Lupin's True Love Returns

September 14, 1996

Bobby and Marie looked around the street as Hermione pointed out the landmarks. Ron shook his head slightly at how fast Hermione was going. Piotr also looked amazed that the young woman was able to speak so fast and for so long that she didn't need to take a breath. Ororo was using the winds to fly above the group watching for anything unusual. She thought she saw a flash of red and silver, but put it out of her mind when she landed next to the teenagers. She smiled as Hermione kept right on going with her explanations.

"And over there is Ollivander's. He's the best wand maker in Diagon Alley. Unfortunately, he disappeared about a week or so before school started." Hermione gave the young mutants a big smile. "There are other wand makers but I haven't had the opportunity to try one of them."

Piotr leaned close to Ron and spoke so softly that it amazed the red head that someone so large could speak so softly. "Does she never breathe?"

Ron laughed slightly. "You should see her when she's giving me and Harry a lecture. I swear, at times, her head seems like it's about to explode."

Bobby had also heard this and started to laugh. "That I'd pay money to see." Bobby yelped as Marie's gloved hand landed across the back of his head. "Ow! That hurt, Marie."

"I know." Marie smirked slightly as she ran from him.

"That is enough, children." Ororo smiled as she walked past the teenagers. "We're going book shopping first."

Ron groaned. "Those are the heaviest things to get. Couldn't we go and get their wands first?"

Bill laughed as he passed his little brother. "No way, little brother. Do you really think I'm going to give up the chance to watch you suffer? Besides, 'Roni has made it so that no two groups will be in the same shop at the same time." Bill smirked as Ron groaned again. "Maybe we'll head over to Fred and George's shop and see what they're up to."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Ron started toward the bookshop. "Anyone else coming?"

Hermione watched in amazement as her boyfriend opened the door to Flourish and Blotts. Marie jabbed her with her covered elbow. "What's wrong, honey? Did your man do something to shock you?"

"He never wants to go into a bookshop with me. Never." Hermione followed Marie into the bookshop with Bobby and Piotr hot on their heels.

Ororo took to the air once again, looking for the source of her uneasiness. Not finding the source of the earlier flash of red and silver, she landed beside the door in time to duck into the shop behind Kurt. She looked around at the teenagers and laughed at Bobby, Marie, and Piotr staring at the books stacked haphazardly around the shop. "I'm sure that there are charms placed around the shop to keep the books from falling. I'm going to give everyone a list of the books you're going to need. Ron and Hermione, I would like for you to help Marie, Bobby, and Piotr find the books on their lists."

"I'll take Marie with me while Ron takes Bobby and Piotr." Hermione took the list from Ororo's hand. "Come on, Marie. We've got books to look for."

Ron shrugged as his girlfriend moved out of sight. He turned to face Bobby and Piotr. "Come on, guys. No point in letting those two beat us in shopping."

Piotr looked down at his list of books and saw that he had seven years worth to get. "How am I to afford all these books?"

"Knowing the Professor, he sent enough cash for us to get everything we need and then some." Bobby looked up from his list. "Let's get the Astronomy book first."

Bobby looked at Ron, who shrugged and led the way to the Astronomy section. "How many years of this do we need to take?"

"After fifth year, it's considered an elective, but I think Professor Lupin may want you guys to learn a bit about it." Ron picked up two copies of the books. "What's next on the list?"

"Transfiguration." Bobby's eyes widen as he read the list of books. "We each need a copy of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, Intermediate Transfiguration, and Advanced Transfiguration." Bobby looked over at Ron as he moved effortlessly through the stacks. "How does he do that?"

Piotr shrugged and hurried after the red head. "Why do you move so fast?"

"The sooner we get out of here the sooner we can go to Fred and George's joke shop. I can't wait to see what new stuff they've invented." Ron placed the books into Bobby's arms. "What's next?"

"Potions. We need One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, Advanced Potion-Making, and Magical Drafts and Potions." Piotr scanned the shelves and pulled two copies of each book into his arms. "We also need a copy of Standard book of Spells Books One through Seven."

Ron grabbed the copies of the books. "What else?"

"We also need the books for our electives." Bobby juggled the books in his hands. "What classes should we take, Ron?"

