"I told them Ariel was feeling sick and went to sleep. Daisy Parkinson was fuming when I told her... I think she knows he got drunk..." quietly whispered Narcissa to Regulus when he reached her side. "But anyway, will you explain me what happened upstairs? No. What's happening between you two?" she asked with an urgent tone.

"Fine but not here." He dragged her outside where it was calm and quiet.

He took a deep breath, trying to summon enough courage in him to speak out the words he was about to say. "Ariel and I..."

But he got cut off too soon as Narcissa immediately said, "You two are a thing right?" And by the look of surprise on Regulus' face, she knew she was right. "So it's true."

"How... how do you know?"

"I guessed. That's all."

"You guessed... Who else guessed?" he asked with an alarmed tone, his eyes widened in fear.

"It's because I know you two very well that I guessed. I don't think it's that obvious for others."

"I hope! Nobody should know!" he exclaimed, panic in his voice.

"Don't worry. Nobody will know. If you continue to hide it at least..."

"For now, the future is unknown," sighed Regulus, dropping his gaze to the ground.

"I feel sad for Daisy... poor girl has to marry a guy who already likes someone else..."

"Poor Daisy? Don't you think things are hard for Ariel? He too has to marry someone he doesn't love and will never love!" said Regulus, rising a little his voice as he felt the emotions building up in him. Remembering Ariel's state from earlier brought a feeling of anger in him.

"The reality is sad for both them."

No matter how angry Regulus was at the situation, knowing Narcissa was on their side - or at least, feeling more positive than negative about their relationship - brought a feeling of reassurance in him. They weren't alone anymore. Regulus could go back to school and Ariel wouldn't be alone. Narcissa had always been there for him like a big sister and he felt reassured. There was still a pang in his chest when he rode the train to Hogwarts on September 1st. Ariel wasn't with him and he wouldn't be with him for the next few months. He felt extremely lonely even though Ivanna Flint tried to cheer him up he stayed cold and gloomy, like he would usually be with others. But what he didn't know was that Ariel had sent a letter to Ivanna, asking her to take care of Regulus as he was worried for him. And what Ariel didn't know was that Regulus had sent a letter to Narcissa, asking her to take care of Ariel as he was worried for him as well. They cared so much about each other, their thoughts were always turned towards the other.

"Ariel. How could you corrupt my baby cousin like this?" jokingly said Narcissa to Ariel one day as he was at her house.

They had just ended a Death Eater meeting and Narcissa took the opportunity to talk things out with Ariel a little since she hadn't seen him ever since his engagement party.

"What? Do you know he's not as innocent as he looks? And anyway I'm the only one who can call him like this," he answered with an amused smirk.

The blonde woman, surprised at first by such words - the first words he was telling her about their relationship - started laughing after a few seconds. He was being himself after all.

"So, how long has it been going on?" she asked curiously.

"The beginning I believe... I think there was never a platonic aspect in our relationship."

"I think too. You were so close, I was almost jealous of the way you'd look at him..." she sighed with a small smile and the boy smiled as well.

"Does Lucius know?"

"I don't think so. But he has doubts, probably. He was so impatient to tell your father that you should marry soon..."

"I hope this upcoming marriage will make him forget his suspicions."

"Did you plan on breaking up..?" then asked Narcissa hesitantly.

Ariel laughed, sourly. "Break up? We aren't even officially a couple in the first place. We are just... us. And we have no idea what is going to happen. And we probably won't end up together," sighed the boy.

Again he felt immensely sad. He got attached to Regulus. He got to love him. More than anyone else before.

"You can pass by anytime," told him gently Narcissa at the end of their conversation.

Ariel hadn't opened up too much but she could guess he missed Regulus. She couldn't replace him but she could at least offer her company. And she didn't forget how Regulus told her - almost ordered her - to look after him.

The first few days of September were very long and lonely. He was glad he received a letter from Regulus rather quickly, updating him on the life at Hogwarts and his new classes, and how Slughorn had mentioned him at his first dinner, claiming he would miss such a great wizard. Ariel loved hearing about those trivial things, as long as Regulus would send him a few words, it made him happy.

The boy didn't know what to write Regulus in return. He surely had plenty of things to tell him, but nothing could get out from his mind. His hand couldn't manage to write down any of his thoughts. So instead, he started sending Regulus poems.

The first time he did this, the younger boy expressed what a great surprise it had been to discover that. Ariel could tell he had most likely been embarrassed to read that surrounded by so many people in the Great Hall. He could even imagine his flushed face.

'I crave your mouth, your voice, your hair.

Silent and starving, I prowl through the streets.
Bread does not nourish me, dawn disrupts me, all day
I hunt for the liquid measure of your steps.

I hunger for your sleek laugh,
your hands the color of a savage harvest,
hunger for the pale stones of your fingernails,
I want to eat your skin like a whole almond.

I want to eat the sunbeam flaring in your lovely body,
the sovereign nose of your arrogant face,
I want to eat the fleeting shade of your lashes,

and I pace around hungry, sniffing the twilight,
hunting for you, for your hot heart,

like a puma in the barrens of Quitratue.

