The Catch

Chapter 1: Strategy

Ron slammed the door of the bathroom as he entered the dorm room after showering. His roommates had already left for breakfast. As usual, he was the last one to wake up and shower so the room was all his for a while. Usually, he felt good during sunny Wednesday mornings like this but this day was an exception.

He simply could not believe that he--Ron Weasley--lost to Harry Potter over chess yesterday. Aside from the blow to his ego, the conditions of the bet were killing him. He had to ask Severus Snape out on a date (of all people, why him???) and he had to make sure that the Potions Master would accept. That meant that he had to make sure that the Professor would feel something akin to attraction for him. And...this means that Ron would have to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to make Snape fall for him.

He might actually succeed. In ten years, maybe. This was just too difficult. He couldn´t believe he agreed to this stupid bet. He wasn´t even sure if Snape was gay or straight or whatever...

For a while, he thought about hedging the bet, or just not doing anything about it. But that was just so unlike him. Their agreement was all about dignity. He had to prove that he meant his word. He knew Harry would have done his best chasing after Malfoy if he ever lost instead of Ron. Yup! He´d just have to forget his dislike for Snape for a few weeks until he gets this over with. It was a pride thing, and Ron Weasley certainly had that.

Now, how to make Snape like him? Maybe he should start with his looks. Girls (and guys) always seemed to think that it´s important.

He took off the towel around his waist and stared at his reflection on the full-length mirror. He supposed he didn´t look bad. Actually, he looked quite good, if he ignored those damned freckles scattered across his cheeks and chest. Great summer tan, nice long muscles. He flexed his arms a little and did a few stretching exercises. He turned around and tried to get a good view of his butt. Hmmm... nice and tight. He was in good condition, thanks to three years of being Gryffindor´s Quidditch keeper and co-captain (with Harry). If he intended to make Snape like him, then he must start paying attention to his appearance.

Just his luck, they´d have Potions this morning. And since Ron woke up an hour later than his friends, he´d have to skip breakfast and spend the remaining thirty minutes or so before class primping for his Professor.

He walked towards Seamus´ desk and borrowed the Irish boy´s blow dryer. They used to laugh over the fact that Seamus spent so much time on his hair but he had to admit that the boy always looked well turned out--in contrast to Harry and Ron´s messy hairdos.

After drying and styling his hair, he dressed carefully, paying particular attention to his uniform. No wrinkles, tie knotted properly, robe tied with just the right tightness, and boots laced neatly. Before he forgot, he took one of Harry´s unused colognes and spritzed some pine scent on him. Smell was always important in making a favorable impression.

He walked back to the mirror and surveyed his overall look. Neat, but not too goody-goody looking. Just right. Ron gave his reflection a smile for good luck.

Now, there´s a handsome fellow.

He checked his wristwatch and grabbed his book bag. Just five minutes to class.

***

Ron Weasley stood in front of the dungeon´s double doors nervously. He took a couple of deep breaths before entering. As he pushed the door aside, he felt a little annoyed with himself. Why was he so nervous anyway? It´s not as if Snape was a stud or something.

He entered the classroom just as Snape was about to call the roll. The black-cloaked Potion´s professor gave him a disapproving look as Ron made his way to his seat between Harry and Hermione. Luckily, he wasn´t really late so Snape couldn´t take any points from Gryffindor.

As Ron sat down, Hermione gave him an odd look.

"You look different."

"Different good or different bad?" He touched his tie self-consciously. Did he overdo anything?

"Different good." She smiled approvingly. "I´m quite sick of reminding you to fix your hair. Now, if only a certain someone would also follow my advice." She gave Harry´s head a meaningful look.

Harry merely looked at them innocently. "You look great, Ron." He leaned closer and sniffed. "Is that cologne?"

Ron chuckled. "Yeah. It´s yours. You don´t mind, do you?"

"Of course not. You´re free to it. I never use them. I don´t know why people give me those stuff, anyway."

"Potter, Weasley, this is a Potions class, not a parlor room. I´m sure the class has more things to do than listen to your incessant chatter about cologne."

Professor Snape´s voice traveled to where they were sitting, cutting the conversation abruptly. Blushing, Ron looked around. The Slytherins were smirking. Great.

Ron turned towards the professor and met his eyes. Brown stared into black. Snape cocked his brow. "Twenty points from Gryffindor."

Ron looked down, sighing. This was going to be more difficult than he thought. Getting Snape to like him would be like pulling teeth.

***

"So what you´re saying is... you want Snape to be your boyfriend?" Hermione asked, brow furrowed.

They were in one isolated corner of the library, so they could talk in hushed tones without anyone bothering them. For the past few minutes, the two boys have been trying to explain the situation to Hermione after she grilled Ron about his sudden change in image.

"Well, not really. I just have to get him to like me enough to say yes when I ask him out." Ron answered.

"But isn´t that the same thing?" she persisted.

Harry shook his head. "Not really. You can date someone without committing yourself to a relationship. Ron just has to have one date with Snape. If they decide to continue whatever they have, then it´s up to them."

"Eew, Harry! I don´t like what you´re suggesting. I don´t like that slimy git. I´m just doing this to prove that I´m a man of my word. We did have a contract, you know!" Ron reasoned out, a little disgusted. The transition from hating Snape to trying to like him was not an easy one.

Harry held up his hands. "All right. I´m not suggesting that you shag him. Just make him interested enough."

