Lupin's True Love

December 22, 1972

Veronica pulled her cloak tight around her as Remus, James, Sirius, and Peter made their way to the horseless carriages. She stood at the foot of the front steps and glanced up at the Hogwarts castle as the boys climbed into one of the carriages.

"Coming, Vee?" James held out a hand.

Veronica rolled her eyes at the nickname she hated. "Yeah." Veronica moved toward the carriage as someone shoved her out of the way. "Hey!" Veronica landed hard on her hands and knees.

"That's where you belong." Bellatrix swept past Veronica. "On your hands and knees in the mud."

Remus jumped down from the carriage. He knelt next to Veronica. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Veronica climbed to her feet and brushed the mud from her robes. "Well, Bellatrix, I see your manners have certainly improved since Gryffindor trounced Slytherin in the last Quidditch match."

"You little Mudblood." Bellatrix pulled her wand from within her robes. "You are in for it now. Not even my cousin will be able to help you."

James jumped from the carriage as Sirius pulled out his wand. A cold gust of wind blew around them as Veronica held out her hands in front of her. Her cloak snapped briskly around her. "Expelliarmus!!!" A jet of red light flew from the palm of her right hand. Bellatrix's wand flew into her left hand. "I've had it." Veronica grey eyes flashed violet as she moved toward Bellatrix. "You don't even know me and yet you seem intent on doing as much harm to me as possible. Why?"

"Because you are worthless. You have always been worthless and always will be worthless." Bellatrix smirked slightly. "I never could understand why anyone would want to kidnap you."

"You're wrong, Bellatrix." James moved closer to Veronica. "She's not worthless."

"I happen to think that I have a greater worth than you know." Veronica looked down at Bellatrix's wand. "I f I were you, I'd keep a better hold on my wand." Veronica tossed Bellatrix her wand and whirled away from Bellatrix. "We don't want to be late for the train, gentlemen." She watched as James and Sirius climbed back into the carriage. "Have a nice holiday, Bellatrix."

Remus snickered as he watched Bellatrix push her way past several first years. "Well done, Veronica."

Veronica blushed slightly as she took his hand. "Thank you, Remus."

James stood in the doorway of the carriage and extended a hand to Veronica. "May I?"

"Of course, James." Veronica allowed herself to be pulled into the carriage. "Thank you."

Remus climbed into the carriage and barely closed the door before it jerked forward. He laid his arm across the back of the seat. "I can't believe you just used wandless magic."

"Wandless magic?" Veronica pulled her cloak tighter around her. "What's that?"

James chuckled as he shook his head. "It's when you can do magic without a wand."

"Most people can only do small bits of accidental magic without anyone knowing about it." Sirius loosened his tie slightly. "You can do it usually when you are really happy or upset. You were mad at Bellatrix so you didn't even think about pulling your wand. It kind of just happened."

"Oh." Veronica bowed her head slightly as she turned toward the window.

"You did what you had to do to defend yourself. "Don't worry about it." Remus hugged her gently.

"I only hope no one else realizes what I did." Veronica patted Remus' knee.

"They won't." Peter turned to the rest of the group. "I mean I didn't until they said something." He shrugged. "I thought you had your wand."

The carriage jerked to a stop. James flung open the door and jumped to the group. Sirius followed quickly as Peter pulled his cloak around him. Remus followed Peter from the carriage and extended a hand to Veronica. Veronica accepted Remus' hand and allowed him to help her from the carriage. She stood on the train platform as the snow swirled and whipped around her. She pulled her cloak tighter around her slight form as she looked around the platform. She waved to Lily and Patricia as they climbed from another carriage. She heard James calling her and rushed to the train. She released her cloak and allowed it to snap uselessly in the wind as the conductor helped her onto the train. Lily and Patricia climbed into the warm train behind her.

"Hey, Veronica." Lily grabbed Veronica's arm before she could join the boys huddled outside one of the compartments. "Want to sit together?"

