Disclaimer: Everything owned by J.K. Rowling, just letting the characters take a different spin of yarn. No profit being made, so don't sue. You'd get nothing.
THE WAGER
by Yih
1. In which the scene is set
Harry Potter, 7th year Slytherin, had a bit of a reputation of being reckless, yet cunning and never backing down from a challenge given, yet somehow always managing to win his bets – and that was the reason all the upper year Slytherins were gathered in the Common Room to put their deviant minds at work on how to undo their great Head Boy.
"I know! I know!" exclaimed Gregory Goyle, 7th year Slytherin, known not at all for the sharpness of his mind.
His fellow housemates turned to him, disbelief and incredulity that Goyle could possibly come up with anything to hinder the great Harry Potter.
"Well," said Theodore Nott, 7th year Slytherin, with the proclivity toward scorn and derision toward all students, his housemates being no exception, "what exactly do you have in mind, Goyle?"
Goyle motioned for his housemates to gather close as he divulged his grand scheme. "It took me a while," he began and the rest of them nodded all too well with understanding, "but the more I thought about it, the more it began to make great sense."
"Get on with it," Nott snapped. "We don't have all day to listen to you."
"Fine," Goyle muttered, aiming a rather weak glare at Nott. "What if Potter had to seduce someone that cannot be seduced?"
"That's your original thought?" Nott said mockingly. "Potter can seduce anyone. We've all," he continued, nodding at his fellow housemates, "have seen those bets fail."
"What if it was someone off limits?" said Vincent Crabbe, 7th year Slytherin, who tended to come to the defense of his best mate without much success.
"Hmm…" said Daphne Greengrass, 7th year Slytherin, rumored to be the prettiest girl of her year with an equal measure of cunning. "What about a Professor?" she suggested and then slowly her lips curved upward. "What about Professor Snape?"
"One day," Draco yelled as Harry threw his robes on, "you're going to get a bet you won't be able to make!"
Harry cocked his head back and grinned cheekily. "You're just jealous," he said, winking, and grabbed his bookbag. "I'm off to laboratory! You better hurry if you don't want to be late."
Draco groaned as he glanced at the clock where his hand was pointing to 'potentially late to Potions,' while Harry's was aimed at 'right on time to help prepare the materials.' His best mate was exceedingly daring and far too clever. Harry had even managed to get on Professor Snape's good side, going as far as being his assistant, a position Draco had coveted because Severus was godfather, however, he was nowhere near as good at Potions.
Draco wiggled and stretched under the comforters as the hand shifted to 'probably late to Potions.'
It was rather nice to share this room with Harry, Draco thought. After all, this was the Head Boy's private room, but Harry hadn't wanted it unless Draco roomed with him. At that moment last year, Draco remembered the hope blossoming within until he realized Harry was still very much oblivious.
"Of course," Harry had said, "I want you to room with me. You're my best mate and I've been alone all my life. What's the fun of having a room all to myself?"
The worst part was Draco got to hear each and every one of Harry's indiscretions.
On the clock, the hand was now at 'very probably late for Potions.'
Something was most definitely up. The Slytherins were chitchatting, disregarding Professor Snape's blatant glares for them to behave as proper members of his house. Draco's eyes shifted to Harry, who as usual didn't notice what was going on behind him.
For being so Slytherin, Harry could be a rather thickhead at times.
Draco shook his head as Harry bent down to his potion and waved his hand until the fumes wafted over to him. He sniffed delicate and smiled ever so slightly. Harry likely had done his potion perfectly.
Draco glanced down at his own effort, which was nearly flawless. He was about to lean forward to take a wift of his potion when Professor Snape's shadow fell over the cauldron. Draco felt his body grow stiff with tension.
"Professor," Draco said.
"Malfoy," Professor Snape responded, glancing down at his potion, "decent attempt, but the coloring is off. Add a pinch of moondew."
Draco nodded as Professor Snape moved over to Harry's side of the table. Draco opened his drawer and took out the moondew. He set the small pot down as he heard Professor Snape murmur, "Well done, Potter."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry said softly.
Draco glanced sideways surreptitiously and saw a bright smile on Harry's face. Draco glowered at the pot of moondew. At some times, Potions was his absolute favorite class because he was partners with Harry, but most times, Draco sincerely detested it to the core of soul.
Such times like this.
"Potter!" Goyle shouted as he motioned at the other boy to join him where a crowd of Slytherins were gathered. "Here Potter!"
Draco glanced contemptuously at Goyle and the others and grabbed Harry's arm. "Let's go."
"Wait up," Harry said, pulling away. "I'll be just a minute."
Draco watched Harry jogged over to Goyle and the rest of the Slytherins, and reluctantly he followed after Harry. As he drew closer, he could hear their furious whispers, hear the excitement in their voices, and finally hear actually what they were proposing.
"The wager is this… seduce Professor Snape," Goyle said. "If you've got the bollocks, that is."
"Absolutely not!" Draco said sharply.
Every head, including Harry's, turned in his direction. Draco flushed indignantly and continued, "That's against the school rules."
"Actually," Daphne drawled, "it's not." Her blue eyes sparkled with great mischief. "There is no rule that a student cannot seduce a professor."
Much to Draco's dismay, he could see the gleam in Harry's too green eyes. "Is that so?" Harry asked impishly. "Well then," he remarked as Draco groaned inwardly, "how can I possibly refuse this wager?"
TBC
If you review a lot, then I'll update a lot. (Possibly everyday.)
Snape's coming in the next chapter :D
A/N: I wanted to write a fun little fanfic and that's what this is. It's still going to be as well-written as a quickly written fic can be. The chapters will be on the short side, compared to From the Ashes, but they'll come out a lot quicker. This doesn't have as much subtext substance, so it'll be easier not to work myself into a pit of complexities. Please review and encourage me and maybe I'll start writing more again in the Harry Potter fandom (med school, esp 3rd year, doesn't make it easy at all!).
I was thinking a threesome (Harry/Draco/Severus), Harry/Draco, or Harry/Severus. Any preferences? Let me know. Also let me know if you like how this chapter is going.
Released on February 4, 2010.