The Bet

Chapter One

A Typical Fight

"You will never believe who I ran into today!" Ginny Weasley was saying to one of her best friends, Hermione Granger. She hadn't really changed all that much over the summer. She was still her sweet, shy, but brave self.

Hermione Granger on the over hand, changed a great deal. Her hair was a lot straighter for one thing and well…. She was drop dead gorgeous.

"Ummm…..Gee, I dunno, Harry." Hermione said sarcastically with a laugh as the two girls entered the Great Hall for lunch. Ginny laughed too. "HARRY!" Hermione screamed running in between Harry and Draco, trying to stop Harry from punching Malfoy. Harry had to keep from punching Hermione.

"Hermione, get out of the way! Malfoy looks a bit thirsty and I was thinking about giving him some punch, if you know what I mean."

"Harry as your friend, I'm going to tell you that you can't fight Malfoy. He's not worth it." she said, still in between them, students bunching around the three.

"Hermione, for the last time. Get out of the way." Harry Potter said through clutching teeth.

"Yeah Granger. Be a doll and move, that way we can see what a wimp Potter really is." a voice behind Hermione said. She slowly turned around.

"Malfoy, why don't you shut the ------" but before she could finish, Harry lunged out at the boy known as Draco Malfoy, knocking both students over. Hermione fell backward into Ginny causing both girls to fall into the crowd of students. Harry on the other hand, landed on Draco, who was now being choked to death.

Draco quickly kicked up on Harry's stomach sending Harry flying into the crowd of Hogwarts students. Malfoy got up, pulling his wand out of his robes. He then walked over to Harry who now lay on the floor.

"Potter, Granger, Weasley, Malfoy, my office NOW!" a familiar voice said.

"I suggest you watch your step, Potter. You may not be so lucky next time." Draco said, digging the tip of his wand into Harry's neck.

000000

"I really can't stand Snape." said Harry angrily, as he and Hermione came through the portal hole and into the Gryffindor common room. Harry fell back into his favorite chair, as did Hermione. Ron Weasley was already there, sitting on the floor near the fire.

"What happened now?" Ron asked.

"He gave me, Hermione, and Ginny detention." Harry answered.

"What for?"

"Because me and Malfoy got into a fight." Harry was getting even madder at the sound of Draco Malfoy's name.

"Well, why did he give Hermione and Ginny detention?" Ron asked looking puzzled.

"Because I tried to stop the fight." Hermione spoke up. "and he gave Ginny detention because she looking at him the wrong way."

"Well, I guess I would have to say….. It sucks to be you and Ginny." Ron laughed.

So did Harry.

"That's not funny, Ron" yelled Hermione.

"Oh, lighten up, will ya." Ron said seriously.

"No, I mean. Its not fair. Snape didn't even yell at Draco, let alone give him detention."

"Well, what did you expect, Mione?" Harry said, "Snape is the Head of Slytherin and Malfoy is in Slytherin. Need we say more?"

"What started the fight anyway, Harry?" Ron asked, getting back onto the topic.

"Oh you know. Just Malfoy being his natural ass-hole self." Ron and Hermione laughed. Just then the portal swung open and Ginny came rushing in. Her cheeks reddened as she caught of Harry. She let out a small gasp and ran up the stairs and into the girl's dormitory.

"Women." Ron said.

"Oh shout up, Ron." Hermione shouted at Ron. "She's just a little nervous."

"Yeah well, she acts like Harry doesn't already know that she likes him." Ron shouted back at Hermione.

"Here it comes" Harry thought.

"Well you act like you know how she feels. I mean, how do you know something didn't happen between her and Harry or maybe she's jealous. Jealous because Harry likes Cho and not her." Hermione yelled in Ginny defense, getting up.

She looked over at Harry who looked back up at her.

"Actually, I think I'm over Cho." He said rather slowly.

"Really!" Hermione and Ron said in union.

"When?" Hermione asked sitting back down.

"How?" Ron wanted to know.

"Well. It's been for a while now. And... it just kind of happened." Harry answered.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Ron asked.

"I dunno. It wasn't that big of a deal." Both Ron and Hermione thought this to be a little strange.

"Do you like anyone now?"

"Well, yeah."

"Who?"

"Hermione, knock it off." Ron shouted.

"What am I doing?"

"You know what you are doing." Ron shouted louder.

"If I knew what I was doing, then I wouldn't have asked you." Hermione shouted, getting even louder then Ron.

"Look, if Harry wanted you to know, then he would have just came out with it already."

"Oh and you think he is going to tell you?"

"Yes." At this moment, Harry leaned back in his chair and signed. He was used to hearing all their bickering but really got sick of it.

"Well he's not." Hermione yelled back.

"Yes he is." Ron shouted.

"No he's not."

"Yes he is."

"No he's not."

"Yes he is."

"No he's not."

"Yes he is."

"Urgh, just shut up, Ron." Hermione screamed getting up and walking out of the Griffindor common room, slamming the portal hole behind her.

"Honestly. What is her problem?" Ron said more to himself then Harry, at the sound of the portal hole slamming shut.