Hope - George Potter

21 - The bet

After the others had all managed the Expergiscio charm, all the girls apart from Cho left to go to bed early that day.

Cho told the other girls she would be joining them later on, as she wasn't tired yet. So she stayed. For a while, there was an uncomfortable silence. George didn't know how he could start a conversation. A possibility would be talking about the spell they had just learned, but that topic was far too boring. He could talk about her father who went to a Japanese magic school, but then he would sound like a creep. Also, it it would just come out of nowhere with no link to what they were doing right now. Another possibility would be commenting on the awkward silence, but that would make it all even more awkward.

"So, did you have to solve one of the riddles yet?" He settled for that question in the end. It was a bit strange to say that after about five minutes of silence, but it was better than the other possibilities.

"I didn't have to. Marietta managed to do it and saved about five other pupils who were already standing there. I love those riddles. It's so much more fun to get into the common room. I bet the entrance for the other houses are much more boring," Cho said.

"I don't know about that. They could be pretty cool, too. Maybe the Gryffindors have to fight something to show their bravery in order to get into their common room. And in Slytherin you might have to go through a parkour, which you can only manage in a fast manner if you are resourceful. And, well, I can't think of anything the Hufflepuffs could do, but I'm sure there is something," Henry said.

"Maybe I should be happy for those annoying riddles if it means I don't have to fight a lion every time I want to get into my common room," George said jokingly.

"Yeah, the Ravenclaw traits aren't too dangerous. Ravenclaw is actually quite a relaxed house. We aren't expected to work hard, do anything brave or be ambitious. We can just do whatever we want with no pressure. I mean, creativity can mean anything," Cho said.

"Yeah, no pressure at all. We are only supposed to be really intelligent, but that is definitely no pressure," Henry said ironically, rolling his eyes.

"Alright, that might be a teensy bit stressful," Cho laughed and the two boys joined in. "Actually, George, we have been asking ourselves between which houses the hat had to choose. Hatstalls are quite rare. It's really interesting. Please, can you tell me?"

"Let me think about it.... no. It would spoil everything. You wouldn't be able to guess anymore."

"But we made bets and have to know who won," Cho said, using a puppy look to make him tell her.

"Well what did you bet on? Which house?" Henry said curiously. "It is wonderful to hear other people's guesses if you already know the answer," he added with a smug smile. Cho glared at him playfully.

"Well, I said it was probably a decision between Slytherin and Ravenclaw, because -no offense- you don't look like the hard working or the brave type, George. But Marietta said the other option was obviously Gryffindor, since the Potters normally get sorted into that house. Then Bellatrix said she thought it was a decision between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, not entirely sure why, probably because of your Hufflepuff friend. Rosabelle said that was stupid."

Cho chose not to mention that the reasoning behind that was that Rosabelle thought George didn't seem like a nice person, "She just said it would have been anything except for Hufflepuff. So that's it. Can you tell me now? Actually, you don't have to tell me if it wasn't Slytherin. Then I can just tell the others you didn't want to say it and I won't have to walk up to Dumbledore and offer him Bertie Botts Beans tomorrow at dinner."

The two boys laughed. "Well, what do the others have to do if they lose?" Henry asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Bellatrix has to run twice around the Ravenclaw table at lunch, Marietta has to jump on the Gryffindor prefect's back, shouting for him to run faster, and Rosabelle has to shake the hand and congratulate every Huflepuff she sees for a whole day, since it is easier for her to win, as she has only excluded Hufflepuff in her bet."