Lupin's True Love Returns

July 31, 1996

Veronica calmly left the bathroom and slowly made her way down the stairs to the front hall. Suddenly the curtains on Mrs. Black's portrait flew open.

"You filthy little blood traitor, how dare you contaminate the house of my father?" Mrs. Black scowled at Veronica. "You are a worthless blood traitor that loves half-breeds and Mudbloods."

"I'm no blood traitor!" Veronica held her right hand up as high as her waist. "Hasn't anyone told you that I have the power to destroy you?" Mrs. Black almost snarled as Veronica's smile took on a more dangerous edge. "You'd best not mess with me today. My hormones are really raging and I'm looking to hurt someone. Since you are royally pissing me off I might have to hurt you." Veronica waved her left hand over the moth eaten curtains as a knock sounded on the front door.

The curtains closed as Veronica moved to the front door. She opened it a crack and saw four figures in hooded cloaks. One of the figures held a baby carrier in her left hand. Veronica flung open the door. "Ani!"

"Veronica!" Ani threw the hood of her cloak back and hugged Veronica with one arm.

"Let me see him." Veronica slowly moved the pale blue blanket from the baby's face. Veronica's eyes roamed over the tiny features. "He's so adorable, Ani."

"Thank you.' Ani preened slightly as Moonlight coughed slightly. "Oh yeah. This is my sister, Moonlight, her boyfriend, Rath, and my older brother, Kurt. Guys, this is Veronica."

"So you're the one who got Remus?" Moonlight pushed back the hood of her cloak to get a better look at Veronica. "Not bad."

"Thank you." Veronica moved from the door way. "Please come in. The neighbors may begin to wonder what is going on." Veronica motioned them inside.

Kurt, Moonlight, Rath, and Ani moved into the hallway as Remus made his way to the bottom of the stairs. Veronica took their cloaks as he leaned against the banister. Veronica carefully lifted Leo's carrier from Ani's hand.

"Hand over the baby and no one gets hurt." Remus hugged Ani. "How are you?"

"I'm fine and Leo's all yours. He just ate so he won't be hungry for a while." Ani watched as Remus took the carrier from Veronica.

"He's cute. Maybe too cute, like his father." Remus hefted the carrier with his left hand as he turned to Rath and Kurt. "I'm going to the kitchen. Say goodbye to your son, Ani. Rath, Kurt, care to join me for some tea?"

"I'm not objecting to something stronger." Kurt followed after Remus.

Rath turned to Moonlight. "Behave." He hurried after Remus and Kurt.

Ani stared at the curtained picture of Mrs. Black as she, Moonlight, and Veronica made their way up the stairs.

"We decided that you should have your own room. You know someplace you can go to get away from everyone and to feed Leo." Veronica led the way to the room at the far end of the hall. "I hope you like it." Veronica swung open the door.

Ani stepped into the dimly lit room. The lights flared to life to reveal a room painted in dark blue with white trim. "Thanks. It's gorgeous." Ani moved to the bed. "Let's talk."

Veronica and Moonlight moved into the room. Moonlight moved to a pale blue armchair beside a dingy window. Veronica closed the door and moved toward the bed.

"What are we going to ...?" Veronica caught Ani as she threw herself at Veronica for another hug.

"Being sick and tired. Girl, you're so pregnant!" Ani smiled broadly.

"I know." Veronica blushed slightly. "I was supposed to have something start on the night of the full moon but it didn't so I figured it out."

"How are you feeling?" Moonlight cracked her knuckles.

"Okay except for the morning sickness." Veronica sighed deeply. "Don't tell Remus. He'll get a big head."

"Hard to believe that the two of you will be having a baby before too long." Ani hugged Veronica again. "I'm so excited."

"Look we won't spill the beans to anyone but you'll have to tell him eventually." Moonlight barely smiled.

Veronica stared at Moonlight for a minute. "You remind me of someone, Moonlight. He was gruff and mean when he wanted to be but he was one of the sweetest guys I knew back in Canada."

"Moonlight be sweet? Yeah right." Ani laughed as Moonlight and Veronica followed her from the room.

They nearly collided with Harry as he moved down the stairway. E stopped in mid-step when he saw Ani and Veronica laughing together. "Ani!!" Harry hurtled toward the three women as fast as he could. His arms made their way around Ani and he swung her around.

"Put me down." Ani laughed as Harry placed her on her feet. She stepped back and craned her neck to see all of him. "Shit, boy, you've grown!"

"Ani!" Veronica stifled a giggle. "Bad enough I had to heart that from..."

'Come off it, Aunt Veronica. I've heard a lot worse from Uncle..." Harry's voice became muffled since Veronica held a hand over his mouth.

