Lupin's True Love Returns

Carey Ann Lupin

Story Summary:
Eighteen years have passed since Veronica was at Hogwarts. The Memory Charm is failing and Veronica is beginning to remember the times of fun and horror at the school. As a teacher she knows how to make class fun. She learned a lot while away including how to fight. Will she be able to teach Harry all she has learned or will she have to bring others in to help

Chapter 33.25

Chapter Summary:
Veronica and the rest of the professors have to find the items that all the young mutants shall need for the upcoming year. Part one of four.
Posted:
01/10/2006
Hits:
557
Author's Note:
Okay. This is PART ONE of FOUR!! I know what you're thinking. WHa'ts she doing? She should have put them all together. You'll see my reasons by the end of the chappie. Have fun

September 14, 1996

Veronica glided down the rickety staircase of the Leaky Cauldron. As she came into view of the common room, she saw Piotr gently tossing Leo into the air, making him squeal happily. Harry watched while eating his breakfast and Ginny gasped with each gentle toss Piotr did, keeping herself from scooping Leo into her arms. Veronica's grey eyes scanned the room until she saw Remus slouched in an armchair near the fireplace. She looked over his ravaged face for a sign that the wolf was happy and saw the slight smile that graced his lips. Regina had joined her father and was sitting at his feet with her lying on his knee. His fingers threaded through her hair as Veronica slowly approached them.

"...And that's why Peter's betrayal was so terrible. None of us thought that he would be so cruel as to betray the Potters. He's the reason that you never got to meet your family and Harry lost his parents at such a young age." Remus tilted his head slightly as he caught a whiff of Veronica's scent of lavender and vanilla.

"When Mother caught him last night she said that she had never trusted him." Regina noticed that Remus had stopped playing with her hair. "Why?"

"Because, darling, he never did anything that I could trust." Veronica sat on the arm of the armchair while Remus wrapped an arm around her waist. "Remus, Uncle James, and Uncle Sirius all knew how I felt about him." She shoved Remus' shoulder lightly.

"Trust him once shame on him; trust him twice shame on me." Remus smiled broadly as he pulled Veronica down for a kiss. "Morning, love."

"How's the wolf?" Veronica's voice was low making it difficult for anyone else to hear, except Logan and Regina.

Remus shrugged slightly. "He didn't try as hard to get out last night. I think he's happy that Padfoot has been cleared."

"Padfoot? Who's Padfoot?" Regina looked between her parents.

"Uncle Sirius was an Animagus, like your mother. His form was a large black dog that we called Padfoot." Remus leaned back in his chair slightly.

"Or Snuffles." Veronica giggled as she remembered the day that Sirius couldn't get rid of a severe cold for several hours and had snuffled the whole day.

"I wish I had gotten to know him." Regina laid her head back on Remus' knee and felt his fingers running through her hair again.

Remus looked up at Veronica and saw her nod toward the breakfast table slightly. "You'd better go and eat, sweetie, before those boys eat all the food."

"Okay, Daddy." Regina scrambled to her feet. "I want to hear more about Uncle Sirius and Uncle James later."

"Oh you will." Remus smiled as Regina leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek before making her way to the breakfast table.

"Hard to believe, huh?" Veronica slid into Remus' lap.

"Yeah. I have a seventeen year old daughter who loves me for me, two more on the way..." He rubbed Veronica's stomach. "...And a very loving wife."

"And a traitor that will pay for his crimes." Veronica dropped a kiss on Remus' lips.

Alex had been watching the loving couple for the few minutes they had been together. "Hey, Vee. Get off his legs or he won't be able to stand later."

Everyone froze. All the men knew not to insult a pregnant woman but Alex had done the unspeakable. He'd called her fat.

Harry's emerald eyes were as wide as saucers as he stared at Alex. "He's going to die. It's a shame we never got to see him teach."

Bobby nodded while Ginny and Marie grabbed Leo and started to race out of the common room. The girls stopped when they reached the top of the stairs. Veronica climbed to her feet and narrowed her violet eyes at Alex. He visibly cowered even though he was slightly taller than her.

"Did you just call me fat, Havok?" Veronica placed her hands on her hips and continued to glare at Alex.

All the men around the room were shaking their heads and mouthing 'Say no, idiot!' But Alex being Alex simply opened his mouth and blurted the first thing that came to mind. "Um...yes."

