Chapter 17: Façade
"What are you doing?" Tonks asked stiffly.
"The Dark arts Bellatrix practise is rare and unique, even among the death eaters…" Snape started, raising his wand and Tonks tensed, nervous at being under the mercy of Severus Snape. He reached out with his left hand, resting it on the crook of her neck to hold her still. Tonks gritted her teeth and stayed still, "this will scar," He informed upon scruntinizing the wound.
"Thought you could fix it," Tonks said through gritted teeth.
Snape looked up from checking her wound, looking her in the eye, "As I've said, the dark arts Bellatrix practise is unique and powerful,"
"So is yours," Tonks countered.
"You've not seen mine," Snape replied simply, bringing his wand to her wound. Tonks listened nervously as he muttered a spell. She couldn't make out what spell it was but soon, the ache in her muscles at her neck faded just a little, "how is it?" His incessant muttering stopped and he removed his wand.
"Better," She replied, impatient for him to get on with the treatment. Without another word, Snape pressed his wand on her arm, muttering the spell. Tonks started wondering idly how long this was going to take… she hoped it wasn't all night…
Days passed, it could've been a week, Tonks didn't keep track. The pain made it seem like forever.
Light was hard to come by in Spinner's end. It was something Tonks had found out in her stay here. She had been in this house for as long as she possibly recall. The aches in her muscles now only came occasionally and Snape had taught her the incantation for the dark magic of his which can ease the pain and improve her condition exponentially. According to his 'prognosis', Snape told her that Bellatrix cursed her. It was a unique curse that set her muscles and nerves into agony at a certain time interval. All the scientific and magical jumbo was lost on Tonks as she'd fell asleep then.
Kingsley was informed that she was unavailable for work by owl but Tonks made sure to keep the details vivid, leaving out the part about her being injured. The last thing she wanted was the whole order to come up to visit her with the risk of any of the Death Eaters seeing them too close to the Order; even if they are technically supposed to be spies for the Order.
Snape had been in and out of his house often too, going off for Order meeting to which Tonks didn't seem to deem herself fit enough to show up for. She even took a few minutes to crawl down the steps from her bedroom to the kitchen. He also had to go for lessons at Hogwarts as well since school has already reopened. Tonks hated to admit it but it was definitely better that Snape comes back at night than if she had to spend the night in his house alone. She swore there were sounds that this house could make on its own.
She'd made herself a cup of chocolate, struggling to remember how Remus made them. Just as she was looking for some sugar, she realized Snape didn't have any…
Sighing, Tonks drank her chocolate without any sugar. She cringed at the bitter taste. She walked gingerly to the window, glancing out through the small gap in the curtains. The houses were all black and there was barely sunlight coming in but kids were everywhere; riding their bicycles, playing ball...Muggles…She realized as their mother shouted out to them from across the street. Instantly, she stepped away from the window as the mother looked up towards her direction.
Tonks was limping to the couch as she heard soft footsteps at the main door. Cautious, Tonks drew out her wand from her pockets, attempting to stand but the muscles at her neck decides to give her a soft throb at this point in time. Giving up on the attempt to stand up, Tonks settled to sit on the couch with her wand pointed at the door. There was a soft knock, which surprised Tonks. She's expected Snape to come straight in…
Whoever it was knocked again, Tonks struggled to stand from the couch, staggering to the door. She pointed her wand as she unlocked it, peering out but careful on keeping her wand out of sight just in case.
At the door was a muggle petite blond woman whom Tonks recognized to be the mother from opposite the street.
"Hello," She spoke nervously.
"Erm…Hello…" Tonks mumbled, forcing a slight smile. She mildly wondered how she looked to this muggle.
"I brought you some cookies, if you don't mind," She said, holding out a box, "I saw you by the window and thought I'd welcome a new neighbor."
"I'm not your new neighbor," Tonks replied, contemplating if she should take the cookies. On one hand, she was starving and on the other, this may be a ploy.
"Oh, so you're living with the Snapes then!" She gaped, evidently shocked.
Inwardly, Tonks groaned, "I'm just lodging here temporarily," She clarified.
"No, no," The woman shook her head, "I'm happy Severus found someone he could-"
"No, you're mistaken we're just friends," Tonks rushed to say but the woman seemed to not have heard her.
"That poor boy, I feel so happy for him,"
At this, Tonks's curiosity was perked, "What happened to him?"
