That night, after dinner, Adena decided to finally write back to her mother. She was lying on her bed, in her long white silky nightgown, a piece of parchment lit up by a candle on her bedside table. She was wondering how to start. For now, the only inspiration she got was 'Mum, Dad'. She was thinking hard on how to formulate her words, but after enough thinking she continued writing.

'Mum, Dad,

I hope you two are doing well. I wanted to apologize for worrying you these past few days. I admit I haven't been feeling quite well, I had a lot in my mind and couldn't find time to write back.

However, I am feeling much better. I'm keeping up the hard work and doing well in my prefect duties. Thank you for the support again,

                                                                                                  Take care,

                                                                                                                    Adena '

She sealed the letter, planning on sending it first thing in the morning, if she hadn't forgotten of course.

Adena, unconsciously woke up early that day. The first thing on her mind was obviously her parents' letter which she couldn't forget this time if she wanted to avoid her mother's anger and her sister's pestering. So, she prepared herself, then enveloped herself in her long coat, and put on her matching scarf and beanie showing the Ravenclaw colors, as it was almost December.

She then got out of her common room quietly, with her letter in hand. The hallways were quiet and empty, nobody was out at this hour. She went out in the cold of November, instantly starting to shiver then made her way to the owlery. It was a little dark because of the hour and the winter's weather but she could easily make out her way. She chose a pretty white owl, petting it a little before letting it take the letter in its beak and flying off in the air. She took time to admire the view of the park, the dark forest and the mountains in the background, surrounded by morning fog, before going back to the castle.

She was one of the rare students already present in the Great Hall. The Ravenclaw table was still empty when she approached it so she just took a random seat and started pouring herself a cup of hot tea to warm herself up. Another early bird entered the room, and when she looked up, she saw Regulus Black, looking as haughty as ever with his raven curly locks of hair framing his thin face and his elegant strides. She hadn't noticed she was staring until he gave her a nod, to which she responded before turning back to her tea, thinking 'he'll think I'm a creep now.'

She slowly started sipping her tea while munching on her scrambled eggs. Then Jacob's Daily Prophet was delivered, and she started reading it before he arrived, like any normal morning. People entered the hall but still no sight of her Ravenclaw comrades. And suddenly, a loud noise was heard outside the Hall, making everyone turned in the direction of the entrance. Curiosity filled the students present in the Great Hall, as most of them got up to see what all this mess was about. Voices were being heard as well, then gasps of people and more noises. Adena, surprised by all of that got up after a while, slowly directing herself towards the mob that had formed outside the hall. Before she could see anything, she spotted her sister with her friends on the side, almost enjoying the view. When she stood next to her, she watched with shock as her friend, James Potter, was bullying, once again Severus Snape. He had made all of his books fly in the air. Sirius Black had his wand in one hand as he was quietly enjoying the show. She watched as people around had mixed reactions, some laughing, some frowning. Their Gryffindor companions were watching on the side as well, frowning but didn't look like they were about to interrupt this little bullying session. Adena, feeling rather angry at the sight, turned to face Candace who was just smiling.

"I can't believe you enjoy that kind of show! And you can accept being friend with bullies!" she spat, her voice cold and angry.

"Calm down sis, they're just having a little fun with that Slytherin scum. I bet you know he's got his nose deep into Dark Arts, he deserves a little punishment."

Her eyes went wide in shock before glaring at her. She turned on her heels, leaving the crowd of people to go back to the Great Hall. When she entered, fuming, she was surprised to see one person still here, as she expected everyone would have come to see the drama happening outside. She slowed down, looking at Regulus Black, staring back at her while drinking his tea, before continuing to walk to her seat. She finished her tea quickly even though it had run cold and grabbed her bag, leaving as quickly as she could. She didn't turn around even though she felt Regulus' gaze following her.

The young Ravenclaw decided to take a stroll outside, by the Black Lake. The cold air was burning her hot skin. She tried to calm down as she walked.

'Punishing Snape as if Potter thought he had the same level of authority as a teacher or a prefect. Yes, Snape isn't all innocent and nice. Yes, Dark Arts are bad, even though I also read some things about that out of curiosity. But as long as he doesn't hurt anyone. And going as far as humiliating him in public. That Potter git just wanted some attention as always. Sirius didn't seem as better. And Candace watching all this with a sly grin...'