Ariel'

But the next one had put him in an even worse state.

'I love your lips when they're wet with wine

And red with a wild desire;
I love your eyes when the lovelight lies
Lit with a passionate fire.
I love your arms when the warm white flesh
Touches mine in a fond embrace;
I love your hair when the strands enmesh
Your kisses against my face.

Not for me the cold, calm kiss
Of a virgin's bloodless love;
Not for me the saint's white bliss,
Nor the heart of a spotless dove.
But give me the love that so freely gives
And laughs at the whole world's blame,
With your body so young and warm in my arms,
It sets my poor heart aflame.

So kiss me sweet with your warm wet mouth,
Still fragrant with ruby wine,
And say with a fervor born of the South
That your body and soul are mine.
Clasp me close in your warm young arms,
While the pale stars shine above,
And we'll live our whole young lives away
In the joys of a living love.

Ariel'

Regulus told him how this poem got effects on him and really touched him which he was glad for. But he couldn't help laughing when he received Ivanna Flint's letter soon after. She stated that the poor boy was blushing madly and had a hard keeping his cool afterwards.

Ariel smiled, then cried. He wished he could have witnessed this. Reading about it didn't feel enough. He didn't give an answer and stayed quiet for a few days. Until he felt like sending another one of his numerous poems he had collected over the years.

His soon-to-be-family-in-law organized a party near the beginning of October. Ariel didn't feel like going. He cried and cried and he didn't even know why. Was it out of fear, out of apprehension, of rage, of sadness, or just a mix of multiple feelings. Or was it just exhaustion kicking him harder. When this day came he begged his mother to stay there, claiming he was feeling sick. Almost about to give in, his father appeared in his bedroom and uttered in a strict voice, "No childish behavior anymore Ariel. You have responsibilities now. It's high time you become a man, I think I've already told you this."

After sending his son a stern stare that didn't make Ariel flatter one bit, Abraxas left the room.

"I'm sorry, you know how's your father," kindly murmured his mother with an apologetic smile.

"I know Mother. It's fine."

But it wasn't fine. Ariel was far from being fine. He feared facing his fiancée again, especially after how had ended up their engagement party for him. Anxiety was running through his body. His mouth was dry, he was sweating, and he could feel his heart pulsations going faster as time passed. And finally it was the moment he had to Apparate to her house. He probably looked pale and sweaty, he could hardly hide his state. He got weird stares from the guests but ignored them. The first thing him and his family did was greeting the Parkinsons.

Daisy's father firmly shook hands with him while offering up a big smile. Ariel returned the gesture with as much conviction as he could. Then he greeted Daisy's mother and he finished by greeting Daisy herself. A tight smile and a light brush of lips on her hand. The usual. And she just smiled stupidly, reflecting pure bliss because of the mere gesture. The usual.

"Ariel, you'll be glad to know I've found an interesting property for you and my daughter," said Daisy's father, looking rather proud of his discovery.

The blond boy almost choked on his champagne but it was ignored.

"How so? I haven't heard about that," said Abraxas in reply.

"I wanted to keep it a surprise. It's a gift. You may even live in it by the end of the month. How are you feeling about that youngsters?"

"That's really great news Father," replied Daisy, mimicking her father's joy.

However Ariel didn't manage to show the same happiness upon hearing this. In fact, he couldn't even hide how unwell he felt anymore. He looked paler, sicker.

"That's nice yes. Hm, could you excuse me while I use the restroom, please, sir?"

The boy barely waited for the answer before escaping the conversation. He even missed his father's angry stare following him and his mother's worried gaze on him.

He couldn't hold it anymore and vomited. He was a mess. After feeling so ill for the past weeks, he wasn't able to bear it more longer. The whole atmosphere of this party, Daisy Parkinson herself, and this conversation had made him lose his mind. He wanted to cry at that moment but knew to refrain himself as it wasn't the place to cry over how much he hated this situation.

author's note: hi, i'd like to talk about several things. first of all, this story will be coming to end during the next chapters. it won't be long, hopefully it'll last until 2024?

i want to mention also that jk rowling aka harry potter's author who inspired me for this story, has been once again transphobic. it's been knew but she doesn't hide it anymore, like it's clear and she explicitly stated. as a hp fan it's very disappointed and i sincerely you don't support her and try your best to boycott her and official products even though it's hard a fan. and if you agree with any of her saying please leave, it doesn't align with my values and i would also like to introduce a trans character in a next story so you have to respect that. this is a safe place here

then continuing with something even more serious. terrorist attacks took place in france and belgium recently, so i hope everyone is safe, please take care of you and your close ones. also i'm very saddened by what is currently happening in palestine. i know i have readers from israel and just so you know i hope you are and your family are safe too after the attack but i can't stand with that oppressive government. this is maybe not the place for this but if you can donate to the palestinians, they are in need and if not just pray for them. thank you