AN: I know it's maybe an odd pairing for some of you, but give it a try. I have nearly written the whole story. So while I post every couple of days I will finish writing it. I hope you enjoy it!

I don't own Harry Potter and don't make any profit.

Thank you, Severus!

It was Christmas day in the afternoon and Severus Snape stepped into the graveyard in Godric's Hollow. It had been two and a half years since the final battle and his life had quieted down. He had opened a small apothecary in Diagon Alley and also did some brewing for Hogwarts' hospital wing. Severus still wasn't sure if he was happy that he was saved from dying in the shrieking shack, but for now he was content. It was a cold day, and the snow was crunching underneath his boots. He made his way towards Lily's and James' grave, carrying a single dark red rose in his hand. When he stopped in front of their grave, he saw that somebody already had paid them a visit, assuming it was Potter he placed his rose next to the small bouquet of white roses.

"I miss you my friend," he whispered. He sat down on a bench next to their grave and huddled himself into his warm cloak. His breath was hanging in clouds around his head, and he was lost in his own thoughts, when he heard a quiet sob somewhere nearby. Severus turned his head and saw a woman hanging over a tombstone weeping bitterly. He instantly knew who it was, although he had never seen her that devastated for a long time. They sometimes met at the graveyard. He normally came when he needed time to think when everything just got too much. She visited her husband's grave. When they saw each other, they would nod politely, but never had exchanged a word. Today Nymphadora Tonks, no it was Lupin now, hadn't even bothered to wear something warm. She was just clinging to the tombstone in a dress, without a cloak. Severus went over to Remus grave, unfastening his cloak. Approaching her he gently draped his cloak around her shoulders and stepped back. She slightly jumped and turned around. Severus just slightly bowed his head, turned around and walked away. He didn't even know why he did it, maybe because he always had a soft spot for Tonks.

It was later that same day Severus was sitting in his small kitchen above his apothecary and enjoyed his dinner. It was the simple things in life he appreciated nowadays, like a self-prepared meal, eaten in peace and quiet, without being summoned by the Dark Lord, while eating, which he was apt to do often. His thoughts wandered back to Tonks. She lost her husband in the final battle, murdered by Bellatrix Lestrange, Severus shuddered thinking about the vile woman. Luckily, she was brought down by Molly Weasley later. Severus would be forever grateful for that. Remus must have left a gaping hole in Tonks' and Teddy's life. Teddy was their son's name, or maybe not. He couldn't recall it now. He took another bite of the steak he had prepared for himself, to mark the occasion. He wasn't too fond of Remus, but even Severus noticed that he was very devoted to his wife and a loving husband. He remembered Tonks always as a young woman full of joy and life, crazy at times and clumsy, but very loveable, well-liked by everybody. She was one of the guys, but Severus, like Remus obviously, did see more than that. He saw a young beautiful and kind woman, who was able to stand her ground. He did love it, when she wore her hair bubble gum pink and had his eyes nearly as dark as his own, they always seemed to have a certain twinkle in them. When he found out she was dating Remus, he was somehow relieved he didn't have to act on his crush, although he felt pangs of jealousy every now and then. But he knew it was better that way, he didn't have a way with women, too much had happened in the past.

He wiped his mouth and poured himself another generous gulp of red wine and sat down in the living room with a good book.


Tonks was walking through Diagon Alley, with a neatly folded black cloak over her arm. It was an exceptionally slow day, she passed hardly any shoppers, and it reminded her of the days, when Voldemort reigned. She shivered and hurried on. She quickly found the small shop of Severus Snape and opened the door, greeted by the tingling of a bell.

"I'll be with you in a minute," came a voice from somewhere around the corner. She looked around the small apothecary, to her relief it didn't hold any disgusting pickled animals. The walls were painted white, and the furniture was a nice shade of dark brown. There was a counter and behind it a huge apothecary cabinet that filled out the whole of the back wall. And on one side there was another chest of drawers. There was a framed drawing of Hogwarts hanging above it otherwise it was a stark place, but practical and spotless. It actually suited her former fellow order member she thought to herself, when Severus came through the half-opened door leading, to what she assumed would be his office.

"Hello Severus," she said softly.

He hadn't changed much, the times she met him on the graveyard, she didn't pay much attention. But now she saw that he still looked what she remembered him. He was tall, with a wiry frame, his hair still black and long, his eyes still black and piercing. But he definitely looked healthier, the dark circles under his eyes were gone and he didn't look as sickly slim as he used to.

"Hello Nymphadora," he replied.

"Please call me Tonks."

He nodded.

"I came to give you back your cloak," she said handing him the folded piece of fabric.

"Thank you!" she rested her hand on his hand, but pulled away quickly, when she noticed that he flinched under her touch.