In a hushed voice, the woman spoke, "His parents, Mr and Mrs Snape used to argue a lot. When finally the poor boy made friends with his neighbors, a girl, both of them were sent to school, only god knows where."
"A girl? Who?" Tonks continued to ask.
"It was a long time ago but I think it was the Ev-" The woman's reply stopped short and Tonks looked to see Snape coming out from the alley, the same sour expression on his face which turned slightly paler as he saw the woman at his doorstep.
"Good afternoon," Snape greeted coldly. Tonks could tell she was not the only who had chills when Snape was polite.
"Good afternoon Snape," The woman smiled forcefully before handing him the cookies, "I was just thinking to send some of these over," Without another word, she started across the street to her house with Snape staring after her.
"You didn't have to scare her," Tonks commented as they entered the house and Snape shut the door.
She turned around to see Snape about to drop the box of cookies into the bin.
"Wait!" She snapped, "Don't throw that!" Tonks rushed across the room as fast as her aching bones could carry her and snatched the box out of his hands. Then Tonks narrowed her eyes at him, bringing up her wand to his face, she asked, "What was the last thing Severus said to me this morning?"
"Nothing," Snape replied curtly and Tonks grinned, "it'a a trick question," he raised a brow, smirking. Tonks felt the chills running down her spine, still not use to seeing something close to a smile on Snape's face, "what was the last potion Tonks drank last night?" he asked and Tonks glanced down to see his wand already out and pointing at her torso.
"That isn't necessary, you can tell from the walk but its some bloody black and disgusting stuff which you refuse to tell me what it is," Tonks scoffed.
"You wouldn't know even if I did tell you," Snape sneered.
"Potion isn't my strong suits," Tonks protested, rolling her eyes. She opened the box of cookies. Inside lay stacks of palm sized cookies. She mildly tested it for poison before digging into the first piece.
"They don't taste as good as they look." Snape warned in a low tone.
"They're better than nothing," Tonks sat down gingerly on the couch, "I'm starving," She said in between bites.
"I left some takeaways in the fridge." Snape said.
"You have a fridge?" Tonks choked. He didn't reply but walk into the kitchen, "you didn't tell me that anyway!" She yelled after him.
Coming out from the kitchen, he was holding a bag of food and a note, raising both brows.
"I didn't see it," Tonks said curtly, picking up another cookie. Snape didn't reply again and she heard some activity in the kitchen, "when's the next order meeting?" She asked and waited but there doesn't seem to be a reply, "Severus,-"
He walked out of the kitchen, "the day after tomorrow and stay out of sight please," his request was dripping with sarcasm.
"What? She came to knock on your door!" Tonks protested, getting up from the couch and following him as he went back into the kitchen. She froze and stopped in her tracks as she took in the happenings in the kitchen. On the stove was cooking pots and the chopping board had half cut up vegetables, "what are you doing?" She gaped, her mind automatically recalling the sight of the kitchen at the Burrow.
Snape didn't reply but waved his wand and the stove to the pot switched off.
"Are you cooking?" Tonks's eyes widened. He looked at her blankly before flicking his wand so that the knives start cutting up vegetables. Tonks had admittedly never imagined Snape cooking or going around doing daily business ever, it was too unimaginable. In fact, in her stay here, this was the first time she'd seen Snape cook. All the while, either the food was left on the table or brought to her and left on the side table in her room while she slept. She'd never wondered if Snape had made it or bought it; to an Auror, if the food isn't poisoned, it's delicious.
"Is that an issue?" Snape said finally, his voice tensed.
"No, but this is…" Tonks stared, "not really what I imagined a potions master would be doing at home…" She smiled sheepishly, watching from the doorway. Her smile became a grin as she folded her arms across her chest, prepared for an amusing show.
"What are you doing?" Snape's voice almost cause her much difficult grasp on morphing to slip as she jumped, startled. She turned to him, rolling her eyes.
"I'm morphing," She replied simply.
"I said no morphing," He stated coldly, his eyes narrowing.
"You just suggested it," Tonks shrugged, even that took great effort.
"I didn't think it was a suggestion."
Tonks ignored him, staring at herself intensely in the mirror. Her bruises began to lose its bluish color and resume her skin's usual ivory color. Her sallow face fattened up and her eyes brightened as Tonks struggled to recall how she'd used to look.
"The headmaster will see through the ruse," Snape said curtly, looking at her in the mirror.
"It's not for Dumbledore." Tonks replied, already feeling weak from morphing.