All the men jumped from their seats and hid in various places around the room. Logan dove under the table while Remus climbed to his feet behind Veronica. Apparently they all thought she was going to explode in anger but no one was prepared for the tears that came.

"Remus!" Veronica turned to face her husband and pointed at Alex. "H-he's c-calling m-m-me f-f-f-fat!"

Remus wrapped his arms around his wife and pulled her close to him. "You're not fat, love. You're just carrying twins and Havok's needs to understand that." He turned slightly so she could see Logan crawling from under the table. He smiled when Logan grabbed Alex's arm. "See Logan's going to have a nice long talk with him about it."

"Come on, kid. I think you're going to need a lesson about pregnant women." Logan pulled Alex toward the other side of the room. "First thing is that you never ever call them fat or they just may take your head off. The second thing is that you never insult them in front of their hubby or boyfriend or he might take offense and defend his woman's honor. And third thing is that you don't have to worry about her or him because they have me to take care of it." Logan's fist landed in Alex's stomach causing him to double over in pain.

"See, Veronica. Logan is looking out for you." Remus nodded his thanks to the wiry Canadian. He shook out a handkerchief and started to wipe the tears from Veronica's cheeks. "Let's get all these tears cleaned up."

Regina wrapped her arm around her mother's shoulders as she gave Alex a glare that would have hurt him if he'd seen it. "Come on, Mother. Let's get you something to eat."

"Okay." Veronica allowed herself to be led to food-laden table.

"Ginny, Rogue, it's safe to return." Remus stood at the foot of the staircase and watched the girls bring Leo back into the common room.

Harry smiled as he leaned over to hug Veronica. "Don't worry, Aunt Veronica, you'll get payback when we start classes Monday."

"Thanks, Harry." Veronica sat at the table and started to eat the plate that Regina had loaded for her.

Harry scooped Leo from Ginny's arms but not before placing a kiss on her cheek. The door to the Leaky Cauldron swung open to admit Alastor and Shacklebolt with a swirl of the morning fog. Dual cracks turned the Mutants' attention from the men walking in the door. Severus swept his cloak from his shoulders while Hagrid shook some moisture from the morning fog out of his moleskin coat. Kitty's hazel eyes widen slightly when she saw Hagrid. She stared as Marie launched herself into his arms.

"Hagrid!" Marie wrapped her arms around his neck.

"'Ello, Marie." Hagrid smiled broadly as he placed her back on her feet.

"What are you doing here?" Marie cocked her head to one side.

"I'm 'ere to help you kids get your stuff." Hagrid clapped Piotr on the shoulder but it didn't faze the big mutant.

Alastor made his way over to Veronica and started to give her a gentle kiss only to find her wand pointed at his mutilated nose. "Morning, girl."

"What prank did I play on Petunia Evans when I was only twelve and what did you threaten to do to the prankster?" Veronica's eyes narrowed slightly as she glared at Alastor.

His cheeks started to get red. "You gave her a potion that made her flirt with me and I threatened to tar and feather whoever had done it." He turned slightly to glare at Harry who had started to laugh.

Ginny looked at Ron and Hermione and burst out laughing making Leo squeal happily. Ron's booming laughter filled the room while Hermione giggled quietly. Scott looked around at Bill, who had his fist tight against his mouth to keep from laughing, and Hagrid, looking like he was about to burst with his laughter. He looked over at Logan and Alex who both shrugged. His eyes met Severus' dark eyes, who turned away.

"Would someone, anyone, please explain what is going on?" Scott's gaze slid from the satisfied Veronica to the embarrassed Alastor to the laughing teenagers. His gaze stopped on the smirking Remus. "You know what happened, don't you?"

Remus nodded and swallowed. "First you need to understand that Petunia hates magic." He glanced down at his wife who was sliding her wand back into her pocket.

"Not only does she hate it, she despises it." Veronica turned back to her plate and picked up her cup of tea. "When I was twelve, the Potters and the Evans got together and decided that we should go camping. So we got in touch with the Lupins, Alastor, Melissa, Hermione's mother, and the Weasleys. Alastor wrote to Patricia and Emma and went to get them so that Lily, Melissa, and I had someone other than James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter to talk to."

"For that us guys were grateful." Remus smiled slightly. "Of course they did look really good in their suits."

Veronica rolled her eyes. "Anyhow, Molly and Arthur had the sweetest boys. Bill and Charlie had attached themselves to me for some odd reason."

"If I remember correctly it was some kind of perfume that you wore." Bill ignored Fleur's glare. "It completely relaxed me."

