Ares Salazar Riddle| a hp fanfic

chapter sixty one

—"IT'S FINALLY SUMMER," BLAISE SAID WITH A RELIEVED LOOK ON HIS FACE. Ares, who just walked into the compartment, sat down next to Blaise; his usual seat.

"Tell me about it," agreed Daphne with a nod. She looked at Pansy. "What will you be doing this summer, Pansy?"

Pansy blushed. "I'm spending it with Blaise and his mother."

Blaise smiled at that.

Theo whistled. "Are you, now?"

Pansy nodded.

Draco wiped a fake tear from his eyes. "They're growing up so fast!"

"Oh, Merlin." Blaise rolled his eyes and gave Draco a deadpanned look. "Don't be dramatic."

"It runs in my blood!" Draco argued with a huff.

Theo chuckled, while Ares shook his head fondly.

Daphne whispered something in Theo's ear. The two immediately got into a hushed conversation.

"What are you two whispering about?" Draco asked curiously.

This time, Daphne blushed, while Theo replied, "I'm asking Daphne to spend the summer at Nott manor."

Draco's lips parted. "You two as well?"

Daphne merely glared at the boy with no real intensity behind it. "Shut up, Draco."

Theo smiled and went back to talking with Daphne.

Draco and Ares shared a look.

Ares then pulled out a book from his trunk and started reading, but he couldn't really focus.

His mind was on what happened the night before.

Harry Potter kissed him.

Harry Potter kissed him. Of all people, Harry kissed him.

Ares felt flattered, but at the same time, he felt.. he didn't know.. there was this tingly feeling inside his stomach when he thought about the kiss.

Almost as if he liked it.

He shifted in his place, realizing something.

He liked the kiss.

Merlin, Ares Riddle liked Harry Potter.

The two boys, who were supposed to be enemies, liked each other. This was ironic. Dumbledore would faint if he found out or even pass away— Ares hoped it would be the second.

Ares bit his lip in thought.

He ruined it, didn't he? By walking out on Harry.

Yeah, he totally ruined it.

Shit.

✫ ✫ ✫

"Welcome back," said Narcissa as she hugged her son and then Ares, who stiffened in her arms. But she didn't mind. She never minded. "Your trunks are getting unpacked by the house elves. For now, spend time with Lucius and I."

Ares and Draco followed Narcissa into the living room, where Lucius was sitting, reading a book. He had his cane right next to him, just incase he stood up and needed it.

Narcissa sat down on the other side of her husband.

Lucius glanced at the boys. "Welcome back, Ares. Welcome back, Draco."

Ares didn't hear him. He had his eyes on the opened window. A nice breeze was coming through. It felt refreshing.

But Ares was anything but refreshed.

"Don't mind him. He's been in his thoughts since this morning," said Draco when Lucius looked at him questioningly.

"What?" Ares snapped out of his daze and looked at him.

A house elf popped in and put teacups in front of each of them and then poured tea into each of the cups. Then, the house elf popped away.

"Nothing," replied Draco as he put the teacup to his lips.

Ares didn't reply, merely nodding.

"What's on your mind, Ares?" Lucius asked curiously, peering over the book in his hands.

Ares shrugged. "Nothing," he lied and took a sip of his tea. "Why do you ask?"

"You're acting unusual, darling." His aunt pointed out, catching his attention. She had a worried look on her face. "Is everything alright?"

"Everything's alright, Cissa. Don't worry about me."

Ares wished what he said was true.

He almost let out a sigh, but stopped himself.

Everything was certainly not alright. It was far from alright.