Alright, my muse's final class is today so that means ya'll get a new chapter!
~MJB~
Chapter 29: Cats Inherit First
July 7th, 1992 (Tuesday)
Location: Granger's House - Heathgate, Hampstead
Meissa yawns as she stretches her arms. She was fairly sure that the game's doing fairly well. She has a decent amount of deeds but so far it seems like none of them are able to build any houses. A quick consulting of the rule book confirmed that they needed to own the entirety of the color group to build up the houses. So far, none of them are willing to exchange deeds.
It didn't help that, several rounds in, some of the deeds were becoming increasingly harder to grab. There were, from the latest count, just two properties left to grab but every single time any of them got close they either landed just past the plot or just before it.
It made for a very frustrated trio.
"Ugh," Daphne groans in annoyance as she rubs her face. "We just keep going around in circles."
Out of the three of them, Daphne has the most cash but the least value in terms of properties.
"I'd trade you," Meissa remarks as she eyes the one green property Daphne had - it's the last property she'd need to complete the group and start building. Unfortunately Meissa didn't have any cards that could help Daphne complete a group since Hermione had the other third of the groups. At the mention of a trade, Daphne groans again as this is a rather ongoing discussion that has been rather unresolved for the last two rounds.
To get anywhere close to building houses or hotels they'd have to make a lot of agreements. Unfortunately, none have them been able to come to any sort of arrangement or to at least settle for something.
Some of the Railroads were up for grabs - but just like the two properties remaining - they were proving to be just as elusive. Of the two that is currently owned, one is held by Meissa while the other is held by Daphne.
"What are we going to do now?" Meissa asks, slowly getting a bit irritated with the constant loops. They haven't made any progress and honestly, she's starting to get a bit cranky.
"Mm… We could take a break," Hermione suggests thoughtfully. She hadn't expected the game to stall as much as it had. It seems like a few more players would be needed to keep the game going properly. At least with their luck anyway.
"Yes!" Meissa immediately agrees, all but hopping out of her seat in her haste to get away. Daphne rolls her eyes playfully at the other girl's antics and helps Hermione tidy up once it became clear to them that the game will be put on halt for the time being. Hermione took the opportunity to write down what properties they had along with how much money they had remaining.
"Do you want to watch one of the movies?" Daphne asks the raven haired girl as she hands Hermione Meissa's stack of properties and money.
"Which one?"
"About the Aristocats? I think I saw it among the ones you've picked," Hermione mutters distractedly, just a smidge too busy counting the money.
"Which one is that one again?" Meissa wonders as she turns to face them.
"I think it's the one with the cats?"
"Oh yeah."
Hermione neatly folds the sheet of paper and places it within the box, folding the board and arranging everything until they all fit properly.
"Mione," Meissa half whines – no, she doesn't whine – and tugs on the Gryffindor's arm to urge her to move faster than the pace of a snail.
"The movie will still be there," Hermione reassures, swatting the urging hand away with a mock stern look on her face.
"But 'Mione!"
"Go set up the movie if you're so anxious," the brunette shoos, rolling her eyes at the indignation. Luckily this doesn't trigger an explosive reaction from the other girl and instead she just stomps off in the blink of an eye. Once gone, Hermione lets a small sigh escape, a frown appearing on her face.
"What's wrong now?" Daphne asks worriedly.
"Mm... Just, I don't know how to..." Hermione stops as she's unsure how to even phrase it. It hasn't been a full day since Meissa's outburst and their discovery of... She doesn't know what's the proper term for what happened. The book she's been reading named it but she's been hesitant on diagnosing her friend, knowing full well that she's no doctor.
If she's right then... how does one proceed? If she's wrong and they don't find out until it's too late, it'd end up hurting their friend in the long run.
She doesn't want to say anything. But... it was her parents who gave her the book in the first place.
They wouldn't just leave a book for her to find, on her own nightstand, if they didn't intend for her to piece all of this together. But she's been learning to be selective with her information – to think on it before acting rashly on what she knows.
