"Dora," Severus said roughly, grasping her hand tightly.
Tonks interlaced her fingers with his. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked softly. "I would have gone willingly if you had told me."
Severus sighed and closed his eyes briefly. "I don't have any excuse, Dora. I'm ashamed of myself."
Tonks nodded her head, unsure if that was enough.
"You know how Albus didn't want Harry to know anything in order to protect him? That's how I felt about you. There would be a chance you wouldn't be there, so why worry you? Looking back, it was the stupidest thing I could have done."
Tonks remained silent.
"Dora, all I can say is I'm sorry. I am truly sorry. I can't imagine what you went through. Please believe me. I will do everything in my power to make this up to you."
Those were the words she needed to hear. "You've already started," Tonks said.
He looked at her curiously. "When I was thrown into my cell, the very first unhappy memory that came to my mind was the other day, when you told me we couldn't be together. The only obstacle in our way is now taken care of, in more ways than one," Tonks stated.
"More ways than one?" Severus repeated.
"I was summoned just an hour ago. Narcissa simply told me that if I ever go near her husband again when he's free, I will be killed."
"She threatened you like that?" Severus asked.
"Of course. She's very happy with the level of power being with Malfoy gives her. I don't think she's willing to risk that."
"I see," Severus said softly, stroking her hand gently. His fingers felt cool over the blisters that were still forming. "So where does that leave us?" he asked.
"Will you go to Diagon Alley with me tomorrow?" Tonks asked suddenly.
"Answering a question with a question?" he asked, one eyebrow raised.
Tonks giggled. It felt so good to laugh again. "I'm too worn out to think tonight Severus. Please go to Diagon Alley with me, I need a new wand."
"They broke yours in two?" It was a statement more than a question.
Tonks nodded, upset that she would never hold the wand she loved so much again.
"I'll meet you there in the afternoon, around three o'clock. There's a quidditch game tomorrow morning. Slytherin verses Hufflepuff. We're going to flatten them," Severus said cheerfully. More tenderly he added, "I'll bring the lotion so we can take off your blisters."
"That will be good," Tonks said, getting up. Kissing him gently on the cheek, Tonks joked, "Well, at least the fire's ready for me to leave!"
Severus stood up and spread the floo powder on the ashes for her. With one last lingering look, Tonks left for her bedroom.
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Three o'clock the next day could not come fast enough for Tonks. She arrived in Diagon Alley two hours early. Her nerves, at the prospect of going on an actual date with Severus, brought out her clumsiness in full force. Already this morning she had fallen down the stairs, let out a boggart that had snuck into the parlor and broken her and Remus' breakfast dishes.
Tonks' walked to Flourish and Blotts to see if she could find a book to help her relax. She was very happy with her appearance today. She was wearing her multicolored-patched jeans and a short sleeve blouse that had a nametag that said "Steve" on the pocket. More importantly, she was going out in public with her real hair for the first time in ten years. The short spikes suited her round face, and the strawberry blonde color matched a patch on the jeans perfectly. For once Tonks was ready to show the world what she truly looked like.
As she walked through the crowded streets Tonks bent to pick up something shiny on the ground and promptly tripped and started to fall. Much to her embarrassment, she fell straight into someone's arms. Tonks looked up and giggled when she saw it was Severus.
"You're early," they both said at the exact same time.
"I didn't feel like hanging around my bedroom this morning," Tonks laughed.
"Hufflepuff caught the snitch in the first fifteen minutes. I can never face Professor Sprout again," Severus pouted.
Severus looked so upset that Tonks burst out laughing. "Don't laugh, Dora. Slytherin hasn't won the house cup in five years. It's getting embarrassing."
Tonks somehow managed to stop her giggling. "You know I can never root for Slytherin, right? I will always be faithful to Ravenclaw!"
"Well, at least Ravenclaw hasn't won in over twelve years," Severus smirked. Tonks smacked him on the shoulder.
Severus glanced down at her arms. "Is there any pain?"
"None what so ever, thank goodness," Tonks said.
Severus produced a bottle of lotion from his robes. He put some on his hands and rubbed the lotion onto her arms. Tonks was amazed when the blisters simply disappeared when the lotion touched them.
"Brilliant," she whispered. Her arms now looked like nothing had happened.
"I hope this helps," Severus said as he put the lotion away.
"More than you know. Come on, I want to get a wand," she said.
They walked in silence until they reached Ollivanders. "What was your wand before, Dora?" Severus asked.
"Walnut and a tail feather of an owl, eight inches," Tonks said softly.
Severus looked surprised. "I would have thought that a flashier wand would have chosen you."
"Me too," Tonks replied as they entered the store. "My wand was perfect."
"Hello, Nymphadora," Mr. Ollivander said serenely, expecting to hear the reason why she was there.
"Hello, sir. I need, well, you see, my wand…" she started.
"Was destroyed," he finished for her.
"Yes, sir. It was destroyed. I need a new one, please," Tonks said.
"I'm sure we'll find another match for you, Nymphadora, don't worry," Mr. Ollivander assured her.
He walked to the back of his shop and started muttering to himself as he looked through boxes.
"What kind of wand do you have?" Tonks asked Severus interestedly.
"Ebony and snake skin, twelve inches. Seems about right for me, doesn't it?" he answered.
Without a sound, Mr. Ollivander handed her a small looking wand. Tonks gave it a wave and smoke came out of Mr. Ollivander's ears. "No, not maple and unicorn hair," he said as he handed her a rather long wand.
