Archive of Our Own ^beta

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Hiya Sugar Plums!

Here we are at book twelve!!! I want to thank everyone that has been on this journey with Veronica and Charlie from the beginning, and those that have only just joined us. I truly can't believe how far along we've gotten in this story, and there's still plenty more to come. I'm extremely excited for this one, and I have a feeling you guys are all really going to enjoy it. It's another long one!

As always, feel free to give me feedback and constructive criticism. If you're a fan of my work, it would be awesome if you could give me kudos and comment on parts of the story that you like!

Enjoy Chapter One! Take care and happy reading! 📖

xoxo Tluffy

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“Basil, we’re serious. You know us well enough by now to know we would never joke around about something like this. He really is back, and we need to–”

“Veronica! Stop! Do not speak about things you know nothing about.”

Veronica instantly shrunk back into her seat and wrapped her arms around herself. He had never spoken to her that way before.

From her left, Charlie let out a low growl as his knuckles turned white from how hard he was gripping the arms of his chair. “Baz, I’m warning you. You better watch the way you speak to her.”

Basil shook his head softly as he ran his hand down his face. “Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you, love, but you don’t understand. You weren’t around the last time he came into power.”

“That’s not fair, she–”

“No, no, no.” Veronica placed a hand over Charlie’s and stroked it with her thumb, urging him to relax his grip. “He’s right. My parents and I weren’t part of the Wizarding World back then, so we didn’t exactly know what was going on. We didn’t know there was a tyrant wizard running around wreaking havoc, that’s for sure. But at the same time, we weren’t exactly safe from him either; we were Muggles at a time when being a Muggle was a death sentence.

“Y’know, I remember my parents talking about a bunch of psychos that were on the loose killing and kidnapping anyone they could get their hands on. I remember kids in my class not showing up, and the next day finding out they or someone in their family had gone missing or turned up dead. I remember my grandparents being so on edge all the time, it was palpable, and that they insisted on one of them taking me to and from school every day… before they were killed.” 

Veronica felt Charlie’s hands brushing over her cheeks softly, and it wasn’t until then that she felt the wetness there. She never took her eyes off Basil. “So no, I might not have been in the thick of it, but I was affected too. I remember the fear. And I know what it means for him to be back.”

Basil was silent for a long time before finally speaking. “What you’re saying… it can’t be true… because if it is, we’re all fucked.”

“We’re only fucked if people like you refuse to believe the truth.” Veronica rose from her seat, anger bubbling in her chest. “A war is coming. Whether you want to believe it or not, it makes no difference. It is coming. And I’m going to do everything I can to make sure the dragons answer to the right side. And I hope you’ll be standing with us when the time comes.”

With that, she stormed out of Basil’s office, leaving him staring after her with a dumbfounded look on his face.

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“Charlie!” Veronica called from the bedroom closet. She was sitting on the bench putting on her shoes as she got ready for work. Charlie, having gotten dressed much quicker than her, as always, was in the kitchen making breakfast. “Has today’s mail arrived yet?”

“Athena just got back with a couple letters, sugar! There’s one from Dumbledore, I’ll bring it to you!” Charlie called back, and the sound of his approaching footsteps followed before he appeared in the doorway, handing her the envelope.

Taking it, Veronica ripped it open and pulled out the letter, her jaw dropping and eyes widening as they flew over Dumbledore’s neat handwriting. “Fucking hell! Harry was attacked by a couple Dementors in Little Whinging a few days ago.”

“Merlin,” Charlie whispered as he pulled her into him. “Is he okay? Mundungus took care of it, yeah?

“Harry’s fine, but it’s not thanks to that idiot.” Veronica rolled her eyes as she continued summarizing the letter. “He wasn’t there! Apparently, he left to do some shady business deal, and left poor Mrs. Figg alone to watch Harry. Obviously, there was nothing she could do being a Squib, but luckily Harry is quite skilled with the Patronus Charm, so he dealt with it himself.”

“Bloody hell, but he’s not supposed to do magic outside of school. The Ministry–”

“Immediately sent him a letter expelling him from Hogwarts and telling him he needed to attend a disciplinary hearing on the twelfth. This is absurd! For a little bit of underage magic? As if he would just conjure a Patronus for no reason.”

“I know, Fudge is losing it right now. He will do anything to prove Harry’s gone mad.” Charlie held her to him tighter. “My main question is why were there Dementors there to begin with?”

Veronica sighed. “Dumbledore answered that too. He thinks that Voldemort has gained control of them, which only means one thing. He could free his followers from Azkaban any minute now. Merlin, the things he could do with those Dementors at his fingertips…” Veronica shivered at the thought.

“What about Harry? They can’t possibly leave him at his aunt and uncle’s house. He’s already so upset about being kept out of the loop, I can’t imagine he’ll be willing to put up with anymore of it after this.”

Reading the rest of the letter, Veronica soured as she neared the end. “A couple members of the Order went and got him already and took him back to Headquarters. One of them being a… newer member that I didn’t know was part of it until just now. Would you like to take a guess who it is?”

Charlie’s eyebrows furrowed as he cocked his head at her. “I have no idea. Who could it be that’s got you so upset?”

Veronica paused for a minute as she searched his eyes. “Your ex-girlfriend,” she whispered.

Charlie’s eyes widened. She didn’t need to say the name for him to know exactly who she was referring to. “Sugar, you know I–”

“No, I know Charlie. I don’t have any doubts that you love me, and my problem with you two dating never had anything to do with you. I was never mad at you , it was always about Tonks.”

Charlie placed a hand on her cheek and smiled when she nuzzled deeper into it. “Now that I know you liked me all those years, it makes sense why you stopped talking to her when we started dating. Seeing one of your good friends with someone you love…”

“It’s not just that,” Veronica sighed. “Tonks knew about my feelings for you.”

Charlie’s eyebrows flew up at the revelation. “She did?”

“She did, and she made a move on you anyway. That was why I was so upset. She spent months trying to get me to see that you felt the same way, and then when she realized it was useless, she made her move. And she was mean about it too. It wasn’t enough that she had you. She wanted to rub my nose in it. She was ruthless.”

Charlie’s eyes softened as he stroked her cheek softly, pulling her closer by the arm he had locked around her waist. “I’m so sorry, sugar. I had no idea any of that was happening.”

“I know. I obviously couldn’t tell you without telling you how I felt, but I couldn’t stand being around you two together. And when you started bringing her with you everywhere, I just avoided you all together. It was easier. I haven’t talked to her at all since then, but of course, the universe hates me, and I’ll be forced to see her now. Isn’t that lovely?” Charlie’s eyes searched hers, and he opened his mouth to say something, but Veronica shook her head. “Don’t worry, I can be civil and put our past aside to take down Voldemort… but we’ll never be friends.”

***

As Veronica glanced at the clock above the door of her office, her footsteps quickened as she paced in front of her desk. 11 AM. Harry’s hearing would be starting any minute now as they were two hours ahead in Romania, and her heart wanted to jump out of her throat. He’s going to be fine. Albus is with him, he won’t let the Ministry expel him. They have no grounds to anyway. Fudge is grasping at straws here.

As Veronica’s mind wandered to every possible negative outcome, she heard a soft knock on the door. It opened seconds later before she could even step towards it, and Charlie entered her office. From the way he was breathing and the slight sheen of sweat on his forehead, she could tell he had run all the way there.

“Are you okay?” Charlie’s face was unreadable as he stared at her, and her legs felt like they would give out any minute. “What? Tell me what it is!”

At that, Charlie broke out into a huge grin and pulled her against his chest. “He’s been acquitted of all charges!”

If Charlie wasn’t holding her up, she knew she would have fallen over from the shock. “What do you mean? The hearing’s only just begun a minute ago! How could it be over already? And they had time to send an owl? Did the hearing even happen?”

Veronica’s mind was spinning from Charlie’s words, and he pulled her lips into his to shut her up. Chuckling, he explained what he read in the letter from his father, and she instantly relaxed into his chest as the weight of the hearing lifted off her shoulders. She hadn’t realized how stressed she was about it until then. “Thank Merlin,” she whispered.

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As Veronica watched Charlie flit around the kitchen with ease, she couldn’t help but smile. He had grown so comfortable there over the last few years living alone that his skills had far surpassed hers. She hadn’t had any practice for the three years she was teaching at Hogwarts as she hadn’t returned to the Burrow at all, so she was more than a bit rusty, but Charlie didn’t mind. He enjoyed cooking and was more than happy to take on this task while leaving other tasks, like laundry, to her, which worked perfectly for them as she loved folding laundry while Charlie hated it. They were like two puzzle pieces made for each other.
“What are you staring at, sugar?” Charlie’s amused voice broke her out of her daze, and she tore her eyes away from him, forcing them back to the shirt in her hands. 

Charlie had had his back to her, so she had no idea how he even knew she was watching him, but she could already feel him smirking, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of admitting he was right. Clearing her throat, she shrugged. “Who says I was staring at you ? Maybe I was staring at that atrocity you call dinner.”

Spinning around quickly, Charlie stalked over to where she sat on the couch. He had a kitchen towel thrown over his shoulder and a wooden spoon in his hand, and as he strutted over, every part of him screamed “provoked chef”. Once he was in front of her, he pinched her chin between his fingers, pulling her face up to connect their eyes. “I don’t need to be looking at you to know when those pretty eyes are on me, sugar.” 

Touching the wooden spoon to the back of her jaw just below her ear, he dragged it along, and Veronica felt a warm, wet substance being left behind. Pasta sauce? Did he just put pasta sauce on my face!?! Before she could react, he swiped his tongue along the same path the spoon took a moment ago, gathering up every last drop of sauce before he reached her pouting lips and pulled them into a searing kiss. 

The taste of the pasta sauce on his tongue was addicting. Veronica’s arms flew around his neck as she tried to pull him closer, but she groaned as he chuckled and pulled away before she could deepen the kiss. Giving her one last peck, he sauntered away, but not before adding, “and if you think my cooking is so atrocious, you can feel free to take over.”

Leaning her head back on the couch, Veronica sighed. “You’re such a tease!” The fire raging through her from his kiss hadn’t lessened in the slightest, but she refused to give in to it as his laugh reverberated off the walls of their small apartment. Smug bastard.

“So, does Basil believe us yet?” 

The sudden change of topic made Veronica’s head spin, and a somber mood fell over them. Recruitment hadn’t been going as well as they had hoped, and Basil’s initial dismissal of their warnings had been an extra tough pill to swallow. However, Veronica had refused to let him off the hook that easily, and she had continued chipping away at him until small cracks began to form in his armour. He was starting to believe her, and that sliver of an opening was all she needed to open the floodgates. “He’s coming around. Slowly, but surely. I mean, we’re miles from where we started so… progress is progress, right?”

“Absolutely. Considering he called us lunatics when we first told him, the fact that he’s even still talking to you about it is a win. Good job, sugar.”

Veronica blushed at the praise and looked away, focusing her attention back to the clothes she was folding. “Thanks. I’ve had better luck with my other conquests though. Joanne and Sylvie, the librarians, and Alexander, the professor that teaches Dragon Anatomy. They believe that he’s back, and they’re willing to spread the news to everyone they know as well, which is great. How about you? Any luck in your neck of the woods with the other Dragonologists?”

Charlie sighs heavily as he shrugged. “Ryland, Stewart and Adrian were easy enough to convince, they trust my authority enough to know I’d never bring something like this up if I wasn’t a hundred percent confident in what I was saying. Emilia, as you can imagine, is still pissed at me, so outside of work, if I say left, she goes right. So that’s a lost cause if I ever saw one. And James… is on the fence. He wants to believe me, but doesn’t want to believe that You-Know-Who is back, and since there’s no actual proof beyond just the words of Harry and Dumbledore, who the Daily Prophet are making jabs at left, right, and centre, it’s hard for him to just trust my word on it. But at least it’s in their heads, so they’ll be wary of anyone knocking on their door.”

“Absolutely!” Veronica agreed. “It’s like Dumbledore said, we’re just trying to spread the word to make sure people are as on guard as possible, even if they don’t quite believe us. As long as they question it when they see something unusual, we did our job. Eventually, Voldemort will reveal himself anyway, so there won’t be any denying it.”

Charlie cringed. He would never get used to Veronica calling You-Know-Who by his name, but fighting her on it was a lost cause. She wasn’t there the first time. She didn’t witness the fear that the name caused the first time he rose to power. So instead, he ignored it. “I also have a couple friends on the other teams, so I’ve brought it up with them too, but none have really believed me. So I’m just glad that at least one of us has had some success.”

After this, the couple fell into a comfortable silence as Charlie worked on dinner and Veronica finished folding the laundry.

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As Veronica folded the last item in her pile, she stood, preparing to take her handiwork to the bedroom to put them away, when Athena came swooping in through the open window and landed on her shoulder. The comforting weight and warmth of her made the persistent tension sitting in Veronica’s stomach loosen slightly. Every time Athena left to deliver a letter, Veronica worried that that would be the day that she would get ambushed and hurt and wouldn’t come back. However, as Athena cuddled into the side of Veronica’s neck, her worries faded into the back of her mind, allowing her to enjoy the moment with her owl. 

Without moving, Athena stuck out her leg, inviting Veronica to remove the letter that had been tied to it. “Thanks, pretty girl. You did good. No trouble on the way, I hope?” When she felt Athena shake her head from where she was still hidden in her neck, she sighed in relief. “That’s good. Do you want to go to your cage and eat something or get some rest?” Athena shook her head again, nuzzling deeper into her. “Okay, okay, I missed you too. You can stay as long as you need.”

Opening the letter, Veronica recognized Arthur’s messy handwriting right away. He was sending them his weekly update, and as usual, the messages were vague enough that an outsider wouldn’t understand them, but she and Charlie would. “It’s from your dad,” Veronica explained as Charlie stared at her quizzically. 

“Anything good?”

“Well, I guess that depends on your definition of good,” she began, pacing over the living room carpet as she read the letter. “It looks like Fudge is taking more and more control over Hogwarts everyday. Umbridge has been named the High Inquisitor, which basically means she has final say in any and all decisions! She can make staffing changes, she can enact as many stupid decrees as she wants… she can punish the students any way she sees fit… Dumbledore is being pushed out of his own fucking school, this is ridiculous.”

“Merlin, we should probably write and check on the kids.”

Veronica shook her head. “I’m sure all letters in and out of the castle are being monitored right now. We can’t risk it, she could punish them.”

Charlie sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he turned to face her, leaning over the kitchen island. “Of course, you’re right. If they weren’t okay, dad would have said.”

Nodding, Veronica swallowed the lump in her throat at the thought of that toad hurting any of the students, and continued going through the letter. “Bloody hell, Podmore’s been arrested trying to break into the Department of Mysteries! Wasn’t he the one that was meant to be part of Harry’s entourage to King’s Cross on September 1st but never showed up?” 

Charlie nodded as his eyebrows furrowed. “Mhm, I definitely remember one of dad’s letters mentioning something about that.”

“Well, now we know why he didn’t show up.” Veronica sighed as she shook her head. “He’d been arrested the night before.”

“Merlin…”

“Yeah, that definitely makes you anxious about who else in the Order we can’t trust.” Charlie raised an eyebrow at her with a smirk, clearly understanding who she was referring to, but Veronica continued without letting him make any comments. “Hagrid and Olympe still aren’t back yet… and of course, no one has any idea if they’re okay or when they’ll be back, so that’s just lovely. I told Albus he should have let me go with them.”

“Anything about…” Charlie hesitated, and Veronica knew who he wanted to ask about before the name crossed his lips. “...Percy… in there?”

Walking over, Veronica stood on the opposite side of the island and placed a hand over his, giving him a small shake of her head. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but no. Nothing. I’m sure he’ll come around soon though.”

Flipping his hand to hold on to hers, he gave it a gentle squeeze as he nodded. “I’m sure you’re right, I just hope he isn’t too proud to apologize.” Bringing her hand up, he brushed his lips over the back before kissing it softly and butterflies erupted in her stomach as they always did anytime their skin connected. Letting her go, he turned back to the stove. “Go put away the clothes that you were folding, sugar. Dinner’s ready.”

Veronica didn’t argue. She knew he needed a moment to himself, so walking back over to the couch with Athena still perched on her shoulder, she picked up the pile of clothes and walked into the bedroom, heading straight for the closet and putting the clothes away.

As she placed the last item on the shelf where it belonged, a sudden bang shot out through the apartment.

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Veronica jumped, her heart threatening to burst a hole through her chest from how fast it was beating. The sound had reverberated off the walls and rang in her ears as she stood frozen for a moment, trying to wrap her head around what that was. Athena, who had stood to attention instantly, was hooting like crazy as she could clearly hear something in the living room that Veronica couldn’t.

In an instant, the sounds of things smashing and breaking overtook the silence that had settled over the space after the initial bang, and the hair on the back of Veronica's neck stood up. “Charlie! Is everything okay out there?” Despite her question, Veronica knew everything was most certainly not okay. The sounds of destruction hadn’t stopped.

Leaving the closet and heading for the bedroom door, Veronica grabbed her wand off her bedside table just in case. However, before she could reach the door, it slammed shut, locking her in. “Charlie! What’s going on!?!” Veronica pounded on the door for a moment before remembering she was a witch. “Alohomora!” The door remained locked. Ugh, seriously? He used Colloportus? What the hell? Veronica was about to call out again when she heard a voice on the other side of the door. It was most certainly not Charlie, and the voice made chills run down her spine. 

“Veronica Singer. I’ve heard so much about you. Such a pretty voice, why don’t you come out here and let us see that pretty face you have to match?” The calmness in the stranger’s voice was a stark contrast to the chaotic sounds continuing around them.

Veronica’s fingers tightened around her wand, and her nails dug into her palm. “Who the fuck are you? What did you do to Charlie?”

“Oooh, that’s a dirty little mouth you’ve got there, isn’t it, baby? If Weasley hasn’t been able to tame you, I’m sure I can have a go. I have no doubt I can put that mouth to better use.”

“Over my dead body!” Charlie shouted, and relief flooded Veronica’s veins. He sounded winded, but he was alive. That was all that mattered.

“Well, that can certainly be arranged.”

Veronica pounded on the door. “Hey! If you hurt a hair on his head, I swear to Merlin, I’ll hunt you down and skin you alive!”

“Sugar.” Hearing Charlie using her pet name in that moment grounded her and calmed her racing heart like nothing else could. His voice was even and controlled despite the obvious pressure he was under. “Get out of here. Now.”

“What!?! No! I can’t leave you here! Unlock this door so I can help you, Charlie!”

“I can’t do that, sugar. It’s you they’re after, so you need to go. I’ll be fine, but I can’t focus as long as I know you’re still in harm’s way.”

“Charlie! Open. This. Door!”

“Yes, Charlie, open this door so we can finally meet the one we came all this way to see.”

“Veronica! GO!”

Veronica couldn’t move even if she wanted to. Her legs refused to take a single step as they rooted her to her spot. Come on! We made a plan specifically for if this were to happen. Stick to the plan and everything will be fine, Veronica. He’ll be fine. Willing herself to move, she ignored the taunts of the man behind the door as she grabbed a small handbag off the top shelf of her closet and placed it on the bed. “Capacious Extremis,” she whispered, watching as the bag glowed a bright yellow before returning to normal. She then cast the Packing Charm and watched as all their belongings in the room flew into the now enchanted bag.

Once it was fully packed, Veronica grabbed it and tied it to Athena’s leg as she ran over to the window, yanking it open and pushing Athena out of it. “Go on, pretty girl. You know where to go.”

Athena hooted again as she tried to push back into the room, but Veronica stopped her. “Stop, Athena. You heard Charlie, we have to go. There’s nothing you can do here, just make sure no one panics before we’re able to send a letter.”

Veronica didn’t wait for her to fly away before she shut the window. She was about to apparate when the voice spoke up again. “I’m not sure what you’re planning to do, Veronica, or where you’re planning to go, but the Dark Lord won’t rest until he has you. We’ll keep coming, and we’ll go through everyone you love to get to you.” His voice was low and controlled, and it sent shivers up her spine. “And if you leave now, I’ll personally make sure your boyfriend’s death is slow and painful.”

Veronica froze as she digested his words. She believed him. If she left, the man behind the door would hear her apparate, and he would turn on Charlie. It would be two against one, and Charlie would be overpowered. She couldn’t let them happen. She couldn’t let him die for her. 

You know what? Fuck it. Without another word, Veronica apparated, the only thing on her mind being the corner of the living room just outside their bedroom door.

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The second she landed in the living room, Veronica used the moment of shock to take in the scene. Luckily, Voldemort had only sent two Death Eaters, and with the one focusing his attention on their bedroom door, Charlie had only had to worry about fighting one. However, with the damage that had been done to their apartment, she would have never guessed. 

Before he had time to react, Veronica punched the Death Eater closest to her with all her strength, the force sending him flying to the ground. Jumping on top of him and pinning his arms down with her knees, she stuck her wand under his chin and looked him in the eyes. “I would think twice the next time you threaten the people that I love.” Leaning forward and brushing her lips over his ear, she added, “Especially my fucking boyfriend.” Leaning back up, Veronica chuckled as their eyes connected again. “Oh, I forgot. You won’t even be able to remember your own name when I’m done with you.”

Veronica smirked in satisfaction as the mystery man’s eyes widened in fear. Wanting him to hear the spell before the effects took hold, she muttered the incantation, “obliviate,” and watched as the terror gave way to a blank stare.

“Who are you?” he asked, staring up at her curiously.

Patting his cheek softly, she chuckled. “Don’t worry about it, Pumpkin. I’m no one important.”

“No One Important, it’s nice to meet you. Is… is my name Pumpkin?”

Stunning him to shut him up, Veronica stood and locked eyes with Charlie, who had finally managed to stun the man he had been fighting. He crossed the room in an instant, cupping her cheeks and pulling her against him, allowing her scent to fill him and ease the tension that had been heavy on his chest since the two Death Eaters burst through the front door.

He held her face firmly in his hands, his eyes examining every inch of her to make sure she was okay. “I told you to go, Veronica. I had it under control.”

Sighing, she nuzzled her cheek further into his hand and closed her eyes, allowing the feeling of his strong hands to anchor her. “Would you have left me if it had been the other way around?”

Charlie touched his forehead to hers. “Never.”

“Exactly.” Pulling away, Veronica gestured to the destroyed apartment and the two unconscious Death Eaters. “What are we going to do now? There’s no way we can stay here. Voldemort will just send more people after us now that he knows where we live. And if they know where we live, they definitely know where we work.”

“Well, it’s a good thing we aren’t staying in Romania, isn’t it?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“I think it’s about time we go back home and be with our family, don’t you? I’ve personally had enough of sitting on the sidelines and ‘recruiting’ while everyone else is actively doing things for the Order. And getting updates in weekly letters is starting to drive me crazy.”

“Thank Merlin, I was really hoping you would say that. I don’t know how much longer I would have survived it.”

“We’re on the same page then, sugar. Can you take care of fixing up the apartment? We don’t want any muggles asking questions. I’ll wipe this one’s memory.” Charlie pointed a thumb over his shoulder at the one he had been battling.

