Unofficial Portkey Archive

Skulls and Crossbones

By: Kneazle

Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling. Ideas are taken from Peter Pan, Peter Pan: Return to Neverland, Hook, The Adventures of Nate and Hayes, Disney's Shipwrecked, Captain Ron, Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the Princess Bride, Disney's the Little Mermaid, Disney's Muppet Treasure Island, Cutthroat Island, The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.

~*~

Chapter Eight

Draco stood leaning casually against the smooth wood rail that was near the ship's pilot. Harry stood next to him, his eyes scanning the rolling blue-green waves.

"So… where are we going?" Draco asked.

"Devil's Inlet."

Draco nearly got whiplash from moving his head to face Harry. "Excuse me, mate? I thought I heard you say 'Devil's Inlet.' I know you could not have said that, because no one goes there and survives."

Harry merely grinned. "Well, obviously someone did, because that is where my father's treasure is located. Somewhere on Devil's Inlet."

Draco grumbled. "Well, it doesn't help that you don't have the last piece."

Harry stilled. His emerald eyes became fixed on Draco. "What did you say?"

Carelessly, Draco repeated himself. "I said, it doesn't help that you don't have the… last…"His eyes widened and he realized what he had just slipped.

Harry's fingers sprawled across Draco's neck, crushing his windpipe. His eyes blazed in the fading twilight and a scowl replaced his normally stoic features. "Tell me everything. Now."

Draco was trying to claw Harry's hand away from his neck, all the while calling out hoarsely, "Riddle. He has the last piece. It was on the Princess."

Harry's fingers twitched reflexively but he slowly released Draco, anger radiating off of him. "What do you know?"

Draco gulped in deep breaths of air as he backed away from Harry. "Nothing else. Look, Riddle has the piece you need, but you have everything else. You're safe!"

Harry frowned. "No. I'm not. He has Hermione."

"So you plan an attack. You're safe there, too."

"Like I said, no, I'm not. He has Hermione, and he has the final piece. I'm not safe because I don't - and won't - risk Hermione. Is that clear?" Harry frowned. "Why are you telling me this?" Harry asked.

Draco sighed, rubbing his neck gingerly where he was sure there would be some odd bruises later that day. "Potter, do I really have to tell you, or are you that daft? We're mortal enemies. We're going to find a fabled treasure that only your father knew about. A fabled treasure that apparently makes peasants kings and kings Gods. I want that treasure. I want to kill you."

"I sense a 'but' in there," Harry said dryly, raising a single eyebrow. He crossed his arms and cocked a hip to one side as he listened dispassionately to Draco as he spewed out his monologue.

"But," Draco flashed a feral grin, "but to do all that, I need to help you first. You can go and kill Riddle, I'll be fine and dandy with that - but then it's you and me."

Harry shook his head, letting the tip of his chin rest against his chest. His shoulders shook with sarcastic laughter. "Let me get this straight - you're going to help me find the treasure. Okay, fine. Then, you're going to help me take out your father and Riddle. I understand that too. But then you think you can kill me? Me, the notorious Harry Potter, the one you fought before and lost to?" Harry paused, before smiling. "You're on, Malfoy. We have an accord." His eyes were narrowed and fixed on the blond before him. "Don't betray me. Savvy?"

Draco gulped audibly, noticing Harry's glinting eyes. "Savvy," he replied in a breathless voice.

The crew of the Marauder waited patiently until dark, coasting through the thick, murky water that surrounded Devil's Inlet. The brig dodged boulders that jutted out of the black water, like fingers of skeletons that led them to their death.

No stars shone in the black sky, as clouds coiled and gathered, and the rumble of thunder was heard in the distance.

"Will they be there?" asked Ron to Harry, standing by the pilot.

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. All I know is that I'm going to Devil's Inlet with my crew and we're going to look for Riddle's camp. Once there, we'll take his map and find that damn treasure. If Hermione's there, it's an added plus; but I wouldn't put it pass Riddle to leave her onboard the Dark Mark."

