Chapter Four

The Snatchers walked proudly through the Ministry Atrium flaunting their catches. They handed in their prisoners in exchange for gold, bags full of it. Katherine didn't receive any. Her payment was freedom from Azkaban but the other men looked at her questionably.

"We'll meet you back at camp," said Scabior as the other men turned to leave, "Kate and I 'ave got business to do." They nodded and Scabior motioned for Katherine to follow him. He walked up to a dark haired man who was sifting through some papers.

"Hey Adam," said Scabior.

"Scabior! How's it goin' mate?" said Adam looking up from his papers.

"Pretty good. Just caught a few mudbloods today," he said, "You?"

"Eh, not so well," said Adam in a hushed voice, "Ministry's really gettin' suspicious. Just yesterday three people were sacked from the Portkey Office. It's rough times, man, rough times."

He glanced at Katherine.

"Who's this," Adam asked. He noticed the bruises on her body and the blood on her shirt.

"You haven't got too rough with her, eh Scabby?" Adam elbowed Scabior, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

Scabior smirked, "Nah, this is Katherine," he pulled her in next to him, "She was just putting on an act for the undesirables. And she did a bloody good job of it too.

Adam chuckled, "So who'd you catch?"

"Griffiths brothers."

"Nice, well I suppose you want some new clothes, Katherine?"

"Yeah," she said, "If it's not too much trouble."

"Here," said Adam pulling out a small sack from the desk, "Undetectable extension charm. It's got everything you need. You might have to make a few adjustments though, since you're so thin.

"Thank you," said Katherine taking the bag.

"Be seein' you," said Scabior.

"See ya," said Adam.

Then he and Katherine apparated back to camp.

"Well, I'd say it was a pretty good day," said Todd with his feet propped up counting his gold. Scabior sat down next to the campfire while Katherine headed for her tent.

"Agreed," said Campbell.

"Yeah thanks to Kate," said Brooks. Katherine smiled politely but kept walking.

"'Cept she didn't get any gold," commented Campbell.

"Yeah hold up, you've got some explainin' to do," said Todd curiously.

"Oh well, uh, it's a long story," said Katherine trying to think up an excuse.

"We've got time. Come sit down," said Brooks.

"I really should get cleaned up," Katherine replied holding out her bloody hands, "I'm a mess."

"Well you better tell us eventually," grumbled Campbell.

Katherine hurried into her tent, glad she had avoided that conversation. Besides, she couldn't wait to change into some other clothes. She began pulling out everything in the sack. A coat, a jacket, a t-shirt, some jeans, some flannel pants, a blanket, a bar of soap...soap? At that moment, nothing sounded better than a bath. Katherine quickly put on a t-shirt and jeans using her wand to shrink them to her size. Then she looked back at her dirty hands. Sure, she could use magic to get it off but the feeling of water rushing over her would be much more relaxing...

Scabior couldn't take it any more. These idiots were driving him insane. All they talked about was the last barmaid they slept with and what they were going to do with all the gold they just got. Fenrir was starting to sound like better company than these dickheads. He wondered what Katherine was doing. He truly was impressed by her today. He knew he put a lot of pressure on her but she handled it, and he liked that. He liked telling her what to do. He liked how she tried to prove herself to him and succeeded. He liked how she walked when he challenged her. He liked how she could be shy and confident at the same time. He liked how he could make her speechless, breathless. He wanted to know more about her. He wanted to know her story and he knew he could get her to tell him.

Scabior got up and went to his tent. Katherine was sitting on her bed carefully attempting to get the blood out of the shirt in her hands with her wand. She had almost finished when –

"You missed a spot." Katherine jumped. Scabior was standing in the tent entrance with that adorable half-grin on his gorgeous face.

"Oh, I didn't see you," said Katherine turning slightly red. She had been so wrapped up in cleaning her shirt she didn't even hear her instincts telling her that someone was approaching.

"Here let me help you," he said walking over and sitting next to her on the bed and pulling out his wand. He took the shirt from her and put it aside. Then he slowly pulled her stained hands into his lap softly stroking them. Though his hands were rough, he had the most gentle touch. He whispered some spells and the blood began to disappear. He let go of her hands only to delicately sweep her hair behind her back exposing her neck. He whispered a few more spells making the bruises slowly fade away.

"That's better," Scabior said as he softly caressed her neck with his thumb. He let his hand trail down to her collarbone as he stared at her, thinking. Katherine dared not look in his eyes knowing she would fall in his trap if she did.

"So why did the Ministry send you," he asked, "honestly. He released her neck and continued to stroke her hands. So that's why he's doing this. He wants answers. Katherine drew her hands away from him.

"You think you can get me to talk just by holding my hand?" Katherine said smartly. It was partly true. Scabior did want her to tell him but he took every chance he could to touch her. To get her to trust him. He took her hands again.

"Is it working?" he said with a grin. Katherine rolled her eyes but let him hold her hands.

"I don't really want to talk about it," she said looking away from him.

"Oh come on," he said leaning closer to make her look back at him, "You're gonna tell me eventually." Katherine stared at him for a moment, thinking, then realized he was probably right.

She sighed, "My mum was muggle-born. My dad's half-blood," Katherine spoke slowly and chose her words carefully, not wanting to reveal too much. She was still hesitant to trust Scabior.

"When the Ministry started the muggle-born registration, Dad knew it was a death-sentence. We went into hiding for a few months when a crew of Snatchers found us. When we got to the Ministry, the dementors – they..." Katherine took a deep breath fighting back tears, "they kissed her. I – I heard it. The whole thing. I think it was more painful than it would have been to watch." Katherine could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks as her eyes glossed over, but not a single tear dropped.

"Me and Dad were sentenced to Azkaban but I bargained my way out after I told them about my gift. That's when they sent me here and that's why I don't get gold for people you snatch. My payment is my freedom from Azkaban," she said quietly keeping her eyes glued to the floor. She was incredibly proud of herself for not bursting into tears. Scabior was quiet never letting go of her hands.

"I was in Azkaban for 12 years," he said finally, "It's the most terrible place you can imagine. I made a bargain quite like you did," he paused and looked her straight in the eyes, "I'm glad you're here and not there." Katherine suddenly became very curious.

"What made them release you?" she asked. He shrugged.

"They needed quick and strong people who could track. I was one of the few who hadn't gone mad in there so they let me join Greyback.

"They just let anyone who wasn't mad become a Snatcher?"

"Yep, just about."

"That explains why most of them are so dumb...except you of course," Katherine said lightly. Scabior chuckled in agreement.

"Well I have seen 'em send a few of the idiots back to Azkaban. If it wasn't for my sense of smell, my speed, my navigation skills, my dashing good looks, I'd probably be back there," he said jokingly. They both laughed together. To Katherine, it seemed like it had been forever since she had had a real laugh. And it surprised her that it was Scabior who made her.