Title: Cursed
Chapter 10- Running Away
It didn't take as long to open the door since the locks that Hermione had bought weren't locked. Before opening the door, Hermione threw Jessica a disapproving look. How many times did she have to tell her to lock the door after she left? Hermione certainly didn't buy six complicated and rather expensive (Jessica's opinion, not hers) locks for nothing. Jessica merely rolled her eyes at her friend's "paranoia" of strangers entering inside their home, her arms crossed over her chest.
Hermione turned around, not bothering to look through the peephole. An immature person, Hermione was still trying to figure out who, had charmed a piece of blue gum on their peephole. With that done, it was actually impossible to see anything through it as you'd obviously only see the color blue.
When Hermione opened the door, to her surprise, it wasn't Joey saying he forgot his shoes or the porn man. It wasn't even the old lady asking about her missing cats. Standing in front of her was none other than the owner of the apartment, Mr.Brull.
Instinct told Hermione to close the door there and then and that was exactly what she did. She didn't really mean to slam it in his face but she couldn't help it. Seeing Mr. Brull in front of their door could only mean one thing. And that one thing was rent.
"Oh crap," said Hermione, her back against the door.
Her heart was beating unusually fast, although she wasn't surprised.
"Who was it? The boogey man?" asked Jessica, laughing lightly before adding, "Or was it an ex-boyfriend?"
"It's Mr. Brull," hissed Hermione urgently.
With those three words, the playful smiled that played on Jessica's lips disappeared in an instant.
"Make something up! Say that you got robbed or something," Jessica whispered, a panic-stricken look on her face.
Wonder what she would say if I told her that was true? Wondered Hermione bitterly.
Hermione and Jessica had moved to the apartment a little bit over a year ago. Hermione soon found out that peace and privacy was something very rare in the apartment. Neighbors or people from different levels would casually knock on her door three in the morning asking if she had any milk or butter left.
At first Hermione couldn't sleep through all the knocking on the door. In the morning she would grumpy and edgy, snapping at the smallest things. That is, until finally Hermione had gotten used to it, and of course added a sign with a small threat on it.
Everything was going well, they had enough money to pay for rent. That is, until a series of unfortunate events had happened.
First, Jessica went on a shopping spree when she didn't have enough money to pay for all the expensive clothes. Furious as she was, Hermione eventually help pay all the debts her shopaholic friend had received.
Shortly after that, a robber came around five months ago, taking one of their new couches and a lot of money with him (Hermione always wondered why he wanted the couch and how he managed to bring it with him unnoticed…) and couldn't pay rent. That became the number one reason why the two girls were avoiding the owner Mr. Brull. To make matters even worse, Mr. Brull had an obvious crush on Hermione. Jessica, Joey, Harry and Ron had found this unusual news hilarious and teased her non-stop.
"Why don't you talk to him? I'm always the one who has to make an excuse," said Hermione, stating this annoying fact.
"Hermy, he likes you. I mean really really really likes you," replied Jessica. She moved to the side, blocking Hermione's way to the kitchen.
Mumbling something incoherent under her breath, Hermione turned around and opened the door once more. Red in the face from embarrassment, she was once again face to face with Mr. Brull.
"Um…I'm really sorry about that. You see the…kettle was on and…" said Hermione lamely, not even bothering to finish her phrase.
She waved her hand but stopped when she saw that Mr. Brull was actually smiling.
Now Hermione was never the one to judge people solely from their looks. But she could not say truthfully that Mr. Brull was a decent looking man. He was ugly, very ugly. He had small black eyes that were half hidden by his enormous bushy unibrow. He also had a large crooked nose, a small tight mouth and the pointiest chin Hermione and Jessica had ever seen. Whenever he would smile, it seemed that he was glaring at the person. And when he glared at the person…it seemed like he was glaring at the person.
Hermione sometimes wondered how she knew when Mr.Brull was smiling or not. She really had no idea…
"Quite alright Hermione-" began Mr.Brull.
"Miss Granger," interrupted Hermione.
Although she knew that she was being extremely rude, she just had to correct him. If she didn't do it now, Jessica would tell Joey and Joey will tell the porn man and the porn man will tell the cat lady…and it just continued until everyone in the apartment were saying that Hermione had a crush on Mr.Brull. Eventually Mr.Brull would hear the rumor himself and would none the wiser.
"Sorry Miss Granger," said Mr.Brull in a purring sort of voice that send shivers down her spine, "the reason I came here today was to talk about your rent,"
"Oh really," said Hermione, feigning interest.
She crossed her arms over her chest while her heart started to beat faster and faster.
