Lupin's True Love Returns

September 14, 1996

Michael Corner was nervous about traveling with the group he was assigned to. He wasn't the only wizard with the group but he felt like he was. Sam and Rahne were too wrapped up in themselves to pay much attention to him and Shiro seemed to be absorbing everything around him. He just wanted to be back at Hogwarts without anyone bothering him. It was really strange to be around Ginny; after all he had been her boyfriend the previous year. Michael looked up into the cloudless sky and silently wished for a lightning bolt to strike him dead. Of course it didn't help matters any having Snape with them.

Shiro laid a hand on Michael's shoulder. "Tell me about these shops, Michael."

"Sure. They all have to do with the Wizarding World. You see, wizards keep away from Muggles most of the time." Michael ran a hand through his dark hair. "I'm really not good at explaining this kind of stuff. Maybe you should ask Granger when we get back to the Leaky Cauldron."

"Hermione would most likely be the best one to explain things but we would like to get to know you as well, Michael." Rahne placed a hand on Michael's other shoulder. "I mean, I am in Ravenclaw House."

"But your boyfriend is in Gryffindor so you'll probably be spending a lot of time there." Michael kicked one of the loose cobblestones.

"True but that doesn't mean that I can't spend time with my new friends in Ravenclaw." Rahne looked over at Sam who just nodded. "Besides, we're going to need as many friends as we can get. Isn't that right, Sam?"

"Sure is, honey. We've got a lot to work on and the more people working together the less likely it will fall apart in the end." Sam held out a hand to the confused wizard.

Michael looked at Sam's smiling face and grinned shyly. He took the offered hand. "Thanks. You know you just put what Dumbledore said at the end of last term into perspective."

"What did the Headmaster say?" Shiro turned his head slightly as they walked past Eyelops Owl Emporium.

"He said that in order for us to beat Voldemort that we needed to stand united." Michael shrugged slightly. "I bet Granger could tell you word for word what he said. She seems to absorb a lesson without any problem."

While the teens continued to talk amongst themselves, Molly was looking over the list that Veronica had given her. "Where are we starting, Arthur?"

"We'll go and get their robes and then head down to get their wands." Arthur glanced down at his wife. "How does that sound, kids?"

"That is fine. Mr. Weasley." Shiro bowed slightly.

"While you take them to get their robes, I believe Mr. Summers and I shall go and get what is needed for potions." Severus motioned to Alex and headed toward one of the many apothecaries along the street.

"Why don't I go and get their books and take them back to the Leaky Cauldron? No point is us having to lug those heavy things around all day." Lorna crossed her arms as she waited for Arthur and Molly to agree with her.

"Sounds like a plan, Lorna dear." Molly noticed all the teens watching as their group started to split up. "Come along, kids."

"Where are Lorna and Alex going?" Rahne looked a little nervous about being with the Weasleys.

"They're going to get your books and potion stuff." Arthur placed a hand on Rahne's shoulder. "Don't worry they'll be back. We're just going in here to get your stationary and then over there to get your robes." Arthur pointed to Madam Malkin's.

"Okay." Rahne gripped Sam's hand tightly as they walked into the stationary shop.

The scrolls of parchment and quills were displayed in a beautiful display in the window. The various inkbottles glittered in the dim light. Rahne was in heaven. She loved to collect various colors of ink pens and pencils. Her bag had almost been completely filled with her collection and various notepads and journals. Charles Xavier had given each of the girls a new journal for this journey and she couldn't wait to fill it up with her responses to the magical environment. She moved toward the quills with a look of rapture on her face.

Sam rolled his eyes and leaned over to Michael. "We've lost her."

Michael watched as Rahne carefully ran her hands over the various quills in the display. "What do you mean?"

"Rahne collects pens and pencils. She's in heaven here. She's going to want all the quills and every color of ink that she can get her hands on." Sam walked over to his girlfriend and hugged her waist. "Don't forget that we've got to get everything else we need."

"I know that, Sam. You know that Professor Xavier made sure that we've got enough money to get what we want and need." Rahne picked up several of the quills while Molly smiled at the young couple.

Molly nudged Arthur slightly and pointed at Sam and Rahne. "Do they remind you of anyone?"

Arthur smiled softly and kissed his wife on her forehead. "Yeah. Us." Arthur watched as Shiro and Sam also picked the quills and ink that they wanted. He grabbed several boxes of parchment.

"Do you think we're going to need all that?" Rahne looked at the boxes of parchment.

"There is one box for each of you and you can always pick up more when there's a Hogsmeade Weekend." Arthur placed the boxes on the counter while Sam and Shiro placed their quills and inkbottles on the counter beside the boxes. "Did you get your ink, Rahne?"

"I'm getting there, Mr. Weasley." Rahne picked up several different colors of ink, including one that changed colors as you wrote. "I'm done."

