The door to the Three Broomsticks barely squeaked as Arnold dragged himself through it, so thoroughly had it been oiled.
"Hello Rosmerta." Arnold sighed and dug out a sickle, sliding it across the bar. "Just a butterbeer, I need to keep my wits about me tonight."
"For the big game?" Rosmerta queried, worried for the muggle. He was a squib really, but his magic level had been so low he had never even been allowed a wand. Still, the doors of the Three Broomsticks were always open to him, even if Rosmerta wanted to drive him away so he would not drive himself even deeper in debt. It would never work though, he would just find another place to gamble. She sighed and slid over the frothing glass.
"Yep," Arnold gulped the proffered drink. "Tonight's the night, can feel it. I may not have much magic but I know when I'm feeling lucky."
"That's what you said before that night in Atlantic City." Rosmerta warned.
"Filthy cheaters." Arnold hissed. "Reason I come here, no wizard can cheat."
"True enough." It wasn't just because of wizard law either. She ran a tight establishment, and she was proud of it.
"Anyway, thanks Rosmerta." Arnold put his hood up and walked over to a back table.
"Ah, if it's not our muggle friend." A man at the table sneered. "Come to lose again, have you Granger?"
"Hello to you too, McNair." Arnold sat down heavily and looked over the game. It looked like they were playing with knucklebones, or something equally odd. "No cards today?"
"No." A man with platinum blonde hair smiled coldly. "Today we gamble with bone dice. They are much, more, - elegant."
Arnold assumed the man was Lucias Malfoy. Although he had never met the man personally, his reputation and description preceded him. A small shiver went up his spine, what he knew about the man was not pleasant. The man could be a death eater, for all the tales he heard. Arnold almost took a step back from the table, but the dice caught his eye, gleaming in the strange light of the tavern.
Runes carved into the faces as if they were engraved and polished granite. Arnold swallowed. "Where do they get the bone?"
"Human muggles, of course." Avery informed the dentist pointedly. "This is a wizards game. Played with three seven sided dice. Here," He scrawled out a quick value chart on a napkin. "These is the order of the runes. They correspond to values, every odd number from 1 to 13. Score is the addition of the three, plus 5 points per match and a bonus of 15 for three of a kind."
"Seems simple enough." Arnold nodded.
"There is a beauty in simplicity." Lucias said derisively. "Now gentlemen, and - others, place your bets."
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Arnold Granger stared at the dice. Perhaps they were cursed? At the beginning of the evening, he had thought his luck was turning after winning the first few rolls. Avery had gone mad and nearly stalked off, annoyed that a muggle was beating him. A few turns after that, Lucius begun to win.
Things had only gone downhill from there. 3, 3, 9. Well, at least he got a bonus for the pair of threes...not enough to beat Lucius though. Even Avery scored higher that round. Arnold wished they had been playing cards: at least cards were not –entirely- based off chance.
He found a tall mug shoved in front of his face and looked up to see Avery's leer.
"Thought you might need something a bit stronger than butterbeer, seeings how your luck is going."
"Thanks." Arnold said blandly, then took a large swig. He mentally calculated just where he was sitting. Mara was going to kill him. The way he figured though, they were already on the verge of bankruptcy. What else could he really lose? He picked up the bones, shuddering at the clammy feel, then rolled them onto the table. Three sevens! Perhaps his luck was changing after all. He collected his winnings, and his grin lasted up until the next turn when Avery cashed in and won the roll.
"Perhaps we should raise the stakes." Lucius breathed, managing to lounge and yet keep his impeccable posture. No beer for him, he drank only a fine red wine, and sparingly at that. "Petty dollars on each roll gets us nowhere." He unclasped a silver bracelet from his arm. "Let's say, two thousand a roll."
Arnold swallowed as Lucius placed the bracelet on the table. "In cash, or collateral. A few wins, and you could be a made man Granger."
Avery swallowed too. "I believe I have urgent business, I have dallied here far too long. Do excuse me, gentlemen."
"Better odds for you." Lucius pointed out. "Only the brave are left."
"I'm in." Granger said resolutely, bidding good riddance to Avery as he left. He rolled the dice, a seven and two elevens. His luck had turned! Lucius rolled poorly, and Granger clasped his hand about the bracelet with a triumphant smile. The game was on.
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At first, Granger had made a stunning recovery. He had the rational thought that he should stop, as his winnings would nearly cover all his debt. But, he was rolling so well! Maybe there was something to these bone dice after all. Despite their dark connotations, Arnold had not done so well at a game in some time.
"I should quit while I am ahead." Granger laughed, yet rolled again anyways. 6,5,5, a decent roll. Lucius casually rolled a 7 and two threes.
"Just a few more rounds." The blonde man smiled slightly. "You have to give me a chance, after all."
"No, my wife will kill me." Arnold forced a laugh. "Besides, I have enough to pay her next medical bill, that's all I need." He reluctantly stood, his fingers itching to roll just once more.
"Perhaps for different stakes, then?" Lucius queried. "Next roll – if you win, I cover ALL your wife's medical bills for the next year." He said the words slowly, drawing the man back in.
