-trying not to make his sigh too audible, Caradoc reached for the file with a nod, absently flipping through its pages as he moved to sit in the seat on the other side of Moody’s desk. There was the usual impatient silence as Moody waited for Caradoc to finish speed reading. It was straight-forward, anyways. Two on two, most likely. Moody’d never liked the big operations. Scumbags, more than likely with Intel on the greater goal. And there was no question of them leaving soon, perhaps within the next few minutes since Moody was clearly halfway out the door already, his mindset easily turned onto the job, just like usual- Well then, looks like a straight off. In and out. And we know where they’re at, sir?
Right here. Moody state, tapping the side of his head as he rounded his desk, heading towards the door. There wasn't much to read over, simple things really. He knew Caradoc knew what was happening anyway. Reaching for the door, he opened it before glancing over his shoulder. Now c'mon boy, we don't got all day. He pulled out his pocket watch, flipping it open before flipping it closed again. Five minutes before we need to leave. With that, Moody left the room, knowing Caradoc was following him, heading towards the appartating area within the Ministry.
-The sun had risen barely an hour ago and its light only now began to seep through cracked windows and spaces. Antonin stood waiting upstairs in a dusty storage space, half illuminated and half cast in shadow. He had waited here all night, hopeful that he’d have a chance to lure his prey.Creaking footsteps on the corridor outside grew louder and then, cutting the silence like a knife, there was the gruff bark of Alastor Moody. This was excellent. A thin plaster wall was all that separated the space where Antonin waited and Moody stood in the hallway. He was giddy with excitement, the top dog himself would be Antonin’s finest catch. The thought of the pain he would inflict on the auror was unbearable to him. He had to strike. Now grasping his wand, slashing it forwards and breaking down the thin wall that separated them. Still obscured in shadow, he was now exposed to the auror, and withdrew his wand back to his side.- Good morning, sir. I see you’ve been looking for me.
When the wall broke beside him, Moody twisted on his heel, wand pointing at the hole in the wall. His eyes darted around, looking for the source of the spell. He silently sent a spell that was suppose to knock the person down and stun them, now if that was going to happen, Moody wasn't sure but he really hoped it would. When he heard the voice, he silently moved to the shadows, hiding himself. It seems I came to the right place. Moody stated, eyes watching the area, trying to make out the person in the shadows.
Moody walked through the house. It was eerily quiet, the furniture overturned, plates broken, things thrown about. Now it didn't make sense, there was suppose to be a wizard in here hiding out but so far, it seemed like no one lived there. There was frustration coursing through him as he checked every single room looking for the person only to come up empty. Why did he have to come up empty? Moody didn't do that. He always came back with something. Where are ya, you bloody bastard? He growled, walking through the upstairs corridor towards the stairs.
Title: Where No Man's Gone - Alternate Ending
Date: Set after the Order picture was taken in 1981
There'd been a time when Alastor Moody thought himself and no one could touch him, nothing could harm him. It was arrogant in a way to think that way but when he'd put so many of the Death Eaters in Azakaban, it was hard to shake the thoughts from his mind. Those kind of thoughts were the kind that got people killed. He'd seen it day in and day out. The cocky Aurors who thought they knew everything were the ones who got themselves killed during a battle, wands raised, running forward only to be the first ones to die.
There'd been many times when Alastor Moody had walked over the dead bodies of his colleagues, his partners to take the body of the offender they were hunting. If the person was dead, he'd simply stand there and looking at the body only to turn around and a sadness wash over him seeing the bodies.
Often he was called Mad-Eye, a nickname that suited him. Not many people had ever seen the side of him that expressed the negative emotions. So many times people had seen anger, frustration, pride, arrogance, and so many more. There were select few times when Moody showed people sadness, depression, that the job was wearing on him. It was rare he ever showed those things because in his mind, it drove him forward, kept him going.
There had only been once when Alastor Moody worked until he couldn't work anymore. He stretched countries, searched every nook and cranny, talked to people he never fathomed he'd interact with. He wasn't stopping, he'd wasn't slowing down. It was his fault, he'd handed the file to Caradoc, telling him it was an easy case. When really, it was. However, when Caradoc hadn't checked, hadn't shown up a week later, he knew something had gone wrong.
Two weeks. Nothing.
Three weeks. Nothing.
Four weeks. Still nothing.
