A/N: I'm back for another promised chapter. It is the longest one yet! If there are any grammar mistakes, I will get to them. I read it through three times, but my beta isn't responding. We are finally to the good stuff (wink wink) this is the part where things start to get spicy! I hope you all are ready for this! I am so sorry for the forever wait. My three jobs are taking over my life! I will update and finish this story, but we got a lot more to come! Please follow if you are enjoying it because when I do update, you will know. Please favor and review! Reviews are what get me inspired to write more. Happy Reading and I hope you Enjoy!

Chapter 13- This Night Must End

Tonks made it back to the Three Broomsticks a little after two in the morning. She was utterly exhausted; however, she was wired mentally. Unable to process the events that transpired earlier, Tonks decided it was one of those nights to drink her some sanity instead of dwelling on crimpling thoughts.

The Three Broomsticks was slammed with many patrons. The little pub was always busy this time of night on the weekends. The recent darkness weakening the wizarding world made everyone uneasy at night. Witches and wizards seemed to need an escape as of late, and Hogsmeade Village was one of the few safe locations left even though an innocent student was attacked only a few hours ago. Tonks glanced around the pub before sitting down at the bar. As an auror, she was trained to scope out her surroundings just as Mad Eye taught her. "constant vigilance" she told herself with a smile. "One Firewhisky, please Merta, and make it a double." Rosemerta nodded in acknowledgement, and while she made Tonks' order, Tonks looked over at the patrons singing "This is the Night" by her favorite band, The Weird Sisters. When Rosemerta came back with Tonks' order, Tonks thought it strange that she didn't ask for money. Tonks thought that maybe Rosemerta thought she was staying longer and was keeping a tab.

While Tonks drank her drinks, she was entertained by a drunken singing group having the time of their lives. She couldn't help but envy the happiness and fun they were having. She thought about the times Sirius, Remus, and herself would get drunk at Grimmauld Place. They used to laugh until they passed out. Sirius would always tell the funniest stories about his Marauder pranks while Remus tried to hide his affection for her from Sirius. They would sneak around their passion and almost got caught on multiple occasions.

Tonks remembered the night of Sirius' death the most as it was probably the best memory she had of him.

*Flashback*

It was just past dusk at 12 Grimmauld Place, and Sirius was in the study. Tonks had just finished with work and walked in the door. Grimmauld place always looked melancholy, but Sirius' presence helped lighten the bleakness of the place.

She heard his voice call out to her in the distance, "Tonks is that you?" He knew it had to be her because Remus was already upstairs recovering from the full moon.

"Yes!" She answered while walking down the hallway. She turned the corner to the study entrance and made eye contact with him. His appearance was almost recovered from the twelve years he spent in Azkaban. She walked over to the sofa and sat down next to him.

He proclaimed while patting her knee. "I almost didn't think it was you."

"Why is that?"

"Well usually you make a lot of racket and wake up my wretched mother." He teased.

Tonks remarked, "If you would throw away that stupid troll leg, people wouldn't trip over it."

"You are the only person who has." He joked. Tonks rolled her eyes, and Sirius agreed. "I guess it can go in the bin first thing in the morning, it is a bit grotesque and not to mention ethnically insensitive."

Tonks nodded in agreement. "It really is." They both laughed. "How's Remus?" Tonks asked. Anytime she mentioned Remus, Sirius always gave her a sly look that made her fidgety. "What's with the third degree?"

"Oh dear cousin, you know I'm not naïve? I know there is something going on with my best mate. I don't think I have ever seen him this happy before."

"I have no idea what you're talking about. We are just friends."

"Whatever you say, Tonksie. I guess I'm just hearing things at night. You know this house might be big, but the walls are paper thin." Tonks' face was beat red. She was a trained auror and could play off anything, but the thought of Sirius overhearing Remus and her late night romps was just embarrassing. "And I thought having a werewolf in the house was noisy." He gave her a wink.

Tonks hit him on the arm and said, "Stop it! You're just stir crazy and putting too much stock into your delusions."

"That face told me everything I needed to know. I'm actually hurt that neither of you told me."

"I think it is more Remus than me. I honestly don't mind if everyone knows."

