Moody Auror

Alastor Moody. Auror. That's all you need to know

[moodyauror-blog]

Eyed || December 2, 2017 || OPEN

[moodyauror-blog]

potions-and-plants:

“Okay…” Sofia replied feeling a little dejected. She simply did not know that much about Alastor and had been curious to get to know more about him. Yet, it seemed that he wanted to keep his private life extremely private. Maybe one day she could get him to open up. Maybe it was because he saw her as to young to be an equal. If she could only prove herself, then he might show her a bit more about himself.

“No… You do realize that there are other websites. I have made muggle friends through blogging sites and stuff…” She shook her head. The witch certainly was not thinking that as a potential website that her and Moody ever would have met on. She didn’t think that Alastor would have even known the sight, or at least not use it. Sofia shrugged. “Fine, fine.” 

Alastor could tell that she was disappointed with his lack of openness. But he had never been much of a sharer. His unusual upbringing had made it hard to connect with classmates as a child, and his father’s increasingly unstable behaviour after his mother’s death had necessitated handling it quietly. Afterwards, it was easier to be taken seriously when people only had his actions and his manner to judge him upon. Alastor was not concerned with appearing or becoming more approachable. He felt he was already too approachable by half since young people like Sofia were so comfortable coming up to talk. 

He wasn’t mean, he just wasn’t friendly. Alastor had a small circle of people he trusted, and that was enough. He wasn’t starved for personal interactions. In fact, often he felt more of the need to be alone than to socialize. His everyday life involved far too much social interaction, dealing with complainants, victims, and criminals. 

Alastor gave the girl next to him a look. To begin with, the fact that it was becoming common place to make friends online was alarming to him. Perhaps because of all he had seen, and all the bad he knew existed in the world. Moody knew that danger did not literally lurk around every corner, but he couldn’t help watching out for it anyways. Meeting strangers off the Internet just seemed like a risk...and people didn’t appear to have any problem taking it. “Do I look like the type to make friends off blogging sites?” he pointed out. “Or meet some stranger off the Internet?” It was foolhardy to the extreme in his mind. “What website exactly are you thinking we could’ve been thought to’ve met off of?” Now he was curious.

[moodyauror-blog]

Eyed || December 2, 2017 || OPEN

[moodyauror-blog]

gwentheharpy:

Gwen didn’t like to believe she was willfully ignorant of the bad things that went on in the world. She read the paper, she paid attention, she just couldn’t be too outspoken about some of her stronger opinions, and it irritated her to no end. Especially when it was things she cared about. But she was just a Quidditch Player, no one really cared what she had to say anyway. Definitely not at Christmas, when everyone wanted to distract themselves with gifts and food and drinks.

So Gwen tried to distract herself as well, she was about to leave the mulled wine stall she was at when she spotted a familiar figure and got another mug before walking over.

“This is true, but none of them are as fun as you, Moody!” Gwen said in a chipper tone, before holding out the mug of mulled wine to him. She rolled her eyes at his grouchiness, ever present even when she wasn’t doing stuff wrong. Gwenog did appreciate Moody though, he’d probably kept her out of trouble more than she deserved. “I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas, you old grump.”

Moody rolled his eyes, but couldn’t help smiling a little at the vivacious Quidditch player. He accepted the mug of mulled wine without protest, appreciating the gesture. Gwenog rarely wanted anything from him--she didn’t even want him keeping her out of trouble half the time. It was refreshing, as was her general attitude towards him. 

“I’d say you have a strange idea of fun, but I already knew that,” Alastor smirked, taking a sip of the warm beverage. He was referring to her hot temper and her enjoyment of a good argument and a physical fight. 

“Happy Christmas to you too Ms. Jones,” he replied, toasting her with the mug. “And thank you for this.” 

[moodyauror-blog]

littlestbones:

Amelia stared at Alastor, the unamused look at his answer made clear as she arched an eyebrow at him. He hadn’t said anything worth chastising but it was still enough to earn a look of annoyance. Silence proved to be the best alternative since he caught her off guard by suggesting coffee.

