Lupin's True Love Returns

September 9, 1996

Remus leaned back in his seat and groaned slightly. Veronica looked around the table. Logan and Scott were listening to Harry explaining Quidditch. Marie stretched as she shook her head slightly. Regina's eyes kept sneaking glances at Charlie as he helped himself to some more wine.

"So, 'Oni, I understand Madam Pomfrey was suppose to give you some news about your pregnancy today." Charlie caught Regina looking at him.

"Yes, Charlie." Veronica leaned back slightly. "I'm swearing you and Harry to secrecy."

"You got it, Aunt Veronica." Harry looked over at Veronica.

"I won't tell a soul." Charlie leaned back in his chair, spinning his goblet slightly.

Remus held out a hand. Veronica placed her hand in his. "We're having twins."

"Yes!" Harry jumped to his feet. "Two more babies to spoil rotten!"

Charlie groaned and shook his head. "Not another Fred and George."

"If I have anything to say about it, they'll never be like Fred and George." Veronica rolled her eyes slightly.

"What if they turn out to be like James and Sirius?" Remus smirked slightly.

Veronica groaned as she laid her head on the table. "No, no, no, no." She looked up at Remus. "We're not going to wish that on Albus and Minerva. I refuse to allow you to teach them any of the Marauder tricks we know."

"Yes, dear." Remus turned to Harry and winked. "Does that mean I'm not allowed to put them on a broom when they're one?"

"Absolutely not!" Veronica jumped to her feet. "Just because James and Sirius put Harry on a broomstick when he could barely walk does not mean that I'm going to let you put your children on one!"

Remus pounded the table with his fist in laughter. "I still have a few months to change your mind."

"Yeah right." Veronica glanced over at Charlie as he climbed to his feet. "You're not going so soon, Charlie."

"I've got to check in with Mum or she's going to freak." Charlie swung his cloak around his shoulders.

Regina climbed to her feet. "I'll see you out."

"Sure." Charlie smiled as Remus cleared his throat. "I won't try to kiss her, Remus."

Veronica rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah. Albus told me earlier today that there's going to be a Valentine's Day Masquerade Ball."

"There hasn't been an announcement." Harry looked up from the table.

"Albus said he's making the announcement on Halloween." Veronica smiled softly as Charlie and Regina stepped from the room. "I guess the rest of you should head to bed."

Logan turned to Veronica. "'Roni, will you please explain to me why you let Rosie walk with that boy?"

"Regina is seventeen and of age." Veronica glared at both Remus and Logan. "You both need to let her grow up."

"How do you know he's safe for her?" Scott looked up from his plate.

"Because Molly would most likely kill Charlie or any of her children if they ever thought of joining 'Voldedork' and his Death 'Beaters'." Veronica giggled slightly at her cleverness.

Remus rolled his eyes slightly. "Come on, Logan. I think the two of us deserve some Firewhiskey at the Three Broomsticks."

"Comin', Scott?" Logan turned to the younger man.

"Nah. I want to talk to Veronica for a bit." Scott lifted his goblet slightly. "Go and have fun, Logan."

"I'll walk Marie back to Gryffindor Tower." Harry watched Marie swing her coat over her shoulders.

"Ready when you are." Marie hurried after Harry as he raced after Remus and Logan.

Veronica snapped her fingers and Dobby appeared with a crack. "Evening, Dobby."

"What can Dobby be doing for you, Professor Lupin?" Dobby bowed so low his hats almost tumbled from his head.

"Please clean up and then send a tray of tea and cakes up for Mr. Summers and myself."

"Of course, Professor Lupin." Dobby snapped his fingers once. The table, plates, and empty chairs disappeared with a crack. He snapped his fingers a second time as Veronica and Scott moved over to the couch. A tray of tea and cakes appeared on a low table before them. Dobby snapped his fingers a third time and disappeared with the remaining chairs.

