Chapter 2 - The Bet
"Can I hold them now?"
"No."
"How about now?"
"No."
"Now?"
"Well, all ri - No!"
"Aw, come on!"
Luna had given the Quidditch tickets to Harry in trust that he would keep them out of Ron's reach, although he wasn't sure what good that would do. Ron kept asking to hold them every now and then and Harry was sure that any brink from now he would snap and let him have them.
"Just cool it, Ron. They're only tickets," said Harry, sounding annoyed.
"But they're really good tickets. Can I just look at them?"
"Fine! Here." Harry took the tickets and waved them before Ron's face before pocketing them once more.
"Too fast! I only caught a glimpse of them."
"Oh, just shut up," said Neville.
"My thoughts exactly," said Harry, looking around the shops they passed on Diagon Alley.
"Hey, you better watch it, pal," Ron said angrily to Neville. "You're marrying my sister, just remember that."
"I think I can remember who I'm about to marry, thanks, and that doesn't mean I have to endure her brother's stupid rants."
Ron thought about it for a moment and then said, "Fair point. But I warned you!"
Neville had just joined them that morning from his business traveling and they were just heading over to have lunch with Ginny, Hermione, and Luna before they ran into Weesley's Wizard Weezes and decided to invite Fred and George along as well.
"Life treating you well, mates?" said Fred just as he locket up the store so that they could head over to the Morning Sun.
"You sure you should lock it for now? Won't the customers complain?" asked Ron.
"Business is a virtue, bro. However, we need to spare us a couple of minutes for a time out. You need to learn how to take a break, Ronnie."
Ron sniffed and slumped as he stuck his hands in his pockets.
"So what's new with you, Potter?" said George.
"Any lai-days you wanna introduce us to?" said Fred, snickering.
"I don't think so," said Harry smugly.
"Oh, come now, you know we don't by that, mate."
"Yeah, you've got 'em creepin' up and down your sleeves every minute of the day. Now tell us, who's the lucky girl for today?"
"That, right there, is offensive," said Harry, grinning, as they made their way toward the restaurant. "I do not have women handing on to me like I'm some sort of - "
Fred and George burst out in such a loud snort that a majority of the people in the restaurant jumped at the commotion.
"Y-Yeah," said Fred. "And we're the spawn of You-Know-Who. Come on, Harry - "
"Hey, Potter," said Jill in a silky voice as she passed them. She was a very pretty blonde girl who worked as one of the secretaries for Harry's boss. "You doing anything tonight?"
"Er," said Harry, trying to ignore a cracking Fred, George, Neville, and Ron behind his back.
"No, I don't think so, but...I'll probably will be too tiered to even think, right guys?" he finished quickly.
The four of them stopped laughing as Jill turned her head toward them.
"Oh...er....of - of course you will be!" said Neville, chuckling.
"Well, if you change your mind, let me know," said Jill, winking and walking over to her table.
"Yeah," said George, "'let me know, Harry.' You'll probably be too tiered from turning down all of the other girls that will ask you out today. Come on, man! You're like a freaking sex magnet!"
"The hell?" said Harry. "You know that's only because I'm famous."
"You know that's only because I'm famous," Fred mimicked. "You couldn't keep a girl off of you if you tried."
"Oh yeah?"
"I should think so," said George, cracking up.
Harry turned to face them with a serious look on his face and said, "Wanna bet?"
***
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?"
"Jean! What a surprise!"
"Afternoon, ladies. And what might we be waiting around for, ah?"
"The boys," said Ginny.
"Now, now. I know my daughter didn't do that until she was married. Had them running after her like dogs. You girls should be a bit more independent. Like that bunch over there. Say Chang, Brown, Patil, park them over here!" he screamed.
Jean was a middle-aged wizard who worked for one of the top spy agencies in the Ministry of Magic and also happened to be pretty much everybody's boss. He had seemingly moved from the United States a couple of years ago and was already busy in the government.
"Oh, great," Hermione whispered in an exasperated tone to Ginny and Luna under her breath. "Just what I need to spoil my appetite."
"Hello, Jean," said Cho as she sat next to him, followed by Lavender and Parvati.
"You ladies are looking rather radiant this evening. Not waiting around for more boys are you?" he said, pulling out three chairs with his wand.