“Sure,” Amelia steeled herself, forcing a few deep breaths since saying anything else would have pushed her closer to an emotional breakdown. Another moment passed then she followed him, offering a sheepish smile once she neared the doorway.

Alastor gestured for Amelia to sit. There were a couple chairs facing the desk, and a couch against the wall, bookended by a bookshelf and a filing cabinet for her to choose from. He ignored both these options in favour of heading towards one of his favourite items in his office: the coffee machine. He had decided for how many cups he drank a day, it was worth the expense, and tasted better than the coffee he could get in the break room. Taking two mugs, Alastor poured the coffee into them. “How do you take it?” he asked. 

After adjusting accordingly, Alastor leaned out into the bull pen. “Need a research junkie in here!” he yelled. The shuffling of feet meant that an intern or junior Auror would be in momentarily. He raised en eyebrow in amusement in Amelia’s direction before turning back to the young man who had just arrived in his doorway. 

“I need a copy of the preliminary hearing for the teen that tried breaking into Gringotts. It was last fall. Last name...Merrillville.”

The young man’s head bobbed as he listened, writing down what Moody wanted in the small notebook he had pulled from his pocket when the older Auror began speaking. 

Moody nodded approvingly at the younger man. “That’s it for now Yates.” 

Yates looked up at Moody, obviously pleased that the man knew his name. “I’ll get this for you as soon as I can, sir.” 

Moody waved his hand, dismissing Yates. Looking back to Amelia, Moody smirked. It paid off having seniority. “And now we wait.” 

[moodyauror-blog]

Eyed || December 2, 2017 || OPEN

[moodyauror-blog]

fortescutex:

Alice knew what he was going to say before he said it. The words fell out of his lips and she wasn’t surprised but disappointment rang through her bones as though she were a bell in a bell tower. While she knew this conversation was necessary, Alice still didn’t want to talk about her past mistakes; still didn’t want to recognize they happened. Failure had never been an option in her life which was a destructive and oftentimes crucial aspect of her life.

Clearing her throat, she looked down at her toes watching as they tapped every couple of seconds before looking back up at him. She wasn’t being scolded, she had to remember. She wasn’t a little girl at Hogwarts any longer. While Moody and herself may not be equals under the Ministry, they were equals otherwise. She had to try to push the shame and disappointment away to try and be a regular person. 

“I just thought you’d understand that I wasn’t lying to you without good reason,” she said, finally. “Because you know me. And I wouldn’t ever lie to you unless I had very good reason.” She sighed, shoulders shrugging. “I mean that. And I’m sorry that I did but I did. If it makes you feel any better, it wasn’t a complete lie. I was yelling at a secretary.”  

“The road to Hell is paved with good intentions, Fortescue,” he replied. Plenty of people did things all the time for reasons they thought made sense at the time. Logic and rationalizing was normal. It did not mean that Moody had to like being lied to. “Lying is lying and frankly anyone can rationalize anything.” He was not trying to dismiss her judgment, but anyone could be taken in by anything. It didn’t matter that he generally trusted her. Moody’s job was to keep everyone safe, including from themselves. 

It wasn’t as if he fully expected to know everything that was going on all the time, but Moody liked to be pretty damn close. If he hadn’t been in Gryffindor, Moody suspected his desire for knowledge would have placed him in Ravenclaw. 

He knew that what he was saying was not coming off very well. Moody was probably doing little more than insulting her intelligence, though he had a high regard for it. He knew that Alice wasn’t stupid. She was naive in many respects, though, at least in Moody’s opinion. Alice wanted to see the best in people. It worked in his favour considering she often refused to be put off by his gruff exterior. But it could easily be taken advantage of. And he had no doubt that she was working towards the greater good. But who’s greater good? Like she said, Alice would not lie to him without good reason, and he doubted that said reason was her idea to begin with. 

Moody rubbed his hand over his face in frustration, wanting to make things better and not worse. His palm moved up over his face to ruffle his hair as he looked at her again. “Half truths and dissembling don’t make me feel better,” he replied. “A lie’s a lie, and you’re just going to have to live with the fact that I don’t like it.” She wouldn’t like that either, but he wasn’t going to sugar coat the truth. “I’m not mad at you, Alice,” he said. “But I’m not exactly happy either.  You have your own life, and your own secrets, and I don’t need to know them all. But if this was just something personal, I doubt you’d be making such a fuss.” 

