October 1996
"For what it's worth, I have a terrible feeling about this," Vera scowled as they stepped into the floo of Number 10 Grimmauld Place.
Regulus greeted them. "Welcome!" He gave them both a hug and whispered, "Thank god you're here, I needed some reinforcements- these Order people have been looking at me like I'm going to see them over to the Dark Lord at any moment."
"Joys of being a spy," James muttered.
"Well they could have the courtesy of not doing so in my own house! I don't know how I let Sirius convince me," Regulus complained.
"Potters, you're late!" Moody barked. "We were going to start without you."
They followed the new Head of the Order of the Phoenix and took their places at the table. Most of the original members distrusted them for their past - even though Vera was still one of the few Death Eaters who was never officially caught. And James practically brandished his wrist on the first meeting. But there was understandable hesitation in their active membership from the Weasleys, Heston Jones, and Kingsley's Shacklebot. It wasn't until their debriefing of their secret mission that they were not cursed on sight.
That, and Sirius's efforts to change their minds, but that had limited success.
He waved at them. Sirius was sitting next to Remus, who was in turn sitting next to a young Auror with pink hair. Vera remembered her and instantly felt her migraine kick in. Nymphadora Tonks had been one of her more tiring students, though she certainly had been brilliant when she applied herself. Remus nodded, and Tonks greeted them from across the table.
"Onto new business," Moody growled. "What information do we have on You-Know-Who's return?"
"I can answer that," Regulus chimed in. "It seems when his body died, a wraith formed, and it roamed the countryside of Albania for a good ten years or so."
"Which possesses a former colleague of ours, Quirius Quirrell," Vera interrupted. "Once his behavior was noticeably different, he was reported to the authorities, where he escaped. He broke into the Gryffindor boy's dormitories to kill Mr. Prewett, but failed."
"And, as we all know, he returned last year after the disastrous Tri-Wizard Tournament. He's made his presence known to his followers, who have been less than enthusiastic about returning to the fold. But the current mission is to lay low, and to kill Harry Prewett," Vera continued.
"That wouldn't have happened if you had listened to Harry in the first place," Molly argued. "That poor boy has been through enough already, and it's taken it's psychological toll. Ronald has told me that he has these bizarre dreams about him."
Vera and James exchanged looks. "What kind of dreams?" James asked.
"They're all over the place, but he specifically remembers dreaming he was a snake, doing horrible things for that wretched man," Molly screamed, before crying into Arthur's arms.
"Did he have these dreams before his return?" James asked.
"He still has them," Arthur replied. "The other day he described, in vivid detail, an attack the snake made on the day his base was infiltrated, and it was corroborated by the Prophet the next day."
James ran his hands through his hair, "You don't think he could be…"
Vera frowned. "It's entirely possible, so could Nagini if they have a shared bond. The Dark Lord told me, the day he died, he always had safeguards. I just thought we destroyed them all."
"Are you trying to imply Harry is...one of those things you destroyed back in the war?" Molly gasped.
"We don't know for sure," James replied uneasily.
"Either way, we're going to protect him at all costs," Sirius reassured Molly, who was once again in tears.
"As for the nightmares, I will try to teach him Occulmency, see if that makes any difference," Vera added firmly.
The meeting concluded, though Sirius noticed the flesh colored string running along the side of the doorway.
"It seems the children were listening in," Sirius remarked.
"You have children staying here?" Vera asked skeptically.
"Just the Weasleys, and Miss Granger," Sirius replied. "Where better to hide than the most fortified townhouse in London?"
"Yes, well you weren't the one who had to boot out your own family. Honoria still isn't speaking to me," Regulus grumbled.
"Boys, come on out, we need to talk," Sirius shouted towards the upstairs.
The four Weasley children, Miss Granger, and Mr. Prewett sheepishly descended the stairs, along with someone else.
"Laura, what are you doing here! How dare you leave the Bluff past curfew?" Vera chided.
"Last I checked, I was allowed to visit Grimmauld Place any time," Laura taunted. "And what are you doing here? I thought you wouldn't want to do anything to upset your precious Dark Lord. You're always going on about keeping up appearances." Laura pouted.
Vera grabbed Laura by the arm. "You are coming home with me, right now. James!"
"What is it, dear? Laura! What are you doing here?"
Laura smirked, "I snuck out."
James looked impressed. "How? Your mother and I put some very thorough wards, it should have taken you hours to dismantle them. Tell me your process."
When he saw Vera glaring at him, James coughed and changed his attitude. "I'm very disappointed in you, Laura. You should have been looking after your brother."
"Richard's fine, he's too busy kissing Draco Malfoy's bum to want to do anything worthwhile."
"Laura, language!" Vera barked.
Laura sighed dramatically, "Very well, I'll go."
