Daisy Parkinson wasn't the most hideous girl in the house of Slytherin. In fact, Ariel thought she was one of the least hideous. He now had a hard time determining if someone was good-looking or not as his eyes were stuck on one person and one person only. She was rather tall with long black hair that reached her waist, black piercing eyes, always a tight smile and an aloof expression and he was sure Daisy Parkinson was considered pretty among his housemates. She was seventeen like him and had just graduated from Hogwarts, which meant she was more ready than ever to get married.

Ariel knew he was a potential candidate to marry her, his father had already told him about that a few months ago. But he had mentioned so many girls in the meantime. Ariel knew Daisy. And not only from Hogwarts; he already had several occasions to court her. She had always been receptive to his charms, but looked so fake nonetheless. The blond boy only remembered how flat and uninteresting she was.

"Good evening Daisy. Are you having a good time tonight?"

"Good evening Ariel. I must say, much better ever since you're here," she answered, giggling.

And Ariel chuckled lightly to cover his sudden want to vomit.

"That's too kind of you Daisy. You know only your presence can light up the mood."

"You're being modest, but thank you anyway."

They exchanged wide fake smiles as they spoke, but it seemed so natural between them. Ariel disliked Daisy. He thought she was just another stupid girl who only wanted to get with him because of his good looks and reputation as a Malfoy. And that was true obviously.

As he made a light chat with her, his blue eyes found Regulus. He wasn't watching but he was in sight. And he couldn't be watching since he seemed into an entertaining conversation with Ariel's mother. It made him curious but he kept his focus on Daisy as she babbled some nonsense he had no wish to hear about. He was nodding his head to her every word but was caught up in his thoughts. Too caught up that he didn't realize Regulus was approaching them until Daisy stopped talking and the boy stood at their side.

"Daisy. Good evening."

"Good evening," she only muttered, the disappointment and irritation audible in her voice. She was clearly annoyed to see her interaction with Ariel put to an end so quickly

"Are you done talking yet?" he asked.

"I think yes. Isn't that right Daisy?"

"I... I... don't know."

"Oh, isn't that Parkinson here?" said an excited voice from behind.

Silas Flint came into view. "Hello guys. Good evening Parkinson."

"It seems like you found good company Daisy. I'm going to leave you then," quickly said Ariel was he took a hold of her hand and lightly brushed his lips against her knuckles before finally leaving, by the side of Regulus.

"You don't seem to like her very much."

"She's a pain," groaned an annoyed Ariel.

"I don't think you'll see her for the rest of the night at least."

Ariel felt somehow pained to hear how naive Regulus could be. Maybe he wouldn't see her for the night but having yet another interaction with that girl made him an even more potential fiancé for her. And so maybe he wouldn't see her for the rest of the night but he had now more chances to see her for the rest of his life. Which was a future far from being exciting.

"Anyway, what did you talk about with my mother?"

"Nothing in particular. She just told me you talked a lot about me..." he murmured looking at the older boy with a small smile which made him smile as well, and genuinely smile for the first time of the night. "And it made her happy since she thinks I'm a good boy."

"Yeah, I agreed with her when she said that."

And they laughed together. They didn't let go of each other for the rest of the night. Ariel often had this urge to kiss him every time his eyes fell upon his perfectly shaped lips that always seemed to be screaming to be kissed at every word he let out.

"Stop looking at me like you wanna devour me," muttered Regulus in a scolding voice after a while. He had his brows furrowed and looked a little irritated.

"I can't help it," answered Ariel while shrugging and wearing a fake guilty smile.

"What were you actually thinking about?"

"About how lonely I'll be in my bed tonight," straightforwardly told him Ariel.

Regulus looked surprised for a second before he let out a sigh. "You can always invite Daisy Parkinson..."

"Have you gone mad?" he exclaimed with fake shock before adding, more seriously, but smiling fondly at Regulus. "Nobody can replace you and especially not her."

The words surprised him again but he calmed down quickly and answered him quietly. "I'll come again then."

"Yes please. I don't wanna be sad and lonely in my bed," replied the blond boy with a grin.

Ariel never lied. At least not to Regulus. When he told him about feeling sad and lonely in his bed, he really thought it. He expected it. And he felt truly sad and lonely in his big bed, too big for him alone. It was too cold as well. Too cold without Regulus who was so warm. He was so warm and soft. And Ariel loved having him in his arms when he was falling asleep. That night he could hardly fall asleep. When had he become so attached to Regulus to the point that thoughts of him kept him awake at night or the lack of his presence didn't make him safe and comfortable enough to sleep.

Regulus was surprised he couldn't fall asleep that night as well. It was much later than usual and he was still turning and turning around in his bed, tugging on his blanket and looking for a warmth he couldn't find in this material. He missed Ariel that night. He missed his sweet kisses all over his face and shoulders - no matter how much he would complain about them -, he missed his strong and warm embrace, everything that made him feel safe and, loved. He wasn't sure if he was loved but at least he felt appreciated. But that night, unfortunately, this feeling didn't accompany him as he fell asleep.

Ariel woke up early the next day. So early that when he came down, his mother was still in her dressing gown, drinking tea and reading the Daily Prophet on the sofa of the living-room.

"Good morning Darling. Already awake?" she said looking up and offering him a smile.

"Morning Mother. I actually didn't sleep really well that night. That's why."

"Do you need a sleeping potion?" she asked, suddenly worried.

"No. No, it's fine. It never happens anyway," he told her reassuringly.

Ariel realized how bored he felt when he was all alone. By the beginning of the afternoon he went out to bask in the sun as per usual but it didn't feel as entertaining when Regulus wasn't there. It could sound meaningless but just being able to kiss him or caress his hot skin and even just having a small chat with him made it so much more special. And for the first time ever he also realized he hated being alone.

As he was lost in his thoughts his father suddenly appeared by the bay patio door leading to the garden.

"Son, could we have a chat," said his strict voice. It wasn't a question and the boy knew it.

"About what?" asked Ariel as he stood up and removed his sunglasses to properly face his father.

He gave him a serious look before answering, "You talked with the Parkinson girl last night, right?"

The blond boy groaned internally before nodding quickly.

"Well, how things went?"

"Fine," replied curtly Ariel.

"I hope you behaved appropriately with the girl. Don't forget her parents appreciate you a lot."

"Of course I did," hissed the boy. "And no I didn't forget. How could I, I've been hearing about that for two years."

"I don't know yet who you will get engaged to, but you should seriously start thinking of someone. Daisy Parkinson or another girl, it doesn't matter, as long she's not too bad-looking and has a good family," he answered, his piercing blue irises looking straight and seriously into Ariel's.

"I know that," replied the boy without much interest.

Abraxas left Ariel afterwards. And the boy was alone again, back to his thoughts. He hated having to consider choosing his future wife, he hated the thought of having a wife, especially because he won't love her, and he also hated having to live this life, this stupid, boring life.

He stayed out, lying in the grass, his eyes closed for a little while, just thinking and thinking, messing up his mind with pestering thoughts and interrogations.

author's note: the other day i finished a really good book that i won't name as to not spoil both this book and my own story. but i still wanted to mention it because in this book, we see a very beautiful friendship where the two persons would literally do anything for each other, even ending up in a rather strange situation for the exterior eye! and it reminded me of my story. in the next chapters we'll see a similar friendship and the characters will end up in a similar situation as well. at some point the story ends of course, but i've thought about it and if an alternate ending existed, this would look even more like this book. that's funny as i didn't know this book when i wrote the story. anyway such a great book i'd like to recommend y'all haha. but maybe you've read it already as it's a popular book

and anyway thank you for the reads!