[moodyauror-blog]

Eyed || December 2, 2017 || OPEN

[moodyauror-blog]

potions-and-plants:

“Of course.” She smiled. However, one of her eyebrows raised with a little curiosity. “If you don’t mind me asking, how do you celebrate Christmas?” Sofia couldn’t really begin to imagine Moody’s life outside of being an auror and being in the Order. She hoped that her genuine interest would not bug him too much.

She shrugged. “People meet people all the time. Wizards and muggles have technology. It’s not that hard to find anyone these days.” Sofia chuckled softly. “No, though you do look roughly the size of my father for if I needed to see if a shirt would fit.” The raven-haired witch teased. She hadn’t thought of getting him to try on anything until he had mentioned it, so she thought there was no harm in poking fun.

“Privately,” he replied bluntly. Moody took no pleasure in talking about himself or what he did when he was not at work, yet everyone seemed so fascinated by it. It was no one’s business how he decided to celebrate what some termed a religious holiday (codswallop, but he would use that as an excuse for privacy if he had to). He was not about to go singing Christmas carols or running around in silly looking sweaters, but he didn’t give a crap who did. 

“Meeting through technology sounds like you’re saying we met through Amortentia,” he stated, making a face. He certainly hadn’t needed that thought in his head. Moody knew that no one would think that, but it was a silly reason to dismiss people knowing people if he ever heard one. “I will leave,” he said firmly, giving her a look. He was not her dummy or mannequin, nor technically her shopping companion. Frankly, Moody was beginning to wonder why he was still here. 

[moodyauror-blog]

Eyed || December 2, 2017 || OPEN

[moodyauror-blog]

mxrymxc:

She almost blushed at his commendation. Mary could have tried her hand at the Auror business, but there was that nagging voice that kept her on the safe side of the safety banister these days. Oh yeah, and that voice sounded eerily like her mother warning her of being dramatic. “Well, I would hate to outshine any potential prospects with my dazzling effort,” she replied with a laugh. Not to mention the way she allowed her emotions to get the best of her. “Besides, with the training I’m getting down at the gym, i hardly think it would be fair if i went out at all.”

She couldn’t help but return his brow raising at his questioning. “Whatever needs to be done, sir,” she answered, mimicking her best soldier voice, then with a shrug, “Who do you think puts up the firewalls and safety measures so that ministry officials can talk to each other without being scared someone will see?” Mary paused a moment before she smiled. “That’s right. I do.” With that, she did a little curtsy. “So sleep well tonight,” she added with a wink.

“But I already have you smiling without any water at all,” she pointed out, nudging his arm with her elbow. Mary didn’t much know if he was an honest Scrooge, but the similarities were there, even if she wouldn’t risk pointing that out. “So you’re admitting you don’t hate Christmas?” She wondered, looking up at him as they walked. The way it made his eyes glitter should have been enough answer, but somehow she wanted to hear him admit it. “In that case, I have to ask. Is it the lights making you smile, or are you simply happy to see me?”

He shook his head, though still smiling at her boasting. He didn’t bother saying anything to shoot her down. Mary was confident, and that was a good thing. It was confidence without being cockiness, and he knew she was joking anyway. There was no comment as to her degree of fitness either. He’d take her at her word. Everyone hid themselves under winter clothing this time of year anyway. Not that he was doubting her word, but it wasn’t like he could just compliment her on her muscles or anything. Not that he would do anything like that anyway.

“I thought you were a researcher?” Moody replied, confused. He didn’t know she was good with tech, or even had anything to do with it. If he were being honest, he would have thought Otto Bagman was involved in much of the tasks she said, but he kept that to himself. He didn’t want to insult her, after all. It wasn’t as if he knew much about technology in general anyway, or the Ministry’s new technological departments. Alastor preferred doing things the old fashioned way in most cases. “Oh yes, I can rest easy knowing that you’re monitoring firewalls and online security,” he said, a little mockingly. “Not knowing was keeping me up otherwise.”

