Lupin's True Love

June 28, 1973

Veronica stretched as she climbed from her bed. Star yipped once before she went back to sleep. Veronica threw her arms in the air and flopped back on her bed. First day home and I'm up with the sun. Veronica sat up on the bed again. No point being lazy like Potter. Veronica jumped to her feet and rummaged through her dresser. She pulled out a pair of faded and frayed blue jeans and a pale blue sweater. She hurried through her morning ritual. With her hair gathered in a neat bun, she hurried down the stairs and into the kitchen. Thomas was sitting at the table sipping a cup of coffee.

"Good morning, Veronica." Thomas motioned to the seat across from him. "Care to join me for some coffee?"

"No thank you, sir." Veronica bustled about making tea and fixing them some breakfast. "How do you like your eggs, Mr. Potter?"

"I've already eaten, sweetie.' Thomas climbed to his feet and calmly pulled Veronica to the table. "You don't have to do anything around here. We have house elves that do the work." Thomas pushed Veronica into the chair. "I'll call them so you can meet them. Tinker! Belle! Peter! Hook!"

Four separate cracks filled the kitchen. One of the house elves bowed before Thomas. "Sir called for Tinker and the others?"

"Yes, Tinker. I would like for you to meet Veronica Croft. She is now a part of this family so you will be taking orders from her as well." Thomas turned to Veronica. "Veronica, this is Tinker. She will be responsible for your room and things."

"Tinker is pleased to meet you, miss." Tinker's grey eyes bored into Veronica's.

"Tinker, it looks like you've injured yourself." Veronica reached for Tinker's right hand.

"No, miss! Tinker will fix it after tinker's work is done." Thinker jerked her hand close to her chest.

"Tinker?" Thomas knelt next to Tinker and held out his hand. Tinker meekly placed her hand in his and Thomas examined the wound. "How did this happen, Tinker?"

Tinker shuddered slightly. "Tinker was feeding the bird in the attic when it attacked."

"Bird in the attic? What bird?" Thomas looked into Tinker's eyes as if looking for a lie.

"The big bird, sir. Tinker thinks it is a phoenix."

"A phoenix? Here?" Veronica leaned against the counter. "Could you show me where it is, Tinker?"

Thomas surged to his feet. "You aren't going up into the attic alone.'

"Tinker will be with me. Besides I seem to have a calming affect on animals." Veronica felt Tinker pull on her left hand. "Yes, Tinker?"

"If miss can, please let the bird go." Tinker pleaded silently with her eyes.

"If it is a phoenix, Tinker, then it deserves to be free." Veronica felt Tinker pulling her up several fights of stairs. "How long has it been up here?"

"As long as Tinker has been here, miss. Tinker will be here for ten years on the young master's birthday." Tinker opened the attic door.

Veronica stepped into the dimly lit attic. "What I wouldn't give for more light."

Tinker opened several large windows. In the middle of the attic sat a perch. A large black and red phoenix sat upon the perch watching her with its black glistening eyes. Veronica guessed that its size was about that of a large swan. It flapped its wings aggressively as Veronica approached it.

"Be careful, miss." Tinker bounced in the shadows near the window.

Veronica's mind was completely focused on the phoenix. She noticed the chains that tied the phoenix to the perch. She slowly extended a hand to the beautiful creature. "Hello there. I bet those chains are really uncomfortable, huh?" The phoenix seemed to nod its head. "Could you blink once if you are a female and twice if you are a male?" The glistening eyes bore into Veronica's as the phoenix tilted its head. Slowly it blinked twice. "Okay. You're a boy. Let me see what name I can give you." Veronica tapped her lips for a moment while Tinker slowly moved from the window. "I know. How about Griff?" The nodded once more as Veronica slowly moved closer.

"Be careful, miss." Tinker shivered slightly.

"Tinker, please open the largest window for Griff to fly out once I get these chains off him." Veronica heard rather than saw Tinker scurrying across the attic. "Okay, Griff. Once I get these chains off of you you're free to go." Griff flapped his wings again as Veronica quickly unchained him from the perch. "You're free, Griff!" Griff sang out with a single clear note before he bowed slightly to Veronica.

Veronica watched Griff as he flew out the open window. She rushed to the window and watched as Griff flew out of sight. She never saw Thomas and Evelyn standing in the doorway of the attic.

"The prophecy is coming true." Thomas hugged Evelyn.

"Yes. 'She'll be able to free a phoenix and tame a griffin with a simple touch.' We can't let her know her heritage, Thomas, no matter what." Evelyn barely felt Thomas tightening his grip.

"We'll always be here for her, Evelyn.' Thomas watched as Veronica helped Tinker clean up around the perch.

"Okay, Tinker. We need to get this perch out of here." Veronica tried to move the perch but couldn't budge it.

"Tinker will get it, miss."

"Could you make sure there is food and water out on the balcony for Griff if he comes back?" Veronica turned toward the attic door and saw Thomas and Evelyn watching her. "If you need me, I'll be in my room." Veronica hurried past Thomas and Evelyn and down the stairs.

She rushed into her room and threw herself onto the bed. I can't do it! I can't be so different from everyone else! Veronica wiped the tears from her cheeks as she moved to her desk. Quickly she pulled out parchment, a quill, and pink ink. Slowly she dipped the quill into the ink and began to pen a letter to Remus. Several minutes and false starts later, she read what she had written.

Remus,

How are you? I'm fine except for the fact that I managed to free a phoenix this morning. Why is it I have to be the one that is so different? There are times that I really wish that I could be like everyone else. Sorry if this letter sounds like I'm blaming you but I needed someone to vent to and James is still in bed as usual. There are times when it seems that Mr. and Mrs. Potter are keeping something from me. I wonder what it is. Oh well. I guess I will find out eventually.

I can't tell you how much I miss you. I hope you and the others will be able to visit with us soon. I love you, darling.

Love now and forever,

Veronica

Veronica looked up from the envelope she was addressing when she heard a tapping sound at her window. She smiled as she let Lacewing into her room. "I guess Remus knew I needed cheering up." Veronica took the letter from the snowy owl's leg. "Here's a letter for Remus." Lacewing hooted softly before as she took off out the window. Veronica ripped open the letter and read Remus' flowing script.

My darling Veronica,

How are you? I know you are up early this morning and James is most likely sleeping in since he doesn't have any classes. I'm doing pretty well considering the full moon is tonight. I want you to remember that I love you the way you are no matter what. I fell in love with you because you are different from the other girls I know. I promise I'll be by to visit before too long. Maybe we could go do something without Sirius and James. I miss you. I love you.

Love now and forever,

Remus

Veronica smiled softly as she placed the letter under her pillow. She flopped onto the pillow and stared at her ceiling before picking up her copy of Little House on the Prairie and reading it for the hundredth time.