Lupin's True Love

August 16, 1973

Veronica rolled over in her bed as a knock sounded on her bedroom door. "Go away."

Evelyn stuck her head in the room. "Come on, Veronica. We've got to go to Alastor's house."

Veronica pulled her pillow and blanket over her head. "It's too early, Mom."

"The Port Key is set to go off at five am and you need to finish packing." Evelyn pulled the blanket to the foot of the bed and yanked the pillow form Veronica's face. "Besides the Evans will be here soon as will as Melissa."

"I thought 'Lissa couldn't come." Veronica sat up in her bed and stared at Evelyn.

"I talked to her mother. She said as long as nothing happened to Melissa then she could come." Evelyn moved back to the door as Veronica crawled across the bed.

"Yes! One more girl to torture James and Sirius with!" Veroncai hopped from her bed and moved toward her closet. "I'll finish packing."

"Just don't forget your swimsuit, dear." Evelyn started out the door.

"I thought we were going camping in the Smoky Mountains." Veronica looked up from her bag.

"We were but Thomas got a really good deal on a campground in Florida. So you girls will get to go to the beach while the boys do their camping." Evelyn closed the door behind her as Veronica began to rummage through her dresser drawers.

Veronica changed into a pair of pink shorts and a white tank top before turning back to her bag. She went to her closet and pulled out several short outfits and shoved them into her bag. She went to a hidden drawer and pulled it open. She pulled out a pink bikini and smiled mischievously as she slipped it into the side pocket of her bag. She heard James traipsing down the hall toward her room. She moved her head slightly so her hair formed a curtain behind her head as James stepped into the room.

"Hey, Vee. Have you heard the news?"

"That we're going to Florida instead of Tennessee?" She stretched slightly as James nodded. "I was told this morning so I've already gotten my suit packed. How about you?"

"Hook did it this morning." James yawned as he scooped up her bag. "Come on. Mum said we were leaving in a bit."

Veronica raced down the stairs behind James and into the kitchen just as Daniel fell into the fireplace.

"Morning, Potters!!" Daniel's booming voice filled the kitchen.

"Daniel!" Thomas clapped a hand on Daniel's shoulder as Rose fell into the fireplace. "Rose!"

Rose glared at her extremely cheerful husband and his equally cheerful friend. "It's too bloody early in the morning to be that happy. Don't you agree, Evelyn?"

"Heartily." Evelyn poured Rose a cup of strong coffee as Petunia fell, screaming, into the fireplace.

"Never again, Mother. Do you hear me? Never again will I travel like the freak Lily is." Petunia brushed at the soot all over her new clothes. "My clothes are ruined."

Thomas pulled out his wand and waved it over Petunia. "No they aren't." He leaned down slightly to stare into Petunia's eyes. "I'd advise you to keep your comments to yourself, young lady, or I won't wait for permission to take you over my knee and tan your hide."

Petunia shivered slightly in fear as Veronica turned to the fireplace just as Melissa dropped into it.

"'Lissa!" Veronica hugged Melissa as Thomas cleaned the soot from her like he had done for Petunia.

"'Roni, that was the most fun I've ever had." Melissa turned to Thomas and Evelyn. "Thank you for inviting me, Mr. and Mrs. Potter."

"Call us Thomas and Evelyn, Melissa." Evelyn pulled Melissa from the fireplace a moment before Lily dropped into it.

"Morning." Lily stepped out of the fireplace and swiped at the soot on her shorts.

"Good morning, Lily. Allow me." Thomas waved his wand at the soot.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter." Lily turned to Veronica. "I can't wait for this vacation."

"Me neither." Veronica grabbed Melissa's hand. "At least I have the two of you with me so we can beat up James and Sirius."

"Really. Has he been bothering you again?" Melissa glanced over her shoulder to stare at the boy with messy black hair. "Too bad you want to torture him. I wouldn't mind getting a shot at him."

"Patricia would kill you for thinking it and then kill me for allowing it to happen." Veronica rolled her grey eyes slightly. "I hope you both packed your swimsuits."

"Of course." Lily barely turned as Thomas cleared his throat.

"We had best be headed over to Alastor's house and since he doesn't want us clogging up the Floo Network, we will be taking a Port Key." Thomas held up a blanket. "You only need to touch it with a finger and off we go."

Veronica pulled Lily and Melissa over to the blanket while James tried to situate himself beside Lily. Thomas waited for Petunia to take a corner as Rose and Daniel encouraged her to pick it up. Evelyn grabbed the blanket beside Rose as Thomas took the last corner. Once he was touching the blanket, the group disappeared with a slight whoosh. The group of teenagers landed in a pile with Rose and Daniel.

"I can say this much. It's better than the Floo Network." Rose allowed Thomas to pull her to her feet while Alastor Moody yanked James and Daniel up.

"I agree wholeheartedly." Daniel looked around the room as it filled with action. He saw Remus and rolled his eyes. "Oh boy."

Sirius reached out to help up Lily and Melissa as Peter helped Petunia to her feet. She released his hand as fast as she could and turned around to glare at everyone. Remus moved through the group and helped Veronica climb to her feet.

Veronica blushed slightly as Remus laid his arm around her shoulder. "Morning."

"So this is the young lady that you keep talking about, Remus." A woman with hazel eyes and short black hair stepped over to the blushing teens. "She's lovely. Don't you think so, Jonathan?"

"She's not a lovely as you but she is very pretty." Jonathan winked at Remus as Veronica's cheeks deepened slightly.

Remus laughed as his mother hit his father. "Mum, Dad, I'd like for you to meet Veronica. Veronica, these are my parents, Regina and Jonathan Lupin."

