Whoo… back with a new fic in the longest of times.  Well, actually, have to still finish my other one, but, yeah.

Summary: Hermione has a stable job at the ministry as a researcher for the Department of Mysteries.  Ron and Harry have gone out and have become Aurors.  As the two search for a place to live, Hermione finds an ad in the newspaper about a three-bedroom apartment for rent.  The adventures the three face, with a lunatic who's out to take over the wizarding world, scenes of discomfort with the opposite sex, and a strengthening bond between the world's most famous best friends, makes up Blush.

I know, this is my first HP fanfic.  Er, well, the first one I'm posting up anyways.

So, hope you'll like it.

Chapter 1: Brooding over black coffee and flamingoes.

Hermione sat in her small cozy apartment drinking coffee and reading the paper.  She kept glancing over to the couch and the floor, where her two best friends decided to bunk for the night, seeing that The Burrow was more full than normal. 

She sighed, and set her coffee down to rub her temples. 

Many things had changed since their leaving of Hogwarts.  For one thing, no one had to worry about Voldemort anymore.  He was gone for good.  Hermione had gone on to pursue a degree in healing, and then realized that what she enjoyed more was learning about new things.  Hence, she became a researcher.  True, it was a strange profession, but it was stable, and that's all she really wanted.

As for Harry and Ron, they had finished their Auror training a couple years back, and were always out working on some case with some new Death Eater to capture.  How everyone still couldn't be caught was beyond her belief, but she chose not to comment on it, since everyone in that department was very touchy.

But, here they were, five years later, still alive and strong, and-

Someone fell off the couch.

A few seconds later, a man with red hair stood up grumbling and rubbing his head muttering, "stupid pink flamingoes."

Hermione giggled into her cup, successfully receiving a glare from the other.  He strode past her, lightly hitting her on the back of her head and groggily said, "shuddup."

She was about to go back to her reminiscing when Harry woke up and searched around for his glasses.  The guy refused to go get contacts, saying that he wouldn't be Harry Potter without his glasses.  She put her cup down, and went towards him and handed his glasses off from above the TV.  He said, "thanks.  Please don't tell me Ron already stole the bathroom."  She said, "k."  He groaned and then took his glasses off again muttering, "Wake me up when he's done."

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By the time all three had settled down for breakfast, the air was considerably lighter, and the sun poured in through the balcony. 

Ron sat with a cup of black coffee, staring at it every two seconds, scowling, and then drinking a bit more.  Harry, on the other hand, was eating his omelet calmly, every now and then glancing at the sports section of a muggle newspaper. 

Hermione cleared her throat and said, "So what are you guys up to today?"  Harry looked up and said, "I guess Ron and I are taking a break for a day to go apartment searching.  Wanna come?"  Hermione shook her head and said, "I'll pass."  Ron finally snapping out of his reverie said, "You have to.  You're the brains of the group.  What if a person charges us more?"  Hermione shrugged and said, "If they think you're rich, then they'll try, but not otherwise."  Harry said, "actually, Ron's right.  Why don't you come along? It'll be a short vacation.  And we'll be together for old times sake."  Hermoine sighed and said, "Fine.  But let me call in first." 

~*~*~*~*~*~

After they'd gotten ready, in muggle clothes, the three headed out, following the newspaper for apartments to search for.  And following Hermione, who seemed to be most familiar with London streets. 

For lunch, they stopped by a small pizzeria, which wasn't the wisest choice, what with Ron still grasping the idea of eating it, and Hermione fussing over the fat content.

Then they started out again, to meet a strange short hunchbacked man named Boris, whose home smelled strangely like sardines and vomit.

It was finally during a coffee break, that they finally found something interesting.

Hermione sipped her Café Latté while Harry ate some cake.  Ron was, again, drnking black coffee and staring at the cup.  Finally she asked, "Why do you drink something so, so bland, at a coffee shop with a million choices?"  He blushed and mumbled, "there aren't a million."  She huffed and said, "fine, then why are you drinking black coffee in the middle of the day your highness?"  He said, "Well, last night I had a dream that… oh you'd just make fun of me."  Harry stopped eating and looked up saying, "try us." 

Ron sighed and said, "I had a dream about this flamingo and I was in the middle of this big ocean just floating, and the flamingo came and said, 'darn I thought you were a fish.' Then its eyes glazed over and it said, 'don't drink any other coffee type but black coffee tomorrow, good fortunes will not come otherwise.'  And I don't know.  It felt real, so I'm just taking caution." 

Hermione stared at him for a couple moments, and Harry looked thoughtful.  Then, the two of them burst out laughing, attracting a few muggles' attention, yet the same, they laughed.

Ron sighed and put his head in his hands muttering, "St. Mungo's, here I come."  His two friends stopped laughing and Hermione glanced down at a paper that flew into her hand.  She spoke quietly, "Guys, look at this." 

It was an advertisement for an apartment, somewhere very close to the ministry.  It was new and with three bedrooms and two baths, it was perfect.  Ron said, "bloody hell.  Maybe this was what the thing meant."  Hermione cleared her throat and then said, "Well, I guess.  But what would you two do with three bedrooms?"  Ron looked at Harry, and Harry looked back.  Their eyes flashed, and then two turned towards Hermione. 

She looked up from her paper, and the idea popped into her head and she said, "Oh no.  No way.  I like where I live.  In fact, I love it.  Sunshine, the birds, the rugged outside look…"

~*~*~*~*~

Hermione looked around her new room and dropped her luggage, saying, "I can't believe you guys talked me into this." 

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Well, I've decided to stop it there.  Consider it a prologue and a first chapter put together.  Oh, and my spell check seems to be acting crazy sometimes.  So excuse my typing mistakes.

Oh, and review!!

~*Spectraangel*~