Hi everyone. Sorry for the extremely long hiatus. I actually want to thank Shirabe for reviewing the other day. It actually reminded me that I have the fic posted on here as well as Ao3. So here's a new chapter for everyone!
Chapter 28: Game Night (cont.)
July 7th, 1992 (Tuesday)
Location: Granger's House - Heathgate, Hampstead
"Rent!" Meissa calls with a laugh, grinning widely as Daphne rolls her eyes at her.
Hermione groans and folks over the Kentucky rent, thankfully it's still early on in the game so it's still only £18.
"Regret teaching her about that, huh?" Daphne snickers as she hands over the stray dice to Hermione since she rolled a double one - a snake eye - that landed her on Meissa's property.
"Just a smidge," Hermione laughs before she rolls again. She winces when she gets a second double - this time a double six.
"Wow, twelve," Meissa remarks as Hermione quickly moves her piece. A community chest this time. Hermione will deny ever making a prayer but she does hesitate a little before taking up a card. Her shoulders relax just a smidge when she sees that it's not a Jail' card.
"Holiday Fund Matures!" she announces as she displays it for them to read.
"Collect £100," Meissa reads as Hermione takes the £100 note. She looks at Daphne as she deadpans, "I think 'Mione has all of our luck."
"Ha, which is it, you have it or she has it?" Daphne laughs as Hermione takes another roll.
"Oh thank god," Hermione sighs in relief when she doesn't get another double - that would've meant jail time for sure. She moves her piece pass go - grabbing £200 as a result - and lands on Mediterranean Avenue.
She quickly pays for it before passing off the dice to Meissa so she can take her turn.
The raven haired girl quickly rolls the dice, humming along to the music softly playing in the background. It's something she doesn't quite recognize but she can appreciate the beat. She'll have to ask Hermione about the song's name if she remembers.
She gets a five so she moves her piece to the correct space.
"You don't have to buy every property you land on," Hermione cautions, having noticed that the other girl is beginning to run low on cash. If she has to make a guess, it seems like there's a little under a thousand pounds left. It might seem a lot still but it can disappear fast if one isn't careful.
"Mm, I want to," is Meissa's only response, her grin borderline cheeky as she hands over the correct amount, receiving the Atlantic Avenue deed in return.
If anything, the game's helping her understand the currency exchange a lot better.
"I think you're one to watch out for," Daphne remarks as she gathers up the dice for her turn.
"What clued you in to that?" Meissa laughs and ducks out of the way of the blonde's responding swat.
"So far, you're tied with Hermione in terms of having the most property - but unless I missed the mark your property has more worth to them." She notes the number on the dice and moves her piece to the corresponding square.
The irony.
"That's true," Hermione agrees as Daphne hands her the cash for the Indiana Avenue property. She hands the blonde Slytherin the deed before sorting the money away. Once she has that situated she takes her turn, grimacing at the doubles.
"How many doubles have you had so far?" Meissa laughs as the Gryffindor moves ten spaces.
"Shush," she huffs at the amused Slytherin, handing the bank the money for the St. Charles Place she landed on. "I swear, if you jinxed the dice."
"I did no such thing." The grin on Meissa's face didn't reassure her.
The next roll, thankfully, wasn't a double. She lands on a chance space that produces an 'advance to nearest utility' card.
"Ooh," Hermione grins gleefully as she folks over the cash for the deed, moving her piece to the Electric Company square.
"That's a look I haven't seen before," Meissa remarks with a laugh. "I think we should be worried."
"I'm inclined to believe you," Daphne laughs as she ducks under a thrown dice.
"Oi!" both Meissa and Hermione cries - for entirely different reasons. With a huff the dark haired Slytherin got up to fetch the wayward dice while Hermione gave her best glare.
It's not terribly efficient but it gets its point across well enough.
"So what's that property for and why are you so excited about it?" Meissa asks when she returns, dice in one hand a glass of water in another. She offers Daphne a sip as she settles down.
"These are a bit more special." Hermione holds up the deed she just bought. "Let's say you rolled a… an eight and landed on the square I now own." The Slytherins nod their head to show they're following. "Because I own the square, anyone who lands on it will owe me a rent equal to the roll they made times four."
She gets blank looks from the two Slytherins.
"Where did I lose you."
"The rent."
Daphne nods in agreement.
"Mm… do you know what eight times four is?"
