"You realize this could definitely cause some tension between you and Snape?"

Veronica scoffed, snapping Valerian pram and turning to the wizard. "Nonsense, we both have business on that train platform, and I'd like to see Severus Snape gripe about his beautiful partner and his child seeing him off" She sniffed and pulled a black leather leash from the door hook. "Now, here's where it gets weird."

Sirius found the feel of the leash and collar rather natural as he trotted down the concrete of King's Cross Station along side the pram. The station was crowded today, people bustling back and forth, but he drew no stares except the occasional smile from dog lovers. He sniffed and the ground and carefully pulled her through Platform 9 3/4 and found Harry trying to keep up with Mad-eye Moody.

Veronica spotted them as well and picked up the pace until she was along side them.

"Wha-Padfoot!" Moody sputtered as Harry's face lit up. "Are you barking mad?"

He glanced up and glared. "I expected more brains from you Lass."

"I'm just here to see my husband off" Veronica smirked, passing the leash off to Harry. "Here son, would you mind terribly holding my dear friend."

Harry smiled and nodded his thanks as Veronica rushed off to the head of the train and spotted Severus about to board.

"Severus!" She called, waving her arm as he looked up and dropped his jaw. Slipping out of line he rushed to greet her, stopping just short of a hug since they were in public.

"What are you doing here?" He looked around. "Where's Bla-I mean, the dog?"

"I found nice young man with a scar to watch him for me." Veronica smiled. "I had to see you off."

"You know it might have been dangerous."

"Is it dangerous just to leave the house now?" Veronica smiled coyly. "Besides." She bent down and lifted Valerian from the pram, letting him let out a few happy sounds before turning him to his father. "Your son wanted to see you off too."

"Did he now?" Severus sighed, waving his fingers in front of the boy's face and chuckling when he was caught by two small, soft fists. "I bet you're getting tired of your mother using you as an excuse to follow me everywhere, huh?"

Veronica gasped indignantly and swatted him playfully. "Don't you listen to him, Vallie. You're below mention."

"Professor Snape." A voice called behind him. "We must hurry."

Severus rolled his eyes before nodded. "Time to go."

"I'll miss you." Veronica grabbed his hand and kissed it. "Be safe."

"I will." He assured her before smiled a little and returning to the line.

Veronica watched him as he boarded and continued to stand there until the train had fully left the station, waving even if he could see her.

"Eh hem" She turned and found Mad Eye limping towards her, a leather leash in hand. "I Believe this belongs with you."

Padfoot trotted to her side and sat, looking up at the Auror sheepishly but the sentiment was not returned.

"You two need to be more careful." He scolded them, "Especially you." He nodded to the dog. "And you." He turned to Veronica, "You have a baby to be worrying about."

"I reckon I'm a sight safer than a lot of you are." Veronica sniffed. "I wish people would stop worrying about me, I'm the last person any of you should be concerned with."

Veronica left the platform the same way she came in, walking quickly until she heard a voice that made her skid to a stop and closed her eyes. "Oh damn." She whispered and turned around. "Narcissa, hi!"

Narcissa trotted up to her with a lipstick smile and without warning embraced her tightly. "Lucius is here, speak accordingly" She whispered in her ear before pulling away. "What a surprise!"

Lucius strolled up to the pair looking are clean cut as ever, as if the summer hadn't even happened.

"I was just seeing Severus off." Veronica hummed uncomfortably.

"Oh, good for you." Narcissa took her hands. "And look at that, a ring! At long last, we were starting to think Severus made it all up."

Veronica smiled tensely and looked around. "Well it was nice seeing you, but I had better get the baby home."

"I see you've gotten a dog." Lucius noted, eyeing Sirius critically. "Bit rough looking, isn't he?"

"He's a rescue." Veronica explained quickly. "Yeah, Severus wanted me to have a bit more security out there by myself. So, he brought him home from a shelter."

