A/N: Have to say that PoA was my favorite of the movies so far!! Movie Snape, Fred, George, Sirius (though dirty), Remus (even w/ mustache), Ron were wonderful!

Mysterious Hearts

Rivals

"So married life, Severus," Remus said sitting down opposite of the potions master, "I can honestly say that I never thought that it would happen to you."

"Why ever not, Lupin," Snape asked distain clear in his voice.

"I never thought you would find someone willing to marry you," he taunted with a small smile.

"Apparently I did."

"I see that," commented Remus, "so what's wrong with her?"

"What are you implying?"

"No woman in her right mind, you consent to marrying you," Remus told Snape, "is she crazy?"

"She is not."

"Something must be wrong."

"There is nothing wrong with my wife," said Snape through clenched teeth.

"Was it arranged, and the poor woman had to marry you."

"Our marriage was not arranged," Severus snarled, "In fact it was she who initiated our relationship."

"Still, I don't believe it, old Snape got married," Remus said with a smirk, "However she is rather cute."

Snape bared his teeth at the werewolf, "Just what are you playing at?"

"Nothing," Lupin said innocently.

"I have noticed that you are still single," Snape sneered, "what happen, couldn't find a canine lover?"

"Funny Snape," Lupin scowled, "I am merely playing the field and biding my time."

"Well, if you can only see a woman for three weeks, it might be hard to find someone willing to put up with an animal such as yourself." Severus insulted the other, "I would like to get this meeting done as soon as possible," snapped Snape returning to business.

"I would have to concur. I have better things to do than trade insults with a Slytherin," Lupin said and the two former classmates hammered out the kinks in the when and how Lupin would receive his potion. They went over the effects of the potion, how often it needed to be taken. Severus was thankful when the meeting was over. Snape pointed Lupin to the door and returned to his rooms for a drink and then he checked the clock and headed off to his lab. He was trying to decide which potions to teach to his fifth, sixth, and seventh year classes.

Tonks entered The Three Broomsticks about a week in to the school year. She was meeting Snape there and as she walked in to the pub her eyes narrowed when she saw Rosmerta fluttering around the booth that Severus was sitting in. Tonks strode purposefully over glaring at the barmaid.

"I'll have a butter beer," she said and sat down quickly almost on top of her husband. Snape tried to hold back a self-satisfied smirk.

"Get jealous often, Nymph," he asked.

"Oh hush," chided Tonks, "I am not jealous of that… that witch."

"If you say so." Tonks glared at him because she could hear the smirk in his voice.

"Why are there dementors at every entrance to Hogwarts?" Tonks asked trying to change the subject. It worked. Severus took a moment to think about the dementors. He shuddered as they always brought back horrible memories of his childhood, school years, death eaters and time in Azkaban.

"To locate Sirius Black," he said finally; spitting out the name of the convict.

"Should they really be at a school," Tonks questioned, "after all they are one of the most foul things in the world."

"Yes, they are," replied Snape; he knew all too well.

"Are you alright with them there," she asked worried for her husband's sanity, "after all a lot of your memories are dark."

"I can summon a patronus," he told her. Tonks smiled.

"Good," she said feeling better about the situation, "might I ask what form your patronus takes."

"I can tell you that my chosen memory has spiky hair." Severus pressed a kiss to Tonks' temple. They turned the conversation to less depressing topics. Such as his being teased by Remus Lupin, and Harry Potter blowing his aunt up.

Lupin hadn't dropped it yet. He was still trying to figure out what could possibly be wrong with her. And he adamantly refused to believe that she had asked Snape first.

After their meal Severus and his wife walked back to the castle. It was a nice Saturday and Severus was looking forward to a nice quiet weekend. Tonks pulled her cloak tight about her and snuggled under Severus' arm as they entered the grounds.

He still had some time before the wolfsbane potion would be needed so he could work on it. Tonks took some of her paper work into his office while he worked in the adjoining lab.

A few hours later Severus was still brewing potions. Tonks had long since finished working and realizing that they had missed dinner called for one of the house elves. She looked at the strangely dressed elf and smiled. This must be Dobby. Severus had told her about Dobby.

She smiled and thanked Dobby for the food. Since it was late she ate some of the food and prepared for bed. She checked her watch an hour later and frowned when she realized that Severus was still in his lab and probably had not touched the plate of food she had taken to him. She pulled on one of his larger shirts over her tank top and boxers and walked to his lab. She stood in the doorway and cleared her throat.

"Are you coming to bed," she asked as he turned sharply at the sound of her voice.

"Pardon," he asked not realizing just how long he had been here.

"Your food is cold," she said pointing to the plate that she had left there.

"I did not see it," Severus said as he finished putting his things away. He grabbed the sandwich off of the plate and began to eat it as he followed Tonks back to their bedroom.

Tonks pushed the covers off the bed and grabbed her book. She continued to read as Severus prepared for bed. Once he joined her in the large bed, she put the book down on the nightstand and snuggled in next to her husband.

"Want to try again?" she asked with a wink and a smile.

"Anytime, love," said Snape before kissing her lips tenderly.

To be continued…

A/N: yes, they are still trying for a baby. But I am not sure how that will play out yet, or when.