The Bet

"The Bet--Part Eight--Hermione Finds Comfort"

The sun rose bright and early the next morning, and five Gryffindor boys shuffled down to breakfast. They didn't have classes today, thankfully, so they all took their time. Seamus was the first to leave, muttering something that sounded like "I sure as hell ain't gonna let Neville beat me."

Dean left next, determined to find at least one girl to shag that day. Harry left determined to find Cho and make up with her. Neville left determined to finally stand up to Lavender. He did not succeed. Ron was the last one left in their dorm room. As he finally got ready to go, there was a knock on the door.

"Yeah? Come in," he called.

Hermione entered, carrying a small box. "Ron. Oh, sorry. I thought Neville was still here."

"No, he left a few minutes ago. What's in the box?"

"It's um, just some of Neville's things that somehow managed to worm their way into my room while we were together."

"Oh. Well, his bed is right over there, why don't you just set it down?"

Hermione nodded and placed the box on Neville's bed, then looked around with an upset look on her face.

"Something you wanna talk about, Hermi?"

"It's just..." Hermione said as she began to cry. Ron pulled her into a hug and they both sat down on his bed. He wiped away all of her tears and she smiled at him.

"What's wrong, Herm?"

"I just...I trusted him, ya know? And he's cheating on me, and there's something about this bet..."

"Wait, you know about the bet!?" Ron squeaked.

"Well, he wouldn't tell me what it was, only that he and Lavender are working on it together or something to win it. And something about guys sleeping with the girls and breaking their hearts. I dunno, really; I got confused."

Ron sat silent for a moment.

"Ron, do you know something about this bet that I should know?"

"No."

"Ron?" She said, tightening her grasp around the wand that lie in her pocket.

"Okay, okay! Don't hex me! Look, um, some guys made a bet to see who could sleep with the most girls before graduation."

"Which guys?"

"I can't tell you that."

"Are you one of them?"

"What? No! Never. I respect women too much!"

Hermione smiled. "You're right. Sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. You'd never get involved with something like that. Is Neville in it?"

"Yes."

"Oh, so that's why he had to cheat on me to win the bet."

"Yes."

"Merlin, this makes me so mad! I mean, Lavender's making him do all this, you know. I mean, she kept threatening him."

"Really?" Ron said. This was new information to him.

"Yeah. Listen, thanks, Ron. I think I need to go find Neville. And Lavender."

"Okay. Sure. No problem. Uh, 'Mione?"

"Yeah?" She said, just as she reached the door.

"Don't tell them who told you, okay?"

"Sure."

With that, Hermione stepped out of the dorm and Ron put his head in his hands.

-Scene Change-

For what seemed like the millionth time that week, Neville was grabbed and dragged out of the Great Hall by a girl wanting to have a private discussion with him.

"Yes?" he asked, sounding bored, without looking up at who had dragged him out here.

"Neville, we need to talk."

"Hermione?" he asked, looking up.

"Look, I found out about the bet. What it's about and stuff."

"Who told you?"

"I can't say. Look, I don't understand what's going on, but I think Lavender's pressuring you. Is she?"

"Yes."

"And what did she mean? I heard something about a tattoo."

"Um, it's not important."

"Okay. Look, I still can't get back together with you, because...I mean, I just can't stand the thought of you with all those girls, but I wanted you to know that I understand why you did it."

"Thanks."

"And I hope we can be friends?" she asked tentatively.

"Yeah, sure."

Hermione hugged him and left. Neville just stood there, gaping. What had just happened?

-Scene Change-

Ron was walking down to the Great Hall for breakfast when he turned a corner and ran right into Hermione, knocking them both down.

"'Mione! Sorry, didn't see you there."

"No, it's my fault." Hermione said, standing and brushing herself off.

"You talk to Neville?" he asked, standing up.

"Yes."

"How'd that go?"

"Pretty good. I just...I can't believe Lavender would make him cheat on me. I feel so...used."

Ron pulled her into a tight hug. Hermione started to sob into his shoulder. He brushed her hair out of her face and wiped away her tears. Hermione looked up into his eyes, and kissed him.