“Of course.” Turning to inspect the damage, Veronica waved her wand over the room and watched as glass vases and dinnerware re-formed before returning to their shelves and cupboards, splintered wood from furniture mended itself and things moved back into place, and the pictures on the mantel floated back over, their frames shiny and whole again. In no time, it was as if the chaos of the last hour hadn’t even happened, except the room felt much more eerie than it did before. 

They wouldn’t have been able to go back to normal even if they tried. That much was instantly clear. All Veronica’s favourite memories were tainted. How long have they been watching us? Have they been in our apartment before this? Have they followed us to work? When we went grocery shopping? When we went on dates? Are we still being watched now? Are there more of them nearby? Are they going to follow us when we try to go to the Burrow? The thoughts rushed into her mind and threatened to consume her, a tight pressure rising up her throat and constricting, making it hard to breathe.

Charlie appeared in front of her in an instant, strong arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her into him. “Breathe, sugar. Take a deep breath for me.”

Charlie’s presence was enough to calm her racing heart, and his words settled in her mind and pushed away all the intruding thoughts until they were nothing but whispers. However, one remained loud and clear. “Charlie, we can’t go back to the Burrow.”

A look of surprise crossed Charlie’s face as he looked down at her. “What do you mean? Why not?

“You heard what that one said to me,” Veronica nudged her head towards the man by her feet, “they won’t stop coming for me, and I can’t risk putting your family in harm’s way. If they found me here, they can find me there.”

“Sugar, I won’t let anything happen to you. No one is touching a hair on your head, or they’ll burn.”

“I can’t take that risk, Charlie. Please. I know you miss your parents, but… can we stay at Headquarters with Sirius for a while? Just until this all blows over?”

“Of course, love.” There was no hesitation in Charlie’s voice. “If that will ease your mind, then that’s what we’ll do.” Tears brimmed her eyes at his words, but Charlie wiped them away before they could fall.

Chapter Text

After packing up the rest of their apartment into a second handbag and leaving a note for their landlord, Veronica stood in the kitchen alone while Charlie did one last walkthrough of the apartment. Pulling one of her rings off her finger, she placed it on the island in front of her and pointed her wand at it, murmuring “Portus!” under her breath with the image of the patch of grass across the street from Headquarters strong in her mind. She had only ever seen a photo of it, and she burned it immediately after looking at it, but it would be enough to get them there. The ring trembled before a bright blue light engulfed it, then just as quickly as it started, it stopped and the ring fell back onto the countertop, looking as normal as it did a minute ago. Veronica shook her head as she smiled at her handiwork - magic never seized to amaze her.

Once Charlie joined her in the kitchen, finally satisfied they hadn’t left anything behind, she reached her hand out to him. Charlie intertwined their fingers instantly, bringing her hand to his lips before pulling her flush against his chest. “You ready, sugar?”

Veronica sighed as she placed her head on his shoulder. “As ready as I’ll ever be to travel by Portkey. Honestly, as wizardkind, we couldn’t figure out how to make this any less awful?”

He chuckled as he placed a soft kiss on her hair. “If anyone can do it, it’s you, love. Maybe we’re all just waiting for you to figure it out.”

Lifting her head, Veronica smiled at him before taking one last look around their apartment and then grabbing hold of the ring. The moment her fingers touched it, she felt a hook behind her navel pulling her forward, and the ground vanished beneath their feet. Charlie’s arms around her tightened from the pressure as they sped through a swirl of colours and a rush of wind, the ring in her hand pulling them onward until their feet hit hard ground again.

As Veronica regained her senses, she slipped the ring back on her finger before taking in her surroundings. It was late, so the street was dark and quiet, and there was not a single light on in any of the houses across from them. As they moved onto the road, they looked up at eleven and thirteen Grimmauld Place. They knew Headquarters was between them, but they needed the Secret Keeper to share the secret with them, and since they had never been there before, they hadn’t had a reason to be given access.

Turning to Charlie, she sighed. “There’s no way we’re getting in there without Albus telling us the secret.” Staring at the ring on her finger, she groaned at the thought of using another Portkey. “Maybe we should go to the Three Broomsticks for the night. We can try to find a way to see him in the morning without the toad finding out.”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary.”

Veronica and Charlie jumped at the unexpected voice, and both their wands went flying in the direction it came from as Charlie pushed her behind him, using his body to shield her from whatever threat they were about to face.

From her position, Veronica could no longer see the street, and she had no idea who it was that had approached them. The fear made her insides wrap around her throat and threaten to strangle her from the inside out. If they got out of this alive… she was going to kill Charlie. She was of more use to them both if she was standing by his side and fighting than hidden behind him. However, as Charlie lowered his wand and physically relaxed, the tension in her bones intensified. What is he doing!?!

“Headmaster,” Charlie let out a breath of relief as he pulled Veronica out from behind him to stand at his side.

The sight of Albus Dumbledore standing before them with a grin on his face melted away the previous fear until calm was all that was left in her veins. “Albus! What… What are you doing here? How did you know–”

“I didn’t think you would still be questioning me after all these years, Veronica. You should know better than that by now.”

Veronica knew he was right. From the moment she met him, Dumbledore gave off the air that he was all-knowing. He had known she was watching him behind a wall the first time they met all those years ago, for Merlin’s sake. His power was undeniable, and every time she felt it, she was reminded of how lucky they were that he was on their side. If he had chosen to use his power to support Voldemort, or even to take it all for himself, no one would have been able to stop him.

When Veronica didn’t say anything, her mind too occupied with her unnerving thoughts, Charlie spoke for them. “Well, regardless of how you knew, we’re glad you’re here, Headmaster. We were not looking forward to having to use another Portkey.”

“No, I imagine not.” Dumbledore gazed at Veronica with a knowing look in his eyes, and she had an uneasy feeling that he knew exactly what had crossed her mind moments ago. “I am very eager to hear all about the events that took place tonight, but let’s get inside first. Here, read this.”

Taking the piece of parchment from his outstretched hand, Charlie gave it a once over before passing it to her. Veronica allowed her eyes to wander over the words written in Dumbledore’s neat handwriting - The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London . No sooner had she reached the end than a battered, old door materialized between eleven and thirteen, followed right behind it by grimy walls and windows. An extra house appeared out of nowhere, and the inhabitants of the surrounding houses were none the wiser.

Without another word, Dumbledore made his way up the worn stone steps ahead of them and tapped the door once with his wand, the sound of many loud, metallic clicks and the clatter of a chain filling the surrounding silence. As the door creaked open, Dumbledore turned back to them. “Not a sound until we reach the basement kitchen. We don’t want to wake any of the inhabitants.”

Chapter Text

As they descended the stairs and walked through the door, Veronica examined the space. It was just as dark and gloomy as the rest of the house, but there was a soft glow from a fire in the hearth which illuminated the room and the shaggy man slumped over the dining table with a drink in his hand. It was clearly Sirius, and his snores echoed in the silence.

Veronica and Charlie exchanged a weary look, but they didn’t have a chance to react before they heard a snide voice behind them. “Another red-headed blood-traitor. This must be the one that was in Romania, which makes this the mudblood gir–”

“What the fuck did you call her?” Charlie spun around in a flash but didn’t find anyone at first until he glanced down, his eyes landing on the house elf at their feet whose bloodshot eyes glared coldly into his. Charlie grabbed the elf by the throat and began to pull him off his feet when Veronica placed a firm hand on his chest, halting his movements.

“Don’t hurt him, Charlie. He doesn’t know any better.”

Charlie tore his eyes from the elf to glance at her, the fury in them unwavering. “Do you know what he just called you? It’s disgusting, and I won’t stand for it.”

“And neither will I!” Sirius’ voice rang out from behind them, and the suddenness of it made Veronica jump slightly. “Kreacher, get upstairs!”

Charlie dropped him back to his feet, and Kreacher slinked off, but not before calling her a mudblood again under his breath. Charlie growled and took a step towards where he disappeared, but Veronica stopped him with a bit of pressure from her hand still on his chest.

“Darling, he’s clearly not in his right mind. He’s been alone in this house for years while Sirius was in Azkaban, that would drive anyone crazy. Cut him some slack.”

Before Charlie could respond, Sirius interjected from where he stood closer behind them now. “He doesn’t deserve your kindness, Veronica. He certainly won’t show you any.”

Turning to him, Veronica took in his shaggy appearance and the smell of whiskey on his breath. She crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t show kindness just so I can get it in return. I do it because it’s the right thing to do, especially when you don’t get it in return. You should try it sometime, he might just surprise you.”

Sirius glared at her for a moment but didn’t respond, choosing to turn his attention to Charlie instead. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I take it you’re the infamous Charlie Weasley I’ve heard so much about?”

At that, Veronica stepped around the man, giving the two a chance to get acquainted, and took a seat across the table from Dumbledore, who had been watching the scene with an amused look.

“So tell me what happened?” Dumbledore gave her his full attention as he leaned forward in his seat and rested his arms on the tabletop.

Veronica sighed as she massaged her temples. It had been a long night, and she was ready to get some sleep. “A couple Death Eaters broke into our apartment.” She quickly recounted the story of their crazy evening. “And see, that’s why we can’t possibly stay at the Burrow. I can’t risk them finding me there and hurting Molly and Arthur to get to me.”

Dumbledore nodded. “I agree. It is safer for everyone for you to stay here, at least until we figure out how they tracked you down. And I know you won’t like this, but I don’t want you to leave the house until we do.”

“What? No! We came back here to help, not to be stuck inside. I’ll be just as useless as I was, I might as well have stayed in Romania–”

“Veronica, I know you thought you were useless in Romania, but you weren’t. You and Charlie were doing important work there. And you will do important work here as well. You just need to give me time to make sure you won’t be putting yourself and others at more risk than needed while doing it.”

Veronica sighed in defeat. “Fine.”

“Good. I will make sure Molly and Arthur know you’re here. I’m sure they will want to come see you both.”

“Thank you, that would be perfect. I know Charlie is dying to see them too.” Veronica’s hand flew to her mouth as a yawn escaped her despite how hard she was trying not to let it out. “I’m sorry, it’s just–”

“No, no, it’s late, and you’ve had a long night. I will get going and let you both get some rest.”

She, Charlie and Sirius walked Dumbledore out before making their way upstairs, the wall alongside them lined with shrunken house-elf heads mounted on plaques making Veronica shudder as they passed. Once Sirius showed them to their room, they thanked him and watched as he turned and left, but not before warning them to lock the door so that Kreacher wouldn’t wander in at night.

As they settled into the room, Veronica made a note of the two single beds. Rolling her eyes, she scoffed, “he doesn’t seriously think we’re going to be sleeping in separate beds, does he?”

Charlie chuckled as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling his face into her neck. “I’m sure he does. I’d imagine he’d prefer not to think about us fucking a couple floors below him.” Moving her hair out of the way, Charlie peppered her neck, back and shoulders with featherlight kisses, barely ghosting his lips over her skin. “As if a silly little thing like separate beds could keep me from you.”

Veronica melted into his touch, the feeling of his hands roaming over the front of her body setting sparks to life in her veins. Pushing herself into him, she felt his hard cock pushing back as it strained to be free and to sink into her. Sighing softly, she whispered, “Charlie… I wasn’t saying… we can’t. He’s right upstairs.” Despite her words, her body ached for him, and she needed more.

“Come now, princess, we’re going to be staying here for the foreseeable future.” Charlie’s hands slipped under the hem of her shirt and caressed the soft skin of her stomach, his fingers lingering on each raised scar for a moment before moving on to the next. “And if you think I’ll be able to go that long without having you, you must not know me very well at all.” Sliding his hands up, he slipped them beneath her bra and pinched her nipples between his fingers, making them instantly hard from his assault.

“If he hears–”

“Then I’ll have to kill him,” Charlie growled as he sucked hard on the skin of her neck. “No one else is allowed to hear those pretty moans of yours except me, so if he hears you, princess… he’s dead.”

Chapter Text

🔥SMUT BEYOND THIS POINT🔥

Charlie made quick work of removing her clothes, and in an instant, she was naked before him. From his position behind her, he had the perfect view, and he took his time admiring her. The beautiful curls grazing her shoulders, the soft skin of her back, the round, firm cheeks of her butt. She was perfect in every way. And she was his.

Walking around to the front of her body, their eyes connected, and he held her gaze as he sank to his knees in front of her. Now, he had the perfect view of his favourite treat glistening and ready for him.

“Lean against the door behind you, princess, and put those pretty legs of yours up on my shoulders.”

“What?” Veronica didn’t get a chance to protest. She let out a squeal as he lifted her off her feet, and she pressed her back into the firm wooden door to support her weight.

Once Charlie’s tongue was on her, lapping up her juices and circling her clit, the tension and stress from the evening’s events melted away. In that moment, it was just the two of them. No one and nothing else existed.

Veronica’s fingers pulled at the scrunchie confining Charlie’s hair, and she watched as it cascaded down and framed his face, somehow managing to further emphasize just how attractive he truly was. Brushing her fingers through the soft waves, she collected the strands back up in her hands and held them at the back of his head, using them to push his face further into her. The groans that escaped him sent vibrations through her clit, and her head fell back against the door when he slowly pushed a finger into her warmth.

“Fuck, Charlie. Please,” she whispered, her breathing heavy and her chest rising and falling rapidly.

Charlie gazed up at her with a lazy grin. “What do you want, princess? Tell me.”

“More. I need more.”

Charlie didn’t hesitate as he locked his mouth back onto her and added a second finger, the stretch making her feel beautifully full. When he curled them, hitting all the right spots, she knew she wouldn’t last much longer.

“Charlie… I… I…”

“Yeah? You’re going to cum for me, baby?”

“Merlin, yes.” Veronica moved her hips, grinding herself on him as fast as she could, chasing the high she was desperate for.

“Do it, princess. Cum all over my face, sugar.”

And she did. Her thighs clenched around his head as she writhed, her eyes shut and head back as stars danced behind her lids. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, Charlie.”

Charlie lapped at her like a dog from a water bowl “Good girl. You did so good.” Once she had come down from her high enough to stand, he placed her back onto her feet and stood, bringing his fingers slick with her juices up to her mouth. “Suck,” he demanded as he gazed into her eyes.

Veronica did as she was told and sucked herself off his fingers, moaning at the taste of her arousal on his skin. His eyes darkened, and they didn’t leave hers until she had gotten every drop.

“Fuck, you’re such a good girl, princess.” Charlie pulled her into him and kissed her deeply, loving that he could taste her on her tongue as much as he knew she could on his. “Now, can you magic those two beds together for us, sugar?”

Veronica turned and glanced over at the single beds, and without saying a word or even raising a finger, they slowly slid across the floor towards each other before fusing together completely. If he hadn’t just seen it happen, he would have thought they had been that way all along.

“You’re absolutely brilliant, you know that?” Charlie shook his head as he stared at the bed in awe. 

Placing his hands on her hips, he gently pushed her forward until she was on her hands and knees on the mattress. Quickly ridding himself of his clothes, he got on his knees behind her and brushed his hands over the smooth skin of her butt. It was such a stark contrast from the marred skin of her back - there was not a single scar on this part of her body, and it made him sick to think of the reason her father had wanted to leave it unblemished.

Charlie knew now was not the time to dwell on these thoughts, so he forced them out of his mind for the time being and gave her cheeks a squeeze before spreading her legs, giving himself the perfect access to her soaked pussy. He rubbed his cock through her wetness a couple times, and then slowly pushed into her until she had taken every inch of him.

“Fuuuuuuck, Charlie. I feel so full when you take me from behind like this,” Veronica murmured, trying to be as quiet as she could as Charlie’s words from earlier rang in her ears. If he hears you, princess, he’s dead. She believed him.

“Yeah? You like it this way, darling?”

“Mhm, yes I love it, Charlie. Mmmm, fuck, please.”

“Please what, princess?”

“Please… fuck me, Charlie.”

Leaning over her, Charlie brushed her hair off her shoulders and placed a kiss in its place before sinking his teeth into her skin - not enough to hurt or draw blood, but enough to make her moan and stuff her face into the pillows in front of her. With that, Charlie began to move, slowly pulling out and shoving back into her a few times as he relished the way she squealed with each punishing thrust. And each time she pushed back into him, he felt his cock harden even further inside her.

“Fuck, princess, you feel so good squeezing around my cock like that.”

Charlie picked up the pace to a brutal rhythm as he felt both their orgasms approaching. His thrusts grew sloppy and his hands in her hair tightened and pulled until her head tipped back, her mouth in a perfect O. Brushing his lips over her ear, he whispered, “I love you, Veronica. With every fiber of my being. I love you.”

They both crashed over the edge together, their moans blending and filling the room until they were consumed by each other. After cleaning them both up, Charlie pulled his sleepy girl under the covers with him and tucked her into his side, knowing he would do absolutely anything to keep her safe.

“I love you, Charlie.”

“I love you, sugar. More than you’ll ever know.”

Chapter Text

The next morning, Veronica awoke to the smell of bacon and eggs wafting up from the kitchen, and she slowly crawled out from under Charlie’s arms. He looked so peaceful, she couldn’t bear to wake him, so she quickly and quietly wrapped herself in her dressing gown and exited the room, closing the door behind her.

As she stepped into the kitchen, she had expected to see Sirius cooking breakfast, but instead, she found Kreacher standing on a kitchen chair to reach the stove. Cups and plates floated around the room as they landed neatly on the table, along with different juices, breads, and jams.

“Good morning, Kreacher!”

The elf made no move to acknowledge her, and she almost thought he hadn’t heard her until the muttering began. “Filthy little Mudblood thinking she can wish Kreacher good morning. Disgraceful. How can it be a good morning when Mistress’s noble house is overrun with blood traitors and half-breeds and dirty little freaks? If Mistress saw what Kreacher was forced to endure, she would never let him on the wall. Now the filthy Mudblood is staying–”

“Kreacher!”

Veronica jumped at the sudden interruption, and spun to find Sirius standing just behind her. She hadn’t heard him come in.

“You will show respect to my guests as long as they are staying in this house. And every time you dare call her a mudblood, you will burn your hands on the stove until you learn to show her some respect.”

Veronica gasped. “Sirius! No!”

The pair acted as if she hadn’t even said anything. “As Master wishes,” Kreacher croaked, lips curled back in fury as the words scraped out against his will. It was clear he had not wanted to say it; he had had no other choice but to submit.

The elf turned his attention back to the eggs and bacon he was cooking, but the mumbling didn’t stop, and every few minutes, they could hear and smell his flesh burning as he held his hands to the flames. And while Sirius went about his morning as if his house elf wasn’t torturing himself a few feet away from them, Veronica couldn’t stand it. She felt each and every burn on her body come to life with pain as if they were inflicted on her only yesterday, and the smell of her own flesh burning filled her nostrils. Each little yelp of pain that Kreacher tried to hide brought back memories she had tried so hard to push down.

Veronica fell to her knees and covered her ears, trying to drown out the overwhelming sounds. “Sirius, please! I’m begging you! Tell him to stop!” Just then, Veronica felt small, warm, wrinkly hands cupping hers and pulling them away from her ears. Opening her eyes, she stared into wide blue ones. 

Kreacher stared at her in disbelief. “What– what was that? Why did the girl feel like that? Kreacher felt it– Kreacher felt it, and it was not for him. No, no, it cannot be from Kreacher burning himself…”

As Veronica sat back on her heels, she took a couple deep breaths to calm her racing heart. “I’m sorry, Kreacher. I’m usually better at controlling my emotions, but I…” Glancing at Sirius, who was standing stock still by the kitchen table, she slowly got to her feet and pulled her dressing gown tighter around her. “I have an aura. All kinds of magical creatures are able to feel my emotions and feel the need to protect me. They practically lose all free-will, and I never wanted to use it on you, so I’m sorry.”

“But,” Kreacher stared at her in disbelief, “why did you feel… like that?”

“Kreacher, that’s enough. Stop interrogating her.”

Veronica instantly turned and glared at Sirius. “I don’t need you to talk for me. If I’m uncomfortable with his questions, I’ll tell him.” Turning back to meet Kreacher’s wide eyes, her gaze softened. “I dealt with some… traumatic things as a kid. You burning your hands brought me back to that tough time in my life, that’s all.”

To her surprise, Kreacher took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Kreacher… Kreacher should not have spoken so. Miss Veronica did not command Kreacher, though she could have. She let Kreacher say cruel, wicked things and did not punish him. Kreacher is… sorry.”

***

Charlie found her curled up on the old window seat at the end of the second-floor hallway, knees tucked to her chest and a forgotten cup of tea cooling in her hands. The morning light streamed weakly through the dusty glass, catching in her hair and casting soft shadows across the wall behind her. He didn’t say anything at first. Just padded over in his socks and lowered himself onto the cushion beside her, their legs gently touching.

“I heard what happened,” he said quietly. “Sirius told me.” 

Veronica nodded, eyes still fixed on her tea. 

Charlie watched her for a moment. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” she murmured.

“Sugar,” he said gently, brushing his knee against hers, “I know what ‘I’m fine’ means when you say it like that.”

She let out a breath, slow and tight. “It was just… everything at once. The smell, the sounds, the way he didn’t flinch while it was happening. I could feel it, like it was happening to me again. I thought I was past that. I’ve worked so hard to be past that.”

Charlie shifted closer, wrapping an arm around her and guiding her against his chest until her head rested against him. “It doesn’t mean you’ve failed, Ronnie. Memories like that don’t follow rules. They show up out of nowhere and knock the wind out of you – and that’s not your fault.”

Veronica closed her eyes and sank into him, letting his warmth wrap around her. “I didn’t even mean to use my aura on him. I didn’t even notice it happening until he touched me. It’s like my body just… reacted.”

Charlie kissed the top of her head. “You were scared. Your aura did what it was always meant to do – protect you. And even then, you still found a way to be kind to him.”

They sat there for a while in silence, the hallway quiet except for the distant murmur of voices below and the ticking of the crooked clock nearby.

“You’re not broken, sugar,” he whispered. “You’re trying to heal. And I’m really proud of you.”

She smiled faintly into his shirt. “You always know exactly what to say.”

“Only because I know exactly who I’m saying it to.”

Chapter Text

Later that morning, Veronica and Charlie sat at the kitchen table with Molly and Arthur. The kitchen had been tidied up after breakfast, and Kreacher had been sent upstairs to do some cleaning. While he had turned a new leaf with Veronica, nothing had changed with anyone else, so Sirius hadn’t been able to put up with him for long, and he sent him off before going off himself to feed Buckbeak, giving the rest of them some time alone.

“So tell me why on Earth you two are staying here and not with us at the Burrow. Dumbledore didn’t provide an explanation when he told us you were back from Romania.”

As Charlie took her hand beneath the table and gave it a gentle squeeze, he took the lead and began telling the story. Veronica had never been more grateful as she leaned into his side and kissed his shoulder; she didn’t think she could relive it again.

“... so we have to stay here. At least until things calm down, and they give up trying to find her.”

Arthur looked affronted. He rarely ever got upset, so the anger and hurt on his face threw them off guard. This type of reaction was expected from Molly, yes, but not from him. “What do you mean? We can protect her just as well at our house. You think I can’t take care of my own?”