Tonks tried this wand and the window disappeared. Mr. Ollivander shook his head, "Not Holly and sniffler's fur. I think we need to go for something very unusual this time, unusual like you Nymphadora."
Mr. Ollivander headed to the back room again, muttering the entire time. He came back after a few minutes with at least ten wand boxes in his arms. He placed the boxes down and studied them carefully. "Yes, this might be the one," he said to himself as he handed her the wand.
As Tonks placed her fingers around the wand she felt a warm glow and the tip lit up. She had found her new wand. It was beautiful. "I know it is," Mr. Ollivander said, appearing to have read Tonks' mind, "This wand was an experiment after my trip to China to learn their techniques. It is the only wand I have ever made out of bamboo. Bamboo and the heartstring of a Chinese Fireball dragon, six and three quarter inches."
Tonks looked at her new wand and smiled. "It's perfect," she announced, waving it around once more to get the feel of it. She took out some money and paid for her new wand. When Severus and she went outside the shop, she repeated Mr. Ollivander's words, "It's unusual like me!" she said proudly as she tripped over the curb.
Severus smiled as he caught her arm, "You are very unusual indeed. I don't know anyone else who is either graceful or clumsy, never in between."
Tonks giggled, "Oh stop," she teased. She reached for his hand as they started walking. He took her hand and quickly kissed it, then let go. Tonks decided that by the end of the day, he would hold her hand.
"Ah, the apothecary," Severus said, "I need some supplies."
"Doesn't the school pay for your supplies?" Tonks asked.
"Hogwarts does, yes. But I do a great deal of experimenting on my own. I pay for that out of my own pocket," Severus answered.
Tonks sighed; she hated the smell of the apothecary. She was never good in potions, always just managing the lowest grade possible to get to the next level. She briefly thought about morphing her nose away while they were in there, and decided against it, too many people would stare.
"Professor Snape! Your order has arrived, I just sent you an owl this morning," said the man behind the counter.
"Excuse me, Dora, this won't take long," Severus whispered to her.
Tonks looked around the shop, hoping for ideas for different things to morph into. She looked at Severus; this was the most enthusiastic she had ever seen him. He was arguing over the price of some ingredient or another. After a few minutes, he was handed a large bag and they headed out of the shop.
"Buy out the store?" she teased.
"They were missing my hydra fang," Severus said grumpily. "It's not in yet. Apparently the hydra isn't that willing to give it up yet."
Tonks giggled. As they walked down the street, Tonks could see the elder Crabbe coming out of a restaurant. "Turn around now, Severus and follow me."
"Dora?"
"Now, Severus." Severus did what he was told. "What's wrong Dora?" he asked as they walked down the street.
"We have to get out of here. Why didn't I think of this sooner? Will you apparate and meet me at the Three Broomsticks?" she asked urgently.
"Of course," and in a moment, he was gone, and Tonks followed suit.
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A few moments later, they were in Hogsmeade. "Let's start walking back to Hogwarts," Tonks suggested.
"Dora, please tell me what's wrong," Severus demanded.
"Severus, Crabbe senior was in Diagon Alley. What if he had seen us together?"
A look of realization came across Severus' face. "That would have been very, very bad, Dora. I can't believe I didn't even think of that. We simply can't be seen in public together."
Tonks nodded. Some of the joy from the afternoon had faded. She was ready to shout how happy she was to the world, and now that wasn't an option. Without realizing it, Severus had taken her hand in his as they continued walking.
They walked in silence towards Hogwarts. As they approached the school, Tonks reluctantly dropped his hand and said, "You go on in now. I'll join you in a few minutes."
"I need to put my supplies away, so come down to the dungeon, Dora."
She nodded as he walked away. Five minutes later, she too headed towards the school. Shivering with cold, she entered the potions classroom. He wasn't there. "Severus?" she asked.
"I'm in my office," she heard him call. She went inside and saw him in his shirtsleeves, meticulously cutting up some ingredients. "Darling, I have to cut these Minator brains up now. Is that okay?"
Tonks sat down and watched him, "Of course it's okay. I like watching you work," she said simply. He looked up and gave her a slight smile.
Ten minutes later, Severus was finally done. He waved his wand and cleaned the brains off of his hands. For a moment, the pair just looked at each other. Finally, Tonks couldn't stand it anymore. She took two giant steps and was in his arms. For a few moments, they just held each other. He was almost a head taller than her, so she just enjoyed the sensation of being wrapped up in his arms.
She realized that tears were starting to run down her cheeks, but she didn't care. She was with Severus, that was all that mattered. They could get through anything, as long as they were together. What a horrible cliché I am! she thought to herself.
Tonks lifted up her head which had been buried in his chest and looked Severus straight in his eyes. How had she never noticed how black his eyes were before? Gently Severus took his hand and brushed the tears off of her cheeks. "I don't want to see you crying again, understand?" he told her.
"I can't help it!" Tonks exclaimed. She was so happy and the tears kept rolling down her cheeks.
"May I kiss you?"
Tonks didn't wait to answer. She grabbed Severus by the neck and brought him in for a kiss. Their lips met, tentatively at first, and then gradually built up pressure. Tonks felt his tongue slip in her mouth, caressing hers. She could taste her salty tears as they still continued to fall down her cheeks.
"Tsk, Dora," Severus whispered, breaking off their kiss, "You're still crying. Am I really that bad of a kisser?" he teased.
"Now who's being cheeky?" she asked as she brought him in for another kiss.
Tonks forgot everything for the next few minutes, until she heard, "I don't mean to interrupt, Seversus…"
Albus Dumbledore was standing in the doorway.