The days passed by just as slowly as usual, except it suddenly went faster when spring finally installed itself in April, which also meant the exams were less than two months away by now. The anxiousness could be felt among all the fifth-year students. Most of them had started studying for their O.W.Ls. Adena hadn't. She thought it was useless to start too soon. She had been a good listener again in class that year, she had some knowledge in her mind at least. Jacob hadn't started studying yet neither. The last Quidditch match recently was recently played. Ravenclaw vs Gryffindor. Unfortunately, Gryffindor was the winner of the match and the four House Cup, making Jacob in a gloomy mood. She had attended the match, as well as Ravenclaw and Slytherin's other matches. Her presence was personally asked by Regulus, of course. She had no other reason.

 As everyone was keeping themselves busy, Adena just stayed with Jacob, them being the two lazy folks they were. She thought that her silent support would help. Maybe not being alone would make him want to crack a joke again. But she wasn't sure.

By the end of the month, Adena started studying, not too much, however. She celebrated Jade's birthday at the end of April and Jacob was happily back to his usual mood. Some days after she was invited in the Gryffindor common room to celebrate Rosie Abbot and Marlene McKinnon's birthdays who were two of Candace's best friends. These were good excuses to not study but she thought she shouldn't laze around too much.

That night was yet another session of patrolling in the corridors, with Regulus Black obviously. The calmest and most enjoyable moments of the week for her. His company was never boring. Tonight, he was the one to engage the conversation.

"Do you have that meeting with Flitwick too? To discuss your future projects, you know," the boy asked, a bit curious.

"Hm, I do, it's in two weeks. You have one with Slughorn I guess."

"Yeah. I was wondering what your projects were. Or maybe you still want to live in a lost and lonely cottage in the middle of Scotland," said the raven-haired male with a smirk.

Adena scoffed before answering, "That wasn't a joke you know, I'm seriously thinking of moving there. But if you want a real answer, I actually don't know what job I could get."

"You're good enough to do anything. Even strong enough to be an Auror."

The brunette shrugged, ignoring the compliment and the effect it had on her as she answered, "I thought of that yeah. I'm sure of what I don't want. A boring job at the Ministry like my parents. I considered becoming a Healer as well. Something related to astronomy is an option as well of course. But nothing's decided."

"I see. I guess that's some interesting jobs. But I think astronomy definitely suits you more in my opinion... "

She chuckled a bit before asking, "What about you?"

Regulus took time to reply.

"Well, I believe you're aware of my views regarding the wizarding society." And the girl just hummed to agree. "I hope it's no surprise to you that I'm considering joining the Dark Lord's army."

Even if Adena was expecting something like that, this answer was still surprising coming from a sixteen-year-old boy. Voldemort's army was becoming stronger and stronger by days, as well as more famous. But she wouldn't have expected such a young boy to have that kind of projects.

"Are you serious about this? I mean, right after graduation? You're strong and smart, you could do so many great things."

"I want my skills to be helpful to the Dark Lord. I've been wanting this for a long time."

The girl stopped for a moment, her eyes staring at the floor, she was thoughtful. "This is definitely not the safest job."

Regulus had stopped as well, his own gaze fixing her. "I know, but it doesn't matter if I can at least do great things like you said. I don't know your opinion on the subject, but helping the Dark Lord reach his goals sound like great things to me."

"My opinion? I don't have one. Those Muggles' lives don't matter to me. Actually, I think they're strange and stupid – even if I would never go as far as killing them for my own pleasure. I'm neutral, I won't take part to any side. And I don't care about your views. I just want the people around me safe and I'm glad none of them are Muggle-borns."

She had looked up to him, she didn't know what reaction to expect from him. Regulus looked slightly surprised by her words. He had no idea what her opinion on the subject could be, he only knew she was close to some half-bloods and that of course she had a blood-traitor sister she liked very much. But she actually didn't care at all. She didn't care about him having such extreme views and wanting to join the darkest wizard to fight off their enemies. She only cared about the ones she loved; it sounded selfish and very noble at the same time. At least he was accepted by her side and the contrary was true as well. The Slytherin already knew that of course, she had accepted to spend time with a pure-blood Slytherin going by the name of Black, it could only mean one thing. Adena didn't support him but she wasn't against him neither and it was good to know. The Ravenclaw was smart enough to not get influenced by her sister and her blood-traitor friends and it was somehow a relief to him.

