Frozen devotion (on hiatus😔)

Remus Lupin was no ordinary person.

He was ordinary in a lot of the things he did though. He ate three meals a day, he liked to read, he cared about other people and so on. There was a long list of things that made Remus ordinary. There was a small one of things that made him not so ordinary. He had lots of scars on his body, he had two different coloured eyes, he was very tall. Oh and he was the leader of a pirate crew.

Remus’ crew called themselves the marauders. The bringers of trouble and misfortune. He was thirteen when he got thrown into the world of pirates, starvation and money games. He was fourteen when he almost died because his former crew made him walk off the plank. He was seventeen now and he was one of the most feared pirates to have ever existed. Which was surprising actually, because he wasn’t the killer of the crew. He was definitely not the strongest of the crew and he had heavy competition for the smartest of them. But he was the one who built all of them up to what they were now.

Barty Crouch Jr. A family reject, sent away by his father when they got into a huge fight in which Barty told him he had spent millions of dollars from the family vault and he couldn’t get it back. His mother loved him dearly, so she was heartbroken to see him go. She died a few weeks after Barty left. Barty didn’t know that though, Remus knew that from his land spy.

Dorcas Meadowes was a well respected member of their crew. They were the reason they always stayed close to the land. The only one of them who had regular contact with their family. Their parents think they’re studying abroad, but they keep an eye on the isles for Remus. He can’t be a leader of a pirate crew without knowing what’s happening around him, can he?

Pandora Lovegood was a weirdo, yes. But she was an awesome map maker and Remus was surprisingly fond of them. Sure, she did get a little bit over excited from time to time, but he was always kind and caring toward all of the others. They were the reason most of the crew didn’t die from starvation too.

Mary MacDonald was their healer. A skilled med school drop out who needed a well paying job and some new friends. Well paying it did, but after a few weeks she decided to stay with them for a while longer. Whether it was the love of the crew, or the threats of Remus to cut her throat if she ever thought of leaving was unclear.

Marlene McKinnon was the best fighter on board. They were skilled with any weapon, and were almost always the one to lead the raids of other boats. She always kept an eye out for trouble they could create and she was valued deeply for her charisma, perseverance and dedication.

And, personally Remus’ favourite one of the crew, don’t tell him Remus said that though, Regulus Black. Yes, Regulus Black. He was the youngest of the Noble House, but left three years ago when he faked his own death. With his death a part of him died too. He was no longer the sweet, young princess everyone adored. He now was the dangerous second hand of the Remus Lupin and people take you seriously when you tell them that. He acted all tough and mean at first, but when Remus got him alone they truly found a friend in each other. They both liked reading a lot, they listened to the same music, Regulus was a quick learner like Remus, and very intelligent too.

The small difference between the two of them was that Remus didn’t mind killing to get what he needed. He grew up with it and doesn’t know any better. Regulus hates that. He’s fine with torturing people to get his way, but killing just goes too far for him. Remus thought this could be a problem, but it proved to be fine when people believed him only for his word whenever he said he’d kill them if they didn’t give him what he wanted. Turns out people find the entire 5 '4 that Regulus stands tall, scary. Maybe also don’t tell Regulus Remus called him short.

Tonight, Remus was waiting on Dorcas. He was steering the wheel right now, so Marlene could take a break and eat something. Dorcas was on the isle of Godric's Hollow tonight. Remus desperately wanted something from there, but he refused to tell anyone what he wanted. He claimed it would make things a lot harder for them, even though it would just make things easier in reality. It would make them worry about him. About the entire crew and what would happen with them once he got his hands on it.

Remus had run out of ideas to get it years ago. He needed it to get away from here and to live the life he wanted, because he knew this wasn’t everything he could do for the rest of his life. He loved his crew and he loved being the most feared pirate of the seven isles, but he didn’t want that to be his entire life.

‘Nothing. It’s so quiet from the Blacks that I’m doubting if they’re either hiding something from the public eye, or something bad happened and they don’t know how to deal with it,’ Dorcas suddenly spoke from behind Remus. He didn’t jump or flinch, but Dorcas knew he hadn’t expected them there. ‘Nothing? Are you sure? Wasn’t there a party tonight?’ Remus asked them as Dorcas shrugged and soft rain started to fall.

Remus knew there was a ball tonight, because Dorcas brought him all the invitations they received under a fake name. The fake name was a rich, older lady with distant connections to the throne, so Dorcas would get every invitation handed out.

