Fic: Just Tonks, Year Five
Title: Just Tonks
Rating: PG13 [overall]
Characters Tonks/Charlie, and (quite a bit more of) Lupin, Snape (because like I said I can't help myself)
Notes: This whole series is unbeta read, and slightly raw, any thing that you think needs fixed let me know... I appreciate constructive criticism.
Summary: One year of Tonks time at Hogwarts for each chapter...
Year 5: Snape is a Slytherin too
Tonks wasn't crying. She didn't cry, and certainly wouldn't just because Snape evanesced her potion and gave her a zero for her effort. That was no big deal. She could still become an auror.
She would go to his office after dinner. She would tell him it was her fault, and he would assure her that he knew it was her fault, but he would let her make up the potion. He had to.
As soon as she finished not crying she would leave the Astronomy tower and go to the dungeons and make the potion right.
Tonks was wiping her nose on her robe when Charlie sat down beside her. He didn't say anything about the puffiness around her eyes and the flushed skin below her nose. He didn't even make a slimy Slytherin remark about how she just cleaned her nose, which was just as well because she would have been forced to shove that shiny prefect badge down his throat. She was just beginning to wonder whether he was going to say anything at all, when he started in about Romania.
"There is this place in Romania for dragons: a big conservation where wizards work to protect them from poaching and from each other. On the conservation the wizards live in tents, and never sleep in the same place twice. They work in the day with the animals and soar by broomstick over the perimeter by night. Everyday is an adventure. That is what I am going to do." Charlie finished. She didn't know whether to be more embarrassed or less that he was actively not looking at her as he spoke so he would not see her crying over her grade. She had a strange feeling that he told himself this story when he felt bad. The way his voice coloured with hope and wonder, she could just see it being his touchstone, the way becoming an auror was for her.
Tonks was sometimes glad she had met Charlie Weasley on the Hogwarts express. What an unlikely pair of friends they made.
"I have to talk to Snape." She finally replied, her voice almost as steady as she wanted it to be. "I can do the potion over. I know I can do it right."
"Of course you can," Charlie said with confidence, facing her now that he was sure she was no longer going to cry, "but it wouldn't be the end of the world even if you couldn't, you know?"
Tonks shook her head. "It would."
Tonks took several calming breaths before she stepped over the threshold into Professor Snape's office. She had been preparing herself for what she was going to say to convince him to let her redo the practical, telling herself Snape is not above compromise. He can be reasoned with. When Remus Lupin opened his office door rather than Snape himself, it took her completely off guard, and she was this close to screaming, but she mastered the urge, and entered.
Snape was not in his office, but the other man gestured politely with his hand and asked her to have a seat. She didn't.
"Why are you in Professor Snape's office?" She asked instead, not able to control the accusatory tone from slipping into her voice.
"Professor Snape is working on a difficult potion," The older man answered with a smile, not even seeming to notice her attitude, "and I have volunteered to be a test subject."
"You're letting him experiment on you?" She asked incredulously. That was beyond stupid. Snape may think he was better at handling potions then just about anyone, but he was the one who always said never to let anyone use an experimental potion, even, anywhere near you. He must not have thought much of Remus.
Remus shrugged, leaning against the edge of Snape's desk and folding his arms across his chest. "Money's tight, and I trust Sev... Professor Snape."
"The formula only became available recently," Remus continued, smiling quietly to himself as though he and God were sharing a joke that she would never understand, "and several of the top brewers in the world right now are working on perfecting it, but if anyone is going to get it right, it will be Professor Snape."
"...but why?" Tonks couldn't help asking. He was a bitter angry teacher, and she knew he must know a good deal about his craft, but she had never considered he was one of the top brewers. Remus only continued to smile his private smile.
"I half think he is only trying to learn to brew it to satisfy, to his own mind, that he is clever enough. I trust Sever... Professor Snape, not to let himself be proven wrong." Tonks couldn't help but smile at that. He trusted Snape to experiment on him because he was too stubborn to be wrong.
"Plus, the potion is going to do a lot of good which is why Dumbledore is backing it financially."
"Like paying the mangy test subject." Snape stated blandly, as he came through his office door wearing his usual sneer and carrying a steaming goblet.
"Right." Lupin agreed, with a grin, completely ignoring the mangy comment. That was the second time Tonks had heard Snape refer to this man as being some sort of canine, and she was just wondering what that was all about, when something struck her...
"What is the potion for? She asked, more than a little curious.
"I rather think that is still private at this stage." Remus replied, too quickly, and was he blushing?
"That is exactly what I would expect you to say, Lupin." Severus mumbled from the corner where he was fiddling with something on a shelf with his back turned.
"Interesting. You don't want me to know and Professor Snape does." Tonks replied not fighting the grin that slipped onto her face, when Remus started to look uncomfortable. His expression actually became a little disgusted for a second, before he glanced at Severus' back and sighed.
"You really are a little Slytherin aren't you?"
"What do you need Miss Tonks." Professor Snape interrupted, reminding her she was in his office, and supposed to be trying to get on his good side.
