The Darkness in Her Heart

Chapter Seven: The Branding

Saturday morning dawned bright and early for Tonks and Severus. They woke up snuggled under the covers, entangled in each other’s arms. “Morning sleepy,” Tonks said, waking up Severus with a kiss on his nose. He just grunted and rolled over. She kept trying to wake him with gestures of affection. When nothing worked, she started tickling him madly.

“Bloody Hell woman!” he shouted, jumping out of bed. “Why do you have to wake me up like that?” he asked viciously. “You are NEVER sleeping in my bed again, Nymphadora Elaine Tonks,” he said coldly, walking to the bathroom.

“Well, after today you won’t have to!” she shouted at him through the door, then added quietly, “because I’m going to die tonight. Stupid Death Eater meeting,” she grumbled to herself.

“You’re not going to die,” Severus said dramatically, walking out of the bathroom with his toothbrush in his hand, foam covering his mouth.

“Severus, you look like a rabid dog, go spit and then we can talk.” For once he did as she asked, coming out with his robes over his well defined abs and black silk pajama bottoms.

“Come here,” he said, holding out his arms. Tonks slowly walked over to him and let herself be embraced. He kissed the top of her head; he was easily a head taller than her. “It’s going to be okay, you’ll see. Dumbledore wouldn’t send you unless he was sure. Your Occlumency is astonishing; you’ve blocked both me and Dumbledore for two days straight. And, love, I assure you that Dumbledore is a better Legillimens than the Dark Lord.”

“What did you say?” she asked, looking up at him.

“Dumbledore is a better Legillimens than the Dark Lord?”

“No, before that.”

“That you’ve blocked both me and Dumbledore for two days straight?”

“No, after that.” He just looked at her questioningly. “You called me ‘love’,” she smiled up at him.

Severus, for the first time in his life, actually blushed. “Ah, well, yes, but it’s just a nickname. Don’t let it go to your head,” he said, tapping her skull and walking away, leaving Tonks looking crestfallen.

Severus grabbed a pile of clothes and headed to the bathroom to change, leaving Tonks to change in the bedroom. She decided to drop the wizard’s robes and go muggle for the day. She picked out a tight black tank top, black cargo pants a pyramid stud belt, boots, and slipped a silver hoop through the top of her ear.

Severus walked out of the bathroom wearing his tradition outfit of all black and gaped at Tonks, who now had shoulder length greasy black hair, much like his. He walked circles around her, making her very nervous before speaking. “What is that thing?” he asked, in reference to her earring.

“It’s called an earring, Severus. Haven’t you heard of them?” she asked in a voice of mock concern.

“But what’s it doing up there?”

“That’s where I like it,” she said simply as he gaped at her.

“But… why? That’s not where earrings go.”

“Apparently it is, because that’s where mine is. It’s called a piercing. It’s a muggle thing. They like to take pieces of metal and put them through their bodies in various places.”

Severus rolled his eyes before saying in a commanding voice, “Take it out.”

“No,” she said, turning to walk to the kitchen. He grabbed her by the arm, tackling her to the ground. She just laughed. “Oh, Severus, you’re incorrigible.”

“But Tonks,” he said pleadingly, “You are a brilliant witch. Not a… a... a… Muggle.”

“Does it bother you that much?”

“Quite frankly, YES!” he spat.

“Good,” she said, getting up from under him and walking to the kitchen.

He followed her into the kitchen. “You don’t have anything else pierced do you?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” she said seductively. Shortly thereafter, Severus dropped the subject, deciding that ignorance is bliss.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was an hour before the meeting and a very anxious Tonks sat at the kitchen table shaking. “You’re shaking. Are you that nervous?” Severus asked gently, taking her hand in his.

“No, Severus, I’m just cold with theringring fire right next to me,” she said sarcastically. Noticing his hurt expression, she went on. “I’m sorry, I’m just so… terrified,” she finished in a very small voice, wiping a tear from her eye with her free hand.

“I have something that might cheer you up,” he said, smiling, as he pulled out a large velvet box from his robe pocket. “Go on, open it.”

“Oh Severus, it’s beautiful,” she exclaimed, pulling a clear crystal amulet on a white gold chain out of the box. “Will you put it on me?”

“Of course, love. But it does something else, too. I had Professor Flitwick put a charm on it so that it changes with what color you are,” he kissed her neck and he clasped the necklace. It instantly transformed into hematite.

“Severus, it’s wonderful. I’ll wear it always.”

“I’m sure that you will, seeing that I’m the only one that can take it off. It also has very powerful protection charms on it. It can reflect the Avada Kedavra curse and make it bounce back on the attacker.”

“Did you think of that? Of all of it?” He silently nodded. Suddenly she jumped across the table and threw her arms around him. “Oh Severus, you’re wonderful!”

“I like to think so,” he said, kissing her lightly.

“Do you remember the plan?”

“You bring me in bound and gagged. That’s the part I’m nervous about.”

“Why?”

“Have you ever been bound and gagged? It hurts. And I’ll be in a hall of Death Eaters without a wand.”

He reached over the table and took her hand. “No harm will befall you while I’m there to protect you.” She smiled at him halfheartedly. “Are you ready to go?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

After binding and gagging a frightened Tonks just outside of Hogwarts grounds, Severus apparated them to Malfoy Manner. He carried her down to the basement. Again, he was the last one to arrive. He put Tonks on the floor and rushed over to kiss the hem of Voldemort’s robes.

“Get up. You need to work on your tardiness, Severus.” Severus rose and opened his mouth to apologize, but Voldemort cut him off. “I don’t want to hear your apologies. But be warned, if it happens again, you will pay. I see that you have brought us our new spy.” Tonks mumbled something incoherent under her gag. “Severus, it was totally unnecessary to bind an gag her. Untie her now.”

