Albus entered his office. He was exhausted with all the emotions today. It was 12 in the noon.
He sighed and went to the fireplace and called the auror office.
"Good afternoon, can I talk to the head officer?"
After a few minutes a young man came into view, "What can I help y... Merlin, Professor Dumbledore sir!!!"
Albus recognised the young man, he was one of his best and remarkable student.
Oh this would be so much easier.
"Mr. Moody, hope your doing good? I am not surprised that you made it to be the head auror just by the age of 25. Very well. I just needed a small help."
"Thankyou professor. It's just studying under the best teachers. Anyway sir what is it you need help with sir. Happy to do anything."
"It's nothing. I just need to know what happened to the case." Moody was looking at him expectantly as if he had more to say.
"Sir I would need to know which case in specific and even then according to the rules I am not supposed to disclose it to a third person."
"Don't tell me you do not know which case I am talking about Mr.Moody. And I am not the third person in this case infact it was I who called the aurors."
" I am afraid I don't know what you are talking about."
" You are the head you must know what is happening in your office."
" I am sorry sir but mostly if it is a small petty case they don't inform me. If you're specific about the case I can see who were the aurors who handled the case." Albus sighed he didn't want to repeat the situation but he couldn't blame Mr.Moody.
"Today morning like at 7:00 or somewhere near I had fire-called the aurors as an frien... employee of mine was forced into marriage. They had kept her locked up and under the imperius curse.If we hadn't reached there at the perfect time we don't know what would have happened." Moody's eyes grew wide.
"That's a serious issue sir. I don't know why the juniors have not informed me about this. Can you give me a few minutes sir I'll check it myself?" Albus nodded and Moody's head disappeared and he returned after 5 minutes.
"Professor I am sorry for the lack of information earlier. Apparently the aurors were new to the group and they were not aware that they had to inform the head about such a serious matter.
"So I got reports that you had contacted us and there were a few aurors who came along with you to the victim's place. So the victim's father, step-mother and step-brother were arrested and are contained in a cell in the ministry temporarily.
"The trial for this case on 25th August. The victim is required to come for testimony. If the charges are proved true they will be given appropriate punishment. As this involves the use of an unforgivable I'll make sure this person doesn't escape."
"Thankyou Mr.Moody. But the auror said there won't be a trial."
"Well sir the head of law enforcement demanded we have a trial. Sorry about that. That being said sir we need the details of the victim. We don't have much. Just her name. It says here Miss Min..."
He trailed off staring at something in his hand. Albus couldn't make out through the floo. His eyes were wide, his mouth parted in shock.
"Mr. Moody? Mr. Moody? Alastor!"
When Moody looked up his eyes had a little bit of tears that were threatening to fall. It was red and his face had a lot of emotions. Anger, sorrow, fear, insecurity. "Sir you said she is your employee. How long has she been working there and where is she at present?"
"Well she is new here. I offered her the job of Transfiguration teacher and she took it. Now at present she is at Hogwarts in her chambers."
"Can I come and visit her. There are a few things I need to ask her."
"She is resting now. I don..." He was interrupted.
"PLEASE!! I need to ask her, talk to her."
"Very well, come on, we can go together." Moody stepped through the fireplace and they both wordlessly started walking towards Minerva's chambers.
Albus walked in spoke to the cat, tapped on her door and opened the door. He asked Moody to follow him. She was not in the living room he called out her name. "Minerva it's me Albus."
"A minute Albus I'll just change and come out."
Hearing Minerva's voice Alastor sighed.
"Minerva we have the head auror Alastor Moody with us. He wants talk to you."
Minerva dropped the earrings in her hand when she heard Albus telling Alastor's name. She rushed to the bedroom door forgetting that she was just in a towel wrapped around her. Her wet hair hanging till her shoulders.
Her eyes filled with tears when she saw him. She wanted him to hold her, console her and tell her everything will be alright.
Alastor was so relieved when he saw her. He wanted to apologise for not being there when she needed him. He felt guilty.
"Minerva.." he whispered desperately. That's all it took Minerva to break down. She rushed into his stretched arms and embraced him tightly. Buried her face in his chest and cried all her sorrows.
Alastor hugged her tight. "I am so sorry. I am sorry baby. I am so sorry I wasn't there when you needed. Please forgive me darling. I am here now, I know whatever I do will not be enough for the mistake I have made but I will make sure that those bastards get behind the bars lifelong."
Minerva continued to cry.
Albus felt out of place.He was not expecting this to happen.
Of course they would have known each other, they were in the same class and house after all. But he did not know they were this close. Were they together? Yes that explained all. Maybe they are to be engaged. The way he called her and the way she clung to him, despite being just in a towel.
He did not have any right to be sad knowing they both were together. She had not shown any signs of liking him. Hell! this was the second time he was meeting her after a long gap. But still he felt a little sad. Minerva's voice brought him back.
"It's ok Al, there was no way you could know anything. I just needed you but I also knew you were not available. It's just I felt relieved when I saw you. You are all I have left now." Alastor kisses her forehead.
"And I will try my best to protect you baby girl." Minerva chuckled at that. He always found a new nickname for her and it soothed her knowing someone was there to love her. "I am not a baby Al, And don't cry I am fine. Professor Dumbledore hel... " That's when they both realised he was still standing there.
They both turned to him, "Sorry sir, I was just overwhelmed. I just returned to work today and I didn't see her, thought she was on off but when I read the name on the file I was horrified."
Albus sighed. "I understand Alastor. Now perhaps we can do the job which you really came for. And Minerva maybe some clothes."
There was an edge to his voice, he didn't know why. He had not expected anything whe he had invited her here to teach.
Minerva blushed hard at that. She was still in Alastor's arm but the towel she had tucked in had come loose. Alastor noticed it and instantly took his hand holding the towel in place and with the other tucked it back in and sent her into the room.
Albus had noticed that action and he didn't like that even a little bit. He didn't like him touching her so intimately but still he was in no position to oppose. Alastor glanced at him awkwardly and gave a faint smile. Albus called for an elf and asked tea for three people.
When she came out she gave a sweet genuine smile. "Sorry for earlier Albus. I didn't intend to come out like that." Albus gave her smile and gestured Alastor to continue. While Alastor continued asking Minerva questions after questions, Albus took his time to admire her. She looked beautiful. The dress she was wearing was pretty and modest.
When he was searching for a Transfiguration teacher earlier his first option was her. He was contemplating on whether to send her an offer or not as he had heard she was doing really well in her field.
He had liked her from when she was a student. But things changed on her graduation day. He remembered the way her lips felt against his. Even when he met her two days ago he was happy. He wanted a friendship with her because he had enjoyed the time he spent with her during apprenticeship and animagus training. He knew he did not want a romantic relationship but knowing something was going on between these two made him feel bad.
"Professor Dumbledore sir, I..."
"Please call me Albus. I am not your Professor anymore Alastor."
He smiled and continued,
"Sure sir. I'll take my leave now. I have everything that I need. I'll make sure everything in my power to give then grave punishment. Minerva is really dear to me. Thank you Albus, if you were not there I would not know what would have happened."
With that he left. Minerva came forward and touched his shoulder. He turned to face her. She smiled and leaned in and kissed his cheek and whispered, "Thank You." Her hot breath tickling his cheek. He nodded and left her. He needed to clear his mind and think what he actually wanted.
(A.N.- Hey I know Alastor Moody is out of character, but I like to think that war changed him slowly. This chapter mainly shows the relationship between Minnie and Moody. They are very close in this story and comfortable around each other.)