Chapter 36 : Embarrassment

"Did something happen in between you and Hermione?" Pari asked.

I don't know what emotion my face betrayed but inside I was panicking. Why did she ask that? Does she know already? She does know a lot of things already, I won't be surprised if she knows.

"Why…do you ask?" I tried to ask as casually as possible.

"The entire evening, she kept glancing at you. You're hot so I'm not surprised that some girl fancies you."

"You think I'm hot?" I asked. My attempt at distracting her.

"Yeah! It's pretty obvious." She blushed.

"So, you're jealous?" I smirked at her.

She hit me on my arm. "I'm not jealous. In fact, in a very strange way, I feel pretty good about it." She told me with a glint in her eyes.

"You feel good that some girl may like me? That they may find me desirable? Do I need to be worried?" I'm completely confused here.

She bit her lip. "I feel good because the other girls can't have you no matter how much they desire you. That despite the fact that you have someone else who likes you, you choose to be with me. So, I feel good about that." She put her hands around my neck and kissed me lightly.

"Any day, I would choose you over anybody else." I whispered into her ear.

"I was kind of hoping you'd say that." She grinned. "So, now tell me did something happen?"

What do I tell her? I just got her back. I don't want to lose her over a kiss I didn't even want in the first place.

"Lie to her." The voice in my head said.

"What if she finds out from someone else?" I asked the voice.

"You've not told anybody about that kiss." The voice said.

"I've not. But what if Hermione told her friends?"

"Good thinking." The voice said.

I mentally smirked at the voice. "And Hermione's friends are dating my friends."

"Who are also friends with Pari." The voice stated the obvious. "Well, lie for now. If she ever finds out, you can handle it then."

It sounded plausible to me at the moment. I just got her back. "Nothing happened, Pari. Stop thinking so much."

"Okay. This is going to be really weird then." She said.

"Why would it be weird?" I asked her.

She was clearly nervous. All the mirth from before was gone. "Before I tell you, you have to remember that I didn't think I was going to see you ever again."

I nodded. What is she going to tell me?

"The night that I went back to Genieland, Tama Home and I kissed." She stopped waiting for me to say something.

I was feeling a bit angry, jealous and a small part of me was guilty as well. "Go on, Pari." I tried to be as impassive as possible. It's difficult to control my emotions around her.

She breathed out loudly. "When he kissed me, all I could think about was you. I sort of pictured you kissing me. I know, it sounds dumb but it's true. The next day at my freedom party, Tama Home proposed to me. I told him yes because I knew that's what I'm supposed to do. As soon as I told him yes, I realised that I'm in love with you. I thought, I was telling you I love you in my head but I actually told it out and Tama Home assumed that I was telling him that I love him."

I laughed out loud. I know, I'm not supposed to laugh but I just found it so funny.

"What are you laughing about? It's not funny. You've no idea how difficult it was when it was happening." She tried to get me to be serious. But I could only laugh harder. She glared at me and folded her hands on her chest. She waited patiently till I gained control of my laughter. I'm so glad I put the silencing charms on the door.

"Are you seriously telling me that you don't find it funny now?" I asked her.

She looked at the ceiling while thinking. Suddenly a smile appeared on her face. She laughed. "You're right, going through it was tough but now telling this story is actually funny." We both laughed a little while.

We were now lying on the bed. I had my hands around her body.

"So, we kissed after I said yes. After that party, I just couldn't bring myself to do it again." She told me when we stopped laughing.

"Was he a bad kisser?" I asked seriously.

She hit me with a pillow. "Shut up! He's pretty good actually. If I wasn't in love with you, I might have enjoyed when he kissed me."

"I still can't believe you realised that you love me after you accepted his proposal. Did you know, you could be a little slow sometimes?" I didn't want the situation to be serious.

"I've heard that before." She grinned at me. "You must be wondering why I told you this."

"Not really. But I've a feeling that you're going to tell me anyway." I chuckled.

"Draco, you're like really smart. You get me." I nodded at her sarcastic comment. "It's just that we're starting off new and I don't want to start something by hiding something from you. I want us to be completely honest with each other. I don't like to be lied to."

As much as I'm in awe with her, a part of me was so guilty. I want to tell her about the kiss with Hermione. If I tell her, I won't have to feel guilty anymore.

Before I could say anything, she continued. "I'm sorry, I didn't tell you/ask you before asking Tama Home to join me here. It's jus-"

"Pari, I understand. I know. You both have been together all this time. You need him around. He is your family."

She smiled in relief. "Are you saying you're completely okay?"

"I'm trying. He's important for you, so I'm willing to make the effort. Besides, I'm hoping we'd become friends so I won't be scared of having him around." I admitted.

"Thank you." She hugged me.

God, she's guilt tripping me even without knowing about it. I'm so embarrassed that she's willing to be honest and I'm not being equally honest with her. "Pari, I need to tell you something."

"Okay."

"Remember, I told that I used to like a girl before I met you?" I asked. She nodded. "Hermione's that girl. She has a crush on me. I didn't know anything about it until last night. We came back after the Halloween party and she kissed me but I panicked and pushed her off."