"Actually, we were just thinking of lassoing a couple, but you'll do just fine to make up for it, Jean," said Lavender, emitting a rather high-pitched laugh.
Ginny rolled her eyes and Hermione had the feeling as if she had something rather unpleasant in her stomach.
"So I was just about to ask how the tour went with Granger, Weasley, and Lovegood, here." Jean motioned Cho, Lavender, and Parvati to the other side of the table where the three of them sat. "I hope your survey of New London went fine. I trust the use of wand was limited?"
"Yes, sir," said Ginny proudly.
"Good. Which reminds me, Luna, I need you and Ron to go to Prussia for me during this next week. I think we can get a very neat deal with the minister on some account. He kept going on about some tunnel below a muggle mansion that he wanted our government to investigate. Seemed as if it contained evidence of the old queen of England herself or somewhat."
Luna smiled serenely and nodded her head. "I hope to be on that as soon as possible, Mr. Jean."
"Right...Now, let's start with you, Hermione. I heard you even got yourself involved in a bit of a romance, there, eh? How did that go?"
Hermione's heart sank as Jean addressed her with an overenthusiastic face. She watched as Cho and the other two shifted in their seats as if they were about to hear something extremely juicy. Ginny bit her lip and looked slightly worried and Luna seemed to simply stare at Hermione with no notice of comprehension whatsoever.
Clearing her throat, Hermione pulled up the courage to say something. "I'd...rather not speak of it, sir," she responded, sinking in her seat.
"Oh, don't give me that rubbish!" said Jean. "Come on, Hermione, you're a professional. If we're trying to connect the muggle and wizarding wold and you won't let me in on how we may have better relations with them, well, you're just not doing your job very well - "
"All right," said Hermione, suddenly sitting up. "I...It didn't go very well. There. We just...we... didn't....click."
"You mean, you lost another one," said Cho in a nasty tone, smiling to herself.
"No. No - I didn't lose him, I just - "
"Said the wrong thing? Peppered him with too many questions? Told him you loved him?"
"No!" Hermione screamed.
"Well, it's all right, now, love," said Jean. "If it didn't go well, it didn't go well. I'd like to see you find some nice lad eventually, though. It's a shame that a sweet girl such as yourself can't find herself a man."
"That is not true!" said Ginny defensively. "Of course she can find herself a man. Maybe she just doesn't want to!"
Jean looked rather surprised at this information and raised his eyebrows.
"Or maybe, you should stay out of this, Gin," Hermione said through gritted teeth.
"I'm just trying to help," Ginny whispered under her breath.
"Well, we can't have that, now!" said Jean vibrantly.
"Yes, Hermione," said Parvati. "I think it would be rather entertaining to see you find a date some time soon."
"She can too!" said Ginny, standing up.
Hermione's heart pounded at Ginny's comment and she felt as if she didn't get her to sit down soon, she would say something that would go against her own good. However, as she pulled at her sleeve, Ginny nodded and slowly sat back down.
"I think it would be neat to see her prove that, don't you think?" Luna said out of the blue.
"Luna!" Hermione said.
"What?" Luna shrugged.
"How about it, Hermione?" said Jean. "You are our head of International Muggle Relations. I think it would be a good idea for you to take a hit on this. We need a girl who knows all about serious relationships and, frankly, is in one herself. Weasley, you're getting married March 14th, are you not?"
"Er...Yeah, but what does that - ?" said Ginny.
"Why don't we see Hermione, here, hook herself a boyfriend by that date? That should be, what, a week and something?" said Cho, grinning broadly.
"Look...I...I don't think - " said Hermione, nervous at where this was getting at.
"Ten days? Ten? That's, like, nothing!" said Ginny.
"So you're saying that she's incapable of it?" asked Lavender.
"I'm saying that that's too soon for her to just grab some random guy out of the blue and invite him to her best friends' wedding!" said Ginny, looking rather unnerved.
"Fine. We'll choose a guy," proposed Cho.
"Choose a guy?" said Hermione, her voice shaking.
"Excellent!" said Jean.
"But Jean - "
"Not butts! This sounds intriguing. Go on, why don't we have a random draw."
"Ooh, I'll write out the names," said Parvati. "How about a choice of all of the guys at work.
