Chapter 16: Work is easy

"Nymphadora,"

She felt a larger and stronger hand shook her by her shoulder, "Don't call me Nymphadora," She slurred, sitting up blearily. Rubbing her eyes, she saw a blurry Kingsley Shacklebolt slowly becoming clearer in her vision. He was wearing his usual blue Auror robes. Tonks was suddenly very aware of her attire of the Bellatrix's dress code. She was in full black which was very unlike her, "Did you forget that waking someone from sleep is the rudest thing you can do,"

"How can I forget?" Kingsley smiled, "I never knew,"

"Har-har," Tonks rolled her eyes.

"It's good to have you back," He thumped her on her shoulder lightly, which Tonks probably think was due to the fact that he might be afraid to hit on any soft spot.

"I'm not exactly…back," She forced a smile.

Kingsley forced a smile which looked like a grimace, "Back or not, its time for work," He said grimly, "Scrimgeour do not take kindly to his Aurors being AWOL,"

"What?" Tonks jumped from her seat, neatly stumbling as she tripped on the chair's leg, falling into Kingsley's open arms, "What day is it?" She practically shrieked into the face of her benefactor who'd just prevented her from biting the dust.

"A day for work," Kingsley drawled, "Let's go,"

"W-wait," Tonks stammered as he turned to leave.

"For what?"

"I-I have to get some other robes, I can't turn up in black," Tonks scrambled to an excuse, "the other Auror would find something wrong,"

Kingsley narrowed his eyes and contemplated before nodding, "You don't have the…" He gestured to his inner arm, "Do you?"

"No," Tonks replied instantly when she realized what he was referring to. She began up the stairs.

"Do you even have robes here?" He raised an eyebrow.

"It wouldn't hurt to check," She shrugged, trying to look nonchalant and she turned to run up the stairs. Remus was right when he said she wasn't a good liar, her stomach twisted and squirmed uncomfortably, especially under the observation of people such as Kingsley Shacklebolt, Mad-Eye Moody, her mum and for some reason she couldn't fathom, Remus Lupin.

Tonks ran straight up the stairs, to Remus's room. She couldn't hear anything from inside as she tiptoed to the door, trying not to trip over anything hazardous. She leaned closer but still couldn't hear anything.

"Can I help you?"

She jumped and spun around, her wand already out and in her hand, "Remus? Why are you out here?" Tonks gaped, lowering her wand instantly. Remus was clad in his pajamas. He looked thin and the lines on his face, which Tonks hadn't noticed were there, seemed deeper now. His expression was downright weary but his eyes were sparkling in the dim light. His hair was tousled. To put it simply, Tonks just wasn't used to seeing Remus in this condition. He was normally properly dressed and neat, not to mention that he was swaying a little, as if he could be blown to the ground at any moment.

"I needed to use the washroom," Remus replied, matter-of-factly, his eyes glistening with tired amusement. Tonks found herself speechless as she hear him speak, so normal, so Remus. His eyes, she'd thought he would never be the same after his whole full moon episode, "I'm sorry, are you here to do your hourly check on me? I'm surprised you didn't come up the past 2 hours,"

Tonks blushed. She had been checking up on him every hour. He'd been so quiet that she, who was waiting downstairs for him, wondered if he was even in his room or if he'd pass out, "I was just-I fell asleep in the kitchen," She blurted.

"You should've found yourself a room if you were staying for the day," Remus smiled, "trailing behind a werewolf all night can be tiring," His smile faltered.

"It wasn't so bad," Tonks smirked, glad they're on more comfortable ground when talking about that now, "But…I've got to be going, back to the ministry. Kingsley said they're expecting me,"

He looked confused before nodding knowingly in realization, "Yes, work, you should get going,"

"Yes, I should," Tonks looked up to see him looking at her, his eyes soft and searching, "Can I do something before I go?"

Remus frowned but shrugged hesitantly. Taking a deep breath, Tonks covered the distance between them quickly and threw her arms around his neck, resting her cheek on his shoulder. She felt him stiffen. Tonks savored the moment before letting go.

