The heavy door of the cell creaked open, and Severus Snape peered into the inky blackness.
He couldn't see anyone or anything, but suddenly he made out two eyes, squinting as they adjusted to the light.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?," the man in the cell started, confused.
No response.
"Oh, oh," he clucked his tongue. "Looks like I'm in trouble," he said sarcastically. "Hogwarts sent their finest, eh?"
"Come into the light," Snape stated bluntly. He heard shuffling and then a drawn, stubbled face making it's way into the light. He recognized the face of this snatcher. He had seen him before, but he had never known who he was. His dirty prisoner's hands were chained together, and he was wearing the gray-and-white striped uniform of Azkaban with his number, A29401, embroidered on the right chest.
"Are you the snatcher who answers to the name Scabior?"
"I am."
He stood directly in front of Snape now, studying him. Recognition dawned on him.
"Oh…We've met before, you and I.," Scabior started, his mouth curling into a smile at the corner. "You might not remember. It was at one of the Dark Lord's-"
"Do not say his name." Snape stated sharply.
Scabior smirked and turned away. "Why are you you here? What could I have possibly done from here in Azkaban."
Snape stared at him, at the man's cavalier demeanor and it sickened him. His lips curled into a sneer and he continued.
"Did you or did you not apprehend Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger?"
Scabior's eyes narrowed and he cocked his head to the side. He turned back to face Snape.
"We did. Yeh. Back in the Forest of Dean, I reckon."
"And then you took them to Malfoy Manor?"
Scabior sighed dramatically and turned away, studying the fraying edges of the garment at his wrist. "Obviously. Look, what's this all about? Taking in prisoners 'ent a crime in wartime."
Snape spun around, his eyes flashing angrily.
"I'll be asking the questions."
Scabior rolled his eyes. "Fine, then. Yes, we brought 'em three to Malfoy Manor. There you are, on the record-"
"Did you detour?"
"Not that I can recall…Nah."
Snape continued, slowly pacing back and forth like a lion.
"And…after Malfoy Manor?"
Scabior's eyes narrowed. "What's this all about, then?"
Snape's jaw clenched. "Did you leave alone?"
Scabior raised his eyebrows in amusement. "Well, if you must know, I took the girl…as payment. For services rendered. Cheeky little bint wasn't easy to catch neither."
"Forcing yourself on a student-,"
Scabior turned back to face Snape slowly, confusion etched on his features. Forcing? His face softened as he looked at Snape, features drawing together as he remembered, and he shook his head slightly, suppressing a dark chuckle, "oh, is that what she told you?,"
Severus narrowed his eyes at the man and continued quietly through clenched teeth. "Was that not how it happened?"
Scabior shrugged and curled his lips into a tight smile.
"That's what they'll all say I suppose, when in reality they're pink and wet and open-,"
"Enough!," Severus hissed, furious, raising his arm suddenly as if he was going to hex him. Scabior put his manacled hands up to shield himself in response. Snape slowly exhaled and lowered his wand. He spoke quietly.
"She may have been of age, but she is a student, she is young, and she is under the protection of Hogwarts."
"What are you going to do about it, eh? Throw me in Azkaban?" Scabior joked, laughing and turning away again.
"She is-," Snape continued, almost finding it impossible to wrap his head around what he had to say next. He lowered his voice and started again. "You are to come with me. Back to Hogwarts."
"Fine. I'd love a weekend in the country. But I ent goin' nowhere without my things." He held up his arms and looked at himself and continued speaking. "Stripes never did anything for me. But plaid on the other hand…," his voice trailed off and Snape understood his meaning.
"You are entitled to your things. Though I cannot imagine why, " Snape said, turning and motioning for the man to follow him. He continued.
"Be quick about it and then we'll go."
"Yeh, as quick as-," Scabior started but Snape spun around again, his wand at the snatcher's throat immediately.
"And do not for one moment mistake the fact that if you run, I will most assuredly relish the thought of putting you down like the dog you are."
Scabior burst out laughing, his manacled hands high in the air in an 'I surrender' motion. "Wouldn't dream of it."
He lowered his hands. "Besides I'm looking forward to seeing my-,"
Snape quickly cut him off, "You will not be seeing her."
Scabior chuckled to himself as he walked in front of Snape, "Then whatever am I being called to Hogwarts for?"
No response.
"Alright, alright, you win…"
As they approached the prisoner intake area, he was shoved a bag of his things, minus his wand, naturally. Scabior studied Snape as he flicked his wand, signing some sort of form. Probably a magical release for questioning or something of the sort.
Then he could finally take off the blasted stripes and put on something more appropriate. Yes, he was feeling more like himself as he fastened his plaid pants and reached for his vest. His hand reached for the battered leather jacket. 'I missed you too, old friend', he thought as he put his arms through the holes and wrapped it around his shoulders. It still fit the same. Good. That meant he hadn't lost too much weight. And it still smelled like the forest. Like running, and capture….Scabior licked his lips. That was when he was at his peak. When he was running after someone.
Several moments later, he was breathing in clean air. He took a deep breath, let it fill up his lungs completely. He was out. He was free for the time being. Well, sort of. He adjusted his leather coat over his shoulders and resumed his swaggering walk. 'Get used to it,' he thought to himself. He had no intention of returning to Azkaban. He would make sure of that.