It was a lie. When he did lie down to sleep, Moody could fall asleep instantly. He was so sleep deprived in general, that the minute he lay down his body probably grasped at the chance to rest while it could. Of course, Alastor could be awake again just as quickly, body tense and alert.  With all the defences he had at his home, at least he felt safe enough to close his eyes there at all.  He knew the importance of sleep, and told others to get rest, but rarely took his own advice. There was always just so much to do.  

She did have him smiling, which some would say was an accomplishment in itself. He didn’t think of himself as a particularly stern fellow, but Moody wasn’t given to shows of emotion anyway. His normally stoic expression meant that people often commented when he did smile. He knew frowning was more often the case, but considering his line of work it was only natural.  Moody didn’t particularly want to be known as being friendly. It wasn’t as if he was looking to be approachable. He had enough of people coming up to him who wanted something as it was.  He didn’t mind that he was smiling at Mary, though. Really, who wouldn’t smile at her?

“I never said I hated Christmas,” he sighed, rolling his eyes. “Just because I don’t break out any sleigh bells or holiday wreaths doesn’t mean I have anything against the holiday itself. It’s fine, and people can celebrate it. It just has nothing to do with me.” Moody appreciated the spirit of Christmas and how it affected people. But it didn’t affect him. His view on society was the same year round.

He rolled his eyes again, though smirking. “Getting rather full of yourself, aren’t you?”

[moodyauror-blog]

littlestbones:

Her expression faltered into one of annoyance. Not at Moody but purely because she couldn’t understand how several files had gone missing just around the holidays. It was mind-boggling. They had to be somewhere but sorting through the untouched ‘to be sorted’ piles got her nowhere.

“We should,” She gave a sigh and pressed her tongue against her cheek. It wouldn’t do any good to lash out at him when she was the one in need of assistance. She couldn’t help it though. “But the interns managed to screw up the organization system I put in place back when I was in their shoes and the whole thing is a wreck. August through November are missing several cases.” The hearing wasn’t for another couple of months but Amelia wanted to make sure everything was in place for the ones that were on her schedule for the next four months. “I figured you must have a back up since it was your department that caught him.”

Moody bit back a smile. Had he ever been like her? Young and willing to stress himself out over the little things? She was frazzled, and, it seemed, for no reason. Sure, it was bloody annoying to have a system you set up be ignored and messed up, but if she didn’t need the file for an immediate reason, there was no reason to get so worked up about it.

“Well like I said, I have my notes. The Auror department would certainly have my notes, reports, the evidence....But files pertaining to the actual hearings and trials are the Wizengamot’s department.” He knew that answer alone wouldn’t help, though. 

“How about you come into my office, have some coffee?” he offered. No need to have her go tearing off after someone else, or bursting into tears out of frustration. Amelia Bones clearly took her job seriously, but this was not something that required quite so much attention. 

Without waiting for her to protest, he turned and headed back into his office. 

[littlestbones]

Amelia was not paid nearly enough to spend the majority of the day running around like a chicken with its head chopped off. She had thought her days of being treated like an intern were long behind her, just to be informed the temp lost a packet of information from one of the trials she was supposed to revisit.

She paced the length of the hallway to the Auror office several times in an attempt to calm the rage that was boiling up inside her. Her jaw clenched when she was halfway down the hall again and she stilled, the sound of a door opening having caught her attention. A forced look of relief washed over before she turned on her heel.

“Just the man I was looking for,” She sighed and took several steps forward.  “Alastor, do you have a copy of the preliminary hearing for the teen that tried breaking into Gringotts last fall?”

 @moodyauror

[moodyauror-blog]

Alastor looked up from the file he had in hand at Amelia’s words. He was confused by her presence here at all. Didn’t she have runners or Wizengamot interns to run her errands for her? And why come to him? 

“For the preliminary hearing?” he asked. “I have my notes from the investigation....Shouldn’t the Department of the Wizengamot have the preliminary hearing records?” He looked at her pointedly, the ‘Why are you here in the Auror Department?’ left unsaid. Looking down, he checked the watch at his wrist. “And isn’t the hearing itself not for a few months yet?” She looked far too stressed and harassed for prepping for something that was months away.

