The Darkness in Her Heart

Chapter Nine: Nurse and Affections

Tonks awoke the next morning to Severus’ moans of pain. Suddenly, the meeting from the night before came flooding back to her. She was about to cry when Severus again moaned in agony. She looked over to him and realized that his covers were covered in blood. She decided against waking him and instead slowly removed everything but his silk green boxers. She groaned when she saw how battered he was.

His left eye was completely swollen shut and his lips were cracked. His ribs were sticking out under his skin at strange angles, apparently broken. His face was encrusted with blood. His left ankle looked broken as did his right wrist. He was slowly shivering from the effects of the Cruciatus Curse. She covered him with a light blanket and kissed his forehead. She marveled that he had been able to get them back safely. He’s truly amazing, she thought to herself.

Suddenly she tasted a coppery substance and remembered that her own nose was broken. She raised her hand up to it and winced with pain. She walked into Severus’ bathroom to wipe away some of the blood. After about 10 minutes she was left with a black and blue nose dripping with blood. She decided Madam Pomfrey was in order.

Tonks walked back into the bedroom and was about to levitate Severus to the Hospital Wing when he woke up. He grunted before rolling to the edge of the bed and retching. Tonks walked over and sat next to himntlyntly rubbing his back until he rolled over to face her.

“Come on, love. We need to get you to Madam Pomfrey,” she said quietly.

Severus coughed for several seconds before responding. “Can’t go,” he coughed.“Sev“Severus, the matter is not up for debate. Come on, I’ll levitate you there,” she said, lifting her wand.

This time he coughed up blood. “Can’t let students see me like this. Dumbledore’s orders.”

“When did Dumbledore order that?” she asked incredulously.

“Last time this happened.”

“You mean this has happened before?” she asked in utter shock. Severus didn’t have the strength to respond, so he settled for lightly nodding his head.

“Well, what does he expect you to Die?Die? I won’t let that happen,” she rested her hand on his abs and he winced from the broken ribs. “Oh, sorry honey. Well, can I bring Madam Pomfrey here?” He nodded again, then slipped into unconsciousness.

Tonks walked over to her bag and pulled out a clean set of robes and headed off for the infirmary. On the way she passed Ron and Harry. She tried to keep walking, but there was no shrugging off a Gryffindor’s curiosity.

“Tonks! Hey Tonks!” Harry yelled, running after her. She sighed and slowed down so that they could catch up with her.

“Hey, guys. How did you know it was me?”

“Who else has long pink hair?” Ron stated. She chuckled at this.

“What happened to you? Your nose is bleeding.”

She ushered them into an empty classroom to her right. “Last night Severus and I were injured doing our work for the Order. I can’t really talk about it here.”

Harry lowered his voice and moved closer to her. “Was it Voldemort?” he asked quietly. She nodded. “Okay, I won’t ask anymore.”

“I appreciate it. So how are you guys? I haven’t seen you in ages,” she said, sitting on the empty desk. The boys seated themselves on some empty tables in the classroom.

“We’re terrible. That Umbridge woman is awful,” Harry said.

“So I’ve heard.”

“She kicked me, Fred, and George off the Quidditch team,” Harry said darkly.

“That’s terrible! Why? You were a great Quidditch player when I was hear. I used to root you you all the time.”

“You were here when we were here?” Ron asked.

“I’m not that old! I was here for your first year,” she said, sounding slightly offended.

“We didn’t mean you were old. We just didn’t realize it, that’s all,” Harry said lamely.

“It’s ok. I’m nowhere near as old as my boyfriend.”

Ron and Harry Gaped at her. “You have a boyfriend?” Ron finally asked.

“Yeah, Severus. Professor Snape to you. Didn’t Hermione and Ginny tell you? They interrupted us at a rather inopportune moment yesterday,” she blushed.

“Rather inopportune moment? Just what were you doing?” Harry asked, a blush creeping up his neck and he thought about it.

“A good girl doesn’t kiss and tell… at least not to boys. See if you can drag it out of Hermione and Ginny. So why did you get kicked off the team, Harry?”

“George and I beat up Malfoy. He deserved it though. He was insulting our Mums.”

“I’m sure he did, but you can’t go around beating people up. You should know that by now.” Harry said nothing, but looked to the floor, suddenly fascinated by his shoes. “So why did Fred get kicked off?”

“Well, if the chasers hadn’t been holding him back, he would have joined in.”

“That’s completely unfair. Someone has to stop that woman.”

“Someone will,” Ron said mysteriously.

“Oooh, you have to tell me what you’re planning.”

“Oh, it’s not us, it’s Fred and George. They won’t tell us what, but they said it will be something later on today. Last week they set off these firecrackers, it was great. And none of the teachers did a thing to stop it.”

“Haha, that’s great,” she laughed. “Listen, it’s been great seeing you guys again, but I’ve got to get to the Hospital wing. I’m sure Severus is wondering where I am with Poppy.”

“Okay, we’ll see you later,” Harry said. He and Ron left the classroom and Tonks headed off for the Hospital Wing.

“Madam Pomfrey? Madam Pomfrey?” she called to the empty hospital wing.

Poppy came bumbling from her office carrying a load of parchments. She dropped them all upon seeing Tonks. “Nymphadora Tonks, is that you? I would recognize your hair a mile away,” she said, enveloping Tonks in a firm hug. “Well, what have you been up to? I heard you were in Auror training. How’s that going?”

“Actually, I’m an Auror now. And lately I’ve been injuring myself,” Tonks replied, pointing to her broken nose.

“Well, I’m not surprised. Youays ays were…”

“A klutz,” she finished. “Don’t worry, I know.”

