_smoke_ (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} _smoke_) wrote,@ 2004-05-06 13:46:00 |
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Title: A Wizard's Tale, Part 2
Pairing: Snape/Tonks
Chapters: Six through Eight
Summary: Snape and Tonks in a romp.
This is the first story I wrote - full of errors and clichés, no doubt. It was a featured story at Sycophant Hex on Occlumency for August 2005.
My thanks to the Marvelous Moaning Myrtle, Beta Mistress Extraordinaire.
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Chapter 6:
Tonks was dreaming she was a student at Hogwarts and in the Forbidden Forest. Snape was chasing her and she ran and ran but he was always there, just behind or just ahead of her. He was shooting hexes at her -- great flashes of white light that crackled and sizzled just over her head.
A particularly loud crash made Tonks gasp and wake up. For a moment she lay rigid trying to figure out what was going on. There was a lamp burning low on a dresser and her back was pressed up against another warm back. With a jolt, the events of the night before came flooding back to her. Just then there was a brilliant flash of lightening followed by a huge crack of thunder. She sighed. At least she knew what had awakened her. But Snape... Could he possibly sleep through this? His breathing was deep and regular.
Tonks lay awake as the last wisps of the dream faded from her mind. She knew where that dream had come from. It came from an incident that happened in her fifth year.
It was spring and she was outside enjoying the late afternoon when a strange bird had tempted her into the Forbidden Forest. Her favorite aunt was a great lover of all things in nature and of birds especially. She had taken Tonks with her on long walks and taught her an appreciation of the natural world. By the time she was ten there weren’t many birds Tonks couldn’t identify and that’s why this particular one intrigued her. She was sure she’d never seen one like it before and wanted to get a good look so she could tell her aunt about it. By the time the bird flitted out of sight and Tonks looked around, she was farther in the forest than she’d ever been. Suppressing a shudder, she turned and headed back toward the school. She was about halfway to the edge of the forest when the sound of an animal whimpering in pain arrested her attention. Drawing her wand and holding it at the ready, she crept through the bushes toward the sound. Peeking out cautiously from behind a bush she saw a small shaggy dog with his foot caught in a wire snare. Probably set by someone from Hogsmeade, the snare was on a small side trail and had caught the dog by a forepaw. He was a cute dog, obviously well fed and cared for. Probably also from the village. The dog whined again and Tonks saw him looking down the path, tail wagging tentatively.
“Shit!” Tonks ducked farther down behind the bush as the figure of Professor Snape strode into view. He walked noiselessly, his wand held ready before him. As he approached the dog his eyes raked the bushes all around. Tonks could have sworn they lingered a moment on her hiding place but they went on.
Satisfied no one was nearby, Snape walked up to the dog and looked down at it. The dog bowed down on its front legs and wagged its tail a little harder. For a moment, Snape remained motionless, staring at the little animal, then slowly raised his wand and pointed it at the dog. The dog started back against the wire when he raised his hand and Tonks was about to cry out in protest when with a creak like a snapping twig, the snare disappeared and the dog tumbled over on his butt. Bouncing back up and shaking himself, the dog gave a bark and a wag and scampered off down the path toward the village, none the worse for his adventure.
Snape stared after it for a moment then slowly turned until he was facing Tonks’ hiding place. She stopped breathing. He must have seen her enter the forest and come after her. But he just stood there and stared until she almost screamed. Then he turned abruptly and walked deeper into the woods.
She gave him a few minutes and then bolted. Thus began one of the strangest afternoons of Tonks’ young life.
She had run like the demons of hell were after her; crashing and tumbling through the brush, heedless of the racket she was making. She fell a few times and then after one particularly hard fall, she heard a voice in her head command, ‘Stop!’ It seemed so real she froze on the ground and held her breath. A calm came over her and her mind cleared. Everything seemed to come into sharper focus and sounds seemed louder. Rising cautiously, she looked around and for the first time since bolting like a rabbit, she took stock of her surroundings and situation. She had run far enough that had it been in the right direction, she should be out of the woods. She was not, and there was no sign that she was close. She knew Professor Snape had to be close by and anxious to give her a dozen years detention and take a thousand points off Gryffindor and here she was making it easy for him by making more noise than a herd of hippogriffs. ‘Although,’ she thought wryly, ‘they probably made far less noise than I’ve been making.’
