TW : homophobia and acts of violence

Days passed by without Regulus nor Ariel bringing up the incident of Ivanna Flint catching them making out in an empty hallway. However, the girl hadn't stopped pestering the young boy with this. She was being more annoying than ever he would say. And one day, he felt really fed up, so he couldn't help mentioning it as well as his suspicions to Ariel.

"Flint is really being a pain. I can't bear her anymore," muttered the boy as he came to sit by Ariel's side in the library. The boy was currently finishing his DADA essay due for the next day.

"How come? Ivanna is so sweet," he said, his eyes unwavering from the sheet of parchment.

"Because you aren't the one being harassed," sighed the boy.

"What do you call harassing?"

"She keeps bringing up the... incident... and she teases me, knowing I can lose my temper easily because of this..." he murmured, feeling suddenly embarrassed.

"Hm, I see. Sounds like fun," casually answers the blond boy, without looking up.

"Are you being serious? You like making fun of me too! Anyway, you know I get suspicious of her. I can't trust someone like Flint, she's always gossiping and most of the time she's also the one who spread the rumors in the first place."

"She's not that bad," chuckled the boy, "sure she likes gossiping, but I personally trust her."

"Well you shouldn't. I know her better than you."

However some times later, Ariel started wondering if he hadn't been wrong. More and more he was hearing about Regulus, from all sides. It still happened rarely but it felt like a lot as people usually didn't talk about Regulus Black. He was just Regulus Black, now unique heir of the infamous Black family but there was nothing more to say about him, just like there was nothing to say about other students. So that was the reason it felt strange to hear his name being mentioned from time to time, in the corridors, at the library, even in class. He seriously wondered what could be said about him.

By May, he thought whatever was going on with Regulus had died down until things got worse. One evening, as Ariel was studying in the common room with some fifth-years and fellow seventh-years preparing for their exams, Regulus entered the room, seemingly in a rush. He didn't really catch the attention of anyone except Ariel. The blond boy stood up quickly before starting to follow him to his room, not caring to bring his stuff with him. He didn't bother knocking on the door neither, and just entered the room. He was met with the sight of a bleeding Regulus. Blood was running down his nose even though he was trying to stop it with some tissues. Ariel just observed him for a few seconds, before walking up to him.

He stared at him seriously then asked, "What happened?"

"Nosebleed," he muttered, looking away.

Ariel's stare turned more severe as he brought his face closer by his hand, almost too roughly and it made the younger boy wince in pain. The cold and stern blue eyes of the blond boy analyzed his face, quickly discovering a cut lip and a bruised cheek. He then, way more softly, made Regulus bend his head a little while using his other hand to make appear more tissues with his wand. He led him to the bed, and waited until the nosebleed stopped.

"Will you tell me what happened now? Or should I heal your injuries before?"

His voice was cold as well, barely not one emotion hearable, except an ounce of anger he tried hard to contain.

Regulus didn't say a word as he lifted up his head and removed the blood-stained tissues, signaling he was waiting to be healed. He was still not meeting Ariel's stare in the meantime, keeping his grey eyes to the floor.

Ariel just sighed at the sight. "I'm not an expert but I'll try my best..."

He pointed his wand to his face and muttered some formulas of healing charms he had read about or just learned in class. He was glad he had good memory, realizing how useful it was to know these charms. Regulus stayed quiet the whole time, even though the healing process slightly hurt. It last for a short moment so Ariel knew it wasn't perfect.

"You look normal again, but it might hurt for a few days..." he murmured, his now worried eyes scanning Regulus' face as his fingertips lightly traced their way on his cheek and down his jaw, where a bruise was previously starting to form. The boy didn't flinch nor wince this time as it was so soft. "Now speak."

"I got into a fight," sighed the younger boy.

Ariel arched one of his brows, looking at Regulus as if he wasn't believing him which was the case.

"A fight? You?" he asked suspiciously.

"Yeah. I know it sounds ridiculous but just to mention, I'm not the one who started it."

"Who and why," said Ariel right away.

"Some Gryffindor guy in your year. He says I'm a fag and such because I'm always stuck with you. He even asked if we were dating... I don't know where he got that idea from... but anyway, I guess he doesn't like... fags... and since I didn't have my wand with me, well he beat me up. In good-old-Muggle way," finished Regulus more quietly.

