The Darkness in Her Heart

Chapter Ten: Business As Usual

Tonks woke up Tuesday morning wrapped in Severus’ arms. He was already awake and had been watching her for some time. “Morning sleepy,” he said, stroking her back.

“Morning,” she mumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “Grr, I have to go back to work today.” She sighed, grumbling under her breath about how stupid her job is. Severus smiled at her. “You know, you have a really nice smile,” she said, looking up at him. “You should do it more often.”

“Then I wouldn‘t be able to scare my students into behaving.” His smile faded and his usual scowl returned.

“You know, you don‘t have to scare them. If I was a teacher I would be nice and they would respect that. And I wouldn‘t favor any particular house.”

“Well, you‘re not a teacher, so we‘ll never know how you would treat your students.”

“No we won‘t. Do you know what time it is?”

He looked down at his watch. “It‘s 5:30. What time do you have to be at work?”

“9:00. I don‘t want to go,” she said, burying her face in his chest. Then she looked up at him. “I want to stay here with you.”

“It won‘t do you any good to stay with me, I have to teach. Though I‘d rather have another week like last. It was nice to have a break from those bratty Gryffindors.”

“They are not bratty. That‘s the Slytherins,” she smirked.

“Do not insult my house,” he said testily.

“You‘re a very difficult man to love sometimes. I‘m gonna go take a shower,” she said, sitting up.

“Don‘t go yet, we have time,” he smirked, pulling her down to meet his lips.

“Are you felling up to it? Madam Pomfrey said we should wait.” He didn’t even bother to answer, just continued kissing her. He moved his down to her stomach and ran his fingers around her navel. Slowly he moved his hand up to her breast, keeping one hand around her waist. He made small circles around her nipples until they pebbled under his delicate touch. She let out a little moan of pleasure and he smiled under her kiss. She moved her hand down to his member and gently stroked it, teasing him. At his groan of protest she took it into her hand and moved up and down. She continued until he was about to climax. Then he rolled her over and thrust inside of her. She let out soft moans until her back arched with her climax. He continued moving in and out for another minute before he himself came. He collapsed next to her, taking her in his arms once more.

“You‘re amazing, Severus. What time is it now.”

“6:45,” he sighed. “We should probably get up.”

“Yeah… I claim the bathtub!” she cried, running to the bathroom and warding the door. Once she finished Severus rushed in the bathroom for a quick shower. When he got out Tonks had already prepared cereal. He did notice, however, that there were many bubbles from the Scourgify spell. He assumed she had spilled the milk.

“Have another accident, love?”

“I spilled the milk… I‘m hopeless.”

“It‘s okay, I love you anyway. What‘s for breakfast?”

“The only thing I know how to cook for breakfast. Cereal.”

He laughed. “Cereal it is. So what have you been doing at work?”

“I‘ve been under cover at Knockturn Alley. We‘re trying to figure out who‘s behind all the anti-muggle merchandise. We‘re this close,” she held up her thumb and forefinger about a centimeter apart, “to getting Lucius Malfoy,” she said, taking a bite of her cereal.

“Hmm… I‘d be very careful about anything concerning the Malfoys. They‘re a very prominent family. Also very dangerous. And I don‘t know if I like you working on Knockturn alley, that place is dodgy.”

“I‘m a fully trained Auror and more than capable of handling myself, as you should know by now.”

“I know, but that doesn‘t mean I don‘t worry about you. Wouldn‘t you be worried about me?” he asked, eating his cereal.

“Honestly, no. You‘ve been dealing with Lucius Malfoy for a long time now and you‘re okay.” She finished her cereal.

“I‘m also a lot older than you.”

“Not that much older.” She sighed. “I‘d better get going. I‘ll see you this weekend, right?”

“Hopefully. Come on, I‘ll walk you out,” he said, standing up and holding out his arm. They walked in silence until they reached the entrance hall. He stopped and turned to face her, taking her in his arms. He kissed her passionately, their tongues dancing together. “Until this weekend, love.” She walked the rest of the way alone and apparated to work. Behind him Ginny and Hermione giggled furiously. “Five points from Gryffindor. Now get to class,” he said harshly.

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“Yes, Mr. Malfoy, that‘s a genuine regurgitating toilet. Great for use on ignorant muggles,” said Tonks brightly. She was now wearing her hair in long blonde waves cascading down her back. She was wearing long black robes that billowed behind her.

“How much for a dozen of them?” asked Lucius Malfoy slyly.

“That will be 120 galleons. You can pay now if you like.”