Adena got lost in her thoughts as she watched the Giant Squid's tentacles emerge from the usual plain surface of the lake. She stayed there for a while, not wishing to go back so soon. But she eventually had to go back as classes were about to start.

In class, Adena sat all by herself, not wishing to be near anyone at the moment. She was still slightly angered and had a hard time paying attention to the lesson. Looking out the window and looking at the rain falling slowly from the grey stormy sky seemed much more interesting than what her teacher was rambling about. She was quiet through the whole morning, as well as the whole lunch. She didn't have anything to say anyway.

That afternoon, when Adena seated herself in Arithmancy class, she didn't expect Regulus Black to sit next to her a few seconds later. She didn't mind and so, didn't express any opposition. And since he didn't take this seat for no reason, Regulus talked first.

"You look calmer."

She kept quiet and he continued.

"You seem to have anger issues..." he mumbled in a disinterested manner.

The girl looked at him, thinking about his words. "I tend to get angry when people are bothering," she let out in a stern voice.

The boy wanted to laugh, thinking he had irritated the Ravenclaw.

"Am I a bother?" he said, the ghost of a grin tugged on his lips as he repeated the words he had once said to her in the same way.

Her lips twitched just a little, showing that she wanted to smile and making the boy know she remembered as well.

"No, you aren't," she replied with as much seriousness as she could.

"I guess I shouldn't get on your nerves then. You looked kinda... scary that morning."

Adena chuckled lightly and replied with a smirk, "You shouldn't be scared. Well at least if you aren't the reason for my anger."

He hummed lightly while feigning focus on what Professor Vector was saying. After a while he said.

"As for now, I'm reassured."

She turned her head towards him, a bit surprised.

"What do you mean?"

"It seems like I'm never bothering you," he said in a confident tone.

"Actually, I'm sure you can be slightly annoying but you're tolerable for now."

"As if..." he muttered under his breath.

"I'm sure."

"You're wrong."

"As if..." she said with a smirk.

Adena realized she wasn't listening to a single word her teacher was saying as she watched Regulus' hand taking down notes. She bent over his shoulder, reading what he had written and what she had missed. The brunette didn't notice as he slightly tensed up at the sudden closeness, her long brown locks brushing against his arm. To mask up the small tension in his body, he decided to say, in a teasing voice.

"You weren't paying attention. That's disappointing Winsten, you're such a good student."

"You were being a bother," she said, not diverting her eyes from his textbook as she wrote the same words as his.

"Oh, I was this time?" The Slytherin boy resisted the urge to face her, knowing their faces would be way too close and that would probably create awkwardness, a feeling they both didn't seem to feel regarding their sudden proximity.

"You were kinda distracting yeah."

"I'll stay quiet then."

"I chose to listen," she replied back instantly, and sat straight on her chair again. He finally turned to her.

"Even if you can't follow up the lesson, it seems like I'm always here for you to catch up." He wasn't teasing, nor was he too serious, his voice just sounded monotonous.

"Hm, right, thank you again," she nodded, looking into his dark grey eyes, getting lost into them for a few seconds before he nodded back at her. Regulus then turned around to listen to the teacher.

She then realized he had made her talk for the first time in hours. Adena had barely talked the whole day until Regulus Black decided to speak to her. He was odd for making her react that way to him.

The lesson continued but Adena wasn't in the mood to listen, Regulus had distracted her too much for that. They couldn't seat next to each other anymore.

As she had lost the thread of the lesson again, she looked back over Regulus' shoulder, glancing back at her own textbook a few times to make sure it wasn't too messy as she was a little hurrying to catch up. When her hazel eyes went back to the Slytherin's words, she had to come closer to the sheet of paper, her glasses almost touching the boy's forearm as she finally made out the words 'Pay attention, idiot'  engraved on one side of the page. When Adena looked up at the boy he was keeping a straight face, forcing himself not to smile which was noticeable to the girl and she smiled as well, continuing her actions.

Unsurprisingly, at the end of the class, Adena hadn't written down everything her teacher had said, and so she dared asking Regulus for his notes again.

"At this point I might start to believe you're doing that on purpose to have more of my company," he said with a barely visible grin, eyeing her suspiciously. And she rolled her eyes.

"Stop dreaming," just whispered Adena. But maybe he was right.