Disclaimer: I dont 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 dont 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)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He couldn't believe he'd spent practically the whole Order Meeting staring at the chit! He'd not been this fascinated with anyone since well...Lily. And that was only because she'd actually stood up for him. But Tonks...Tonks hadn't stood up for him, she'd just stood up to him. Then he'd hurt her. He really was a bastard sometimes. And she'd been on his mind since then. During the Meeting, when he'd stood to give his report on Voldemort, he'd almost found himself saying Tonks instead. Thank Merlin he thought before he spoke!
Even after, when he normally left immediately, he found himself wanting to linger. Why? He didn't know. It was probably some looked over, much repressed teen-age part of him that wanted to make eyes at her.
Severus snorted.
The very idea of him...the greasy Potions Master...making eyes at someone was absurd! Especially someone so much younger than he was. He was old enough to be her father. 'Perhaps.' A frown creased his brow. Was he really? How old WAS the Metamorphmagus? She certainly acted young enough, but for all he knew she could be forty. 'Mm, not very likely since she just recently became an Auror.' That was true enough...but he was supposed to be getting ready for the upcoming school year!
Huffing in annoyance, he threw down his raven quill, and leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling. What was it Dumbledore had kept her behind to ask? Was he sending her on some special job? His figurative hackles rose at the idea of her being in danger, and as soon as he realized it, he huffed again. He just couldn't get the blasted chit off his mind!
It was probably because of the way she'd accepted his apology, making it seem like he was well...everyone else. Severus Snape was not just everyone else, or even someone else. No one who knew him would disagree with that particular statement. After all, who else had being a complete git down to such a fine art?
Aggravated at his thoughts, he pushed to his feet and strode from his office. He'd take a walk through school. Take some points off the students. That always made him feel better.
Then he remembered it was still summer.
"AARGH!" he burst out, nearly stomping his foot in frustration. A second later the Bloody Baron drifted down the hall towards him.
"Greetings, Severus," the baron said, his voice raspy and seemingly ill-used. "What is the problem, if I may enquire?"
Taking a few steadying breaths, Severus looked at the ghost, and said succinctly. "Women."
"Ah. Any particular woman? Someone I know?"
"Nymphadora Tonks. The Metamorphmagus."
"Our new defense teacher? I can see why she would be frustrating. Certainly not one of the more...subtle of the female species." Snape frowned.
"Defense teacher?" The baron looked faintly abashed.
"I suppose Dumbledore hasn't made the announcement yet. He has hired the girl as this years Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." A sympathetic look was given by the ghost. "I know you wished for the position, Severus. I am most sorry."
Snape just shook his head, and said impatiently. "It's not as if I had a chance of getting it. As long as I am a Death Eater, I'll not have a chance. Now, if you'll excuse me, Baron, I find myself wanting to locate Dumbledore and question him."
"Of course, of course." The Baron inclined his head and continued drifting down the hallway.
As usual, Dumbledore seemed to know he was coming before he even had a chance to knock on the door to his office. Indeed, he met him at the door with one of those knowing smiles. "Ah, Severus. Welcome. Most unexpected."
Snape barely resisted the urge to snort, and instead said silkily: "I can imagine, Albus." He stepped in when the elderly man stepped aside, and went to the seat in front of his desk, although he did not sit. "I heard you've hired Nymphadora Tonks to be the defense teacher this year?"
"Lemo-alright then. I did wonder when that news would get out. Generally before I announce it, at least half the school knows."
The Potions Master rolled his eyes. "It is the holidays, Albus. We don't have the usual Gryffindor gossips to spread every little secret." He crossed his arms, and looked at the Headmaster. "Voldemort will be most displeased I didn't get the position."
Dumbledore nodded. "Inform him that you did try, but I had already selected and made arrangements for Miss Tonks to begin teaching this year."
Uncrossing his arms, Severus leaned down, planting his hands on the desk, saying levelly: "And if he suggests I remove her?" The old man's eyes twinkled infuriatingly.
"It is amazing, is it not, how many teachers, male and female, we could go through without ever losing Miss Tonks?"