"Thanks, Bill." Veronica gave the red haired man a grateful smile. "Petunia was given the task of feeding Charlie that first morning."

Molly's growl echoed through the room. "She threw the bowl onto the table and Charlie stuck his hands into the hot cereal."

"That's when I decided to play a prank on her. The potion was easy to make once I had the other girls in on it." Veronica turned slightly and took in Harry's gaping mouth. "Oh yeah, Harry, your mother was a prankster as much as your dad."

"Why did you guys choose Alastor?" Remus looked down at his wife again.

"Well, we didn't think James or Sirius would be able to handle it." Veronica smiled as the rest of the group burst out laughing, everyone except Severus, making Alastor turn beat red.

"Someone please kill me." Alastor shook his head slightly.

"Not now, Alastor. We have shopping to do." Veronica's crying jag had finished as quickly as it had started.

Ginny wound her arms through Harry's. "Poor Remus."

Harry looked down at his girlfriend. "Poor Remus? Poor us. We're the ones that'll have her teaching them."

"He's right, Gin." Ron stared at his sister. "She could get into a mood about men and take it out on the class."

They turned to Veronica who was rummaging through her robes looking for the papers that had the groups on them. She smiled when she pulled them out.

"Okay, everyone, gather round. I'm going to assign the groups since we didn't do this last night." Veronica looked down at the paper. "Group one has Logan, Remus, Tonks, Alastor, and myself as the chaperones. Roberto, Danielle, Luna, and Neville, you're all with us. Ororo, Kurt, Bill, Fleur, and Kingsley, you're all a part of Group Two. Bobby, Marie, Ron, Hermione, and Piotr are with you." She watched as the teens moved closer to their group leaders. "Jean, Scott, Charlie, Henry, and Hagrid are heading up Group Three. Regina, Alison, Harry, Ginny, and Kitty, you're with them. And Regina and Charlie, I'm trusting the two of you." Veronica watched Charlie nod slightly as he laced his fingers with Regina's. "Group Four contains Lorna, Alex, Molly, Arthur, and Severus. Rahne, Sam, Shiro, and Michael, you're with them as well." She shuffled the papers slightly before handed some to each person. "These are the things you're going to need to buy. Charles has already set up a vault in Gringotts for everyone. This is the key. That's our first stop."

"Good." Remus stretched slightly. "I'll take our group down in the carts. Scott, Alex, and Bill can take their groups while you show everyone else where to go."

"Honey, that's why I put at least one witch or wizard with each group." Veronica patted his arm. "We'll be waiting in the lobby for you."

"Okay." Logan pushed his way to the front of the group. "Are we going or what?"

Veronica nodded as Bill and Fleur led the mutants toward the back of the pub. They watched excitedly as he tapped the brick that opened the barrier to Diagon Alley. Scott's eyes landed on the shops lining the streets. Jean noticed that there weren't too many people roaming the street.

"Veronica, why aren't the shops busy?" Ororo voiced the question racing through Jean's mind.

"Since Voldemort's return..." She ignored the gasps and shivers coming from several of the wizards. "...people don't want to be away from home any longer than they have to. Besides, most of them are either terrified that the Death Eaters are going to attack any minute or they still think Harry's lying about everything."

Harry's groan echoed along the half empty street. Bill shook his head while Fleur managed to keep him from punching a wall in anger. Ororo noticed that most of the wizards were very upset about Veronica's last statement. Alex hurried next to Logan, helping him, Scott, Kurt, and Henry check the various alcoves and alleyways for possible ambushes. Veronica watched Charlie and Regina laughing softly. Bill approached the door to Gringotts Bank. Kitty and Alison stared at the goblins standing beside the doors. They gasped when the goblins opened the doors for them.

"Thank you." Marie gave the goblins a dazzling smile.

Remus, Scott, Alex and Bill ushered all the teenagers into the bank. Veronica stretched slightly before turning to face the rest of the group. "Come on. Let's go get some ice cream."

"Didn't you hear?" Alastor stopped her with a hand on her arm.

"Hear what?" Veronica was confused. Does Alastor think I'd believe anything in the Prophet?

"Fortescue's disappeared." Tonks glanced at Veronica. "No one knows what happened to him or to Ollivander."

Veronica stared at Tonks and Alastor. "When did that happen?"

"Just before school started." Alastor watched Veronica's face fall slightly.