"Not Divination. All Trelawney does is predict death and discord. Care of Magical Creatures is fun, unless Hagrid brings in something that can kill you. You'll have to talk to Hermione about Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. Muggle Studies is something I think you already know." Ron reached for the Care of Magical Creatures books. "So what classes do you want to take?"

"I don't think we're going to have time for any extra classes. Knowing Ms. Croft, she's going to have us wishing we weren't taking Defense." Bobby turned his back on the Care of Magical Creatures books and started toward the front of the store.

"Do you think Marie and Hermione have finished?" Piotr followed after Bobby.

Ron shrugged as he put the books back. I don't even have time for any extra classes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione placed the last transfiguration book into her pile. "I really hope you're going to like all these classes."

"So do I." Marie hefted part of the stack into her arms and started for the front of the store. "Do you think we're going to be studying much from books in Defense Class?"

"Nope. Professor Lupin always gave us practical lessons in History, so she'll most likely do the same in Defense." Hermione blew a wisp of her curly hair from her eyes. "I can tell you one thing. Snape isn't going to like us in his Potions classes."

"Why's that?"

"He's been after the Defense position for years. First a complete coward, with Voldemort coming out of the back of his head, gets it. Then a man who claims to have done so much gets it. Then a werewolf gets it, followed by an ex-Auror. Finally the Ministry appointed a real moron. She only allowed us to read from the book. Now the X-men are here to teach and both Professors Lupin and Croft-Lupin are back together to teach. Who else is going to show up?"

"No telling around here." Marie shifted the books in her arms. "Can we please go and put these things down?"

Hermione wove her way through the stacks of books and placed the books onto the counter just as the boys came from around the books. "Hey, guys. Find everything?"

"Sure did." Ron dropped the books in his arms onto the counter. "Where are our chaperones?"

"I think they were going to look for anything they could about Hogwarts and Magic." Hermione swiped at her hair, trying to keep it from her face. "I think it's going to be a long day."

"Yeah but it's going to be very satisfying to finally get all of these bought and out of the way." Ron leaned against the counter. "What are we going to do for the first Hogsmeade weekend, 'Mione?"

"I thought we could show our new friends around and maybe try to get a little time to ourselves." Ron wrapped an arm around Hermione and pulled her close.

"What's Hogsmeade?" Marie watched Hermione pushed Ron away from her.

"It's the village near Hogwarts. We have weekends where we are allowed to go and visit." Hermione started to take a deep breath when Ron pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

"That's one way to keep her from talking herself to death." Booby snickered as he looked over at Marie, who just frowned slightly at him. "What? You know that's what I want to do to you."

"I know but you can't." Marie crossed her arms as she continued to watch out for their chaperones.

Hermione managed to push Ron away from her and turned her head toward the shadow just outside the door. The bell over the door tinkled softly as a young man and a boy stepped in. His light brown beard was neatly trimmed and his hair curled softly around the collar of the tunic he wore. A cylindrical device hung from the belt around his waist. His tunic was a soft brown color that almost matched his hair. The blonde boy walking behind him was wearing the same type of outfit except his was a deep brown with a hint of red in it. His hair was pulled back into a tiny ponytail and had a long braid hanging over his shoulder. His belt also contained a cylindrical device and several other things. Hermione gave the man and boy a soft smile as they moved almost fluidly toward the counter. The adults had also heard the bell and hurried back to the teens.

The man bowed to the teenagers as Hermione and Ron reached for their wands and Bobby, Piotr, and Marie took up defensive positions. "My name is Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is my apprentice Anakin Skywalker. We're looking for some friends of ours, James Potter, Lily Evans Potter, Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black."

Hermione's hand flew to her mouth to keep the gasp from escaping. Ron tightened his grip on his wand. Marie pulled one of her gloves from her hands. A shimmer surrounded Piotr as he changed form human to organic steel. Bobby's hands encased themselves in ice.

Bill moved from around the stacks with his wand pointed right at Obi-Wan's chest. "If you're a friend of the Potters and Black, why is it that you don't know that they're dead?"

"They died? When and who killed them?" Obi-Wan's hand slid to the device hanging from his belt.