"I'd better be going," She said, backing away to the stairs. He nodded, smiling tentatively at her. Without a backward glance, Tonks took off down the stairs, tears stinging her eyes. She hadn't missed that he didn't hug her back; he didn't lay a finger on her.

"No robes here?" Kingsley raised both eyebrows as she came down the stairs.

"No," She replied thickly, shook her head and continued to the door without a moment to lose, getting out of Grimmauld, into the alley and apparating to her flat.

Work was easy.

Within the first few hours in the Ministry and Tonks realized how popular she was. She was buried under piles of reports left undone; there were even letters that she had to reply to explain her absence. Aside from that, Tonks had lost count of how many times she'd say that she was really ill for the past few days and really couldn't come to work. Aurors and ministry workers alike seemed exceptionally curious about it. According to Kingsley, it was due to a rumor going around the ministry that someone was betraying them.

Putting work aside, Tonks found many owls at the house most of the letters which she'd receive and glanced through were all from Charlie, from Romania. There were also some letters from her colleagues from the Ministry, genuinely concerned when Kingsley covered her up with the fact that she was ill.

"Tonks, I want to see you in my office," Scrimgeour barked as he strode past her cubicle. Tonks looked up from writing a report and rolled her eyes before dragging herself off the chair. She glanced towards Kingsley's cubicle to find him staring after her, much like the other Aurors, but he was looking concerned. He shot her warning look just before she turned the corner to enter Scrimgeour's office and was out of his sight.

The office looked the same from the last time Tonks's entered. Apart from the vase filled with bright flowers at the corner of the room on the table, there was nothing in the room for decoration. She'd thought that probably even the vase has been considered to be used as a weapon against an attack, explaining its presence in Scrimgeour's office. Aurors were queer in that way.

Her boss sat down in the high backed seat, whirling around to face her, "Tonks, would you kindly explain your absence in the past few days?"

"I believe it was only three, excluding the weekends, sir," Tonks cleared her throat, speaking as politely as she could, "I was ill,"

"Ill?" Scrimgeour raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, very." She nodded earnestly.

"Something even can't fix in a few hours?" He didn't hide his skepticism.

"I didn't go to . There wasn't a reason to. I could fix it on my own and I wasn't in any life threatening danger. It was just contagious," Tonks shrugged, her script well memorized.

"I never knew Auror Tonks was a Mediwitch," Scrimgeour said humorlessly.

Tonks resisted to roll her eyes but instead nodded with a smile, "I try,"

He stared and Tonks recognized that look. He was about to try Legillimacy and she was most ready, steeling her gaze. But the probing never came. It was like he was just trying to stare her down. Eventually, Scrimgeour blinked and the probe still never came but Tonks never relaxed.

"Alright then, you may take your leave Auror Tonks," Scrimgeour said, gesturing to the door.

"Yes sir," She replied stiffly, turning to leave the office.

"Oh and one more thing," He called just as she was about to leave, "I couldn't help but notice your gradual growing friendship between Remus Lupin just before the illness," He said and Tonks's hands balled into small fist, knowing exactly what he was getting at, "I just thought you might want to reconsider that route while considering the cause of your illness,"

Tonks gritted her teeth, "Yes sir," She managed before walking out of office before Scrimgeour could intentionally or unintentionally spite her more. How dare he even suggest that Remus was some sort of contagious disease? He was the kindest man I'd even known in the whole world! This is completely ridiculous!

"Tonks," She heard Kingsley's deep voice boomed behind her and he placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see him gesturing to the empty cubicle beside her. The walls were trembling along with the chair and table, getting increasingly worst. Realizing that she was doing accidental magic, she unclenched her fists and breathed to calm down.

"Sorry," She sighed.

"Be more careful," Kingsley shot her a look before slipping past and vanishing into his cubicle. She made her way back to her own and sank into the chair.

It was going to be a long day.

She walked briskly to the fireplace at the atrium. Kingsley looked to be leaving too. They exchanged a meaningful look before walking into a fireplace each.

"Meeting?" Tonks enquired in a hushed voice as she walked along the streets. He nodded an affirmative.