It was the three week mark when people started seeing the shell cracking in Moody. They started to see the more irritated, argumentative, and driven Moody. He'd sent people on missions but he never went with them anymore. Instead he became obsessed with finding his partner, the person he hoped to take his position has Head Auror once he stepped down or the Ministry forced him to step down. But now? He had no one he wanted to take up the position. Everyone was good but he'd taken Caradoc under his wing when he saw potential in the young Auror, potential at doing great things. And now? Well...that wasn't going to happen.
Six months.
Seven months
Eight months.
Nine months.
"He should give it up," One of the Aurors muttered to another one, glancing to make sure that Moody wasn't within ear shot.
"They're never going to find him," The other whispered, eyes casted down on the paperwork. "His office is already cleaned out"
"Do you th--"
"I can hear every word you're saying," Moody called across the room, turning around to face the two Aurors. The two muttered apologizes and Moody was about to let it go but he caught something else. "You two, my office. Now."
There was no waiting, Moody turned on his heel and moved to his office. The other Aurors in the room sat stunned, some continued on their work like nothing was happening, others shared glances but Moody didn't pay any attention to them. As soon as the door was shut, he looked at the the two new girls. "Care to explain what you were saying before?"
The blonde looked at the other girl but said nothing.
"Nothing? What're your names?" Moody's voice was tight as he glanced between them.
"Elena, sir," The blonde stated, looking at the ground.
"Ruth," The brown haired witch stated, eyes looking past Moody, at the map with the pins poking in different locations.
"You two girls are new yes?" The both nodded. "You two are aware of what goes on here right?" Two more nods. "You two are aware of who each and every person is in this office correct?" Two more nods, both shifting nervously. There was a long pause as Moody looked between them. If he really wanted to, he could transfigure these two girls, make them run around the office as ferrets but something told him that wasn't going to teach them as lesson.
"Day in and day out we go out there saving the lives of the wizards and witches that inhabit these parts, some as far as Albania. We don't rest, we're at the height of a war, comrades dropping left and right, some never to be heard of again. Do you know what gets us through these tough times, Elena?"
There was no answer.
"Do you Elena?" His voice raised and it started the girl but he didn't care.
"Teamwork, sir," Ruth answered, her eyes still on the map.
"That's right. Teamwork. Friendships. Bonds. Not talking behind peoples backs. Not saying things when you think others can't hear them. What would happen if you made someone mad and you two were assigned something?" There was no answer and Moody sighed roughly, frustrated. "You die. You get killed. You get your partner killed. WE DON'T TALK ABOUT PEOPLE BEHIND THEIR BACKS. That is not how I've set this department up!" Moody was now approaching the girls, angry with them as he shouted. He was angry in general, at himself and it was showing. "People die. People disappear. At the end of the day, you look at yourself and ask what you could have done better to make sure they were alive. We don't let what you just did get in our way. Understand that because sometime you might say something only to get killed because they were angry at you!" He inhales sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose trying to calm himself down. He knew he was scaring the two new girls but who wouldn't be scared when Alastor "Mad-eye" Moody was yelling at you.
"You two are going on a mission tomorrow. The two of you alone. You're going to understand the importance of teamwork, of team bonding. After that, you're going to work with different team members to reinforce that importance. Both of you. Read over these files." They landed on the desk with a loud thump. They were rather large files but nothing the two girls couldn't handle on their own.
When neither moved, he looked at them. "Go on now! Pick up the files and scramble!" They did just that, picking the files up and quickly finding their way out of the room.
Once he was alone, Moody landed harshly on his chair, facing the map, studying it closely. The newest pins were yet to be added and from what he could tell, there was nothing new leading them in the right direction of finding his body. Normally he wouldn't have acted that way, his words so harsh but the girls needed to learn the importance of their jobs, of their bonds with the rest of the Aurors. This wasn't a job where you could hate someone but yet it happened. Not everyone was going to get along but you did form bonds. Ones that lasted through life and when the bond was severed, it strikes close to home only to tear the person apart in the inside.
Title: Where No Man's Gone
Date: Set after the Order picture was taken in 1981
There'd been a time when Alastor Moody thought himself and no one could touch him, nothing could harm him. It was arrogant in a way to think that way but when he'd put so many of the Death Eaters in Azakaban, it was hard to shake the thoughts from his mind. Those kind of thoughts were the kind that got people killed. He'd seen it day in and day out. The cocky Aurors who thought they knew everything were the ones who got themselves killed during a battle, wands raised, running forward only to be the first ones to die.