"Were there any signs of a struggle?"

"At Fortescue's there were signs everywhere but it looked like Ollivander just packed up and left." Kingsley leaned against the wall as he watched Veronica started to become very agitated. "No point is getting upset about all of it."

"No point in getting upset?" Veronica whirled around and glared at Kingsley who flinched. "When you have a craving for peanut butter, chocolate, and raspberry ice cream and get told that the guy who makes them is not around, let's see you not get upset."

"Sorry. I forgot about the hormones." Kingsley rubbed the back of his neck as Bill ushered the teenagers from Gringotts.

Remus was trying not to laugh at Scott and Alex, who were busy trying not to make idiots of themselves by throwing up like schoolboys. Bill draped an arm around Fleur's shoulders while the teenagers were cheering the fact that they weren't sick at all. Veronica wound her arm through Remus' as the groups started to split up. Alastor and Tonks started to herd their group toward the shops as the rest of the groups wandered off to do their shopping.

"Where are we going first, sweetie?" Remus nuzzled Veronica's neck slightly.

"Let's get their wands first. I know Ollivander is the best but I think Miss Lorien is second best. After all that's where I got my first wand." Veronica started down the street past Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. "We'll stop here when we're finished. I want to see what Fred and George have for us."

"Those two will be the death of Molly yet." Alastor shoved open the door next to the joke shop. "Get in here you lot."

Roberto bowed slightly as he allowed Danielle and Luna to hurry into the shop ahead of him. Neville almost raced into the shop behind him as Veronica nudged Logan softly. Remus and Tonks followed the rest into the shop.

"Ah...Mrs. Lupin. I was beginning to wonder when you were going to come and visit me again." Misty Lorien emerged from behind the stack of boxes gathered on the counter in front of her. "And I see you have brought some friends."

"Miss Lorien, I'm sure you remember my husband, Remus, as well as Alastor Moody and Tonks."

"Of course. It is a wonderful pleasure to see you again, Alastor. I trust you are going to be getting these two..." Misty extended her hands to Danielle and Roberto. "...Their wands." She amber eyes fell onto Logan's face. "As well as this gentleman's."

Veronica's laughter sounded loud in the silent room. "Of course. Allow me to introduce Roberto DaCosta, Logan, and Danielle Moonstar." She turned slightly as she saw Regina's group pass the window. "I'd better warn you that there will be three other groups coming in today. I put your shop down as a second shop to Ollivander's. I didn't realize that he had gone missing."

Misty shook her head sadly. "It's such a shame that the only reason I've been getting any business at all is because Ollivander disappeared. I wish I knew what happened to him."

"Don't. You might make the Death Eaters want you." Remus motioned to Danielle. "Ladies first, Danielle."

Danielle watched as Misty pulled a box from the exact middle of one of the stacks on the counter. "Let's see. Mahogany and a hair from the mane of a unicorn." Danielle took it gently in her hands but a moment later drooped it when a vase exploded. Misty shook her head. "Tell me, child, are your people spiritual?"

"My grandfather is a shaman for our tribe." Danielle spoke proudly of her heritage.

Misty nodded as she reached for a box. "Perhaps we should try this one. The wood is of a golden ash. The core I'll tell you after we see if it approves."

Danielle gripped the new wand. She nearly dropped it when blue and bronze sparks flew from the end. She looked over at Veronica. "What does that mean?"

"The wand has decided that you are its owner." Veronica glanced over at Misty. "What's the core?"

"The tail feather from a golden eagle. The golden eagle is a sacred bird in Australia. The aborigines all but worship it." Misty turned slightly to face Roberto. "Now onto the young man." Roberto stepped forward cautiously. "Come now, I don't bite. That is unless you want me to." Misty laughed as Roberto arched an eyebrow. "I may be fairly old, my boy, but I'm still a woman who enjoys looking at a handsome man." She heard Logan's slight cough. "Don't think I forgot about you, sir."

"Look, lady, just get the kid his wand so we can get out of here." Logan crossed his arms as Misty gazed at him with her amber eyes.

"You will also have a wand, sir." Misty pulled a box from the top of the stacks. She took the wand from the box and handed it to Roberto. "Rosewood and the scale of a dragon."

Blue and gold sparks flew from the tip of the wand. Roberto seemed to relax with relief. "That was fast."

"It should have been. That wand has been waiting for the perfect mischievous soul to claim it." Misty gazed into the young mutant's dark eyes. "I believe it has found it in you." She turned to face Logan. "Now for you, sir. Your future wand awaits."