"Tonks," Kingsley nudged her with his elbow. She turned to where he was looking. Remus was standing by the brick pillar. He was wearing a coat and a decent shirt underneath, his hair in place. He already looked much better than early this morning, "Go on, I'll see you later," he rumbled in an undertone as Tonks glanced at him.

She nodded, shooting him a quick smile and crossing the streets to Remus. Tonks didn't miss the fact that this was the spot he'd used to wait for her to come off work when he was still working as her bodyguard, before she was trained by Voldemort himself.

"Hello," He greeted in the usual polite tone, giving her a smile which crinkled the edges of his eyes, just the way Tonks loved.

"Did I miss a memo that you're still my bodyguard?" Tonks teased.

Remus didn't drop the earnest façade, which Tonks was beginning to doubt if it was a façade at all, "No, you didn't," He gave a crooked smile, "there wasn't one. And who in the world said I have to be on duty to be standing on this spot?"

"No one," Tonks flushed, looking away to realise that Kingsley had went off, probably back home first then to Grimmauld.

"Nymphadora," Remus started.

"Tonks," She snapped pointedly.

"Auror Tonks," He said patronizingly, "May we make a move?" He smiled, gesturing to the alley they used for apparition.

Tonks glared at his lopsided grin, striding past him with her head held up high.

"That's the Black walk, isn't it?" he murmured, earning another killer glare from her. She hadn't realized how much of a teaser he could actually be.

Two can play at that game…"Someone seems to be in a good mood," Tonks commented.

"Someone had another to thank for that," He replied fluently, leaving her on the losing end again, struggling to find her bearings at his unexpected reply.

"Apparate," She replied to his expectant expression, as they slipped into an alley.

"Hm," He nodded and she heard a resounding crack, followed closely by the familiar sensation of being squeezed, almost comfortable for Tonks to know that she was apparating. It was much better than being on the spot, an actual presence for others to torment, Tonks realized after being a minion of Voldemort's.

"Are you alright?" Remus asked as they walked towards Grimmauld Place.

"Extremely so," Tonks smirked.

"You just look a little pale," He replied. She didn't bother glancing sideways to see his expression.

"My morph slipped," She blurted, adding some colors to her cheek instantly, "Better?" Tonks could feel his gaze on her and can't help but feel a blush on her cheek.

"A little too much," His reply came with a smile.

The meeting commenced as usual. Remus was sitting at her right, feeding the stuttering pace of her heart. Snape sat on her left, seeing that there was no where else to sit. Despite the circumstances, Tonks couldn't help but surprised at Snape for sitting where he is. Under normalcy, Snape would've rather stood, just to spite her.

Grimmauld Place was bustling. The table, which normally had a vacant seat or two, was completely filled. There were conjured chairs which were lined up by the side of the narrow kitchen.

Tonks received a few glances and more than a handful of stares, at her face and at her arm, which was inconspicuously covered up by her sleeve. She was wearing her blue Auror robes, which she noticed was now clinging on her thinner form pathetically. For some unfathomable reason, she couldn't bring herself to put on the multi colored jumper she loved and wouldn't have hesitated to wear to work.

There was silence as McGonagall arrived, normally signaling the arrival of Dumbledore himself.

"Albus would be unavailable this evening and the meeting shall now commence," She announced formally. It was quite a turn up. There were new recruitments which Tonks hadn't met.

They discussed various things, leaving Tonks to catch up with the details by Remus. It was only till the point where they discussed Tonks and Snape's mission, which was now somehow interlinked as one mission, that Tonks was filling Remus and the rest of the Order in on the details.

Tonks listened attentively, not letting slip even a word to the words she knew were from Dumbledore himself. It would only mean death or worst. She couldn't help but stare as her Mentor stood, conveying his report in the same gruff and surly tone. She smiled as her stomach did the same uncomfortable but familiar flips as his magical eye did the 360 degree watch on the room.

The meeting went on for about an hour or two before it ended and everyone flooded out of the room.

"News?" Tonks glanced at Snape as both of them remained unmoving in their chairs despite the massive movement in their surrounding.

