Lupin's True Love

September 6, 1972

It was after midnight when Veronica, with red-rimmed eyes, wandered into the common room and picked up her new books. She opened one of them and began to read. Remus walked up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. Veronica jumped, squealed, and dropped her book onto the floor.

"Sorry." Remus bent to pick up the book. "I didn't mean to frighten you, Veronica." He handed her the book.

"It's okay." Veronica took the book and opened it to the page she had been reading and sniffled slightly.

"How are you doing?" Remus sank into the chair next to her.

"I'm fine." Veronica closed the book and looked at Remus.

He watched as tears rolled from her pale blue eyes and splashed onto the front of her robes.

"That's not true." Remus placed a hand on her knee. "You know that you can tell me the truth. I'll never tell James, Peter, and Sirius."

"I know that." Veronica climbed to her feet and paced in front of the fireplace.

Remus stood and walked over to her. He wrapped his arms around her and led her to the sofa. He helped her sit down and held her while she cried. "There is no reason to be without any friends. You have more friends than you know. And I know of at least three."

"That's not it. I'm afraid that you guys will get hurt because of me." Veronica gently snuggled closer to Remus. "I don't want you guys hurt because you're protecting me." She sighed deeply. "I don't want anybody to be hurt because of me."

"He'll never get you. We'll fight him to the best of our abilities." Remus hugged her close.

"Really?"

"Really." He pulled away from her for a moment. "Glad to go on to the next year?"

"I sure am." She snuggled closer to him.

Remus lifted her chin and lowered his lips to hers. He gently kissed her and pulled her closer. Neither heard the footsteps moving closer to the sofa.

"So am I." James' voice floated from behind them as Remus and Veronica jumped apart.

"James." Veronica's cheeks reddened as she straightened her robes and glanced up at James. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to see Remus kiss you." James sank into a chair as she buried her face in her hands.

"Let us explain..." Remus placed a hand over Veronica's

"No need, Remus. You two like each other and have liked each other since the train." James leaned back in the chair as Remus squeezed her hand.

"Did I miss anything?" Sirius walked across the common room and sank into another chair.

"Just a juicy lip lock between them." James nodded his head at Remus and Veronica.

"Ooh." Sirius batted his eyes.

"Oh seriously, Sirius." Veronica buried her face into the front of Remus' robes.

"We have other things to discuss." James tried to slug Sirius.

"Such as?" Remus draped his arm over Veronica's shoulders.

"What are we going to do about Voldemort?" Sirius stared as Veronica snuggled closer to Remus.

"He's going to make his move before too much longer." James snickered as Remus gently placed a kiss on Veronica's forehead.

"When he makes his move, it'll be his big mistake." Sirius picked up a book. "We should get started on Veronica's work."

"What do we start with?" Veronica started to reach for her Charms book but Remus grabbed her hand. She smiled softly as Remus handed her the book.

"How about the two of you go on back to bed while I help Veronica with her work?" Remus gave James and Sirius a pointed look.

"Sure." James and Sirius climbed to their feet.

"One more thing, James. Don't say anything to Peter." Veronica tilted her head to one side.

"You've got it." James gave Veronica a thumbs up as he and Sirius started up the stairs.

"You can go to bed if you want, Remus." Veronica opened her book.

"I don't want to, Veronica. Besides you don't know which class has essays and which ones don't." Remus handed Veronica a quill and piece of parchment. He opened the inkbottle and allowed Veronica to dip her quill in it. "You need to write a foot long essay for Charms."

Veronica began to write when her stomach gave a loud growl. "I forgot. I missed supper."

"I'll be right back." Remus climbed to his feet and rushed up the stairs. Seconds later James and Remus came back down the stairs.

Veronica watched as James swung a silvery cloak around his shoulders. She gasped as James disappeared from sight. "Where...?"

"He has an invisibility cloak. He'll be right back." Remus settled himself back onto the sofa and helped Veronica finish her first essay. He picked up the Potions book and flipped it open. "Now you need to do a two foot long essay on this."

Veronica sighed as she started the essay. "If I'd known how many essays I had to do, I would never have moved up."

Remus laughed as the portrait door opened. James took his cloak off and handed Veronica a plate of sandwiches and a jug of pumpkin juice.

