Lupin's True Love Returns

September 1, 1996

Veronica swung her cloak around her shoulders as she hurried from her readied classroom. She calmly walked down the many flights of stairs. As she stepped the final steps the front doors swung open to reveal several hundred students. Veronica smiled as the students who didn't know her stopped at the sight of her leaning on the banister. Several of the Second and Third years trembled as she examined each of the youthful faces.

"Ready for another year of learning, ladies and gentlemen?" Veronica wove her way through the students toward the Great hall. ""Personally, I can't wait."

"And who exactly are you?" The drawling voice floated from the back of the crowd.

Veronica closed her eyes briefly. "You are going to find out after the sorting." She smiled at several students. "I don't know about you but that is one thing I don't want to miss." She slowly made her way across the Entrance Hall since those that had met her at Harry's party greeted her warmly.

Harry stepped up behind Draco Malfoy. "I'd advise you not to mess with her, Malfoy, but you have never listened to anyone." He tried to edge his way around Draco.

"Sticking up for Dumbledore's trash? I can't believe you have sunk to a new low." Draco sneered at Harry.

"Trust me, Malfoy. She's not the trash. Your father is." Harry edged away from Draco.

Veronica hurried over to Harry and Draco and stepped between them. "Enough!" She glanced from one boy to the other. Her gaze settled on Draco. "So, you are Lucius Malfoy's son. I should have known. You act exactly like him. Never mind. I want you two to behave. If you don't then I won't be held responsible for what I might do." She pointed to the Great Hall. "Now move it! All of you!"

Veronica watched as the students quickly moved into the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall hurried down the stairs, at least as fast as her cane allowed her.

She shook the cane slightly when she reached the bottom of the stairs. "Stupid cane." She glared at it for a moment as she leaned heavily on the banister.

"Problems, Minerva?" Veronica hurried to Professor McGonagall's side.

"Actually, yes. I need to meet Hagrid with the First Years but I have just received an owl about a problem with transporting the luggage."

"Go take care of the luggage. I'll meet the First Years for you.'

"Will you also do the Sorting? I hate to ask but I have no idea how long I'll be."

OF course. I may as well get the practice in while I can." Veronica took the list of names from her. "You go. Take care of the luggage. The children will want their night clothes after the feast."

"Thank you, Veronica. I am very glad you decided to teach here.' Professor McGonagall lumped back up the stairs.

Veronica smiled as a knock sounded on the ancient oak doors. She waved her right hand across them and they slowly creaked open. On the steps stood forty frightened students and Hagrid.

Hagrid's face barely registered surprise when he saw veronica. "Uh...Veronica...I mean Professor Lupin, the First Year students."

"Thank you, Professor Hagrid." She gave Hagrid and the children a dazzling smile. "Allow me to be the first to welcome you to Hogwarts. I am Professor Veronica Lupin. Now if you will follow me..." She turned on her heel and moved gracefully across the Hall to a small room. The students hurried after her. Once they were all in the room Veronica motioned to the door and it closed softly behind them. The students turned their attention to her. "In a moment you will go through these doors and join your classmates but first you must be Sorted. The Houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. While you are here, your House will be like your family. Your accomplishments will earn you House points. Any rule breaking, you will lose House points." Veronica moved toward the door behind her. "Wait here while I make sure we are ready for you." She stepped out the door and saw the ancient Sorting Hat and an equally ancient three-legged stool. She gathered both of these items and quickly moved them to the very center of the dais before the Staff Table.

Dumbledore motioned her to the table. "Where is Minerva?"

"There was a problem with the students luggage and she asked if I'd do the Sorting tonight." Veronica kept her voice down so as not to alarm any of the teachers or students.

"Very well. Before we begin the Sorting, I would like to make the announcements."

"Of course." Veronica glanced over at the door. "Shall I bring in the students?"

"Please." Dumbledore watched as Veronica glided away. "This is going to be very interesting."

Veronica entered the room to find three boys beating up a fourth boy. Several of the girls were trying to pull them apart. The door closed behind her. "Enough!" She separated the boys. "What is going on here?"

"They were calling you names, Professor." One of the girls sniffled a bit while she pointed at the three bullies and Veronica conjured a handkerchief to give her. "He was defending you."

Veronica looked over at the fourth boy, who had blooding dripping from his nose onto his robes. She laughed slightly. "Come here, Mr. Roberts." She pulled out her wand and waved it over his face. The blood cleaned itself from his face and robes. "I don't think your nose is broken."

"Thank you, Ms. Croft." Billy blushed slightly.

"I'm Professor Lupin now. I'll explain later." Veronica clasped his shoulder before she turned to the other boys. "I assure you that if I which House you would be assigned I'd be taking points right now!" She clapped or hands together. "Please line up. We're ready for you now."