"Did you just say, 'damn treasure'?" Ron's incredulous voice rose over the silent deck. A few members glanced up at them, but Harry's angry glare had them going back to their work.

"Yes, that damn treasure," repeated Harry, a frown marring his face. "I don't want that anymore, Ron. I just want to make sure Hermione's safe."

"Aha!" the redhead cried. "So you finally admit it. You love her."

Harry bowed his head. "And I'm going to lose her if I don't do something to save her."

Ron frowned, confused as to why Harry didn't say that he loved her, after his obvious announcement, but sighed. "Well, if you're going to save her - and that's a big if she is on the island - you're going to need a plan."

Harry raised his eyebrows. Ron grinned.

"And that's where I come in."

>><<

The island's foliage was dense and thick. The air was heavy with heat and the ever-present thunderclouds rolled leisurely above the island; if one of the crewmembers were to look up, they would barely have a chance to see the puffy, dark gray clouds, because the trees were so thick and abundant in the jungle.

Harry led the crew with Draco and Ron behind him. In his hand, Harry had his cutlass and pistol; he systematically cut the large, star-shaped leaves out of his way, his eyes narrowed with determination. All he wanted to do was to get to Hermione, and make sure she was safe. He hoped that she wasn't too hurt, and that she was on the island to make things easier, but he knew, deep in his gut, that Riddle wouldn't make things easy. He liked to make Harry suffer, and he didn't show mercy. While it was important to get to Hermione, (after all, Harry did care for her) Harry knew that Malfoy was the weakest link in the chain of Harry's crew. One wrong move, and Harry would know where his loyalties lay… something Harry wasn't too sure of.

After a while, Harry began to slow down. The burning pain in his arm showed that he had been relentless to the greenery around him, but that he was using too much energy too fast.

"Why are we stopping?" asked Ron, in a whisper.

"Because of that, Weasley," drawled Draco, pointing between two hibiscus bushes and at the flickering firelight. Ron glowered at Draco, sneering lightly before turning his body so that a shoulder was between the two. Draco's eyebrows rose and he rolled his eyes in response.

"Would you two stop acting like children?" snapped Harry, with uncommon anger. "We've got a dangerous mission to do and you two are acting spare!"

Draco just dragged the toe of his buckletop boots across the dirt, shuffling in apology, while Ron mumbled, "S'rry."

Harry nodded, pleased with their actions (for now), and spoke up. "All right. I want Fred and George to take six members and head around to the north side of the camp to cut them off. We'll block them in. The last ten of you, I want you to split up and each take the east or west side. Decide now. Draco, Ron," Harry looked at them. "You're with me. No funny business, now."

Ron gave Harry a look, but Draco openly sneered. Then, they slowly moved forward, careful to not get caught on any overturned or loose ground, roots, or snakes. The three of them moved steadily forward, until Harry was sure they were in a prime position to see the whole camp. He glanced back to see Draco behind him, but Ron was staring at something near his face with a look of terror etched on it.

"What is it, Ron?" he hissed.

Ron visibly gulped. "There's a spider, and it's right. In. Front. Of. Me."

Harry rolled his eyes and Draco audibly moaned, "Oh, Lord, not this, not now," but moved forward, swiping at the spider who had dropped down on a thin web from a hanging branch.

"Grow up, Weasley," snapped Draco. "We're here to save the bloody day, not get scared by silly little spiders."

"It was a big spider," argued Ron, narrowing his eyes. "Not little."

"Enough!" Harry whispered furiously. His eyes glittered in the dark as he looked at the two. "Enough with this petty quarrel. Either end it now with a scuffle or get over it. Savvy?"

Draco glared, but Ron nodded. Satisfied, Harry nodded once and then motioned for the three to follow him. The closer they got, the more nervous Harry became. What if Hermione was there and she got caught in the crossfire? What if she was hurt?

"We only need one person to go in there and get the map. Any idea of where it'll be, Draco?" Harry asked, raising a single eyebrow.

Draco nodded; "Nott'll probably have it on him."

"On?" Ron asked. Draco scowled. "Yes, Weasley - on. He'll probably wear it around his neck for safekeeping."