"Never say those names in my presence." Veronica removed her hand and smiled mischievously. "Not unless you want 'Lioness' to pay them a visit?"

"Veronica, as much as I would like to see 'Lioness', it's not such a good idea in your condition." Moonlight raised her eyebrows slightly. "That is if you catch my meaning?"

"Consider it caught." Veronica's head jerked from side to side.

"Condition?" Harry turned to Veronica. "I seem to remember you saying a while ago that you would know if you were pregnant." Harry watched Veronica's cheeks redden. "I knew it!"

"Shh!" Veronica grabbed Harry's arm as she glanced around the hall. "I don't want Remus to know yet." She rolled her eyes when Harry raised an eyebrow. "You know how he'll get about it."

"Okay. I won't tell him. Yet." Harry smiled broadly as he turned to Moonlight. "You must be Moonlight."

"I guess I am." Moonlight nodded slightly but didn't grasp Harry's hand.

Veronica laughed quietly. "Come on. Let's go see if there's any tea left."

Harry extended his arm to Ani. "Where's Leo? I can't wait to see him."

"Remus, Rath, and Kurt have him. It was nice to get a break." Ani laughed as Harry hurried her past Mrs. Black covered portrait. "Hey, Veronica, what happened to Mrs. Black?"

"Oh, she decided to keep to herself for today." Veronica smiled slightly as she and Moonlight moved past the portrait. The doorbell sounded when they reached the door to the kitchen. "I'll get it. You three save me some tea." Veronica waited until Harry had started down the stairs to the kitchen. She flung open the door and ushered Molly into the hallway. "Come in, Molly. Harry just went into the kitchen."

Molly hurried into the hallway. "How do we get him out of the kitchen?"

"I've arranged for him, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione to stay in the library with a load of Muggle board games." Veronica kissed Molly's cheek. "Maybe I can get Rath and Kurt to stay with them so we can get everything done?"

"Sounds good." Molly turned a confused look in Veronica. "Kurt and Rath?'

"Rath is Moonlight's boyfriend and Kurt is Ani and Moonlight's brother." Veronica led the way to the kitchen.

Harry looked up from Leo's cherub face as Veronica and Molly stepped into the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley." Harry carefully climbed to his feet and allowed Molly to place a kiss on his cheek.

"Who is this little one?" Molly scooped Leo from Harry's arms.

"He's my son, Molly." Ani stepped from the stove.

"He's adorable, Ani. What's his name?" Molly carefully handed Leo to Veronica.

"Promise not to get upset?" Veronica watched as Molly nodded. "Leo Black."

"That's a nice..." Molly's eyes widened slightly. "Black? He's Sirius' son?" Veronica nodded slightly. "I thought he's become more responsible than this. To leave a baby and a..."

"Molly, we were married." Ani placed some tea on the table. "Please calm down."

"Molly, I threatened Sirius with his life and I watched him die." Veronica transfigured one of the kitchen chairs into a rocking chair. "I know Sirius caused you a lot of grief over the last year. He was just like a son to you so why not consider Leo your first grandson." Veronica watched as Ani steered Molly to the rocking chair. "Now you sit there and hold Leo while Ani and I get breakfast on the table."

Moonlight moved over toward Molly. "When I first found out about Ani and Sirius, I wanted to kill him. Then I watched them together and I realized that he was good for Ani. He was the best thing that ever happened to her. He gave her this baby and a lot of love." She fingered Leo's soft black hair.

Ron barreled into the kitchen. He barely managed to stop when he saw Molly holding Leo. "Mum! Don't tell me that I have another brother or sister."

"Your father and I decided that seven was enough." Molly scowled slightly. "This is Leo Black, Ani and Sirius' son."

Ron crept closer to Leo as Veronica placed several platters on the table. "He's adorable. He might look a lot like Sirius." He turned to the table. "FOOD!"

"Ronald Bilius Weasley!" Ron flinched at his middle name. "You will wait until everyone is here before you eat." Molly pushed gently with her toe to start the chair rocking and softly hummed a lullaby.

Hermione and Ginny hurried into the kitchen. Veronica motioned them to the table. "You'd better get started before Ron. I'm afraid there won't be anything left."

Molly continued to rock Leo as the others ate their breakfast or bustled about the kitchen cleaning. She barely noticed when Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny hurried up stairs to begin their tournament of games. Rath and Kurt volunteered to watch them while the others prepared for Harry's party. Ani and Veronica glanced at each other. It seemed as if tiny Leo had managed to get Molly to forgive Sirius Black of all his past crimes.