"If anyone cares, I'm going to bed." James climbed the stairs again.

Veronica picked up a sandwich and bit into it. She finished the essay with a flourish. "Next."

"Nothing. Those were the only two things that we had to do this week. The rest is reading and I'm sure you've already read most of it." Remus draped an arm around Veronica as she opened her Transfiguration book and began to read.

Remus' head lolled on her shoulder when she closed her last book. She smiled to herself as she leaned over and gently kissed his lips. He stirred as she leaned closer to his ear. She gently blew a soft stream of warm air toward his ear.

"Huh?" Remus jerked awake as Veronica giggled.

"Time to go to bed." Veronica leaned closer to Remus.

"Did you get everything done already?" Remus suppressed a huge yawn as Veronica nodded.

"You've been asleep for about three hours." Veronica gathered her things. "I guess we need to go on to bed and get some rest for the morning."

"I can't wait to see what kind of interrogation James and Sirius will have cooked up for us." Remus helped Veronica to her feet and walked her over to the dormitory door. "I'll see you in the morning." Remus pulled Veronica into his arms and gently kissed her lips. "Good night."

"Good night." Veronica walked up the stairs and into her dorm room. She pulled off her robes and dragged her nightgown over her head. She climbed into her bed and closed the curtains abound her bed. She dragged her comforter up to her chin and slipped into a blissful sleep.

Birds were chirping in her ears as she slowly became aware of the morning sun trying to creep through the curtains around her bed. She rolled over and pulled her pillow over her head.

"Veronica." Emma pulled the curtains open. "James, Peter, and Sirius are waiting for you to come down for breakfast."

Veronica groaned as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. "Could you tell them that I'll be there in a minute?"

"Sure." Emma walked out of the room as Veronica pulled her clean robes over her head.

She quickly pulled the brush through her hair before she headed down the stairs. Ten minutes had passed by the time she stepped into the common room. James and Sirius waved her over to the fireplace.

"Late night?" James motioned toward one of the chairs.

Veronica sank into the chair and stifled a yawn. "what do you think?"

"What time did you go to bed?" Sirius frowned at the letter in his hand. He handed it to James.

"About four or five in the morning." Veronica stretched her arms over her head.

"I think that's about what time we heard Remus come to bed." James read the letter and handed it back to Sirius.

"Where are Remus and Peter?" Veronica glanced around the common room.

"Remus is still sleeping and Peter went to wake him up." James climbed to his feet. "So if Peter comes back down with an extra nose or eye, we'll know that Remus is awake."

Remus stepped into the common room. "I'm not you, James. I wouldn't torture poor Peter."

"I guess we're lucky that it's Saturday since most people sleep in." Sirius climbed to his feet as Peter stepped into the common room. "Time for breakfast."

Remus and Veronica took one another's hand and walked out the portrait hole with James, Peter, and Sirius in their wake. They made their way to the Great Hall. James, Peter, and Sirius made their way to the Gryffindor Table.

"Veronica!" Lily waved to Veronica.

"I'll be right back." Veronica walked over to Lily. "Hi, Lily."

"I understand you'll be joining us in class on Monday." Lily smiled at some Ravenclaws passing behind her.

"That's right." Veronica smiled.

"I also wanted to say that I'm sorry about your parents."

"Thanks. I'm going to go back to Remus, James, Peter, and Sirius." Veronica moved away from Lily. "I'll see you later."

"Sure." Lily turned back to her breakfast.

Veronica started sown the Gryffindor Table when someone grabbed her arm. She turned and saw Severus holding her arm. "Hello, Severus."

"I understand that you are joining the Slytherins and Gryffindors in second year Potions." Veronica nodded as Severus shook her hand.

"Sure will." Veronica smiled softly.

"I also heard what happened to your parents. I'm sorry. If you ever want to talk, just let me know." Severus turned and walked to the Slytherin Table.

Veronica walked down the Gryffindor Table and sank into a seat next to Remus. "Couldn't wait?"

Remus handed Veronica a platter of bacon. "What did Severus want?"

"Not much. He wanted to verify that I would be joining you guys in Potions on Monday." Veronica sipped her juice. "Don't tell me that you're jealous, Remus."

"I just don't like him talking to you." Remus smiled at Veronica.

"That's so sweet." Veronica smiled softly at Remus.