Entry tags:

fic, snape, tonks

Special Delivery For: karasu_hime, pt 1
Title: Six Ways To Sunday - part 1
Author: odogoddess
Recipient's LJ name: karasu_hime
Rating: NC-17
Pairing(s): Snape/Tonks
Word Count: this section 4,540. 11,750 total.
Warnings (if any): karasu_hime, among other things, you asked for women in charge, fingering, first time-kissing or sex, dirty talk, experimenting. I think I managed a bit of all that. You also said you don't mind angst or even having your heart ripped out as long as everyone is together/happy at end. Check. Well, what you didn't ask for and this story contains is mention of (off-screen) torture, legilimentic voyeurism, and h/c.

Summary: This fic explains one possible way Snape regained Voldemort's trust after Goblet Of Fire.
Authors notes: Thank you to my beta's and britpicker, who shall remain anonymous. karasu_hime, your work has given me so much joy that I was delighted to be chosen to write for you. I hope you enjoy your wizard_love. :) Oh, and by the by, all inset quotes are from Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire.

"Severus," said Dumbledore, turning to Snape, "you know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready... If you are prepared..."

"I am." said Snape.



He knelt. He waited. Dread filled his belly and pain throbbed through his arm.

Severus knew that whatever he did or said, whatever decision was made in his regard would involve pain and humiliation.

He had waited too long, far too long, to answer his dark master's summons. In satisfying one master, he would displease the other, and that, he realised now, would be the measure of his life for the foreseeable future now that Voldemort was back.

That was assuming he was allowed to live beyond the night.

Waiting, kneeling in the graveyard he well-remembered from his youth, Severus knew it was taking too long, far too long to receive Lord Voldemort's mercy. Being kept waiting by the Dark Lord never portended benevolence.

"Well, well... I am disappointed. I had hoped you would provide my followers sport whilst they hunted down those traitorous to me, but here you come into my den, seeking... what? Absolution? Forgiveness? Tell me, Severus," Voldemort said now as he bent to speak in Snape's ear. "Why should I forgive you your treachery? What do you bring me worth your life?"

Keeping his head down, Severus raised his hands, palms up, holding out his wand in supplication and waited for the pain to begin.


* * *


"I can give you one more, but I suggest you save it for right before bed," Poppy said tiredly.

She had spent all afternoon seeing to people dealing with grief, anxiety, and overindulgence in sweets whilst watching the Tri-Wizard Tournament. She had just spent nearly an hour putting Severus to rights after his harrowing evening of exhaustive interrogation via Cruciatus and the not-so-tender ministrations of Walden Macnair, who had demonstrated his skills to the gathering at Voldemort's behest.

"You say you cannot explain how or why your arm was amputated and then spelled back?"

Snape blinked weary black eyes at her, but said nothing, and she pursed her lips, reflecting the quiet fury she was feeling.

"Fine. I do understand the meaning of discretion, you know. Both of you know," she added whilst glaring at the Headmaster as she gathered her potions, salves, bandages and plasters into her brown leather satchel.

"Stupid contests leading to death, students fainting from over-excitement, and even grown men who should know better than to get involved in questionable exploits," she muttered scathingly as she hoisted her satchel and headed for the door. "Keep your secrets, both of you. I'm well shut of it. Just remember who has to patch you together afterwards."

Once the door had closed on her outraged starchy presence, Snape looked to Dumbledore. "He said since I saw fit to ignore his summons in a timely fashion, I obviously did not need my mark."

He held his very sore, but still attached arm before him, wincing. "He reattached it to show his generosity to his followers, and to offer me a chance to repay my debt."

The Headmaster said nothing, merely nodded and Snape concluded, "He allowed them to relive my... agony... via Legilimency."

"Whilst there are those who undoubtedly enjoy such exploits," Albus said with a sigh. "It strikes me as a highly effective demonstration for keeping any who might have been hoping to flee at a later, more auspicious time, under control."

"The thought had occurred," Snape said dourly, rubbing his sore arm near the faint scar marking where it had been reattached.

"I take it, though, that this was not the only reason Tom found to be 'magnanimous' in your regard."

It was not a question and Severus stopped rubbing his arm, looking down at his lap. His ears, Dumbledore noted, were a bright and vivid shade of red.

"No, Headmaster."

When a long silence followed, Albus sighed. "I should think you had experienced enough Legilimency tonight, Severus. Out with it."