"Right," she whispered to herself, before continuing in a much more determined voice than she really felt, "I wanted to apologize for Potion's class..." Snape was in the middle of whipping around with a sneer on his face when she added as quickly as she could, "and ask to redo the practical." She could have almost sworn that Remus and Snape exchanged a look before he responded.
"Very well. You have one hour to complete it, and if it is less than O standard the T stands."
"Thank-you professor." Tonks beamed. She had never been more relieved. She could make everything right now, and get into advanced potions. Things were looking up.
While she was getting out a spare cauldron and arranging ingredients from the store cupboard on his spare worktable, she saw Snape hand Remus the goblet. He downed it in one go, and pulled an awful face.
"Pity you can't add sugar, Severus." Remus murmured, handing the goblet back to the Professor, who actually rolled his eyes.
"I will come check on the results in the morning." He answered and immediately sat down to his desk and tucked in to a stack of essays.
"Good Evening Severus... Nymphadora." Lupin sighed, as he made his way to the door, and Tonks grinned privately to herself when she realised she and Professor Snape had just shared a sneer at the use of their given names.
---
Tonks knew she shouldn't be skiving off classes, but working on that potion's practical last night, not mention the time before that she'd wasted skulking in the astronomy tower, had her far behind on her class work, and this was the best way to catch up. In the hospital wing, no one bothered you the way they did in the library, and you had the added bonus of not getting detention for not going to class.
She'd spread her transfiguration essay out in front of her on the bed and was scribbling hurriedly with her quill when she heard a familiar voice floating out from behind the curtain three beds down from her own. It was that same scratchy, deep voice that had wished her good evening last night.
"I swear your clinical interest is going to be the death of me." The voice said, and Tonks strained to see past the curtain. She could only just make out the top of his head, and saw to her shock, long pale fingers push hair off his forehead almost tenderly.
"Don't be a baby Lupin." She heard Severus' voice, full of it's usual venom, but the tender placement of his hand belied true malice and Tonks couldn't help but grin. It was the first time she had ever considered Snape might be human.
When he came around the curtain she was ensconced in her essay once again, and almost did not even hear his approach.
"Miss Tonks" he greeted her with a nod, then seeming to just think of something, paused at the foot of her bed.
"Skipping classes may be fine for your other," and the word sounded bitter in his mouth, "Professors, but if you are so much as a minute late to my class it will cost you house points and a detention."
"Yes Professor." She grinned, returning to her homework. You can't pull one over on a Slytherin.
Year Six
Rating: PG13 [overall]
Characters Tonks/Charlie, and (quite a bit more of) Lupin, Snape (because like I said I can't help myself)
Notes: This whole series is unbeta read, and slightly raw, any thing that you think needs fixed let me know... I appreciate constructive criticism.
Summary: One year of Tonks time at Hogwarts for each chapter...
Year 5: Snape is a Slytherin too
Tonks wasn't crying. She didn't cry, and certainly wouldn't just because Snape evanesced her potion and gave her a zero for her effort. That was no big deal. She could still become an auror.
She would go to his office after dinner. She would tell him it was her fault, and he would assure her that he knew it was her fault, but he would let her make up the potion. He had to.
As soon as she finished not crying she would leave the Astronomy tower and go to the dungeons and make the potion right.
Tonks was wiping her nose on her robe when Charlie sat down beside her. He didn't say anything about the puffiness around her eyes and the flushed skin below her nose. He didn't even make a slimy Slytherin remark about how she just cleaned her nose, which was just as well because she would have been forced to shove that shiny prefect badge down his throat. She was just beginning to wonder whether he was going to say anything at all, when he started in about Romania.
"There is this place in Romania for dragons: a big conservation where wizards work to protect them from poaching and from each other. On the conservation the wizards live in tents, and never sleep in the same place twice. They work in the day with the animals and soar by broomstick over the perimeter by night. Everyday is an adventure. That is what I am going to do." Charlie finished. She didn't know whether to be more embarrassed or less that he was actively not looking at her as he spoke so he would not see her crying over her grade. She had a strange feeling that he told himself this story when he felt bad. The way his voice coloured with hope and wonder, she could just see it being his touchstone, the way becoming an auror was for her.
Tonks was sometimes glad she had met Charlie Weasley on the Hogwarts express. What an unlikely pair of friends they made.
"I have to talk to Snape." She finally replied, her voice almost as steady as she wanted it to be. "I can do the potion over. I know I can do it right."
"Of course you can," Charlie said with confidence, facing her now that he was sure she was no longer going to cry, "but it wouldn't be the end of the world even if you couldn't, you know?"
Tonks shook her head. "It would."
Tonks took several calming breaths before she stepped over the threshold into Professor Snape's office. She had been preparing herself for what she was going to say to convince him to let her redo the practical, telling herself Snape is not above compromise. He can be reasoned with. When Remus Lupin opened his office door rather than Snape himself, it took her completely off guard, and she was this close to screaming, but she mastered the urge, and entered.
