A week later, Severus was pronounced fit to leave the hospital wing. He still was taking ten potions a day, and still was complaining about them. Tonks was there to walk with him to his bedchamber.
She stood away from him as he stood next to his door. He turned and looked at her, "Stand next to me. I want you to hear this."
Tonks shook her head. "I shouldn't Severus."
His eyes pleaded with her. "Please. I want you to know."
Tonks swallowed. "The password is metamorph," he told her.
Tonks smiled, "You're such a romantic," she giggled.
He raised one eyebrow at her. "I am many things, Dora. But I am not a romantic."
The door opened and Tonks slipped inside. She turned to face him and whispered, "Romantic!" She then turned around too quickly and got her foot caught in the cuff of her jeans, causing her to fall to the floor.
She gave Severus an evil look as he whispered, "Klutz," in the same tone she had whispered "Romantic."
They settled down and started playing a game of chess. For forty minutes they played in silence. After Tonks' pawn took his Bishop she said, "I want the white dress, you know."
Severus looked up, startled. "White dress?" he asked.
"I want the whole she-bang. I want a white dress, without a train, so I don't trip. I want my father walking me down the aisle. I want the reception to have a live band and really good food," Tonks said, smiling.
"Why are you telling me this?" Severus looked so confused that Tonks wanted to start laughing.
"It will be your wedding too. You should have some say in it," Tonks told him.
"My wedding?" Severus asked.
Tonks nodded. "I've decided that when Voldemort is defeated, we're getting married." She then stopped and put her hand over her mouth. "I just said his name," she whispered from behind her hand.
Severus looked at her with respect. "Good for you," he said quietly.
Tonks jumped out of her chair. "I said his name! I've never said Voldemort before in my entire life! And now I've said it twice!" She started doing a little dance around the room, knocking over a vase in the process.
"Sorry! A little excited over here!" she giggled, picking the vase back up. She went to sit back down at the chessboard, but Severus waved her off.
"There's no way for me to beat you," he said sadly. "Besides, weren't we in the middle of a marriage proposal?"
Tonks blushed, and helped Severus out of his chair. Together they walked to his small sofa. She made sure he was settled and then she dropped down on one knee before him. Taking his hand, she said, "Severus Snape, will you marry me?"
"Get up," Severus said.
"But it's tradition!" Tonks protested.
"It's an old-fashioned tradition, Dora. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're not an old-fashioned type of girl," Severus said.
Tonks jumped up and nestled herself into Severus' arms. "You haven't answered the question," she whispered into his ear.
"Yes, Dora. I will marry you," he said into her hair.
"I want babies eventually," Tonks told him.
"One thing at a time, woman."
88888
Two days later, Tonks had made her decision. The Dark Mark had burned for the past six hours, but Tonks had not answered the call. She was sure, like Narcissa had told her, that she would be found eventually.
She asked Professor Dumbledore and Severus to a meeting. Both looked a little perplexed to be asked so formally.
"I can no longer be a Death Eater," she announced.
As she expected, both Albus and Severus opened their mouths in protest. She looked at Severus. "Do you realize that it has been ten months since you said that you could be discovered any day now?"
Severus looked down. "I'm not saying this to be mean. I'm saying this because I am no longer needed in this capacity," Tonks told him.
Albus gave her a long look. "Nymphadora, I don't think you fully realize-"
She cut him off. "Please call me Tonks."
"Pardon?" Albus asked.
"Tonks. That is what I choose to be known as. If you respect me and my decisions, you'll call me Tonks."
Albus sighed, "Very well. Don't you see how helpful you've been?"
Tonks shook her head. "No, quite frankly, I don't. I earned no respect, because I was seen simply as Lucius Malfoy's plaything. The only real information I got was about the Ministry of Magic attack last week. And anyone could have gotten that information."
"Not just anyone," Severus told her. "We worked together, and we were able to save lives, Dora."
Tonks eyes flashed. "I'm not doing this anymore! I want to stop hating my reflection in the mirror. I want to be able to have some self-respect left. I'm telling you both now, I will never go to another meeting again."
"Then you'll be killed," Severus said softly. "They will find you someday. I know you can morph the mark away, but it is burned onto your skin."
"Is this really what you want, Tonks?" Albus asked. Tonks was so taken aback by Albus volunteering to say her name correctly that all she could do was nod. "I will accept whatever you decide to do."
"I don't want you to die, Dora," Severus said.
"I'm not going anywhere, Severus. But I need you both to watch this," Tonks said. She quickly stood up and placed a towel over a table. Albus and Severus both stood up and went to her side. From the parcel she had with her, she took out a very thick knife. Laying her left arm gently on the table, she picked up the knife.
With one smooth motion, she brought the knife down, severing her arm right above the Dark Mark. She heard Severus' gasps. Trying not to think about the pain, she dropped the knife and picked up her wand. She worked quickly. She used one charm to stop the bleeding and another to dull the pain. Then she pointed her wand at her listless arm on the table and said, "Scourgify!'" It disappeared.
She looked at her left arm, which now ended right below her elbow. "What are you doing?" Severus cried. Albus said nothing, just simply looked at her puzzled.
Tonks scrunched her nose and with all of her concentration, grew her left arm back. She wiggled the fingers, they worked fine. More importantly, she did not feel the Dark Mark burn. "Good as new," she whispered.
Albus sat back down behind his desk. "What did we just witness?"
