Morning light filtered through the curtains of Alisa's room, pale and grey.
She lay on her back, one arm thrown over her eyes, trying to will herself to get up. In less than two hours, she would be standing in McGonagall's office, lowering her trousers, showing the professor her cock.
True she had come all the way from Russia to get her help, but this was still a bit too much.
The image made her stomach clench with dread.
"You're thinking too loud," Tonks murmured from beside her.
Alisa lowered her arm, turning her head to find Tonks propped up on one elbow, watching her with knowing eyes. Her hair was a soft pink this morning.
"I have a lot to think about," Alisa said.
"Mmm. I know." Tonks shifted closer, her hand coming to rest on Alisa's stomach. "But you're going to drive yourself crazy if you keep spiralling. You need to relax before you face McGonagall."
"Easier said than done."
"Is it, though?" Tonks' hand drifted lower, fingers trailing along the waistband of Alisa's sleep shorts. "I can think of at least one way to take the edge off."
Alisa's breath caught. "Tonks, we don't have time—"
"We have plenty of time." Tonks was already moving, shifting down the bed with practised ease. "Breakfast isn't for fifteen minutes. And you'll think much more clearly once you've released some tension."
Before Alisa could protest further, Tonks tugged her shorts down.
Alisa's dick was already half-hard—her curse ensured she was almost always at least partially aroused—and it stiffened fully under Tonks' appreciative gaze.
"There she is," Tonks murmured, wrapping her hand around the base. "Good morning to you too."
"You're ridiculous," Alisa managed, her voice already going breathy.
"You love it." Tonks leaned down and pressed a kiss to the tip.
Alisa's hips jerked involuntarily.
"Easy," Tonks soothed, her breath warm against sensitive skin. "Let me take care of you."
And then her mouth descended, and Alisa stopped thinking entirely.
Tonks was good at this—she'd had plenty of practice over their time together, learning exactly what Alisa liked, what made her gasp and moan and lose control. Her tongue swirled around the head, teasing the sensitive underside, before she took Alisa deeper.
Alisa's hands fisted in the sheets. "Tonks—fuck—"
Tonks hummed in response, the vibration sending sparks up Alisa's spine. She bobbed her head slowly at first, building a rhythm, then faster as Alisa's breathing grew ragged.
One hand came up to cup Alisa's balls, rolling them gently. The other braced against her hip, holding her steady as Tonks worked.
"I'm—close—" Alisa gasped, her thighs trembling.
Tonks pulled back just enough to speak, her lips brushing against the tip. "Then cum. I've got you."
She took Alisa deep again, all the way to the base, her throat morphing to accommodate the length.
That was all it took.
Alisa came with a choked cry, her hips bucking as she spilt into Tonks' mouth. Tonks swallowed it all, working her through the aftershocks with gentle suction until Alisa collapsed back against the pillows, panting.
"Better?" Tonks asked, crawling back up to lie beside her.
Alisa couldn't form words. She just nodded weakly.
"Good." Tonks pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Now. Breakfast?"
龴ↀ◡ↀ龴
The Great Hall was bustling with morning activity when they arrived.
Students clustered at their house tables, loading plates with eggs and toast and bacon. The ceiling above showed a grey, overcast sky—matching the weather outside—and the candles floating throughout the hall cast everything in warm, flickering light.
Alisa scanned the room until she spotted Eleanor Vance sitting alone at the end of the Hufflepuff table.
The girl looked exhausted. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and she was picking at her food without really eating, pushing scrambled eggs around her plate with mechanical movements.
"Come on," Alisa murmured to Tonks.
They made their way across the hall, drawing curious glances from students who weren't used to seeing either, especially together. Alisa ignored them, sliding onto the bench across from Eleanor.
"Morning," she said quietly.
Eleanor's head snapped up. For a moment, panic flashed across her face—then recognition, and something like relief.
"Oh. It's you." She glanced at Tonks, who settled beside Alisa. "Both of you."
"How are you feeling?" Tonks asked, keeping her voice low.
