Chapter 2

"Go ahead caller, you are through to the police, what is the address or location of your emergency?" The gruff female voice waited for Hermione to answer.

"Umm, yes, there is a break-in at Jordan Court Apartments, third floor facing the Courtyard. The intruder appears to be the flat occupant that lives below on the second floor."

"Thank you, can I take your name please?"

Hermione paused. She ran into this same conundrum last time. She wasn't ready to divulge that she was just as much a creep as this the Ginger Bachelor, secretly spying in through their windows.

"I prefer it to be anonymous."

"Very well...Is anyone in any danger?" The woman continued.

"No." Hermione said as she continued to watch the Ginger Bachelor open every cabinet and pull up every cushion.

"We have officers on their way. Would you like to stay on the line until they arrive?"

"No, thank you." Hermione answered.

"Very well. Please remain indoors and call back if there are any other concerns." The woman responded and the line went dead.

Hermione set the phone down and pushed the binoculars against the window. It was hard to see what he was doing in the apartment with the lights out, but it almost looked like he was waving his stick. This was getting weirder by the second.

After another five minutes, Hermione watched as a female and male police officer walked into the building and up the three flights of stairs, brandishing batons.

Hermione held her breath as the male officer rapped on the door and called something. She watched the Ginger Bachelor stop short and point his stick at the door. She squirmed as he walked up and opened it.

Hermione watched with fascination. What she expected to be a fight in the hallway (with an unceremonious haul off to prison) was actually a calm conversation. She was rubbish at reading lips, but she was great with body language. The Ginger Bachelor looked completely at ease, while the officers looked confused and overly friendly. The Ginger Bachelor seemed to be giving them instructions on how to get out of the building.

Hermione's mouth dropped as they all shook hands and the two officers obediently took the stairs back down and out of the building. She immediately whipped her binoculars back to the Ginger Bachelor who quickly paced back to his apartment.

"How in the world did you get away with that? You were there...caught red handed!" Hermione questioned.

The Ginger Bachelor's calm demeanor with the officers was gone and replaced with a steely look as he peered out of his window. For an instant he looked in her direction and she quickly ducked out of sight. Breathing heavily, she creeped back up and peered over at his apartment. For the first time in weeks every curtain was drawn shut.

"You're not going to get away that easily." She muttered, climbing up and taking her teapot and teacup back to the sink to be cleaned and put back on the shelf.


Over the next few days the Ginger Bachelor kept his curtains shut and didn't venture out onto the balcony at all. Hermione had decided immediately that she needed to get in contact with the Black Beauty to let her know that someone had been in her flat without her permission. She'd thought that Black Beauty might have realized, but no such luck. If anything, Black Beauty seemed to be more comfortable coming in and out visiting everyone in the complex. She'd even knocked on Ginger Bachelor's door before giving up and moving on.

Hermione had tried calling the police again, but since she had left the tip anonymously, they wouldn't divulge any information about the encounter.

It was Monday, and by early afternoon Hermione had finished her work for the day. From memory, she knew that in the morning he left, not long after Black Beauty, then returned usually by lunchtime. Then, in the afternoon Ginger Bachelor went out for a run. That would be her opening to slip past his flat and upstairs to the third floor to talk to Black Beauty.

Hermione had spent an inordinate amount of time picking out her outfit and still she knew that it would look pathetic compared to the designer dress that Black Beauty would be wearing. Nonetheless, Hermione was not one to shy away from doing the right thing.

Hermione smiled as she watched Ginger Bachelor open the door to his flat at half past two in his running attire. Hermione was ready and right on time. She watched him pace down the stairs and begin to jog out the first floor exit, across the courtyard and to the main road.

Hermione quickly stepped out of her apartment, locked the door, and walked hastily down the three flights of stairs. Her heart was pumping. She took a deep breath inhaling fresh air as she walked across the courtyard.

She hesitated as the apartments got larger and larger. It had always been so easy and safe to watch from afar. This was the first time she had ever transitioned from watcher to doer. Thoughts chased through her mind as she grabbed hold of the metal handle and pulled open the door to the stairwell of Jordan Court Apartments.