“We know you can, dad. That’s not it,” Charlie shook his head adamantly. “These Death Eaters… they don’t care about any of us. They will pick us all off one by one to get to her, and we can’t risk you two getting hurt. Or Bill. Or any of the kids. It’s just too risky, you have to understand. This is the safest place for us to be right now, for everyone else’s sake as well as ours.”

The couple held their breath for what felt like an eternity, but finally, his parents both nodded. “We understand,” Molly sighed. “But that doesn’t mean we’re happy about it.”

***

As Charlie and Arthur sat at the kitchen table engrossed in a conversation about Merlin-knew-what, Veronica leaned over to Molly. “Did Athena give you a hard time when you told her she couldn’t come here with you?”

“Oh, just a little bit. But honestly, dear, that owl of yours is such an angel. Once I told her it was for your safety, she stopped fussing.”

Veronica smiled fondly. “That’s good. And you’re sure you’re okay with keeping her with you for the time being?”

“Of course. She’ll only be cooped up if she stays here. At our place, at least she’ll be able to get some fresh air.”

“Thank you, Molly. I feel better knowing you’ll be taking care of her.” Veronica sighed before pulling out a letter from the back pocket of her jeans. “Can you also give her this to deliver? It’s for Basil, our friend in Romania. They need to know we won’t be coming back to work, and we want him to know why we left.”

Molly took the letter and tucked it into the waistband of her skirt. “Of course, dear.” Reaching across the table, she took Veronica’s hands in hers, as she whispered, “So… you two look happy… I mean, all things considered. Everything is well between you?”

Veronica smiled, a warm blush creeping over her cheeks. Even without her next words, Molly would have seen all the answers she needed reflected in her eyes. “We’re more than happy, Molly. Charlie is… everything I could have ever dreamed of and more. I love him with all my heart.”

Tears brimmed Molly’s eyes, and she sniffled softly. “I’m so glad, dear. And if you had any doubts, I can tell you he is most certainly just as smitten with you. I’ve never seen my son so happy.”

As Molly excused herself from the table to go to the loo, Charlie leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her temple. “She’s right, you know?” He whispered with a grin. “I’m completely smitten.”

***

As Veronica handed Arthur his third cup of tea that afternoon, she couldn’t ignore the yawn that escaped him. “Are you alright? You seem so tired today.”

Arthur nodded through another yawn. “I’ve been taking on more shifts of guarding the prophecy after Sturgis’ arrest. It’s been a bit draining.”

“I can take some of them, dad,” Charlie piped in as he slung an arm over Veronica’s shoulder when she sat back down in her seat next to him. 

Veronica tried not to let the panic she was feeling show on her face. The thought of Charlie leaving her sight, especially now that Voldemort knew they were together, and her not being there to protect him… it made bile threaten to rise in her throat. However, she tried her best to keep a neutral expression. She couldn’t keep him locked up in that house with her, it would drive him crazy, and they all had to take risks to be able to win this war.

“And for you too, mum. I’m not of much use here, so I might as well do something to help the Order.”

Molly was shaking her head before Charlie had even finished talking. “Absolutely not,” she said firmly. “I already don’t like that Bill is taking on shifts, I will not have you taking some as well. It’s too dangerous.”

“Molly dear,” Arthur argued before Charlie could. “You can’t stop him from doing dangerous things for the Order. He’s an adult. Besides,” Arthur looked between Veronica and Charlie, “it seems like he can hold his own against the Death Eaters, from what we’ve been told.”

“Yes, what he did was very brave, Arthur, but that was one. The other was busy taunting Veronica, and th–”

“Mum, come on, I have to do my part to help out.”

Molly looked to Veronica for support, but all the young girl could do was smile sadly. They both knew there was nothing they could do to stop him, so there was no point in arguing.

“Fine!”

***

“Well, I’m just glad you two are back,” Bill said, his voice warm but tired. He had come to see them later that same day after his parents had gone home, and they were sitting on Charlie and Veronica’s bed, catching each other up on everything that had happened over the last few months. “It’s been… rough without you, to say the very least.” At Veronica’s questioning look, he ran a hand through his hair and added, “Mum and I haven’t exactly been seeing eye-to-eye lately.”

“Oh man, what did you do?” Charlie asked with a knowing grin, giving his brother a shove.

“I didn’t do anything!” Bill huffed indignantly. “She just… doesn’t approve of my choice in women.”

Charlie snorted. “What, did you bring home a vampire or something?”

“Worse,” Bill said dryly. “A part-Veela.”

Veronica’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait, no… Fleur Delacour?”

Bill grimaced. “Yes. Look, I’ve started seeing her not too long ago. It’s nothing serious right now, but I really, really like her, so I don’t want to hear it from either of you unless it’s in support of my decision, okay?”

Charlie let out a low whistle and nudged Veronica. “Blimey. Fleur. Look at our Bill aiming high.”

“She’s not just gorgeous, she’s also smart and fierce and–” Bill cut himself off, then sighed. “Anyway. Mum’s convinced she’s only interested in me for the glamour of it all.”

“Well,” Charlie said with exaggerated thoughtfulness, “you are a curse-breaker. That’s dead sexy.”

“Shut up,” Bill muttered, but he was smiling now.

“You have to admit,” Charlie went on, grinning wickedly, “it’s kind of hilarious. Mum’s been fine with me wrangling dragons for a living, but you show up with Fleur Delacour and suddenly you’re the reckless one.”

Veronica chuckled softly, and Bill pointed at her. “See, that’s the problem. You got lucky. You brought home Veronica, who Mum’s loved since day one. I’m just saying… it’s a bit of a tough act to follow.”

Charlie wrapped an arm around Veronica’s shoulders, clearly pleased with himself. “Well, yeah. I’ve got good taste.”

Veronica rolled her eyes fondly. “Your mum loves you, Bill. She’ll come around.”

“I hope so,” Bill said with a sigh. “Fleur’s… different, yeah, but she’s honest and brilliant and… she makes me happy. That should count for something, right?”

Charlie sobered a little, his teasing tone softening. “Yeah. It does. And if you like her, really like her, then that’s all we need to know.”

Bill smiled gratefully. “Did I mention I was glad you two are back?”

Chapter Text

Veronica glanced at the clock on her bedside table. Ten to midnight. Groaning, she pulled herself out of bed and shrugged on her robe, the chill October air seeping in through the walls and chilling her to the bone. She had given up trying to sleep long ago - Charlie had been taking on guard duty shifts for a few weeks, and she could never sleep when he was gone. Her mind loved to remind her of every bad thing that could possibly happen to him, and it made it impossible to fall asleep until she knew he was back safe and sound.

As Veronica descended the stairs and entered the basement kitchen, she was not surprised to find Sirius placing two cups of tea on the table. He had also had a hard time sleeping those days, and the pair had often spent their long, sleepless nights making small talk and enjoying each other’s company until Charlie got back. While they weren’t the best of friends, they were amicable, and it was enough for them.

As they took up their usual seats across from each other, Veronica couldn’t help but notice Sirius’ eyes continuously darting to the clock above the fireplace, and she remembered that he had plans that evening. “You have your meeting with Harry, Ron and Hermione tonight?”

“Mhm, I should be popping in soon. The last visit was around this time, and I told them in my letter it would be the same this time.”

Veronica nodded, and the pair made conversation for the following hour until around 1AM, when Sirius stood, made his way over to the fireplace, and grabbed a handful of Floo Powder from the bowl on the mantel before dropping to his knees. Throwing it into the fire, they watched as the flames grew big and tall and turned a beautiful shade of Emerald Green.

“The fireplace in Gryffindor tower common room at Hogwarts!” Sirius yelled before sticking his head into the flames.

Veronica watched the scene with fascination. She had never seen anyone use the Floo Network this way before, and it was an odd experience seeing Sirius’ headless body there in front of her, leaning into the fire and looking like he was being engulfed by the flames, while knowing his head was somewhere else entirely. And while she couldn’t hear the conversation they were having, she could see him talking animatedly with his hands, and she chuckled knowing the trio couldn’t see them.

Suddenly, Sirius jerked away and stumbled back from the fireplace, the flames returning to normal. His face looked ashen, and his breathing was erratic as he didn’t stop taking steps back until there was a good distance between himself and the fireplace. Glancing over at Veronica, he answered her unspoken question. “Dolores Umbridge… that toad. She almost got me.”

“What?” Veronica jumped up from her seat and ran over to the fireplace, putting out the fire and running her hands along the inside of it. “How? What do you mean?”

“She reached in through the Network and tried to grab at me. I think she wanted to pull me through to her.”

“Merlin! I’m disconnecting us from the Network. I don’t know if she was able to see where you were coming from or not, but I don’t want to take any chances. I’d like to assume she would have come through by now if she knew how to get to you, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.” 

Veronica quickly waved her hands in front of her and cast the simple spell she had read about that allowed someone to disconnect their fireplace from the Floo Network. A big metal grate appeared out of thin air and barred the fireplace before slowly disappearing. While the physical grate was no longer visible, Veronica could feel the spell had taken effect.

“What? No! What if I need to speak to Harry again?”

Veronica stared at him in disbelief. “Are you kidding, Sirius? You almost just got caught. You could have ruined everything the Order has been trying to do. I’m sorry, but you can’t do this again. It’s too reckless.”

“You sound like Molly,” Sirius fired at her, rage burning in his eyes.

“That’s because Molly is right! You’re going to get us all thrown into Azkaban. If Voldemort doesn’t find us and kill us first, that is.”

“You don’t understand what it’s been like to be cooped up here alone for so long. I just wanted to talk to my godson!”

Veronica scoffed as she let out a dry chuckle, her arms crossed over her chest. “You’re not ‘cooped up here alone’ anymore! You have me and Charlie, so you can’t keep using that as an excuse for everything you do that you aren’t supposed to. And in case you haven’t noticed, I’m cooped up here too. Voldemort has Death Eaters looking everywhere for me, and Dumbledore doesn’t want me going out either.”

Sirius opened his mouth to retaliate, but Veronica didn’t let him interrupt her.

“So I’m stuck here with you while my boyfriend is out there guarding some stupid prophecy and putting his life in danger. And I have to just sit here and pray that he comes back alive. So I’m sorry that you’re being locked up again here after being locked up in Azkaban, Sirius, I truly am. I know that can’t be easy, but you can’t use that as an excuse for your reckless and dangerous behaviour.” Veronica knew she was being harsh, but the rage boiling beneath the surface forced her to vomit out the words. “I’m honestly getting really sick of you playing the victim. We’re all sacrificing here. There’s no time to be selfish or feel sorry for yourself. This is a bloody war!”

Without another word, Veronica stormed off upstairs, leaving a speechless Sirius in her wake.

Chapter Text

As Veronica lay awake in bed and stared at the ceiling, she counted each second that ticked by. It had been a week since her argument with Sirius, and since then, they had barely been in the same room together for more than two minutes at a time, so she had been resigned to spending her sleepless nights waiting in her room for Charlie to get back. That’s why, when she heard a knock at her bedroom door, it startled her out of bed. She hadn’t been expecting it – there was no way it was Charlie, so it could only be one person.

Veronica debated ignoring him for a long time before finally sighing and opening the door. However, Sirius’ disheveled appearance caught her off guard. He looked so different than he did a week ago – his hair and beard were longer and unkempt, and the smell of alcohol that had clung to him the first night they arrived at Headquarters was back. Despite this, she refused to throw him a bone. She simply stared at him with an eyebrow raised and her arms crossed and waited for him to speak.

“Look… I’m sorry, Veronica. Everything you said was right. What I did was careless and reckless, and I’m sorry, okay? You and I only have each other right now, the last thing I want is for us to be fighting and avoiding each other. This house is lonely when you don’t have someone to talk to.”

The genuine sincerity in his voice made Veronica’s gaze soften as she gave him a small smile. “I agree. I hate it.”

Relief flooded Sirius’ eyes as his shoulders relaxed, and he let out the breath he had clearly been holding since he arrived outside her door. “Thank Merlin. Do you want to come have some tea while we wait for Charlie to get back?”

“Absolutely.”

As they sat down at the table with their cups of tea in hand, an awkward silence blanketed them for a moment before Sirius spoke. “You know, I realized I don’t know much about you. Of course, Molly and Arthur talked a lot about you while you were in Romania, and everyone always talks very highly of you, so I know you’re a powerful witch and that you’re tough as nails. But other than that, I don’t know much. So tell me, your parents were squibs, right?”

Veronica’s stomach dropped. It should have been an easy question to answer, but for her, questions about her parents were never easy. “Yeah, they were. How did you–”

“I was in the Order with your grandparents the first time around. I knew them well.” Sirius scratched the back of his neck as he avoided her gaze. “I’m sorry about what happened to them, Veronica. I wish–”

“It’s okay. Honestly. There was nothing anyone could do about it. They were ambushed.”

“I know,” Sirius sighed. “I guess I just feel an extra bit of guilt whenever it comes to any of my cousin’s victims.”

Veronica’s eyes widened as her eyebrows furrowed. “Your… Bellatrix Lestrange is… your cousin?”

Sirius’ mouth opened slightly as he realized his mistake. “Oh, I… You didn’t know. I’m sorry, I thought you knew. My whole family were the worst sorts of Slytherins, and they all jumped at the opportunity to be Death Eaters. But Bella… she was the worst of them all. Completely unhinged. She’s in Azkaban now, but many were left either killed or grieving in the wake of her madness.”

Veronica’s mind reeled with the new information, but she knew Sirius wasn’t like her. He had fought against Voldemort then, and he was fighting against him now. And just as she wouldn’t want to be judged by the actions of her parents, she refused to judge him based on his.

While she had been stuck in her head, Sirius had begun talking of his younger years at Hogwarts, and she was more than happy for the change of subject. For the rest of the night, the pair chatted about their childhoods, and Veronica wasn’t sure if it was because Sirius had also had a difficult one or if he just gave off the air of understanding and non-judgment, but she found herself divulging the truth about the abuse she had endured. She hadn’t expected to do it, but the words flew out of her mouth before she could stop them.

To Sirius’ credit, he listened and gave her the opportunity to talk without bombarding her with too many questions and without any sympathy in his eyes, which she appreciated. It felt good to be able to talk about what happened to her without Charlie’s simmering rage threatening to boil over.

“...but only Charlie and Bill know about any of this, and even Bill doesn’t know everything… So can I trust you to keep this to yourself?”

Sirius reached across the table and grabbed her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Of course you can.”

“What are you two doing up?”

Veronica jumped at the sudden interruption, and spun to find Charlie and Arthur standing in the doorway – one just coming back from his shift at the ministry while the other had stopped by on his way there. Glancing at the small basement window, she was surprised to see trickles of light streaming in as the sun slowly began to peak out over the horizon. She hadn’t even felt the time go by.

While it was clear that Arthur was surprised to see them awake, Charlie wasn’t. He had come to expect it, but what he hadn’t expected was to see the two of them together. When he had left the evening before, they weren’t speaking to each other, but now, Sirius was comforting her about something, and he needed to know what it was. Without sparing the man a second glance, Charlie made his way over to her and pulled her up out of the chair to stand in front of him. Cupping her cheeks, he scanned her face for any sign of what had happened that evening, and his eyes were asking the question he needed to know - are you okay?

Veronica smiled softly and nodded, but the yawn that escaped her did not go unnoticed.

“Dad, have a good day at work, okay? I’ll see you later. I’m taking my girl up to bed.”

Without another word, he lifted her into his arms and carried her up to their room. Laying her down on the bed and getting in with her, his eyes searched hers one last time to make sure she was really okay. When she opened her mouth to explain, he cut her off. “Trust me, sugar, I’m dying to know what that was all about, but you’re exhausted. I’m here now, so you can sleep, and we’ll talk about it later.”

Veronica didn’t argue; she had no energy to. So instead, she entangled her limbs with his and shoved her face into his neck, trying to get as close to him as possible, breathing him in. Now that he was home safe and back in her arms, it took only minutes for her breathing to even out, and for her to drift off into a dreamless sleep.

Chapter Text

"This place could use a miracle," Sirius muttered, surveying the gloomy space with his hands on his hips. "Or at the very least a bit of tinsel."

The basement kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place was anything but festive. Shadows clung to the stone walls, and the flickering candlelight only made the cavernous room feel more eerie. But Veronica and Sirius had been determined to change that.

Veronica smirked as she unraveled a garland of holly and ivy. "We might need a second one to get Kreacher to accept any of this."

Sirius let out a bark-like laugh. "Too right. But it’s my house, and if I say we’re celebrating Christmas, then by Merlin, we’re doing it properly." With a flick of his wand, he sent a string of enchanted fairy lights twisting around the rafters. They glowed warmly, a stark contrast to the usually oppressive atmosphere of the house. 

Veronica set to work hanging holly along the mantel, fingers brushing against the cool stone as she secured it. "Did you used to decorate for Christmas?" she asked, glancing at Sirius.

His expression flickered, something dark passing through his stormy eyes before he smoothed it away. "Not like this," he admitted. "My mother preferred everything to be ‘tasteful,’ which, in Black family terms, meant dreary and joyless. Silver and emerald everywhere, like a bloody Slytherin common room."

Veronica chuckled. "Well, I think blue and bronze are much better choices."

"Hey, don’t forget about red and gold! You’re outnumbered here, Miss Ravenclaw." Sirius grinned as he summoned a small Christmas tree from the corner. He gave his wand an exaggerated wave, and two dozen multi-coloured ornaments went zooming onto its branches. A few clanked together before settling, and one, a tiny little lion, let out a cheerful roar. 

Veronica chuckled again as she shook her head before waving her own wand, making another appear just beside the first - a bronze eagle spreading its wings and giving a soft hoot.

Veronica stepped closer, admiring the tree. "Perfect."

Sirius leaned against the table, arms crossed. "What about you? Did you ever get a proper Christmas growing up?"

She hesitated, fingers tightening around a bauble. "Not really. My father... wasn’t much for holidays. But my grandparents made up for it when they were around. My grandmother would bake all day, and my grandfather always insisted on putting up the decorations himself. I realize now though that he probably just used magic when my parents and I weren’t in the room."

Sirius tilted his head, watching her carefully. "I’m glad you had them while you did. They were good to you."

She nodded. “Beyond good to me."

A small shuffle caught their attention, and they turned to see Kreacher peering at the tree, his large eyes blinking curiously. Veronica smiled. "Kreacher, would you like to add something to the tree?"

The old house-elf hesitated before shuffling forward, a small silver locket clutched in his gnarled hands. He carefully hung it on one of the lower branches, stepping back to inspect his work with a grumble, though a hint of satisfaction lingered in his expression.

Veronica’s smile faltered for a moment. There was something strange about that locket that she couldn’t put her finger on. It was clearly an ancient magical artifact with the way it almost seemed to breathe magic into the room, but she didn’t like the way it made her feel. Like her insides were being twisted in a knot and her skin was too tight. However, at Kreacher’s expectant gaze, she pushed the thoughts out of her mind and forced a smile. "Very nice," she said as warmly as she could.

Kreacher thanked her softly before retreating back toward the shadows. While he got along with her, he and Sirius still had a lot of animosity, and they didn’t spend any more time together than they needed to.

After that, a comfortable silence settled between Veronica and Sirius as the kitchen transformed around them. The fairy lights twinkled, the holly glistened, and the small tree stood proudly in the corner. It wasn’t perfect, nothing about Grimmauld Place ever was, but for once, it felt a little brighter.

“It looks like miracles do happen after all.”

Sirius clapped his hands together. "I’d say! The place looks great. Now all we need is some firewhisky and terrible singing, and it’ll be a real Christmas."

Veronica smirked, choosing not to comment on the fact that he failed to mention Kreacher. "Just so we're clear… I’m not singing."

He feigned offense. "What, not even a little ‘God Rest Ye Merry Hippogriffs’?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "Not even for you, Black."

Sirius sighed dramatically, then reached for a bottle of firewhisky from a high shelf. "Well, at least I can drink away the disappointment."

Veronica rolled her eyes, but as she looked around at their work, she couldn’t help but smile. For the first time in a long time, the house didn’t feel quite so haunted.

***

Meanwhile, Charlie shifted his weight from one foot to the other, arms crossed tightly against his chest as he and his father stood in the dimly lit corridor of the Department of Mysteries. This was the first shift they had had together, and while it had been nice to have company, it hadn’t made the empty corridor any less eerie. The air was thick with silence, broken only by the occasional flicker of the torches lining the stone walls. Charlie’s wand was gripped tightly in his hand, though he tried to appear at ease.

"You alright, son?" Arthur asked softly, his own wand held at the ready. His voice was steady, but there was a tension in his features that hadn’t been there earlier.

Charlie nodded. "Just feels strange, standing here, waiting. Like we’re being watched."

Arthur sighed, offering a small, knowing smile. "I imagine we are. But that’s why we’re here… to make sure nothing happens."

Charlie exhaled, forcing himself to relax. He had faced dragons, stared down the sharp teeth of the most fearsome creatures in the world, but this? This felt different. This wasn’t fire or claws. This was the unknown, and that was more unnerving than any dragon’s den.

A sudden shift in the air made Charlie’s stomach drop. It was subtle. So much so that if he hadn’t spent years working with creatures who were attuned to the slightest changes in their surroundings, he might not have noticed it. But something was wrong.

Arthur stiffened beside him. "Did you hear that?"

Charlie barely had time to answer before it happened. A low, spine-chilling hiss slithered through the air, echoing off the walls. His blood ran cold. It came from the darkness beyond the flickering torchlight, and before either of them could react, something massive surged toward them with horrifying speed.

Charlie barely registered his father’s shout before the serpent struck. Fangs glistened in the dim light, and then Arthur was yanked backward with terrifying force. Charlie’s instincts roared to life as he hurled a spell at the massive snake, but she was too fast. She coiled around Arthur, squeezing, her enormous head rearing back.

"Dad!" Charlie bellowed, lunging forward. He fired a Blasting Curse, but the serpent twisted at the last second, avoiding the full impact. The spell grazed her thick scales, making her hiss furiously.

Arthur gasped as her fangs sank deep into his chest. His wand slipped from his grasp, clattering to the stone floor.

Charlie’s heart pounded in his ears. "No. NO! Get off him!" His voice was hoarse and frantic. He fired another spell, this time managing to blast the snake away just enough for Arthur to collapse to the ground. Blood seeped profusely from the deep punctures in his chest.

Nagini turned toward Charlie now, her golden eyes locking onto him. He barely had time to register the attack before she lunged at him, her massive form knocking him off his feet. The impact sent his wand skittering out of reach. Pain seared through his side as her thick coils crushed against his ribs. He gasped for air, trying to wrestle himself free, but she was impossibly strong. Her head loomed above him, fangs bared, and before he could move, she struck.

Agony flared through his chest as her fangs tore into him. He let out a strangled cry, his vision going white with pain. He struggled weakly, but his strength was fading fast. His father’s weak, gasping breaths reached his ears, barely audible over the pounding of his own heart. Charlie fought to stay conscious, to force himself up, but the cold seeped into his limbs. His fingers twitched toward his wand, but it was too far. The corridor swam before his eyes, and the last thing he saw was Arthur’s pale face, barely illuminated by the flickering torchlight, and his father’s blood pooling together with his on the cold stone floor.