"It's complicated."
Daphne gives the Gryffindor a long look at the comment. The blonde could say something. She would've. But a glance towards the living room where they can hear the slowly increasing volume of muttering has her deciding that it's not the right time for a conversation like that.
"We should hurry up before she decides to blow something up."
"She... She wouldn't..."
"You know how she is."
The last of the money and property cards are hastily thrown into the box before the Gryffindor bolts for the living room. Left in the dining room by herself the blonde couldn't help the building chuckle, pleased with herself at Hermione's panicked expression. It's just a tad bit too easy to tease the other girl sometimes.
~MJB~
They managed to knock through at least two movies before Hermione's parents arrived home with take out, claiming that since Meissa and Daphne were visiting they could take this as an opportunity to try different kinds of food. It honestly made Hermione a bit envious of this – her own childhood filled with strict food and diets meant to promote a healthy child with equally healthy teeth.
At her parents' quiet urging the trio starts setting up the dining table – clearing away the last remains of their attempt at Monopoly and laying out place mats. Hermione actually had to stop the purebloods from setting out the silverwares for them to use, too much of their confusion.
"We're not going to eat like animals?!" Daphne whispered sharply at the brunette before getting a placating gesture from Meissa.
"I assume we're going to be using something else?"
"Yes – they come with chopsticks. We'll teach you how to use them if you don't know," the Gryffindor reassures, gathering the glasses.
"Chopsticks?"
"What exactly are we going to eating that requires 'chopsticks'." 'What are 'chopsticks'' went unvoiced as Meissa eyes her friend warily. Trying new things in the company of other people – people who can potentially use those moments as ammunition – has never gone well for her before.
Hermione glance at the baffled pair. "You'll see!"
"This bodes well," Meissa sighs as she trails after the Gryffindor with Daphne lingering back, shaking her head at them.
"Oh, don't be such a downer!" Hermione chides, setting the glasses onto the table as her parents sort out the containers. "You won't know if you like them until you try!"
"The food isn't my concern."
"Then what is?"
"I... er..." She could face down the most moronic wizard and witches of their generation but she can't properly articulate why she doesn't look forward to their dinner date? All the etiquette and mannerism lessons and she's reduced to stumbling for her words. That's just lovely.
A bit frustrated with herself and with the situation as a whole she waves it off and returns to the kitchen with a frown on her face. She spots Daphne at the counter, writing onto a scrap of paper that she must have found recently. "Hey," she greets as she slides up next to the blonde, taking up a spot and immediately slouching over the counter in a manner that would have her aunt horrified. She'd get a lifetime of scolding for such a behavior.
"Something the matter?" Daphne asks, the light scratch of her pen slowing at the brunette's actions.
"'Mione."
"That doesn't quite answer the question."
"But it answers a question."
"Don't be cheeky."
"I thought you like it when I'm cheeky."
A pointed glare is met with a smug teasing grin before the two Slytherins settles down once more, the pair falling quiet as Daphne continues writing. They stay like this for a few, just long enough for the blonde to finish writing her note.
"So," Daphne starts, neatly folding the paper, "what's really bothering you?"
"Nothing."
"I wasn't born yesterday."
"It's nothing," she insists, ignoring the frown on her friend's face.
It was both nothing and everything.
But there's no way for her to articulate this.
Meissa keeps her silence despite the cajoling from her fellow Slytherin. It's only until the familiar pinch between her brows appeared that the blonde actually steps back and quits. By that point, the table's been set and the food's laid out. The pair stare at each other – one broody and the other concerned. It's not until Hermione shows up to drag the Slytherins to their seats. It's not until Hermione shows up to drag the Slytherins to their seats that the stare down actually ends.
Once seated, Meissa sees for the first time what's been plated for them. She doesn't recognize a single thing and apprehension tightens in her chest.
~MJB~
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