Chapter 37 : Interrogation

After breakfast Pari and I made our way to the headmistress's office. Though there was no apparent reason, I still felt a little nervous. Why would the Minister of Magic and the head auror meet us? Professor McGonagall did mention informing the ministry about us being here. But we don't mean any threat.

"Pari, who's the British Minister of Magic now?"

She closed her eyes for a moment. "It's…Hestia Jones."

"And Kingsley Shacklebolt is the Auror Head right?"

"Yes. Why are you asking?" Pari asked.

"I don't know. I'm nervous."

"Why are you nervous?"

"Hmmm…let's see! We didn't tell anyone about us being here. It's whole different thing, it wouldn't take them more than a few seconds to find us. And now we're going to be questioned about our existence by wizards and witches. You do remember that they can be extremely adamant and completely lack imagination."

"I remember. But this is the price, we have to pay so I can be with Draco." She said cheekily.

"And why am I paying the price along with you?" I asked her.

"You're my best friend. Did you really think that if I was joining school, I was going to do it without you? We're partners in crime, remember? Besides maybe after meeting us these witches and wizards may learn how to loosen up a little." She winked.

I laughed. "Actually, it's a good thing, you've me here. You would have screwed it all up and scare the people here." I poked her.

"What do you mean?"

"After you and Draco went to his room, his friends proceeded to tell me how you made your 'grand entry'. What were you thinking?"

She looked a little embarrassed. "I wasn't thinking. It was completely spontaneous. I didn't mean to scare anybody."

It's not the easiest thing to watch Pari being so in love with Draco. But I've never seen her be so happy. It's a small price to pay to see her happy. Though, I've accepted this, it doesn't mean I'm not jealous of them.

"Well, let's keep the spontaneity in our pockets for a while." I suggested and she nodded in agreement.

"Enter." We heard Professor McGonagall's voice say when we knocked on her door. "Mr. Tama Home and Ms. Pari, I'm glad you both are here. This is Hestia Jones, the minister of magic and this is Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Auror department head." She looked at them and said, "This is Ms. Pari and Mr. Tama Home."

We shook hands and exchanged greetings.

"I don't want to beat around the bush. Let's just get down to business." Mrs. Jones said. She sounded like a woman who wanted get things straight and out of the way. "Please take a seat."

Pari and I exchanged a look and took a seat. I wonder if she's thinking what I'm thinking.

"Dude, why is she being so serious?" I heard Pari's voice in my head. I just looked at her and smirked.

"What exactly are you both?" Mrs. Jones asked. Boy, she was really serious about not beating around the bush!

I heard Pari snort. "We're both genies." I answered.

"It can't be true. Genies don't exist. You both must have tampered with some sort of dark magic to be able to float into a room. And not to mention break through the Hogwarts' wards." Mrs. Jones insisted.

I really wanted to laugh. "Being turned into a genie is definitely a form of dark magic but we didn't do it. But genies do exist because we're in front of you."

"So, you admit to using dark magic?" Mr. Shacklebolt asked. He sounded so grave.

"I'm really getting tired of repeating that genies exist. Why is it that only the wizarding world is so un-accepting towards the things they don't know about? The people you call muggles are more open to all this. I won't say accepting but open. You guys are supposed to be a part of the magical community, how can you be so close-minded? Sorry, I mean, narrow-minded."

"You both can put under arrest for using dark magic." Mrs. Jones informed us.

We both laughed so hard. "We don't come under your jurisdiction." I informed them. "And besides, to put us under arrest, you'll have to catch us. Which…may prove to be…a bit of a problem."

Pari flicked her fingers and all possible books on the British Magical laws appeared on the table. To say, the others were shocked is a total understatement.

"I hate to admit this but if I had to put myself in a category as per the ministry standards, I guess, Tama Home and I will be categorised in the Being Division of the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures." She flicked her fingers while talking and one of the books on the table open to the page she was talking about.

"But we are not really listed." I said. "Though, I personally feel that you have no control over magical creatures because the ministry can be in charge of only humans. You can't put down laws for creatures which don't even understand the meaning of law."

"We are not here to discuss your personal opinions on the laws in place." Mr. Shacklebolt told us.

"Are their other genies among us?" Mrs. Jones asked.

We started laughing again. When we were able to control our laughter, I said. "We didn't mean to offend you by laughing. We're not laughing at you but at the thing you asked."

"You made us sound like we're aliens." Pari added.