"But - " said Hermione miserably.
"There!" said Parvati as she waved her wand and several small papers appeared out of thin air and contained themselves in the air.
"Well? Ready, are we?" said Jean, rubbing his hands together.
"No, I don't think - " said Hermione, pleadingly, but it was too late. Parvati had already jabbed her wand and the tiny pieces of paper began to spin in mid air. In a moment, she jabbed it once more, stuck her hand in the middle of them while holding her eyes closed and looked at the sheet that she had pulled out.
"Robert Thatcher."
"No way! He's married!" protested Ginny.
"He is? Whooops," said Parviti, shrugging and throwing the paper away.
She repeated the process and read the name "Gillian Sweeney" from a second paper.
"He's been going out with that girl, Amy, for about six months. That's definitely a bad idea," said Hermione, now anxious as to who's name was going to pop out next.
"Oh well, it's your loss," said Parvati and set the pieces of parchment on a spin once more.
She took the next paper in her hands and her eyes widened just as the grin on her face. Cho and Lavender looked over her shoulder and let out a satisfied gasp.
"What?" said Hermione, curiously. "Who? Let me see!"
"Harry Potter," Lavender read out loud with a smile.
Hermione felt as if all of the blood had just been drained from her body. Next to her, Ginny's eyes widened dangerously and she seemed to have bitten her tongue extremely hard.
"Well, that shouldn't be too bad," said Luna dreamily.
"Are you kidding me?" said Hermione in a deep and cold voice, slowly turning her head toward her. "That is terrible. No, I...couldn't possibly."
"Please don't make her do this, sir," said Ginny.
"I don't think you can weasel her out of this one, Ginny," said Jean. "It's set."
"But sir - Harry's...my best friend...It wouldn't be right."
"You can't tell me that you've never been attracted to that young man. Come on now, Hermione, you're a grown woman. Now, can you prove yourself or not?" he said seriously.
Hermione slouched. "I...I can't..."
Ginny patted her arm sympathetically.
"What, it's not like he's ever rejected you, has he?" Cho laughed.
Hermione felt such a large burst of anger in her chest that she sprang to her feet and said, "Fine."
"What?!" said Ginny.
"I said I'll do it," said Hermione stiffly.
"Herms - "
"I will and you have my word that I'll have him there at the wedding, sir."
"As your boyfriend?" said Parvati, her eyebrows raised.
"As my boyfriend that is very much in love with me!"
"Hermione!" said Ginny.
"Good, that's what I like to hear, Granger!" said Jean, smiling broadly at her towering figure.
There was a moment of pause while Cho, Lavender, and Parvati giggled amongst themselves, Ginny sat back in her seat clutching her chest and Jean looked rather pleased with himself while Hermione couldn't put her finger on what where the consequences of what she had just done.
"Er, you can sit down, Hermione," said Jean finally when she remained standing for quite a period of time.
Hermione regained consciousness and was suddenly aware of the fact that she was still up from her seat and, blushing deeply, sat back down.
"So what are you going to try on him?" asked Cho.
"Er..." said Hermione, still very red and feeling over-heated. "I'm not sure."
"Herms, you don't have to do this," Ginny whispered to her, taking her hand.
"Well, you better think of something soon or else he just mind find himself too absorbed in someone else. You know what a ladies' man he is," said Lavender.
"Damn!" Hermione said to herself. It had just dawned on her just how difficult this was going to be. She had not only tried to keep as little contact with him as possible for the past several year, but he was constantly dating someone. How in the world was she supposed to even attempt to do something like this?
"I need a break," said Hermione. "I'm sorry everyone, I'll see you later. Jean, do you mind if I don't report for office?"
"No, not at all, Hermione. I'm afraid we were going to have the rest of the meeting here anyway," said Jean. "You go ahead and you...plan your big ten days. Go on! And keep us updated! I want to hear all the details."
"So do we," said Lavender, laughing.
Hermione turned around and could not believe what she was listening to. Plan! She was supposed to plan on how to win Harry's heart! Ha! That was worth a million embarrassing laughs.
Walking away from their table, she saw something that made her stop dead in her tracks.
It was Harry. He was together with Ron, Neville, and the twins.
No, she couldn't possibly run into him at a time like this. She couldn't' even think straight. Jean was right; she needed a plan in the least.
