The small group eventually moved on to the actual dinner. When Ariel noticed Regulus in front of him, he thought the evening would be dull and long. The boy noticed the look of annoyance on Ariel's face as he sat down, and he could only think the same as him. Being in the same place as him was never enough, they needed to be close.

Coming to sit at the dining table also meant serious matters were starting, Ariel knew it. They - the men, sometimes accompanied by Walburga Black - slowly started discussing of their favorite subjects. The pure blood supremacy, the rise of the Dark Lord and politics, something more present than ever as they all knew. Ariel took part in the conversation when asked about his opinion, but he knew that was something for adults - real adults.

The blond boy had no other option than to eat quietly, while obviously stealing a few glances at Regulus from time to time. He too looked so bored. A feeling of tiredness hit him in the middle of the meal, Ariel started stretching his limbs under the table. He accidently kicked something and when he looked up Regulus was staring at him. 'Sorry' his lips mouthed. And the younger boy just shrugged. It was at this moment, the older boy thought he could make this dinner less boring. Coming back to his plate, he started stretching out one of his legs again, just enough so his foot could lightly hit what he could guess was Regulus'. The boy unsurprisingly looked up again, a questioning expression on his face while the blond boy smiled innocently. His foot caressed his leg up and down for a few seconds before he stopped again.

This new source of entertainment came back a few other times during the dinner, Ariel just enjoyed this slight teasing, he enjoyed having his little fun while everyone was focused on something else. Sometimes Regulus remained unbothered, sometimes he would play with his foot too, or, kick it, and sometimes he would only look up an stare deeply into Ariel's piercing blue eyes. He could swear so many emotions crossed his eyes, making it almost obsessive to look at him.

As the older boy stretched his leg again in the middle of dessert, something felt wrong.

"I felt something kick my leg," grumbled Lazarus Avery, sitting by Regulus' side.

Ariel stared at him, surprise displayed on his features before he stared at Regulus, quietly trying to contain his laughter as he had understood what had just happened.

The man's eyes eventually found Ariel who maybe looked too suspicious and the boy found back his calm rather quickly.

"I apologize, sir. I was just hm, stretching."

And the raven-haired boy found it hard to hold back his laughter once again.

By the end of the dinner, when the men were smoking cigars, sipping some old and expensive whisky and discussing money, charity, finances and such, Ariel spoke up.

"Father, would it be okay for me and Regulus to retire now?"

"Yes. Go," he only replied, barely looking up.

The women went back to the lounge to finish up the night with a cup of tea and some gossip. Regulus and Ariel just stayed to listen, as it was much recommended, but finding the time becoming long for them, the blond boy decided to leave.

"Let's go to my room," he only told him.

He followed him up to his room, closing the door behind him, and waited expectantly, leaning against it as he fixed Ariel moving around.

"What are you doing?" asked the boy as he watched Ariel getting rid of his blazer vest.

"Looking for capes," he answered as he directed himself to the closet.

"And what were you doing downstairs?"

Ariel's blue irises looked at him for a few seconds, catching his gaze.

"Passing time, trying to not feel bored, you know," he said in a casual tone as he retrieved the clothes. "Why?" and he was now smirking.

The younger boy smiled a little while shrugging. "No, nothing. It was funny when you..."

And the blond boy grunted a little while the other chuckled. He got closer, making Regulus  straightened up. They faced each other and Ariel started putting the cape on him while staring intently into his stormy, hypnotizing, grey eyes. With the hold he had on the cloth, he brought him closer before kissing him. Ariel was putting in so much force, with only a slight bit of his teasing but it made Regulus go weak. His arms went to circle his waist, bringing him closer.

"I'm staying tonight?" he murmured in a sigh against the older boy's lips.

"Yes..." replied Ariel while diving in again, kissing him deeply, with all his unsaid feelings, passion, desire and so much more.

This kiss unsurprisingly left them out of breath but they both didn't feel completed, fulfilled, yet. Staying away from each other all these weeks hadn't helped them, they had now this strong need to feel each other close. Ariel's burning lips trailed down his neck, leaving his hot breath brushing the sensitive skin - a sensation that had Regulus' whole body shivering - before he went back to kissing his lips.

A knock came to interrupt them. They detached and stared wide-eyed at each other. Regulus' hair had gone slightly messy, his cheeks were flushed and both were out of breath.

"Yes," came Ariel' response as he went back to find his cape, what he was doing in the first place.

Narcissa came in.

"Oh there you are. I was wondering where you two had gone," she told them nicely but her eyes were going from Ariel to Regulus rather quickly, as if she was trying to make out something between them. The older boy had started putting on his cape as Regulus tried to act as innocent and calm as possible.

"Why so?" said the youngest.

"Your mother wants to see you."

"Thanks for telling me Cissy," he looked back at Ariel as he answered.

"I'm ready," told him the boy as he caught his stare.

"What are you doing?" asked the blonde woman.

"Yes, what are we doing Ariel?" rejoined Regulus.

"Going out. It's snowing."

Wearing a fond smile on her face, Narcissa kindly said suddenly, "I'm so glad I introduced you two last year. You make such good friends now. I just realize now how much you two are compatible."

The boys stared at her, their eyes slightly widened in surprise at her statement.

"We are... compatible?" asked a dumbfounded Ariel.

"Yeah, you two really get along so well, your tempers match. I should have thought about this sooner."

"Oh, yes. I'm thankful you know, as I told you," replied Ariel, a more natural smile now placed on his features.

"Well, shouldn't we go down now? Your mother must be waiting," she said.

And they nodded, following her downstairs.

"Son come here," said Walburga Black once they were in the same room as the women.

"Yes, Mother," he answered in an emotionless, bored voice.

"Martha was asking if you were staying over tonight."

Regulus' grey eyes travelled from his mother, to Narcissa, Silvia Avery and then to Martha Malfoy, Ariel's mother.

"Yes. Yes, I'm staying."

She nodded and went back to her tea. Ariel then placed his hand on Regulus' back, leading him towards the exit.

Once they were outside, the cold hit them. It must have been be close to midnight by now. It was very dark. The blond boy used his wand to make out his way with Regulus sticking close to him, both for warmth and light. It was indeed snowing. Snowflakes were falling slowly from the dark, nighty sky, and were already covering the ground.

"What have you told Cissy?"

"Nothing much. She's completely clueless don't worry. It's just I told her some months ago about how delightful I was to have such an interesting and entertaining person close to me, and that I was of course grateful she introduced us."

"You told her that..." murmured the boy. His cheeks had turned hot, and red probably but he was glad it was so dark, so it remained invisible.

"I shouldn't have?" said Ariel, thoughtful.

"No, it's not what I mean. It just surprises me. I didn't know at all."

"Now you do," replied Ariel with a small smile.

They continued walking outside, and eventually started discussing other topics. It was something they had missed too. Being able to share either intelligent or light conversations, added with real interest, unlike trivial conversations they could have shared with their housemates while they were at school.

author's note: next chapter is uh... be prepared, i'm super scared of publishing even though i think it's pretty well done but this chapter... things happen