"He does not wish to sully himself. He believes abstinence increases power and ambition. He... he said the proof of this is in the fact I had... saved myself before, and had been able to shield myself from him. I had to... fake his 'breaking' me tonight, and allow the rest to see my agony after... after Macnair."

"That would not have been enough. I take it you are under direct order to break your abstinence."

Those ears turned scarlet as Snape nodded and Albus smiled gently, but hid it when he spoke. "Severus. Look at me."

Two bright black eyes stared at him, reflecting Snape's beleaguered state.

"There are worse things than bedding someone, my boy."

"He wants to experience it. He wishes to remain chaste, but says he does not see why he should not enjoy carnal relations nonetheless via the use of Legilimency."

"Did he have a partner in mind?"

Snape swallowed. "His order was for me to choose either a member of the Order or someone in the Ministry that I could mine information from."

"I see." Albus turned away and studied the view out his window for a long moment. "What is our timetable?"

"I am to return to him Sunday evening. I cannot fail him regardless of circumstance, he made that quite clear."

Dumbledore sighed. It had just turned Friday. He cleared his throat. "Do you have anyone in mind? Is there anyone you might ask?"

There was a slight hesitation, then a quietly mumbled, "No, Headmaster."

Dumbledore nodded, and then stroked his beard. "Classes have been cancelled. I want you to rest and recover tonight as best you can, Severus. In the afternoon, I will send someone... suitable... to your quarters via Floo, to ensure discretion. I will ensure you are not disturbed, and I will not expect to see you until after your next visit with Tom."

There was a blurt of sound, as if Snape had wished to speak then thought better of it, before he heard a pained sigh.

"Very well, Headmaster."


~ * ~

"Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open."
Albus Dumbledore



He looked over at the four women seated before him and nodded.

"Let me start this meeting by stating here and now that whoever does not wish to be Obliviated should leave now. I require one volunteer and only one for a rather delicate task that involves complete discretion."

Startled blue eyes met brown, grey and hazel before turning back to Dumbledore's own faded blue gaze.

"I fail to see why a simple promise to remain silent would not suffice," Minerva opined.

"It is not my own secret to bare, but another's and I would not have them suffer unnecessary shame or embarrassment."

A silence fell and Hestia Jones stood along with Emmeline Vance.

"Forgive me, Headmaster, but considering recent events, I am not sanguine about volunteering for a mission with such... parameters," Hestia said with a nervous sniff. Emmeline nodded behind her.

"Very well, ladies. You may leave now, none the wiser," he gestured to the fireplace and they both Floo'd away.

He turned to face the two remaining prospects, neither of which gave any indication of budging until they had at least learnt more before turning him down. He sighed. If that happened, he had another plan in place, but it was a last resort he had little desire to enact.

"Miss Tonks. Minerva."

They both nodded and he steepled his fingers before him. "As I said, whoever is not chosen--"

"Will be Obliviated. We understand, Albus. Please get to the point," McGonagall urged.

"It is Severus. As you both know, Voldemort has returned." He waited for their pained reactions to subside before continuing, "Severus was called to his presence and required to explain not only his lateness in replying to the summons, which came right after Mr. Diggory's death, but also his supposed treachery."

"Is he all right?" Minerva recalled now she had not seen her colleague at the breakfast table.

"He will be fine," Albus assured them both. "However, he has a dilemma. You see... Severus chose to be celibate at an early age, in order to achieve his Potions Mastery. Voldemort is under the impression that celibacy increases power and has ordered all his Death Eaters to, er... indulge in carnal relationships, both to ensure none grows stronger than he and also so that he might, via use of Legilimency, experience sexual pleasures vicariously. We require a volunteer to deal with this matter."

"I fail to see why this required an emergency meeting, Headmaster," McGonagall responded archly.

"Severus was, due to his tenuous standing with Voldemort, ordered to engage either a member of the Order or someone from the Ministry as his... partner. He must report back on Sunday."

Tonks spoke first. "So he not only needs to shag, but old Moldy Warts is going to be reading his encounters in his mind? And he wants Snape to get information while he's getting his pipe cleaned?"

"Miss Tonks!"

Nymphadora rolled her eyes at Minerva's scandalised expression. Albus nodded.

"Rather indelicately put, Miss Tonks, but succinct and, unfortunately, accurate." He paused. "There is another option for whoever chooses. This needn't be an ongoing situation, although that would be the most effective arrangement.

