Lupin's True Love

October 31, 1972

Veronica leaned back against the beech tree. Her Potions book fell off her knees as she stared across the lake. She rummaged through her bag as her grey eyes began to change to a pale blue and fill with tears. A sob broke from her throat as Severus stood on the steps of the castle and watched her. As James crossed the grounds to the Quidditch Pitch, Veronica withdrew a handkerchief from her bag and wiped the tears from her cheeks. Severus made his way across the lawn as another sob escaped from her throat.

"Veronica?" Severus sank onto the grass beside her.

"Oh!" Veronica's tear filled eyes gazed up at Severus. "Severus."

"Are you okay?" Severus watched as Veronica wiped the tears from her eyes.

Veronica gave Severus a watery smile. "I'm fine."

"You know you can always talk to me."

"Do you really think that I'm not fine?"

"You were studying Potions one moment and crying the next. That's not normal."

"It's nothing." Veronica shoved the handkerchief into her pocket and picked up her Potions book. "I just need to be alone."

"I see. If I were Potter, Black, Lupin, or Pettigrew, you would have revealed what was wrong."

"No I wouldn't have." Veronica gathered her things. "Look. I really don't want to talk. I just want to be alone."

"I happen to think you need to talk to someone." Severus took her things from her arms.

"And I think you need to give her books back to her." Sirius gripped Severus' shoulder.

Severus turned and glared at Sirius. "We were having a private conversation, Black."

"And according to Veronica, she doesn't want to talk." Sirius' hand hovered just above his wand.

"Sirius, I can take care of myself." Veronica glared at Sirius as Remus stepped up behind Sirius. "I was about to tell Severus to give me my things back."

"And if he didn't, what would you have done?" Remus placed a hand on Sirius' shoulder.

"I would have used the Disarming Charm." Veronica withdrew her wand. "It is worth losing House points to have my things back and to be left alone."

"Are we sure she's not related to James?" Sirius shrugged his shoulders at Remus. "She sure reminds me of him."

"Especially now." Remus smiled as Severus handed Veronica her books. "Maybe she's really James using a Polyjuice Potion."

"Get real." Veronica put her wand away and started to the Quidditch Pitch. "James went to tryouts. Now leave me alone!" Veronica ran toward the Quidditch Pitch and disappeared into the stands.

Sirius and Remus turned to Severus. Severus reached for his wand as Sirius pulled his wand out.

"Don't do it, Black." Severus smiled slightly as Remus stepped between them. "You wouldn't want Croft to be hurt."

"You'd best stay away from her." Remus growled low in his throat. "If you hurt a single hair on her head, you won't have to worry about James and Sirius killing you because I'll do it!"

"Threats, Lupin?"

"No threats, just promises!" Remus stalked off toward the Quidditch Pitch.

"Trust me. He'll do it." Sirius turned and made his way back into the castle.

Veronica climbed the steps up into the stadium. She found a seat at the top of the Gryffindor section. She watched as the Gryffindors flew laps around the perimeter of the field. One player stood on the field beside a crate. Veronica watched as she released the Quidditch Balls. Veronica watched as the boy that was trying out for Seeker missed seeing the Golden Snitch flying by him. Suddenly the Golden Snitch flew around Veronica's head. She reached up with her free hand and snatched the Golden Snitch from the air.

"Hey!" A voice sounded from the ground.

Veronica looked at the girl on the ground. "What?"

The girl mounted her broom and flew up to the stands. "How'd you know to catch it right then?"

"Your Seeker never saw it right in front of him but I've been watching it since it left the crate." Veronica handed the Golden Snitch to the girl. "Sorry."

"Can you fly?" She took the Golden Snitch.

Veronica shrugged. "I guess so."

"Potter! Bring me your broom!"

James flew to the stands. "Veronica, what are you doing here?"

"She's trying out for Seeker." The girl crossed her arms. "Give her your broom."

"No. She's not trying out for the team." James landed next to Veronica. "Quidditch is a dangerous sport."

"Just let me try." Veronica took James' broom and flew toward the middle of the Pitch. "Let the Snitch go!"

"Don't do it, Olivia." James tried to grab Olivia Davies' arm as she let the Golden Snitch go.