"You're wasting your time," Snape said, deadpanned. Tonks shot him the strongest glare she could manage but didn't reply. Instead, she worked on making her hair the brightest pink ever. He stood there, watching.
"Since, you're here," Tonks stared at him in the mirror, "how is it?" Snape looked at her in the mirror. He pursed his lips, staring. Tonks sighed, squinting to resume her morphing just when she thought she'd never get a reply.
"Normal," He replied before going down the stairs.
"Mad-Eye," Tonks said warily as she watched her mentor begin to enter Grimmauld.
He didn't reply but open the door and instantly, she and Snape followed him in. She gestured for Snape to go ahead to the kitchen, wanting to have a talk with Mad-Eye. Last thing she wanted was Snape to have an extra soft spot on her for him to poke at. He slipped past her without a glance at either of them.
Without a word, Mad-Eye went up the stairs and Tonks followed till they entered an unused vacant room.
"What is it?" Mad-Eye asked gruffly.
Tonks peered at him, "you're mad at me," She stated in realization. The last time she actually talked to him in private felt like forever. Mad-Eye didn't reply but merely grunted, "Then I should be asking you this, what is it? What did I do?"
"Nothing. You've changed," Mad-Eye grunted, "but everyone does, this is mad times,"
"What are you talking about? I haven't!" Tonks exclaimed incredously.
"You didn't up for the meetings without a valid reason. You're always at Snape's and with the Death eaters. You're never at Grimmauld Place with Remus and Sirius. You skip work just to stay at Snape's," In a breath, Mad-Eye spat everything out as if they were a sin.
Tonks's eyes widened, she'd never thought her old mentor would be actually keeping track of her.
"But I should've seen that comin' now haven't I?" Mad-Eye continued, "Sending a naïve young Auror into the tantalizing mouth of Dark Arts,"
"Mad-Eye! I haven't turned to Voldemort!" She cried, grabbing her mentor's large calloused hand with both of hers
"Then where have you been?" He turned to her sharply, his tone demanding. She can't help but begin to think this resembles a visit to her parents'.
She flinched, "At…at Snape's," She muttered, unable to look up to meet his eye but she caught him nodding.
"Next time before I know it I'll have to watch my back with you," He growled. Tonks looked down, she didn't have an answer for him, "Nymphadora, I know what he is giving you. That power which the Order cannot give. Don't turn to that! What have I been teaching you?" Mad-Eye said, his words digging into her. Without warning, his hand cupped her face to tilt her face up so her eyes met his. She should've known better…Mad-Eye hated to have a conversation without eye-contact, kinda like her mother.
Instantly, Tonks winced, withdrawing from touch. She saw Mad-Eye frown. His hand grabbed her arm firmly as she tried to avoid his touch.
"Morph back," He demanded, both his eyes staring at the cut on her cheek which he'd apparently missed before when she'd use a little make-up to conceal, "I said morph back Nymphadora,"
"Don't call me Nymphadora!" Once was tolerable when Mad-Eye said it but twice was almost painful for her to bear.
"Morph. Back." His tone was almost dangerous now despite the fact that Tonks know he'd never do anything to harm her.
Under the added pressure, Tonks felt her morph slipping and she concentrated to hold it together. She was exhausted. Her heart was beating twice its normal pace and cold sweat broke from her forehead.
"Nymphadora," Mad-Eye growled at her, "I know what you're doing," He shook her, trying to make her lose her concentration and her morph, "Morph back now,"
Then she lost it. It slipped through her hold as if all this while she's been trying to grab water with her bare hands. It fell through. Tonks felt her face change. Her eyes became bloodshot with weariness. Her lips had a crack on the bottom one.
"What did Voldemort do? What did you do?" Mad-Eye said. He whipped out his wand and before Tonks could avert it, he began muttering spells. She felt the same warm tingling sensation at the cut on her cheek.
"Mad-eye…" Tonks muttered, "It's no use," The warmth on her cut was almost soothing but show not signs of healing. But Mad-eye, being the stubborn one always failed to listen. He continued and Tonks could hear him changing his spells every time. His wand tip pressed firmly but surprisingly gently against her cheek as he angrily muttered another spell, "Mad-eye… Mad-eye!" She held his wand handling wrist, tugging it down.
