There was a moment of dead silence falling over the inhabitants of Grimmauld Place 12 when Nymphadora Tonks threw her arms around Severus Snape and kissed him squarely on the mouth. People were audibly sucking in their breath; one did not simply kiss Severus Snape. The idea was wholly ludicrous and everyone expected Tonks to be thrown off of him and chided for her foolishness. Except...it seemed that the sourly Potions Professor was actually kissing her back. Was it really true? Had it really been Severus Snape and Nymphadora Tonks that had been having an illicit affair?

It was after that truth had sunk in that all hell broke loose. Voices started to mix together, people were exchanging shocked glances, somewhere, a Weasley kid - or maybe a pack of Weasley kids - screamed and Sirius Black placed himself between the by now enthusiastically snogging couple and punched Snape in the face.

"That's my cousin, you filthy rat", he yelled. Severus was about to give Sirius a reply on kind, but before he could do anything, Tonks had already slapped her cousin and looked at him angrily.

"If you punch him again, Sirius, I swear on Merlin's beard...", she left her sentence unfinished but the glare in her eyes was message enough. Sirius still looked angrily at Severus but backed off a step. Remus warily put an arm over his shoulder, at the same time a gesture of comfort and also a way to restrain his friend.

"Now, now", Dumbledore said mildly, "let's all calm ourselves. I fear the Misses Granger, the Misses Weasley, the Misters Potter and Weasleys have revealed more then they bargained for. We should all try to keep our tempers in check and instead congratulate the children for solving one of the Order's most notorious mysteries!" He winked at Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and the Twins, who all stood frozen and stared at the scene in front of them.

"And maybe", he continued, "we should give the mystery" - he winked at Tonks and Severus - "a little space and privacy. After all, they are now out in the open and might wish to discuss that new turn of events..." His eyes sparkled as he looked onto the couple, who seemed at the same time embarrassed and relieved.

When no one started to leave the room, he cleared his throat and let his gaze sweep over the members in the room.

"They might wish to discuss this privately", he repeated nodded towards the door. "Molly, might I persuade you to make some tea? And maybe some biscuits? I do feel like a little late night snack", he said again and maybe it was the shock and people had really needed all the time to process, or, more likely, it was the promise of food that finally broke the tension and persuaded people to leave the room.


"Can you believe it?", Ginny asked horrified.

"I didn't even know Snape knew women and relationships as a concept existed", George added equally horrified.

"Let alone that he would like Tonks", Ron added with a sneer.

"What's wrong with Tonks?", Hermione asked immediately.

"Clearly a lot, if she is into Snape", Harry said.

"I'm just so embarrassed that I got the solution to this all wrong", Hermione muttered. "I was so sure it was Lupin and Tonks..."

"Oh, cheer up", Ron said and gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder. "No one will remember that anyway."

"Yeah", Fred added as they sat down at the kitchen table, "everyone will forever remember the way Tonks kissed" - he shuddered - "Snape and maybe how Sirius threw a punch at him - which was awesome by the way", he added towards Sirius, who gave a self satisfied smirk but changed to a noncommittal grunt when he saw Molly's face.

"No more talk of punches and kisses", she said sternly to her kids and the Order members, who had of course all been talking of nothing else but kisses and punches.

"But Mum", Ginny tried, but immediately fell silent when she saw her mother's glare.

"You have meddled in affairs that are not your concern and now look what chaos you've stirred up! The Order is not a dating or gossip platform!"

"Maybe someone should have told Tonks and Snape", George muttered under his breath.


Meanwhile, Tonks and Snape stood facing each other in the living room, still somewhat shocked from the last minutes.

"I cannot believe I did that", Tonks muttered and threw her hands on her reddened cheeks, avoiding Severus' gaze.

"I am so sorry", she said miserably. "I ruined everything."

This finally put Severus out of his stupor and he closed the distance between them and took her hands away from her face and into his hands.

"Tonks, look at me", she said with his calm and steady voice.

Only when she met his gaze did he continue, stroking her hands.

"You did not ruin anything." He sighed. "I must admit, this is not ideal... Those children and their meddling...", he trailed off, anger visible on his face.

He was still absentmindedly stroking her hands and only when she began to smile and placatingly place kisses on his knuckles did he continue:

"I much rather would have preferred a different ending for this evening and less of a spectacle, when people would have inevitably found out, but nonetheless I'm glad people have found out." His voice, which had been calm and steady, started to crack. "No more hiding."

He tucked a stray lock of her purple hair behind her ear and looked at her expectantly. Had he misjudged their relationship? Did she not feel the same way? He could feel the anxious thoughts gnawing at him at the back of his head and was about to put on a sneer, put on the mask of the odious Snape who would never have feelings for a woman, especially not a woman such as Nymphadora Tonks, when she put cupped his cheek with her hand, gave him a radiant smile and kissed him.

"Oh Severus", she sighed, "you are so right." "I always am", he said with a smile. She stuck her tongue out at him.

"No more hiding", she nodded. "This will take some time getting used to." She sighed and he grinned at her.

"This is new for us and will take time to get used to... But imagine how they are feeling!" He nodded towards the kitchen, unable to hide his glee. Tonks barked out a laugh and he kissed her again.

"Oh, those poor children", she said.

-the end-