A Wager

"You're a bit kinder than I imagined."

A few minutes later, Gemini was eating when Hermione sat beside him, holding a thick textbook.

Gemini picked up his napkin, wiped his mouth, and then said slowly, "For a man, especially me, kindness is an insulting word."

"Why?" Hermione knitted her brows, her small face full of confusion.

"If a girl who isn't very good-looking and has no talent confessed to me, how do you think I would reject her?" Gemini asked.

Hermione shook her head, somewhat bewildered.

"I'd say, 'You're a good girl, kind-hearted, but we're not a good match.'"

Upon hearing this, Hermione burst into laughter, the young girl wobbling back and forth like a roly-poly doll.

Gemini spread his hands innocently, "You can't expect me to lie and say, 'Actually, you're very good-looking and excellent, right?' I've never been good at lying."

"Pfft!" Hermione lightly scoffed, "You just like good-looking people."

Gemini shook his head, "I don't deny that. Everyone appreciates beauty. And it's not just about looks; temperament, knowledge, and ability are equally important. A beautiful appearance is a dime a dozen, but an interesting soul is one in ten thousand."

"It's not that I would hate that girl; I just think she's not worthy of me," Gemini shook his head. "From a moral standpoint, this is called self-love."

"Oh?" Hermione tilted her head noncommittally, "Then what do you think of Parvati? She's quite good-looking."

"I don't like Indian girls."

Hermione's mouth fell open in astonishment, "You actually... are racist?"

Gemini shook his head, "It's purely for aesthetic reasons. Besides, I dislike superficial people who focus on appearance."

"But you just said you like good-looking people," Hermione said, a little confused.

Gemini nodded, spread his hands, and said leisurely, "So, people become the very thing they once hated the most. It's an unavoidable part of growing up."

As he spoke, Hermione beside him erupted into a fluffy ball of laughter, her long, voluminous hair swaying as her shoulders shook.

Across from Gemini, Draco watched Hermione with disgust, looking extremely uncomfortable. However, because Gemini was sitting there, and seemed to have a good relationship with Hermione, it made it difficult for him to speak.

There were many like him at the Slytherin table. Gryffindor and Slytherin students were always arch-rivals, not to mention Hermione was Muggle-born.

Hermione seemed to sense the hostile stares from all around and didn't chat with Gemini for too long before quickly leaving.

"Are you good friends with her?" Draco asked Gemini, full of confusion.

"Pretty good, friends I guess," Gemini nodded, continuing his lunch. "You seem to have a strong opinion of her?"

Draco looked at Gemini in disbelief, "She's a Muggle-born, a lower-class witch, why should she be your friend? And look at her, she's like a seductive fox."

"That's an interesting way to put it..."

Gemini finished the last piece of roasted potato on his plate, wiped his mouth leisurely, then rested his chin on his hands, propping up his handsome face, and chuckled, "You, who consider yourself high-class, are spewing the filthiest words."

Draco's face stiffened, but he didn't dare to retort.

"Ever since I learned about the concept of pure-bloods in the wizarding world, I've had a question," Gemini asked. "How was the first wizard born?"

"After that, I consulted relevant materials and even asked Old Tom at The Leaky Cauldron. There are many theories about the origin of wizards, but they all boil down to a few possibilities."

"First, offspring of a Muggle and a magical creature, thus inheriting a certain amount of magic. For example, half-Veela are quite common now, aren't they? Second, someone who simply stood out among Muggles and awakened magic. Third, they suddenly appeared in the world."

As Gemini spoke, he let out a scoff, ignoring Draco's pale face, and spread his hands, continuing, "Let's assume the third possibility is also verifiable information. Without discussing whether these ancestral wizards were considered pure-bloods, it still doesn't avoid another problem."

"The first people with magical talent were very rare. For a tribe, clan, or society to grow, it's inevitable that they would need to absorb outsiders. So, the question is, Mr. Malfoy,"

Gemini asked with a smile, "Where did the population come from?"

Malfoy sat blankly on the stool. He had never considered such a question. In the education he received, he was pure-blood, naturally nobler and superior to other wizards.

Gemini didn't continue the discussion. Values are mainly based on self-perception; talking too much is useless.

"Since you're so proud of your bloodline, how about we make a bet?"

"A bet on what?" Draco asked.

"On our year's final exams," Gemini smiled. "I bet that none of the Slytherin first-years will have a higher total score than Miss Granger. Of course, I'm not included. How about it?"

Draco's face suddenly turned red. He felt insulted by Gemini. "What's the wager?"

To be fair, Draco was very intelligent, with good magical talent and grades. He didn't think he would lose to a Muggle-born girl.

"Hmm... if it's too high, you might not be able to afford it, but if it's too low, it would tarnish the name of your Malfoy family..." Gemini thought for a moment, then waved his hand. Fifty gleaming Galleons clattered onto the table in front of them, immediately attracting a large crowd of onlookers.

"Fifty Galleons, how about it?" Gemini asked with a smile.

Fifty Galleons was not a small sum; it was equivalent to a month's income for a low-level worker in the wizarding world. Even for the Malfoy family's wealth, this was equivalent to more than a month's pocket money for Malfoy.

"I bet!" Draco accepted the wager almost without hesitation.

The commotion attracted the attention of other students in the hall, and soon, the bet spread throughout the school, causing quite a stir.

"How can you gamble?"

A short while later, Hermione found Gemini again, asking indignantly, "And fifty Galleons! You only exchanged five hundred Galleons in total. If you spend like this, you'll quickly become a pauper. What will you do for the next few years?"

"I thought you were unhappy because I involved you, and I apologize for not telling you beforehand."

Gemini smiled gently, "Thank you very much for your concern, but don't worry about the money. I still have over seven million pounds in my savings. Even if I run out of Galleons, I can exchange more next year."

"Seven hundred thousand pounds?" Hermione's small mouth gaped in astonishment. "Where did you get so much money?"

"Earned it through business," Gemini said concisely. "So, as an apology, if I win the bet, I'll give you the Galleons I win."

Hermione quickly waved her hands. "You trust me so much, I should be thanking you. Besides..."

Unconsciously lowering her head, Hermione's small face flushed. "I heard you bet him because he badmouthed me. Thank you."

As soon as she finished speaking, Hermione quickly turned and ran away.

Gemini watched Hermione's retreating back and smiled gently. "I was just stating a fact."

Thanks to reader jokim for the 10,000 reward, Victor Liu for the 10,000 reward, Yu Shi Kun for the 2,000 reward, Meng Dong Bu Xiao Zhai Xing Shi for the 1,500 reward, Xiao Feng Can Yue for the 500 reward, Rachel Gardner for the 1,500 reward, Gun Gun Chao Zheng Yi for the 1,500 reward, and all other readers for your rewards, sniffle, hiccup~ I love you all so much~