It took Luna a long time to get to sleep that night. The side that was next to Scabior was boiling. Heat seemed to radiate off his bare skin. The other, which was facing the door, was nearly completely frozen. The arm over her waist was ridiculously heavy, and every time he moved in his sleep, seemed to tighten his hold. She rolled over uncomfortably, thinking of her situation. She had no idea if her Dad was ok. She had no idea where she was; she guessed from the plants growing and temperature that it must be somewhere up north. Could she escape? If so, how? She thought momentarily about contacting Neville for help, before she remembered that the coin that they both still carried was at home, on her dresser. The one night she didn't have it with her…
Without conscience decision, she moved closer to Scabior for warmth and pulled the blanket over her head. In the darkness she frowned, suddenly feeling very scared, very small, and despite the human presence next to her, very alone. She wanted her dad. She wanted to be able to tell Neville or Ginny where she was. Right now even Seamus would do, even though he still teased her a little. Just as the sun started to raise a few shafts of sunlight over the tops of the trees, she quietly fell asleep.
She woke up next morning feeling stiff are sore. There was a dull ache in her arm where she had slept in it, and her long pale her was fanned out around her face. She crawled out from under the blanket and made her way over to the blue fire, which continued to crackle, giving out a strange misty glow. She curled up in front of it, gathering her knees up to her chest and resting her chin on top. She could hear people starting to move around outside, as the men tramped across the floor of dead leaves and shouted orders and curses at each other.
Scabior lay sprawled across the mattress, still asleep. His scarred chest rose and fell gently. His left arm was lying across his eyes, palm up, and Luna was surprised to see no dark mark, just the wristband, with a hippogriff carved into the hard brown leather.
There was a sudden bang, and Luna sprang to her feet as the curtain that was pretending to be a door was blasted aside, and Foxy bounded into the room, staring around. She spotted Scabior on the bed, and dropped to her knees next to him. She slowly edged her wand closer to his breast bone, until she poked him, ever so slightly. He shot upright instantly, eyes snapping open with a yell. Where the wand had touched him there was now a tiny, red burn mark. Foxy threw her head back with a barking laugh, and threw herself down onto the bed next to the man, who examined the small mark on his chest with a look of distain on his face. "You know you could have poked me without the burning darlin'"
Foxy giggled an unusually girlish giggle. "But it's so much more fun this way! Anyway, we needed you awake fast, the boys have got a house surrounded. One mudblood and one muggle, married, one wizard kid. They want you to make the first move."
"Christ almighty, can those buggers do nothin' on their own? What about 'er eh?" He gestured over to Luna, who was watching, eyes wide. Foxy opened her mouth to speak, but Scabior cut her short. "No. There ain't a chance in hell I'm letting you stay with her on yer own. You." He jabbed a long finger in Luna's direction. You're coming with us. Try anything funny and you'll be dead before you can say 'blood traitor'." She nodded, a little nervously. Scabior kicked Foxy out, with instructions to go on ahead, and after giving him a short address, she disapperated.
Scabior shook his head as he climbed to his feet and threw Luna's jumper to her. "Fuckin' mental that one. One minute she's nice as pie, two seconds later and she seems to have developed a soddin' blood lust. Sorry you're going to 'ave to see this by the way darlin' but you're in trouble if the gang 'as their way with you. Stay away from Greyback as well, he don't care what the boss does, 'e won't think twice about eatin' you alive."
He pulled on a mildly fresher looking shirt from the pile in the corner. It was forest green, with gold spirals. Luna thought dimly that he looked a little like the pirates from the muggle story books her mother had used to read to her. She pulled her shoes back on, as Scabior held one hand out to her. She hesitated; "Why? I don't want to come. Why do you round up muggle borns?"
He dropped the hand and sighed. "Bad life choice sweetheart. Now it's with me or with Grayback, your choice." He held out the hand again. Silently, she looked into his dark eyes, took his hand, and they disapperated.
