"Alright!" Rolanda exclaimed, pushing her way into the staff room. The room was quiet- as was becoming the normal with the arrival of the Bulgarian and French headmasters a few days before. She placed the parchment she'd drawn up on the center table, slapping her hand on it. "Staff- our contract!"
"What is zis?" came the tall Frenchwoman's voice from behind her.
Rolanda turned to face her, trying not to roll her eyes. Meanwhile, the Hogwarts staff were gathering around the table. "A little wager between our staff. You're welcome to join."
"What are you betting on?" Igor asked, standing and making his way towards the table.
"Watch it, Igor," Severus said, his usual sarcasm in his voice. "You used to be a fine gambler back in the day. So, I've heard." Severus hadn't even looked up when he'd spoken, his eyes as equally glued to the parchment as their colleagues. Rolanda tried not to laugh. Considering both men's pasts, she wondered how much interaction they had had before. It didn't seem like much, but Severus's disdain for the man was entertaining.
"Ten galleons each," Pomona read. "And, the person who wins gets to have everyone who loses cover a night of their rounds."
"And what exactly iz it we're betting on?"
"My students," Minerva replied, pushing a few people out of the way. "Two boys- Fred and George. They're twins, sixth years. We're betting on how they are going to try and get their way around the age line."
"Zis is outrageous!" Maxime exclaimed. "Zis must be reported to ze Ministry!"
"Calm down," Rolanda cut in. "They won't get past the thing."
"Exactly why we're placing the bet!" Pomona replied with a laugh.
"Betting on students? Igor- 'ave you 'eard of such a thing?" Maxime asked the man who was now hunched over the table and carefully reading the contract, much to Rolanda's entertainment.
"It's entirely unprofessional," he said, puffing out his chest. "But, not knowing these boys, I will wager in favor of whoever bet that they would just blast it with a stunning spell."
"I appreciate the support," Pomona said. "But you have to come up with your own. We all put in a different way, so no two people can win. Only one person wins."
"Or, it's a draw!" Filius pipped in.
"Bah! I don't know these boys," Igor said, throwing his hands up. He took a seat back next to Maxime, and Rolanda turned back to the list.
"Is everyone here and accounted for?" Rolanda asked, looking around the room. "When I say your name, step forward, check your guess is correct, and sign away!"
"Pomona," Rolanda read. "Blast it with a stunning spell! Go and sign." Pomona did as she was told, and Rolanda made her way down the line.
"Minerva- bribe an older student do it for them."
"Severus- Polyjuice potion to become an older student."
Severus stepped forward to sign and shot a look at Minerva. "I thought you'd be more creative when it came to your cubs."
Minerva's face reddened a bit, but she didn't fire back. Severus had asked the staff to keep his and Minerva's relationship to themselves upon Karkaroff's arrival. He hadn't explained why, but Rolanda had a feeling he didn't trust the man's turning from the Death Eaters. She couldn't blame him- he seemed to be more of a pawn trying to look like a king rather than someone who'd chosen to leave the life for a changed moral conscious. The couple had been less their usually bantering selves.
"Filius-," and so Rolanda continued reading the names. With the amount of chaos the Weasley twins brought to the castle, even the staff outside their normal circle had joined- Charity, Alastor, Hagrid, even Sybil had thrown in her own guess. Nothing like staff bonding.
"And last, Filch," Rolanda said, looking around for the caretaker.
Severus looked thoroughly amused at Argus's entry in the wager. They had a strangely friendly relationship. "Both arseholes," Minerva had muttered once over a drink, "they see eye to eye on a lot of disciplinary practices."
The door swung open suddenly, and Argus entered breathlessly, dragging his broom behind him. "Did I miss the signing?" he asked.
"Just in time," Rolanda said, handing him the quill. "Argus's money is on an ageing potion."
"Well, isn't that just dim-witted," Minerva commented as Argus signed the parchment. "I have more faith in them than a simple ageing potion."
"Awfully proud 'ead of 'ouse for a bunch of cheaters," Maxime muttered from across the room, her face buried in a French textbook.
The Head of Gryffindor's eyes narrowed. "This is not about cheating," she snapped, immediately defensive of her students. "Do you have sense of enjoyment stuffed up in that fur coat?"
"Down, kitty," Rolanda heard Severus whisper, pulling his lover's arm back.
Trying to keep Minerva from snapping more at their guest, Rolanda held up the parchment. "Here it is!"
Everyone clapped while Igor and Maxime remained looking unamused on the corner couches. Rolanda put an arm around Minerva as the rest of the staff returned to their work. "So, going to win this wager with Severus again? Your last one won you a trip to Paris."
Severus walked towards them, but Rolanda saw his eyes kept darting to Karkaroff. "Her ten galleons is coming to me," he replied.
"I do have a very good track record," Minerva replied.
"One game and you think it has made a pattern," Severus replied.
"I'd put my money on Minerva knowing her cubs better than you," Rolanda added.
Severus rolled his eyes. "I have more important things to do than talk about your two dunderhead students," he said, still sounding slightly amused.
Rolanda saw him squeeze her hand before sliding out the door.
"He seems tense," Rolanda commented to Minerva who was busy floating the parchment above the fireplace, muttering a charm to stick it on the wall. The flying instructor laughed. "Albus is going to be thoroughly entertained when he sees that."
"It's Igor," Minerva said quietly, her eyes darting to the man seated across the room. "He's probably harmless, truly. I think he's too much of a coward to go back to You-Know-Who's followers. But, Severus is always wary."
"I've never seen him look paranoid before. Aside from with Remus, he usually holds it together."
"It's another part of his past seeping into his home here," Minerva replied. "Igor knowing about us…if he is still loyal…it could get one of us killed."
Feeling a chill run through her, Rolanda ran a hand down Minerva's arm, squeezing her hand. "Don't say that, dear."
Minerva smiled and patter her hand, turning to look at her. "We'll be quite fine. It would be best not to mention this little conversation to the others," Minerva said, her voice serious. "No need to worry them."
Rolanda glanced to Pomona and Filius who were sharing a book, deep in discussion. "Especially those two; they worry."
"They do," Minerva nodded. "I would love it if everyone tried to enjoy this year a bit- the tournament, while I have my reservations, should be enjoyable to watch."
Rolanda elbowed her. "Always looking out for us, Min."
Little did any of them realize that a few days later, much to everyone's annoyance, Argus Filch would be the one sitting in his office surrounded by a pile of galleons.