A name whispered in his mind… Veronica. Would he ever get to see her beautiful face again? Hear her voice? Feel her warm skin under his hands?

The silence stretched. The torches flickered. And no one came.

Chapter Text

As Sirius placed two glasses of Firewhiskey onto the table, Veronica broke out her Wizard’s Chess board, and they slowly fell back into their nightly routine. It had been a long day decorating the house, and both of them were eager to settle in, to carve out some sliver of normal in the gloom of Grimmauld Place.

The fire crackled warmly, throwing light across the sitting room. Sirius lounged back in his chair, boots up on the table, while Veronica arranged her pieces with meticulous care. Sirius’ opening moves were as reckless as ever – knights hurled into the fray, pawns abandoned without thought.

“You’d think you’d have learned by now,” Veronica teased, sliding her bishop into place.

“And deny you the satisfaction of beating me again?” Sirius smirked, taking a long sip of Firewhiskey. “Not a chance.”

The cozy rhythm of their banter was familiar, steadying. Veronica had grown to cherish those moments – the scrape of chess pieces, the warmth of the fire, the faint hum of a home trying to be a home again.

The calm shattered with a yell from upstairs.

The pair froze, exchanging a look. A heartbeat later, Walburga Black’s shrieks ripped through the house, echoing like broken glass down the staircase. Sirius swore under his breath, and they raced upward, taking the steps two at a time. The walls seemed to vibrate with her fury, her voice pressing in like claws scraping stone.

They reached the landing and yanked the curtain shut across her portrait, silencing her, but the original voice still boomed through the air.

Following the sound to Veronica and Charlie’s bedroom, they found the source – a portrait that usually sat empty on the wall opposite the bed. It was most certainly not empty now. Veronica cringed, her stomach flipping at the thought of how many nights she and Charlie had been intimate there while this occupant might have been… watching. Listening.

The portrait showed a clever-looking wizard with a pointed beard, painted in Slytherin green and silver. His features were sharp and radiated arrogance. Despite the fact that he was clearly aware of them, he continued bellowing, face curiously blank.

“What is it, Phineas?” Sirius sounded exasperated, though there was an edge of wariness in his voice. “What news does Dumbledore have that he’s sent you?”

Veronica blinked, confused. “Dumbledore? What–”

“My great-great-grandfather,” Sirius explained quickly, eyes still on the portrait. “Phineas Nigellus. Former headmaster. Has a twin painting in Dumbledore’s office. He comes with… messages.” His jaw clenched. “What is it?”

The wizard’s mouth twisted into something sharper. “Arthur and Charlie Weasley have been gravely injured. Molly–”

The words fell like stones into Veronica’s chest. Her mind froze. Charlie. Gravely injured. The world tilted. Air caught in her throat, and she couldn’t seem to draw in another breath. His laugh, his voice, his hand in hers – they flashed through her head, jagged and fleeting. He couldn’t be hurt. He couldn’t–

Her vision blurred. A ringing filled her ears, drowning out everything else – Sirius’ voice, Phineas’ droning – until even the floor felt unsteady beneath her. She stumbled, and Sirius caught her wrist before she collapsed.

“Veronica.” His mouth was moving, firm, insistent, but she couldn’t hear him. Her panic was a flood, drowning every thought.

Sirius cupped her face in both hands, forcing her eyes to his. His gaze was fierce, unshakable, a tether cutting through the spiral. He exaggerated a deep breath in, then slowly let it out.

She copied him. Once. Twice. Again. The roaring in her ears eased; her lungs opened, shaky but working. She pressed her hands over his, grounding herself. “I’m okay,” she whispered, though her voice trembled.

“They’re going to be okay, Veronica.”

“You don’t know that. He said ‘gravely injured,’ I–”

“I know. But panicking won’t help them, will it?” His tone was rough but steady, and she clung to it.

Phineas sniffed from the frame, unimpressed. “Weasleys. Always rushing headlong into danger. A family cursed by their moral compass.”

Veronica’s jaw clenched, a spark of anger cutting through the fear, but before she could answer, a loud crash echoed from below. Kreacher’s muttering floated faintly upward, tangled with the unmistakable clatter of footsteps.

Sirius’ head snapped toward the sound. “The Portkey–” He grabbed Veronica’s hand and tugged her toward the stairs. “The kids must be here. Come on.”

Her pulse spiked again. “The kids? What do you mean?”

Chapter Text

The pair hurried down the stairs, pausing just long enough to yank the curtains across Sirius’ mother’s portrait again before her shrieks could swell. The air grew cooler and damper as they descended toward the basement kitchen, but light spilled from the open doorway, and voices filled the space below.

The sight that met them was jarring. The Christmas decorations had filled the space with cheer not so long ago. Now, against the backdrop of panic, they looked almost grotesque, as if joy itself had been dragged into the wrong house.

In the center of the stone floor sat a battered old kettle, glowing faintly from the Portkey spell. Around it clustered Harry and the Weasleys – Ginny, Ron, and the twins – their faces pale and wild-eyed from the journey. Kreacher skulked in the shadows, mumbling about blood traitors and mudbloods, his voice a sour undertone against the festive ribbons and paper chains.

“OUT!” Sirius thundered, and the elf scurried out the door. Sirius moved quickly to Ginny, helping her unsteadily to her feet.

“Veronica!”

Her name came from all directions at once. Before she could brace herself, Ron, Fred, and George flung themselves into her arms. They clung to her with desperate strength, and she held them, rubbing soothing circles against their backs even as her own heart pounded. She didn’t know if Dumbledore had told them she was here, but it didn’t matter – they needed her now more than ever.

“What’s going on?” she asked, voice urgent. “Phineas Nigellus said your dad and Charlie have been badly injured–”

“Ask Harry,” Fred said roughly, pulling back. His eyes flicked at once to Harry.

“Yeah,” George added, turning toward the boy as well. “I want to hear this for myself.”

Ginny, Fred, and George all watched Harry expectantly, but Ron buried his face deeper into Veronica’s shoulder, holding on as if she were the only thing keeping him from drowning in his pain.

Harry’s voice shook as he tried to explain. “It was… I had a… a kind of… vision…” And then he told them everything.

Veronica felt her chest tighten with each word. Her arms locked protectively around Ron as Harry described Charlie’s blood on the floor, the gleam of scales, the strike of fangs. The image of a serpent coiled over him sank deep into her mind. A filthy, venomous snake had torn into him, leaving him to bleed in the dark. Her stomach turned. If it hadn’t been for Harry…

“Is Mum here?” Fred asked suddenly, his voice breaking as he turned to Sirius.

Sirius shook his head. “She probably doesn’t even know yet. The important thing was to get you away before Umbridge could interfere. I expect Dumbledore’s telling her now.”

“We’ve got to go to St. Mungo’s,” Ginny burst out. Her hands were balled into fists, her voice thick with panic. “Sirius, can you lend us cloaks or anything?”

“Hang on, you can’t just go tearing off to St. Mungo’s!” Sirius shot back.

“Course we can,” Fred snapped, his expression blazing. “They’re our family!”

“And how do you plan to explain how you knew Arthur and Charlie were attacked before the hospital even told your mother?” Sirius countered.

“What does that matter?” George demanded hotly.

“It matters because we don’t want to draw attention to the fact that Harry is having visions of things happening hundreds of miles away!” Sirius’ voice rose. “Have you any idea what the Ministry would make of that information?”

Fred and George looked mutinous, unconcerned with politics or the Ministry.

Ginny spoke up, desperate. “Somebody else could have told us… we could have heard it somewhere else!”

“Like who?” Sirius barked. His patience was fraying fast. Veronica could see it in the sharp set of his shoulders, the twitch of his jaw. Normally she would step in, try to smooth things over – but she couldn’t. She was frozen, numb, clinging to the only fragments of control she had left.

“Listen,” Sirius pressed on, “your dad and brother have been hurt while on duty for the Order, and the circumstances are suspicious enough without their family knowing within seconds. You could seriously damage the Order’s–”

“We don’t care about the dumb Order!” Fred shouted.

“It’s our dad and brother dying we’re talking about!” George roared.

The word dying hit Veronica like a blow. Her stomach lurched, and she instinctively tightened her grip on Ron. His arms tightened back, trembling.

“They knew what they were getting into,” Sirius shot back furiously. “And they won’t thank you for jeopardising the Order! This is how it is – this is why you’re not in the Order – you don’t understand. There are things worth dying for!”

“Easy for you to say, stuck here!” Fred bellowed. “I don’t see you risking your neck!”

That was the last straw.

“Fred! Enough!” Veronica’s voice cracked like a whip. She was livid, her anger finally breaking through the numbness. She understood their pain, their terror – she felt it right along with them, but she would not let them cut Sirius down like this.

“We’re both stuck in this house,” she snapped. “None of you even knew Charlie and I were back from Romania, but we had Death Eaters break into our flat and attack us. We had no choice but to come here. Voldemort has people hunting for me. I can’t leave this house either – so if you say those things about Sirius, you’re saying them about me too.

“Do you think either of us want to be trapped here while everyone else is out there fighting? Do you think we don’t ache to be with your father and brother right now? But if we go running, we’ll expose everything. We have to act as though we don’t know yet. We have to stay put, at least until your mum tells us otherwise. Do you understand?”

Her words hung in the kitchen like smoke. Against the bright garlands and twinkling fairy lights, their stricken faces looked all the more out of place, as though Christmas itself had been turned inside out. At last, the twins gave curt, reluctant nods. Ginny dropped her gaze. Ron, still pressed against her, hadn’t moved.

“That’s right,” Sirius said gruffly, seizing the moment. “Come on, let’s… let’s all have a drink while we wait. Accio Butterbeer!”

Half a dozen bottles shot from the pantry and landed neatly on the table. The sharp clink of glass was jarringly normal in the tense air.

Veronica bent her head to Ron. “Do you want to sit down and have a drink with everyone?”

Ron shook his head.

“Are you okay?” The question was pointless, she knew, but she couldn’t stop herself.

He only shook his head again and clung tighter. “Harry,” he whispered. “Harry told me earlier… he saw it through the snake’s eyes. As if he was the snake. I… I just…”

Veronica’s heart clenched. She understood. No matter how impossible it was, no matter how many reasons proved otherwise, the image wouldn’t leave his mind – Harry both there and not there, both boy and beast.

No words could untangle that knot. So she simply held Ron in the doorway, steady and silent, while the fairy lights drooped over their heads and the Christmas tree flickered faintly in the corner, a grotesque reminder of joy in a moment when none of them could feel it.

Chapter Text

Veronica had no idea how long they stayed like that, but it felt like an eternity. Every second that passed without news allowed her mind to come up with all the worst case scenarios, and it took everything in her not to break down. The kids needed her to be strong for them. They were calm because she was calm, but the second that they saw her lose her control, all chaos would break loose.

A burst of fire in midair illuminated the kitchen, and Ron finally tore himself away from her to look at what had caused everyone to cry out in shock. A scroll of parchment fell with a thud onto the table, accompanied by a single golden phoenix tail feather.

“Fawkes!” Sirius and Veronica exclaimed together as the former grabbed the parchment.

“That’s not Dumbledore’s writing… it must be a message from your mother… here…” Sirius thrust the letter into George’s hand.

He ripped it open and read aloud. “Dad and Charlie are still alive.”

That was enough to have Veronica’s legs buckling, and she would have fallen to the floor if Ron hadn’t shot out an arm to steady her. They were okay, but the way Molly had worded it – still alive – made her blood run cold. It wasn’t very reassuring.

“I am setting out for St Mungo’s now.” George continued. “Veronica, transfigure yourself and meet me there. Dumbledore’s allowed it, and I’ve left you instructions on how to get there on the back. The rest of you – no, you cannot come with her. Stay where you are. I will send news as soon as I can. Mum.”

Veronica felt all eyes on her as she looked between each of the Weasleys. “I– I won’t go if you don’t want me to.” Veronica forced the words out despite them tasting like acid in her mouth. She wanted nothing more than to go to Charlie. To see with her own eyes that he was okay. To make sure he didn’t– Veronica forced her mind not to go there. “If you’d rather I stayed–”

“No,” they all said simultaneously. 

“Mum needs you, and so does Charlie. We’ll be fine.” Fred added firmly.

Veronica turned her eyes to Ron, and only after he nodded, did she move. Raising her hand, she silently summoned her wand from upstairs. She didn’t necessarily need it to transfigure herself, but for magic that advanced and in the state she was in at that moment, she knew it would be better to use it just in case. As it flew into her waiting fingers, she heard a gasp behind her. Turning, she locked eyes with Sirius, who had his mouth open as he stared at her in awe.

“Did you just… you summoned your wand without even saying a word?”

Veronica smiled shyly, but before she could say anything, Ginny interjected. “Our sister is a badass.” Her words slipped out as if they were the most natural thing in the world.

“Ginny!” Veronica scolded, but she couldn’t help the warmth spreading through her at the young girl calling her their sister.

“What?” she shrugged. “It’s true.”

Veronica shook her head as she chuckled.

“That’s some seriously advanced magic, Singer.” Sirius said with wide eyes. “It’s quite impressive.”

“Thank you.” 

Conjuring up a hand mirror, she examined her face before proceeding to tap her wand on each part she wanted to change, and she felt a slight tingling sensation as her spells took effect. Starting with her hair, it went from curly brown to blonde and pin straight. Her eyes changed from brown to a light green and they were much bigger than her small ones that disappeared completely anytime she smiled. Freckles covered her cheeks, her nose thinned out and pulled up, and her lips got fuller. 

When she was done, Veronica could barely recognize herself. Looking up to meet the wide eyes of everyone in the room, she smirked. “How do I look?” 

“You… you just… remind me never to take her on in a duel,” Sirius made a show of whispering to Harry even though they could all hear him. “She is one powerful and talented witch.” 

Veronica shook her head as she smirked at him. “You said it, not me.” Waving her wand again, she conjured up a change of clothing, and once she was all bundled up for the mid-December weather, she turned to the kids and said, “I’ll try to update you as soon as I can.”

And with that, she ran upstairs and out the door.

Chapter Text

As Veronica apparated to a street in the very heart of London, the wintry air nipped at the exposed skin of her face that she wasn’t able to hide beneath her scarf and hat. Silence enveloped her completely as she gazed around the empty street, the shops on both sides barred and dark. Staring up at the large, old-fashioned red-brick department store called Purge & Dowse Ltd, she took a moment to examine it. She remembered passing by this shabby department store all the time as a kid, with its unappealing store-front window display and its “Closed for Refurbishment” signs on the dusty doors. She couldn’t quite believe that a bustling wizard hospital lay just beyond its outward facade. 

Looking down at Molly’s handwritten instructions again, Veronica approached one of the windows that displayed nothing but an ugly female mannequin – its false eyelashes hanging on for dear life and its green dress falling off one shoulder. Pressing her face as close to the glass as she could, she cleared her voice before saying, “I’m here to see Arthur and Charlie Weasley.” 

For a moment, Veronica debated whether or not she needed to repeat herself louder, but then, the mannequin gave an almost imperceptible nod and beckoned her forward with its stiff finger. Without hesitation, Veronica stepped through the glass. The sensation was like that of walking through a sheet of cool water, but she emerged warm and dry on the other side in a near empty reception area. There were less than a handful of witches and wizards scattered around the room, and a thin brunette sat at a desk marked “Enquiries”. 

Veronica quickly rushed over. “Excuse me, I’m looking for Arthur and Charlie Weasley, they–” 

“Are you family?” The witch interrupted without looking up from her clipboard. 

“Umm, no not technically I’m not, but–” 

“Then I’m sorry, but I can’t allow you to visit at this time.” 

“No, but I–” 

“I have to ask you to leave.” 

Tears of frustration welled in Veronica’s eyes as she begged them not to fall, but her emotions were too frayed. “Would you stop interrupting me and let me bloody talk? Merlin. I’m trying to tell you that–” 

“Ma’am, I’m very busy, and I’ve already told you I can’t let you in. If you don’t leave now, I will have to call security.” 

Now, Veronica was livid. She had never been so mad. “You listen to me, you little bi–” 

Before Veronica could say something that would most certainly get her kicked out, she heard Molly’s voice calling her name. Looking up, Veronica sighed in relief and sagged onto the desk at the sight of her. Even though she looked tired and stressed, it was obvious they were still alive. 

“She’s with me.” Molly addressed the brunette, and Veronica glared daggers at the witch as she turned back to her. 

“Go ahead.” The woman looked unfazed, and Veronica wished she could strangle her. Her indifference when Veronica’s insides felt like they wanted to escape through her mouth was infuriating. 

“Yeah. Right. Thank you so much.” The venom in Veronica’s words was sharp. As she rushed over to Molly, they hugged for a moment before Veronica held her at arm’s length and searched her eyes. “Is– Is there any news? Are they going to be okay? Was it bad? Is it bad? Are they in surgery? Do wizards even go through surgery? I–” 

“Breathe, Veronica dear. Breathe.” Veronica did as she said, but it did nothing to soothe the anxiety waging war in her stomach. “They’re being treated now. We haven’t gotten any news, Bill and I are sitting in the waiting room.” 

Veronica’s heart sank. “It was really bad, wasn’t it?” 

Molly didn’t say anything, she just nodded as she led them back to where Bill was pacing back and forth outside big double doors with a big red sign that read “EMERGENCY” at the top. She could only assume Arthur and Charlie were behind those doors, and that the three of them weren’t allowed inside. 

When Bill saw her, he rushed over and pulled her in tight. Despite her disguise, he knew it was her, and the hug was exactly what she needed. They didn’t know how long they stood like that, but eventually, a Healer exited the double doors and smiled softly at them. 

“We’ve been able to stabilize them. We believe there was a rare kind of poison in the snake’s fangs that is keeping the wounds open, and so they’re bleeding profusely every time we try to remove their bandages, but we are confident we will find an antidote. We’ve dealt with much worse. We’re going to keep them here until we do, and they will need to take a Blood-Replenishing Potion once every hour, but for now, you can see them.” 

The three let out a collective breath as some of the pressure had lifted. They weren’t out of the woods yet, but they were miles away from where they had started when they first came in, and that had to be enough.

Chapter Text

As the Healer walked them to where Charlie and Arthur’s beds were side-by-side, Veronica drew back. She wanted to give Molly and Bill the chance to see them first without intruding on their family moment. In their haste, Molly and Bill hadn’t noticed, but Charlie had. His eyes searched around frantically for her until they landed on her over his mother’s shoulder. She may not have looked like herself, but he would always be able to recognize her. 

The moment their eyes connected, Veronica felt the floodgates open up and tears streamed down her face in waves. She couldn’t bear to see him like this. Drained of colour and all bandaged up, the bandages covered in red blood stains from where the wounds were still bleeding underneath. 

Charlie reached out his hand to her. “Come here, sugar.” 

Veronica obeyed instantly as she rushed over and into his arms, allowing him to wrap her up in him and envelope her with his comforting warmth and surround her in his scent. Molly and Bill had gone to Arthur and given them the space they needed, and Veronica was beyond grateful. 

“Are you okay?” Veronica’s words barely came out as a whisper, but with her mouth so close to his ear, he could hear the worry in her voice loud and clear. 

“I’m alright, sugar. I promise. The worst of it is over.” 

A sob escaped her despite how hard she tried to hold it in, and her arms tightened around him. “The worst is NOT over. They don’t have an antidote… f-for the snake’s poison.” Veronica’s voice was raspy as her sobs clogged her throat. “You’re bleeding like crazy… a-and you have to take a potion every hour to replenish your b-blood supply. You’re…” Veronica’s chest heaved, and she could feel her tears and snot soaking his hospital gown, but she couldn’t get herself to stop crying. “You’re hurt… a-and I wasn’t there to help you… I… I… I…”

“Veronica, look at me.” Charlie tried to pull her off him, but she clung to him tightly. She didn’t want him to see what a mess she was; she was sure her eyes were puffy and swollen and her nose would be running like mad. “Sugar… please look at me.”

When she finally allowed him to pull her away, the concern in his eyes was evident. Charlie used his blanket to wipe at her nose before cupping her cheeks and brushing away her tears with his thumbs.

“This was NOT your fault, do you hear me? You could not have stopped this from happening, and I’m so thankful you weren’t there because if something had happened to you–”

“But something happened to you , Charlie!”

“We knew this could happen, sugar. It’s what we signed up for when we joined the Order.”

“That doesn’t make it any easier.”

“I know, love.” Charlie pulled her back into his chest and breathed her in. It was strange staring into eyes that weren’t hers, but her scent and her voice were the same, and that had to be enough for the time being. “I’m just… I’m so happy to see you. I thought… I thought I’d never get another chance.”

***

“Alright, I’d better go check on the kids and let them know you’re both doing okay.” Molly stood from where she was sitting by Arthur’s bed and brushed her hands over her skirt. “I’m sure they’re worried sick, and if Fred and George haven’t given Sirius a hard time about being stuck there, then I don’t know my boys.”

They all chuckled as Veronica added, “Oh believe me, they gave him quite a hard time while I was there.”

“Do you want to come with me, dear, or do you want to stay?”

“Oh no, I’ll stay–”

“Sugar, no. You should go back with mum.” Charlie brushed a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear and rubbed a thumb over the dark circles under her eyes. “You should go get some rest.”

Turning to Charlie, she scoffed. “You know I haven’t been able to sleep without you. Why would now be any different? If I have any chance of getting any rest, it’ll be here with you.”

Charlie knew she was right, so he didn’t argue. He just told his mum to say hi to his siblings for him, and off she went.

Not long after, the Healers moved them out of the Emergency Room and up to the Dai Llewellyn ward on the first floor of the hospital. There were only two other patients occupying the ward, and Arthur and Charlie got their beds put at the far end near the one tiny window in the small and dingy room.

“How cozy,” Veronica muttered as the Healers left the room. “I get that the hospital is hidden from muggles, but they couldn’t have made it a bit more cheerful?”

Charlie chuckled as he shuffled to one side of the bed and reached a hand out to her. “Don’t worry, sugar, we’re not planning on moving in. Now come here. Let’s get you to bed.”

Veronica shook her head despite the yawn that overtook her. “No, no, no. I’ll just sleep on a chair.” As she made a comfy plush chair appear by his bed, Charlie scoffed and pulled out his wand from under his pillow, waving it and making the chair disappear just as quickly.

“You absolutely will do no such thing. You’re sleeping right here beside me, and that’s the end of it.”

“Charlie! No. You’re healing, and I don’t want to hurt you.”

Charlie gave her a pointed look as he pressed the tip of his wand to the empty space beside him and rested his hand on top of it lazily. “You won’t hurt me. I’m fine. I need to feel you close, sugar.”

Veronica huffed as she looked to Bill and Arthur for support, but they both seemed to be conveniently preoccupied with a copy of the Daily Prophet a Healer had given them on the way up to the first floor. Veronica sighed heavily as she took a hesitant step towards Charlie and stood by the bed, her eyes never leaving the top half of his body that was wrapped in bandages.

