Standard disclaimers apply!
I do not own Harry Potter. I have nothing to do with Scholastic, Warner Bros or Bloomsbury. I'm not JKR and I am certainly not making any profit out of this.
The Snatchers
(24 Hours Before Malfoy Manor)
It wasn't so bad, until the weather had started to get cold. They'd eventually had to resort to scavenging for food. The goblins seemed to cope better, happy to live off roots and bits of raw meat ... and it became a bone of contention that the wizards insisted on cooking.
The wizards had to admit that the goblins were right; the smoke from the fire was bound to attract unwanted attention, so they kept on the move.
By the dead of winter, though, even the goblins were willing to accept the fire with good grace.
Then they'd found the cave. It was small and cramped, but by that point they didn't care. It was shelter, and that's all they needed.
The best thing about the cave was that there was only one way in.
They hid there for months, and in the meantime formed a dysfunctional, tetchy sort of family. They started talking to each other, found common ground and the mutual dependence started to grate less. They all hoped for a time when the war would be over, wizard and goblin alike, and even went so far as to dream aloud of the things they'd do when it was.
"He's a half blood, you know."
"Who? Voldemort?"
They didn't know about The Taboo.
The worst thing about the cave was that there was only one way out.
Dirk was cut down, trying to protect them. His last act was screaming at them to run - and run they did, but Gronuk was old and couldn't keep up the pace. He fell behind, captured. They doubled back, the worst thing they could possibly have done. The only thing they could possibly have done.
It was Greyback, in the end. A leer on his face, as he sniffed obscenely at Dean. Wondering aloud if he should turn him, fuck him or eat him ... perhaps all three. A bellow of rage, followed by an act of ridiculous, desperate bravery and Ted Tonks was dead.
They were made to watch, their eyes frozen open, as his body was torn to pieces and devoured on the spot.
Griphook and Dean knew hope was lost to them, as Greyback picked clean his teeth with Ted's bones. All they could wish was that death would come quickly.