Lupin's True Love

September 15, 1973

James dropped several shampoo bottles on the common room table while Veronica watched from her perch on the window seat. Sirius barely glanced up from his Charms book as James straightened the bottles. Veronica slammed her potions book closed, causing James to jump and Sirius to drop his Charms book making the bottles fall over again. Smiling, she unfolded herself from her seat.

"What's with all the shampoo bottles?" Veronica sat on the edge of the table and snatched one of the bottles from James. "How did you manage to get up into the girls' loo to get my shampoo?"

"That's not yours; it's Mum's." James tried to snatch the bottle back while Veronica held him off with her foot. "Give it back."

"Strike one. Care to try again?" Veronica glanced at Sirius.

"We got it while we were in Diagon Alley." Sirius picked up his Charms book.

"Strike two. You can't get Muggle shampoo from Diagon Alley." Veronica glared at them. "What half baked plan have the two of you concocted this time?"

"Why should we tell you?" Sirius flipped open his book again.

"When it includes my shampoo, I deserve to know." Veronica's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you two planning a prank?"
"How'd you guess?" James looked up from the bottles.

"Lucky guess." Veronica rolled her eyes as Sirius slammed his book closed.

"Damn. I know I saw something in here that we can use." Sirius flopped back in a chair.

"Following Charm?" Veronica watched as Sirius flipped his book open to the index. "It's not in there."

James glared at Veronica. "Where can we find it?"

"Why should I tell you?" Veronica turned her shampoo bottle in her hands.

"Because if you don't I'll hex you into next week." James continued to glare at Veronica.

"You can try but you won't succeed." Veronica slid off the table and moved over to her bag. She slid her shampoo bottle into one of the side pockets. She bent over and began to rummage through the bag looking for a book that the Potters had given to her over the summer. "I just might have the book you need in here."

Sirius's eyes were glued to Veronica's denim clad behind. James looked at his friend before looking back at Veronica's bottom. "Uh...Vee?"

"What, James?" Veronica stacked her notebooks to one side and started to pull out her books.

"Where did you get those jeans?" James watched Sirius's mouth open and close like a fish out of water.

"Mom bought them for me. Why?"

"Because Sirius is drooling." James watched a drop of drool form in the corner of Sirius's mouth and start to drop to the floor.

Veronica looked up from her position and saw Sirius staring at her bum. "Enjoying the view, Sirius?"

"Uh-huh." Sirius nodded slightly. "Very nice. Now I see why Remus likes you so much."

"I'll be sure to let Mom know that she picked out the right jeans for me." Veronica shook her head and turned back to her bag. "Found it." She pulled a large book from the bag and shoved everything else back into the bag. "Here's the book." She strolled back over to Sirius and James. Her hand made contact with the back of Sirius's head. "Close your mouth, Black. You've got flies gathering."

Sirius snapped his mouth closed as Veronica perched herself back on the table. "I'll take that. Thanks." Sirius grabbed the book and started to flip through it. He laid the book back on the table and pushed it toward Veronica. "You find it."

"Fine." Veronica opened the book and calmly turned the pages. She smirked as James and Sirius gaped at her. "You know that I would never put a spell on my books."

"You would if it was a way to get back at us." James leaned over the table slightly. "Find it yet?"

"Give me a second." Veronica stopped on a page and quickly read through it. "Here it is."

James pulled the book over to him and Sirius. "This looks promising, Sirius."

Sirius looked over the page and shoved the book away with disgust. "What it looks like is difficult."

"I know someone who could help." Veronica swung her legs slightly.

James looked up at his adopted sister. "Who? Do you think he'll help us?"

"I think she might if you promise her something." Veronica examined her fingernails while James and Sirius looked at each other.

"Who is this girl?" Sirius's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Veronica pull the book into her lap.

"You're looking at her." Veronica swung her legs slowly as James shook his head and Sirius gaped at her.

Sirius scoffed slightly before grabbing the book. "You really think you're going to be able to do this particular charm?"

"Didn't I beat James on our last Charms test?" Veronica grinned as Sirius nodded. "So I can teach you how to do this charm."

"Teach? You're going into this one with us?" James looked hopeful for a moment.

"Nope. Now for your promise to me." Veronica waited until both James and Sirius were looking at her. "I want the two of you to promise me that you'll..."

"Not get along with Snivellus?" Sirius really started to look hopeful.

"No." Veronica rolled her eyes. "I want the two of you to stop calling me Vee for a week." She tilted her head to one side. "Do you think you'll be able to do that?"

"I don't think they will." Remus stepped from the stairs and approached the trio around the table. "Nice jeans, sweetheart."

"Thanks. Sirius was admiring them too." Veronica grinned as Sirius started to inch away from the table.

"He was admiring them too?" Remus's eyes narrowed slightly as he glared at his friend. "Was that all he was admiring?"

Veronica nodded quickly. "They want me to help with a prank, Remus." She batted her eyelids slightly making Remus blush.

"Hey! She volunteered her services." James crossed his arms and glared at Veronica.

"Who is he going to believe? You pranksters or sweet little old me?" Veronica smiled sweetly.

Remus looked from his best friends to his girlfriend and back. "If I say the pranksters, my girlfriend will kill me. If say my girlfriend, my friends will kill me." He held up his hands and backed away from the table. "I'm staying out of this."

Veronica frowned slightly as she glared at Remus. "You're supposed to say me."

"And let them think that I'm whipped? Not a chance." Remus laughed as he started back toward the table.

"I guess the two of you can learn this thing on your own." Veronica slid off the table and tossed the book at James. She turned to look at Remus, who was admiring her denim-clad rear. "Come on, Remus."

"Yes, dear." Remus slid his arm around her waist and they left the common room.

