"It's almost dawn, I believe," murmured Ariel, looking towards the window, hidden by curtains, but letting some light pass through. He was lying on his back. His chest was going up and down, much more slowly than before. The euphoria had calmed down a little. One of his hand was holding a lit cigarette he had been sharing with Regulus for a minute or two. His fingers were loosely intertwined with the boy's lying by his side.

"Yeah. I'm exhausted," murmured back Regulus in the same hushed tone.

"Me too. But I don't feel like sleeping."

"Me neither. What should we do?"

Ariel angled his face towards him. Regulus did the same and caught his smirk. "You know what I'd do if I had enough strength left."

"You know I'd gladly accept if I could bear more."

His words made them both laugh.

"What should we do then," continued the boy.

"Talk."

"Talk?"

"Yeah. I've been meaning to tell you something."

"Don't be so serious." This sentence made Ariel crack a smile.

"I wanted to admit a few things."

"I'm listening."

"You know that nobody has never been so kind to me. Except you," started Ariel in a light tone.

"No. I can't believe that."

"Who else would?"

"Cissy?" tried Regulus while grinning a little.

"That is a correct answer. But it's different."

"How?"

"I'm coming to this just be patient... The second thing I wanna admit is that I did try to play with you. Corrupt you like would say Narcissa."

"I could guess," replied the raven-haired boy, not the slightest bit surprised or affected.

"But I couldn't process to play with you the way I had played with others. You were too kind and almost too receptive instead of being rejective like others were. Even if you would stay nonchalant in front of this, you were far too innocent for me to play with you. By that I mean you didn't know anything about this whole thing and when I understood, I didn't want to hurt you the way I've been hurt."

There was seriousness in his blue eyes now. They were looking straight at Regulus who was listening with attention.

"How have you been hurt?" asked the boy more quietly.

"I liked some guys in the past."

"I thought you'd never fallen in love."

"I never did. They were just some crushes. But when I told them, thinking stupidly that maybe I could have a chance, they rejected me and were being awful with me, saying things like I disgusted them even though the night before they were all over me," said Ariel, laughing sourly as he remembered those moments.

"They're some stupid arseholes," stated Regulus.

"Indeed," laughed the other boy. "That's why you were different. And I couldn't help feeling different as well. Though I tried to ignore it and go along with it. I liked you. The way you liked me."

"I knew, no matter how quiet you were."

"How," laughed the blond boy again.

"I know you, I observe you, I noticed. Even the look in your eyes. You could never know how cold your eyes were before. They would only shine with me."

"You're so intelligent and observing. It never fails to impress me..." murmured Ariel, a fond look in his eyes. "I want to cuddle with you," he added next.

"You know I can hardly move," uttered Regulus, refraining himself from chuckling.

"I know, I'm sorry", said Ariel, moving to hug him.

"Don't. I wanted it all," quickly answered the boy.

"I'm glad... I think I love you even more. That's unbelievable," whispered Ariel.

Both his arms went to cuddle Regulus while his hands were slowly caressing him, drawing patterns on the skin of his stomach and torso. He moved slightly so they could feel more comfortable against each other.

"I believe you. Because I feel the same," said back Regulus. One of his hand took a hold of Ariel's face, bringing it down so he could be able to softly kiss his sweet red lips.

He wasn't ashamed nor afraid to express his feelings anymore. Both boys had definitely grown up.

Later in the morning they got woken up by Kreacher bringing them breakfast as it was late. But the boys felt exhausted after only sleeping for a few hours. However they knew they had to wake up because they had some researches to do. And so barely out of bed, they already had their noses in books. Sometimes starting new ones, sometimes rereading old ones in case they had missed some essential information. The room was quiet until a light knock was heard on the door.

"Who is it?" asked Regulus, not looking up from his book.

"It's me. Cissy," said the voice softly before she opened the door.

She was met with an unexpected sight. Regulus was sitting in bed, his back against the headboard, a book in his hand. Ariel was lying on him, or more like lying across his legs, reading as well. The younger boy's other hand was discreetly tugged under the blond boy's shirt, offering him a few caresses.

"You look awful," she stated after a few seconds, probably referring to their restless faces. They ignored her comment. She then walked closer, having noticed something unusual on her cousin. She looked close enough to notice a few love bites painting the milky skin of his neck.

"What's on your neck?"

The boy frowned and covered his neck with the hand that wasn't holding the book. And then Ariel turned around, now lying his head on top of Regulus' lap and looking up at the woman.

