The Bet

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Chapter IV - Slytherin Propositions and Gryffindor Schemes

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20 September 2003

Ok. I've done it. I've taken the first step to getting Potter to like me. I took him to the alcove.

I'm not sure why I thought there might be the right place, but it doesn't matter now. It worked.

And part of me wonders why I decided to share such a personal place with the one person I think I've always hated more than anyone...but to be honest, it just felt right.

And it was 'romantic,' and that's what it was supposed to be. Romantic and full of wonder.

Bloody hell, somebody cast Avada Kedavra on me. I sound like a lovesick Hufflepuff.

Potter may not realise it, but everything about last night was planned. The levitating (to build his trust), the hand holding (to make him feel more comfortable around me)...everything was planned...except the badger. But I can almost take comfort in the fact that I'm not the only one who is still paranoid about some things. I wonder if Potter learned that trick during the war to make him super aware of his surroundings. I've heard about that sort of thing. Channelling your magic...but I've never seen anyone do it before. Not that I could 'see' much, but I did sort of feel something pressing against me. Against my magic. That must have been Potter.

Now for the rest of Plan B. Slowly make Potter fall for me. Stay just out of his reach. Make him want me so bad that he'll do anything in his power to have me. Then all I have to do is fake it. Like I've been doing.

~~~~~

Harry stood on the small porch in front of Dormitory Four with his hands shoved in his pockets. He was nervous and he didn't know why, but if he just kept standing there, doing nothing, someone was bound to think he'd gone mad. So he withdrew one of his hands from his pockets and knocked sharply on the old wooden door.

A moment later, the door opened to an attractive strawberry blond Harry recognised as ex-Ravenclaw Mandy Brocklehurst. She smiled prettily at him and said, "Hi Harry. What can I do for you? Do you need to see Luna?"

"Ah, no. Actually, I'm here for Raven. Is she around?"

Mandy gave him a slightly confused look. "Uh, sure. Let me just go get her. You can wait in here," she motioned him to step inside.

"Thanks."

Mandy nodded, and hopped up the stairs. Just as Harry was contemplating a wizard landscape painting of a very familiar-looking alcove that was mounted in the entryway, Raven appeared. She was wearing a dark green jumper with silver accents and a long black skirt. Her hair was down from her usual high ponytail and she was barefoot.

"Potter," she smiled, "what can I do for you?"

"I'd like to talk to you. About Malfoy."

She looked at him curiously and asked, "What about Draco?"

Harry frowned. "He's acting differently around me all of a sudden. I wanted to ask you about it. You are a close friend of his, right?"

She nodded in recognition. "Let's go for a walk."

Harry muttered under his breath something like, 'what is it with Slytherins and taking walks?'

"Excuse me?" Raven asked.

"Oh nothing. Just talking to myself." Great, now I sound like I am mad.

"Ok..." Raven arched a black eyebrow in confusion. "Shall we go?"

"Er, yeah. But don't you want some shoes?"

"No. I'm fine without them."

Harry lifted his eyebrows, but didn't comment. Instead, he opened the door and let Raven through first. Following her, he closed the door behind them and they started walking, Raven taking the lead. She led them behind Dormitories One and Two and into the woods, taking long strides and easily manoeuvring through the trees and fallen logs.

Ok...what is it with Slytherins, taking walks, and taking walks through the woods? Harry thought to himself. Or maybe it's just these two...they are friends, after all.

Raven's voice broke through his thoughts. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Malfoy. Have you noticed anything off about him lately?"

"Depends on what you mean by 'off.' Draco's been known to have his moods every once and a while."

"Well...he's been...odd. Has he mentioned anything about me in the last few days?"

Raven stopped and turned to look at him. "No, not really. Why?"

"Well...he came over on Friday morning, wanting to talk to me. Do you know anything about that?"

Raven nodded and continued walking. "A little. He told me that he royally fucked it up, actually."

"Really? He said that?"

"Yeah. Does that surprise you?"

"Well, yeah, a little. I mean...I didn't realise that he cared, I guess."

"He does," Raven answered. "Although I don't think he realises it himself yet."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Harry, that the only reason he's been trying to talk to you is because of me. So, naturally, he'd chalk any feelings of 'caring' up to the fact that he's doing this for me."

"I'm not sure I follow..."

Raven stopped again, this time looking down at the dirt and leaves beneath her feet. "I like you, Harry. I like you a lot. Draco knows this, and he's trying to smooth things out between you two because of it. He wants me to be happy. He loves me."

Harry stood there in shock for a moment, his cheeks heating up. "I...I'm not sure what to say." He was quite flattered that she liked him, but wasn't sure if he should feel anything back. After all, he didn't know this girl all that well.

The dark-haired girl looked up at him and smiled softly, her green eyes twinkling. "You don't have to say anything. It's not everyday you learn that a Slytherin likes you."

Harry chuckled nervously. "Yeah, it's not."

They continued walking in a some-what comfortable silence, Harry's thoughts running rampant through his head. He had so many questions, but where to start?

"Raven..."

"Yes, Harry?"

"You said Malfoy loves you...do you not love him back?"

"No, I do. He's my first love, actually. He always will be. And he's my best friend, too. In fact, although he jokes about it, I know he really wants to marry me."

"Really? Do-do you want to marry him?"

"Yes. I always have. Well, ever since our Death Eater initiation, anyway."

That sentence brought some rather unpleasant thoughts of the past to the fore of Harry's mind. "Oh."

"Harry, what you need to understand about me is that there are certain things I want in life. And being the Slytherin that I am, I'll do pretty much anything to get them. You are one of those things. I want you. Even if just for a fleeting moment, or only as a friend. I want you to be a part of my life. I like surrounding myself with the world's beautiful things. I know it sounds selfish, but that's exactly what I am. I'm selfish. But I care. I genuinely care about you Harry. I haven't always, but I do now. I don't just want to use you and then step on your feelings, but I also know that the only man I will ever consider marrying is Draco."

