I know I promised only happier moments, BUT...

bear with me.

...

She was sitting quietly on a fallen tree when he arrived, still wearing her dark red Auror robes, but had no cloak with her. He sighed as he sat next to her, his magical eye roaming over her pale face and mousy hair. They were on top of a steep hill that overlooked the old Lestrange manor- but he doubted anything had happened at that house for years. The only thing providing light was the full moon above them, and he knew that would be hidden behind the clouds on the horizon soon.

"You look terrible, lass." He said.

She didn't reply.

"Been sleeping?"

She still said nothing.

"Nymphadora, you can't ignore all of us." He said, hoping that at least using her first name would warrant some kind of response, but he got nothing- her hair didn't turn red, she didn't give him angry retort, nothing.

"We'll be here until three." He said. "I don't think we'll see much from the manor, it's been empty for years."

She still wouldn't speak, instead continuing to stare at the dark house.

"This is the problem with women." He said in a gruff tone. "You're all bloody hormonal messes at the worst of times-"

"Excuse me?" She asked, turning to him finally.

"There she is." Moody commented. "I began to wonder if I was sitting with an impostor."

"You didn't ask a security question, that would have been your own fault."

"Can't help but notice you didn't ask either."

She shrugged, turning back to the house. "Didn't think it mattered if you were an impostor."

"Have a death wish?"

She shrugged again.

"Listen, lass. I know you've got that whole heartbreak-heroine thing going on..."

She rolled her eyes.

"But you're one Hell of an Auror." Moody continued. "You can't let a man ruin it for you.''

She frowned, but didn't speak.

"He's out there tonight, probably not even thinking of you."

Her frown deepened.

"But you know who is thinking of you?"

"If you say my mother-"

"I wasn't going to, but she probably is as well, you need to write to her. I'm getting very annoyed by the owls.'' Moody said. "I was going to say Death Eaters."

"And why would they be thinking of me? I'm nobody."

"You're an Auror, an Order member and a Metamorphmagus. Trust me, they've had their eyes on you as a target. If they can't recruit you, they'll kill you." Moody commented. "And you're letting someone take away your concentration."

She was glaring at the ground now.

"I'm not saying he doesn't care for you. He'd be a fool not to." Moody continued. "I'm just saying, you need to pay attention more." He looked over her, noticing her wand was sticking out of her robe pocket. He reached over and took it gently, not even surprised when she didn't notice. He flicked his wand behind him, and a spell smashed against a tree, and she jumped up, plunging her hand into her robe.

She glared at him. "You took my wand."

"You didn't notice." He said, holding it out for her to take. "That's what I mean."

"That spell could have alerted Death Eaters-"

Moody shook his head. "There's no one around."

She sat down again, putting her wand in her other pocket so he couldn't take it again. "You're an arse."

"I'm simply saying you're an idiot and he's a fool. Don't let it distract you."

"You don't understand."

"It's true, I don't. I never got turned down-"

"Real modest, Mad-Eye."

He shook his head. "Not what I meant. I never told someone how I felt." He explained. "She died in the first war, we never had a chance."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not. Turns out she was a Death Eater."

Tonks gaped at him. "You fell for a Death Eater?"

"Not important, not what we're talking about." Moody said. "I'm just saying, you were always my favourite trainee. Don't let some fool of a man ruin your potential as an Auror, especially not now."

"I'm trying-"

"I know. He'll see that he's wrong one day. Just try to focus on your job until then." He said. He looked upwards, surveying the sky. He shrugged off his cloak, dropping it over her shoulders. "It's going to snow tonight."

"I can cast a Warming Charm, you know-"

"So can I. Just accept it and shut your mouth."

Her lips curved into a slight smile. "Thanks, Alastor."

"It's just a cloak."