Stress Relief

CONFUSION IS NOTHING NEW

Thanks again for all the reviews! You guys are so sweet! Sorry, my posts might get a little less frequent – Varsity starts back tomorrow, and I really really want to give it my best this term, but I will update as often as possible! See my notes at the bottom…


Hermione Granger found herself in the kitchen of the Black House, making a cup of tea. So caught up in her fury, she didn’t even remember making her way down from the landing outside of Tonks’ room. With a dramatic sigh, Hermione picked up the steaming cup, and scooted around the counter to take a seat. She jumped in surprise to find a figure already sitting at the long wooden table.
“Little distracted, huh?” Bill Weasley gave the girl a lopsided grin as she recovered and slid into the seat opposite him.
“Hm, yes, I guess,” Hermione muttered in replied, a tiny smile flicked across her face, trying to wipe away the anger.
“You want to talk about it?” Bill enquired, propping his feet up on the chair beside him. He picked up his own cup of coffee and took a sip, all the while eyeing his brother’s schoolmate over the rim. Hermione glanced down at her drink, and shrugged.
“I…it’s not really for me to talk about,” Hermione replied evasively.
“Ah, burdened with other’s troubles, then? Bit of a bane really, isn’t it? I get that all the time – it comes with being an older brother I suppose. The twins come to me for advice on getting out of trouble with mum, Ron comes to me for advice on girls, Percy…” Bill stopped short, and sighed himself, “well, I guess Percy hasn’t asked me about anything for a while. Perhaps I should have listened more carefully to him.” A tinge of sadness touched his words, making Hermione bite her bottom lip.
“Hey, it’s not your fault, Bill,” Hermione said reassuringly.
“I guess … can’t help feeling I could’ve done a little more – poor mum, she’s beside herself.” Bill shook himself, brushing off his thoughts. “Sorry, now, this was about you. So, come on, what troubles have you got sitting on your shoulders?”
“It’s Tonks.”
Hermione was surprised at the emotions that briefly flashed across Bill’s face. He looked… guilty?
“Tonks?” He voice seemed suddenly different, like he was forcing himself to stay neutral.
“Yeah. You know, I really shouldn’t be telling you this, but I really need to discuss it with someone,” Hermione looked down at the table again, running a fingernail over the cracks in the old wood. “She’s really upset. Seems to think that S..Snape is just using her,” Hermione paused in guilt, then said in almost a whisper, “I hate to say it, but I think she’s probably right. I mean, it’s Snape after all – he’s hardly known for his sense of compassion, is he?” Hermione glanced back up at Bill briefly catching his eye.
Bill snorted in response. “Hardly! What’s the girl see in him anyway?”
“I preferred not to ask. Frankly, I don’t want to go back to school with that knowledge!”
Bill chuckled a little. “No, that could be quite awkward! Yes, the less graphic the details the better, I should think!”
“Definitely,” Hermione replied in agreement. “I didn’t know what to say to her, Bill. I mean, I could hardly lie to her and say he wasn’t, could I? It’d only set her up for a further fall… I…”
Bill reached his hand across the table and gave Hermione’s a gentle squeeze.
“Don’t stress about it, Hermione. As I’m sure you will unfortunately have to learn, relationships aren’t always simple. It’s just one of the injustices of the world. And men can be complete and utter morons.”
Despite his reassuring words to Hermione, Bill could feel a knot forming in his stomach. Not again, Tonks, he thought sadly. That poor girl had been through enough rough encounters, one of which, he had to guiltily admit, had been entirely his own fault. Not that Tonks ever made a big deal of it, preferring to brush it off as a silly childish mishap, but Bill knew better. He’d seen they way Tonks had changed the the years – despite her outer bubbliness, he knew she was hurting inside. Her cloak of enthusiasm might fool the children, but he was certain most of the adults in the house knew Tonks’ inner battles, although perhaps not to the degree they had escalated over the years. No one spoke of it of course, it was easier to pretend that Tonks was just who she seemed – a sprightly young witch with the world of opportunities before her.
“Let me have a word with her, Hermione. You go to bed and get some rest – I’m sure Mum’ll have you lot scrubbing the house top to bottom again tomorrow… and it’s not long now until school starts again. Enjoy your holiday, don’t worry about Tonks, she’ll be fine.”
Hermione gave Bill a relieved smile. “Thanks, Bill. You know, Percy would’ve done well to listen to you.”

