To the outside world Severus Snape was happy being alone; and incapable of any other state of being.
The potions professor himself felt as if he was drowning in a pit of despair, suffocating under his own character and strangled by his past. Severus Snape was a damaged man. This fact had escaped everyone.
While the rest of the wizarding world celebrated the fall of Voldemort, Nymphadora Tonks mourned. He was dead. Remus was dead. No matter how many times she told herself she couldn't make herself believe. It tortured her. Always expecting him to walk through the door and knowing he never would.
Remus Lupin had sacrificed himself in the final battle. He had given his life to secure the call of Voldemort. That fact didn't ease Tonk's pain.
Three months after the victory everything was reverting back to normalcy. It was a slow process but everyone was eager to rebuild. The wizarding world was looking forward to a bright new future.
Molly Weasley glanced worriedly at Tonks who was picking at her cornflakes. She had hardly eaten since the last battle and it showed. Her clothes were too loose and her hair hung limp about her shoulders, a greying shade of mouse brown. Her skin was pale and if you looked into her constantly puffy eyes her iris' seemed washed out from all of the tears. Molly didn't know what to do to stop Tonks from fading away.
"Oh Tonks dear, you've got a letter" said Molly in a falsely bright tone as she put the letter, bearing the Hogwarts seal, next to Tonks on the kitchen table. Tonks looked at it and said nothing. Having resigned from the Auror office a week after the final battle she had been hiding from the world ever since. She was only living in The Burrow because the formidable Weasley matriarch had packed Tonk's bags herself.
Tonks left the table and did the washing up for Mrs.Weasley. For all that Tonks was feeling; she couldn't help but be grateful to Molly for offering her a semblance of a home. Tonks then turned her attention to the letter. She couldn't think who at Hogwarts would be writing to her. She didn't really care. She would just stay her and live out her days at The Burrow if she could; never having to truly face a world without Remus.
Tonks scanned the letter and let out a long sigh.
"Who's the letter from dear?" Mrs.Weasley asked with interest.
"It's Minerva, she... she wants me to work at Hogwarts."