"Sure, if it's okay with James and the guys." Veronica pointed to the group down the corridor. "Ever since my parents died, they seem to think that they need to take care of me."

"I'll sit with them only if you can keep Potter in line." Lily turned to Patricia. "What do you say, Patricia?"

"I'll sit with them if I must." Patricia squared her shoulders as they made their way to the group of boys.

"Hey, guys." Veronica wound her arm through Remus' arm. "Do you mind if Patricia and Lily sit with us?"

"As long as it's not Severus." Sirius extended an arm to Lily. "May I, my lady?"

"Some guys should be taking notes." Lily glared at James as Sirius led her into the empty compartment.

"Well. I've never been so insulted in my life." James glared after Sirius and Lily as Remus and Veronica made their way into the compartment.

Patricia giggled slightly as she followed Peter into the compartment. James threw his hands in the air in surrender and followed the others. He glanced around the compartment and saw Veronica snuggling with Remus. Patricia looked up from the Quibbler that she and Sirius were sharing. Peter was staring at the emptying platform. Lily was rummaging through her bag until she pulled out a slightly worn copy of Gone with the Wind. James smiled slightly as he flopped into the seat beside Lily.

"So are you nervous about going to the Potter home, Veronica?" Peter turned from the window as the train jerked into motion.

"A little." Veronica laid her head on Remus' shoulder. "How about you, Remus? I mean you're the one who's going to be in the Mediterranean during..."

"Don't worry. Mum and Dad have found a safe place." Remus hugged Veronica slightly. "Besides I have Lacewing so I can keep in touch with you guys."

"Is there anything else bothering you, Vee?" Sirius looked up from the Quibbler.

"I'm fine, Siri." Veronica giggled at the grimace on Sirius' face. "I warned you to stop calling me Vee."

Remus held his sides as he laughed. James and Peter glanced at each other before breaking into laughter. Lily dropped her book as she slapped a hand over her mouth. Patricia managed to turn a laugh into a cough.

"Come on, Vee." James barely noticed Veronica smirking at him. "Surely you could come up with something better than 'Siri'."

"Gee, I don't know, Jamey-pooh. I thought it suited him." Veronica giggled as Sirius gave a bark of laughter. "I seem to remember telling you the same thing."

"Serves you two right. You have been told repeatedly not to call her Vee." Remus ignored the furious looks thrown his way from both James and Sirius.

Lily picked up her book and opened it again. "You need to just stop using that nickname before she really gets angry with the two of you."

Veronica giggled again as she rummaged through her red bag. She pulled out her Charms book. "If you don't mind, I'm going to study for a bit."

"We're on holiday!" James snatched the book from Veronica's hand. "You need to have a bit of fun."

Veronica crossed her arms and glared at James. "Such as?"

"I don't know. How about playing a trick on the Slytherins?" Sirius looked up from the Quibbler. "We could go and do something to your favorite slimy git."

"If you play a trick on him, I'm going to hurt the two of you." Veronica grabbed her book from James.

"Come on." James dropped to his knees in front of Veronica. "We haven't done anything to him since long before the last Quidditch match." He folded his hands together and began to whine. "Please, please, please, please, please, please!"

"I don't want any tricks traced back to me." Veronica waved James away from her and turned to Sirius. "That goes for you as well, Siri."

"We promise. It won't come back to you." Sirius followed James from the compartment.

"What are we going to do with them?' Veronica opened her Charms book.

"I'm not sure but I don't think they'll ever grow up." Remus glanced at Lily and Patricia.

A knock sounded at the door. "Anything from the trolley, dears?"

Veronica pulled out her pouch of gold. "We'll take a bit of everything, please."

"That will be eleven Sickles, dear." The food witch smiled fondly at Veronica.

Veronica handed the coins to the witch. "Thank you." She took the candies and drinks.

"You're welcome." The food witch moved on to the next compartment.

Lily opened a Pumpkin Pasty while Patricia rummaged through the snacks until she found a Cauldron Cake. Remus handed Lily, Peter, Veronica, and Patricia each a bottle of pumpkin juice.