"I'm sorry you had to see me like that. I … I…," words failed her.

"It's fine you were mourning your husband. I understand."

"I was, but also it suddenly became too much, being a single mum, Teddy being in his terrible twos and we were invited at the Burrow and family gatherings just make me so sad, they make me think about, what could have been … what I've lost…"

Tonks felt tears building up in her eyes and she mumbled a hasty, "I have to go," and fled the little store.


It was about two weeks after Tonks had come to his store and he was in his little kitchen preparing some tea, the moon was shining through his window. It was two o'clock in the morning and he had just awoken from a nightmare. Suddenly there was a knock on the door to the apothecary.

"What the f…!"

He gathered his wand and made his way downstairs in his bathrobe. The knocking got desperately.

"Hang on! I'm coming," he grumbled and opened the door.

"Tonks! What…", he stammered.

"I need your help. Please! He is running a high fever and he has been sick the whole day, he won't keep anything down," she sobbed, holding her little sleeping boy huddled in a blanket.

"Come in," he grumbled and stepped aside.

"I've run out of potions, and I don't know what to do?"

Severus quickly went through his apothecary cabinet, gathered a couple of potions, and led the way up to his private rooms.

"Put him on the bed. First, he needs something to keep him from dehydrating," Severus said and poured some light blue potion into the boy's mouth.

"And now we need to reduce his fever just a bit. Can you fetch me a bowl of lukewarm water with a splash of vinegar from the kitchen?"

She raised an eyebrow at this unusual request.

"The vinegar is in the cabinet closest to the window. Do as I say. Don't question my methods," he ordered harshly. She came back after a couple of moments and handed him a bowl.

"Okay, his hands and feet are hot. Don't ever do that, when either his hands or feet are cold."

She nodded still not sure what he was about to do. He gently took off Teddy's socks, dipped two patches of white fabric in the acid water wrung it a bit and wrapped one on each foot and put the socks back on and covered Teddy with his blanket. The little boy squirmed and whimpered in his sleep.

"Okay that should reduce his fever. And these potions will help to settle and calm his stomach," he said pouring another potion down the little boy's throat and gave her a small smile.

"And now I think we need to get you something to calm down. Have some tea."

He poured her a cup of the tea he brewed earlier.

"Please sit down," he gestured towards the small sofa.

"Thanks. I'm sorry, it is the first time he has been really poorly. I didn't know what to do."

Severus went to the kitchen and came back with a box full of different chocolates.

"Please help yourself," he said putting it down on the coffee table.

"Wow that's quite the selection you have there," she said choosing a small milk chocolate bar with whole almonds.

"Interesting choice," he murmured.

"Why of all people did you seek out me? I mean there are doctors."

"I know, it's just you seemed to care. And I knew you wouldn't be scared of us," she whispered.

"Scared of you two. Why would I?" he inquired.

"Well, everybody knows who Teddy's father is and so people don't want to get near him."

"Has he even got lycanthropy?"

"No. It's just people are prejudiced."

"But the man got a bloody Order of Merlin First Class, don't they see it," he spat.

Tonks slightly flinched at his sudden outburst.

"Sorry I didn't mean to startle you. It's just I'm so sick of prejudice."

"Well, that's just the way it is. How much do I owe you, Severus!"

"Nothing it's on the house." "

I can't accept it."

"Please do," he smiled at her.

"May I be so blunt and say you seem so different, than before, relaxed and … um … well … friendly," she said a bit nervously.

Severus grinned, "I guess I changed. I don't have to serve anybody anymore. I'm my own master now. I don't have to deal with dunderhead students and psychopathic death eaters anymore. I guess that calmed me down a bit. But don't tell anybody."

She smiled, "Thank you for helping us. I think we have to leave now."

"I've got some more potions for you, I just quickly write down, when you're supposed to give him which potion. He needs lots of fluids, preferably chamomile tea that's calms the stomach and let him rest. There is also a light calming draught, because I'm guessing being two and half years old and being your son he is not the calmest," he chuckled.

"Oh, let me just take off my home remedy, fever reducer," and with a flick of his wand he vanished the fabric under Teddy's socks and quickly cast a drying charm on them.

"Thanks again Severus, that's very kind of you," she hugged him, but feeling how he stiffened in her arms she quickly let go.

"Sorry I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," she mumbled.

"Let me accompany you downstairs."

He opened the door and said, "If he won't get better soon, let me know and we'll figure something out. Good night, Tonks."

"Good night, Severus. Thanks!" she said and walked a couple of steps before she disapparated. He sighed, locked the door behind him and made his way upstairs to catch maybe two or three hours of sleep before he had to start his day again.

I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a review!