Lupin's True Love

September 5, 1972

Veronica paced the common room while James and Sirius played Wizard Chess. James' pieces kept bowing to Veronica as she passed the board. "How can you be so calm when my academic future is at stake?"

"Easy." James watched as his queen dragged Sirius' knight off the board. "If you don't go up then we don't have to worry. If you do go up then we don't have to worry."

"Ha, ha, ha. Very funny." Veronica flopped into the chair in front of the fireplace.

The portrait door swung open and Professor McGonagall stepped into the common room. "Miss Croft."

"Professor McGonagall." Veronica smiled as she jumped to her feet. "How did I do?"

"I suggest you go and pack your belongings. They will need to be moved into the Second Year dormitory." Professor McGonagall handed Veronica a stack of parchment. "You passed."

Veronica flipped through the papers and smiled wider than ever. "I passed!!!" She whirled around to face James, Remus, Peter, and Sirius. "I passed!!!"

Remus hugged Veronica and swung her around. "I'm so proud of you."

"I need to write to my parents." Veronica rushed up the stairs to her dormitory.

"I trust that you gentlemen will help her catch up with the rest of the class." Professor McGonagall climbed out of the portrait hole.

"I wish we could help her pack." Remus glanced toward the dorm door. "I'll be right back." Remus walked over to Lily, Emma, Jessica, and Patricia and spoke to them quickly.

"I can't believe she's done it." James flopped into a chair.

"I told you she had the smarts to do it." Sirius gave a bark of laughter. "I can't wait to see Snape's face when she shows up in Potions with us on Monday."

James watched as Lily, Emma, Jessica, and Patricia disappeared up the stairs. "I've already written to my parents and got them to send me another copy of all our books." James motioned to a package under the table. "They said they were willing to help her in anyway that they can."

"When are you going to give them to her?" Peter glanced toward the door.

"When she comes back down." James pulled the package from under the table. "She's going to be so surprised."

"I'm sure she will be." Remus heard footsteps running down the dorm stairs. "We have to help keep her up with the classes.

Veronica stepped into the common room. "Remus, may I borrow your owl?"

"Sure." Remus climbed from his chair. "We'll have to go to the owlery."

"That's fine." Veronica noticed the package on the table. "Where did that come from?"

"My parents sent me some extra books for our classes." James lifted the package and handed it to Veronica. "They thought you could use them if you were promoted to Second Year."

"The books are for me?" Veronica took the package from James.

"That's right." James watched as Veronica ripped open the package. "Mom said she even put something special in it for you."

Veronica pulled out a small box with an envelope attached. She opened the envelope and quickly read the note. She opened the box and pulled out a sapphire necklace. "It's beautiful. Help me put it on, James." She handed the necklace to James and moved her brown hair from her neck.

James attached the two ends together while Sirius, Remus, and Peter placed the books onto the table. Remus watched as Veronica's hair softly fell back into place.

"If you're going to send that letter today, we'd best get to the Owlery." Remus extended a hand to Veronica.

"Let's go." Veronica placed her hand in Remus' hand and walked to the portrait hole. "We'll be back."

James turned to Sirius as the portrait hole closed. "They belong together."

"I agree." Sirius sank back into his chair as James sat across from him.

"I hope she's not afraid of werewolves." Peter looked into the fire.

"Maybe we should tell her?" James glanced at Sirius.

"Nah. Remus will." Sirius picked up one of the books. "We should first get her caught up with our classes."

"How do we keep Snape away from her?" Peter picked up another book.

"I don't know but we'll worry about it later." James opened one of the books and began marking pages.

Remus and Veronica stepped into the Owlery and began looking for his owl. Remus' snowy owl fluttered down to his arm.

"Anytime you need to send a letter just come here and use Lacewing." Remus placed Lacewing onto Veronica's arm. "She's very reliable and loyal."

"Here you put it on her leg." Veronica handed the letter to Remus. She watched as Remus tied the letter to Lacewing's leg. "She's a beautiful owl."

"She was a gift from my parents last year when I got into Hogwarts." Remus carried Lacewing to the window and let her go.

Veronica watched as Lacewing soared into the afternoon sun. "I guess we should get back to the common room and get started on my work."

"Let's take a walk for a few minutes." Remus held out his hand. "We can do the work in a while. What do you say?"

Veronica smiled softly and placed her hand into Remus'. "I only hope that James, Sirius, and Peter don't read too much into it."

"There's actually another reason that I want to take the walk." Remus led the way to the front doors. "Let's go sit over there." Remus pointed at a nearby tree.

"Does this have anything to do with you being in the Hospital Wing two nights ago?" Veronica watched as Remus laid his cloak onto the ground.

Remus helped Veronica sit on it. She settled herself as Remus sat next to her. She watched Remus as he stared across the lake.

"You noticed?" Remus released a deep sigh as Veronica nodded. "It's something that James, Sirius, and Peter confronted me about yesterday while you were in class."

"What is it?" Veronica placed a hand on his arm. "You know you can tell me anything, Remus."