Logan shook his head. "It ain't gonna happen, lady."

"Yes it is, Logan." Veronica's voice made Logan jump slightly. "Don't make me hex into next week."

Logan's mind turned back to the way her hormones had been acting that morning and decided to take the lesser of two evils. He stepped over to Misty. "Let's see if you can find a wand to suit my temperament."

Misty started pulling several wands from the stacks. "Let's see. This one first." Nothing happened so Misty tossed the wand onto the counter. "Try this." Green sparks flew from the end. "Ah, I should have know. Pine and dragon heartstring."

Veronica nodded to Alastor who moved toward Misty pulling out his pouch of money. "Now we can move on to the next shop which is..." She pulled out the papers from her pocket. "...Madam Malkin's."

"I'm looking forward to helping the others with their wands, Mrs. Lupin." Misty waved the group from the shop.

Veronica led her group out of the shop and down the alley. She saw Harry and Ginny talking outside of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. She waved to them as Logan opened the door to Madam Malkin's. Narcissa looked away from the mirror as the group filed into the shop.

"Mrs. Lupin, I'm so glad to see you and these students." Madam Malkin rushed forward and placed a kiss on each of Veronica's cheeks.

Veronica smiled as Narcissa climbed down from the stool. "Hello, Narcissa. How's Lucius doing?" Veronica pretended to slap her forehead. "That's right. He's in Azkaban." She tapped a finger again her lips. "How's your sister, Bellatrix? Oh yeah, I killed her."

"Never speak of my sister again or I will kill you." Narcissa gathered her things and started for the door. "I believe I shall be shopping elsewhere since you insist on serving Mudbloods and freaks."

"Don't threaten her." Logan clenched his fists slightly making his claws slice his skin. "Don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out." Logan growled as he leaned against the counter.

"Now, Logan. That was very rude of you." Veronica pretended to glare at Logan as the door slammed closed behind Narcissa. "Thank you."

"I know you better than yourself, girl." Logan grinned while Madam Malkin removed the robes that Narcissa had been trying on from the showroom. "Need some help?"

"No, thank you, sir." Madam Malkin laid the robes over the counter before tapping them with her wand and making them fly back to their hangers. She turned to Veronica. "Now what can I do for you, Mrs. Lupin?"

"First I want to say that I'm very sorry about the thing with Narcissa." Veronica tilted her head slightly. "I know she would have made a large sale for you."

"Not necessary, dear. I would have thrown her out when she made the comment about you and your friends." Madam Malkin began laying several black school robes across the counter.

"That's good." Remus stepped forward almost dragging Roberto and Danielle with him. "We need to get school and dress robes for these two." He nodded toward Logan. "And teaching and dress robes for Logan."

"Very well. Step onto the stool and let's get your measurements." Madam Malkin snapped her fingers and two measuring tapes snapped to life. "I'll be right back."

Roberto and Danielle stepped onto the stools and watched in amazement as the tapes started to measure their bodies. Roberto looked over his shoulder at Veronica. "Is there a way to keep the robes from getting destroyed?"

"Not really but I'm sure Madam Malkin has already put as many charms on them as she can." Veronica sorted through the racks of dress robes. "Logan, come look at these robes." She held up a set of crimson and gold robes.

"Not likely, 'Roni." Logan pointed to the simple black dress robes hanging on the rack. "Those are more my style."

"Either way it's going to look like we're wearing dresses." Roberto's voice was slightly muffled as Madam Malkin pulled a set of robes over his head.

"Even the school robes look like dresses." Danielle turned slightly trying to get a full view of her new robes. "I like them."

"You would." Logan growled low again as Madam Malkin whipped the robes off Danielle and told her to step down.

"It's your turn, sir." Madam Malkin turned to face Logan.

"I don't see why I have to have teaching robes." Logan climbed onto the stool.

"We're not going to wear them while we're teaching, Logan, just during meals and staff meetings. Besides you look good in those." Veronica pointed at the bottle green robes Madam Malkin had pulled over Logan's head.

"I hate you." Logan glared at Veronica's reflection in the mirror.

"I know." Veronica stuck her tongue at Logan's back.

Remus shook his head slightly. "She hasn't changed." He cleared his throat and stepped forward. "We'll take several sets of those for Logan as well as the sets for Danielle and Roberto." He turned to Danielle who held a set of lavender dress robes. "We'll also take those and Logan and Roberto's dress robes."

