Lupin's True Love

May 15,1973

Severus growled in his throat as he and Veronica approached James, Remus, and Sirius sitting at the table farthest from the door. He grabbed Veronica's hand and pulled her to a stop. Veronica glared at the offending hand and glanced into Severus' furious face.

"What's wrong now?" Veronica pulled her hand away and crossed her arms.

"I don't want to spend a week with those idiots." Severus barely nodded his head at James and Sirius.

"Don't even go there." Veronica's voice held an edge to her anger as her eyes snapped with violet. "You have yet to give them a chance. Besides they promised to be on their best behavior while you are with us."

"I still don't like this." Severus followed Veronica as she moved toward the boys.

"Then you shouldn't have made the bet." Veronica flipped her braided hair over her shoulder as she leaned over Remus' paper. "Hello, boys."

James looked up from his potions essay. "I see you have brought our guest."

Veronica nodded slightly as Severus glared at James. "You promised me that you would behave and I expect you to keep that promise."

"Not to worry, I will keep my promise." James smirked slightly as Severus pulled out a chair for Veronica.

"Thank you, Severus." Veronica gently placed her book bag on the table. "You guys only have to deal with him for a week. Will you five please try to get along?"

Severus looked over his chair before he sank onto it. "I will behave if they do."

"We'll behave, you greasy..." Sirius cowered a little when he saw Veronica's angry gaze. "You nice boy."

"Better." Veronica pulled out her Potions book and a roll of parchment. "Time to get our last essays done."

"Of course." Severus pulled out his things and began to write. Suddenly his head jerked up as something hit him. He bent over and picked up a balled up piece of parchment.

"Something wrong, Severus?" James looked up innocently from his essay.

"Nothing, James." Severus placed the parchment to one side and turned back to his essay.

Veronica placed her essay to one side and pulled out her Charms book. "Well, what's taking you guys so long?"

"We just don't have the same motivation that you do, Vee?" Sirius finished his essay with a flourish. If Tilbelt doesn't like my essay, than tough."

"You always say that, Siri." Veronica giggled slightly as she began her Charms essay. "His stuff is really easy. It's McGonagall that I worry about. Can you believe she wants us to be able to turn an animal into a water goblet for our exam?"

"What's wrong with that? You got it in less than ten seconds on the first try, Vee." Peter scribbled a bit more on his Potions essay before he shoved it into his bag. "I'm going to the common room."

"Whatever, Peter." Remus finished his Charms essay and pulled out his Transfiguration book. "I think I'll get this done before tonight."

Veronica's head jerked up slightly. "Tonight?"

Remus nodded slightly when he noticed Veronica's slight frown. "I'll be fine. I just have a study session with Flitwick since I've had a little trouble in his class."

"Okay. Will you be careful tonight? You don't want to get caught be Filch." Veronica placed her slender hand over Remus' tanned one.

"I won't." Remus smiled as Severus frowned.

Severus gathered his things together and shoved them into his bag. "I believe I have been here for the required amount of time for today. I will see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Severus." Veronica waved as Severus moved away from their table. "I'm surprised that he didn't start asking questions about that little display."

"He won't so anything to upset you, Vee." Sirius glanced up from his Charms book. "I vote that we go back to the common room where we won't be overheard." He climbed to his feet.

"Have a seat, Siri." Veronica growled low in her throat as her eyes flickered to violet. "I want to know which one of the two of you decided to throw that wad of parchment." Veronica Picked up the parchment in question and calmly flattened it out.

"Wasn't me." James held his hands up in surrender.

"I didn't do it." Sirius shook his head.

"You know I don't want to make you very angry." Remus calmly closed his book.

"I know each your handwriting." Veronica placed that parchment in the canter of the table. "This doesn't match any of you."

Sirius scooped up the parchment and stared at it. "This is Peter's writing."

"That little sneak. He did the one thing that we promised not to do." James grabbed the parchment from Sirius. "I wonder why he did it."

"Maybe to get back at Slytherin or to let Severus know that he's not really welcome here." Remus draped his arm across the back of Veronica's chair.

"There's only one way to find out. We ask him." Veronica gathered her things together and climbed to her feet.

Remus pulled her back down into her chair. "How about we let this one go? I mean Severus didn't seem too upset about it."

"Fine but the next time any of you decide to do anything, I'll hurt you." Veronica allowed her angry gaze to linger on each of them in turn.

They returned to their papers and quickly finished all their work long before the full moon began to rise.