A/N: This is a companion piece for 'Don't call me Nymphadora', a Tonks/Remus centric story I have going! In it, I explored the character of Mad-Eye a bit and his past; which explains his behaviour. I strongly encourage you to read that before reading this or you'll most likely be thoroughly confused!
Worth
March 1968
She stared.
He is gorgeous. His blonde hair was almost silver in the light. He had perfect facial features that made her swoon. His squared and broad shoulders were enhanced by the leather maroon robe that he donned, telling about his career as an Auror.
"Bella!" Bella blinked as she was slapped quite harshly on her cheek. She scowled, turning to her sister; Andromeda Black. She looked quite like Bellatrix but she had brown hair rather that black and her eyes were rounder and kinder.
"What, Andy?" She spat, looking down at her sister in third year.
"Stop staring! It's disgusting, that way you look at him!" Andromeda Black rolled her eyes, placing a slice of chicken into her mouth with exaggerated dignity which their mother taught. It looked ridiculous on a 13 year old.
Bella turned away frantically as she felt a blush colour her cheeks at what her sister said. She looked up at the staff table to see him laughing with their Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.
She had heard from the seventh years that he was here to do an annual security check for Hogwarts as well as give the Seventh years career advice on being an Auror. The girls, from fourth year and above, gushed about him as they saw him patrolling the corridors frequently or chatting with Dumbledore.
"Bella, don't tell me you have a crush on him," Andy nudged her in the rib and Bella brushed it off.
"So what if I do?" She challenged her sister, "who doesn't?"
"How old is he anyway? He seems so much older!"
"For you!" Bella shot back, "He's only 22 I heard!" Her voice shot up in excitement.
Andy shrugged, leaving her alone. Bella barely noticed Andy leaving as she watched the Auror at the staff table like a hawk. When he stood, Bella brushed her plate aside and stood as well, hoping with all her heart they will meet at the doors of the Great Hall. And they did.
Bella had been so busy picking up the pace in case she missed him and shyly looking to the floor, she felt the wind got knocked out of her as she hit something and fell back.
She felt a hand wrap around her upper arm and she was steadied, still on her feet.
Bella looked up and her eyes widened. There he was, in the flesh. She froze, her mouth hanging open as he smiled at her, "I'm sorry, are you alright?"
She seemed unable to speak even if she willed herself to reply him, "Y-yes,"
He chuckled, nodding, "alright then, great," He patted her shoulder in a friendly gesture before walking away.
Her heart sank, "wait!" He did and Bella ran to catch up. He turned to her, brows raised, "I'm Bellatrix, you can call me Bella," She offered a hand and looked down, her face burning.
She glimpsed up to see him smiling as he shook her hand, "Alastor Moody. You're a…" His brown eyes narrowed as he thought, "fifth year?"
"N-no! Sixth year!" She hurriedly corrected him.
"Oh, forgive me, sixth. Well, I have to be going soon. I'll see you soon, Bellatrix-"
"Bella," She interrupted.
He chuckled, "Bella," With a slight nod, he walked down the corridor, leaving a lovestruck 16 year old watch him leave dreamily.
April 1968
"Mr Moody!" Bellatrix called as she ran breathlessly down the hill. He stopped and turned, frowning as he saw her.
"Please, call me Alastor," Moody laughed when she got closer, "You're…Bellatrix," He said, his lips in an amused smile as she panted to a stop in front of him.
"You're not leaving, are you?" She straightened out, trying to preserve as much dignity as she could muster after that sprint from the castle.
His brows knitted, "Yes I am. The Auror Office needs me back and I'm done with my job here at Hogwarts,"
She frowned, in distress. Bella had spent the entire week planning how she should approach him again or even ask him out or get to know him better. Until, she heard from the seventh year Slytherins that he would be leaving this afternoon. She dashed out of the Great Hall at lunch just to catch up with him. She took a deep breath and locked eyes with him, "Do you have a girlfriend?"
She died a little on the inside as he raised a brow at her, "Bellatrix-"
"Bella," She corrected.