"And..." Hermione tapped her pen on the table. "You want us to help you catch him."

"Exactly." Ron nodded. "I can´t do this alone. I need a plan and you guys are going to help me."

"Hmmm... a plan. This is starting to get exciting." Hermione grabbed a piece of parchment and started sketching. Harry and Ron leaned closer and for the next hour, the three Gryffindors planned the `Catch Severus Snape Project.´

***

"Okay, Ron, you know what to do?" Hermione asked him while smoothing his collar.

"Yes, yes. Shit! I can´t believe I´m getting nervous over this." Spastic fingers swept through his dark red hair. He was actually going to do this Catch Snape thing.

"Stop fidgeting!" Hermione scolded.

Ron looked down at her. She seemed to be as nervous as he was. He looked at the other end of the hall where Harry was standing, leaning against the wall. In contrast to the two of them, Hogwart´s Golden Boy looked as cool and unruffled as ever. Lucky bastard.

The plan was this: Severus Snape was known to pass this particular hallway sometime after lunch on his way to his office. Harry was supposed to pretend to be passing by and was assigned to signal Ron and Hermione when Snape was about to turn the corner towards their hallway. Ron and Hermione were then supposed to have an argument (pretend, of course) regarding her wanting to go out with him while he steadfastly refused her attentions. Of course, Ron planned this part. It had been quite hard to convince Hermione to play the part of the desperate girl ("Why you conceited fool! Me! Beg to go out with you?") but she finally agreed after he promised to treat her to a butter beer the next time they were in the Three Broomsticks.

Anyway, to continue with the plan: They were going to argue quite noisily and Ron was supposed to be surprised and thankful to see Snape walking towards them. He would then grab Snape´s arm and tell Hermione that he was sorry he had to end their conversation but he had something really important to discuss with the Potions professor. Ron would then give Snape a pleading look that would translate as "help me." Snape was supposed to understand that the boy needed help and accommodate Ron since Hermione was one of his most hated students, second only to Harry and Neville. Ron would then walk with Snape towards the Professor´s office and try to strike a conversation with him.

"Remember, Ron. Don´t ask him out yet. Just let him know that you´re an interesting, sensitive person. You just have to make him remember you." Hermione reminded him for the umpteenth time.

"I am an interesting and sensitive person..." Ron mumbled under his breath. What would he say? Heck, Ron, just wing it.

At that instant, Harry sniffed loudly and rubbed his nose, as if he had a cold. He then disappeared from sight, walking towards Snape.

"That´s the signal." Hermione´s eyes were round as saucers.

"Okay, relax. Now, let´s go." Ron released her hand and they started arguing, softly at first then louder as they drew closer to the bend.

From around the corner, they heard Snape tell Harry to see Madame Pomfrey about his cold. This was said in the same nasty tone he always used on the Gryffindors. He was getting closer.

"Ron, please! You have to go out with me! Just once. I promise we´ll have a good time." Hermione called out to Ron´s back.

"Hermione, I´m not interested in you that way. How many times have we talked about this..." Ron continued on ranting about their friendship and stuff. He turned a little to peek at Hermione. She was looking at him with a puppy dog expression. She actually looked convincing. If it didn´t involve him, the whole play-acting situation would have struck him as funny.

As he rounded the corner, he smacked straight into Snape. The situation was perfect. Everything was going on as planned. Before the professor could retain his bearings, Ron met his yes and gave him a desperate look. He instantly held the Potions professor´s arm and said loudly to Hermione:

"Sorry to leave you like this, Herm, but I have to ask Professor Snape a few questions about Potions. I´ll see you later then." Ron then walked fast towards Snape´s office, leaving Hermione behind.

Ron had reached the middle of the hallway when Snape spoke.

"Mister Weasley, where exactly are you planning to lead me?"

Ron stopped, quite stunned. He had done it. He had not realized that he´d been dragging the professor all this time. He peeked at their backs. Hermione was nowhere to be seen. She had made herself scarce just as planned. He turned back towards Snape. Now it was just the two of them... and he had absolutely nothing to say.

Snape´s right brow was cocked in his trademark arrogant look. His dark, long-lashed eyes were narrowed and he looked at Ron rather suspiciously. "Mister Weasley?"

"Um... Th-thanks for helping me...?" Ron stammered. He realized that he was still holding Snape´s arm and he quickly released it and stammered a quick apology.

Snape sighed and looked down for a moment before turning back to Ron. "Mister Weasley, next time, I would highly appreciate it if you don´t drag me into your tiresome lover´s quarrels. I really find it irksome. Now excuse me, I have to go to my office."

He swept towards his office, the black cloak flaring behind him rather dramatically. Ron just stared at his retreating back, openmouthed. That was it? Did he just botch everything? Yup, it seemed like he did.

Suddenly, Snape stopped and turned back. He gave Ron a curious look. "Did you do something to your appearance, Weasley?"

"Huh? Oh, my appearance? I... I j-just fixed up a little, that´s all." Great, Ron. How eloquent.

"You do look... better." Professor Snape´s mouth relaxed into what almost seemed like a smile. Ron was about to smile back but the Professor continued.

"Relatively better compared to the wreck you were before. Good day, Mister Weasley." He turned his back to Ron and continued to walk away.

Ron was left there, standing, and wondering whether he had just received a compliment or an insult.