A/N: I would like to say a big than you to: Topaz Waters, Lily Barnes, Katilina, Chess, hP fAn Fo LyFe, Know-It-All 268, Saffire Shadow, Isabella Jynx, Taryn Weasley, Lissa, Mione Weasley & everyone who has read and reviewed this fic. I really appreciate it and hope you continue to read.

Saffire Shadow: Just going back to your review of Chapter 1, I have to ask, what is kawaii?

Topaz Waters: It was under angst by accident, I changed it.

'Mione Weasley: No! No! Not the olives! Anything but the olives!!! Alright I give, I give here's the next chapter:

THE TEACHERS WAGER

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Hermione woke the next morning with a horrible pain in her back. It took her a few minutes to realise where she was. She glanced around the common room wondering how she'd ended up there when she saw Ron slumped in one of the armchairs. Wordlessly Hermione rolled off the couch and crept to the arm of his chair. She leaned on her elbows and blew softly in his ear. Ron snorted and swiped aimlessly at the side of his head. Hermione grinned and blew again a little harder. Ron drew in a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes.

"Good morning," Hermione greeted him.

"Hmm, morning," Ron replied, rubbing his eyes.

"Why aren't you upstairs?" She asked. Ron smiled and ran his finger affectionately down her cheek.

"I was watching you sleep." He replied. Hermione leaned in and kissed him softly.

"Would you two, please, do everyone a favour and get a room?" Ginny called bounding down from her dormitory.

"Sod off, Ginny." Ron ordered. He pulled Hermione into another kiss.

"Come up for air once in a while." Harry suggested, coming down the opposite stairs.

"I think it's time to get up." Hermione whispered.

"Do we have to?" Ron groaned. They both turned as more students began descending into the common room.

"Fraid so." Hermione replied, regretfully. Ron pulled himself to his feet and within a half an hour they were heading down to the Entrance Hall, hand-in-hand. Hundreds of students, all basking in the holiday spirit were filing out into the grounds. Professor McGonagall was the only one not joining in the Christmas cheer as she ushered students into the waiting horse drawn carriages that would take them down to the train. Harry, Ron & Hermione were careful not to draw too much attention to themselves as they hurried towards the nearest carriage.

"Mr Weasley, Miss Granger! A word with you please!" Ron and Hermione both froze at the sound of their Headmasters voice. They exchanged a quick glance before turning around to face Albus Dumbledore. "Professor McGonagall informed me of your disappearing act. I assume you have prepared a valid excuse?"

"We... ah... we... um..." Hermione stuttered.

"Ah, I see." Dumbledore replied. He wasn't smiling but Ron noticed a familiar glint in his eye. "Madam Pomfrey, has also informed me, of some unexpected guests in the hospital wing yesterday evening." Dumbledore paused, giving them each a knowing stare over the top of his half moon glasses. "I trust you are both well rested and will be more than capable of attending the weeks worth of detention you have earned yourselves." Hermione and Ron both nodded in reply. "I would also like to add, that, it is about time." Hermione and Ron exchanged confused looks. "I believe the staff have a pool on how long it would take the two of you to realise your feelings." Ron's jaw dropped and Hermione gave a small gasp. Dumbledore chuckled. "Alas, I thought with your intelligence Miss Granger, it would have been far sooner. I will inform Professor Snape that he is the lucky victor."

"SNAPE?" Ron burst.

"Professor Snape." Dumbledore corrected. "He will be most pleased. You will report to Professor McGonagall when classes reconvene concerning your detentions, until then enjoy your holiday." The Headmaster nodded to them both and then headed back into the building. The pair stood in shock for a few moments before Professor McGonagall hurried over and pushed them into the carriage. They both sat down opposite Harry.

"What did he say?" Harry asked, curiously looking from one to the other. Ron and Hermione exchanged a look then Ron turned back to Harry.

"Nothing. Nothing at all."

***

The ride to Kings Cross, despite all the antics on the train, was surprisingly uneventful for the trio. Hermione had cast a charm on the door so that nobody could get into their compartment. They spent the trip playing exploding snap and laughing when they finally told Harry what Dumbledore had said. The initial shock had worn off and they were beginning to see the humorous side of it.

"I still can't believe that Snape won." Harry commented, as they stepped down onto platform 9 3/4.

"Neither can I." Ron replied.

"I can't believe that our own teachers were gambling on whether we'd get together." Hermione laughed.

"You know what else I can't believe?" Harry asked. Ron and Hermione both looked at him. "I can't believe Ron is dressed like that!" Ron had borrowed a tidy blue dress shirt from Neville and a pair of clean grey pants from Seamus. "Add a jacket and tie and you'd be respectable enough for even my Aunt and Uncle!" Ron frowned while Harry and Hermione both laughed.

"Well, I can't believe the mudblood and the weasel are actually dating!" Draco Malfoy announced from behind them. The three spun around to face him. Their smiles replaced with looks of anger. "A match made in a garbage bin." Malfoy laughed. Harry made a lunge at him, but was held back by a hand on his shoulder. He looked over to see who it was.