“I assure you, Master,” Severus replied, untying Tonks, “it was totally necessary. She wouldn’t have come any other way.” He joined the ranks of men in black cloaks.

“Ah, Severus, there are always other ways,” Voldemort replied evilly. “Rise, child. Come here.” Tonks rose and slowly walked over to Voldemort, who was up on a platform. She came up to his stomach. He held out a hand to her and she stepped up onto the platform as well. “Do you know why you’re here?” She mumbled something. “Speak up, girl, I can’t hear you!” he shouted, smacking her. Severus growled. “Something to share with us, Severus?”

“No, Master.”

“Then I suggest you keep your growling to yourself. I’ll treat her however I please.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Now, let’s try this again,” he leaned in with an inch of her face, which was considerably lower than his, ”why are you here?”

“To be your spy from the Order of the Phoenix.”

“Very good, There’s hope for you, yet. Do you know how I call my Death Eaters to me?”

“No.”

“No, what?”

“No, Master.”

Voldemort turned and nodded to Severus. “You have won back my favor, Severus,” he turned back to face Tonks. “I call them via the dark mark.”

“What’s the dark mark, master?”

“Severus, here,” he called him like a dog. Severus sprinted to the platform. “Show her your arm.” Severus obediently revealed the burn mark on his arm. “This is the dark mark. Hold out your arm.” Tonks didn’t respond. “Why aren’t you obeying me!” he shouted in her face, causing her to fall back. Severus caught her just before she fell off the platform.

“Just cooperate, love,” Severus whispered urgently in her ear.

“You’re going soft on me, Severus. I heard what you said. Do you have a relationship with this girl?” This time it was Severus’ turn to mumble. “Why is everybody mumbling tonight!?” Voldemort shouted exasperatedly.

“I don’t know where we stand, Master--”

“Yes, we do have a relationship. As of this week,” Tonks replied, gaining back some of her usual confidence. She took his hand in hers.

“Sleeping with the enemy, are we Severus?” Voldemort began circling the couple with his red eyes bearing down on them.

“Well, Master, we haven’t--”

“Please spare me the gory details. Hold out your arm NOW!” This time Tonks obeyed, holding out her left arm while her right hand was entwined with Severus’.

“I’m afraid it will hurt. Will it?” she asked, turning to Severus.

Voldemort smirked, answering for him. “Excruciatingly.” With that he seized her arm and held his wand to it. After that all that could be heard was Tonks’ screaming.

“Stop it, you’re hurting her more than you need to!” Severus shouted. Suddenly, realizing the mistake he made in raising his voice to the Dark Lord, he ducked the Cruciatus Curse.

Voldemort then just settled for beating him manually. He punched his face and stomach, knocking him and Tonks from the platform. Just as the curse was sent directly at Tonks’, Severus apparated them to the safety of the Forbidden Forest.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

They walked slowly up the path to Hogwarts, Tonks’ clutching her arm to her chest, whimpering softly. “Severus, you didn’t tell me how badly that would hurt.”

“I didn’t want to scare you,” he said, taking her right hand in his left. “Once we get back to the castle, I’ll give you some healing salve to put on that. That should relieve the pain.”

“Thank you.”

“You should know that tonight you did very well. I fear that now I’ve fallen out of his favor. I can only guess what he has in store for us next time.”

“Let’s not even think about that right now. I can’t handle all of this.” They arrived at the castle at last and they walked in silence to Severus’ chambers.

Severus left her in his room and walked into his private lab to get the healing salve He walked over to the bed and gently applied it to her glowing arm. “Does that feel better?” he asked gently when he had finished.

“Much. Thank you,” she leaned over and rested her head in his lap. He stroked her hair for a while in silence.

“Hey Severus?” she said, sitting up on his lap, draping her arms around his neck, his arms held around her waist.

“Yes, love?”

“Bewitch my mind and ensnare my senses,” she replied seductively, kissing him passionately.

“Anything you say, love,” he whispered in her ear. He rolled her over and they both lay down on the bed, kissing and cuddling the whole time. Slowly he pulled off her robes and she pulled off his. He pulled up her tank top and unclasped her bra and pulled both of them off. She began on his many, many buttons.

“Severus, is there are charm you can use on these? I can’t get some of them undone.” Severus muttered a charm and his shirt was instantly undone. She noticed that he had fairly well developed abs. She smiled to herself.

“What’s… so… funny?” he asked in between kisses.

“I just never noticed how good looking you are.” She pulled off his shirt and moved her hand down to his belt, as he did to hers. “Hey, Severus?” He looked down at her in acknowledgment. “I’ve never done this before.”

He pulled back and admired her half nude body. “Are you sure you want to?” he asked, tracing little circles around her chest. Her response came by undoing his belt and pulling off his pants. “I’ll take that as a yes,” he laughed, falling back on top of her. He slowly moved his hand down and undid her belt and slipped off her pants. Slowly, after about an hour, she gathered up the courage to slip off his silk green boxers and her red panties.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked her seductively. She just nodded. Slowly he entered her and moved in and out. He heard her whimper and he pulled out. “Do you want to stop?” he asked gently.

“Merlin no! I’m just a little shaken up about earlier.”

“Understandable,” he said, entering her again. He moved slowly in and out of her until they both climaxed. Shortly after, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

---

A/N So you know, I just got my ear pierced for my 18th birthday and I had to include it somehow. ;) In a lot of ways, I’ve modeled Tonks after myself. Don’t forget to review!

Also, my usual beta reader, Trina Katrina, and I had a row so DracosGirl covered for her for this chapter. So this chapter is dedicated to her. Thank you very much Sarah!