Title:
The Bet
Pairing: Ron/Hermione, Fred/Hermione
Rating: PG-13
Word
Count: 520
A/N(optional): George not Fred died in DH.
I couldn't believe I lost her. It wasn't permanent, but it wasn't good.
It was supposed to be just a joke. A little bet to make the afternoon a bit more exciting. Had I won, Fred would have been forced to give me free reign at the Wheezes. Anything I wanted to test, any joke I wanted to create, Fred wouldn't have been able to veto it. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Fred wasn't supposed to win – not at wizard chess.
"How could you?" Hermione had exclaimed when she found out I had bet Fred a date with her and then lost the game. "I'm not your possession to be raffled off whenever it strikes your fancy!"
"Not a raffle! It was a bet I couldn't lose! Fred never beats me at chess."
Hermione's eyes had narrowed. "Obviously he does. I refuse to go along with this insanity."
"But... but you MUST go! Otherwise, I'll look like a welsher. No one will trust my word again. Everyone will think that I'm a dishonorable man."
"That surely isn't your biggest concern?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"What else would I be worried about?" I'd replied, so anxious about not fulfilling my manly obligation that I'd completely ignored all the other potential hazards.
"You should be worried that Hermione might hex your bits off. You should be worried that Mum will find out and send you a Howler. You should be worried that after spending one evening with me, Hermione won't want to come back to you," Fred answered, stepping out of the backroom.
"Stuff it," I said, before turning back to Hermione. "Please, go out with him just this one time. I'll promise never to bet you again."
Before Hermione could answer, Fred spoke up. "Granger, you can back out if you want. I've been practicing for weeks for that win, but I don't want to force you to do something you'd find uncomfortable."
Hermione just stared at him and I waited for her to take him up on the offer. Instead, she shocked the shite out of me. "Do you really want to take me to dinner?"
Fred nodded, a lop-sided grin crossing his face.
That was the point I really started to worry.
"Okay," she stated softly, smiling back at him. "Let me just pop by my flat and change."
"Great! I'll pick you up in 20 minutes. Wear something red and low-cut!"
"Oi," I exclaimed, drawing Hermione's attention back to me. "I've changed my mind. I refuse to allow you to go!"
"Refuse?" she asked, icily.
"Ur… yes."
Hermione's jaw clenched, she turned away from me, and nodded at Fred. "I'll see you in 20 minutes." With a pop, she Apparated away.
"You bloody prat!" I shouted at Fred.
He just smiled wider, winked at me, and headed up the stairs to our flat. "No time to chat now, Ronnie! I'll fill you in on all the intimate details when I get home."
I was seething. I was frustrated. I was jealous. But most of all, I couldn't believe – I refused to believe – that I'd lost her.
