Tonks ventured into the hospital wing at dinner that day. Classes resumed second lesson, Tonks favourite rumour was by a third year Ravenclaw who told everyone who would listen that it was Voldermort who had came into the school and sang Neil League into an unending sleep. Of course Professor Snape knew the cure and Neil would be back to normal within the week.

The truth was much more frightening.

It could have been her, Tonks, who had mauled the boy who had become her favourite student.

There he was, surrounded by what looked like half of Honeydukes. Cradled in her arms was a book of potions. It was for the end of the year, but she decided that seeing as she would be there for much longer, now was as good a time as any.

They had decided together that he would pursue a career in potions to prove Severus wrong.

Severus.

Why is he always the foremost of my mind?

Tonks placed the book among the sweets. He looked too peaceful to disturb. She thought the moment before he sprang to life screaming.

"hush." Tonks eased him down. She offered him a drink of water which he took gladly. "How are you?"

"Ok!" He answered bravely. "They're blaming you, it wasn't you though. Because it was a big cat Professor. And you're not a big cat!" Neil thought for a moment. "Well, I suppose you could transform into one, but you wouldn't, would you? Try and hurt me I mean."

"Not intentionally Neil no. But there are some things people can't control. Werewolves for instance." If he had learnt about them, he would identify what he saw last night as one. If that's what it was. Tonks prayed with all her heart that he wouldn't.

"Yes, it looked like a werewolf. But, Professor, there wasn't a full moon out last night, and werewolves need the moon to transform." Neil answered eagerly. "I'll be ok next week, so we won't miss another lesson."

"About that Neil-" before she could explain, the bane of her existence cut her off.

"Miss Tonks might not be teaching here for very much longer Mr League; if you require any extra lessons I suggest you go to the appropriate teacher." Severus hissed delicately.

"A word in your ear Severus!" Tonks ordered bitterly. "I'll see you soon Neil." She led Severus out of the Hospital wing. "Are you trying to ruin my life? On who's authority do you inform a student of my status as a teacher?!"

"No one but my own!" He replied, sniffing her hair.

"What have I done to you?" Tonks asked pushing him away. "Have I wronged you in another life, Severus!"

"What did I do to you to deserve your attitude from the moment you laid eyes on me Miss Tonks?"

"You condemned my cousin-"

"I neither confirmed or denied, the truth is I didn't know!" Severus pinned her to the wall.

"Bullshit! You're right though, you shouldn't have known. You shouldn't have turned in the first place. You sneer at Remus for what he is. A monster? You're just like him. You're a monster too… Only, he does what he does out of an instinct he can't control. You had a choice; you chose him. Then you came crawling back on your belly, once again you had a choice; you could have told Albus the truth. That you didn't know, but it was extremely unlikely."

"It's in the past Tonks; leave it buried." He made to walk away, but sh stopped him.

"Sirius isn't buried remember. Because you couldn't stand up to your responsibilities!"

"What responsibility did I have to your cousin?"

"The truth!" It was Tonks' turn to walk away.

"Watcher Harry," Tonks mumbled wearily when he stepped into her classroom door after dinner. She had decided to stay away from the Great Hall, mark all the homeworks and set about creating a stimulant coursework title for her Seventh year students.

"Erm-" Truth was, he'd been ordered to come and see her by Proessor McGonnagall. "I was wondering if you could give me some after school lessons about the ministry and what I need to do to be a-"

"Either you haven't been listening for the last two months, in which case you don't deserve my extra time, or you've been ordered to come and see me and check to see if I'm ok." Tonks looked up from her marking. "Who sent you?"

"McGonnagall, followed closely by Hermione. She would have come herself but she had to speak to Flitwick." Harry eased himself along the nearest aisle towards Tonks.

"So; do I look as if I'm about to break? Go out on a werewolf rampage?" Tonks questioned sarcastically, her robes swaying gently as she pulled herself from her chair and joining Harry the other side.

"It's ok to break Tonks. I mean, he was pretty close to you wasn't he? I was only speaking to him that night, must have only been about twenty minutes before he was attacked-" Tonks hushed him.

"What time was this?" Tonks asked.

"About midnight, why?" Harry questioned, his eye widened at the thought of an adventure that didn't centre around himself or Voldermort.

"So you had the map on you?" Harry nodded. "Do you remember seeing me on that map?"

Harry fought hard with his memory, trying to remember where everyone was. Then he remember he still had the map on him, he unravelled the map and refreshed his memory. He pointed to a corridor near her room.

"You were on your way back to your room. Snape was on the next floor down to me!" Harry explained, his eyes watching Tonks.

"Jesus Christ." Tonks fumed. "Snape's telling everyone it was me. He seems to think Albus is going to fire me." Tonks explained turning her into long apple green curls.

"You can't leave!" Harry blurted out to a shell-shocked Tonks. "You're the best teacher we've had." Harry stood opposite her.

"- I'm sure Remus was better th-" She was cut short by Harry's mouth covering her own. Blood curdled in her ears. For one split second she was with Sirius.

A cough brought Harry back to reality. He swung round to find Albus in the doorway, a confused smile on his face.

"Have either of you seen Professor Tonks?" Harry heard Albus ask. Harry faulted in his speech to ask what the old fool was on about when he heard Hermione's voice behind him tell that Tonks was in Hogsmeade and would be back late. With utter confusion, Harry turned round to find Hermione standing there wearing Tonks' robes.

"Jeez Tonks, now it's like I've kissed my sister!" Harry whined as Tonks transformed back, slamming the door closed with a wave of her wand.

"Jesus Fucking Christ Harry. What were you thinking? You could have got me fired!" Tonks could not think about his feelings right now. Nor did she think about the consequences of Hermione being seen kissing Harry.

"I-" Harry stuttered, losing his voice as Tonks towered over him.

"What Harry?! You think, hmmmm Tonks she's mauled a boy , her future as a teacher is on a knife edge; I'll just tip it a little more. You and Snape might as well form a club!"

"No, it's just that I think I-"

"-What Harry? I'm too old for you Harry!" Tonks slammed her hand down on the desk.

"That's a little rich coming from you! What about Lupin?" Harry bolted for the door.

Tonks sighed. Well handled! He's young and confused and you just roar at him. Imagine if Remus had responded like tha-

That train of thought was instantly forgotten as she noticed the marauders map discarded on the floor. Forgotten my Harry in his haste. There in the dungeons Severus Snape was entertaining Peter Petigrew.