"That ain't the point, bucko. Why didn't you know the Potters and Sirius died?" Bobby's hand twitched slightly as Marie moved around the group toward them.

"I'm not from around here. I did not receive a call until recently saying that we were needed here." Obi-Wan knew where the teen was at all times. "If you wish to know the truth, you may use your powers on me...Marie. Or do you prefer Rogue?"

Marie stopped moving, as did the rest of the group. "How the fuck did you know who I was?"

"MARIE!" Ororo glanced at the teen. "I'm going to kill Logan for that."

"I'm a Jedi. I can use the Force to find out the information that I need." Obi-Wan smiled as he extended a hand to the young woman. "Please. I am willing to submit to your power."

Marie looked over her shoulder at Kurt and waited until he and Ororo both nodded their permission. "I'm gonna warn you now, pal, this is gonna hurt like hell."

"I have felt worse pain than what you will inflict upon me." Obi-Wan started to clear his mind but wasn't quite ready for the draining he felt when Marie finally touched him. A short scream escaped from his mouth. He dropped to the floor and twitched slightly.

"Whoa!" Ron nudged the unconscious Jedi with his toe. "So that's what happens when you touch someone." Marie didn't answer. "Marie?"

She was bent over double trying to keep herself from screaming. Suddenly a deep voice came from her throat. "QUI-GON!!!"

"What the bloody hell?!" Ron pointed his wand at the young boy. "Who is Qui-Gon?"

"He was Master Kenobi's former master. He was there when Qui-Gon died, as were James and Sirius." Anakin shuffled on his feet slightly as Marie opened her eyes and quickly turned toward him.

She pointed at Anakin. "You are so busted, kid."

Anakin paled as he stared up at the teen with a white streak in her hair. "What are you talking about?"

"He knows about that prank in the Temple last week and he knows that it was you that did it." Marie crossed her arms and grinned as a groan came from Obi-Wan. She turned to the others. "He's telling the truth. He knew the Potters, Sirius, and Remus but he didn't know what has happened to them over the years."

"Where's the dragon that hit me?" Obi-Wan sat up as he rubbed his head.

"Bloody hell." Kingsley slid his wand back into his robes. "That's always what Sirius used to say when he had too much to drink."

Bill held out a hand and pulled Obi-Wan to his feet. "Sorry about that. We can't be too careful these days."

"I understand." Obi-Wan swept his hands over his tunic. "I trust Marie has proven that we can be trusted."

"Sure I did. I also warned your little friend here that he was so busted." Marie pulled her glove back on and smiled. "Sorry about just hitting you with my powers like that."

"I am fine." Obi-Wan glanced around at the group. "I trust we are going to be friends now?"

"Sure we are." Bill glanced at his watch. "Shit. We're getting behind schedule." He looked over at Anakin and Qui-Gon. "Do you want to join us or just wait until we get back to the Leaky Cauldron?"

"Perhaps it would be best if we waited for you near the entrance to this street." Obi-Wan started toward the door with Anakin following in his wake.

"I'll be breaded and deep fried!" Marie grinned as Ron and Hermione looked at her oddly.

"Why is that, Marie?" Kurt draped an arm over her covered shoulders.

"They are from outer space." Marie giggled as Bill's mouth dropped open and Kingsley's eyes widened slightly.

"What do you mean by outer space?" Hermione turned back to her new friend.

"I mean another planet, space ships, and aliens." Marie rolled her eyes slightly as the others just shook their heads. "He showed me how he and this Qui-Gon guy rescued Remus, James, Lily, and Sirius from a cell on a ship. There were six others with them." Marie paused for a moment. "But I swear his name seems familiar."

"I know what you mean." Hermione ran her fingertips down Ron's arm. "I can't remember where from though."

"Enough talk about the stranger. We will meet up with him later." Ororo reached into the moneybag hanging from her waist. "Bill, please help me with this currency."

"Sure thing." Bill moved over to the counter and helped Ororo count out the coins needed to pay for the books. "I'll shrink these down so that they're easier for us to carry."

"That'll be wonderful, Bill." Marie grinned at the older Weasley, making Fleur frown slightly. "Not to worry, Fleur, honey. I've already got a man." She picked up one of the three bags of the shrunken books.

