Lupin's True Love Returns

August 31, 1996

Veronica shifted the papers on her desk as a knock sounded on her office door. She glanced up as Professor McGonagall stepped into the office. Veronica smiled as she placed some of the papers in a file folder.

"Professor McGonagall." Veronica motioned toward one of the chairs in front of her desk.

"Please call me Minerva." Professor McGonagall sat in one of the chairs. "We are colleagues after all."

"What can I do for you, Minerva?" Veronica leaned back in her chair.

"I just wanted to make sure that you don't need anything before the start of the term." Professor McGonagall smiled slightly as Veronica shuffled through the mess on her desk. "Such as Remus?"

"I'll admit that the first few days here made me a little self-conscious about not being near him especially after all we've been through but now I guess I'm more than ready for it." Veronica began to straighten the books on one corner of her ancient desk. "I really wish he could be here with me."

"I know exactly how you feel." Professor McGonagall watched as Veronica moved some of the parchment piles.

"Was there anything else?"

"Yes actually there was. I wanted to discuss your behavior at the staff meeting the other day."

"That wasn't my fault. Severus had it coming. You would think that he would have learned how to keep his mouth shut while others are talking." Veronica stalked over to the window and stared out over the grounds. "He should have kept quiet and then I wouldn't have had to yell at him."

"I must ask you something, Veronica." Professor McGonagall waited until Veronica was seated behind the desk again. "Do you blame Severus for Sirius' death?"

"Why would I blame Severus? He was the one that could have contacted the Order long before he did but he wasn't the one that hit Sirius with that hex. That was Bellatrix." Veronica closed her eyes for a moment. "I blame Bellatrix for Sirius' death. I also blame Sirius."

"Why Sirius?"

"I'm not sure why I blame him. Maybe because now his son doesn't have a father." Veronica picked up a wooden picture frame from her desk and stared at the tiny baby boy encased under the glass. "I just want Leo to have a family."

"You know he does. You, Remus, Harry, Ani, Moonlight, and Kurt are his family."

"I know, Minerva. He deserves to have his father as well."

A knock sounded on the thick oak door. Veronica climbed wearily to her feet and opened the door. Severus stood anxiously in the hallway. Several of the inhabitants of the portraits watched him warily. Most of the school had heard about the battle lines being drawn across the castle grounds. Veronica glared at Severus for a moment before she moved to the side to allow him entry into her half empty office. He glanced around the room taking in the details. He saw the shelves full of books and the cauldron sitting near the fireplace.

"Planning on brewing a potion?" Severus motioned to the cauldron.

"None of your business." Veronica crossed her arms quickly and continued to glare at Severus. "What do you want?"

"I wish to...a...apolo...apologize... for my interruptions at the staff meeting last week. I had no right to question your teaching abilities." Severus rolled his eyes and tried to get the taste of humble pie from his mouth.

"I think I should be leaving." Professor McGonagall quickly removed herself from the line of fire. "I'll speak to you later, Veronica."

Veronica waved distractedly as Professor McGonagall hurried out the door. "Sure, Minerva." Her glare had disappeared and was replaced with one of surprise. "Have a nasty taste in your mouth, Severus?"

"You now how I hate to apologize, Veronica." Severus sank into the vacated seat.

"Seeing as this is only the second time you've done it, I guess I should say thank you." Veronica sat on the edge of her desk. "I should be the one apologizing, Severus. I shouldn't have yelled at you the way I did."

"You were right to do it. I have been playing favorites with the classes. I guess I saw Tilbelt doing it and thought that was the way things were done." Severus ran a hand through his black hair. "I was wrong."

Veronica's stomach started to rebel as it had been doing for a while now. She glanced at her half eaten lunch and placed a hand on her stomach. "Excuse me for a moment, Severus." She clapped a hand over her mouth and raced out the door.

Severus followed at a slower pace. He watched as Veronica slammed open the door to the girl's bathroom. He heard the retching coming from a stall about halfway down the row. He knelt beside Veronica as she finished bringing up her lunch.

"Feel better?" Severus helped Veronica to her feet.

Veronica leaned on Severus' arm as he led her over to the sinks. She rinsed her mouth out and bathed her face with cold water. "Not really. I'm really beginning to hate feeling like this."

Severus pulled out a small green phial. "Not only did I come to apologize but I also came to give you this. It'll help."

Veronica eyed the green phial suspiciously for a moment. "What exactly is that?"

"It's a potion to help rid you of nausea." He rolled his eyes slightly. "So you really think I would poison you and let an angry werewolf kill me?"

"It might have crossed my mind once or twice." Veronica took the phial and put it in her pocket. "I think I should go see Madam Pomfrey."

