Songs credited to lcdstudios.
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When the sun went down, the rest of the Snatchers at last came out (Except of Greyback) , I saw that they all had dressed up, just like Scabior had said. Leeson had on grey dress robes and a striped bow tie. Hayes had on a less crumpled, green jacket and had stuck a bright red feather in her hat for the occasion. Dun had on a dark, black, silky cloak. McFarland, perhaps the dressiest of them all, wore a heavily decorated set of red dress robes with an epaulet and a top hat. Looking at all of them made me feel out of place, since I was still in my plain, slightly dirty grey hoodie and sloppy ponytail.
"Okay, you've got me here. Do your worst." I stood in front of all of them, holding my arms out. They all laughed.
"Stop being so negative." Leeson punched my shoulder. I rubbed where his fist had made impact. "It's your birthday! Loosen up!"
"I just want to get this over with!" I pouted. Scabior stepped forward.
"Before we get anything 'started' we have to give you your present."
"I don't want any presents-" I argued, but they all ignored me and lined up shoulder to shoulder. Scabior went over to the logs and pulled out a long, slim, black box. When he came back he handed it to me.
"This is from all of us. Except Greyback, but I don't think that you're very hurt that you didn't get anything from him."
I looked down at the box, forcing myself to smile. Why was everyone so determined to make me celebrate my birthday? I didn't care about my birthday. I barely think about it myself, so why should anyone else care? But they all looked really excited to present me with a gift, so I couldn't hurt their feelings by not opening it. I pulled the lid off and looked inside.
Laying next to each other in a straight line, much like the Snatchers were doing now, were five shiny knives of various sizes. All of them had the same leather-bound handle, with silver studs stuck into the hilt. On the end of the hilts were a big, green stone. I took the biggest one out and held it into the light, open-mouthed and excited.
This is exactly what I had been wanting since my father had started training me back in my fifth year. A set of knives: the ultimate weapon. I could stab, cut, wound... Hunt for food. Hunt for lives. Defend myself. How did the know? Was it just a hunch? I never told anyone I wanted a set because I hated when people purchased things for me.
"Do you like them?" Leeson hopefully asked. I closed my mouth and smiled.
"Yeah. I love them. How did you know this is what I wanted?"
"I saw you admiring my set at the house." Scabior confessed, and everyone else nodded in agreement, although they had not been there. "So I assumed you wanted some."
"It also seems like something you would like." Dunn put in.
"And we wanted to thank you." McFarland surprised us all by speaking.
"Thank me? This is my job. I didn't really have a choice. There is nothing to thank me for."
"It was Greyback's job, too, and all he cared about was power." Hayes tried to make their point. "All he wanted to do was make it clear that he was in charge and that we had to do what ever he said. We barley even trained. All he did was make up wait on him hand and foot. You are a great leader."
Oh. Wow... I walked over to one of the logs and sat down. Did they really appreciate me that much? I didn't think I was that great. Of course, even the Dark Lord chose me for this job, so maybe I was. I felt tears come to my eyes as their appreciation actually started to dawn on me. They really did like me, and were thankful for what I did with them. I touched their lives in a way that they will never be the same again. I put my hand over my mouth.