"Of course, Mr. Lupin." Madam Malkin gathered the robes together and tapped them with her wand. The robes were folded and wrapped in brown paper. She took the gold coins from Remus while Veronica ushered Roberto and Danielle toward the door. "Was there anything else needed?"

"Not that I know of." Remus looked over at his wife rubbing her stomach. "Veronica and I will be back for some other robes."

"Thank you for your business." Madam Malkin bowed them from the shop.

"There will be three more groups coming in throughout the day." Veronica smiled softly. "Hopefully that will make up for Narcissa leaving."

"I've already seen Mr. Potter and his friends." Madam Malkin returned the smile. "And there is no need to worry about Mrs. Malfoy. I have plenty of customers with her kind of money."

Veronica's laugher followed the group into the street. Roberto glanced at Remus who was wearing a slight grin. Remus just shook his head and started down the street behind his wife. He noticed that they had passed Flourish and Blott's as well as the stationary shop. The rest of the group followed after her. Veronica stopped outside Eyelop's Owl Emporium. Her eyes fell on a beautiful black owl making her smile softly.

She glanced over her shoulder at the group. "Wait here."

"What's she doing getting a dangerous bird?" Logan leaned against one of the lampposts in front of the shop.

Remus rolled his eyes. "In the wizarding world, we use owls to send post."

Roberto nodded slightly as he slid an arm around Danielle's waist and pulled her closer. Logan just shrugged and lit a cigar as the black owl was moved from his cage in the window. Alastor's magical eye could see what was going on in the shop. He saw Veronica hand the clerk some money and take the cage that now held the black owl.

"She's coming back." Logan glanced at Alastor who simply pointed at his magical eye. "My eye."

Logan nodded slightly as Veronica stepped through the door carrying the black owl. "Can please get to the next shop?"

"Hold up, Logan." Veronica handed Roberto the cage. "This owl is for all the X-men students to use. He'll take your messages to each other and bring them to me or any of your teachers. I just want you to take good care of him."

"Not to worry, professor. We'll take good care of him." Roberto lifted the owl from Veronica's hand.

"Now let's go get the parchment and quills you need. Tonks, I believe that is your department." Veronica stopped in the middle of the street as a shadow detached itself from the stationary shop. "Moonlight."

"Hot damn!" Logan picked up the woman and swung her around

"Put me down, you idiot." Moonlight gave Logan a brilliant smile as he placed her on her feet. She looked around the group. "I see Leo's missing."

"Not necessarily. He's with Harry and Ginny." Veronica bristled slightly at the innuendo that she wasn't looking after her godson. "Leo's very happy with us."

Moonlight rolled her eyes. "I'm sure. I just wanted to check up on you and to bring someone to see you." Two other people stepped from the shadows.

"You!" Veronica's wand was pointed straight at Nebula and the man beside her.

"Put it away, 'Roni. Smoke's on our side now." Logan pushed Veronica's arm down so that her wand was pointed at the ground.

"She's one of those with Mystique that attacked the school." Veronica's eyes flashed violet slightly as she glared at Logan.

"Xavier wrote to you about that." Nebula flinched slightly as she heard the anger in Veronica's voice. "I'm sorry about that. I'm no longer with Mystique."

"How do we know that we can trust you?" Remus stepped between his wife and the woman that had attacked the school.

"Do you really think that I would be with a woman who attacked a school?" The man crossed his arms.

"And who are you?" Alastor fingered his wand.

"I'm Ani's best friend..."

"Chris." Veronica placed a hand on Alastor's arm. "You're the guy that Ani was looking for when she was here."

Chris ran a hand through his brown hair and grinned. "That's me. I'm sorry about all the trouble I've been what with my disappearance and all."

"Trouble? Trouble?" Veronica glared at the man that Ani had mourned for so long. "Not bloody likely. Ani went and got herself killed to protect Harry and here you are saying 'Sorry for all the trouble'. You are a prat and...and a moron!"

"'Roni..." Logan glanced between Veronica and Chris.

"Don't 'Roni me, Logan. He's been causing nothing but trouble." Veronica's anger finally snapped causing tears to run down her face.

"He's been in hiding." Nebula stepped toward Veronica. "He saw Ani's vision and thought it was best if he went into hiding."

Remus laid a hand on Veronica's shoulder. "Just like you did, sweetheart."