"I'll take that, Marie." Bobby took the bag from Marie as Ron picked up the remaining bags.

Ron looked down at his girlfriend. "Don't get any ideas about me going shopping with you again. You'd have me loaded down like a pack mule."

"Exactly. That's what you're for." Hermione grinned and moved toward Ororo. "Where are we going next, Miss Monroe?"

"I think we had better head over to the joke shop as a reward for getting the books everything else shouldn't take quite so long." Ororo started for the door.

"Maybe Fleur and Kurt should go ahead and get the stuff needed for potions." Kingsley rubbed the back of his neck.

"Oui, zat is correct. We vill meet you in a vile in zee robes shop." Fleur grabbed Kurt's hand and started toward the door.

"Maybe me and Hermione could come with you?" Marie cocked her head to one side.

"I think zat is a good idea, Marie." Fleur draped her arm over the teenager's shoulders. "Ve must hurry. Fred and George vill understand, no?" She glanced over at Bill who just shrugged.

"They'll have to. Just meet up with us in about twenty minutes." Bill watched as Kurt, Hermione, Marie, and Fleur went toward the stationary shop. "I still have a hard time figuring her out."

"Women are like that, dude." Bobby shifted the bag slightly. "We love them but can't understand a thing about them."

Ron pointed toward the joke shop. "Hey, look. Harry's group must have just finished with that the shop." Sure enough when Bill turned around he saw Harry and his group entering a shop a ways down the street.

"I wonder what charm they have over the door this time. The last time I came in here, I sang for three days." Kingsley shuddered at the memory of it.

"There's no telling with those two." Ron moved toward the door of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and opened it for Ororo. "After you, Miss Monroe."

"Thank you, Ronald." Ororo stepped through the door and changed into a pure white rabbit. Her little pink nose twitched as her eyes glared at the laughing red heads behind the counter.

"I guess we know what charm you've got on here." Bill tapped his wand against the doorframe and stepped through. He turned to face Ororo, who looked up at him and tilted her floppy-eared head to one side. "Finite Incatatem."

Ororo reappeared amongst the laughter of the others. "That was a very interesting Charm on the doorway."

"We aim to please." Fred bowed slightly as he took Ororo's hand. "You make one beautiful rabbit, my lady."

"Just you wait. Once I get with Regina, we will make plans to get you back." Ororo's eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at the twins.

"We are so very sorry, madam." George bowed slightly to Ororo as his eyes scanned the crowd. "Where is Fleur, Bill?"

"She went to the Apothecary shop to get the ingredients that the kids need." Bill perched himself on the counter and waited patiently while Ron, Bobby, and Piotr looked around the store. "We need to hurry up and go get the kids their robes."

"Hey, Bill, how about introducing us to your friends?" Fred leaned on the counter.

"Sure thing. Over there is Bobby and Piotr." Bill pulled Ororo over to the counter. "This is Ororo Monroe."

Fred and George looked at each other and grinned. Fred took Ororo's hand in his and pulled her around the counter. "This is the famous Ororo Monroe..."

"...Who managed to switch the whipped cream with..." George leaned on the counter while Bill's deep blue eyes widened slightly.

"...Shaving cream." Fred laughed as Ororo nodded her head slightly.

"So Scott and Jean told you about that?" She cocked an eyebrow at the twins.

"Nope. Regina did." Fred wiggled his eyebrows at her. "We were wondering..."

"...How did you do it?" George grinned like a maniac.

"I'll tell you when we have dinner tonight." Ororo's blue eyes twinkled with contained mischief. "I'll be sure to find all my notes from that prank."

"Sounds like..." Fred looked over at George.

George's grin got even bigger. "...A plan to us."

"Uh oh. Looks like we've got a prankster meeting going on." Ron shoved George away from the counter.

"And the problem is?" Ororo tilted her head as she stared at the youngest Weasley in the room.

Ron shook his head slightly. "I don't have a problem but Scott and some of the others might have a problem with you three getting together."

"Hey, Alex deserves everything he gets." Ororo lifted one of her eyebrows.

"Alex?" Fred looked over at Bill. "I don't think we've met him yet."

"Most likely not. He's with Mum and Dad's group." Bill chuckled as he remembered what happened to Alex that very morning. "He made the one mistake that no man should ever make."

