It was finally January and everyone was recovering from their overspending and over indulgence over the festive period. The parties had died down to nothing and many people were regularly going to the gym, not that it would last for more than a few days, or had gone on a diet.
Hogwarts students had gone back to school already, the Aurors were back at work and that only really left the lucky non-working or retired few at the Burrow. Well, those people plus Tonks. She was working the night shift that evening and therefore wasn't at work at that hour.
"So, you're saying that you need to go on a diet? Merlin, Tonks, you've not got to lose any weight at all!" exclaimed Remus Lupin, the resident werewolf who had no job because nobody would employ him.
"I've put on four pounds over Christmas, Remus. I was big enough before but now I really do need to lose weight!" Tonks cried in return having almost wished she had never even mentioned it. He always seemed to want to argue with her these days. It was the only real contact she had with him, in fact, now that he was in love with another woman. He seemed unwilling to even argue that day, though. He simply stood up and walked out of the room, leaving Tonks sitting there alone.
"Great," she mumbled, her hair automatically turning to a dull brown colour. She also got up and walked out of the Burrow, deciding to go to the pub for a drink. It was hardly like anyone would be there as they would all be at work. She headed straight to Hogsmeade and into the Three Broomsticks.
"9th of January and Aurors still aren't at work?! Despicable behaviour! What is this world coming to?" one of the heads on the door shouted at her as she entered. She merely glared at it and walked in, though. She knew better than to argue with them. They never really made much sense anyway.
She walked over to the bar and ordered herself a firewhisky before turning around to find a table to sit at. She was planning to sit alone but then she saw a familiar face sitting alone. Severus Snape. And then it clicked in her mind that it was his birthday. She frowned, feeling really bad for him having to be alone on such a day. She walked over to him and asked, "Do you mind if I sit with you?"
He glanced up at her and shook his head, "Go ahead," he replied expecting the usual drabble about Remus and her being madly in love with him. If that was the case, he could just switch off as he usually did.
"You shouldn't have to sit alone on your birthday," she said to him, looking at him and waiting for some sort of reaction to that. He didn't react for a couple of seconds, though.
"I'm used to being lonely. It's the only thing I can rely on these days," he replied without looking up from his pint of what appeared to be butterbeer. "I didn't think anyone had remembered, anyway," he added, frowning slightly and looking up at her. "Who told you it was my birthday?"
Tonks felt sorry for him for expecting to be alone. She hated seeing him alone all of the time and she knew he hated being alone as well but she had never told him that before, "You shouldn't have to be alone," she said in an attempt at saying that he did deserve friends whether he thought he did or not. "Are friends not allowed to remember each other's birthday?" she asked as she smiled at him, "Just because nobody else ever remembers doesn't mean I don't either. You told me it was your birthday in my seventh year at Hogwarts when you complained I had taken up all of your lunch time on your birthday cleaning up the mess I had made that time I ended up making the cauldron explode and I was sent to St Mungo's to have the burns treated," she laughed at the memory of the anger on his face that day. "You don't think I'd forget that, do you?"
Severus allowed himself to smile a little at the memory of that, "Ah yes, I remember now. And I didn't let you anywhere near a cauldron without supervision from that day onwards," he nodded, remembering the details more now. "I never did ask if you managed to pass Potions," he commented, "Although I was told one of my students failed that year…" he trailed off, having expected it to be her.
He was rather surprised when she shook her head, "I passed," she laughed. "I did a lot of extra practice in my free time, if I'm honest. I think it was Charlie that failed, actually." She smiled up at him, having expected him to have known who had failed. "Am I really the only person who has remembered?" she asked, changing the subject again back to the previous one. She simply couldn't believe everyone had forgotten.
"You're the only one," he replied, frowning slightly and taking a rather large mouthful of his drink, finishing it off. "I'm supposed to be collecting Potions ingredients here today and thought I'd pop in for a drink before I collected the items. There were Aurors stopping anyone going into the shop so it's hardly like I could have collected them straight away anyway."
Tonks nodded, "Do you want another drink then?" she asked, "I doubt they'd have left yet anyway," she added, smiling at him. "And it's good to have a drink here with a friend on your birthday anyway," she added.
Severus shook his head, "I should probably be going, really. It's just another day in all honesty." She could see from the look in his eyes that he wanted to be cared for, though. And he knew she had seen the look as well.
"Could I at least come with you to the shop then?" she asked, "I might be able to get the items for you if they won't let you in as I'd have permission to be inside." She smiled a little at him, wanting to help him. She was tempted to try and go back to the castle with him as well because she didn't want him to be alone. "I could help you take the ingredients back to the castle too, if you'd like," she added then, deciding to try at least.
Severus thought about it for a few seconds, and then nodded, "If you're sure," he replied, guessing that it could be the only way to get rid of her. And, truthfully, he didn't want to be alone. He had simply become so accustomed to being alone all the time that he hadn't expected to receive the offer at all. "Are you sure you shouldn't be doing anything else, though?" he asked just in case she should have been.