"Severus does not have to report to Voldemort until Sunday evening. Furthermore, he is a Potions expert, and with the Come and Go room, whoever volunteers can easily help him present different scenarios and locations to make it appear as if the activity took place in different areas at different times. I have full confidence in Severus's control in the Mind Arts to parcel out images on an as-needed basis. That is assuming whoever volunteers is only available or wishes to be available this weekend."

There was a heavy silence, during which Tonks frowned in concentration and Minerva visibly paled, clenching the arms of her chair and appearing distressed. The young Auror finally nodded.

"Fine. Unless Minerva really wants a gander at what's under Snape's robes, I'll do it."

Dumbledore merely nodded and looked to McGonagall who was rather less pale now. "I... I would prefer, no, I insist on being Obliviated, Albus. The mere thought... I still think of the boy like one of my students!"

Albus nodded and he smiled when he noted Tonks waving her wand surreptitiously.

"Now if that's all, Headmaster," Minerva continued with no conscious awareness of a loss of time. "I should get back to my grading."

"Indeed. I think we're done here, Professor McGonagall. Oh, Miss Tonks, a word with you before you go."

Nymphadora nodded and they both watched Minerva stride firmly out of the room in a state of well-starched propriety and full awareness of decorum. The older witch's attitude didn't surprise her; some were more rigidly raised. It was little wonder there were wizards like Snape around, still virginal, although a man of around forty or so, which was the age she guessed him to be, was still very young for a wizard.

And since wizards age only half as fast as Muggles after they pass puberty, his sex drive is that of a twenty-year old Muggle... the poor sod.

Once the door shut, Albus sighed, relaxing minutely before turning to the young Auror.

"I thank you, Miss Tonks. Now... if I know Severus, he will not have eaten since yesterday and will have worked himself up to a state of nervous tension befitting a prisoner condemned to the Veil. On top of which, he suffered torture last night at the hands of an unkind and demanding master. While he is most likely recovered, at least physically, from his ordeal, I still do not envy you your task."

Tonks smiled ruefully. "Good thing I've always wondered exactly what all those little black buttons is covering up then, eh?"


~ * ~


Snape waited. Dread filled his gut and it twisted with fear and anxiety. He had not been able to eat and even his tea had been unappealing and bitter, adding to the roiling in his belly.

He had barely been able to sleep, between the pain he had experienced from the torture of the evening before, and the nerve-demolishing mortification.

The walking hormones he had the great displeasure of teaching had no clue. The adolescent boys, in particular, he knew, often imagined finding themselves in his situation -- having a willing woman approach them in private surroundings and ridding them of their virginity.

They had no clue just how humiliating it would actually be.

Dumbledore had said he would send someone in the afternoon, whenever that might turn out to be, and he had been brooding since he awoke.

At first, Severus had tried to treat it like any other day, but his toast with kippers did not appeal. He could use a breath-freshening charm, he knew, but the mere thought of someone kissing him... and doing other things, made him queasy with nerves. Instead, he brushed his teeth twice and very thoroughly. As he rinsed, he felt the stubble on his chin and decided a bath and shave was probably for the best, although he did not think anything would relieve his anxiety.

Snape wished he'd had classes. He could have concentrated on something else and his dunderheaded students would have provided him plenty of opportunity to relieve some of the anxiety by taking points or assigning detention with Filch.

Instead, he found himself taking a long bath, scrubbing himself from head to foot in order not to offend, feeling mortification over the thought someone else was going to see his pale, scarred and scrawny body, and then irritation as his genitals woke, clearly pleased at the thought of receiving attention. He had ignored them and scrubbed again, head to foot, as if he could somehow wash away the humiliation and fear along with the sweat and dirt.

Then Severus had wrapped himself in his towelling robe and pondered his minimal supply of toiletries. His mother had gifted him a shaving kit when he turned seventeen and he still used it to this day. It included a small shaving mug and brush, a cake of French-milled soap, a razor she had charmed to stay sharp and never nick his skin, and a small bottle of what she called "freshener" that she had made herself -- a mix of herbs infused in rum that smelt spicy and earthy and which he had rarely used, except at holidays. Minerva had once complimented him on his aftershave during one holiday gathering and as he shaved, he pondered the appropriateness of using it now.

Surely being clean was sufficient? He hoped whoever Dumbledore chose would take at least minimal pains with their own grooming. If he was going to have to be close to them, close enough to smell them...