"What are aliens now?" Mrs. Jones was completely fed up.

"Inhabitants of other planets or other celestial bodies." I answered. They looked pretty surprised.

"We are going out of topic. Why are you both here?" Mrs. Jones asked.

"Mrs. Jones, I met Draco Malfoy over the summer and I fell in love with him. We are in love with each other. And Tama Home is here because he's my best friend."

"We mean no harm. We are not going to use our magic unless it's necessary. We are non-violent. Even if we got out of line, I'm sure the Genie Council will summon us even before you could get to us."

"Genie Council?" Mr. Shacklebolt asked. I just nodded my head.

"Tell us about the genie council." Mrs. Jones ordered.

"We are not at the liberty to discuss details about the genie council or other genies. There's a reason why you don't have a lot of books about genies." I told them.

"It's because we destroyed most books containing accurate details about genies or making somebody a genie." Pari said.

"As long as we don't have any issues with you both, you can stay here." Though she didn't sound convinced Mrs. Jones gave us her permission. Like we needed her permission.

"Thank you." We both said.

We discussed the subjects with McGonagall. She told us in brief about each subject. We listened patiently. We didn't know which subjects to choose. In the end, we chose all the subjects.

"But you won't be able to attend all the classes. The optional subjects classes take place at the same time." McGonagall informed us.

"We have an idea for that. One week, we'll attend two optional subjects and the next we'll attend the other two. But we'll pick up the homework for all the subjects. Don't worry about that, Professor." Pari suggested.

"If you spoke to the professors about this, I'm sure they'll be fine with this arrangement." I added.

"How will you catch up with the subjects?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Genies have photographic memory. So, once I read the text book, I'll be able to work through it." I told her.

She looked sceptical. Pari said, "Professor, why don't we do this till the Christmas break. In case, any of the professors are not satisfied with our performance and assignments, then we'll drop that particular subject."

"That's fair enough." McGonagall finally said.

"We'll not let you down." Pari said.

I saw a hint of a smile on her face. "You both may leave now." Professor McGonagall ordered.

We nodded and left.

Pari

Before leaving the office, I glanced at Dumbledore's portrait and he winked at me. I smiled at him and left.

"That was easier than expected." Tama Home mused.

"I think, Dumbledore must have something to do with that. He must have them convinced."

"Sounds plausible."

I nodded. "Now it's time for class." I said excitedly.

Before we left, Draco had already told us that Charms was the first class. He told us the Charms class was on the third floor. We found Draco with his friends waiting outside the classroom.

"How did it go?" Draco asked nervously.

"It was okay." I said.

"We ended up laughing at the minister." Tama Home added. "So, I don't know if you categorise that as okay."

"You both did what?" Blaise asked.

"Hestia Jones is a no-nonsense woman." Draco said. "She would have definitely not liked that." The nervous tinge was still there.

"She spoke to us like we were a couple of aliens." I spoke exasperatedly.

They looked confused. "What are aliens?" Daph asked.

I huffed. "Daph, Aliens are people from other planets or any other galaxy. The muggles call them aliens." Harry explained.

"There's life elsewhere?" Blaise asked excitedly.

"No. But muggles are trying to find life on other planets. They've sent space shuttles here and there. They've found traces of water on Mars." Hermione said.

"Muggles have gone to other planets?" Theo asked. "Man, I want to go as well. What fun!"

"Seriously, The wizarding community is the least imaginative community ever. The next you're going to tell is that no here has watched E.T."

"You've watched E.T?" Hermione eyes sparkled.

"Of course. It's like one of my favourite movies ever." I told her.

"I love that movie. It's beautiful." Tama Home said.

"I completely agree with you. I had to watch it in bits and pieces. My uncle and aunt would never let me watch television for a long stretch of time. But I really loved it." Harry said. I felt bad for the guy.

The four of us quickly started discussing the movie. We also found out if we have any other common favourites.

"It's really sad they don't have movies in the wizarding world. It's a shame." Harry said.

"I catch up on movies during the summer vacation." Hermione said.

"Ummm…not to interrupt your really interesting conversation but will the four of you explain what you guys are talking about?" Ron asked.

The four of us were about to answer but Professor Flitwick open the class door. Professor Flitwick made Tama Home and I introduce ourselves to the class.

