The Wager

Chapter 1

Hermione sat on the worn, black couch at 12 Grimmauld Place terribly bored with the enchanted television programming. Since the defeat of Voldemort two years previous, the Wizarding world had become more accepting of muggle technology. Wizards familiar with the muggle world were looking to cash in on this newfound interest and decided to imitate visual entertainment through modern television, geared toward the common wizard. Through salvaging and then later copying the technology of the modern muggle television, these entrepreneurs then enchanted said boob tubes to allow the magical community to partake in a couch potatoesque lifestyle.

Such popular shows, also somewhat modeled after famous muggle movies and sitcoms, were:
Nella, the Death-Eater Hunter
Everbody Hates Umbridge
Broom 99, Where are you?
Mission: Unforgivable

Another show, which Hermione and Severus Snape both watched religiously, at first unbeknownst to one another, was Iron Potions. In the competition, one challenging potions master would select one of three “Iron” potions master for a one-to-one battle for supremacy. The host, fittingly was Neville Longbottom, while a complete disaster in making potions found he had a marketable quality at hosting a potions competition. Snape found this very amusing. Neville would open the weekly show by having the challenger pick his competitor and then he would reveal the potion to be brewed, which was usually a very difficult potion to make. The two potion masters would have one hour to finish their potions and then, through a magical time speed process, the potion with the best color, texture and effect matching the theme would be the winner.

For the better part of a year, Hermione had been watching the show at University and when summer came around, was glad that Sirius decided to get a Wizavision. She did not think she could bear to not watch the final ten competitions. The final episodes usually had all challengers that had won over the Iron Potions Master compete against one another. Usually this never consisted of more that two or three challengers. The challenger left standing would compete against the two Iron Potions masters he did not choose in his/her original challenge during separate episodes. If the challenger defeated them both, he could choose which Iron Potion Master spot he wanted and the chosen would be dethroned.

Hermione knew one of the challengers, Kelborn Plowbrighton from Scotland was going to win. The man had the confidence of Gilderoy Lockhart (before the memory loss), the skill of Merlin and the luck of a Leprechaun. One afternoon, while watching Kelborn wipe the floor with the other challenger Raul Moreli of Italy during the final challenger determination episode, Snape sat quietly on the opposite end of the sofa, not looking over or acknowledging her. Hermione gave him a quizzical look and then was distracted when the final test was being performed. The two challengers brewed the extremely taxing caecus nunquam potion for curing hereditary blindness. While Moreli’s batch was a dark lavender, any potions buff, like said audience, knew that the brew must be an iridescent medium purple with a blue undertone. Kelborn had the color to a “T”. The next test, texture, the winner again was obvious. Kelborn\'s texture was pristine, viscous like honey while Moreli was like pancake syrup. The final blow, effect was tested on a blind wizard child of six, born with the condition due to bad corneas. When he drank Moreli’s brew, his eyelids opened and the refused to shut. He was quickly administered a general antidote for failed potions and restored to normal before Kelborn’s was applied. Once he drank Kelborn’s, Hermione sat on the edge of the sofa, holding an eager breath when a moment later, the child’s cloudy eyes cleared up like morning after a storm and he exclaimed, “I can see, daddy!” Hermione half paid attention to the remaining sappy family gratitude that ensued and sat there basking in the victory of her “champion”

Severus Snape regarded Hermione Granger’s glee in Plowbrighton’s win and was mildly amused. Brewing a simple cure for hereditary blindness was cake. He had been asked by the producers of Iron Potions to test to be one of the elite three, but he had no patience for fame or folly, especially with potions. He did enjoy watching the challengers and the occasional Iron “master” fall flat on their cauldrons brewing NEWT level potions! Really, what are they teaching at wizarding schools these days! Although he had some contempt for the show, as he did most everything else, he did favor Polly Ingleton of London. She had attended Beauxbatons and was a potions master before graduation. She was one of the elite three, never defeated. The woman reminded him of himself, although much older and definitely not easy on the eyes. She had the personality of Umbridge and was condescending to the challengers to no end. Of course, this made her an instant hit with Severus Snape! He was rooting for her all the way and next week, the half-wit Plowbrighton would be match against her. The poor sod did not have a prayer! He then thought a moment on Granger’s fascination on the dimwit and decided maybe he could have a little fun at her expense. He looked over at her as she was tanning in the glow of Kelborn’s victory. She had grown to be quite an attractive woman. At nearly 5 foot 8, she had a lean body, almost athletic, but with hips and a bosom to match. She had shorn her unruly hair to the nape of her neck in a choppy, layered style, and colored it a golden brown with blond highlights. The cut made her hair wave in large pieces that gave her a sensual look, almost Meg Ryanesque (yes, Severus loved Joe vs. The Volcano). Her face had always bee pretty, but now, with age and summers tanning, she was stunning. As far as he knew, she really hadn’t dated anyone. She was too busy climbing the ladder of success at the Ministry run potions lab she interned with. The department was researching cures for the lasting effects of Unforgivables. They had mild success with the Crutatious curse, easing the lameness caused by years of torture and abuse.

