A/N- All characters belong to . Only the unrecognizable ones are mine.

After the Rain

Chapter 2

"Well done Astoria." Minerva congratulated with a warm smile.

"Thank you Minerva." I sit across from her.

"I know that Mariana would have been very proud." She continued. I offer her a warm smile. A soft hand touches mine from under the table and I look over to my niece.

"She would be so very proud of you as well my dear." I tell Luna, fondly brushing an errant curl out of her face.

"I think so." She says. "Ooh! Aunt Astoria! These are my friends." She said as a group of young adults took their seats at our large round table. I found myself looking at Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. They beam at me brightly and I greet them back. They took their assigned seats on the other side of Luna and begin to chat animatedly.

She was mostly speaking with Harry Potter, as the other two seemed intent upon speaking amongst themselves.

"How did you know Remus?" Harry Potter suddenly asked me, causing me to blush profusely when everyone else at the large table turned to listen in. Minerva sent me a sympathetic look.

"We were good friends. As well as your godfather and parents." Potter's mouth fell open.

"Y-you knew my parents?" I nodded once.

"Only for the last three years of their lives." I said, a small trace of bitterness seeping into my voice.

"And Sirius?" He asked.

"Yes I did Mr. Potter."I said with a small smile.

"Call me Harry, Ms. Lovegood."

"Call me Astoria, Harry." I told him.

"Oh Severus, you can take that expression off your face." Minerva's voice came from across from us. I looked to my other side and jumped when I found someone had filled that previously empty seat. There sat a very perturbed looking Severus Snape.

"Astoria, this is Severus." Minerva introduced. Severus continued to frown at me.

"I hardly think that becoming on a first name basis with the resident hero, who I may add I used to change diapers for, is a thing for a frown of such magnitude." I told this Severus Snape, my gaze unbroken. I heard a slight choke noise from Harry Potter's direction, though I do not know it was from the comment, or the tone I was taking. Snape pursed his lips tightly.

"Indeed, Ms. Lovegood." He sneered lightly. "But I was not only disappointed with your choice of acquaintances. Minister Shacklebolt seems intent now to begin the dancing, and has me informing those at this table that the residents here who've just received Order of Merlin, First Class' are to begin the festivities." Harry Potter groaned. I sighed as well, I was a dreadful dancer.

"Oh, alright then..." Harry said with a scowl. "Luna, will you dance with me?" He asked, small smile taking up his mouth.

"Really? Oh, sure!" She said, giving him a brilliant grin. He stood up and offered his hand to her which she took immediately. I gave them a smile before scanning the large hall. I needed a dancing partner. Then I got an idea. I didn't know many people here, and as I was sure Snape was going to dance with Minerva, I needed to find someone quickly. I stood up without warning and went to the other side of the hall where Andromeda Tonks, a woman I had just recently met while arranging all of the complex decisions for Remus and Tonk's funeral, was sitting with her grandson, speaking with a lady with long blond hair and her sullen looking son who I took to be around Harry Potter's age.

"I am very sorry to interrupt , but I need a dance partner quite quickly. Do you think I could borrow Teddy?" I asked. She gave me a smile.

"Yes dear, go right on ahead. He doesn't seem to want to sit still anyhow." She said with a smile, handing the squirming young man over. I thanked her with a smile and walked back over to my table where the other Hero's were just arranging themselves. Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger were smirking at the sight of Luna's overly ruffled silver dress, that is, until I transfigured it slightly. Now, less ruffles and more sparkle. Luna gave me a wide grin when she notices what I had done. I gave Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley a cool smug look. Harry Potter noticed that I had Teddy Lupin balancing on one hip and came over; Luna following, still with a smile on her face.

"This is your dance partner?" He asked, looking at Teddy with a small smile.

"Yes indeed. The last time I danced at a party like this was with Remus. I was dreadful, but Remus was so very kind about it. I am hoping that his son will extent to me the same pardon." I told him with a smile, remembering that previous ball.

"I am sure he will." Luna said. I winked at her.

"Alright Ladies and Gentlemen! If the Hero's will join me on the dance floor please, we can get started." Came the voice of the Minister.

"Kingsley sounds irate; I wonder what's crawled up his-"

"Language, Mr. Potter." Came Snape's cool reprimand. Luna took Harry's arm and steered him onto the dance floor before he could speak back. Snape had his arm grasped by the tall blond woman that had been speaking to Andromeda just minutes ago. I looked over and saw Andromeda sitting with Minerva and envied them. Why didn't they have to dance? I sighed lightly again and carried Teddy over to the dance floor where Harry and Luna were looking slightly uncomfortable, well no, only Harry. Snape raised one eyebrow at my choice of dance partner before leading the blond woman to the center of the dance floor. I squinted at her, trying to decipher where I knew her from. Kingsley was getting more and more upset, so I resolved to remember later. I walked over to the group, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger following.