Senior Bet

Chapter On: The Bet

I see them both. The one I'm in love with. The one who loves me. Sitting over at the Gryffindor Table, talking animatedly. Friends, for now.

Alright, there I go, imagining stories in my head; I have to remind myself firmly that this is my real life, not a novel that I'm reading. Sadly…

Unless…

But no. My mother advised me against this. I'll just get my hopes up and disappoint myself with my own expectations.

"So did you do the Herbology homework?" Alice asks, wolfing down another chicken thigh for dinner. "Oh, God, I am so fat. Oh my God, is that mash potato truffle purée? Lils, can you pass me that?"

I hate being called Lils. Alice is the only one I tolerate this nickname for.

"Oh, God," Alice says, sighing. She lowers her voice conspiratorially, even though we are sitting at the edge of the Gryffindor table, just the two of us, far away from the rest of the students, just as we like. Or just as they like. Same difference. "You're staring at them again, aren't you?"

My icy demeanor melts and my dark thoughts cannot remain faced with her exuberance and light. It's like she's unaware of the power she has. When she stares at you, it's both a warm and blinding feeling, as though the sun was shining right at you, and only you.

"Why do you want to do this anyway?" Alice says. "Those two did nothing to you. I know who you're really mad at." As she speaks, she throws a handful of chips into her mouth, without even looking. I've got to commend her hand-to-mouth coordination.

"They did plenty of things to me," I insist, hoping my voice is dark and mysterious. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm as open as the book sitting on the table in front of me, which I'd be reading right now if Alice hadn't decided one day to attach herself to me and then never leave. Not that I'm complaining. Not that I'd admit that out loud.

"They hexed me, not you. You just stood up for me and then they teased you sometimes. I think they like you. You're really pretty. When you comb your hair," she added, as an afterthought, after looking at the bird's nest atop my head. "I bet Dumbledore's phoenix could live up there…" she added, musing.

God, I'm cursed, I think. She's my only friend. What the hell have I been doing with my life? I'm seventeen, about to graduate Hogwarts, and even Alice's gotten more action than me.

As if on cue, her long-term boyfriend Frank appears, "Oh my God, is that mash potato truffle purée?" he asks, before even saying hi, grabs a plate and serves himself quite generously. Alice giggles, snuggling up to him, and I smile.

"You guys make me believe in love again," I say, clutching at my heart. "Especially when all the other girls and guys go through each other like underwear."

"You can't blame them," Frank says, being an unbearable goody-two-shoes, the same way Alice always is. "They just haven't found the right one yet. It's hard, you know? You shouldn't make fun of them, even if they do call each other the love of their life. I mean, that's probably true for the years they have lived, you know? It might not be hyperbole."

"God, you can never talk shit with Hufflepuffs," I sigh, unable to help a grin.

"Why aren't you in Slytherin anyway?" Frank asks. "No wonder the rest of the Gryffindors avoid you like the plague. You could kill them with one look. With those black, black eyes… those demon eyes…" he says.

"Shut up or I'll give you a black eye," I quip, and we both laugh.

"Anyway, what's happening?" Frank asks.

Alice heaves a great sigh before elucidating, "Lily is still going on about her grand plans of seduction."

"Oh, no, you haven't taken it to heart, have you? Those Slytherins are always making fun of everybody. So, what if you're a loner with one friend with your nose always in a book, having taken up permanent residence in the library? That's what you like, and the Gryffindors are insufferable. Except this one over here," he says, turning to Alice and nuzzling her nose, "And you, of course," he adds hastily, as an afterthought.

"Oh, she did," Alice says, concerned, looking deep into Frank's eyes.

Oh, for fuck's sake… They turn to me, assessing me and the situation. Alice clutches at her heart and Frank holds her hand, as though I'm their daughter and they just learned that I've been doing hard drugs for most of my school career.

"It's like being stared down at my parents," I say, turning away. Their insistent stares keep burning into my skin. "Guys, just stop!" I snap, and Frank and Alice laugh. Even I giggle.

Others nearby turn towards us, stunned, no doubt, to hear me laughing.

"Now you're ruining my street cred," I say, "These people used to be afraid of me."

"Wow, you're so talkative. I remember the first time we met, you didn't even speak," Alice says.

"I couldn't get a word in, with you talking all that much."

"Well, someone had to fill the silence."

"You rubbed off on each other," Frank says, "Alice shuts up sometimes and you open your mouth sometimes. Perfect. I support this friendship. Now, babe, are you going to eat the rest of your mashed potato purée? There's none left and yours is going cold."

"What is with you two and mashed potato purée?"

