Chapter 5 – Silence is Violent

Tonks was finishing her dinner at the Three Broomsticks when Rosmerta approached her table with an air of quiet urgency. "This letter came for you," she said, holding out a folded parchment.

"Thanks." Tonks reached for the letter, her fingers brushing against Rosmerta's, and quickly opened it. Her eyes scanned the words, the familiar ink of Severus Snape's sharp handwriting cutting through the otherwise mundane evening.

Dear Nymphadora,

Night patrol begins at precisely 10 p.m. and ends at 2 a.m. You are assigned to patrol the sixth and seventh floor corridors. If you encounter a student out of bed, deduct 10 points from their House. Use a Patronus if you require assistance entering the castle or throughout the night. I will check in when your duty concludes.

Sincerely, Severus Snape

Tonks glanced at her watch—half-past nine. She hastily finished her meal, pushing the empty plate away, and stood up. With a silent nod to Rosmerta, she left the pub, her mind churning with thoughts of Snape, the upcoming patrol, and the gnawing resentment she'd been harboring since their last encounter.

The castle was eerily quiet as Tonks made her way through the halls. The soft echo of her boots on the stone floor was the only sound, the walls of Hogwarts swallowing up every other noise, amplifying the isolation she felt. No students were sneaking about—just the dull, oppressive stillness of a place empty of life after hours.

She was assigned the seventh-floor corridor, a location that, at one time, she'd found peaceful. The Astronomy Tower stood nearby, its towering spire offering a stunning view of the grounds—something that had always calmed her, even in the darkest moments. But tonight, it was nothing more than a distant, unreachable solace, its beauty lost under the weight of her own emotions.

Tonks stopped in front of the tower, leaning against the cool railing, gazing up at the star-strewn sky. A memory of better days washed over her, unbidden but impossible to ignore.

Flashback

Tonks had barely managed to stay awake during her first assignment with the Order. She was stationed in the Hall of Prophecies, trying to stifle the exhaustion threatening to overtake her, when a soft sound disturbed the quiet. Her wand was out before her brain even registered the noise, the air thick with the tension of a trained Auror on alert. She moved swiftly, cautiously, down the hallway.

"I know you're there," she called, her voice low and steady. "Reveal yourself."

A soft chuckle echoed in the dark. Slowly, an invisibility cloak slid off, revealing Remus Lupin.

"It's just me, Remus Lupin," he said, an amused glint in his eyes.

"How do I know for sure?" she replied, her voice sharp, eyes scanning for any sign of a threat.

"You trip on the troll-leg umbrella stand at headquarters every time you're there," Remus answered matter-of-factly.

Tonks blinked, feeling a flush spread across her cheeks. "Alright, fine," she muttered, lowering her wand. "Why are you here?"

"I was sent to check on you," he said softly.

"Check on me?" she blurted. "I'm a trained Auror, Remus. I don't need babysitting."

"I know, but it's an Order tradition," Remus replied gently. "We always send someone on first patrol duty to make sure things go smoothly. Mad-Eye insisted on coming, but he thought you'd throw a fit, so he sent me instead."

Tonks was quiet for a moment, still flustered. "Well, I don't like my first name," she muttered, changing the subject. "Just call me Tonks."

A faint smile tugged at Remus's lips. "I like Nymphadora. It's a beautiful name."

"Really?" Tonks blurted, surprised. "I used to get teased mercilessly about it. Especially about the 'Nymph' part," she admitted with a sheepish laugh.

"Well," Remus said, his voice thoughtful, "'Nymphadora' is a name with history—spirit of nature, like a fairy. You've got the hair to match it, too."

Tonks chuckled softly, her shoulders relaxing as she looked at him. "Thanks," she muttered. "But I still prefer Tonks."

The rest of the night passed with light conversation, and before long, they were no longer strangers, but something more—a quiet bond forming in the dimly lit hallway. It would be a few short weeks before things would change, but in that moment, Tonks couldn't help but feel a flicker of something deep inside her.

***End of Flashback***

The distant memory evaporated as quickly as it had come, and Tonks was back in the present, her thoughts heavy, her heart aching. The night air felt colder now, sharp and biting against her skin.

"Nymphadora."