"Its fine, Sev," she said, deciding to see if she could get away with shortening his name. He didn't complain though so she decided it must be okay to do so. "I have work this evening from 11pm but until then, I have nothing to do except keep you company," she laughed and he smiled slightly. She had never seen him smile this much before, even if it was only a few small smiles, and she decided she quite liked seeing his face looking happy for once, even if it was only a little bit.
"Okay, Tonks," he said, standing up and pulling his black coat on over the top of his black robes and wrapping a black scarf around his neck, making Tonks smile. "Yes, I wear a lot of black," he said, smiling a little again. "Suits my mood most of the time though, doesn't it?" he let out a small laugh.
Tonks laughed and nodded, also standing up, "It does, I suppose," she replied. "You're not too bad, you know. There's a nicer side in there somewhere. And you've just proved that," she smiled once more. "I won't tell anyone and ruin your reputation though," she added, grinning at him.
"Me? Nice?" he smiled a little, "Well, I suppose I can be if I wish to be. I just generally wish not to be nice. And if you do tell anyone, there won't be any more niceness at all," he smiled once more, knowing she wouldn't tell anyone. He made sure nobody else was watching, though, because he didn't want his reputation ruined. "Are you sure you don't mind helping me?" he asked, not wanting to make her do something just so he didn't have to be alone.
"Of course I don't mind. Lead the way," she replied, letting him lead her out of the pub and down the road towards the Potions shop. She saw the group of Aurors he had been talking about standing outside and she sighed a little, "Looks like they're still here," she said, smiling slightly as she saw Kingsley Shacklebolt was there. "Do you want me to try and get the stuff for you?" she asked.
"If you don't mind," Severus replied, smiling slightly again, although having to be much more cautious now that they were out in public where anyone, particularly the Aurors, could see them. He took a list out of his coat pocket and handed it to her, "They should have prepared a box with this list of items in it," he explained, "I just need the things in the box and that's all."
Tonks nodded, "Wait here," she said and headed into the group of Aurors. He heard the familiar ding of the door opening and watched the group as he waited for her to return. Sure enough, a few minutes later she did return. "Is this the right box?" she asked him as she opened the top of it to let him see in.
He nodded, "Yes, that's it," he replied, "I'll take it," he added, knowing her track record for breaking things or falling on or over them. He carefully took the box from her and smiled, making it float in the air in front of them so that in actual fact, neither had to carry it. "Thanks," he said, realizing he hadn't said that yet.
"You're more than welcome, Sev," she replied, grinning a little at him again. She was already enjoying spending time with Severus which she had actually found rather surprising. She had wanted to spend time with him alone for years as she had been sure he wasn't as mean as everyone had told her but she had never expected him to be quite this friendly.
They walked side by side in silence for a few minutes and soon enough, Hogwarts was in sight. They didn't even need to speak to one another to know that they would both definitely be going inside. They just knew it. That afternoon, a bond had formed between them. It had to be one of the most unlikely bonds imaginable but all the same, it was there.
"Will you be staying long?" Severus asked suddenly as they entered Hogwarts grounds and headed towards the castle entrance. "I have a Defense Against The Dark Arts lesson to teach in about an hour," he added so as not to appear to just be getting rid of her.
"I could help teach it if you want?" she suggested, smiling at him again, "Perhaps show them a real duel?" She knew he wouldn't hurt her on purpose and she knew he knew she wouldn't hurt him either so it would be solely for educational purposes.
Severus looked at Tonks rather curiously, "I thought you hated the idea of teaching a lesson at Hogwarts?" he asked, smiling all the same. He quite liked the idea of teaching with her. It would give him a reason to enjoy the lesson for once, even if it was just because he could randomly stare at her for a few minutes, then get to fire a few spells at her.
"I hate the students but it would be fun to try it," she replied, smiling. "So what do you say?" she asked, guessing he would say yes. She knew he preferred teaching with others there as well and guessed that he would appreciate the help.
"Okay, if you really want to help you can. But don't complain if I beat you in the duel," he replied, laughing. "Although I'm not sure I will beat you… After all, you're an Auror… You're supposed to be more than capable of beating me and I'm sure you are."
Tonks just laughed and shook her head, "You think a girl could beat you?" she asked, smiling as they headed into the dungeons. Severus was managing to contain his wish to smile because he was around students where his reputation was one of a harsh, unsmiling man.
"You're the only one who I believe would be capable of doing such a thing," he replied, his mouth blank but his eyes showing that he wanted to smile.
They walked the rest of the way to Severus' classroom and office in silence, deciding it would be safer not to talk while students were around. Neither wanted them to spread gossip about the two of them being some sort of 'item' and so walking together but in silence would hopefully not give this view to the students.
As soon as they were inside the classroom, Severus sent the box of Potions ingredients into the cupboard, "So are you willing to duel me then?" Tonks asked, smiling at him. "It'd stop any gossip being spread about us as well if I was here to help you teach a lesson," she added, smiling once more.
"Okay but don't be too harsh on me. My dueling skills are rather rusty," he replied, laughing. "And bear in mind that the students will be second years so they don't need to know too many complex spells," he added, not wanting them to learn anything too important at such an early age in case they became corrupted as Tom Riddle, better known as Voldemort, had done during his first few years at Hogwarts.
