Chapter 1
Sirius Black could not believe his luck.
Within two weeks, he had secured and outfitted a sloop and now had a complete crew. Macdonald was belowdecks in the galley, cooking up something delicious. Shacklebolt and Longbottom were hoisting the jib. The Prewett twins were teaching Fenwick to tie knots. Lovegood was in the crow's nest, watching the weather. Vance and Dearborn were swabbing the deck.
He had handpicked each member of the crew--Macdonald was the chef in his parents' house and he had promised her better pay and better company. Shacklebolt, Longbottom, and the Prewetts were fairly established pirates who'd had read the signs Sirius had hung up in dodgy bars. Lovegood was a childhood friend of his, hoping to escape an arranged marriage. Vance was on the run from the crown and wanted a place to hide. Dearborn was a militiaman who'd lost his rank and needed some cash.
Some said that having three women on board was a poor choice, but Sirius didn't much care. He was just happy to be leaving London--and the Black legacy--behind him.
"Captain, are we ready to shove off?" Longbottom asked.
"That we are, Longbottom," Sirius replied. "that we are."
Sirius turned away from the sea and addressed everyone on deck. "Alright, mates, it's time to untie! Kiss this city goodbye."
Shacklebolt and the Prewetts began untying from the dock pilings and Dearborn pulled up the gangway. Sirius could barely contain his joy. No more responsibilities. No more stuffy dinners. No more Bellatrix. None of it.
He felt a twinge of guilt at leaving Reg behind but pushed it aside. He was free. Reg could have come along, but he elected to stay.
"Wait! Wait!"
Sirius looked down the dock to see a man sprinting towards the ship.
"Please don't leave, I need to come with you!"
Sirius looked at Shacklebolt, who shrugged but stopped untying the rope attaching them to the last piling. Sirius looked back at the man, who was rapidly approaching their berth. He recognized him vaguely.
"Potter?"
The man had now come to a stop and was incredibly out of breath but grinned proudly. "That's me!"
Sirius raised his eyebrows. He had not grown up with Potter, but had heard of him--the Potter family was very close to the queen, and James had recently taken up his father's mantle as a privateer. Except...Sirius had heard a story about him recently. Some controversy about his ship, maybe?
"James Potter wants to join my crew?" Sirius asked, still perplexed.
James nodded confidently. "I certainly do, Black."
"And why does a privateer want to join a pirate crew?"
James Potter blushed. "On my last voyage, I crossed paths with some pirates. Remus Lupin's ship. I was told to take Lupin and his men as prisoners, but they bested us and stole all of our loot. We rowed back to London in a lifeboat if you can believe it."
Sirius laughed good-naturedly. "I do love a revenge plot, Potter. Welcome aboard!"
James blushed deeper.
"It wouldn't be...revenge. When I was on Lupin's ship, I met his first mate. Met is not the proper word, actually. She tried to kill me," he smiled as he said this. "What a woman! I want to join your crew because I just hope to make her acquaintance."
Sirius didn't know what to make of this. He'd heard of Potter's skill on the water, his cutthroat skills at seizing loot and burning enemy ships. It was hard to believe that he was willing to throw away his fame and fortune for a woman he barely knew. Love. How very inspiring.
"Well, what are you waiting for then, lad? Your murderous pirate love awaits."
James Potter laughed.
"Dearborn, bring the gangway back, please. James Potter, disgraced privateer, has chosen to board our ship," Sirius called over his shoulder.
James Potter clambered aboard and introduced himself to the crew with a smile. Sirius didn't say anything yet, but he had a feeling that Potter would make a good first mate.
Shacklebolt untied the last piling and Sirius couldn't bring himself to look back at London as they started sailing away. Everything was going exactly as planned.