"Bellatrix especially misses your presence," He replied sardonically, "Training with her will commence tomorrow,"

"That was good to know," She smirked, "she would find when she try to torture me again that I wouldn't be so easy to torture," Tonks'd received the Dark Lord's training after Bellatrix tortured her. Voldemort had evidently allowed Bellatrix to vent her anger on Tonks but he never said anything about fighting back.

"Dark Lord still doubts you," Snape muttered under his breath, just enough for her to hear.

"That is also pleasant news," She replied as calmly as she can manage.

"Especially if it concerns your death," Snape said curtly.

"Oh of course," she turned to face him, her voice laced with sarcasm, "you really hate me so much,"

"Its mutual," He shrugged in the frustratingly nonchalant way, "You're highly advised to stay at Spinner's End for tonight. Bellatrix may think it's prudent to personally welcome you," He stood up and practically rushed out of the room. Tonks rolled her eyes, sinking back into her seat. She hadn't realized she'd tensed during that exchange.

"He's getting under your skin," Remus commented. She glanced sideways at him, shrugging.

"You look better than this morning," She smiled.

"I am. Potions tend to help with that," He replied simply.

"Snape helped?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Bill," He shot her withering look, enough to make her laugh. His face cracked into a wide smile. Tonks's laughter stopped when he winced.

"Are you alright?" She gripped his hand which was lying limply on his lap. Tonks felt his larger hand stiffen at her touch but he didn't pull away.

"Stiff, that's all," Remus cringed, his other hand inconspicuously going to his stomach but Tonks saw that.

"Maybe you shouldn't laugh," She grinned.

"Then stop making me,"

"Be careful," Remus's voice said softly for the umpteenth time as she pulled on her black robe.

"Yes, Professor Lupin," Tonks sighed in exasperation, "I will sleep with my wand."

He chuckled, nodding, "Don't you always?"

"I do not!" She pouted, indignant.

"Don't let Mad-Eye hear that," They both laughed at that. As Tonks's laughter quelled, she looked at him earnestly, hesitating at the door. She wanted to hold his hand but they were stowed away deep into his pockets.

"I'd better be going," She muttered, turning.

"Of course," Remus said behind her. There had been a silent agreement for him not to escort her to Spinner's End. He wasn't in the best condition and revisiting Lily's old home hadn't been appealing to him, "Good night," He said thickly as she stepped out into the night.

"Goodnight," She smiled, walking briskly to the alley and apparating with a soft pop.

Spinner's End looked like a Ghost town at night. The apartments loomed over the streets, shadowing it from the moon. Keeping her head low, Tonks knocked on Snape's apartment. The door flew open.

Snape was wearing his usual attire, staring down at her.

"Ask me anything," Tonks sighed, shrugging.

"Your hair colour on the first detention," He said curtly.

"Lime green," Tonks rolled her eyes as he stepped aside for her to enter. She sank into the couch, feeling fatigue tug at her eyelids, "you remembered," She muttered.

"I don't forget," Snape replied tersely and before she can rebuke that, he was gone; the soft footsteps telling her that he'd went upstairs.

Tonks sighed, Snape definitely wasn't the best dorm mate someone could have…She dragged herself off the couch and stumbled her way up the steps, switching the lights off with a flick of her wand. Her room looked untouched. She shut the door and peeled her robes off gingerly. There was a soft spot on her back where Bellatrix had lashed out at her with magic. She let her robes drop to the floor, kicking off her boots, stumbling out of jeans and crawled into bed.

The bed was cold, as the whole house was. She could hear mild footsteps coming from the other room, probably Snape…Tonks yawned, pulling the covers over herself, curling up into a ball and falling fast asleep.

Tonks groaned as light flooded into her eyes, "Turn off the lights!" She complained, pulling the sheets over her head.

"I might consider that," Severus Snape's cold voice hit her like cold water. Her eyes snapped wide open and she sat up.

He was already dressed, his arms folded across his chest. Snape's lips were pressed into a thin line, his eyes boring into hers. Tonks glanced around the room. The curtains were open, allowing sunlight to flood into her eyes. She winced, looking away.

