"Moody, you aren't bringing it in and that's that."

"How am I supposed to teach her if I can't show her it?"

"Through the pictures and diagrams in the textbooks like everyone else."

There was some vague grumbling from Moody but the other person wasn't about to be swayed.

That's what Tonks had basically been greeted with as she walked into the Academy this morning, slightly early as usual, of course. Moody arguing with someone.

He argued with people a lot. Or rather, they tried to argue with him and then they just gave up when ether they realised how stubborn he was or got too scared of him. Younger Aurors tended to be the latter while older ones were in the first group. Although, there had been a hilarious even a few days ago when this Auror called Dawlish, he was an older one, became a stuttering mess in front of Moody.

"Textbooks aren't the same as the real thing," Moody was now arguing.

Which was true and most Aurors agreed with that sentiment. So why was this obviously more senior Auror (easy to tell because she was basically ordering Moody to do something without any hint of fear in her voice) telling Moody not to show her something? Also, that last person there was definitely a she when the original voice who had been arguing with Moddy was definitely a he. So, was that two people trying to tell him what to do? How was this going to end up? Her money was on Moody, obviously.

Tonks edged a bit closer to see if she could see what was they were talking about. Obviously, it had to be something good if they were trying about.

"Amelia, tell him that he's being ridiculous," the man's voice said again.

Her eyes all but bugged out of her head at that. Amelia? As in, Amelia Bones? All of their bosses? Head of the Auror Office? Actually, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement? She was arguing with Moody? Wow. Just wow.

She scuttled backwards to ensure that she wasn't seen. Though, they all seemed pretty engrossed in this argument but still, she wasn't taking any chances. She even managed to do so without falling over. Now that was a real achievement. She still couldn't pin the other guy's voice, however. She originally thought it was Taylor- he was in charge of the Academy, after all - but it definitely wasn't him. He would have given up by now in exasperation and let Moody do his thing but also would have given him loads of paperwork to make it all legit. And to annoy Moody, probably. This man wasn't doing that. It was probably some paper pusher from the Ministry. He even bad that annoying, nasally voice she associated with all of them.

"Moody trying to do something extremely dangerous with you?" McGowan asked, making Tonks jump.

Merlin! She really did have to become more aware of her surroundings, constant vigilance and all that. Or McGowan would have to actually make a sound when she walked! How did she even do that? Was it silencing charms on her shoes? Because she was pretty sure that that was cheating.

Tonks gave the other woman a glare (which was promptly ignored) and nodded.

"Yep. Think it's to do with the cursed items again."

"Huh."

McGowan absentmindedly handed her a mug of hot chocolate. She did that every now and then. Said that now she wasn't a proper Mentor, she could do what she liked and if she wanted to bring in hot chocolate then she was going to do it. Which annoyed Moody which was probably the main reason the woman did it. Not that Tonks was complaining because she got hot chocolate out of it. And she never saw Moody refuse his hot chocolate. Though, he did cast an obnoxious about of poison, hex and other detection spells on it before drinking. Because, you know, paranoid and all that. But he had taught her a few of them so it was a win-win all around for her. Free hot chocolate, learning new things and free entertainment. Moody really did make the most amusing faces.

"Is he winning, at least?" McGowan asked while Tonks tried to both think of something to say in response to 'Huh' and listen to the conversation outside the door at the same time.

"Shh!" Tonks waved her away so she could concentrate better. "I think so."

Another voice had joined the fray. And this one was familiar.

"Moody, could you please just follow the books for a change?" Auror Taylor said in exasperation. "They function perfectly well as a teaching tool. That's why they're there."

"Well, isn't the same thing as being the best. And indeed, the best tools."

"The best tools being actual cursed objects?"

Oh, now that had to be the most sceptical tone she had ever heard. Quite impressive, really.

"Exactly. You get it."

A deep sigh. Tonks was pretty sure it was heavy enough to generate a breeze.

"I really don't. And, no, you aren't bringing them in never mind letting a Second Year Trainee anywhere near them."

"Exactly! She's a Second Year! She's not some stupid First Year."

"She is still a Trainee. So, no."

Then several sets of footsteps were heard, getting further and further away. Which meant only one thing. Tonks backed away from the door quickly, a split second before it was flung open.

"You two done gossiping out there?" Moody barked out sourly. "Or do you actually want to get trained today, Tonks?"

"Don't take your bad mood out on her," McGowan scolded him as they walked in. "It's not her fault that you're not allowed to show her some of the more dangerous cursed items."

He grumbled and shot the older woman a dark look which she, of course, remained unfazed by. Tonks wasn't even too impressed by it because it wasn't even that good a one.

"Should have known better. Broke one of my own rules," he grumbled.

Tonks raised an eyebrow. Exactly what rule of his had he broken? Not that she knew a lot of his rules but she knew enough.

"Better to ask for forgiveness than permission?" McGowan asked him.

What? What exactly did that mean? But obviously Moody knew what she meant - it was his rule, after all - as he was nodding along.

"Exactly. Not that I was asking Taylor for permission. Was just telling him what I was bringing in so he knew why the sensors were going to go off."

The Auror Academy had a ward that alerted the reception area to any cursed items that crossed the threshold. Mentors had to log the ones they brought in for their trainees so there wouldn't be a full response team mobilised. Though, someone still came round and checked to make sure what caused the sensors to go off was the thing they logged. Security was taken very seriously around here. And it was probably worse in the actual Auror Office.

"You're losing your touch," McGowan said solemnly.

Tonks couldn't help bit let out a short of laughter at that. Moody frowned.