Lupin's True Love Returns

July 31, 1996

Veronica wandered into the library and saw Ginny and Harry still playing Monopoly. Ron, Hermione, Kurt and Rath were arguing over the rules to Uno. Veronica smiled as Harry landed on Boardwalk with 2 houses and a hotel.

"Damn." Harry started counting his money and realized he didn't have enough to give Ginny. "You wouldn't like to have my three properties in lieu of payment of rent, would you?" His lopsided grin flashed across his face.

"I don't think so. Now pay up." Ginny held out her hand and waited for Harry to place the money in it.

"But I don't have enough money." Harry's whine reached Veronica's ears.

"Well I guess that means that I won this game." Ginny laughed as Harry gave her the money and the properties.

Ron glanced over at Harry and Ginny. "So my baby sister has finally beaten the great Harry Potter."

Ginny jumped to her feet and began to bounce around the room. Veronica stepped further into the room as Rath and Kurt picked up the Uno cards and put them away.

"Well I know who not to play with the next time I want to play Monopoly." Veronica pulled an enchanted scarf out from one of her pockets. "Okay everyone out except Harry."

Kurt and Rath ushered Ron, Hermione, and Ginny out the door of the library. Veronica watched as Harry quickly cleaned up Monopoly and put it away. She noticed that the table was larger than the one she put in the room.

Harry noticed her confused look. "Remus did it."

"Oh." Veronica whipped out her wand and pointed it at the table. "Extenuo." The table sank to its original size. "That's better."

"What did you need from me, Aunt Veronica?" Harry moved the box back to its place on the other table.

"I need you to put this scarf over your eyes, Harry." Veronica handed the scarf to Harry.

Harry wrapped the enchanted scarf over his eyes. "Cool. The World Cup." He felt Veronica tightening the knot. "Now what?"

"I'm going to lead you to the kitchen." Veronica took Harry's right hand in her left and placed her right hand on his waist. "Come on."

They slowly made their way down the stairs toward the kitchen. Harry's left hand trailed lightly along the wall. Veronica released his hand to wave her hand over the kitchen door and making it open. Noise suddenly hit Harry and Veronica's ears. Veronica loosened the scarf and pulled it away from Harry's eyes.

"SURPRISE!!!" Shouts echoed through the kitchen.

"This certainly is." Harry turned to Veronica and hugged her. "Thank you."

Veronica blushed slightly. "You're welcome, Harry. I figured that you should have at least one memorable birthday." Veronica motioned to Ani to start the music. "Now. Let's party!!!"

Ani turned on the CD player before she hurried over to Harry and hugged him. "Happy Birthday, Harry."

"Thanks, Ani." Harry hugged Ani. "Where's Leo?"

"I think Molly is trying to keep him from Tonks." Ani laughed as Harry moved through the crowd. "It's good to see him focused on something other than old snake face."

"It is." Veronica pulled Ani closer and whispered into her ear. "I think he's going to ask Ginny out."

"What?" Ani's eyes followed the direction that Veronica was pointing.

Harry stood close to Ginny as she cooed to Leo who was curled up in her arms. No one could miss the happiness on Harry's face as he gazed at the petite redhead. Veronica and Ani smiled at each other. Ani pulled Veronica toward the stage that they had set up along one wall of the kitchen.

"Let's get this party started right." Veronica pulled Ani onto the stage with her. Ani turned down the music as several large red firecrackers shot from the end of Veronica's wand. "May I have your attention?" Fred and George, the ever faithful jokesters, dropped to their knees in front of Ani and Veronica. "Knock it off, boys." Everyone laughed as Fred and George tried to knock each other's head off.

Remus hauled them to their feet. "Don't make her hurt you." He pushed them back into the crowd. "There you go, darling."

"Thank you, sweetheart." Veronica blew Remus a kiss before she turned back to the crowd. "Now before we let Harry open any presents..." Groans echoed trough the kitchen. "...Our friends from the United States have brought something with them for this party." Everyone turned to look at Leo gazing out at the crowd from Ginny's arms. "Not Leo. But isn't he adorable?" The group nodded as one while Ani handed Veronica a microphone and held one in her own hand.

"What are those?" Ron pointed at the microphones.

"These are microphones, Ron.' Veronica held up the microphone for the others to see. We have Ani, Moonlight, Rath and Kurt to thank for this evening's entrainment."

"And what would that be?" Dean Thomas' voice floated from the back of the room.

"Karaoke!!" Ani stepped to one side as she and Moonlight pulled back the curtains to reveal a karaoke machine and a variety of CDs.

"Yes!!" Hermione's hands clapped over her mouth.

Everyone laughed as Veronica tapped her finger against the microphone. "Okay. Since it is Harry's birthday, he gets to decide who is to embarrass themselves first. Harry?"

She handed the microphone to Harry as he climbed onto the stage. His eyes gazed out over the crowd. "Okay, Aunt Veronica, you get to start us off."

"I shouldn't have given you the mike." Veronica rolled her eyes as the music for 'I Will Survive' filled the kitchen. "Okay!"

