The Auction

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/21049277.

Rating: General Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Category: F/M
Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Relationships: Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy
Characters: Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2019-10-15 Words: 992 Chapters: 1/1
 The Auction
by Pureblood_Muggle

Summary

Hermione suggests an auction to raise funds for a charitable cause. The committee puts it into
action - but not as she had envisaged.

Notes

This is a little birthday offering to the wonderful Frumpologist. Darling, you are wonderful
and loved. I hope you enjoy this little something <3
Happy Birthday xxx
Much Beta Love to the wonderful Lunamionny! Thank you!
___________________________________________________________________________
___
“I will not participate in this. It’s ridiculous!”

“Hermione, it was your idea!” Ginny laughed at her friend. “ You suggested holding an
auction to raise funds.”

“An auction, yes! For things. Books, antiques, furniture! Not people!” Hermione huffed,
indignant.

It was true, she had suggested holding an auction. However, when the idea was taken up by
the committee, they’d completely ran away with it. Auctioning off people for dates. It was
barbaric.

“Ah come one, Hermione, it’s all a bit of fun. Imagine, we could both get lucky with a date
tonight.” Ginny grinned giddily.

“How can you be so happy about this? Harry is in the auction!”

“And I fully intend to purchase him. Maybe.”

“Ginny!” Hermione wasn’t sure how to react to her friend’s blasé take on what was going on.
“Imagine Harry is being bought by someone else, how would that make you feel, hm?” She
raised an eyebrow.

“It’s fine. Loosen up, you. It’s for charity. Whoever gets Harry will go for one dinner with
him. That’s it. It’s not like they’re getting the shag of their lives for their bid.”

“How will you even know you’re bidding on the right man?” Hermione looked at the auction
brochure, one of which was laid out for every bidder t. There were no names or photos,
merely lot numbers and a description of personality, likes, and dislikes. Nothing at all
indicated who was who.

“I won’t. That’s the fun of it. How exciting, don’t you think? It’ll be worth going on a blind
date for charity.”

Hermione harrumphed and went back to studying the lots, trying to determine which one
might be Harry or Ron.

Lot#01: Polite and soft-spoken, a charming young man with underlying strength.

Lot#02: Cheeky and rambunctious, this young man will make your night unforgettable.

Lot#03: Artistic and athletic, this energetic young man loves Quidditch and a good laugh.

Lot#04: Strong and tall, with a lopsided grin to melt your heart. Loves Quidditch and Chess.
Hermione rolled her eyes and stopped reading. It was demeaning. Looking around the
audience, it appeared she was the only one to think so. She had to stay though, after all, she
was the patron of the charity. With a sigh, she drank half the wine in her glass and hoped for a
quick top-up. Her hopes were answered and the glass refilled soon after.

As the auction began, she sat back and quietly observed how her friends, colleagues and even
some of their mothers, turned from polite witches to heckling, jeering Harpies. She shook her
head.

The lots progressed and one by one, Neville, George, Dean, Ron and Seamus were all
auctioned off in short order, amidst much hilarity. They all put on a good show, and dutifully
pecked the cheek of the women who’d won the bets.

By the time lot number nine - ‘Upstanding, thoughtful and handsome, book-loving charmer- -
was auctioned off, she almost placed a bid. Almost. She grinned when Percy was revealed,
freshly won by a girl named Audrey Higgins. Their awkward greeting led many in the room
to holler and whistle. They left, hand in hand, to their designated dinner destination.

“They’ll probably leave Harry to last,” Ginny told Hermione. “He’s the pièce de résistance
after all.” She wiggled her eyebrows, making Hermione laugh.

“So you’re keeping your galleons for last, are you?” Looking back at the programme, she
read the final two lots:

Lot#12: A charming dark horse - athletic and demanding. A real catch.

Lot#13: The evening’s wildcard.

“You’re probably right that he’s the wildcard. After all, none of the other descriptions fit him.
Look at lot eleven - ‘tall’. Or lot twelve - ‘charming’?” She chuckled at Ginny who looked
back with mock outrage.

“Are you saying that Harry is not charming?”

“He’s about as charming as a troll, Gin, and you know it. He lacks subtlety. He is demanding
mind. Is he a dark horse though?”

“Well, I’m keeping my bids close until the wild card. I want dinner with Harry.” Ginny
folded her hands on the table in front of her and watched as Hannah Abbot escorted lot
eleven: - ‘Athletic, tall, sassy, and world-class catch’ - Oliver Wood off stage.

The auction was nearly over and Hermione, after all her reservations, found she enjoyed
herself immensely. Throwing caution to the wind, she placed a bid for the next lot herself. It
was a silent auction, not that the room was in any way quiet, but nobody knew how much
was bid at any one time. For each lot, five minutes were given as a bidding limit. In that time,
bids could be written on magically enchanted parchment pieces that accompanied each
brochure. The bids would vanish off the parchment, and appear with the auctioneer. The
highest bid at the end of those five minutes won.
Her piece of parchment flashed red, meaning she was outbid. Ginny laughed next to her,
having seen the flash of red. “You’re bidding!”

“I’m the patron so of course, I’m bidding. It wouldn’t do for me not to participate. And you
were right. It did look like a lot of fun so far.” She scribbled another bid on the paper just as
the auctioneer called the end of that particular lot number.

Hermione’s parchment flashed green. She stared at it, aware that she’d won. Applause rang
out around her when she stood up to collect her prize. She easily navigated the three steps up
to the stage and turned to the audience while she waited for her mystery man to appear from
backstage.

The applause faltered, then grew louder in some parts. Hermione caught Ginny’s wide-eyed
expression and she knew, just knew that she’d accidentally won Harry. She turned with a
wide smile ready to greet her friend. But she found upon turning that she had to lift her head
higher to meet his eyes. Bright, grey eyes, accompanied by an amused smirk.

“Evening, Granger.”
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