The clerk took the galleons from Arthur while Molly placed the quills and inkbottles into the boxes and tapped them to shrink them. They hurried out of the shop and moved to Madam Malkin's. Rahne and Sam were awed by the fact that each fabric seemed to be finer than the next. Molly rushed the students toward the stools before the mirrors.

"Rahne, you're going to be first." Molly turned slightly as the bell above the door tinkled softly. Lorna stepped through the door and hurried toward the group.

"Books are purchased and taken to the Leaky Cauldron. What else have we gotten?" Lorna dropped into one of the chairs in the room.

"The stationary they need." Arthur pulled several robes from the racks as Severus and Alex came into the shop carrying three cauldron filled to the brims with ingredients and scales. "Severus, Alex. Good. I see you got their potion making items."

"Yes." Severus glared at Rahne standing on the stool with a robe being pulled over her head. "I don't think that that color agrees with Miss Sinclair."

"Black agrees with everyone." Molly rolled her eyes as she dragged Lorna to the other stool. "Up you go, Lorna."

"I don't need any robes." Lorna tried to escape but Madam Malkin gave her a stern look. "Fine. We got to hurry."

"You look hot, Lorna." Alex licked his lips as he gazed at Lorna in the navy teaching robes.

"Thanks, Alex." Lorna slipped the robes over her head. "I'll take several sets of this color and one set of black dress robes as well."

"Of course." Madam Malkin motioned to Sam and Shiro. "You're next, gentlemen."

Molly helped Rahne pick out a set of dress robes while Sam and Shiro were fitted for their school robes and dress robes. Alex moved to the racks and shifted through the robes. Madam Malkin motioned for him to climb onto the now empty stool. Alex was fitted for his robes quickly. Severus was glad to leave the clothing shop behind as they moved toward the only wand shop that was still open. Missy Lorien. She was the one that had sold him his wand all those years ago. He knew that she was a lot better than Ollivander because she had even more unusual wands and cores.

The bell over the door tinkled joyfully as the door was pushed open. Missy hurried from the back of the shop with her arms loaded with boxes. "Ah! Welcome to Lorien's wands. I'm Missy Lorien and this is my shop."

"Miss Lorien, we need five wands." Severus stood tall in the dim light.

"Of course, Professor Snape." Missy motioned Rahne forward. "You're first, dear."

Rahne took the wand from Missy and gave it a tentative wave. A shower of pale blue sparks flew from the end of the wand. "What does that mean?"

"The wand chooses the wizard, Miss Sinclair. Or in your case mutant." Snape watched as Missy boxed up the wand. "What kind is it?"

"Pine and the hair of a werewolf." Missy motioned to Sam. "You're next."

Sam took the wand from Missy and waved it. The counter shattered into splinters. "Sorry about that, ma'am."

"It's okay, Sam. That happened to Ronald when he got his new wand." Molly placed a hand on Sam's broad shoulder. "Sometimes the wands choose quickly but there are times when it takes a bit longer."

Sam took the next wand from Missy and waved it. A shower of navy sparks flowed from the end. "That's a relief."

"The tail hair of a unicorn and the wood of a golden elm." Missy turned to Shiro. "Your turn, young sir."

Shiro bowed slightly as Missy handed him a wand. He waved it and was rewarded with a shower of red sparks. "The wood is from a bonsai tree and the core is one of the most unusual that I've found. The hair of the fire rat."

"But the fire rat is just a myth." Shiro stared at the wand in amazement.

"Not really, young man." No one had heard the bell over the door sound. A young woman with long dark hair stood in the doorway. A bow and quiver of arrows were slung over her shoulders. Her smile made everyone feel comfortable with her. At least everyone but Snape.

"Who are you?" Severus glared at the young woman.

"I'm Kagome Higarashi. I have seen a robe made from the fur of a fire rat." Kagome bowed slightly to Severus. "Not to worry. I only came to see if a certain wand was sold today."

Missy nodded slightly. "Yes. The wand containing the hair of an inu-akuma was sold to young Mr. Potter."

"Good. He's going to need it." Kagome bowed one last time and hurried out the open door.

Molly looked over at Arthur. "What was that all about?"

"I couldn't tell you." Arthur gave his wife a small smile and turned back to see Lorna wave her wand only to be rewarded with a shower of gold sparks.

Alex moved toward the counter and picked up one of the wands and waved it. Before the shower of emerald sparks finished flying from the end of the wand, Severus had paid for all the wands and moved out the door.

"Well, I suppose we could visit Fred and George." Molly hefted the bag by her feet.

"Don't they own a joke shop?" Alex walked beside Molly and Arthur.

Arthur nodded. "Whatever you do, don't accept anything that they offer you to eat."

"Why not?" Lorna looked over at Molly.

"Because you might turn into a canary." Molly looked around the alley.

