Tonks insisted she was fine although she still had occasional dizzy spells but Dumbledore stood firm. He wanted her on light duty. So he once again teamed her with Severus and asked them to monitor Diagon Alley. It was Dumbledore's belief that there would soon be Muggleborn attacks possibly even a raid and he wanted eyes everywhere.

They flued to The Leaky Cauldron and went from there to Diagon Alley. There was nothing they were supposed to do and nowhere specifically to go as they were merely on an observation mission.

As they walked along the street Tonks glanced in the windows seeing herself reflected back. They were supposed to keep a low profile, so before they arrived she shortened her hair and turned it brown. Now she found she dearly missed the more upbeat colours she had grown accustom to, not to mention the occasional offended look someone would cast her way.

Tonks sighed, "I hope they don't do anything here, I always loved Diagon Alley. I can still remember school shopping for my first year at Hogwarts."

Snape nodded. "I too have fond childhood memories of Diagon Alley." It was so easy to talk to her. "In fact, they are the only happy memories from my childhood. On days when my father was at his worst my mother would bring me here. We would look in the shops and always there would be ice cream. We'd make a day of it."

Looking over at her he wasn't the least bit surprised to find that no matter her hair colour her distinct personality still shone like a beacon. She smiled up at him her blue eyes sparkling and he had to look away. "That's wonderful. So you were close to your mother then?"

"No." He didn't look at her knowing she would be saddened by his answer.

"Oh." Her voice dropped a bit but remained hopeful. "But it sounds like she cared about you."

"I had hoped so, but now I've come to accept the fact that I merely served as an occasional distraction from her alcoholic husband." Once speaking of his father his voice turned from emotionless into a snarl.

Tonks found there was nothing she could say to that. Oh, damn. That's why he refused a drink, his father was an alcoholic. And she had made fun of him. How many times am I going to mess up with this man?

He was unsure why he'd told her. She was just so easy to talk to. She would think differently of him now he was certain. Already she seemed more distant. I don't need or want her pity. He found himself thinking. She has a close family, she couldn't possibly understand.

Things were a bit strained for a while but as they moved from the street to walk about the shops they had light conversations and became once again comfortable in each other's presence.

"Hey!" Tonks called out as they reached Florean Fortescue's. "Want some ice cream?" Severus gave her the oddest look which she laughed at. "What, only your mum can buy you ice cream?"

He knew what she was trying to do. She wanted to relieve the awkwardness and since this didn't seem an offer from pity he replied, "A dish of chocolate would be lovely."

She ordered his chocolate and a Vanilla cone for herself, which she then coated in both chocolate and strawberry syrup before covering it in an assortment of brightly coloured sprinkles.

"How can you possibly eat that", he asked as they moved to sit at one of the little metal tables.

"Like this." she said, and licked up from her hand where the syrup had dripped and along the cone to its tip.

Snape shivered. Why did she have to order a cone?

They sat in what should have been a comfortable silence but proved to be highly uncomfortable for Snape. While he ate his ice cream delicately, Tonks' began to drip in the hot summer sun. It ran along her fingers which she licked off tantalizingly. He shifted awkwardly in his seat trying to make room for the uncomfortable bulge growing in his pants. When it finally became too much for him he rose swishing his robes to cover his hard-on and excused himself, heading for the loo. Tonks had no idea the effect she had on him.

The day was at an end and they sauntered down the lane back toward The Leaky Cauldron. The conversation had turned to life at Grimmauld Place. "You know, Molly actually made me a cake? Which I must admit I enjoyed but I just wonder when everyone's gonna stop fussing over me because of my little accident." Snape stiffened beside her.

"I'm fine." She said sternly. He didn't look at her.

"It was my fault." He said. Glancing over at her he could see Tonks rolling her eyes. Snape stopped walking and turned to face her grabbing her arms fiercely.

"It was my spell." Tipping her head she gave him a puzzled look. Snape was growing impatient; he wasn't even sure why he was telling her. "I invented it when I was still a student."

She began to cotton on. "Oh, you created that?" Snape nodded not meeting her eye as he released his hold of her. She would hate him for this.

She took a step back. "Well it bloody well hurt like hell!"

Snape turned and walked away, completely missing her smile. "Hey." She grabbed his arm and forced herself in front of him. "I wouldn't have become an Auror if I couldn't take a little pain. It's a dangerous job."

Despite her words he felt trounced. Sighing he explained, "If it were not for me you wouldn't have been injured." Now it was her turn to lose patience.

Tonks was so sick of men possessing emotional burdens. How did she always seem to attract them? "Look," she raised her voice, saw several people turn their heads and lowered it again, "look, I was distracted. Bellatrix would have hit me with something and if not your spell it could have been the killing curse." She brightened, her smile returning. "You may have just saved my life twice." She turned away and continued toward The Leaky Cauldron.

Snape followed slowly behind. He could not accept that, he wouldn't let himself and yet she had made a fine point.

Tonks had to admit that spell, though clearly dark magic, had impressed her. She had felt its power, but more than that. She was impressed he'd told her. If the situation had been reversed she was doubtful she would have had the guts to tell him she was responsible for almost spilling his.

Ugh, what a horrible thought! She reprimanded herself for allowing images of a bloody and convulsing Snape to enter her mind. The thoughts seemed to bother her far more than they should. Who could say, after all, what would have happened if she hadn't stopped that reckless Auror? She decided not to tell Snape that in a way it was his fault. Fear for him had been what distracted her.