Holding her wand flat on her hand she used a charm to turn it into a compass needle and found she was indeed heading away from the school. Keeping her wand at the ready, she turned around and headed home. Without conscious effort, she glided through the woods like a shadow, moving from tree to tree in silence. She was just wondering where Professor Snape had gotten to when she thought she caught a glimpse of him in the distance. She hid for several long minutes, then continued on her way. Next, she saw a hint of him ahead of her and changed course to avoid a meeting. Then, he was behind her. Then to her left. Sinking down behind a rock after the fourth sighting she wiped her sweaty forehead on her cloak and thought. He was definitely stalking her. The bastard knew she was there and was trying to drive her further into the forest. Most likely trying to get her thoroughly lost and panicked before dragging her off to humiliate her before her Head of House. ‘Well,’ she thought, ‘not if I can help it!’ The next hour saw a game of cat and mouse of the highest level take place in the forest. Time and again, some sense would warn Tonks in time to avoid meeting the professor and once when she was about to come face to face with him, she screwed up her face and transmorfed into an old women. Bending over as though half crippled, she folded the edge of her cloak to hide the house emblem and was rooting in the leaves when Snape came round the corner of the path. He seemed startled for a moment, then approached her cautiously, his wand raised.
“Need to defend yourself against an old women, do ye?” Tonks croaked at him.
“Not at all,” he answered smoothly. “If an old woman is indeed what you are.”
Tonks cackled. “Can’t be too sure here in the forest, can ya now?”
Snape frowned, “No. What are you doing here old woman? Are you not afraid?”
“Me? No, bless ye! Why would anyone mess with an old witch like me?”
“And what is an old witch like you doing here?” He watched her closely.
“Just looking for mushrooms.” She gave him a conspiratorial wink. “I make potions.”
‘Jeez Louise,’ thought Tonks. ‘Pick something he knows everything in the world about, why don’t you!’
“Potions, is it?” She saw him smile and almost had a heart attack. “How interesting.”
Tonks turned her back and rooted around an old log.
“And have you seen a student from the school while you’ve been hunting mushrooms?”
“Student! What would a student be doing in the forest? They’re not allowed!” She tried to sound as grumpy as possible.
“Indeed.” The word came smooth as silk.
Tonks fought down the impulse to babble and went on with her digging about in silence.
“Well,” she swore she could hear a smile in his voice. “I’ll leave you to your task.” And with that he was gone, moving with his usual noiseless tread.
For several more minutes Tonks went on as if hunting mushrooms were the only thing in the world to concern her then collapsed in a quivering, giggling mass in the dirt, nearly hysterical with relief. After a minute, she got herself together and wiped the tears from her eyes. In a blink, she was herself again and fighting down a new case of nerves as she checked her direction and headed off once more.
She walked for what seemed forever, sometimes sure she was going in circles. She used every bit of intuition and skill she possessed to avoid pitfalls and snares. Whether they were traps set by Professor Snape or naturally occurring phenomena of the Forbidden Forest she didn’t know and didn’t care. There was the shimmering wall of light that she avoided by climbing one tree and jumping to the next and the pool of invisible quicksand that she broad-jumped over. Then there was a cloud of mist in a small ravine that she went quite a way off course to go around. And always, there was the chance glimpsing the professor in the gloom.
She was about out of mental and physical reserves when she saw the thinning trees and greater light that foretold the edge of the forest. With a sigh of relief she quickened her pace only to come up short with a start, wand at the ready. Sitting facing her by the side of the path about 20 feet away was a black fox. Black foxes were unusual and this one was especially large as well. His coat was thick and lush and the only white was the tip of the beautiful tail that was curled neatly around his forepaws. He stared at her unblinkingly.
“Well,” she said softly. “You certainly are a handsome fox.” The fox blinked slowly. “If a fox is indeed what you are.”
Tonks fought down the sudden urge to giggle. If it was Professor Snape she wondered how often in his life he had been called handsome. She had looked up all her teachers to see if any were Animagi and Professor Snape was not registered. Most of the students were of the opinion however that he would not let something like a legal requirement to register bother him.
“OK, Mr. Fox.” Tonks still held her wand steady on the unblinking animal. “Now what?”
At that moment there was a snap like a breaking stick behind her but when she whirled around, dropping into a crouch, there was nothing there. When she looked back, the fox was gone.
“Shit!” She murmured to herself and hurried toward the edge of the woods. She was almost there when with no warning of any kind from her overwrought senses, a hand closed on the collar of her cloak. With a shriek, she slipped out of the cloak and ran full bore for the school.
A third of the way there, instinct once again asserted itself and without wondering why, she dove and rolled to the side. A streak of white light sizzled over her head and exploded with a crack in the spot where she would have been. She got to her feet and ran again, this time staying low and zigzagging. No more spells pursued her and she bounded up the steps to the main entrance, tripped over the sill and with arms and legs flailing, hurtled into the entrance way. There were plenty of people about heading for the Great Hall for dinner and fortunately for her, one was Professor McGonagall. In a blink, Professor McGonagall had whipped out her wand and conjured a thick mattress of air to stop Tonks’ forward rush. Tonks hit it with a thud and crumpled unhurt to the floor gasping and shaking.