"Dark arts," He muttered, his blue magical eye meeting hers but his normal brown one averting eye contact. She acutely recognized that as helplessness and a partial apology. Mad-Eye always had a unique way of showing his emotions. After all, he's still human. He may be fearless but not heartless, Tonks know that firsthand being his beloved mentee.
"I'm fine," Tonks forced a nervous laugh, "My body is almost basking in the dark arts its receiving. It's like I'm…born for this…" Her voice trailed away, "I'm born for this. I am Andromeda Black's daughter," Tonks looked down to see her hands trembling.
"You are Nymphadora Tonks," Mad-Eye's reply came in the softest tone his gruff and weathered voice could manage but she wasn't listening, too many things were running through her beaten mind.
"I killed him," Tonks muttered, "I killed Ruane. It was me," She sucked in a breath she didn't realise she was withholding.
"Nymphadora-"
Before Tonks's eyes began swimming with tears she didn't even realise she had in her. Her knees went weak and her body fell into an undignified heap on the floor. Her world was spinning as her knees strike the wooden floor of Grimmauld Place.
Mad-Eye was there.
He was crouching on the floor.
His hands held her shoulder.
He was yelling at her.
His words didn't make any sense…
She was crying. She was truly crying. Hard, unrestrained, from-the-gut crying.
She killed a man. He was her colleague, he was an Auror and he's innocent…
"Lass, feeling any better?" Mad-Eye's gruff tone was back but only this time, she recognized it as being laced with some concern. Her eyes hurt. Her chest ached and her stomach heaved unnaturally, causing her to feel nausea.
"How long have I been out?" She asked, her voice scratchy and the question hardly coming out but in only a whisper. Tonks sat up only to realise she was lying in Mad-Eye's arms. He had a wand in his right and using his left to support her. The last time he did this was during training when she had tumbled down the stairs and was hardly conscious.
"About 25 seconds," tops. Knowing Mad-Eye, he probably revived me once he realized I was out. Mad-Eye fixed her with an unwavering stare.
Tonks reached up to remove the cakey substance from her face to realise it was dried up tears. She turned to Mad-Eye.
"I apologise," The words out of Mad-Eye's lips surprised Tonks to no end. Mad-Eye was never one to apologise or so much as to admit to a mistake. He was never wrong. Even if he were, the closest to an apology Tonks was used to getting was an avert-the-subject tactic.
"For what?" Tonks croaked, turning away from him.
"That you joined the Order. Now you're here,"
"No, I made that decision," Her voice was raspy, "You can't protect me forever. I'm not meant to be protected, I'm an Auror. You were right. You're always right," Tonks braced herself, getting to her feet. Her black robes were caked in dust, ruining the fabric. A simple wave of her wand would fix it but she'd rather spend the energy getting to the kitchen.
"Not always," Mad-Eye's rhythmic progress was heard by his walking stick and prosthetic leg from behind Tonks.
"Always," She replied, deadpanned.
Silence.
"Remus is here today," Mad-Eye said all of a sudden.
She froze momentarily at the top of the stairs before deciding to stone her heart to continue her progress down the treacherous stairs.
"He wants to meet you," Mad-Eye continued, keeping pace with her easily, "desperately."
Tonks spent a quiet moment in the bathroom. Normal women spent this time touching up on their make-up; Tonks spent it morphing her bloodshot and puffy eyes and dried cracked lips away. Her cheeks were rosier, her eyes twinkling with life. She entered the kitchen to see Snape and Sirius engaging in a silent staring match which doesn't seem to make any notable progress.
Everyone in the kitchen was quiet upon her arrival. She didn't trip this time; she couldn't trust herself to get herself back up.
Everyone was staring blankly at her as if she was a stranger. Sirius broke eye contact with Snape to look at her. His sullen grey eyes brightened up. Remus's weary face cracked into a smile. Mad-Eye stared into the fireplace, unmoving. Snape kept his arms crossed; his eyes on Sirius.
As far as Tonks could see, Dumbledore and McGonagall have yet to arrive.
"Tonks!" Molly broke the awkward atmosphere as she shuffled out of the kitchen in her apron and bear-hugged Tonks, crushing the wind out of her and efficiently getting a nice silent wince from Tonks.
"Hey Molly," Tonks took a while to adapt to the crushed ribs and aching wounds to reply.
"You're dry as a twig!" Molly drew back, her nose wrinkling in disgust as her eyes skimmed over Tonks's physique and her hands touching the black fabric she was wearing, "and these clothes," Molly's face was twisted in disapproval that only a mother could conjure.
