Lupin's True Love Returns

July 6, 1996

Veronica paced her kitchen as Tonks and Alastor drank their coffee. Remus came into the kitchen and saw Veronica pacing. He smiled as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"If you don't quit, you'll have no floor left." Remus kissed Veronica's cheek.

"Sorry. I can't wait any longer. Let's get Harry." Veronica started for the front door but didn't get very far as Remus still had his arm around her waist. She looked at the offending arm. "Do you mind?"

"Yes I do." Remus pulled her tight against his side. "You need to learn a little patience."

"You always told James and Sirius that."

"Yeah well, I think you took on their personalities when they died." Remus laughed as Veronica kissed his cheek.

"What a sweet thing to say." Tonks stood and carried her coffee cup to the sink. "Shouldn't we get going?"

"We'll go in a minute." Alastor moved toward the sink as Tonks swung her cloak around her shoulders. "I still say that Veronica should stay here."

"And I still say that your nuts." Veronica pulled herself from Remus' arms and picked up her cloak. "We'll only be at the Dursleys' for a few minutes. Besides Harry's expecting me."

"You just want to lay into the Dursleys again." Tonks laughed as Veronica and Remus swung their cloaks around their shoulders.

"I might." Veronica grinned mischievously as Alastor swung his cloak around his shoulders.

"Let's go and get the boy." Alastor led the way to the front door.

Veronica hurried after the aged wizard. She pulled her wand from inside her cloak and held it ready. Remus shook his head as he and Tonks followed at a slower pace. Alastor waited until the group had gathered at the front door of the Dursleys before he knocked. Veronica tried to keep her laughter to a minimum when she watched the door shake on its hinges. She glanced at Remus as Alastor knocked a second time and the door almost fell in.

"I think you killed the door." Tonks burst out laughing as the door started to open.

Vernon stood in the doorway. "How dare you try to break down..." He squeaked slightly when he saw Alastor and Veronica standing on the front steps. Veronica could hear the trembling in his voice. "What...do you...want?"

"We're here to get Harry." Veronica shoved her way into the house.

Alastor followed her and Remus and Tonks followed him. "I hope he was well taken care of because you know what will happen if he wasn't."

Vernon gulped and led the group to Harry's room. He knocked on the door. "Your ...friends... are here to take you with them."

Harry's door swung open . Veronica gasped when she saw the black eye forming around Harry's right eye. She turned to Vernon. "What happened to Harry?" The words came out in low growl.

Remus watched as Veronica's eyes narrowed slightly. "You had best answer her quickly otherwise you will have one upset lioness on your hands."

"Lioness?" Vernon tried to swallow his fear but it radiated out from him like a foul stench.

"You better answer her." Alastor saw fur starting to sprout on Veronica's arms.

"I accidentally hit him." Vernon tried to back away from Veronica but he didn't go far.

Veronica had transformed herself into a lioness and pounced on Vernon. She growled low in her throat.

"Accident nothing." Harry scoffed from the doorway. "He got mad with me last night and hit me. He's been doing it for years."

"And you never told anyone?" Remus placed a hand on Harry's shoulder as Veronica's claws started to scratch through Vernon's shirt.

Petunia had entered the hallway and saw a lioness laying on Vernon. Her scream echoed through the hall. Veronica's roar silenced her as Veronica glanced up from Vernon.

"What's a lion going in my house?" Petunia's voice shook with fear.

"Surely Lily told you that Veronica was an Animagus?" Remus laughed as Petunia nodded her head. "That is her form. A lioness. And as a lioness does in the wild, so does Veronica. She thinks of Harry and the rest of us as members of her pride. She's protecting Harry."

"I remember when she told you that compared to her the rest of these people were pussy cats. Now I see what she meant." Harry placed a hand on Veronica's lioness head. "You can change back now, Aunt Veronica. I don't think they'll ever hurt me again."

Veronica the lioness moved away from Vernon's quivering form. In mid-stride she changed back into her human form. "If I ever hear of you hitting Harry again, you'll pay for it." Veronica pulled Harry into a hug. "For now I hope you now get what I meant when I said that you would hate dealing with me." Veronica led Harry into his room and saw the mess around the door. "Is that how they have been feeding you?"

"Just since last night. I warned them that if you found out they would be in trouble but they didn't listen." Harry shrugged slightly as she picked up his broom and Hedwig's cage. The snowy owl ruffled her feathers slightly as she felt the anger radiating from Veronica. "It's okay, Aunt Veronica. I'd rather not see them while I eat. Besides I had all that stuff you gave me and it was a lot better than what they fed me."

Veronica pointed her wand at the trunk. "Locomotor trunk!" The trunk floated into the air. Veronica maneuvered it into the hallway and down the stairs. She let it drop to the floor when she reached the bottom of the stairs. She turned and faced the rest of the group. I think we should be going now."

Remus and Alastor hurried forward and picked up the trunk. They carried it out into the warm summer morning. Tonks and Harry followed after them. Veronica barely turned and faced Petunia who was standing and shaking at the top of the stairs.

"You've been warned and now you know that I don't make idle treats. I make promises. Have a good day, Petunia. I'm sure you have quite a mess to clean up." Veronica's cloak snapped briskly as Veronica hurried down the front steps.

Veronica heard the door shut softly behind her and hurried to her front porch. She climbed the steps. When she entered the house she heard clapping. She glanced up and saw Harry, Alastor, Remus, and Tonks applauding. She cocked her head to one side.

"I think you have really taught them a lesson that they will never forget." Harry hugged Veronica.

"I shouldn't have done it though. I mean I'm glad I did but I could have hurt him." Veronica draped an arm over Harry's shoulder.

"I don't think you would have really hurt them. At least, you just scared them. James and Sirius would have been out for blood." Remus wrapped an arm around Veronica's waist. "I think it's time to get Harry to the Burrow before Molly begins to worry."

Harry moved to the fireplace and tossed a pinch of Floo powder into the flames. "I'll see you there." Harry and his trunk were placed into the green flames. "The Burrow!" He disappeared with a slight whoosh.

Remus extinguished the flames and grabbed Veronica's hand. "We'll see you two in a few days."

Alastor and Tonks nodded as Remus and Veronica disappeared with a loud crack.