Tonks nodded, taking her wand out and concealing it up her sleeve as she was so accustomed to doing, "So only the basics? Flipendo knock back jinx, that sort of thing?" she asked, knowing he would probably win with such simple spells as she was used to using much more powerful ones for protection.
"That's as far as I would go, actually. Flipendo is about as complex as they can understand. And as for protection, protego is as far as they will understand when it comes to protection as well," he added, frowning slightly, "Flitwick is yet to teach them many charms for dueling."
Tonks rolled her eyes a little, "Stupid safety laws," she mumbled, hating the new laws that were currently being enforced by the education department of the Ministry. "So when does the lesson start?" she asked him, sitting herself down on the desk that was beside her.
Severus glanced at his watch and looked slightly horrified, "It starts in about 10 minutes," he answered, grabbing his defense text books and then grabbing her, "We ought to get to the Defense Against The Dark Arts classroom before we end up being late!"
They hurried out of the classroom side by side once more, Tonks easily keeping up with Severus' quick strides, and they made it to the classroom a couple of minutes early, in fact, despite the fact that they had left the dungeons much later than they should have done. Severus quickly passed the text books around so that each desk had a book on it. He then closed the shutters on all of the windows, making Tonks frown slightly.
"Do you really need to have the room in complete darkness, Sev?" she asked him, noticing how well he now blended in with the surroundings.
"Yes," he replied simply, laughing a little, "It helps to keep up my reputation as the bad Professor," he added, looking up at the door as he heard it open and then heard the groans from several students when they saw it was him who would be teaching their lesson. "Silence," he demanded, standing up perfectly straight and glaring across all of the students as they took their seats. "I shall be taking the lesson today along with Miss Tonks, an associate of mine. We shall be showing you how to participate in a basic duel. Observe."
With that, he turned to face Tonks, a slight smile in his eyes as he looked at her, and she knew he would go fairly easy on her. She would have to play fair as well of course though because these students were certainly younger than she had expected. Within a couple of minutes, however, she was on the floor and her wand was in Severus' hand; something she had hoped would never happen. She could hardly have beaten him on his birthday, though. That would have been rather harsh.
Severus walked over to Tonks, offering her a hand to get up with and she took it, pulling herself up from the floor, "Your wand, Miss Tonks," he said, the smile in his eyes now much greater than before but still not enough to have been noticed by his students. "As you can all see from that, it is possible to defeat even the most well-trained duel artists. Of course, she could easily have beaten me had she used the spells she was taught during her training but for the purpose of using spells you all would know, she refrained from doing so." He continued to talk to them all in that manner until the end of the lesson finally arrived, at which point there was no more lessons that day and Severus and his students were free for the rest of the evening.
As soon as all of the students had filtered out of the room, Severus moved towards Tonks, "I didn't hurt you earlier when I knocked you backwards, did I?" he asked, looking a little concerned because he had sent her backwards into a table and he had seen her flinch a little, as if in pain.
"I'm fine Sev," she replied, smiling. "I'm used to it. It comes with my job, to be honest," she smiled once more, "You're a very good teacher. They were all listening to every word you said. I thought you said you were hated?" she asked, frowning and getting up from the seat she was in to stand right in front of him. "Not that I can see any reason anyone would want to hate you."
"Are you sure?" he asked, not wanting to think he had hurt her. He then smiled and, for the first time that she had ever known of, he blushed, "I'm not that good," he said, "They listen because otherwise they'll get detention. I suppose that's why I'm hated, really. I make them learn." He looked at her standing right in front of him and smiled a little, "You're odd if you think I'm nice, you know."
Tonks laughed and walked away from him this time, waving her wand at all of the books and collecting them up for him, "I'm sure. And you are good. I used to hate you when you taught me too but that was probably because I was too clumsy and used to spend most of my time in detention for destroying things," she laughed. "It was more than fair, though."
"And it meant I got to spend more time with you as well," he commented, smirking at her. He had liked her ever since the first time he had seen her in her first year at Hogwarts but this was the first time he had ever mentioned it to her.
She grinned, "I thought you hated me for my rather absurd coloring," she replied, walking back over to him and looking up at him. Their eyes locked on one another's and they both smiled, their heads moving closer together gradually until they finally kissed. Of course, Severus was the first to move away from the kiss and they were both blushing quite profusely.
"Sorry," Severus said, unable to look at her anymore, "I should have restrained myself better than that," he added, glancing at her.
"By the sounds of it, Sev, you've been doing that for some time. I'm not sure we could be anything more than friends at the moment, though. I mean what with my job and your alliances…" she trailed off, knowing he understood what she said.
"Of course," he replied, although on the inside he was hurting. "Perhaps things will be easier for us in a few months time once all of this has blown over a little more?" he suggested hopefully.
Tonks smiled and nodded, "Yeah, then it'll be a little easier, I'm sure." She glanced at her watch then and frowned, "I'm going to have to get off now as I still have some paperwork to get done for work," she said, sighing a little. "I hope you have a good remainder of your birthday, Sev. I just wish we could have made it better," she smiled a little sadly at him and he just nodded in reply. They both understood each others' feelings and knew that one day they would be together. Just not right then.