Hey. I don't own Harry Potter

"This is going to be the most boring school year ever." Blaise stated. He sat on Draco's bed with a sigh. Sure, he was glad that Voldemort was finally gone. Three cheers for the boy who wouldn't die, but that meant all the excitement was gone. No more Gryffindors almost getting killed, the stupid golden trio wasn't going to get as much detention anymore. It was going to be utterly boring.

Draco shrugged. "We could make it interesting." He said casually. The blond was quite happy to find that his father was a spy for The Order, but that didn't mean he wasn't a prick, and Blaise knew this.

"What do you mean, Drake?" Blaise asked cautiously.

The boy grinned. "We haven't played Bets in a while."

"Oh no, no, no. You're off your rocker." Bets was a simple game. They would give each other a person to have sex with, and they'd have to get it done before the first school dance. After accomplishing the bet, you humiliate her by dumping her in public, whether it be in the halls or the Great Hall. Blaise however wasn't lucky the last time. The girl that Draco chose for her was a clingy Hufflepuff who fancied herself so incredibly in love with him, unlike the others who Draco chose. Consequently, he chose all the sluts and whores of the school. It was a messy break up, which Blaise chose to do in private. The girl threw a number of things at him. It was utterly terrible and they hadn't played since then.

"Oh come on, Blaise. We'll raise the stakes!" Draco begged.

"Are you that desperate for a shag?"

"No, and I'm not getting a girl"

"What?"

"You are the only one participating this time." Draco held a glint in his eyes. "Oh yes. Here's the deal. I pick the girl. You shag her before the dance, okay. You get what you want."

"Fifty galleons"

"Fifty galleons?!" Draco yelled in shock. He looked around before staring back at his friend. "Fifty galleons? Man, are you insane?"

"Forty"

"Ten"

"Thirty"

"Ten!"

"Twenty"

"Ten, damnit!"

"Eighty"

"Eighty galleons?! Did you just raise the price?"

"Damnit, I thought you would fall for it and say fifty"

"Ten, Blaise, it's the last offer."

"Twenty"

"Blaise"

"Thirty"

"What? Blaise, come on. Ten"

"Thirty, or we aren't playing at all."

Draco glared. "Oh so you're agreeing to play now."

"Well if it's the only thing that will bring excitement to the year" Draco glowered, but agreed. Blaise grinned. "And if you win?" he asked.

"I want thirty galleons…and your new broom" Blaise's jaw dropped. His new broom? It was the newest in the line, the next in the Firebolt chain, Firebolt 3000. If there was any material possession that he values, it would be the Firebolt 3000.

"Are you being serious?"

"Very. Come on, Blaise. You know you want to take the bet."

"No, no. If I win, I want the Malfoy ring too"

"What?!"

"You're taking my most valuable possession, it's only fair."

Draco scowled. "Fine, but once I pick this girl, this is now turning back."

"Yea fine."

Draco chuckled. "Good, because I choose Hermione Granger"

Blaise sat on the couch, thinking of the girl. She wouldn't forgive him after what happened, spying on her like that. He sighed and stood up. He looked in the mirror and gasped in horror. His usual curled raven hair was in a complete mess. His usual olive skin was pale and his indigo eyes looked tired and worn out, even when he didn't feel exhausted. "What happened to me?" he asked in shock. He quickly washed his face and combed his hair back before hearing the portrait creek open. He turned quickly. "Hermione!" he cried. The girl smiled at him sadly.

"Zabini." He flinched at her cold tone.

"Look, Hermione, I'm sorry. Draco dragged me down. I didn't know where we were going. When I found out, I tried to pull him away, but he wasn't listening."

She frowned. "He sure knows how to get you in trouble with me, doesn't he?" She asked.

Blaise sighed inwardly, she believed him. He let out a strangled laugh. "Ha! Yea. Stupid Malfoy." Hermione smiled at him again before turning to go to her room. "Uh, Hermione?" She looked at him. "What happened down there, if you don't mind me asking?"

She looked down sadly. "Maybe one day, Blaise" She told him before walking up the stairs.

Draco rolled his eyes as Blaise sat with a twitch. "Man, I don't think we should continue this!" He whispered fervently. Draco looked at him in shock.

"What? Why?!"

"She, in some way, is connected to Snape! Okay?! Didn't you hear? Snape took her into his home! He must really care about her to do that! I can't just use her and dump her with Snape caring for her! He's going to blast my bloody rocks off!"

"You're overreacting" Blaise gave him a bewildered look. "Okay, maybe not. Look, we'll make this easier. Obviously, Hermione is upset with Snape"

"And?"

