The Bet

Title: The Bet

Rating: PG

Author: lockedinaroom

Summary: Money is exchanged when Hermione visits Harry during the summer. Ugh, not like that! It's PG!

Moral: HMS Harmony will sail!

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Dumbledore Apparated in front of Grimmauld Place. He had a meeting to conduct and a lot had happened in the last two days. In a few seconds, he found himself in the kitchen of the old Black estate to hushed voices and concerned looks.

Dumbledore coughed and then started, “A lot has happened in the last few days, so I suggest we get right down to Order business.” He then took out his wand and waved it in a grand circle. A blackboard then materialized but it was oddly blank. “Right, then. As most of you know, young Harry Potter had a friend-“

“Friend, my foot!” Moody exclaimed.

Dumbledore chuckled and continued, “Yes, young Harry Potter had a friend visit the other day and… some thoughts were exchanged.”

“And saliva,” Tonks muttered with an embarrassed smile.

Dumbledore did not look impressed at Tonks' sarcasm but continued again, “This friend was Hermione Granger and as they shared their first kiss as a couple.”

Shouting ensued at this news. There were several cries of “This is an outrage!” and “But he told me they were just friends!” and “That little brat!”. Arthur Weasley could be seen moping next to his wife and muttering, “I was hoping Harry would notice Ginny. I've been trying to get Ron to steer them together. I wouldn't have any other man for my little girl.” Molly offered no words of comfort to her husband but kindly offered a big grin that said she knew it all along.

Severus Snape was also moping. Something about “Potter and Evans all over again” was heard coming from his mouth.

The reason for the uncharacteristic anger and sadness was soon revealed when Dumbledore waved his wand in another circle that materialized writing on the blackboard. There was a box drawn in the upper left corner that had only eight names listed. On the outside of the box nearly fifty names were scrawled.

Dumbledore tried to start again but couldn't be heard above the din. Instead, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a small (but loud) firework, and tapped it with his wand. The resulting explosion quieted the crowd enough for Dumbledore to begin talking again.

Outside the door, two ginger haired teenagers sat clutching the left sides of their heads and donning expressions of shock and bewilderment. They had used Extendable Ears (as the wards hadn't been put back up) and the magical explosion was magically amplified. Although, what they had just heard didn't help their moods at all. Ron was pale. He had planned to take Hermione on a Hogsmeade date when school started again. He had a small crush on Hermione since the spring of fourth year. Then again, he couldn't shut up about Quidditch long enough to tell her and it was now obvious that his affections would not be returned.

On the other hand, Ginny was getting very red and her eyes were starting to glisten. She heard her father admit that he was trying to play matchmaker and that Ron was in on it. She was also angry because she thought that Harry was starting to notice her. (That fangirl crush never really went away.) Hell, she went with Harry to the Department of Mysteries and almost got killed because she thought he had noticed her.

Ron and Ginny didn't stay to listen to anymore. It was a good thing too because Dumbledore started in again and they wouldn't like what he had to say. “Yes, I believe the larger group is called the Heron group and the smaller group is called the Harmony group. And I believe the deal was that if Harry and Hermione became a couple then everyone in the Heron group would give ten galleons each to the Harmony group.” Dumbledore ended with a soft chuckle. He silently praised Tonks for coming up with the idea of contracting the names of the proposed partners.

Hermione has chosen well and let's hope she has the strength to keep that choice. Harry will certainly need it, Dumbledore thought to himself. With a smile on his face, he watched his fellow Order members dig deep in their pockets for ten Galleons. Arthur Weasley looked positively ashen. Dumbledore might have forgiven the debt but they all had sworn a Wizard's Oath on the wager and it could not be taken back. It was just as well though, since Molly was going to come into a small nest egg in a few minutes.

George Weasley looked exactly like his father in that moment. However, Fred, who had put his money on Harry and Hermione (or Harmony as they became known in the Order), was grinning broadly like his mother. Bill, Fleur, and Charlie were present at the meeting also. They were lucky in that they were more absentee members and had no idea what was going on. Although, they later admitted to themselves they would have put money on their brother (and brother-in-law) to get the girl. (Of course, it isn't about getting the girl. It's about who the girl chooses.)

Even though everyone was busy searching in hidden trouser pockets, they quickly noticed that Severus Snape was sitting quite still. His face had a green tinge added to his already sallow complexion. There was also a light sheen that marked the beginnings of a cold sweat. Some thought he looked rather like a piece of damp, moldy bread. His hands were whiter than usual because of his monstrous grip on the table.

Tonks, not missing a chance to bait her old teacher, said in a sickeningly sweet voice, “Severus, darling, why are you not reaching into your generous pockets?” Snape now had sneer to go with his rather putrid complexion. He also had a sudden urge to say, “Ten points from… whatever house she was in.” but then he remembered that she was not a student anymore.

Dumbledore came around the table and gently patted the tired professor on the shoulder. “You see, Miss Tonks, our dear Professor Snape has made a different wager.” Everyone sat down at once, with rapt attention towards Dumbledore. “You see, Severus here did not wager ten Galleons. He wagered a tithe of his annual income. I believe that comes to 450 Galleons, does it not Severus?”

“Yes, headmaster.”

“Well, that was a bit stupid of you,” chirped Molly.

Dumbledore then remembered, “Oh, dear me! You have Mr. Potter and Miss Granger in your sixth year N.E.W.T. potions class, don't you?”

“Yes, headmaster. Um, if you don't mind headmaster, I, uh, have a difficult potion brewing in my private laboratories.” Everyone knew it was just an excuse to escape further embarrassment.

“Of course, Severus. If you would be so kind as to transfer the funds to my Gringotts account tomorrow, I shall see that it is distributed appropriately.”

“Of course, headmaster,” Snape muttered. With that, he dashed out the room with black cloak and greasy, black tendrils of hair flapping behind him.

Dumbledore's attention then centered on the small pile of gold in the middle of the table. “Right, let's see. I believe, with Severus' generous contribution, that myself, Professors Hagrid and McGonagall, Molly, Fred Weasley, Alastor Moody, Remus Lupin, and Miss Tonks will each be receiving approximately 117 and a half Galleons in their Gringotts accounts tomorrow.”

Molly let out a gust of breath. Arthur had some color returning to his cheeks at the thought of his wife's fortune. Fred was beaming and George was steaming. There were several muttered threats from the less fortunate Order members. However, the loudest reaction came from Mad-Eyed-Moody, who let out a loud guffaw and boomed, “That'll teach you lot about the meaning of CONSTANT VIGILANCE!”

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