Save The Date (A Drarry FanFiction)

Chapter Thirty Eight

   He scrambled to sit upright, and gaped at the man glaring down at him. He was dressed in a lavish coat and three pointed hat of the same black, worn leather as his boots. Every finger was encased with golden rings, their jewels glittering in the sunshine as the man looped his thumbs through his belt and rocked on his feet. He had a large, well groomed beard that gleamed black like an oil slick, and care had been taken to weave small beads and – Draco gulped – bones through the hair in decoration.

"Arr, so do ye be the scallywag foolhardy enough to stowaway on me ship, yar?"

Draco blinked, and tried to unravel what he had said, but Bones came to his rescue once again, scrabbling with his peg leg against the slippery decking to crash into Draco's side. "We be simply passin' by, Cap'n," he said through his panting. "We be wishin' no harm, merely the chance to be climbin' that thar mast and headin' on up."

"Cooee!" came a familiar voice from above them, and Draco's heart dropped as he spied the small form of Brandon the leprechaun, swinging from the rigging with several coin purses in his tiny hands. "Look what I found!"

Draco's shoulders slumped as the pirates roared in outrage again. Wonderful timing, he silently commended the leprechaun.

"They be after our doubloons!" the captain bellowed, pointing towards Brandon with malice. The little fellow looked quite stunned at the sudden attention being directed his way, and began scurrying up the mast.

"No, no," Draco cried anxiously. "He's not with us, we weren't trying to steal anything!"

"Listen mateys!" Bones tried, darting back and forth as half the pirates attempted to reach Brandon, whilst the others held them at sword point, assuring they wouldn't try and escape in the commotion. "We be tellin' ye true!"

The captain removed a revolver from his belt, and Draco's heart all but stopped. But instead of also pointing that at him, he fired it into the air, making them all jump in surprise. "We can deal with the wee blighter in a jiffy. He'll not be leaving me ship on those little legs, arr." He grinned down at Draco, his teeth more gold than bone, and his eyes sharp and narrow. "In the meantime, I do believe this scurvy dog has an appointment to be keepin' with me plank."

"No!" shouted Bones, but Draco didn't have time to ask what that meant before he was once again yanked to his feet and pushed roughly forward.

"Just listen!" Draco yelled, trying to pull himself free as panic overwhelmed him. He wasn't sure what a plank was, but from Bones' reaction he was guessing it wasn't anything pleasant. "We came here by accident, we'll leave if you let us!"

"The only way you'll be leaving me hearty," the captain drawled, clearly enjoying himself. "Is down Davy Jones' Locker!"

Draco still didn't understand what that meant, but he was now being thrust in front of a plank of wood that extended out over the ocean waves, and cold fear flickered through him. "What are you doing?" he demanded.

"Me?" the captain asked with feigned innocence. "I'm naught but mindin' me own, humble business. Ye, on the other hand..." He thrust his pistol against Draco's back, and sent him stumbling towards the edge of the plank. "Ye be takin' yerself on a jolly little walk!"

The crew cheered obscenely. "Um, Bones?" Draco whimpered.

"You can't walk it!" Bones cried as the jeering crew held him back. "It'll take you to the fourth level!"

Draco turned and raised his eyebrows. The captain seemed almost bored with him, but as he wasn't trying to make his way back onto the ship, he didn't seem like he was going to shoot him just yet either. "Then I can escape!" he countered, not seeing the problem. The quicker they got themselves away from this foul-smelling lot, the better as far as he was concerned.

"No, no!" Bones shouted over the throng. "It's all abstract down there – without a proper holiday to anchor you, or someone stronger from one of the lands, you'll just get lost in the ether! You'll fade away to nothing!"

Draco stopped edging away from the ship, and felt his jaw go slack with horror. Bugger that for a game of Quidditch. "Alright, ENOUGH!" he bellowed, channelling all his worry and anger and frustration from the day he'd had to endure. At his fury, the crew actually quietened down somewhat, and those nearest the front even took a step or two back, allowing Bones to break free and come join Draco on the plank.