A bet a day does NOT keep Harry Potter away
Ron jerks awake with a start, gulping in a deep breath as he wipes his sweaty hands on his robes. The sun is shining down on his head, and he squints, rubbing at his face as he takes in his surroundings.
Hermione is sitting besides him, leaning forward as she tries to get a better look at the maze below. She’s glaring, stray curls sticking to her neck as her face twists into a scowl when nothing happens. His eyes are drawn to the small badge clutched in her hands, spelling out the infamous words Support Cedric Diggory—the REAL Hogwarts Champion! He huffs out a laugh.
“Finally decided to show your school spirit?” The redhead says, trying to stifle his laugh. Hermione tears her eyes away from the screen, looking disgruntled when she notices what he’s looking at.
“I don’t want to hear it,” she mutters, face flushing. “Don’t think I didn’t see you dozing off midway through the task.”
Ron shrugs his shoulders. “It’s not just me,” he argues, gesturing to the seat in front of him. “Everyone else is sleeping too!”
There’s more than a few students who are already fast asleep, even with the sun beating down on their faces. The excitement of the third round has already faded, with the occasional flame bringing out collective gasps.
Hermione rolls her eyes, turning her attention back to the maze. “So, when do you think they’ll announce the winner?” She asks after a while and the redhead frowns, rubbing at his shoulder.
“Well,” he finally says, sighing regretfully. “It’s definitely not Fleur.”
The half veela is sitting near the medical tent, staring at the entrance as she rests from her injuries.
Hermione nudges him sharply, shaking her head. “I’m being serious here, Ronald. I think Krum might win, but I can’t help holding out hope for Cedric to turn the tides around.”
Ron shrugs, eyes flitting around as he tries to focus on how to answer. ”Well, you know,” he tries to say, leg shaking anxiously. “You know…”
Hermione levels him an odd look. “There's no way you think Potter will win, do you?”
The way she spits out Harry’s name makes Ron swallow his words. “I just want Hogwarts to win,” he says weakly, forcing out a laugh. “I bet my entire life savings on Cedric, anyways.”
He hears a snicker from behind him and he turns around, face twisting into a frown when he sees Draco and his cronies. “Life savings? You mean those measly 4 galleons?”
Ron glares at him.
”Well, I bet 100 galleons on Krum winning. I mean, have you seen the guy? There’s no way he’s not taking home the cup.”
“Shouldn’t you be showing a little more house loyalty? Potter is in Slytherin after all,” the bushy haired witch levels him with a disgusted look, scrunching up her nose distastefully at the trio.
Draco’s face sours. “Yeah, well, tell that to Potter. He acts like he’s above us all,” He scoffs, crossing his arms across his chest.
”As if you’re any better,” the redhead grumbles when Draco looks away, glancing at Hermione.
The brunette shakes her head, eyes crinkling as she tries to hide her smile behind her hands. “Ron,” she scolds halfheartedly and he winks, making a shushing motion.
They’re interrupted by two red sparks appearing in the sky back to back and the crowd gasps.
“They’ve both been eliminated?” Ron asks, leaning forward to catch a better glimpse. “Doesn’t that mean whoever’s left has won?”
Hermione tuts in disapproval. “Honestly, weren’t you paying attention when they were announcing the rules?”
Ron stares at her guiltily, and the brunette lets out a deep breath. “Whoever has the most points wins by default. So, even if they do get eliminated, as long as they have more points than everyone else, they still have a chance to win. Do you get it now?”
He feels his brain slow down as he listens to the explanation. “Yeah,” he forces out, nodding his head. “I completely understand.” He doesn’t understand.
Hermione stares unconvinced before her attention is drawn to the commotion below.
“Both Cedric and Krum are out?” Draco grits out from behind them, slamming his hands down. “Are you serious?”
They watch as the two are helped to the medical tents, with Fleur standing up to greet them. They talk in fast, quiet whispers, and Ron squints, trying to make out what they’re saying.
”What on earth is going on down there?” He finally asks, slumping against his seat. “Does this mean Potter’s won?”
Hermione opens her mouth to correct him. “There’s no guarantee he’s going to win. He might also get stuck and need to be taken out by one of the professors…” she trails off, furrowing her eyebrows when she notices something glinting.
“Ron! Ron, do you see that?” The bushy haired witch cries out, the crowd drowning out her voice. She grabs him by the arm and points at an indistinguishable blur on the ground. “That thing over there, it can’t be, can it?”
“What in Merlin’s name are you trying to show me?” He yells out, rubbing at his sore shoulder. “I can’t even see anything from up here!”
Hermione groans impatiently. “Over there, near the entrance,” she says, nudging him sharply. “That’s Harry Potter!”
Ron looks at her in baffled amusement, shaking his head. “Hermione, are you okay? There’s no way…that's…him…”
The crowd quiets down and the redhead stares at the figure below. Hermione puffs out her chest smugly, hands pushing away the stray curls sticking to her cheek. “Well, go on now. What were you saying again?”
”How did he get there?” He asks in confusion, eyes scanning the maze below. “I didn’t see him getting out of the maze!”
“The trophy has obviously been enchanted into a portkey,” Hermione says in disappointment.
“How is that obvious to anyone but you!” He bites out, face in his hands as he thinks about his life choices. “No, more than that, how did he manage to defeat both Cedric and Krum?”
Draco grunts in agreement. “That’s what I’m wondering,” he mutters darkly, hands clenching into a fist.
Ron looks horrified. “And now I’m agreeing with Malfoy of all people. Is the world ending soon?”
”It’s not like I want to agree with you, Weasley,” the blonde bites out, rolling his eyes. “Besides, I thought you’d be jumping for joy after the second task.”
The redhead groans loudly, trying to erase his memory of what happened afterwards.
“You better win, Potter.”
“And what will I get if I do?” Potter brushes his wet hair out of his face, showing off his scar. “You?”
“Very funny.” But Ron has a sinking feeling he’s not joking. “But sure, whatever you want. If you win, that is.”