Title: Cursed
Previously on chapter 10…
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?!
Chapter 11- Stroke Of Brilliance
Hermione sighed.
She turned off the TV.
Then she sighed again.
Jessica, who was sitting on a rocking chair not far away, peered over her fashion magazine to stare at her friend. Hermione was sitting on the couch, her eyes wandering around the apartment.
Then she sighed, a depressed look on her face.
"Is there something wrong?" asked Jessica gently. It was pretty rare that she ever saw Hermione act like this. When Hermione wasn't reading at home, she was at a library reading or going to work. Bbut here she was, acting as though she was a prisoner in her own home.
"Hm?" asked Hermione, her eyes on the TV once more.
"Did something happen yesterday?" pressed Jessica. Hermione finally turned towards her friend's direction and shook her head.
"I'm fine. Perfectly fine. Why wouldn't I be fine? Everything is just fine," said Hermione in a monotone voice, her eyes glued to the black screen on the television. Jessica raised an eyebrow.
What the heck is going on? she thought. It's not like Hermione to act like that.
Jessica thought better of it and continued reading her fashion magazine.
Maybe she met a guy or something, she thought, still trying to figure out her friend's weird behavior.
In a way, Jessica was partially right. The reason behind Hermione's sudden change of behavior was because of a guy. Not any guy, of course not. She was thinking about none other than Draco Malfoy and where he was in the apartment at that moment.
I can't be at peace anymore. Just when I think that the ferret is finally out of my life, I find that he pops in here. I won't be able to go outside, in case I see him. Then what will I do? thought Hermione, feeling trapped in a cage.
Hermione couldn't get the mail because she might bump into him. She couldn't throw the garbage outside because of him. She couldn't do anything anymore.
"Why me?" moaned Hermione in despair as she stood and threw her body on the couch. This time Jessica couldn't ignore her friend.
"Okay, what the hell is wrong with you? You're acting as if someone died. Did someone die?" asked Jessica suddenly, the idea making sense to her.
"No," came a muffled response from Hermione.
A bright idea suddenly popped in Jessica's head.
"Aww, Hermione. Are you in love?" asked Jessica slyly, raising her eyebrows up and down. At the word love, Hermione's head shot right up, an expression of shock on her face.
"Wow, calm down. Don't get a heart attack," teased Jessica.
"No-you have no idea, it's the farthest thing from love, I can tell you that much," insisted Hermione with such earnest on her face.
"Ooh, I get what you're saying. So it's luv then?" asked Jessica. Hermione stared at her with a blank expression.
"What?" she asked after a short silence.
"You know, luv," said Jessica, slurring the word.
"What's the difference?" asked Hermione in annoyance. "Never have I heard someone refer it as luv."
"There's a huge difference. There's love and then there's luv," explained Jessica as though it was the simplest thing.
"Jessica, stop it. You're starting to sound like Joey," warned Hermione darkly, vividly remembering how the two old women were talking about Hermione being enganged to Mr. Brull.
If he ever shows his face in this apartment, I'll-thought Hermione but she was interrupted as there was a loud knock on the door.
Jessica resumed to reading her fashion magazine so Hermione got up from the couch and walked to the door.
What if it's him? She thought. What could she do? He would be at an advantage because he knew exactly where she lived but she had no idea where he lived. Hermione's hand was in mid air, hesitating.
Should I? Shouldn't I?
"Usually when someone knocks, the person at the other side opens the door," said a male voice from the other side. Hermione scowled at the door, recognizing the voice to be Joey's.
"My baby's here," cried Jessica happily, throwing her magazine carelessly on the ground and running up to the door.
"Honeypoo?" called Joey.
"Munckin?" called Jessica.
"Barf bag?" suggested Hermione.
Jessica gave Hermione a glare as she opened the door to welcome her boyfriend inside. Hermione merely rolled her eyes as she turned to walk to the kitchen. One, because she didn't have enough energy to yell and scream and threatened Joey. And two, because she was hungry.