"I agree. Then you need to take that potion. It'll help." Severus helped Veronica from the bathroom. "Besides I think you need to get it confirmed by someone who is a licensed Healer."

"Get what confirmed?" Veronica watched as Severus gave her a smile. "You're beginning to scare me."

"I know what the symptoms are, Veronica. You and Remus are going to be parents." Severus laughed as Veronica leaned against the wall between two suits of armor.

"How long have you known?"

"Since Harry called me to Headquarters last month. There is no way I bought your feeble excuse that you had the flu." Severus' laughter caused a shiver to race down Veronica's spine.

"Damn! You're to keep it to yourself, potion boy." Veronica pushed herself off the wall and jabbed her forefinger in Severus' hest. "No one is to know until I get it confirmed."

"So go get it confirmed." Severus pushed Veronica into the direction of the Hospital Wing.

"I really despise you right now." Veronica glared once more at Severus before she hurried to speak with Madam Pomfrey.

Veronica hurried through the hallways, flew up the stairs. When she came to the traditional invisible step she jumped over it and three other steps. Peeves could be heard cackling ahead of her so she ducked behind a tapestry and hurried along the shortcut. Finally she arrived in the Hospital wing. She leaned against the open door and tried to catch her breath. Madam Pomfrey stepped from her office with her arms loaded with bandages and potions.

"Good afternoon, Professor Lupin." Madam Pomfrey stacked everything neatly in a small metal cabinet.

"I...need to...confirm...something." Veronica leaned over, placed her hands on her knees and tried to take a deep breath.

"Sit in the chair while I get my wand." Madam Pomfrey hurried into her office as Veronica collapsed into the offered chair. Madam Pomfrey's voice was slightly muffled as she spoke but Veroncia heard her. "I'd expected you to come to me the moment you thought that there was even a slight possibility of this. I assume that Professor Snape sent you to me?"

"Yes, ma'am." Veronica winced slightly at the little girl voice that she had spoken in. "I just wanted to wait a bit longer."

"Well, you won't have to wait any longer." Madam Pomfrey stepped from her office and waved her wand slightly. "I haven't had to do this spell in quite a while so it may take a moment or two." She pointed her wand at Veronica. "Castigo Conceptio!" A pale purple light enveloped Veronica slightly before centering on her lower abdomen and changing colors to a deep blue. "Well, I guess you should go and tell Remus that he's going to be a father."

"So my assumption is correct?"

"You are about one month pregnant, my dear. I want to set up a schedule for your check-ups. You are not allowed to drink anything, and I mean anything, alcoholic. I'll let the house-elves know that you are to have milk or pumpkin juice in your goblet for all your meals until I tell them otherwise. And you will need to take it easy. That means no killing Severus until after the babies are born." Madam Pomfrey turned to start back into her office. "And tell Remus to get all the sleep he can now because in about eight months he won't be getting any at all." She whirled around to face Veronica once more. "And one more thing, no animagus transformations until three months after the baby is born."

"That one I already knew." Veronica smiled softly as she climbed to her feet. "I'm off to tell Remus."

Madam Pomfrey shook her head as Veronica slammed open the Hospital Wing's doors. Veronica didn't stop when she reached the top of the stairs. She simply started hopping down them. She heard Peeves cackling near the bottom of the staircase. "Out of my way, Peeves. I don't have time for you today." Peeves watched as Veronica flew past him.

The gargoyle in front Dumbledore's office jumped out of the way and Dumbledore stepped into the hallway. He caught Veronica as she barreled into him. "Professor Lupin. I'm surprised to see you in a hurry. We're not going to make me lose my bet today, are we?"

"No, sir." Veronica panted slightly and finally caught her breath. "I've just been to see Madam Pomfrey."

"Is there something wrong?" Dumbledore's brow furrowed slightly.

Veronica shook her head vigorously. "Nothing's wrong. In fact, everything is perfect."

"I take it that Madam Pomfrey had some good news for you?"

"Did everyone in the castle know that I'm pregnant?!" Veronica smiled as Dumbledore nodded slightly. "It always was impossible to keep a secret in this castle."

"Go. Tell Remus. I'm sure he's going to be thrilled." Dumbledore gasped slightly as Veronica hugged him tightly before hurrying down the hallway. "Never thought I see the day when those tow who finally have kids."

Veronica rushed into her office and slammed the door closed. She grabbed the Floo powder from the mantle and threw some onto the smoldering fire. Green flames burst to life suddenly and Veronica stuck her head into the flames. "12 Grimmauld Place." She felt her head spinning on her shoulders. Suddenly she saw the kitchen table of the Order's Headquarters. She looked around and saw Remus and Tonks standing with Alastor and looking at a map. "I hate to interrupt but I need to speak with my husband."