“Are you sure, love? I–”

“Get in this bed, sugar. Now.”

Chapter Text

“You know,” Arthur continued, “we know a werewolf personally. Very good friend of ours. Very nice man, and he finds the condition quite easy to manage, all things considered. I can put you in contact with him if you’d like. It may ease the transition for you.”

As Veronica lay beside Charlie and listened to Arthur’s conversation with the man in the bed across from them, she wondered if it was a good idea to give him Remus’s information. She understood wanting to help him, but would Remus want the truth of his condition to be shared with this complete stranger?

As the man lay looking green and sickly, he never took his eyes off the ceiling as he spoke. “If you don’t shut up, I’ll give you another bite to join the ones you already have. I doubt you’ll be as cheery then.”

***

“Ma’am, our jobs would be a lot easier if you just told us what it was that bit you.”

The woman that lay in the only other occupied bed in the room right by the door crossed her arms and shook her head.

Arthur leaned over and whispered, “Must be something illegal.”

As the Healers removed the bandages from her leg, the room was instantly filled with the most putrid smell, and Veronica quickly buried her face in Charlie’s chest to get away, yet her eyes still watered from the strength of it.

“Merlin…” Charlie whispered. “Whatever it was, it took a good chunk of her leg with it.”

***

“Alright, Dad. Charlie. I wish I could stay, but I’ve got to get back to work. I’m really glad you two are okay. Don’t scare us like that again.” Bill stood from his seat and hugged each one of them before pulling on his coat. “Tell mum I’ll drop in on her later, yeah?”

Shortly after he left, Molly and the kids came walking into the room.

“Hello!” Arthur called cheerfully. “Bill just left, Molly, had to get back to work, but he says he’ll drop in on you later.”

“How are you, Arthur?” asked Mrs. Weasley, bending down to kiss his cheek and looking anxiously into his face. “You’re still looking a bit peaky…”

“I feel absolutely fine,” said Mr. Weasley brightly, holding out his good arm to give Ginny a hug. 

“And you, Charlie?”

“I’m fine, mum. Yeah, all good.”

“If they could only take the bandages off, we’d be fit to go home,” Arthur added. When Veronica scoffed, he turned to her and chuckled. “What? Don’t you agree, Charlie?”

“Why can’t they take them off, Dad?” Fred asked curiously.

“Well, we start bleeding like mad every time they try.”

As Arthur and Molly tried to make casual conversation with the kids, all Fred and George were interested in was asking questions about what Charlie and Arthur had been doing when they got attacked. Veronica knew it was only natural for them to want to know, but she didn’t think it was wise to push their parents, especially not right then.

And just as she had expected, Molly kicked them out of the room shortly after, telling them to send in Tonks and Moody to say hello. At the sound of the name, Veronica froze. She knew it had only been a matter of time before they would have had to see each other again, but she had not been prepared for it to be that moment when she didn’t look like herself and her nerves were already frayed from Charlie’s accident.

Veronica quickly scrambled out of the bed and to her feet, and she could feel the three remaining Weasley’s eyes on her. When her eyes met Charlie’s, she knew he understood.

“I can’t,” she whispered as she shook her head. “Not right now. I’m too–”

“Sugar,” Charlie squeezed her hand tightly and tried to pull her back towards him, but she stood firm in her place, and he didn’t have the strength at that moment to win that fight. “Veronica, love, you know I lo–”

“No, I know, Charlie. I just… I can’t do this right now.”

Without giving him a chance to say anything else, she used a disillusionment charm to make herself disappear completely just as Moody and Tonks walked into the room. As she took a step towards the door, she felt Charlie’s hand in hers tighten, and when she turned back, she found he was still looking in her direction. If his eyes hadn’t been shifting over the general area where she had just been, she would have thought her charm hadn’t worked.

“Stay,” Charlie mouthed silently.

“Charlie… is that you?”

The couple turned their eyes to the pink-haired witch standing at the foot of his bed. Glancing over Tonks’ shoulder, Veronica locked eyes with the man she recognized to be Alastor Moody. Though they had never been introduced, she had heard enough about him to know of his magical eye, which he was clearly using to see through not only her disillusionment charm, but her self-transfiguration spells as well, and he was watching her quizzically. It was obvious he knew who she was despite them never having met, but it was also clear he was trying to decipher why she would be invisible if she had already transfigured herself. 

Once Veronica was sure Moody wouldn’t blow her cover, she forced her eyes away as she felt a strong sense of relief that that eye of his couldn’t look inside her brain and pull out her thoughts as well. She turned her attention back to Tonks and Charlie.

“It’s nice to see you again after all these years.” As her eyes glanced around the room, it was clear who she was looking for. “Veronica’s not here? I thought–”

Before his parents could say anything to give her away, Charlie quickly interjected. “No, she’s not. She… uh… stepped out to get some fresh air.”

Sensing the tension, Moody began updating them on what had happened after the attack at the Ministry, and Veronica was glad Charlie had made her stay. The information the pair shared immediately piqued her interest.

“... they searched the whole area but they couldn’t find the snake anywhere, it just seems to have vanished after it attacked you both,” Tonks whispered as she visibly shuddered. “But You-Know-Who can’t have expected a snake to get in, can he?”

“I reckon he sent it as a lookout,” growled Moody, “cause he’s not had any luck so far, has he? No, I reckon he’s trying to get a clearer picture of what he’s facing, and if you two hadn’t been there, the beast would’ve had much more time to look around. So Potter says he saw it all happen?”

“Yes,” Molly confirmed. She sounded rather uneasy. “You know, Dumbledore seems almost to have been waiting for Harry to see something like this…”

“Yeah, well,” said Moody, “there’s something funny about the Potter kid, we all know that.”

Veronica felt a surge of protectiveness flow through her at his words, but she forced it down. It wasn’t worth revealing herself to argue with him.

“Dumbledore seemed worried about Harry when I spoke to him this morning,” Molly whispered.

“Course he’s worried,” growled Moody. “The boy’s seeing things from inside You-Know-Who’s snake. Obviously, Potter doesn’t realize what that means, but if You-Know-Who’s possessing him–”

Veronica’s jaw dropped to the floor. Possessing him? Voldemort couldn’t be possessing him! Could he?

Chapter Text

“Are you awake, sugar?”

Veronica shook her head as she rolled over in his arms and squinted up at him, the sunlight trickling in from the only window in the room shining directly into her eyes. “I don’t know what time it is,” she murmured, “but I know it’s way too early to be up and functioning.”

Charlie chuckled as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “Merry Christmas, love.”

“Merry Christmas, Charlie. I love you.”

“I love you. More than you’ll ever know.”

An hour later, the pair had gotten dressed and decided to go for a walk around the hospital. They had grown to enjoy exploring and discovering new areas, especially when the patients had fascinating stories to tell that went along with their injuries.

As they stepped out onto the landing of the stairwell and the door shut behind them, Charlie spun to face her, making her jump. With his hands on her hips, he pushed her backward until her back hit the wall.

Veronica giggled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “What are you doing? Someone could see!”

Charlie brushed his nose along her jaw until his lips ghosted over her ear. “But we haven’t been alone in weeks, princess. I miss you.”

Veronica moaned softly as he pulled her ear between his teeth. “It’s only been a week since the attack,” she reminded him absentmindedly. She was surprised that she could even string together enough words to form a coherent sentence.

“And that’s much too long, princess, don’t you think? Why don’t you take those transfigurations off for a minute and let me see the woman that I love, hm? That can be my Christmas present.” Charlie’s hands slid down to her butt as he gave a tight squeeze. The yelp that escaped her sent a jolt straight to his groin, and he ground his hips into her.

At the sound of a door opening somewhere below them, the couple jumped apart as footsteps could be heard getting closer. Veronica chuckled as she tipped her head back onto the wall and let out a shaky breath, and while the fire was still alive and burning in Charlie’s eyes, it was quickly doused when a familiar face came walking up the stairs with a Healer by their side.

“Look, son, didn’t I tell you? You can’t go wandering off. You’ll get yourself all turned around and won’t be able to find your way back.”

Veronica’s eyes widened as she stared at him. She wasn’t sure why she was so surprised to see him there; anyone that had had a memory charm performed on them as severely as he had was sent to St. Mungo’s. She just hadn’t given it much thought.

“I didn’t think he would be brought here,” Charlie murmured under his breath as the Healer and her patient passed them and continued up the stairs. “Is that crazy? I thought he’d be taken to the hospital in Romania. Do you think they’re both here?” Veronica nodded absentmindedly as she took a step to follow them, but Charlie grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him. “Don’t.”

“I need this, Charlie. I need to talk to them. To make sure they don’t remember.”

“Sugar, if he remembered, he would have reacted when he saw me.”

“It’s not enough,” she whispered as she squeezed his hand. “Please, Charlie.”

Charlie could never say no to her, so it wasn’t long before they reached the fourth floor and pushed open the door to the Janus Thickey Ward. Veronica gasped. There, at the end of the room in adjacent beds, were the two men that had broken into their apartment in Romania. Both had blank expressions on their faces when she and Charlie approached. And both had matching bandages on their left forearms.

Veronica’s eyebrows furrowed as she turned to the Healer that was tucking in the one they had just seen in the stairwell. “What happened to their arms?”

The plump brunette smiled at her somberly. “I wish I knew, dear. When they came in, they had both been missing a long rectangular piece of skin, and their memories had been wiped clean. No one has come to claim them since, so we bandaged them up and have been trying to help them remember who they are.”

“Is– is it working?”

“Unfortunately, not. Why? Do you know them?”

“N-no,” Veronica’s legs trembled slightly before Charlie’s arm shot out and steadied her. “No,” she repeated more firmly.

“That’s a shame. It always makes me sad to see so many patients alone at Christmas.” The Healer gazed at her two patients with soft, caring eyes before turning back to Veronica and Charlie. “You two stay as long as you’d like. I’m sure it would benefit them to have some company.”

Veronica could barely wait for the woman to leave the room before she turned to Charlie, her back to the two men. “You’re thinking what I’m thinking, right?”

Charlie nodded. “You-Know-Who had his mark removed from their arms before having them dumped here.” Veronica nodded too, but Charlie continued before she could say anything. “But why would he do that? Plenty of witches and wizards have that mark. From before, I mean. And this is a hospital… they wouldn’t be able to report it anyway – patient confidentiality and all that.”

“I know, but with all the talk about him being back… it would be suspicious if two of his followers showed up in the hospital without their memories. He’s probably trying to keep his return under the radar for as long as possible. Honestly, I’m just surprised he allowed them to come here at all and didn’t just kill–”  Veronica’s words died in her throat as a man with blonde hair and blue eyes over Charlie’s shoulder caught her attention.  “Gilderoy?”

***

By the time they got back to their ward, it had been completely transformed. A tiny charmed Christmas tree blinked merrily from the windowsill, its lights gently pulsing in red and gold. There were half-unwrapped sweets, paper crowns, and enough tea mugs scattered around to suggest the family had fully moved in.

Veronica sat on the bed beside Charlie, one leg curled underneath her, quietly peeling a clementine. Her hand brushed his as she passed him a segment, and Charlie gave her a tired but grateful smile. The bandages around his midsection peeked out beneath his jumper, and there were faint bruises still shadowing his cheekbone. Their little adventure around the hospital that morning had taken a lot out of him.

Arthur snored lightly in the bed next to them, his colour better today than it had been earlier in the week. Molly sat at his bedside, gently re-tucking his blanket for the third time in ten minutes. When Bill arrived balancing a tray of tea and shortbread, Veronica looked up and gave him a warm smile.

“Hot drinks,” he announced. “Or warmish drinks, at least. I may have gotten distracted chatting up the tea witch.”

“She was ninety-seven, Bill,” Ginny called from across the room.

“Don’t age-shame me,” he said smoothly, setting the tray down on the table between the beds. “She had stories.”

Charlie sat up a little straighter with a wince. “What kind of stories? Tea brewing techniques or ancient goblin wars?”

“Neither,” Bill said dryly. “Apparently she once dated a man with twelve fingers and toes.” Veronica chuckled, reaching for a mug and handing one to Charlie before taking her own. Bill settled into the chair beside her and rubbed his hands together for warmth. “I was going to bring someone with me today,” he said after a moment, almost offhandedly.

Charlie raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”

“Fleur,” Bill said. “She offered to come, said she wanted to meet the family.”

Veronica glanced up in surprise, then offered an encouraging smile. “That was kind of her.”

“Yeah, well. I figured walking her into this–” He gestured at the beds, the cluttered chairs, Molly trying not to cry while pretending to knit. “Might not be the most romantic holiday setting.”

Charlie gave a lopsided grin. “You were probably right. Mum’s barely holding it together as it is.”

Bill sighed. “She’s already tense about the whole thing. Fleur and I… well, we’re still figuring it out, but it’s more than casual now.”

Veronica tilted her head. “You really like her, don’t you?”

“Yeah. I do.” He ran a thumb along the rim of his mug. “She’s not just beautiful – which, obviously, she is – but she’s sharp, and funny, and when she looks at you, it’s like you’re the only person in the room. She’s got this,” he waved vaguely, “intensity.”

Charlie smirked. “Sounds like someone’s smitten. Mum won’t be happy to hear it.”

Bill huffed a laugh. “I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: we can’t all bring home someone like Veronica… someone mum’s known and loved for forever. You got lucky. I bring home a part-Veela and suddenly I’m a disappointment.”

Veronica flushed, but smiled softly. “Your mum’s just protective. She’ll come around.”

“Fleur even tried to cook for me the other night,” Bill added. “It was a disaster. Truly alarming. But she tried.”

“That’s love,” Charlie said, popping another segment of orange into his mouth. “Near-death meals and all.”

Bill chuckled under his breath. “I just… I don’t know. Things feel heavy lately. And being with her makes things feel a little bit lighter.”

Charlie’s teasing expression faded, replaced by something quieter. He reached over and nudged his brother’s arm. “That’s reason enough.”

Bill nodded slowly. “Thanks. Both of you.”

From across the room, Fred let out a yell as a Christmas cracker exploded in his hand, sending glitter and a handful of singing marbles flying into the air. Molly shrieked, Ginny dove for cover, and Arthur, somehow still asleep, snored right through it.

Charlie winced and leaned back against the pillow, clearly aching, but he was smiling now.

Veronica leaned against his uninjured side and looked at both brothers. “Merry Christmas, boys.”

“Merry Christmas,” Bill echoed, warmth creeping back into his voice as he reached for a biscuit.

Charlie glanced down at Veronica beside him and squeezed her hand. “Best gift I’ve got right here.”

Chapter Text

It wasn’t until the young Healer removed Charlie’s bandages and she saw that they were free of blood that Veronica took her first real sigh of relief since she learned of the attack. She knew she would have to thank Smethwyck before they left – he had been the one to discover the antidote, so it was thanks to him that Charlie and Arthur were now being discharged. Veronica couldn’t be happier to get Charlie back to Grimmauld Place and to finally be able to remove the transfigurations that had been disguising her for the last two weeks.

And from what she heard, the timing of their return could not have been better. The kids were due to be returning to school the following morning as their Christmas break was coming to an end, and Sirius had been sulking and moodier than ever at the prospect of being left alone in the house again. She knew he would be glad to have her and Charlie back, and after what happened, Charlie would be lucky if Molly let him leave the house at all for the foreseeable future. There was no way she would let him do anything else for the Order, and while Veronica knew Charlie wouldn’t like being locked up, she looked forward to not having to worry about him every time he walked out the door. Plus, it would be nice to get her sleep schedule back to normal.

As they walked through the door to Grimmauld Place, they were greeted with a frenzy of excited redheads. They hadn’t told them they had been discharged knowing the Order would have made a huge fuss about the procedure of how to bring them back to Headquarters, and only Merlin knew how long that would have taken.

“Come downstairs, you three,” Molly chirped as she linked her arm with Arthur’s. “I’ll make you something small to eat before dinner, I’m sure you must be thrilled not to have to eat any of that hospital food anymore.”

“Honestly, I’d love to, Molly, but I really am quite tired.” Veronica’s words were emphasized by a yawn. “As you can imagine, sleeping on a hospital bed for two weeks squished up against this giant,” she bumped her hip against Charlie’s playfully, “has not been the most comfortable thing in the world. I think I’m going to run upstairs and take a quick nap.” Turning to Charlie, she added, “But you should go with them, love. You weren’t eating much over there–”

Charlie shook his head before she could even finish her sentence. “No, no, no. I’ll go with you. I could use a nap as well, and I want to save my appetite for dinner anyway.” Throwing an arm over her shoulder, he turned to his family. “We’ll see you later.”

Molly gave them an all-too-knowing look, but before she could argue, Charlie took Veronica’s hand and pulled her along up the stairs with him.

Once they were in their room, Charlie shut the door behind them and quickly turned to her, his eyes darkening. “Take them off, princess. Now.”

Veronica blushed at the urgency in his voice and intensity of his stare. Her hands instantly flew to the hem of her shirt, but Charlie reached out and stopped her.

“The transfigurations, sugar. Take the transfiguration spells off. I need to see you.”

Veronica couldn’t help the smirk that graced her lips. “Oh, so you mean you don’t like the blonde hair and green eyes? I was thinking of staying this way for–”

Suddenly, Charlie’s strong hand gripped her jaw firmly, stopping the words in their tracks. “You’re such a little brat, princess. That sassy mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble some day.”

Veronica stood on the tips of her toes so she could be eye-level with him and brushed her lips over his. “Oh, yeah? What are you going to do to fix that?”

Charlie’s eyes darkened as he narrowed them on her like a predator who’d just caught his prey and was ready to take a bite. “Take. Them. Off. Princess, I won’t ask you again.”

Chuckling, Veronica closed her eyes and concentrated on the spells she could feel buzzing over her skin. Slowly, she felt them fading away until they were nothing but a distant memory. The feeling of having them lifted after weeks was indescribable.

As she opened her eyes, she saw a million emotions flashing across Charlie’s face. He was drinking her in – his eyes scanning her face just like he had the first time he saw her after their three years apart… like he wanted to tattoo every detail onto the inside of his eyelids so he could see her every time he closed his eyes. The relief he felt at finally getting to see the woman he loved the way he loved her was evident on his face. But the awe at the power she wielded was also very prominent.

“You’re absolutely amazing, you know that?” Charlie asked as he stroked her cheek softly. “And I can’t believe you’re mine.”

Chapter Text

Dinner that night was meant to be celebratory – Charlie and Arthur being back fully healed was certainly a cause for celebration – but when Sirius wasn’t forcing himself to laugh at the twins’ jokes or offering everyone more food, a moody, brooding expression was plastered onto his face.

Finally, Veronica couldn’t take it anymore. “Sirius,” she whispered under her breath to him as he was seated on her right side, “pantry. Now.” Her words left no room for argument as she stood abruptly and stormed off towards the back of the kitchen where they could have a private conversation.

Sirius followed her into the pantry and shut the door behind him. “What? What do you want, Singer?”

“Hey! What’s up with you tonight? Why are you in such a pissy mood?”

He rolled his eyes. “Oh, please shut up and leave me alone, Veronica. I’m not in the mood for this today.”

“Whoa, watch the way you talk to me, Black, I’m serious. I’m just trying to figure out what’s wrong so that you can stop souring everyone’s night. The kids are leaving tomorrow, and–” Sirius’ scowl deepened at her words, and Veronica finally understood. “Really? That’s what you’re upset about? That Harry is going back to school?”

Sirius avoided her gaze. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“It’s not like you’re alone here, Sirius. I get that up until yesterday, you didn’t know if Charlie and I would be back before they left, so you thought you’d be all alone again, but we’re here now, and it’s not like Charlie’s going to be allowed to leave anytime soon. You’ll have the two of us keeping you company.”

“Sorry, Singer, but it’s not the same as having my godson around.”

Veronica shook her head as she crossed her arms and stared at him. “You know, I don’t know what happened to you while we were at St. Mungo’s, but I liked you better before, so let me know when that Sirius is back because this one sucks.” Without another word, she pulled open the door and stormed off, but she didn’t get far before she crashed into a wall of muscle. 

Charlie reached out and steadied her as she stumbled back from the impact. His eyebrows furrowed at the frown on her face. “Is everything okay, sugar?” he asked as he glanced between her and Sirius.

“Your girlfriend needs to learn to mind her own business,” Sirius said snidely as he pushed past them.

Charlie snarled and turned to look at his retreating figure. “What the fuck did you say?”

He moved towards where the man disappeared around the corner, but before he could get very far, Veronica placed a gentle hand on his arm, stopping him in his tracks. “Don’t. He’s just upset that Harry’s going back to school.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t give him the right to be an asshole to you. You didn’t do anything to him.”

Veronica brushed the backs of her fingers over Charlie’s cheek, feeling the soft prickle of his beard on her skin. “Choose your battles, love. He’s not worth it.”

Charlie nuzzled his face deeper into her palm. “No, but you are. And I’d defend you against a thousand idiots like him in a heartbeat.”

Veronica smiled as she felt a blush creep over her skin, and she hid her face in his chest. “I love you.”

Chapter Text

Early the next morning, the house was alive with chatter and rumbling footsteps. Veronica was in the kitchen helping Molly with breakfast while Arthur sat at the table drinking tea and reading the Daily Prophet, Charlie was helping Sirius feed Buckbeak (and no doubt giving him a lecture about the night before), and the kids were finishing up their last minute packing.

It was the most peaceful Veronica had felt in a long time, and as Charlie rejoined them in the kitchen and helped her set the table, she didn’t think anything could ruin her mood. However, when a certain pink-haired witch came bounding into the room, Veronica knew she couldn’t have been more wrong. 

Tonks stopped dead in her tracks and her smile faded as she locked eyes with her, and the fork that Veronica was preparing to place on the table hovered in midair as she froze as well. The pair stared at each other for what felt like forever, and the tension in the air was palpable despite Charlie being the only other person who knew of the history between the two girls. 

From where he stood by her side, he placed a hand on her back and tried to whisper his reassurances, but it was clear her mind was miles away, and she couldn’t hear a thing he was saying.

Veronica’s heart raced, and she thought it might fly out of her chest as the panic inside her rose. She hadn’t been expecting to see Tonks, and her flight or fight response was kicking in overdrive. Ultimately, flight won over. Slipping away from Charlie’s side, she walked around the table and stormed past Tonks without a second glance, but not before seeing the fear that was evident in her eyes. Did she think I was going to hit her or something? Yell at her in front of Molly and Arthur? As if I would give her the satisfaction of making a scene like that.

Veronica flew up the stairs and into their room, but before she could slam the door, Charlie was by her side, and he softly closed it behind him. Cupping her cheeks, he whispered, “Are you okay, sugar?”

Before she could begin to respond, there was a knock on the door, and Tonks’ voice echoed through the room. “Veronica… Can I please talk to you?”

The feisty Ravenclaw didn’t hesitate. “No. You absolutely cannot talk to me. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”

“Sugar…” Charlie urged, his voice soft and soothing. “Maybe… maybe you should give her a chance to explain herself. We were all just dumb kids back then, and obviously a lot has changed.” He caressed her cheeks softly. “There’s no harm in hearing her out.