"He didn't." Fred shuddered slightly.

George shook his head. "If he called Veronica fat, he's a dead man."

"How'd you guess?" Bobby's laughter sounded through the shop, making several other customers look at him.

"What happened to him?" Fred leaned closer to Bobby.

"Did Remus kill him?" George's laughter died down a bit.

"Nope. Logan just beat the tar out of him." Bill leaned back on his hands.

Ororo smiled mischievously at the twins. "I want to figure out a way to torture him tonight. You wouldn't happen to have anything handy?"

Fred moved toward the back room. "We've got a new prank to test. It's called The Shrinking Package."

"What does it do?" Ororo watched Fred rummage through some boxes by the back room.

"It makes the person who eats it shrink until they're about four inches tall." George watched Ororo smile evilly.

"How long do they stay that way?" Ororo rubbed her hands together.

Fred shrugged slightly. "Maybe two or three hours."

"Let him see the world from the height of Stuart Little." Ororo nodded. "I'll take it." She slapped a Galleon onto the counter. "Alex must pay for his comments to all womankind."

"Considering that Alex has made all men look like idiots, this is a gift from us to you." George took the package of powder from Fred and handed it to Ororo.

Fred handed her back the Galleon. "I agree with my brother. We have to protect the name of men everywhere."

Bill shook his head as Ororo slid the bag of powder into one of the bags of books. "We'd better get going. Fleur will have my head if we're not at Madam Malkin's soon."

Ororo turned back to the twins. "Join us for supper tonight and I will give you my notes for that prank."

Fred smiled broadly. "We're there."

"Definitely." George waved to the group as they left the shop.

Bill shook his head as Ron, Piotr, and Bobby were begging Ororo to let them be the ones to put the powder into Alex's drink that night. "I swear this family can't do anything without a prank."

Bill pulled open the door to Madam Malkin's and heard Hermione and Marie discussing the various robes within the shop. Ororo stepped through the door and strolled over to the girls looking at the robes. Fleur flung herself at Bill as he stepped through the door. Hermione squealed before jumping at Ron. Marie waved at Bobby and Piotr.

"We've been waiting for you guys." Kurt was perched in a chair near the door.

Bill shook his head as he wrapped an arm around Fleur's waist. "We were talking with the twins. They're disappointed that Marie and Hermione didn't want to see the joke shop."

"Us not want to see it? Why would we when our men have bought just about everything in the shop?" Hermione glared at Bill.

"You know, Ron, she reminds me of Mum." Bill laughed as Ron took a swing at him.

"Not funny." Ron sank into the chair beside Kurt. "Can we please get the robes we need?"

"Oh, Ronald." Hermione leaned over and kissed Ron's lips.

"Ladies first, Marie, Ororo." Bill motioned toward the stools standing before the mirrors.

Madam Malkin pulled out her tape measures and dropped them to the floor. Marie tried to grab the tape measure as it started to take her measurements. Bill and Ron laughed at her antics when Madam Malkin came back in form the back room. She had several black robes laid over her arms.

Madam Malkin picked one of the black school robes out of the pile and shook the wrinkles from it. "Try this one, young lady. It should suit you just fine."

Marie struggled to slip the robe over her head without touching Madam Malkin. Bobby whistled once Marie had the robes on. Marie glared at him in the mirror. "I can't wait to see what you look like in one of these things."

"I'm going to be a man and say I'm not wearing it." Bobby glanced over his shoulder at Ron and Bill. Both men were laughing at the young Mutant. "What did I say that was so funny?"

"In the Wizarding World, you're considered a child if you don't wear robes all the time." Bill grinned at the shocked look on Bobby's face.

"But they look like dresses." Bobby watched Ororo try on a set of blue teaching robes.

"I know that but just think about it. A real man would have to be really brave to actually wear them." Ron tilted his head slightly as Madam Malkin pulled Bobby up onto the now empty stool. "At least your dress robes won't have any lace on them."

"Speaking of which, Mum said that I should help you pick out some new dress robes, Ron." Bill shoved Ron toward the other empty stool.

"But..." Ron's voice was muffled slightly by the navy dress robes being pulled over his head.