"I guess I should just come out and tell you." Remus heaved another sigh. "I'm a werewolf."

"A what?" Veronica tilted her head.

"A werewolf." Remus stared at the lake.

"When did it happen?" Veronica leaned onto Remus' shoulder.

"I was a small boy when I was bitten. Once a month I'm snuck out of the castle to safety." Remus placed a hand over Veronica's. "I can understand if you don't want to hang out with me anymore. There aren't many people that would want anything to do with a werewolf."

"Why wouldn't I want to hang out with you?" Veronica stared at Remus. "I'm used to being the oddball."

"That must be why you stick up for the underdog." Remus patted her hand.

"It is." Veronica placed a hand on Remus' knee. "I only hope that no one else figures that out."

"Like James, Peter, and Sirius." Remus laughed as Veronica nodded. "It's getting late. We should head back up to the common room." Remus climbed to his feet and extended a hand to Veronica.

"If we have to then I guess we must." Veronica placed her hand in Remus' and allowed him to pull her to her feet. "I only hope that James, Peter, and Sirius don't ask too many questions about where we've been." Veronica picked up Remus' cloak and shook the grass off it and handed it to Remus.

"They wouldn't dare." Remus and Veronica laughed as they walked toward the entrance of the school.

James, Peter, and Sirius turned toward the portrait hole as the Fat Lady swung open. Remus helped Veronica through the hole and turned to his friends. Veronica smiled at Remus as she walked to the dormitory door.

"I'm going to pack my stuff so it can be moved." Veronica opened the door. "I'll be back in a few minutes since I don't have a lot."

Remus watched Veronica disappear up the stairs before he turned to James, Peter, and Sirius. "Go ahead with the interrogation."

"What interrogation?" James looked up innocently from his book.

"About where we went to after posting her letter." Remus flopped onto the sofa.

"Is there anything to tell?" Sirius smirked as Remus flipped open a book.

"No. We just went for a walk." Remus glanced around the room and leaned closer to James, Peter, and Sirius. "I told her about me."

"Really?" Peter looked up from his book. "You told her about being a..."

"Shh!" Sirius slapped Peter across the back of his head. "We don't want the whole world to know."

Remus turned to the dormitory door as he heard footsteps on the stairs. James followed his gaze as Lily and Patricia stepped from the stairway.

"Missing someone?" James snickered as Remus slammed his book closed.

"Just knock it off, James." Remus ran a hand through his short brown hair.

More footsteps sounded on the stairs as Sirius closed his book with a snap. Veronica stepped from the stairway as Remus climbed to his feet. No one noticed the portrait door opening. Veronica smiled when she saw Professor McGonagall step through the door. Her smile faltered when she saw Dumbledore step in behind Professor McGonagall. Remus turned and saw the professors. He quickly moved to Veronica's side as James, Peter, and Sirius climbed to their feet.

"Please have a seat, Miss Croft. I'm afraid we have some grave news." Dumbledore motioned to the sofa.

Remus led Veronica to the sofa and pushed her down on it as James, Peter, and Sirius each retook their seats. Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore walked over to the sofa.

"What has happened?" Veronica's grey eyes slowly shifted to a pale blue as her eyes focused on Dumbledore.

"This letter was sent to you this very afternoon. Since the owl couldn't find you, it brought it to me." Dumbledore handed Veronica a letter.

"What's it say?" Sirius watched as Veronica slowly opened the envelope.

A topaz tie tack clattered onto the stone floor as a small topaz ring fell onto the table. "No!!!" Veronica looked up at Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore. "What... happened? How ...did they...die?" Veronica tried to keep the sobs under control. Finally the sobs won the battle.

Remus pulled her into his arms and held her as she cried. Her tears soaked the front of his robes. "What happened, sir?"

"We have discovered the Dark wizard that is after you, Miss Croft. His name is Lord Voldemort." Dumbledore knelt before Veronica and took her hands into his aged and weathered ones. "He has discovered the one woman who can aid him to full power. We are assuming that once he found this out he went after your parents. All signs point to the fact that he tortured them."

"We can only hope that he doesn't know your location, Miss Croft." Professor McGonagall wrung her hands.

"Where will I go? What will I do?" Veronica allowed Remus to hug her tighter. "I have no other family. I have no where to go."

"I have already made arrangements. The Potters have graciously opened their home to you for all the school holidays." Dumbledore placed a hand on her knee.

"That is okay with you, isn't it, James?" Veronica watched the reaction on James' face.

James was smiling broadly as he spoke. "I'm finally getting a baby sister. Yes!" He threw his arms around Veronica and Remus.

Dumbledore climbed to his feet and glanced at the window. "I believe someone has a letter."

Remus looked to the window and saw Lacewing tapping her beak onto the pane of glass. Sirius opened the window and allowed Lacewing to flutter onto the table in front of Remus, Veronica, and James. The owl hopped closer to Veronica as Remus took the letter from her leg. He handed the letter to Veronica.

"My letter to my parents..." Veronica sobbed and jumped to her feet. She fled up the stairs to her new dorm room. She threw herself onto her bed and cried into her pillow.