Step by step she climbed the stairs. Making it to the second floor landing she looked at the door in front of her. Flat 229, Ginger Bachelor's flat. She walked up to the door. She was so close she could knock on it. She shook her head and chastised herself. What was she thinking? He was a stalker. He could be a murderer or a serial killer.

Hermione hastily climbed up the last flight of stairs and stood in front of Black Beauty's door. She knew it would be a while before Black Beauty returned, typically coming home around 4pm, but she was willing to wait.

Her heart thrummed as she thought about meeting this mysterious femme. Maybe they would become best friends? Maybe she would let Hermione borrow some of her outfits. Hermione scrunched her nose, thinking that Black Beauty was too tall and had much more sophisticated tastes. Hermione would never be able to pull that off.

Hermione walked up to the hall window by the stairs and looked towards her flat. She smiled. It was rather inconspicuous and with the lights out you really couldn't tell who or what lived there. It gave her a sense of ease. Hypocritically, she acknowledged, she was happy to know that there probably wasn't anyone spending their days watching her.

"Hiya." A voice called up to her from the flight of stairs below her.

Hermione swerved around and froze.

Climbing up the stairs was none other than the Ginger Bachelor. Hermione backed up against the window. He reached the top of the stairs and smiled at her.

If she hadn't been frozen in fear, she was sure she would have been frozen in awe. His chiseled features from a distance were nothing compared to his out of breath husky voice. She gave him a quick once-over, unable to help herself. His shirt was damp, hugging his chest, and she could see the curves of his muscles peeking out from his shirt.

Hermione tried to speak, but nothing came out.

"I live down one flat." He wiped his sweaty palm on his shorts and held out his hand. "I'm Ron. Ron Weasley."

Hermione made another attempt at speaking. How had he gotten back to his flat so fast? He just left.

"Herm-" she coughed. "Hermione." She croaked as she reached out to shake his hand.

It was firm, but her handshakes were firm as well. Her hand was on fire and electricity shot up her arm. His smile caught her off guard. She was clearly flustered.

Get a grip! Hermione silently scolded. He's a bad guy. Stop falling for the bad guy.

"Do you live here, Hermione?" Ron asked.

There was something about the way he said her name that melted her insides. Like her secret crush suddenly recognized she existed. She decided she would fully acknowledge how pathetic she was after she escaped this potentially hazardous situation.

"Umm, no, I'm visiting a friend." She fibbed.

"Belladonna?" Ron asked curiously.

"Hmm?" Hermione squeaked.

"Are you visiting Belladonna?" He asked again, pointing to Black Beauty's door. So that was her name. Of course that was her name. And of course Ginger Bachelor...Ron...was curious about Belladonna's friends.

Hermione crossed her arms. "What business is it of yours?"

"Just making conversation." Ron tightened his lips.

Hermione looked down at her feet. Why was he making her cheeks flush?

"You know, I don't think Belladonna will be back for a while." Ron moved forward slightly. "Do you want me to let her know you stopped by?"

Hermione looked at him suspiciously. "You'd tell her I stopped by?"

Ron looked back at her with a devious look. "Of course I would. We're good friends."

Hermione let out a snort, but sucked it in quickly realizing her mistake.

Hermione stopped short. She could see it on his face. He knew. He knew she was the one that had called the police on him.

Her shoulders tensed and she looked toward the exit. She needed to escape.

"Well...obviously Belladonna is busy. I'll just stop by another time." Hermione tried her most nonchalant voice as she angled herself around Ron.

"Hermione" Ron called after her, touching her arm.

She looked back.

"It was nice to meet you."

Hermione ignored him and quickly took the steps down and out the front of the courtyard. She exited down the main road and took the long way around the building in case he was watching.

Hermione raced up her own flight of stairs and pushed herself into the safety of her own flat. She leaned up against the door, her heart still pounding from the encounter.

How had he made it back so fast? Why had the police blatantly let him leave Belladonna's apartment? Why does he keep a stick with him? These questions and more swirled around in her mind.

She knew the only way to help Belladonna was to get to the bottom of her Ginger Bachelor. If she couldn't talk to Belladonna without interference, she would have to find out what his motives were. What he was hiding? She got goosebumps at the thought, and she was pretty sure it wasn't because she was intending to break the law.

"Ron Weasley." She breathed. "You may be the death of me."