"I figured that. Remus is a complicated man. What I have learned about him is that I don't think he believes he deserves to be happy. He has let his condition get the best of him, and there will be times when he will try to push you away. DO NOT LET HIM! Remus is a great man and deserves everything in life, but his insecurities will be his downfall."

Tonks couldn't help but be cheeky. "So is this the, "he is my best friend. You hurt him, I hurt you," speech?"

Sirius chuckled. He placed his arm around her and continued. "I am so glad you both have found each other. You are just as stubborn to keep him in line, that's the Black side in you."

About that time, a silver doe bounced its way into the study. "Lily?" Sirius questioned shockingly, looking as though he had seen a ghost.

Snape's voice spoke out of the patronus. "Potter believes Sirius has been taken hostage by the Dark Lord. He must have found the link between their minds. Potter was caught by Umbridge trying to escape to the Department of Mysteries and is nowhere to be found."

"GO wake up Remus!" Sirius ordered Tonks.

After that, everything was a blur of chaos.

Back then she would have never traded those memories for anything, yet looking back at them now only sent pain to her heart. Sirius is dead, and Remus wanted nothing to do with her, so now she just wished she could forget all the memoires. Thinking about that particular memory did solve a mystery in her mind. Snape's lover was in fact Lily Potter, and his patronus was the same as hers. The look on Sirius face when the silver doe pranced its way through the study that night was proof. Everything Snape told her about her patronus being weak was because he was also talking about himself. No wonder everyone believed him to be cold and heartless. Tonks knew exactly how he felt and the soreness he holds under that cold exterior.

A tear escaped down her cheek as she stood up getting out her wallet. She wiped her face quickly before anyone noticed and requested, "Alright Merta, what's my damage?"

"Oh I forgot to tell you, it's paid for." Merta stated nonchalantly while tending to other patrons.

Shockingly Tonks responds, "Paid! By Whom?" Tonks looked around in confusion. She didn't see anyone she knew in the pub, and she knew Snape was in his chambers. She had no idea who it could be. Tonks looked back at Rosemerta in utter confusion, and Merta nods in the direction of a heavy set gentleman in the back of the Three Broomsticks. About that time, the gentleman sat down and revealed Remus Lupin.

Tonks and Remus made brief eye contact, and he noticed her disappointment. Overwhelmed with anger and panic, Tonks fled to her room to quickly get away from him. Noticing Tonks abrupt dismissal, Lupin jumped out of his seat and followed after her. Tonks barely made it to her room and slammed the door before Remus could stop her. Out of breath, Tonks leaned her back against the door and waited for Remus to get the courage to speak.

Remus slowly approached the door thinking about choosing his next words carefully. He felt absolutely terrible about his actions during the Order meeting earlier. While resting his head on the door, he spoke calmly, "Dora… I know I should not be here… I… I came here to… I'm sorry…. I'm so sorry." Tonks heard the sincerity and sorrow in his voice, but she still kept the door shut. She was trying hard to hold back the tears from the pain. It took everything in her power to not open the door, embrace him, and forgive him for all the pain he caused her.

Remus continued to confess, "Seeing you storm off… avoiding me eariler…it killed me… I felt like dirt." He paused for a few seconds holding back the pain. Tonks knew because she eavesdropped on Remus and Snape's conversation. "Look, I know it was completely inappropriate to touch you during the meeting. And I know I shouldn't be here now, but I had to see you. I know it is extremely selfish of me" trailing off in frustration, he hits his head on the door as he spoke "But damn, Dora! You don't understand how hard it was to be so close to you and not be able to touch you."

Fury was all Tonks could muster. How dare Remus tell her that she didn't understand what that felt like. Not being able to hold the fury back any longer, she opened the door calmly. The type of anger where the person is peacefully unpredictable was pulsing through her.

She saw how much of a mess Remus was, and said coolly, "That's where you're wrong Remus… I know exactly how it feels. In fact, I know how it feels to be unloved. I know how it feels to be rejected, miserable, and to not be able to embrace the person that can cure all my heartache and agony."

"That's not fair, Dora. You know exactly why I ended matters between us."