"Rise and shine," Snape sneered. It had a whole different meaning when Snape said it…Tonks thought sullenly. Her thoughts her interrupted as his eyes glanced down.

She blushed as she took in the room with her clothes strewn across the floor her hasty attempt to change last night. Tonks was also vaguely aware of the fact that she wasn't wearing anything presentable below, thanking the covers.

"Get out," Tonks growled.

Snape shrugged nonchalantly, "You're welcome." He spun around and was out of the room with a slam of the door.

She was still seething as she left the bed, shuffling to the bathroom for a bathe. When she was done, she went back to her room and pulled on a fresh set of robes. She was putting on her favorite necklace that her mum bought her as a reward for her OWLs, when she glimpsed the time on her clock. 8!

Bloody hell! She tugged on her boots and hopped out of the door while tightening her laces. She's late for her lessons with Bellatrix! Not that Tonks minded about keeping her Aunt waiting but she didn't want to give her another chance to insult her.

She rushed down the stairs to see Snape sitting at the table, reading the prophets while sipping at a cup of coffee. The aroma made her mouth water. He glanced up from the paper as she came down.

"Bellatrix will be late, the Dark Lord wanted to meet her," Snape informed from behind the prophets.

"Thanks…" She muttered. So Snape did do her a favor after all, bothering to wake her up in time for her training. She did owe him one. She bit her bottom lips as the familiar sense of guilt crawled into her chest but her stomach overrode that. It growled and instantly, Tonks went for the door, intent on getting herself some breakfast; entertaining the idea of a morning visit to Grimmauld before training.

"Nymphadora," Snape spoke.

Her insides burned with fury," Don't call me Nymphadora!" She shrieked, spinning around.

Snape ignored her, gesturing to the other cup of coffee on the table with his wand. Tonks hadn't seen that when she'd come down. She glared but the aroma tugged on her legs, guiding her to the table.

"So we're on a first name basis now?" Tonks asked testily. He didn't reply her, flipping a page in the prophets, "Don't mind if I use your first name right?" She challenged, sitting down and mildly checking the cup for poison with her wand. Mad-Eye's training was really coming in handy. She sipped at the drink when the spell told her there wasn't anything suspicious in the coffee, "Severus," She snapped.

He looked up from the papers, raising a brow.

Tonks stared back for a moment before speaking, "where's the training?"

"Lestranges' Mansion," He replied, his black eyes boring into hers.

Will you be there? She wanted to ask but her pride didn't allow her to, instead she nodded, "How long?"

"Depends on how much Bellatrix wants to teach you," He said matter-of-factly, making her feel stupid for asking. She realized men of this age tended to do this do her, apart from Sirius.

"What can she teach which I don't know?" Tonks said, frustrated.

"The art of surviving,"

Tonks screamed, her bones burning in the sickeningly familiar sensation.

"Get out of my head!" She roared.

She heard Bellatrix screeched in anger, kicking the leg of her chair. Before she could jump of the chair, she felt herself hit the floor with a jarring thud.

Tonks scrambled away from the chair, just before it exploded, its shrapnel raining over her back, and to her feet, her wand in hand.

"Weak! Just like your mother!" Bellatrix shrieked, his wand held loosely in her hand.

Tonks momentarily considered resuming her 'training' but shove that thought aside almost instantly. The so-called 'training' was brutal compared to Snape's. Apart from the probing and that Tonks had to fabricate to pretend she was a rookie, she had to bear the Cruciatus Curse. Bellatrix claimed it was training her to withstand mind invasion even after torture.

"Don't talk about my mother," Tonks warned, clenching her hand around her wand threateningly.

Bellatrix's shrilled laughter echoed around the halls, "Nymphie is standing up for dear Andy now, aren't you all grown up?" She laughed again.

Tonks was shaking with fury; she had had enough of this 'training'. She raised her wand, releasing several spells her way. Bellatrix's eyes widened before she parried, blocked or jumped out of the way of them.

