Chapter 3 (The Final Chapter)
(A/n: SORRIE!!! Hey, it wasn't my fault—unexpected trip to Mexico, barely got back yesterday. Thanks again for all your precious reviews! I love you all, and will be glad to return the favor! [no, this is in no way bribery…*shifty eyes*]…anyway, keep it up, and enjoy the final chappie of The Bet!)
***
"Freddie boy, we've got guests!" George Weasley cried as the door to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes opened with a small tinkling sound.
"What can we do for you fine ladies?" inquired Fred, coming out from the back storeroom and dusting his hands.
"Uncle Freddie!" shrieked Rosie, flying into his arms and effectively knocking all the wind out of him.
"We're in a bit of a rush, George," said Ginny, brushing hair out of her eyes, but still smirking. George eyed her warily. "Fred, she's smirking…this is gonna be good."
Fred nodded in agreement, tickling his niece.
"Weasleys, I need your strongest Desire Potion…"
***
"…So, you simply pour this into their wine, Mr. Thomas, and they won't want to keep their paws off us."
"Ooh…excellent," Dean cackled.
"There is a catch," Ginny added, laughter dancing in her eyes. "They'll be allergic to us…boils, sneezing, hives, you name it, they'll get it."
"I am so glad I am not them."
***
Hermione, Ginny, and Susan were upstairs, getting dressed and discussing the evening's plans with a relish.
"No matter what Ron gets me, even if I adore it, I'll look at him like this," Hermione made a gruesome face. "Ginny, you are a genius!"
"I know…there's no way Harry's getting anything tonight…"
"Just call me Stony-faced Suzie!"
There was a soft knock at the door, and they stopped talking. Rosie snorted in her sleep.
Crookshanks gave a regal "meow" and led the three women down the staircase, hearing no sound but the occasional rustle of cloth and the click of a heel.
Downstairs it was completely dark, except for the light of the candles. Harry, Neville, and Ron sprung up respectively, brushing off their tuxedos and top hats and sharing a smirk as the women oohed and aahed in spite of themselves over Ron's romantic setup.
Neville bowed, and, taking Susan's hand, kissed it as he lead her to her seat. Harry offered his arm to Ginny and pulled out her chair for her. Ron, however, plopped back down in his own chair, leaving Hermione to attend to herself.
The couples made small talk through course after course of Dean's (who was out buying Parvati's engagement ring) marvelous cooking, but there was a certain frostiness in the way the girls responded to their husbands' questions.
Finally, Harry stood up, wine cup in hand. "A toast," he proclaimed, raising his glass, "to the most beautiful wives three lucky men could ever hope to have. May we always be together."
"Here here!" cried Neville and Ron, hoisting their own glasses into the air. As the men tipped back and drank deeply, Hermione, Ginny, and Susan shared a smirk of their own.
Harry sat down, a bit red in the face, and seized Ginny's hand, watching her hungrily. Neville, however, got down on one knee next to Susan, his eyes roving over her almost indecently. With what must have taken all his will power, Neville spoke in a calm—romantic, even—tone.
"Susan, darling, I have two roses here, both for you. Take this one first."
Susan obliged, and stroked the crème petals delicately. They seemed to wither away and blacken instantly. Susan let out a small gasp as a skeleton of bones took shape of the flower, ending with a claw in which a small box was clutched. With a nod from Neville, she removed the box and opened it.
Inside, cushioned in rich navy velvet, was an amethyst, princess-cut.
"Susan Amelia Bones Longbottom, I present you with this birthstone and necklace," Neville said, removing a sterling silver chain from the stem of the second rose.
"Neville, it's beautiful…" Susan murmured, placing the stone inside the niche in the necklace, "…but it's not my birthstone."
"I know," replied Neville. "It's the baby's."
Susan threw her hands up to her face. "Oh, Neville! You…you really—?!"
Neville nodded again, standing. She let out a shriek and threw her arms around him, kissing his neck and face—and causing him to break out into boils.
"What the—?"
"Don't worry, Nevvie, come with me…"
And they rushed away from the table into the nearest bedroom, firmly locking the door.
Hermione and Ginny looked at each other in exasperation. "What happened to 'Stony-faced Suzie'?"
They ceased speaking, however, when Harry hovered awkwardly over his wife, his…er…craving for her mounting as he handed her an oblong package covered in wrapping paper. It was a golden-covered album filled with photographs, love notes, the tiger lily Ginny wore in her hair on their first date, the get-well card she gave him in second year…anything Harry could think of that meant something to her.
"Harry…oh, Harry!" she cried, her iciness melting instantly as she leafed through it.
"Oh GINNY!" and he pounced on her with gusto, knocking her backwards off her chair as he kissed her passionately, hands roving.
"OY!" shouted Ron, looking sick. "I just cleaned that floor, you prats!"
"But Harry," Ginny muttered in shallow breaths, "why aren't you sneezing?"
"Ron and I—removed…removed the spell—"
They didn't have much time to speak after that.
Hermione tutted as Ron stepped over his sister and (now, most likely ex-) best friend. Neville and Susan returned, faces flushed and boil-free.
"Good lord, man, have some self-control!" grunted Neville.
Ron cleared his throat. The Desire Potion seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever. He simply sat down next to Hermione, a silver box in his hand, and began his story. Harry and Ginny stopped their…activities on the floor to listen.
"Once upon a time, a boy and girl went to Hogsmeade, quite alone, as their best friend was forbidden to visit the village at that time. Now, the boy and girl had recently had a fight over the girl's cat, and, although furious with her, the boy couldn't stop loving her.
"As the two window-shopped, the girl dragged the boy over to a display at a certain shop, exclaiming at length over a piece of jewelry in the window—an emerald barrette. The boy felt horrible…he was very poor at the time and couldn't afford it. He really loved the girl, even at thirteen, and wanted to make her happy. Nevertheless, he took her to look at other attractions."
Hermione was listening to Ron with a rapt expression, although it was a bit tart.
"During the day, I have made several calls to try and relocate that jewelry piece, and, luckily, I have been successful."
Hermione gave her husband a small smile. "You really remember that, Ron?"
"Oh, yes."
"Oh, no." Hermione retorted, her voice rising passionately. "You've forgotten, your Royal Highness. That was Lavender Brown who wanted the barrette, she told you when she was flirting with you on the same trip!"
Susan put her hand over her mouth. Ginny groaned at her brother's thick-headedness. Ron simply gazed at his wife.
"I wanted a silver rhinestone bracelet with the ancient runes engraved around the sides," she raged, not looking as she opened the box and pulled out the object inside it, "Not this tacky—" Hermione's rampage stopped midway as she did a humongous double-take at what was in her hand: a silver rhinestone bracelet with ancient runes engraved around the sides.
"Ron!" she cried, tears of joy streaming down her face and throwing herself on him.
Ronald Weasley simply smirked at Neville and Harry, who tipped their hats to him and began humming a familiar tune.
"…Weasley is our king…"
~Fin~
(a/n: How u like?! Hope I didn't let u down too much. Once again, mucho sorrie for the delay! Please don't forget to review!!!)
LYL,
*HiPa*