IT'S NOT JUST A BET ANYMORE

CHAPTER 11

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the J.K. Rowling characters, just Adrian as of now.

Summary: Harry Potter makes a bet with the Weasley brother. They bet him that he couldn't date Ginny for a whole month. Harry decided to take them up on the bet. But what if Harry winds up falling for Ginny. What happens when Ginny finds out?

--*--

Hermione walked past the lake and back into the Weasley house. She was zombie like in her quest to the room she was staying in. As she climbed the stairs she saw Harry sitting at the top of the stairs. She knew that he knew about the dare the entire time that he just let it happen without a care in the world about what she was feeling. All the hope that she felt when Ron finally kissed, and now to find out that it was all based on a stupid game.

"Mione? Are you okay?" Harry asked with genuine concern.

Without a word she passed him and opened the door to Ginny's bedroom. What she saw was the last thing she expected. Ginny was curled up into a ball on her bed crying and sobbing. A pillow was thrown across the room along with a photo frame and her diary. Hermione quickly rushed to her friends' side seeing how much pain she was in.

Ginny was brought back to reality when two arms wrapped around her. She could tell it was Hermione by the way she held her and the hair she felt on her face as she buried her head onto Hermione's shoulder.

Then she snapped back to reality, "Hermione did you talk to Ron?"

"Ginny you wouldn't believe what he did…" She stopped when she saw the look on her friends face. Had Ginny known all along "Gin?"

"I just found out a little bit ago, I promise. I overheard Harry and Ron talked about playing truth or dare with the twins. Harry was dared to date me. And Ron… well you know. When I found out I told him he had to tell you or I would. I figured it might be a little better to hear it from him." Hermione finally started to cry out all the emotions she had been feeling. "Mione I'm so sorry!" Ginny hugged her friend tightly.

They both cried in each other arms, fiercely letting out all of their emotion. Sleep and exhaustion finally overcame their bodies and they fell asleep wrapped in the comfort of each other's arms.

--*--

Adrian noticed a considerable amount of time had passed since either of the girls had come back to the lake. It wasn't like Ginny to leave him while he was visiting for longs periods of time, considering that they didn't get to see each other much during school. When he entered the house through the back door he saw Harry and Ron sitting at the kitchen table with long faces.

"What's going on guys?" Adrian asked the pair.

"Nothing." Harry said curtly and quickly.

Ron on the other hand looked at Adrian with pleading eyes, "I think Ginny needs you, she's in her room with Hermione."

Adrian nodded and rushed toward the stairs taking them two at a time. When he reached Ginny's door he gave it a light tap, no answer. So he opened the door slowly to find both of the curls on the bed clinging to one another. Their eyes closed in what would seem to be a peaceful sleep except the residue of dried tears on their faces gave them away.

He didn't know whether he should leave or stay here until they woke up. He decided to stay, and pulled Ginny's desk chair next to her bed and sat. His mind was racing with thoughts about what could have happened here. But he didn't want to jump the gun.

After a couple of minutes Adrian decided to pick a book to read from Ginny's bookshelf in case this took longer than he expected. So he read and waited.

--*--

Harry looked at Ron, "So what do we do now?"

"I don't know about you, but I plan on getting Hermione back. And I won't stop until she sees how much I care and how sorry I am about this whole thing." Ron walked over to the sink dropping his cup into it.

"I want to do the same thing but you know your sister, she won't forgive me." Harry rubbed his temple in frustration, and to think Adrian was up there right now with her, holding her and consoling her.

"If you really care Harry then you would at least try." Ron walked out of the kitchen and went to sit in the living room, on one of the softer seats.

Harry followed his friend and sat across from him, Ron was right, but now he had to think of a way to get Ginny back and for her to believe him when he said he loves her.

--*--

After Ginny and Hermione vented to Adrian and even cried a bit more, he climbed in between them on the bed and held out his arms for them to lean on him. Both of them gladly laid their heads on his chest. Happy to have a guy to vent to, even though they knew they weren't being irrational it was nice to hear it.

"I'll tell you girls this, they were wrong. And there is no doubt about it." Adrian pulled them closer. "Neither of you deserved to be lied to and courted under false pretenses." Ginny giggled underneath him a little, "What?"

"Who says courted anymore?" She asked with a little gleam in her eyes, at least she hadn't lost all of herself.

