Stress Relief

Thanks again for all those reviews, guys! They make me all tingly inside! Please see my notes at the bottom. Right, still OotP-less, so I’ve improvised a little in places. Don’t think I’m too far off the mark – but let me know if there are any screaming mistakes, eh?


Tonks swallowed hard, trying to fight back the tears. No way was she going to cry over a man. However, it was a battle her mind was quickly losing with the lump in her throat. How could I be so stupid? Tonks thought, Sirius’ words echoing through her mind. She should’ve known by now that men would tell a woman anything to get her in the sack. She’d had plenty of men and boys throw themselves at her over the years.
It had been only her second year at Hogwarts when boys had started chasing after her with a vengeance. At first she had been utterly intrigued, that she, not an ugly girl, but certainly not a stunner and certainly just as clumsy as she was now, was suddenly being asked out on more dates than even the most popular, and definitely looser, Slytherin girls. Even 7th year boys would go out of their way to be nice to her – finding excuses to spend time with her. And for a while she had been quite flattered by all the attention.
It wasn’t until her third year that she had realised why they were so attentive. Bill Weasley, of all people, had asked her out. He was definitely the most popular Gryffindor, if not the most popular boy at Hogwarts – Head Boy, somewhat of a rebel and already quite a looker, hence Tonks had jumped at the chance. They’d had a wonderful time in Hogsmeade – Bill had showed her about as it had been her first visit. He’d even managed to get them a couple of decent drinks, not just Butterbeer, at The Three Broomsticks – seemed the barmaid had a little crush on him. On return to the castle as dusk approached Bill had suggested they go up to the Astronomy Tower for some stargazing. Tonks, being somewhat naïve, had agreed.
There Bill, after some groping and sloppy kisses, had informed her that he thought she would look much prettier with a larger chest. Tonks had willingly complied – after all, this was Bill Weasley! Then he’d suggested that she could do with being just a tad taller…. By the time he’d finished with his demands, Tonks was no longer herself – more a real life Barbie doll. That had been the night she’d lost her virginity – thirteen years old looking like a bleach blond blow up doll. It hadn’t done a thing for her self-esteem. If Dumbledore hadn’t given Tonks strict instructions that she was not to turn up to class as anyone other than herself, Tonks would’ve performed an entire body change over night. As it was, after she graduated from Hogwarts she hardly ever left her flat as herself – always altering what she considered to be her flaws. The only trouble was keeping up these changes took a lot of energy – and she’d return home at the end of the day utterly exhausted. It got to the point where she would miss days on end from work because she was just too tired to get out of bed. Finally she had come to her senses somewhat, and decided it was time to accept who she was and that was that.
Of course Bill had apologised to her profusely on many occasions, and Tonks had forgiven him. He had been a teenage boy at the time, and Tonks knew very well that teenage boys – and more often than not, mature men - did not think with their heads. Still, she always did find it more awkward than usual talking to him – especially if Molly was around.
Obviously she still played around with her hair a little, that hardly required any concentration at all. Besides changing her hair was no different to any other witch using a colour potion to change theirs – just slightly less messy and without the risk of getting a botched batch and half her hair falling out.
Potion… Severus….Tonks sniffed loudly as her thoughts flew back to the current time. I really should’ve known better, she thought as another sob escaped.

“Was that really necessary?” Lupin enquired, giving Sirius a scornful look as he settled himself back into his chair.
“Come off it, Moony, you know it’s the truth. I don’t want the poor girl hurt.” Sirius slumped back down in his own armchair, once again propping his feet up on the stool before him.
“Well, funny way to go about not hurting her feelings, if you ask me,” Lupin muttered, giving his old friend a shrug.
“Well I didn’t ask you, did I?”
Lupin sighed. Sirius was being his usual snotty self – caging the poor man up for months on end really was not agreeing with him. He knew how Sirius must feel – Lupin had also been forced to stay holed up in the Shrieking Shack when he was younger, to protect the world from the werewolf he would become every month on the full moon. However that had only been for a few days at a time – not only had Sirius been trapped at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place for many weeks, he’d spent all those years trapped in Askaban too.
“No, I suppose you didn’t,” Lupin replied, and with a shrug he picked up the Daily Prophet, flicking to the crossword.
“Can’t see why she wants him anyway,” Sirius ranted on, oblivious to the fact that his friend would rather not continue the conversation. “Man can’t even satisfy her for more than ten minutes. Disgrace to wizards everywhere!”
“You know she’s your cousin, right?” Lupin stated rather shortly.
“Yes, I know she is my cousin!”
“Well, correct me if I’m wrong, Padfoot, but it seems to me that you have a little thing for her yourself.” Lupin’s eyes darted up to judge Sirius’ reaction.
“So what if I do? Look at my family tree! Might as well be one great big incestuous circle! At least she’s not my sister!” Sirius’ temper was flaring again, and Lupin didn’t feel up to yet another argument.
“I suppose,” he muttered nonchalantly. Sirius remained silent for a few minutes, and Lupin busied himself with the crossword. Not really in the mood to be social, he ignored the sound of footsteps entering the room.
“Have you seen Tonks?”
Oh, great, thought Lupin, just who we need right now.
“Not as much of her as you,” Sirius spat. Lupin looked up, and sure enough, there in the doorway stood Snape in all his scowling glory. Lupin groaned.
“That as it may be,” Snape said smugly, “where is she?”
Sirius ignored his question. “So,” he enquired sweetly, “does she give you a nice pair to slap your pipe between?”
“Sirius!” Lupin snapped, his nerves being grated one slice too far.
Snape was fuming. “Do NOT talk about her like that!”
“Oh, get off it, Snivelly! You don’t need to bother pretending you actually give a damn about her in front of us!\"
“WHERE IS SHE!” Snape’s voice echoed through the house and Lupin quickly answered before Mrs Black was woken again. Molly would have a fit if she had to silence Sirius’ mother again tonight.
“I think she’s in her room.”
Sirius sent Lupin a nasty look – the sort that would make ice melt. Lupin glared back. Snape turned to leave, then hesitated. “Why is she in her room?” Tonks usually spent this time of the evening in the lounge with a large novel.
“How the heck should I know?” Sirius sulked, folding his arms across his chest.
“I think perhaps it would be best to leave her alone,” Lupin muttered into his newspaper. Snape eyed the scrawny wizard wearily before stalking out of the room.



JoeHundredaire – you made my head hurt thinking all that over! Right, I think I’ve dealt with some of those issues in this chapter – just my thoughts on it anyway! And I nicked yer last line – Merlin, that made me laugh!

Bogan – cheers! I’ll update as often as possible!

Lara – Hm, Snape cope with Sirius’ jealousy? Cope might not be quite the right word! Thanks for the kind words!

SillyLily – it’s coming! (lol!)

Maddy – Oh, my Snape isn’t that nasty! I think she is exactly what he needs!

Amethyst – I really wish we could see Snape from an adults pov occasionally – now that would be interesting. Be warned – I’m a great fan of ‘evil cliff hangers!’

GeekGoddess – I’ll check some of those out sometime – but I might wait until I’ve finished this – I find if I read fics along the same line as my own I always think ‘man, I should’ve made that happen in my fic!’ So to avoid the blatant plagiarism that would undoubtedly ensue, I shall hold out a little longer!

Alana – I seem to be grabbing a lot of SS/HG shippers! Glad you enjoyed it!

Tiffany – Tonks is just a darling, isn’t she? Thanks girl!