[moodyauror-blog]

Eyed || December 2, 2017 || OPEN

[moodyauror-blog]

mxrymxc:

Mary pursed her lips playfully, almost giving the idea she didn’t believe him (although she most certainly did; she was merely awed that he knew so quickly), before she crossed her arms and replied, “I would make that process my bitch.” But her laughter gave away how very playful she felt. Surely she would end up a puddle of insecurities on the floor should she attempt the hiring process, which would only be more fuel for Moody to tease her. “Only joking. I think I’ll stay behind my computer and fight the baddies with code.”

While she was freezing to her core, his mood, his smile, his actual want to be around her lit a fire inside her that made her forget her want to get indoors. How many people got to see this side of him? How many people knew how worth it it actually was? Was she wrong for feeling special? She didn’t care. Her urge to take his arm and pretend they were on closer terms than reality stated was too strong for that.

“Fine,” she laughed, moving beside him. “No costumes, but there will be cheer, and you can’t scowl your way out of that one.” She took a few steps, trying to usher him on. “My goal is to make you less of a Scrooge and more of a Frosty by the end of this venture, anyway. It’s a good thing i love a challenge.”

“I’m certain you would try,” he said, which was true. Moody smiled, shaking his head. He was sure Mary would give it her best shot too, and would approach the process with gusto, and enthusiasm, if not effectiveness. Still, he didn’t doubt she could accomplish much of what she put her mind to. Mary was a determined young woman. “We all have our strengths,” he said.

Raising his eyebrows, Alastor folded his arms across his chest. “What exactly do you do with code?” he asked. “To which ‘baddies’?” He wasn’t sure whether to be mildly worried or amused by her comment. Having one ‘vigilante’ group was enough. Though Moody was fascinated with what could be accomplished online. He often utilized the Internet himself, and social networks like OFN, Sonorous, and Benjygram to catch criminals.

He shook his head, still smiling a little. “You can lead a Thestral to water, but you cannot make him smile,” he paraphrased the old adage. “Anyway, wasn’t Scrooge a hard taskmaster who hated Christmas? I am neither of those things.” All right, maybe Alastor was hard, but he had to be. And he worked his underlings and trainees hard as well because it prepared them for the real world. No one was going to die because Alastor hadn’t trained them properly. He made sure of that.

[moodyauror-blog]

Eyed || December 2, 2017 || OPEN

[moodyauror-blog]

fortescutex:

When he suggested that they go somewhere and talk, Alice let out a sigh, having hoped he would say something like that. She didn’t want to just out it right here and now, anyway. Knowing Moody, telling him this secret would be easier done somewhere without people, or at least where they weren’t bumping into you while you tried to get a shirt. Taking the shirt from him, she nodded, examined the print and held up a finger. It took her only a minute to buy the shirt and return to him with a small smile. “For Frank,” she said, softly, before nodding her head. 

“I know a place we can go,” she said, motioning for him to follow, her new bag swinging by her side. By the time they arrived at the park, Alice had to pull back out her mittens and slide them on. She sat down and looked over at him. 

“I’m sorry,” she said. “For everything. I didn’t know how to approach you after you just… stormed off. You’ve never done that to me before. And that sounds… silly but you hadn’t. I just didn’t know what to do. I thought you needed time.”

He was glad when she didn’t argue about going somewhere else to talk. He did almost smirk when she said the shirt she had been eyeing was for Frank, but he kept himself from breaking into a true smile. The two made a good match, though Moody couldn’t say he fully approved of romances in the workplace. Still, he just compensated for it by assigning them together as little as possible. It was for their own good. Being partnered with someone you cared for too much was dangerous. 

Alastor followed her, allowing the younger woman to lead him through the crowds towards the park. He felt eyes on them, but didn’t care. It wasn’t unusual for him and Alice to be seen together. He doubted anyone would think anything of it now. When she stopped at the park bench, he stopped as well. He would have preferred somewhere more private, but he supposed this would have to do. He couldn’t help wondering if she had chosen this place on purpose. It was still relatively public. Was she afraid to be alone with him?

