A/N: TPOV

"I would love it if you did," Tonks said smiling. She was glad she didn't have to patrol alone after everything in the last few days. She also realized it had been over a week since they last had a chance to really talk, hostage situations notwithstanding. They headed out of his quarters, patrolling the lower sections of the castle before working their way up.

"Other than yesterday, how have you been lately?" Tonks asked as they climbed the stairs from the dungeon.

Severus sighed, "It's almost time for mid-year exams and projects. I have been accepting essay topics from the sixth and seventh years. Many students are realizing how hard it is to find a topic concerning 'Defense Against the Dark Arts' without delving too deeply into the Dark Arts."

Tonks nodded her understanding, "We encounter that a lot in Auror Training and as aurors. We have to learn not only how to defend against the unforgivables, but use them. The same goes for many of the other dark spells and potions. Throughout all that we are warned about aurors in the past who have found it all too appealing, who couldn't tread the line, as thin as it can often be. There are times when the only thing distinguishing one side from the other is the uniform."

Severus nodded his understanding, his gaze lost in reflection. He shook his head as if to clear it. "How was your week?"

Tonks shrugged, "Ministry evals are due soon" she made a face, wrinkling her nose in disgust and annoyance, "it's always a lot of paperwork and interviews and progress checks. Not that you don't fully understand death by paperwork from the sound of it." She replied, laughing softly. Severus smiled back at her.

Tonks was amazed at how quickly the time went by on patrol when she had someone there to talk to, let alone someone who she actually wanted to talk to. Before she realized it they were standing at the door of the Astronomy Tower, the highest point of Hogwarts and the last stop on their patrol. After ensuring the tower was clear, she moved through the main area and out through one of the open arches to the balcony. You felt like you could see everything from here, not only the stars, but the castle grounds and the forest as well. Back in school this had been her hideout, a haven of sorts.

"I used to sneak up here when I was a student," She looked at Severus with a sheepish and guilty grin on her face. He had been a Professor when she was a student and the tower was off limits unless class was being conducted. Admitting it to him now, felt strangely exciting. "I would just sit here on the balcony, with my legs dangling over the side and watch the stars, listen to the sounds. The water lapping by the lake, the animals calling from the forbidden forest; it all seemed so wild, yet peaceful, magical. Although, I was always worried I would get caught."

Severus had stepped behind her; she could feel his presence and knew he was close enough that if she leaned back he would be there. Before she could react his hand fisted in her hair and pulled her back as he moved forward in such a way that she found herself pinned between him and the railing. If she looked down all she would see was a seven hundred foot drop. Her heart rate and breathing instantly doubled.

"I saw on your list, Nymphadora, that you were curious about how fear could be used in a scene. Speaking of which, are you still worried you will get caught? Yes, you are allowed to be up here now, but I highly doubt we are allowed to do any of the multitudes of things running through my mind right now. I wonder what a student would think if they wandered up here like you used to." His words and warm breath caressed her ear, making her want to moan even as her mind panicked. He wouldn't! Her mind tried to argue even as his hand slipped under her shirt and moved up her side, slowly raising the fabric.

"Severus…" She begged slightly, her eyes glancing around nervously. Although, the moment she said it she didn't know if it was to have him stop or continue.

Severus' fist in her hair tightened briefly, giving a sharp tug, before loosening, "Shhhhh Nymphadora, the same rules apply as did a week ago. Do you remember your safe word?" Tonks nodded fervently. "What is it?" Severus urged.

"Red" she gasped, "or Umbridge" she couldn't keep the slight snicker out of her voice.
"Good girl. Use them if you need to." He slid the shirt up and over her head and removed her bra, the chill of the night, almost winter air hitting her, making the warmth of Severus' body all the more inviting. She began to lean back into him.

"Stay where you are. Keep your hands on the railing. Don't let go unless I tell you to." Tonks nodded, her grip tightening even more. She tried hard not to shiver as the wind whipped around the tower. A cloth appeared in front of her face and she instantly realized it was a blindfold. Severus tied it around her head and stepped away. Tonks whimpered as she lost all refrences except her feet on the ground and her hands on the rail, knowing how high she was. She knew instantly that even without his order there was no way she would let go of the railing now, unless he was there to steady her. Her world spun slightly, the lack of sight and the chilling wind throwing her senses off balance. She wanted to cry out to him again, to make sure he was still there, that she was still safe. She bit her lower lip to hold back the plea.

Just as her panic reached its peak a soft touch traveled down her spine. She jumped at first, not realizing how close he was. Her panic turned into a grateful moan as his touch traveled lower and she became reassured that he was still here and wouldn't leave her. However, as quickly as the touch came, it vanished again.

She then felt her pants and underwear vanished. The slight shivers that had started, mounted violently. Just when she thought she couldn't take the chill any longer she felt a rush of warmth fall over the balcony. He cast a warming spell around the area. She thought gratefully as she tried to keep her shivers at a minimum, her skin now tight and sensitive due to the cold. The warmth was just enough to keep the piercing cold at bay without making her too relaxed and comfortable.

She yelped as she felt something that at first seemed sharp, only to realize it was very cold, touch the top of her back before slowly traveling back and forth as it made its way lower. As a melted drop rolled down her back she realized what it was. Ice! The icicles hanging from the roof! The ice continued its travels over her body, across her sides, her breasts and nipples, her stomach, the inside of her thighs. As the ice made traveled its paths, Severus' other hand traveled similarly across her body. The mixture between the cold ice and warm touch had her squirming and gasping, evading one just to move into the other.

His touch vanished for a second. She heard the rustle of small chains right before she felt a painful pressure on one nipple then the other, the now chilled chain swaying back and forth between the two clamps brushing her stomach with every move. A loud moan escaped her lips as the warmth, cold, pain, pleasure, lack of sight and the heightening of other senses all combined into a wonderful haze in her mind. Once again his hand tangled sharply in her hair, making her gasp.

"Hold the railing tighter and brace yourself." He ordered silkily and Tonks did her best to do as told. No sooner had she done so than his hand landed sharply on one ass cheek before alternating to the other. Her skin quickly changed from chilled to burning. She squeaked with each hit, her squeaks quickly changing to an alternating chorus of yelps and moans as the haze in her mind grew. She felt like all of her nerves were on alert, pleasure and adrenaline coursing through her body.

The blindfold was pulled from her eyes as he moved her body forward, bending her over the railing. Even though her feet were still firmly planted on the ground and she was supported by the rail and his hands on her hips, all she could see was the long drop. Her hands where now behind her to her side, still clutching the rail.

Tonks arched as he entered her from behind, his tight grip on her hips comforting in all the ways that her current height above ground were not. As Severus' pace increased, Tonks found herself moving her hips back as much as his grip would allow to meet him. With every thrust the chain on the clamps swung, pulling sharply on her nipples, jolting her closer and closer to her peak. In a burst, her vision of the ground below vanished under a wave of pleasure as she came calling out Severus' name. His pace did nothing to slow; rather it became more fervent until she felt his entire body tighten behind her, a low but unmistakably pleasure-filled groan escaping his lips and rumbling through his body.

He guided her back from the edge, her feet shuffling numbly, as he pulled out. Her breath was still coming in fast pants and she realized with a jolt of pleasure that his was as well. He cast a quick cleansing charm on the both of them before moving them to an alcove where the tower wall met the balcony. He summoned over his cloak and wrapped them both in it. Tonks rested her head on his chest, listening to and loving the sound of his heartbeat. She smiled as she saw the sky start its morning transformation from black to pink and snuggled closer.