“Miss Tonks!” The stern, no-nonsense head of Gryffindor House towered over her. She was scowling, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Whatever are you doing?”
Tonks gasped for air and glanced at the tall clock in the corner of the hall. She was momentarily stunned to see how early it still was and that it was dinner time.
“Uh,” she gasped for air and ideas. “Didn’t want to be late for dinner?”
McGonagall surveyed her for a moment, taking in the torn knees of her jeans, the small tears in the sweatshirt, the tangle of leaves and twigs in her hair and the overall coating of dirt and grass stains.
“Then I suggest,” the Professor sniffed, “that you go upstairs and clean up at once!”
Tonks hastened to comply and a few minutes later was entering the room she shared with three other fifth year girls. The only one there was Susan, just putting books and papers away in her book-bag.
“What happened to you?” Susan stared.
“Oh, you know me,” Tonks answered lightly. “Fell down.”
“Better hurry and get changed then,” Susan advised and rose to leave the room.
“Susan!” Tonks voice was sharper than she intended but something had just caught her eye. A cloak was lying, clean and folded, on the foot of her bed. She approached it wearily and reached out to the collar. Her finger touched a small tear, now neatly mended. It was the cloak that had been torn off her at the edge of the forest.
Susan was waiting for her to speak. “Where did this come from?” She tried to keep her voice casual.
“A house elf brought it up a minute ago. I thought you’d sent it down for cleaning.” She frowned. “Isn’t it yours?”
“Yes, oh yes. It’s mine.” She glanced at Susan and saw her puzzled frown. “I just didn’t expect it back so soon.” She finished lamely. Susan shrugged and left the room.
Suddenly dizzy, Tonks sat on the edge of the bed. Why had Professor Snape returned the cloak to her? She had expected he would take it to Professor McGonagall or the Headmaster as proof of her being in the Forbidden Forest and as means of getting her punished or expelled. Not that he needed proof, of course. Even though Professor Dumbledore was fair and would not necessarily take a teacher’s word over a student’s, Professor McGonagall had seen her return. Besides, if Professor Dumbledore asked her directly, she had too much respect for him to lie. Professor Snape had her. What was he playing at?
Tonks shook herself and headed for the bathroom. A quick shower and change into her school uniform and she was heading for the Great Hall and dinner. Sitting down between two classmates, she snuck a glance at the corner of the head table and was relieved to see that Professor Snape’s place was empty.
She started to relax over dinner as Professor Snape’s place remained empty. Midway through the meal, however, she happened to glance up and see that not only was he there, but was staring at her intently. She gulped and froze with her fork an inch off her plate. The unblinking black eyes bored into her and she thought how a bird must feel when stalked by a snake. She couldn’t move and couldn’t take her eyes off his. Then without blinking or changing expression in any way, his hand slowly raised his wine glass toward his face.
Tonks stared in fascination and saw (did she see?) the glass pause half way and tilt ever so slightly toward her before he raised it the rest of the way and drank, still holding her gaze. Someone spoke to him down the table then and he turned away to reply, setting his glass down without looking back at Tonks.
‘Dear Merlin, what was that about?’ Tonks’ mind was racing. Was it a threat? Was he making sure she knew he knew? Was he promising he wasn’t done with her yet?
“Hey, Tonks!” The boy beside her jostled her elbow. “What’s the matter? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He laughed at his own joke.
“Very funny, Daniel.” She put down her fork and got up. “I’m just not feeling too well. I guess I’ll skip dessert and go study.”
He dismissed her with a wave and she fled the Dining Hall.
The next day was double potions and Tonks took her seat in the middle of the room with more anxiety than was normal. Usually, she rather liked the class in spite of Professor Snape. The art and science of potion making fascinated her and she seemed to have a real aptitude for it. Despite the many accidents caused by her abysmal clumsiness, she usually managed to get good marks.
When Professor Snape stomped into the classroom he didn’t seem in any worse mood than usual. Tonks almost giggled. How anyone could “stomp” in complete silence she didn’t know but Professor Snape could. Throughout class she waited for him to turn on her and attack but he was no more or less odious than he normally was, criticizing and belittling the students while stalking around the room staring into their cauldrons. The potion that day contained mushrooms and as Tonks was slicing hers he stopped by her table.
“Tell me, Miss Tonks; are you quite certain you’ve chosen the proper mushrooms from supply?” His voice was silky and low. The sort of tone that usually made students feel faint with fear.
“Yes, Sir.” Was her whispered reply.
He moved on without a reply and Tonks sat suddenly on her stool. ‘Did he know that had been her? Could he know? Why wasn’t he saying anything if he knew?’
But he never hinted again about that afternoon in the Forest and soon the stress of end of term exams and the approaching O.W.L.s took her mind off everything else.