Veronica sighed heavily as she closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm her breathing. “Fine!” Pulling away from Charlie’s comforting warmth, she threw open the door to find Tonks still waiting on the other side. Without a word, Charlie walked past her and out into the hall, making it clear he would be there in case Veronica needed him.

Tonks slowly made her way into the room, and the door shut behind her.

Chapter Text

Neither girl spoke as they stared at each other, the tension growing heavier with each minute of silence that passed between them. Veronica stood with her arms crossed over her chest, and while she may have been emanating a cool, calm demeanor, she felt anything but. Her nerves were so frayed, the smallest spark could light her veins on fire. Tonks, on the other hand, emanated the anxious energy she was feeling as she wrung her fingers together.

After another minute of silence, Veronica huffed. “Well, if you don’t have anything to say, I won’t waste my time standing here.” As she moved to step around her, Tonks grabbed her arm, and Veronica jumped back, taking a few steps further into the room and pulling her arm away as if the Hufflepuff’s touch had burned her. 

Tonks sighed as she held her hands up. “No, I’m sorry, I… Veronica… I…” She rubbed her hands down her face. “Look, okay, I’m really sorry about everything that happened between us all those years ago. I truly am. I was selfish and… and a downright bully to you. I was the world’s worst friend, and I have no excuse for it… I wish I did. Believe me, I wish I had a good reason I could give you for why I did what I did, but I don’t. And that’s probably worse than if I did have an excuse.” Tears brimmed her eyes, but she quickly swept them away. “And you have no reason to forgive me. I don’t even expect you to. But I imagine we’ll be seeing each other a lot for the next little while, so I just want to clear the air between us.”

Veronica didn’t blink as she crossed her arms again. “Well, if that’s all you want, I’ll stay out of your way, you stay out of mine, and we can consider the air cleared.”

“No!” Tonks huffed as she ran her fingers through her hair – the strands a duller shade of pink than they had been when she first arrived. “That’s… that’s not what I meant. I… Look, Veronica, I’m not very good at this, okay? I haven’t had many friends after what happened between us, and I… I really am sorry for what I did, and I… I want us to be friends again.” 

Veronica couldn’t help the scoff that flew from her lips, but Tonks continued anyway.

“I don’t expect you to forgive me right away. It doesn’t even have to be any time soon. I just… I just hope that one day, you’ll find it in your heart to accept my apology and forgive me. I miss our friendship, and I’d love to try to rekindle it someday.”

Veronica could see the sincerity in her eyes, and somehow, it made her even more upset than she already was. But worst of all, she hated that her heart ached to accept the apology. However, she refused to make it easy for her.

“Why? So that you can try to steal Charlie back?”

“No, no, no. I swear! I’m not that kind of person anymore. Besides, that man is in love with you. He was in love with you even when he was dating me… and I mean… I did try to tell you–” At Veronica’s glare, Tonks shook her head and raised her hands in surrender again. “But that’s beyond the point. My point is he’s had eyes only for you for as long as he’s known you. And that was before he had you. Now? I can’t imagine what he's like. He probably doesn’t let you leave his side.”

At that, Veronica smiled despite herself. “Well, you’re not wrong there.”

The glimmer of hope in Tonks’ eyes shone bright. “I can believe it! You two are so cute together. I wouldn’t dream of getting between you again… and besides… there’s actually someone else that I fancy now.”

“Really? Who? Do I know him?”

“Um, I’m not sure. He’s also in the Order, so it’s possible. His name is Remus–”

“Lupin!?! You fancy Remus Lupin!?! No way!”

“Yes, please Veronica, shout it louder. I don’t think the neighbours heard you yet.”

Veronica’s hands flew to her mouth as she hunched over and whispered, “Sorry! It’s just… I never would have pegged you for someone that was into older guys.” Veronica chuckled as Tonks shoved her shoulder. “What? I mean, I totally get it. He’s cute and incredibly sweet. We taught together at Hogwarts two years ago, and we grew quite close during that time. He’s a good guy.”

“Yeah, well I don’t think it’ll go anywhere, I can’t imagine he feels the same about me.”

“Why not? It’s not impossible, he–”

A knock interrupted her as Charlie’s voice rang out through the door. “Sugar, is everything okay? You’ve been in there for a while.”

Tonks smirked. “He calls you ‘sugar’? That’s so sickeningly adorable.”

Veronica blushed a deep shade of red as she ignored her. Instead, she pulled open the door to find Charlie standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame like he hadn’t just been deciding whether or not to break down the door to get to her. His arms were crossed tight over his chest, his brows drawn just slightly, the kind of subtle tension that most people would miss… but not her. She could see it in the way his shoulders were set, in the crease between his eyebrows, in the way his eyes flicked over her face like he was trying to read a stormcloud. The hallway light framed him in a warm, golden glow, catching on the edges of his flaming-red hair and the worn collar of his jumper. Despite the worry etched into his expression, or maybe because of it, her chest ached just looking at him. He was solid, grounding, so achingly familiar and breathtaking that for a second, all the air left her lungs. Even standing in silence, even weighed down by nerves, he looked like something pulled out of myth. In that moment, he couldn’t have looked more like a god if he tried.

She didn’t have to say a word. The second their eyes met, some of the tension in his shoulders eased – just enough to let him move.

Veronica chuckled softly as Charlie completely ignored Tonks and cupped her cheeks in his hands, stroking them with his thumbs. His eyes asked the question again – are you okay?

Veronica nodded as she gave him a quick kiss. “We’re good.”

“Good. Now come on, Lupin is here and apparently he’s got some info to share with us before the kids come down for breakfast.”

Tonks flushed at the name, and Veronica smirked. This is going to be fun.

Chapter Text

As Veronica pushed open the door to the kitchen, she heard the loud rustling of paper as Charlie, who had been sitting at the table with Sirius and Remus, moved to quickly shove the issue of the Daily Prophet they had been pouring over under the table and out of sight. Veronica’s eyebrows furrowed as she walked over and set down her mug of tea. The three men wore identical guilty expressions, and the anxiety in her chest heightened.

“What are you all up to? Why are you hiding that newspaper from me?” Veronica asked quizzically as she crossed her arms and stared at Charlie expectantly. He never hid anything from her, so his behaviour was strange to say the very least.

“It’s nothing, sugar. We were just finished with it, that’s all.” His eyes implored her to believe him, but the sweat on his brow told a completely different story.

“Then let me see i–”

“No!” Charlie couldn’t stop the outburst, and Veronica’s eyes narrowed. “I mean, Sirius spilled his tea all over it, so all the ink is smudged. You won’t be able to make out any of the words.”

“Really?” Veronica turned her gaze on Sirius. “Is that so?” The man nodded, but his eyes never met hers, so she rounded on the third man at the table. “Remus?”

“What? It… I… I mean… what Charlie said.”

“Right. Show me the paper, Charlie.”

“Sugar, it’s nothing. Really. There’s nothing of importance in it, it’s all just the same nonsense about Dumbledore and Harry, that’s all. I know how upset you get when you read what they say about them, so I didn’t want you to see it.”

Veronica’s eyes narrowed further until they were barely even visible. “I don’t believe you. You’re acting strange.”

“Charlie, just show her. You won’t be able to keep this from her forever.”

If looks could kill, Charlie’s glare would have put Remus six feet under. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Lupin.” He spat through gritted teeth; his emphasis on the man’s name was venomous. “I’m not keeping anything from her.”

Sirius reached under the table and pulled the paper from Charlie’s grip, placing it on the table in front of them. At the look of pure betrayal on Charlie’s face, he said, “Sorry, mate, but she’s going to find out eventually. It’s better to just rip the bandaid off and tell her ourselves.”

“What the hell is happening right now?” Veronica demanded, her eyes flicking between all three of them. “What did you guys do?

Charlie sighed as he stood from his chair and pulled it out for her. “Come sit, sugar.”

Veronica eyed him warily, but she didn’t argue as she walked around the table and sat in the chair he had vacated for her. As she scanned the front page of the Daily Prophet, she saw ten black-and-white photos that took up the whole page: nine wizards and one witch. Each photo had a caption with their name and the crime for which they had been sent to Azkaban. Antonin Dolohov – murder of the Prewetts. Augustus Rookwood – leaking Ministry of Magic secrets to Voldemort. 

It wasn’t until her eyes landed on the name of the witch that Veronica understood why Charlie had tried so hard to hide it from her. Bellatrix Lestrange – torture and permanent incapacitation of Frank and Alice Longbottom. Veronica’s throat went dry as she stared at the photo, seeing the face of the woman who had killed her grandparents for the first time. Bellatrix had long, dark hair that looked unkempt and straggly, and she glared up at them through heavily lidded eyes, an arrogant, disdainful smile on her thin lips.

By the time she read the headline of the article – MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN – she wasn’t sure which part she was most upset about: that Bellatrix had escaped, or that there was no mention of the murder of her grandparents. She knew it shouldn’t matter, that they probably only listed the final crime she had committed before going to prison, but it still stung to know her grandparents had been forgotten. That, to the rest of the Wizarding World, their deaths meant little more than collateral damage in the war against Voldemort. But to her… it had been a defining moment in her life. It had been the moment her world flipped completely on its axis. When she felt truly alone for the first time. When she had been left alone to deal with her parents. With her father.

“Sugar?” Charlie squeezed her hand from where he knelt by her side, and Veronica couldn’t help but wonder when he had gotten there. She hadn’t even heard him move. “It’s okay, love. You’re okay.”

It wasn’t until Charlie wiped her cheeks that she realized she had been crying, and when she looked around, Sirius and Remus were nowhere to be found. “What… what happened?” she sniffled quietly.

“You were just lost in your head the way you get sometimes. I figured it would be best if they weren’t here when you came back around.” Charlie moved a stray strand of hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. “I’m sorry I tried to hide it from you, sugar, but I didn’t want this to happen.”

Veronica shook her head softly. “No, I know you were only doing what you thought was best for me… and you were probably right.” Glancing back at the photo, she whispered, “She took everything from me,” the tears were back in full force, and she couldn’t stop them, “a-and this is the first time I’m seeing her face.”

Pulling her into his chest, Charlie held her close as she sobbed, her tears drenching his shirt in an instant. His heart ached; he hated seeing her like this, and he wished he could take her pain away. However, nothing could have prepared him for what she said next.

“I’m going to kill her, Charlie. If it’s the last thing I do, I am going to kill her.”

Chapter Text

“You’ll never believe what Harry did,” Charlie announced as he walked into their bedroom where Veronica had been getting dressed for the day.

Looking up from where she sat on the bed tying her shoelaces, she furrowed her brows and quirked her head. “Harry? What do you mean? What did he do?” If Charlie hadn’t been grinning like a madman, his question would have caused her to panic. What could he possibly have done while at Hogwarts that’s making Charlie so giddy?

In response, he handed her the magazine he had been holding, and her eyes widened at the contents of the front page. A large photo of Harry stared up at her and grinned sheepishly, and across it in big red letters read the words HARRY POTTER SPEAKS OUT AT LAST: THE TRUTH ABOUT HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED AND THE NIGHT I SAW HIM RETURN.

Veronica’s jaw dropped. “What!?! He did an interview? With who? Who runs this?”

Charlie chuckled. “I’m surprised you taught Luna Lovegood for three years, and she never mentioned it. It’s her dad’s magazine.”

“What– Art’s dad?” 

Charlie nodded. “Yeah. According to Moody, Xenophilius Lovegood never really writes about anything worthwhile – usually it’s all a bunch of nonsense – and so it’s not a very popular magazine.”

“And that’s the one Harry decided to do an interview for?”

Charlie shrugged. “Well, I’d imagine it’s the only one that would publish his story. Considering Luna goes to school with him, she probably talked to her dad, and Moody says The Quibbler is the only magazine that hasn’t been writing bad things about Harry and Dumbledore. It was probably his best shot, and so he went for it. And apparently, it’s doing so well, the issue has completely sold out, and Lovegood’s gotta start reprinting to keep up with the demand. Some people still think Harry’s crazy, of course, but a lot of people are starting to believe him.”

“Wow!” It was rare for Veronica to find herself at a loss for words. “That’s… Go, Harry. What a boss move.”

Charlie chuckled as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her towards the door. “Right? And you know what the best part is?”

“What?”

“I bet Umbridge is piiiiiiissed.”

***

As Veronica and Charlie put away the last of the dishes from that night’s dinner, their ears perked up as the unmistakable sound of the front door opening and closing cut through the silence. The pair froze.

“Did Sirius tell you we were expecting anyone tonight?” Veronica whispered as she quietly placed the plate she had been washing down and dried her hands. It was unusual for members of the Order to stop by unannounced.

Charlie shook his head but stayed quiet as the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs rang out and bounced off the concrete walls of the basement kitchen. Slowly stepping in front of Veronica, he pulled his wand out of his pocket and aimed it at the door.

Veronica huffed. She hated when he did that. She couldn’t help if she couldn’t see the threat. However, any attempt to move him out of the way was futile. She would have had better luck moving a mountain.

However, before she could argue with him, she heard a familiar voice ring out through the room. “You can put your wand away, Mr. Weasley. It won’t be needed tonight.”

“Headmaster! You scared us.”

“Apologies. That was never my intention.”

Once Charlie finally moved aside, Veronica saw Dumbledore standing in the doorway, looking tired yet riled up at the same time. “Albus? Are you okay? Why aren’t you at Hogwarts?”

“That is a very long story for another day, but let’s just say Cornelius Fudge and Dolores Umbridge have finally found the proof they needed to kick me out of my school.”

Veronica’s jaw dropped as she stared at him, dumbfounded. “What? What do you mean ‘kick you out’? You’re no longer Headmaster?”

Dumbledore gave his head the smallest of shakes as he sat down at the table. “As of,” he checked his watch, “an hour ago, the position would have been handed over to Dolores.”

“Oh dear Merlin,” Veronica whispered, burying her face in her hands, “those kids are doomed. Harry is doomed.”

“On the contrary, Veronica. As long as I continue to have teachers there that are loyal to me, they will be okay. Minerva and Severus–”

At the name, a scoff was heard from the doorway, and when they glanced over, they saw Sirius leaning on the doorframe. “Apologies if I don’t have the same faith in Snivellus as you do, Headmaster.”

“I know you have had your issues in the past, Sirius, but I trust Severus Snape with my life. That needs to be enough.”

When Sirius crossed his arms, but didn’t attempt to argue, Veronica decided to change the subject. “So Albus, what does this mean now? Are you staying here with us?”

Dumbledore turned back to her. “Oh, no. I will be spending the night but will be gone before any of you awake. There is much work to be done yet, and now that I no longer have a school to run, I can focus my energy elsewhere.”

“Do you need us to come with you?” Charlie couldn’t stop the hope from seeping into his voice. “Veronica and I can be very helpful. Mostly her, but I can help too.”

Dumbledore gave him a soft, sympathetic smile. “Not this time, Mr. Weasley. I understand you three must be tired of being locked up in this house, and your time to help will come sooner than you expect, but for now, I need you all to stay put.”

Both men sighed heavily from the opposite ends of the room, and Veronica squeezed Charlie’s hand. She knew how much he missed going on shifts at the Ministry and doing things for the Order, but selfishly, she had been glad when it ended. She didn’t want him to get hurt again. She would do anything to make sure he didn’t get hurt again.

Chapter Text

“You know, Veronica? I remember when we would spend all those afternoons drinking tea or pumpkin juice in my office at Hogwarts, and you would tell me about how much you missed Charlie, and now, to see you two together… I’m very happy for you.”

“Thank you, Remus. We’ve honestly come so far since then, I don’t even recognize my life anymore, and if you had asked me then, I never would have guessed it would turn out this way.”

Remus shook his head. “Oh, I know. You were convinced you’d never see him again.”

The pair chuckled as they sat at the kitchen table reminiscing about their time teaching at Hogwarts and catching each other up on the last year and a half. Veronica couldn’t quite believe how much had changed for the two of them since they last saw each other.

“So, what about you,” she asked as she held her mug of tea tightly in her hands, warming them, “Anyone special in your life?”

Remus eyed her wearily, as if he were debating between telling her or simply keeping it to himself. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he seemed to choose the former. “Well, no, but… Veronica, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I… I seem to be enjoying Tonks’ company more than would be considered professional or appropriate.”

Veronica chuckled into her mug. “It sounds to me like you fancy her.”

“No, that’s… that’s not possible. I can’t, I… I couldn’t… I–”

“Remus, breathe.” Veronica reached across the table and squeezed his hand gently. “Why can’t you? What are you afraid of?”

Remus scoffed. “Are you kidding? The more appropriate question would be what aren’t I afraid of. I’m much too old for her, and that is not to mention my affliction, my societal status, my poverty, the fact that she most certainly could not feel the same. Must I go on?”

Veronica opened her mouth to argue when a sudden unexpected voice rang through the brief silence.

“Sirius?”

Veronica jumped, and frantically glanced around the room, trying to find where Harry’s voice had come from, when she glanced at Remus and saw him facing away from her and staring at the fireplace behind him. Veronica couldn’t see the hearth from where she sat, but she knew what she would see before she even stood up.

Harry’s disembodied, floating head was staring at them through the fire, and Veronica’s jaw dropped. She had reconnected the fireplace to the Floo Network only a week prior on Dumbledore’s orders, but she hadn’t expected Harry to use it. Had he tried to use it before but hadn’t been able to get through?

“Harry!” Remus exclaimed, and Veronica didn’t need to see his face to know shock was written all over it. “What are you– What’s happened? Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, I just wondered… I mean, I just fancied a… a chat with Sirius.”

“I’ll call him,” Remus said as he got to his feet. “He went upstairs to look for Kreacher, he seems to be hiding in the attic again…”

Veronica put out her hand as she stepped toward the door. “I’ll go. You stay and try to get some information out of him. He must be using the toad’s fireplace – he wouldn’t be stupid enough to use any other – which means she could be back any second.”

Veronica didn’t give Remus a chance to argue before bolting out the door and up the stairs two at a time. It didn’t take long for her to find Charlie and Sirius in the attic, and the look on her face had both men appearing at her side in an instant.

“What’s the matter, sugar? Are you okay?”

Veronica shook her head frantically as she locked eyes with Sirius. “It’s Harry.” Sirius hadn’t waited to hear any more before he bolted down the stairs. “He’s using the Floo Network, he wants to speak with you. We don’t know about what. He looks okay though.” She rushed out as she tried to keep up. Charlie was right on her heels.

Once they burst through the kitchen door, Sirius rushed to where Remus was kneeling in front of the fireplace and joined him on his knees. Veronica and Charlie stood just behind them, his arm around her waist as he pulled her close.

“What is it?” Sirius demanded. “Are you alright? Do you need help?”

“No! It’s nothing like that… I just wanted to talk… about my dad.”

As Harry told them the story of what he had seen in the pensieve, Veronica’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t believe Harry had done something so reckless and put them all in danger just to have Sirius reassure him about his father. She had thought Harry would have known better… or at least that Hermione would have talked some sense into him at the mere mention of it. And worse, she couldn’t believe Sirius and Remus were indulging him.

She had heard enough. “I’m going upstairs,” she told Charlie as she shook her head and crossed her arms. “I won’t be a part of this. This is not what Albus had had in mind when he asked me to reconnect the fireplace.”

Storming up the stairs and into their room, Veronica sighed in frustration as she leaned against the bedroom door and ran her hands down her face. She had thought Sirius was the only one that needed to grow up and take this war seriously, but to find out Remus was just as bad… It was disappointing.

“Long day?”

Veronica nearly jumped out of her skin for the second time that afternoon. She had no idea how long she had been standing there, but when she glanced around, she locked eyes with Phineas Nigellus’ portrait, which had been vacant since his last visit. At the thought, her heart dropped.

“Oh dear Merlin, please don’t tell me you’re here with more bad news. I don’t think I can handle anything else today.”

“Well, it depends on what you consider ‘bad news’. I have overheard from the other portraits that Messrs. Fred and George Weasley have just created a swamp in one of the school corridors, caused a scene in front of the Headmistress, and then proceeded to fly out of the school on broomsticks.”

“They did what!?!”

***

“Merlin, not Hagrid too! She’s picking off the members of the Order one by one! You don’t think she knows, do you?”

“Oh no, I believe she is simply targeting those who are especially loyal to me.” Dumbledore took a sip of his tea as if it were any other day. As if he hadn’t shown up with more bad news.

Veronica was getting sick and tired of it. “So who’s left now? Minerva and Severus?”

“Well, at the moment… just Severus.”

Veronica’s eyebrows furrowed. “What? What do you mean? Why isn’t Minerva there?”

“She was injured during last night’s battle. She took four Stunning Spells to the chest, so she’s been taken to St. Mungo’s.”

“She what!?!”

Chapter Text

As Veronica lay on her back and stared blankly at the ceiling, tears slipped silently down her cheeks and pooled in her ears. She didn’t know how long she’d been lying there like that – long enough for her tea to go cold on the bedside table, long enough for the weight in her chest to feel almost familiar. She wasn’t even sure what had started it, but once the tears began, they just… wouldn’t stop. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t close the floodgates.

The soft creak of the bedroom door cut through the quiet like a whisper, and her eyes darted toward it. Charlie stood in the doorway, framed by the hallway light, his expression shifting the instant he saw her tearstained face.

“Sugar…” he breathed, crossing the room in a few quick steps. He sank down onto the edge of the bed, his hand already moving to brush her cheek with his knuckles. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

“I… I don’t know,” Veronica choked out, her voice trembling. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just… c-can’t stop.”

Charlie exhaled slowly, stroking his hand up and down her arm. “It’s probably everything,” he said softly. “Everything we’ve been carrying. Sirius and I complain and mope when we’re frustrated, but you… you try to hold it together. You cheer us up, hold the damn house together, and push everything you feel down. But it has to go somewhere, sugar. You can’t keep bottling it up. Eventually, it spills out.”

Veronica sniffled and sat up, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her jumper. “You’re probably right. I’ll try to… I don’t know, find something to focus all this into. Something that doesn’t involve crying into my ears.”

Charlie let out a quiet laugh and leaned forward to press a kiss to her forehead. “I love you,” he murmured. “And I’m always here if you need to talk… about any of it. I hate walking in and finding you like this, thinking you’re alone in it.”

“I know,” she whispered, curling into his chest and tucking her face against his neck. His warmth, his scent, it was the first thing that made her feel steady again. “I’m sorry.”

“Hey,” he said gently, swatting her shoulder. “Don’t apologize. If anything, I should be the one saying sorry. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own frustration that I haven’t been paying enough attention to how you’re feeling. This place is making me lose my mind.”

“Tell me about it,” she mumbled into his skin.

The couple sat together in a comfortable silence for a while before there was a knock at the door, and Sirius’ voice rang out. “Weasley? Are you in there? What’s taking so long?”

At that, Charlie jumped up. “Oh Merlin, I completely forgot what I had come in here for… Sugar, we need you to come with us. Buckbeak’s been hurt–”

“What?” Veronica sat up straighter as her eyes widened. “What do you mean he’s ‘been hurt’? What happened?”

