Lupin's True Love

July 20, 1973

Veronica stretched out on the sofa as Lily and Emma fought over the camera. Patricia laughed at her friends rolling around on the floor of the living room.

"Come one, Lils. Give up the camera!" Emma tugged on the strap of the camera.

"No. You give up the camera, Emma." Lilly held on to the actual camera as the strap was ripped from the casing. Both girls went tumbling onto the floor. "Oh no. Dad's going to kill me."

"No prob." Patricia pulled out her wand. "Inverotro!"

"What was that?" Veronica sat up and stared at Patricia.

"Something my older brother taught me. He found it a while back so he could do magic outside of school. He said it lasts for only an hour." She turned back to the damaged camera. "Go ahead Lily. Use the repairing charm."

Lily pulled out her wand slowly. "I'm not sure about this." She pointed it at the camera lying on the floor. "Reparo!"

The camera jumped back together. "Now let's see if anyone for the Underage office sends an owl in the next ten minutes." Patricia leaned back in her seat.

Veronica grabbed up her notebook and quickly wrote the spell in it. "If it works, I might be able to get back at James yet this summer."

"You never did tell us what he's done to you." Patricia glanced over at Veronica.

"That's easy. He took out into the village and I had to defend myself. Then when the others came over for tea, he wouldn't leave me and Remus alone for two seconds let alone for five minutes. Then he and Sirius went with me to Remus' for dinner and they managed to get Mr. Lupin to help make all my food run from my plate. It was screaming. Just last week, he managed to get all my letters from Remus before I could and rewrote them." Veronica flopped back on the sofa as she glanced at her watch. "Time's up and no owl. I can't wait to get back at James." She rubbed her hands together gleefully. "Maybe I can really hang him from the fourth floor dormers by his toes."

"Hey maybe we can all come over and beat him up with a really big stick." Lily placed her father's camera back on the mantle. "Veronica, did you bring your Wizarding camera?"

"Damn." She clapped a hand over her mouth. "Sorry, guys. Too much time spent with Potter." She climbed off the sofa and made her way to the fireplace. She scooped up a pinch of Floo powder. "Potter's residence." She threw the Floo powder onto the logs and it burst into flames. She stuck her head into the green flames. "Mom? Dad?" She gazed around the empty parlor before she heard footsteps running in. Remus knelt before the fireplace. "Hi, Remus. Have you seen Mom or Dad?"

"They're coming. How's your party?" Remus leaned forward slightly.

"It's been fun so far. I can't wait to tell you about the..." Patricia kicked Veronica in the rear. "Knock it off, Patricia. I'm speaking to Remus not James." Veronica smiled as Evelyn and Thomas stepped into her line of sight. "Mom, Dad, I was wondering if one of you could pop over and bring me my camera?"

"Anything to get out of this house full of boys." Evelyn hurried from the parlor.

"I'll see you tomorrow sometime, Dad. Bye, Remus." She pulled her head back from the flames and turned to the girls standing behind her. "Mom's on her way. She's stuck at the house with only the guys there." Veronica shuddered slightly. "Scary."

A loud pop filled the room and Evelyn stood in the center of the living room. Lily rushed forward as did Veronica. "Good evening, Mrs. Potter."

"Evelyn, dear, or Mom." Evelyn held out the camera. "Here you go, dear."

Veronica took the camera from Evelyn and gave her a quick hug. "Thanks."

"Mrs. Potter, if you want to have some tea, I think Mum is still in the kitchen laying into Dad about him getting out of work tonight when there's a house full of girls." Lily held her breath slightly.

"I'd love to meet your mother, dear." Evelyn motioned to the door. "Lead the way."

Lily and the other girls led the way to the kitchen. Veronica walked beside Evelyn. "Have the boys, and I use that term loosely, been behaving themselves, Mom?"

"Not with Thomas there. I swear he's worse than James and the others combined." Evelyn placed a hand on Lily's shoulder. "Maybe your father would like to go to our house and I can stay here?"

"I think Mum would relish that." Lily pushed open the kitchen door.

"I swear, Daniel, if I didn't hand you your clothes in the evenings, you would go to work naked." Rose paced in front of her husband as the small group stepped into the kitchen.

"Mum, Dad, I'd like for you to meet Mrs. Evelyn Potter." Lily motioned to her parents. "Evelyn, this is my mum, Rose and my dad, Daniel."

Rose extended a hand. "I didn't hear the doorbell."

"That's my fault I'm afraid. The girls contacted me and I just Apparated right over." Evelyn pulled out a chair from the kitchen table. "Daniel, my house has been overrun with teenage boys. Would you like to go over and help Thomas?"

"Anything to get away from this estrogen fest." Daniel grabbed the keys to his car. "Just give me directions."

"Go to your living room and I'll give you some Floo powder to send you on your way." Evelyn followed Daniel from the kitchen. "Be right back, ladies."

"Does she know what she's doing?" Rose turned to Veronica.

"She does make you wonder sometimes but she knows exactly what she's doing." Veronica sank into the vacated seat. "Since Daniel is going over there, she'll want to stay here and help you with us. After all you do have one more than they do."

"She's more than welcome." Rose turned as Evelyn stepped back into the kitchen laughing. "I take it he's off."

"Oh yes. At first he didn't want to step into the green flames but I just shoved him in and sent him on his way." Evelyn stared around at the girls. "So what are we going to so tonight?"

"Mum was going to let us make some cookies but..." Lily glanced at her mother.

