Later that morning, when she was ready, Adena joined Regulus and they both apparated to her grandmother's house like she had planned. She was living in a 18th century cottage. It was a house Adena really liked, it reminded her of her childhood. It looked even prettier under the snow.

"Let's get inside," she said as she led Regulus by his hand to the door. When they entered, they discovered the inside which was just as pretty as the outside, decorated with a matching ancient style.

"She's probably in her living-room. Can you wait for a moment?"

She left his side and walked into the large house until finding the living-room where her grandmother was sitting in an armchair, reading today's Daily Prophet.

"Grandma, it's me."

"Oh, good morning young lady," replied the old woman as she looked up from the newspaper. Adena walked up to her and bent down to give her a greeting hug. "So, what's the reason for your visit? I'm still coming next week to celebrate Christmas you know."

"I know... it's just that I wanted to introduce you my boyfriend."

"Boyfriend hm? Black is that right?" she asked, a sly look in her piercing green eyes. She had the same eyes as her sister and mother, her hair was now a pure white but Adena knew it used to be a golden blond too.

"Yes. Regulus Black. I brought him today."

"Oh... Show me your lover then."

Adena nodded before leaving in the hallway, going back to Regulus and grabbing his hand.

"She's waiting," she whispered to him as they walked.

She was slightly nervous. She absolutely wanted her grandmother's approbation regarding Regulus. The old woman was good at sensing that kind of things, if people were good or not. Deep down, she knew her boyfriend was taking the wrong path, but him as a person, was good, and good for her.

"Grandma, this is Regulus Black, who I've been dating for more than a year. And Regulus this is my grandmother, Philomena."

"Good morning Madam, this is a pleasure to meet you," said the boy with a small courtly smile. She was scanning him through her glasses, and he felt a little uneasy.

"I'll make him visit the house now." She turned around, guiding Regulus with her, but as she was about to leave, she looked back at her grandmother to notice her nodding at her with a satisfied grin. It needed her only five minutes for her to know Regulus was good and in fact the one for Adena.

As they walked up the stairs he started talking again. "Is it me or she had a strange look on her face?"

"No, she was looking at you and listening to her instinct about you."

"That's how she judges strangers? With a first look at them?"

"Yeah. She never fails to see the bad and the good."

"I hope I won't disappoint her then..."

Adena turned her face to him with a puzzled expression. "What are you saying? I'm pretty sure she's satisfied. We're going down for a chat with her later and you'll see, she won't be hostile towards you."

The boy just shrugged upon hearing this. He knew he wasn't the best. He was already too far into the evil to be considered anything else. Only Adena wouldn't accept that statement.

When they got down again, Philomena had served some tea and biscuits.

"Here children, help yourselves," she told them as she looked up from her reading.

"Thanks Grandma." The brunette led Regulus to the sofa facing her grandmother.

"Thank you, Madam."

"Oh, I don't mind you calling me Grandma young boy, even Jacob calls me Grandma," chuckled the woman.

"Jacob? Jacob Brett?" said the boy confused.

"He lives in the neighborhood," answered Adena and he hummed in response as he took his cup of tea.

"How's school going? Seventh year isn't too hard for you right?" she asked them with a grin.

"No, not really. Just lots of homework," sighed Adena.

Her grandmother laughed raucously before saying, "Candace told me she had a hard time last year and she was always late."

"That's Candace..."

"What about you Regulus?"

The raven-haired male froze, his hand in front of the plate of biscuits which he retrieved back.

"Slytherin I guess?" He nodded. "Typical of your family. How's school for you?"

"It's going well. Thanks for asking."

"You know I went to school with your teacher," laughed the woman.

"Which one?" he asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Horace Slughorn. We were in the same year, except that I was in Ravenclaw."

"I really didn't know about that..."

"I was surprised too," laughed Adena.

They continued this conversation with Regulus getting more at ease with the woman, seeing that she was very caring and welcoming. He could understand why Adena appreciated her grandmother so much, he felt so welcomed with her. He unconsciously looked at Adena as she talked with so much easiness and even brightness with her grandmother, unlike what he noticed with her parents. Sensing his gaze, she glanced at him for a second, a smile on her lips. And that didn't go unnoticed by the clever woman.

"You two really love each other."

Both their heads turned towards the woman and she was wearing a large grin, her eyes twinkling with a glint of joy.

"I think yeah..." replied the brunette with a small smile.

"You think?" laughed her grandmother. "It's clear you do. Regulus, thank you for taking care of my grandchild."

"Oh... it's normal you know," he replied in a quiet voice.

Adena couldn't help but smile even more widely at his behavior.

"I think it's getting late," suddenly said the girl as she noticed it was past twelve already. "I guess Pimchin must have made us lunch." She then told Regulus. He nodded at her.

"Go home children. And I'll see you in a few days. I hope to see you again too Regulus."

"I hope so."

"Thank you Grandma."

"Thank you for your hospitality hm..."

"Grandma," finished Adena with a chuckle.

"Grandma..." added Regulus, not used to that much familiarity.

The grandmother laughed and said, "Go now. I'll see you later."

They were back at Adena's house in a few seconds.

"Well, it went fine. I hope you like her."

"Very nice and welcoming she is," replied Regulus.

"At least she likes you. I told you so."

The boy hummed and followed his girlfriend to the kitchen.

The whole day passed by calmly, the two teenagers just laid in bed and talked, never getting bored of each other. These moments were so enjoyable. Adena had told Pimchin to prepare tea for her aunt and when she arrived, the two got down.

"Welcome Aunt Bethany."

They greeted each other with a quick hug, Arsene joining in as well.

"I haven't come here in over ten years... But it didn't change the slightest bit."

"Hm, Aunt Bethany, this is my boyfriend, Regulus."

The woman turned towards him and held out her hand for him to shake.

"Pleasure to meet you, young boy." And he smiled politely in response. He was stuck by how much this woman looked like her sister, but they seemed so different in terms of personality.

"Not bad..." whispered the woman to her niece and she agreed with a grin.

"I'll get Candace down."

"And I'll get my broomstick down," added Regulus as he followed her.

Arsene started cheering behind them, making both smile. The girl loved how he got used to her cousin even though he wasn't corresponding to his standards, she knew he had made some efforts and Adena was glad he did.

Upon arriving downstairs, Candace and Bethany shared an emotional embrace. The two used to be close as well, Bethany wasn't much older than Candace, she was still a teenager when the latter was born.

"And so, this is Arsene."

"You are Arsene? You've got so tall," answered Candace as she brought her cousin to her arms.

"Should we have a cup of tea now?" asked Adena once the two cousins had released each other.

As the three of them sat down in the living-room ready for a catch-up, Regulus led Arsene outside with his broomstick.

"It's been so long... you two grew up a lot..."

"Yeah, right. Arsene grew up a lot too," answered the blonde girl still not over the surprise.

"What are you doing now Candace?"

"I've become a Trainee Healer recently."

"Really? That's impressive," replied their aunt, looking slightly stunned.

And they talked for a while, laughed, caught up on everything that happened. They learned that their aunt was living in England again after getting divorced with her French husband and that they could visit her whenever they wanted to. They barely mentioned the incident that made her move away from the family, claiming it wasn't the girls' fault. And in the end, they went outside to see Arsene happily flying on Regulus' broomstick.

"Thank you for taking good care of my son," she told him. Obviously, Regulus' name nor his family was mentioned to her, she would have probably feared him.

And Adena didn't miss the chance to thank him for making Arsene have fun after they left.