Lupin's True Love Returns

June 20, 1996

Veronica and Remus stepped from the lift into the Atrium. Veronica smiled softly when she noticed the broken statues from the fountain. Dumbledore was standing to one side speaking to the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Veronica saw Harry's grief stricken face as he stood to one side. She squeezed Remus' hand and moved to Harry. She wrapped her arms around Harry and hugged him as Dumbledore half turned to Veronica and Harry.

"Excuse me, Minister." Dumbledore walked over to Harry and Veronica. "I'm sending Harry back to Hogwarts by Port Key, Veronica. I would like for you to go and help Madam Pomfrey with the others. Severus should be there before too long."
"Of course, Headmaster." Veronica gave Harry a quick kiss on the top of his head and a bone-crushing hug. "I'll see you at Hogwarts, Harry." Veronica released Harry and moved to one of the fireplaces as Remus came over to her.

"What's going on?" Remus watched as Harry disappeared in a gust of wind.

"Harry's going back to Hogwarts and Albus would like for me to go back to help Madam Pomfrey." Veronica kissed Remus and moved into one of the fireplaces. "Hospital Wing Hogwarts!"

Veronica disappeared in a flash of green flames. She tucked her elbows in as she spun around the fireplaces. She threw her arms out the sides as she slowed down. She stumbled slightly as she stepped from the fireplace. She looked around the Hospital Wing as Madam Pomfrey looked up from her paperwork.

"Miss Croft." Madam Pomfrey smiled as Veronica made her way toward her. "I'm very happy to see you alive and well."

"I'm afraid that my visit isn't for pleasure." Veronica sank into the chair across from her desk.

"What do you mean?"

Veronica turned toward the door as five stretchers floated into the Hospital Wing. "The children need help."

"Of course." Madam Pomfrey turned to the door as Severus came through the door.

"Where are they?" Severus stopped before Veronica and Madam Pomfrey.

Veronica bent over Hermione as Madam Pomfrey moved toward Ron. "I believe you can see them for yourself. If you would be so kind, please check on Luna."

Madam Pomfrey barely glanced up as Veronica glared at Severus. Severus helped Luna to one of the beds as Veronica levitated Hermione to another bed. Severus levitated Ron as Madam Pomfrey helped Ginny hop to one of the beds. Neville walked to a fifth bed and wouldn't let go of his nose. Madam Pomfrey moved her wand over each student.

"Well, Madam Pomfrey?" Veronica wrung her hands.

"Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley will have to remain here for a while. Mr. Longbottom, Miss Weasley, and Miss Lovegood will be released in the morning." Madam Pomfrey straightened and turned to Veronica and Severus. "I will call if I need you."

Veronica pulled her cloak from her pocket and enlarged it as she swept past Severus. She swung the cloak over her shoulders as Severus raced after her.

"Would you care for a cup of tea?" Severus grabbed Veronica's hand.

"No." Veronica jerked her hand from Severus' grip. "I need to speak to Albus."

"He's not back here yet." Severus crossed his arms.

"Want to bet?" Veronica smirked as she whirled away from Severus. "I just spoke to him a few hours ago. He was returning to Hogwarts as soon as he spoke to Minister Fudge. Besides I have some explanations for Harry."

"You won't be able to get into the office because you don't know the password." Severus ran after her.

"No I don't but you will tell me how to get in there." Veronica turned and faced Severus. "Do you even realize what happened tonight?"

"What do you mean?"

"Sirius died tonight. Harry's godfather was sent behind the veil in the Death Chamber." Veronica's eyes flashed violet as her anger rose within her. "If you hadn't stopped giving Harry his Occlumency lessons, he would never have had that dream and Sirius would still be alive. Voldemort wouldn't know that I was back in the Wizarding world."

"If Harry hadn't looked into that memory, then..."

"Oh just stop! Did you even think to ask Harry how he felt when he watched his father torture you?" Veronica threw her arms in the air. "Did you even let him see me take them out? NO! You seem to think that would be your worst memory but I believe there was one even worse. The one where you asked me out and Remus cursed you so bad that you ended up in the Hospital Wing for two months."

"I..."

