LbN: OMG WHAT??? Could it be? An update? That's right, I've had a burst of inspiration! Don't get your hopes up too high, this one's still on the back burner. But you will see updates more often. For real this time ;).
Pansy closed her journal and put it on the nightstand. It was full, so she'd have to ask for another one. She walked down the hall to find Tonks in the living room. She was watching some sort of box with people in it. "What is that?" Pansy asked, pointing to the living room's new edition.
"This, my evil angel, is called a television set. It's a Muggle invention, and a handy one for those of us who get bored around the house."
"A television set?"
"You watch programs on it. Come on, watch with me."
Pansy hesitated for a moment before sitting down next to Tonks. Without thinking, she leaned against the older witch, a habit from her Junior Death Eater days. Oddly enough, everyone expected Bellatrix to show affection for her adopted daughter, so Pansy had been allowed to lean against her during less formal events. The main difference between snuggling with Bellatrix, and snuggling with Tonks, was that Tonks actually hugged back. The witch never really asked why Pansy would randomly latch onto her, but she went with it.
Pansy looked at the screen again. As far as she could tell, the program was just a drawing of a sponge chasing jellyfish. The sponge's laugh was really annoying. "Tonks?"
"Yes?"
"Why?" Pansy asked, smirking.
"Sometimes I like to watch mindless stuff to unwind."
"Kay. By the way, how long are you going to call me your evil angel?"
"Until it really starts to annoy you," Tonks said, grinning down at her.
Pansy snorted. The nickname was in reference to the nightmares Pansy had been experiencing. On more than one occasion, Tonks'd had to shake her awake. When she'd come to, all of the fear, guilt and sadness Pansy usually kept hidden, came out. The last time this had happened was when Pansy had gotten her current nickname....
"Let go of me!" Pansy gasped through sobs.
Tonks held onto her. "No," she said. "Just breathe, you're okay."
"You should've left me in Azkaban! I'm evil, why did you bother? Why do you bother?"
"You're not evil."
"I am."
"You're not. You've been an angel here," Tonks said, smiling at her. "You're runaway stunt notwithstanding."
"I'm evil," Pansy whispered.
"I'll compromise with you," Tonks said, shifting them gently so Pansy could lean back against her. "Evil angel."
"What does that mean?" Pansy chuckled.
"It means you're good, but not perfect. You have traits, and moments, where the bad comes through. But you're good, I know it."
Pansy smiled, remembering that night. Tonks, for whatever reason, had stayed there with her. The next morning she'd hugged Pansy, but hadn't mentioned the event. In fact, the only reminder that it had occurred was the fact that she still called Pansy that every now and then. "Can we go shopping?"
"No," Tonks said sadly. "There's been way too much Death Eater activity in those areas. What do you need? I'll get it for you."
"A new journal. I filled up the one you gave me."
Tonks nodded. "Sure. I'll pick one up after the meeting tomorrow."
Pansy carefully scooped the mashed potatoes into a bowl and put them on the counter. She looked over at her chicken casserole, hoping it tasted okay. Cooking was the only Muggle thing she'd agreed to learn, and that was only because Tonks had put her foot down. The metamorph had told Pansy she could either learn to cook or learn to clean, and Pansy had opted for the one that allowed her to be clean and not sweaty. She heard the door open, and a second later Tonks was in the kitchen.
"Wotcher," she said.
"Hi Tonks. I made dinner!" Pansy tried not to sound too pleased with herself, just in case the meal was a bust.
Tonks smiled. "Wonderful, I'm starving."
Once they'd both gotten food and drinks, they sat at the table. Tonks inhaled about half of her food before speaking again. "There's been a…er…change of plans."
"What's that?"
"You won't be going back to Hogwarts."
"What? But…you promised!"
"I promised under the condition that you would be safe. And you won't be. Not now."
"What's happened?"
"Snape's been made headmaster."
Pansy snorted. "And? You're telling me you were okay with sending me back with both of the Carrows as teachers, but you've gone all frightened at Snape?"
"The Carrows are thugs, Snape is smart. And, as Headmaster, he'd have the power to send you right into Bellatrix's hands if she asked."
Pansy was quiet. She picked at her food, fuming. If she ever saw Snape again, she was going to kick him in the shins.
"It won't be so bad," Tonks promised. "I've collected everything you need for home tutoring. And, just think, you won't have to get up early for class!"
"I suppose," Pansy said. Really, Tonks was right. It couldn't be that horrible, and there was the added bonus of not having to see Amycus again. "Did you pick up another journal for me?"
"I did. It's in the bag on top of your school things."
"Do I still get to have my wand back?"
"Only for school work."
"Oh, come on!" Pansy whinged.
"Just on orders," Tonks said, raising her hands. "I may trust you, but the rest of the Order doesn't."
"So, does this mean you're going to stay here from now on?"
Tonks nodded. "I'll be here unless something goes wrong and they need reinforcements."
They finished their dinner in silence. Pansy went into the living room and spotted three shopping sacks on the floor. A book with a dark leather cover was poking out of the top of the closest bag. "Thank you," she said. She knew, without looking, that Tonks had followed her.
"You're welcome," the ex-Auror said. "Want to watch TV with me?"
Pansy looked from her to her new book. "I'm tired. I think I'm going to call it a night."
"Right you are. Good night."
"Night, Tonks." Pansy walked back to her room and shut the door. With a smile, she grabbed her quill and ink and sat down to write.
LbN: Hope you liked it! Send reviews!