Veronica dove quickly and followed the Golden Snitch around the one and only Beater. He shouted as Veronica looped over him easily and caught the Golden Snitch again. She released it as the Beater hit a Bludger toward the other end of the Pitch. Veronica's eyes deepened to a deep blue of concentration as they followed the Golden Snitch along the same path as the Bludger. Veronica leaned over the handle of the broom and sped toward the other end of the Pitch. She wove between the players and followed the Golden Snitch into a deep dive. She barely heard Remus as he shouted for her to stop. Her hand closed around the small struggling golden ball. She pulled to a stop in midair as the rest of the players flew toward her. Veronica ducked as the Bludger flew past her head. The Beater caught it easily and landed next to the crate to put it away. She laughed as she landed next to James, Remus, and Olivia.

"Are you crazy?" Remus pulled Veronica off the broom. "I thought you were going to hurt yourself." Remus pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.

"Remus." Veronica returned the hug. "I'm okay." She tried to pull away. "Could you let me go? I can barely breathe."

"Sorry." Remus loosened his hold. "Why...?"

"Did I do that?" Veronica laughed as Remus' mouth dropped open.

"Look, Remus. I watched her. She's a natural at Quidditch." Olivia placed a hand on Remus' arm. "She was just sitting here when I let the balls out."

"And?" James turned to Olivia.

"When the Golden Snitch got near her, she caught it. She had her eyes on it since it left the box." Olivia crossed her arms.

"She doesn't need to be on the team." James grabbed his broom.

"James, can I talk to you for a minute?" Veronica stepped from Remus' arms. "Alone?"

"I'll be on the Pitch." Olivia climbed on her broom. "Hop on, Lupin."

Remus climbed on the back of the broom. Olivia kicked off and flew them to the Pitch.

"What?" James glared at Veronica.

"James, do you know what I was thinking about a while ago?"

"No. What?"

"My parents. I was sitting by the lake feeling sorry for myself."

"Why? You didn't do anything to them."

"I was wondering why they hated me so much. I even cried, James. You know I haven't cried since we heard about their deaths." Veronica took James' hand. "You know that I haven't laughed in almost two months and I mean really laughed."

"Yeah. I noticed." James kicked one of the benches. "You know that it wasn't your fault. You didn't kill them or send Voldemort after them."

"That's not all I was thinking. Do you know how I have felt since their deaths?"

"No."

"I feel useless because I am as useless as they kept telling me over the years. All because I couldn't save them."

"No! You're not useless."

"Just listen to me for a minute." Veronica wiped a tear from her cheek. "You're a born Chaser for Quidditch, Remus is great in class, and Sirius is always helping Peter, but I feel useless. I came here to think. I didn't think that the tryouts were still going on." Veronica held her arms out. "Do you know how I was feeling while I was on the broom?"

"What did you feel?" James sank on the bench.

"Joy. Pure, unadulterated joy. I didn't think about my parents or about my grades. I only thought about catching the Golden Snitch. When I caught it, I felt complete. I felt like I was really useful. That I could do something. I wasn't sad or angry. I wasn't thinking about Voldemort. Don't you see? Maybe this is what I was meant to do. Maybe I'm meant to be a Seeker. I just need a chance." Veronica sank onto the bench next to James. "Can't you let me play for a year or two until I find my niche in life?"

"Two years at the most. If Mum and Dad tell you no, then you listen to reason." James extended his hand. "Deal?"

"Deal!" Veronica threw her arms around James' neck. "Let's go to Olivia."

"Climb on." James climbed onto his broom.

Veronica climbed on the broom behind James. She gripped his waist tightly as he maneuvered the broom down to the Pitch where Remus was gesturing wildly at Olivia.

"There is no way she's going to be on the team! She could be killed!" Remus stood less than a foot from Olivia.

"Give her a chance. She's going to be a great Seeker. She's caught the Snitch three..." Olivia noticed James and Veronica landed behind Remus.

"She's not going to play unless you can guarantee that she won't be hurt!" Remus glared at Olivia. "And that's something you can't guarantee!"

"Oh just stop, Remus!" Veronica climbed from James' broom. "It's not your decision; it's mine."

"How long have you been listening?" Remus whirled around and glared at Veronica.