"There are ones that are even worse than that. If you had spoken with Harry about your feelings, maybe Sirius would still be alive. If you had helped Harry, then Umbridge would never have taken over the school. Those children wouldn't be in the Hospital Wing and Harry would still have his godfather." Veronica turned on her heel and started up a flight of stairs. "And Voldemort would still be in the dark about my return."

"You can't blame me for everything." Severus raced after her.

"Can't I?" Veronica whirled around and stomped back to Severus. "You don't get it. You never got it. The reason I always helped you is because I knew what it was like to be embarrassed like that all my life."

"You were the only one who ever knew. Harry doesn't know."

"Guess again! Remus told my about the ways Petunia and Vernon torture him about being a wizard. He's not allowed to do his homework during the holidays. His cousin is constantly beating him up. Hell, he's ten times worse than James and Sirius ever were and they had magic." Veronica threw her hands in the air. "You still haven't learned not to judge a book by its cover. Not everyone is as terrible as their parents or their friends." Veronica whirled around and stomped down the corridor. Mrs. Norris walked into her path and hissed at her. "Back off, you old fossil, before I decide to drown you in the lake!" Veronica pulled her wand out and pointed at the mangy cat. Mrs. Norris arched her back, hissed again, and scuttled down the stairs. "I can't believe that thing is still here."

"Don't let Filch hear you call his precious cat an old fossil." Severus smirked as he followed Veronica down the corridor.

Veronica stopped before the gargoyle leading up to Dumbledore's office. "What's the password, Severus?"

"Fizzing Whizbees." Severus watched as the gargoyle jumped to the side.

"I told you he was back." Veronica stepped onto the stairs and disappeared from sight as the gargoyle hid the passage again.

Veronica knocked on the door and waited for it to open. Dumbledore opened the door and managed a weak smile. "I was beginning to wonder where you were, Ms. Croft."

"I was taking care of some business with Severus." Veronica stepped into the office.

"Well, I see you have finally returned." A voice floated from a portrait behind Dumbledore.

"Hello, Dilys." Veronica smiled at the portrait of a curly haired witch. "I'm thrilled to be back."

"I'm sure you are, dear girl." Dilys Derwent smiled as Veronica moved past her portrait.

"I was explaining several things to Harry but there is still much that needs to be told." Dumbledore waved his wand and produced a cushy purple armchair for Veronica. "Please be seated, Ms. Croft."

"Thank you, Headmaster." Veronica removed her cloak and glanced at Harry as she threw it over the back of the chair. "How are you doing, Harry?"

"How do I look like I'm doing? My friends are in the Hospital Wing because of me. My godfather is dead because I couldn't leave anything alone." Harry jumped to his feet and stalked to the window.

"Harry." Veronica moved toward Harry and tried to wrap her arms around him.

Harry shoved her away from him. "I don't want to be coddled."

Veronica glanced over her shoulder at Dumbledore who nodded. Veronica grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him to his chair. She shoved him into it and leaned close to his face. Harry gasped as he stared into her flashing violet eyes. "I wasn't going to coddle you. I want you to understand something. Sirius was one of my best friends. He's dead and you think that it's your fault." Harry nodded. "Fine. Think that it's you're fault but it isn't. I'm going to tell you something that your father told me. You didn't send Voldemort or his Death Eaters to the Department of Mysteries. You didn't tell them to kill Sirius. It is not your fault." Veronica ran her hand through her bangs. "People have tried for a long time to tell Sirius what to do but no one can ever say that anything that he did was their fault. Sirius did what he wanted when he wanted. That was the way he did things." Veronica sighed deeply as she sank into her chair. "He was...the one...that told...me that I am...was...his sister." Veronica covered her face as the tears streaked down her cheeks.

Harry moved from his seat and sank onto the floor in front of Veronica. "Did he really call you his sister?"

Veronica nodded as she swiped at the tears with her left hand. The early morning light filtered through the gems on her ring and flashed through the room. "I wish he were here, Harry."

Dumbledore rose from his seat and moved toward Harry and Veronica. He took Veronica's hand and stared at the ring. "Your one true love is Remus, isn't it, my dear?"

"Yes, sir. He asked me to marry him this very morning." Veronica allowed Harry to wrap his arms around her waist.

