Chapter 4
Sirius stood in Regulus’ room, a bag slung over his shoulder with the few clothes of choice he had.
“I’ll be back before you know it,”Sirius said, hugging his brother tightly.
“Be safe,”Regulus said, “Don’t forget about me.”
“Impossible,”Sirius responded, “If anything happens with mum and dad…”
“I’ll find you,”Regulus said, “Have fun.”
Sirius squeezed his brother one last time before sneaking out the estate.
He had only made a few steps away from the stone fence that surrounded the estate when he heard the sound of someone clearing their throat.
“You’re a Black.”
Sirius turned to see Captain Potter leaning up against the fence.
“I told you I would explain once I’m on your ship,”Sirius said.
“The Blacks are trouble, whatever game you are playing, I’m not interested,”Captain Potter said, “I will not allow their daughter-”
“I am NOT their daughter,”Sirius said sternly.
The Captain looked him up and down, his eyes widening with realization.
He didn’t say anything, and instead started walking towards the path that would take them to town.
Sirius followed, staying cautious as they walked all the way to where the ship was docked.
“Captain,”One of the crew members called, looking at Sirius.
“We leave as soon as everyone is back on board,”He said, walking towards a door and opening it.
He gestured for Sirius to step inside, and Sirius’s hand tightened around the knife in his pocket.
Sirius had stepped into what was clearly the Captain’s quarters, with a bed and a desk that the Captain moved to sit behind.
“I don’t plan on hurting you, so you can let go of the knife in your pocket,”He said, pouring a bottle of whiskey into two glasses.
Sirius pulled the bag of money and dropped it onto the desk.
“The other half as promised,”Sirius said.
“Keep it,”He said, “You’ll need to buy new clothes and I won't take money from my crew.”
“I don’t understand,”Sirius said, “I thought you didn’t want me on your ship.”
“I didn’t want Lady Black,”The Captain said, “But you’re not her, you’re Sirius.”
Sirius let out a deep breath, the first time he heard his name from anyone other than his brother.
“So you don’t-you don’t mind me being,”Sirius asked, fiddling the hem of his shirt.
“I don’t accept intolerance on my ship,”He said, “Everyone here is allowed to be exactly who they are.”
“Oh,”Sirius said.
“I apologize for what I said before,”The Captain said, “I want you to know that you are welcome on my ship for as long as you need. I know you mentioned that your fighting skills are lacking, but Marlene can train with you. You can help Peter in the kitchens and also take shifts cleaning.”
“Thank you,”Sirius said, “You don’t understand how much this means, Captain Potter.”
“Call me James,”He answered, “Welcome to the crew, Sirius.”
“What do you mean she’s missing,”Remus asked, looking up at Lord and Lady Black.
“She was last seen at dinner last night, and we are in the process of locating her,”Lord Black said.
“Cassiopeia always does this, makes a dramatic scene in an attempt to get her way,”Lady Black said, “We can assure you that we will find her by the time of the wedding; and if not my brother has three very beautiful and capable daughters that-”
“No,”Remus said, interrupting her, “I will only marry Cassie.”
His mother reached out to grab his arm gently, taking over.
“We offer you our resources to help find her,”Hope Lupin said, “We hope wherever she is she is safe and will postpone the wedding until she returns.”
The Blacks nodded, and Remus looked at Regulus Black, whose face remained stoic and his gaze turned away from Remus.
Remus and his mother left the room, walking through the estate back to their quarters.
“Remus,”His mother said softly, “Honey, calm down.”
“I have to go look for her,”Remus said, “What if she was taken by someone, what if she’s hurt?”
“Then we will find her,”She answered, “But this is a family matter. We can only get involved if they want us to.”
“I love her, mum,”Remus said, “And I haven’t gotten to tell her.”
“Oh, Remus,”His mother responded, pulling him into a hug.
Remus hugged his mother back tightly, before she left for her room assuring him that everything would be fine.
He walked around until he found Regulus in some sort of sitting room.
Regulus looked up from the book he was reading, eyes observing Remus.
“I am sorry to hear about Cassie,”Remus said, “Do you know anything about what happened?”
“No,”Regulus answered, wrapping his arms around himself protectively.
“Okay, well, I was thinking that we could look around her room to see if there’s any clues,”Remus said, “It doesn’t seem like her just to leave without letting anyone know.”
“Just stay out of it,”Regulus said, “It’s none of your business.”
“I just want to help,”Remus said, “I love-”
“Don’t say you love her,”Regulus said, “You can’t love her because you don’t know her. Do her a favor, and don’t make things worse.”
Remus fell silent, turning and walking out of the room.
He wasn’t going to give up on Cassie, not like her family had seemed to.