Captain Voldemort of the Serpentine looked at his two most trusted Captains, the Serpentine was the lead ship in a fleet of six pirate ships, the two captains in front of him captained the Deadly Potion and the Draconis.

Lucius Malfoy, Captain of the Draconis was a disowned lord, used to finery until he was sixteen and caught with his penis inside another man's backside. He had found that an honest days work didn't make enough money and the Navy was too strict. So at twenty-two he had joined the crew of the Serpentine (The only ship in his fleet at that time) and had quickly made his way up the ranks. Making Captain eighteen months earlier of a stolen ship, renaming it the Draconis and having a green and black wooden carving of a dragon made for the front.

Severus Snape, Captain of the Deadly Potion, was another story altogether, orphaned at three, living on the street for four and a half years before being kidnapped by a poison expert who was using street children to test his antidotes on. Severus had been the lucky one, he had got the antidote and survived.

The Potion Expert had taken the clever fingered, quick minded boy and taught him about poisons and antidotes. At twelve Severus had used his skills to kill his Master, who had raping him since the age of eight. He had then become one of the most successful assassins known, at nineteen years of age he was hired by one Captain Voldemort and six months later he had joined the crew. It was only ten months since he had left the position of first mate on the Serpentines by capturing his own ship.

The pair were nearly the same age, Lucius only three years older than Severus but as their backgrounds varied so did their appearance.

Severus Snape was two inches over six foot, black hair pulled back into a ponytail, black eyes and pale skin (the man did not tan), dressed in loose black pants, a black silk shirt and his ever present assassins belt around his waist.

Where as Severus looked like a pirate, albeit a well off one, Lucius Malfoy looked like a lord out on an afternoon sail. Long blonde hair, grey eyes and white skin (Pale but not like Severus) and a slim six foot build encased in well fitting black trousers, white shirt, black waistcoat, cravat and a walking stick. Voldemort knew that the stick contained the Blonde's rapier but Lucius did not look like a pirate.

"The raid was successful?" Voldemort asked the pair, they had just returned from a joint attack on a large passenger ship.

"Yes Captain," Lucius answered, "Only two fatalities and a wealth of treasure if you accompany us our ships."

"Later Lucius, Severus who is your guest?" Voldemort asked, directing his attention to the small raven headed child sat on the Assassin's hip.

"Captain I would like you to meet Harry, Harry this is Captain Voldemort."

Voldemort smiled as the largest, greenest eyes he had ever seen turned and looked at him. He got a small smile before the boy was whispering something in Severus' ear. Severus placed the little boy on the ground, Harry looked about three/four years old and still stumbled slightly as he walked across the deck and scrambled into his knee. Voldemort stared at the boy amazement but instead of pushing him off, Voldemort felt his arms wrap around the small body.

Harry indicated for him to lean forward and when he did, he heard the small boy whisper in his ear.

"I like your tattoo," Harry said as he ran his small fingers over the tattoo of a skull and a snake on Voldemort's right arm.

"Thank-you little one."

"Can I tell you a secret?" Harry asked, still whispering in the older man's ear.

"Of course."

"Sev'rus was a bad boy."

"Was he?" The little boy nodded his head vigourously, "Why? What did he do?"

"He made me get washed in clean, warm water and he gave me clothes, ones that fit. I supposed to wear Dudley's old clothes and wash in the river."

"Who told you that?"

"Aunt 'Tunia, she says I'm a waste of space and a freak, I don't deserve new things like Dudley does. I told Sev'rus 'bout aunt 'Tunia and how he'd get in trouble but he told me not to worry and gave me a sweet. Then I told him I not 'lowd sweets, only Dudley is."

Voldemort felt anger that this little, sweet boy had been mistreated, "Dudley is your cousin?"

"Yes, he is really big and really fat."

"Where are your parents?"

"Dead, died when I was little in a carriage accident."

"Well Harry, I don't think you'll have to go back there anymore-"

"Well I know that, Sev'rus killed them. Dudley screamed when his parents started bleeding everywhere and he screamed even more when Severus got him."

Voldemort couldn't help but smile at the small boy, his aunt was dead but Sev'rus would still get in trouble with her. "Would you like to stay with Severus?"

"Could I?"

"It's all right with me but you had better ask Severus."

Harry jumped off his knee and ran back to Severus, jumping up and allowing the black haired man to catch him. "Can I? Can I stay with you Sev'rus?"

"I'm not sure, are going to be able to help around the ship?"

Voldemort could see the smile in Severus' eyes and knew the assassin would take the boy, he wouldn't have been brought back to the ship if Severus hadn't wanted him. "I can clean and cook a bit, I can sew but not too good yet, I'll get better. Uncle said I bruised nicely and I'm good in the garden but I suppose on a ship you don't have a garden."

Voldemort growled at the thought that this little one had been abused so much that he thought it was all right to say he bruised nicely as a positive point. "Don't worry Harry you will never have to go back there."

Severus nodded and Voldemort could see that the younger man's arms had tightened around the small boy's body. "Don't worry little one, we have a cook to do the cooking and I have my first mate has a boy who does the cleaning and the sewing, I like your skin just like as it is and I do have some plants for you to look after."

Harry nodded, "I like plants."

Severus laughed, "I'm glad would you like to go back to the ship now?"

"Yes, can I say bye to Cap'an 'Oldemont first?"