"Hi, I'm Tama Home. I was born in Japan. Pari and I are genies." There was a collective gasp from the class. Thank God, no one said 'but genies don't exist'. "I've been around for more than 3,500 years. I became a free genie recently. So, I don't have to be stuck to my lamp anymore." He gave a nervous laugh. If this were Genieland, genies would be rolling on the floor with laughter. "I guess that's it."

It's my turn now. "Hi, I'm Pari. Like Tama Home, very effectively pointed out, I'm a genie as well. I was born in India. Whatever is Tama Home's age, I'm like 100 years younger than him. I'm sorry for scaring all of you last night. It wasn't my intension. Tama Home and I are best friends so I asked him to join Hogwarts with me. As you all figured out, I'm dating Draco Mafoy."

"Too much information." Theo shouted from the back.

"Right! You didn't need to know that. I'm a free genie too. I don't know if there's anything else, I'm supposed to say." I look at the Charms Professor.

"That's enough, Ms. Pari." Professor Flitwick said.

Professor Flitwick taught us about some advanced charms. While the others had to use theirs wands to perform the charms, we had flick our fingers. The professor was a little wary of us. The rest of the classes were similar. The professors had no clue how to deal with us. Some even looked scared. I had this desire to reach out to them and tell them I would not hurt them.

Finally, it was dinnertime. I'm so excited for the sorting. Professor McGonagall caught us before we entered the Great Hall.

"You both will enter the hall when I say so." She said. We nodded. "If we're going to this, we might as well do it how it's always done at Hogwarts." She smiled. She's warming up to us.

"I like the sound of that." Tama Home said.

"Let's go now."

The hall went quiet when we entered together. Professor McGonagall reached the raised platform where there was a stool with the sorting hat on top of it. She turned around to face everyone.

"Good Evening." Professor McGonagall started. "We have two new students joining the seventh year. The sorting of these students will begin now."

I liked the fact that she didn't announce it to everybody that we were genies. She must have thought it's our choice if we want to share it. Or maybe, she didn't want to scare everybody.

"Ms. Pari, please come here." She said.

I stepped up and sat on the stool. She placed the hat on me.

"Hmmm…interesting mind. Never before have I had the pleasure of being on such a head. You'd do good in any of the houses." The Sorting Hat spoke on my head.

For a moment, I forgot I wanted to tease Draco. "Blue is my favourite colour."

"Ravenclaw will be a good place for you. Your talents will bring the house a lot of recognition."

"Not Ravenclaw. It would be the most obvious choice. Hufflepuff. You think, I'll be good in Hufflepuff?"

"That's a very different choice for someone like you. It's a curious choice."

"Yes, it is." I smirked.

"Alright then, if you've already made your choice. You'll be in… HUFFLEPUFF!"

Draco

Did that stupid old hat just say Hufflepuff? My girlfriend's going to be in Hufflepuff? She's supposed to be put in Ravenclaw.

I watched as Pari smugly walked towards the Hufflepuff table. The Hufflepuffs cheered. The seventh years who got to know her in the classes shook hands with her. Her smug expression gave it away. She, so, did this on purpose. But how can she tamper with the hat?

"RAVENCLAW!" I heard the hat place Tama Home in the 'intelligent' house. The Ravenclaws cheered and shook hands with him as he took his place on the table.

"So, are you going to leave me now?" Pari asked me when I caught up with her after dinner. Mock worry laced in her voice.

"You know the answer to that." I smirked.

She lost some of her cool. "Not really! In the morning you told me that you'd leave me if I was put in Hufflepuff."

I put my hand around her waist and pulled her closer. "Nothing can make me leave you. Not now, not ever." She smiled. "You did it intentionally, didn't you?" I accused her.

"Totally! You should have seen your face." She started imitating my supposed expression.

"You can mock me all you want, babe! It doesn't bother me." I said nonchalantly.

"Good! Because, I'm going to be doing this for a long time." She wriggled her eyebrows at me. "I've to go now. Ernie McMillan is going to show me the way to the common room."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Like, you don't already know."

"I do. But sometimes, it's just nice to pretend not to know everything." She pecked me on my cheek. "I'll see you later. No matter where my room is, I'm going to be sleeping next to you every night." She walked away.

Just before the turn, she turned back and winked at me. As she turned at the corner, I couldn't help the goofy grin that spread across my face.

Sorry, I've been gone for so long! Thanks for waiting patiently for an update! Just to make up for not posting for so long…I've got a treat for you!

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Neepa :-)