"If you would excuse me, I would prefer not being in the joke shop of my former students." Severus took several of the bags from Lorna and Molly. "I will deliver these to the Leaky Cauldron and return to Hogwarts."

"Fine, Severus." Molly dismissed him with a wave of her hand. The group watched Severus leave them.

"Is he always a stick in the mud?" Lorna waited for Alex to open the door to the joke shop.

Michael laughed. "Yes. He's even worse around Gryffindors. I'm thankful that we managed to get through the day with the Great Bat of the Dungeons."

"Did I hear someone insulting Snape?" Fred stuck his head out the open door.

Rahne laughed as she walked through the door. A shimmer passed over her body. George gaped in amazement as Rahne didn't transform. Sam stepped through and changed into a purple fox. He yapped once as Molly sighed and pulled out her wand. She changed Sam back into his human form. Meanwhile on top of a building nearby stood several women, a neko-akuma, a dragon-akuma, a monk, and a little green imp. They watched the two teens enter the joke shop and Kagome smiled softly. The other women laughed when they saw the boy change into a purple fox and back into a human. Kagome sighed softly. This caused one of the women to move away from the edge slightly.

"What is it, Kagome?" A second woman looked over at her friend. "Do you think they've caught on to us?"

"No, Sango. I'm just thinking what James, Sirius, and Remus are going to say when they see us again after nearly twenty years." Kagome watched the rest of the group enter the joke shop. "Inu-Yasha should be coming back with Sessho-Maru, Shippo, and Koga soon."

"Aren't they watching after the one that looks like James?" A blonde woman moved toward the edge of the building and placed her foot on the ledge. "Miroku, stop looking at my ass."

"Sorry, my lady." Miroku gave a slight bow.

"Yes, Tori." The red haired woman wearing a fur pelt glanced over the edge. "Get away from there before they see you."

"Doubtful. You forget that I was a cop for a few years, Ayame. And I've been the Lady of the Western Lands for centuries." Tori looked over her shoulder at the young lady sitting demurely on a two-headed dragon. "Rin, are you sure that Ah-Un isn't going to be uncomfortable in this area?"

"I'm positive, Reidou." Rin patted the dragons' necks. "They'll be fine."

"Good." Tori looked down into the street and saw Regina moving down the street. "Isn't that Remus's girlfriend?"

"It looks like her except for the hair." Kagome flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Maybe she's their daughter."

"Most likely. I can't wait to see Veronica after all this time. She and I need to beat up the mutt." Tori moved away from the edge of the building and climbed behind Rin on the back of Ah-Un.

Back at the shop the adults were trying to make sense out of what had happened to poor Sam.

"Nice trick, guys." Sam stuck out his hand. "Sam Gunthrie, also known as Cannonball."

Fred took Sam's hand and shook it warmly. "I'm Fred and that's my twin George."

"You're the second person who didn't fuss about us changing them into an animal." George grinned as he shook Sam's hand. He turned to face Rahne. "I'm just wondering why our charm didn't work on you, dear lady."

"That's easy." Alex stepped into the shop. "She can change into a wolf at will. Show them, Rahne."

Rahne changed into a red furred wolf. She started to change back but stopped her transformation about halfway between wolf and human. Fred and George applauded as she changed back into her human form.

"Fascinating, dear lady." Fred and George both grinned at each other. "That would work for a prank on our former Potions Professor."

Molly brandished her wand at her sons. "Don't even think about it."

"We won't, Mum." Fred winked at Rahne and Sam.

Shiro wandered through the shop as George approached him. "Find anything of interest?"

"Several things, sir, but it would not be honorable to use them." Shiro bowed slightly to George.

"Fred, we've got another Hermione on our hands." George glanced at Fred loading Rahne, Sam, and Michael down with prank items. "Only this time it's a guy."

Fred came over to George and Shiro. "Look, Shiro. You've got to have some time otherwise you're going to be so boring that no one will want to hang out with you."

"That's exactly the problem with Hermione. She never wants to have fun so she's boring to us." George draped an arm around Shiro's shoulders.

"But that doesn't mean that you both aren't friends with your brother's girlfriend." Molly narrowed her eyes at her twin sons, making them cower in fear.

"Right you are, Mum." Fred glanced at his twin. "Well, let's get these kids out of here so we can talk to Miss Monroe about that prank of hers."

"Precisely." George took the joke items for the others and started to bag them up. "Tell Veronica that we'll be joining you all for supper tonight."

"I'm sure she already knows, George." Arthur hurried the teens from the shop. "I guess we're headed back to the Leaky Cauldron."

The group hurried along the street completely oblivious to the group of people on the rooftop. The group on the street hurried into the pub at the end of the street. Miroku climbed onto the neko-akuma while Sango and Kagome climbed on behind him. Ayame jumped from the roof and landed softly on the empty street below. Ah-Un and Kirara jumped down beside her. Before long a group of men joined them. Together they moved toward the pub.