Chapter Eighteen – Birthday Time

The next day Tonks woke up in a fowl mood. Severus had left the bedchamber without waking her up. He had to work with some students the night before so she only got a good night peck before he fell dead asleep.

Her stomach was rumbling. Quickly she dressed and headed towards the kitchen, to get some breakfast before she met with Albus. As she walked, she saw a girl wiping her eyes. To her surprise, it was Nata.

"Nata!" Tonks cried. "Are you all right?"

Nata looked up guiltily, realizing who was speaking. "I can't change back," she whispered. "It hurts and I can't change back!"

Tonks closed her eyes and remembered one of her worst days as a metamorph. She had been only fifteen, and tried to grow taller. She had grown eight inches in the matter of a few seconds which she learned was too fast. Extreme morphs take time for the body to process.

There was an empty classroom nearby. She took Nata by the hand and led her inside. "Look at me, Nata," Tonks said gently. Nata looked up, tears still in her eyes. "Take three really deep breaths and try to relax."

Nata took one deep breath, and then hiccupped, causing her breathing to get shallow. Tonks realized that Nata was terrified that she wouldn't be able to change back. Tonks looked her over quickly to see what she had changed. It looked like she extended the length of her arms.

"Keep trying to take a deep breath," Tonks repeated. Nata complied, and after three short breaths was finally able to breath normally.

"Big breath now, sweetie," Tonks said softly, rubbing the young Hufflepuff on the back. Nata was finally calm.

"Now scrunch your face up with me," Tonks told her. Together, they scrunched up their faces. "Think about what you want to change. Think about how you normally look."

A moment later, Tonks watched Nata's arms go back to their correct length. "Oh thank goodness!" Nata cried.

Tonks smiled as Nata gave her a hug. "Thank you so much! I thought I was going to have monster arms forever."

Tonks started laughing. "Monster arms, I like that," she giggled. Then it dawned on her. "Aren't you supposed to be in class right now?"

Nata nodded. "I should be in Potions. I couldn't bear to go there and have Professor Snape make fun of me."

"Well, you better go now," Tonks said seriously. She had an idea. She searched the pocket of her robe and took out a pen and a notepad. Tonks wrote a quick tardy pass signed by Professor Tonks. Tonks had no idea if that would make him laugh or get angry. She'd find out tonight.

Handing over the note, she and Nata discussed when their next lesson would be. They decided on a time, and Nata ran off happily to class.

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Tonks paced Severus' bedchamber, waiting for him to return after class. She had an owl deliver a note to him at lunchtime, instructing him not to eat dinner. Tonks had morphed into a third year to see his reaction. She had been a little disappointed to see him simply read the note and put it in his pocket.

Quickly, Tonks ran into the bathroom to check her appearance one last time. She was wearing a dress. Tonks could count on one hand how many dresses or skirts she had worn since graduating Hogwarts. But she decided that Severus was worth the extra effort.

She glanced in the mirror. Tonks never knew if she was pretty or not. Severus told her all the time that she was beautiful, but she never knew if she should believe him. Her face and hair were natural tonight. It was amazing that she could still feel so exposed by simply looking the way nature intended.

Her dress was a new thrift shop purchase she had recently found. The dress was a maroon color. It was very flattering, stopping just above the knee. It had a very low back, which showed off her sculptured back. Tonks couldn't believe it, but she felt…well she felt sexy.

The door opened just as Tonks was reapplying her lipstick. "Dora?" she heard Severus call. "Dora, what's all this?"

She stepped out of the bathroom and met his gaze. His mouth actually dropped slightly when he saw her. "Happy birthday," she said softly.

His eyes never left her face. "You knew?" he asked in surprise.

Tonks nodded. "Not until yesterday," she admitted. "Professor McGonagall told me."

Severus gestured towards the room. "So this is all for me?" he asked.

"Yes," Tonks said proudly. After breakfast, she spent the entire morning cleaning every nook and cranny of his bedchamber. Then in the afternoon, she set up their picnic dinner.

She walked towards him. Severus took her arm and brought her in close. "Hello, birthday boy," she whispered. Severus smiled. Any time he smiled, Tonks' heart seemed to melt. She wished she could find a way to make him smile more.

Tonks lifted her head up and Severus kissed her gently. After a moment, the kissing became more urgent, more demanding. Severus started to lead her to the bed, but Tonks broke away. As much as she couldn't wait for that part of the evening, she wanted to build up to it, make him sweat a bit.

"Dinner first," she told him, kissing him on the nose.

She watched as Severus took a deep breath. "What is this?" he asked, waving his hand over the blanket on the floor.

Tonks very ungracefully sat down on the floor. "Have you heard of a muggle way of dining called fondue?" she asked.

Severus shook his head as he started to unbutton the tiny buttons on his overcoat. Finally he casually threw the overcoat onto the small couch. He then rolled up the arms on his white dress shirt. Tonks loved seeing him relax like this. Not just anyone saw Professor Severus Snape in anything but his formal teaching attire.

Tonks picked up her wand and gave it a quick wave. A pile of beef and vegetables appeared before them. Severus looked at the food and then her questioningly.