"Bella, I'm here on official work purposes and I hope you can understand that I'm strictly not allowed to engage in personal matters…" It could be a soft rejection but Bellatrix wasn't one to give up. It could be his hint that they should meet up sometime, outside his work hours.
"That's a no then?" She pushed and he frowned, "let's go out sometime,"
"Don't you think I'm a little too old for you?" Moody shoved his hands into his Auror robe pockets, regarding her with a measured expression that didn't tell her anything about what he thought about her.
"No, it's just 6 years," She blurted and Moody raised a brow again, "just one meal, I'll pay,"
Moody studied her before shrugging, "Alright then. One meal. But I will pay, I'm the one with the paycheck,"
Bella wanted to shout and squeal and lie down on the grass but it wasn't ladylike so she merely smiled, maybe a little too widely, and nodded. She made to turn and walk away before it got awkward but his voice stopped her.
"Hey," She turned almost instantly, "I'll send you an owl this coming summer about the meal," Bella nodded, blushing, "You're a Black, right?"
"How did you know?" Bella's eyes widened as she found it impossible that a god, like him, could be actually checking up on her, secretly but his reply killed that thought.
"Blacks have very…distinct features," He chuckled, "You're a well deserved Slytherin. Very convincing," With that, he turned and apparated as he passed the gates.
Bellatrix watched him leave, almost obsessively. She squealed loudly, collapsing to the grass, clutching her chest. She did it!
August 1968
He was looking very handsome and she couldn't help but stare again. He was wearing a pressed kaki coloured suit. His white shirt, without the tie, looked perfect on his toned chest but then again, he looked perfect in anything. She thought, feeling her knees grow weak.
"Have you sidelong before?" He asked and she nodded, "good, may I?" He offered her the crook of his elbow and she took it with a gulp. Chuckling, he apparated. The squeezing sensation was familiar but it was less bumpy when compared to the sidelong her mother took her on. They appeared with a pop and Moody didn't miss a step, guiding her out to the streets.
They were heading for a posh restaurant and Bella was pleased she donned her elegant black knee length dress rather than the grey flowery one Andy suggested.
He had a reservation and they sat in a quiet corner of the restaurant.
They talked over dinner but Bella found it difficult to focus on anything but his voice and just looking at him. She found out he was pure blood; which made everything perfect, and that he was descended from a long line of famous Aurors that were all an asset to the Auror Office. His parents were both dead, killed while in service to the Ministry as Aurors. Although she already knew the latter from her fellow students, she refrained from telling him, listening patiently. She told him about her family and felt slightly jealous when he indicated that he knew Andromeda from when her Defense teacher fell ill and he relieved their class.
Shaking it off, she told him about her parents and her cousins. He listened intently as they ate, giving his input and smiling and comforting all at the right time. When she asked about his work, he was easy about it, telling her what he could, explaining to her how Aurors worked; their hectic schedule, irregular timings, exhausting training.
At the end of the evening, she felt at ease with him; although she still blushed when he praised her every now and then.
As they walked back to her family mansion, he shed his coat, placing it around her shoulders; a complete gentleman, making her swoon.
Plucking up the courage, she took his hand. His hand felt larger and calloused, no doubt from all the Auror training he went through. He turned to her, slightly surprised but smiled, nonetheless, squeezing her hand.
They walked quietly and Bella felt slightly giddy, her hand, in his, felt hypersensitive. She could feel every twitch in his fingers on her skin.
"Well, I had a great evening," His voice cut through her daydream and Bella looked up to see that they were already at the gate of her house, "I hope you did too-"
"I did," She blushed as she realised she had interrupted him, "I had a great evening too," She stammered.
"Goodnight then," He kissed her on her cheek before stepping back and she just stood there, stunned, "Go on, I'll watch you go in before I leave," He placed a hand in his pants pocket.
"No, I want to watch you leave," She told him. He knitted his brows in amusement before consenting.
"I'll contact you, Bella," With that promise, he turned and left.
