"I don't think you're ready"

What could Candace possibly mean, Adena was confused, but her sister told her soon enough what was happening.

"Wait, don't go up yet."

Adena stopped in her tracks and let her luggage fall back to the floor.

"What's the matter?" she asked turning around to face her.

"It's about Mum," she answered right away, sounding serious, and worrying instantly the brunette. "She's sick. She fainted at work three weeks ago. Her health has deteriorated a lot. She's currently resting upstairs."

The young girl was shocked. These words had struck her. Her mother was sick. She became so weak and even fainted.

"Is it serious?"

"She got out of St Mungos last week. They said she has extreme fatigue and that she has become very weak because of work. And now she only needs rest."

She stayed silent. Her mother only needed rest, but she felt so worried.

"Can I see her?"

"Yeah, but don't be surprised... she's changed..."

Adena followed her sister upstairs, walking each step anxiously, wondering how bad her mother's health condition had worsen. Candace led the way to the guest room.

"We thought it'd be better if she was sleeping alone, especially since Dad wakes up early."

The girl nodded and prepared herself mentally to see her mother. Once Candace had opened the door, Adena felt frozen in place. Her eyes looked straight at her mother, lying in bed, under blankets despite the summer weather outside. Her face looked extremely pale and she had clearly lost weight. Maybe she had lost hair too. She looked so much older now. It was the worst state she had ever been in. But when she glanced up at Adena, her lips were smiling.

"Welcome home darling," said Juliet in a weak voice, almost inaudible.

Adena approached her and kneeled at her side.

"Hey Mum. How are you?" she asked, not being able to hide her worrisome.

"Not bad," replied the woman.

Not bad? What did it mean? Had she looked worse? So many questions were popping up in the girl's head.

That night, Adena didn't feel like eating, nor did she felt like sleeping or doing anything. She just stayed by her mother's side, holding her hand. Even when her father came home from work, she didn't move, and they talked a little. He looked more tired too, his wife's condition must have affected him as well. She tried to find some sleep but in vain, her mother's worrying state was keeping her awake, as well as the many questions in her head. The brunette did not always had the best relationship with her mother, being left alone most often during her childhood when she needed a mother but her mother would instead focus on her work as the Minister's secretary which she was so proud of. She had so much resentment towards her, even anger maybe, but she was still her mother. While she wasn't worrying about her daughter, Adena would still worry about her mother.

The next morning, Candace came into the room with their mother's breakfast.

"Dad said you had to come down to eat breakfast Adena,"  she said. "It'll be good for you, you look awful."

"Yes, go eat darling," said her mother kindly. Adena nodded and started heading out, leaving her mother and sister together. But before going down, she passed by her own room. She noticed that her stuff was tidied, thanks to Pimchin, and then she remembered she still had to talk to Regulus like he had asked her to. Taking out a piece of parchment and some ink she started writing at her desk.

'Dear Regulus,

I am letting you know that Mum is sick. I had already noticed her health had deteriorated but it seems like she has reached her worst point. She is now resting.

Anyway, I hope you got home safely. See you later.

Adena'

After eating some breakfast, even though she was not hungry at all, she headed back to her mother's room.

"Mum how are you feeling today?" she asked, kneeling down in the same position.

"Fine," answered the woman but Adena couldn't guess if it was a lie.

They stayed together for a while, not saying anything, Adena lost in her thoughts.

"Tell me what's on your mind," said her mother after some time in silence.

"There's nothing."

"Don't lie. You always keep things hidden."

She was right. Adena didn't even dare looking her in the eyes, betraying herself.

"I'm listening," she said again, and the girl could feel her stare on her.

After taking a deep breath, she finally answered, "Mum, why would you do that? I mean, work, even though it's more overwork. I don't understand. Doing that to end up sick!"

"Adena, do you remember how it was before? I wasn't working. We had enough money and we still have enough money, but my daughters started growing up and I didn't want them to have this image of me." She paused, coughing a little. Adena didn't say anything and waited in silence until she calmed down. "I preferred you seeing me as a hardworking mum, I wanted to inspire you to work hard as well in the future. So I did what I thought was the best for you, I taught you to be hardworking in my own way, and it seems like it pays off when I see where you two are now. But it looks like it doesn't please you..."

"Mum, you didn't have to do that..." whispered the brunette.

"What did you want me to do at that time? Tell me," she answered, so much kindness in her eyes.

"I... I would have preferred you to stay with us. Like a normal mum, play with us and do fun things together... But you were never there, even after entering Hogwarts..."

"Did you feel lonely? I'm so sorry darling."

Adena couldn't hold it back anymore, she broke down in tears and hid her face in her arms resting on the bed. Her mother's comforting hand went to caress her head slowly.

"Don't be sorry... I'm the one who should be sorry... I didn't try to understand the purpose of all of this, and you went to the point of overworking yourself just to prove us that working hard is important..."

"It's not your fault, I chose to do this," her mother's weak voice spoke again.

"I'm sorry for not understanding, you did so much," sobbed the brunette.

They stayed there for a few minutes until a 'crack!' was heard from behind.

"Mister Regulus is here," squeaked the voice of Pimchin.

Adena slowly lifted her head up, facing her mother. She wasn't expecting his visit at all but before she could say anything, her mother spoke up.

"Go. Don't worry about me."

"But..."

"No. Adena, go see him."

The brunette nodded and tried to wipe off the remaining tears on her cheeks as she stood up, leaving the room. Regulus was waiting for at the top of staircase. He was watching her in worry. She walked up to him until they were close enough to hold each other. She was clutching to his clothes and her face was hidden in his chest. Just the feeling of his comforting embrace made her cry again.

"She overworked herself for us... She wanted to show us the image of a hard-working woman and mum so we could become like her. She just wanted to be a good example for her daughters and now she's sick..." her voice cracked at the end and she couldn't continue. In the meantime, her boyfriend was still holding her in his arms, his hand was rubbing her back in a comforting way while she was sobbing against him.

"I was such an ungrateful child..." she whispered again after calming down a little.

"Don't say that. It didn't seem like that from your point of view."

"I... should have tried to understand. I should have appreciated what she was doing for us."

"But now you do it. At last you realized it. I'm sure your mum is happy to see who you've become. You're hard-working like her..."

The girl nodded. "Yeah, that's what she said." She then looked up at her boyfriend. "Why did you come?"

"I couldn't leave you alone in such hard times," he casually answered, looking into her eyes. He let go of her so his hands could fly up to her face. His thumbs gently erased the traces of tears on her cheeks. "What about having a shower? It'll help you clear your mind and I'll ask the elf to prepare lunch."

She nodded again and finally offered him a small smile. After placing a kiss on her forehead, he left her.

author's note: have i mentioned there are about 15 chapters left?? the end is closer than i thought