'You sly old coot!' Snape thought with an inward grin. Outwardly, he just stood upright again, arching an eyebrow. "Indeed. I am interested in seeing how Miss Tonks does dealing with these brats." 'There's that bloody twinkle again.' "Albus..." He said warningly.
"I just think it's nice to see two such wonderful people take an interest in each other."
"In each other?" he couldn't resist asking, although he could have stupefied himself afterward when Albus replied (with total honesty), "Of course. You are a most interesting person, Severus. Who could help it?"
Snape shook his head. "Completely bloody insane."
"I do try."
"I've got work to be doing," Snape said as he whirled on his heel, robes flaring out around him, and headed for the door. He stopped only when Albus called his name. "Yes, Headmaster?"
"Dinner tonight, Severus? It has been quite a while since our last chess match and talk."
'Barmy old man!' Snape snorted and exited the room.
Albus called down to arrange dinner with a grin.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Duck Plucks. Cockroach clusters. Fizzing Whizbees. Sugar quills! Acid Po-OH OPEN THE BLOODY HELL UP, YOU STUPID HUNK OF ROCK!" Snape rounded the corner to see a yellow-haired Tonks confronting the gargoyle in front of Albus' office.
"Problems, Miss Tonks?" She whirled to face him, and planted her hands on her hips.
"Yes! This blasted gargoyle won't open! I was supposed to meet Dumbles tonight for er...a welcoming dinner?"
"And he asked me to come for our usual dinner tonight," Snape sneered. "He does like to interfere.
Tonks giggled. "It's cute."
"Woman..."
"Ooh getting down to the real insults now, are we?"
"I- That wasn't an insult!" he said, flustered. She just grinned at him.
"I was teasing, Severus." Turning back to the gargoyle, she started again. "Pacifying Pacis? Snot Drops?-" Tonks halted when Severus said calmly.
"Droobles best." The gargoyle slid open, and as they stepped onto the revolving stairwell, they heard the door above them open. However, when they got up to the top, Dumbledore didn't greet them at the door, instead called.
"Come in, my friends!" Tonks laughed and Snape muttered something under his breath as they entered the room to find Dumbledore engaging in a game of Exploding Snap with a peculiarly dressed house elf, who was bouncing like he'd had a Springing Spell cast on him as cards exploded. They watched for a few moments while the game ended, and Dumbledore finally got around to turning his attention to them.
"Ah, Dobby, this is Nymphadora Tonks and Severus Snape. I'm sure you've heard of Severus." Dobby, wearing a bright hunter orange vest and purple polka-dotted shorts nodded wildly and then bowed so low his nose touched the ground before the two of them.
"Indeed HeadmasterSir, Dobby has served ProfessorSnapeSir many snacks! Hello ProfessorSnapeSir! NynniphadoraTonksMa'am!" Tonks smiled and extended a hand down to Dobby, who took it with wide eyes and after a moments consideration, kissed the back of it. "NynniphadoraTonksMa'am is treating Dobby like an equal!? Only HeadmasterDumbledoreSir and HarryPotterSir have treated Dobby thusly before! Dobby is honoured to meet Nynn-"
"Just Tonks is fine, Dobby," she broke in, still smiling. The elf nodded wildly, kissed the back of her hand two times in quick succession, and then bowed low again.
"Can Dobby be getting sirs and ma'am anything else?"
"Some mint humbugs, perhaps Dobby? Please," Tonks said, and after bowing low again, Dobby snapped his fingers and disappeared. No sooner had they been seated around a small dining table that had been transfigured from Albus' desk before Dobby reappeared with a small bowl of mints that he placed beside Tonks, who laughed and leaned over and kissing the eccentric elf on the forehead.
Dobby went beet-red and stammered his thanks and praise several times before he remembered how to disapparate and snapped his fingers.
END PART 3! (beta'd)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: I can't believe the nice responses I've been getting so far!
Thanks to everyone who's reviewed, and please, feel free to tell me if I've missed anything, or spelled something wrong...whatever. Only through input can I do a proper job :) Also: taking recommendations for scenes. If I use one you suggest, I'll credit you for it :)
Thanks to :DDrinki4, TeenTypist, and Ella Palladino for reviewing :)