The storm raged outside, thunder rumbled the earth and lightning lit the night sky. Inside however, it was dry and warm and the only sound that could be heard was the rain hitting the windows- that's the way that Lily liked it. Her parents were out for the evening and had phoned her up not more than an hour ago saying they'd attempt to come home but couldn't guarantee anything. She sat on the sofa in the living room reading a book, she'd been attempting to read for a few years but never got around to finishing it. Lily twiddled her shoulder length blonde hair as she read, her blue eyes tracing every word as she read. She got so far into her book she had forgotten her one duty. Get Mum's awful cat in.
"Widget." She called, Lily called up the stairs and in every room. Widget was outside.
"Sh*t!" Widget didn't like outside, Widget didn't like the rain either- And Mum didn't like Widget being left out full stop. Lily quickly scrambled around on the shoe pile looking for her boots. The pile had grown over the last few days, Mum had recently found out there was a clearance sale at the local shoe shop and decided to buy as many pairs of sandals as she could, It wasn't even summer! It was past summer and heading into late Autumn. After throwing many pairs of sandals into their own pile, she finally came across her black flowery wellington boots. She slipped them on, placed Dad's old work jacket over her head and opened the door. Without stepping outside she knew where Widget was. He had this terrible habit of climbing the old willow tree that was at the end of the garden, Lily didn't really understand what his fascination with the tree was – every time he climbed the tree he'd only get stuck and start meowing in an awful squeaky tone.
Lily looked at the heaving rain and then at Widget. Even though he was in a tree he wasn't particularly dry. He'd managed to sit in the one section of tree that had no leaves drooping over it. Lily sighed and ran out into the storm to get widget down.
"Come on, Widget. It's time to come inside." She called to him nicely from the bottom of the tree.
Widget screeched at her and turned to face the opposite way.
"Widget, I'm getting wet. " Lily went around the tree and held her arms out again for Widget, Who proceeded to jump on her head and back onto the grass.
Widget let out a long, deep screech this time. He'd landed in the mud just behind the flower bed which had had the hose dripping on it all day making the flower bed and the surrounding area very wet and muddy.
"Come on Widget, Stop playing around. Get inside."
Widget reluctantly strutted into the house leaving dirty paw prints all over the carpet. Widget didn't care.
After cleaning the carpet and Widget's feet, Lily sat down with her book again. Widget wasn't having any of it. He was cold, wet and hungry – and he wasn't having someone ignore him.
"Reeeeoowwwww." Moaned Widget as he jumped on her lap and rubbed his wet fur into her lap.
Lily put her book down and gave a stern look to the feline.
"I get the message." She sighed as she got up to fetch a towel…and Widget's cat food.
The front door creaked open and two shadows were cast into the lounge from the hall light. The kitchen was just past the lounge so Lily could not see who it was.
"Oh you're back, I thought you couldn't make it home tonight? " Lily exclaimed as she started making her way into the lounge. "Sorry about the mess, Widget decided he'd mess up the carpet before bedtime and I haven't had a change to –" Lily froze. Two dirty looking men walked into the room from the hall. She knew them both from stories passed on from family to family. One of the men was Scabior, an average height man with brown hair that had a single streak of red in it. The other man was Fenrir Greyback. Lily's mother had warned her about them both. Being a half-blood, one of her parents knew everything about magic and current events (Her mother) and the other chose to keep to himself and continue his muggle work (Her father). She recalled her mother mentioning the Snatchers main priorities were Muggles, Half-Bloods and anyone who stood against You-know-who and that if she were to see them, then she should run. But Lily's legs weren't doing that. She was frozen with fear, anticipating what was to come next.
"'Ello Beautiful." Said Scabior, It was quite obvious he used this expression a lot.
Lily turned around ready to scoop up Widget and run out the back door. Oh what am I kidding, She'd leave Widget behind.
Lily turned around ready to run out the backdoor but before she had a change Greyback grabbed her around the arms and waist, making sure that she wasn't able to move.
"What's your name?" Scabior asked.
"Why should I tell you?" Lily snapped. She wasn't a snappy person normally. She was surprised in herself, normally she's be wailing in the corner pleading for her mother.
"'Cause I think you know what happens if you don't" He smirked.
Lily didn't even have enough time to think of a fake name and blurted out her real one.
"L-Lily Jade Spencer" She replied.
"Check it." Scabior shouted behind him.
A Shorter man appeared behind him flicking through a small black leather book, which from the look of things had the names of wanted people inside.
After a while the shorter man let out a small nod.
"To the Ministry for you then, my love." He explained to Lily.
"Is there no way we can bypass the Ministry and we look over this incident?" Lily said as she bit her lip nervously.
"I know something." Greyback smirked as he inhaled the scent of Lily's hair.
Lily clenched her teeth together and tried not to show her fear.
"You and I both know there'd be nothing left of her, Greyback." Scabior hissed. "But you might be onto something. Back to the camp everyone."
They all left the house (leaving Widget alone and quite content with the heating on and a large bowl of food to last him the night.) and headed towards the woods.
They walked a considerable distance. Lily walked behind Scabior and infront of Greyback. She was more comfortable (well as comfortable as you can get around a kidnapper.) walking close to Scabior and frequently picked up her pace. But every time Greyback made up that distance effortlessly.
The group came to a halt, Greyback grabbed hold of Lily and suddenly everything went black for a moment, and Lily felt like she was travelling through space or time. Suddenly she reached the floor with a thud. She had not apparated before, she had had no need in the past 2 years, it was a strange feeling indeed.
They had come to a camp, it smelt strongly of ash and smoke. Four tent were arranged in a semi-circle that surrounded a fire. The fire had logs placed on two sides of it that seemed to resemble seating.
The Snatchers started to depart into their tents. Greyback looked hopeful when Scabior started walking off, but to his disappointment, Scabior shouted
"Oh, and Greyback. She sleeps in my tent."
Lily sighed with relief but she was still terrified of what would happen over the next few days.
She was away from her home, away from her family and didn't know where she was.