"Wrench!" Bellatrix shrieked, firing spells of her own. The sight of the spells told her she wasn't strong enough to beat her Aunt with Dark arts. Panicking, Tonks jumped out of the way, her cheek singing from the spells as she narrowly ducked one. She landed unceremoniously on her shoulder. Sharp pain jolted its way up her spine as Tonks attempted to get up before her Aunt decide to cook her alive, "Crucio!"

The spell dug into her gut, burning her from inside out, seemingly melting away flesh and crushing bones.

"Lesson 1 Nymphie! Pay attention!"

Tonks could hear the sick cackling over her pain. Crying out wasn't a comfort to the curse anymore, it was a sign of weakness. She gritted her teeth to the pain, writhing silently on the black marble tiles.

The spell mercifully stopped after what seemed like forever. Tonks barely had time to breathe before she felt Bellatrix press the tip of her wand to her neck.

"The Dark Lord favors you but it doesn't give you a privilege," Bellatrix hissed into Tonks' face, "the Dark Lord is mistaken. You're nothing more than the daughter of a filthy mudblood; a half blood not worthy of the Dark Lord's attention,"

"Yes, I am the daughter of Ted Tonks and Andromeda Black, both who are brave enough to fight for what they want. Not weak, and compliant," Tonks breathed, trying to catch her breath, "Not like you."

"Abomination!" Bellatrix screeched into her face before Tonks felt the tip of her wand stab at her neck. Pain surged into her body, so intense that it caused her to convulse as blood seeped out from the wound. She screamed, her neck burning in agony. Her scream broke off in a stutter as Bellatrix yanked her wand away, leaving Tonks to slump to the ground, "Weak," She spat.

Gritting her teeth, Tonks propped herself up on her elbows, her arms trembling with the effort. Tonks could see the edges of Bellatrix's robes, following after its owner's footsteps in graceful waves.

"Something to say?" Bellatrix stopped in front of her, thrusting her face in front of Tonks's. She said nothing, glaring back into her Aunt's eyes, black to black. Bellatrix glanced down all of a sudden, narrowing her eyes as she saw Tonks' wand. She thrust her hand forward but Tonks was faster; she rolled aside, letting Bellatrix's fingers close around nothing but air. Tonks clenched her wand protectively, "you have no rights to perform dark arts. Not with that filthy wand!" Bellatrix spat, shooting spells across the room. It hit its mark, colliding with Tonks square in the chest as she attempted to get away.

The last thing she saw was the black ceiling, the chandelier hanging precariously by a thread over her.

Tonks jolted awake to the sound of glass against glass.

"Drink," She barely opened her eyes before an odor hit her in the face. Tonks opened her eyes, wrinkling her nose as she saw a cup of black potion under her nose.

"No," Tonks croaked, unable to make her voice work. She glanced up to see Snape on the receiving end of her rejection, his lips pressed into a thin line and his face pale and expressionless.

"I don't think that's a request Nymphadora," Snape said curtly.

"No," Tonks turned away in disgust, her neck aching.

"If you want to survive," Snape grabbed her harshly by the arm, "Bottoms up," He seethed, "I'll have fun informing the order of your death,"

Tonks glared, trying to no avail, to shake off his grip. Not losing her glare, Tonks lifted her head as high as she could, which seemed less than an inch above her before the pain which flared in her neck was too much to bear. She pressed her lips to the glass bitterly. Snape tilted the glass slowly and emptied the bitter and slimy content down Tonks's throat. It took all the determination not to gag at the smell much less not to retch up all she'd drunk.

"What happened?" She spat, tasting the bile on her tongue.

"You failed, the training," Snape replied nonchalantly.

"Must be a big deal," Tonks countered, her words dripping with sarcasm, "If I'll die when I do not drink that potion, why am I up?"

"I lied," He replied simply and left the room, leaving Tonks fuming. She huffed, lying back down in bed. There was a dull ache everywhere. She knew it was probably thanks to Snape that she was alive but his attitude really made it hard for Tonks to swallow. She stared up at the ceiling, dreading the time when the numbing potion wears off. Tonks glanced around to realise that they were at Spinner's End, her room.

