The next Monday, it was with surprise that the Slytherins and the Ravenclaws learned they would be paired up once again as it seemed everyone had worked rather well last time. Professor Slughorn really liked seeing his students succeeding. And that was how Adena found herself once again sitting at Regulus Black's right side, as quiet as ever. Just like last time, Slughorn travelled quickly through the tables, in the direction of Adena and Regulus' table, even before they could exchange a word.

"I expect as much good work as last time. Oh, and I'll be holding my first dinner next Saturday, I hope you two will be able to make it!" With that, he left both teenagers at their work.

"Will you attend to the dinner?" the calm voice of Adena asked, breaking the silence first.

"Of course, I'm one of his best students, I want to continue making a good impression," stated the raven-haired boy, as if it were obvious. Without even looking up, he asked with a hint of curiosity and hesitation at the same time, "Will you?"

As the girl was once again tying her brown locks in a low ponytail, she turned to face him, noticing he actually had his eyes on her, since she took her time, as if waiting for her answer.

"I will."

"Hm." With that he turned around, facing the cauldron once again as he started pouring the ingredients.

Adena didn't dwell too much on his sudden curiosity and started working as well.

In the end, Professor Slughorn was just as happy as the last time. His best students never disappoint, had he thought with pride.

After finishing, the brunette was joined by her housemates as they were heading to their next class, Transfiguration. Eugenia Hawlins, one of her roommates, had caught up with her with a small smile. She was a shy and petite girl with short red hair, just above her shoulders. She always had a warm reassuring gaze when she was talking to someone, making others feel at ease around her. But Adena knew she could be very extrovert when she was with her friends, and so be completely different from what she appeared to be.

"Are you attending Slughorn's dinner?" she asked, a small smile tugged on lips.

Adena slowly nodded, offering the same smile in return, "Yes, he has invited me."

Eugenia's brown orbs were glimmering with joy as she asked right after, "We could go together, what do you think?"

Once again, the young girl nodded, keeping her smile in place, "That would be nice, yeah."

For the following days, she would look for a proper outfit to wear on that Saturday evening. She was feeling nervous regarding this meeting as it was the first time for her and the others fifth years. At some point, she felt obliged to ask her older sister for a dress as she had nothing appropriate to wear for that kind of event. Candace gave her a dress that had been too small for her for a while. She was much taller than Adena, about a head, and that was something she liked to mock her sister with even though the younger couldn't care much about her height, nor her weight or anything regarding her appearance. She was how she was supposed to be.

Saturday came by way too fast for the young girl's liking. She felt so nervous as she regarded her outfit in the bathroom mirror. Her sister's dress fit her perfectly, she thought, which surprised her. Maybe Candace had put some spells on it so it would suit her better; she was good with that kind of tricks. For a while she just stared at her reflection, watching how the navy-blue dress danced on her hips as she spinned slowly. It was quite fluid but tighter around her chest and the sleeves were long. A small bow was framing her waist, the last detail to make it look more sophisticated. Her long brown hair was still cascading down her back and was just brushed. She had left her glasses in the room since she only needed them to study. The light knocks on the door and Eugenia's soft voice made her jump slightly. They had to leave if they didn't want to be late. Adena's eyes glanced down at the sink where was resting the pink lipstick her sister had lent her. She quickly put some on her lips, making them rosier before turning around and leaving the room. Eugenia was waiting for her, already all dressed up. She had a pale pink dress that was just as simple as her own. She was also wearing a cute little hairpin in her red hair, with a flower on it. The redhead girl smiled at her roommate before making her way towards the bedroom door, Adena following close behind.

Adena and Eugenia were the last ones to arrive at Slughorn's dinner. They were embarrassed even though their teacher was telling them with kindness that it was perfectly fine, and nothing had started yet. Two seats were left and Slughorn offered Eugenia to take a seat next to a pretty sixth-year with red hair as well that the brunette recognized as Lily Evans, one of Candace's housemates. She smiled and Adena returned the smile. Adena smiled at the girl next to Lily as well. It was a girl with bleached blonde hair and almond eyes. Her name was Jude and she happened to be Noah Lee's twin sister, one of her housemates. After the brief exchange, Slughorn offered the young girl the remaining seat, next to Regulus Black.