Instead, she concentrated hard on being home and, within seconds, she had Apparated to her flat where she could finally not be taunted about her love life.
"Why do I get the feeling like this can't lead to anything good?" Ginny said to herself.
"What was that?" asked Jean, interested.
"Oh, uh...I just said, `I think we should order some food.'"
"Splendid idea!" said Jean, looking hungry all of a sudden. "Waiter!"
***
Harry, Ron, Neville, Fred and George were supposed to have joined Hermione, Ginny, and Luna, but just as they saw Jean and some others join their table, they realized that it would perhaps be better if they chose to sit at their own table.
"A bet, eh, Potter?" said Fred.
"Don't do it Harry!" said Neville urgently, looking stern.
"Yeah, mate, you know those two. They've never lost to anything," said Ron.
"I don't care," said Harry bravely. "You wanna see me keep my hands of a woman, you got it."
"Hmm," said George, considering it. "How about...for a week?"
"A week?" said Harry. "All right."
"But no bloody contact whatsoever. You've gotta really stay off of it. No kissing, making out, flirting, and absolutely no sex."
"Strictly platonic, mate," said George.
"Can I hug her?"
"We prefer no hugs," said Fred, looking at George, who nodded his head.
"I duuno, Harry," said Ron. "Sound pretty risky. You sure you wanna be in on this?"
"Oh, I'm sure," said Harry. "Look, I'm a big boy. I can keep my arms and legs to myself."
"And other appendages, I hope," said George, laughing.
"Er...right," said Harry.
"So it's a done deal, eh?" said Neville.
"Yup," said Harry.
"Wait," said Fred. "We still didn't get our side of the bet. What if you lose. Then what?"
"Um...I don't know," said Harry. "You choose."
"Oooh, feisty," said George. "How about...we use you as a product tester for a month?"
"Nah," said Fred, "we've already got people volunteering for that, we don't need extras."
"Hmm," said George, looking curiously at Harry. "I wonder..."
"What?" asked Ron.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Fred?" asked George.
Fred grinned and said. "Why, you know, George, I think I am."
"Harry," said George.
"If you blow this bet..." said Fred.
"- then you must - "
" - marry the - "
" - very next - "
" - girl you date."
"Say what?" said Harry.
"You heard us. And we don't mean no silly Vegas fling. This is a life time partner, you hear."
"That's insane!" said Ron.
"Nope. That's life," said George.
"Take it or leave it mate," said Fred.
"And if I win?" asked Harry.
"Well, then we'll never bother you about it again."
"Seriously?" said Harry.
"Dead serious," said Fred.
Harry looked around the restaurant in search of an answer. If he backed out, he was practically putting a label on himself that read "Playgirl: come and get me." If he didn't, he'd have to make some really difficult decisions. One of them would be how to explain to someone why he couldn't date anyone and yet wasn't gay at the same time.
He watched Jean's table, packed with girls. Was that what he was going to look like for the rest of his like? Just some famous rich chum who couldn't even settle on a woman? Just then, he saw as Hermione suddenly sprang from the table and, after sitting down, in moments, turned to leave. He caught her eye for an instant in time and she Disapperated within seconds.
What in the heck was wrong with him?
"Well, Potter?"
Harry turned his focus back on the twins, who bore anxious expressions to hear his answer.
"Done," he said.
"Done?"
"Done."
A/N: I just want to clear a few things up.
First of all, I know that I haven't explained their professions too well, but I promise that I'll get to it. All you need to know for now is that Jean's the big guy since he's their boss and they pretty much work on finding ways to connect the muggle and wizarding worlds as much as possible. I'll get into it more later.
Second, I promise that Harry is not a player. I don't want you to have the impression of him that he grew up to be the kind of guy that sleeps with a different girl every night. The only thing is that he's famous and he happens to have good looks and tons of money, so he's pretty much flooded with girls that constantly want to go out with him. Don't get me wrong, he's not a bad guy.
As for the bets, Hermione has to get Harry into a serious relationship with her within the next ten days and Harry has to stay away from any sort of contact with the opposite sex that is anything but platonic for a week, so things should get interesting since they might as well be driving each other mad.
I hope that helped and you'll see more next chapter. Please review!!!
-->