"So how do we get it off him?" Harry asked, instead, hoping to diffuse any future verbal attacks between the two.

Draco tapped his chin thoughtfully. "We'll probably have to use a knife to lift it carefully, and then cut it from his neck."

"Difficult," murmured Harry. He was silent, thinking, while Ron nervously looked above himself to make sure no spiders were going to drop on him, and Draco picked at the dirt under his nails.

"Are we going to be here all night, or what?" Draco finally sighed.

Harry turned to him slowly. "I was thinking who would be best to go down there, but I think you just volunteered yourself, Draco," Harry replied.

Draco stopped cleaning his nails abruptly, blinking at Harry owlishly before moaning, "Bugger."

>><<

Draco crept silently into the camp, careful of the popping embers in the fire that could arouse any of the sleeping men around it at any time. Draco was sure that the final piece that Harry and he wanted so badly would be in one of the makeshift tents that were erected. Nott, one of the higher up members of Riddle's crew, would most likely be in one of the rooms.

On the balls of his feet, Draco moved stealthily into the first of three erected tents and allowed his eyes to adjust to the complete blackness around him. Whoever was in there had not left a candle burning for light. A shiny, polished pistol and cutlass were placed within easy reach of the person lying on a mat on the dirt floor.

Draco kneeled slowly, careful of any noise his clothing could make, before glancing at the man's face. Hollow eyes, taunt skin pulled over cheekbones, and pale brown hair let Draco know that he had made it on the first try - Nott lay before him, asleep, judging by the snores the man was letting out.

Letting out a silent sigh, Draco began to pull out his dagger from his boot. A thin strap of rope lay in an obvious pile at the base of the man's throat. Draco had the tip of his knife under the coiled rope and slowly pulled it up to see the final piece of the map attached to it through what looked like nail-sized opening.

"Got you," he breathed, taking two points of the rope and methodically cutting it apart. Once that was done, Draco stood and pocketed the map into his boot, along with the knife after it.

He then turned and left the tent, making sure to check the other two, in case the princess was in any of them. He was sure Potter would ask. In the second tent was nothing but crates of food, ammunition, and pistols. Draco left it after taking two new pistols that looked to be in much better shape than his present one.

In the third tent were maps. Hundreds upon hundreds of maps showing locations that Draco had never heard of, and some he had. Draco let his eyes fall onto the one nearest him, his eyes widening in recognition. It was a map of Devil's Inlet - a crude one at that, but one nonetheless. Narrowing his eyes, Draco immediately took in all his surroundings and felt a shiver run down his spine. It was time for him to leave the camp, as soon as possible. Now, actually, would be nice.

With that in mind, Draco turned on his heel, carefully scuffling along the dirt floor so that his boot's soles were not imprinted on the ground, and disappeared into a nearby bush.

>><<

"I didn't expect Potter to fall for it so easily," a tall man with blond-white hair and cool blue eyes commented idly.

A pair of red eyes narrowed. "It does not matter. He has the final piece now." The man smiled and glanced around the camp where his crew was faking sleep. Their eyes were open, but remained unmoving in case some of Potter's crew was still looking on.

"What now, sir?" Lucius Malfoy asked, his hands folding neatly together behind his back.

Tom Riddle glanced at him. "We follow. We attack," he grinned. "We take."

"And then?"

Riddle's red eyes glowed unnaturally. "We win."

>><<

Harry's eyes glowed triumphantly when he saw Draco return, a smirk plastered on his face; however, his eyes did betray the worry and concern that he held. Harry decided he would ask him about it later.

"You've got it, I presume?" Harry asked, smiling slightly. "Excellent job, Draco."

"Thank you, Potter," he replied stiffly, handing Harry the final piece.

While he had been in the camp, the others had been gathered and Harry was now ready to storm either the camp, or find his long-awaited treasure.

"Brilliant, mate!" Ron crowed, before he realized whom he was complimenting. "I mean, uh, that was easy. Anyone could have done that."

