𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 - regulus black

chapter thirty

At the beginning of the afternoon, Regulus and Adena met up in the library for their Arithmancy essay like they had planned the night before.

"Hello Winsten. You took your time," just said the Slytherin boy with a monotonous voice. He was leaning against the wall next to the library, in fact looking bored.

"Sorry I was chatting with my sister..." she replied before entering the library, the boy following behind her.

They sat in a far corner of the room where it was the quietest.

"Did you get Professor Sinistra's letter about the next Astronomy class?" asked Regulus when they were sat.

"Yes, I really can't wait, it has been so long since we got Astronomy."

Professor Sinistra had decided to cancel the last lessons since the winter weather was awfully cold and there has been so much snow and rain falling for the past months, making the sky unclear. And so, she had decided to start them again on a special day in Astronomy, the spring equinox, when the snow and rain seasons would be mostly finished. It was more than a month away from that day but Adena couldn't help feeling excited about it.

"You do seem happy but don't forget to focus on the essay."

"You're no fun Black."

"I didn't intend to." And this comment still managed to make her smile.

With that, they started working, quickly focusing on their books. They were such a good working pair. They both had good brains and were both very serious in their schoolwork, their differences always inspiring new reflections to the other. Slughorn really had the smartest idea ever when he decided to pair them up that day. Who would have thought they would make such a good match.

They continued working for a few hours, being so efficient, they finished their essay by the end of the afternoon. Working in Regulus Black's company was always a great experience to Adena. His smartness and deduction spirit were so good to witness, making him more interesting than he was already to the Ravenclaw.

After talking for a long while again, Adena told him she had to catch up with her sister. She was already late, and dinner would be starting soon, but she couldn't help wanting to talk for hours with Regulus. Time by his side was running so fast, and she would only realize that at the end.

"Hey sis, how was your day?" asked Candace, side-hugging her sister as they started walking towards the Great Hall together, none of her friends or Gryffindor pricks to hang out with her.

"Normal. I was actually finishing up my Arithmancy essay."

"Ugh, I really hated that subject. Glad I dropped it. Wait, so that's why you were late?"

"Yes..."

"Merlin's beard Adena! Get your nose out of your books from time to time."

"Let me remind you I went to Hogsmeade yesterday..." hissed the brunette.

"If you're considering this the only moment, you're not studying... just saying it happens three or four times a year ugh..."

"When will you stop annoying me," grunted Adena.

"Never. That's why sisters are made for," answered Candace with a smirk.

"Yeah, whatever. Let me go you're really sticking me."

"'Cause I like you. Why are you rejecting me," she said with a pout as they reached the Great Hall.

"Shut up!" said the fifth-year in a whining voice while pushing her sister off her. The girl left her side and ran off to her best friend who was sitting at the Gryffindor table.

"May! She's mean to me!" said the blonde girl, fake crying and pointing at Adena who stood there with an emotionless bored face.

"I bet you deserved it," teased Maylyn, which made Adena smirk as she made her way to the Ravenclaw table. However, she wasn't expecting to collide into someone's chest as she turned around.

Regulus Black had both his hands on her arms to help her stay on her feet and she just looked at him, a little stunned.

"Winsten, is it just me or you can't help run into people on a daily basis. You should put your glasses on more often," he said, sighing as she furrowed her brows.

Suddenly he noticed several pairs of eyes on them, coming from the Gryffindor table as well. His change of emotion confused the girl and he let her go before muttering, "People are watching. See you tonight."

And he left her, walking quickly to the Slytherin table and Adena did the same, trying to act normal. People would soon go back to their meal and forget about this.

Days had gone by slowly but eventually the night of the long-awaited class had finally come. Regulus had obviously noticed the cheerful mood in Adena since it was becoming easier and easier for him to figure her out. She was hiding it well but the ghost of a smile on her lips, the glint in her hazel eyes or the little shaking in her leg, were proving enough that she felt really exalted.

"Winsten, are you okay?" he had whispered to her with a small smirk in Arithmancy. She had turned her head towards him, not expecting his to be so close but kept her composure, nonetheless.

When remarking his sly smirk, she instantly asked, smiling, "Why? Do I look that happy?"

"Yes, you do. It's barely noticeable but I can see it." And she let out a chuckle at this. Of course, he would, it was like he was reading people's minds at this point.

When it was finally time to go, Adena and her fellow Ravenclaws made their way to the Astronomy tower which was opposite to where their common room was. They were all dressed up in their winter coats. The weather had obviously got better but they knew the nights were still fresh. Adena was feeling more joyful but the others didn't seem to have notice, all of them in their own world. Not that she really cared, she knew they all liked this class as well, they had their own excitement regarding this new lesson and the opportunity of admiring the starry night.

When arriving on top of the Astronomy tower, Professor Sinistra and the other houses were already there.

Adena quickly made her way to the back of the group, finding a spot by Regulus' side. They didn't have to say anything, they just smiled. The young girl felt gleeful because of the class, and her joyfulness just contributed to Regulus' one.

The teacher gave out the explanations to the class before they made their way to the telescopes. Everyone already knew this had to be in pairs, but no word was exchanged between the Ravenclaw girl and the Slytherin boy, they just made their way, together, towards one of the instruments.

"Just because it's your favourite class and all, you won't do all the work alone."

"Relax Black. You know I'll let you do some things as well."

He smiled at her and she looked up at the sky for a moment, her eyes glistening as the stars reflected themselves in her dark orbs. Her slightly parted lips, her beautiful shinning eyes and brown curls floating in the air, her pale skin just glowing under the moonlight; Regulus couldn't help but feel fascinated by the sight. It felt like he had lost the capacity to speak, think and breath at the same time. Just like last time he had witnessed that, his only thought was how pretty she looked in that moment. She even felt unreal.

It felt so long but it was so short, and she eventually started working, the Slytherin boy doing the same, getting out of his thoughts. They would alternate looking into the telescope, and Regulus felt like he was enjoying this more than any other time.

"It's beautiful right? The universe is fascinating."

"Yes, it's more enjoyable than I had realized, I'm definitely liking this more," he said, and she just smiled widely at him. She contained her joy during the whole day, but she didn't even try to with Regulus. She didn't feel like hiding with him and by now, she already knew she couldn't. Adena therefore didn't hesitate to show her emotions to him at the moment.