"Two years ago I accidentally cut off two fingers when I was chopping some celery," Tonks started. "I discovered that I had the power to grow them back."
"What does this mean, Dora?" Severus asked.
"I am no longer a Death Eater. The Dark Mark is no longer a part of me," Tonks said.
"You don't feel it burn?" Severus asked.
She moved her new arm around. "No, I don't feel a thing. My old arm was tingling. I'm free."
88888
Later that evening, she and Severus were in the potions dungeon. Tonks had wanted to go to Hogsmeade, but Severus explained that it was final exam time. "I have no free time during final exams," he said.
"Can I help?" Tonks asked eagerly.
"Not really, I have to do the grading myself," he looked at her disappointed face, "I know. Let me get out my grade book. As I grade each potion, I'll tell you what each student gets and you can record it."
"Ooh…I'll get to know all the students grades!" Tonks said excitedly.
For the next two hours she watched him work. Every few minutes he would say a last name followed by a grade. Tonks was most interested when he reached the 6th years.
"Granger…this is an O, no doubt about it," He looked at Tonks. "Granger is incredibly talented. She will be able to do anything she wants out of Hogwarts."
"Did you just compliment a student, Professor Snape?" Tonks asked eagerly.
He looked at her. "No," he deadpanned. A few minutes later he said, "Longbottom. Something has happened to this boy. His work has really improved this year. He'll receive an A."
"That's improved?" Tonks asked.
Severus nodded. "Normally he receives a D."
"Potter. Hmm…I do believe this is an E. Granger must have helped him," Severus said under his breath.
"How are his lessons going?" Tonks asked.
"Occlumency? He's doing better. He still believes that the dreams are helpful. I don't think he realizes that the dreams only allow his mind to be opened up," Severus said.
He went back to his work. "Weasley. Granger must have helped him too, he gets an E," Severus said.
Quickly he went through the seventh years. When he was done, he finally stood up straight, wincing just for a moment in pain. Together they cleaned the table he had been working at.
Suddenly Tonks realized she couldn't take it any longer. Gently, she grabbed his robes and pulled him towards her. They kissed passionately for a few minutes. "We should go to my bedchamber," Severus whispered in her ear.
Tonks shook her head. "I need you now, Severus." She took her wand and placed a sealing and silencing charm on the dungeon.
"Now?" Severus asked, his eyes widening.
"Now," Tonks said kissing his neck. "You do realize it's been quite a while since we've been together?"
Instead of answering, Severus kissed her on the mouth. "No more talking," he told her.
Tonks laughed. She took off her robe and went to lay down on the table. He stopped her. "Dora, a minute please." He waved his wand, and conjured up a mattress pad on the table. "This will help," he whispered.
Tonks jumped on the table and patted it invitingly. "My, this is comfy."
Slowly, Severus raised himself on the table as well. He grabbed her by the waist and said, "I said no more talking."
They stopped talking. Gently, Severus started unbuttoning the blouse Tonks was wearing. After each button, he kissed the new skin that was revealed. Tonks sighed, and ran her fingers through his hair. When her shirt was off, Tonks lay on her back and Severus laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" Tonks asked.
"Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans?" Severus laughed, stroking her breast over her bra.
"Don't laugh! This is my favorite set of underwear, Mister," Tonks replied, then kissed him hungrily. "I thought we said no more talking!"
Tonks felt his thickness through his pants. Without even taking off his shirt, she took off his pants and started stroking. He groaned as she lowered her head and brought his shaft into her mouth. She teased him by only letting the tip enter her mouth. Using her tongue to create more pressure, she finally lowered her head and took him completely in her mouth. After a few minutes, she could tell he was close. She used her hand to help speed things along. Finally, she tasted the salty mixture as he groaned in pleasure.
Tonks brought her head up and smiled at him. He grabbed her quickly, and kissed her. Tonks backed away, "I need to do a breath cleaning spell," she said shyly. Quickly, she cast the charm and lay next to him and he kissed her again, a longer, more lingering kiss.
"I love you," he said, repositioning himself, so that he was on his back. "It's more comfortable this way," he whispered.
"Merlin, Severus," Tonks cried. "I haven't hurt you? Have I?"
Severus shook his head and grabbed his wand and conjured up a pillow. He rested his head against the pillow. He grinned at her, "I do believe I'm going to have to ask you to do most of the work tonight, Dora."
"Oh, really?" Tonks replied, and started taking off the rest of his clothes. She stood up on the ground and slowly unzipped her pants. She forgot to take her shoes off, and fell right on her bottom when she tried to take the pants off.
"Some seducer, I am!" she laughed. She looked up at Severus and saw that he was smiling too.
"I wouldn't have you any other way, Dora."
Tonks removed the offending shoes and stood up. Deciding to forgo sexiness, she quickly took off her bra and underwear. Getting back up on the table, she straddled Severus.
"I love you, too," she told him. She lowered her body on top of his shaft and slowly started moving. Tonks put her hands on his shoulders, and asked, "Will this hurt?"
Severus shook his head. "Just go slow, Dora."
Closing her eyes, she gently starting rocking. She felt Severus' hands exploring her body. Together, they worked towards their climax. At her moment of release, she looked straight into Severus' eyes. The love that was there almost brought tears to her eyes.
When they were finished, Tonks gently got off of Severus and lay in the crook of his arm. She found his wand and conjured up a blanket. She was going for a nice comfy down comforter, but since she used his wand, got a slightly musty crocheted afghan. It would work fine.