By the time he finished, Ariel could feel anger building up in him. A feeling he had never felt before literally explode in him and Regulus could see it in his eyes.

"His name. What's his name."

"No. I know what you're going to do. Don't create more drama."

"Just tell me his fucking name!" said Ariel, rising his voice slightly.

If Regulus didn't know him, he would have been scared of his strong aura but he knew the boy and he knew nothing wrong could happen to him.

"Dale Penley."

"Penley you say? That bastard... Okay just stay here, I'm coming back soon."

Despite all the anger in him he still managed to find the need to sweetly kiss Regulus' forehead before leaving.

In the common room, the students all seemed unbothered, and probably didn't notice what happened to Regulus. He rushed to the upper floors, looking anywhere and everywhere, only focusing on searching for Dale Penley.

It took him a while but he finally found him. With two friends of him, just as stupid, they were sitting outside on a bench, laughing at whatever one of them had said.

"Penley," hissed Ariel, coming closer to him, his wand drawn in his direction. All three got scared and tried to escape, bur for one of them it was too late.

"Crucio," spoke the boy, sending the curse to Dale Penley, ignoring the others who just ran away. He watched as Dale Penley's body fell to the ground before starting to convulse in pain. His screams started reasoning but he didn't care. Pure anger was burning in his blue eyes, almost turning them red with rage. When the boy at his feet caught sight of his glare he understood the reason why he got this. Ariel's next move made his body connect with the wall behind them. With his wand he pinned him to the wall and in his head spoke a formula he had read about some months ago when he was leafing through a book of Dark Magic. Not a sound was getting out of the other male's mouth anymore as his throat was slowly being choked. He tried to gasp for air but in vain. Ariel somehow enjoyed the sight of seeing someone he despised suffer, it was satisfying but not that much entertaining in the end.

Before he could go too far he got stopped by an 'Expelliarmus' he had seen coming but hadn't tried to fight against.

He let his wand escape his grasp and turned around to face the new comers, not giving interest to Dale Penley's body falling back to the floor.

"Malfoy, what were you doing?" said James Potter, regarding him sternly through his round spectacles. Ariel only glared coldly at him, not in the mood for an argument, nor to try acting cool. He had lost his temper, there was no need denying it and putting back his façade.

Understanding he wouldn't answer, James Potter spoke again. "You know that could make you end up in detention, or even expelled."

"Prefects can't give each other detention," calmly replied Ariel.

"But you forget I'm Head boy," said smirking the other boy, boasting about his superior status he was proud of and enjoying seeing Ariel becoming angrier.

"Prongs," said Sirius Black from his side, speaking for the first time ever since he arrived.

"So now explain yourself," said the other Gryffindor, becoming serious again but the blond boy remained quiet.

"The... that fag..." choked up Dale Penley in an almost inaudible voice from where he was still on the ground.

"The what? Fag? Oh please don't tell me..." started Sirius, sighing loudly, visibly exhausted.

"What? Wait, the rumors you mean?" asked James as he stared at his friend, before turning wide eyes to Ariel, still facing them.

"You should bring him to Madam Pomfrey," told him quietly Sirius and the other boy nodded, walking towards Dale Penley's body.

"You," started Ariel, now fixing the male on the floor. "If you say anything, next time will be the last."

The male shivered in fear as him and James started getting away and towards the Hospital Wing.

"What's going on between you and my brother? Are you two...?" said Sirius, hesitantly, not sure of how he should formulate his words but Ariel clearly understood him.

"Mind your own business," he replied harshly. "Am I asking you if you and Lupin are a thing."

Sirius, caught off guard by his words, opened wide surprised eyes and remained quiet.

Ariel didn't care the slightest bit about his reaction. "I don't want to hear about this, and these stupid rumors anymore," he concluded.

He walked towards where his wand was lying on the floor, took it and left without turning back.

author's note: i think this is quite a darker chapter, and i thought i should put a trigger warning, just in case. we're seeing a new side of ariel here, he rarely gets angry but now he did. and from now on, it's also the whole story that will get darker
i hope with that last part i can satisfy the wolfstar shippers haha
anyway thank you for the 1k votes<33