She had been on dates with Rodolphus at Hogsmeade or even Rosier, who was two years her junior, but none of them made her feel this way. None of them were like Alastor, who regarded her with respect, dignity and made her feel like a real woman that she knew her mother brought her up to be. Being the oldest child of the Black family, she always had to grow up quickly and Alastor seemed to be the only person who understood that and treated her as such. His looks, behaviour and character had her mesmerized.
She gazed dazedly at his retreating back, smiling.
July 1969
"I'm leaving my home, I'm coming to live with you," Bellatrix clutched his arm, almost desperately.
Alastor sighed, placing a hand on hers, "No, Bella."
"Why not?" Her voice cracked, "Because my parents forbid us to be together so we can't?"
"Bella, I don't want you to lose your family for me," He was always the voice of reason.
She frowned, "But I don't care for them! I care for you. If you love me, we can be together, even if my parents don't like it,"
Alastor met Cygnus and Druella Black last Christmas and when they heard of his occupation of an Auror and his belief for equality in blood status, they all but threw him out of their house; being staunch believers (but not known practitioners) of Dark Arts and pure blood status. Bellatrix also had a dressing down from her mother, telling her that she would be marrying Rodolphus after she graduated for it was already arranged with the Lestrange family.
Bellatrix still met Alastor, sneaking out to meet him in between classes or holidays. Recently, she graduated. When she heard her mother planning her marriage with her father, she packed her things and left home. She apparated to Alastor's house and it was where she found herself trying to convince him to take her with him.
"Bell…" He closed his eyes momentarily, frowning.
"They're going to force me to marry Lestrange if you don't take me away!" She snapped, willing him to understand. She watched, satisfied as he tensed, "I don't want to marry him, I want to marry you."
Alastor was so still he could've been carved out of stone but eventually, he took her bag from her and opened the door wider to let her in. She sighed, sitting down on the couch as he bought her bag into the bedroom. The first time she had been to his house, they made love in his room for the first time. And then on the carpet in front of the fireplace the second time she came around.
"You really are a Slytherin," She heard his voice beside her ear and felt his warm breath on her neck.
She giggled, turning around to see him leaning the couch towards her. Bella locked her arms around his neck and kissed him. She pulled him over the back of the couch.
He laughed, "Bell-" He looked evidently surprised with her strength as she tugged him on top of her, "On the couch?" His voice was husky as she trailed a kiss down his neck, unbuttoning his shirt. Abruptly, he grabbed her shoulders with his warm calloused hands and pushed her back to lay down. He was always a little rough but he didn't hurt her, instead, she'd always giggle when he pinned her down.
"It's better than the carpet," She teased in a sultry voice, silencing his reply with a deep and long kiss. Her arms remained locked around his neck before he took her hands and pressed them into the couch above her head. She smiled, knowing she wouldn't have to watch him leave, at least not tonight.
She remained in hiding, from her parents, at his house while he worked and fed them both.
On February 1970, Bellatrix gave birth to their first child, Lyra Bella Moody. Their daughter had black hair and facial structure like her mother but she had her father's brown eyes.
In less than 2 months later, their relationship fell apart despite their daughter's birth. Lord Voldemort proclaimed himself the new Dark Lord, openly recruiting witches and wizards to his cause. Bellatrix joined without hesitation, taking the Dark Mark.
Alastor was revolted as he gazed on the mark on her inner arm.
"Bell, how could you take it?" He asked incredously, "That man is insane! He does nothing but destroy the harmonious world we live in now-"
"No! He makes us better; he is the best of us! Alastor, you should join too," Her dark eyes were wide, eager, "together, with us assisting the Dark Lord, he will succeed and we will live in a whole new world, a better world for our daughter to grow up in!"
Alastor stood, their daughter in his arms. He shook his head, "No, Bell, that's not a world I want our daughter to grow up in," His eyes steeled and he whipped out his wand so quickly, Bellatrix hardly saw it before he apparated with a crack.
She froze as he disappeared, stunned that he would leave her again, after so long. Her eyes widened at the realisation that he was really gone as the silence hit her, "Alastor!"
