Small, quick update. Finals are coming up, and I have a lot of work to do. Hopefully I'll be able to get ahead of it and gain some time, but who knows.

Reviews are always lovely, and thank you to everyone who's dropped one by. :)


It was so strange to be thrilled at arriving back at camp. She'd compare it to every time she went back to Hogwarts, but that was on a far different level. Caden had learned to think of the circle of tents and the fire and familiar line of trees as a sort of home-away-from-home.

It was relief, an ease of tension. Knowing she only had a short time left of keeping up appearances.

A slight increase in pressure at her side gave her a warning that she would have to start again. She had grown used to the scents that surrounded her; dirt, sweat, fire, tobacco, alcohol. Being so close to him, practically glued at his side, she was given most of these familiar smells, with something strictly him. Even being in his tent, she had never really noticed it before.

"Put 'em in there, tie 'em up. You know the drill." Scabior direction, waving his free hand in the general direction of the free tent as they passed it. He pulled Caden roughly, grabbing her hair and trailing a finger along her jaw, his face so close to hers. "I want a word wit' this one."

She was shoved into the tent she had gotten used to, stumbling through the threshold. Scabior had followed her inside, putting a muffling charm on the tent as he caught her by the back of her jacket's collar.

He steadied her and then walked right past her, digging through his papers.

She was about to open her mouth and spew the questions that had been on her lips for the entire walk back when she saw Scabior pull a folder from underneath the pile. It was a beat-up manila folder, the kind offices use. Coffee stains, worn edges. The tab had her name written in bold print.

He walked back over to her and held it out, waiting for Caden to take it. There was no shock on her face, only confusion. Why would there be a file on her? Other than that she used to work at the Ministry, there was no point in one.

She took it, walking towards her cot as she flipped through. A wedding picture, a profile on her: her NEWT grades, house and financial situation, job, blood-status. Of course. How could she not have expected such a thing?

"This was how you knew? How you knew who he was, why he left me?" Her voice was just audible, afraid to speak any louder despite the charm on the tent.

"Yeah. I took a file on everyone-just to familiarize myself with…"

"The people you work with. Got it." She flipped through it some more; it wasn't a particularly thick folder, but it wasn't thin, either. Her stomach churned a picture of Jonanthan and the other woman, smiling, so happy. The kind of happy he had never been with Caden. "I feel as though he hates me. He didn't even recognize me, didn't know who I was. At least, I don't think he did. Hurts, in an odd way."

She sat down on the cot and closed the folder, placing it beside her. He watched as she perched her elbows on her knees and placed her head against her folded hands, right under her nose. A thinking pose, but her thoughts were months and years behind the present.

Scabior sat beside her, the bed creaking slightly at the additional weight.

"I'm sure there's a way to get some sort o' revenge. You 'ave the upper 'and 'ere." He was hesitant at the suggestion, not quite sure how she would react. "'e 'urt you, you 'urt 'im back, right?" He swayed into her, nudging her with his elbow, a small grin on his face.

He watched as he arms fell into her lap and a small smile, steadying herself from being pushed.

"He deserves it. I know he does. My gut says so. But…wouldn't that make me just as bad as him? Wouldn't it be better to show I'm better off without him?" Caden hated how pathetic and inspirational that sounded. She was not going to have relationship talks with Scabior, as if he was really an expert on such things.

"That depends. 'e 'urt you 'ere," he put a finger on her chest, tapping her sternum, "and sure, givin' 'im a bit of physical pain might ease yours, but…"

"It wouldn't take it away."

"No, love."

She nodded slowly.

"I want to see the look on his smug face when realizes how ironic this situation is. We trapped each other in marriage. He trapped me when he left, and I've trapped him now, unknowingly. He doesn't have a way out this time."

"You ain't gonna kill 'im, Caden. We need the gold."

She couldn't help but laugh at his assumption of her killing her ex-husband like the witches in radio soap operas.

"No. Just…let him overhear a conversation or two at dinner. And let it go from there. I'll figure out something."

Scabior rubbed his chin with his hand, and then stood up, pointing to her as he spoke. "You ain't against drinkin' right? I mean, more than passin' a flask 'round?"

"No. I could use some more than a sip at this point, really…"

"Good. We 'aven't 'ad a catch in a while, so I'll send someone to get somethin'. And to celebrate, of course." Scabior began walking to the tent entrance.

"Celebrate what?"

"Your first catch as a Snatcher, little Caden, what else?" She went to go after him, but he stopped her. "You stay in 'ere 'til dinner. I'll 'ave Alec take care of it."

He said nothing else and walked out, leaving her mind to nag her until mealtime.