𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 - regulus black

chapter one hundred and seven

The next day, Adena obviously woke up in the arms of her boyfriend which she would describe as the best way to wake up. He was giving her the necessary warmth and comfort and she loved that. It was already late in the morning when they got out of bed. Adena was happy to enjoy such a rare moment of calm with Regulus where they could relax and forget about everything. However, they were quickly brought back to reality, their reality.

After dressing up, they got down to the kitchen, feeling a little hungry. But the brunette, realizing they didn't know how to cook, spoke up to her boyfriend amusedly.

"So, what are we eating now?" she asked with a smirk while sitting at the table.

"I have no idea," honestly answered the boy with a tight smile.

"I can buy something in a Muggle bakery maybe."

"We don't have any Muggle money, though."

"That's a problem. Maybe we should just go back home," she said laughing. "Or I can make you something with what you got..."

"No, thanks," instantly replied the boy.

As she continued laughing, something suddenly broke the jovial atmosphere. A noise was heard from the other side of the kitchen, and when they turned around in an instant, Kreacher, the family's house elf was kneeling on the floor, convulsing, drops of water dripping from the pillowcase he was using as a cloth. Regulus jumped up from his seat to join his elf.

"Kreacher? What happened?" asked the boy in a panicked voice.

"M-master Regulus?" croaked the elf, looking up at the boy who was staring down worriedly at him.

"Yes, it's me, tell what happened Kreacher."

"P-poison..." croaked the elf once again.

Adena who had reached their sides, looked at the elf just as worriedly.

"How... what happened..." murmured the boy anxiously.

They brought the elf to Regulus' room, and together, the two teens started brewing a potion against poison with the remaining ingredients and the Potions books he had used at Hogwarts. In the meantime, Kreacher looked still in pain. He kept on repeating incoherent things which was worrying Regulus even more. To him, Kreacher was a member of his family, one he truly cared about; his worry was understandable.

Once the elf had took their healing potion, he started calming down. They decided to let him get rest.

"What could have happened to him? You-know-who couldn't have tried to murder him since he needed him in the first place..."

"I have no idea. I'm really confused... I didn't think this would happen... if the Dark Lord really wanted to kill him, he would have used another way I guess..."

"Let's just ask him when he wakes up then."

They stayed together, not talking much, both lost in their thoughts and waited for several hours. They had forgotten they were supposed to eat breakfast, the shock and worry of Kreacher's sudden appearance had completely changed the atmosphere. In the middle of the afternoon, the couple went back up to check on Kreacher who looked a lot better, until he woke up.

"Kreacher, could you tell me what happened?" asked calmly Regulus.

"No! Kreacher cannot tell! Kreacher doesn't want to remember!" whimpered the elf, shaking like a leave and looking frightened.

"Kreacher, I need to know."

"Kreacher is sorry Master Regulus, but Kreacher cannot tell!"

The young boy went back to his girlfriend's side who was waiting quietly by the doorframe.

"Adena, I think you should go home. I'll try to talk to him later. We can't get anything now."

"Are you sure?" she asked worriedly.

"Yeah. We'll discuss when he'll be calmer.

"Okay then. Come home tomorrow, I'll invite Arsene."

"Fine, I'll be there."

They shared one last kiss before she apparated back home.

She obviously visited her mother who seemed as fine as the day she left her and then she decided to write something to her cousin about coming over the next day. She couldn't stop thinking about Kreacher being poisoned. The short moment of perfect idyll was completely ruined when Kreacher came back home. Something serious had happened and she couldn't get this off her mind.

Happily, the visit of Arsene was a great change in her mood. She was so happy to see him. He started rambling about his summer holidays and talking about how excited he was to go back to Hogwarts. They ate together Pimchin's biscuits and Regulus eventually arrived after a while, much later than Adena had expected it.

"Hey, you've got something from Kreacher?" she asked quietly as she came to hug him.

He hugged her back shortly before replying disappointingly, "Not yet."

"Just keep me updated when you can..."

The three of them went outside, in the garden. While Adena sat in the grass, the boys started talking about Quidditch and she watched them from afar with a content smile, appreciating the bond they had created. She watched as Arsene started flying on Regulus' broomstick, looking so happy and excited like a child. Even Regulus seemed to have his little fun when they flew together. She was glad he wasn't stopping himself from enjoying himself even though the situation with Kreacher seemed to be very serious and something that affected the boy a lot.

September arrived, and for Adena it started boringly. She didn't have anything to do and had no news from her boyfriend. The girl didn't have to take care of her mother as much as before as well. The Healer who visited them at the beginning of month authorized Juliet to get out of bed and to go outside even, but she was still fragile. And so Adena and her mother were mostly outside reading during the sunny afternoons. It could have sounded pleasing if she didn't know these books by heart already.

Her days were long without seeing Regulus nor getting any letter from him. She was starting to get worried. Maybe he was back on duty as a Death Eater after healing himself, or maybe the situation with Kreacher was keeping him busy. She couldn't know, she couldn't be sure.

The start of this month wasn't so bad, however. She received a letter and a photo from Jacob. He was telling her that he started training with the Tutshill Tornados and the photo was representing him with his new uniform, holding onto his broomstick proudly. She sent the photo to Arsene after, just to show him how Jacob, someone he looked up to, had gone so far. She knew he would be so happy to have it and would surely ask an autograph to Jacob the next time he would see him. Maybe she should already prepare a meeting for the next holidays.

In the meantime, it seemed like all of her friends had gotten themselves busy. From the letters, they had found an occupation, a job or were trying to get one. Eugenia was off to America, enjoying herself for a few months. She would come back in 1980 and apply to be an Auror. Isaac was trying to postulate for different jobs at the Ministry. Millie was just working with her mother in her Muggle hairdresser shop. Noah had unsurprisingly moved to live with Jacob and worked at the pet shop on Diagon Alley. And Jade was travelling with her new boyfriend she got over the summer. Adena was a little disappointed in herself to see she wasn't doing anything productive now that she had entered adult life. She had plans and dreams, but she didn't want to go anywhere without Regulus. And that was a good motive to meet up. He hadn't given news in a few weeks and she wouldn't wait longer to have a talk with you. They had to make up clearer plans for their future.