"I know," Tonks faked a laugh, "Dramatic right?" She drew a sharp breath, awaiting for the expected: it suits you honey. But Molly surprised her. The older woman looked into Tonks's eyes, smiling soberly while her hands gently rubbed Tonks's hand just a little warmer.
"I'm preparing your favorite meal. It'll be ready in a moment," Molly said thickly, as if close to tears, "Welcome home Tonks," She hugged Tonks again but gently this time before retreating into the kitchen, ignoring the sharp glares she got from a few new order members and including Emmeline Vance.
Molly's place was replaced by Sirius who also submitted her to a rib crushing hug, literally squeezing the wind out of her lungs. Her torso screamed in protest but her mouth remained shut.
"I missed you Cuz," Sirius muttered. Was I really gone that long? The last time she met these lovely people, she remembered it was a few days ago…was that really a week and a half?
"Sirius…" Tonks patted him twice on his back, gently extracting herself from Sirius. He grinned at her, leading her to the chair by him which she'd suspect Sirius had saved for her; just opposite Remus.
She slumped down into the wooden structure in relief for having manually switched off the strength for keeping her knees from growing weak again. She looked up to see Remus looking at her intensely. Dark eye rings circled his eyes, his hair has more streaks of grey in it, his mouth was turned down and his face seemed to be more wrinkled as if he was a sculpture from porcelain. Tonks broke the eye contact, looking down at the table where her fingers tangled together.
She, herself, wanted to be here but Tonks was swiftly regretting the idea. Her heart was pounding quickly, so quickly that it ached. Her breaths begin to come in short sharp rasps which she tried to keep as softly as possible. Her torso burnt, all coming from the wound at her neck which was concealed by her wavy long brown hair. Tonks begin to mentally calculate the time when she could excuse herself from the table and go into the bathroom for a short recuperate magical session with her wand.
"Cuz?" Sirius spoke, "do you want some chocolate?" Tonks look up to see Sirius holding out a bar to her. Her eyes darted to Remus for a moment before she took it with a small 'thanks'. It was the same one she loved. The one she'd normally ate when Remus walked her from her flat to Grimmauld or to work. It was the one only Remus would think to buy.
Her eyes were transfixed on him as she bit down into the chocolate bar. His blue eyes were cast downwards, blank as usual, revealing nothing.
"Thank you," Tonks mumbled, her eyes fixed on Remus but Sirius waved away her thanks from behind the prophets.
The meeting commenced just the way Tonks remembered it last. Dumbledore came into the room, his eyes flickering to Mad-eye and then fixing on her with worry in his eyes. Tonks averted his gaze and instead, stared at the wooden table. She didn't want to look up with the risk of meeting a hateful glare from any of the Order members.
The truth was that she had killed a man and apparently after some time, people started thinking and the conclusion that she was a killer came to their minds and stayed. Tonks didn't know what information reached their ears but she could tell she wasn't popular among the Order apart from the few like the Weasleys, Sirius and Mad-Eye. Remus's opinion remained a mystery about it. They hadn't mentioned her misdoings during her time under Voldemort; in fact, Remus hadn't so much as reminded her that she was working as a double agent now.
As usual, Sturgis Podmore stood, presenting his report on his uneventful night on guard at Knockturn Alley. Tonks mildly took note of which Order Member is stationed where so that at least she could have a slight sense of who she'll be bumping into if she went on an Auror errand or an errand for Voldemort.
Remus stood, his voice firm as he spoke his report. Tonks drunk in every word; the special way he pronounced his words as they roll off his tongue with perfect clarity, the way his lips moved to each syllable, his every hand gestures, the way his eyes made contact with everyone's else at the table (excluding hers), the way he shifted his weight from his left to his right and then balancing it out between both legs subtlely, the way he said 'Thank you' and sat down, pulling in his chair and finally giving his absolute attention to the next Order member presenting the report.
Tonks couldn't stop staring. There's something about this man. It made her stare after bothering to take a second look at a seemingly boring old bookworm at first glance. It captivated her attention, setting alight her every senses in her body, making her aching heart sing. Subconsciously, Tonks's head tilted to the side as she drank in his every habit and movement like a drug.
It was when Remus's blue eyes glanced to her, from his unwavering stare at Emmeline as she was talking, did Tonks blink out of her indulgence. She blushed, righting herself in the chair and finding another object of interest to look at. Her eyes flew over Sirius who caught her eye. He was looking at her, his lips in a smirk, his eyes sparkling in amusement. Feeling blood rush to her cheeks, Tonks ducked her face down, staring intently at her hands in her lap.