“We’re not sure. We think Kreacher must have done something, but Buckbeak is freaking out and won’t let us anywhere near him. We need you to calm him down so that we can get close enough to figure out what happened.”

Veronica was up and out of the door in an instant, almost knocking Sirius over in her haste to get to the Hippogriff. Both men followed hastily behind her until they reached the door to Buckbeak’s room, and the pained sounds coming from inside broke her heart. Asking them to give her a minute alone, she slipped in and softly shut the door behind her.

At the click of the door, Buckbeak’s head whipped around to see who it was. However, the moment his frantic eyes landed on hers, he let out a whimper and trotted over to her before resting his large head in her waiting arms.

“Hi, sweet boy. What happened to you, hm? Can you tell me what happened?”

Veronica closed her eyes as her hands made contact with Buckbeak’s feathered face, and she focused on locating her aura, allowing its warmth to fill up her whole body. Once it reached her fingertips, she focused on pushing it past the confines of her skin and urged it to reach into the depths of Buckbeak’s mind. She was looking for a memory. The memory. And suddenly, she was watching the events of that afternoon play out through Buckbeak’s eyes.

She watched as Kreacher entered the room with his hands behind his back. She felt trust radiating through her as she watched the elf approach. Then, she felt nothing but fear and panic. An intense pain exploded through the barrel of her body as a blade ripped and tore through her flesh. Blood and feathers were all she could see as she thrashed around and cried out.

Veronica felt the connection sever as she was yanked out of Buckbeak’s memory. It took her a moment to catch her bearings, but she could feel familiar arms wrapped around her, and when she looked up into his eyes, she could see the fear there.

“What the bloody hell was that? You were screaming, and your eyes were completely white and glassy. I was standing right in front of you, but you couldn’t hear or see me.”

“I… I was looking back through his memory to see what happened.”

Charlie’s mouth fell open as he gaped at her. “You… what? I didn’t know you could do that.”

Veronica shrugged. “It’s a rather new discovery I made by accident back in Romania. I was going to tell you about it that last night, but then everything went to hell, and it just slipped my mind.” 

Before Charlie could question her further, she turned her attention back to the injured Hippogriff, and he knew he had to put a pin on their conversation for the time being. “So what did you see, sugar? What happened?”

As Veronica recounted what she saw and showed them where Buckbeak was hurt, they all got to work patching him up.

Chapter Text

“Veronica, we’re almost done here,” Sirius said as he poked his head out from behind Buckbeak to look at her. “Do you mind running downstairs and grabbing a couple ferrets for him? They’re in a cupboard in the pantry.”

“Oh… Sure, no problem–”

“No, no,” Charlie interjected. “Sugar, give me a second to finish up here, and I’ll go get them. You don’t like seeing the dead animals like that – it was bad enough you had to come in here and see Buckbeak’s blood everywhere, and you witnessed the memory of what happened. That’s enough for one day.”

Veronica’s heart melted at his concern and the way he knew her so well. And despite herself, she sighed in relief at his offer. “If you wouldn’t mind, love, that would be really appreciated. Thank you. I can run down and get dinner started in the meantime. Some of the others are joining us tonight, even Albus is coming.”

“Oh right, I forgot about that. That sounds good, thanks sugar.”

With that, Veronica slipped out of the room, and made her way down the stairs, but as she turned the corner and approached the door to the basement kitchen, she could hear muffled voices coming from inside. She couldn’t make out what they were saying, or who they even belonged to, but she didn’t get a chance to find out before the door swung open and Kreacher came scurrying into the hall. 

Just before the door shut behind him, Veronica could have sworn she heard Harry’s voice, but she didn’t get to hear what he said before the door slammed shut. Why did Harry sound so angry? What was he doing talking to Kreacher anyway? Why didn’t Kreacher just come get us?

When the elf’s eyes landed on her, he paled slightly and his smirk instantly vanished. An uneasy feeling washed over her. She wasn’t sure what he had done, but she knew it wasn’t good.

“Who was that you were speaking to, Kreacher? Was it Harry?”

“Oh no, Miss Veronica. Kreacher was just talking to himself. Kreacher always talks to himself.”

Veronica frowned as she crossed her arms over her chest. While the statement itself was believable, the circumstances were suspicious, and she found herself unable to believe him. However, after what he did to Buckbeak, she wasn’t sure she even wanted to know what was going on with him, and since she couldn’t be one hundred percent sure it was even Harry’s voice she had heard, she decided to let it go for the time being.

“Just go upstairs, Kreacher. I’m very disappointed in you today.” She didn’t wait for a response before slipping into the kitchen. It had been a long day, and the ordeal with Buckbeak had taken its toll – she was just ready to eat something and go to bed.

Veronica was thankful for the time alone as she began prepping dinner. She allowed her thoughts to wander back to what she had seen and felt when she had looked through Buckbeak’s mind. The pure innocence that creatures like him possessed – it was beautiful and refreshing to get to experience it first hand, even if it was only for a brief time. The trust he had felt when Kreacher walked into the room was unlike anything she had ever experienced. She trusted Charlie with her whole soul, but it paled in comparison to what Buckbeak felt in those few seconds before the attack. Veronica wasn’t sure humans were even capable of such deep trust. 

However, the moment Kreacher had begun slicing into him… the fear and panic would have consumed her if Charlie hadn’t pulled her out when he did. She couldn’t believe Kreacher had been able to hurt another magical creature so unashamedly and with no remorse. But more than that, she couldn’t understand why he had done it. It seemed like such a random attack. Buckbeak hadn’t done anything to hurt or upset him, yet he had been on the receiving end of Kreacher’s wrath. She couldn’t make sense of it.

“Sugar? Come back to me, love.”

Veronica jumped as Charlie’s voice cut through her daze, and as she scanned the room, she noted the fully set dining table, the food she had only just begun making ready to serve, and the other members of the Order standing in the doorway. As she turned back to Charlie, she cupped his cheek and rubbed a thumb across it as she tried to urge the look of concern off his face. “I did it again, didn’t I? I had another blackout just now?”

Charlie gave a tight nod, but didn’t say anything as he stared into her eyes, and Veronica knew there was nothing more he wanted in that moment than to be able to read her mind.

“I’m okay,” she whispered. “I promise I’m okay. I was just thinking about Buckbeak and Kreacher, that’s all.”

Charlie took a few more minutes to scan her face, but once he was satisfied she was telling the truth, he released her just enough to allow her to turn to the others.

“Sit, sit! Everyone sit and dig in, don’t let the food get cold.”

Simultaneously, the group glanced at Charlie, and only after he nodded did they move, and their chatter and the scraping of chairs instantly filled the room.

Veronica chuckled as she shook her head at them, but when Charlie still didn’t let her go, she turned to him with her eyebrow raised. “Is everything okay?”

“I don’t know,” Charlie admitted. “Snape used this portrait of an old Headmaster that was apparently related to Sirius – did you know that empty portrait in our room wasn’t actually empty but that this Headmaster could–”

“Yes, yes,” she interrupted quickly. “Back in December, that’s how Dumbledore told us that you and your dad had been attacked. Phineas Nigellus. What about him? You said Snape used him? How could he have done that without Umbridge finding out? She’s the Headmistress now.”

Veronica could tell Charlie wanted to question her further about the first part of her statement, but he decided against it as he knew there were more pressing matters that she needed to be aware of. “I’m not sure. Phineas didn’t say. He only asked if Sirius was here, which of course he was; he was looking right at him. But for some reason, Snape wanted to know. He wouldn’t say why, but we’re all a bit on edge now.”

As his words sunk in, a feeling of dread washed over her. She wasn’t sure why, but she had a nagging feeling that something bad was going to happen.

Chapter Text

“What? What do you mean ‘Harry’s gone’? Where did he go?” Sirius’ panic permeated the room and flooded her veins with fear. The moment they had heard Phineas’ voice yelling from upstairs, she had known it was bad, but she hadn’t been expecting his next words.

“The Dark Lord has given him a vision of you being held captive in the Department of Mysteries. Harry had given Professor Snape the message earlier, and that was why he had checked in. To make sure all was well. However, Harry has not returned from his trip into the Forbidden Forest with the new Headmistress, and so it is believed he has left the school with a few of his fellow peers to rescue you.”

Veronica had never seen Sirius looking so pale, and she thought he might fall over any second. A heavy silence had fallen over them, and she was thankful that Moody had broken it when he did. She wasn’t sure she could have handled much more.

“Thank you, Phineas. We will go after them.” Moody turned to address the team, but Phineas interrupted with one final message.

“Severus Snape will proceed to search the Forest in the event that Mr. Potter is still there, but he has requested that my great-great-grandson remain at Headquarters to provide Albus Dumbledore with an update on the situation. He should be due to arrive shortly.”

Sirius hadn’t even waited for Phineas to finish his sentence before shaking his head furiously. “No. Absolutely not. I refuse to stay behind. I am going after my godson, and not one of you can stop me.”

“Sirius, think about this for a second, maybe this is what Voldemort wants.” Veronica urged. “He wants you to come save him so that he can use you against Harry for real.”

“I don’t care! I’m going. If it were Charlie preparing to walk into You-Know-Who’s trap, would you stay behind?”

And with that, Veronica was silenced instantly. She knew the answer – there wouldn’t be anyone capable of making her stay behind if it were Charlie in danger.

“Speaking of,” Charlie cleared his throat as he turned her to face him, “sugar, I think you should stay here. I–”

“Oh, no, no, no.” Veronica crossed her arms over her chest as she glared up at him. “Don’t even think about it. I’m coming.” 

“Love, You-Know-Who wants you. He has his Death Eaters looking for you. It’s like you told Sirius… this is most likely a trap for you as much as it is for Harry.”

“Charlie, you know how much it’s been affecting me to be locked up in this house. Please don’t ask me to stay behind.”

“Then at least transfigure yourself the way you did at the hospital.”

“No! I refuse to hide like a coward. I’m going, and I’m going as me. If Voldemort wants me, he can go ahead and try to take me. I won’t make it easy for him.”

Charlie opened his mouth to argue, but Moody shut it down. “Enough,” he barked. “We’re wasting time we don’t have. Everyone’s coming; we need all the wands we can get. Now, let’s go.”

***

As they each apparated onto Whitehall, the dark and empty street made the hair on the back of Veronica’s neck stand up. She had almost been expecting to be ambushed by Death Eaters the moment they landed, so the silence was made ever more eerie by their absence. About fifty yards ahead, she could see spiked black railings lining two flights of steps, one labelled GENTLEMEN and the other LADIES, and she knew they led to the underground public toilets that housed the employee entrances to the Ministry of Magic. They were exactly the way Charlie had described them.

“Are we splitting up, then?” she asked as Tonks handed her a small golden coin embossed with the letters M.O.M.

Charlie and Moody responded simultaneously, although one’s “no” was much more emphatic than the other. Veronica couldn’t help but roll her eyes, but she didn’t argue as Moody led the way down the stairs labelled GENTLEMEN and into the dingy black-and-white-tiled bathroom with Kingsley bringing up the rear. Splitting up into a group of four and a group of three, they each stood in front of an empty stall and inserted their coins into a slot in the door.

As Veronica stared into the toilet bowl in front of her, she was surprised to see it full of water, and she cringed as she stepped into it, holding her breath as she waited for the uncomfortable feeling of the water seeping into her shoes and socks. However, it never came; she remained completely dry. On Moody’s count of three, she reached up and pulled the chain, and she found herself zooming down a short chute and emerging from a fireplace into the deserted atrium of the Ministry of Magic.

This was Veronica’s first time visiting the Ministry, but she didn’t get a chance to take in much more than the highly polished wood floors and walls and the peacock blue ceiling with its ever-changing golden symbols before the second group joined them, and they all took off in a run. With Moody and Tonks leading the charge, they sprinted past the fountain with its golden statues, passed an empty security desk and through the golden gates that led to the lifts. Moody pressed the down button nearest to him, and a lift clattered into sight almost immediately. The grilles slid apart with a loud clang, and they all hurried inside. As the grilles closed with a bang, Remus pressed the button for the ninth floor, and the lift began its rowdy descent.

Their ride wasn’t long as they only had to go down one floor, and when the lift came to a stop, a cool female voice said, “Department of Mysteries,” before the grilles slid open. As they stepped out onto the corridor, Veronica couldn’t take her eyes off the black door at the other end. She knew that was where they needed to go – it was the only door in the corridor – but the unknown that laid beyond made her anxious.

It took little more than approaching the door for it to swing open, and the seven of them crossed over the threshold and into a circular room lined with around a dozen identical looking black doors with no handles. In this room, everything was black, even the floors and ceiling, so the blue-flamed candles lining the walls did little to light the space. As Veronica looked around at the doors, she found herself drawn to one in particular on the other side of the room, and the pull only got stronger the closer she got. Placing her hand on the door gently, an instant rush of negative emotions burned through her veins like acid. Fear. Anger. Pain. Flashes of experiments and testing. The feeling of being poked and prodded. It consumed her and set her alight until she finally managed to force her hand away and jumped back, a sharp gasp escaping her lips as her hand flew to her mouth and tears brimmed her eyes.

Charlie was by her side in an instant. “What happened? Are you okay?”

Veronica shook her head as she looked up at him, her tears threatening to spill over. “There are magical creatures in there… and they’re in pain. They’re doing things to them. They– they– they’re hurting them.”

Charlie pulled her to his chest and kissed her forehead gently.

“Okay, let’s avoid touching anything else if we can help it,” Moody called out.

Just then, the sliver of light coming in from the door they had entered slowly faded as it shut behind them, and the darkness that followed was all-encompassing. Nothing could be seen apart from the blue flames flickering on the walls and their reflection on the glossy floor. Before their eyes could adjust, a loud rumbling sound filled the room, and the flames began to move sideways as the wall began to spin. As it sped up, the flames blurred together until they resembled blue neon string lights, then mere seconds later, it all stopped and the room went silent and still once more.

Veronica shook her head as she shut her eyes tight and scrunched up her face, but the blue streaks were all she could see.

Moody, who seemed to be unphased by what had just happened, gave them only a moment to recover before he spoke aloud as if addressing the room itself. “Where is Harry Potter?”

The room seemed to think for a breath before two doors swung open side-by-side. Rushing through the doors into the room, they instantly began showering the Death Eaters with spells. Veronica and Charlie were the last ones to enter, and they took a moment to survey the scene. They were in a large rectangular room with steep stone benches leading down to a deep pit in the middle. In the centre of the pit, there was a raised platform holding up an archway that looked like it could crumble to the ground at any second. The tattered curtain that hung from the archway swayed slightly, and despite the chaotic noises coming from the duels all around her, Veronica could swear she could hear voices coming from within the archway.

“What do you think they’re saying?” Veronica mumbled as she slowly stepped from one stone bench to the other, as if in a daze.

“What?” Charlie tried to grab her arm, to pull her back to him, but she slipped just out of his reach. “Veronica, come back. What who’s saying?”

“The voices in the archway.” Her voice was soft, and it could barely be heard over the commotion around them.

“Sugar, there are no voices in the archway. Come, I only see Harry and this other boy in here. Ron and Hermione aren’t here. We need to go find them.”

Harry? Ron and Hermione? Of course! Veronica shook her head, forcing herself to remember the task at hand as she tore her eyes away from the ominous arch and spotted Harry and… Neville? What the hell is Neville doing here?

Turning back to Charlie, she took his hand as he helped her back up the benches. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

Chapter Text

As they reentered the circular room and all the doors shut again, Veronica closed her eyes tight, anticipating the spinning walls, and once they stopped, she addressed the room the same way Moody had. “Where are the rest of them? Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger and anyone else that may have come with them. Where are they?”

Veronica had barely had to finish her sentence when a door popped open across from them. With their wands at the ready, Charlie led them into the new room. The lamps hanging low on golden chains gave the room a bright glow and illuminated the few desks occupying the space. In the middle of the room, a large glass tank filled with a deep green liquid housed a number of pearly white objects that drifted around in it lazily. At the other end of the room, a door had been left wide open. Streams of light darted past, and loud shouts and curses came from the room beyond.

As Veronica and Charlie tried to get closer to get a better look at the tank, a groaning sound came from near their feet, and Veronica jumped in surprise when she saw Ron laying on his back with what looked like a brain attached to his face, its tentacles wrapped around his arms, chest and neck. 

Veronica instructed Charlie to find the others as she fell to her knees by Ron’s side. Upon closer inspection, she noticed the tentacles weren’t tentacles at all but seemed to be strings of thoughts. The ribbons of moving images were attached to the base of the brain and were latched on so tightly to Ron that they almost melded right into his skin.

As Veronica instinctively reached out to attempt to pull the brain off him, her fingers were mere inches from it when she jerked back, her own brain finally kicking in at the last moment. She couldn’t risk having it latch onto her instead. As she examined it further and considered her options, one thing was clear. “Ron, you have to relax. Your struggling is only making it worse.” However, he either couldn’t hear her or couldn’t get himself to relax as he continued to fidget and fight against the foreign object latching on to him.

A million options flashed through her mind, and Veronica quickly weighed the pros and cons of each. Diffindo would allow her to slice the tentacles off, but she ran the risk of cutting Ron in the process. Finite or Finite Incantatem could also work, but only if the brain’s attack was the result of an enchantment or spell. If not, she ran the risk of upsetting it and making things worse. Finally, she landed on Relashio as her best option to force it to release its hold, and once it did and sprang into the air, Veronica released a breath of relief. 

It didn’t last long. 

Glancing at the brain, she expected it to fall to the ground limply or float back over to its tank. What she wasn’t expecting was to have to think fast when it turned to her with its tentacles outstretched, looking to latch onto a new host like an Octopus with its prey. With no time to hesitate, she casted the Levitation Charm and the brain halted its movement, no longer floating towards her but simply floating in place. Standing, she walked it over to the tank where she could now see others like it drifting by in the green liquid within and dropped it in to join them. She waited a moment to ensure it wouldn’t come jumping back out, and then moved back over to Ron.

His arms were covered in deep burns and welts that looked like they were carved into them. The scars, which seemed to be moving beneath his skin, resembled writing or patterns, as if the brain had tried to imprint thoughts or knowledge onto his body. In addition to the physical toll, the attack seemed to have had a mental toll on him as well – he was delirious, talking nonsense under his breath. However, he didn’t look like he was in any pain, so Veronica took that as a good sign to check on the others.

Looking around, she took stock of the others in the room. She saw Charlie crouched over an unconscious Hermione as he waved his wand over her from head to foot, a look of concentration on his face as he tried to determine what had knocked her out and how he could undo it. Ginny was sitting up, and while she looked a little dazed and was holding onto her ankle and wincing slightly, she seemed otherwise unharmed. Veronica finally then turned to the last body in the room. Once her eyes landed on the blonde hair, she knew who it was.

“Merlin… Neville, Ginny and Luna? What did they think this was? A field trip?” She muttered as she rushed over.

Just as she reached her, the door behind them burst open, and Dumbledore came storming into the room, his wand at the ready and looking more furious than she had ever seen him. “Thank Merlin, it’s about time he showed up,” she whispered as he took long strides across the room.

“Is everything alright in here?” he demanded. “You two have got it under control?”

“Yes, yes, we’re good. The rest of them are just through there,” Veronica said as she pointed to the open door where jets of light could still be seen and yelling could still be heard. “They need you more than we do. I counted about ten Death Eaters when we were last there, and there’s five of our people, plus Neville and Harry.”

Dumbledore nodded his appreciation for the information but didn’t say a word as he made his way over to the door and disappeared through it. It wasn’t long before most of the noise beyond had stopped, and Veronica couldn’t help but sigh in relief; surely it would all be over soon as no one stood a chance against Albus Dumbledore.

Kneeling down at Luna’s side, Veronica placed two fingers at her throat and was relieved to find a faint pulse. If her father had lost her too… Veronica couldn’t even imagine. Softly, she patted her cheeks. “Luna? Luna, sweetheart, can you hear me?” When the girl didn’t stir, Veronica waved her wand over her, casting Finite Incantatem in the hopes that it was the effects of a spell or two that had knocked her out. Sure enough, her eyes began to flutter moments later and soft groans escaped her lips. “You’re okay, Luna love, I’ve got you, okay? Can you tell me if you’re–”

“SIRIUS!” The sound of Harry’s scream reverberated off the walls and nearly made her jump out of her skin. “SIRIUS!”

As Veronica glanced over her shoulder at Charlie with weary eyes, she found the look reflected back at her, and it was clear they may not know what had happened, but it was something terrible.

Chapter Text

As Veronica and Charlie stepped through the open door and stood at the top of the room, they stared down into the pit at a chaotic scene. Harry was being held back from running towards the arch by Lupin, and he was yelling for Sirius like his life depended on it. Tonks was laying unconscious on the ground while Moody, laying on his side and bleeding from his head, tried to wake her. Kingsley was locked in a duel with a long-haired witch, but as she had her back to them, Veronica couldn’t tell who she was. Sirius was nowhere to be found. 

Seeing Dumbledore taking on the remaining nine Death Eaters alone, Veronica was filled with a renewed purpose as she ran down into the pit to help him, Charlie right on her heels. It was clear the Death Eaters had recognized her the moment they saw her, but as they each slipped away from Dumbledore to take her on, they quickly realized just how powerful she was as she began wrangling them up like cattle.

Veronica spun on her heel as she dodged spell after spell – her latest opponent Lucius Malfoy, whose jaw clenched as they danced around each other – when a loud bang rang out behind them. The shrill yell that followed made the pair jump. Using the moment of distraction, Veronica managed to overpower and restrain Malfoy before she, Charlie and Dumbledore spun around to the source of the sounds. They watched Kingsley hit the ground, yelling in pain. The woman he had been fighting turned tail and ran as Dumbledore aimed a spell at her, but she deflected it and got halfway up the steps before another loud shout filled the room.

“Harry– no!”

Darting their eyes over, they watched as Harry slipped Remus’ hold. “SHE KILLED SIRIUS!” He bellowed. “SHE KILLED HIM – I’LL KILL HER!” And he was off, scrambling up the stone benches after her.

As the woman reached the door to the brain room, she glanced back over her shoulder for a moment, and that was when Veronica finally got a look at her face. 

Her blood ran cold. 

Bellatrix Lestrange. Veronica had only seen the woman’s photo that one time in the Daily Prophet, but she knew without a doubt it was her.

Veronica took a step towards where Lestrange had now disappeared, but Dumbledore’s voice stopped her in her tracks. “No.” Turning to him with her eyebrows furrowed and jaw dropped, she was brought back to the moment at hand as a spell just nearly missed her, a sharp sting burning her ear as it grazed her skin. They needed to subdue the rest of the Death Eaters first or they would go after the already-injured Order members and kids.

They worked as quickly as they could to round everyone up, and once they were all contained in the middle of the room, Dumbledore placed an anti-disapparition charm around them to prevent them from being able to flee. He then turned to Veronica. “I want you to stay here.”

“What? No! I– She– No!” Veronica shook her head furiously, her eyes wide.

