Chapter 29: The Truth (V-Day 3)

Blaise and Rashida sat playing around with the new camera that Mashika had gotten her daughter while they were in Diagon Alley. Blaise loved his gag gift of the crown and scepter, and wore our proudly as they snapped photos of each other.

"I still can't believe we almost got thrown out the restaurant like that." said Blaise, reminiscing on the events of the dinner that Akil and Mashika had taken them on.

"I can." sighed Rashida, rolling her eyes. "My dad has a serious issue with his temper, especially when it has to do with defending my mom."

They were speaking on what had transpired at a restaurant, where Mashika had a hard time pronouncing a British word and the waiter had gotten a bit snooty with her. Akil didn't take kindly to the rudeness, and almost flipped a table and royally hex the waiter for his behavior. It wasn't until they found out that Mashika was of noble blood that they let them not only stay, but also not have to pay for their food.

Other than that, the night had been great. Akil and Mashika enjoyed Blaise immensely, approving of the wizard that was dating their only little girl.

"I still can't believe what Pappa asked you." said Rashida.

"Why?"

"Because, it's such a heavy question, don't you think?"

Blaise looked over at his girlfriend. Indeed it was a heavy question, however, it had been on his mind before Rashida's father had asked it.

After dinner, they went by Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour for dessert. As they were eating, Akil had asked Blaise what was in store for the future when it came to their relationship. Rashida didn't hear what Blaise had said because the two men walked off to discuss things in private.

*FLASHBACK TO EARLIER THAT EVENING*

"I'm not sure if I'm understanding your question fully, sir." said Blaise, shocked that he was just asked that question.

"It's easy enough to answer, I would assume." said Akil. "Do you see a future with my daughter?"

"To be perfectly honest sir, I didn't even see this with Rashida." answered Blaise truthfully.

"Oh?" asked Akil, eyebrow raised.

"We didn't get on in the beginning. I had perused her for selfish reasons if I'm too be totally honest with you. She sensed it from the start and would be simply vile to me. However, her actions taught me a lot about myself. They helped me. Changed my ways."

"Then, when she told me about that guy Nafume, I-"

"She told you about that?" asked Akil, surprised. "That's pretty big. She barely wanted to tell us when it happened. You can imagine as a father what I wanted to do to the punk."

"Well, I confronted him. I ended up knocking him out. Not my proudest moment, but I didn't take kindly to him insulting Rashida the way he did."

Akil laughed loudly at Blaise's admission, giving him a pat on the back.

"Don't tell the ladies, but I'm happy someone gave that ignoramus want for."

Blaise couldn't help but smirk. "Thank you sir. I learned a lot from him too actually. I didn't want to be like that with Rashida. She's really special to me."

"Shi-Shi is a special girl." said Akil, nodding.

"I'm not completely sure what the future will hold for me and her sir, but I do know that I want her to be a part of mine." said Blaise sincerely.

Akil smiled a knowing smile. Blaise may not have knows what he and Rashida's future was. But he could look into the boy's eyes and tell what it would be.

*END FLASHBACK*

"So what did you tell him?" asked Rashida, pulling Blaise out of his reflecting.

"I told him I planned on knocking you up before marriage with at least two of my kids before having a shot gun wedding and then leaving you when the oldest started Hogwarts." joked Blaise

Rashida laughed. "You're an ass, do you know that? But you're my ass, so I guess I'll put up with it "

"You have no choice but to. You crowned me. I'm your king now."

"And what does that make me?"

Blaise took the crown off his head and placed it on Rashida's.

"My queen of course." he said, kissing her on the cheek.


Harry hadn't interacted with Pansy all day. He had seen her at mealtimes, and the couple of classes that they had together, but Pansy had seemed to not want to speak to him. She seemed distant, cold, downtrodden. He didn't like it, not one bit.

She didn't meet him after dinner for flying, which really bothered him and showed that something had to be wrong.

'Maybe she's just nervous.' he thought. 'She did want to do this tonight.'

True, Harry and Pansy had agreed to have sex that night, but Harry was starting to have second thoughts about it. He felt at if Pansy really wasn't ready. He himself doesn't feel ready either.

Sure, he had lost his virginity to Cho his 5th year, and had had sex many times after that, but the fact that this was going to be special, the fact that he would be with someone he truly cared about, made him nervous.