This was definitely not going to be an informative meeting…
"Nymphadora," Remus's voice rang out as clear as a bell.
Just a moment earlier when the meeting ended, many of the Order Members casted glares in her direction as they left, obviously not staying for dinner tonight because of a certain someone. Tonks had stayed in her seat, glancing up at Remus who was reading a book intently. She'd resisted the urge to get up to the bathroom in case Remus lost the thought to talk to her because she wasn't there.
Finally, the ache in her bones became too hard to bear and Tonks found herself standing up all of a sudden, the wooden chair scraping on the concrete floor behind her. She turned to leave, making for the door when she'd heard her horrendous name being said in a voice which was music to her ears.
Nonetheless, the sound of her name was too hard to bear, "Don't-"
"Call you Nymphadora," Remus finished the sentence along with hers and Tonks tried not to think how their voices blended together, instead, she concentrated on not smiling but it was impossible. His lopsided grin made it impossible for her to keep somber. She smiled.
"Then why do you?" Tonks challenged.
To everyone's surprise, Sirius jumped back in his chair, rocking it on its heels , "For Merlin's Sake! Do not flirt in the Noble House of Black!" From the kitchen, Molly drew back in shock that Sirius would interrupt but his grin betrayed his 'stern' intentions.
"Shut up," Tonks snapped playfully, turning to leave the kitchen nonetheless. She had to get to the bathroom before the convulsion starts. She heard Remus getting up after her, his rushed footsteps behind her.
"Nymphadora," Remus called after her. As much as she loved to stop and talk, she had to get rid of the problem in front of her, "are you leaving, Nymphadora? Please don't go, Molly's making your favorite dishes, you'll love it-"
"Remus… I'm going to the bathroom," She replied without turning. She ran up the stairs, cringing after every step.
"Oh…" was his only reply, "I'm sorry, I'll wait right here," He said softly, stopping just outside the bathroom as she entered and shut the door hastily, locking it. She whipped out her wand, fumbling with the wood.
"Bloody hell…" she muttered as her clumsy fingers let the wand slip past her grasp and clattered to the floor. She got to her knees, picking up her wand. The convulsion began. Tonks clasped her hand over her mouth as she started to cry out. Her body shook uncontrollably in pain and she hit the cold floor. Her neck burned in a non-existent fire. It spread quickly just as she'd remember. It slipped down her spine like a slippery snake, burning every cell in her muscle. Her wand slipped out of her grasp once again.
Throwing back her head, Tonks let out an involuntary scream.
"Nymphadora? Nymphadora?" The furious pounding of the bathroom door reverberated around the bathroom. Remus's voice flooded past her blurry senses, "Dora!" His voice sounded frantic. Tonks wanted to respond that she was fine but the moment her mouth open and her voicebox was activated, nothing came out but anguish screams. She imagined Remus whipping out his wand and immediately, the door opened.
Remus came running in. Tonks heard him drop to his knees by her body, which was curled up in a fetus position. She heard him abandoned his wand to the floor, scooping her up in his arms. She felt him lift her into his arms, his breathing quickened. She couldn't stop the convulsion in her muscles, the pain…
"HELP, SOMEBODY!" Remus shouted, terrified. Tonks felt Remus breaking into a run, but to where, she had no idea.
"Remus…" Her voice sounded strangled.
"Nymphadora, talk to me! SIRIUS!"
Her voice cracked and a strangled cry escaped her throat. A rush of musty air told her they had entered a room. She felt soft mattress around her and instantly, she was wrapped up in soft warm blanket. The fire in her veins and muscles intensify, aching her bones. The heat-
This is it.
She screamed. Truly scream. It was filled with sheer agony. It echoed back at her in the house. Instantly, she heard Walburga Black's portrait begin shrieking.
The door burst open and Tonks heard the commotion in a mixture of footsteps and voices and horrified gasps.
"Move!" Mad-Eye's gruff voice travelled to her and suddenly, she felt his large hand touch her cheek gently, "she's burning up," He muttered, throwing aside the sheets off her. Tonks felt herself being submitted to various spells by Mad-Eye but the pain didn't go away. Tonks knew what spells to cast to make the fire go away but she didn't have her wand and the pain was overwhelming. Her hands shuddered violently even as she tried to grasp Mad-Eye's arm.