Draco rolled his eyes, before nodding at Harry. "We'd best hurry up."

Taking the hint, Harry's eyebrows rose slightly before calling out, "Let's go, crew! We've got a treasure to find!"

Harry, leading the way, pulled his cutlass out and began to cut a path through the palm trees and bushes, feeling happier than he ever had.

No, he thought, that's not right. I'm happier than this when I'm with Hermione.

Hermione…I'll save you. I promise.

With determination in his eyes, Harry continued at a brisk pace, Draco and Ron behind him, the latter who seemed to be humming something under his breath.

With a groan, Harry realized just what song it was. "Ron! This is no time for your 'yo, ho, ho' song," he sighed.

Ron just looked wounded. "But, Cap'n," Ron whined, but a teasing glint was in his sapphire eyes. "It's a pirate's life for me!"

Harry groaned and Draco shot Ron an unreadable look.

Instead, Draco asked, "What does the map say?"

"Twenty-eight paces from the Fist of the Gods," recited Harry patiently. "We need to find this Fist of the Gods."

"What's that?" asked Ginny. Everyone looked perplexed.

"A bush, perhaps?" asked Seamus.

"Maybe a marking of something?" tried Ron. Luna, however, remained smiling.

Harry caught her glance and his lips tweaked. "Well, Luna, why don't you share what you know?"

Luna smiled gratefully, casting a quick glance at Ron before pointing slowly on an angle slightly upwards and to their north. Harry's eyes followed her line of sight, until he saw what she was pointing at.

"Excellent, Luna," Harry murmured, a grin on his face.

Directly ahead of them to the north, on top of a green mountain was a rock - a rock shaped like a large fist.

Laughter sounded at the back of the group, and with a renewed vigor, the crew began their pace through the damp forest to make their way to the mountain.

Once they reached the base of the mountain, Harry informed them to be on their guard in case anything would happen. He would only take Ron, Draco, Ginny and Luna up with him.

The rest of his crew nodded, accepting his decision, and settled down on rocks and against trees to wait. The climb to the top of the ledge where the rock sat wasn't too tiring, but Harry had other things on his mind - the sooner he found that treasure, the better. Then he'd be able to get to Hermione and live the rest of his life out in relative peace, or so he hoped.

Once at the ledge, Harry returned his gaze to the map while the others scouted. Ron and Luna stood near the very edge of the platform, surveying the island.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" she asked, in an awed, whispery voice. Ron glanced down at the shorter woman, and nodded.

"It is," he agreed, before the tips of his ears turned slightly red. He quickly let his eyes dart forward to take in the lush, deep emerald green covering. There were patches of brown around the rim of the island, dunes filled with sand and shells. And, there was a brief tendril of smoke that was rising - smoke…

"Harry!" shouted Ron, turning on his heel, and pointing in its direction. "The camp has moved! They packed up!"

Harry frowned, glanced once at Draco who gave a small nod, and his frown deepened. "Luna, Ginny, I would hate to ask the two of you, but go down and inform the others. Be careful."

The two girls nodded and disappeared quickly into the wildlife. Within seconds, Harry couldn't even hear them anymore.

"We quicken the pace," Harry informed the remaining pirates. "The map says we moved seventy-five paces from the west of the Fist of the Gods."

Ron and Draco fell in line behind Harry, glancing around them continuously. Harry began muttering the paces, cutting away methodically.

"Fifty-three, fifty-four, fifty-five, fifty - bloody hell!" Harry's counting was cut off with a frightened call. Ron and Draco reached out for Harry and wrapped their hands around his shoulders and upper arm, holding onto him tightly as they pulled him back from the edge.

Where his next pace was to be, was nothing. The ground gave away to a sheer, red, brown and yellow vertical cliff that delved into greenish blue foaming water that crashed against the stone with loud roars.

Ron whistled slowly. "How do you get into these scrapes?"

Harry shook his head. "Where are the final twenty-five paces?"

Draco frowned and glanced over the edge, sneering. "It looks like its twenty-five out there," he finally said, pointing to the water.