"She's going to be rebellious in her anger, and not tell him about the relationship."

"What if they forgive each other?"

"Granger wouldn't dare tell him of the relationship, if you ever have one, in fear of Severus overreacting like he did before. Listen, if you do get her, don't even break up with her where everyone is, okay"

"Why are you even helping me?"

"Because I know that Granger would never give herself to you in such a short time and I'll get my money and my new broom."

Blaise sneered at him. "I will get her, mark my words?" Blaise promised before standing up. He walked out, trying to think of a plan.

"He's going to ruin this all," Draco smirked. "And I'm still going to be laughing."

Hermione walked down the hall quickly, fearing that she might be late for potions. Suddenly, she stopped and stood in her place. What did she care? Severus…Snape didn't care about her. Why would she care about anything that pertained to him? She took her time walking down to the dungeons, and when she opened that door and sat in her seat like she was twenty minutes early, the class couldn't hold their gasps. "So?" she whispered to Harry and Ron. "What are we doing right now?" The two gaped at her.

"Hermione," Harry whispered fervently as Severus walked over slowly. "You're five minutes late!"

She shrugged. "I didn't think Professor Snape cared. What does it matter to him if I'm dead in the woods?" She felt a pang of guilt when she realized that the man heard. The professor turned back to the front of the class as Hermione shook the feeling away. He deserved it. He was being a git! He totally and utterly deserved it! At the end of the class, she brought her potion up and set it on his desk.

"What do I have to do to get back into your good graces, Miss Granger?" he said quietly so no one would hear.

She stared at him. "You don't even have my trust, Severus." She said sadly before turning around and sitting back down. Severus dismissed them and Hermione tried to leave quickly.

"Miss Granger! Stop!" She paused and watched everyone file out before her. The door closed with a wave of his wand. "Hermione…Hermione, please look at me." She closed her eyes, willing herself not to cry.

"What is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Hermione asked quietly as she sat down on the chair in the other room. Severus sighed. He looked the girl over. Her hair was a mess, untamable as usual. Her clothes and skin were covered with dirt. Her forehead was cut slightly, dry blood covering it.

"The Order wants to put you under someone's wing, preferably someone in the order. The Weasleys can't because of their dilemma with money and Lupin was rather enthusiastic of taking you in"

"But his lycanthropy won't allow him," She said. Snape frowned. He thought she would take it harder than this.

"I've decided to take you in, Miss Granger."

"Why?" she asked after many minutes of silence.

"I'm…I'm not sure myself, Miss Granger."

She glared at the man with a fire in her eyes. "I don't need your pity, Professor." She spat out.

"I'm not giving you my pity. I'm giving you a home"

"I don't have a home." He watched her heart break in front of him. He closed his eyes.

"Then allow me to make one for you."

She looked up at him in shock. "Why do you care, professor? Why do you care about me? The last I remember, you thought of me as a know it all brat"

"Hermione," He said firmly. "No one can go through a night like this and still be as strong as you are right now." She watched her bottom lip tremble. Her tears were begging to pour out of her eyes, but remained locked.

"I don't want to be strong anymore, professor." She whispered.

"Something that only cowards are afraid to admit" A sob shook her body as she covered her face with her hands. Before Severus knew what he was doing, he pulled her up and hugged her tightly.

"What do you want?" She asked.

"Hermione, I- I was just angry, okay! I didn't mean it!"

"Oh sure you didn't! I promise not to come crying to you if I ever get hurt. Heaven knows that I'd only be irritating you more." Severus walked to her angrily.

"Hermione, if you haven't realized it, I'm very protective of you"

"Really?" she gasped. "I could have never guessed!"

"Herm-"

"No, Severus! No! You broke my trust with the way you treated me! Did you even hear what you said to me? I thought you cared for me! I thought you loved me like a sister!"

"I do!"

"No you don't! Not when you say something like that!" She told him, pointing an accusing finger at him. "Severus…maybe I can forgive you later, but not right now. You…it hurt." She concluded.

"You didn't have to disrespect me in the Great Hall," He mumbled.

She threw her hands up in the air and walked out. "You are completely impossible!" She shouted. Snape smirked. He may have not forgiven him today, but she would sooner or later. He froze when he saw her head poke into the classroom. "Oh, and Severus?" He nodded, signaling her to continue. "We're so going to change my room colors to red and gold"

"Absolutely not!"

"Well I'm not a Slytherin! We can't keep it silver and green!"

"It's fine!"

"Red and gold!"

"No!"

"Fine! Maroon and gold!"

"Granger!"