He thought his face might stay scarlet if he kept up his train of thought, but he could not help it. He dabbed some "freshener" on his cheeks and neck and tried to ignore the heated sensation of same.

It was nothing to be ashamed of, he insisted. Many wizards chose abstinence to further their careers. It was difficult, after all, to focus on making one's name in the world if one was tied down to a family.

He could not have achieved his Potions Mastery nor become Head of House at such a young age if he had chosen sexual over professional exploits. Still, he knew that most wizards and witches would consider him pitiable or even pathetic.

Severus scowled at his image in the mirror and considered his hair now. He hated how his hair looked after a bath. The natural wave it tried to form made him look far too much like his father. He preferred his mother's long, straight hair. A detangling charm made the slight wave it had dried with disappear and his hair hung straight as always, if a bit shinier and cleaner than it usually did.

Once his grooming ritual was completed, he considered his clothes. Should he even bother to dress at all?

The thought of whoever Albus chose, coming through his Floo and finding him as he was made Severus hurry to his wardrobe.

He could not wear his teaching robes, nor could he wear his dress robes. He mulled over his decision and finally chose to wear trousers over his comfortable linen smalls, and his most comfortable shirt with braces and a waistcoat. It was not overly formal, nor was it indecorous.

Or was it? He considered himself in the mirror and wondered if a newer shirt would not be better.

Before he could change his mind, or look into his rather spare wardrobe for something, anything else, the sound of his fireplace flaring to life in his study made him turn and hurry to the doorway where Snape watched in dismay as a gracile and rather gamine figure tumbled forth onto the rug covering the harsh stone of his rooms.


~ * ~

"Dumbledore wants you taught what it feels like," said Moody. "If you'd rather learn the hard way - when someone's putting it on you so they can control you completely - fine by me. You're excused. Off you go."



"Snape! Wotcher!"

Severus groaned. This could not possibly be the one Albus had cho--

"I, er... Dumbledore sent me. I think we both know why," she said in her perennially cheerful way.

Snape sank onto the chair farthest from the fire and looked away, partly to hide the furious blush he could feel burning his cheeks and partly to gather his scattered thoughts and determine how best to proceed.

She was not the worst candidate, but she was not one he would have chosen. Nymphadora Tonks was a bit young and far too gregarious, although, as an Auror, she did have the necessary skills to both protect herself and keep a secret, he acceded. She fit the Dark Lord's criteria and if Dumbledore had chosen her, then she must be experienced. He felt his blush turn crimson as he realised that she must know or be aware of the fact that he was a v--

"If you'd rather leave it all to me and not say anything that's okay," she offered now, a bit uncertainly. Normally, she would be shifting the shape and colour of her eyes, and the colour and texture of her hair, but she constrained her abilities to present him a calm and unassuming appearance.

Tonks well remembered Snape from her school days, so she was aware of his temper as a teacher, but had little knowledge of his temperament as a man and she was mature enough to know that the temperament a teacher presented to students could be entirely different from the one they presented to family or friends. She also knew that virginity was a touchy subject for some. Some prized it, some despised it and there was every gradation in between.

"I'm not sure what to say," he quietly admitted, his voice just barely above a whisper.

"Well, no need to make things awkward," she pointed out, sliding her hands into the back pockets of her trousers in the way she had when she was nervous and allowing her naturally brown hair to grow a bit longer to calm her own nerves. "We have the most of two days, and I had an idea, if you'd care to hear it."

He nodded, still avoiding her eyes and she sighed and pulled her hands from her pockets to sit on the couch close to his chair.

"Old Moldy Warts, he wants you to do this to get information, right?"

Snape barely kept himself from snorting at her appellation and focused on her question, nodding evenly.

"Well, then, why not use my talent? He doesn't even have to know it's me and you can have a cornucopia," she enthused, smiling. Her smile grew as he finally turned to face her, bewilderment on his aquiline features. She sighed, allowing her hair to shift from platinum blonde to blue-black, from curly to lank and even presented herself as bald whilst clarifying, "I can make myself look like just about anyone at the Ministry or in the Order that I know of. He would never have to see my face and know it's me you're with, and you'd get to be with whoever you like."

His stunned expression made her think he hadn't considered that particular aspect of her capabilities. His next words, however, left her confused.

"I'll kill him!"

"Wait, what? Who? Oh, and just for the record, it's not really wise to make declarations like that in front of an Auror, you know?"