Harry's tears soaked through the skirt of her robes. He looked up at Veronica and Dumbledore. "You and Remus are getting married?"

Veronica gazed down into his emerald green eyes and nodded. "That's right, Harry."

"Now we must worry about Harry's prophecy and the end of yours." Dumbledore moved back to his desk. "Ms. Croft, could you take Harry to the Hospital Wing?"

"Of course, Headmaster." Veronica climbed to her feet and swung her cloak over her shoulders. "Lead the way, Harry." Veronica followed Harry to the door of the office. "Have a good day, Dilys."

"I hope you and Mr. Lupin have a happy marriage." Dilys waved from her portrait as Veronica moved out of the office.

Veronica and Harry moved through the corridors of the school. Suddenly Mrs. Norris skulked around the corner and hissed at them. Veronica pulled out her wand and pointed it at the old feline.

"I warned you before, you old fossil. Now I wonder how long before your fossil of an owner shows up." Veronica turned to Harry. "Since I'm no longer a student here at the school, I believe if I throw her into the lake I might be able to convince Filch that Peeves did it. What do you think, Harry?"

"We might be able to actually get Peeves to do it." Harry smiled when he heard the cackling from down the hall. "What do you think, Peeves?"
Peeves appeared with a pop. "My dear friends." Peeves swept his hat from his head and bowed. "Peeves will be happy to assist in your torture."

Mrs. Norris hissed again and shot back around the corridor. Veronica tried to hold in the giggle but couldn't. She dropped to her knees and held her sides. She and Harry laughed as Peeves shot around the corridor after the old feline. Harry helped Veronica to her feet as she tried to stop laughing. They made their way to the Hospital Wing. Harry stopped laughing when he saw his friends lying on the beds around the room.

"I see Mr. Potter has finally joined us." Madam Pomfrey placed a tray on the table beside Hermione's bed. "Have a seat so that I may check you over."
Harry sank onto one of the beds as Veronica moved a chair over to the bed. "What did Dumbledore mean when he said that there was much more to be told?"

"He meant my story." Veronica watched as Madam Pomfrey waved her wand over Harry. Veronica heaved a deep sigh when Madam Pomfrey moved away from Harry. "When I came to Hogwarts when I was eleven, I was attacked on the train by a man. I never knew until today that the man was Lucius Malfoy. When I got to the school, I was told of an ancient prophecy that told of a woman who would either aid or hinder a dark wizard. She would love only one man for her entire life. Her one true love."

"What else happened?"

"A lot. My parents died at the hands of Voldemort after I had been here for only a week. He killed them trying to discover my location. I never forgave him for that." Veronica gazed at Harry with pale blue tear filled eyes. "They never knew that I had been moved up that very day."

"Your eyes were violet in Dumbledore's office. Now they're pale blue." Harry tilted his head slightly. "You're Veronica Croft."

Veronica nodded and smiled. "I was beginning to wonder when you where going to figure it out." She held out a hand to Harry. "Remus and I dated for almost six years before a Memory Charm was placed on me."

"Why?"

"It was to hide me from Voldemort. Little did I know that it would make my life miserable. I didn't have the love of my life, my best friends, or my family. I never got to meet you. I never knew that Peter betrayed us all." Veronica climbed to her feet and started to pace. "I'm not sure when I realized that I didn't belong in the Muggle world but I knew that I would never fit in."

"There were times when I was growing up in Aunt Petunia's house I felt like that." Harry smiled slightly. "It wasn't until I came to Hogwarts that I truly felt at home."

"I know that feeling. Even though I was raised with James, I felt like this was my home." Veronica sank onto the edge of the bed. "There is one more thing I want to tell you before I leave you to Madam Pomfrey's excellent care."

"What is that?"

"I'm your godmother. If ever you want to move into my home this summer, you can. I'll take care of Petunia and Vernon." Veronica wrapped her arms around Harry.

"Thank you, Aunt Veronica." Harry allowed her to hug him. "Could you stay here until I go to sleep?"

Veronica nodded. She watched as Harry lay down. She pulled the covers up to Harry's chin and gently smoothed his hair back from his forehead. She stared at the scar on his forehead as he drifted off to sleep. Once he was asleep, Veronica left the Hospital Wing and made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast.