Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this fic, nor Hogwarts (well, who in my mind is a character). JK Rowling does. She and Warner brothers and whoever else has any rights to Harry Potter books. This is not intended for profit, only for fun, and I in no way claim to be talented.

Character Pairings: Severus Snape/Nymphadora Tonks

Warnings: Mild use of language, adult situations, possible slight ooc (though I try desperately to avoid that)

This contains no overly complex plot, and is written mainly to make people smile while hopefully avoiding being overly cheesy although I do NOT mind cheesy, so...yeah

A/N: I grew fascinated with (after reading several that made me shudder) the idea of if a Snape-Tonks romance could be pulled off even halfway believably, without going horribly ooc on the characters or making it gag-a-maggot sweet. I do not know for sure if everything is going to work out in the end, it may not do so. Keeps it interesting for me. If you spot any errors in any of the chapters, please leave them in a review so I can correct them (thanks to my beta for suggesting this--revised note May 9,2004)

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"Miss Tonks, if you would please stay for a moment, I have something I need to discuss with you," Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry called out and his eyes twinkled madly when Tonks froze with one foot lifted for another step, then whirled toward him.

He almost smiled when she went off-balance and he saw the concerned look Severus gave her, one of his hands twitching as though he wanted to grab her. The Potions Master had been watching the Metamorphmagus nearly the whole meeting, except when it was time to give his report. As a consequence he had missed the varied looks being shot his way. Not completely missed them, Dumbledore believed, but Severus was stubborn. When he wanted to focus something, he did it fully. Discreetly, of course, but fully nonetheless.

Tonks didn't fall though, although it was a bit of a trick to get her balance corrected, and as soon as she was on "firm footing" she bound over to the Headmaster. "Whatcha need?"

He held up a hand to silence her until all the Order members, Severus last, were out of the kitchen. Then he lowered his hand and smiled at her. "As you know, we have a bit of trouble keeping professors for our Defence Against the Dark Arts position..."

She snorted. "Understatement."

He chuckled. "Mm, indeed, Miss Tonks. Indeed. Now, as I was saying- I've yet to fill that position for this year, and was wondering if perhaps I might persuade you to take the job. Not a life-long commitment...we'll just see if this year works out, and go from there. How does that sound?"

Tonks eyes immediately brightened, and she hoisted herself up on the kitchen table near Dumbledore, legs swinging restlessly. He could see her mind working, although he hesitated to use Legilimency, and wasn't surprised when she opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again, and then said super-sweet and innocently. "Of course, Headmaster. I'd be delighted to take the job."

'Surprised, no. A little worried? Yes.' "Now, Miss Tonks, please remember that you cannot use most of the stronger spells you know against students. Even ones like...Mister Malfoy."

Tonks smirked. "Of course! I'd never drrream of using some of the stronger ones I know against a student..." 'But I can teach them to the DA so the DA can use them. Plus, he said nothing about using what I know on some of the teachers...'

Dumbledore shook his head lightly and got to his feet, extending a hand towards Tonks. "You will be paid, of course, the amount you earn as an Auror, plus a bit more for expenses. Welcome to Hogwarts, Professor Tonks."

The "meeting" she'd had with Severus earlier came back to her, and this caused her to laugh in delight. "Hah! Now I can take points off anyone that calls me N...well, anything other than Professor Tonks!" She shook Dumbledore's hand firmly, and slid off the edge of the table. "S'at all?"

"That's all."

"YES!" The young woman punched her fist in the air, and exited the kitchen at a near run.

Moments later, as Dumbledore was exiting the kitchen, and had just started to say something to Molly Weasley, a "TONKS! GERROFF ME!" drifted down the stairs. It was shortly followed by, "DADA TEACHER? EXCELLENT!" "MALFOY DOESN'T STAND A CHANCE!"

Silence fell in the living room for a moment, where the Order Members who had not left yet were congregated. Dumbledore smiled at Molly, and said: "It is a good thing, I believe, that Severus wasn't here to hear that particular comment."

Chuckles all around broke the silence.

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As soon as Tonks had left the room where she'd pounced on Ron and Harry and Hermione each in turn, the Trio turned to each other and shared identical grins. "This is awesome!" Ron exclaimed in a fierce whisper, and Harry and Hermione both nodded. "The things we'll be able to get away with..." he continued on in a dreamy voice, that ended on a yelp as Hermione slapped him on the back of the head. "What'd you do that for?" the redhead asked indignantly.

Harry rolled his eyes, and answered before Hermione had a chance. "Because Ron, we shouldn't take advantage of a teacher. And I say that Professor Dumbledore has already instructed Tonks upon how to act."

Hermione smiled at Harry, pleased that he was thinking logically. Ron, however, was a different story. "Correct. Besides, I should think that after...her... last year, that this should seem like a relief. Being able to practice spells without having to be in a DA meeting...speaking of which-" She eyed The-Boy-Who-Lived. "Are you going to reform the DA this year, Harry?"

He shrugged. "Well, since we've actually got a decent defense..." he stopped at the calculating look on Hermione's face. "What's wrong?"

Looking reluctant to speak, Hermione said slowly. "It's great that Tonks is our new teacher, but...well-" She sighed. "It's Tonks. She means well, and she does know a lot of spells undoubtedly...but I think we should keep the DA open as a..." the bushy haired girl shifted uncomfortably, and then quickly finished, "as a group study type thing. So that we can practice and really get to understand the spells that she teaches us!"

Ron's ears turned red and he opened his mouth to say something angrily, but then realization sunk in and he nodded. "As much as I hate to admit it...'Mione's right, Harry."

"Alright," Harry agreed after a moment, "but only on the condition that Tonks knows upfront that we're reforming the DA." He looked at his two best friends, and when they both nodded, he grinned. "So-"

Two loud POPs! sounded near them, and within the second it seemed, Harry had his wand out and pointed straight at the two who'd apparated into the room before he even realized who it was. "Blimey, Harry. You're downright jumpy," said Fred Weasley. George nodded in agreement.

"Why one would even think you..."

"have a Dark Lord or something after you..."

"Oh wait, you DO have a Dark Lord after you!"

"So that's alright then!" they finished together, and turned their attention to their younger brother Ron. "We might have heard..."

"a little birdie..."

"whispering sweetly in our ears..."

"or maybe we just happened to look in the doorway..."

"Yes, maybe you're right, Forge."

"I know I am, Gred! Anyways...we saw your ears get red at the slight..."

"insult to Tonks...and just thought we'd say..."

Here both Twins yelled at the top of their lungs. "WE THINK ITS SWEEET ICKLE RONNIEKINS HAS A CRUSH ON OUR TONKSY!"

Ron lunged at them, but they both apparated from the room before he could reach them. "Kill...twins...murder...crush...no...Tonks...argh!"

Harry was overcome with laughter, so it was Hermione who patted Ron on the arm and said consolingly: "Calm down. I'm sure no one believes that. The twins are always saying something to try to embarrass someone."

"She's probably right, Ron, but..." Harry's eyes sparkled with laughter, something seen too rarely these days. It was the only thing that kept Ron from lunging at him as he said: "Does ickle Ronniekins have a crush on Tonksy?"

"HARRY!"

END PART 2!! (Beta'd)

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Authors Note:

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