Hermione groaned, hearing them giggling and kissing.
"Can't they stop doing that for one whole day?" she muttered under her breath darkly as she grabbed a glass. Pouring milk into it, she glared at it a few good seconds, as though secretly blaming it for her horrible luck.
"I haven't seen you for so long," pouted Jessica. Hermione snorted.
"I know. Hey, did you know that some rid guy is living here? You should see all the stuff they're trying to fit inside his apartment. I saw a couple of guys trying to bring in diamond chandeliers," said Joey.
Hermione spat the milk out in surprise.
He brought chandeliers? He is an idiot, thought Hermione shaking her head.
That's when the most brilliant idea came to mind. Grinning like a madwoman, she slammed her glass on the counter and ran into her room.
"What's up with her?" asked Joey as the two stared at the running Hermione.
"I think she found out about that rumor you started about her being engaged to Mr. Brull," said Jessica thoughtfully.
Or she's in luv, she thought, grinning, remembering their little conversation earlier. But she wouldn't tell Joey. Not now anyways. Because she was sure that Hermione wouldn't hesitate to strangle her boyfriend.
"Isn't that rumor a month old?" asked Joey.
"Oh yeah," remembered Jessica.
Hermione opened her wardrobe. She grabbed a black dress, a scarf, a very big sunhat with fake lilies all around and very large sunglasses that Ron had bough her a year ago for Christmas. In a matter of seconds, Hermione stripped from her baggy clothes and put on her black dress. She carefully hid all her hair in her sun hat (which she absolutely adored), wore her big sunglasses that hid her eyes and most of her nose, added the scarf around her waist and put on a pair of white gloves that were sitting on her bed.
"I'm going in," she said to herself. Shivers traveled through her body as she smiled to her reflection, liking what she saw. Nobody would know that it was actually her. That was the whole point.
I feel like an agent, she thought excitedly as she titled her hat to the side to give a "mysterious je ne sais quoi."
Hermione's plan was simple. She was going to knock on every single door in the apartment until she found Draco's door number. The beauty of it was that nobody would know her true identity. After she found out Draco's door number…well, she'd go back home.
Hermione opened the door and left her bedroom, slowly walking (in heels of course) to the door. Jessica and Joey, who were sitting on the couch, whispering sweet nothings to each other, stopped and stared.
"Hermione? Is that you?" asked Jessica after a long moment of silence.
"Yes, how did you know?" asked Hermione.
"Because you were in your bedroom a minute ago," she pointed out.
"Are you going to your meet Mr. B-Oww!" cried Joey as Jessica elbowed him in the stomach. She glared at him, a silent threat hanging in the air.
"Well, wherever you're going, have a nice time!" said Jessica cheerfully, turning to Hermione.
I knew it! Hermione's finally going on a date! How amazing is this! I wish that I had a camera with me, thought Jessica as she gave Hermine an encouraging smile.
"Thanks," said Hermione as she continued walking.
"Yeah, have fun. By the way, which asylum are you going to?" asked Joey, grinning from ear to ear.
A pair of shoes that were sitting beside the door were suddenly in Hermione's hand. She chucked them straight at Joey's then turned and left, a satisfied smile on her face.
"I'm going to find where you live Draco Malfoy! Then I'm going to kick you out," she said as she walked down the corridor.
Best to start off with the first floor. Who knows…thought Hermione.
(Author's Note: Wow, it has been a very long time since I've updated! I'm so sorry! I've had so many ideas but the schoolwork was building up and I finally finished my exams this week! You guys have been so patient! But, summer has finally arrived! So I'll be able to update more often (I hope). So, do you think Hermione's plan will work? Will it fall to pieces? Find out in the next chapter!
Little teaser as usual for chapter 12 (wow, there have been a lot of chapters)…
A wicked smile played on her lips just thinking about.
I am a genius, she thought as she sneaked inside his bedroom. Now where does Draco Malfoy put his underwear?
See ya later (love some reviews!)
blue sapphire lady)