Veronica nodded slightly. "I can't blame him for Ani's death but I can blame him for all the pain that he gave her when he disappeared."

Chris heaved a sigh of relief as Alastor and Veronica both lowered their wands. "We actually came to see if there was anything we could do to help."

Veronica sighed deeply. "What do you guys think? Should we have them help us teach?"

"Smokescreen can teach the kids about stealth and Chris can teach meditation." Logan ran his hand through his hair. "But we better talk to Dumbledore first before we make any decisions."

"You're right, Logan. I'll speak to him tomorrow when we return to the castle. Until then I guess Chris and Nebula can stay with us at the Leaky Cauldron." Veronica's cloak flared out behind her as she started toward the stationary shop.

Remus gave Chris, Nebula, and Moonlight a slight smile. "We'll meet you back at the Leaky Cauldron when we're finished."

"Good." Moonlight stalked off toward the pub with Chris and Nebula following behind her.

Veronica whipped around to face the group. "Can we please finish shopping so I can contact Dumbledore?"

"Calm down, girl. We're coming." Alastor stomped after Veronica almost afraid to make her any angrier.

Tonks glanced at Remus who simply shrugged and followed his wife. Neville and Luna whispered the little bit of history that they knew to Roberto and Danielle while Logan tried to figure out why Veronica was so pissed off. Tonks entered the stationary shop behind Veronica and Remus. She started to place various stacks of parchment, bottles of colored ink, and several types of quills onto the counter.

"Where are the ink pens?" Danielle rummaged through the stack of quills.

"Witches and wizards at Hogwarts use quills and ink. You'll get used to them, I know I did." Veronica placed a hand on Danielle's shoulder. "Besides, it's always nice to try and learn different ways of writing."

"Oh." Danielle wandered through the shop sorting through the various quills and inkbottles.

Logan sidled up beside Veronica and nudged her slightly. "Care to tell me why you about took off Moonlight's head back there?"

"Not really." Veronica tried to ignore Logan and his mumbling until she finally turned to him and glared. "Do you really want to know?"

"Yeah. I do." Logan crossed his arms and stared into Veronica's snapping violet eyes.

"Remus had a crush on her and I found out. She called him a bastard and took out Ani's death on me. Needless to say we tried to take each other's head off. The only thing that the two of us agree on is that Leo needs to be protected." She whirled away from Logan.

"Gee. No reason to take my head off." Logan strolled over to Remus and Alastor and joined them in watching Tonks load the two mutants down with stationary. "You need to get your wife in control, kid."

"Why? What did she say?" Remus glanced over at Veronica and cringed when he saw the anger on her face.

"Asked her what the deal was with her and Moonlight and she about took my head off." Logan pulled a cigar from his pocket and stuck on his mouth. "She also told me that you had a crush on Moonlight. She seems really pissed about that one."

"Damn it, Logan. I wish you hadn't brought that up to her again. I just got her to forgive me for that." Remus hurried over to his wife.

Alastor chuckled slightly as Tonks handed Danielle and Roberto their bags of stationary. "You sure dug his hole a little deeper."

Logan just shrugged as Veronica stalked away from Remus and led the teenagers out into the autumn sunshine. Veronica shoved a list into Logan's hands with a curt 'You can get their caldrons from that shop and their potions ingredients from down there' before she led the teenagers into Flourish and Blott's. Tonks took pity on Logan and helped him with the potion making items. Veronica stalked through the stacks of books pulling a random one every so often. Danielle and Roberto looked over at Neville and Luna and saw that they were keeping a bit of distance from themselves and their professor.

Danielle approached the young witch and wizard. "Do you think she's ever going to chill out?"

"Chill out?" Neville looked into Danielle's dark eyes.

"What she means is when is Mrs. Lupin going to calm down. Moonlight, Smokescreen, and Chris have been X-Men for a few months now. Professor Xavier trusts them so should she." Roberto draped his arm across Danielle's shoulders.

"You tell that to her in her hormonal state." Neville visibly shuddered.

Meanwhile Remus was trying to calm Veronica down. "Come on, hon. You know Logan didn't mean anything by it."

"I don't give a dragon's tail if he meant anything by it or not. He saw how I felt about her and yet he still brought it up." Veronica shoved the latest book on the Founders into her husband's overflowing arms. "Besides he knows better."

"Come off it, Veronica. Logan had no idea that you and Moonlight hate each other." Remus turned to Alastor. "Help me out here, Alastor."