Three weeks ago, Snape had tested his theory that Miss Granger was still virginal at the age of twenty-two with a simple charm while she was distracted during a heated debate with Charlie Weasley on the effects of dragon’s blood. He was pleasantly surprised to discover she was quite pure and he had found this very interesting. He decided maybe now he could put a most evil plan into action. Severus Snape wanted to be Miss Granger’s first (and hopefully only) sexual partner, but he needed to trick her into it. She would never go for the usual, “hey babe, lets do the horizontal mambo.” That one only worked with the cheap sluts Severus was used to courting.

“So, Miss Granger, I see you have some confidence in Kelborn Plowright. Do you actually think he could possibly beat Ingleton?” Snape sneered.

Hermione looked over at her former potions master, much healthier looking than two years ago. He had gained some weight and decided to try grey as another color addition instead of all black. His hair wad no longer greasy, it seems he actually had time to preen himself now that he wasn’t worried about being killed by Voldemort. He had his teeth fixed and was genuinely not so bad to look at now. His attitude, while toned down, still needed some major improvements, but at least he did hurt the eyes.

“Why, yes Professor Snape, I do have the utmost confidence in Kelborn. I think he will stick it to that self-important hag!” she retorted.

“Really Miss Granger, you should know that personality has nothing to do with skill. I would like to enter in a little wager, if you are game?” Severus put out the bait.

“What kind of bet?” Hermione inquired.

“You and I will go to the live show, the final showdown between Plowbrighton and Ingleton. If Plowbrighton wins, you can demand anything of me and if Ingleton wins, I can demand anything of you. We enter into a Wizard’s Oath to grant the winner of the bet his or her wish.” Severus languidly explained.

“Okay, so before I agree, what is it that you would want from me?” Hermione was nervous. Severus Snape had barely ever regarded her presence, much less showed an interest in anything she might have to offer.

“Well, there is a certain possession that you have that I have been eyeing for sometime. If I win, I want this said possession.” Severus was purposefully vague.

“What possession of mine could you possibly want?” Hermione really was interested now.

“I would reveal the nature of the possession once the competition is complete and the winner is decided. What fun would it be if you knew what you would be relinquishing? Are you too much a coward? Do you have such little faith in Plowbrighton?” Severus prodded her, hopefully into submission.

“I have the utmost confidence in Kelborn’s future victory, Professor. The answer is yes, although once you lose and you have to pay up to me, then we shall see would is the coward!’ Hermione hotly rebuked.

“And what is it you would demand of me as prize for your win, Miss Granger?” Severus was extremely amused.

Hermione thought a bit and decided, “You have to be my servant for an entire week. That means whatever I want you to do, you must do, no qualms and no refusals. If I want you to, say for instance, wear a pink tutu and prance around singing Dionne Warwick tunes, you must graciously comply!” Hermione confidently described a torture she already had planned for him.

Severus imperceptibly shivered at the thought of that kind of torture. But what Miss Granger had no foreknowledge of was the potion that would be brewed during next week’s competition and Severus knew that Plowbrighton would never succeed.

“Alright Miss Granger, take out your wand and hold it against mine” Severus ordered. “Now repeat the words after me, ‘I do solemnly swear to give the supporter of the winner of next week’s Iron Potions competition his or her previously mentioned desire”. Hermione hesitated then repeated the words. A brief flash of magic and the oath was completed. Hermione had no idea what she got herself into. Snape could hardly wait for next week.