Title: Captain Snape and the Wizard Pirates
Author: S.Malfoy
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters (sadly); I just twist them for my own amusement. They belong to J.K. Rowling.
Note: I decided to write this after reading the story Cabin Boi by Jade , which was about - Challenge 7. Harry signs on as a cabin boy to Captain Snape. (Nimori)
Of course, this is my own plot line; I did not recreate any ideas off of the other author.
Warning! This will be slash between SS/HP later! If you don't like it, don't read it.
This is also an AU – Harry has lived with the Dursleys (who own a bar in between magical and muggle folk, and serve both to their advantage). Harry does have magic, but he has never been trained. They all live in the port town of somewhere :-)
Chapter 1
Purchasing a Cabin Boy
"Damn it boy, I told you to be careful with those glasses!" Vernon Dursley roared, cuffing the dark-haired boy on the head.
"Yes Uncle," Harry murmured, continuing to clean the dirty glass wear behind the bar. He swiped the rag down the scratched, hard-worn surface of the bar, flinging crumbs and droplets of water to the floor.
"And be sure to serve those two down at the end of the bar," Vernon snarled before going back to the office to count the cash in his vault underneath his desk.
The bar, nicknamed The Kidney Stone, sat on the corner of the seaport, right next to the bank. It had a small glass front looking out over the water and various ships docked, and scarred tables and chairs scattered throughout the large dining room. The small kitchen was locked to the left of the room where it housed one cook and one waitress. Harry served as bartender, clean up crew, and all around gopher for everyone involved in the business. It seemed to suit them, Harry thought despairingly.
Looking towards the right down the bar, there sat two men, one light blonde and the other a dark, mysterious man. Harry quickly took stock of the expensive quality and cut of the clothing, the smooth veneer, and arrogant stature of the men and knew they were of high importance. The men around them kept their distance, none daring to come near the bags of coin that hung from their belts.
Harry walked down the bar, another glass in his hand, and said softly, "What can I get for you, gentlemen?"
"Whiskey," the blonde rumbled, smoothing back the long locks of his blonde hair that fell gently into his face.
"A glass of your most expensive red wine," the dark one said, his black eyes taking in the crowd that inhabited the place.
There was a wide variety of characters – thieves, bankers, ship captains; they were all present. The thieves fondled their knives, the bankers patted their money purses in protection, and the ship captains ran calloused fingers caressingly over the brims of their hats. All this was taken in by the man with midnight eyes.
"Yes sirs," Harry said, reaching underneath the bar with nimble fingers, pouring the blonde a shot of fine whiskey. He laid it on the bar before turning to exit the bar, and descended into the wine-cellar next to the kitchen.
He arrived back in a matter of minutes, wiping off the faint layer of dust before carefully uncorking the bottle and pouring a small amount of wine for the man's inspection.
Holding the glass by the stem, he sniffed delicately over the rim with his rather large nose before pronouncing it acceptable. Harry poured more wine into the glass before slipping the cork back into the bottle and setting it inside a bucket of ice next to the man.
Harry silently moved down the bar to take another order, leaving the two men to their private conversation.
"He's well-trained," the blonde said quietly.
"Yes, surprisingly he is," the dark man replied, taking a tiny sip of his wine.
"Good bar manners and he even knew what kind of wine to retrieve," the blonde said, eyeing the boy's slender figure. "And he's not too hard on the eyes either."
"Calm yourself, Draco. Your eagerness is showing," the dark man said with a smirk, his eyes flickering down to the tightening pants.
Draco was an extremely handsome man, his blonde hair falling casually into his grey eyes with the artful grace he always seemed to exude. He was wearing a navy blue uniform with rows of silver buttons and a white ruffled shirt showing at his wrists and throat. His pants were trimmed to show off his lean body and his high calf length boots portrayed the curvature of his leg muscles and elegant ankles.
His face had the classic looks that drew men and women alike to his beauty, his eyes seemingly wide and innocent on a devilishly handsome face. Surrounding his eyes were thin, spiky lashes that set the gray orbs to their best advantage. His cheeks were sharply angled giving him the look of a hungry cat and his lips...his lips were curved into a shameless smile that promised untold delights to those he found worthy of his attentions.
"Well, Severus, it has been a while since I've had a boy in my bed as pretty as he is," Draco smirked. Just as he finished his sentence, Vernon Dursley came charging out of the back room to oversee the dining area and make disparaging comments to his nephew.
Noticing the expensive bottle of red wine sitting before Snape, he growled, picking the boy up by the scruff of his shirt.
"I told you boy, I was saving that wine!"