Ron shook his head. "I doubt it. How about twenty five straight down?" a crooked smile appeared on his face and Harry laughed, clapping him on the back.

"Brilliant!"

The trio got to work, tying a thick cord rope around the base of a tree. They dragged the rope back to the cliff, glancing down more than once while Harry and Draco decided to wrap themselves around the rope securely.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" asked Ron, for the hundredth time. His blue eyes shone worriedly, and he bit his lower lip until it bled.

"I'm sure," Harry answered. "Get ready to hold our weight. I know you can do it, Ron." And with that said, he jumped off the ledge and began to skim it slightly with his body inching down.

Draco, he saw, did the same from a few feet above him. They counted as they went down, and when they reached seventy-five, their feet landed on a tiny ledge that was no more than three inches wide.

Before them was an oval, gaping entrance to a darkened cave.

"You find anything yet?!" shouted Ron. Harry tugged on his line to indicate yes, and Draco's eyes glittered.

"Shall we swing in, Potter?" he asked. Harry nodded, and together they used each other as momentum to swing into the mouth of the cavern.

When they safely landed on the cool rock, Harry and Draco untied their ropes from their waists and looked around.

"Fairly dark, isn't it?" Draco commented, narrowing his eyes in hopes of seeing further.

Harry wrinkled his nose, wiped at his glasses, and then pulled out his pistol. Draco jumped.

"Christ, Potter, watch where you're pointing that thing!" he snapped as the barrel grazed over him slightly.

Harry just gave an innocent smile in return, before firing. Immediately a couple yards ahead of them a pile of dried leaves burst into flames.

Draco stared in amazement. "What the bloody hell was that?" he finally shouted.

"'Let the dead ones guide you; light their fire,'" recited Harry, glancing down at the map. "Apparently, that was a dead body, and we were supposed to ignite it."

"Apparently," echoed Draco, rolling his ice-cold eyes. "Let's continue this, then."

Harry stepped towards the burning pile of leaves and found a pile of kindle just behind it. He took one branch and lit the end, motioning for Draco to follow him. Harry started moving towards a large gap in the rock, which was dark.

The rock around the gap was light brown, with puddles of water here and there; some droplets of water snaked down from the ceiling's rock formations and gave a tiny drip-drip as they fell into the puddles. They crept slowly through the passage, which got narrower as they continued on, shivering as cool breezes wafted over them, and when skittering noises were heard behind and in front of them.

"What next?" whispered Draco, one hand placed against the smooth surface.

Harry glanced down at the map and read, "'Fall down into the belly of the Gods, where you will find what you seek.'"

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Draco, frowning. His voice suddenly took on a hard edge.

Harry could only shrug. "I don't know. I'm only reading what it says here, and it says belly of the Gods. Savvy?"

Draco swallowed. "Where are we supposed to go now?"

Harry turned around, sighing in annoyance. "How am I supposed to know, Malfoy? I've never been here before!"

"You should know, this was your father's!" snapped Draco back. He took a step forward, invading Harry's personal space, and Harry took one back to keep space between them. His eyes suddenly widened, and his hands windmilled, before he disappeared, letting out a loud cry.

Draco paused. He glanced around, looking for Harry.

"What the hell?" he wondered out loud, before taking a step forward to hopefully crunch Potter's glasses; instead, he stepped on air and found himself falling face-first against a slippery incline, sliding down a tunnel slide of some sort. When he finally stopped, he landed in a pool of water, inhaling it. He shot to the surface immediately, spitting out the water.

"Damn you, Potter! You always find trouble, don't you?"

Harry, who was treading water only a few feet from him, glared. "Trouble finds me, I don't go looking for it!" he replied hotly. "Besides, have you looked around, Malfoy?"

Draco, who hadn't, did so now. Gold light sparkled off the dark walls, and a few beams of moonlight came filtering from above them, highlighting and landing on a mound of gold and colour only a couple meters away from them. Around the pile of gold was a smooth, flat surface.

"Where are we?" whispered Draco.

