Series:Twelve Days of Christmas
Title: January Sixth
Author: Jmaria
Rating: FR-15
Disclaimer: JK owns all things Harry Potter
Fandom(s): Harry Potter
Character(s): Severus Snape/Nymphandora Tonks
Spoilers: au-OotP
Summary: Not all gifts come to us on Christmas Day - the hidden wealth
Words: 768
A/N: It changed a few times, but I think Im happy with this version.
Dedication: To purplesoap, who requested the characters.

Twelve Days of Christmas
January Sixth
12 Grimmauld Place

Severus Snape was increasingly annoyed by the younger woman's rambunctious laughter. Her hand was in an intimate position on the back of his neck, her head tilted closely to his ear. She laughed again and reached forward for another cookie. Snape gritted his teeth as she was surrounded by light and laughter again.

"She's something special, isn't she, Snivellus?" Sirius sneered, nodding toward the young woman Snape was determined not to look at, but was failing not to do so.

"Whom are you referring to?" Snape said dryly, trying desperately not to rise to the bait.

"She and Charlie make a great pair. Young, vibrant, healthy couple -"

"Did I give you the notion that I was even slightly interested in speaking about this?"

"You did the second you started staring at my little cousin, Snivellus," Anger rippled in Sirius's voice. "You already got your chance to obsess over one of my cousins, and Tonks is not Narcissa."

"I was not -"

"You're Draco's godfather."

"Sirius! Molly wants to make sure youve eaten today," Tonks had untangled herself from Charlie long enough to catch part of the conversation between the two men. Uncertainty flashed in her eyes as she looked between the two of them. "She's whipped up a feast for the lot of us. Have you eaten yet, Snape?"

"I have," Snape turned and - well, he wouldn't term it fleeing, but he stalked away from the twin annoyances in his life.

Not ten minutes later, hidden in the old private den Sirius's father had once used to hide away from his controlling wife, Snape found himself annoyed once again by her presence.

"You really shouldn't let him get to you like that, Severus," Tonks closed the door gently behind her. Her eyes were hooded as she gazed at his back. "It only encourages him."

"Yes, to push that Weasley brat at you and rub salt in the wounds," Snape winced at the whine in his own words.

"Charlie and me have been mates for years. I can't even imagine him in - uughhh. I don't get what all the girls see in him. And I'm not the one who said 'let's do keep whatever this is between us between just us', those words came out of your mouth, not mine."

"I'm quite aware of what I said," Snape snapped, cloaks billowing around him darkly.

"Then don't let my idiot of a cousin annoy you so much. Or, you know, make a bloody move on me in front of everyone so we don't have to keep this arse-backward charade up. I am so sick of shagging in secret and havin' to feign interest in old schoolmates just to warm you up to the idea!"

"Nymphadora, -"

"Don't you even call me that, you know I hate it when you call me that!" Tonks snapped, her finger jabbing into his chest. "I'm so sick of having to pretend I haven't got this amazingly intelligent bloke for a boyfriend and trying to hide it all from the people who owe him a helluva lot."

"Tonks -"

"No, why have I got to hide at all?" Tonks eyes sparkled brightly in the dim light of the den. "So Sirius doesn't fancy you? So you're an utter bastard to Harry at times? So you're a turncoat and a traitor? So you're older than me? Do I actually look like I give a damn?"

"Tonks, you will let me get a word in, won't you?" Snape sighed, pulling her close to him.

"I-"

"You have listed, quite accurately every reason they will try and kill me for daring to be with you," he would not laugh at her grunt of frustration.

"Don't say youre doing this for me, because it is killing me not to run to you every time someone gets hurt or rumors buzz bout you and Voldemort and - and I'm getting clumsier by the day. I can't hide this much longer, Severus."

"But -"

"We must, because the Potion's Master deems it so," Tonks sighed, finishing for him. "Because the fate of the Wizarding world weighs down so heavily on the false sneer of the evil Potion's Master."

"Because your idiot cousin still believes he's actually hurting me, and I long to see his face when we finally do tell them," the chuckle was low and vibrated along the delicate skin at her temple.

Outside the door to his father's den, Sirius shook his head. He'd never give Snape the satisfaction of being surprised that his little Nymphie had fallen for the Potion's Master. Neither one could lie worth a damn when it came to that.