Hermione swung the door open, to reveal Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood, standing on the porch. She gave a smile, opening the door wider to allow them entrance.
"Luna." She said, wrapping her arms around the girl. The two had never hit it off at school, but as the grew and fought along side each other, they had warmed considerable. Luna was more tolerable of Hermione's by the book nature, and Hermione more accepting of the blonde girl's wilder theories.
Ron clasped Harry's hand in a very manly way, causing the girls to giggle. Hermione closed the door, ushering everyone into the living room, and into a seat. She tossed her wild brown hair behind her ear, taking a seat next to Ron.
"When Harry told us he was bringing a friend, I didn't even think that it would be you." She said to Luna, smiling at the girl.
Luna returned her smile, unbuttoning her large, lime green jacket. "Yes, well. I'm back in town for a while working at The Quibbler, and I ran into Harry at Remus and Tonks's place the other day." She said, her serene smile working it's way into her face. "And he said that you two wouldn't mind me intruding in on your dinner together." She blushed slightly. "I seem to be intruding a lot lately."
Ron shook his head. "It's not problem. Really, the more the merrier. That's what I always say." He said, scratching his head.
Hermione stood up, walking over to the kitchen. "Well, I hope everyone likes chicken." She said, placing the plates on the table. "I timed it so that dinner would be ready when you got here Harry. I figured you'd be hungry." She said, motioning for everyone to come and sit at the dining table.
Harry laughed. "Yeah. Well Auror training can take a lot out of you." He said, setting down. "It looks great Hermione." He said.
Luna nodded. "It does."
Hermione smiled, obviously quite proud of her recently acquired culinary skills. "Well, Molly told me that if I was going to be living with Ron, that I would need to improve my cooking skills." She said, bringing a flagon of mead to the table. "So she's been teaching me a couple of things."
Luna smiled. "I remember the summer after the whole…ordeal." She said, referring to the defeat of Voldemort during her sixth year. "We all had dinner at your house." She said. "I think it was the first time that any of us had smiled in so long." She said. Everyone had been getting over the deaths. And the Weasley household was still somber from the loss of Ginny and Charlie. "But somehow your Mum's cooking made everything better." She said, smiling at Ron.
He nodded. "Her food does have that affect." She said, sprinkling salt over his meal. He pecked Hermione on the cheek. "Looks wonderful, 'Mione."
Luna picked up her fork and knife, and started to eat. "So what have you two been up too?" She asked, giving a small smile.
"Well," Hermione said, not quite sure where to start. "Ron's working at the Ministry now, with his father." She said, smiling proudly at her boyfriend. "And I've been doing research for them." She said. "I haven't decided on a core field quite yet." She said, nodding.
Luna smiled. "Sound's like fun."
Ron nodded. "What about you?" He asked, stuffing a piece of chicken in his mouth. Clearly his eating habits hadn't changed much since leaving Hogwarts.
Luna smiled. "Well…I've been working for my father as well…" She started. And what remained of six brave students, reminisced over dinner. The Hogwarts gang, back together again.
Pansy pushed open the door of the dingy little store. Lucia was grasping her arm, her head rested on the woman's shoulders. Draco was trailing behind. Shopping didn't interest him terribly much. She let out a small sigh of exasperation. Yes, they were living at the lush Malfoy Manor, but never in her life would she have imagined having to shop in a dingy store like Driseldas Half Price Robes.
"Draco, darling. Can you watch your daughter for a moment, while I try my hardest to find some suitable clothing for us?" She asked, running a hand through her hair to smooth it down.
He nodded, patting the girl on the head, causing her to giggle. He gave his wife a wan smile. "Of course."
Pansy smiled, walking down the aisles, browsing through the racks of under priced, discolored robes. She pulled out an emerald green one, that would look lovely with her hair. She held it up to the antique mirror, glancing at herself haphazardly.
"Pansy?" Came a voice, pushing it's way through the crowd. "I can't find her."
She whipped around, her eyes raging. "Draco? What do you mean you can't find her. Where's Lucia?" She asked, searching the ground for the child.
"I lost her." He said, her hair oddly disheveled, and a pink tinge starting to crawl up his usually pale face. "I turned my back for one second, and she was gone.
The emerald robes crashed the floor, and Pansy threw herself into the throng of people, and clothing. "Lucia?" She called, all dignity forgotten. She looked around wildly. She couldn't lose her daughter. She was the only thing keeping her alive. She couldn't lose the one precious thing in her life. She couldn't…
"Mummy!" Piped a voice behind her, and Pansy darted around, rushing over to her daughter, who was holding onto the hand of a very blonde woman with a slightly surprised look. "Where did you go?" She asked, scooping the little one up, and holding her close.
Lucia pulled back, looking at her Mother in the face. "I went to see the pretty clothing." She said, with a small smile.
Pansy sighed, placing her down on the ground once more. "You must never do that ever again. You put Mum in a very large…"
"Pansy Parkinson?" The woman asked, looking down as the Mother and Daughter conversed.
Pansy looked up, truly looking at Lucia's rescuer. A wave of familiarity came over, and she brought herself up to her full height. "Luna?" She asked. "Luna Lovegood?"
The blonde woman nodded. "I wondered why this little beauty here seemed so familiar." She said, her usual dippy smile crossing her face. "It's been years since I've seen you." She said, remembering all too well the last time they had crossed paths. It had been during her 6th year, Pansy's 7th. The year that Draco defied Voldemort, inevitably causing Harry to defeat him.
Pansy nodded, taking hold of her daughters tiny hand. "Yes. Well, I thank you for bringing her back." She said, in a clipped tone.
"Did you find her?" Draco asked, pushing his way through the crowd. His voice faltered when he saw Luna, and the man that had appeared behind her.
"Harry Potter." He said, moving to stand behind Pansy, his arm going protectively around her waist.
"Malfoy." Harry said, looking at Luna. He turned away from the Malfoys, looking instead to Luna. "I turned around, and you were gone."
Luna smiled. "I was just returning something to Pansy." She said, smiling at the little girl. "You know, you shouldn't wander away from your parents like that."
Lucia nodded tentatively. "You have pretty eyes." She said, tilting her head to the side, and inspecting Luna.
Luna laughed, looking up to Draco and Pansy. "You two have a wonderful daughter." She said, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.
Draco looked at Pansy. "Shall we get out of here?" He asked, his voice slightly exasperated.
Pansy nodded, picked up the girl, and placing her on her hip where she could keep an eye on her at all times. She looked at Luna and Harry once more, slightly jealous of their smiles, and their comfort with each other. "Thank you." She said, and with a flurry of cloaks, they were gone.
Authours Note: Your comments are wonderful, and greatly appreciated. Thank you so much to all the people who are enjoying this story. Chapter 4 will be up sometime soon.