Paranoia (Alastor Moody)

Chapter 14

Of course she said yes. She wasn't crazy. This man was the love of her life— had been there for her for her good and bad moments and had helped her through so much. He was her everything.

Their happiness at being engaged didn't last long, however.

A dark wizard by the name of Voldemort had quickly risen to power and both young aurors were working nonstop with barely any time to sleep let alone plan a wedding. They decided to put their relationship on the back burner for the time being and focus on the inevitable war ahead of them.

On more than one occasion, Natalie came home, throwing herself into Alastor's arms and sobbing uncontrollably. They had come to find that their jobs were not as glamorous as they had originally thought, and they'd seen some truly horrific sights.

Alastor, on the one hand, kept his emotions close to his chest. He tried his best to stay strong for Natalie, but there were times where he couldn't contain the overwhelming sadness that ran through his head at all hours of the day and night. Natalie had walked in on him crying silently a few times, and did her best to console him. She usually ended up shedding tears of her own.

One cold and dreary morning, a knock came from the front door.

Grabbing her wand, Natalie slowly made her way to the door. She turned the knob and pulled it open to find...

"Professor Dumbledore?"

"Oh my dear Ms. Taylor, please do call me Albus. May I come in?"

"Hold on Albus. We need to know it's really you." Alast had appeared from round the corner of the living room.  "What was the reason I made a trip to your office in my fourth year?" He glared at Albus, as if daring him to transform into the Dark Lord himself.

"Ah, yes. I do believe you had come to my office because you had an issue with your Defense Against the Dark Arts. What was it you said? Yes, I believe you called him a 'barmy old codger' who 'couldn't teach even if someone had Imperioused him to do so'," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye.

Alastor and Natalie stepped aside, allowing him to come in. He sat down on their ratty old couch and conjured up a tray of tea.

"I'd like to discuss some important matters with the two of you, if you don't mind," he said, pouring himself a cup. "Tea, Natalie?"

Natalie accepted the cup and sat in the armchair. "What is it you'd like to talk to us about, sir?"

"Well, I've decided to start a group. It would be made up of highly trained witches and wizards, of course, and I'd like if the two of you would join me."

Natalie stared at Dumbledore in bewilderment. "You want us to join?"

"Well yes of course. You're both very talented and I could use that," he said with a smile.

"What would this group be doing exactly?" Al asked.

"Well as you may have gathered, I am not very fond of how the Ministry is behaving in these times. They are not taking the necessary precautions regarding wizard and muggle deaths alike, and I feel as though we may need to assist them. That is not to say that all Ministry workers are not doing their best—" Albus said, looking hard at Al, who had been about to interrupt, "I merely mean that we could do better. If you would please consider my offer, that would be greatly appreciated."

The young couple stared at each other.

"I'm in," said Natalie.