Work Text:
Minerva couldn’t stop chuckling. The portraits of all the headmasters and -mistresses before her exchanged glances from the frames; had this job finally cracked one of them?
“Oh Albus and Severus,” she wheezes as she poured herself a wee measure of Glenmoragnie. “You’re never going to believe this.”
“Do share what has you pouring a drink before noon,” drawled the former head of Slytherin house. He honestly doubted it would be that worthy of a drink.
“First off, I’m celebrating. And. Well, you never did get involved much in the yearly pool.”
That perked Albus right up. “The Pool, Minerva?”
“Oh yes, That Pool. We now have a narrowed down timeline of one of our longest odds couples and can confirm they are now dating and were dating while at school.”
She let the portraits digest that tidbit as she took another sip of her Scotch.
All the portraits knew of this game. It was a time honored tradition for Hogwarts professors. On the first of October, they all convened for a staff meeting. Well, those who wanted to participate in the pools did, anyway.
At that time, bets were laid. It wasn’t always money changing hands. Small favors, semi-prized possessions, and many bottles of liquor were often put on the line.
Somehow, Filius Flitwick and Sybil Trelawney had a tie for the most correct bets. Minerva chuckled again… Sybil was out of this one. It was just her and Filius now.
“Filius is trying to get more specifics but, well,” she held up the front page of the Sunday Prophet for all to see.
The Love Story of the Century by Rita Skeeter.
“You want us to believe what that woman wrote? You believe what that woman wrote?” Severus Snape (or well, his portrait) was aghast. “Albus, I think Minerva has actually lost the plot this time.”
“But wait until you see the photo,” the headmistress chortled.
She moved her hand, revealing the photo of Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy smiling at the camera. Younger than currently, with snowfall and mountains behind them. “According to the article, this was Christmas of their fifth year.”
“And here I thought young Mr. Malfoy had better taste.”
“Severus!” several voices shouted.
“Anyway. It’s down to Filius and me. My bet was they’d get together fall of their fifth year. He said Christmastime of fourth. Everyone else was later so now it’s down to us. Albus, good thing you’re no longer with us because your travel pensieve would be gone.”
At that, she finished the pour, and gathered her wrap back around her.
“Now boys, I must go let Sybil know that Filius is at risk of going one up on her. Oh, I can’t wait to see her face!”
The portraits of Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape shared a glance as the current headmistress practically skipped out of the office. While both men knew that Draco Malfoy had been a spy for the Order, he and Miss Granger had left out that interesting tidbit. Things suddenly made a bit more sense.