It was late at night, Regulus and Ariel were alone together in the common room like it would often happen, except that it was later than usual. Ariel was sitting on one side of the green-velvet sofa facing the crackling fire while Regulus had his head laid down on his lap. The boy's hand was slowly brushing through his curls of raven hair, helping him relax.

"Bloody hell. I really drank too much..." groaned the younger boy.

His eyes were close and his brows were furrowed.

"The potion I gave you should start working on your head soon, don't worry. I got it at the best apothecary of Diagon Alley."

"I hope so hm..."

"Just relax..." he murmured.

"Talk to me. It helps me relax..." answered the boy.

"What do you want me to say."

"Can I ask you questions..?" asked hesitantly the boy as he opened his eyelids to look up at Ariel.

It was the first time Regulus drank this much so Ariel wasn't sure what to expect from him when he was in this state. But he still nodded, signaling him to continue.

"How did you know you liked boys?" asked the boy as he stared up at him. He didn't come up with this just now, it was something that had been in his mind for a while.

It was an unexpected and surprising question. It took Ariel a while to answer. He was staring back at him with his hand still in his hair.

"I just knew it."

"It was so easy?"

"Yeah. It was always that easy. I've just always disliked girls anyway."

Regulus hummed, thinking about his words before continuing. "Wasn't it hard to keep it a secret all this time?"

"What about you?" he quickly avoided answering this question as curiosity got the best of him.

"It wasn't because I only realized recently. I had never felt any real attraction to someone before you in fact," said Regulus with honesty.

This time, this statement wasn't surprising. By now he knew so well Regulus, the contrary would have been more surprising.

"Well as for me, it was really not that hard. Keeping it a secret, keeping up that façade, it was just my act. But recently, it became more difficult," he finished with a sour laugh as he diverted his eyes towards the fire and Regulus could see a hood of gloominess covering his blue eyes.

"Have you ever fallen in love with someone before?" 'before me' meant Regulus and Ariel knew it.

The blond boy laughed, "I thought I did with those guys that I fucked with. Not all of them of course. But it was only some flirts. I realized I couldn't fall in love with someone that didn't like me back."

His last sentence came with more sincerity. To make it more sincere he even looked down at Regulus who just stared back at him without much expression visible on his face. He was simply observing him, looking focused.

"What are you going to do?" he almost said 'we' but refrained himself from doing so.

"About what?"

"Marriage."

And Ariel shrugged in response. "It's not like I have a choice."

"This is sad living in our community. Don't you think?" he said thoughtful and Ariel thought about his words.

"In some aspects yes. But if I really hated this, I would have left a long time ago. Like your brother."

"But you didn't. Because you have good reasons."

"Exactly. I stay mainly for my parents. But I also agree with some aspects of our community. Pureblood supremacy, gaining more power for us, superiority for us as well. I kinda like the idea of changing society in that way. But it doesn't mean I despise Mudbloods and such of course. I don't really care about them."

Regulus knew Ariel wasn't one of those stupid pureblood supremacists who wanted to eradicate Muggles without him saying it out-loud but it was still interesting to hear.

"Maybe I think the same..."

"You probably think like Walburga. There's nothing wrong in admitting you hate Mudbloods, you've been conditioned that way..."

These words made Regulus frown a little. "Maybe that's true too... but I don't want to think like her anymore."

"Don't think like me neither then. Make up your own opinion, you're mature and smart enough for this. Don't get influenced by anyone, not even me."

And Regulus nodded at his words. "I chose by myself to join the Death Eaters."

"But you were a little influenced at home?"

"Of course, but I still took the decision myself."

"That's good. Don't let anyone tell you what to do, or what to think. Never. Do what you think is the best to do," seriously told him Ariel. He felt like there was no need to tell him this as Regulus was smart enough to think by himself but he knew Walburga Black could be a very persuasive person, she knew how to make good use of her obedient son.

"Okay. I will surely do that, don't worry... But when the time comes for me to marry, what can I do?"

"I'm sorry, we can't fight against this. That's our fate," said Ariel, a small sad smile placed on his lips in the meantime.

"I don't want to bother myself with a stupid girl."

"We don't really have a choice..."

"I wish that was different."

"And I wish they weren't all obsessed with giving birth to pureblooded children."