“Add it to my bill. Have them sent to Malfoy Manner no later than tonight.”

“Yes, sir. Can I interest you in anything else? We just got a shipment of disappearing doorknobs in.”

“No, that doesn‘t sound like anything important. Do you have any shrinking clothes? The kind that suffocate the wearer?”

“Yes, sir. We have an entire line right over there,” she pointed to a corner of the shop. “You must really hate muggles.”

“Yes, but this is not my plan,” he said, pointing to his arm.

“Ah, I see. I think I‘ll give you a 10% discount for being an obedient servant,” she winked.

“Not necessary, but appreciated. Tell me, why are you working here and not at the Min-”

She leapt across the counter and clapped her hand over his mouth. “Say it and I‘ll hex you into oblivion,” she whispered fiercely. He bit her hand to get her to release him. He promptly smacked her across the face.

“Do NOT do that ever again or you will incur my wrath,” he said dangerously. “But how you pick up extra galleons is not my concern. I‘ll take five complete outfits. Add it to my bill and have it sent to Malfoy Manner no later than 6:00 this evening.”

“Yes sir,” she said, walking behind the counter once more.

“So how did Severus fare after last week?”

“He‘s been better,” she said darkly. “You can tell our master that I said that. But he will recover.”

“I‘m not a messenger. Well, I must be going. Don‘t forget, no later than 6:00.”

“I‘ll have a delivery boy go now.”

“Appreciated. Good day.” Lucius left as another customer walked in.

“Ah, hello Mr. Rookwood. What can I do for you today?”

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Severus was preparing ingredients when Hermione walked into his classroom, first and alone as usual. She, like always, giggled a little when she saw him. He was about to talk to her about her strange behavior when Harry and Ron came in. Soon the entire class had filed in.

“Turn your books to page 569. Today we will be making the Wolfsbane potion. Can anyone tell me what it is used for?” As always, Hermione’s hand shot up first. No one else ever knew the answer to anything. “Anybody?” Hermione was almost out of her seat by now, waving her hand fiercely. “Miss Granger?”

She relaxed a little and dropped her hand. “The Wolfsbane Potion is used to aid werewolves in transformation so they can maintain some semblance of self.”

“Correct. Instructions,” he flicked his wand, “are on the board. You may begin. Use the same partners as always,” he added. There was a collective groan from the Gryffindors. “Five points from Gryffindor,” he said, sneering.

“Boy, getting laid sure hasn‘t cheered up him,” whispered Hermione in a voice that carried throughout the entire room. The Slytherins looked at him questioningly and the Gryffindors sniggered.

“Twenty points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger. Detention tonight at 5:00. My office.” He let a smirk cross his face at her crestfallen expression.

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Five o’clock arrived and Hermione’s knock came on Severus’ office door. “Enter,” he said harshly. Hermione walked in timidly and sat down in the chair in front of his desk, shaking slightly. He glared at her for several seconds before continuing. “Pray tell, why is it that you insist on disrespecting my relationship with Miss Tonks?”

“What do you mean, sir?”

He sighed exasperatedly. “Everytime you see me you giggle. I‘ve had to deduct countless points from you and Miss Weasley. And today in class… why did you have to say that? All afternoon I‘ve had to talk about my sex life, something that up until today was very very private, to my house. They all want answers to questions they would otherwise not have had if not for your big mouth.”

“I‘m sorry, sir. I assumed it wasn‘t privileged information.”

“Why would my sex life concern students?” She giggled again. He sighed again. “five points from Gryffindor. Please explain to me why you continually giggle at me. It‘s very annoying,” he said, raising his eyebrow at her.

“I just never thought of you, the dreaded Potions Master, as having much of sex life,” she giggled. At the narrowing of his eyes and his fixed glare she continued. “Not that you‘re not appealing! I mean, not to me, you‘re twenty five years my senior, but I suppose to someone older, you could be quite sexy…”

His glare turned into what she thought was a flicker of a smile, however it didn’t last long and the glare continued. “You are digging yourself into a hole, Miss Granger. I‘m well aware of what the students think. But now, thanks to your mouth, all of the school knows I‘ve been sleeping with Tonks. I just hope that foul Umbridge woman doesn‘t find out Tonks plans to visit on weekends.”

Hermione laughed. “Yeah, she‘d probably put through another decree banning the teachers from being happy. You are happy with Tonks, right?”

“I wasn‘t aware that my happiness had anything to do with you,” he said coldly.

“Well, Tonks told me and Ginny she‘s never happier than she is with you.”