It's something that has been bothering Hermione for some time.
As far as she can tell, it's common for magical children to be home schooled - that was the case for Ron's family. And she hasn't asked around too much about the others' home life but she's fairly positive about that theory.
"Thirty-two?" Meissa answers after a moment of silence. It was just long enough to indicate that she's not entirely familiar with what Hermione is saying.
"Mhm."
"So, that would mean we'd have to pay you £32, right?"
"That's if you rolled an eight. If you rolled a six it'd be…"
"Six times four, right?" Meissa asks to clarify.
"Yup."
"Twenty four," Daphne declares before Meissa could. She motions for the other girl to take her turn as she thinks on the rent on the property owned by Hermione. "They're interesting but they seem tedious."
"Just a little," Hermione agrees before she taps another square on the board. "If I have this one too, well, the rent would then be ten times the roll that landed you on the square."
"So… in the first example you've used, you could get £80 from us," Meissa remarks as she moves her piece five squares. She wordlessly hands over the notes for the Pacific Avenue, accepting the deed she gets in return.
"You don't seem like you have much money left," Hermione observes as Daphne takes her turn.
Seven lands the blonde on the 'go to jail' square which prompts a loud 'Oh!' from both Meissa and Hermione.
"To Azkaban!" the dark haired Slytherin cries as Hermione carries the car pass go and straight to the jail.
"Ugh," the blonde grimaces in distaste before she whacks her best friend for laughing too hard at the turn of events.
"There's three ways you can get out," Hermione informs her. "You could pay £50 to get out on your next turn. Roll a double - it doesn't have to be a specific number, just so long it's a double. Or use a get out of jail free card."
At the mention of the last method the blonde looks at Meissa who is peering at the mentioned card.
"The only one currently on the board is Meissa's so you could ask if you can buy it off of her," Hermione adds, prompting the two Slytherins to lock gazes - a silent exchange happening right before her.
"How much is the card worth?" Meissa asks.
"Um… I think it usually goes for £50."
At that the stare breaks off and Daphne gives Hermione an incredulous look. "I could literally free myself on that price."
"Mhm."
With an annoyed huff Daphne pass the dice to Hermione. A quick roll later has her moving her piece to the St. James Avenue. The Gryffindor takes a long look at the board and the deeds owned currently.
It's safe to say that at least one property of each color group is owned by someone. With, at the moment, the exception of the Blue group and is also traditionally the more expensive deeds.
Her survey done, Hermione decides to go ahead and purchase the property she landed on and hands the dice to Meissa who is all but buzzing in her seat.
It's a little clear that the other girl is enjoying the game - even if she is currently the one with the least amount of money. Yet, ironically, she also owns at the very least, the most high valued properties.
It'll be interesting, to say the least, to see how things progress from now.
"Luxury tax?"
"It looks like you have to pay £100," Daphne remarks from her position where she has a better view of the square.
"Aw," Meissa looks annoyed at this but forks over the cash to Hermione. Instead of adding the money to the bank she places it on the Free Parking space.
"If you land on this space you can collect the accumulated taxes," she explains. "Sometimes a lot of money can build up here so it can pay out a fair amount."
"Okay."
Daphne nods distractedly as she shakes the dice in her hand.
She's not praying.
Nope.
She drops the dice with little to no ceremony - she'll deny holding her breath.
Four. One.
"Aw, tough luck," Meissa remarks once the dice have settled.
"Ugh." The blonde looks at Hermione. "Can I pay the amount to get out?"
"No - you have to do it before you roll. Sorry, I should've said that before."
"Ugh. Next time then."
They pass Hermione the dice for her turn, the blonde picking up Meissa's glass for a quick sip. She ends up hogging it as Hermione takes her turn that lands her on one of the red tiles. Thankfully it wasn't one of the tiles owned by either Meissa or Daphne.
"Illinois Avenue," the Gryffindor reads out, humming thoughtfully. She does a quick count with her money before she hands over the cash in exchange for the deed to the property.
As it currently stands, Daphne has two deeds. Meissa has four deeds - majority of them with high rents and not exactly favorable to land on. Once houses start to go up it'd be even worse. While she has six properties, two of which has the potential of netting her the most money.
Please leave a review, let me know whatcha think! I'm currently working on the next chapter. No promises that it'll be out swiftly but hopefully it won't take six months.