The voice was deep and familiar—Severus Snape's. Tonks jumped, startled, her breath catching in her throat. She quickly wiped the sudden sting of tears from her eyes before turning to face him.

"Did I interrupt something?" Snape asked, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

"No," Tonks replied quickly, keeping her tone even, "just doing some thinking. What brings you up here?"

"I came to check in," Snape said, his eyes narrowing as he took a few steps closer. "Were there any students out of bed?"

Tonks hesitated, then nodded. "No, not a one."

Snape's face darkened slightly, but he masked it quickly. "How disappointing."

Tonks tilted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You really do find joy in punishing students, don't you?" she said lightly, trying to keep the mood casual despite the tension between them.

The remark took Snape by surprise. In his experience, Tonks usually bristled with defensiveness, especially after the incident by the gates. But tonight, she was calm—almost too calm. He couldn't quite understand her, and that frustrated him.

"It amuses me," Snape said, his voice softening slightly. "It gets monotonous after fourteen years, but it's the job, isn't it?"

Tonks sighed, leaning against the railing as she stared at the empty grounds below. "I don't know how you do it night after night. Guarding Hogwarts, watching students—you've done this for so long. It's exhausting. Last year, I—" She stopped herself, her voice cracking at the mention of Remus's name.

Snape saw the struggle in her eyes. He knew that look too well. She was teetering on the edge, and there was nothing worse than the agony of holding back emotions. He cleared his throat, speaking before the silence became unbearable.

"I enjoy the silence, actually," he admitted, the words slipping out more easily than he intended. "Hogwarts is… loud. The noise of hundreds of students, their needs, their demands. Sometimes I just need to think without the chaos."

Tonks gave a short, bitter laugh. "Silence is violent, isn't it? It's easier to drown out everything when you are surrounded by distractions, but alone all the insecurities come out to haunt."

Snape's eyes softened for a brief moment, and he looked away. He agreed, for he knew that feeling all too well. The vulnerability in her voice caught him off guard, but before he could respond, the moment slipped away.

"Well," he said gruffly, "your duty is over. I'll see you tomorrow night."

Before he could turn to leave, Tonks called out.

"Wait." She swallowed, gathering her thoughts. "What did you mean earlier by saying my Patronus was weak? In front of Harry… when we were by the gates?"

Snape turned slowly, his expression unreadable. "All Patronuses are weak, Nymphadora," he replied. "They come from our greatest weaknesses. And we all have them."

Tonks frowned, her mind racing. "But isn't our Patronus meant to be our greatest strength? That's what Dumbledore always said."

Snape's lips twisted into something almost like a sneer. "Strength?" he repeated. "You think love makes us strong? Love is what makes us weak. Our Patronuses come from what we hold most dear, and that, Nymphadora, is what makes us vulnerable. Don't you see?"

Tonks's heart clenched, but she pushed back. "Maybe. But love is the only thing we've got left, isn't it? It's Voldemort's greatest weakness."

Snape's eyes darkened, and for a moment, he said nothing. When he finally spoke, his voice was cold, distant. "What happens when we lose it, Nymphadora?"

Tonks hesitated, the weight of his words settling into her bones. She felt the full weight of her loneliness, of the pain she hadn't yet allowed herself to confront. Her thoughts turned to Remus—the way he had distanced himself, the way he'd pushed her away.

"I don't know," she whispered, her voice thick with unspoken hurt.

"Well, I have known such feelings, and rarely do I find that pain helpful.," Snape mocked.

"You talk like a Death Eater." Tonks was half joking and half serious by her statement.

Snape studied her, his face unreadable. Without another word, he turned and left, his black robes swirling behind him.

Tonks stood alone in the silence, her mind reeling. Everything he had said made sense in a way she wasn't ready to admit. And yet, despite it all, she couldn't bring herself to let go of the one thing she believed in—love, in all its complexity.

When she finally made it back to her room that night, she tried once more to change her hair. Closing her eyes, she concentrated, imagining it shifting to purple, but once again, nothing happened. Her hair remained dull and brown, just like the empty ache in her chest.

But somewhere deep inside, something had shifted—she was beginning to understand. Maybe love was her greatest weakness. But maybe, just maybe, it was worth the risk.