"Long enough. I'm surprised none of the Slytherins have been out here to find out who's doing all the shouting." Veronica crossed her arms. "You can't control my life and tell me what to do. First you're not my guardian. Second you're not my husband. Third you're not my brother. I plan on playing Seeker unless Mr. and Mrs. Potter tell me no."

"You could be seriously hurt." Remus held out his hands. "I just don't want you hurt."

Veronica took Remus' hand and stepped closer to him. "I know that. I think we're going to need to talk to Sirius and Peter as well." Veronica turned to Olivia. "I'll play Seeker for two years unless you find someone during that time that is better. We should have a reserve that I can train to take my place by that time. Agreed?" Veronica extended a hand to Olivia.

"Agreed. You're going to need a decent broom." Olivia shook Veronica's hand. "Back to the tryouts. Malone!"

Terry Malone stepped over to Olivia. "Yeah?"

"Get a bat! I want to see what you can do as a Beater!" Olivia mounted her broom.

"But I'm a Seeker!" Terry crossed his arms.

"You never saw the Snitch while it was in front of you face. I doubt you would have seen it during a game. Besides, I'm the captain. If you don't like it, you can leave." Olivia turned to the Beater. "Connolly, give him your bat. When I give you the signal, I want you to release the Bludger."

Sean Connolly passed his bat to Terry, who was still glowering at Olivia. "Just remember that the Beater's job is to keep the Bludgers away from the Chasers and the Seeker." Sean turned to Olivia. "I think a couple of Chasers and the Seeker should be up there. Just so he can get the feel for it."

"Right. Connolly, let Croft use your broom. When you let the Bludger out also let out the Snitch." Olivia turned to James and the other Chaser. "Potter and Mullet, I want the two of you to try and score on Quigley. I'll stay here and try to keep track of how everyone's doing along with Connolly."

"Okay." Sean handed his broom to Veronica. "Be careful. Watch for the Bludger."

"My job is to catch the Snitch." Veronica climbed on the broom and shot up into the air.

"Yeah. That and not getting killed." James hovered beside Veronica.

Veronica laughed as the balls flew through the air. James caught the Quaffle and sped off toward the goals. Veronica dove in order to avoid the Bludger. She looked around for Terry. She found him standing on the ground arguing. She started down to the Pitch as the Bludger flew up behind her. She never saw the Bludger coming nor did she see Sean grabbing Olivia's broom and his bat. Another boy was on his broom in seconds. They both raced for the Bludger. Her eyes were glued on the Snitch fluttering directly over Olivia and Terry. Together Sean and the boy hit the Bludger toward the crate as Veronica's hand closed around the Snitch while she pulled out of her steep dive. Olivia caught the Bludger and struggled to get it in the crate.

Sean and the boy had landed and helped Olivia put the Bludger away as Veronica landed beside the crate. She put the Snitch in its spot as the rest of the team landed next to the crate. James threw his broom toward Remus but Olivia and the boy were holding Remus back.

"I'm going to kill you!" Remus tried to grab the front of Terry's robes. "They could have been hurt! That Bludger was following Veronica! It could have killed her!"

"I was here to try out for Seeker not Beater!" Terry barely looked at Veronica. He pointed at Olivia. "She just wanted another Mudblood on the team!"

Sean and Robert Mullet grabbed James as Mason Quigley grabbed Remus with Olivia and the other boy.

"We don't use that word on this team." Olivia's hands went to her hips. "As a prefect, I'm going directly to Professor McGonagall and tell her exactly what you did and said."

"She won't believe you. I'll just tell her that I was trying out for Seeker and ..." Terry stopped talking and smirked. "I guess we'll see who she believes because here she comes."

"Miss Davies, may I ask what is going on here?" Professor McGonagall crossed the Pitch. "Why are Potter and Lupin being restrained?"

"Mr. Malone was suppose to play the position of Beater but he refused to get his broom in the air." Olivia began gesturing wildly. "After Miss Croft caught the Snitch, he said that the only reason that I wanted her on the team is because she's a Muggle-born, only he said something else."

"Anything else?" Professor McGonagall turned to Veronica.

"A Bludger almost hit Veronica. If it wasn't for me and Jason Troy, we'd probably be taking her to the Hospital Wing." Sean motioned to Jason Troy.

"Mr. Malone, my office. NOW!" Professor McGonagall turned to Veronica. "Congratulations, Miss Croft."

