Snape makes a bet with Professor McGonagall about Draco and Hermione not getting together.

As the new school year began at Hogwarts, Professor Snape was feeling particularly smug. He had made a bet with his colleague, Professor McGonagall, that Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger would never become a couple.

Snape couldn't imagine what Hermione, the brightest witch of her age, could possibly see in Malfoy, a spoiled brat from a pureblood family. And as for Malfoy, he had always been insufferably arrogant and condescending towards Hermione.

But despite Snape's confidence, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern when he observed how much time the two were spending together. They were partners in nearly every class and often seen walking together around the castle grounds.

It wasn't until one day when Snape overheard a conversation between Hermione and one of her friends that he realized he might be in trouble.

"I can't believe it," Hermione gushed. "I never thought I could fall for someone like him."

Snape's heart sank. He had lost the bet.

But as he watched the way Draco and Hermione looked at each other, he couldn't bring himself to feel too disappointed. He had seen enough in his years at Hogwarts to know that love was unpredictable and could make even the most unlikely pairings work.

So when Professor McGonagall came to collect her winnings, Snape simply handed over the gold with a slight smile and a nod towards the happy couple. He knew that they had overcome all odds to find true happiness together, just as he had once done with Lily Evans long ago.