"Damn that man's pride. He should have come to me." Lucius muttered. "I have five purebred wolfhounds at home, I would have been glad to gift one for your safety."

"Mutts are healthier." Veronica shook her head. "less money on vets."

"A shelter dog? Are you sure that's safe with the new baby?" Narcissa fretted, eyeing Sirius cautiously. "You just never know what sort of upbringing they've had."

Sirius yawned loudly and put himself between Narcissa and Veronica dutifully, looking up at the blonde with a small woof as Veronica scratched behind his ear.

"I'm sure we'll be fine." She assured them. "Now if you'll excuse me, it's the baby's first time in such a crowded place and I don't want to prolong it."

She left them abruptly and made for the train back to Diagon Alley quickly. Sirius sat beside her as she fussily picked at her finger nails and cuticles until she hissed, and her thumb started to bleed. With a whine he placed his chin on her lap, looking up at her until she sighed and began to scratch his head again.

From the Alley they flooed back to the cabin and Sirius was finally free to change back once more.

"Well that was an event" he noted. "I haven't seen those two in over a decade and they haven't changed a bit."

"I wasn't expecting to see them today." Veronica shook her head. "it threw me, I hope it wasn't too obvious."

"You clearly weren't calm." Sirius remarked. "But I don't think they were suspicious of anything. After all, why would they be?"

"You're right, you're right." Veronica settled down with Valerian and sighed. "I just need to relax. I have nothing to fear." She glanced at him and shrugged. "Do you mind if I feed him in front of you?"

Sirius blinked but shook his head. "No, no, by all means. It's only natural."

Veronica nodded and unclipped her nursing bra before lifting the fussing infant to her breast. "Don't tell Severus." She laughed, "He'd have a heart attack, you'd have thought he was the one raised Catholic."

Sirius grumbled under her breath before glancing at her. "May I be frank?"

"Please do."

"I haven't seen too much of you and Severus together, as you know." Sirius began. "What I saw two years ago, I couldn't get too much of a read off of until that knight under the tree. However, our mutual friend, Remus, is concerned."

"Concerned?" Veronica winced a little as Val went at her nipple with furious hunger. "Whatever for?"

"He's afraid Severus's affection maybe a little too…" He paused for a moment to search for the proper word. "possessive to be healthy."

Veronica scoffed at this, but Sirius shrugged. "Like I said, I don't know enough to say, but from what I know about Severus it does sound like him."

"Severus is many things." Veronica leaned back "He is over-protective, he is easily anxious, and he's not prone to sentiment. But he's not possessive."

"Is that why he didn't want you to even come to the train station today?" Sirius pointed out and Veronica shrugged.

"Like I said, he is paranoid and over-protective. That doesn't make him possessive. Trust me, I've known possessive men."

"Okay, okay." Sirius nodded, not convinced in the slightest.

In truth even though what he was doing could be considered a favor for the long-hated wizard, Sirius's motivations had nothing to do with that.

His reasons could be summed in a rather concise list.

1. Curiosity.

Who was this woman whom he had heard so many stories about it didn't even sound like they were the same person? And what was going on in that head of her that she not only pined after the repugnant man, but had his baby?

2. Sirius needed to get out of the house.

Not only was it growing more claustrophobic by the day, but the walls held too many bad memories for him to bear.

3. He wanted to make sure the Snape's so called "reformation" was on the up and up.

He wasn't convinced, for even for a second. According to Dumbledore, Snape had been transmitting information for the Order for over a year before the Dark Lord fell the first time, but not before he spent four years currying favor from possibly the worst person in the world.

No, Sirius was not convinced.

In truth he wasn't fully convinced of Veronica's trustworthiness either. Yes, she had safe Harry twice before, putting herself in jeopardy doing so. But she didn't appear to be the strongest willed of people; and if it came right down to it, Sirius wasn't sure that she would cut it.

But all the same, she appeared to be a nice person that just wanted the best. So, even if it appeared to be a favor to his mortal enemy, Sirius would play the guard dog and keep her safe.