Severus smirked at this. “Did she really?” Hermione nodded. “What else did she say?” he couldn’t help but ask, intrigued.

Hermione blushed. “I don‘t think I can repeat it without giggling, sir. She told me that you‘re well… how can I put this… um… good in… well you know,” she finished feebly. His smirk spread to both sides of his mouth, making him look more sinister than ever. A second later he broke out into a full out smile, though once again it quickly faded. He urged her to continue. “She also said that you were fairly well… sorry, I can‘t say it… but I think you know what I mean.”

“Yes, Miss Granger, I know what you mean. Endowed is the word you were looking for.” He let out a laugh like a bark, making him sound oddly like Sirius Black. “I can‘t believe she would discuss what I‘m like in bed with you,” he frowned. “She did, however, tell me that she told you, so it comes as no real shock.” Hermione let out a sigh of relief that he wasn’t going to start thng tng things at her. “In the future, I would appreciate it if you would keep what she tells you about us to yourself.”

“Yes, sir. May I go now?”

“No, there‘s still the matter of your detention. I have about twenty cauldrons that need cleaning,” he said, pointing to a stack of small cauldrons. “Normally I would make you do it without magic, but I‘m in a hurry, so you may use it.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said, relieved. “Is there an Order meeting tonight?” she asked quietly.

“What I do outside of the classroom is not your concern.”

“No, sir, you‘re right. I‘ll just go clean those cauldrons now.”

“Good idea.”

“But do me a favor,” she said after she had finished, “and tell Tonks and Sirius that I said hi.” She winked at him on her way out the door.

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Severus walked to the edge of the Forbidden Forest and Apparated to number 12 Grimmauld Place. He walked up the newly materialized steps and walkn thn the door to find Tonks anxiously waiting for him.

“Hello, love,” he said, walking up to her and kissing her passionately, wrapping his arm around her waist. He slid his tongue into her mouth as Sirius walked in. They kissed for several minutes before they heard Sirius snigger. Severus abruptly pulled away. Tonks took his hand before he addressed the Animagus. “Something you needed, Black?”

“No, Snivellus, nothing at all. Just watching the lovebirds in action. I guess what Harry told me is true.”

“What did he tell you?” Tonks asked, blushing.

“That ‘good girls don’t kiss and tell… at least not to boys.’ So he and Ron dragged out of Ginny that you two were having sex.”

“Miss Weasley has got a rather large mouth. I spent the better part of my afternoon dispelling and confirming rumors about my sex life to my students. Very aggravating,” he said, glaring at Tonks. “Be glad you‘re not a teacher, love.” Sirius sniggered again.

“What‘s wrong, Sirius? Something caught in your throat?” Tonks asked menacingly.

“I just never thought of Snivellus as having a sex life, that‘s all,” he shrugged. Severus turned his glare to Sirius and gripped his wand in his left pocket.

Seeing the glare and his sudden hand movement, Tonks interjected. “It‘s Severus, Sirius. And the next time you insult my boyfriend, remember that I’m an Auror and supposed to turn you over to the dementof I f I find you. And, as you can see, I’ve found you. You’ll do well to remember that.” Both men stood in shocked silence before Molly Weasley called them into the kitchen for the meeting.

“Welcome all,” began Dumbledore. “Let‘s get right to business. Tonks, Severus, how was the meeting last Saturday?”

“It was awful. We both came out of it with serious injuries--”

Severus cut her off. “Yet we are both still alive,” Severus said, glaring at her. She quieted herself immediately, releasing his hand.

“Merlin, Severus, if that‘s how you treat your girlfriend I‘d hate to see how you treat your enemies. Let her talk,” said Remus Lupin.

Severus glared at everybody before urging Tonks to continue. “We were both put under the Cruciatus and severely beaten. Severus much more so than I. If it hadn‘t been for Madam Pomfrey, we‘d be in real trouble. And I was branded,” she whispered, holding out her arm and lifting up her robes. There were murmurs of disgust throughout the room. She quickly recovered her arm. “And, I, uh, may have let it slip that we guard the Department of Mysteries…”

She was cut off by shouts of protest from all around the room. It seemed that everyone was mad at her. Dumbledore let sparks fly up from his wand. “Now, now, let‘s give Tonks a chance to explain.”

“He was using the Cruciatus on Severus! What was I supposed to do?” she sighed. “I‘m not a very good spy. There‘s a reason I didn‘t want the job,” she said darkly.

“You shouldn‘t have it either,” Sirius chimed in darkly.