"No, what's not fair is that you think can walk back into my life after months of me trying to find a way to cope with losing you and think "I'm sorry" is going to fix everything."

Remus had never felt so low and agreed. "You're right, I was just being selfish. I lost control and got jealous."

"Jealous? Of Whom?" Tonks had no idea what he was talking about.

"Snape. When I ended relations with you, I wanted you to find someone young and whole not as old as me and just as broken. He is a Death Eater for Merlin's sake!"

Tonks was speechless. She was stunned but knew she had to clarify. "There is nothing going on between Severus and me, and if there was, it would be none of your business. You dumped me, destroyed me, you do not get to choose who I date."

"I know it's insane. I don't know what I was thinking. I guess it is because he gets to be around you and make you smile." Tonks recalled during the meeting when Snape and her exchanged looks about how she got into the castle. That one little smile set him off like a jealous, hormone ridden teenager.

"Make me smile? Remus you really have lost your mind." Tonks rolled her eyes with a smirk. She couldn't help but love seeing him jealous and upset. It just proved that he did still care about her. What Tonks didn't know was that people always seem to eat lies when their hearts are famished.

"I have." Remus couldn't stop himself. Remus placed his hand on her cheek softly and caressed her cheek with his fingers.

Tonks was overwhelmed with passion and seductively closed the gap between them and brought her lips close to his, the temptation weakening both of them.

"I want you to know that you will never be unloved." Remus whispered.

"Why is that?" Tonks asked teasingly. Tonks knew this was it! The pain was soon to be over. She knew Remus was about to crack all because Snape made her smile.

"Because I will never stop loving you." Remus replied. Her heart was about to lift out of her chest and float away. Tonks could feel Remus lips very close to hers and she closed her eyes just waiting for the tender touch of his lips. "I have to do right by you, and this is why I must do this to you now before I can't stop myself." Remus pulled away stealthily and turned around in a hurry. Tonks opened her eyes and saw Remus' back toward her walking down the hallway hurriedly.

"REMUS! Please don't do this to me again!" she pleaded in panic. She was a pawn in his game where he already had the upper hand. She couldn't help but hate him.

Remus ignored her and kept walking. Tonks did not chase after him, in fact, she didn't even shed a tear. Her brain was full of chaos, but her body was calm. It was like her rage was painfully trying to scratch its way through her skin, but she didn't flinch at the discomfort. She didn't know if it was her rebellious nature or what, but her feet lead her to a place she never would've thought existed in her subconscious.

Tonks was standing outside a large wooden door and knocked. A moment later, she was greeted by a surprised Severus Snape. He moved aside welcoming her in. "I guess you couldn't sleep?" Snape asked casually, trying to help aid the awkwardness.

"Something like that." Tonks responded. She walked into the room removing her cloak.

Snape was a bit put off by her behavior. He decided to turn around and sort through the books he was researching. He picked up the books he wanted her to look through and explained, "Now, here are some of the books I've pulled from the library. If you could just read through…" Snape continued to explain, but Tonks was not listening. She didn't know what led her to his chambers; however, she knew it was not for research. Tonks needed a temporary distraction, and something led her to Snape's chambers of all places.

She walked toward Snape, and he turned around with the books intended for her in his hands. Once Snape made eye contact with Tonks, something seemed peculiar. Snape stopped talking immediately, and tilted his head to the right with his eyes squinted and asked, "Nymphadora, are you even paying attention." Tonks shook her head no, and coiled her fingers around the books in his hands. Snape argued, "Well at least you haven't changed. You're the same little girl sitting in my class daydreaming and ignoring vital information. If you're not going to listen, Nymphadora, why are you even here?"

Tonks placed the books on the end table by the couch, and Snape was baffled by her actions. He knew something was off with Tonks, and she wasn't in her right mind. Before he could muster up what he was going to say to her, she closed small gap between them. Snape knew what was about to happen and opened his mouth to object when Tonks put her hand up stopping him from continuing.