Tonks rolled over carefully and rested her cheek against Snape’s shoulder blade. Bright as a lightening flash, a new thought came to her. Had that been a salute he’s given her that night at dinner? An acknowledgement of a chase well run? Was that why he’d recommended her for Auror training two years later? Tonks, from her adult perspective, didn’t think for a minute that she had outsmarted him in the Forbidden Forest. Not even with her transmorfication. Oh, he may have wondered for a minute, but not for long. There was no way a fifteen year old witch was going to fool or escape a wizard of Snape’s powers and skill unless he allowed her to do so. She thought back to that day and tried to remember more of the details. She had a hazy memory of moving through the woods without tripping or falling. She remembered how things seemed more clear, her senses sharper. Had she been different? Is that what he meant in his letter when he had said, ‘Despite her usual abysmal lack of coordination, Miss Tonks can, when her need is great enough, move with exceptional silence and stealth.’ Had she? Could she? She sighed. If it were true, the need must not have not arisen again, as she couldn’t remember any other time when she was anything less then a klutz.
“Something troubling you?” the words were spoken so softly and unexpectedly she let out a squeak of surprise.
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Chapter 7:
He rolled over in one smooth motion, pinning her legs with one of his own and wrapping his arm around her. His other arm slipped under her neck and his hand cradled her face from behind. The kiss he gave her was gentle and undemanding.
In a flash of memory, Tonks saw him again, frowning down at the little dog in the snare before releasing it. She realized that this was when she had started loosing her fear of him. And once the fear was gone, other emotions had the chance to rise to the surface of her consciousness.
“Nothing to say?” His tone was slightly mocking as he reached up and moved a strand of hair out of her face with a gentle finger.
Tonks suddenly jack-knifed her body, pushing him away. He raised his eyebrows in question but rolled off her. She followed him, pushing him over on his back and sitting up to straddle his waist. She smoothed his hair out of his face and leaned down to kiss his forehead. Slowly and lingeringly she kissed his eyebrows, eyelids, cheeks, nose, chin and finally his lips. He seemed content to let her lead and did no more than stroke her back with his hands as she worked her lips over to his ears, along his jawline and down his long neck. She swirled her tongue in the hollow at the base of his neck and was rewarded with a groan. Moving on, she licked and nibbled her way down to his nipples. She felt him stiffen slightly as she drew his nipple into her mouth and sucked. Nipping, sucking, twirling her tongue around the stiff flesh, she felt his body shudder. His hands came around her ribs to massage and knead her breasts. She made sure his other nipple got its share of attention before moving down over his ribs to his belly.
She nipped lightly at the side of his ribs and felt him jerk in response. She almost giggled. ‘Snape was ticklish?’ She tried it again but there was no reaction this time. Leaving a trail of kisses she moved down to his navel. She tongued it lightly and felt him shiver. Moving her knees between his legs, she ran her tongue straight down from his navel to the thick thatch of black hair below. His cock was hot and hard and she stroked it on her cheek, marveling at the silken feel of the skin. There was a drop of precum glistening at the tip and he moaned when she removed it with a flick of her tongue. Dipping her face, she gently nuzzled his balls for a moment before sliding her lips and fingers down the inside of his thigh. She licked and kissed her way back up the one leg and then repeated her ministrations on the other. She then used her face to urge his legs further apart and moving his balls aside with her cheek, pressed her tongue firmly against the smooth spot behind them. His hips twitched upward and he groaned deeply. She began licking and working her tongue and lips around his balls while her other hand wrapped around his cock and stroked slowly and lightly. She drew first one than the other of his balls into her mouth, rolling them on her tongue and sucking firmly but gently. When she was done, she drew her tongue up the underside of his cock from base to tip and swirled it lazily around the head. His one hand gripped her upper arm and the other moved into her hair, urging her mouth down on his cock. But she wasn’t ready for that and instead worked her way up and down the shaft nibbling and licking and wetting it well. Then lifting her head she took the whole thing in her mouth in one long slide down her throat. She only stopped when her nose was buried in his hair and the head of his cock was well into her throat. He gave a cry and heaved his hips upward. She held him as long as she could, then backed off and began stroking him with her mouth and hand. The other hand caressed his balls. She worked over him for several minutes, varying the length and pressure of her strokes and swirling her tongue around the head of his cock whenever she was on the upstroke.