Everyone stood mesmerized as Veronica's melodious voice blended with the pulsing music. Applause filled the kitchen when Veronica finished.

"You're no fun, Veronica." Ani clapped a hand on Veronica's shoulder. "You weren't supposed to know the words."

"That used to be her favorite song when we were younger." Remus caught Veronica as she lunged at him. "Who is next?"

"Ani!" Moonlight scooped up the free microphone. "Let's do it."

"Okay." Ani moved toward the center of the stage as 'Is There Life Out There?' started.

Their voices blended together. Unfortunately not everyone had a good sound. Everyone covered their ears as Ron sang 'Achy Breaky Heart'. Hermione and Ginny's voices blended beautifully when they sang 'Does He Love You?'. Harry's voice cracked slightly over some of the high notes of 'I'm a Believer'. Remus, Alastor, Kurt, and Rath completely destroyed 'Surfin' USA'. Gradually everyone had a turn to sing. Finally Molly brought out the large chocolate cake for Harry.

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Harry, Happy Birthday to you." Everyone waited as Harry blew out the candles on the cake.

Molly whisked the cake away and began to cut it. Veronica held up her hands. "Since everyone has had a turn with the karaoke machine, I think we'll put Harry on stage to open his presents." She pulled Harry onto the stage and conjured a chair for him.

Remus, Alastor, and Kurt carried over the large pile of birthday gifts. Ginny handed a roll of parchment and a self-inking quill to Hermione.

"Which one do I open first?" Harry picked up a gift with untidy scrawl across the top. "Hagrid's." He ripped through the brown paper and pulled out a book.

"What is it?" Veronica glanced at the title. "An Advanced Guide to Magical Creatures. I suppose that will come in handy next year."
"I think it will." Harry handed it to Ani who placed it on the table covered with a red tablecloth. He picked up another gift and carefully opened the wrapping. He pulled out a pocket foe glass. "Thanks, Professor Moody."

"I thought you'd like to know when you're enemies are getting ready to attack." Moody smiled slightly.

Slowly Harry made his way through the gifts. Finally he held a small jewelry box in his hand. Veronica placed a hand on his shoulder. "Wait for a second. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, would the three of you come up here." Ron, Ginny, and Hermione climbed onto the stage as Veronica pulled out several boxes from her pocket. "Since you already had a birthday, Ron, and Ginny and Hermione's are coming up soon, I thought it would be nice for the three of you to get something from us as well." She handed on box to Ron. Then she handed the remaining boxes to Hermione and Ginny. "Go ahead and open them."

Together the four teenagers ripped through the wrapping paper. The boys pulled out their Gryffindor rings and slid them onto their right ring fingers. Harry felt the ring adjusting its size to fit his hand. Suddenly Ginny and Hermione both squealed as they pulled out the charm bracelets.

"This is gorgeous, Aunt Veronica." Ginny hugged Veronica tightly.

"Open the other box, Ginny, Hermione." Veronica smiled as Ginny and Hermione pulled out their Gryffindor necklaces. "Happy Birthday, everyone."

No one could tell where Veronica ended and the teenagers began as Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny hugged her tightly. No one even noticed the four owls flew into the kitchen until they landed beside the hugging group. Harry knelt down and removed all the letters. He handed each one to the others. He carefully ripped into the envelope as did Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.

"Our O.W.L. results." Harry glanced up from the list.

Veronica took the list from Harry's hand. "You received an Exceeds Expectations for an overall score. You received a total of ten O.W.L.s."

Harry scooped Veronica up and swung her around. "How about you, Ron? Hermione?"

"I got a total of twelve O.W.L.s with an overall score of Outstanding." Hermione squealed slightly. "Ron?"

"I got eleven O.W.L.s with an overall score of Exceeds Expectations." Ron hugged Hermione. "Thanks for all your help." Suddenly he blushed when he realized he was hugging Hermione.

Veronica noticed Ginny's mouth gaping open. "Ginny, what's wrong?" Veronica took the letter from Ginny and read it. "You were made prefect. That's wonderful, Ginny."

"I don't want to be prefect." Ginny groaned slightly when she heard her mother's snort. "It's just that I wanted to try out for the Quidditch team this year."

"As a reward, how about we buy you a broom, Ginny?" Molly climbed onto the stage. "Nothing fancy mind you. We still need to live on a budget."

Ginny hugged her mother. "Thanks, Mum."

"Well, I guess we should be wrapping this up soon." Veronica started ushering the crowd toward the fireplace. "Anyone not going by Floo powder best line up at the door. Remus will be driving you home shortly." Veronica held out the pot of Floo powder to the departing kids.

Slowly the kitchen emptied. Veronica glanced around and saw Harry holding Leo while Ginny was looking on. Ron and Hermione were talking quietly in the corner. Molly, Moonlight, and Ani had started cleaning up the kitchen. Kurt and Rath were helping Alastor take down the streamers and balloons. Veronica sighed as she started cleaning as well.