Bill laughed at his little brother being pushed around by a woman. Piotr was calmly allowing Madam Malkin fit the robes to his enormous frame. Marie, Hermione, Ororo, and Fleur were standing beside a rack of dress robes. He and Kurt were still perched in their chairs while Kingsley was giving the ladies his opinions of their choices. Hermione was holding a set of turquoise robes.

"No. That color does nothing for you, Hermione." Marie pulled out a set of soft pink robes. "Now these are perfect for you."

"If I wanted to wear pink robes, I'd wear the ones that I wore for Professor Lupin's wedding." Hermione held up lavender robes. "What about these ones?"

"Those are prefect for you, Hermione." Ororo took the robes from Hermione and made her way over to the counter. "Has everyone gotten the robes that they need?"
Madam Malkin stood behind the counter and tallied the total for the group. "That will be 24 Galleons, Mr. Weasley."

"Here you go." Bill dropped the coins into Madam Malkin's extended hand.

Madam Malkin handed Bill the wrapped parcel before heading into the back room. Bill shooed everyone out of the shop. Fleur wound her arm through Bill's. "Vere are ve going now?"

"We should let the kids pick out the stationary that they want." Kurt bounded down the street.

"I agree with Kurt." Ororo followed after her friend.

They hurried into the stationary shop and let Marie, Piotr, and Bobby look through the stacks of quills, inkbottles, and parchment. Fleur pulled a few Galleons from the pouch hanging from her waist. They left the shop quickly. They never noticed the people watching from the rooftop. Ororo kept looking behind her as if she were trying to find the eyes watching her. They entered the wand shop and Missy immediately looked over the five that needed wands.

"Oh good. More that need my rarer wands." Missy moved toward the back of the shop. Marie looked at Booby and Piotr, who both shrugged. She stepped forward as Missy returned with the wands. "Try this one, dear."

Marie looked down at the stick in her hand before bringing it down in an arc in front of her. burgundy and silver sparks shot form the end of the wand. "What does that mean?" Marie looked over her shoulder at Bill lounging in one of the chairs near the door.

"Wands will pick their owners. This one picked you." Bill turned to Missy. "What's the core and wood?"

Missy cleared her throat slightly. "The wood is from a Candelabra tree that is found in India and Africa. The core is nothing more that a unicorn mane hair."

Bill nodded slightly. "A powerful wand for a powerful lady."

Missy turned to Bobby and motioned for him to step forward. "You're next, young man. This one should suit you perfectly."

Bobby took the wand and closed his eyes as he waved the wand. A shower of pale blue sparks flew from the end of the wand. "That was fast."

"I knew that the wood of a linden bush and the hair of a reindeer would work for you." Missy looked at Piotr. "Now for you, young sir."

Piotr looked over at his friends and shrugged slightly. This tiny woman didn't frighten him. He took the wand and waved it quickly. A shower of purple sparks shot from the end. "Ja, that is good."

"Dragon heartstring and hornbeam. An excellent combination for charms and transfiguration." Missy turned to Ororo. "Your turn, Miss Monroe."

"But of course. If we're to teach wizards to defend themselves, we must be able to wield wands as well." Ororo took the offered wand and waved it. A shower of golden sparks shot from the end of the wand. "I guess this one is mine."

"The feather of a golden Snidget and the wood from a bloodwood tree. This will help you a great deal." Missy tilted her head slightly as Kurt stepped forward. "You're the last one for the day."

"I guess so." Kurt took the wand from Missy's hand. He didn't wave it around as the others had. He simply closed his eyes and allowed the power to flow through him. A shower of sea green flowed from the end of the wand.

"Western hemlock and the tail feather of a roc. This works for you." Missy turned to Kingsley and held out her hand. "That will be twenty Galleons, Mr. Shacklebolt."

Kingsley placed the coins into her hand. "That was the last of the stuff. We'd better head back to the Leaky Cauldron."

The group headed out of the shop and down the street. Harry and his group were also headed for the back door of the Leaky Cauldron. Ron, Hermione, Marie, Bobby, and Piotr hurried over to their friends and followed them into the pub. Obi-Wan and Anakin bowed to all the adults and followed them into the pub.