"Diggory? Why does that name sound so familiar?"

Sebastian asked. Addeline smiled.

"My father has been in the ministry of magic for years now. He runs the regulation and control of magical creatures division." She told us and just as the words left her mouth a waitress came by and dropped four glasses of what I could only assume to be what Sebastian had named as butterbeer, at our table.

I looked at the glass hesitantly. The others took sips from their glasses as if it were water. I stared at the amber colored liquid and finally gave it a taste. It was warm on my tongue like sugary cake or brownies. I had never tasted anything like it. It was fascinating.

Back home, I never had anything to drink that wasn't water but I was aware of a fascination my island had that was much like Sebastian's butterbeer.

But instead of a butter colored drink our's was cherry red and called "Cheer Wine." I never got to taste it, I always assumed it was flavored with cherries, another taste I never knew.

I never understood why people would drink things other than water, the earth supplied it to you for free why waste it? But this butterbeer made that viewpoint a little easier to understand.

I didn't immediately agree with it, but I understood it.

"And just how are you going to get us passage through the south sea?" Sebastian asked and Addeline smiled at him.

But it wasn't an amiable smile, this one was mischievous.

"Well," She began, "Much to my father's disdain, I have been a part of a sort of crew since I left Hogwarts during my fifth year-" "Wait a second, you left Hogwarts? What on earth for?"

"To see the world, Sebastian Sallow. I didn't want to learn about it behind stone walls and iron gates. I wanted to see it, to touch and feel it. I wanted to experience it and not behind a book cover. My father was furious. He hasn't spoken with me since. Says I'm a disgrace to the Diggory name. But honestly, I wasn't doing any better as the Hufflepuff seeker."

"that's where I know the name Diggory! Slytherin won against you in quidditch during fourth year." He said with a gleeful grin.

"Honestly, Sebastian, not everything is about quidditch." Ominis scolded. Addeline merely laughed and continued her story.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

"I joined this crew, or really, they recruited me."

"What sort of crew?" Sereia finally spoke and Addeline's hazel eyes fell on her. They studied her and her eyes seemed to burn with ferocity in the candle light of the tavern.

"Like- like pirates?"

"No, god no." Addeline said with a laugh.

"We're better than pirates. We go after them, muggles, wizards, anyone really who abuses magical artifacts. We steal from those who steal from us. We keep magical artifacts safe and hidden."

"Stealing from pirates? Sounds like my kind of crew." Sebastian said with a grin.

"Glad to hear the enthusiasm." Addeline said. "When Ominis asked me about helping him along with some friends on a risky and secretive mission I couldn't help but jump on the opportunity. It sounds right up my alley."

"And you still owe me for when I covered for you during third year when you kept skipping divination and I told your father that you had- what was it again?" Ominis asked, teasing the brunette girl with a sly grin.

"Bowtruckle Flu." Addeline said with a warm grin.

"Yes I remember, Omi."

"Omi?"

Sebastian was now grinning too as he nudged his friend with his elbow. Ominis swatted at him subtly.

"My ship is docked at the Southern Coast." Addeline said as she stood, grabbing her fox mask and offering a hand to Ominis, who took it gingerly and offered her his arm instead, which she took.

This was a new side of Ominis I hadn't seen before. Who knew he could be so charming?

"Hold on, your ship?" Sebastian asked as he stood as well and I followed suit. "Yes." Addeline said.

"Did I not make that clear? I am the captain of this crew. They follow my orders. And if I tell them we are to sail to the south sea for a classified mission for the heir of Slytherin they'll do it just because I told them to." She said with a hint of pride in her voice.

"Once we're outside we can apparate there. You have all learned how to apparate, yes?" "Sereia hasn't." Ominis spoke up.

"That's alright." Sebastian placed a hand on my shoulder before almost immediately pulling it away, he must have remembered that I don't like to be touched.

"I'll carry her with me."

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

I'll have to admit when Sebastian said he would be "carrying" me I thought he meant physically carrying me.

But that's not what happened.

Instead, I held his hand while he apparated, per his instructions.

Another thing I will never get used to, apparition. I hated it. The whole feeling left me twisted in knots, or at least feeling like I was. I felt sick to my stomach and my head throbbed. But just as quickly as these feelings came then left as the smell of sea salt thick air wafted into my nostrils.

Home.

I was so quickly reminded of home and how far it was. I missed it. But I was so thankful for the sea, to be on the sea once more. It would be just as good as being home- or it would have to be at least.

"Here we are." Addeline said as she led the way to a massive ship that was docked among other large sea fairing vessels.

I had seen ships and read about them occasionally but I had never been on one myself. The only boat I was ever on was a small row boat that I had back home on the island. Compared to this ship it looked more like a bottle cork.

"The boys shall share quarters while on my ship." Addeline said as we climbed aboard. I felt so giddy. But I wasn't giddy about getting my voice back. No, I was giddy to feel the sea all around me once more.

"And the lady will be with me." "But Sereia-" "At ease, lover boy." Addeline told Sebastian.

"She will be perfectly safe with me." She continued but I hadn't been listening to their words. As soon as I was aboard the ship I ran to the edge to peer over at the sea water below us.

Once again surrounded by sea. I was so thrilled. In the night light the sea water churned a murky black but I knew it was still just as salty as the waves at home.

This very water, this very ocean, touched the same shores of my island miles upon miles away. The sea connected us even after all this time.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

"So,"

Addeline said as made a spare bed for me in her cabin on the ship.

"What exactly is your story?" She asked.

I looked to her and my eyes met her gaze. Her hazel colored eyes searched mine. She was trying to figure out just who I was. She was trying to read me like a book. Unfortunately for her, I was not a gaping novel but much like the books locked up tight in the restricted section of the Hogwarts library.

I was not so easily read.

"I mean, Ominis said this quest was for you... but you... why you're just so timid. What could you need from the south sea? And why on earth would you want to face Overton Lestrange? He would destroy a little thing like you with a snap of his wand." She told me.

I bit my lip.

"He has something of mine." I said plainly. Addeline aggressively fluffed a pillow.

"He has something of everyone's about now. That man is just as much a thief as he is a dark wizard or a blood purist." She told me as she gave the pillow one last good slap.

"What makes you so special?" "It's important. I can't live without it." She narrowed her eyes at me. She was doing it again, reading me. I didn't think she would be too successful.

"Can't live without it?" She repeated my words back to me and nodded. "I see." she told me.

"Well," she threw a blanket over the bed she had made. "Not to worry. We will get to his stronghold in a few days. The Sunchaser travels fast, you'll see. She travels faster than any ship this size."

"The Sunchaser?"

"sure," Addeline said. "That's my ship. The Sunchaser. She was built to outrun the Sun and you'll see her do just that." Addeline promised me before gesturing to the freshly made bed for me.

"Now rest. You'll need it if you are to face Overton."