A/N: TPOV
A/N #2: I was attempting to only post 5 'chapters' a week, but the beginning of this story is kind of slow so I think I'll be posting 10 a week now. (At this rate, you'll have regular updates all the way until Christmas. This roleplay-turned-story began on HP's birthday in 2011. Seriously.) Please PLEASE review! I'd love feedback on this!
Making her way up the sloped grounds toward the castle, images of both Remus and Snape pulled at Tonks' mind. She had tried so hard not to think of Remus, knowing it did little to help her concentration, but there he was and all thanks to Snape. She had finally told Remus how she felt, but all he ever responded with was petty objections about how he was a danger to her, how she needed to think this through, how he was too old, how it would never work out. I am an auror for Merlin's sake! I'm not a kid and I have been known to handle my own share of danger, thank you very much! Tonk's inner rant deflated when she realized how many times she had gone through this before. Her hair dulled slightly, threatening to fade to the light brown she was born with and never hesitated to change, as she wondered if this was how it was going to be, her always begging "yes" and Remus always brushing it off with "no".
Firming up her resolve and defenses Tonks entered the castle and selected a staircase to take her to the seventh floor, only to have it finally make contact not with the seventh floor, but rather the second. She had just turned to take a different staircase when movement caught her eye. Looking down she saw Snape, making his own way up to the second floor. Tonks looked back, glaring at the offending staircase, feeling a sense of betrayal from the castle that had led her here, before glaring back at the true offender. Seeing that he had no intention of altering his own course, she turned on her heel to make an escape before any further confrontation was necessary.
"Auror Tonks."
Tonks paused not even sure if she had heard him right, her shock alone enough to make her slow her determined retreat. As she turned, she noticed that he was indeed coming toward her. She raised her chin slightly a rush of triumph at him finally addressing her properly ran through her.
"Yes?" She responded calmly despite her heart once again beating a staccato.
"Your familial name that you prefer is horrible; whereas your given name translates, albeit roughly, as 'gift to the nymphs'. I do not understand why you dislike your name since it is rooted in Greek Mythology. Anyways."
Tonks listened to his abrupt statement with a mix of anger, shy flattery, curiosity, and ultimately confusion. Her lips parted as if to respond; why, she did not know because at that very moment she had no idea if she had just been insulted or complimented or both. As he nodded and turned to leave, her voice returned.
"What the bloody hell was that!?" She demanded and started in his direction, determined to get a straight answer from. She had had enough of his orders and sneering comments. She wasn't a student anymore. She wasn't his student anymore.
"First you insult my self control, then you insult Remus which is actually understandable since you two are always going at it, but then you call ME flea ridden, insult the name I choose to go by and then in some twisted turn decide to top it off by pointing out my name means that I am a 'gift to the nymphs'!" As her diatribe continued she marched closer and closer to Snape, her pink hair turning darker and darker in shade with each item she listed.