"But for the continuity of purity..." muttered Regulus.

"I know that's important. But I can't help being selfish and not wanting to marry and have children. They can count on someone else," sighed the boy with fatigue.

Regulus felt slightly worried about him in that moment. He placed one of his hands on his cheek, and the boy gazed at him with a sad look in his pupils. He knew Ariel felt more and more anxious as graduation approached even if he wouldn't show it. He knew his fate was coming close and he knew how much he hated that. And Regulus hated that too, but they couldn't fight against their fate as he said it before.

When the weather got nicer and warmer, Ariel wanted to bring Regulus out for strolls in the park of the castle but he was so busy with his classes and homework that it turned out to be hard to do. He was also using this as an excuse when girls would try to hang out with him. He was glad Rhea Sutcliffe had stopped talking to him, he didn't want to deal with her anymore. In order to spend as much time as possible with Regulus, Ariel would meet with him at lunch and at dinner, between classes and to study in a far corner of the library or late at night in the common room. They would fight against exhaustion and stay awake for each other.

One night, they ended dinner rather late. They had stayed in the Great Hall to chat a little but their chat lasted until curfew. They were still talking and even laughing on their way back to the common room. Regulus who had been so well entertained by the older boy had even forgotten about his patrolling session that night.

"I don't wanna go back so quickly..." whined Ariel with a childish look as he grabbed Regulus' hand in the corridor leading to their common room.

"It's already late and we spent the whole evening together..." replied the younger boy, trying to sound rational but failing to do so. The grin on his lips hinted at Ariel that he wanted to stay with him a little longer too.

"It went too fast. Don't you want to stay together with me for some time?" asked the boy with innocence laced to his voice even though he was smirking now.

Regulus, feeling a little attacked by his charisma, tried to mutter something but in vain.

"Say it. That you want to stay with me too..." said the boy again as he reduced the distance between them.

"I wanna stay with you..." breathed out Regulus and he only got a second to catch sight of his smirking lips before they started kissing him.

The younger boy closed his eyes and responded immediately. Ariel wasn't too soft nor too rough, he kissed him just perfectly. As the blond boy brought his body close to the wall, Regulus let his arms circle his neck to draw him even closer to him. They both felt a mix of intense emotions in them but as always it felt incredibly pleasant. However their moment of pure bliss was suddenly broken.

"What are you doing?" asked a feminine voice, in a tone of shock and surprise.

The boys quickly broke apart and stood a few inches away from each other. And when they looked up, they met the shaken form of Ivanna Flint. The girl was staring at them with bulged out eyes, pure surprise drawn on her features.

"Ivanna..." muttered Ariel, himself just as surprised, before gulping down the lump in his throat anxiously. He didn't even look at Regulus, he knew his expression must be similar.

"What the hell is happening between you two? I had doubts but I would have never thought you two..." she gave them a puzzled look as she stared between the two. "Just explain me what's happening."

"Well. I like men," started Ariel, trying to sound calmer even though he felt tense about admitting that.

"And I like Ariel," added Regulus without hesitation.

Both Ariel and Ivanna turned wide pairs of eyes towards the boy, staring at him with even more surprise. Ariel hadn't expected him to say this.

"Wow, well. What a surprise. So that's why you aren't dating any girl despite having them at your feet," said Ivanna with an amused smirk. She was back to being her usual self, the shock dissipated so quickly.

"That's why yes," sighed the blond boy.

"That was really unexpected. But as long as you two have fun, no problem!" she shrugged while giving them an amused look.

"Don't start this Flint," groaned the raven-haired boy.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said innocently as she walked past them. "We should go. I was looking for you in the first place."

"Wait Flint! You better not say a word about this," told her Regulus as he joined her, glancing at Ariel as he left him.

"I know, I know. I won't, don't worry."

"Ivanna." The girl turned around upon hearing her name being called. "Thank you," told her honestly Ariel and the girl smiled in return. It was one of the rarest time where he revealed his true self.

author's note: happy pride month everyone!! i hope y'all are having a good time and enjoying the good weather if it's sunny where you live. remember this is a safe place, not just for the LGBTQ+ but for everyone and every other minority! i hope you have fun reading this again, thank you for the reads and the votes 🫶🏻