𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 - regulus black

chapter nine

Adena had returned to her common room safely, accompanied by Regulus Black who had escorted her to the Ravenclaw tower without a word. Upon arriving, she felt relieved to discover it was dark and quiet. Her younger housemates were probably asleep at this late hour, while the older ones must have been partying in the Gryffindor common room.

After changing in her pajamas, she went to bed and closed the curtains around her. The next day, she didn't get up. The day after neither, nor the ones after.

The Sunday morning after the incident, Candace had come visit her. Rather early she thought as the bedroom curtains seemed still closed. She was glad neither Candace nor her roommates dared opening the curtains of her bed. She didn't wish to see anyone at the moment. She could barely hear her soft voice since she was hiding under her blanket and didn't want to go out.

"Hello sis, I heard from Sirius something happened yesterday, would you like to tell me, please?" she seemed a bit unsure of her words.

"Look, I apologize for not being here for you. You know I would have helped you, right?"

Adena let out a few silent tears, she was touched by her sister's care but still wouldn't budge from her hideout. She heard her leave after a while, whispering a few things to the girls present here as well.

The next morning, she was still not in the mood to get up. She wanted to sleep and sleep only; it was her way of forgetting, escaping. Even though she would jolt up in her bed after a deep sleep, sweating and panting, at random moments. Well, most of the time she wouldn't think about anything when she was asleep, except when the images haunting her awake would also be hunting her asleep. When she had just woken up from another nightmare, she heard the distant voice of Eugenia.

"I left you some food on your bedside table, in case you're feeling hungry."

But she wasn't hungry at all. In all honesty, she was sure she couldn't swallow anything. And from what she knew, the human body could stay three days without water and thirty without food. However, after three days of lying in her bed, her stomach started rumbling, crying out to be fed. It was almost painful that she had to move out from under her sheets. She slightly opened the curtains, and noticed some scones left there with a glass of pumpkin juice. They had been left yesterday but they still tasted good she thought. She ate one and a half and gulped down all of her pumpkin juice before closing the curtains and going back to sleep, feeling suddenly exhausted from the small actions.

Candace came to see her every day and sounded a little more desperate at each visit.

The rumors about an 'attack' had been spreading fast for the past days. Nobody knew where this came from, but everyone knew something had happened.  The ones who were related by this situation from far or close were surprisingly quiet. What people had noticed too - especially the fifth years - was that Adena Winsten, the girl who had never missed a single class in the past few years was unexpectedly missing. In one week of school, no one had seen the young girl, neither in class, in the Great Hall or in the hallways. The Ravenclaws interrogated all answered she had not been seen in the common room neither.

Regulus Black who couldn't shake the image of Adena's terrified state out of his mind was starting to grow worried. Like everyone else he had noticed she wasn't there. On Friday morning, he decided to send her a letter, politely wishing she was doing well. But staying formal nonetheless, it was not like they were close or anything. They didn't know each other, he was just being polite.

A clicking sound woke up Adena from her slumber that morning then joined by the sound of the window being opened and closed. She could feel a presence close to her bed, and Millie's voice was heard next.

"You've got a letter. I put it on your bedside table."

The young Ravenclaw wondered who could have sent her a letter. She patiently waited for her roommates to leave before moving her sore body. She was feeling so weak that even the slightest movement was painful. She opened the curtains of her bed and saw some scones, probably from this morning. She scrunched up her nose at the sight before grabbing the letter in her thin hand. It was just a piece of parchment where she could read the words: "Hope you are doing fine" with the most neat and elegant handwriting she had ever witnessed. No signature. Just these five words she kept reading over and over for some minutes. She knew fairly well who had written this. Her memories were still vivid, and that night kept replaying in her mind. She couldn't forget anything, nor the moment Regulus had come out of nowhere to set her free from that devil or when he accompanied her for the rest of night until she was in the safety of her bedroom. Maybe she was just convincing herself but deep down she had a feeling it was him. And that was enough to make her leave the comfort of her bed. When she was finally standing, she felt a bit dizzy after lying for five days and eating 2 scones only. Pumpkin juice had been her daily meal, but it seemed like it wasn't enough.

She grabbed a set of clothes before heading to the bathroom. She went for a bath. She felt dirty and her only wish now was to jump into some hot water full of bubbles. That was so relaxing, she thought, she almost wanted to have a nap in there. The brunette took some soap and started rubbing herself, especially her wrists. She couldn't get rid of the sensation, those big hands crushing her fragile wrists. Sometimes she could swear the sensation returned, that the pain returned but she knew it was only her imagination playing tricks on her.

After a while, it may even had been an hour, she got out of the bathtub since the water had run cold. She felt fresh and clean now. She took her time preparing herself but when she was about to dry her hair, she couldn't remember where her wand was. So Adena returned to her room, and then opened the first drawer of her bedside table. It was there. Yes, it was there she had put it when Regulus gave her back. She quickly executed a drying charm on her locks of brown hair before starting to brush it, the gesture so calming. And then she was ready to leave the security of her bedroom.

She wandered in the castle for a while, rediscovering some paintings and statues. Adena wanted to find Regulus, she had to thank him for being there for her. He had been so gentle with her; she could have never believed he was capable of such gentleness. The problem was that she had no idea what class he was attending at the moment. Her fellow Ravenclaws were currently in History of Magic class, with the Hufflepuffs. She already knew what floor to avoid since she didn't want to be bombarded by their questions. The young girl tried to think a little, eliminating the different options of class for the Slytherins. She was a Ravenclaw, a quick thinker, how could she determine his actual location. They would often have class together as they both chose Arithmancy and Ancient Runes in third year, but sometimes Slytherin wasn't the house they had class with. Potions, Charms, Astronomy, and Transfiguration were already eliminated. She wasn't sure if he took other supplementary classes, she doubted he was the type to be interested in Divination unlike her, or Care for Magical Creatures. Studies of Muggles weren't even an option. She concluded he must have been in Defense Against the Dark Arts class and so she made her way to that floor slowly.

As she was walking, the classes started to be dismissed, more people crowding the hallways, at least she was well hidden. The DADA teacher was always running late so it was no surprise the door was still closed when she arrived. Adena pressed her back to the wall opposite it, glancing down at the floor so the people passing by wouldn't recognize her if she knew them, at least she hoped they wouldn't.

author's note: most likely the last update before final exams kill me lol. if i'm still alive after my first psychology exam next week then i'll update. i should resist the urge to do it before, i have to study but all i wanna do is write :(

also i just watched the show 'young royals' and oh god that was amazing. this is so inspiring to write