Finally, he gripped both her upper arms and pulled her face up to his. His kiss was deep and passionate and lingering and she used the time to move her legs outside his so she was straddling him once more. Rising up on her knees, she guided his cock to her pussy and then sat all the way down on him in one smooth motion. Pressing her hips down on his and moving them slightly in a circle she tried to force as much of him into herself as she could. Throwing her head back she groaned with pure pleasure as she gripped his cock deep inside her. His hands moved slowly up her thighs from her knees until his fingers fanned over her hips and his thumb found her clit. She shivered as he started to circle that tender place. She started moving back and forth and his hips moved with hers. She looked down at him to find him watching her intently. Leaning forward onto her hands she dropped her face to his chest and started sucking first one nipple then the other. His free hand came up to knead her breast and the fingers began twisting and pinching her nipple. The pace of their thrusting increased and she raised her head and closed her eyes losing herself in the feel of his hands and cock. He never took his eyes off her face, watching her intently and waiting for just the right moment. When he saw the time had come, he thrust into her forcefully, pinching her nipple hard at the same time. She gasped and he pinched again. She cried out as she came, her muscles clamping down hard on his cock. He thrust into her again and finally closed his eyes as his own orgasm overcame him and his cock shot hot cum deep inside the panting woman.
Slowly Tonks sank down on his chest and lay still. He stroked her back lightly and waited for her to recover herself a bit. After a minute she sighed and slipped down beside him on the bed, nestling in under his arm. He went on stroking her upper arm. After a moment, Tonks took a deep breath and spoke.
“There’s something I gotta tell you.” She felt his whole body stiffen and realized what he was thinking. “Oh, no! It’s not that. Well, not really. Though I guess it is kinda. But it’s really the opposite!”
“Do you think,” he cut across her quietly, “You could manage to say what you have to say in a clear and concise manner?”
“Sorry.” Tonks composed herself. “I don’t love you.”
Snape snorted. “I didn’t think for a moment that you did.”
She ignored him.
“Right now, I’m not even sure I like you very much.” His hand started stroking her shoulder again. “You can be a cruel, sadistic son of a bitch,” she spit the words, “but I do not now, and never will, believe you’re a Death Eater.”
“And how can you possible imagine that your opinion could make a difference to me?” He voice was cold.
“For the same reason that I know you aren’t one.”
He snapped at her. “You are making absolutely no sense.”
She laid a hand on his belly. “I know you can’t be a Death Eater because you’re not dead inside.” He stopped breathing. “I know you don’t care about me; possibly you don’t care about anyone. But it’s not because you can’t.”
He pushed her away roughly and sat up on the edge of the bed. “You have no idea what you’re talking about!” He spit the words at her.
“Look,” Tonks sat up on the other side of the bed facing his back. “I’m know I’m saying this all wrong. You know I say things all wrong,” she pleaded. “I just want you to know that I’m not going to get all emotional about you or cause problems or anything. I want you to know that I know we’re on the same side no matter what it looks like. I want you to know that I know I can count on you and I want you to know that you can count on me.”
He sighed deeply and relaxed a bit. “You have such a way with words, Tonks. And you are a hopeless Gryffindor.” He went on, his voice dripping sarcasm. “I do hope, however, that if I ever do have to count on you, which I sincerely doubt, that you will have at least remembered to bring along your wand.”
Tonks laughed, refusing to be baited. “Well, yeah, there is that.”
He turned to face her, his face serious. “It’s not a joke, Tonks. These are very dangerous times.”
She looked down and whispered, “I know. Which is why I want you to know the other thing.”
He drew back suspiciously. “What other thing?”
She took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. “I don’t love you; I may not even really like you, but I do care that you stay alive.” He looked puzzled and she went on. “Your life means something to me and I want you to be careful. I want you to bring that miserable, pigheaded, arrogant, black-hearted-bastard’s hide of yours back from wherever you go, safe and sound.”
He blinked, started to speak, then stopped and scowled.
“Scowl all you want,” Tonks grinned at him, suddenly feeling light. “I’m not afraid of you.”
Snape snorted and turned his head to stare out the window at the darkness and rain. After a long minute, Tonks shivered and asked quietly, “Do you think we could call a truce and maybe climb under the covers for what little is left of the night? I’m cold and I think it will be awhile before I’ll be able to lie in a lovers arm’s again.”
Snape turned to her abruptly and looked at her as if seeing her for the first time.
“Of course.” He stretched out and held the covers for her until she was settled, then turned and wrapped his arms and legs around her, pulling her close. She pressed her face against his chest.
“You know,” she kept her tone light. “When you’re not being a bully, or trying to scare the shit out of me, you’re a great lover.”
“I am,” he acknowledged, “even then.”
Tonks punched him lightly in the stomach. “And a modest one.”
“That, too.” She could hear the smile in his voice. He kissed the top of her head. “And you, Miss Tonks, have a very sweet ass.”
He caught her wrist before she could punch him again, then wrapped his arm around her and once more held her tight.
“Go to sleep,” he whispered into her hair.