‘I know why they’re quiet. It’s my death day tomorrow.’ Another voice entered from out of the shadows. Remus had known Regulus was there, in contrast to Dorcas. They yelped ‘Jesus!’ before glancing warily at Regulus who gave them a cold look. ‘Did you forget that? Or did you forget that Sirius will be eighteen in exactly thirty days and they’ll keep quiet until then? It only makes sense that it’s quiet from their end,’ Regulus muttered as he glanced at Remus. Remus gave him a quick look which meant “talk to you later” in their language. Regulus didn’t move away from his place in the shadows though.

‘Have you figured out another way to get what you want so badly, Remus? Or have you decided to tell us what you want and let us help you with figuring out how to get it?’ Dorcas asked him, raising their eyebrows. The reaction Remus gave them didn’t satisfy them, but Dorcas knew they couldn’t push Remus any more before they would walk the plank. ‘Almost and no. Take the steering wheel from me, Dorcas. I need to speak with Regulus alone,’ he said as Dorcas nodded and took the wheel from him.

Remus gave her a small nod in appreciation and walked off, Regulus following him in silence. They entered Remus’ room in the same, calm silence. Even as Remus threw a book open on his desk and sat down, motioning for Regulus to do the same, they were silent. ‘I’m starting to get the feeling I’ll never get away from here,’ Remus murmured as Regulus looked at him with a single eyebrow raised. ‘That’s a bit too pessimistic for you Remus. That’s my job you know?’ he said, the smallest glint of a smile on his face. Remus knew it was there, but no one else could’ve possibly seen it.

‘What’s your new plan?’ Regulus asked him, eyeing the book open in front of Regulus. It was about the royal family. Remus noticed how Regulus refused to look at the two, small children on the portrait. He kept his gaze at Remus steadily, his cold, grey stare fixing him in his place. Remus wasn’t scared of him, but Regulus sometimes forgot that.

‘Blackmailing. Maybe the royal family will give me what I want if I kidnap their child,’ Remus said blankly, as Regulus sighed and looked at him. ‘According to them, I’ve been dead for three years, Remus. And I’m not their princess anymore. It won’t work,’ He said as he pinched the bridge of his nose and Remus smiled slyly.

‘I never said I was planning on using you as leverage,’ he said mischievously as he carefully watched Regulus’ brain work it out. ‘No.’ His voice was steady and calm, dangerously calm, but Remus knew he was panicking at the idea of seeing his brother again. ‘It won’t work Remus, they’ll leave him to die,’ Regulus said even though he knew they wouldn’t.

‘I’ve been thinking about that a lot the last few days, yes. But it won’t make any sense for them to leave him to die. They need an heir. Getting Sirius on the throne in a month makes him the perfect puppet for the both of them to still rule. They have been refusing his requests to go out and into the town, because they want to keep their grip on him tight. They’ll give me my blessing to leave the isles and I’ll finally be free,’ he said, flicking the page of the book to one where only Sirius was visible.

Little Reggie stared back at Remus. Before Remus really got much time to glance at the picture though, Regulus slammed the book shut. Remus didn’t flinch, but he did look up at Regulus. His stare blank and bored. ‘We’ve been over this Regulus. As much as you like to, you can’t ignore the old part of you,’ Remus said as Regulus stood up angrily. ‘You don’t get it, Remus. She was never a part of me at all! She was what my parents wanted me to be. Don’t tell me what to do and don’t do. Kidnapping Sirius will never work because he’s protected too heavily for that. Oh, and my parents won’t let you leave the isles ever! Start to realise no one ever comes in or goes out. That won’t be any different for you.’ Regulus said coldly, before storming out and leaving Remus alone.

He sighed deeply and opened the book again. Remus knew he shouldn’t bug Regulus with it, but Regulus was ignoring it as if it never existed at all. Remus knew how risky it was to kidnap Sirius, but it was his best chance at getting the blessing to leave the isles.

Remus didn’t come from the seven isles. He knew there was a family waiting for him, just outside of the seven isles. But that was the problem. Remus couldn’t leave. Whatever he tried he couldn’t. He learned later on in his life that it was because of an ancient curse put over the isles. He couldn’t leave. No one could leave.

Not without the blessing of the royal family.

At first Remus thought it would be rather easy to get his hands on a blessing, seeing as they’re written on documents. He figured that a lot of the ships had them, for all the trading that happened on the isles. Turns out they didn’t. As far as Remus knew, the trading only happened between the seven isles. Regulus was right, in a way. Nothing ever goes out.

