For hours, Ariel lied in bed. His head was a mess, and his life too. He still couldn't process what had just happened. He still couldn't realize how many changes were about to arrive in his life. He didn't want to realize.

In a few seconds he went from being the happiest person on Earth to loathing his whole life. He knew this was to come, but he didn't want this to happen. He wanted to stay free forever even though it wasn't possible. He knew it. All he could do was to accept this life and go against his wishes. Did he have any? He wasn't even sure. He had never thought of what he really wanted as he knew he would never get to choose.

He would rarely get out of his room anymore. His parents, especially his mother, suspected he was mad and upset because he would have preferred marrying someone else, in the person of Ivanna Flint. But like his father said, he had never expressed any interest for a specific girl so he took the decision himself. He let them believe that illusion, even though they were far from the truth.

The truth was that Ariel didn't want this life. And did like someone else. But he couldn't possibly tell them this fact. And even if he did, nothing would change. It was his life, his fate.

The only times Ariel would actually go out of his bedroom - usually for meals - the only thing his parents would talk about was this future union. His father seemed rather content to associate with the Parkinsons, while his mother just seemed delighted to see another one of her sons growing up and getting married.

"Oh, and you better have children quickly. Your brother is taking his time but I can't wait to have plenty of adorable grandchildren running in our house," she cooed, feeling excited at the thought.

"Yes, hurry up and give us a grandson. I want the name of my fathers to be extant for decades," rejoined his father right after.

Ariel ignored this remark and instead spoke to his mother, "Mother. You're young. You're only forty-two. Why would you want to be a grandmother so soon?"

"Oh darling, thank you, but I'm starting to get old you know."

"It doesn't look like so," he answered with a small smile that pleased his mother a lot.

She loved receiving compliments from him, and Ariel liked to see her delighted by the simplest things.

Ariel didn't reach out to Regulus anymore. Never. Not once during the whole holidays. And Regulus was worried. Until he received the invitation too. The news was announced by his mother.

"Regulus, son! Your dear friend Ariel is getting married," she told him one morning, looking rather delighted. Or acting delighted.

"Ariel? Getting married?" asked the boy shocked.

"Yes. You should show more support and joy," she hissed.

But Regulus could hardly show anything more than shock at this moment. "To whom? Who is he engaged to?"

"The young Daisy Parkinson. You know her right? What a charming girl she is. Perfect for Ariel I would say."

He felt sick. These words made him sick. It was unbearable to hear. A mix of jealousy, anger and sadness was formed in him. His stomach tightened into a knot and suddenly he felt the need to cry. But Regulus Black didn't cry. He shouldn't be crying. 'It's for the weak' had said his mother once after punishing Sirius for playing with the Muggle children of the neighborhood. Sirius had cried, enraging their mother even more. And Regulus had only witnessed that.

He swallowed back his tears and ignored the emotions destroying him from the inside, and finally gave a correct answer to his mother.

"It's good to hear about this. I'm sure they are perfect for each other indeed." He ignored the wobbling pain in his chest as he spoke these words.

His perfect world, his fantasy, the idyll Ariel and him were sharing was suddenly destroyed. Nothing would be the same anymore. Could they even be something again or was it just the end. And he wondered what Ariel thought about that. He had said multiple times how those arranged marriages were ridiculous but that he couldn't do anything against this. He couldn't even imagine how upset felt the boy. Ariel was the one who was suffering the most in this situation after all. Not him, not Daisy Parkinson, but Ariel.

The engagement party was set to be on August 29. And the days were passing by way too quickly. Both Regulus and Ariel felt more anxious as the date came closer. Ariel was so afraid of seeing Regulus. He shouldn't be seeing him. He ignored him for the whole holidays but thoughts about him kept coming back. His voice seemed to be hunting him when he tried to sleep and his smile wouldn't leave his mind as he slept. It was almost comforting as it was the rare times where his upcoming engagement wasn't pestering his mind.

And finally the big day came. Daisy and her family arrived rather early that day as they would be discussing formalities all together. Ariel greeted her family then greeted her politely, kissing her hand softly, appearing as a gentleman, making her blush and giggle a little. She was just being Daisy Parkinson.

He would never meet her gaze. He stayed quiet, looking sullen and fixed the wooden table as their parents talked. The men discussing serious topics while the women discussed about the decoration, the guests and such, with Daisy offering her opinion from time to time. The date was set for the 20th of July 1979. He had one year of what he hoped would be freedom but it seemed impossible to imagine. Daisy's mother wondered when they would be living together.

"He's still a boy, I think we should wait for a few months," answered his mother and he was so thankful.

"He is eighteen, he is a man and about to become a husband. Stop babying him," replied his father curtly.

And Ariel suddenly hated him.

"But darling, just the time for them to get used to each other. We should be thinking of what house to buy in the meantime and such," hesitantly said his mother.

"I agree with that. And I like having Daisy home," added Daisy's mother, making both men sigh.

"Fine. We'll wait until the end of the year."

It could have been better but at least, Ariel could still enjoy his alone time for a while.

The party started at 5pm. Many people came. And many Ariel didn't know about but they were acquittances of his father or Daisy's father. The two didn't exchange one glance nor one word. They just stayed standing together on one side the large room, welcoming the different guests and accepting their congratulations and gifts with the biggest and fakest smile on their faces. Ariel felt like Daisy wasn't pleased by that too, but she looked so much more at ease than him.

When Lucius and Narcissa arrived, his brother sent him some snarky remarks like "you'll finally stop behaving like a child" or "it was high time you stopped your childish games". And Ariel wasn't sure what he was referring to and if he was referring to the fact he would spend a lot of his free time with Regulus. As for Narcissa she just seemed delighted. Happier than Ariel, but it wasn't hard.

"I was rooting for you two. You look really cute together," she said.

Both just smiled.

And after a while the Black family arrived. From afar Ariel noticed Regulus. His grey eyes shining with tears he was trying to hold back. The boy trailed behind his parents and watched them greet Ariel and his new fiancée. And when he couldn't bear it anymore he left the room.

"Can you excuse me please," murmured Ariel to Daisy when Regulus' parents had left.

She didn't have time to answer as the boy had already left her side to follow where Regulus had left.

He arrived in the garden and only saw his back. His shoulders were shaking and the blond boy felt heartbroken.

"Regulus..." he murmured but his voice cracked a little.

The boy turned around and Ariel felt like his heart was crushed in pieces. He had an expression of pain, with a few tears rolling down his red cheeks. It only hit him now what a sensitive boy he was. He walked up to him and hugged him with his left arm while his right hand came up to erase his tears.

"Don't cry. Please..."

"Sorry. I'm sorry this is happening..." croaked the younger boy.

"Don't be sorry. This isn't your fault," he told him, trying to smile reassuringly but his eyes only showcased pain and sadness.

"I don't want you to leave..." murmured the boy, dropping his head and sniffing a little. He hated that Ariel was witnessing such a weak side of him. He wasn't allowed to cry in such situation. And crying was for the weak. And he realized how weak he was.

"I won't be far, don't worry," said the blond boy, but he could feel the tears welling up in his eyes too.

He kissed Regulus' cheek and added. "I have to go back. Take time to calm down, okay?"

Regulus hummed but clutched to his clothes. It took him over a minute to finally let Ariel go.