Tonks’ sleep was deep and dreamless and when she awoke to full sunshine and the sound of people moving downstairs, she thought it had perhaps been a bit enchanted as well. She looked hopefully around the room, but, as expected, there was no sign of Snape. Her robe was neatly folded on the chair and her slippers, which she had left in her room, were underneath. On top of the folded robe, where she couldn’t fail to miss it, was her wand. She smiled and moved to see what was beside it. It was a small bottle of a viscous, clear liquid and the label held Snape’s neat cramped writing. ‘Contraceptive Potion’. She smiled to herself.
‘No, Snape, you may not be a very nice man, but you’re not as bad as you try to make out that you are. And you are assuredly not evil.’
She pulled on the robe and downed the potion in one gulp, noting its slightly sweet flavor. Just as she was thinking that it was very different from the potion she had taken before in similar circumstances, the words on the label changed. They became large and bold then faded away as soon as she had read them. ‘Trust No One’. Tonks gagged as the taste in her mouth went bitter and she started to drool. She ran for the bathroom and hung over the sink, drooling and choking. She did not however, throw the foul liquid up as she had hoped and was sweating and shaking with fear of what she may have swallowed.
Then her mind clicked. This was 12 Grimmauld Place. It was safe from intruders. Snape had no doubt sealed the bedroom door when he left so that only she could open it. Therefore, only Snape could have left the potion. Therefore, foul as it may be, it was not going to kill her.
“Damn you!” She stamped her foot and spit another mouthful of drool in the sink. “Damn you, you rotten son-of-a-bitch!”
There was a light knock on the door and Mrs. Weasley’s voice floated through. “Is Professor Snape still here, dear? I thought he’d left, but there’s a message for him if he hasn’t.”
“No!” Tonks felt tears of frustration mingle with the tears caused by the potion. “He’s gone and I don’t know or care when he’s coming back!”
“I see,” was the soft reply.
Tonks spit more drool in the sink and wondered how long it would be before the unpleasant effects of the potion wore off.
*******************
Chapter 8:
Snape refilled his wine glass and sighed.
His errands for the Order had taken him further afield than anticipated that summer and kept him longer. The night of sexual activity, instead of tiring him out, had left him feeling energized and alert. It had been quite a while since he had indulged his considerable appetite for sex. It was simply too dangerous. Dangerous to make himself physically vulnerable. He wasn’t worried about being emotionally vulnerable. Snape cared about no one but Snape and it had been that way since he was in his teens. But he had enemies who were totally without scruple and if they thought he cared for another, that person’s life could very well be in danger. He could not allow a woman to be tortured or die just because she shared his bed, so the occasional well-chosen, high-priced prostitute was all he had allowed himself for years.
He smiled to himself. He had enjoyed Tonks. He’d hurt her; he’d frightened her and still she responded to him with a will. He frowned. He hadn’t been able to shake her wide-eyed trust in him. Damn the woman! Didn’t she know how foolish that kind of trust could be? He’d hurt her, for Merlin’s sake, and still she believed him to be good. He ran a hand through his hair. Well, maybe not good. He could imagine the curses she had flung at him after drinking the potion he had left her. It was a contraceptive potion all right, with just a few extras. He was not proud of what he had done to Tonks; he hadn’t been able to muster the will to do what had to be done to break her. Not that he really wanted to break her, just make her a little more careful. Damn! He poured more wine. What was the matter with him?
He had next seen Tonks in very different circumstances. Using one of his Animagi forms, he was returning to 12 Grimmauld Place to report on his extended trip. Animagi were rare enough, but he had the extraordinary ability to transform into two different forms. The one he was using to return was a black pigeon. He was very tired but almost there when disaster had struck. Not the Dark Lord -- a falcon. Diving on him at over 100 miles an hour, he had not been able to entirely escape the balled talons. Had it hit him directly, his back would have snapped and that would have been that but he managed to swerve enough to receive only a glancing blow. It was enough, however, to break a couple of ribs and open a deep gash on his side. He immediately dropped as close to the roof tops as possible and staggered through the air to Grimmauld Place. He had tried to land between the two neighboring houses and had fallen to the ground in a pile of bloody feathers. Exhausted and injured, he hadn’t the strength to transfigure back to human form. He was trying to think what to do when a pair of pink high-topped sneakers had bounced down the street and into view.
Tonks was in a good mood and whistling as she walked down the street. She almost missed the flutter of feathers between the dustbins at 14 Grimmauld Place. Stooping to look, she saw a black pigeon panting and bleeding on the sidewalk.
“Poor thing,” she picked it up gently and held it to the light to examine its wound. “Ow!” It pecked her sharply. “What, you don’t want my help?” The bird glared at her with its beady eyes. She looked into those eyes for a moment and felt a cold wave wash over her.
“Holy shit!” She whispered. “Is that you?” The bird stared. “But aren’t you a fox?” She asked out loud. The bird pecked her sharply.