Snape was frozen with shock. As his brain slowly defrosted, the reality of what was happening hit home hard. He felt lower than he had in his entire life – lower than even when he had done Voldemort’s bidding. Utterly disgusted in himself, Snape pulled out of Tonks, and sat up. He felt as though he may as well have just raped her.
“Tonks?” he whispered quietly. “I’m so sorry – did I hurt you?”
“No. Just go,” she sniffed, sitting up herself – drawing her knees up to her chest and facing away from him. She swiped at her streaming eyes with the sleeve of her dishevelled shirt.
Snape went to comfort her – to wrap his arms around her and tell her everything was all right, but she swotted his hand away forcefully.
“Tonks?” he asked again, a lump forming in his throat. He could see her slipping from his life right before his eyes and felt utterly helpless to do anything.
She hiccupped and wiped her eyes again.
“I’m so sorry, Tonks. I didn’t mean to hurt you, I … I…” Snape’s words caught in his throat when Tonks turned to look at him. Those eyes were so full of sorrow and pain that Snape was sure he could feel his heart breaking.
“Of course you didn’t!” she snapped bitterly. “And I suppose you’re absolutely in love with me too, huh?! Save your breath, Snape,” he winced at the use of his last name, something Tonks hadn’t called him since she was in school, “and just get out!”
Snape stared at her in shock – this was kind, effervescent, wouldn’t hurt a fly Tonks talking to him like he was the scum of the earth.
“Tonks, I .. what ever I say is going to sound really lame, but I can only assure you that I had absolutely no intention of forcing you to do anything you didn’t wish to, and yes, frankly, I do love you,” Snape told her, meeting her stare, she looked hurriedly away, more tears forming in already red, puffy eyes which were almost an exact match for her hair. Snape grasped her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him. “Come on, Tonks, this is me, surly Severus Snape. Do you really think I would say that unless I meant it?”
“GET OUT!” she screamed, leaping to her feet, and glaring at him. She picked up his pants and threw them at him.
“Tonks…” Snape pleaded, rising from the bed. He pulled his pants back on, not bothering to try and recover his underwear.
“I SAID GET THE HELL OUT!”
The door burst open and Snape found himself face to face with Bill Weasley. Great, this will make a great story for those snotty little brothers of his, Snape thought sourly, the potions master being kicked out of a girl’s room, his fly undone and hanging out for the world to see.
“Come on, mate, I think you’d best leave,” Bill spoke with his usual air of superiority.
“Tonks,” Snape said turning back to the tiny witch in one last ditched attempt to get her to let him stay.
“OUT!” she growled, picking up her wand pnd pointing it menacingly at his head.
Bill ceased Snape by the arm, but Snape jerked it back out his grasp. He was not going to be thrown out of here. He’d leave of his own accord.
“Alright,” Snape said in defeat. He gave Tonks a long look and then slunk out of the room.

Aprilgrey – thank you! I’ve got one more chapter written so far, so I’ll post that tomorrow!

Alana – Thank you too! Yeah, I kinda like the chapter name too. I was having a bit of writers block coming up with something appropriate – but just as I went
to post that popped into my head.

Jaelyss – Sorry? I love reviews! More please! Sorry my chapters aren’t long enough, but my times a little sparse at the mo.

Silly Lily – you’ll just have to wait and see!

Gx-Silver – could you just imagine this lot on Jerry Springer? Oh, the counter curses that would be necessary after that! Thanks for the review.