Lupin's True Love

August 16, 1973

Veronica jerked her head from under the showerhead when she heard the screams of her friends, Molly, Regina, Rose, and Evelyn. She turned off the water, wrapped a towel around her, and stepped from the shower. As she flipped her hair over her head, she noticed that her hair wasn't its normal dark brown color. It had turned to a neon purple. She screamed as she whirled around and grabbed her shampoo. She poured some into her hand and saw the electric blue potion mixed in with her brown shampoo. She glanced over at the other showers and saw Molly pulling clothes on so fast that Veronica could barely register that Molly's hair wasn't red any longer; it had been changed to bright pink. Lily was pointing at Melissa, with electric blue hair, and Patricia, with neon green hair. Melissa, fingering her own hair, pointed at Lily's brilliant yellow hair. Emma was admiring the effect her now silver and bronze hair made. Evelyn had pulled her turquoise hair over her shoulder. Rose was scrubbing at the field green hair on her head, hoping against hope that it would come out. Regina just shook her head. Veronica admired how Regina's hair looked with Gryffindor red and gold. They dressed in a rush and hurried out of the showers. They saw Petunia, with her normal blonde hair, standing near the picnic tables. The boys, Daniel, Thomas, Alastor, Jonathan, and Arthur stood nearby laughing. They supported each other since they were laughing so hard.

Molly stalked over to her husband and slapped him across the back of his head. "How dare you slip that potion into our shampoos?"

"I didn't do it!" Arthur ducked slipping on his spilled drink. "I was with you at the beach."

"He's right." Thomas chuckling stopped when he saw Evelyn's furious glare. "I didn't do it either." He pointed at Daniel and the boys. "They did it."

"Traitor." Daniel hissed at Thomas while he cowered under his wife's glare. "It wasn't my idea."

Peter took that moment to curl himself into a little ball. Veronica's eyes narrowed slightly as she glared at James and Sirius. They just grinned as Molly and Evelyn started to put everyone's hair back to the original colors. Rose started hitting Daniel and the girls could hear were very few words. They enjoyed him yelping as Evelyn jabbed him with her wand once or twice. Petunia's frown deepened as she realized she had been left out of the prank. Lily turned on her heel and marched into the tent.

"I swear if it's the last thing we do, we're going to get even with you guys for this." Veronica stomped after Lily.

Patricia, Emma, and Melissa followed her to the tent. They entered it to find Lily pacing the floor and Veronica shoving her dirty clothes into her bag.

"I can't believe they were sneaky enough to get your dad in on the prank, Lily." Patricia shoved her clothes into her bag.

"Neither can I." Lily flopped onto her bed. "Veronica, is there a potion we can use on the guys in that book?"

"Nope, but I've got an idea." Veronica pulled out some parchment and several self-inking quills. "Did you guys notice how they were flirting with those girls at the beach?"

"We sure did." Melissa rolled her eyes. "And I wore my skimpiest suit just for those idiots."

"Well, as I always say, revenge is a dish best served cold." Veronica smiled mischievously as Petunia stepped into the tent. "What do you want, Petunia?"

"I want in on the prank you're going to do to the boys." Petunia crossed her arms as if daring them to disagree with her.

"About damn time, Petunia." Emma clapped her hands as she turned back to Veronica. "So what are we doing?"

"We're going to write the boys notes telling them to meet those bimbos from the beach Friday at midnight." Veronica passed out the parchment and quills. "Then we're going to meet them and throw water balloons at them. Hopefully that will cool their hormones."

The girls giggled as they wrote the basic letter. Veronica suggested that they each write to the boy that wouldn't know their writing. Petunia had a hard time trying to get the hang of the quill but eventually she managed it. Veronica nodded once they had the letters finished.

Patricia stretched as they gathered everything together. "How are we going to get these letters to the guys?"

"I'm going to see if Orlando can help us." Veronica shoved the letters into her bag. "Come on. Time for supper."

The girls filed out of the tent. They gathered around the picnic tables and ignored the boys as they tried to apologize. Petunia sat beside Alastor as her father placed a bottle of butterbeer in front of her.

Remus sat beside Veronica. "You know I had nothing to do with that prank."

"How can I be so sure? After all your mother and your girlfriend both got pranked." Veronica spread her napkin across her knees. "What's to keep you from doing it again?"

Remus heaved a deep sigh. "I wouldn't dare. Besides it was all James and Sirius' idea."

"Let's say I believe you. How can I trust you?" Veronica placed two sandwiches on her plate while James and Sirius filled theirs.

Remus shrugged. "I don't know."

"Well, we'll see who gets the last laugh." Veronica turned to face Patricia just as Petunia drank her butterbeer.

Petunia's cheeks reddened slightly as she turned to Alastor. "Oh, Mr. Moody, you're so handsome." She batted her eyes.

Veronica cringed as she looked at the other girls. Alastor choked on his butterbeer as Petunia placed a hand on his arm. "Are you feeling alright, girl?"

"I'm fine." Petunia's voice was breathy as she tilted her head slightly.

James looked at Sirius, who shook his head no and shrugged, before turning to the six girls trying to contain their giggles. He leaned across the table slightly. "Nice one, Vee."

"I think something's wrong with your butterbeer." Alastor tried to move away from Petunia.

"Nothing's wrong with it." Petunia took a healthy drink. "See." She climbed to her seductively. "Perhaps we can go for a walk. Just the two of us."

Alastor turned to Thomas and Daniel, both of whom were pounding the table. "You two are so dead."

Daniel held up his hands in surrender. "We just put it in her drink. We didn't make it."

"Are you coming, Alastor?" Petunia pouted slightly because Alastor was still sitting at the table.

"I think you need to go lie down before you do something you'll regret." Alastor climbed to his feet and led Petunia to the girls' tent. "Good night, Petunia."

"Aren't you going to give me a kiss?" Petunia tilted her head toward Alastor.

Alastor looked over his shoulder at the laughing group. Thomas motioned with his hands. Alastor rolled his eyes, leaned down slightly, and placed a kiss on Petunia's cheek. Petunia placed a hand over her cheek and practically floated into the tent. Alastor shuddered as he sat back down at the table.

"When I find out whose brilliant idea it was to feed her a potion, I'm going to tar and feather them." Alastor picked up his bottle of butterbeer and drank it down without stopping.

"I guess I shouldn't tell you that it was my idea." Veronica smiled slyly.

Alastor gaped at her. "You did it? It wasn't them?" He jerked a thumb at James and Sirius.

"It wasn't them. This time they were innocent." Veronica gazed at Alastor. "Aren't you going to tar and feather me?"

"Why did you do it?" Arthur leaned on his right hand.

"It was payback for the way she treated Charlie this morning." Veronica bowed her head as she tucked her hands in her lap. "I know it was wrong but I didn't like the way she treated the babies."

"Well, I can't fault you there." Alastor dropped his napkin on the table as he climbed to his feet. "I'm going for a walk." He walked away from camp.

Veronica glanced over at Thomas. "Do you think he's really mad, Dad?"

Thomas shook his head. "Nope." When Veronica tilted her head slightly, he grinned. "He didn't tar and feather you like he threatened."

The group burst out laughing. The girls helped Evelyn and Molly clean up while Rose and Regina played with Bill and Charlie. The boys helped build a fire and gathered sticks to roast marshmallows on. Veronica gathered all the ingredients needed for S'mores. They spent the next several hours roasting marshmallows, and throwing them, making S'mores, and being silly.