Nobody but my OC, Siofra-Muireann, belongs to me. Everyone else belongs to JK Rowling. Onwards.
XXX
"A daughter!"
Molly Weasley sat down heavily as she gaped at the man across from her. Alastor was frowning down into his cup of tea.
"Siofra-Muireann Elaine Moody," he said as if from far away and he was. He was remembering the last time he had seen his daughter, peering up at him from her mother's arms with such clever eyes for a babe of scant months. It was right before they boarded the train to take them out of his life, away from danger, as more and more people went missing or ended up dead in the first war. His wife had been quietly sobbing into his coat, holding onto him for as long as he'd let her. He hadn't been able to find any words to soothe her, so he'd simply stroked her hair and kissed her forehead until the train whistled behind him. Moody took in a deep breath, pushing that particular memory to the back of his mind,"I got a letter a few days back, telling me her mother died. My wife."
"Wife," Mrs. Weasley said faintly, glancing at her husband but he didn't look too surprised,"Were...divorced?"
"No," he grunted and didn't explain. Molly shared a look with her husband and he silently shook his head, watching as the old Auror tap the side of his cup with an even darker frown. Something was telling him his wife hadn't died peacefully in her sleep. Alastor's whole demeanor screamed of anger and guilt. They waited patiently until he finally spoke up again,"I haven't physically seen her in 15 years, Molly, but I've kept in touch with both of them the entire time. We're not estranged, but..."
"It's one thing to write letters, another thing entirely to live together," Arthur Weasley said wisely, making the old Auror to glance at him,"You're too paranoid to have her live on her own, without her mother. I remember how clever and careful your wife was. Almost as much as you."
Moody's mouth twitched. A Gryffindor in Hufflepuff robes, his woman was.
"She's used to being in a community with a lot of people and I'm...I can't...I don't trust many, especially with her," he rumbled as he ruffled his hair. He glanced up at the two Weasley and hesitated slightly,"Would it be all right...if I brought her around a bit? So she's not lonely?"
"Oh, Alastor! Of course you can! She's right at the twins' age! Maybe her, Ginny, Hermione will wind up getting along well, too. "
Moody felt a bit of tension leave his shoulders,"That would be nice, Molly. She doesn't need to be around an old codger like me all the time."
Mrs. Weasley started getting excited and asking all sorts of questions about her, then went off muttering to herself about all she'd need to do to get ready. Moody listened with half an ear as his own thoughts and doubts started swarming to the front. Four weeks later, he and the two elder Weasley's left for King's Cross.