"Please" she pleaded desperately, "I need this tonight,"

Tonks placed her lips upon his slowly yet forcefully. Snape couldn't help himself and kissed her back. It has been too long since both of them felt wanted, desired even. Tonks took control naturally and guided him to sit on the couch, straddling him without breaking their osculation. Snape placed his hands on Tonks' hips and lightly caressed the exposed skin at her jean line. Pleasure overtook her, and she began to trail her kisses down his neck.

Once their lips separated, Snape opened his eyes and realized what was happening. Before he could pull away from her embrace, Tonks placed a few kisses on his neck. Even though he felt uneasy about what was happening, Snape couldn't help but give in. She began running her fingers through his black hair and her lips trailed to his collar bone. A soft moan escaped his lips, "Ummm…Nmphadora." Snape was trying to stop this from escalating; he just couldn't find the words or strength. He was hypnotized in lust. Tonks ignored him and continued. She placed her fingers on the top button of his shirt and unbuttoned it, kissing the new exposed skin. When she unbuttoned the second button, he snapped out of his drunken stupor. "Nymphadora, we can't."

Tonks didn't hesitate; she now unbuttoned his third button. "Shhhh…" she placed her index finger over his lips and continued.

While she trailed her lips down his chest more and more, he snapped completely out of his seduced daze and demanded, "That is enough. This is absurd." He grabbed her forcefully and pulled her off of him. ""We are both knackered, and this is exceedingly inappropriate and unethical."

"Inappropriate…Unethical? How so you're not my professor anymore?" She looked at him with agitation and misperception.

Snape couldn't believe that Tonks didn't see the flaw in pursuing this. "Come on, you know as well as I why this cannot happen."

"Actually I don't. Is it my age? My looks? My blood status?" Tonks was out of her right mind to the point where she was just coming up with random ideas in her head.

"Do you really think those things matter to me?" Snape seemed hurt by her accusations. Did she really think this low of him? He thought.

"Well something does or you would've shagged me by now!" The look on Snape's face was priceless. He could not believe what he was hearing. "Please tell me you have had sex before."

Looking at Tonks like she was a simpleton, he knew she had to be kidding. "Really?" he questioned.

"I mean…no one ever sees you with anyone."

"Just because I'm a private person doesn't mean...i cannot believe I'm about to tell you this. Of course I have, not that it is any of your business!"

"Look, all I need is a distraction, and I'm sure you need to release some built up aggression. That's all this will be." She placed her hands on his trousers and was about to unbutton them when Snape grabbed her hand.

"If only it were that easy." He was stern.

Tonks was annoyed. She couldn't believe that a man would ever pass on the opportunity to have sex. "Why does everything have to be so complex with you?"

"Because Nymphadora, I'm not him." Snape revealed honestly.

"And I'm not her." She snapped back at him.

"Exactly! It doesn't solve anything. It only makes matters worse. We will never be able to fill the permanent void they have left in our lives."

She pleaded, "Why do they get to come out on top and leave us to suffer?"

"Because life is worth nothing without the one you love, and they did not love us enough to stay." Snape sat on the couch next to Tonks and tried to reason with her. He needed to get through to her that the path she is on will only make things worse.

"Can we not at least try to fill the void?" Tonks begged desperately.

"Trust me, I have. You cannot let loneliness drive you into the arms of someone you know you don't belong with. Please learn from my many mistakes and go." He didn't want to turn her away, but he knew that her staying around would just make things harder for the both of them.

The aching was evident in her voice. Snape couldn't help but feel for her. He knew exactly how she felt, and he knew that she would try to bury herself in someone else. In all honesty, it does help a person distract themselves from the pain; however, the consequence is becoming a numb, resentful person in return. He was walking proof of the result. "There has got to be a way to get through this?" she sobbed.

"I'm afraid there's not." Tonks not liking his answer turned around calmly and grabbed her cloak. While walking toward the door, Snape apologized, "Nymphadora, I'm sorry I am no help to you."

"Save it! I've had enough fake apologies from disappointing men for a lifetime." She left Snape's chambers. Once she was at a good distance away, she knelt down on the cobblestone floor and broke down. She had been strong the entire day and night and couldn't take anymore. Tonks just let it all come crashing down in the halls of a place she once called home.

A/N: Please follow, favor, and review for my updates! especially if you want more soon