Harry still wasn't sure what to say. He wasn't even sure what to feel. How are you supposed to feel when someone you hardly know says that they not only like you, but want you? And Harry wasn't so dim that he couldn't pick up on her meaning. When he didn't answer, Raven continued. "I know that may sound weird, that I love one man, and want to marry him, but I want another as well. I'm not sure how you feel about that, but I want you to remember one thing above all: that you're a wonderful and beautiful person, Harry. You will make someone very happy one day. And remember that many people care about you. You are not alone with your demons."

Harry stopped walking, staring at the back of the girl walking just ahead of him. That was something no one had ever told him before. That he would make someone else happy. She even recognised that he still had demons plaguing him. And that he didn't have to deal with them by himself. He subconsciously knew that other people had suffered just as terribly those short years ago, and that some were still dealing with it. But eventually, they all seemed to have moved on, or at least, not let it hinder them, and Harry felt that it was his duty to do the same. He hated it when people worried about him, so he made sure that they felt they had nothing to worry about. Raven was the first person to recognise that he was still dealing with it.

The girl in question turned around and smiled. She looked amazing, standing there, barefoot in the middle of the woods, the yellow and orange leaves falling down around her. Like she was a wood nymph, disguised in human clothing. She held out her hand and said, "Come, Harry. I want to show you something."

Mentally shaking himself away from his thoughts, he stepped forward to close the gap between them, taking her slim hand in his. Together, they continued to walk in silence, enjoying the afternoon sun filtering through the trees, the sounds of the forest, and the presence of each other. Harry felt the differences in the woods from the night before. It was a completely different entity during the day, but he liked it just the same. It was peaceful. Something he needed, to nullify his whirling thoughts.

Soon, they arrived at the same alcove from last night. "Here," Raven said. "This is what I wanted to show you. Isn't it beautiful?"

Harry looked at the familiar place in awe. It looked like a small paradise during the day. Harry could now see a very narrow path that wound around the stony cliff, down onto the sand. The sun shone brightly, and the water lapped gently against the strip of beach forty yards below. The sun sparkled off of the water, casting strange reflections on the surrounding rock. It was just as spectacular as the night before, but in a different way. Finally, after re-surveying the area, he chuckled.

"What?" Raven asked.

"Its just...Malfoy took me here last night. To apologise for the other morning, he said."

"Oh? I didn't know Draco knew of this place. Did you know of it before he brought you here?"

"No. But now that you mention it...I saw a painting similar to this in your foyer. Do you know who painted it?"

Raven looked down into the alcove, smiling shyly. "Yes."

"Who?"

"Me."

"Really?" Harry looked at her in disbelief.

"Yes."

"Wow. It...wow. That's really brilliant, Raven. I'm sure I could never do anything like that."

"Thank you, Harry. I'm glad you like it."

"Do you have anymore? Paintings, I mean."

"A few. Draco has some. But nothing recent that's worth putting up yet."

"What are they of?"

"Well, I'm better at doing landscapes...impressionist kind of stuff. But right now, I'm working on realism. With people. I can seem to draw them alright, but when I go to paint them, it never works out."

"Anyone I know?" Harry joked. He was amazed at how easy it was to talk to this girl. The only girls besides her that he'd really been able to just talk with were Hermione, Ginny, and Luna. And they were more like sisters than anything else.

"Yes, actually."

Harry wasn't expecting this answer. "Who?" he asked, really wanting to know the response.

"Draco. And Daphne and Theo and Blaise." There was a small pause. "You."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. But...none of the portraits I've been working on are turning out right. I think it's because I'm trying to do it all from memory."

"You don't have any pictures to go off of?"

"No. And besides, pictures move too much. I almost wish I had a muggle camera, so I could take unmoving shots."

"Colin told me-" Harry cut himself off suddenly. Colin Creevey was dead. He had been for four years. Harry was pulled back from his rapidly depressing downward spiral of thoughts by a reassuring squeeze on his left hand. Looking up, he saw Raven's understanding smile. He had forgotten that they were still holding hands. Nodding, he continued on.

"Colin told me once that it was all in the developing solution. His brother Dennis might know something about it. But I'm sure if you took pictures and had them developed at a muggle shop, they'd turn out unmoving."

"Really? Hmm...I might have to try that. As much as it'd be against my inherent Slytherin nature..."

Harry laughed. "Oh yes, we can't have you Slytherins ruining your slimy reputations, now can we? Although I'm sure consorting with Harry Potter has already knocked you and Malfoy down a few pegs."

"Hey! We strive very hard to keep up those reputations, and I'll ask you kindly to not insult them," Raven said in mock anger.

In a gesture that he didn't give himself time to second-guess; Harry brought her hand up to his lips, kissing the back of it lightly. "I wouldn't dream of it."

They stared at each other a moment, both unsure of the tension in the air, before Raven finally said, "Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you...would you like...I mean, would you mind modelling for me? For my paintings of you?"

"I...I don't know. I've never had to model before. But I suppose it'd be better than getting my picture taken. Less risk of it being plastered all over the press."

Raven smiled. "Yes, that would be a perk."

Harry suddenly thought of something. "Its not...I mean, I'm not...I won't need to be...naked will I?" His cheeks flushed and he looked away, realising that he'd never need to worry about the circulation in his face again. With all the blushing he'd been doing lately, he was surprised his cheeks weren't permanently red.

Now it was Raven's turn to laugh. "Not unless you want to, Harry. Although it would be a great figure study if you'd let me. I could do it in such a way that you weren't revealing anything. Even your face. I'm sure I could even get some muggle paint too, so you wouldn't be afraid of a nude you turning around on the canvas and exposing yourself. Although I'm sure even a painting of you would be too shy to do that." She smiled in a playful manner.

Harry blushed again and said, "Well...I'll have to think about it."

"I would pay you for your time, of course," but she said it in a tone that stated a simple fact between model and artist.

Harry shook his head. "No. Keep your money. I have more than enough."

They stood there a moment longer, looking out at the alcove. Raven eventually said, in a soft tone, "Do you want to head back?"

"Sure."

They turned around and slowly walked back to the dorms, still holding hands.