Suddenly, Mad-Eye's touch on her was gone.
She felt her wavy brown hair being pushed away from her neck and a wand tip was pressed to the wound at her neck. She heard the murmuring of Severus Snape and like clockwork, the convulsion stopped. The fire simmered away and the ache in her muscle faded into nothing. It left her panting, struggling for air.
She opened her eyes to see Snape by her side. Remus was standing at the tip of the bed. Her body was coated in a layer of perspiration.
"You should've been more careful," Snape said, his tone almost sneering.
"What happened?" Remus demanded and Tonks flinched. She glanced behind Snape to see Mad-Eye. Her old mentor was leaning on his walking stick, his wand in his hand and both his eyes staring at her intensely. Tonks couldn't tell what he was thinking. Behind Mad-Eye were Sirius, Molly and Arthur. Sirius was glaring at Snape. Molly's face was filled with worry and almost fear but compared to Remus, she could be considered to be happy.
Remus was pale, his pupils dilated. He looked positively terrified.
"What happened?" Remus asked again, his tone low and dangerous.
Snape looked at Remus. Without another word, he turned and swept out of the room briskly.
Sirius glared after him.
"Nymphadora?" Remus spoke, his voice firm.
"I-," She started but realized she had nothing to say, there was nothing she could say. Tonks glanced at Mad-Eye, "I need some rest…" she muttered.
Instantly, the rest started flooding out of the room. Sirius casted a backwards glance at her, frowning. Remus stayed unmoving at the tip of her bed and Mad-Eye stood on the spot, staring at her. She turned on her side and heard Remus retreat out of the room.
"Mad-Eye," Tonks started, refusing to turn to face him, "I-"
"There are things I can't do for you anymore," He spoke. His words and tone broke her heart.
"That is not true," Tonks turned, looking Mad-Eye in the eye earnestly. She struggled so she was sitting up, "I still need my teacher, Mad-Eye," She smiled, slipping her hand in his.
"Remus?" Tonks stirred, hearing someone at the door. She sat up, wincing as her spine objected. True enough, Remus was standing by the bed. He was bent over the bedside table, placing her wand on it, "Thanks," She muttered, instantly reaching for it and stowing it in her robes.
"So you do sleep with your wand," Remus spoke, his tone earnest. Tonks looked up to see the weak but mischievous glint in his eyes.
"I do not -sometimes," She pouted, looking away. Her heart was beating twice its normal pace and her blood rushed to her face.
He chuckled and she felt him sit down on the bed by her side.
"Remus…" Tonks started, sighing, "I'm sorry I kept it from you…its just some minor injury I got from-" She made eye contact to see him smiling, shaking his head slowly.
"Nymphadora," He paused, his brows frowning, "I thought I'd want to know what happened to you but I realized, all I want to know is that you're okay." He finished, his brows still knitted.
Tonks blushed as she watched his concern and troubled face studying her, "I'm fine now…"
Remus took a moment as he continued to gaze at her thoughtfully but eventually, he nodded, looking away.
"Remus," She heard herself call his name; her voice husky. He turned to her, a small smile on his lips as he watched her expectantly.
Her breath hitched in her throat as she saw the sincerity in his weary eyes, "Kiss me,"
To be continued…
Thank you to y'all readers and especially the reviewers!
DMSTonks: Thank you! I'm glad you like my portrayal. It was kind of how I imagined Tonks throughout the book so I thought I'd pen it down and share (: Hope she doesn't piss you off in the subsequent chapters! Beats me, guess there's just too many plot to cover aside from the character's progress (of Harry, Hermione and Ron)
Starxedlovers: Thank you so much! Sadly, this will be going way off the plot very soon. Just for a pre-warning, Tonks will be appearing in places she doesn't appear in the movies or books. I'm glad you like the Tonks-Snape parts. I shall not spoil the story and reveal if I am keeping the canon pairing but it should be obvious which pair I'm shipping (: Thanks again!
2lazee2login: I'm really glad you enjoyed the Tonks and Snape interactions! I was worried there's not enough animosity between Snape and Tonks. Thanks for your review!
PrintDust: Happy you like Bellatrix and Snape, those two were not explored much in the books and movies and portraying villain isn't exactly my specialty but I try so I hope you'll enjoy it! Thank you!
NymphadoraTonks-RemusLupin: Thank you so much!
Please review and tell me your opinion for this chapter!