Lupin's True Love

December 25, 1972

Veronica moved her feet toward the foot of her bed and felt something lying across it. She sat up and grabbed her wand from her nightstand. She calmly moved toward the foot of her bed as the thing moved toward her. Star jumped onto Veronica's chest and started licking her face as she fell back on the bed.

"Star! You silly thing!" Veronica picked up Star and moved her toward the edge of the bed. "I know I need a shower but I don't need your help." Veronica placed Star onto the floor and climbed from the bed. She gathered a sweater and a pair of faded jeans and hurried into her bathroom. She turned on the hot water and allowed the steam to fill the bathroom. "Just what I needed a good hot shower."

Veronica pulled her nightgown off and climbed into the shower. She quickly washed her hair and cleaned Star's drool from her face as Star barked at several bubbles that floated over the shower doors. Veronica turned off the shower and pulled open the doors. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself as she made her way into the bedroom again. She quickly pulled the lavender sweater over her head. Star was chewing on the hem of her jeans. Veronica gently pulled the jeans from Star's mouth and put them on. Finally Veronica gazed into her mirror and began to pull her comb through her wet hair as a knock sounded on her door.

"Are you awake, Veronica dear?" Evelyn tapped gently on the door again.

"I'm just trying to get my hair straightened, Mrs. Potter." Veronica moved toward the door and opened it.

"Remember to call me Mom, dear." Evelyn moved into the room and took the comb fro Veronica. "Have a seat at the vanity and I'll do your hair."

"Sure, Mom." Veronica sank onto the stool in front of the vanity.

Evelyn pulled the comb through Veronica's hair as Star sat at their feet whimpering. "Star is such a silly thing." Evelyn reached down and scratched behind Star's ears.

"She sure is. She woke me up this morning." Veronica squirmed on the stool slightly as Evelyn pulled the comb through her hair again. "I think she realizes that it's time for us to open presents."

"First we need to have breakfast and then we open presents." Evelyn placed the comb onto the vanity. "Let's go see if Thomas has finished cooking breakfast."

"As long as James didn't help then I'm game." Veronica jumped up from the stool and followed Evelyn from the spacious bedroom.

They made their way down the stairs and into the kitchen. Evelyn sat at the table as Thomas placed several plates onto the table. He leaned over Evelyn and gave her a kiss as James rushed into the kitchen.

"Happy Christmas, everybody." James bounced into his seat and began shoveling his sausage and eggs into his mouth.

"How can you eat like that?" Veronica nibbled on a piece of toast.

"Jusmm luky mm mmuess." James spoke around the pile of food in his mouth.

"James, please swallow before you try to speak." Evelyn rolled her eyes as James swallowed the mouthful of food.

"Sorry, Mom." James wiped a dibble of egg from his chin. "I forget Sirius usually doesn't scold me about the way I eat."

Veronica took a sip of orange juice. "But I do." Veronica bit into a sausage as James shoveled more food into his mouth. "I keep telling you that one day you will choke on the amount of food you put into your mouth."

"One day he might actually listen to you and Evelyn." Thomas drank his coffee as Evelyn and Veronica pushed their plates away from them. "Not hungry, ladies?"

"It was wonderful, Mr. Potter." Veronica sipped her orange juice. "I guess when I have to rush in order to get to class I just don't eat very much. Sorry."

"That's okay, dear." Thomas patted Veronica's hand and climbed to his feet. "I think we should head into the parlor and start opening presents."

Veronica and James followed Evelyn and Thomas into the parlor. They sank onto the floor beside the huge Douglas fir taking up on corner of the room. Veronica glanced at Thomas and Evelyn snuggling on the couch. James reached into the pile of presents and pulled out one. He read the tag and handed it to Veronica.

"It's from Remus." James rolled his eyes as he pulled out another gift. "This one is mine."