He's going to kick us out. I just know it. Today is the day that I will sleep in a dumpster, thought Hermione, fighting the urge to cry. My only companions at night will be rats…
"Miss Granger? Is everything alright?" asked Mr. Brull with concern.
He lightly touched her arm but just that touch made Hermione take a step back in surprise.
"I didn't mean to frighten you but it seemed that you were a little…distressed," explained Mr.Brull.
"Fine. I'm perfectly fine," muttered Hermione.
Just as Mr.Brull was about to speak once again, Hermione had an idea.
"I'm terribly sorry, but I have to be somewhere. I think that it would be best if you talked about our rent with Jessica here," said Hermione politely.
She turned her head to give Jessica a silencing glare. Jessica muttered something about betrayal before mockingly waved towards the couch. Just before Hermione left, Jessica mouthed to her," you own me". Hermione simply grinned and closed the door behind her.
She was practically skipping down the hallway, extremely pleased with herself.
"Might as well check the mail," said Hermione out loud.
As she walked down the stairs, she saw for two elderly women who were also slowly making their way down the stairs. Seeing that there was no space to go through, Hermione patiently waited.
"Did you hear Amanda?" asked the first elderly woman who was wearing a pink hat with fake purple flowers.
"Oh what is it now Mary?" asked Amanda with a dramatic sigh.
Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes. One thing she didn't need at the moment. Gossip between two old people, especially when they had nothing better to do than to walk around the apartment.
"Somebody new came in-and he's rich," said Amanda.
The two women burst into giggles. Hermione's patience was running thin. Just when she was deciding that they weren't really going anywhere (Hermione was trying to calculate to see if she could jump over the two) something in their conversation picked up her interest.
"I know, who would have thought it would be Draco Malfoy. Why would such a beautiful, handsome man like himself come into an apartment like this?" Mary asked, a twinkle of amusement in her eye.
Hearing this Hermione actually slipped on the step and fell down. She crashed down very ungracefully on the step and gave a surprised yell. The two elderly women behind her turned around to stare at Hermione with annoyance.
"Sorry," Hermione managed to say while wincing with pain.
The two ladies gave a "huff" and turned around to leave.
"I guess I should be expecting her to be eavesdropping. I mean, that sweet Joey just told me today that she was engaged to Mr. Brull. Little witch," Amanda said out loud.
I can't believe this. I can't believe this. I can't believe this. He's here to ruin my life. He's going to tell everybody all the embarrassing things I had to do for him, thought Hermione as she slowly got up.
She didn't know how long it took for her to enter inside her apartment (which was unlocked once again) but a shocked Hermione found herself on her couch.
He's here, thought Hermione angrily. Why does that idiot have to live here?!
"I'll make a list of things to do this month," she said to herself.
She began to write furiously on the parchment while swearing violently under her breath. Five minutes later she dropped her quill. Rubbing her tired wrist, she reread the parchment sitting on her lap. It read:
Important Things To Do This Month
1.Pay rent for October( praying on a miracle at the moment)
2.Buy a birthday present for Jess.
3.Draw Malfoy a picture of a cow in a short poka dot dress for a Christmas present
4.Pay rent for last month (somehow)
5. Make Joey and Jess break up because Joey keeps coming in the middle of the night pretending to be a robber (not funny!) and eats all my food.
6.Pay rent for this month (wish I could pay with Monopoly money…)
7. Tell Joey that I'm not interested in marrying Mr.Brull (why would I marry a fifty-year-old man??? Harry and Ron would die of laughter hearing that )
8. Kick Malfoy out of the apartment (for good!)
9.Beat up Malfoy for breaking my wand
10. Buy a wand
11. Hit Malfoy in the face just for the heck of it. (One more time!)
12. Curse Malfoy into the next century.
13. Then burn all his stuff.
14. Then pretend that the bathroom incident never happened.
Hermione smiled in satisfaction at her list. She half hoped that everyone had theirs facts messed up. There was just no way that Draco Malfoy would even dare step into this apartment. So how come everyone was saying that he was moving in?!
Author's Note: I know, I know, this is going incredibly slow but please forgive me. I know that this chapter was a little bit boring but just bear with me for a while. The two lovebirds will meet very soon, I promise you that! I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed, you guys always brighten me day (I'm serious, I love reading your reviews). How far am I at writing the next chapter? About a quarter.
The teaser (as I'm sure that everyone just absolutely adores) of chapter 11! Yah!!!
Hermione felt like hitting something. Something hard. Something breakable. Like Draco Malfoy's face.
I know that it's short, I'm sorry but I don't want to give too much away.
p.s. if you'd like, you can check my new d/hr story called "Leaving And Coming Right Back", it's only three chapters long
blue sapphire lady)