"I don't care if you don't like what I think," muttered Adena after a while.

"I respect your choice. I won't force you into sharing my views and at least I'm reassured you're not a blood-traitor, but I guess I already knew that."

"That's good to know. Seems I still have some importance in your eyes."

"Yes, you do," instantly murmured Regulus with a small smile.

As the days became hotter, the students spent more and more time in their common room or the library. Any free time or free period was spent studying. Adena had always been a serious and studious person so she was used to this calm and focused atmosphere. Except that this atmosphere was more tense than usual. The nights strolling into the corridors with Regulus were more enjoyable now, it was a break from her studying since she would spend her other nights head in books.

"You're not too stressed regarding the exams?" asked the boy by her side.

"Not really. I don't usually get stressed for that kind of things because I know I studied before."

"You can be a nerd sometimes like I thought..." muttered Regulus.

She pushed him, feeling offended before answering in a stern voice, "No, I'm not. I'm just a model student." And he just laughed.

"Okay, okay, if you say so."

"Actually, I might get nervous right before the exam. Like I panic for a moment, wondering if I didn't forget anything you know."

"I see but you have to trust your capacities."

"Right... Are you stressed?"

"Not at all. I'm studying, so I should be confident, and I am even when I'm not studying."

She pushed him again, looking as if she was sulking and Regulus chuckled.

"Tch, you're too good."

"I'm sure you'd be the same if you didn't study, you're skilled and all."

"Well, it's not totally wrong..." And they both laughed lightly together.

The next days looked all the same for the fifth years. Eat, sleep and most importantly studying. Adena had started working hard as well. The only one not doing anything was Jacob. That boy was idling in the park during his free time and when it was again time for class he would say with pride, "Guys, look at how tanned my golden skin has become!"

Silence was the only reply of course.

"Oh, y'all aren't fun," then grunted the boy.

"Jacob... why aren't you studying yet..." hesitantly asked Noah.

"Eh, why? 'Cause it's boring and I'd rather enjoy the weather and anyway we still have one month before the first test," replied the blonde boy confidently.

"It will come fast you know..."

"You're worrying too much my poor Noah!" he said as he threw an arm around the smaller boy's shoulders who was sitting by his side on the sofa. He offered him a confident smile before adding, "Trust me, I'll nail those!"

That night when Adena joined Regulus for patrolling, he gave her a strange look.

"You look tired."

"Hello to you too, Black."

"Are you getting enough sleep?"

"Do I look that bad?"

"Answer me."

"I am, why do you care."

"I do not care," he replied quickly, glaring at her while she gave him a suspicious look.

"Anyway. I sleep for around six hours which is enough," she rejoined in a calmer voice.

"What does that mean? Your 'around six' is closer to five or seven?"

"Gosh, you're persistent. Last night, I slept for five hours and thirty-eight minutes, okay?" she hissed in an irritated voice.

Ignoring her tone, Regulus said in a lighter voice, "You even know the precise minutes."

She huffed loudly to express her irritation.

"I'm just messing with you idiot," he whispered next, ruffling her hair with his hand when sensing she was sulking. "You can be so childish sometimes..." he looked at the side of her face with a fond look in his grey eyes when he said that. He wasn't even aware of it.

"And you can be such a pain..." she hissed.

"I was just hoping you weren't putting studies as your priority instead of sleeping or eating."

"I know... I just don't like that..."

"What?"

"You know... showing too much attention, care..." she avoided his eyes, a bit embarrassed.

"Care? You think I care? No, I was just curious..." his voice still had a light tone, it sounded rather soft.

She side-glanced at him, noticing he was looking at the front, a small smile on his lips.

"I do sleep and eat enough. I don't need much to survive you know."

"Well, I hope so."

author's note: oh god reg is getting cute because he likes her (as if it wasn't obvious)

anyway adena definitely doesn't support the pure-blood supremacy. she's kinda selfish yes when she thinks about her loved ones' safety and doesn't care about others' but i guess in the future she expresses more support for the 'good' side. even if she says she's neutral, she's already in the 'good' side. but she's being very tolerant, especially with regulus. that's just how she is, very acceptive of others