"I'm staying out of it. I don't want her pointing her wand at me." Alastor started back to the front doors. "You're on your own for this one, Remus."

"Man, I wish Padfoot and Prongs were here to help me out of this." Remus stomped toward the clerk and dropped the books onto the counter. He didn't see Logan and Tonks enter the shop with two sets of potions items.

"Is she still mad as a wet hen?" Logan placed the cauldron onto the floor.

"Yeah. I was just wishing our friends were still alive to help me get her out of this mood." Remus ran a hand through his graying hair. "They could usually make her laugh a bit and get her over it."

"Shame they ain't here." Logan chewed on the end of his unlit cigar. "Maybe the two of us could get her to laugh at something and make her feel better?"

"Are you crazy? You really must want to get hexed into next week." Remus' shocked face turned toward the shorter man. "With her hormones right now, it's too dangerous to play a prank on her or even Harry without her trying to kill us."

Logan rubbed his chin slightly. "Maybe we could play a prank on Alex to make her feel better."

"That sounds like an excellent idea. We'll talk it over with Harry and Ron when we get back to the Leaky Cauldron." Remus watched his wife pay for the stacks of books to be delivered to the Leaky Cauldron. "Come on. I think now we're going to stop at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes."

"Maybe we can get a few ideas from there." Logan grabbed the handle of the cauldron and followed Remus from the bookstore.

Veronica watched the shadows carefully as Tonks walked beside her. "Are you ever going to forgive them?"

"We'll see. I'm just letting them sweat it out a bit longer." Veronica glanced quickly over her shoulder at Logan and Remus with their heads together talking. "I want to see what Remus comes up with to cheer me up."

"I remember Sirius doing that a lot the last month you were at Grimmauld Place. You seemed really upset over everything that was happening with Harry."

"Why shouldn't I be? He's my godson for Merlin's sake. I love him and worry about him."

"I'm just saying that now it's not good for the baby for you to be so upset." Tonks barely noticed when Veronica flinched at the word baby.

"Tonks, um...I think I should tell you something."

"What?"

"I'm swearing you to secrecy. You can't tell anyone, not even Alastor."

"I promise. Now spill."

Veronica looked around slightly and leaned closer to Tonks. "I'm having twins."

Tonks stopped in her tracks and stared at Veronica. "Have you told Remus?"

"He was there when we found out. So was Regina and we told Harry, Charlie, and all the X-men."

"That's why Alex was giving you a hard time this morning."

"Not really. Listen we can't let Moonlight find out about this. You heard her about how well Leo's getting taken care of. She'll just say something that will royally piss me off and make me hex her even after Xavier told me that she's not really a 'bad' person."

Tonks just nodded before she opened the door the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Seconds after she opened the door she turned into a bright pink Chihuahua. She ran around the shop yapping at the two laughing redheads. Veronica gave them a slight smile before stepping into the shop and not turning into some form of canine due to the protective spell that Madam Pomfrey had placed on her several days earlier.

"Good thing Poppy thought I better have something on me before coming here to see the two of you." Veronica led Danielle and Roberto into the shop while Neville and Luna moved to the shelves holding the Skiving Snackboxes. "Fred, George, I'd like for you to meet two of the X-Men. This is Danielle Moonstar and Roberto DaCosta. If you would please show them a few of your more popular prank items."

"We'd be honored." Fred draped his arm over Danielle's shoulder while George did the same to Roberto.

"We'll even sell everything in the shop to you for half the price." George led them away when Remus and Logan stepped into the shop.

Tonks yapped at Veronica. "Give me a minute and I'll change you back." Veronica pulled out her wand and waved it at the still yapping Tonks. Tonks changed back into herself with a soft pop. "Feeling better?"

"I'm going to kill those two idiots." Tonks started toward Fred and George.

"Come off it, Tonks. They're only trying to get a business going." Veronica raised an eyebrow at the young Auror.

Logan wandered through the shop with Remus. They picked up several joke items to use on Alex later. They watched Veronica and Tonks show the students some of the funnier prank items. Neville picked up a Skiving Snackbox and Veronica admonished him for even thinking about using it for her class. Finally Veronica announced that it was time to go. The group left the shop and hurried back to the Leaky Cauldron.


Okay. I hope you had fun reading this. to the sisiusdracolover -- I told Sirius you said hi but then AnitheSiriuslover about took off my head. Oh yeah, Draco's mad because you didn't say hello to him too.