"Hello Draco." Tonks greeted, not looking pleased. In fact she didn't look well at all. She had the tired, ragged look they normally saw on Professor Lupin.

"Hello Cousin." Malfoy replied. "Good to see you. We heard you had a terrible fall and spent the summer in St Mungo's." Malfoy grinned viciously.

"Go away, Draco." Tonks ordered. Malfoy bowed his head slightly and turned to leave, but then he stopped.

"Shall I send Aunt Bella your love?" He asked turning back to them.

"Send her my condolences." Tonks replied, without missing a beat. "When this is over I will put her in the ground."

"Now, now, Nymphadora." A tall blond, Ron recognised as Malfoy's mother, cut in. "That's no way to speak about your Aunt." Tonks scowled. Mrs Malfoy looked at her in disgust. "You are just like your mother. A blood traitor." Mrs Malfoy placed a hand on her son's shoulder. "Come Draco."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Tonks muttered, under her breath so her Aunt wouldn't hear, then she turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Ready to go?"

"Are you taking us?" Hermione asked. "What happened to my parents?"

"Dental emergency." Tonks explained, leading the way through the barrier. "Something about braces, and a boy, I forget. Anyway, Dumbledore asked me if I could escort you to the Grangers and I was more than happy to oblige."

"How are we getting there?" Ron asked.

"Floo powder?" Harry suggested.

"Portkey?" Ron said. Tonks led them out into the street.

"We're going to fly?" Harry said hopefully.

"You're going to give a quick lesson in apparation?" Ron asked, excitedly.

"Tada!" Tonks announced, stopping to indicate a perfectly ordinary looking sedan parked on the side of the road. Hermione laughed as both boys' faces fell. "In you get." Tonks ushered opening the door for them. The boys hopped in the back and Hermione took the front passenger seat. "Everybody ready?"

"How is it you know how to drive?" Hermione asked curiously as she belted herself in. "I thought most wizards don't bother with that sort of muggle thing."

"I don't." Tonks replied. Hermione froze.

"You don't know how to drive?"

"Not exactly."

"Did you even read a drivers manual or anything?"

"Dumbledore did lend me one, but my desk was bit wobbly and I needed something to balance it so..."

"Nevermind." Hermione replied. She crammed her eyes shut as Tonks turned the key. The engine started, then the car gave a sudden jolt and died.

"Oops." Tonks went a little pink. "Not to worry, just a few minor teething problems." She tried again. This time she managed to start it without stalling. "Right. Off we go." The car lurched forward several times until Tonks got the hang of the clutch, then they sped off, getting nasty looks from several other drivers and pedestrians.

"So how is life at Hogwarts?" Tonks asked as they made their way out of the city.

"Hermione and I have a week of detention when we get back." Ron replied miserably.

"A week? What did you do?"

"We, kind of, skipped out on our detention with Professor McGonagall." Hermione replied.

"And why did you have a detention with McGonagall?" Neither answered.

"They were caught kissing between the bookshelves in the library." Harry supplied. Tonks spun around in her seat.

"You mean," She pointed to Hermione, "and," she pointed to Ron.

"Watch the road!" Hermione bellowed. Tonks spun back round.

"When did this happen?" She demanded, straightening up in the lane. Ron was curious at her eagerness, then Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Dumbledore already told us, Snape won the bet." She said shaking her head.

"Darn it! I was just a month or two off!"

"YOU bet as well?" Ron asked.

"I thought for sure you would have hooked up by Halloween! I figured they always have a Hogsmeade visit that day and the feast in the evening it would have been perfect."

"Well you were wrong." Hermione pointed out. "It was barely two days ago, I was covered in potion and Ron fainted. Not exactly my idea of perfect."

Tonks burst out laughing. "You fainted?" Ron went bright red. Hermione glared at her. Tonks shifted uncomfortably and straightened her expression. "Well, I can see how that might happen." She lied. Ron didn't care he already knew he was a stupid git.

"My house is that one, up there on the left." Hermione pointed to a two-storey brick cottage. Though they weren't very far out of the city Hermione's house was surrounded by plush green fields and quaint country homes.

"Wow." Ron breathed.

"Nice place." Tonks commented. She pulled the car into Hermione's driveway and they all spilled out. A small brown owl hooted loudly from one of the trees above and flew down landing on Tonks' outstretched arm.

"Hello little one." Tonks greeted the owl. "Have you got something for me?" The owl held out it's leg and Tonks untied the note. Almost immediately the owl took off. Tonks quickly read the note then shoved it into her jeans pocket. "Duty calls. I'll see you all again soon. Happy Christmas." She barely waited for a reply before jumping back into the car.

"Merry Christmas." Harry called after her. The three stood waving as Tonks disappeared down the street.

"Ready to go inside?" Hermione asked, grabbing the handle of her trunk. Ron cleared his throat and began straightening his shirt and trousers. Hermione chuckled and led the way up to the front door.

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Thanks again for reading!