The students lined up quickly and followed Veronica into the great Hall. Several of them stopped and stared at the enchanted ceiling. Veronica calmly moved through the line and hurried them along. The line stopped at the very front of the Great Hall as Veronica climbed onto the dais. Dumbledore climbed to his feet.

"Before we attend to the Sorting, I would like to make a few announcements. First the First Years will make note that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. A few of our older students would be wise to remember that as well." He seemed to look directly at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Second I would like to make a few introductions. We have two new teachers joining our ranks this term. First is Professor Kurt Wagner, our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Half of the Great Hall erupted in cheers as Kurt climbed to his feet and waved to the students. Veronica smiled as she saw Harry, Ron, Katie, Colin, Ginny, and Dean pounding the Gryffindor Table. "Second we have the lovely Professor Veronica Lupin. She will be taking over the History of Magic classes since the governors have finally decided to replace Professor Binns." This time three quarters of the Great Hall erupted the cheers and whistles. Veronica blushed as she saw Hermione joining Harry, Ron, Katie, Colin, Ginny, and Dean pounding the table. "Now on with the Sorting!"

Veronica smiled and picked up the Sorting Hat as Professor McGonagall moved toward her seat. "When I call your name, you will come forward and place the Sorting Hat on your head." She unfurled the scroll of names. "Ackerley, Penelope."

A terrified girl with strawberry blond hair stepped up to the stool and once the Sorting Hat was on her head it fell past her eyes. "Ravenclaw!"

She hurried to the Ravenclaw Table as Veronica continued. "Altman, Linda."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Baddock, Theodore."

"Slytherin!"

"Blanton, Larry."

"Ravenclaw!"

"Bletchley, Emily."

"Slytherin!"

"Bloom, Devin."

"Gryffindor!"

"Branstone, Anthony."

"Slytherin!"

"Bulstrode, Arnold." Veronica recognized one of the three bullies.

"Slytherin!"

"Cauldwell, Cedric."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Coburn, Hope."

"Ravenclaw!"

"Coulter, Tiffany."

"Gryffindor!"

"Daley, Emma."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Dashner, David."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Draper, Gary."

"Ravenclaw!"

"Evans, Mark."

"Gryffindor!"

"Fowler, Charlene."

"Ravenclaw!"

"Frobisher, Daphne."

"Ravenclaw!"

"Gollihugh, Katie."

"Slytherin!"

"Grissom, Jackson." She frowned slightly at the second bully.

"Slytherin!"

"Hamill, Madison."

"Slytherin!"

"Holmes, Greta."

"Ravenclaw!"

"Hooper, Anna."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Jernigan, Roger."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Kirke, Julia."

"Gryffindor!"

"Krum, Adrianna." Veronica watched her dab at the tears still in her eyes.

"Gryffindor!"

"McDonald, Kelsey."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Madley, Ruth."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Masters, Grady."

"Ravenclaw!"

"O'Quinn, Jamie."

"Gryffindor!"

"Parker, Christina."

"Slytherin!"

"Quirke, Parker."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Roberts, Billy." Veronica gave him a fortifying smile.

"Gryffindor!"

"Roper, Jared."

"Ravenclaw!"

"Saxon Wayne." She noticed the slight smirk on his face.

"Slytherin!"

"Sewell, Murray."

"Gryffindor!"

"Sherbrooke, Hugo."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Sloper, Alanna."

"Gryffindor!"

"Stoffel, Copper."

"Ravenclaw!"

"Stone, Mandy."

"Slytherin!"

"Summers, Evan."

"Gryffindor!"

As Evan Summers moved to the Gryffindor Table, Veronica finished rolling up the parchment. She gathered up the Sorting Hat and stool, put them back by the door, and hurried to her seat beside Severus.

Dumbledore climbed to his feet and clapped his hands together. "Let the Feast begin!"

Several gasps filled the room as the golden plates filled with food. The students began to eat as Veronica filled her plate. She noticed a crock filled with gumbo and quickly filled her bowl.

"What do you think of the newest batch of students?" Severus picked up his goblet of wine.

"Most of them seem to be well behaved but it looks like we have at least three more pureblood fanatics." Veronica dipped her roll into the gumbo and took a big bite.

"Who would they be?" Severus glanced at the Slytherin table. "I will need to keep an eye on them."

"Anthony Bulstrode, Jackson Grissom, and Wayne Saxon. From what I understand those three were making some comments about me and young Mr. Roberts defended me."

"how would he know to do that?"

"Simple, Severus. He used to be in my history classes back at the last school I taught at."

