Can I join the Dark Brotherhood if I've killed Grelod the Kind prematurely?

Question

I accidentally killed the orphanage lady before I started the quest. She just pissed me off, sadly it will not acknowledge that I have finished the quest and I haven't been contacted. Is there another way to join the Dark Brotherhood?

Answer 1

I could have sworn that if you talked to the boy afterwards his reaction would be the same and then after you sleep the dark brotherhood will get you regardless.

Edit:
I just confirmed this. Ran in and murdered her, I didn't get a bounty even though all the kids watch, and then I went to Windhelm to talk to Adventus and the quest starts and ends all within the first conversation with the boy.