal, kid. Help us pack up our holds and you can follow us back. When we all arrive with enough gold to buy an entire country no one will question your place at the top of the heap."
Harry grinned darkly beneath the brim of his hat. "Excellent."