He thought storming off was rather a dramatic word, but he wouldn’t argue it. That had been her perception, if not his intention. “I don’t like being lied to, Alice,” he said. What had she thought was going to happen? He wasn’t hadn’t been about to drag the truth out of her, but nor was he going to stand there and have her lie to his face. “What did you think was going to happen?” He hadn’t been the one continuing to act odd afterwards either. He was a professional after all. Moody knew how to do his job without bias or emotional issues. 

[moodyauror-blog]

Eyed || December 2, 2017 || OPEN

[moodyauror-blog]

fortescutex:

“Well, after when you…” Alice sighed, wishing he would just figure it out so she didn’t have to spell it out for him. But, she knew that he wouldn’t get it without a proper explanation. “When you found me in the hallway. After I yelled at the secretary.” Alice hadn’t forgotten the lie that she had told him but she didn’t feel like bringing that subject back up. Besides, the yelling wasn’t untrue. 

Wishing, though, that she could say more, Alice shook her head. “I don’t think so,” she said, softly. “I’m only doing my job.” That much was true, and she looked at him with sincere eyes. “And I wouldn’t… I consider you a friend, Moody. Whether or not you want me to.” Her lips quirked. “I wouldn’t betray your trust or do anything that would jeopardize that.”

The words she had been wanting to get out finally spilled and she took in a deep breath. “And I’m sorry if you felt that way,” she said, softly. She knew she wouldn’t have to say she lied. Alastor would know. He would remember. 

The fact that she was torn up about this marginally helped, but not enough. In a time when there were few people Moody felt he could trust, each one he lost was a blow. It didn’t help that Alastor knew Alice would only lie about something she felt strongly about, because what could she feel so strongly about that she felt it was necessary to lie to him? And clearly she had lied, or she wouldn’t be tiptoeing around him so, and jumping like a frightened rabbit whenever he spoke to her. 

He bit his tongue on a few comments. If you were only doing your job wouldn’t I know about it? Lying is a betrayal of trust, so you can’t say you wouldn’t do that when you did. None of those things would do any good. He was still sorely tempted to call her on her bullshit, though. But out here at the Christmas market was hardly a good place to do it. He didn’t need any more fucking rumours swirling around about dissonance and discord in the Ministry.  

Alastor rubbed his hand over his face, sighing in frustration. “You’re contradicting yourself, Fortescue.” He handed her the shirt. “Let’s go somewhere we can talk.” 

[moodyauror-blog]

Eyed || December 2, 2017 || OPEN

[moodyauror-blog]

fortescutex:

“Oh, it’s close enough,” Alice said, waving her hand ever so slightly. “You basically act like you’re my boss anyway.” She reached out for the garment once he’d pulled it down only to stop mid-reach as he spoke again. Alice didn’t know what quite to say to his accusation, although she knew that he wasn’t wrong. Lately, she just just hadn’t figured out how to be herself around him. She felt like she was constantly being judged, or at least, not trusted. In fact, Alice felt like a spy in the Ministry. 

Although, this time, she didn’t feel like she could lie to him about the way she was feeling. He was acting her directly, of course, and Alice wasn’t about to lie to Moody more than she had to. “Well, I’m not a field mouse, thank you very much,” she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “I just thought… Well you’ve been acting like you were mad at me after… Last time.” 

Clearing her throat, Alice looked down at her shoes, quickly scuffing one against the other before back up at him. “Are you? Mad at me?” 

Moody shrugged, acknowledging her point. He led, and expected the others to follow. It was only because he was a senior Auror. He knew what he was doing, and he wanted others to learn from his experience. Mistakes were good teachers, but he preferred they make smaller mistakes, rather than ones that could get them killed.

The smile died on her lips, and Alastor could tell he had made her uncomfortable. But it seemed like Alice had been uncomfortable around him for a while now. He wanted to know why. He rolled his eyes. Of course he did not think she was literally a field mouse, but he wasn’t about to quibble with her about that.

“After which time?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. He looked at her pointedly. He thought he knew what she was talking about but he had no idea why she was acting so guilty, so who knew if he was even thinking of the right time. “Should I be? Mad at you?”