"Cissy. I'm in love," he exclaimed in response.

Regulus didn't give any reaction to that, only focusing on his reading.

"Why are you acting so strange?" she answered him.

"He only had a few hours of sleep," told her Regulus in a disinterested tone though a blush was visible on his face.

Her gaze went from her cousin to the other boy and suddenly realized what he meant.

"Oh my... For Merlin's sake! You... you teenagers!" was the only thing she managed to utter in disbelief and embarrassment before leaving the two.

Ariel burst out laughing once the door was shut, and Regulus chuckled along with him. Quietness fell upon them after a while, until the younger boy decided to speak up about something that had been on his mind.

"I'll quit being a Death Eater."

Ariel looked up in shock. "Have you lost your mind?"

"No. I don't think I should follow the Dark Lord anymore. I don't like the way he treats others, thinking they're inferior," he said seriously.

"That's dangerous, do you realize..."

"I don't care. He has been cruel to Kreacher. And anyway what we're doing right now is more likely considered a betrayal. You aren't more loyal than me," he added, in an almost angry voice.

"I know. But it just seems impossible to leave. All our acquittances are Death Eaters or supporters. At least pretend..."

"Then the Dark Lord shall fall. And once this war is over, I will claim that I left the Death Eaters."

This boy was stubborn and Ariel knew it. He wished it could be as easy. If the Dark Lord and his army were to win this war, their world would turn into chaos, and if the contrary happened, him and Regulus and many others would be chased, persecuted and imprisoned, whatever their age, and no matter how innocent they were in this in comparison to more cruel fellows. Just because of the mark on their forearm, it was enough proof.

They soon left Regulus' house to go back to Ariel's. His old house like he would call it, even though it had only been a few days ever since he moved in with Daisy. Even if Ariel had told Regulus that his new bedroom and his new house was also his and that he could come whenever he wanted to, the raven-haired boy still believed he couldn't like this place more than he liked Ariel's actual room. It had memories. And they were going to create some more as they kissed and laughed together in this room. They were passing by to grab a few books before going to Daisy and Ariel's place but they ended up talking. The blond boy was telling Regulus some anecdotes about Daisy before going there and it made both laugh. And as they were so happy they also kissed.

Their laughter was heard from outside, at the same moment Ariel's mother was walking in the corridor. She entered the room without knocking and found the surprising sight of Regulus leaning towards Ariel as if he was about to kiss him.

"Mother," said Ariel.

"I... I apologize..." she blurted out before leaving and closing the door, seeming upset and clearly uncomfortable.

"You told me she was okay..."

"Yeah, but not completely... At least she doesn't reject me," answered the boy as he walked outside to call out his mother. "Mother, I think we should have a talk."

A few minutes later, all three of them were in her study, quietly sipping on a hot cup of tea their house-elf had prepared. Martha on the sofa while Regulus and Ariel sat facing her on two armchairs.

"Mother. You know that I really like Regulus. He likes me too. We want to thank you for being acceptive. But it seems like you put some distance between us. If there's a problem you should open up about it. And if you're worried I might not marry Daisy, then no need to, I will."

"It's not about that. All I want is your happiness..." she said then started sobbing afterward.

"I'm happy. Regulus makes me happy, everything is fine!" lightly said the boy to reassure his mother.

"No it's not! Do you realize in what world we're living? They're going to come after you two and drag you because you don't want to give our community pure-blood children..." And she cried more after that.

Her words struck the boys. It was also a realization for them. They knew about the dangers but it felt more realistic suddenly.

"This won't happen Mother," said firmly Ariel which made her look up. Regulus stared at him too, eagerly waiting for his next words. "It's our secret. As for now only you, Narcissa, Daisy and Ivanna Flint know about it. And we're not planning on telling anyone." He of course chose not to mention James Potter, Sirius Black and Dale Penley who were well aware of their relationship since Hogwarts. "I will marry Daisy, and I can't promise we'll have children but at least we'll get married. She accepted to be part of our secret, everything will go fine for us. And Regulus... will do whatever he wants."

"I'll get married too. It's not like I have a choice..." murmured the boy.

"I'm so sorry you two have to go through that," she cried while standing up to bring both boys into a comforting embrace. Regulus had never received a motherly hug where he felt warmth and comfort, and he felt like crying. But he forced himself not to.

They left after talking a few moments longer. Ariel's relationship with his mother was now stronger than ever.