The week had been long and full of classes, but it was finally Friday. I only had a few classes today:

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Muggle Studies

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Transfiguration

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Arithmancy

12:00 AM - 1:30 AM
Astronomy

It was currently six o'clock, and I was at the Quidditch field, doing laps on my broom. I'd been at it since four. I was tired of studying all day and bored. Theo and Enzo were at the library "studying"—or at least that's what they told me. I later saw them sitting with two girls from Ravenclaw. Daph was at the Owlery with her younger sister, writing to their parents, as they always did on Fridays.

I didn't even consider hanging out with Draco because that usually involved something related to Potter. Blaise was off in some extra classes he enjoyed taking. Adrian had a prefects' meeting, and as for Miles—well, I wasn't sure what he was up to, but I didn't want to bother him.

I was sweating from all the laps and loops I'd been doing, zooming in and out of the hoops at such a speed that everything blurred around me. The wind against my face and hair felt good, its coolness leaving me with a cold sweat. I should probably stop before I got dizzy. Then again, what would it matter if I went for a few more rounds?

I leaned into my broom, speeding up and cutting through the air.

This year had drained me—from the tournaments to the exams. I just wanted to go home, lie in my bed, and curl up into a ball. Maybe I'd focus more on Miles and me or spend more time with my friends. Hopefully, this year Dad would have a work trip to Italy—he usually had one every year, though last year was an exception.

I let my thoughts wander further.

Maybe I could talk to my parents and learn about my real ones.

I wonder what they're like.

Do I look like my real mom or dad?

Did they go to Hogwarts, or did they attend a different school?

Am I anything like them? Do we think alike?

What if they don't like me?

Is my birth name really Ariana, or did Amelia and Edward change it to match Adrian and Adel's?

I was pulled out of my thoughts by someone calling my name.

"Ariana."

I glanced around but didn't see anyone. The voice called again, this time more clearly.

"Ariana."

It was a boy's voice—definitely not Theo, Enzo, or Adrian. I turned toward the sound and finally spotted Miles, grinning at me with that boyish charm I always noticed in his smile.

I flew down to meet him in the middle of the field. If he'd been in the stands, I might've noticed him earlier. Hopping off my broom, I stumbled a little.

"You should really get new friends," he teased, walking over to me as I caught my breath. "And your sister wasn't much help, either."

I quirked an eyebrow at his comment. He slung an arm around me and took my broom so I wouldn't have to carry it.

"Yeah? And why's that?" I asked, glancing up at his side profile—honey-colored eyes, freckles dotting his nose and cheeks, lips soft and kissable. I leaned into his side, seeking the warmth of his body against my cold skin.

"Because Nott and Berkshire are no good," he began. "I asked them if they knew where you were, and they said something like, 'Last I checked, she was at the library getting another book.' Then Nott was all, 'No, no, Enzo, she was in the common room—wait, or was it the Great Hall?'

"I knew you weren't in the Great Hall because I'd just been there. So I left and searched the entire library. You weren't there. Then I checked the common room—still no sign of you. Eventually, I ran into Greengrass and asked her where you were. She told me the library again. I told her no, and then she went on this ten-minute rant about how she'd hex me if I ever hurt you."

Miles stopped for a moment and kissed the top of my head before continuing. "So I just promised her I wouldn't do anything."

By now, we were leaving the field and heading back toward the castle.

"And what does this have to do with Adel?" I asked, since he'd mentioned her earlier.

"Well, after Greengrass finished her rant, I spotted Adel sitting near a bookshelf. I asked her if she'd seen you, and she told me you were with Riddle."

"With Riddle? I was never with him" I repeated, dumbfounded making a note to talk to her later.

"Yeah. I was just as confused because you hate him. When I asked if she was sure, she said she saw you and Riddle by the lake after her last class. So, off to the lake I went, but—surprise—you weren't there. Finally, I decided to check the Quidditch field, and there you were, flying like a madwoman. You were so focused, you didn't even see me standing there for ten minutes."

"Oh, Miles, I'm sorry they made you go through all that trouble just to find me," I said sweetly, getting on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

"Don't worry—your kiss made it a little better," he replied, giving me a wink.

"Just a little? Not a lot?" I teased, nudging his side.

"Well, if it was on the lips, it might've helped a LOT more," he joked, wiggling his eyebrows.

Smiling, I wrapped my arm around his neck and pulled him into a soft, sweet kiss. His arms circled around me, pulling me close. His lips were warm and gentle as they moved with mine. For a moment, time seemed to stop.

When we finally pulled away, our foreheads rested together, and I couldn't help but giggle.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, his honey-colored eyes staring into mine.

"Oh, Miles, you don't have to say that," I mumbled, hiding my face in his chest.

He tilted my chin up with his fingers, making me meet his gaze. "No, Ariana. You're the most beautiful person I've ever met. And you know what? You're also a really good kisser." He wiggles his eyebrows.

His words made my heart melt.