As he approached Pansy's door, he felt air catch in his throat. He had never been so unnerved before. He swallowed the lump, whispered the password to the doorknob, and opened the door.

There he saw Pansy, sitting on her sofa, staring at the flames in her fireplace, still in her uniform. The fire put off a glow against Pansy's face, making her shine.

"Hey." said Harry, closing the door.

Pansy looked over at him and then back at the fire. She sighed. This was going to be hard.

"Are you okay?" asked Harry as he sat beside her.

"I'm fine, Harry." she lied. "Just a bit tired, that's all. Long day."

"I know what you mean." said Harry. "Especially with Potions."

"Please don't remind me of that." groaned Pansy, hands fidgeting with her skirt. "Potions was very complicated for me this morning."

"Really? What did you do today?"

"We brewed Amortentia." said Pansy, quietly.

"I remembered Shape showing it to us sixth year." said Harry. "I believed I smelled treacle tart, my Firebolt, and some kind of flowers, though I couldn't exactly place them. I wouldn't think I would be attracted to flowers."

"Most boys aren't." said Pansy, trying her best to lighten the mood.

"So did you make a miscalculation pt something with the brew?"

"No. I got it just right, apparently. It's just..." Pansy hesitated, not knowing if she should tell him.

"What happened? What did you smell something weird?" asked Harry, concerned.

Pansy took a deep breath. Being brave was not in her nature, but she had to get it out. "I smelled lilies, the lotion my sister and brothers wear, and...and you."

Harry gulped. "Me? Really?"

"At first I thought it was indeed simply Quidditch, but there was more to it than that, it was just...you. The way you smell when you get off the field."

Harry scrunched up his nose. "After practices and games? I smell gastly." he said.

"Not to me." blushed Pansy.

Harry couldn't help but start to feel warm inside. "So what does that mean?"

"It means that we have to end this charade." said Pansy, her voice shaky.

Harry warm fuzzy feeling quickly ended. "What are you talking about, this charade."

"Oh Harry, don't patronize me!" shouted Pansy, standing up. "I know what's going on, I've always known! Right from the bloody start!"

Harry felt as if his heart dropped down to his stomach. "You knew?"

"I overheard you and the boys talking about it. I knew. We knew Harry."

"Its...I mean I..."

"Are you trying to find a good excuse for your bullshit, Potter?" snapped Pansy.

Harry cringed at her referring to him as his last name again. "Okay, yes. I'll admit it. There was a bet, and I was all for completing it, but things have changed, Pansy, they really have."

"You're right, they have. I actually have real feelings for a prat that only wants me for my body!"

"That's not it, not now! Please Pansy, I don't just want sex from you anymore!" yelled Harry, standing up and taking Pansy's hands.

Pansy snatched away from his grasp. "You don't know what you want from me!"

"I just want you! Not just your body. All of you. I really care about you."

Pansy wanted to believe him, she really did. But she couldn't bring herself to. The damage had been done a long time ago, and she herself had allowed the pain to grow bigger and bigger.

"I can't do this." she whispered.

"What? What are you talking about? I know you're not going to stand there and-"

"I can't do this with you! I care about my feelings way too much to allow you any note inside of me than you already are. I did this, I let you hurt me."

"Don't blame yourself, Pans, I shouldn't have been a dumbass and made such a selfish bet. I didn't know that...that this would happen." said Harry, gesturing back and forth from himself to Pansy.

Her heart was crying out to him. He seemed sincerely sorry for what he did, and he seemed like he cared. As much as she wanted to fall into his arms, forgive him, and lay with him for the rest of the night, she had promised herself not to allow him to believe that he could do this to her and get away with it.

"I'm sorry. I can't do this. You need to go." whispered Pansy, eyes shut tight.

"Pansy, what-"

"It's over, Harry. Please don't make me repeat myself" she said, looking at the floor. To look into his vibrant eyes would completely dismantle her.

Harry felt as if he had been his simultaneously hit with about 10 bludgers to the chest. He reached out to Pansy's cheek, who in turn moved her head quickly away from his hand. One touch and she would fall to pieces.

Harry couldn't take it anymore. He turned and hurried out of Pansy's common room and headed to Gryffindor Tower.

Pansy collapsed onto the floor and started to cry. She had set out to break his heart, but at the same time, she had broken her own as well.