Poisoned Youth | ✓

62- the Chase

"That treacherous old bleeder!" Ron panted as we stood up. "Iverson, you're a genius, a total genius, I can't believe we got out of that!"

"I took a page from Hermione's book from when we went to Godric Hollow," I sighed.

"Didn't I say it was an Erumpent horn, didn't I tell him?" Hermione huffed. "And now his house has been blown apart!"

"Serves him right," said Ron, examining his torn jeans and the cuts to his legs. "What d'you reckon they'll do to him?"

"Oh, I hope they don't kill him!" I groaned. "That's why I wanted the Death Eaters to get a glimpse of Harry before we left, so they knew Xenophilius hadn't been lying!"

"Why hide me and Hermione, though?" asked Ron.

"You're supposed to be in bed with Spattergroit and I don't want Hermione to be found. They've kidnapped Luna because her father supported Harry!"

"I'll do the enchantments," Ron scoffed.

My breath got stuck in my throat as I looked past Ron. Hermione's hand found mine as she gasped. Harry and Ron turned around to see what we were looking at. Clinging to the branches of the trees above, almost as though they were a part of the trees themselves, were Snatchers.

I Apparated us into a hoard of Snatches. And we couldn't Disapparate.

All four of us bolted in different directs.

My blood pumped in my ears as I ran through the thick forest. Every crunch and rustle of leaves seemed like Snatchers ready to take me away. I felt for my friends, I was alone. Someone followed me as I hurried down through the trees. Looking back, I saw a man that resembled more like a monster.

The fallen trees made it hard to run fast. Stumbling over one of the thick stumps, I found myself in a clearing, completely exposed. A hand grasped my sweater and I nearly hexed them, only to see it was Harry.

"Where's — Where did —"

"Shh, shh," Harry hushed me.

A light whizzed passed us and hit a tree. Harry grabbed my hand and pulled me away, through the forest once more. Another figured appeared— Hermione. We only missed Ron.

The three of us shot off more jinxes, trying to get away from them. It didn't work. As we came to another clearing, four jets of lights ricocheted off of us. Harry pulled Hermione and me down, giving up our game of chase. A flash of light erupted, hitting Harry in the face.

Before I could say anything, Ron fell next to me. I gasped and looked over to him. The Snatcher that had chased Hermione leaned over and grabbed Harry's wand, then Hermione's, but as he tried to grab mine, I resisted.

"Insolent girl!" he shouted and, as he finally got my wand from my grip, scratched my face. I cried in pain as I felt the heat of the wounds.

"Don't touch her!" Ron shouted.

Blood sputtered onto my face as the monstrous man punched him in the face.

"Stop it!" Hermione squealed.

"Your boyfriend'll get worse than that if he doesn't behave, lovely."

Tilting my head, I caught the sight of Fenrir Greyback, the werewolf who was permitted to wear Death Eater robes in return for his hired savagery.

"Please don't hurt my friends," I whispered.

One by one, the four of us were pulled up into a tight hold. Five Snatchers stood before us.

"Now, let's see who we've got," Greyback gloated. He put a lit wand to Harry's face.

"What happened to you, ugly?"