Veronica watched Professor McGonagall leave the Quidditch Pitch with Terry. She turned back to the team.

"Thank you, Sean, Jason." She threw her arms around their necks. "I never saw that Bludger coming."

"No need to thank me." Jason blushed slightly as he hugged Veronica back. "Just doing what my dad trained me to do."

"You were wonderful." Olivia laughed as Sean pulled away from Veronica. "I think we found our other Beater. That is if you want it."

"Sure." Jason glanced at his watch as Remus glared at his arm still wrapped around Veronica's shoulders. "We should head in. The Feast will be starting in a hour."

"Here's the line up." Olivia held up several pieces of parchment. "Practice tomorrow at two p.m. The Quidditch Cup is ours this year!" She passed out the parchment. "See you tomorrow."

Jason, Veronica, Remus, and James slowly walked to the castle. Remus held Veronica's hand as they read the piece of parchment.

Gryffindor Quidditch Team

Captain - Olivia Davies - 7^th year

Chasers - Olivia Davies - 7^th year

Robert Mullet - 6^th year

James Potter - 2^nd year

Keeper - Mason Quigley - 4^th year

Beaters - Sean Connolly - 5^th year

Jason Troy - 3^rd year

Seeker - Veronica Croft - 2^nd year

"We have a great lineup this year." Jason smiled at James, Veronica, and Remus. "I'm glad you made the team, Croft.

"Thanks, Jason. And my name is Veronica not Croft." Veronica stalked up the steps. "Pig-headed men."

"What's the problem?" Jason stared after Veronica.

"She doesn't like many guys. Besides she prefers her first name." Remus raced after Veronica. "Veronica wait!"

"Going to yell some more?" Veronica stood on the marble staircase that led to Gryffindor Tower.

"No. I was going to say congratulations on making Seeker." Remus ran a hand through his short light brown hair. "I shouldn't have tried to tell you what to do. If you want to play, I won't stop you."

"Thank you, Remus." Veronica smiled softly. "I'm going to get ready for the Feast."

"Okay. I'll come with you." Remus stepped up the stairs toward Veronica. "you do know that I won't stop worrying about you."

"I know." Veronica let Remus grip her hand.

Finally they stood before the Fat Lady.

"Password?" The Fat Lady stared at Remus and Veronica.

"Fairy Lights." Remus gazed lovingly at Veronica.

"Oh dear. Young love." The Fat Lady swung open.

Remus helped Veronica through the portrait hole. Sirius looked up from the parchment in front of him. He barely smiled as they approached the table.

"Hey, Sirius. What's wrong?" Veronica laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Mom's on the warpath again. She's furious that I've gotten four detentions this year." Sirius tried to hide the parchment.

"She sounds like a pain." Veronica took the parchment from Sirius and began to read. "Let's see what she says. You're, in her words, a disgrace, a blood traitor, and a spoiled brat. You associate with half-breeds, 'Mudbloods', and other blood traitors." Veronica crumpled the parchment, marched to the fireplace, and threw it in. "That woman is extremely wrong. I think she needs to get her facts straight. To start, you are, in my words, a great friend, an excellent student, really handsome, and a really funny person." Veronica wrapped her arms around Sirius. "Just ignore her and the truly evil things she says about you. We're your family, just like you guys are my family." Veronica laid her head on top of Sirius' as James, Jason, Olivia, Robert, Mason, and Sean entered the common room. "I'm glad you're my friend."

"Thanks, Veronica." Sirius pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.

"What's going on?" James watched as Remus joined the hug. "Is this hug by invitation only or can anyone join it?"

"By all means, join, James." Veronica extended as arm to James.

James hugged Remus, Veronica, and Sirius. "Another letter from your mother, Sirius?"

"Yeah but Veronica's making me feel better." Sirius squeezed Veronica slightly.

"Well, to make me feel better, I'm going to get ready for the Feast." Veronica pulled away from James, Remus, and Sirius. "James, show Sirius the roster for the Quidditch Team. He might have something to say about it." Veronica went up the dormitory stairs as she heard James explain that he had nothing to do with the roster.

"James, you made Chaser! That's great! And Veronica's the Seeker! Wait a minute! Veronica's the Seeker! Take her off the roster, Olivia! It's too dangerous!"

Veronica smiled to herself as she closed the dorm room door.