A/N: TPOV
Please don't be here, please don't be here…the door began to open…bollocks. Tonks hands closed into fists as she fought the urge to make some weak excuse and retreat as fast as possible. Glancing up, she was greeted by the unnervingly blank face of Severus Snape. Somehow that blankness, that complete lack of gut-wrenching pity, was exactly what she needed right now.
As his hand closed around her arm, she lost all urge to make an escape and allowed herself to be led through his office to his desk.
"Nymphadora, you appear to have something on your mind. Your hair would be that insufferable yet characteristic shade of bubble-gum pink if you didn't. If you wish to have something to drink, please pour for both of us."
She couldn't help the wince that graced her features as he mentioned her typical hair color. She sat there knowing her silence was wasting both of their time. Thousands of lines ran through her head. This had seemed so simple. Just come in, ask for help, get fixed and leave. Looking down at her hands she began to realize that even something as simple as conversation was going to be torturous. Somehow putting it all into words, saying it out loud, made it all too real.
"I will not use Legilimency against you, Nymphadora. But you are in need to relieve yourself of whatever burden that has befallen you. So, what did Remus do?"
Her head snapped up. Her mouth opened, then closed. Tonks reached for the bottle of firewhiskey as if it were some type of lifeline that would answer for her. Picking up one of the glasses she poured herself a healthy three fingers before looking to Severus. Inclining his head he motioned toward the glass. Tonks poured the whiskey until he signaled for her to stop. She noted the difference in the levels of the two glasses and couldn't help the brief bitter smile as she looked at her glass and brought it up to her lips. The burning liquid entered her mouth; she swallowed allowing the burn to help clear the clutter in her head that was keeping her from answering. Tonks took one more gulp that she hoped was disguised as a sip before she could even consider answering. Avoiding Severus' question she got right to what she felt was the heart of the problem.
"I can't change." She had wanted her voice to come out factual, instead it was barely more than a whisper. Severus raised an eyebrow, inviting her to continue. "I…I haven't been able to since yesterday. I've tried and tried. Nothing! Nothing except this!" She motioned to her naturally brown hair. Realizing how loud and uncharacteristically high her voice had gotten she went for another pull from her drink. "You said you could help me control it. Does that mean you can bring it back? I need it back."
She was once again getting that odd blurring in her eyes. She shook her head, blinking fast. I don't cry dammit! She couldn't look at Severus right now. This was the most vulnerable she had ever felt and she was terrified that if she looked up she would either see the same pity she had felt following her all evening or that he would say there was nothing he could do. She didn't think she could bear either outcome. Merlin help her if it was both.