-52-
Later that evening, I'm in my classroom all alone. I have been writing all sorts of reports and essays regarding the apprenticeship now for hours. It's dark outside, so the only light that is in here is coming from the little candles around the classroom and from the lamp I have on the desk. Every student are in their Common Rooms either already asleep or having great time with their friends. After all, it is Friday. I look up to see the time. 11.34 pm. Merlin, I'm exhausted..! The Professors are in Hogsmeade having their usual 'semester starter' night out. Bet they will come back somewhere around two am. Hope they all have fun there. I put down the quill and do a little arm and back stretch. Maybe I should walk around a bit. With that, I got up and leave the classroom.
While walking around the castle, I can't help, but start thinking about Severus. More like how he has been acting lately. Sometimes, I feel like him and I are really close. We keep having these moments where I get this feeling that... He actually likes me too. More than just as a friend. But then there are these other times, where he gives me the cold shoulder. Like today. Normally he would have just give a witty comment about the students, and we would have laughed about it and continue the day in good spirit. But now... I don't know. It's like he is slipping away from me. And I'm too scared to say anything about it. Don't wanna come across as someone who's too needy or such. So, what can I do? I stop walking and shook my head. This is ridiculous. I'm being too much of an overthinker, now am I?
Not even realizing it, I have walked all the way to the floor where the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom is. The door to the class is open and there is some light coming out. I haven't had the time to talk with Moody alone. There is this part of me that wishes to talk to him about the night he rescued me with Dumbledore. Then there is this other part of me that doesn't wanna bring it all up again. Like what's in the past is in the past. Right? Just then, my thoughts gets cut off when I hear intense coughing coming from the classroom. Huh? It sounds like Moody. Quickly, I rush to the doorway to see if he's doing alright:"Alastor Moody?". The man turns to me, surprised I rushed in like that while trying to calm down his cough. "Are you alright?" I walk deeper into the room. "Yes." he clears his throat. I come near him, still little bit worried:"You sure?". Can see he's holding the flask he likes to carry around everywhere he goes.
Moody sees I'm staring the flask. "And what are you doing in here, at this hour? Professor (Y/L)." he asks back. Wasn't prepared for that question, so I just mumble out:"Oh, uh..- I was just clearing my head, I guess.". Moody doesn't say anything and walks past me. My body turns where he's going and I watch how he is limping towards his desk. Even I'm not sure if Moody remembers it was me who he saved back then, I still want to thank him and show some appreciation. Why I feel so nervous? "I've needed to thank you." I let out. He won't turn to me:"Why is that?". I place my hands neatly in front of me and take a small inhale before answering:"You might not remember, but... Years ago, you and Dumbledore saved me from my parents and put them in Azkaban. Harold and Eloise (Y/L).". Just saying their names out loud makes me feel some type of way.
Immediately when I told their names, Moody stops and turns to me:"You are the daughter of the (Y/L)'s family?". For my surprise he sounds little bit too eager about it, but I brush it off. Probably it brought him a memory of somekind. "...Yes." I nod. Moody then chuckles and shook his head:"Oh, dear... This just gets better and better.". He mutters the last part I couldn't quite hear it. "Pardon?" I ask. "Nothing." he sits down to his chair. "Well, anyhow - I still wanted to say proper thank you. Without you, I don't know what would have happened. So, thank you." I offer a small smile. He waved his hand carelessly:"Nah.". Then he takes a quill and starts writing something down. It got all silent and slightly awkward. Guess he wants me to leave, so I start heading to the door. But then I stop and turn back to him:"Oh, one more thing.".
Moody raise his gaze from the desk to me, ready to hear what I haveto say. "The other day, I saw you talking to a student. Neville Longbottom." I start with. He won't say anything, just stares back at me, so I continue:"I just wanted to make sure if he's alright? He has been acting quite different lately.". The D.A.D.A. teacher shrugs:"Boy just got too sensitive after one of my classes. That's all.". Too sensitive? "What you mean?" I ask. Moody leans back in his chair and puts the quill down:"Say, do you remember all of the three Unforgivable Curses, Professor?". My body stiffens a bit, but I keep the face neutral:"Yes. Of course.". Right there, it was like a twist of the whole atphosmere. Where is he going with this?
When Moody gets up from the chair, I automatically take a step back. There is this tiny voice inside my head that tells me to run, but I'm trying to reason with myself that I'm safe and have nothing to worry about. This man after all saved me. He is just a little bit scary at times. "Care to tell me which they are and what they do?" he slowly approaches me. Awkward smile comes to my lips and I chuckle nervously:"Wh..- What kind of quest..-", "Answer it." he interrupts. The smile on my face drops and heart starts raising at this point but I try to keep calm:"...There is the Killing Curse, which obviously does as the name says - it kills.". "Yes?" Moody keeps slowly coming closer, and I keep going backwards. "Then, there is the Imperius Curse that controls the victim..." my voice goes small. "And... The last one?" he asks.
Can feel how my hands starts to sweat at this point. I can't look at him right in the eyes anymore. I just shook my head and force the smile:"Professor..-", "The last one." he insists. My body frozes and head snaps right at him, making my breath shudder. We are now both standing back of the classroom, two meters apart from each other. "Cruciatus Curse." I answer. Can feel how my heart just sinks down after saying that. He seems so pleased. It's like he enjoys the discomfort he managed to put on me. Then he continues for me:"Torture curse. Yes... That is why Longbottom got too sensitive in my class. His parents were Aurors, you see. They got tortured by the curse to insanity, so they ended up in mental hospital.". What?!
Neville never told me that. Anytime we happen to talk about his family, he only mentioned his grandmother - so I always thought his parents were dead. Didn't wanna ask more questions about them to avoid making him uncomfortable. Poor Neville. Feels like there are thousands of ants crawling under my skin. I don't like this. Moody takes a step closer and tilts his head, observing my current state:"Did you ever feel the desire to use it?". "What?" I frown at him, not understanding what he meant by that. "The Torture curse. Don't tell me you never wanted to get back to your parents and use it on them." he questions. My eyes widens a bit and I start shaking my head:"No.". "Oh, c'mon, (Y/N). Anyone in your situation would have wanted to use their opportunity to get back at them if they had the change." he kept pressing. "No." I still shook my head. Tears starts to raise on my eyes, but I clench my hand into a fist to try to push them down. Moody has little smirk corner of his lips:"And why no..-", "BECAUSE I'M NOT LIKE THEM." I shout.
After that, the room got dead silent. I feel light headed. I can't breath. My jaw trembles:"...I..-", "Alastor." Severus's strong, yet calm voice calls behind me. My head snaps towards the Potions Master. What is he doing here?! Severus stands at the doorway, glaring right at the D.A.D.A. teacher. Moody's lips apart a bit, but he won't say anything. "I believe it's time for Professor (Y/L) to head back to her chamber. It is after all... Quite late." Potions Master says, keeping his calm manner. Hesitatingly, I take a quick glance at Moody, then back to Severus and walk out of the classroom. Severus takes a step back, letting me get out first. Just when I step outside, Severus and Moody share this intensive look. "Good night, Alastor Moody." he says and leaves the classroom as well. The D.A.D.A. teacher won't say anything. He just watches us go, looking stunned.