She had nodded before approaching the table and sitting on the chair at his left.

"Black," she said with a nod and a small smile as a form of greeting.

He obviously returned the gesture, with a charming expression for the people to witness as he was always polite and well-mannered, "Winsten."

He then turned around again towards his plate, Adena doing the same, hiding her smile as her head inclined slowly towards Regulus', in a soft and discreet movement, whispering so only him could hear, "You, again."

The Slytherin swallowed a chuckle before replying in the same way, barely turning his head towards her so it wouldn't draw attention to them as Slughorn was rambling about whatever topic interested him, "Am I a bother?"

He had said these words while looking straight into her hazel irises, in fact searching for any sort of discomfort. She was a bit taken aback by the action but remained composed, nonetheless. She didn't hide her quiet laughter this time as she replied softly, with an almost teasing tone, so unfamiliar in her voice, "Not at all. I was hoping you would be of good company."

He hummed with a grin before turning his head towards their teacher, feigning focus, that strange conversation replaying in his head.

Adena was thinking the same as she was staring at Professor Slughorn. How did they become so comfortable with each other. This conversation was nothing like the small talk they had had together during their two last classes. Maybe that was enough for both. That was probably due to this special occasion.

The young girl did not have time to think more about it as Slughorn was calling out her name. Her focus immediately returned as he smiled nicely at her before asking, "So, Miss Winsten, how has been the first month so far?"

"Fine, the usual, just a bit busier with prefect duties," replied the young girl, a polite smile on her lips.

He nodded and added, "Good, just what I expected from you Miss Winsten."

As he chose another target, Adena let out a little sigh, before slightly jumping on her seat as Regulus murmured towards her once again, him also having a teasing tone this time, "You weren't paying attention, it's not very good for the top student."

"Tch, just listen instead of annoying me," came out the stern reply of Adena, except that she was trying hard to hide her smile as she bit her lower lip softly. And Regulus didn't even have to look at her to guess her expression, a smug look appearing on his face.

The food had finally been placed on everyone's plate after another round of questions. The boring conversation had made Adena hungry, and for once, she was eating her food. It wasn't special, it was just some roasted chicken she could have eaten any other day, but that evening she was enjoying her food. At the other side of table, Eugenia was staring at her slight bulged out eyes, shocked by the rare sight of her comrade eating her meal properly.

As the dinner continued with a little chit-chat, mostly made by Professor Slughorn, he decided to expose his curiosity once again, asking everyone about their background, getting to know them, and getting them known to the others as well. When it was finally Adena's moment, she was paying attention this time.

"Would you like to tell us where your parents are working at, Miss Winsten dear?"

"Both my parents work at the Ministry, sir. My mother works as the Minister of Magic's secretary, while my father works as the Head of the Justice department," replied Adena, curtly, not wishing to talk too much but Slughorn didn't know when to stop.

He nodded then added, "They must be both very busy."

The young girl's body tensed slightly, clearly uncomfortable by the topic, but she kept her perfect fake smile plastered on her face as she replied, "Yes they are, they have an important job after all."

She may have calmed down in a second, but Regulus who was seated the closest to her had clearly noticed something off in her behavior. He had always been good at reading people, at seeing through their artifices. Her head was hung down, she was upset, but got startled at Slughorn's following words.

"Marshall Winsten... A Slytherin, and quite a good student as well, in fact one of the best during his time. I can see where you got your good brains from. However, I wonder where your sister got her personality from. Clearly none of Marshall and Juliet were like that... hm, well, what about your parents Miss Hawlins?"

The brunette had become interested again when Slughorn mentioned her parents' past. She was happy to know she resembled her father in some ways.

author's note: yeah the updates are super random, but i'm just saying again that everything is written, i finished the story like one year ago, but the updates are just random. i don't know what y'all think about this, i hope you like the story so far even though nothing special happens. anyway thank you for the few reads already :D

i forgot to mention but did you get the reference to my fav book? it's about noah and his sister jude, it wasn't planned, but i read the book and thought i should make a reference about it especially since the boy in it has the same name as my noah. jude isn't that important for the plot, i just added her for the reference :) (but there's a girl just as cool and blonde as her coming up soon!)