~~~~~

Once inside his dorm house, Harry barely had time to slip his shoes off before he was bombarded by the sight of Hermione, who was suddenly right in front of him. She had been visiting Ron and Neville, and had seen Harry coming home through the lounge room window, which was facing the courtyard.

"Harry!" she exclaimed brightly, a huge smile on her face. "Who was that you were just with?"

"Huh?" he asked stupidly. Looking over the top of Hermione's braided head, and into the lounge that was off to the left of the foyer, he saw Ron standing near the open lounge entryway, a secretive grin on his face. Neville was sitting on one of the chairs, looking at the two curiously. Ron was as tall as ever, but had filled his gangly form a bit in the last few years. Neville was still a little round in the face, but he had grown as well. Harry was taller, muscular, and still lean. But by no means was he that scrawny little boy anymore.

"That girl," Hermione pressed, "That you were holding hands with. Who is she? She must be a Ravenclaw...we saw you drop her off at Dormitory Four..." Hermione babbled.

"Er..." Harry stuttered.

"Finally got yourself a girlfriend, mate. I'm proud of you," Ron said, coming forward and clapping him on the shoulder.

"Oh! No. We're not...she's not...we're just friends," Harry managed to get out.

"'Just friends,' huh?" Hermione said in a suggestive tone. "Last time I checked, 'just friends' didn't hold hands like that. Now who is she? It looked like it might have been Su Li, but Orla has dark hair too...it was kind of hard to tell from here..."

