A/N: Sorry about the delay. Happy Holidays everyone. Please enjoy and don't forget to review.
Mysterious Hearts
~~~Holidays~~~
"So Athena, tell me again why Chloe isn't here?" Tonks asked as she, Caley and Athena were decorating her flat for the Christmas party.
"She is off in France celebrating with Dante's family," Athena said. Dante and Chloe had been dating for almost three years, but neither was taking the steps to ensure that they would be together forever. Unlike Tonks and Snape they were content in taking it slow.
"Those too are driving me mad," Tonks groaned, "you know and I know, hell even Caley knows, that they are made for each other."
"Tonks, not everyone is like you and Snape," Caley said carrying a tray of hot beverages.
"Thank Merlin for that," Athena laughed.
"How true," Nymphadora smiled.
"Speaking of Snape," Athena started, "he is coming tonight, right?"
"He said he would, so he had better," Tonks smirked her eyes glinting with a wicked gleam, "or else I have plans for him and he is not going to like them."
The other two women smiled and then made quick work of decorating the apartment. After about an hour of working the three women were finished decorating. After all it is not all that difficult when you know the right charms.
"Thanks for helping me," Tonks sighed as she sunk onto the large, soft couch.
"As payment, we think that you should treat us to a midday meal," Athena collapsed into a chair.
"Yes, Tonks, that would be an ample payment for this hard labor," Caley smiled.
"Of course, because flicking a wand is so very hard," said Tonks lazily twirling her wand. "Give me ten minutes and then I'll think about it."
"Fine," the two women sighed in unison. So the three witches lounged on the soft furniture. About fifteen minutes later Tonks rolled off of the couch and pushed her self up. Once she stood up she headed over towards the coat rack where her jacket was hanging.
"Well," she said looking over her shoulder, "care you coming or not?"
"YES!" said the other two women. Both looked at each other and quickly made their way over towards her.
At Hogwarts Severus was busy finishing up his term grading. He enjoyed having it finished before the rest of his collogues did. It made him feel good. He sighed as he heard someone knocking on his office door.
"Enter," he called; knowing already that it was Albus on the other side of the door.
"Severus," Albus said as he made himself home in the potions master's office.
"Yes, Albus," Severus asked as he placed his quill and parchment down on his desk.
"Will you be joining us in the great hall, before you retire to your party tonight?" Albus asked. He had been rather surprised when he himself had received an invitation from one Nymphadora Snape, and she enjoyed referring to herself. After further questioning on the matter Severus had informed him that this was an annual thing. That and Albus had better be there or there would be hell to pay next term.
"Yes," Severus told him, "I have to make sure that the little wretches don't do anything that is against the rules my last few hours here tonight."
"I do not believe that you need worry Severus," Albus said. Rising from his chair he nodded at the younger wizard, "I will see you at supper then."
"Yes, Albus," Severus said automatically as he returned to failing grading his students' essays. He looked over at his clock, four-thirty; he had a good hour and a half before dinner would be served.
He sighed and placed his papers on the desk and stood up and left his office. Severus walked to his lab to check on his potions. He frowned and pulled off his billowing robes. He placed them over his chair and wearing only black pants and a crisp white shirt he headed over to his storage cabinet and pulled out his stained dragon skin gloves. He strode back over to his worktable. He looked at the potion and frowned.
"Newly discovered potion, my arse," he muttered looking at the journal, "that is nothing but an old, unused invisibility potion. Bloody frauds."
Severus growled and grabbed a book from his shelves. He quickly located the potion in an old often on used tomb. Absently he tapped his quill on his chin while he thought. This potion was one that was never taught in schools because it was extremely similar to a poison. Student and incompetent potion brewers could easily stumble upon both while attempting to brew a simple aphrodisiac something that neither should be brewing. He shuddered at the thought of lustful, hormonal teenagers running around with love potions.
Severus bottled the potion and turned to an empty cauldron. He picked up a muggle notebook. He flipped it open to a page near the back. He quickly located his ingredients. He was attempting to improve the skele-grow potion something more fast acting, not so bad tasting, and not as painful. The taste of course was secondary. He knew he needed to get rid of the most, if not all of the powdered thorn of rose, and add some crushed stinging nettles instead. The only question he had was how much.
He carefully dropped two grams of stinging nettles into the potion. He had removed almost half of the five grams of thorns. He stirred the potion counterclockwise while he added the ingredient. He cursed as the potion began to bubble, first slowly but then at a rapid rate. He had no time to figure out a way to counter it. Quickly he grabbed his notebook to keep it safe and Severus swooped below his table as the potion blew up. Once he was sure it was safe he cautiously stood up careful not to touch anything. He growled at the burned out cauldron and with his wand he quickly disposed of the mess.
He looked up at his clock an hour had passed since he had begun. He had no time to try again, so he returned to his chambers gingerly carrying his singed robes. Any cloth the potion had come in contact with had burned. He dropped the smoldering robes on to a chair and headed off for a shower. After his shower he pulled on fresh robes, and headed up to the great hall.
The three women returned to Tonks ' flat around the same time that Severus was blowing up cauldrons. There the other two witches were supposedly helping Tonks finish preparing her hors d'oeuvres.
