Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I eat dairy otter. Also, I do not own the chapter title which is from the song "Thanks a Lot," by 3rd Eye Blind.

Chapter 18: And I Slit the Throat of Your Confidence

After the first song, Tonks was passed around the Death Eaters like a mildly amusing plaything. Her uncle, Lucius Malfoy, sneered at her. Her uncle, Roldolphus Lestrange, although polite, mocked her. Gerald Gliffton leered at her. Macnair came mere inches from getting a good smack upside the head. Most of the Death Eaters were just plain nasty to her. The women ridiculed her as well, but not as directly, but she could hear their whispers as she passed.

If Tonks had had her wand and had not been under the influence of Snape's potion, she would have hexed every single one of them. Then she would have stuffed them all into dresses that matched hers and sent them to Azkaban, to live in those dresses, haunted by dementors, for all of eternity. She cursed Snape once again for ruining her sweet plans of vengeance.

She was currently dancing with Aldon Crabbe. Although bulky and brute, he was only slightly taller than her. She winced at his breath, which was nearly as foul as Wormtail's. She tried willing her knee to jerk up in a certain place, as his hands slid down her waist, but the potion would not allow her.

"Watch your bloody—" started Tonks heatedly, but luckily she was saved and interrupted by Draco coming up.

"Mr. Crabbe, my father requests your presence," said Draco.

As Crabbe left, Tonks wanted to hug Draco. "Thank you," she whispered.

"No one deserves that punishment," said Draco coolly. "I would also watch out for Gliffton, although, I am sure you already know that, Marcellus and Cather."

"I still hold good on that offer, Draco. Together we can get you a pardon," said Tonks, making sure that no one was listening.

"You can't if you're dead," said Draco wandering off. Tonks was not sure if that was his way of dismissal or his way of telling her to not get killed. She decided on the latter just to make herself feel better. Despite the odds, she trusted Draco. Sure, he was icy and had not given any real evidence that he wanted reform, but Tonks could just tell with him. He was not who he pretended to be.

She next found herself being approached by whom she figured to be Cather. He wasn't quite as bad as Crabbe; he vaguely reminded Tonks of a crude drunkard, which she thought might have been true. Yet, Marcellus, who came up later, was worse than she had thought. Draco had been right to tell her to watch out for him. She had just about danced with every male in the room and he had to be the worst. His boorish innuendo made her cringe. When he started moving his hands in inappropriate areas, she became angry.

Since she could not physically do anything to stop him, she let out all her anger vocally. "Are you blind or do I look like a piece of meat to you? Get your bloody hands off—"

Tonks was once again cut off. Snape had come over before she could cause a scene.

"Marcus, must I remind you that Miss Tonks is a guest, and therefore should be treated accordingly. The Dark Lord needs to speak with you," said Snape indifferently, but Tonks thought she saw a strange expression in his eyes. Perhaps anger or annoyance?

Tonks let out a breath as Marcellus walked away. "Afraid that I would cause a scene, Snape?"

"I would have been surprised if you didn't," he said, not at all unkindly. "You can rarely help yourself."

Tonks glared. "I would think that being mocked and fondled in such a fashion would constitute a reason."

"You have no appreciation for finer details."

"I have no appreciation for evil scum."

"You don't know evil."

"Don't I?"

"No," said Snape taking her waist and hand and leading her in a waltz.

"I did not know you danced."

"All that you don't know may surprise you. It is a formality I normally try to avoid. Unfortunately, I am under orders."

Tonks did not like this. Warmth was spreading up her body from the point in which Snape's hand contacted her waist. She felt as that, in this somewhat pleasant conversation, he mocked even more than the rest. The light from candles danced in his dark eyes. She was hypnotized.

It was pain. She was not sure what was happening. She was devoid of all feelings except pain and fear, which she didn't seem to be able to express. All she could do was dance, one two three, looking into those black, emotionless eyes. Something nudged her ankle. She managed to tear her eyes away to see a large snake circling her. Whispers echoed in her mind of voices she couldn't quite hear.

The enemy had launched themselves into her. She could not get them out. She looked back to Snape, panic in her eyes. Was she imagining things, or did he look slightly concerned? No, he couldn't, he wouldn't let his mask slip in front of Voldemort. Her thoughts raced. Wormtail was grinning. Voldemort's eyes flashed with amusement. The whole world has seemed to stop except for her and Snape.

She knew it then. Her heart raced as them music ended, but they continued the three count steps. She knew that it was coming; she had known since the beginning. It was starting. There was nothing she could do.

The play had ended and now the real fun would begin.

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A/N: A quicker update, but a shorter chapter.This is more of a transition chapter.I do not know when I will get to the next chapter, but I will try to make it soon. Thank you to everyone for reading and everyone for reviewing. Reviews are like little pieces of sunshine that brighten my day.

---Perplexity

darkmarkgirl--Thank you, and I must say that I had never read a Tonks/Snape fiction until after I started writing this.

WAYAMY27NARF--I know I haven't really given any hints to where this story is going. This truth is, I have not clue where its going either. Either way, thank you.

herholiness--Good to know that the ball thing isn't overplayed. I feel for many types of stories balls are overplayed, though. Yet, in this story it is meant to serve a mostly non-romantic purpose, which I have rarely seen.