The next morning, before he left for Spinner's end, Severus paced the floor of the cabin and glared at a large black dog sitting in the middle of the living room.

"I changed my mind, it's a bad idea." Sever shot up and Veronica rolled her eyes.

"It's a brilliant idea" She rebuffed him. She smiled at the black dog who whined slightly and tilted its head. "Sirius, why are you a dog right now? No one is here."

"Because he knows if he looked human, I'd kill him." Severus growled, "I can't hurt a dog though."

"Oh, bless your tender heart." Veronica pouted and stood. "It'll be fine. I can rest easy knowing we're safe thanks to you. Now you have to go because he starts to wonder where you are."

Severus nodded and stood, pocketing his wand before glaring at the dog once more. "If I hear even a hint of any funny business, I will come back down here, I will skin you alive, I will hang your pelt over the God Damn mantle, do you hear me?"

The dog sneezed in reply and Severus grumbled before kissing Veronica hard and leaving through the Floo.

Once he was gone, the dog was replaced with a tall, handsome wizard who sported a cat like grin across his bearded face.

"Finally, I thought he'd never leave."

"Thank you for doing this, Sirius." Veronica sighed, picking up Valerian from his play mat and bouncing him slightly. "I really owe you for this."

"Don't even mention it." Sirius shook his head. "It's my pleasure. Even if the offer came from old Snivellus."

Veronica frowned at that and Sirius looked down slightly. "Sorry, I guess I keep forgetting who I'm talking to."

"He's a good man." Veronica sighed. "Even if he can be hard to deal with sometimes. If anything, I was glad to see him talk to you like that. It's the closest thing I've seen to the old Severus in months."

"What do you mean?" Sirius sat on the couch as she did and began to make faces at Valerian, who squealed with happiness.

"It's just, I guess returning to being a spy hasn't been easy for him." Veronica crossed her arms. "It's like every time he comes home, he puts on another mask of who he thinks he should be. But it's not him, and I'm tired of it. I hope being back at the school brings back the crotchety grouch I fell in love with."

Sirius laughed at this, picking up Valerian and dangling the baby in front of his face. "Your Mummy sure does have her wires crossed, kiddo." He teased. "yes, she does, yes she does."

Valerian cackled with joy and Veronica couldn't help but smile at his jibes. "So, if you and Severus hate each other so much, why did you accept the offer?"

"Truth?"

"Truth"

"I needed to get out of that house." He swallowed. "Nothing to talk to but Kreacher and that bloody portrait." He bit his lip. "Pardon my French."

"Oh, it's alright" she shrugged. "But if he picks it up, it's your mouth that's getting washed out."

"That's fair." Sirius agreed, bringing Valerian down and bouncing him on his knee. "I think you and I are going to be great friends, little man. How old are you anyway?"

"He's just over a month, born the 31st of July."

"Say, that's Harry's birthday!"

"Really?" Veronica laughed before sobering up. "How is Harry?"

"I don't know." Sirius frowned. "I'm afraid I haven't heard too much of him. His nightmares are getting worse, especially after the tournament"

"I saw that article in the paper last week" Veronica frowned. "I can't believe they would write such awful things about a child."

"Believe it." Sirius spat. "That damned Fudge, he'd do anything to keep the truth from going public."

"I don't dare." Veronica swallowed, taking Valerian back and holding him tightly. "Not just because of the Ministry, but because if I say anything it would ruin everything you all have worked so hard to achieve this past year."

Sirius frowned and shook his head. "I'm sorry you got wrapped into all this. Severus should have cut you off the second he saw the dark mark in the news. You would have been better for it."

Veronica sighed, "I would have been dead for it. I had a target on my back the moment I destroyed that Diary in the Chamber of Secrets. And I did that all on my own, Severus had nothing to do with it."

Sirius smiled a little. "Sometimes I forget all the things Harry has told me you've done. Hell, sometimes I forget that you stood down a full-grown werewolf to protect those kids, and I was there to see it myself." He made a face. "Maybe that's how you'll make a difference in this war."

Veronica leaned back. "What do you mean?"

"You don't look like the kind of person to fight monsters and win." Sirius smirked. "You've got the element of surprise on your side, love. That makes you dangerous."

"Well" Veronica scoffed. "Let's home no one else finds that out." She stood, her son on her him. "Come on, I'll show you to your room and you can unpack. I'll make dinner."

Sirius watched her go a moment before following, the sly smile still on his face.

The element of surprise, He thought to himself, should never be underestimated.

TBC