"And if I lose?" Arnold swallowed.
"My son – he has been having trouble keeping his head in his school work." Lucius scowled, as if this was hard to say. "Your daughter, I must admit, has some skill in that area. Draco has become increasingly rebellious..." He trailed off for a moment. "Tutoring lessons, twice a week for two hours, over the summer. While I know that girl – Hermione, I mean, dislikes my son, I am sure it would be good for both of them."
"Why not just a trade?" Arnold asked, surprised, mulling it over. Hermione might not like it, but she would definitely do it for her mother.
"Because gambling is so much more fun." Lucius leaned back. "Why would we trade money for money, there is no risk! No rush of victory. And this is such a little thing – no harm to my pocketbook, and barely an inconvenience on your daughter. She takes great enjoyment in showing off her great intellectual prowess, I have heard."
"All right." Arnold finally agreed. "It is for Amara's good after all, I could use the help and you know it."
"Agreed." Lucius nodded and tossed the dice back to Arnold.
With a slight sense of trepidation, Mr. Granger rolled.
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It was some time before Granger stopped to think about what was happening. He was losing. And not just losing, he was losing so thoroughly that it could not be anything in his mind other than a setup, despite that it was impossible to cheat in the Three Broomsticks. His 'luck' had promptly vanished. The dice had betrayed him.
He let out a frustrated sigh. It wasn't just for himself, Hermione was also paying a heavy price. The stakes raised on each roll, as Arnold furiously just hoped for one good roll, double or nothing.
"Three hours, every day. Six on Saturday." Lucius announced the next raise. "If you win, I pay off all of your debt, and all of your wife's medical bills for six years, and I cancel the service of your daughter that I have already won."
"What choice do I have?" Arnold moaned and picked up the dice. He had to win, he just had too! Lucius seemed to want to keep going, offering Arnold a clean slate if he merely won once. No one could have such bad luck! Gritting his teeth, Granger rolled.
3,4,6. Horrid!
Lucius rolled 3 threes, winning the match.
"That's that then." Lucius sat back.
"WHAT?" Arnold cried. "It cannot be! My daughter will hate me – its not like I can tell her what to do anyway, and my wife, what about my wife?" The squib was close to tears now.
Lucius gave him a 'sympathetic' glance. "I have given you so many chances already," He drawled lazily. "We could be at this all night. I have gone beyond the bounds of generosity. There is nothing you have that could cover what I have already won, as your daughter's mind is about the only valuable commodity you possess." He sneered, and Arnold's stomach tightened.
"Take my house, take me even." Arnold really was crying. "I could not make Hermione do anything anyway, she is 21!"
"Oh stop whining." Lucius tapped his cane on the floor. "And of course you can. Any contract you make gambling with these bone dice will hold for her as well, it's blood magic. I would waste my time explaining to an idiot like you."
"Dark magic.." Arnmold said slowly. "What have you done? What have you done to me?"
"No." Lucius replied. "The question is, what have you done? Gambling with the lives of your wife and daughter."
"Please, just one more roll!" Arnold begged. "Anything! I have no money, I am losing my wife – I need your help. I'm begging you."
Lucius did not speak for several moments. "I suppose – on my reputation as a philanthropist. There is one way."
"What?" Arnold dared a look of hope.
"You obviously are not taking care of your family well. I can make you an offer that will benefit us both, win or lose."
"What?" Granger asked again.
"If you win, I will pay off all your debt, and cover all of the care of your wife for the rest of her life. You will never gamble in a game again." Lucius looked at him coldly.
Arnold swallowed. "That, seems fair. And if I lose?"
"I will help you in another way. I will take your daughter off your hands. She will become my ward and my responsibility. I will pay for all her schooling needs and she will stay with me. I will pay off your debt on the promise that you will never gamble in a game again, and while I will not help with your wife's care, you will be free of your gambling addiction and debt and can help her on your own. You also will not have to worry about your daughter's expensive and insatiable need for schooling."
"Why..." Arnold felt himself begin to grow suspicious. Why did he have such an interest in his daughter, anyway? It seemed to go much beyond wanting a tutor for Draco.
"It is the best offer I can give. It is more than fair." Lucius stated with finality.
"It IS more than fair." Arnold conceded.
"Are you going to roll?" A voice interrupted drolly. "I so love a good game."
"Nice of you to join us, Severus." Lucius smiled thinly. "Your sarcasm is as refreshing as ever. Will you take my offer, Arnold?"
"My daughter for my wife?" Arnold hunched his shoulders.
"But your daughter is not in danger of dying." Lucius sat back. "And think, I can give her the schooling of her dreams! Or, if you win, all your troubles are over. You can all live...happily ever after."
Arnold stared blankly in front of him. "Give me the dice."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Penny is bright
But Penny is small
Bury with Pete
And she'll get tall
Found in "Riddle Ryhmes of the Elder Houses". This handwritten manuscript is held in a vault at Gringott's when not temporarily loaned out on request to a wizarding scholar or group of proper credentials.