Paranoia (Alastor Moody)

Chapter 6

The following weeks of classes were awful for Natalie. Every time she saw Al, he was with Melissa. They strolled the corridors together, hand in hand, giggling-- as if Al had completely forgotten about Natalie.

But he didn't.

He noticed how her face always looked as though she had been crying. He noticed how she hung out with the Prewetts, as though they were the only people in her life. He noticed how she moved to sit elsewhere when in class-- she even opted to sit next to Amos Diggory, who she was known to hate, during herbology.

He noticed that Natalie was avoiding him.

But why? That was obvious to everyone except for the one person who needed to know most of all.

Al tried to approach the girl on several occasions, but she would just give him a sad smile and walk away.

He didn't know what he did wrong.

He decided enough was enough. On the morning of January fourteenth, Al sped through the hallways in search of the two red-headed twins. He was going to find out why Natalie was avoiding him, even if he had to force it out of the two.

Finally, he spotted them. With Natalie.

She looked happy. Obviously one of the twins had just told her a funny joke, for the girl's face was scrunched up in laughter.

Al followed the three of them as they made their way through the castle. As they reached the Transfiguration classroom, Natalie bid them farewell and went inside.

This was his chance.

He grabbed the two boys by their robes and dragged them around the corner of the hallway.

"Alright," he said, facing the Prewetts. " What's wrong with Nat? What have I done? Why is she avoiding me? "

The boys looked at each other, then back at Alastor. "Look, mate," said one of them-- as if Al could tell them apart-- probably Gideon. " that's Natalie's business. If she hasn't told you yet, then she isn't ready to. Just leave her be. "

"No. You're going to tell me. She's my best friend. I don't have anyone else to turn to. Please, just tell me!"

"Sorry, Moody. What's Natalie's business is hers, and it's not for us to tell," said probably Fabian.

The two of them turned, and walked down the opposite corridor.

Al sat in the common room, waiting for Natalie to arrive.

Melissa sat with him for a while, but he didn't say a word, and she quickly grew bored.

Finally, Al saw a flash of blonde hair, and jumped out of his seat. He walked towards her, and whispered quietly, "Can I talk to you?"

She looked at him and slowly nodded.