Mysterious Hearts

Beliefs

Severus Snape didn't care for dragons; they served little purpose to him. They were loud and dangerous, and he found them irritating. He felt they were only useful in a potion or to make dragon hide gloves or other articles of clothing or possibly as the core of a wand. But he still found himself walking over there with Albus and Hagrid to see the beasts one evening after their arrival.

His wife had been busy, so when Hagrid knocked on his door Severus decided to take a walk with his friend. He should have realized that this was Hagrid's attempt at getting Snape and Dumbledore talking again. Hagrid had apparently forgotten that he and Albus were taking a walk to inspect the dragons that night.

Severus heaved a long-suffering sigh, and even though he and Albus were on speaking terms, it still had been rather tense, he decided that he had let Albus suffer long enough, and would finally forgive the old coot. The aforementioned remark once might have angered the headmaster, was overlooked when he examined the source and realized that it was the closest that he and Severus would get to their former peace. Leaving Hagrid to admire the dragons, the two wizards headed back to the castle.

"Severus," Albus said with a small smile, "I really am sorry for what I said."

"I suppose I am as well," Severus spat out. Albus chuckled at the pained look on the young man's face.

"Thank you, child," the old wizard said.

"Don't get emotional on me, old man," Severus glowered.

"Fine, have you and Nymphadora decided to come to the Ball?"

"She forced me into it," came his droll reply.

"She has that remarkable quality about her, doesn't she?"

"What?"

"Having you wrapped so tightly around that little finger of hers."

"She does not," Severus said ending the conversation, even though he knew that Albus was right.

Tonks was in and out of Hogwarts during the early months of the school year. She came around often to spend time with Severus, and occasionally have the rare conversation with Mad-eye Moody.

"Hey," she said coming into her husband's office one evening before the first task.

"Nymph," he said still focused on his potions notes.

"How are you?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What are you paranoid?" she giggled, "I just want to know how you are?"

"Fine," he said looking at her strangely.

"What have you been brewing lately?" she asked noticing the rather odd behavior.

"Nothing," he said, "why?"

"You have been acting strange lately," she told him as she settled into the chair opposite of him.

"My mind is rather preoccupied," he said, "what with Karkaroff and Moody being here."

"I can take your mind off of it," she flirted.

"I might have to take you up on that later," he said.

"So who ya pulling for in the tournament?"

"The dragon."

"All the dragons," she smirked.

"Well as a Hogwarts professor I am hoping that Diggory wins the tournament, but otherwise, yes, the dragons."

"You hate dragons, Severus."

"I also hate Potter. So it came down to a choice which I could stand to see win, and I had to decide on the dragon."

"I thought you promised Albus to protect the kid?"

"From You-know-who."

"You don't hate all animals do you?"

"Not quite, cats annoy me, dogs are only slightly less bothersome, birds squawk…"

"I won't tell Engelbert you said that," Tonks replied in defense of her owl.

"As I was saying, not all animals bother me."

"So then what is your favorite?"

"Crumple-Horned Snorckacks."

"They don't exist."

"You don't know that Nymph," Severus said "just because there is not document proof doesn't mean that they don't exist, besides there are uses for them in potions."

"Have you ever seen one?" she asked with a grin, which grew wider when her husband refused to answer. "You've seen one."

"Yes," he hissed glowering at her laughing face.

"Have you told anyone?"

"Only a few people, and only those who believe me."

"Like who?"

"Hagrid, Albus, and a young Ravenclaw, Luna Lovegood."

"I'm surprised you're not in the Quibbler."

"I made her promise not to tell," Severus said, "She is a brilliant child, a bit flighty perhaps, but nonetheless brilliant."

They sat there for a few more moments before a timid knocking on the office door interrupted their conversation. Tonks raised her eyebrows; you dared to bother Severus in the evenings?

"Enter," Severus said opening the door with his wand.

"Professor," Draco Malfoy said entering the room, "oh, hi Dora, here are the first year tests."

"Thank you Mr. Malfoy, fifteen points to Slytherin for proctoring and promptly returning the make-up exams."

"Thank you sir," Draco said as he placed the five exams on the desk. Snape had asked him to watch the first years, while the professor grappled with his own potions quandary. It required his full attention and he couldn't be bothered to worry about whining first years so he handed the task of to Draco because the boy was serving a detention anyway for chopping off half of Miss Abbott's hair while she slept in the library. Madame Pince took 30 points away because the resulting scream echoed through the library for nearly an hour.

"Goodnight professor, Dora," he said as he headed for the door.

"Night Draco," Tonks said with a grin.

"Oh Merlin," Draco said with a scrunched up face, when it finally dawned on him what the implications of his cousin being in Snape's office were. Tonks rolled her eyes as Severus glared.

"Oh, Mr. Malfoy," he said stopping the boy from leaving.

"Yes?"

"As your head of house it falls to me to request that you refrain from blackmailing the headmaster in the future."

"Yes sir," Draco said softly as he finally left.

"Those Malfoys," Tonks said with a grimace, "you know at least Draco has one thing playing for him in the future."

"What is that?"

"He's not his father."

"Thank Slytherin for that," Severus agreed.

"Sweetheart," Tonks said, "if we ever have children, lets not let the house elves raise them."

"Alright," Severus said, "may I ask why?"

"Lucius was raised by house elves as were my cousins Sirius and Regulus."

"I too spent a lot of time with our house elf," Severus added as an afterthought.

"You see my point."

Tonks wasn't able to make it to the first task, but she did get to hear all about it from Severus. True to his word Severus did cheer for Cedric, a student he did feel was worthy of the title champion, and for the dragon, because, well, quite frankly he was still a bastard.

Just to spite his mother, Severus forgot about her party. He did remember in enough time to send her a howler that she received during the party, to remind her that he was a happily married man and she would pay dearly if he ever felt that she was meddling in his marriage. It was worth the howler and subsequent visit he received.

To be continued…