Snape glared at her, furious, before visibly calming himself. She once again presented her normal appearance, clearly not wishing to risk his further ire.

"It was hyperbole, and I do not blame you, Miss Tonks, but Albus. I am very sorry you were conscripted for this... task." She did not think it was possible, but his face grew an even deeper shade of crimson and, again, he would not meet her eyes. "I would appreciate your discretion in future, but for now, I think it would be best if you left."

"Woah, wait a minute here!" She stood now, deeply concerned and somewhat offended. "First of all, I'm not going anywhere. You are in mortal danger and I can't just ignore that and go traipsing off all devil-may-care -- not until you are out of danger. Second of all, I wasn't conscripted you, silly man, I volunteered."

Snape stared at her now, clearly flabbergasted. "You... volunteered for this?"

She rolled her eyes, hands sliding back into her pockets again. Her hair shifted to a lustrous dark blonde full of waves.

"Yes. I volunteered. I always rather... well... fancied you in school," she admitted now, blushing furiously herself as her hair shifted to long, shiny-black locks.

He blinked at this, as if testing her words for veracity, but finally choosing to shift his focus. "Be that as it may, Miss Tonks, with the Dark Lord back, I will remain in danger, quite likely mortal danger, for the foreseeable future. You cannot mind my welfare all the time, not and do your assigned work for the Ministry, so your sentiments are next to meaningless."

Her eyes narrowed and he found himself swallowing as she hunkered down in front of his chair to look up at him, earnestly, hair now a vibrant auburn.

"That's true, but I also can't ignore you being in the sort of danger that I can do something about. And this particular situation is a case in point." She paused, looking down at his knees before setting her hands on them and ignoring the gasp he made. "I won't be leaving here, Snape. Not until you are out of this particular form of... danger."

"This is unconscionable," he muttered, barely audible, and looking aside, not meeting her gaze again, hoping she could not see the reaction her touch was having on him.

"So is my letting a madman kill you just because you haven't gotten your leg over," she replied evenly.

He glared up at this, as she had known he would and she gave him a very kind smile. For his part, Snape found himself relieved her eyes were a vivid blue.

"There's no shame in it, you know. It's kind of brill that you've saved yourself so you could make all kinds of potions for the Order."

His mouth nearly fell open and he pursed his lips instead, glad she had not intuited his amazement at this outlandish conclusion that was quite clearly Dumbledore-initiated. Still, he thought now, it saved him a bit of dignity in this intolerable situation, although how much dignity he could manage to keep when he was quite visibly and painfully erect was anyone's guess. He wished now that he had chosen to wear robes.

Her smile became very gentle and her eyes turned a warm brown as did her hair. "Maybe we should just get on with it."

She did not waste time, slipping off her jacket and laying it on his couch. She slid one hand up to touch his cheek and let the other stroke up his thigh. His hands tightened on the armrest as she cupped him unerringly through his trousers. The heat from her fingers was maddening. He was already starting to sweat and he did not know what to do or say or where to look.

"M-miss To--"

"Hey, what did I say," she asked kindly, but firmly, her fingers never ceasing their stimulating caress. "Don't call me that."

"I... I don't know if--"

"Say it after me. Tonks. Pretty easy, huh?" She grinned and he reached out trembling hands to clutch at her shoulders, uncertain of what else to do.

Severus wanted to touch her breasts, but he didn't think he could manage any finesse and he didn't want to come across as a lust-addled teenager, even if that was how he felt.

It did not matter, however, because Tonks' touch was warm and gentle and her fingers were firm as they began to stroke his shaft through his trousers, her palm pressing his sensitive cock head. Then all he could do was issue an undignified moan as he began to come, the warm semen wetting his linens and soaking through to moisten her fingers as she continued to stroke him through to the end of his climax.

"Hey, easy there. Don't mishandle the merchandise."

He realised he was clutching her hard enough to leave bruises.

"Dear Merlin."

He let her go, but was shaking so hard she had to hold on to him. It did not help that he could smell himself, smell his spunk, or that her hands were sticky and moist. His face felt like it was on fire.

"Hey, it's okay. Honest."

He looked up into earnest leaf-green eyes, thankfully capped with blonde curls, and read the sincerity, uncoloured by mockery or even the faintest trace of amusement and finally nodded, placing himself entirely in her hands.


~ * ~

Continue to part 2