“Well, lie down and we’ll take care of that.” Tonks lay down and Pomfrey spent about five minutes dumping potions down the younger witch’s throat. Soon, Tonks was given a clean bill of health.

“Thank you, Poppy. You will never stop coming through for me.”

“So are you going to tell me how this happened?”

“Actually, I can’t really talk about it, but Severus-”

“Oh! I’ve heard rumors about you two. If that’s how this happened, I don’t think I want to know.”

Tonks blushed deeply at this. “No, it’s not that-”

“It’s okay dearie, it happens more often than you would think around here. What with no one guarding that Astronomy Tower at night, it’s a wonder we don’t have a nursery here.”

“Really, that’s not how this happened.” Poppy gave her a skeptical look. “Really. But Severus in injured, too. I don’t know how, but he managed to make it to the bed last night-”

“I told you, I don’t want to hear it!” she cried, covering her ears.

Tonks took Madam Pomfrey’s hands off of her ears and continued. “On a mission for Dumbledore, Severus was severely injured,” she said seriously.

“A mission for Dumbledore?” she asked, giving Tonks a knowing look.

“Yes. A mission for Dumbledore. Will you please come help?”

“Of course, let me just pack a bag. How bad is it? I hope it’s not like last time… That was dreadful. What Severus won’t do for that man,” she said as she packed a medical bag.

“It’s pretty bad. He looks to have more than a few broken ribs, his face is bloody, and” the next part she whispered, “the Cruciatus Curse was used on him for an extended period of time.”

“Oh, Merlin!” the mediwitch gasped. She walked over to a supplies cabinet and pulled out a bottle with blue potion in it. “That man is a glutton for punishment. He’s going to get himself killed,” she mumbled. She continued mumbling all the way to Severus’ chambers.

“He’s right in here,” Tonks said, leading the way to the bedroom where Severus lay in a bloody heap. Tonks just watched on as Madam Pomfrey worked on Severus. It was well into the night before he regained consciousness.

“Is Tonks here?” was the first the he managed to mumble out.

“I’m right here, honey,” Tonks said, rushing over to the bed. She took his hand in his and gently rubbed his fingers with her thumb.

“Well, I’ve done all I can He He shouldn’t be left alone, though. I don’t really want to draw attention to him by bringing him to the Hospital Wing, so could you stay with him?”

Tonks’ face lit up in a smile. “Gladly,” she said, leaning down to kiss him.

Madam Pomfrey immediately walked over and smacked Tonks upside the head. “Now now, there will be none of that for at least a week. So that means no trips to the Astronomy Tower for you two,” she said, gathering her things and leaving.

Severus looked at Tonks questioningly. “Astronomy Tower? What exactly did you tell her?”

Tonks laughed, flashing Severus a smile. “Nothing. But apparently it’s where are the cool kids are going to snog nowadays.”

“They do more than snog, I assure you. I walked in on Mister Malfoy with his girlfriend last week.”

“Draco has a girlfriend?”

“Yes, Sarah Harrison.”

“Hmm. Don’t know her. Is she in your house?” Severus just nodded. “So what did you do to them?”

“I turned on my heel and walked away. They followed shortly thereafter. You wouldn’t believe what kids do nowadays.”

“What were they doing?”

“Things very similar to what I would like to be doing to you right now. Mostly involving clothes lying on the floor in heaps.”

She blushed crimson at that. “And you just let them get away with it?” He nodded. “See? There you go again, favoring the Slytherins. What if it had been Ginny and Harry? What would you have done then? Or Hermione and Ron?”

“I was unaware that Mister Potter and Miss Granger were dating. And I highly doubt anything would happen with the Weasleys. They may be annoying, but I highly doubt even they would sink that low.”

“No, no, no,” Tonks laughed. “Harry is dating Ginny and Hermione and Ron are dating. But don’t tell them I told you, ok?”

“I should not have been privy to that information. Now I have it, and I plan to use it to my advantage.”

“Oh, you giant overgrown bat. What will you do?”

“If I walk in on them?” She nodded. “Deduct points like you wouldn’t believe and owl Molly.”

“Oooh, that’s vicious. I wouldn’t wish Molly’s wrath on anyone.”

“Do you really think I’m a giant overgrown bat?” he asked, slightly hurt.

“Yes… but it’s why I love y-” she stopped herself.

“Why you what?” he smirked.

She sighed. Might as well tell him, she thought to herself. “It’s why I love you, Severus Snape.” The smirking continued until Tonks couldn’t take it anymore. “What are you smirking at?”

“I’m smirking at you, love.” He picked up her hand and kissed it.

“There’s that nickname again. Don’t worry, I won’t let it go to my head,” she glared at him.

“I would prefer if you did,” he whispered.

“What?” she asked incredulously.

“I love you, too.” She smiled and leaned down to kiss him. The kissed deepened, their tongues dancing in the darkness of the dungeons. He was about to unbutton her shirt when Madam Pomfrey’s words came rushing back to him. “We should probably wait.”

“Are you in pain?”

“Honestly, yes. That Cruciatus takes a lot out of you.”

“You were under for a pretty long time,” she said. She got up and changed into her silk pajamas. They were Gryffindor red and extremely revealing and short. They left nothing to the imagination. He smirked at her again as she crawled into bed beside him. “Hey, you can look - but no touching.” This time it was she doing the smirking. He pulled her into him and she rested her head on his chest. “I’m glad you’re back. I was worried.”

“It’s been quite a bit worse than that. Whatever he can dish out, I can take.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t worry.”

“Worrying is what women are for, I guess,” he said, stifling a yawn.

“You should get to sleep.” She turned to face him. “I love you.”

He kissed her lightly. “I love you, too,” was all he managed before he drifted off into sleep.

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Thanks again to Trina Katrina and DracosGirl for betaing for me!