Lupin's True Love Returns

May 24, 1996

Veronica stretched as she walked quietly down the stairs. She moved down the hallway and down to the kitchen. She looked around the gloomy room and found a man bent over the table talking to Remus and Sirius. She moved to the sink and began to make fresh pots of tea and coffee. She went into the pantry and gathered everything she needed to make breakfast. Remus' eyes followed her around the kitchen as she quickly made breakfast for the three men. The other man elbowed Remus and pointed back at the parchment.

"I don't think that we should count the giants out. We might be able to get a few to our side." The man moved his finger along a line on the parchment.

"But Hagrid said that he couldn't guarantee that they would come." Remus sank into the chair.

"Remus is right." Veronica placed the plates onto the table. "Now put that away, Moody. It's time for breakfast."

Alastor Moody laughed as he rolled the parchment up and put it in his robes. "How are you this fine morning, Ms. Croft?"

"Tired. You guys can't have any more early morning meetings without me." Veronica moved back to the sink and picked up the pots of tea and coffee. "Remus, could you get me some cups from the cabinet. I forgot them."

"sure, darling." Remus moved to the cabinet and removed four cups and saucers. He carried them to the table and handed each person a cup and saucer.

"You could go to bed really early and get up when it's time for the meetings." Sirius poured himself some coffee. "Or better yet Moony could leave you alone so you can get some sleep."

"You will pay for that, Padfoot." Remus threw a towel at Sirius.

Veronica finished placing the plates onto the table. "Please eat, children."

Alastor laughed into his eggs as Remus and Sirius looked down at their plates. "You always did know how to manage them."

"Thank you, Alastor." Veronica sank into her chair and began to sip her tea. She watched as Alastor sniffled a sausage. "I didn't poison it, Alastor. Besides if I had it wouldn't have been in yours."

Alastor laughed as Remus and Sirius both pushed their plates away and stared at Veronica. "I'm sure your meals are just fine, boys. Please keep eating." He turned back to Veronica. "What are your plans for today?"

"Well, Remus and I are planning on looking for a home in the area of Little Whinging. I have some money saved up from my previous job and I thought I should look for my own place. I mean I can't live here forever." Veronica bit into her sausage.

"Why not?" Sirius stared at her for a moment.

"Sirius, this is your home not mine. I can't remain here and feel like a burden." Veronica climbed to her feet and began clearing the table.

"You're not a burden." Sirius grabbed Veronica's hands as she reached for the empty cups. "You're my sister, remember? You could never be a burden."

"I'm still going house hunting." Veronica jerked her hands away from Sirius.

"Okay I give. Only if I get to go." Sirius smirked as Veronica's jaw dropped.

"No, Sirius. You could be caught by the Ministry of Magic." Veronica looked pleadingly at Remus. "Help me."

"I don't think that there are many Muggles that would think that the mass murder Sirius Black could be a dog." Remus carried his plate to the sink. "Besides, we're going to need all the help we can get if we're attacked by Death Eaters."

Veronica rolled her grey eyes. "You would support him. Okay I agree on one condition."

"What is that?" Sirius smiled at the idea of getting out of the house.

"I want you to wear a collar and leash while we are house hunting and behave yourself." Veronica crossed her arms.

"That's two conditions."

"I don't care. I won't have you chasing after cats." Veronica growled low in her throat.

"Okay." Sirius changed into the large, shaggy form of Padfoot. He sat and wagged his tail as Remus attached a collar around his neck and clipped a leash to the collar.

"Time to go." Veronica waved her wand at the dirty dishes in the sink. The dishes began to clean themselves.

Remus offered his arm and they made their way from the house with Alastor's laughter following them. They quickly climbed into Veronica's truck and drove to Little Whinging. They pulled into the driveway of a brick home on Privet Drive. Remus laughed as Sirius barked at a blond woman sweeping the walkway at Number Four. A small car pulled into the driveway behind them as Veronica climbed from the truck. The real estate agent's smile faded slightly when she saw Padfoot.

"I never realized that you had a dog." She backed into her car as Padfoot sniffed her shoes. "Will he bite?"

"Not unless you mean any harm to us. He's just a big puppy, aren't you, Snuffles?" Remus scratched Padfoot's head. "Shall we look at the house?"

"Of course." She patted Padfoot on the head as he licked her exposed knee. "I haven't really met the neighbors except the Dursleys and they seem like a nice family."

"Yeah nice like the Plague." Remus leaned close to Veronica's ear as he muttered this.

"Did you say something, sir?"

"No, no. My fiancée and I know the Dursleys through mutual friends." Remus waved his hand in dismissal, as Padfoot let out a loud bark aimed at the blond woman who kept casting looks their way.

Veronica stifled her laugh as she dropped her broom and ran inside. "Let's see the interior."

"Of course." The agent unlocked and opened the door. She allowed Veronica and Remus to enter the house. "It's been closed up for over a year. I've tried to keep it clean but it just seems determined to stay dusty and musty."

"I'll take it. I assume the cost of cleaning it will be deducted from the original cost of the house." Veronica turned to the agent.

"Of course." She smiled broadly. "I'll go back to the office and start the paperwork. I'd like for you to come back to the office in an hour to sign everything."

"I'll go by the bank and get a cashier's check for you." Remus and Veronica followed her from the house while Padfoot sniffed along the walkway. "First I believe I would like to meet my neighbor. Wouldn't you like to see Mrs. Dursley again, my love?"

"Of course. I believe I should put Snuffles into the truck." Remus moved toward the truck.

"No, darling." Veronica's eyes took on the shade of a mischief filled hazel streaked with blue as the agent pulled her car from the driveway. "I think she should meet 'Snuffles'."

Remus rolled his eyes. "The Marauders never grew up."

"Yes we did. We just never forgot the way she treated Lily." Veronica took the leash and led Padfoot toward Number Four. "Or the way she treats Harry." Padfoot growled low in his throat.

Remus grabbed Veronica's arm. "We don't want her to know you're back yet." Veronica pouted as Remus pulled her into his arms. "Sorry." Remus kissed her gently. "I just don't want you to be hurt." Veronica let Remus take the leash and together they climbed into the truck.