Severus jumped up, wand out, totally infuriated. “That‘s it, Black. You and me outside, NOW!” Tonks rose and put a hand on his shoulder. The veins in his temple were visibly throbbing. She whispered something in his ear and he smirked and sat back down.

“What did she just say to you?” Sirius demanded.

“That you can‘t go outside, you‘re in hiding,” Tonks said viciously.

“Just because I‘m in hiding doesn‘t mean I can‘t take Snivellus on any day,” he said to Tonks.

“Like Hell you can,” Severus interjected.

“He can. And so could James. Or have you forgotten that day after our DADA O.W.L.,” Lupin chimed in.

“You filthy werewolf, how DARE you bring that up,” Severus screamed, rising to his feet and drawing his wand. “Impedimentia!”

“Protego,” screamed Molly, sending a shield charm to block Severus’ spell.

“Petrificus Totalis,” cried Tonks, aiming at Molly. She soon turned stiff and fell to the ground.

Mad Eye Moody raised his wand, about to yell the Disarming Spell, when Tonks beat him to it. “Expelliarmus!” she cried. “Accio wand,” the wand came flying towards her and she snapped it in half.

“Stupefy!” cried Sirius, aiming at Severus.

Severus ducked the spell and aimed his wand at Sirius. “Diffindo!”uge uge slash appeared across Sirius’ chest and he fell to the ground, panting, blood everywhere.

Lupin rounded on Severus. “Serpensortia.” A huge snake appeared and wrapped itself around Severus. Tonks promptly got rid of it.

Bill and Charlie Weasley both aimed stunning spells at Severus and Tonks and both missed, the lovebirds were too fast for them.

“Tarantallegra,” Tonks cried, aiming at Bill. He fell to the ground, his legs twitching violently.

Severus turned to Charlie. “Densaugeo,” and Charlie’s teeth grew to beyond his waist. He collapsed, holding his face.

Lupin rounded on Severus. “Furnunculus,” and Severus broke out in boils.

Severus still managed to get out, “Stupefy,” and Lupin promptly fell to the ground.

Kingsley Shacklebot turned to the fallen werewolf. “Enervate.” Lupin rose and rounded on Tonks, who had just stunned Arthur Weasley.

“Locomotor Mortis,” Lupin cried. Immediately Tonks’ legs gave way and she fell into her chair.

Tonks, though she couldn’t move her legs, aimed her wand at Kingsley and said, “Impedimentia!” He flew back into the wall and passed out.

Severus turned to face Lupin, as they were the only two fighters that remained standing. “You‘ll pay for that, half breed. Crucio!” Promptly Lupin fell to the ground, screaming.

“STUPEFY!” Dumbledore yelled, rising to his feet. Severus fell over. Immediately Lupin rose and turned his wand on Severus. “Expelliarmus!” Dumbledore bellowed. He looked at the destruction around the room. “You all are behaving like children! The next person to cast a spell will incur MY wrath,” he said, breathing heavily. One by one he went around the room removing all the spethatthat had been cast, repairing Moody’s wand in the process. Slowly everyone went back to their seats. Dumbledore was shaking with fury. “You are adults” he spat. “With this kind of behavior, we might as well submit to Voldemort rinow.now. I want all of you out of my sight, NOW. This meeting is over.” Everyone got up and walked to the kitchen door.

When they were finally alone, Tonks spoke. “Thanks for standing up for me. I never knew you could duel like that. I don‘t think even I could handle you were we enemies.”

“Just be glad that we’re not. That was nothing. You should see me when I‘m fighting a real enemy. You have no idea of the things I‘ve done. My snake would have killed in an instant. And my Cruciatus Curse can be much more painful than that.”

“That‘s not really something to brag about, honey.”

He raised his eyebrow at her, then took her in his arms. “Maybe not, but I think it‘s safe to say there was only one person in that room that could have taken me.”

“My guess would be Dumbledore. Am I wrong?”

“No, you‘re not,” he said kissing her. “Fighting Dumbledore is what made me switch sides.”

“So that‘s what it was. I‘ve always wondered.”

“Now you know,” he said, kissing her again.

Sirius walked in, freshly healed, to see Tonks and Severus snogging in his living room. “Maybe Dumbledore wasn‘t clear, so I will be… GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE!”
“That‘s right, you do cahis his a house,” Severus sniggered, glaring at him. “By the way, Miss Granger says ‘Hi’. To you too, love,” he added to Tonks.

“That‘s nice, now LEAVE before I remove you.”

“Like you could,” said Tonks. The couple promptly apparated back to Tonks’ London flat.

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PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE leave me a review! Let me know how I did on that fight scene. It took forever to write.