"Interesting. I'll know not to mess with him." Severus turned back to his plate. "How is that soup you're eating?"

"It's not soup; it's gumbo and it's delicious." To emphasis her point she licked her spoon clean. "You should try some."

"No, thank you." Severus watched as Veronica filled her bowl with more gumbo." Don't you realize that those spices could affect the baby?"

"Oh, Severus." Madam Pomfrey patted Severus' arm. "the baby will be fine."

"A few spices won't hurt, Severus." Veronica sipped from her goblet.

"I certainly hope that is milk or pumpkin juice." Severus frowned at the goblet in her hand.

"Severus, do you think I'm a fool to put my baby in danger?" veronica tilted the goblet to reveal the milk inside. "I swear. You must be taking annoying lessons from Remus.'

"Not bloody likely." Severus watched as the desserts arrived and Veronica filled her plate with several types of pudding including treacle. "Having cravings?"

"Nope. I just like pudding. Especially treacle." Veronica glanced over at the Gryffindor Table. She watched as Ron and Harry explained Quidditch to Mark Evans and Billy. "Looks like Mr. Roberts and Mr. Evans are getting a crash course in Quidditch."

"Just what we need. More Quidditch loving Gryffindors." Severus rolled his eyes.

"Knock it off, Severus. I seem to remember when you made a bet with me that Slytherin would beat Gryffindor for the Quidditch Cup." Veronica smiled slightly.

"Don't remind me. That was the worst week of my life." Severus shook his head slightly as the students filed out of the Great Hall. "May I walk you back to your office?"

"Sure, Severus." Veronica climbed to her feet.

They made their way into the Entrance Hall. Harry and Ron were standing in front of Mark, Billy, and Adrianna Krum. Draco, Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe were facing down the Gryffindors.

"I warned you, Potter. Now these filthy Mudbloods and blood traitors will be the first to die." Draco sneered at the frightened First Years.

Veronica hurried over to the group. "Stop this!"

"What is the meaning for all this, Mr. Malfoy?" Severus stood a step behind Veronica like a vengeful father.

"potter started it, sir." Draco smirked at Harry.

"That's not the way I saw it, Mr. Malfoy." Veronica frowned at Draco as she turned to Harry. "Perhaps, Mr. Potter, you could tell us what happened."

"Of course, Professors." Harry felt a small hand creeping into his much larger one. "It's okay, Adrianna. Gryffindors stick together."

"Does all this have something to do with Miss Krum's family?" Severus turned to Draco.

"Perhaps I should explain, Professors.' Adrianna's soft voice shuddered slightly. "my parents decided last year that I was to come to Hogwarts after my cousin was here and told us about all the kind teachers. Of course my parents discovered Professor Karkaroff's past and that sealed it. My cousin Viktor told me all about Hogwarts and some of the students here. He also told me to judge for myself whom I wanted to be friends with. I met Mr. Malfoy and his friends on the train and something told me that I would not like them. I see now that my judgment was correct."

"Then what happened, Miss Krum?" Veronica knelt before Adrianna.

"Mr. Malfoy..." A sob erupted from Adrianna's throat and Veronica gathered her into her arms.

"Mr. Malfoy called her a blood traitor because she was sorted into Gryffindor. Then he went on to call me and Billy Mudbloods." Mark ran a hand through his hair. "We told him to call us anything he wanted but to leave Adrianna alone."

"That's when Ron and I discovered that Adrianna, Mark, and Billy weren't with the rest of the First Years." Harry placed a hand on Mark's shoulder. "We told Hermione and Ginny that we'd go looking for them. That's when we saw Draco about to hex them."

"My family was a target during the first war..." Adrianna sobbed against Veronica's shoulder.

"It's okay, Miss Krum." Veronica turned to Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle. "Ten points from Slytherin and detention with me tomorrow night for each of you!" She turned to Billy and Mark who both looked at their feet. "You both were lucky that Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley noticed that you were gone when they did. Five points from each of you for leaving without telling a prefect. However, you were very brave to stand up for your housemate. Therefore you will receive ten points for your bravery." She finally turned to Harry and Ron. "Thank you for arriving before disaster struck. Twenty points to Gryffindor for your aid boys." Veronica handed Adrianna over to Harry and motioned to the stairs and dungeon doors. "Off to bed with the lot of you."

Severus turned to Veronica as everyone left the Entrance Hall. "A bit quick with the punishments and points, weren't you?"

"I didn't see Mr. Malfoy giving us an explanation or did you miss that?" Veronica flounced away from Severus. "Good night, Professor Snape."

Severus watched as Veronica climbed the stairs. "Damn it she's mad at me again."

Veronica hurried along the hallways to her quarters.