"It's what Frank made me on our first date," Alice says.

"Well, more like nicked it, what with our common room being near the kitchens and all," Frank elucidates, looking wistfully at Alice's plate. Then, as though snapping out of it, he turns to me, blinking furiously, "Anyway, what's this plan? Not going after the two most popular guys in school to prove them that you are, indeed, desirable?"

"You don't get it. Elizabeth McNair told me I look like the mountain trolls her dad kills for sport. She bet Blair Crowley to ask me on a date, just so they'd laugh at all the bizarre, desperate things I'd say."

"That was last year, I'm sure everyone's forgotten –" Alice begins.

I go on, regardless, "Everyone here thinks I'm a freak. This is not the impression I want to leave people with. Like, there's nothing after Hogwarts. We graduate and that's it."

"But… you don't like people. You like tea, reading, and your cats. You told me you wanted to die as a crazy old cat lady."

"I still do!" I cry. "I just… I don't know. I feel like I'm missing out, maybe, and if I don't do it now, when will I have the chance?"

Alice shrugs. "I could introduce you to my friends."

I bit my tongue. "Alice, I love you, but they only tolerate me because I'm your friend. They don't like me."

"Well, what makes you think the cool kids would like you?" Frank asks. "Like, James Potter and Sirius Black out of all people. Come on now."

I wreck my brain and struggle to come up with a response. I hazard a guess. "Delusion?"

Frank and Alice laugh.

"Probably," Frank affirms. "Anyway, if you want to do it, I support you."

"What? You do?"

"Yeah, we both do," Alice says, beaming like a proud parent, reaching across the desk to squeeze my hand. I resist the urge to pull away. I might have to get comfortable with physical touch if I'm planning on seducing two of the most notorious boys at Hogwarts.

"Why?"

"I think those two douchebags deserve whatever's coming to them," Frank explains, stuffing his face with tiramisu. "They hexed me every day for a month for no reason in third grade. Fuck 'em."

"I'm just proud of you for coming out of your shell," Alice beams. "I'll support you whatever you do. Besides, fat chance you're going to seduce both of them. That's a lofty ambition."

"And ambition is the enemy of success," Frank jokes.

"Story of your life, huh?" I quip right back.

Frank just laughs. Like Alice, he seems immune to my remarks, the very same remarks that keep others at arm's length, just the way I like. Now that they've essentially torn down my defenses, they can see me for the fragile human being that I actually am, that I hate being, but surprisingly enough, they still haven't left me yet. Unlike so many others. Perhaps I truly am not unlovable. Perhaps my mother is right.

"Hey, if you seduce even one of them," Frank says, "I'll bet you a hundred thousand galleon. If you do it, I'll pay it to you."

"You don't have the money."

"No, but my dad does," Frank says, making us all laugh.

"I'll chip in, too. I have a bag of half-eaten chips to my name, and that's about it," Alice says, and we're doubling over with laughter now. I try to ignore the incredulous stares of the others around us.

"And, I um, will name my future kids after you," I say.

"If you lose?" Alice is confused. So am I.

"If you help me get with them. Either one. But preferably, both." I'm stumbling over my words, blushing, flustered. I think my social battery's getting drained. One windsurf camp doesn't make a girl a social butterfly, even if she did enjoy it and even if I tanned for the first time in my life… yeah, that girl's me, obviously. I really should stick to reading books, right? Writing is like talking. Not my forte, is it?

"Alright," Frank says, "But I want this in writing. If this happens. I want to be the kids' godfather too. And for them to be named after me."

"Wait, are we betting on each other?" I ask. "Or against each other?"

"I don't know. How do I win?" Frank asks.

"I don't know. Let's just bet on each other. That's safer," Alice says.

"Are we idiots?" I wonder out loud, and Frank and Alice ponder the question with a pensive look on their face.

"Thank God you're so beautiful though, right?" is Frank's attempt at flirting with Alice, who giggles in response.

"You too! Riiiight?" she trills.

"Hey! Wait. What about me?" I ask.

Alice and Frank give me a pitiful look.

"You're alright too," Frank says. "A solid two out of nine."

"Wait, why nine?"

"I don't know, Poppy, I'm high," Frank says. "Aren't you?"

Alice nods, ashamed. "I've got the munchies."

"How about you?"

I shrug. "I guess I'm just an idiot. Not high at all." I sigh. "Alright, so bet?" I ask, and all three of us shake hands, we all extend our arms and shake hands with each other in this haphazard way.

I hope against all hope my senior won't be like all the others before. That I'll really, truly live this time. I'm craving an adventure.