“Veronica,” Dumbledore sighed, “Voldemort has had his followers looking for you for almost a year now. What do you think Bellatrix is going to do when she sees you?”

“I can take her!” she exclaimed incredulously.

“I know you can. I never dared say otherwise. And your time will come. But it is not today.” And without leaving room for argument, he turned and hurried out of the room through the door Harry and Bellatrix had disappeared through.

Veronica moved to follow – choosing to ignore Dumbledore’s words – but Charlie stepped in front of her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his chest as he placed soft kisses to the top of her head. “Don’t, sugar. Let him handle this.”

Veronica tried to pull away and argue, but Remus’ voice sounded behind her, shaky and uneven, making her freeze. “They’re right, Veronica. She’s not worth it.” She could tell he was trying his best to hold himself together. 

Pulling away from Charlie, she asked the question she already knew the answer to. “What happened to Sirius? Is– is he– did she really–”

Remus nodded, and the pained look on his face broke her heart. Veronica turned to him fully and hugged him tight, and from the way his arms shook around her, she knew he had needed it. They both did. She may not have known Sirius for very long, and they may have butted heads more often than not, but at the end of the day, they were friends. How could they not be when they spent months alone together in that house chatting, playing Wizard’s Chess, drinking tea, and worst of all… dreaming about the days when they wouldn’t have to be locked up? When they could leave that damned house for good. 

But now… Sirius would never get to see it. He had died before his name could be cleared. He had died after being locked away or in hiding in one way or another for fifteen years. And at that moment, Veronica knew one thing for sure… she refused to do the same.

***

As they entered Grimmauld Place, a sorrowful silence descended upon them. They had just taken Tonks to St. Mungo’s for treatment, and Kingsley had stayed behind at the Ministry to deal with the aftermath of Voldemort’s appearance, so the remaining four trudged their way back to Headquarters where they found Arthur and Molly waiting anxiously for news.

“... and that’s when Fudge was forced to eat his words in front of everyone and finally admit that You-Know-Who’s back,” Charlie concluded as they all sat around the table.

Remus slowly stood and retreated to the pantry before returning with a bottle of Firewhiskey and six glasses. Pouring a small amount of the liquid into each glass, he passed them around before holding his own to the sky. They all followed suit. 

“To Sirius Orion Black. The most insufferable, infuriating, loyal bastard I ever had the honour of loving like a brother. He was chaos in human form. Always had to have the last word, always had to look cool doing it… even when we were fifteen and he fell off his broom as he was showing off and cracked a rib. He still bowed.” 

They all chuckled softly, and Molly and Veronica both wiped tears from their eyes. 

“But gods, he was brave. Brave in the way only someone who’s had everything taken from him can be – and still chooses to love. To fight. To stay.” 

Remus paused as his voice shook, and Veronica took his hand in hers. She gave it a light squeeze, and he squeezed back before continuing. 

“He would’ve hated us getting all sentimental over him. Which is exactly why I’m doing it. And wherever he is now… I’d like to think James is handing him a drink, Lily’s pretending not to roll her eyes, and for once, he’s not shut away anymore… he’s finally free. To Padfoot. May he raise hell, wherever he is.”

Chapter Text

“Alright, listen up!” Moody barked once the buzz from Lupin’s toast had died down. “Orders from Dumbledore. We clear out – fast. Strip the place of anything that ties back to us or the Order. Every scrap, every trace – gone. We don’t know who the house belongs to now that Sirius is gone, but odds are it’s fallen to his darling cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange.” His magical eye swivelled toward the door. “If that’s true, we could have Death Eaters kicking it in any second, so move like your lives depend on it – because they bloody well might.”

With that, Molly bid them all farewell as she left for the Burrow ahead of them to prepare breakfast, and as the rest of them split off to different parts of the house, Veronica and Charlie ran up the stairs to their room to pack their things. The tension was palpable, and Veronica’s fear and anxiety was radiating off her in waves. Shutting the door softly, Charlie turned to her and urged her to halt her movements, pulling her into him. “Talk to me, sugar. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

Veronica sighed as she closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against his shoulder, the ache in her chest and burn behind her eyes a constant reminder of all they had lost and everything they still had to lose. “I… I’m terrified of leaving Headquarters.”

Of all the things he had expected her to say, this wasn’t one of them. “What? Why? We’ve been dreaming about this for months. You’ve been dreaming about this for months.”

“I know, I know… but I wanted it to be on our terms. I just… I hate that we aren’t being given a choice. We haven’t even had time to prepare or make a plan, and… I’m scared. Charlie, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to your family because of me.”

“Our family,” Charlie corrected without any hesitation. “Sugar, now that You-Know-Who has been outed, it won’t be safe for anyone anywhere. He’s going to be able to move out in the open now – we’re all in danger. Besides, they’re in the Order, they’re in danger regardless.” He shrugged. “They may even be better off having someone of your calibre around.”

Veronica shook her head adamantly. “Voldemort isn’t actively looking for any of you, Charlie. He’s looking for me. And they found me once. Who’s to say they won’t find me again now that I don’t have the protection of Headquarters behind me?”

“Veronica,” he urged as he cupped her cheek, “we handled it before, didn’t we? You and me, we handled it once, so we can handle it again. Besides, there are plenty of wards around the house – not only to protect you, but Harry as well. And next school year, the youngsters will be back at Hogwarts, and everyone else can take care of themselves. Anyway, there’s strength in numbers. We'll all protect each other. We’ll be fine… please don’t worry, sugar.” He kissed her temple softly. “Now come on, let’s finish packing so we can help them clear the house, okay?”

Veronica sighed as she resumed packing. She knew he was right, but the fear gripping her throat didn’t lessen – she didn’t think it would as long as Voldemort was alive. 

Once the house had been searched and every room had been cleared, the group left Headquarters with heavy hearts. Moody took Kreacher with him as he waited for Dumbledore’s instructions on what to do with him, Remus took Buckbeak – newly christened Witherwings – to Hagrid at Hogwarts, and Veronica, Charlie, and Arthur took off for the Burrow.

***

As soon as they stepped through the wards and onto the familiar, slightly overgrown path to the Burrow, Veronica felt her chest tighten with a complicated mixture of relief and dread. She was grateful for the refuge, for the Weasleys’ unfailing kindness – but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was dragging danger right onto their doorstep.

The house stood as crooked and endearing as ever, its windows glowing with warm light despite the weight of the world pressing in on them all. The smell of Molly’s fresh baked bread drifted on the early morning air. It was almost enough to make her forget the sense of displacement that had been gnawing at her since they’d left Grimmauld Place.

“Charlie, Veronica,” Molly called as she stepped out onto the back steps, apron still tied tightly at her waist, “come with us, dears – we have something to show you.”

Arthur left their side to join his wife, and he was beaming with the kind of quiet pride he usually reserved for clever contraptions and family milestones. He gestured for them to follow as they walked around the house and down a short stone path tucked behind a line of hedgerows.

Nestled just behind the Burrow was a small but charming cottage – clearly new, but built in the same patchwork, lopsided spirit as the main house. The roof dipped slightly to one side, ivy already beginning to crawl up its chimney, and soft yellow light spilled from the windows onto the grass.

Molly clasped her hands in front of her. “We started building it in the fall after you moved back from Romania. Arthur had the idea – he figured with the way things were going, we might need a little extra space… and some privacy for the two of you.”

“It’s all yours,” Arthur said, his voice gentle. “Kitchen, sitting room, a proper bath. Separate wards too – Dumbledore’s helped us layer them, so you’ll be just as protected as we are. And close enough that you’re never alone.”

Veronica didn’t speak for a moment. Her throat tightened, and she blinked quickly, hoping the tears wouldn’t fall. The Weasleys had always felt like family, yes, but she never expected this – this quiet, thoughtful generosity. They’d given them a home. A place to land. “You… you did this for us?” she asked, barely managing the words.

“For family,” Molly emphasized. “Now go on inside. I’ve got breakfast on the stove – you can come over when you’re ready.”

They watched her and Arthur head back up the path, arms around each other, leaving Veronica and Charlie in stunned silence. Charlie slung an arm over her shoulder. “See? Told you it’d be alright.”

Veronica leaned into him, exhaling for what felt like the first time all day. “It’s more than alright.”

They stepped over the threshold of their new cottage, and for the first time since the attack in Romania, Veronica allowed herself to hope that maybe – just maybe – she could find a bit of peace here.

The inside of the cottage was even cozier than Veronica expected. The scent of fresh wood still lingered in the beams, and though the space was small, every corner had been touched with unmistakable Weasley care. Hand-knit blankets were folded over the back of a squashy loveseat. The fireplace was already crackling softly. A little table with mismatched chairs sat beneath the kitchen window, and a tiny bouquet of wildflowers in a jam jar had been placed in the center.

There were cupboards stocked with basics – flour, tea, canned soup, even a little jar labeled Veronica’s favorite in Molly’s precise handwriting. Veronica reached for it without realizing, fingers brushing the lid. She blinked back tears.

Charlie watched her carefully from the doorway, giving her space but not distance. “You alright, sugar?”

She nodded, then turned, swallowing hard. “They didn’t have to do any of this. And yet they did.”

“They love you.” He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. “You’re part of this family, whether you’ve realized it yet or not.”

She blinked hard, overcome by the quiet kindness of it all. “They really thought of everything,” she whispered.

Charlie gently nudged her shoulder. “You haven’t seen the best part yet.”

She turned toward him, brows furrowed, but before she could ask what he meant, a soft flutter of wings sounded from the open rafters above the sitting room. Something pale and quick swept down through the warm air – and then the unmistakable swoosh of feathers, talons, and familiar weight landed squarely on Veronica’s forearm.

“Athena,” she gasped, voice cracking.

The snowy owl gave a soft, almost indignant hoot, as if to say finally, then nuzzled against Veronica’s cheek with surprising gentleness for a creature that could shred an envelope with a flick of her beak.

Veronica brought her free hand up to cradle Athena’s face. “Oh, sweet girl, I’ve missed you so much.”

Athena nipped her fingers lightly, affectionately, before spreading her wings in a full stretch and letting out a proud whoooo, as though to reassert her presence.

Veronica felt a tight ache in her chest begin to ease. She hadn’t realized how deeply she’d missed the sound of Athena’s wings, the way her feathers brushed her skin, the steady, patient gaze of those gold-flecked eyes. It had been months of wondering, worrying. The reunion hit harder than expected – and better.

Athena shifted from her arm to her shoulder, nestling into her warmth, before taking off again and returning to her spot in the rafters.

“Well,” Charlie murmured, slipping his arm around Veronica’s waist and looking up at the owl, “it’s official. She’s moved in.”

Veronica let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “So have I.”

A moment later, the sound of a bell floated in through the open window – Molly’s unmistakable mealtime call. Charlie grinned. “That’s our cue.”

------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: I asked AI to create an image of what the cottage looks like from the outside with the Burrow in the background based on my descriptions, and I thought the result was pretty cool. I'm not sure why it's not letting me post it here, but if you want to see it, you can jump over to Wattpad or Tumblr.

Chapter Text

The Burrow’s kitchen was its usual barely-controlled chaos, filled with clatter and colour and the delicious smell of bacon, pancakes and fresh fruit from the garden. Fred and George were setting the table with deliberate clangs, while Arthur fussed with an enchanted serving spoon that refused to stop ladling syrup.

“The kids won’t be back from Hogwarts for a few weeks, and Bill will be coming to visit after work tomorrow,” Molly said cheerfully as she placed a pie on the windowsill to cool. “Today, it’s just us.”

Veronica hesitated in the doorway, suddenly unsure of where to go or whether she was even meant to sit. But Molly caught the flicker of doubt in her face and moved toward her immediately. “Come here, dear,” she said, and pulled Veronica into a hug that was warm and solid and smelled faintly of flour and lavender. “You belong at this table just as much as any of them.” Veronica tensed – only for a second – before she melted into the embrace. Molly’s hand rubbed her back gently. “You’re part of this family. Always.”

“Thank you,” Veronica whispered against her shoulder.

When they pulled apart, Molly looked at her with that fierce, mother-bear tenderness that could only come from her. “Now sit. Eat. And if I see you trying to help with dishes after the long night you’ve had, I will personally hex the sponge to bite you.”

That drew a real laugh from Veronica – light and sudden, the kind that caught her off guard.

Charlie guided her to a seat between him and Fred. The table filled with food, then conversation – not loud, exactly, but lively in a way that made the walls feel like they were leaning in to listen. There was grief still in the air – you couldn’t lose someone like Sirius without feeling the hole he left behind – but there was also laughter. There was comfort.

Halfway through the meal, Veronica glanced out the window at the little cottage behind the garden. It wasn’t just a place to sleep. It was a beginning. A fragile one, maybe – but it was theirs.

***

The cottage was quiet when they returned that evening. A few cooling charms kept the air light despite the heat lingering outside, and the little fire Molly had lit earlier still flickered softly, casting golden light across the room.

Veronica and Charlie had done everything in their power to stay awake throughout the day, but after having been up for more than thirty six hours, they found their eyes closing of their own accord – they couldn’t keep them open any longer if they tried. They were ready to finally go to bed. 

Veronica changed into one of Charlie’s oversized T-shirts, the fabric worn with time. She caught her reflection in the bathroom mirror as she brushed her teeth – the faint scar that curved beneath her jaw, the burn marks on her shoulder just visible where the sleeve slipped down. For once, she didn’t look away.

She stepped out into the bedroom to find Charlie already in bed, one arm tucked behind his head, the other reaching toward her. “Come here.” She climbed in and immediately tucked herself into his side, sighing as her head came to rest on his chest. His heartbeat was steady. Grounding. She lay there in silence for a moment, her fingers idly tracing the edge of the blanket. “I was so afraid of leaving Headquarters. It was the one place Voldemort hadn’t touched yet, and now…”

“And now you’re somewhere he still hasn’t touched,” Charlie said gently. “He doesn’t get to have this place. He doesn’t get to have you, sugar.”

A tear slid silently down her cheek, soaking into Charlie’s shirt. “I want to believe that.”

“Then let me believe it for the both of us. Until you’re ready.”

She kissed his chest, just over his heart, and whispered, “I love you.”

“I love you more,” he replied without hesitation.

Wrapped in quiet and each other, they drifted into sleep for the first time in weeks without nightmares chasing them down.

***

Veronica was awakened the next morning by the smell of sizzling bacon and the faint echo of someone shouting about missing socks. Sunlight filtered in through the lace curtains, and the birds were already deep in animated conversation in the hedges outside.

She stretched, then rolled over to find Charlie already gone – but a note sat on his pillow in his loopy, lazy handwriting: “Mum’s making breakfast. Come quick if you want a chance at the last cinnamon bun before Fred does something unspeakable to it.”

Still sleepy, Veronica pulled her hair into a loose bun and threw on a dressing gown. She crossed the garden barefoot, the grass still damp with dew, and let herself in through the back door of the Burrow – right into what could only be described as a war zone of breakfast chaos.

Pots clanged. Plates hovered midair. George was trying to talk Fred out of levitating an entire pitcher of pumpkin juice to “test the structural integrity” on his head. Charlie stood near the hearth with a mug of tea, watching the whole thing unfold like it was performance art.

Molly, somehow in complete control despite the chaos, turned and beamed. “Oh, good morning, dear! I hope the bed was comfortable?”

Veronica nodded, trying not to laugh as Fred narrowly ducked a flying spoon. “Very. Thank you again. Really.”

“Nonsense,” Molly said, already piling food onto a plate. “Now sit, sit, before these vultures get to everything.”

Veronica sat beside Charlie just as Fred slid into the chair on her other side and grinned at her. “Ronnie! Word on the grapevine is that you’re rather handy with protective wards. If you don’t mind sticking around for a bit after breakfast, I’d pay you in cinnamon buns and near-endless admiration to booby-trap George’s sock drawer.”

George snorted. “Joke’s on you, brother. I don’t wear socks.”

Charlie leaned over to whisper in Veronica’s ear. “Welcome to the madness,” he chuckled.

Veronica couldn’t help but smile as she bit into a warm, sticky cinnamon bun. She still didn’t know what the next days, weeks, or months would bring. But for the first time in what felt like forever, she was ready to tackle it with the people she loved.

***

Rain tapped gently at the windows, more mist than storm, and the fire in the hearth crackled low, casting long, soft shadows across the room. The cottage smelled faintly of sage and woodsmoke, grounding them in a fragile kind of peace after everything that had happened that week. Veronica sat curled into the corner of the sofa, one hand wrapped around a mug of tea that had long since gone cold. Charlie sat close beside her, his arm resting in her lap, her fingers absently tracing the edge of his sleeve.

Bill stood near the hearth, still dressed in his worn travel cloak, hands hovering close to the flames as if he couldn’t quite get warm, even here. “Thanks again for letting me stop by,” he said, his voice hoarse from disuse. “I couldn’t go back to my apartment. Not yet. And I didn’t want to go to Mum and Dad’s either.”

“You never have to ask,” Charlie said softly. “You know that.”

Bill nodded, but didn’t speak for a long moment. The fire crackled in the silence, the weight of loss heavy in the room. “I keep thinking he’s going to walk in,” Bill said quietly, still facing the fire. “Lean against the doorway, smirking. Ask where the drinks are. Sirius was just… one of those people who fills up a space.”

Veronica swallowed and gave a small nod. “He was the kind of person you don’t expect to disappear.”

Bill finally turned to face them, his eyes a little red-rimmed, though he hadn’t cried – not yet, not in front of them. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what Kingsley said. About how we were all lucky it wasn’t more of us. And he’s right, but… I can’t stop feeling like the ground’s just waiting to drop out from under us again.”

“It might,” Charlie said quietly. “But we can’t stop living while we wait for it.”

Bill took a deep breath. “Yeah. That’s why I’m going to ask Fleur to marry me.”

Veronica looked up sharply, blinking. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure about anything,” Bill said. “I was going to wait. Give it more time. Let Mum warm up to the idea. But… after this week? I’m done pretending we have time. I love her. I’ve known it for a while, but I’ve been trying to do things ‘properly.’ What does that even mean anymore?”

Charlie gave a soft, disbelieving laugh. “Blimey. You’re really doing it.”

“I am,” Bill said, and for the first time since he’d walked in, there was something like light behind his eyes. “She’s brave, and infuriating, and brilliant. She hasn’t run from any of this. Not the war, not the fear, not me. She makes me feel like maybe the future doesn’t have to be something we fear.”

“She’s not the one your mum would have picked,” Veronica said gently, “but I think she might be exactly the one you needed.”

Bill’s throat bobbed as he nodded. “I’m going to owl Gringotts about Mum’s old ring – the one Dad gave her when they couldn’t afford anything else. Fleur won’t care that it’s simple.”

Charlie grinned. “She’ll say yes.”

Bill let out a shaky breath. “I hope so.”

“She will,” Veronica said with certainty, reaching out to take his hand briefly. “Because she loves you. And that’s what matters.”

Bill swallowed hard, then gave a small, genuine smile. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.”

They sat in silence after that, listening to the rain, to the fire, to the echo of things lost and the fragile hope that still remained.

Chapter Text

Just ahead of them, the platform shimmered in the summer heat. The Dursleys were already there, standing off to the side with pinched expressions and awkward posture, pretending not to notice the witches and wizards gathering in the middle of the station. But the Order hadn’t approached them yet. They were waiting for Harry.

Charlie stood beside Veronica, absently turning his wand over in his fingers. Veronica sipped her tea and watched the flow of travelers, shoulders relaxed – until something in the distance made her stop mid-sip. She blinked once, then twice. “Please tell me that’s not what I think it is.”

Charlie followed her gaze – and groaned. “Oh, no.” Fred and George were striding toward them in matching lurid green jackets, the scaly surface gleaming like fish skin in the light. The confident grins on their faces only made it worse. “That’s Welsh Green,” Charlie said tightly.

Veronica nodded, slowly. “Yeah. It is.”

The twins arrived, triumphant. “Ta-da!” said Fred, spinning theatrically. “Feast your eyes on the future of wizarding fashion – Weasley Wear: Dragon Edition.”

“Looks better on us than it ever did on the dragon,” George added with a wink.

But Charlie and Veronica didn’t laugh. They didn’t even smile.

Fred hesitated. “What?”

“You know that’s illegal, right?” Charlie asked, his voice calm but sharp around the edges.

George raised his eyebrows. “It’s not poached, we swear. The guy said it was sourced from a natural death–”

“That’s what they all say,” Veronica cut in, voice quieter. She looked at the jackets, not them. “Did you even ask where it came from? Or how old she was? Or how it was tanned?”

Fred’s smile faded completely. “We… didn’t think it’d be a big deal.”

“It is to us,” Charlie said, jaw tight. “We worked with Welsh Greens. A lot of them.”

“There was one,” Veronica added, her voice low. “Her name was Arianrhod. She was blind in one eye and used to lay her head in my lap like a Kneazle. She used to hum when the sun hit her scales.” Fred and George were quiet now, blinking, like they were seeing something they hadn’t before.

Veronica finally looked at them, her expression not angry – just disappointed. “We know you didn’t mean any harm. But you have no idea what you’re wearing.”

Fred glanced down at the jacket like it had started to burn his skin. “We really didn’t know.”

Charlie sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “You’re not the only ones. Most people don’t. That’s the problem.”

George’s voice was softer now. “We can change before Mum sees.”

“Don’t do it for her,” Veronica said gently. “Do it because it’s the right thing to do.”

Fred nodded quickly. “Yeah. Yeah, we will.”

Veronica managed a faint smile and reached out to squeeze Fred’s arm. “Thank you.”

Before anyone could say more, Moody called out – Harry had just stepped through the barrier.

The moment dissolved into motion as the Order shifted into place. But as Fred and George fell in at the back, they didn’t say another word about the jackets. George even slipped his off before Harry reached them.

And when no one was looking, Fred folded his arms over his chest, suddenly aware of how heavy the jacket felt.

***

As they watched Harry walk away with the Dursleys, Veronica whispered, “I’ll kill them if they don’t treat him well this summer.”

Charlie squeezed her shoulder as he pulled her closer into his side. “Don’t worry sugar, I doubt Dumbledore plans to leave him there for long.”

Veronica hoped he was right, but the ever present anxiety in the pit of her stomach refused to be ignored. She knew their nightmares had only just begun, and the thought of what was in store for them was almost enough to bring her to her knees.

Chapter Text

Hello, my little sugar plums!

We're finally at the end of book twelve - this was another long one! I really hope you enjoyed it, and I'm so excited for you to read book thirteen! We're reaaaaaally getting to the good stuff now ✨

Also, side note, you just knooooow I couldn't have Veronica and Charlie be part of that train station scene where Fred and George wear the dragon-skin coats without them saying anything LOL 😅 We all know if Charlie was there in the books, he would have been fuming, but add on Veronica with her aura... yeah, the twins just had to get an earful.

If you're enjoying the story so far, please consider giving kudos and leaving a comment on moments that sparked your interest! Let's keep the conversations going in the comments section. Some of you have been interacting with me, and I love love love it! Please keep the comments coming, I love reading them!

See you shortly when we begin book thirteen!

Take care and happy reading 📖

xoxo Tluffy