As we strolled through the castle halls, the soft glow of torches lit our path. Miles kept an arm draped casually around my shoulders, his touch grounding and familiar. My broomstick was now slung over his other shoulder, making him look effortlessly cool despite the teasing smirk that rarely left his face.

"You know," he started, his tone playful, "I think I deserve another kiss for all the trouble I went through to find you."

I glanced up at him, raising an eyebrow. "Another one? Didn't the first one help a little?"

He chuckled, leaning closer until his nose brushed against my temple. "It did, but I think I need a lot more to fully recover."

I rolled my eyes, biting back a smile. "You're so dramatic."

"And yet, here you are, falling for it," he teased, grinning when I nudged his side with my elbow.

We turned the corner, approaching the entrance to the Slytherin common room. The cool green light from the torches along the walls cast shadows that danced across Miles' face, highlighting the sharp curve of his jaw and the mischief sparkling in his honey eyes. He was unfairly handsome, and he knew it.

"I was thinking," he said as we reached the hidden door, "maybe we should make this a regular thing. You fly around looking breathtaking, and I chase after you like a lovesick fool."

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "You'd get tired of that pretty quickly, Miles."

"Never," he said firmly, his voice losing its teasing edge. "Not when it's you."

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, I didn't know what to say. His gaze softened as he reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. The intensity in his eyes made my cheeks flush, but before I could respond, he smirked again, the playful Miles I knew slipping back into place.

"Besides," he continued with a grin, "someone has to make sure you don't overwork yourself. Can't have you collapsing midair." He was testing me for an accident that happened in my 2nd year. I was flying with Adrain and a bird hit me on the head making me blank out for a little while. Adrain was able to catch me nothing bad happened no injuries, no letter to my parents.

"I think I'm perfectly capable of managing myself," I replied, crossing my arms in mock offense.

"Sure you are," he said, leaning down slightly to whisper, "but I like taking care of you."

My heart skipped a beat at his words, but I quickly masked it with a light laugh. "Well, aren't you sweet?"

"You know it," he said smoothly, stepping aside to let me enter the common room first.

The familiar green and silver tones of the Slytherin common room enveloped us as we walked inside. The room was unusually quiet for a Friday evening, the usual crowd either out or already in their dorms. Miles set my broom against the wall before turning back to me with a crooked grin.

"Still owe me for all that effort, though," he reminded me, his voice low.

"Oh, do I?" I asked, stepping closer to him. "And what exactly do you want, Miles?"

He tilted his head, pretending to think. "Maybe a private chat in your room? You know, to discuss how unfair it was that I had to hunt you down like a treasure."

I rolled my eyes again but couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips. "Alright, fine. But don't expect anything dramatic."

"Me? Dramatic? Never," he said, holding his hands up in mock innocence before following me toward the dorms.

We climbed the stairs to my room, the quiet hum of the castle settling around us. Once inside, I lit a few candles with a flick of my wand, their soft glow making the space feel cozy and warm. Miles leaned casually against the doorframe, watching me with an easy smile.

"Nice place you've got here," he said, his eyes sweeping over the room before landing back on me. "Though it's missing one thing."

I raised an eyebrow, already anticipating his answer. "And what's that?"

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "Me."

I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me, shaking my head at his shamelessness. "You're impossible."

"Impossible to resist, maybe," he countered, grinning as he reached out to take my hand. "Admit it, Ari. You love having me around."

I rolled my eyes but didn't pull away, letting him intertwine our fingers. "Maybe I do," I said softly, looking up at him.

"You know," he started, his voice casual but teasing, "for someone who claims I'm impossible, you sure brought me up here without a fight."

I turned to face him, crossing my arms. "You insisted on being here, remember? I'm just humoring you."

"Humoring me?" he repeated his grin was mischievous. "I think you secretly wanted some alone time with me."

I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my smile. "You're ridiculous."

"Ridiculously charming," he corrected, closing the space between us.

Before I could fire back a retort, his hands gently cupped my face, and he leaned down, brushing his lips softly against mine. The kiss started tender and sweet, but as I leaned into him, it deepened, his arms wrapping around my waist to pull me closer. My hands found their way to his neck, fingers tangling in his soft hair as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss even more.

We stumbled backward toward my bed, falling onto it with a laugh as he hovered over me, his boyish grin making my heart race. "You know," he murmured between kisses, "I think this is the best ending to any Friday ever."

I giggled, pulling him back down. "You're so full of yourself."

"And you're completely smitten," he teased, his lips brushing against mine again.

Suddenly, the door swung open with a loud creak.

Daphne froze as she stood in the doorway, her wide eyes taking in the sight of Miles hovering over me, both of us breathless and flustered.

"Uh... I forgot my bag," she said slowly, pointing awkwardly to the corner of the room near my desk.

Miles rolled off me quickly, sitting up on the edge of the bed with a sheepish grin, while I scrambled to straighten myself, my face burning. "Daph! You could've knocked!" I exclaimed, tugging at my shirt to fix it.

