Maelstrom of Destiny

A/N: This is a crossover fan fiction. Its plot follows neither the Pirates of the Caribbean movies or Harry Potter books faithfully. If you want a story that completely follows canon, or even has a steady plot, then this isn’t the fiction for you. Reviews are appreciated, whether you love it or hate it.

Prologue: The Edge Of The World

The winds were fierce and the seas rough as the regal ship sailed determinedly toward its unholy destination. With its torn and tattered black sails flapping in the raging wind and wicked thunder echoing over the boiling water, the vessel crashed through the dark, frothy waves. High above, a monkey bared its teeth and screeched as it leapt nimbly from mast to mast, trying to avoid the stinging rain, and down below drenched men scurried around the wet deck, trying to keep control of the rolling ship. Every man was working, fighting a death struggle with the storm that raged against them. Every man, that is, except for one.

The captain of the ship stood at the hull against a background of roiling, thrashing sea. Lightning flashed, throwing his profile into brilliant relief. His dark eyes narrowed, his hat pulled down, an almost empty bottle of rum in his hand, he watched as what he had been searching for appeared on the horizon. Ahead he could see a pitch-black expanse where the sea dropped off, falling in a deadly never-ending waterfall. The edge of the world.

“Almost there, mates!” he called over his shoulder to his crew. His first mate, Mr. Gibbs, stepped up beside him, drenched to the bone and smelling of rum and poor hygiene.

“That’s it, then, Captain?” he said grimly, staring at the fabled edge ahead. “Yer sure this’ll work?”

His captain grinned roguishly, exposing blindingly white teeth. “Aye, Gibbs. Over the edge, Jack, she told me, to find meself the map. Once we got the map, we can find the riches.”

Gibbs crossed himself, swallowing hard. “And how, exactly, do ye propose we…return…from the edge?”

The captain shrugged, taking a swig of rum. “I hadn’t really thought that far yet.”

The first mate choked. “Ye…ye haven’t THOUGHT that far?” he sputtered.

The edge approached, and the ship was buffeted from side to side, causing all on deck to crash down. The captain grabbed the hull, his hat tilted back. The ship reached the edge and started tilting downward. Before they plummeted into the unknown, he flashed another saucy grin at the man next to him.

“Here we go.”