“All right, all right, I’ll keep my voice down.” She drew the bird close to her and hid it with her hands. What to do? If this were a wizard she was holding, it was too weak to transfigure back to human form. If she cared for it, it might kill her as soon as it was strong enough. She was sure, though she didn’t know why, that it was Snape but she couldn’t bring it inside 12 Grimmauld Place in case it wasn’t; so what to do? She didn’t dare take it to the Ministry and she didn’t think her place was a good idea. Of course! Her favorite aunt. Lily was the aunt who had taught her about nature and was an accomplished herbalist and potion maker in her own right. She had a place outside the city where she grew rare plants and had a workshop for her potions. She sold plants and potions throughout the wizarding world. Lilly would be just the person to help her with her injured bird!
Tucking the bird under her sweatshirt and holding it against her skin to keep it with her, she Apparated to her aunt’s back yard. Putting her head in the back door she called but received only silence in reply. The pigeon pecked her sharply in the stomach and with an apology, she pulled it out from under her shirt. She then went to the sweet smelling workshop, but that was empty as well. Going into the back room, she set the injured bird on the big work table.
“OK, guy. Lily’s not here, but I’ve helped her lots of times with animals and birds.” She gathered a selection of items and brought them to the table. The bird lay on its side, its eyes half closed. Ever so gently, Tonks looked at the gash across the chest and under the left wing.
“I don’t suppose you could hold your wing up for me?” she asked half jokingly. The bird raised its wing and held it, trembling, in the air. Tonks’ eyes opened wide. “Well, I guess you are somebody, all right. I just hope you’re who I think you are.” The bird closed its eyes for a long second. “Right,” she went to work.
Carefully, she cleaned the wound then spread a little ointment on it before picking up her wand. When she pointed it at the bird, he struggled to rise.
“Shhhh, it’s all right. I know what I’m doing, really,” she spoke gently. The bird quieted and, touching the wound ever so lightly, she murmured a healing spell. The wound closed over, but was still red and painful looking. By now the bird was lying limp and exhausted on its side, its eyes closed. Quickly, Tonks hunted through the bottles on the long shelf over the sink and finding the one she wanted, rummaged through a drawer for an eye dropper. She glanced back at the bird and it seemed to be barely breathing.
“Hang on guy,” she coaxed. Taking up a small amount of liquid into the dropper, she tried to coax the bird’s beak open. It came to life with a flutter and fought her.
“Damn it Snape, it’s me! I’m trying to help you here, not poison you!” She spoke loudly to the struggling bird. It instantly stilled in her hand and allowed her to put a single drop of potion in its mouth.
She immediately dropped the medicine dropper and backed against the door, her wand in her hand. If it wasn’t Snape, she could be in big trouble.
It was.
The restorative potion was strong and in the blink of an eye, the bird was gone and Snape was sitting on the work table. A very scuffed, dirty, bloody and exhausted Snape, but Snape alive none the less. With a huge sigh of relief, Tonks shoved her wand in her jeans and leapt to steady the swaying wizard.
“Here,” she shoved the bottle of potion into his hand, “Take two large swallows.” He did so without protest and set the bottle on the table with an unsteady hand. A shudder ran through his tall frame and he straightened up, meeting Tonks’ eyes for the first time. He stared at her for a long second, then in a very quiet voice said, “Thank you.”
“Well, you’re welcome.” Tonks was a bit flustered. “You could have waited a few minutes before transfiguring. Gotten a little more strength back first.”
He shook his head and looked around the sunny shop. “Where’s your aunt?”
“Out somewhere, I guess.” Tonks waved her wand and two mugs of steaming tea appeared. He picked up one and wrapped both hands around it, savoring the warmth.
“All right,” Tonks moved close to his side and feeling suddenly shy reached for his torn shirt. “I’m not done yet.”
He pulled back from her and started to speak, but she cut across him. “No! I’m in charge now and you’re going to do as I say.”
He looked at her with a cocked eyebrow for a second, then obediently raised his arm, wincing as he did so.
Tonks spread more ointment on the gash and reached for a bandage. “Are your ribs broken?”
“I think so,” his voice was strained, his breathing uneven.
“I’ll strap this up tight then, but you should go to the hospital. I’m not real good with broken bones and that gash should be looked at.”
“No,” was the simple reply. “I can fix the ribs and you’ve done a fine job with the other.” Pulling his wand from a pocket, he pointed it at his ribs and murmured a spell.
Immediately, his breathing became easier and he sat up straighter. Picking up the jar of ointment he sniffed experimentally. He thought then sniffed again. “Very good.” He put the top on and set it down.
“Glad you approve,” Tonks said wryly. She backed away and sat on a stool.
Snape took a drink of tea and ran a hand over his face. Then he looked at Tonks.