Voldemort chuckled when the boy asked to say bye and opened his arms for the small child as he toddled back over to his chair. "You can call me Tom," Voldemort told the small boy.

"Thank-you Tom," Harry said as he gave the older man a hug and kissed his cheek, "You have funny eyes, can I get some?"

"I was born like this."

"Oh, see you soon Tom."

Voldemort smiled as the little boy ran back across the deck and was swept back into Severus' arms. "Captain I will have your percentage transferred to your ship, I want to make port Royale (Sorry, I love Pirates of the Caribbean) by tomorrow, this little one needs things."

"Dismissed Severus," Voldemort said, knowing the man would recognise this as an agreement to what the man had said. He could hear Harry already chattering about Port Royale, asking a new question with every breath.

Voldemort turned to Lucius, "Well Lucius, let us go and see your treasure."

"Yes Captain."

Severus carried the small boy across the plank to his own ship and then to his own cabin, for now Harry could share a bed with him. Once they reached Port Royale he could get some clothes, toys and a small hammock. "How are you little one?" He asked, placing his small bundle on his bed.

"My leg hurts."

Severus nodded and kneeled down, rolling up a too big trouser leg to find the bandage he had put on the younger man when he had dressed him a few hours earlier. He swore when he saw that blood had come through it, he carefully unwrapped the wound, glad that it looked like it had stopped bleeding. He removed a pot of healing salve from his cupboard and slowly rubbed it into the wound, being very gentle, not wanting to hurt his new friend.

"Better?" He asked, knowing the salve not only would boost healing but numb the area slightly.

"Thank-you Sev'rus."

"You are welcome Harry," He said as he found a clean bandage and wrapped it around the wound, knowing it had to be kept clean.

"Tom is nice and 'Ucis is really pretty."

Severus didn't think he had ever heard anyone describe Captain Voldemort, leader of the Death eaters and Captain of their lead ship nice before but he had definitely heard Lucius described as nice.

"You'll like Draco then."

"Draco?" Harry asked curiously as he was picked up again and led out of the cabin. Severus knocked on the door next to his and smiled at his first mate when he opened the door. Marcus Flint had been seventeen when Severus had recruited him and at twenty made one hell of a fine first mate.

"Who's the little one Captain?"

"Marcus this is Harry, Harry this is Marcus Flint, my first mate. He'll help you if I can't little one."

Harry stuck his hand out, like he had seen his uncle do on meeting new people, "Nice to meet you Mar'us."

"You to Harry, you going to be helping the captain?"

Harry nodded his head, "Yep, I got to look after his plants. Sev'rus said I don't gotta cook or sew and that he likes my skin just as it is, no bruises."

Severus caught Marcus' quick frown at the last part of Harry's sentence and smiled when the younger man quickly smiled back at Harry. "We are here to see Draco?"

"He's sewing at the minute and I am about to go on shift but you are welcome to come in," Marcus said and backtracked into his cabin. Severus followed, still carrying Harry, smiling when the small black haired head came to rest on his shoulder. "Draco we have guests."

Severus smiled as the small blonde jumped to his feet, he looked exactly like a younger and smaller Lucius. At sixteen Lucius Malfoy had married his neighbour Narcissa Black with a threat of marriage or death from his father. Nine months later and Draco Lucian Malfoy was born, two years later when Lucius had been disowned and joined the Death eaters, Draco had been left with Narcissa and his family.

It had been only sixth months since Lucius had approached him for a favour, his twelve year old son had run away and found his father, wanting to become a pirate. Lucius couldn't take him on his own ship so had asked Severus to take him. Severus had agreed, thinking he needed a cabin boy but hadn't been upset when Draco had asked to live with MArcus. He had agreed as long as Draco still did his tasks in the Captain's cabin.

"Captain," Draco called then smiled at Harry, "Hello I'm Draco," he said holding his hand out.

Harry leaned over and shook the blonde's hand, "I'm Harry, you pretty like 'Ucis."

Draco looked up at the captain in confusion, "Lucius."

"He's my dad."

"You lucky, my dad died."

"Yes I'm lucky-"

Whatever else the blonde had been going to say was interrupted by Harry's stomach. "Hungry Sev'rus."

"Yes you are little one, would you like Draco to show you where the kitchen is?"

"Is Draco nice?"

"Yes he is very nice."

Harry seemed to concentrate hard for few seconds, "'kay Sev'rus."

Severus smiled and put the small boy down, Harry reached out and took Draco's hand. He was glad that the pair were getting on, he hoped that Draco could act as an older brother to the smaller boy. "Draco you can show him around after you've eaten but be careful, he hurt his leg pretty badly so if he starts limping then take him straight back to my cabin."

Draco nodded then kneeled down, "Would you like to ride on my back?" Harry nodded excitedly and scrambled up, "A bit looser Harry."

A few seconds later Draco stood up and with a last wave to Severus and Marcus, the pair went to eat. "Where did you pick this stray up Sev?"

"The last raid, he was abused by his family, but I think with some training he will be a good fighter and a good captain when he reaches age."

Marcus nodded, "He seems like a nice lad."

"He is, I'm hoping Draco will help with his learning of life on the ship."

"I'm sure he will Sev, where we heading to now?" Marcus asked as he poured them both a shot of Rum.

"Port Royale, I need to get somethings for our new guest."

Marcus nodded, "Just as well, I need to do some shopping for me and Draco anyway."

"A shopping trip it is then."

TBC

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