Fionne sat in her office attempting to organise the music for the Ministry Christmas Party when something zoomed in through the door. It was a memo. Catching it, exasperated that she had yet another thing on her busy to do list, she opened it to see the word "URGENT" emblazoned in green lettering at the top of the page. The memo read:

Miss Fionne Goldings,

Your presence is requested in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement immediately.

That was all. 'Oh dear,' thought Fionne, 'This cannot be good,'. She tried to reason with the side of herself that wanted to run around the room in frantic circles, screaming by saying to herself,

"This is probably just about that whole 'submit themselves for questioning' thing that Thicknesse was going on about. It's all going to be okay. Deep breaths,". Trying to collect herself, she walked as calmly as she could out of her office and into the corridor where the elevators were. Stepping into one and pulling the lever, she braced herself for a miniature hearing. When she arrived in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement she was greeted with the sight of Yaxley standing directly in front of the elevator.

"Ah, Fionne," he said smiling his somewhat brutish smile, "so glad you were not too busy to come up,"

"Not at all, Yaxley," she said, trying her utmost to stay calm and restrain her screaming side.

"If you would care to accompany me to my office," he extended an arm for her to take. She hesitantly took it and asked,

"We- we aren't going downstairs to the hearing rooms?"

"Hearing rooms? Why would we be going to the hearing rooms?"

"Did you not wish to see me about my blood status?"

"Your blood status is not in doubt, Fionne," he almost chuckled, "You are very obviously a pure-blooded witch,"

Fionne was not quite sure how to take that but decided to be grateful that she was not in fact headed towards the hearing rooms. When they reached Yaxley's office he held the door open for her to step inside. She stood in front of his desk but he motioned to her to sit down in the chair next to the one he was now reclining in. "Tell me, Fionne," he said as soon as she sat down, "How is your family life?"

This question took Fionne completely off guard and she did not know what he could mean by asking such a question so she took it as he meant to inquire after her parents.

"My parents are well, thank you, Yaxley,"

"Oh, none of this 'Yaxley' nonsense, Fionne! Call me, James,"

"Well…James, my parents are well, thank you," His name just felt wrong on her lips.

"And what about your more immediate family?"

"I- I don't understand-"

"Your husband, is he well?"

"I am not married," she felt severely awkward at being asked about her personal life by a man she barely knew.

"Indeed?" he appeared shocked at first, "an upstanding woman such as yourself unmarried?"

"I- that is to say I-"

"Aren't you lonely, Fionne?" he looked her straight in her eyes, "I know how lonely it can be to not have someone to… share your emotions with,"

Fionne suddenly realized his intention. She was actually quite shocked that she had not recognised it before. Desperately, she tried to think of some excuse that would get her out of that situation. She rose from her chair quickly, as did he,

"I- I'm terribly sorry… James, but I have a meeting with the Minister in a few moments.

I-"

"Fionne," Yaxley chuckled darkly, "You know as well as I that the Minister is currently in conference with the reporters from the Daily Prophet. Why are you trying to get away from me, Fionne?"

As he was saying this he was walking towards her, backing her into the door. She reached for the handle and was about to make a run for it but he held the door shut by putting one hand on either side of her head.

"Why, Fionne?" he persisted.

"James… James, why don't we just talk about this-" she tried to reason with him, panicked by him.

"Fionne, what could there possibly be to talk about at a time like this?" his voice had taken on a deeper quality if that was possible. He leaned closer to her and closed his eyes.

She did the first thing that she thought of that would prevent the inevitable. She slapped him hard across the face, twisted the handle on the door and sprinted out of it as fast as she could. She ignored the enraged roar from behind her as she stepped into an elevator, pressed the button for the Atrium and tried to catch her breath. The doors slid open when she reached the Atrium and she darted out, making for one of the corridors to the left of the vast hall in which she could probably hide but as she entered one she ran headlong into something solid.

"'ere, watch it, love,"

She stumbled backwards and saw in front of her the man from earlier.

"I- I'm sorry, I just- I have to get away,"

"Whoa, calm down," he took her by the shoulders as she tried to run past him, "Now love, tell me, what's the hurry,"

"Yaxley just threw himself at me. I slapped him and ran for it. Please, I've got to hide-"

There were hurried footsteps coming from behind them.

"Please," she looked hysterically into his eyes.

"Quick," he said pushing her into a room off of the corridor, "Hide in there. I'll cover for you," He closed the door, leaving him alone in the corridor. A few seconds later, Yaxley, panting and out of breath, appeared.

"You, snatcher, have you seen Fionne Goldings pass by?" he asked.

"Pretty lass, red hair, small?" the man replied, "She went that way. Seemed in a bit of an 'urry to leave as a matter of fact,"

"She will be if I get my hands on her," Yaxley chuckled and sprinted of in the direction the man was pointing.

When he had rounded the corner the man opened the door to the room where Fionne was hiding and stepped inside.

"Crikey, love" he said, "You've got guts, raisin' an 'and to 'im!"

Fionne gasped, trying to catch her breath,

"He was… making a pass…have to get out…"

She made to run past him and out of the door but her stopped her again he studied her intently and began to circle her, making her uneasy.

"You know," he said, "You're right about not being able to stay 'ere. If 'e catches you you'll be banged up,"

She looked at the man suspiciously as he circled her, looking her up and down.

"What exactly are you doing?" she scowled.

"Getting' a good look at you. Love, I reckon you'd be able to rough it now and again. How d'you fancy coming with me? I could get you out of 'ere unnoticed and you'd be safe wi' me,"

"You're a total stranger! You expect me to trust you? You think that, just because you asked me I'm going to leave my home and 'rough it' with you? And would you stop calling me 'love'!"

The man threw his head back and laughed allowing his dark shaggy hair to tumble down his back.

"Look, I don't think you 'ave much of a choice. See, you could go back home but he'd find you there an' then where would you be? I'm a man of me word an' I give you me word that, if you come wi' me an' do as your told, I'll do me best to keep you safe. What d'you say?"

Fionne stood there and considered his offer. It was only a matter of time before Yaxley came looking for her at her home and she would never be able to return to the Ministry while he was there. But how could she trust him?

"Say I agreed," she said, "What would I have to do in return for your protection?"

"I've already got a job lined up for you," he replied with a smile, "We've been lookin' for a new recruit for a while now,"

"A recruit for what?"

"Snatchers. We lost one of our best a few months back so you've got a tough act to follow but given the looks of you," he gave her an appraising look, "I reckon you could do it with a little trainin',"

"You want me to be a Snatcher?" she cried incredulously.

"Like I said, love, you don't 'ave much choice," he smiled a crooked smile.

She pondered for a moment, weighing up being press-ganged into a troop of snatchers or being locked in Azkaban long term, before replying,

"Alright, I'm in,"

"Shake on it," they shook hands, "Right, love, let's get you out of 'ere,"

Just as they made to leave the room, she said,

"I'm Fionne, by the way, Fionne Goldings,"

"Thought I recognised you from somewhere. You're the lass with the pretty voice. Well, I'm Scabior but you can just call me 'Boss',"