[moodyauror-blog]

Eyed || December 2, 2017 || OPEN

[moodyauror-blog]

mxrymxc:

Mary chuckled at his response, enjoying the playfulness in his eyes. She didn’t particularly care what he said to try and cover it. The holidays were working on him, too. And, besides, she didn’t truly know anyone who didn’t enjoy hot cocoa by warm fire while snow obliquely fell against the darkness outside. Deep down he was no different, and she didn’t have to ask why he felt the need to hide it. She had faith it would show itself sooner or later. For now, she was determined to enjoy his uncharacteristically good mood.

“Well, what makes me stick out then?” She wondered, head tilting. “Perhaps you could teach me how to blend in better. Maybe I could be one of your Auror spies one day.”

And when he agreed to go with her, her grin widened tenfold. “Wonderful. I know this darling little shop down on Goldleaf that dresses you up like an actual elf from the North Pole. THEN you get your picture taken with Santa and….” but she couldn’t keep up the ruse any longer. The laughter started bubbling through her words at the end of her sentence. “Joking, of course. Don’t start running now that I got you to agree to something.”

“I can tell when someone’s watching me,” Moody replied, shrugging. People might say he had a sixth sense about these things, but the Auror just chalked it up to experience. And once he looked around to see who might be in the area interested in him, he had seen Mary. Mary with her cheerful smile, and her attempts to blend in with the crowd while still keeping him in sight. “You have to pass the hiring process first. And training.” Now that would be amusing to watch. He had no doubt Mary would try her damnedest, but not everyone was cut out to be a member of the DMLE.

When her smile widened, he couldn’t help smiling a little in return. It amazed him how little it took for her to smile, and how nice it was to see her do it. And even to be the cause of it. Alastor Moody was not someone people usually smiled at. He didn’t regret that, not exactly, but it was just another reminder of what set him apart from the general population. He was an enforcer, an investigator, someone who was given a wide berth. Once he might have been a little wilder, a little more reckless, but he had moved past using charm to get what he wanted.

His nose wrinkled, brow furrowing as she spoke. Moody was quite certain she was teasing him, but knowing Mary, she could be entirely serious. It would be like her to try to drag him to a place like that. Merlin, she’d likely even try to encourage him to sit on Santa’s lap, giggling the entire time.

“Don’t press your luck.”

[moodyauror-blog]

Eyed || December 2, 2017 || OPEN

[moodyauror-blog]

potions-and-plants:

“I just don’t see you as the Christmas sweater wearing type.” She replied in a playful manner. The young woman looked up at him as they walked together. “Though, do you like egg nog or deep down like Christmas music?” Sofia smirked. She loved everything about the Christmas season. Sure, many people saw it as becoming a commercial holiday due to the whole thing with gifts and how stores can get. She loved the holiday spirit, the decorations, winter, and most things.

“Fair enough, but people are less likely to think that you’re working if you are with someone who does not work with you.” Sofia pointed out. She wanted to get to know Alastor better because she rarely got that chance though she wasn’t sure that he really wanted to get to know her. Maybe she annoyed him? Was there a way she could not be annoying to him? At least she was trying. Sofia smiled at him when he mentioned that he could walk with her a little while. The younger Order member tried to contain her excitement. “Would you mind if we went into a couple stores? I was planning on looking at a few things.”

Moody didn’t mind Christmas. All the music and decorations were a little much, especially when they started in October, but he didn’t mind. He made a face at her suggestions, though. Egg nog could only be stomached when spiked with rum or whiskey or brandy. Frankly, he’d prefer coffee any day. “You lot celebrate your way, and leave me to mine.” As in, not celebrating at all. 

“But people might wonder how I know you,” he replied, wondering why they were even bothering to continue this mock argument at all since he had already said he could walk with her for a while. Hopefully no one would think anything at all. Perhaps Moody was giving people too much credit; not everyone was as observant as he was. “So long as you don’t try to get me to try anything on....” He nodded. Most people wanted to go in and look around at things like this.

[moodyauror-blog]

Alice: Moody, that was a stop sign!

Moody: I'll stop twice on the way back.