Her lips twitched as though she was trying not to laugh. "It's my room too, you know. Besides, I wasn't expecting... that or for you to be here." She walked over, grabbed her bag, and threw a glance at Miles, who gave her a cheeky wave.

"Hi, Daphne," he said smoothly, not even bothering to hide his grin.

She rolled her eyes, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Hi, Miles. Nice to see you're... comfortable."

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Daph, please."

She laughed on her way out. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do! Oh, wait—never mind, I wouldn't do that," she teased, closing the door behind her.

The room fell into silence for a moment before Miles turned to me with a smirk. "So, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?"

I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. "You're impossible."

Miles leaned back over me, propping himself up on one arm as his other hand found its way to my waist. "Impossible to resist," he whispered, his warm lips brushing against mine once more.

I rolled my eyes playfully, but any witty comeback had died on my lips as he kissed me again, more insistent this time. His hand trailed up to my jaw, tilting my head slightly as he deepened the kiss. My fingers tangled in his dirty blonde hair, and I pulled him closer, feeling the warmth of his body pressed against mine.

We lost track of time, the world outside my dorm forgotten. Miles's lips left a trail of soft kisses along my jaw, then my neck, and I couldn't help the quiet gasp that escaped me.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured against my skin, his voice low and full of warmth.

I let out a soft laugh, pulling his face back to mine. "You've already said that."

"And I'll say it a hundred more times if I get to see you blush like that," he teased, his honey eyes dancing with mischief.

Just as his lips captured mine again, I pulled back slightly with a grin. "Don't tell Adrian," I said, half-joking, though my tone carried a hint of warning.

Miles chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Your secret's safe with me. But if he finds out, it's worth the risk."

I playfully smacked his shoulder, and he laughed, pulling me closer as we melted back into the moment, savouring every second together.

The hours slipped away without me noticing. The flickering candlelight had dimmed to a soft glow by the time I stirred, still cocooned in the warmth of Miles's arms. His steady breathing told me he was fast asleep, and as I turned my head to glance at the clock on my bedside table, my heart nearly stopped.

"Oh, no," I whispered, panic tightening my chest. Astronomy class was in less than twenty minutes.

Carefully, I wriggled free from his embrace, every movement slow and deliberate so I wouldn't wake him. Miles murmured something unintelligible in his sleep, and I froze. But he didn't stir further, so I slipped out of bed and hurried to my desk. Grabbing a scrap of parchment and a quill, I scribbled a quick note:

Had to run to Astronomy! Didn't want to wake you. Sweet dreams.

I signed it with a heart and placed it on my pillow, where he'd see it when he woke up. With one last glance at his peaceful face, I slipped out the door and dashed through the halls.

By the time I reached the Astronomy Tower, I was out of breath, my cheeks flushed from the mad rush up the stairs. I spotted Theo and Enzo lounging in their usual spot near the middle of the classroom and made a beeline for them.

"You two are the worst," I said, dropping into the seat between them. My voice carried a mix of annoyance and amusement.

Theo raised an eyebrow, clearly unbothered. "Good evening to you too, Ari."

Enzo smirked, already bracing for whatever I was about to say. "What'd we do this time?"

"Oh, I don't know," I said, folding my arms and giving them both a pointed look. "Maybe leaving poor Miles to wander the castle trying to find me? You knew exactly where I was."

Theo and Enzo exchanged exaggeratedly confused looks.

"Miles?" Theo said, his expression pure innocence. "Never heard of him."

"Who's Miles?" Enzo chimed in, his grin widening.

I rolled my eyes, fighting back a smile. "You're both impossible."

Before either of them could respond, the classroom door creaked open, and Daphne walked in, her bag slung over her shoulder. She glanced at me, her expression knowing, but thankfully, she didn't say anything as she took a seat nearby.

The professor's voice filled the room, and I did my best to focus on the lecture, though my thoughts kept drifting back to the boy I'd left behind in my dorm.

When class finally ended, I made my way back with Daphne, her sharp gaze catching my distracted state. "You've been quiet," she said as we stepped into our dorm. "Miles still on your mind?"

I didn't answer, my eyes immediately landing on my bed. Miles was gone, but in his place was a folded note resting on my pillow. My heart skipped as I crossed the room and picked it up.

Opening it, I saw his handwriting:

Are you a Slytherin? Because you've Slyther-in into my heart.

With much love your Miles

He'd drawn a little snake coiled into a heart at the bottom, and I couldn't help but laugh.

Daphne peeked over my shoulder and groaned. "Merlin, he's insufferable."

I tucked the note into my pocket, smiling to myself. "Yeah," I said softly. "But he's my kind of insufferable."

Hey lady don't hate me, okay? but I love Miles he's so cute hehehe but we all know this story is not his...😭 I was bored and was like I'm going to write something. I know this chapter has no Mattheo Riddle in it but it does have a lot of miles as you can tell😁 I have so much to tell you guys on what's going to happen but no I have to keep my mouth shut.😖Also, should I make a mood bord for Miles and Daph?  

Happy new years everyone

-Love yours truly Victoria. C