Adena and Regulus eventually had to go back before the night would fall even though they would arrive pretty late. The girl didn't feel like enjoying the starry sky, her face muffled in her boyfriend's shoulder.

"Look at the sky, it's so pretty," he told her, as he was admiring it too.

His words made her move so she could take a look at the sky that was indeed very pretty.

"It reminds me of the times I took you out at night. Especially the first one..." whispered Regulus in a nostalgic voice but she could guess he was smiling.

"Yeah, it was the best..."

For the remaining time of their journey through the sky they stayed silent. The fresh air of the night helped them both clear their mind. After a while, they arrived home. Adena could see the roof of her mansion from afar. They got down on the ground and apparated back to her bedroom. And once again it was complete silence. They were standing side by side, as if they didn't know what to do. For some reason, Adena didn't dare moving, and she had no idea why since it was her own room. Her body was like frozen.

"Adena..." whispered Regulus, immobile by her side. "We should talk."

"I know..." she whispered back.

He looked up at her, his eyes a little widened and she turned her face to look in his direction, offering a small smile barely visible.

"I've been feeling it the whole time. That you had something to say. So, go ahead."

He nodded, pondered over his next actions for a few seconds then grabbed her hand, bringing her to the bed, where they both sat on.

"Adena. I have something to do," started Regulus, his tone serious. His gaze was fixated on the floor. "I'll maybe have to... leave."

Adena stayed quiet, ingesting the words, wondering what could it mean exactly. It was a shock.

"What do you mean, leave?" her trembling voice asked. She was expecting something serious, but the words still struck her.

"I'm not sure myself. I have no idea what could happen. Anything could happen to me, and I'm sorry."

"Is this related to what you've been working on and to what happened to Kreacher? I conclude this is related to the Dark Lord."

"Yes. You're so smart, I can't really hide it to you," he whispered, almost smiling, but it was gone in a second.

"Why do you have to do that..."

"Only I can do it now. I'm sorry I'll have to leave and... and never come back maybe..."

"No! D-don't leave me... What will I do if you're gone..." as the girl spoke, both her hands clutched Regulus' one.

The boy looked up to stare at her, deep into her terrified eyes. "Fight for your life and do what you have always wanted to do. And remember me."

"But I'm so weak without you..." her voice cracked as she said those words.

"That's not true. You're a strong witch and a strong person as well."

"No! I've only been strong because you were with me. You've made me strong and I wouldn't be the same without you."

"Don't say that..." he replied in a broken voice, his hand going up to cup her cheek, his thumb wiping off a tear that had glided down.

"Regulus..."

He hummed lightly.

"You know I pondered over the meaning of love ever since we started dating. You made me understand this feeling and this concept that used to be so abstract for me. And let me tell you what I realized... Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage... That's how much you've made me change..."

He stayed quiet, realizing that these words were the truth, not only for her but for him too. And when Regulus finally answered, his voice was tinted with so much emotion.

"You're so right... that's why I wanna thank you for giving me strength and making me able to be brave enough to do things I wouldn't have done before..."

"I don't understand how this can be happening right now. I don't want this to be real... I... I'm nothing without you..." whispered Adena, her lips quivering as she talked, and when she finished more tears started streaming down her face.

Regulus' arm brought her closer, and she let her head fall in the crook of his neck.

"It would have been so much easier if you weren't in love, if we weren't dating, if... we hadn't become friends in the first place..." said the boy, sighing sadly.

"But I don't regret anything! And I will never!" she croaked in her broken voice.

"I don't either... the only thing I'll regret is making you suffer..."

Adena cried some more hearing those words, she was clutching to him like her life depended on him in this moment. And maybe that was the case.

"Stay with me for the night too..." she said sobbing.

"Yes, I'll stay tonight."

"You know, I'll be hoping for your return..."

"I'll try my best to come back to you. I will try..."

Adena Winsten who had never really cared for anything nor anyone. Who didn't have interest or purpose, but who had been feeling enchanted by the one and only man people had warned her about: Regulus Black. She realized now that her life completely depended on this man. She had found a purpose and will to live by his side. It was him all along.

"Do you want to sleep?" he wondered, unsure. It was already late at night and they had had a long day.

"No," she firmly said. "I want to enjoy your presence some more, please," now whispered Adena, looking up to stare at her boyfriend, into those grey eyes she had grown to love, that still looked as comforting as the first time she had dared gaze into his hypnotizing irises.

"I want to do that as well..."

"If this is our last night together, I want to remember it..."

"I'll make sure you remember it, but for a better reason," whispered Regulus, his hand going up to caress her cheek again. The girl's eyes were still teary, her sad expression really broke his heart.

