A/N: TPOV
"It can be possible, but your abilities can be tied to your emotional state. There are reports of witches and wizards losing their magic after a traumatic experience."
Tonks released a breath she hadn't quite realized she had been holding. He didn't say no. He didn't say no. She knew of witches and wizards that had lost their magic all together after traumatic events, but she still had her magic. She just couldn't change. She sincerely hoped that was a good sign.
"Take this Calming Draught, and go ahead and close your eyes."
Tonks reached for the offered draught, gently accepting the small glass vial, focusing on it in an effort to keep her hands from shaking. She swallowed the liquid, the taste reminding her of chamomile and peppermint tea. On its way down, a warming sensation spread through her, quite unlike the burning caused by the whiskey. This was the type of warmth that came from sunny days or cold nights spent cuddled up next to a fire. Her eyes closed peacefully, whether in response to Severus' order or in an effort to savor the new found calm she wasn't quite sure.
"I want you to relax, and to picture yourself within your mind's eye. Don't worry about the details of yourself just yet, focus on the room surrounding you within your mind. Let it be blank; allow yourself to be in this room that is quiet and peaceful. Breathe in slowly through your nose, barely hold it, and let it out through your mouth. Repeat this pattern until you feel very calm."
Tonks did as he said, the image of her childhood room filling her head, perfected by the sun streaming in through the windows, the blue sky pockmarked by white fluffy clouds that could be seen outside, and the smell of freshly baked treacle tart wafting up from the kitchen. She followed Severus' instructions, the deep baritone keeping her centered and grounded. She could almost smell her mother's baking as she breathed in through her nose and taste it as the breath left her mouth, her lips parting gently to maintain the rhythm. Distantly she felt a light pressure on her shoulders. His hands...she realized as he began to knead the tight and sore muscles. The warmth from his hands added to that initiated by the draught; the firm pressure he applied pulled her under further with each knot he loosened.
As he told her to imagine the stressors in her life, she panicked briefly, feeling as if the pristine sky in her self-made sanctuary would soon darken completely. She tensed and in response felt Severus' hands tighten slightly on her shoulders, his pressure increasing a fraction, reminding her that she wasn't alone. I can do this. Tonks refocused on her breathing, slowing it down to its previous pace, forcing the dark clouds to come in one at a time. From her room she was safe, the clouds could come and as long as she let them form one at a time they wouldn't darken her room. She could watch them from her windows, safe from whatever rain they might bring. Out on the edge of the horizon she could see the storm clouds piling up …keeping Harry and the rest of Hogwarts safe; she missed Sirius, especially where Harry was concerned; her report for the Order of the Phoenix had to be sent to Mad-eye by the end of the month; here it was early fall and her parents already wanted to know if she would be visiting for the holidays, if she would be bringing anyone with her, she had wanted to bring Remus…Remus… with that last thought a rumbling of thunder echoed from the horizon and the clouds seemed to darken. Tonks refocused on her breath, keeping the clouds distant.
"…You can conquer this, Nymphadora. Do you understand me?"
Severus' voice seemed to echo off the light pink walls of her room. Within her mind she was nodding, her inner-self a mix of the impish little girl that used to drive her parents ragged and the now battle ready auror who fought alongside the likes of Alastor Moody. Along with that mix came the knowledge of what she needed to do and the urge to hide under her bed until it all went away. She missed the times when the boogiemen were all make believe and could be scared away by something as simple as her dad looking under her bed and in her closet before she went to sleep.