"Are you going to help me or not?" she demanded from the other two witches that were currently sipping wine.
"No," Athena smirked, "we are enjoying watching you work."
Severus flooed to his flat right after dinner. Nymphadora had told him that he and better be there or else. And he wasn't in the mood to find out what the or else was. Severus brushed off his clothes and walked into the kitchen. He leaded on the doorframe and watched his wife interact with her friends. He cleared his throat and waited for her to notice him.
"Severus," she said happily. She placed the sausage and crackers on a tray and wiping her hands on a towel she walked over to her husband. She kissed him softly on the lips knowing that he was uncomfortable with public displays.
"Hello Severus," chimed in the two other women.
"Ladies," Severus acknowledged them. He walked over to the tray that Tonks had just finished and took a piece of salami.
"SEVERUS," Tonks scolded him, "I just finished that tray!"
"Your point," he shrugged.
"Git," she muttered as he picked up the Daily Prophet and took it in the other room to read before their guests arrived. Most of the guests were friends and coworkers of Tonks. Severus had only invited Dumbledore and Mundungus Fletcher.
The party was scheduled to begin promptly at seven-thirty and at a quarter after Tonks began to orchestrate, with her wand of course, all the trays of food and drink and even the dishes into their living room. Carefully and with years of practice of playing hostess she landed everything in its proper place.
Guests started arriving and by eight the party was hopping. Tonks and Severus greeted their guests together. This was their first major appearance as husband and wife. Most of the guests were rather shocked at this, but quickly recovered and offered heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for their future.
Tonks kissed her husband on the cheek and went to talk with her friends; leaving Severus who was discussing potions with the ministry's magical law and regulation departments head potion master, and Albus Dumbledore. Tonks was checking on everything when she heard someone say her name.
"Nymphadora Snape, I presume."
"Yes," she said turning around and coming face to face with none other than Mundungus Fletcher, "Mr. Fletcher"
"Just 'Dung will do," he slurred taking another drink, "I hope you don't mind, but Snape invited me…at least I think he did, something about a party."
"I don't mind," she said smiling, so this was her husband's best friend, "Are you enjoying the party?"
"Its just lovely," he said blinking rapidly as he swayed slightly, "is it just me or is this room spinning?"
"Its just you," she said grabbling his arm to steady him, "would you like a seat."
"Yes," he said, "you know, I take it back."
"What?" she asked as helped him onto the couch.
"You don't look like a hippogriff." Tonks stared at him. He just shrugged at her, "sorry."
"No need," she said, "just rest here."
"My drink," he said holding out his hand. Tonks frowned but handed it to him anyways. It was empty. Fletcher tried to take a drink and frowned as he held the drink upside-down. Tonks just walked away.
"Happy Christmas Dora," Kingsley said pulling her into a large hug.
"Happy Christmas Kings," she smiled, "and don't call me Dora."
"You are no fun," he said, "I ran into your husband already, he is the tall, sarcastic, scowling one, right?"
"That would be my Severus."
"How is everything?"
"Just great," Tonks grinned, "everything is wonderful."
"Then I am happy for you," he said kissing her cheek. He looked around the room until his eyes stopped on Mad-eye Moody. He smiled, "have you told old Mad-eye yet?"
"No," Tonks frowned. What was Kingsley playing? Mad-eye was Tonks' mentor. Their relationship was very similar to Severus' with Albus. "You know as well as I do that he was on vacation."
"Told old mad-eye what," came a gravely voice behind her. Tonks gasped and turned to face the old auror, "you should be more aware of your surroundings Nymphadora."
"I know," she said, silently cursing Kingsley, this was not how she wanted to tell her mentor, "how was your vacation?"
"Bloody had to bring that up didn't you," he grumbled. Mad-eye had been forced to talk all of his vacation days because he had not used them in a ling time. Total he had around six months off of work. "Now what haven't you told me?"
"I got married," she said softly.
"When did this happen?" he asked. He did not remember her telling him about anything.
"Early September," she said.
"To whom?" he asked.
"Severus Snape."
"Snape," he hissed, grabbing her arm. She winced as he dragged her in to the bedroom and shut the door. "SEVERUS SNAPE."
"Yes, Severus Snape," she said sharply.
"Why?" he asked, how could such a promising witch marry such a man? Moody did not trust Severus Snape, he never had. Even though both were members of the order of the phoenix.
"Because we love each other," she said leaving no room for argument.
"But he…"
"Don't," she cut him off. "Alistair I love Severus, and he is trustworthy."
"He was a death eater."
"I know," she said, "Severus and I have talked about his past, "he also works for Albus Dumbledore. I am not asking you to like this, just accept that it is not going to change. Be happy for me."
"Fine," he grunted, looking at her. She seemed happier than he had remembered. Tonks hugged him. And then Severus poked his head into the room. Tonks smiled and held out her hand for him to take.
"Is everything alright?" he asked eyeing Moody warily.
"Just fine, love," she said, "You know Mad-eye."
"We met," Severus said cautiously extending his hand, "Good to see you again, Moody."
"Snape," Moody said shaking the offered hand. He held Severus gaze and hissed, "don't hurt her."
"I won't," Snape said.
To be continued…