"Freebie for you since you were just crying." He announced like a sportscaster would a game. "Now can I say something you girls might now want to hear?"

Ginny and Hermione looked at one another warily before they agreed by nodding their heads.

"You should be thankful for the twins having made them these dares."

"Adrian!" They both moaned beginning to protest and think of retorts.

"Listen to me." Adrian rubbed both of their back soothingly. "Now I know you girls don't see it but the way those boys look at you, it's so easy to see how genuine their feelings are. And yes they weren't smart about how they went about it but their feelings are true regardless of what their motives were." When neither of the girls protested he continued. "Now the twins gave them an excuse to be able to act on their feelings which they were too scared to do without this incentive."

Ginny and Hermione watched each other as Adrian said his words, looking into each other's eyes for an idea as to how to take all of this.

Adrian continued, "So I'm not saying don't be mad, because they were definitely wrong, but what I'm really saying is don't close that door completely Let them make it up to you, make them work for it, but don't completely shoot them down."

Ginny reached up and kissed his cheek gently, then looked at Hermione "Do we see why he's the bestest friend I could have ever asked for?"

Hermione smiled at him and tentatively gave him a kiss on the cheek as well, "Thank you so much Adrian."

"No sweat ladies." Adrian hugged them both to him gently, "Now how about we play a board game or something considering I do have to leave you guys tonight."

"Nooo" They both moaned at the same time. They had almost forgotten that tonight was Adrian's last night here.

Ginny groaned and got up from the bed, "Okay let's find something to do."

--*--

The girls and Adrian had locked themselves in Ginny's room. Occasionally you could hear shouts of laughter but nothing else could be heard over the music that was playing.

Mrs. Weasley called everyone into the kitchen for an early dinner. Harry and Ron were the first ones seated at the table. Hermione walked in ahead of Adrian who was carrying Ginny in on his back, "You cheated!"

"Sore loser!" Adrian said setting Ginny on the ground and pinching Hermione's side. She yelped and shoved him lightly.

Adrian sat down and Ginny and Hermione situated themselves around him. Harry and even Ron had to make sure to check their sight jealousy at the interaction between the girls and Adrian. Then the twins filed in with their dad, all sitting down in the available seats.

"Leaving after dinner Adrian?" Arthur asked while pouring himself something to drink.

"Yes, Arthur." Adrian answered.

Molly sat down next to her husband, "Are you sure you can't spend another night?"

"I wish I could but I have my cousins wedding tomorrow." Adrian smiled, "Don't worry though, you know you will never get rid of me."

Molly gently squeezed his shoulder and served him some food.

--*--

Dinner seemed to go by too quickly for Ginny's taste. "Let me make cookies or something." She said holding Adrian by the waist; she didn't want him to go.

"You know how I love your cookies doll, but I really need to go meet my dad." Adrian pulled her into a hug. He had already said good-bye to Arthur, Molly, and the twins. "I'll miss you."

Ginny let go so he could say good-bye to Hermione and the boys. He turned to Harry and Ron, "Ron, I'll see you around. Harry it was nice meeting you." He shook their hands and then turned to Hermione.

"You'll be in touch?" Hermione asked him.

"Of course!" Her reached down and pulled her into a bear hug. She held on tight, even though it had only been a day he had been so sweet and gentle and she hoped this couldn't be the last she heard of him. Adrian kissed her cheek and then whispered in her ear "To err is human, to forgive is divine"

Hermione smiled and gently squeezed his hand.

Adrian looked at Ginny and pulled her into another hug. "I love you princess, and I will write as soon as I get in."

Ginny buried her head in his chest, "Thank you."

"He cares about you. Don't convince yourself otherwise." And he turned and picked up his bags. He waved as he left the house.

Hermione smiled gently, "I like him."

"He's the best." Ginny said. Then they both turned around and saw Harry and Ron, both of whom looked like they wanted to say something but didn't know how. So they waited, but when nothing happened they turned and walked up the stairs.

When they reached Ginny's bedroom they locked the door behind them and sat on the bed. "So, I guess we'll see how much they care now. See if they'll work for us." Hermione said laying her head on the pillow.

Ginny smiled and lay next to her friend. And they talked to whole night away, trying to erase the pain from their hearts.

--*--

A/N: So I know it's been a while but here is another chapter. I hope you guys enjoy it. Review please, constructive criticism is appreciated.