Veronica poured Scott his tea before fixing her own. "What did you want to talk about, Scott?"

"I know Professor Xavier wrote and told you what had happened to Jean."

"He told me some of it but he didn't go into a whole lot of detail."

Scott stared into his cup of tea. Veronica sighed softly as she set her cup of tea onto the table. She gently took Scott's cup and placed it beside hers. She maneuvered Scott so he was lying across the couch with his head in her lap. She began to smooth his hair from his forehead. Tears streaked from his hidden eyes.

"Tell me, Scott. You always felt better after talking to me." Veronica continued to smooth his hair back.

"The team went to Alkali Lake to stop Stryker from destroying all the Mutants. Xavier and I had been captured from Magneto's cell so they also had to rescue us and the students that Stryker had kidnapped from the school."

"Go on." Neither of them noticed that the ruby necklace started to pulse slightly.

"We managed to get out only to have the dam break and the lake come down on us. Storm and I were trying to get the Blackbird in the air so none of us noticed when she had left the plane."

"She used her power to save the rest of you." Veronica closed her eyes for a moment. "That's what any you would have done for her."

"She could have saved us while she was on the plane."

"Charles told me in various letters that Jean's powers were growing. She must not have wanted to endanger anyone."

"What do you know, Veronica? She could have saved us and herself." Scott jumped to his feet and began to pace. He didn't notice that the necklace started to glow slightly and Veronica was rising from the couch.

"Thy love is well."

Scott turned around to find Veronica hovering slightly before him. "V-Veronica."

"Nay." Godric Gryffindor's voice made Scott whirl around to face a portrait of a meadow that Godric Gryffindor had stepped into.

"Sir?"

"That be not thy friend but my love." Godric knelt as Scott moved closer to the portrait. "Esmeralda shall tell thee thy future."

"My future?"

"Thy future. Now watch." Godric pointed back at Veronica.

"Thy love is alive. She shall bear a new name and power. She shall be reborn from the ashes just as a phoenix dies only to be reborn." The necklace began to pulse a bit slower. "Her powers controlled and more powerful, she and others shall aid in the defeat of Slytherin's heir." Veronica fixed her eyes on Scott for a moment. They burned with a fire life. "Thy love shall join thee...Tonight!"

A brilliant flash of light lit up the sky. Scott jumped slightly at the booming crash only he seemed to be able to hear. Veronica waved a hand toward the portrait hole only to have the portrait covering the hole swing open. Scott stared at the burning beauty standing in the doorway.

"Jean?" Scott took in all her features.

Her auburn hair flowed around her shoulders. Her field green eyes burned with an intensity he'd never seen. She stepped slowly into the room. Scott watched her glide past the meadow portrait and inclined her head slightly to Godric. She glided past Scott to stand beneath the hovering Veronica. Jean shot up from the floor as the necklace gave one final pulse beat. Jean caught Veronica as she started to fall. She strained to guide Veronica's body to the couch. Scott jumped onto action. He grabbed Veronica's feet and helped to guide her body onto the couch. Jean landed next to the couch and knelt beside it. Scott followed Godric's instructions for a blanket. Scott laid the fluffy blanket over their former teacher moments before Veronica moaned softly.

"Ms. Croft?" Jean pushed Veronica's dark wind tossed hair from her face.

Veronica's eyes fluttered open. "Hello, Jean. Esmeralda told me you were coming."

"Hey, yourself." Jean helped Veronica sit up. "How are your little ones?"

"Alive and kicking." Veronica placed a hand on her stomach.

"Jean?" Scott stood at the foot of the couch.

"Hello, Scott." Jean climbed to her feet.

"What happened?" Scott practically raced to Jean and hauled her into his arms.

"I'm not sure, Scott, but I'm home." Jean buried her face into Scott's neck.

"Maybe you should take her back to Gryffindor Tower." Veronica watched them step from her rooms. "Welcome back...Phoenix." Veronica dropped back onto the couch.