There'd been many times when Alastor Moody had walked over the dead bodies of his colleagues, his partners to take the body of the offender they were hunting. If the person was dead, he'd simply stand there and looking at the body only to turn around and a sadness wash over him seeing the bodies.
Often he was called Mad-Eye, a nickname that suited him. Not many people had ever seen the side of him that expressed the negative emotions. So many times people had seen anger, frustration, pride, arrogance, and so many more. There were select few times when Moody showed people sadness, depression, that the job was wearing on him. It was rare he ever showed those things because in his mind, it drove him forward, kept him going.
There had only been once when Alastor Moody worked until he couldn't work anymore. He stretched countries, searched every nook and cranny, talked to people he never fathomed he'd interact with. He wasn't stopping, he'd wasn't slowing down. It was his fault, he'd handed the file to Caradoc, telling him it was an easy case. When really, it was. However, when Caradoc hadn't checked, hadn't shown up a week later, he knew something had gone wrong.
Two weeks. Nothing.
Three weeks. Nothing.
Four weeks. Still nothing.
It was the three week mark when people started seeing the shell cracking in Moody. They started to see the more irritated, argumentative, and driven Moody. He'd sent people on missions but he never went with them anymore. Instead he became obsessed with finding his partner, the person he hoped to take his position has Head Auror once he stepped down or the Ministry forced him to step down. But now? He had no one he wanted to take up the position. Everyone was good but he'd taken Caradoc under his wing when he saw potential in the young Auror, potential at doing great things. And now? Well...that wasn't going to happen.
Six months.
Seven months
Eight months.
Nine months.
"He should give it up," One of the Aurors muttered to another one, glancing to make sure that Moody wasn't within ear shot.
"They're never going to find him," The other whispered, eyes casted down on the paperwork. "His office is already cleaned out"
"Do you th--"
"I can hear every word you're saying," Moody called across the room, turning around to face the two Aurors. The two sat there, not saying anything but went back to what they were doing. Moody was about to go into how that could get them killed but then decided against it, moving into his office.
There was a map on his wall with different pins in it. It'd started about eight months ago and each time he came back from a mission or a personal one, he stuck another pin in the map. Every single pin had a red bulb on it showing that where he'd gone had been a failure. He'd even gone where no man had gone before, reaching his limits further than what others would have. No one would have spent this long looking for someone. But Moody would for one reason.
Yes, sir. Delphine said, effectively replying to both of his statements. Her boss was a man of few words, something she respected from the first minute she had stepped into the office. Removing the air from a sentence only made the resolution stronger; who needed frivolity, when simplicity could get you anything you wanted? They turned out of the Auror office, ending up in the large atrium connecting the Law Enforcement Department to the other Departments on the floor. Delphine pressed the gold elevator button, waiting for the golden cage with pressed lips.
It was irritating to wait for the elevator. It felt so muggle like to be waiting for the blasted door but then again, it wasn't like they could apperate out of here. Oh wait, they could. Only higher up. Once the elevator opened, he slid into it, hitting the button for it to move upwards once Savage was in. Again, it was all about the waiting. He hated the waiting was very glad they were out of the elevator, heading towards the surface. Once they were on the ground floor, Moody led Savage towards the floos, stopping in front of it. Remember the coordinates? With the nod he received Moody took a step into the floo, shouting the location before he was sucked into the chimney, disappearing. Only a few moments later, he stepped out of it, covered in soot now waiting for Savage to appear.
Simple enough - just another wizard, another bag and tag. A small voice at the back of her head grumbled; some of the other officers were just as talented as Dearborn. How would they get the experience they needed if Moody always took out his favorite prodigy? Good, Delphine replied, folding the file and placing it neatly on his desk. Now wasn’t the time to complain, nor was it ever. No complaining had gotten her this opportunity - all she needed to do was to be the right person in the right place at the right time. Not many had as much patience as she. Ready?
Understand everything? It didn't matter if she did because Moody would fill her in while they were walking. It would be easier probably but everyone he worked with needed to understand the importance of file reading and reading between the lines. Doesn't matter, lets go. We'll leave through the floo network and from there aparatre to the location disclosed in the file that you read. Moody explained as they walked through the halls, his walking sticking slapping against the ground with every step he took. No one dared bat a second glance at him as they walked. Everyone knew that when Alastor Moody was on a mission, no one stopped him.
