Fear and Jealousy

Chapter One: A Very Brief Encounter

Tonks wandered nigh aimlessly through the alleys around Hogsmeade's main road. Another fruitless patrol. She had seen nothing out of the ordinary, nothing suspitious, nothing interesting whatsoever. Hardly surprising given that the new term at Hogwarts had yet to start. It was possibly the most boring Order work she had ever done and this was not how she had imagined her afternoon off. She had planned to knock off work at lunch time, avoid Remus, pop to the Weasleys for a bit, avoid Remus some more, then veg out in front of the tele with a Chinese and a few tins. Not that anyone could help it that Vance had been taken ill, and Tonks was glad to help, but it was yet another simple dream shattered by the war.

As she headed out from behind Zonko's joke shop, she heard the sound of smooth footfalls on the paving slabs up ahead. Tonks stopped. She instinctively drew her wand and edged forward slowly. The footsteps stopped briefly, then resumed. Whoever it was had probably just done the same as she had, and that meant it was no ordinary late shopper. She shuffled closer, wand at the ready. She crept nearer and nearer to the source of the sounds, closer to the main street of the village, until she made out a figure. He was tall, looming and dressed entirely in black. That was never a good sign. She walked towards him almost casually now, trying to catch a glimpse of the face hidden by black hair and the high collar of his cloak. The light was dimmed by the overcast June sky, but she could just recognise the man. No sooner had she done so, he made a sudden movement, causing Tonks to jump and fall backwards into a black dustbin.

"My my, aren't we clumsy this evening Nymphadora," Snape said, reluctantly offering her his hand.

"Yes, well so would you be if you didn't know how long your legs were half the time," she took his hand equally reluctantly before adding "course it doesn't help if sinister cloaked figures jump out at you."

"My sincerest apologies," he said, with more than a hint of sarcasm. Tonks shot him a look that had been passed down the Black line for generations.

"It's a miracle you became an Auror at all," he said calmly, he almost seemed as if he wanted an argument. Tonks didn't take the bait.

"You know, I could stand here and insult your aptitude for your own profession, but I'd be lying through my teeth," she tried a different tactic. Snape was thrown. Was that a compliment?

"I don't follow," he said.

"People are always bashing your teaching methods," she explained. "While I'd agree that you're as pleasant as pond slime on occasion, I have to admit you're pretty damn good at what you do."

"It never did you any good though, did it?" He retorted.

"Touché professor. Though having said that, I'd never have passed my potions N.E.W.T. without your help." A wry smile crept over her face. She took a step closer, backing him against the wall. She boxed him in on three sides, putting her hand to the wall and looked him in the eye. "Fear is a powerful weapon."

"Indeed," he said, a faint smudge of red spreading through his pallid features. He side-stepped Tonks and cleared his throat. "A very good evening to you Miss Tonks."

"Have a good one Severus," she winked, and he retreated back into the darkness.

&&&

Remus sat nursing his mug of tea while Molly began preparing the vegetables for dinner. Remus sighed heavily.

"You know dear, if you don't do something about this, someone else will jump in." Molly warned, charming a large wooden spoon to stir what looked like dumpling mixture.

"I know," Remus replied. "Maybe that would be no bad thing."

"Oh Remus, how can you say that! You know how she feels about you, this is madness!"

"What is?" Tonks asked, popping her head round the back door to the Burrow.

"Remus won't stay for tea," said Molly, thinking on her feet.

"Huh, his choice," Tonks responded bitterly, avoiding Remus' eyes.

"How was the patrol?" Molly asked, changing the subject.

"Ah, it was alright," she said, slumping into the chair furthest from Remus and pouring herself some tea. "Bumped into Severus, pretty dull otherwise."

Remus looked up. He was surprised to hear that Tonks was on first name terms with Snape. Tonks drained her mug and stood up yawning.

"Well, I'd best be off, work tomorrow." She headed for the door. "Might pop round in my lunch break, if that's all right with you?"

"Of course it is Tonks dear."

"Right, well, see ye." Tonks left without so much as a glance in Remus' direction. Molly glared at him across the table.

"She won't be treated like this, she doesn't deserve it and neither do you." Molly warned him. "The quaffle is on your pitch."