Chapter Text
Epilogue:
The soft humming was drowned out slightly by the crashing waves and the thundering overhead. Regulus’ legs swung back and forth as he traced the gold medallion in his hand, his thumb running over the carved skull and the lettering at the top, thinking of the night he’d been given the necklace, nearly two years ago now.
“Sirius… I don’t understand. Why are you giving me this?”
Sirius didn’t meet his eyes as his steps fell quickly down the stairs, hand gripping his satchel tightly.
“I-I’m leaving, Regulus. I can’t stand it, they want me to be something I’m not and now they’re talking about leaving London and moving to Port Royal… I have to get out of here before that happens. You can come with me…” Sirius stopped at the front door and turned towards Regulus, who was staring at him from the foot of the stairs.
“Come with you? Sirius, where are you even going?” Regulus’ eyes began watering. He really didn’t cry often at all, he was so confused and hurt.
“I don’t know, my friend has a ship. I’m joining his crew.”
“A pirate crew?”
“Regulus…”
“You’re becoming a pirate? You’re leaving me here to become a pirate? Are you joking?”
Sirius looked at him again, his eyes deeply sad and his shoulders drooped.
“I have to, Regulus. You have to know I love you. You will always be my little brother. But I can’t live like this. You have to know this family… this house is not healthy for anyone.” Sirius walked up to him and grabbed Regulus’ hand gently, holding it up to emphasize the deep angry red welts on the back.
Regulus snatched his hand away. “This is normal high society punishment, Sirius.”
Sirius scoffed. “And the bruises you’ve been taught to hide? The scars on your back? The split lips and black eyes we’ve made excuses for? Is that normal, Regulus?”
Regulus’ tears were freely falling now. “Please… Sirius…”
Sirius shook his head before he wrapped Regulus in a hug, the first one they’d shared in a long time.
He pulled back and looked into Regulus’ eyes, before he turned and opened the front door. “Goodbye, Regulus.”
Regulus clutched the medallion tightly in his hand, squeezing his eyes shut and taking deep breaths in. He had been thirteen when Sirius had left. Sirius had been his age now at the time. Sirius’ seventeenth birthday had just passed. The entire day, all Regulus could think about was how he would’ve loved to spend his birthday on the sea like that.
He shook his head. “Probably is anyways.”
He began humming again before the words of the song started drifting from his lips. The same song he and Sirius would chant as they chased each other around the London estate, switching between the roles of the dread pirate Davy Jones and the heroic Henry Morgan.
“Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for-”
Regulus gasped as a man crouched next to him, hushing him with a finger to his lips.
“Quiet, young master. Fearfully bad luck to be singing that shanty in these waters. You’ll bring them pirates straight to us.”
“Mr. Pettigrew.”
The man straightened and stood up as Governor Black walked up to them, his wife on his heels. Regulus noticed the Lieutenant also behind his father, staring at the fifteen year old with curious eyes.
“He was singing about pirates, sir.” Mr. Pettigrew cleared his throat and bowed his head a bit.
“Was he? Or were you filling his head with your nonsensical tales of piracy yourself?” Governor Black sniffed at the ship's hand. “Back to the brig with you, before I have your pay cut.”
“I’m not afraid of pirates, father. Mr. Pettigrew’s tales fascinate me.” Regulus straightened his back as he talked to the Governor.
Barty scoffed. “They should frighten you, Master Black. I could tell you tales that would give you nightmares for weeks.”
“Enough from you as well, Lieutenant. Regulus, we’ll be at Port Royal promptly. Go to your cabin to make sure your bags are well packed and ready.” Walburga sniffed at him as she turned around, the Governor following her.
Lieutenant Crouch winked at Regulus before he also turned, following the other two. Regulus felt his cheeks heat as he turned back towards the water, debris catching his eye.
“Ship wood…” He murmured, eyebrows furrowing.
He watched as more of a ship drifted past, before he gasped.
“A BOY! THERE’S A BOY IN THE WATER!” He shouted behind him.
He turned back to the boy as he heard the Lieutenant shout “Man overboard!”
The boy looked slightly older than Regulus, and he had dirty glasses that were askew, dried blood was trailing from his nose.
The crew pulled him up on the deck, his breathing was shallow and quick.
“Master Black, stay with him while we search for more survivors.” Lieutenant Crouch instructed him. He nodded and kneeled next to the boy, looking out at the burning ship the debris was coming from.
He looked back at the boy, who was making a soft groaning sound, his eyes still closed. Regulus placed a hand in his hair, hushing him softly. “It’s alright. You’re safe now.”
The boy's brown eyes shot open and he gasped, looking around wildly, and Regulus drew back his hand in panic.
“Wh-where…”
“It’s alright, you’re on a ship. We’re nearly to Port Royal.”
The boy gasped in air and blinked confusedly at Regulus.
“I’m Regulus. Regulus Black. Do you remember your name?”
The boy shuddered and nodded. “James. James Potter.”
“You’ll be alright, now James. I’ll watch over you.” Regulus placed his hand back in his hair and James’ eyes shut again, his breath slowing and his shivering subsiding.
Regulus noticed a gold glint coming from James’ shirt. He reached forward and grabbed for it, pulling out a matching medallion to the one Sirius gave him.
“You’re a… pirate?”
“Did he say anything, Master Black?”
Regulus straightened and stood up, hiding the medallion behind his back.
“Just his name. It’s James Potter.”
The Lieutenant nodded. “We didn’t find anyone else. Back on course for Port Royal. Make sure Mr. Potter isn’t harmed, Pettigrew.”
Regulus turned from the boy and back towards the sea, looking down at the medallion. “Pirate…” He glanced back up and frowned when he saw a ship in the distance, through the fog. The ship had pitch black sails.