"Ah...no. It was Raven."

"Raven?" Ron said quizzically. "You mean, Slytherin Raven?"

Harry put his hands on his hips. "How many Ravens do we know that go to this school and live in Number Four, Ron?" He then turned and moved into the kitchen. Hermione and Ron shared a look before following Harry. Neville, out of pure curiosity, followed him as well.

Harry was taking a box of biscuits out of the cupboard when they all arrived. "What?" Harry said as they all just stood there, staring at him with stupefied expressions.

"Harry...mate...please don't tell me you're dating a Slytherin..." Ron said in a pleading tone.

"Ron," Harry said forcefully, as he went to pour himself a glass of milk, "I already told you, we're not dating. In fact, that's the first time I've ever really talked to her. Now, will you all please just let me eat my cookies in peace?"

"No," Hermione said, still curious as a cat. "It doesn't make sense. If you just started talking with her, Harry, why were you holding hands?"

"I..." Harry searched for a way to explain this. "I don't know how to explain," he finally said.

"Please try, Harry."

"You can't just expect us to ignore this, Harry," Ron put in. "I mean...I know we're not in Hogwarts anymore, but-"

"You're right, Ron," Harry interrupted. "We're not in Hogwarts anymore. Therefore, I feel no need to keep up old prejudices, especially after all that the Slytherins, specifically Raven, Malfoy and Zabini, have done to make up for their realised ill actions during the war. I'm just tired of it all. Is peace between everyone so much to ask for?" And with that, he grabbed his box of biscuits and his glass of milk and stormed upstairs.

The three ex-Gryffindors stood there in mild shock. Finally, Hermione said, "He's right, Ron. We still treat them like we did at Hogwarts. We're adults now. They've done all they can to prove to us that they realised that the choice they made was wrong."

"Yes, but...it's not like they act any nicer to us!"

"They're still Slytherins, Ron, what to you expect? Use your head. It's not like they've done anything to make life horrible for us, either. They generally just leave us alone."

"So why does it have to change?" Ron's voice sounded like he knew he was fighting a battle he'd already lost.

"If you don't want it to change for you, then don't talk to them. But I think it would be best if we just let Harry do what he wants to do. We all know that he's had more than enough of others dictating what he should do in his life."

Neville finally spoke in the silence that followed Hermione's definitive sermon. "I agree. I think Harry's just tired of everyone always worrying about him. If he wants to talk to Raven, I don't see why he can't. I have her in one of my classes, and she seems like a nice girl."

"See?" Hermione said to Ron.

The redhead sighed and shrugged. "Yeah. I suppose."

Then Hermione smiled. "Good. But to be honest...I'm still curious as to why Harry and Raven were holding hands..." An uncharacteristic and mischievous smile crept up on her face.

"What are you suggesting, exactly?" Ron said, raising an eyebrow.

Neville seemed to have caught on though. "You want to get them together, don't you?"

Hermione nodded. "This might be just the thing..." she murmured.

Ron, realising what was going through his fiancé's head said, "But what was that you just said about letting Harry 'do what he wants to do?' And I thought Raven was with Malfoy, actually..." He added as an afterthought.

A frown appeared on Hermione's face. "Oh, yeah. I hadn't thought of that. But wouldn't it be odd for her to be walking around holding hands with Harry if she was with Malfoy? In broad daylight? I don't think Malfoy's the type to share. Especially with Harry."

"We'll just have to ask her," Neville put in. "I can pass her a note in class."

"Ooh, that's brilliant, Neville!" Hermione said.

"Wait a minute, guys," Ron said, putting up his hands. "What about Harry here? You just ignored my earlier question about leaving him be..."

Hermione smirked. "Well, I don't see the harm in nudging them a little...or at least finding out the nature of their relationship. Besides, Ronald, I'm the level-headed one in this group, what gave you the sudden urge to make sure we're not just running in there, guns blazing?"

"What?"

"Never mind. Muggle saying. Anyways, what's gotten into you all of a sudden?" she asked, hands on her shapely hips and a scrutinising look on her pretty face.

"I...I don't know. I guess...you're not really being level-headed, so I thought I oughta step in."

Hermione's jaw dropped. "Ronald Weasley!" she exclaimed in a surprised voice, and then she smiled evilly. "You better run."

With a strangled little yelp, Ron took off running up the stairs, trying to keep out of his fiancé's grip. Hermione laughed, and followed close behind.

Neville smiled at the happy couple. "I think I'm going to go see Luna." And with that, Neville took the little trip around the courtyard to see what his girlfriend was up to.