As Vera dragged Laura back to the fireplace, she gave a wink to her coconspirators, who Vera would surely deduct points from later.
Before they left, Harry interjected. "Professor, a word."
Vera paused, then turned to face the boy. He looked so much like Lily, especially when he stared at her so intensely through those blasted green eyes.
"Yes, Prewett?"
"Is it true then, that I might be a...one of those things?"
Looking at the faces of those children, Vera reflected on her suspicions. They were so young, but they were about to be thrusted into something incredibly dangerous.
"I'm...not sure, please report to my office at the start of term. You will be in need of remedial Potions."
—
May 1998
Vera lay bleeding out on the floor of her office, attacked by the Dark Lord's familiar. She had done her best to keep Prewett safe during the Dark Lord's year of terror. He, Weasley and Granger hid out in the Bluff as long as they could, then moved from safe house to safe house. But in the end, Prewett chose to return to Hogwarts rather than hide.
Vera, of course had played her part. She peacefully absconded the Headmaster position from Minerva and allowed the Carrows to run rampant, even having to curse her own daughter multiple times for repeated disobedience (a Gryffindor through and through), while her son sent her valuable intelligence from the field. Her only regret was allowing him to join the Death Eaters in the first place, even if his intentions had been the same as hers all those years ago.
"Professor!"
She heard the screams and the sound of running on stone floor.
Prewett looked dirty and disheveled, his red hair long and unkempt, running down his shoulder. With longer hair, he did look exactly like Lily.
"Professor, it's done, the snake has been killed. We will get you to safety. Just rest, I'll call Mr. Potter."
"No need," Vera coughed, spitting up blood. "There's something I need to give you."
She reached for an empty vial from her pocket and extracted the relevant memories, and some irrelevant ones of Lily- Just Lily.
"These are for you," she choked. "I wish I had more to give you."
"You've given me the Elder Wand, I think I'll manage."
"I wish I hadn't destroyed the Stone. You could have used it one last time, to see your mother."
Harry paused, then rummaged through his pocket, "Do you mean this?" There is was, the Stone, in its cracked glory.
"Yes." Vera replied simply. She gripped Prewett's arm. "Please, take care of my daughter."
Harry nodded, and grabbed her hand. He quickly reached for bandages in his bag and made a tourniquet. "You are going to see her yourself once this is all over."
—
June 2001
"They do look happy, don't they?" James asked.
They were sitting outside of the Bluff at the front of a long line of benches, underneath a large white tent. Roses, anemones, and silver stag centerpieces covered the tables behind them. After months of planning, and some last minute panicking from a nervous young bride, the wedding of the decade was finally happening between the former Boy-Who-Lived and his lifelong love, Laura Potter.
"They are," Vera replied, finally accepting that this was going to happen, despite her protests. While she and James had never been comfortable about their courtship, especially after revealing to Laura their own pasts, they still cared for each other and after everything they'd suffered, they might as well stay together.
As the two raised their wands in the bonding ceremony, everyone could feel the intense, heady magic of their cores fusing. The power of the Elder Wand bonded in marriage created a bigger burst of golden light, giving the whole wedding party a sun kissed glow. Harry's magic could project emotion, and everyone could feel their love, almost as if they were listening to it pounding in their ears.
James grasped Vera's hand and kissed it.
"Reminds you of our own wedding, huh?"
Vera snorted. "Hardly, we were both having nervous breakdowns if you don't recall." Her voice was still hoarse when she spoke, her vocal chords damaged beyond even magical means.
"I might have had some things to sort out, but there isn't anyone else I'd have wanted to end up with."
James gave her a loving smile. Vera, despite herself, smiled back. Quickly, she leaned over and kissed him.
"I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Prewett! Now give the public what they want and kiss." As godfather, Sirius had declared himself the only proper officiant.
"Leave then be, Padfoot!" James shouted. "Thank you for coming, everyone. The reception will take place on the other end of the tent."
As the crowd milled out of their seats, the bride ran over and hugged her parents. Vera for once, hugged back. James affectionately mussed with Laura's hair, much to her bitter complaints.
"You better not embarrass me with your toast," Laura teased James.
"Oh I'll tell only the most embarrassing stories," James teased back.
"Dad!"
"You'll just have to wait and see, now go on! Be with your husband and your friends. I'm sure you'll have enough time to mingle with us oldies later," James urged. Laura gave them both an indulgent smile, and headed to the bridal table.
"Well, this is it isn't it?" James asked as Laura reached out of sight. "It's over."
Vera shook her head. "Nothing's ever over, James. It'll still keep going on long after we're gone."
James chuckled. "True." He turned to Vera and held her hand. "But we'll be ok, won't we?"
Vera smiled, "Always."