"Give me a healing kiss then Reg..." she said back, her eyes going down to his lips. Her fingers went to caress them, tracing their shape, as if she wanted to remember their form. When the two kissed, their movements were slow and languorous. Every second mattered. The taste of her lips was mixed to the taste of her tears. He despised himself for making the one he loved cry so much. He started kissing harder, wanting to show his love again. She was still clutching to his clothes, bringing him closer as they kissed. Adena desired so much to feel him close, to have him in her arms, it was a need, she couldn't fight against it. As if understanding what she meant with her actions, Regulus' arms snaked around her waist, encaging his lover in the comfort of his embrace and to her it was where she felt the best.

At some point, they ended up lying on the bed, still kissing. He was leaving the girl breathless, but she couldn't get enough of it, asking for more after every break.

"Please, don't stop kissing me," she would whisper, staring deep into his grey eyes.

And he could only say yes, closing the distance again to capture her lips in a sweet kiss. He himself had no want to stop kissing her. As always, his kisses would trail down to her jaw, neck, cleavage, lips rediscovering every inch of that body he loved. The boy would be stopped too soon when two soft hands started lifting his face up. Adena's lips began giving his skin the sweetest kisses, her hands the lightest caresses. It seemed like she was only noticing now some little things, like how soft felt his skin under her lips or fingertips. She would always remember everything, from his delicate touch to the way his curls tickle her skin and the way his grey eyes would always hypnotize her, or just how smooth his voice sounded whenever he talked. Of course, Adena would as well remember how caring he had been with her all this time, even before them falling in love. He was pure gentleness deep down and she knew it. She would also remember every compliment he had given her, making her learn to be more confident. But most importantly she would remember how he lit up her world the moment he entered her life. Until now, she has been feeling the happiest she had ever felt in her whole life. She had always enjoyed that joyful feeling whenever Regulus offered it to her.

"I'll remember everything, I promise. If you were to leave, every memory of you would be safe with me."

The boy looked up at her, seeing her eyes becoming emotional again. He was very touched by her words and couldn't help smiling sadly at her.

"Thank you. You make me the happiest."

His face went to hide in the crook of her neck. The scent, it was intoxicating. That strawberry scent flying out of her hair, it could drive him mad. Regulus suddenly remembered the first time Adena got close enough for him to get a snippet of that scent. The moment everything started for them. And his tears started falling as well, wetting his lover's naked warm skin. He wouls try his best but, in a way, he knew his best wouldn't be enough, still he couldn't lose hope, for Adena, that lovely girl sobbing in his arms because her fiancé might leave her forever. He will fight for her and apologize if it wasn't enough.

The mix of sadness and pleasure was a strange sensation for both. The bliss running through their bodies was strong but the pain in their chest was just as vivid. But in a moment like this, the ache was almost too sweet to be acknowledged, but that sweet pain was present. As the two lovers started calming down, their breathing becoming steady again, their tears running dry, the pain could be felt strongly. But in opposition to this feeling Adena was trying to ignore, she instead whispered, "Thank you for making me happy."

When the raven-haired male looked at her face, she was smiling. He kept her body close as he observed her face. She was observing him as well, and her fingers went up to his face, tracing the outline of his hair, softly brushing against his temple, cheekbone, jaw, as if she wanted to keep every detail of his face engraved in her memory. Suddenly, her expression turned into one of great sadness.

"I don't want to sleep..."

"Adena, you look exhausted..." whispered the boy worryingly.

"But I don't want to. I can't fall asleep knowing that I might wake up tomorrow only to realize you've disappeared, as if it was all a dream..."

"Adena. I promised you I'd stay for the night. I can't predict what will happen tomorrow but what I know is that I'll watch you fall asleep," he said in his usual soft comforting tone, and she couldn't hold back her tears.

Regulus, witnessing her pained expression started crying again. He hated doing this to her, he would do his best to comfort her as long as he could.

"I love you so much Regulus, come back to me please," whimpered Adena, hugging him close.

"I love you too Adena..." he said back, his voice much composed. His arms held the girl he loved, probably for the last time. He let his hands feel her warmth and curves, as well as her softness one last time, his fingers also going to brush her curls with as much care he could shower, and inevitably, it lulled Adena to sleep. Regulus stayed awake, he was unable to fall asleep and decided to enjoy his last night watching the girl he loved so tenderly. His favorite sight, when she was sleeping because she looked so at peace. Only the remains of tears on her cheeks made his heart wrench in pain.

author's note: oh hi hm well there's one chapter left.... thank you for reading until now!!