“How did you know it was me?” Some of the usual edge was back in his voice.
“Well,” she smiled. “I picked you up without a thought as to the fact that you may not be what you seemed. You pecked me, rather hard, for that. Then, when you glared at me like that, well, I’ve been on the receiving end of that look so many times in my life; I had to recognize it, didn’t I?”
He looked at her for a long moment. “You shouldn’t be so trusting. I could have been a spy looking for a way into headquarters.”
“Well, you weren’t. I almost lugged you off to the Ministry, you know.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I guess I was really sure it was you. Almost.”
He gave a shadow of a smile.
“But what about you?” Tonks continued. “You certainly knew it was me. Why did you fight me on the potion?”
He sighed. “Habit.”
“Stubborn.”
“That too.” His voice was dry. “Besides, after that potion I gave you a month or so ago, I wasn’t too sure what you’d be giving me.”
Tonks looked puzzled then incredulous. “You were hurt! You think I’d...?” She snorted in disgust. “You should be more trusting; not everyone’s like you!”
He shot her a look then slipped off the table and stretched, bringing his elbows up to shoulder height but not raising his arms over his head. When he looked back at Tonks, there was the start of a glimmer in his eyes.
Tonks picked up the empty mugs and set them in the sink. As she walked back past Snape he caught her arm and pulled her close. She let out a startled squawk and tripped over his foot. He steadied her and holding her firmly, gave her a long gentle kiss.
“Have I thanked you for saving my life?” He purred in her ear.
“Ummmm, I think so,” Tonks floundered, all her senses awaking to the man who held her so close.
“If you can’t remember, I couldn’t have done a very good job,” he murmured, kissing her neck.
Tonks quivered all over and laughed nervously. “Look, ten minutes ago you were about dead, you sure you’re up for this?”
He leaned back against the table pulling her off balance against him and pressing her hips against his groin. She could feel his erection.
“Well,” she smiled, “I guess you are.”
He held her tightly for a moment. “You know,” his voice was quiet, “I’ve been close to dying before, but I’ve always been able to help myself. I felt so helpless for a minute there on the street.” He lifted his head and scowled at her. “Not that I wouldn’t have taken care of myself.”
Tonks grinned. “You would never give up. You would have managed something.”
He smiled back. “Eventually, yes.” He smoothed her hair away from her face and frowned. “It was still rather fortunate that you came along just then and why do you do these things to your hair?”
She giggled. Her hair was green and orange and rather shaggy. She quickly changed it.
“Better,” he murmured, nuzzling her ear.
She shivered and pressed against him. He stood abruptly and his kiss became rough with urgent need. She responded in kind. Undoing her jeans, he yanked them down over her hips, taking her panties with them. Lifting her, he turned around and set her on the table. Then, breaking the kiss, he pulled her jeans, panties and sneakers off in one smooth motion. She used the time to get out of her top, then went to work on his trousers as soon as he stood up again. He jerked them down to his knees and leaned in to kiss her. His tongue slid down her throat and his hand moved between her legs. His fingers slipped inside and found her soaking wet. With a grunt of approval, her pulled her hips forward and slid her smoothly onto his cock. She gasped into his mouth and wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. His strokes were short and hard and after a moment he loosened her arms and laid her back on the table. Taking her legs and placing them on his shoulders, he leaned forward and drove into her. Gripping her breast with one hand he moved the other hand between them and in a few more long hard thrusts it was over for both of them. They cried out together then he slumped forward, his weight on his hands. For a minute, the only sound was their labored breathing then he stepped back and offering her a hand, pulled her up to a sitting position.
He was frowning. “I didn’t mean to do that.”
“Well,” Tonks responded with a smile, pulling her top back on. “I shudder to think what it might have been like if you had!”
Snape threw his head back and gave a short bark of laughter. He pulled up his trousers as Tonks retrieved hers. Looking down, he frowned. “I’m a bit of a mess, aren’t I?”
“Not your usual natty self,” Tonks agreed.
With a wave of his wand, his clothes were repaired and clean.
“Not bad,” she nodded approval and changed her own hair.
He scowled. “Must you?”
“It’s me!”
He sighed. Then reached out and gently pulled her close. This time the kiss was long and gentle. After, she leaned her face into his chest.
“I’m glad you’re back. We were worried.”
“Mmmmm,” he stepped away, a skeptical look on his face. “Shall we Apparate?”
“I will if you will,“ she teased. “Oh, wait!” She dove for the shelf and searching out a bottle took a large swallow of the contents. She looked Snape in the eye. “Contraceptive Potion. The kind that doesn’t make you drool.”
He smirked.
“The end of the block?” Tonks cocked her head to one side.
He nodded and with a crack was gone. She was right behind him.
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To be continued in Part 3.