She looked like her eyes were trying to fall off their sockets. "Wow! Wait, why did you panic?"

"I felt like I was cheating on you." I confessed.

"I was gone, yet, you felt like you were cheating on me?" Why the tone of surprise?

"Well, I have feelings for you and while I was still in love with you, I didn't think I could just start off with someone new."

She kissed me. She kissed me like it was the only thing keeping her here. She got on top of me and deepened the kiss. Our lips and tongues were moving in tandem. Her hands were moving in my hair. One of my hands was moving up and down her spine while the other one grabbed her arse. I moved down to kiss her jaw line and neck.

"Draco Malfoy, never in my life did I expect you to say anything like that. I love you." She had the most peaceful look on her face when she said that.

"I love you too, Pari. I don't think, I can feel this way for anyone else." I pecked her on her lips.

"Although, I'm going to remind you that I don't like to be lied to. I'm going to let it go this time because you didn't initiate the kiss and also because we were not together at that time. But it can't happen again."

"Never again. I've everything I need in front of me." I told her. She blushed. "Thanks, Pari."

She looked at me with questions in her eyes. "Thanks for coming back. You took your own sweet time but it's worth it all now that you're here."

"Thanks for waiting. I don't know why you waited but you did and it's made me really happy." She kissed me.

"You're welcome. How about we get some sleep now? We do have classes tomorrow."

She nodded. "Good night." She got closer to me.

"Good night." It was a really good night indeed.

Pari

"Draco, I'll wait in the common room. You can have you're privacy while getting dressed." I called out. Draco was in the bathroom get ready for classes. I didn't wait for him to respond. I went into the common room. The others already left to get ready. Tama Home was sitting on the couch, he had his I-pod on him. He saw me come towards him and removed his earphones.

"Good Morning." He said. He sounded happy.

"Good Morning."

"Where's Draco?"

"He's getting ready."

"So, first day of classes." There was something in his voice. I couldn't figure it out.

"Yeah, I'm so excited." I jumped and hugged him. He laughed at my child-like excitement.

"You know most kids hate going to school." He said thoughtfully.

"Most kids are not us, Tama Home." I said plainly.

He was about to say something when Hermione Granger came out of her room.

She blushed when she saw us. "Good Morning." She squeaked at us. We replied politely. It was awkward for a few seconds. Neither of us knew how to start a conversation.

"Hmmm…" I said trying to think of something to say.

"We heard that you're the brightest witch of your year and you actually proved it right during the war." Tama Home started. "It's a huge honour to meet you."

She blushed. Awww…the girl doesn't know how to take a compliment. "Thank you." She said.

Before we could continue this completely awkward conversation, Draco came out of the room. He looked a little worried.

"There you are!" he exclaimed. "I thought you were gone again." He hugged me in relief.

"I told you I'll be in the common room, I guess, you didn't hear me." I really didn't know how to react.

"Oh!" He went red in the face. I saw Tama Home and Hermione exchange a look. They looked like they were out of place.

He pecked me on my lips. "We should get going. Don't want to be late on your first day, do you?"

"Hmmm…you can't attend classes in casuals." Hermione pointed out.

Tama Home and I flicked our fingers and our clothes turned into the Hogwarts uniform with the black ties. In my research, I read that the students who haven't been sorted into hoses wear black ties.

We were in the great hall having breakfast with Draco and the others on the Slytherin table when Professor McGonagall walked over to us. I noticed that Pans was having breakfast at her boyfriend's table.

"Good morning, Professor." We all wished her when she was close enough.

"Good morning." She said sternly. She seemed to be over the shock a little bit. She looked at Tama Home and I and said, "At Hogwarts, the new students are always sorted into one of the four houses."

"Professor, I've done our research on the school. We are ready to be sorted." I said excitedly.

She nodded. "Very well then. You both will be sorted tonight right before dinner. The seventh years have a free period first, so I would like to meet with the both of you after breakfast in my office. We'll discuss the subjects you want to take up and make a timetable accordingly. You can discuss with your friends regarding the subjects. Also the Minister of Magic and the Head of the Auror Department would like to meet with you."

"Sure, Professor. We'll be there." Tama Home said. "Professor, could you please tell the other professors to treat Pari and I as any other student?"

She nodded and left.

"Wonder which house you both will be put in?" Blaise asked.

"I'm guessing Ravenclaw." Daph said.

"That sounds like the most obvious choice." Theo said.

"Ya, because you both know a lot. And Ravenclaws value intelligence." Ad said.

"And you think the both of us are intelligent?" Tama Home asked.

They nodded.

"I don't care which house you're in just make sure you don't get sorted into Hufflepuff, Pari." Draco told me.

"Why not Hufflepuff?" I asked.

"It would be very embarrassing. I'm a Slytherin, I can't be caught dating a Hufflepuff. Never has a Slytherin dated a Hufflepuff. I'll be the laughing stock of the house."

"Will you leave me if I'm in Hufflepuff?" I asked.

"I'll be forced to leave you if you're in Hufflepuff." I knew he was joking. But would he really change his mind if I were put in Hufflepuff? Only one way to find out!

Please read and review! Thanks for reading! Enjoy!

Neepa :-)