"Yes." Remus pulled a Chocolate Frog from the pile of snacks. "My favorite."

"You love chocolate no matter the form." Veronica giggled slightly as she opened a Licorice Wand.

James and Sirius rushed into the compartment and flopped into their seats as Peter opened a package of Ice Mice. Veronica glared at James and Sirius.

"Food!" Sirius grabbed a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and opened it. He popped several beans into his mouth.

James grabbed some Jelly Slugs and popped them into his mouth. "Delicious."

Veronica rolled her eyes and started reading her Charms book again as James and Sirius opened bottles of pumpkin juice. "Perhaps the two of you would like to tell us exactly what you did. That way we can deny it later."

"Since we couldn't find Snape we decided to play a trick on Bellatrix. We asked Frank Longbottom if we could borrow his toad. He said we could so we put it..." Sirius gripped his side, as he laughed harder. "You...tell her... the rest...James!"

"We put Frank's toad in her compartment." James took a gulp of pumpkin juice. "Bellatrix and Narcissa screamed until Frank came and collected his toad. He told them that it had escaped and they bought it."

"As if I didn't already have enough trouble with them, you guys had to go and make more." Veronica slammed her Charms book closed. "You both did very good work." She smiled broadly as she turned to James. "Get out your chessboard, Jamey-pooh. I feel like beating you."

James jumped to his feet and opened his bag. "You're on!"

Veronica helped James set up the chessboard. "Ready to lose?" Veronica quickly moved her pawn. "Pawn to C4."

James watched as the pawn moved. He stared at the board for a moment. "Knight to F6."

"Pawn to E4." Veronica smirked slightly. "What do you think about them apples?"

"James, you'd better think about giving up now. You know how merciless she is about playing games." Sirius chuckled as James messed up his move. "You could have taken her pawn."

"His loss." Veronica quickly moved her bishop. "He never could concentrate."

"How many games have you seen me lose?" James quickly moved his pawn.

"Including the one to Sirius at the start of the year...let me think... Fifteen or twenty times...a week." Veronica took James' pawn.

"Very funny." James moved his bishop. "Take that..."

"I sure will." Veronica moved her knight and captured his bishop. "Will someone...anyone... help this boy?"

"Nope. He needs to lose a few games to a master." Sirius popped a few more beans into his mouth. "Maybe then he won't accept a challenge he can't win."

"Thanks, Black." James frowned at the chessboard.

"He's right, Potter." A young man stood in the doorway of the compartment.

"Longbottom." James jumped to his feet and upset the chessboard. "Good to see you, mate."

"James!" Veronica knelt on the floor and started to pick up the pieces. "You ruined our game!"

"You've upset the lady, Potter." Frank Longbottom knelt on the floor and helped Veronica pick up the pieces. "Sorry about that..."

Veronica held out a hand. "Veronica Croft."

"I'm Frank." Frank shook her hand as he handed Veronica several chess pieces. "This is the last of the pieces."

"Thanks." Veronica shoved the protesting pieces in their bags. "You're the one who helped with the prank." Veronica glanced at James and Sirius.

Frank held up his hands as he and Veronica climbed to their feet. "I had no idea that they were to put Edgar into that particular compartment."

"Edgar?" Lily looked up from her book. "Who's Edgar?"

"My toad." Frank sat in a seat. "Sorry if I got them into any trouble."

"They know how to get into trouble without your help." Veronica smiled as Frank as he sank into one of the available seats. "They never need any help."

"What did you need, Frank?" James hit Frank on his knee.

"Oh yeah. I thought you would like to know that Bellatrix and Narcissa have already told Bellatrix's boyfriend about that little display you performed earlier, Veronica." Frank glanced at Veronica. "I heard them after I got Edgar.'

"Hmm." Veronica looked around the compartment. "What do we do about their knowledge?"

"Nothing." James jumped to his feet. "We act as if it was nothing but accidental magic. If they don't see any more of it then maybe they'll forget about it."