[moodyauror-blog]

Eyed || December 2, 2017 || OPEN

[moodyauror-blog]

mxrymxc:

Mary shook her head, a disapproving tsk slipping between her lips. “Ah, sure. I forgot. You always were more of a grinch than a Santa,” she mused, stuffing her hands in her pockets. He looked good, she had to admit (even if only to herself). Snow dusted the tops of his shoulders and a few strands of his honey colored hair, and for a moment she half entertained the compulsion to brush the flakes away. Instead she took a step closer to him so the traffic wouldn’t separate them.

A smile appeared at his probing, which effectively told her he probably never stopped working. “Call it curiosity,” she replied, one shoulder lifting and falling. “And maybe I wanted to see if a childhood full of watching spy movies actually paid off. Spoiler alert—it didn’t.” She flashed a grin. “Are you busy? In the spirit of the holidays, I could buy you a hot coffee?”

"Bah humbug,” he smirked at her, not at all caring about her disapproving. Moody was not against Christmas. He thought that it was good for morale, and a nice bright thing for people to look forward to. It gave them hope, reminded them that there was good in the world, and to do good in the world themselves. But approving of it, and taking part in some of the more absurd traditions were two different things.

Moody wondered just what Mary MacDonald was curious about. He took her at her word, though. He honestly wouldn't put it past her to see him and have the idea to try to tail him without being noticed pop into her head. Many people tried to get the jump on him—most without intentions as innocent as Mary’s. “Well you're not exactly subtle," Alastor said, inclining his head. Was he saying she was noticeable? He supposed so. “Well in the spirit of the holidays, how can I refuse?” he asked with a smile of his own, knowing it would likely surprise her. “You should never turn down a coffee," he added, leaning in a little as if divulging a secret.

[moodyauror-blog]

Eyed || December 2, 2017 || OPEN

[moodyauror-blog]

mxrymxc:

Mary swiped her mother’s voicemail left, pressed the red button to delete it, then leaned back in the patio chair with a sigh that had the wind to uproot an orchard of trees. The problem, she knew, was both of their inabilities to let things go. Her therapist helped her make that parallel years ago, but did that mean Mary felt any closer to resolving the perpetual tug of war she and her mother engaged in weekly? Absolutely not. Ignorance might as well be bliss because now she simply berated herself while forwarding Ingrid’s calls. All she wanted was a bloody waffle with strawberries, cream, and perhaps a side off coffee to go with her peaceful morning, but instead she was served one heaping portion of matriarchal guilt and the spanning lack thereof.

Mary tossed some coins onto her bill, then stood to leave. The streets were crowded with children, all of whom either seemed with concerned with shopping or who could slide the farthest on the frozen edges of the sidewalk. She stood still for a moment, watching in amusement as a trio of boys took their sliding to the limit repeatedly, until finally one took the game a bit too far. The smallest one slipped sideways, nearly colliding with one passerby, but the cloaked figure merely sidestepped the stumbling boy with deft reflexes that made her brows arch. And then she caught look of agile civilian’s face.

Her therapist likened her to a dog with a bone when she couldn’t figure something out, which was an accurate metaphor for the curiosity she felt towards Alastor Moody. Her eyes locked in on his nimble path through traffic, and before she knew it, she was crossing the walk to follow him. She barely stepped into the flow behind him, and truly began feeling like a spy on a mission, before he turned on her and pinned her with an accusatory glare. Her eyes widened, a chuckle falling from her lips. “Oh, I’m good, thanks,” she replied. “I see someone missed the memo to get into holiday spirit.”

“Do they send memos on that out now?” Alastor asked dryly, responding to her teasing in kind. “I get so many, must have missed that one.” He had stopped walking by this point, arms folded over his chest. The crowd still passed on either side of him but he managed to stand like a rock in the stream, letting them go by while remaining immovable himself. Only a few gave him dirty looks for stopping short before moving on. 

“So why were you following me exactly?” he asked, prompting her. Moody didn’t bother to ask if she had been. Mary just seemed to pop up where he was sometimes, and usually beeline in his direction. She, like so many others, seemed to try to enjoy getting under his skin. At least she was halfway amusing in her efforts some of the time.