"In the belly of the Gods," Harry replied smugly. "And in the secret cavern where my father hid the treasure." He pointed upwards, visibly from where they were, at the wall behind the treasure. "The Potter crest."

Sure enough, there was a picture of two swords crossed and a phoenix rising from between the two. Underneath it, were words indented into the stone. Draco was rubbing his hands together, gleefully, as he stared at the large amount of gold coins, scepters, jewels, and other miscellaneous items there were. He took a couple strokes toward it, mesmerized.

"Malfoy. We don't have all day. Come here and we'll start to divvy the gold up; we can't bring all of it to the Marauder in one go," said Harry, who had already swum to the far side of the pile, on the smooth rock surface.

"Why should I?" Draco asked slowly. He pulled himself up onto the ground, out of the water, dripping wet and still managing to look dignified.

Harry frowned. "Why should you what?"

Draco flipped his fringe out of his eyes and smirked. "Why should I help you?"

Harry's eyes flashed dangerously. "Excuse me?"

"You heard right, Potter," sneered Draco, "Why should I help you, my enemy? We don't even like each other very much." He turned and glanced at the gold, the light reflected in his eyes. "After all, you have this large fortune on your hands, and why… I'll just have to… relieve you of it."

"You dirty bastard!" shouted Harry, yanking his sword out of its sheath at the side of his left thigh. "You double-crossing little shit-nosed piece of scurvy fungus!"

Draco's eyes gleamed. "Thank you." He drew his own sword, the thin streaks of moonlight hitting the metal. "I did always say that I wanted to be the one to kill you, Potter. No one else. You and me."

Harry glared and took a crisscrossing step over his left, keeping his eyes on Draco.

"One wrong move," he mouthed, while Draco openly laughed, charging at him. He thrust, and Harry parried; Draco took a step back and lunged again, grazing Harry's right arm, making him hiss in pain. He took a quick step forward, jabbing at Draco and managing to get the man's sword arm as well.

"Damn you!" snarled Draco. Harry gave him a cheeky grin, saluting him with his heavy sword. "Tit for tat, Malfoy - tit for tat!"

With a cry of rage, Draco swung the sword through the air, arching down on Harry's. He did it three times; back and forth, right to left, back to right. Harry moved up with each swing, blocking expertly.

"Oh, come on, you can do better than that!" he crowed, then froze at the déjà vu words that came out of his mouth: they had been Sirius' last words before he had died.

Harry barely reacted when he saw Draco's sword sail through the air and aim for the junction between his neck and shoulder, but his brain registered it and Harry nimbly leapt to left, feeling the air moved as the sword came down, inches from where he last stood. The tip of the blade clanged against the rock floor, making sparks fly at the impact. Harry immediately took advantage, kicking Draco's hand that held the sword. The man grimaced, but held on tight, grabbing onto the hilt with both hands and bringing it up again, this time moving again in the back and forth motion, but Harry kept in pace, stepping back or stepping forward to deliver a hit himself.

"Why are you doing this?" Harry shouted, feeling a roll of sweat travel down the back of his neck. Draco's normally pale face was flushed and his cheeks were tinted pink.

"Why do you think, Potter?" sneered Draco. "I've always wanted your treasure, your title, your everything. You've got all you've ever wanted while I've got nothing!"

"That's not true! You have a father and mother - someone who loves you, might I remind you, Malfoy - and a home; you're not an outcast, you best others in duels, so why? Damnit, why?" Harry shouted back.

Draco paused, taking in a deep breath. "Why do you think, Potter? You're the best. I want to be the one who brought down the best - and take his treasure too, as spoils of war!"

"It's my legacy!" Harry snarled at the blond man.

"And my future!" Draco shouted back. He lunged again, smacking hard against Harry's blade. With his knees bent and his elbows at a ninety-degree angle, Harry gritted his teeth and pushed back with all his might.

He toppled to the floor, Draco coming down from above him, but rolled out of the way. Harry then kicked Draco in the stomach, angling his body away from the sword that narrowly missed him.