"A pleasure to meet you both." Veronica smiled brightly as Alastor pulled her and Remus apart. "Hello, Mr. Moody.

"About time you said hello to me, girl." Alastor placed a kiss on Veronica's cheek. "I take it that is your friend Melissa Smokler."

"It sure is. Let's see, 'Lissa, I think you know everyone here except for Alastor Moody. He's Dad's boss." Veronica smiled as Melissa walked up to Alastor.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Moody." Melissa smiled as Thomas grinned and looked around the room.

"Hey, Alastor, who are we waiting on?" Thomas started to count the children.

"The Weasleys. They should be here soon. I think Arthur was going to try and bring Molly but you never know with her." Alastor turned as Arthur and Molly Weasley appeared each of them holding a sleeping red headed boy.

"Morning." Arthur shuffled the sleeping boy. "Sorry we're late. Charlie's teething and we were up most of the night."

"That's okay, Arthur. I think James used to give us the same kind of trouble." Thomas turned as Alastor held up a rope.

"Everyone grab hold. I'd like for the girls to take a seat on the coolers if they would. That includes you, Molly." Alastor sat Veronica and Molly, with Charlie in her arms, on one cooler while Lily and Melissa sat on the second and Petunia sulked on the last one.

"Arthur, give Bill to Veronica. That way you don't fall over with him." Molly looked over at Arthur and watched him place the sleeping Bill in Veronica's arms.

Bill burrowed into Veronica's shoulder as she tightened her hold slightly. "He's so sweet."

Alastor laid the rope over their knees as Thomas and Evelyn stood on either side of Rose and Daniel. Arthur stood next to Regina and Jonathan as Remus stood between the cooler and his parents. James tried to get close to Lily and Melissa but Sirius pulled him over to himself and Peter. As Alastor grabbed the end of the rope the whole kitchen disappeared with a whoosh. They reappeared a few feet from the gate of the campgrounds. Veronica reached for her bag but Remus grabbed it first. Thomas and Alastor stacked the tents on one of the coolers while Arthur and Daniel grabbed the second cooler and stacked the rest of the girls' bags onto it. Jonathan and Remus stacked the rest of the bags on the third cooler.

"Why are we so close to the campgrounds, Dad? Aren't we going to be seen by the Muggles?" Veronica hefted Bill slightly.

"No, sweetie. This area is for witches and wizards to Apparate in and for Port Keys to come in. Not a single Muggle will see us." Thomas laughed as Veronica blushed slightly. "Come on. We've got to get to the grounds."

They started to the gate of the campgrounds. The attendant noticed them immediately. He rushed out of the main office.

"Welcome to the Jetties. We're pleased to have you here. My son will drive you to your site and help you set up your tents." The man snapped his fingers causing Bill and Charlie to wake up screaming.

Veronica bounced Bill slightly making him look at her. "Hey there, big boy."

"Hi, pwetty wady." Bill tried to grab her hair.

"My name is Veronica but you can call me 'Roni." Veronica nuzzled his neck causing him to giggle and Charlie to look over at her.

"'Roni." Bill settled himself against Veronica's shoulder and stuck his thumb in his mouth.

"'Oni!" Charlie reached for Veronica.

"Oof!" Veronica hefted him in her other arm. "I've got two handsome boys here." Charlie hugged Veronica before he settled against her other shoulder.

"I can take one if they're too much, dear." Molly reached for Bill as a young man about eighteen hurried from the main office.

"I'm okay, Mrs. Weasley." Veronica watched as Thomas and Jonathan helped the man load the Jeep.

"My name's Orlando. If you need any other help this week please let me know." Orlando helped Veronica into the Jeep causing Remus to growl slightly.

Lily and Melissa climbed into the Jeep beside Veronica while James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus climbed into the very back with the coolers and the bags. Arthur, Molly and Thomas climbed into the front.

"I guess it'll have to be two trips." Evelyn waved to the disappearing Jeep.

Veronica was amazed at the weather in Florida. She knew that there was a chance of severe storms but she didn't expect it to be so humid like London. Remus reached for Charlie, who had fallen back to sleep, and helped her from the Jeep. James and Sirius lifted Lily and Melissa from the Jeep before helping to unload the coolers, bags, and tents. Orlando climbed back into the Jeep and drove back to the gate for the others. Thomas and Arthur began to set up the tents as Veronica and Remus played with Bill and Sirius, Peter, and James flirted with Lily and Melissa. The Jeep pulled up and the rest of the group climbed out. Alastor, Daniel, and Jonathan hurried over to help Thomas while Evelyn, Rose, and Regina went to help Molly sort through the coolers. Petunia leaned against a tree and sulked as she watched Lily having fun with her friends. The tents were up and Molly and Arthur scooped up Bill and Charlie.

"We'll put them to bed. Which tent is ours?" Arthur turned to Alastor.

"The boys are in that one." Alastor pointed to the tent farthest from the roaring fire. "The girls are in this one." He pointed to the one closest to the fire. "I figured the Weasleys would be in that one beside the girls. The Lupins and the Potters are in the one beside the boys while myself and the Evans will be in the one in the middle."

"Sounds good to us." Thomas dragged James, Peter, and Sirius to their tent while Remus kissed Veronica on the cheek. "Let's go, lover boy."

Remus followed Jonathan and Regina while Veronica, Lily, Melissa, and Petunia ducked into their tent. Alastor shook his head slightly as he grabbed a butterbeer from one of the coolers. Rose and Daniel ducked into their tent while Alastor banked the fire for the night. He was the only one to hear the exclamations from the girls' tent as well as his own. He hurried into his tent after glaring at the boys' tent.