But he got in. He was too young to know how, but he somehow did and he wanted to get out. Ever since he was fifteen, when Remus learned about the blessing, he set his mind on getting one. It turned out to be harder than he thought. It started small, Remus acting like a lost boy and walking over the docks to enter on ships and search for the document. But later it became bigger. Remus stole a ship, he built a crew and went on his way to the sea.

He started raiding ships for them, occasionally taking other things with him. He liked the adrenaline it brought with it. The occasional sword fights and regular bickering between two captains. He stole a bigger ship, built a bigger crew and got more dangerous. He got more restless over the years, more frustrated.

He got satisfaction from watching people squirm under his gaze. Something snapped inside of him and he got determined to do whatever he needed to do to get this paper. Even if it meant becoming the most feared pirate ever. Even if it meant he would kill for the papers.

Remus was shaken away from his thoughts by a sharp knock on the door. Marlene. She always knocked hard enough and sharp enough to be recognised.

‘Come in,’ Remus said tiredly, rubbing his forehead and closing the book, putting it in one of his desk drawers. ‘Remus.’ Marlene walked in and sat down before continuing with talking.

‘That’s me,’ Remus answered, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Marlene looked at him sharply with her dark blue eyes and crossed their arms. ‘The last boat we raided, from the brown haired captain?’ Remus nodded to say he understood her. ‘The crew is furious. They sent you a letter, claiming that they’ll be the end of you and they’ll burn our ship before drowning us to the bottom of the ocean,’ they said, slamming the letter on the table angrily. ‘I told you they were bad news and look what you’ve done! Now we’re basically at war!’ she exclaimed as Remus grabbed the letter and opened it.

Remus remembered their last raid very well. It was another great pirate crew, led by none other than Tom Riddle. Remus was scathing when he heard Tom was going on sea. The rich businessman he was shouldn’t be allowed to call himself a pirate. He didn’t steal, didn’t kill, didn’t have any reason to even call himself a pirate. He was on sea to block the real pirates from their missions. So Remus immediately set out to track him and take him down.

Safe to say it didn’t go too well.

Remus’ crew was severely outnumbered and they were in territory they didn’t know, against an opponent who they didn’t know. Remus had gotten a new scar from Tom’ knife there. It was after the fighting happened and Remus’ crew had managed to kill four of Riddle’s crew. Riddle gave up and wanted to talk with him in his room. Remus accepted. It was fairly normal for him, surprisingly a lot of pirate crews in the seven isles gave in before all of them were killed. They wanted to survive rather than die honourably.

So Remus followed Tom and they talked over a glass of whiskey Remus never touched. Although Tom promised he wouldn’t do anything, Remus wasn’t stupid and he didn’t trust the twat at all. He turned out to be right, because the moment Riddle finished his drink he slashed a small dagger towards Remus in attack. Remus was just quick enough to pull back in order to dodge real damage, but it had left a big scar on the left side of his face all the way from his eyebrow to his cheekbone.

Remus slashed his throat after that. He left Riddle there to die and now his crew wanted revenge. Which was reasonable. In a way.

‘Marlene sent them my condolences and tell them I’ll kill them all if they try to do something against us,’ Remus said calmly while he gave her the letter back and they gave him a dry look. ‘Absolutely not Remus. I know you like to make trouble but we can’t have them after us. Not now,’ Marlene said as Remus gave them a chilling look and Marlene stared back. ‘You do as I say McKinnon. Or did you forget what happens if you don’t?’ Remus spat. Marlene glared at him but didn’t object. ‘Oh and send Barty and Dorcas in, please. I need to speak with them about a job,’ Remus said just before Marlene closed the door. ‘Alright captain,’ she said, a hint of sarcasm and anger in their tone. She was lucky Remus was too lazy to stand up and go after them.

A few minutes later Remus heard another knock on his door. Dorcas. She knocked softer than Marlene, but with the same urgency. ‘Come in,’ he said, the door opening to reveal Dorcas Meadowes and Barty Crouch Jr.

‘What do you want, captain?’ Dorcas asked as Remus looked at her dryly. ‘I’m not in the mood for testing Meadowes. I have a job for the two of you.’ Remus fell quiet and stared at Barty’s face for a second as he raised his eyebrow, bored. He won’t be so bored in a few hours.

‘I want you to break into the palace of Godric's hollow,’ he started, Barty already complaining about it. Remus shot him a glare and Barty suddenly became quiet.

‘And I want you to kidnap Sirius Black.’

†