Tonks, Alastor, and Remus all turned to face the fire. Tonks knelt beside the fire. "You just spoke to him yesterday morning."

"Well, I haven't spoken to him today and that, Nymphadora dear..." Veronica giggled as Tonks glared at her. "...Is why I married him. Anyway, I have some news."

"You know where Voldemort is hiding?" Alastor knelt next to Tonks.

"Nope. That would be superb news not good and wonderful news." Veronica watched as Remus knelt on the other side of Tonks. "Any other guesses?" The three heads shook negatively. "Good. Remus, do you remember last month when I was sick?"

"Yeah. You kept insisting that it was the flu." Remus rubbed his neck slightly.

"Well, I have been sick nearly every time I have eaten."

"And you didn't go to Madam Pomfrey?" Remus frowned slightly.

"Well, I just got back from speaking with her. She gave me some wonderful and exciting news."

"And what exactly would that be?" Alastor leaned forward slightly.

"Don't tell me that everyone at Headquarters knew?" Veronica frowned slightly as Tonks and Alastor nodded. "Well, I'm amazed that no one thought to tell Remus."

"Moonlight and Ani swore us to secrecy." Tonks grinned.

"Remind me to kill them later." Veronica sighed. "Well, I suppose that I get to tell Remus now.." Tonks and Alastor nodded again. "Good. Remus dear, I think you're going to want to get as much sleep as you can now because in about eight months you won't be sleeping very much."

Remus glanced at Tonks and Alastor. "What exactly does that mean?"

"Surely you're not that think, boy." Alastor reached around Tonks and slapped Remus' shoulder.

"I thought Sirius was thick but I think you're worse." Tonks giggled slightly.

"Remus, I'm going to have a baby." Veronica watched as Remus blushed slightly.

"We haven't been married long enough." Remus gaped at Veronica.

"I think you need a few lessons with Molly then because according to Madam Pomfrey we have been married long enough." Veronica laughed as Remus turned to Tonks and Alastor.

"She's pregnant?" Remus leaned back slightly on his heels before jumping to his feet and cheering. "I'm going to be a father!!!! I'm going to have a baby!!!!"

Harry had stepped into the kitchen as Remus was making a fool of himself. "I think that is next to impossible, Moony. It's Aunt Veronica that's going to have a baby." Harry knelt on the floor before the fireplace. "I take it that you got it confirmed."

"It's confirmed. You're going to be an older cousin." Veronica turned her head slightly as Hermione, Ron, and Ginny stepped into the kitchen followed by Molly, Fred, and George.

"Yes!!!! There's going to be a baby here for us to spoil!!!" Fred and George danced around the kitchen.

"Not until April, boys. And you're not allowed near it." Molly smiled at Veronica. "So it was confirmed today?"

"Yes, Molly. I just got back from Madam Pomfrey." Veronica smiled at the cheering teenagers. "You would think I was the Virgin Mary the way they're acting."

"They haven't gotten to hold Leo lately so I think they're going through withdrawals." Molly glanced over her shoulder. "Ani's suppose to be here later to see everyone before they leave in the morning."

"Speaking of Ani, I wanted to let you know that Kurt is the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year." Veronica smiled as Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Ginny cheered. "That doesn't mean the four of you are going to be allowed to get away with murder."

"Ah, nuts." Ron blushed as Hermione hugged him.

"Look I need to get going. I'll let you know how everything is going tomorrow after the feast, Remus." Veronica turned back to her husband.

"I'm going to look into buying a house in Hogsmeade so I can be near you." Remus leaned closer to the fire.

"If the agent has any questions, tell them to contact me here at Hogwarts. I love you, Remus."

Veronica blew him a kiss.

"I love you even more, Veronica." Remus watched as Veronica pulled her head from the fire.

Veronica shook her head to clean to soot from her hair. "I guess that means I need to wash my hair tonight." She climbed to her feet and walked over to the ancient desk. Out came quill, parchment, and ink. Veronica dipped her quill into the violet ink and began to write.

Ani,

Remus now knows that I'm pregnant. My due date is sometime in April. I think Molly and Tonks are going to have a time keeping him on the ground. He was shocked and finally he started jumping around like Fred and George are known to do. Speaking of which, keep a close eye on Leo when you go to see everyone tonight. I don't think anything will happen but better safe than sorry. I just wanted to send this quick note before I head down to dinner. Don't worry I have something to take before I eat so that it will stay down. I hope to see you soon.

Veronica

Veronica reached into her pocket as a tawny owl landed on her desk. She handed the letter to the owl and watched it fly out the window. She opened the phial that Severus had given her and took a generous sip before replacing the stopper. She looked around her office quickly before she hurried down to the Great Hall and the celebration dinner that Dumbledore had quickly arranged.