Lupin's True Love

August 15, 1973

Veronica opened her closet door and rummaged through her new clothes before pulling out her favorite cloak. Griff watched her from his perch near the open window. She scooped up her Hogwarts letter from her desk as James knocked on the bedroom door.

"Go away, James." Veronica pulled her brush through her hair as James shoved open the door.

"Aren't you ready yet?" James sank onto Veronica's satin covered bed.

She swung her cloak over her shoulders as she glared at James in the mirror. "Get off my bed."

"Come on, Vee. We're going in a minute." James flopped backwards onto the cover as Veronica stalked over to the bed.

"I'm getting tired of telling you to stay off my bed." Veronica effectively shoved James off her bed. "Tinker and the others have enough to do without you making more work for them."

"You're just jealous." James picked himself up off the floor. "I can get the house elves to do anything for me and you can't."

"That's not the point." Veronica glared at the boy playing with her makeup before straightening out the pale blue satin cover. "There are times I really wish I could pound you into oblivion." She shoved James away from her dresser. "Didn't I tell you to go away?"

"Since when did I ever listen to you?" James smirked slightly. "I like to look on the bright side. At least Sirius and I will get to pick on you all day long."

"You do and I'll beat the ever-loving tar out of you both." Veronica shoved at James slightly, effectively pushing him out of her room. "I'll even see if Lily and Melissa will help me."

"I doubt Melissa will help but threaten me with Lily and I run for my life." James ducked as Veronica took a swing at him. "Hurry up, Vee." He scurried down the stairs.

"Just wait, James Potter! I'll have my revenge!" Veroncia closed her bedroom door and leaned against it. Griff ruffled his feathers slightly. "I hate to say it, Griff, but it looks like it's going to be a long day." She finished pulling her hair into a ponytail and glanced at her reflection. "I think I'll leave the makeup off for today."

Her reflection cocked her head to one side. "A very good idea, dear. Too much makeup will make look you older than you are."

Veronica hurried out of her room and down the stairs. Evelyn glanced up from her paper as Veronica came into the kitchen, sat on Thomas' knee, and kissed his cheek.

"Morning, Dad." Veronica placed her head on Thomas' shoulder.

"Morning, dear." Thomas hugged her. "Was James bothering you?"

"When isn't he?" Veronica quickly moved to her seat as Thomas poured her a cup of tea.

"James, how many times do we have to tell you to stop bothering Veronica?" Evelyn folded her paper quickly.

"Um... About a hundred?" James looked up from his half empty plate.

"Make this one hundred and one. Leave Veronica alone when she's getting ready." Evelyn sipped her tea as Thomas looked at his watch.

"Almost time to go." Thomas sat his cup on the table as Star tried to jump into his lap. "No, Star. You have to stay here."

Star whimpered as Veronica stood and straightened her cloak. Evelyn handed the Floo powder to Veronica. "You go first, dear."

Veronica stepped into the empty fireplace and tossed down the Floo powder. "The Leaky Cauldron!"

She whirled around the fireplaces and prayed that she wouldn't lose her breakfast. Suddenly she started to slow down. She threw out her hands and slid gracefully to a stop. She stepped from the fireplace and began sweeping the soot from her clothes and hair, what little of it there was, as James fell into the fireplace in a heap. Veronica held in a giggle as James climbed to his feet and rubbed his head. Thomas and Evelyn appeared with twin pops behind them.

"What did you do to the fireplace, Vee?" James rubbed his left elbow to rid it of the pain.

"Not a thing, Jamey-pooh." Veronica glanced at Thomas and let out a giggle at his smile.

"I think we should head on to Gringotts so that we can get your stuff for the year." Thomas wrapped an arm around Evelyn. "Then we can be left to our own devices..." Thomas nuzzled Evelyn's neck.

"Thomas, I wish you would behave." Evelyn smiled lovingly at her husband.

Thomas led his family to the barrier and tapped the third brick above the trash bins. James and Veronica followed after Thomas and Evelyn. Veronica waved to Sirius as he barreled his way through the crowds. Thomas laughed when he saw Daniel being dragged over to the group by Lily and Rose. James practically bounced over his parents to get to Remus and Peter who were making their way to the group. Veronica smiled softly as Remus avoided James and came over to her. He pulled her into a tight hug.

"Good morning, gorgeous." Remus kissed her cheek.

"Hello, handsome." Veronica blushed slightly as Remus leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her lips.

James pretended to gag while Thomas coughed into his hand. 'Let the girl go.' could barely be heard above the noise of the crowd around them.

Evelyn turned to Rose and sighed. "Aren't they precious?"

Sirius turned away from the kiss. "I'm not getting involved. I'm not getting involved."

Daniel placed a hand on Sirius' shoulder. "I'm with you, kid."

Peter scowled slightly as Remus pulled away from Veronica. "What are we doing first?"

"Let's see. Who has their money already?" Remus, Peter, and Sirius raised their hands and Evelyn nodded. "Good. Why don't you kids go and get some ice cream while we go to Gringott's?" The group of teenagers nodded. "Good. We'll see you in about half an hour."

Remus draped his arm around Veronica's shoulders as the adults went to the large white building in the middle of Diagon Alley. "Okay. Let's get some ice cream."

Sirius pulled Veronica out of Remus' grasp. "Only if you let Vee go."

"Not in this lifetime." Remus laughed as Veronica's elbow made contact with Sirius' stomach.

"You had best keep in line today, Siri. Jamey-Pooh has already gotten me in a bad mood."

Sirius turned to James as Veronica snuggled next to Remus again. "Geez, Potter, what have you done now?"

"Nothing. I swear." James held up his hands in surrender. "Come on. Let's go get some ice cream."

"I still wasn't to know what you've done to upset Vee." Sirius followed James to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. "She's highly ticked at you and now me."

"It wasn't anything. I just teased her this morning about how we were going to make her life a living hell today while we were with Remus." James stood before the counter. "Six raspberry chocolate cones, please."

"That'll be two Sickles." The clerk quickly filled the order while Sirius placed the Sickles on the counter.

"Thanks." James handed one of the cones to Lily and another to Veronica as Remus and Peter took theirs from Sirius. "So what do you guys want to do today?"

"Not a bloody thing." Sirius ducked as Veronica tried to hit him. "You missed."

Lily kicked out with one leg and managed to land her foot on his backside. "But I didn't."

Sirius frowned as an older man approached them. "No fair. Two against one."

"Life ain't always fair, sonny." The man stood beside Lily.

"Mr. Moody!" Veronica dropped her ice cream cone onto Sirius' head as she ran to hug Alastor Moody. "I didn't think to see you here."

"I thought I'd see what Thomas and the rest of you were doing this weekend." Alastor chuckled as Sirius, glaring at Veronica, wiped at the ice cream on his head.

"Why?" Lily delicately licked at her ice cream.

"Thomas said something about going camping and I think tomorrow will be a good day to start."

Thomas, Evelyn, Rose, and Daniel stepped up behind the group. "That is great, Alastor. Have you spoken with the Weasleys?"

"Yep. Arthur said that he and his boy Bill will be there as well. Molly won't be able to make it what with Charlie still being so little." Alastor turned to Rose and Evelyn and bowed slightly. "I'll take my leave, ladies."

"We'll see you for dinner tonight, Alastor." Evelyn waved as Alastor disappeared into the crowds. "Well, I guess we need to get everything we need for camping as well as school." Evelyn grabbed Veronica's hand as Rose grabbed Lily's. "Come along, girls. We have shopping to do."

"But, Mom..." Veronica groaned as Evelyn pulled her away from the love of her life.

"No excuses, Veronica." Lily calmly followed her mother.