The Hogwarts Gamble
Hogwarts Castle had seen many bets over the years, whether it would win the Four Houses Cup, how long a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor would serve, or when Peeves would end up being expelled for good. But never, never, has a bet brought so much together the entire school.
It had all started in the teachers' room, where McGonagall, Flitwick, Snape and other teachers had, in a mixture of amusement and resignation, bet on the moment when Harry Potter would finally understand that the Weasley twins were courting him. Lupin, of course, had flatly refused to participate, claiming that it was absurd and that Harry was far too young for this nonsense. McGonagall, on the other hand, found her denial absolutely delightful.
But the gamble quickly went beyond the hushed walls of the teachers' room. Someone, probably an overly talkative professor or an indiscreet portrait, had leaked the information, and soon, the rumors had spread faster than a Feudeymon in a warehouse of Instant Darkness powder.
The Ravenclaws immediately opened a registry, meticulously noting each attempt to seduce the twins and their chances of success. The Hufflepuffs, always fond of love stories, followed the unfolding events with enthusiasm, exchanging predictions and hypotheses about how Harry would eventually understand. The Slytherins, on the other hand, found the idea hilarious and wondered how long it would take for Potter to realize that he had become the target of a real charm campaign. As for the Gryffindors, they were the most invested of all.
Fred and George, of course, were well aware of this growing commotion, and, far from being offended by it, they had embraced it with overflowing enthusiasm. After all, if everyone expected them to seduce Harry, they might as well make it a memorable show.
The twins had tested several approaches. The bold compliments, the mysterious gifts, the exaggerated romantic gestures, the heroic rescue blow. Fred had declared with absolute seriousness that Harry's eyes were as bright as Brazilian emeralds. Harry had given him a puzzled look before asking if he had caught a weird disease. One morning, Harry had found a box of Enchanted Chocolates on his pillow, accompanied by a card signed "A Secret Admirer". He had immediately assumed that it was a trap of Malfoy and had given them to Neville, who had eaten them without worry. George had offered to carry Harry's belongings to the Great Hall, giving a dramatic wink. Harry, puzzled, had simply replied that he could wear them on his own. When an enchanted Bludger had charged straight at Harry in the middle of Quidditch practice, Fred had flown to his rescue, catching the ball narrowly and letting out a flamboyant "Don't worry, my dear Harry, I'll always protect you!" Harry had patted him on the back, looking impressed, and joked that maybe he should be a catcher instead.
Weeks passed, and despite their ingenious and increasingly desperate attempts, Harry remained totally oblivious to their intentions. The climax was reached during a dinner in the Great Hall. The twins, in a spectacular last attempt, had enchanted the floating candles to form a huge "Harry, marry us!" in luminous letters. After a long moment of observation, Harry turned to Hermione and Ron and asked, confused, if they thought it was a joke by Peeves. Ron had let out a long, desperate moan as he covered his face with his hands, while Hermione shook her head with an expression between consternation and pity.
And so the bet spread to the whole of Hogwarts. The students, after seeing Harry's incredible density of romance, began to speculate not about when he would understand, but about whether it would ever happen. New criteria were added to betting: Will Harry understand before the end of the year? Will Fred and George give up before then? Will Hermione break down and explain everything to him? Will Dumbledore intervene to draw a picture for him?
Meanwhile, Remus Lupin was in full parental denial. It's just a phase, a simple joke between friends. McGonagall, with a wry smile, pointed out that Harry was fourteen years old and no longer a child. Remus refused to admit that Harry could fall in love, and McGonagall, amused, hinted that he would eventually understand, probably in a few years.
Eventually, the bet became so deeply rooted in Hogwarts culture that it became something of an unofficial tradition. Fifth-graders whispered to the early years that for years there had been a bet on the romance between Harry Potter and the Weasley twins. Harry, on the other hand, never suspected anything. And Fred and George? Well, they hadn't said their last word.
All of Hogwarts had begun to wonder if Harry Potter was capable of understanding anything about love. The twins, although amused by the constant failure of their attempts at seduction, were beginning to get really frustrated. They had tried everything: the exaggerated compliments, the gifts, the dramatic romantic gestures... Nothing. And then came the accident.
"The bet is the son of hope and the father of regret." — Italian proverb