She handed him two skewers. Then pouring them both a glass of red wine, she explained. "We'll put a piece of meat or vegetables on the skewer. Then place the beef in the oil. When it's cooked, you can go ahead and eat it," she said happily. Tonks loved fondue. It was a muggle tradition that her father showed her mother. She loved it, and they passed on the love to Tonks.

"Why?" Severus asked seriously.

"What do you mean, why?" Tonks said playfully.

"Why would we want to cook the beef ourselves? That's what house-elves are for," Severus said.

"Because it's fun," Tonks said, shrugging her shoulders. She grinned. "You're trying it, mister, no matter what."

"I never said I wouldn't," Severus said. "I'm just asking what the point of it is."

"And I answered," Tonks said, taking a sip of wine. She placed her skewers in the oil, making sure that the oil didn't splash. Severus mimicked her movements.

"Now what?" he asked.

"We wait," Tonks said playfully.

Severus practically lunged at her. Tonks found herself lying on the floor with Severus on top of her. They started kissing frantically. He placed his hand on her bare thigh and started inching it upwards.

Tonks sat up suddenly. "The beef should be done now," she told him, smiling brightly. She bit back a giggle watching Severus compose himself. Waving her wand, a dish of assorted sauces appeared.

She quickly repeated the process, and Severus did the same. Tonks dipped one piece of beef into a curry sauce and gave it to Severus to try. He took a bite, swallowed and quickly took a gulp of wine.

"I hate curry," he grumbled.

Tonks couldn't keep herself from laughing. "I'm sorry!" she giggled. "I thought everyone loved curry."

"When I was young, my father gave me a Bertie's hot curry flavored bean. I thought my mouth was on fire. When I asked for a glass of water, he yelled at me. I haven't liked it since," he told her.

Tonks inhaled quickly. That was the only the second time in their entire relationship that he mentioned his father. As of now he never even mentioned his mother. She reminded herself to ask him about them some day soon.

They finished off the beef and vegetables over the next half hour. Now it was time for Tonks' favorite part, dessert.

She quickly cleaned up the main course and replaced it with a new pot, filled with chocolate, instead of oil. Tonks then conjured up some marshmallows and angel food cake.

"Not quite as good as chocolate frogs, I know," Tonks joked.

"Chocolate, now that I like," Severus said, stroking her cheek. Severus was leaning against the couch, and Tonks was leaning against him by then. She dipped two marshmallows into the chocolate.

She repeated the process, and handed Severus a marshmallow. She started eating when she felt something drip onto her shoulder. Tonks looked back and saw that Severus was holding up the marshmallow, letting the chocolate drip onto her shoulder.

"Oops," he said, smiling deviously. "I really should clean that up."

Tonks couldn't keep from giggling as he gently licked her shoulder clean. She turned around and handed him another marshmallow. He let the chocolate drip onto her collarbone, and drizzle onto the top of breasts.

"Messy, messy," Severus said softly. He lowered his head and sucked and licked up all of the chocolate. As his hands started to roam, Tonks knew that they wouldn't need any more marshmallows.

Quickly, she took her wand and vanished the food. "Keep the chocolate," Severus told her.

"Yes, sir," Tonks replied, as he continued to nibble on her neck. Severus stood up and helped Tonks get up. Together they walked towards the bed, kissing the entire time. When they got to the bed, Severus lifted her dress over her head and threw it to the floor. Tonks stood naked in front of him.

His eyes looked her up and down. "You're beautiful, Dora," Severus said simply. Tonks smiled, because at that moment, she truly felt beautiful. She laid down on the bed, and waited for him to join her. Instead, he walked back to the blanket and picked up the chocolate.

Severus stuck two fingers in the chocolate and let it drip slowly off of his fingers on to her stomach and then upwards, on her breasts. When the chocolate stopped dripping, he gently put his fingers in her mouth. Tonks suckled them clean.

His mouth followed the trail of chocolate. Tonks couldn't keep herself from moaning as his mouth reached her nipple. Severus stopped for just a moment and cast a silencing charm on the room. Then he turned his attention back to her breasts.

Just when Tonks didn't think she could take anymore, Severus took some more chocolate and let it drizzle on her stomach and then lower. Just thinking about what he was going to do made Tonks shiver in anticipation.

His mouth found his way to her sex, and Tonks moaned out his name. He worked slowly at first, and then picked up speed. Tonks briefly thought of his first few attempts to give her pleasure there so long ago. She was glad that he had been more than happy to learn how to push her over the edge.

Which was just where she was now. Tonks shut her eyes tightly at the moment of her orgasm. They stayed where they were for a few moments, while Tonks tried to catch her breath. Then they were both ready.

Severus seemed to practically jump out of his clothes. They kissed deeply, never seeming to get enough of the other. Severus nestled himself between her legs and plunged into her.

They concentrated only on this moment, on each other. Tonks matched his thrusts with her own. She looked into his eyes, and could see that he was almost there. Tonks' hands found his buttocks, and pushed him even deeper inside her.

Tonks' climax washed over her, but she kept moving. A moment later, Severus shuddered and collapsed on top of her. His hand found hers, and they stayed silent. Tonks closed her eyes and simply listened to Severus breathe.

Finally, he stirred and lay on his back. Tonks quickly turned and nestled herself in his arms. She looked up at him and he smiled slightly.

"We need to have fondue again soon."