Her eyes widening, Tonks pulled aside the blanket and to her relief, she was still in the same clothes, though not the same condition, she was in this morning. Feeling amused and embarrassed at what she'd assume, she blushed, closing her eyes and trying to fall asleep.

"Thanks," She muttered when she heard Snape come in. His silent footsteps were hard to miss in a house of only both of them.

"Bellatrix was merciful," Snape's reply came, a little less rude than usual but still sharp.

She scoffed, feeling her neck ache at that, "you like to lie, don't you?"

"Only to certain gullible people,"

Tonks turned to face him with a huff. He was apparently preparing all the potions, which looked like mountains. She gulped, oh merlin, be with me…

"You'll be begging for them when the first potion wears off," Snape muttered.

"What did I do?" She asked warily.

"Scream," His honest reply made her cringe.

"What did I say?" Tonks probed further, determined to find out how much she has exactly embarrassed herself.

He looked up from his potions, raising an eyebrow.

"I want to know…I-" She lowered her gaze.

"That it hurts," Snape shrugged, "that's all people say when Bellatrix is done,"

"I'm not weak," Tonks growled.

"I didn't say you are," He inclined his chin before turning to leave the room.

"Snape," She croaked out before he could. He halted, stopping where he is, "Thank you,"

With a slight nod as an acknowledgement, he left the room without a backward glance.

Her head felt like she'd been ran over by the Hogwarts express. Tonks groaned, feeling the muscles from her head to toe ache. The pains was coming in waves, hitting her with a pang harder than before. Every action hurt, even breathing.

She glanced into the darkness, to her side to try to glimpse the many potions beside her and identify the numbing potion so she could down the lot in one gulp. Cursing that most of the labels are concealed from view, she grimaced, stretching strenuously to shift and check every bottle. She didn't make pass the third bottle before it slipped pass her aching arm and down to the floor.

The ear piercing shattering of the glass bottle in the quiet and hollowed house was hard to miss and jarring. Tonks cringed, groaning as she shifted to slide back into bed, feeling sharp pain shooting up her back. She lay in bed, wincing at the aches and sighing at the thought of Snape bursting in any moment, asking for a compensation for the potion after killing her ten times over for waking him.

As expected, the door flew open without even a knock and there stood Severus Snape. His lips were pinched into a thin line as he surveyed the room as usual. He had his wand clenched in one hand and the other holding the door. In the dim light, Tonks saw that he was still dressed.

"What is it?" Snape muttered as he walked in, waving his wand and clearing the mess instantly.

Tonks bit her lips, "numbing potion…"

"You could've asked," He replied, leaning over and picking out a particular bottle of potion. Waving his wand, he conjured a glass and poured her the potion. He offered it to her and Tonks glanced at the glass that seemed to stench of relief from this pain. The glass was held at a height which she would use to easily reach seemed like a mile away.

Gritting her teeth against the objections from her muscles she would face, Tonks sat up, reaching for the glass.

"Where does it hurt?" Snape asked tersely.

"Nowhere," She managed to croak as her trembling hands took the glass. Tonks heard a snort as she sipped gratefully at the potion, "Everywhere," She corrected and instantly, the glass was out of her hand, "Potion…" she demanded pathetically, her eyes trained weakly on the potion in his hand.

"No more numbing potion," Snape replied simply, vanishing the glass and the bottle instantly. Ignoring her whine of objection, he stood closer by her bed, "lie back,"

"Why?" Tonks mumbled despite the imaginary pull of her muscles back into to soft mattress.

"Lie back," Snape stared. In the dark, his black iris, ironically seemed to stand out from his pale face, making him even more scary

Reluctant to oblige but unable to take the ache in her muscles, Tonks practically collapsed back into the mattress, she'd never felt more vulnerable in her life….

To be continued…

Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed for last chapter!

2lazee2login: Thank you! I'm glad it turned out to be a great balance, I was afraid it would appear too soft and override the danger of werewolves; action isn't my strong suits but I'm happy you enjoyed it!

Nyxborn: but you know Remus… ;) Glad you enjoyed it and thank you so much for the review!

Anon: Thank you so much for this review! Glad you love it!

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