Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters, insignia and stuff are owned by J.K. Rowling and not by me.

Hermione had just woken up and looked at her watch, which currently said: "5 AM – The sun hasn't risen yet; go back to bed." She rubbed her eyes and got down from her bed. Afterwards, she went into the bathroom and had her morning ritual of washing her face, brushing her teeth, etc.

When she was done, she came out of the bathroom wearing a pair of dark blue shorts and a green t-shirt while her hair was in a ponytail. Hastily, Hermione went to the library, grabbing a book that caught her attention the day before. She opened the sliding glass door that led to the library's balcony. She leaned on the railing and breathed in the cool fresh morning air.

"Accio beanbag."

One of the beanbags in the library zoomed at her foot. Hermione plopped on it and began to read.

***

After one hour, Hermione was interrupted when a brown owl came flying at her direction. Hooting slowly, the owl extended its leg, beckoning Hermione to untie the letter. Grudgingly, Hermione stood up and took the letter. She proceeded to open and read it.

"Hermione,

It's me Christian. How are you doing in your new home? Can I pick you up at eight? We can go to school together and besides, I have news about our practical test for our Muggle Studies Class. Can you send your address via Phillip? I kind of forgot it… Thanks.

Christian"

Hermione smiled as she called for writing materials from the desk indoors. After she was done writing, she tied the note to Phillip the owl and went to her room to prepare for a bath.

***

Just as Hermione was done setting up the table, which was now laden with breakfast, Draco came down from the staircase, fresh from the shower and wearing loose black jogging pants and a green tank top.

"Good morning Draco."

Startled, Malfoy hesitated before greeting back. "Good morning to you too. How long have you been up?"

"About two and a half hours – why?" Hermione asked. "Come, I'm done making breakfast." She sat down.

Sitting himself, Draco replied. "Well, it's nice for a change not to be eating burnt toast or cereal for breakfast." He bit into a piece of toast.

"I guess it must've been hard for you guys to have decent meals when you're undercover." She said before sipping her cup of coffee.

"Do you really wake up this early?"

"Yup."

"Sorry if I was shocked awhile ago, I'm not used to see someone awake before I am."

Hermione looked amused. "Better get used to it now. I take it that Ron and Harry still don't wake up on their own accord unless it's ten?"

"Yes. The only reason they wake up before ten is when they're assigned to cook breakfast for the three of us, thus we eat charcoal toast."

Hermione stood up after drinking her cup of coffee and her fair share of breakfast. "I guess I'll have to break their habit." She bounded off to the stairs.

Draco sighed as he sipped his coffee.

There is going to be such abrupt changes in their lifestyle, he was sure of it.

***

A brown-haired man in his early twenties climbed down from his broom and stepped onto to the pavement of Four Ministry Lane.

Christian checked Hermione's note.

Yes, he is at the right place.

Tentatively, he knocked at the door slowly, remembering that Hermione now lives with Ministry officials. A blonde man wearing a black suit opened it.

"Yes?"

"Um, good day," Christian looked at the man's badge. "Sir. May I please speak with Hermione – Hermione Granger."

The man raised an eyebrow.

"And who would you be?"

"Her classmate from the university, I have come to fetch her." Christian was feeling nervous and he didn't like it.

The man paused as if to think. "May I see your I.D.?"

Christian fished from his pocket his university identification card and handed it to the man.

The blonde man regarded it for a while and gave it back to him.

"Very well then, you may enter."

The man gave way for Christian and led him to the dining room, where a red-haired man with freckles wearing maroon pajamas was eating his breakfast.

"Please sit down." The blonde one said to Christian.

He obeyed and sat down.

The red head looked up from his plate and glanced quizzically at the blonde man.

"Classmate of Hermione from the university," The blonde one replied and he promptly sat down and the red head took a swig of orange juice. "Now, what would you like to drink while waiting- coffee, tea, water, or juice?"

Christian felt a lump at his throat. "Coffee would be fine, sir."

The blonde man muttered 'coffee' to a pot and it began to pour coffee at Christian's cup.

"Ron, can you kindly call Hermione? Tell her that her classmate Christian is here already."

Ron, as Christian assumed was the name of the red head, stood up. "Where's she?"

"In Potter's bedroom."

What Potter's bedroom? Christian thought wildly. Potter? The Harry Potter? What in the world is Hermione doing in there? Groaning inwardly, Christian thought to himself. Not that I wanted to know.

"Still waking him up, I suppose?"

The blonde man nodded.

With that, Ron thundered up the staircase and disappeared at the corridor.

The blonde man turned to Christian who was absently drinking his coffee.

"So, how long have to known Hermione?"
The man's tone was casual but the silver eyes were piercing, as though scrutinizing Christian's being.

Christian shivered inwardly. "Three years, sir."

"All those years – were you classmates?"

"Only this year, sir, since she was accelerated. I met her before because our flats were in the same building."

"I see…"

They weren't able to continue their conversation for there was booming voice coming from the second floor, obviously Hermione's.

"-RY POTTER! THIS IS YOUR LAST WAKE UP CALL! GET UP OR I'LL BRING HOME BLAST-ENDED SKREWTS AND LET THEM LIVE IN YOUR BEDROOM!"

"Geez Hermione!" came Ron's voice. "Next time you use a Sonorous, make sure you lock the door! By the way, there's a Christian guy downstairs with Draco."

"CHRISTIAN?"

"Christian who?" came another muffled voice.