-Boy. Still. Merlin, he was nearly thirty. But rather than say a word, Caradoc stands and follows behind the senior Auror. Eyes glancing around to check the damage, it was fairly easy to check the man’s rage scale by the level of fear in the newer occupants of the Auror department eye’s. Not too bad,… but Caradoc steeled himself for the coming barrage of Moody’s verbal abuse anyway. He was a damn good Auror, brilliant mentor, dare Caradoc say friend? but Moody was a tough old boot that felt the best way to toughen up his students was to build them a skin nearly as impenetrable as his own.- Dare I ask what this about, Moody? or are we waiting to get inside your office for that conversation?
To answer Caradocs question, he didn't say anything and instead, he walked straight into his office. He flipped through the file, skimming through it as he waited. Once the other male crossed the threshold, he closed the door with a flick of his wrist. Read. It'll explain everything. It was a hunt. Two wizards, supposed allies with Voldemort. No one was sure but they seemed like a shady crowd. Not that it mattered because they were going to take them in for questioning anyway.
'Since Proudfoot almost dropped dead last mission when he wasn't allowed to get breakfast', she mused, watching her boss absentmindedly. Yes, sir. Delphine pushes her chair out from her desk and eases her petite frame from her chair. Time is not of the essence for her - in fact, she’s rather preoccupied with taking her time and waiting. It’s coming to her eventually, and if she wants it, she’ll take it. If it’s not of the utmost importance, then screw it. What is up?
There wasn't a pause as Moody walked to his office, thoughts racing on what he needed to do. Everything needed to be placed perfectly in order for this to work. Now, he would like Caradoc but Savage would work as well. Once they were in the room, he flicked his wrist to shut the door with his wand. Read this over. It was a simple hunt, a rouge wizard, no affiliates to the Death Eaters. Easy enough to do on his own but he knew the Ministry would say no. Protocol and all that other pain in the bloody arse things the Ministry made him do.
Delphine’s eyes followed the fast moving swish of robes with intensifying amusement. How many times had Moody done this in the past few days? Even in the past hour he had shouted the names of at least a half dozen other aurors in their department, not to mention grumbling at the fawn-like, doe-eyed interns rigid in their posts. Caradoc had gone out for lunch, as he’d told many of the staff members. Seeing as no one else was willing enough to stand up to Moody (and most had already gone for their lunch breaks as well), Delphine piped up calmly and quietly. He’s gone out for lunch, sir. Back in - a quick glance to her watch, then - twenty minutes.
It was more times than the Auror could count. He was constantly coming into the office, shouting for people, demanding their attention. It was important business with the Death Eaters on the rise. No one needed to be dying when he could save them himself. Everyone locked up now? That was him. Everyone that would be locked up in the future? That was possibly him as well. Right now, he needed bloody Dearborn for his next assignment. Lunch? The bloody hell?! Since when do we have time to eat these days! He paused, pulling out his pocket watch and then snapping it closed. Twenty minutes? I need someone now. So, Savage, you're with me. Up. C'mon, my office.
-anyone would be lying to say the sound of “Mad-Eye” Moody storming towards you didn’t make them jump, even a little bit. It was therefore very convenient that Caradoc was a good liar. The trick was to show no fear, even while quickly pulling his feet off the top of his desk, letting papers, various wanted posters and the duller bits of paperwork (that no one had been kind enough to warn him came along with law enforcement), fly in every direction on the way down- Dammit. -he snarled, not bothering to pick up the sheets lest Moody storm in and find him on his knees, arse exposed and therefore get what might be the millionth “constant vigiliance” speech he’d heard in ten years- HERE. Shit, what is he— ? MOODY! Merlin, it’s not like my desk moves around! I’m in here! What is it?
When he heard Caradoc's voice, Moody swung towards the direction of it, pointing at him. Good, you, follow me. My office, now. Without even checking to see if Caradoc was following him, Moody turned on his heel, dismissing the mess of papers on the floor. He'd make the other Auror clean them up later when they were finished dealing with their own happenings that were about to take place. C'mon boy, we don't got all day! Moody shouted over his shoulder, not needing to look over it because of the ability of the eye. Oh how he loved that eye in cases like this.
DEARBORN! Moody shouted as he walked down the hallways at a swift pace. Many people just ignored him, others looked at him but then looked away. When Moody was on a mission, you didn't bother him. People learned that right away and right now, Moody was on a mission to find Caradoc wherever the bloody hell that bastard had disappeared to. Where are you? He shouted again, sending a few interns into a panic as he all but opened their door before closing it, giving a swift apology before going on his hunt for the man again. No man, Death Eater, law breaker, or Auror was going to slip through his fingers.