Instead, Harry swung his sword and connected with the flesh of Draco's thigh, cutting through the pants and into the skin. Draco's face paled some more, and he took a few staggering paces back.

"Damn you, Potter. Damn you!"

Harry slowly rose, leaning heavily on his sword. Draco, he knew, was a worthy opponent, one that studied and got better in time. But then again, so was Harry. The two stared at each other for quite some time, before the sound of clapping startled them.

Draco fell backwards into the pool of water, and Harry spun around facing the source, his pistol drawn and aiming at Lucius Malfoy.

His eyes were cool, and a smile played on his lips. He stood clapping slowly, a slow, tempo: clap… clap… clap.

Beside him stood the one man Harry wasn't ready to face yet. The one man he hated more than anything in the world, and the one man he swore he'd fight and kill one day. The one man whose name was Captain Tom Riddle, pirate, murderer, and scallywag.

"So, we finally meet again," he said, in his soft, hiss-like voice, his unusual red eyes gleaming in the darkness. "Harry Potter… the prodigal son of James Potter."

Harry said nothing; he continued to watch Riddle to see what he was planning to do. It had to end now, Harry knew; he was in the same room as his father's treasure, it would never be safe until all the occupants in the cavern were dead or under blackmail, in Draco's case.

Riddle took a couple more steps forward, but Harry's pistol did not waver. "Put it down, boy, you've lost this battle. Accept it."

"I won't," he said instead, tilting his chin up in defiance.

Riddle glowered. "Silly boy; you aren't James. You don't have his talent. I know your every move, boy. Put it away."

Harry didn't; then suddenly there was a loud bang and then a clang as something hit the blade and wretched the sword out of Harry's hands. He looked from them in shock to see Riddle standing only a few feet away with a smoking pistol in his left hand.

"I did tell you," he said. With a nod at Lucius, he continued, "Tie them up and bring them to the Dark Mark."

Harry turned to face Draco in the water. "You little scallywag! You knew! You led them here!"

"I didn't!" Draco shouted, his eyes wide with fear, horror, and something else. "I swear to God, Potter, I didn't lead them here, I didn't know!"

Harry sneered at him, only to find two crewmen of Riddle's crew at his sides, pulling his arms back and lifting him off the ground. "You'll pay, Malfoy! I swear it, you'll pay!"

Draco's eyes were wide, unstaring, as his father fished him out of the water, cuffing him on the back of his head as he did so; two other crewmen appeared and roughly handled Draco the same way Harry was being treated.

As Harry passed Riddle, he took the chance and rolled the spit in his mouth before hawking it up and letting it fly. The ball of spit landed on Riddle's cheek, dripping down slowly.

"I'll see you in Hell before I let your greedy hands on my father's treasure, you bastard," sneered Harry.

Riddle coolly wiped the spit from his face, using a white lace handkerchief. He gazed coldly at Harry, saying, "Then we'll meet again soon, Potter," before his fist came sailing out of the corner of Harry's eye and then he knew no more.

>>*<<

AN: Wow! What a delay between the last update and now? *Hides* Sorry everyone! There were some real important real-life issues that I had to deal with and then there was an early acceptance from one of the universities I applied to! Of course, it wasn't the one I wanted, but hey! Better than none.

Now, I know my beta reader was saying, "Well, it would be nice to know where Hermione is…" it would, I agree! The only thing is that she's a prisoner on the Dark Mark, right? Anyway - you'll have your fill of Hermione in the next chapter, and the one after that! There's going to be some wonderful Harry/Hermione interaction, and oh - a Riddle/Harry and Harry/Draco battle scene. Guess what? Even Fudge makes an appearance too!

So, there are only two more chapters plus the epilogue to go - the latter that is already finished. I feel so Rowling! Hang on tight - Skulls and Crossbones will be done by June, and July marks the beginning of the extremely long-awaited Harry/Hermione "Reincarnated Sins" epic. For more information, check out my fanfiction LiveJournal (fallensupernova as my username) or drop me a "hello" at my RL LiveJournal (kneazle).Read, review, and enjoy! Yours, Kneazle [Apr.10.04]