"FINALLY, HARRY POTTER! YOU'VE DECIDED TO WAKE UP AFTER TWENTY MINUTES!"

"Um, Hermione –." Ron interjected.

"OOOPS, SORRY." Hermione reversed the spell. "Merlin, Harry, you've almost made me late! I have classes today, you know."

Ron could be heard sniggering.

"What are you laughing about? It also took you about ten minutes before you woke up – and you woke up only because you smelled breakfast." Hermione lectured.

Downstairs, Draco had been grinning as they heard the scene unfold upstairs while Christian was gripping his cup in shock.

Finally, a red-faced Ron appeared at the staircase followed by Hermione in her black slacks and light blue blouse and Harry, who was still in gold boxer shorts and was completely topless.

Draco smirked at the newcomers who had just entered reached the dining room.

"Good morning, The Boy Who Overslept."

Harry, still rubbing his eyes. "Oh shut up Malfoy."

Hermione beamed at Christian. "Hi Christian, glad you came on time, though sorry for not being able to come down at once."

"No, it's ok." Christian replied, unsure of what to say in front of unorthodox-looking officials. Well, one did look like a Ministry official, wearing something decent and having manners, but still, he seemed too young, like the other two, to be a Ministry head.

"By the way, I would like you to meet the people I'll be living in this house with," Hermione said, gesturing towards Draco. "The one who met you at the front door is Dra-."

Draco stood up, shaking Christian's hand formally. "Mr. Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

Following Draco's lead, Ron offered his hand. "And I'm Mr. Ronald Weasley." He shook Christian's hand vigorously with a serious expression on his face.

Harry did the same. "And I'm Mr. Harry Potter."

Hermione looked at the three men with a questioning look. "Ok, and guys, this is Christian Waters."

"Pleased to meet you." The three men nodded to Christian.

Christian glanced at Hermione and replied. "Thank you…"

"Ok," Hermione grabbed Christian's hand. "Bye guys, I'll be going now, I don't want to be late." She dashed towards the front door, pulling Christian with her.

"Hey!" Ron called. "Hermione, don't stay out too late!"

"Yeah," Harry added as he sat down at a chair in the dining room. "And eat your meals regularly – don't miss any of your break times."

Hermione paused at the doorway and stared at them with a confused look.

Draco also said. "Come home straight after school, we have some matters to discuss with you."

"What matters?" Hermione asked.

A look of dawning comprehension came upon Harry's face. "Oh no…"

"Ok, tell me about it later, bye."

As Christian and Hermione flew upwards on their respective broomsticks, Draco dashed out and yelled at them. "Hermione, expect Henry later!"

"Henry who?" Hermione called back but wasn't heard as Draco shut the door as he entered the house. "Whatever." She inwardly groaned at the sudden queerness of her housemates.

They were both silent for about five minutes of their flight.

"Hey Chris," Hermione called Christian who was flying alongside her.

"Hmm?"

"You ok? Never seen you this quiet on a ride before."

"Yeah, just – thinking about some things."

"Like what? The eccentric people you just met?"

Christian stared at her. "How did you -?"

Hermione laughed. "Come on, panic was written all over your face."

He turned away from her, embarrassed.

"Chris, just kidding!" Hermione giggled. "They really are like that, I'm sorry I wasn't able to brief you about their – idiosyncrasy."

"I see… But really, you should've told me you're living with The Harry Potter." He replied in an awed voice. "I never expected to meet him and be introduced to him personally when he was in…" His voice faded.

"Boxers?" Hermione supplied, eyes twinkling mischievously. "And skin? Why don't you think he has nice abs? Come on!"

Christian faced her with horror. "Kind of shocking ok? Then again… You've known them since your Hogwarts years, right?" Christian had a faraway look in his eyes.

"Well, yes."

"Even that Malfoy? Are you sure he could be trusted? I mean, I've heard of other Malfoys…"

"Yes, we can." Hermione replied patiently. "I've known him since I was eleven, fine, he was teasing me Mudblood when we were twelve. But I assure you, he may be annoying but he does not have that pure evil streak of the other Malfoys. In fact, he was kind of glad when we, along with Harry and Ron, were able to, let's say, eradicate his father."

"He was happy when his father died?" Christian paled.

"Yes, no, it's not same as those patricide or homicide issues on the news – his father was a Deatheater. Besides, we didn't exactly killed him with our own hands."

"You know, it's bizarre to have a friend in you – a famous person whose life is probably in all history books."

Hermione laughed. "I'm not that famous, anyway, I'm as human as you are."

"Yeah, I happy for you that you've found your loyal friends once more, famous as they are, I have seen enough this morning to prove that they are also as human as you tell me you are." Christian paused, looking straight ahead. "You know, I was wondering, if the three of them are back, how come the Daily Prophet does not speak of it?"

"I know, they came here incognito – they don't like publicity that much as that Skeeter woman once made known. They'll have their first public appearance today, at the Ministry of Magic. Today, the Minister of Magic, Percy, one of Ron's many brothers, would introduce them to the public as new officials and also congratulate them for their service for the past few years."

"I'm surprised they didn't need you to be with them." Christian grinned.

"Meaning?" Hermione was perplexed.

Christian just winked as they lowered their brooms in front of the university.

((A/N))

Hey guys, sorry if this chapter was kind of boring, I promise, the next one is filled with interesting stuff… Trust me, I enjoyed writing it.

-=just-leaves=-