"But Uncle, he requested the best bottle we had," Harry said, trying to defend himself before ducking to miss the blow aimed at his face.
"Oh really? And what if he can't pay for it, eh boy? It will be coming out of your wages, that's what!" Vernon snarled.
"But I don't get any wages, Uncle," Harry said smartly, a smirk playing around the curves of his mouth. Severus was sure he was the only one to witness the small smile on his mouth, and it made him quite intrigued.
"Don't you talk back to me you twit. I happen to pay you extremely well. I give you room and board, food, and clothing! What more should I pay you with?" Vernon asked rhetorically.
"Gold would be nice sometimes," Harry answered pertly, but failed to evade the smack that broke his glasses into two.
"Now look what you did boy," Vernon said, a satisfied smile curling his fat lips.
"But I can't see to serve people now, Uncle," Harry said quietly, his spirit subdued slightly by the blow.
"Get your other pair," he said, gripping Harry's shirt tighter as if wishing it were the boy's throat.
"You broke those glasses last week, Uncle."
"Damn it boy! Then work blind!" With that said he shoved Harry away from him and turned to huff away, glad to finally get the last word.
"Well, that's just bloody brilliant," Harry snarled, his fingers rubbing his large emerald green eyes in an effort to get them to focus.
Hearing a muffled chuckle to the side, Severus slid a glance at his companion and disliked the appraising look in the blonde's eye.
Snape took stock of the boy's features when he turned back; the large green eyes surrounded by long black lashes, the unruly hair in a messed fop around his ears, and the thin body covered by ripped and dirty clothing. Really, the boy is a mess, Snape sniffed silently. And he smells. He poured himself another drink, and continued searching the boy's features. He had slashing cheekbones, hollowed with lack of sleep, and a mouth puckered in a pout, his chin set in defiance.
His body was thin, hinting a malnourished state, but his pride would not allow him to show weakness, Severus observed critically. Harry would be a hard worker, generally uncomplaining, he finally deduced. But what a little urchin, Snape thought caustically. But he was intrigued, and it had been a long time since he was last interested in something so innocent.
He crooked a finger at the boy, motioning him over. Harry hesitantly complied, his green eyes squinting pitifully, hiding the brilliant green of his eyes. A shame, Snape thought idly as he pulled out a velvet money bag.
"How much?" he asked gently.
"We take all sorts of currencies," Harry said, and his eyes widened. "What are you paying with?"
"Wizard," Snape answered shortly.
"Twenty five galleons," Harry answered promptly, watching carefully as Snape counted out the amount. It was a rather steep price for such an unoriginal glass of wine, he thought, but said nothing.
Draco watched in amazement at the uncomplaining attitude of his captain, sure he had never seen such compliance in Severus. Even Harry was amazed at the cool payment of such an exorbitant price.
Finally I'll be able to get some new shoes, different clothes, and maybe even a new pair of glasses, Harry though dreamily as he pulled the coins toward himself, hurriedly pocketing the money.
He gave a short nod at the gentlemen before walking away to blindly serve another customer that had appeared down the bar.
"I can't believe you just did that," Draco exclaimed in shock. "You know the boy was ripping you off!"
"Aye, I know, Draco. But I want him to trust me," Severus said with a silky smile.
"Why?" Draco asked suspiciously.
"Because I'm going to take him away from here," he answered simply, watching the boy in his surefooted albeit blind movements.
Draco simmered in jealously for a moment before catching the eye of the barmaid and grinning licentiously.
Harry was aware of the undue amount of interest the dark man way paying to him, but tried to ignore the roiling feelings it made deep inside his stomach. It made all of his muscles tighten, even those which made a blush rise along his slashing cheekbones.
Severus could wait all night if he had to; he had no place special to be and no one waiting for him. He waved his first mate off hours later as Draco left, a woman and man wrapped in his arms as they headed outside towards the street, giggling.
Soon enough the bar had begun emptying as it neared close to two am in the morning, and Severus waited patiently as finally Harry had to confront him.
"Sir, the bar is closing now," he said softly, looking down at the rag he was fumbling in his calloused hands.
The barmaid was giving him flickering looks beneath her heavily lined eyelashes, but Severus paid no attention.
"I have a proposition for you...and your uncle of course," Snape said coolly as Vernon emerged from the backroom yet again, his face flushed with malicious victory, gold coins and money paper clutched in his hands.
"What are you still doing here? The bar is closed," Vernon snarled at Severus angrily.
"As I was telling the boy here I have a proposal for both of you," he said stiffly in reply.
"What is it?" Vernon asked, his beady eyes in his pudgy face narrowed suspiciously.