Snape was not in his office, but the other man gestured politely with his hand and asked her to have a seat. She didn't.
"Why are you in Professor Snape's office?" She asked instead, not able to control the accusatory tone from slipping into her voice.
"Professor Snape is working on a difficult potion," The older man answered with a smile, not even seeming to notice her attitude, "and I have volunteered to be a test subject."
"You're letting him experiment on you?" She asked incredulously. That was beyond stupid. Snape may think he was better at handling potions then just about anyone, but he was the one who always said never to let anyone use an experimental potion, even, anywhere near you. He must not have thought much of Remus.
Remus shrugged, leaning against the edge of Snape's desk and folding his arms across his chest. "Money's tight, and I trust Sev... Professor Snape."
"The formula only became available recently," Remus continued, smiling quietly to himself as though he and God were sharing a joke that she would never understand, "and several of the top brewers in the world right now are working on perfecting it, but if anyone is going to get it right, it will be Professor Snape."
"...but why?" Tonks couldn't help asking. He was a bitter angry teacher, and she knew he must know a good deal about his craft, but she had never considered he was one of the top brewers. Remus only continued to smile his private smile.
"I half think he is only trying to learn to brew it to satisfy, to his own mind, that he is clever enough. I trust Sever... Professor Snape, not to let himself be proven wrong." Tonks couldn't help but smile at that. He trusted Snape to experiment on him because he was too stubborn to be wrong.
"Plus, the potion is going to do a lot of good which is why Dumbledore is backing it financially."
"Like paying the mangy test subject." Snape stated blandly, as he came through his office door wearing his usual sneer and carrying a steaming goblet.
"Right." Lupin agreed, with a grin, completely ignoring the mangy comment. That was the second time Tonks had heard Snape refer to this man as being some sort of canine, and she was just wondering what that was all about, when something struck her...
"What is the potion for? She asked, more than a little curious.
"I rather think that is still private at this stage." Remus replied, too quickly, and was he blushing?
"That is exactly what I would expect you to say, Lupin." Severus mumbled from the corner where he was fiddling with something on a shelf with his back turned.
"Interesting. You don't want me to know and Professor Snape does." Tonks replied not fighting the grin that slipped onto her face, when Remus started to look uncomfortable. His expression actually became a little disgusted for a second, before he glanced at Severus' back and sighed.
"You really are a little Slytherin aren't you?"
"What do you need Miss Tonks." Professor Snape interrupted, reminding her she was in his office, and supposed to be trying to get on his good side.
"Right," she whispered to herself, before continuing in a much more determined voice than she really felt, "I wanted to apologize for Potion's class..." Snape was in the middle of whipping around with a sneer on his face when she added as quickly as she could, "and ask to redo the practical." She could have almost sworn that Remus and Snape exchanged a look before he responded.
"Very well. You have one hour to complete it, and if it is less than O standard the T stands."
"Thank-you professor." Tonks beamed. She had never been more relieved. She could make everything right now, and get into advanced potions. Things were looking up.
While she was getting out a spare cauldron and arranging ingredients from the store cupboard on his spare worktable, she saw Snape hand Remus the goblet. He downed it in one go, and pulled an awful face.
"Pity you can't add sugar, Severus." Remus murmured, handing the goblet back to the Professor, who actually rolled his eyes.
"I will come check on the results in the morning." He answered and immediately sat down to his desk and tucked in to a stack of essays.
"Good Evening Severus... Nymphadora." Lupin sighed, as he made his way to the door, and Tonks grinned privately to herself when she realised she and Professor Snape had just shared a sneer at the use of their given names.
---
Tonks knew she shouldn't be skiving off classes, but working on that potion's practical last night, not mention the time before that she'd wasted skulking in the astronomy tower, had her far behind on her class work, and this was the best way to catch up. In the hospital wing, no one bothered you the way they did in the library, and you had the added bonus of not getting detention for not going to class.
She'd spread her transfiguration essay out in front of her on the bed and was scribbling hurriedly with her quill when she heard a familiar voice floating out from behind the curtain three beds down from her own. It was that same scratchy, deep voice that had wished her good evening last night.
"I swear your clinical interest is going to be the death of me." The voice said, and Tonks strained to see past the curtain. She could only just make out the top of his head, and saw to her shock, long pale fingers push hair off his forehead almost tenderly.
"Don't be a baby Lupin." She heard Severus' voice, full of it's usual venom, but the tender placement of his hand belied true malice and Tonks couldn't help but grin. It was the first time she had ever considered Snape might be human.
When he came around the curtain she was ensconced in her essay once again, and almost did not even hear his approach.
"Miss Tonks" he greeted her with a nod, then seeming to just think of something, paused at the foot of her bed.
"Skipping classes may be fine for your other," and the word sounded bitter in his mouth, "Professors, but if you are so much as a minute late to my class it will cost you house points and a detention."
"Yes Professor." She grinned, returning to her homework. You can't pull one over on a Slytherin.
Year Six