"Like I barely slept." Eleanor's laugh was humourless. "Every time I started to drift off, I'd remember, and then I couldn't stop thinking about—" She broke off, her face flushing. "You know."
Alisa nodded. "I know. The first few nights are the hardest."
"Does it get easier?"
"Eventually." Alisa reached for a piece of toast, trying to project a calm she didn't entirely feel. "You learn to manage. To live around it."
"And get to enjoy it too," Tonks added with a grin.
Eleanor's eyes widened at the implication, and she blushed and stammered gibberish.
Alisa shot Tonks an unimpressed look and opened her mouth to respond, but movement at the edge of her vision made her pause.
Harry Potter was approaching their table.
He looked uncertain but determined, his green eyes flicking between the three women with obvious curiosity. Ron and Hermione trailed behind him, though they hung back slightly.
"Morning," Harry said, stopping beside their table. His gaze lingered on Eleanor, concern evident in his expression. "I heard about what happened near the forest. Are you all right?"
Eleanor went rigid. Her hands clenched around her fork.
"I'm fine," she said, her voice too high. "Just—tired. But I'm fine."
Harry frowned slightly. "If there's anything I can do to help—"
"Harry." Tonks stood smoothly, her hand coming to rest on his shoulder. "Can I borrow you for a second?"
He blinked at the interruption. "Uh. Sure?"
Tonks steered him a few steps away, just far enough that their conversation wouldn't carry. Alisa watched them go, then turned back to Eleanor.
"Breathe," she said softly. "He doesn't know anything. He's just being kind."
"I know. I know, I just—" Eleanor's voice trembled. "Every time someone asks if I'm okay, I feel like they can tell. Like they're looking at me and they see—"
"They can't. I promise you, they can't." Alisa leaned forward slightly. "The curse doesn't show unless you let it. Your clothes hide everything. No one knows but us."
Eleanor nodded shakily, her grip on the fork loosening slightly.
A few feet away, Tonks was speaking to Harry in a low, easy tone. Alisa caught fragments—"private matter," "best not to ask," "she'll talk when she's ready"—and saw Harry's expression shift from confusion to understanding.
He glanced back at Eleanor, then at Alisa, and nodded once.
When he returned to the table, his demeanour had changed.
"Sorry if I overstepped," he said to Eleanor. "I hope you feel better soon."
"Thank you," Eleanor managed.
Harry offered a small smile, then retreated to join Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor table.
Tonks slid back onto the bench beside Alisa. "Handled."
"What did you tell him?" Alisa asked quietly.
"Just that Vance is dealing with something personal and she needs space. He's a good kid—he won't push." Tonks reached for a piece of bacon. "Though he definitely gave you a look when he left. I think he's worried about you too. Who knows, he might even try to help you soon…"
Alisa's face heated. "He… uh—he worries about everyone."
"Mmm. Sure, he does."
Eleanor was watching them with a mixture of gratitude, confusion, and something else—curiosity, maybe, about the dynamic between them. But she didn't ask.
"Eleanor," Alisa said, drawing her attention. "We should meet up later today. After my... appointment with McGonagall. There are things we need to discuss. Practical things. About managing the curse."
Eleanor's flush deepened, but she nodded. "Okay. Where?"
"I'll send you a Patronus once I'm done. We can use one of the empty classrooms, or my room. Whatever you prefer."
"Alright." Eleanor hesitated, then added in a very small voice, "Thank you. For sitting with me. I didn't want to be alone this morning."
Something in Alisa's chest ached. "You're not alone anymore. Remember that."
Eleanor's eyes glistened, but she blinked the tears back and managed a wobbly smile.
They finished breakfast in relative quiet after that. Alisa forced herself to eat, knowing she'd need the energy for what was coming, even though every bite felt like swallowing sand.
When the clock tower chimed quarter to eight, she rose.
"I have to go," she said.
Tonks caught her hand, squeezing briefly. "You've got this. I'll be here when you're done."
Alisa nodded, not trusting her voice.
She walked out of the Great Hall without looking back.