James turned to look at Sirius. "Remind me to write to Mum and tell her to get Vee baggy pants next time."

Sirius nodded slightly as he reached for the book. Remus and Veronica were walking down the corridor.

Remus looked down at Veronica. "You know, I'm not really thrilled about them doing a prank this early in the year."

"I know but look on the bright side."

"What would that be?"

"They won't be bothering us anytime soon." Veronica wrapped her arms around Remus's neck.

Remus smiled. "You're right." He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.

They jumped apart when a dozen shampoo bottles flew down the corridor. Veronica shook her head slightly. "They sure perfected that right away."

"Do you know who they're going to play this prank on?" Remus watched Veronica's eyes widen slightly.

"They wouldn't dare!" Veronica took off down the corridor after the shampoo bottles.

Remus raced after her and they ran into the Great Hall to see the few students that were up that early on a Saturday. Veronica heaved a sigh of relief when she didn't see Severus seated at the Slytherin Table.

"Do you think they chose someone else?" Remus led Veronica to the Gryffindor Table.

"No way. They hate his guts." Veronica slid into her seat and started to load her plate with eggs and sausages. "Besides he might still be asleep. After all today is Satur..."

A scream came from the Entrance Hall causing all the people in the Great Hall to turn toward the door. Severus stalked into the Great Hall and swatted at the shampoo battles that were hitting him in the head. Veronica shoved her plate away from her and laid her head on the table to keep Severus from seeing her laughing. Remus shook his head but managed to keep himself from laughing. He leaned close to Veronica as the entire Gryffindor Table erupted with screams of laughter.

"You know James and Sirius are going to come in here to gloat."

"They wouldn't dare." Veronica looked up at Remus. "They don't want to get into trouble just yet."

Remus watched Severus swat at the shampoo bottles and stomp toward the Slytherin Table. His eyes shot to the door as James and Sirius stepped through. "You were saying?" He nodded toward the door.

"Bloody idiots. Don't they know that in order for you to get away with a prank you have to be present when it happens so that everyone can prove that you didn't do it?" Veronica shook her head slightly as she glared at James and Sirius strutting toward the Gryffindor Table.

James reached for a piece of toast as he sat across from Veronica and Remus. "Well, what do you think?"

"You are so busted." Veronica watched Severus stomped determinedly toward them. "And Severus is thoroughly pissed at you guys."

Severus grabbed James by the shoulder and spun him around on the bench, making him fall off it. "Take it off, Potter!"

"Take what off, Snivellus? Our shirts?" Sirius reached for the buttons of his shirt.

Several girls jumped to their feet. "Yes please!"

"You know bloody well what I'm talking about, Black! Take the bloody spell of these ruddy bottles right now!" Severus snatched one of the bottles and threw it at James only to have it fly back into his face.

Veronica glanced at the staff table and saw Professor McGonagall staring at the commotion. "James, McGonagall is watching." She looked at Sirius and saw his shirt completely unbuttoned and hanging off his shoulders. "And Sirius put your shirt back on."

Sirius glanced around at the girls drooling. "Nope. They're happy to see my muscles."

"But I'm trying to eat." Veronica looked at her still full plate.

"Take the bloody spell off or I'm going to...!" Severus didn't see James pull out his wand.

"Do what, Snivellus? Hex me?" James glared at Severus.

Neither of them noticed that Professor McGonagall and Professor Slughorn, the replacement potions professor, were approaching the table. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat making the two teens jump away from each other. "Please explain to me what made you think that this sort of behavior was appropriate?"

"They started it, Professor." Severus pointed at the now topless Sirius and growling James.

"I don't care who started it, Mr. Snape. I do not approve of the shouting match the three of you have employed in this school." Professor McGonagall's eyes narrowed slightly behind her glasses. "Ten points from Slytherin for causing a scene." She turned to James and Sirius. "Ten points from Gryffindor for causing the uproar this morning, Mr. Potter. You will also have detention with Mr. Filch."

"Anything but that, Professor." James fell to his knees.

"Detention, Mr. Potter!" Professor McGonagall turned to Sirius, who was flexing his muscles causing all the girls around him to fan themselves or giggle. "And you, Mr. Black, are to put your shirt back on. This is not a strip club. You also have detention." She started to move away from the Gryffindor Table. "And five points from Gryffindor for the striptease."

Veronica looked at Severus with the shampoo bottles still hitting him on the head. She pulled out her wand and pointed it at Severus. "Finite Incatatem." The shampoo bottles dropped to the floor. One of the bottles hit the stone floor wrong and burst open, filling the room with the scent of peppermint.

Severus turned to Veronica. "Thank you." He turned on his heel and stomped back to the Slytherin Table. Unfortunately, the heel of his shoe hit the spreading mess on the floor.

Veronica gave a short scream as Severus's feet slid out form under him and he disappeared from sight. Veronica climbed to her feet as she leaned over the table to look down at the sprawled Slytherin. "Severus, are you okay?"

James burst out laughing. "You really should watch where you put your feet, Snivellus."

"Really." Sirius finished buttoning up his shirt, much to the disappointment of all the girls.

Severus scrambled to his feet and continued to stomp to the Slytherin Table, ignorant of the fact that he now had shampoo dripping down the back of his robes.

"You two are so immature sometimes." Veronica pulled her plate towards her as she sank back into her seat.

James and Sirius looked at each other before turning back to her. "Thank you, Vee."

Veronica rolled her eyes as she grabbed a biscuit and some sausage and wrapped them in her napkin. "I'm going outside to enjoy the day." She climbed to her feet and glared at the three teen boys. "And don't even think about following me."

James, Sirius, and Remus watched as Veronica stomped out of the Great Hall.