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But as it would turn out, the hardest person to face that day wouldn't be Lucius Malfoy, or Albus Dumbledore.
The biggest challenge Severus had set before him that day was Veronica herself, who was not taking any of this very well.
"Veronica, for the Love of God could you just sit down and listen to me?!" Severus snapped after five minutes of Veronica ranting about how he should have told her and how she thought they could trust each other.
"Now, I can explain everything, but I need you to listen." Severus sighed, "Yes, I should have told you. But last night I have convinced myself it was all in my head and there was nothing to worry about. It wasn't until Lucius Malfoy showed up that I realized there was a problem."
Veronica sat across from him, slowly calming herself down.
"Now tomorrow morning, you are going to receive a letter from Dumbledore offering you a position as my assistant at the school. It's up to you if you want to take it, but I suggest that you do. It's a paid position."
He added the last bit as some form of consolation, because he knew that after last year, the last thing Veronica wanted was to be stuck in the school for another year.
"You'll be free to come and go as you please, no extra security." Severus waited for her response, and Veronica sighed.
"I just really wish you would have talked to me before doing all this." She folded her hands, "I know you're doing everything you can to keep me save, and that means the world."
Severus allowed this small bit of flattery to sink in before the inevitable "but" came.
"But, I'm a grown adult. I feel like I'm owed at least a little consideration when it comes to arrangements about my future."
"I know, I'm sorry" Severus nodded slowly. "You're completely right. And even now nothing can go through without your consent. Do you have any ideas on how to stay safe?"
Veronica thought for a minute before shaking her head. "No."
Severus didn't respond but smiled a little which made Veronica roll her eyes.
"Don't look at me like that." She scoffed and stood up. "I should get home. I'm paying rent on place, I may as well visit it once in a while."
"Be safe."
"I will" She waved behind her as she stepped into the fire place and allowed the floo to suck her through the channel and into her own flat.
"That Man." She muttered with a shake of her head and kicked off her shoes. "He'll be the death of me."
Stripping as she made her way to the bedroom, Veronica tossed her work clothes into the hamper and rolled her neck.
What a mess this was turning into. It seemed that she couldn't have one happy development without something bad rearing its ugly head.
Flopping down on the bed, the woman closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. There had to be a way to get through this without fully losing her head.
At a loss for what else to do, Veronica rolled over on the bed and picked up the receiver of the telephone she kept in her flat for one reason only.
"Hey, mum? It's Veronica."
"Veronica, Darling! How are you?"
Veronica smiled at the sound of her mother's cheerful voice on the other end.
"Not so great mum, can we talk?"
"Of course, of course. Let me just sit down." Mrs. Largo mused and settled where ever she was. "What's troubling you?"
"Mum…" Veronica bit her lip. "Do you ever feel like the world is out to get you?"
"Is this about what happened at your cousin's wedding? Darling you can't blame yourself for that, you know that whole side of the family is a G-D mess."
"Well, sort of." The girl sighed, "I just feel like, no matter what I do, nothing good can happen without something bad coming with it, you know what I mean?"
"Life can be like that at times, my dear" The mother agreed, "The world isn't always picnicking and love letters, sometimes all you can do is weather through it."
Veronica leaned back and swallowed, "Just weather through it?"
"Of course, it's foolish to think that you must thrive and achieve every day of your life. Sometimes, when the world's got you down, surviving is the best thing you can do for yourself."
Veronica thought on this a moment before nodding, "you know, I think you're right."
"Of course, I'm right, dear. Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?"
"No mum, I won't keep you long. I love you, say hi to Daddy for me."
"I will Darling, I love you too."
Veronica hung up and sighed.
She just needed to survive, that's all. No one is asking her to go above and beyond.
A sort of relief washed over her shoulders as Veronica felt the sudden urge to go out and make the day a little bit brighter.
Slipping into a simple dress and slip on shoes, she grabbed her purse and wand to visit the local outdoor market before they closed for the evening. The peaceful event was just one of the reasons she preferred the heat of summer and spring to the chill of autumn and winter, when the streets were frozen and empty.
The park the only slightly crowded when she arrived and slipped a canvas bag into the crook of her arm as she admired the produce brought in from the country side. Jars of dried herbs that had been grown in home garden beds, the array of fruits and vegetables arranged in wooden crates on tables, and the colorful summer flowers tied into bundles and spritzed with cool water to keep them fresh.
She indulged in buying herself a carton of blueberries and strawberries, along with some carrots, cabbage, and sweet corn, before slipping a decadently baked loaf of bread into her sack.
As she paid the vendor and began to leave, she gasped as she nearly ran into a moving cart of flowers.
"Oh, Pardon me Miss." The youthful looking vendor peered from behind a mountain of blossoms and nodded at her. He had dark brown hair and an angled face with sharp cheek bones and a pointed chin. His brown eyes were huge and always seemed to be excited about what they were looking at "Didn't mean to run you down."
"It's quite alright." Veronica nodded politely as the vendor rounded the cart toward her. "Well, well, well, pardon me" He laughed and looked her up and down, focusing a bit longer on her bodice and the moon necklace that hung around her neck. "I wasn't expecting to see an angel in the market today."
Veronica rolled her eyes and began to push past him. "Excuse me"
"Wait, wait, wait." The vendor sighed and stood his ground, "I'm sorry, that was too forward of me." He looked around and slipped a bundle of Irises from his cart and eased them into her bag. "Forgive me, I was out of line."
Veronica pulled her lips to the side, but her face softened when she saw the lovely blooms and held them to her nose softly before smiling. "You are forgiven." She conceded, "Now, please let me pass."
"Miss." He nodded and slipped behind his car, allowing her to proceed before moving his cart again but watching her go as she jogged across the street to her apartment door.
Veronica climbed the stairs to her flat and began to make dinner as the sun began to set outside. As she sliced through the bed, Veronica suddenly felt as if there were eyes on her. She couldn't explain how, as a quick scan of the apartment confirmed that she was alone. So, she shrugged and placed her flowers in a vase of water before checking the oven to ensure the proper time was set so she could slip into her night clothes.
Moving to the bedroom, the sensation followed her throughout the evening until she decided to go to bed, still feeling uneasy.
As she drifted off to sleep, peace finally reached her.
Once night had fallen completely, the pair of tiny spiders that had been resting under one of the iris petals descended from the counter top and made it to the middle of the carpet before disappearing in a blurring whirlwind that fell away to reveal two strange human shapes that stood approximately the same height and had strikingly similar buildings.
The female shadow held a finger to her lips, signaling the male to remain silence as he pulled out a camera and began snapping pictures of the door, the window, and the view outside as his partner kept into the bedroom and peered at the sleeping form of the flat's occupant.
Veronica rolled onto her back, making the woman freeze for a moment before creeping upon her again with a pair of long, sharp scissors.
Silently she knelt dangerously close to Veronica's form and precisely slipped the scissors under the leather cord of her necklace and snipped it off before slipping it away from her throat.
Pocketing the necklace, she quickly replaced an identical replacement on the bedside table and crept out of the room to her partner who had finished his work and motioned for them both to shrink back down once more and creep under the door, leaving no trace of their presence.