Veronica carefully opened the package and pulled out beautiful white gold necklace with a charm that resembled a wolf. She smiled as she put it on. "What do you think, James?"

James looked up from his book of jinxes and stared at the necklace. "Is that silver?"

"No, it's white gold. Don't you think Remus would know better than to buy me anything that's silver?" Veronica rolled her eyes. "What did he send you?"

"A book about jinxes. I can't wait to try them out on Snape." James flipped through the book again.

"James, I hope you're not causing any trouble with the Snape boy." Thomas turned from the presents to glare at James.

"I'm not." James looked up at Thomas. "It's not my fault when he tries to get the better of me."

"As long as you don't start it, son." Thomas turned back to the presents. "Here's another one for you, Veronica, and one for you, James.'

Veronica watched as James ripped into the paper and pulled out a large book of potions. She slowly turned her gift in her hands and began to open it. She pulled out a book of charms. She smiled softly as James flipped through his book.

"Sirius really got you the right kind of book." Veronica laughed as James glanced over at her.

"I guess so. What did he get you, Vee?" James glanced at the title. "1001 Charms for Every Day Use? What doesn't he think you're smart enough?"

"I guess not. He must think you need more help in potions." Veronica pointed at the book in James' hand. "I happen to agree with him."

"Stop fighting, children." Evelyn turned to Thomas. "Give them another gift, dear."

"Here are your gifts from Peter." Thomas handed a package to each of them.

"I hope he get me some Chocolate Frogs." James ripped through the paper and pulled out a large box of Chocolate Frogs. "YEAH!"

"You and your candy." Veronica opened the package and pulled out a box of Licorice Wands. "My favorite."

Thomas handed James and Veronica each another package. "These are from us."

James opened his gift and pulled out a new set of quills and ink bottles. "Like I need more of this stuff."

"What was that, son?" Evelyn turned to James.

"I love my new quills, Mom." James turned to Veronica. "Let's see what you got."

Veronica opened her package and pulled out a lovely stationary set, a complete set of eagle quills, and a variety of inkbottles filled with colored inks. "Thank you, Mom and Dad." Veronica climbed to her feet and hugged Thomas and Evelyn. She turned to James. "Perhaps we should open the gifts the Lily gave to us."

"Sure." James ripped open his package and pulled out a book called Countercharms and the Ways to Use Them. "I don't need this."

"Sure you do especially when Sirius tries out some of his experiments on you." Veronica giggled as she opened her package. She pulled out a beautiful scrapbook filled with pictures from the start of the school year. "Oh Lily." She wiped a tear from her cheek as Thomas took the book and flipped through the pages.

"She did a wonderful job on this." Thomas handed the book back to Veronica. "Now you need a camera so that you can keep up with it." Thomas handed Veronica another package. "This one is from just me."

Veronica opened the package and pulled out a new wizarding camera. "Thank you, Dad." Veronica hugged Thomas as Thomas squeezed her tightly.

"You're welcome, my dear." Thomas waved his wand over the wrapping paper debris and sent it into the fireplace. "Why don't the two of you take your things to your rooms and we'll go for a sleigh ride?"

"That sounds like fun, Thomas." Evelyn watched as Veronica and James rushed from the parlor.

Veronica placed her new things onto her desk and picked up her cloak. Star yipped once at her and followed her down the stairs as James grabbed Veronica's arm.

"I forgot to give this to you." James handed Veronica a small box. "I hope you like it."

Veronica handed James a small box as well. "I hope you like yours." She opened the box and pulled out a ring with the Gryffindor crest engraved on it. "It's beautiful, James." She slid the ring on her finger as James opened his box.

Inside the velvet box sat a golden necklace with a Gryffindor crest charm. "It's great, Vee." James put the necklace on. "Let's go before Mom and Dad come looking for us."

Veronica followed James down the rest of the stairs as Star chased them. Veronica scooped Star into her arms as she and James ran out the back door and into the horse drawn sleigh.