1975
"She's dead,"
Albus Dumbledore placed a hand on his shoulder. The shadow of the Auror sat hunched in a chair, looking down.
"She's dead because I couldn't protect her," He looked up, half his face wrapped in thick bandage over his empty eye socket, "I failed. The wards…they didn't hold. I should've taken more precautions, I should've kept her with me-"
"Alastor," Albus spoke, "It's in the past and we can do nothing but move on-"
Alastor glared at him with his one remaining eye, "Move on? How, Albus? She's my daughter! She was my only daughter and she's dead!" He stood, roaring at the house in general, kicking over the chair he sat in previously. Alastor grabbed a fistful of his own hair, proceeding to kick over the bookshelf against the wall, "my daughter!" He roared incoherently at the ceiling as the bookshelf toppled over with a crash, books scattering everywhere.
Albus stood in the middle of the room as Alastor tore down shelves and kicked over furnitures.
"Let it out, old friend," Albus sighed, watching Alastor thrash.
He punched the window, breaking the glass before leaning out and screaming himself hoarse.
She froze, in a heap on the cold black marble floor.
"What did you say?" Bellatrix Black barely turned her head as she whispered.
Behind her, two of the men vanished their skull like mask with their wands. One had refined features, black eyes, sharp nose, sharp chin and pale skin. He narrowed his eyes at her as he approached her, "My dear Bella, I said…" He towered over her, "I killed your precious daughter," Evan Rosier sneered.
"The Dark Lord ordered it himself," Bellatrix could barely hear Wilkes tell her. She trembled, fisting her black dress as she hunched over the floor, tears threatening to fall.
"Look at you, whimpering like a common housewife over a dead baby. No wonder the Dark Lord wants that girl dead. That's right, she's dead and I killed her and the Dark Lord will be most pleased with-"
"Avada Kedavra!" She screamed. Rosier's eyes widened and he barely had time to wipe that smirk off his face before he collapsed to the floor, dead before he hit the floor. Behind him, Wilkes squeaked, digging in his robes for his wand as Bellatrix stood unsteadily from the floor.
"B-Bellatrix," Wilkes' wand hand was shaking as he raised it against her, "You have to understand, the Dark Lord ordered us, we would never think to…" His voice trailed off as Bellatrix raised her wand.
"And Alast-" Bellatrix paused, "Moody?"
"M-Moody?" Wilkes repeated, stammering like a child, "We didn't kill him. He's too strong. He killed two of our own…"
"Crucio," She muttered, tears falling as the screams of Wilkes filled the empty hall.
"Bella!" Narcissa burst into the hall, her eyes wide as she saw Rosier's limp body and Wilkes, shriveling up on the floor, "what are you doing?"
Bellatrix looked up, her lips trembling as she saw her sister.
"Bella?" Narcissa frowned as she approached Bellatrix, her eyes withholding concern for her older sister, "what happened?"
"Cissy…" Her voice was thin, barely audible, even to her own ears. The image of Lyra's toothy smile as an infant floated into her head and Bellatrix felt her knees give out under her, almost half expecting strong arms of an Auror to catch her before she hit the ground but nothing caught her and she fell, hard.
Bellatrix could see the blurry outline of Narcissa hovering over her shaking body. Bellatrix wanted to speak but didn't know what to say, her heart felt like it was shredded and set aflame. She looked up, to the open door of the mansion.
In the light, she could've sworn, she saw Alastor Moody, his wand in one hand and the other in his pocket. He looked at her, his eyes sad.
"Alastor…" She whispered, "Our baby…she-" Bellatrix paused as he turned away without a word and walked away. She panicked, willing her trembling limbs to move, "Don't go…"
To be continued…
A/N: I excluded scenes with Lyra as they are thoroughly explored in 'Don't call me Nymphadora'; namely in chapters 32 to 34! If you haven't read it, go read it! There will be one more chapter which I have already written and is editing at the moment.
Do drop me a review about this one!