"I guess we could go and take in a movie." Rose grabbed her keys and pocketbook. "Everyone go and freshen up. Come on, Evelyn. Let me introduce you to my baby."

Evelyn followed after Rose as the girls hurried up stairs. Veronica grabbed her makeup pouch and quickly applied her mascara and lip-gloss. "I'm done."

"Not quite." Lily grabbed the brush and pulled it through Veronica's hair. "Did you bring any hair ribbons?"

"I sure did." Veronica waved the silver ribbon like a flag. "I knew you would want to do my hair."

"Not really but since you insist." Lily grabbed the ribbon and quickly weaved it through Veronica's hair. "You know you really should get your hair cut short."

"That's sacrilege. Besides it's not what you guys think of my hair but what Remus likes." Veronica smiled softly as Lily finished braiding her hair.

"Oh no. She's got it bad." Patricia flopped onto the bed.

"No I don't. I just know what I like. Mom even likes him." Veronica hugged herself slightly. "Come on we don't want to miss the movie."

As if she read their minds Evelyn called up the stairs. "Let's move it, girls. Don't make me send for James and Sirius to break up the hen party up there."

Everyone screamed and hurried down the stairs. Veronica followed Evelyn outside and stared at the 1957 Chevy with a ragtop. Its paint was a shimmery silver blue with original chrome wheels and leather seats. Veronica grabbed Lily's arm.

"It's gorgeous!" Veronica reached out to touch the side of the car.

"Time to go, ladies." Rose climbed behind the wheel while Evelyn took the passenger seat. The five girls piled into the back and hung on for dear life. Rose backed out of the driveway and puttered along the main road for about two miles before they saw the movie theater.

Everyone stared at the marquee. "What do we want to see? Live and Let Die or Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid?" Evelyn read the names from the marquee.

"I saw Diamonds are Forever last year." Veronica looked at the other girls. "Sean Connery was excellent but the guy who plays Bond this year is Roger Moore. I don't know how well he acts."

"We could all so with a handsome spy. Live and Let Die it is." Rose pulled into a parking space. "Okay, girls. Here's money you go get the popcorn and drinks while we get the tickets."

Veronica ran after Lily and the others. She skidded to a stop when she saw her best friend from her old primary school. "Melissa! Melissa Smokler!" She ran over to the blond girl.

"Oh my God! Veronica Croft!" Melissa Smokler flung her arms around her best friend. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm going to see a movie." Veronica motioned to Lily, Patricia, Emma, and Jessica. "Hey everyone. I want you to meet someone."

Lily was to first to the group. "Who is it, Veronica?"

"This is my best friend from primary school, Melissa Smokler. Melissa, allow me to introduce Lily, Patricia, Emma, and Jessica." Veronica turned as Evelyn and Rose came up behind them. "Oh yeah. You already know Mrs. Potter and this is Lily's mom, Mrs. Evans."

"A pleasure to meet you all." Melissa glanced at the movie posters. "What are you going to see?"

"Live and Let Die." Veronica pointed to the James Bond poster.

"I have an idea." Rose placed a hand on Melissa's shoulder. "Unless you plan on going to see that western, why not join us and then come back for the sleepover?"

"Let me check with my mother." Melissa hurried over to a blond woman who waved at Veronica. She nodded and Melissa squealed. "Thanks, Mom!" She hurried back over to the group. "She said that was fine. The only thing is I don't have any clothes."

"We'll stop on the way home to get them." Evelyn ushered the girls into the theater and allowed them to buy their popcorn.

Several hours later the girls were sprawled out on the floor of Lily's bedroom. Melissa was lying across Lily's bed.

"So what is Hogwarts like?" Melissa held one hand in front of her and watched the nail polish change colors.

"It's lots of fun but really hard work." Veronica watched Patricia painting her toes.

"What kinds of stuff do you learn?" Melissa sat up suddenly as Lily tickled the bottom of her feet.

"Oh, Charms, Potions, transfiguration. That kind of stuff." Patricia blew on the tacky paint. "What so you learn at your school?"

"Nothing as exciting as your stuff but we do learn math, history, English." Melissa sank onto the floor. "You know what?"

"What?" Emma yawned slightly.

"I really wish I could go to school with you guys. I mean since Veronica left no one ever talks to me or anything." Melissa laid her head on her knees.

"Oh, Melissa." Veronica wrapped her arms around the trembling girl. "I never knew they would treat you like that."

"Hey, I have an idea. How about we make Melissa an honorary Gryffindor?" Jessica looked at the other girls. "What do you guys think?"

"That's a great idea!" Lily grabbed Melissa's hand and Veronica's hand. "Come on let's make a circle."

They joined hands and they felt a tingling run through their bodies. Veronica hugged Melissa again. "Now we're all Gryffindors."

"Gryffindors Forever!" Patricia hit Lily with a pillow.

They had a pillow fight which Melissa won. Finally Rose and Evelyn insisted that the girls get some sleep since the boys were going to be over early in the morning. They stretched out on the floor and one by one fell asleep. Veronica and Melissa were the last ones to go to sleep.

"You know, Melissa. When we went to school together I felt like we were sisters." Veronica glanced over at her friend.

"I felt the same way but your mother never liked me." Melissa frowned in the moonlight.

"Well, Mrs. Potter likes you. That's all that matters now." Veronica smiled when she looked over at Melissa again and saw that she was sound asleep. She rolled onto her side and fell asleep.