Veronica threw her hands in the air. "This is such a mess. First I'm the girl the Lord Voldemort wants. Now I'm the girl who can do wandless magic. What's next? Am I going to be attacked on the train again?"

"I didn't mean to upset you. I just thought you should know what was going on." Frank climbed to his feet. "I guess I'll leave you to get your stuff together. We should be arriving at the station in a little bit."

"Thanks, Frank." Sirius shook Frank's hand.

"Thank you, Frank." Veronica climbed to her feet and placed a gentle kiss on Frank's cheek. "I'm sorry about my outburst. It just seems like everything keeps happening to me."

"It's okay." Frank placed a hand on Veronica's shoulder. "I'm going. See you guys after the holidays."

"See you, Frank." Lily waved as she closed her book.

Veronica watched as Frank left the compartment. She turned and faced her friends. "Well, I guess I'm at the top of Voldemort's list. Again."

"Vee, you'll always be at the top of his list." Sirius sank into his seat as Veronica tried to pace the small compartment. "It doesn't matter what you do."

"Siri, you're right." Veronica flopped into her seat as Sirius winced at his new nickname. "He's been after me since the beginning and he'll be after me until the end."

"You're right." James climbed to his feet as the train started to slow down. "We're almost there. Let's get ready to get off."

Veronica glanced out the window as Lily, Patricia, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter pulled their bags from the overhead compartments. She heaved a deep sigh as the train jerked to a stop. She climbed to her feet and grabbed her bag. She followed her friends into the half-crowded corridor. Slowly they made their way to the exit. James jumped from the train as Veronica heard several yells behind them. She saw Remus turn and hold out his hand toward her. Veronica gripped it gratefully and stepped from the train.

"Come on, Vee." James grabbed Veronica's free hand and pulled her away from Remus. "Mom and Dad are waiting for us."

"I thought your dad was supposed to be working." Veronica released Remus' hand and allowed James to pull her a short distance.

"He talked his boss, Alastor Moody, into letting him work tonight instead so that he could see us home safely." James waved goodbye to Remus, Sirius, Peter, Lily and Patricia. "See you guys after the holidays!"

"At least allow me to say goodbye properly.' Veronica pulled away from James and gave Remus a hug. "Bye, Remus."

"I'll send a letter when we get to our lodgings." Remus placed a kiss onto Veronica's forehead. "I just want you to keep yourself safe."

"I will." Veronica pulled away from Remus and turned to Sirius. "Will you try to behave, Siri?"

"I'll try, Vee." Sirius pulled Veronica into a bone-crushing hug. "I can't vouch for my parents.

"Please try." Veronica turned to Peter. "Keep in touch, Peter."

"You too." Peter waved to the others. "I need to go. See you after the holidays."

"Veronica." Lily pulled several small packages from her bag. "I was going to wait and send these for Christmas but I thought you guys would like to open them now." She handed a package to each of them.

"I'm going to wait, Lily." Veronica gave Lily a hug. "I'm not so sure about the guys."

"Come on, Vee. Mom and Dad are waiting." James grabbed Veronica's arm and pulled her through the barrier.

Evelyn frowned at James when she saw him pulling Veronica's arm. "Let go of her, James."

"Yes, ma'am." James let go of Veronica's arm. "Sorry, Vee."

"That's okay, James. You were only trying to get me to hurry." Veronica straightened her cloak. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Potter. It's a pleasure to see you again."

"Enough of the Mrs. Potter, Veronica. You may call me Mom." Evelyn turned to Thomas. "And call Thomas Dad."

"Yes, ma'am." Veronica fiddled with her bag.

"Well, there is no reason for us to remain standing here." Thomas took Veronica and James' bags and slung them over his shoulder. "Let's go to the Leaky Cauldron for some hot chocolate and then we'll do a bit of shopping."

"Sounds like fun, Dad." James grabbed Veronica's hand. "We're ready."
Together the four of them walked into the swirling snow of London.