Vernon's eyes took in the vision of the Captain Severus Snape; he wasn't a complete fool, he knew an aristocrat when he saw one. His clothing was tailored and fit his lean, muscled body perfectly, made of a very fine black cloth with solid gold buttons. The pants he wore fit closely to his body, displaying the lean hips and his muscled calves with the gleaming black boots that encased his feet. He wore a black fedora as well, with a small bird plume on the left side of the hat; it had the only vibrant color in his outfit – a brilliant blue and green. His shining midnight black hair was pulled away from his face with a velvet ribbon, completing the vision of strength and power.
"I want to buy this boy," Snape began, but was interrupted briskly.
"For how much?" Vernon asked, his eyes narrowing in greed.
"What are you paying him now?" Severus asked, his eyes cold.
"What did he pay for the wine with?" Vernon questioned of Harry.
"Galleons," he answered, never looking up from wiping down the bar top.
"Then in your currency I pay him 5 galleons a week, plus room and board," Vernon answered Snape with a gleam in his eye.
The lying bastard, I heard the boy say he got nothing, Snape thought briefly before nodding. He did some quick calculations before answering, "I will give you 200 galleons for the weekly allowance, and another 75 for room and board."
"That's not enough," Vernon began but stopped once Snape held up a hand.
"Think carefully now, sir. I am paying you what I believe it would cost him, roughly, to stay here. And if you even think of cheating me anymore than you already have, I will make your life miserable," Severus snarled.
Harry looked up finally from his chore, his eyes hopeful. I need to get out of here, he chanted inwardly. Severus looked at the boy from underneath hooded eyes and nodded once.
"You just can't come here and expect to buy my best worker," Vernon cried, his face reddening angrily.
"You mean your cheapest worker," Snape insinuated silkily.
"That too," Vernon admitted, his face breaking open into a wide, malicious grin.
"I will have the boy," Snape said softly. "I will buy him, or I will take him by force. Take your choice now."
Vernon opened his mouth to argue, but stopped when the captain pulled forth a wand. He shut his mouth audibly, and only nodded his head.
"That wasn't the answer I wanted, Dursley," Snape smirked.
"Buy the little bastard, I could care less," he snarled back.
"Good, I thought you'd see it my way," Snape said with an evil grin.
After Harry had gathered all of his belongings into a single trunk, which Snape shrunk and made less weighty, they exited the Kidney Stone with no little relief.
"Thanks you sir, for rescuing me," Harry murmured, his eyes downcast.
Snape paused outside and lifted Harry's chin to meet his eyes. "You do not need to look down when I speak to you Harry. You are now apart of my crew, and as such you are under my protection." He paused briefly and then asked, "What is your name boy?"
"Harry, sir. Harry Potter."
"Well, Harry, my name is Captain Severus Snape. You may call me Captain Snape, or just Captain if you wish."
"Thank you, Captain," Harry agreed softly, before something occurred to him. "Does this mean I get to go with you on a ship?" Harry asked, his green eyes shimmering in renewed hope.
"Of course, young one," Snape said with a small twist of his lips.
"What will I be doing on your ship?" Harry asked, pausing as a thought hit him, and he blushed.
"You will not be doing that," Snape said, correctly interpreting Harry's flush. He tried not to notice how becoming it was on the young boy. "You will be my personal cabin boy."
Harry nodded, taking this information in. "What does a cabin boy do?" he asked hesitantly as they began walking towards the docks again.
"You will do whatever I tell you to," he answered shortly, his wand grasped loosely in his hand, his dark eyes darting to and fro about the street.
Harry was silent until they reached the looming shadow of the ship. His eyes widened in disbelief at the sheer size and elegance of the monster before him.
It was made of dark wood, bent and molded for speed and strength. The masts were currently folded as they were docked, bobbing docilely in the water, and there was a flurry of movement aboard the ship. Though it was evening, and the light was dimming, the ship crew still hard a work, loading and unloading stock, cleaning decks, and doing whatever it was seamen do. But Harry's attention was captured by the beast on the front of the ship – it was a large sea-foam green snake, his jaw gaping with a lion's head impaled on its fangs while the thick snake body was curled about that of the lion. He shivered at the lifelike painting of blood and venom.
Snape observed his mute reaction to the snake and the lion, and nodded to himself. The boy had passed his first – of many- little tests.
"That is what happens to our enemies. You would do well to remember that, if ever you feel the need for mutiny or betrayal," Snape commented dryly.
Harry shivered, but nodded violently.
"Now, welcome aboard the Sea Snake and make yourself at home."
A/N: Well, more to come, I just couldn't resist the temptation to write a Captain/Cabin boy story with Harry and Snape. I hope you all like it! TBC...