Chapter Three

Katherine slept fitfully that night and when she did sleep her dreams were filled with nightmares of her mother's screams. She awoke several times panting and covered in sweat. She finally began to doze off when she was suddenly awoken by someone shaking her shoulder.

"Wake up Kate! Time to go!"

Katherine rolled over struggling to see who had disturbed her through her sleepy eyes. Scabior.

"Get up!" he said with one final nudge, "We've got a lot to do today." Katherine sat up, grabbed her jacket and her wand, and followed Scabior out of the tent. Everyone else was already up.

"Alright this is how it's gonna work," said Scabior to Katherine as she joined the group, "We know the general area of our targets so we're gonna apparate together and then you're gonna help us find 'em once we get there. When we find 'em, the rest of us will take it from there so no interfering. Got it?" Katherine nodded. Her stomach churned at the thought of what these men might do to the victims she led them to.

"Oh and you better wear this," Scabior pulled out the red sash from his pocket and tied it around Katherine's arm, "Don' want people askin' questions."

"Let's go!" shouted Brooks. The men apparated one by one. Scabior withdrew his wand, grabbed Katherine's waist, and apparated behind them. They landed in a forest very similar to the one they had just left. The last thing Katherine wanted to do was disappoint the team so she immediately let go of Scabior's arm and began listening to her senses. But she was somewhat distracted as Scabior's hand had yet to leave her waist. She turned to look at him but saw him examining the area.

"Where's Todd?" Scabior asked suspiciously.

"He was with us when we left," stated Campbell. A few seconds later, there came a popping sound and Todd appeared...holding a piece of toast. Scabior glared at him angrily.

"What? I got hungry!" Todd said shrugging his shoulders. Scabior finally let go of Katherine's waist and marched over to him.

"This is work, Todd," said Scabior fuming, "We don't have time for pigs like you to lounge about enjoying hearty meals."

"But ––"

"Do your job!" Scabior snarled while the other two men snickered at Todd being told off.

"Oh shut it," Todd muttered in their direction. Scabior turned back to Katherine who had already started leading the way.

"There are three people this way. They aren't moving," she said trying to change the subject.

"Well you heard her. Get a move on!" said Scabior losing his patience. He and Greyback brought up the rear as they trekked through the woods. After a few minutes of walking, Campbell decided to speak.

"I don' see nobody," he said ignorantly.

"That's because we've got about a mile and half more to go," snapped Katherine.

"How do ya know that?"

"I – I just do. It's my gift I suppose. That's why I'm here."

"So lemme get this straight," said Brooks walking into the conversation, "The Ministry sent you to help us because you've got this magic power that can find people from miles away?"

"Pretty wicked, if you ask me," chimed Todd.

"Uh, well, it's a little more complicated than that..." said Katherine not wanting to go into detail.

"It's alright darlin'," said Brooks moving closer to her as they continued walking through the woods, "You can tell me." Brooks was definitely moving too far into her comfort zone. He was about to put his arm around her when –

"Hands off, Brooks," ordered Scabior, "That goes for all of you."

Brooks and the other two backed off muttering under their breath. "What's gotten into him?" "I dunno." "It's probably the girl." "How come he gets the girl?"

"Because you guys are idiots," said Greyback shoving past them. Shocked that Greyback had been eavesdropping, the three of them kept their mouths shut for the rest of the journey.

Fenrir strode past Katherine and took the lead as he quickly caught the scent of the undesirables. He then disappeared into the woods. The rest of them walked along in silence. Katherine could tell they were getting close. Soon Greyback came bounding back.

"I can smell them," he said panting, "but I can't see them. They must have wards protecting them."

Scabior thought for a minute. He turned to Katherine.

"You can tell their exact position?" he asked.

"Yes."

Scabior put his hand to his chin thinking.

"I've got an idea," he said finally, "Kate I need you to act as a trap. Go up to the edge of the wards and start making a scene. Fake a limp, cough up blood just make yourself look injured and then faint or something. Whoever's hiding is gonna come out to see if you're alright. Then the rest of us will snatch 'em. Make sense?"

Everyone looked pretty satisfied with the plan, except Katherine.

"What if they don't fall for it?" she asked.

"Don' be silly," said Scabior walking to her side, "Any man would come out of hiding to rescue a pretty thing like you." Katherine was speechless. He took out his wand and muttered a few charms making her neck look bruised and her shirt look bloodied. Then he untied the red sash from her arm.

"I'll be right here," he winked. Katherine gulped. She thought she would just be sitting on the sidelines. But Scabior was playing her like a pawn. And she was letting him. She recalled her father's words of wisdom: Whatever you do, do your best. Katherine took a deep breath and began walking towards the invisible hiding place. Showtime.

Katherine checked behind her. No one was there. Nothing. Those Snatchers sure did know how to hide. She limped into the clearing. She could sense the three people walking about beneath the wards. She needed to get their attention. She fell against a tree and let out a yelp of pain while clutching her side. They stopped moving. Katherine limped closer to the edge of the wards wincing in pain. Clutching to another tree, she made one final move and dramatically fell to the ground. She closed her eyes and groaned. She could tell someone was moving towards her. This may actually work. A man suddenly became visible and crouched down to take a look at Katherine.

"Hey guys! She's hurt!" shouted the man. Katherine looked up at him summoning her best tears. The man looked tired and cold. He was unshaven with dark circles under his eyes. Soon two other men came out to help her...but it was too late.

"Well, well, who've we got here," came Scabior's voice. He agilely jumped from the tree he had been hiding in as the rest of the Snatchers surrounded the shocked men. Scabior reached down and helped Katherine up.

"Quite an actress, isn't she gents?" Scabior taunted. The Snatchers chuckled as they closed in on the unsuspecting victims.

"Names?" Scabior unfolded a long piece of shabby parchment. The men stood there still stunned by what had happened and looked hopelessly at the Snatchers.

"Please, I – I," one man pleaded. The Snatchers only sneered.

"Drop your wands," commanded Scabior. Defeated, the men dropped them and Campbell picked them up.

"Don't make me ask again," Scabior said sternly, "Names!" The men just stared with their mouths open. Scabior looked back at his team and tilted his head towards their victims signaling the Snatchers to use force. Katherine backed away and watched from behind a tree. Don't interfere.

The Snatchers kicked the men in the back, pulled their arms behind them, and threw them to their knees.

"Roger! I'm Roger Collins," cried one man.

"Oh really?" said Scabior menacingly, "I don' think he's tellin' the truth. Crucio!" The man writhed on the ground. Katherine turned away as she heard the man's painful howls.

"Try again," growled Scabior. The power he had over this man, the power he held in his wand, it felt so good. The man coughed and panted.

"Andrew," he said out of breath, "Andrew Griffiths."

"Ryan Griffiths," said another.

"Scott Griffiths," said the last one.

"That's better," said Scabior satisfied matching the names to his list.

"How sweet! A filthy little mudblood family!" jeered Brooks.

"Kate! C'mere!" Scabior shouted. Katherine emerged from behind the tree feeling sick.

"Are there any more here?" he asked. Katherine shook her head. He noticed how pale she suddenly looked.

"Right. To the Ministry with 'em," said Scabior as he grabbed hold of Katherine. The other Snatchers seized each of the prisoners and they all disapparated from the forest.