A/N: My amazing beta finally got the chance to edit it - yay!!! So, here is the updated version. I'm still working on trying to perfect my characters, because I am trying to keep all concerns in mind. So, hopefully after a few more chapters things will start to seem better. - I'm working on it!

Anyways, hope you like the updated chapter! I'll try to update sooner than I've been doing!

Chapter 13 – Snakes and Shadows

The cold wind snapped past her, stinging her cheeks and nose. Even after such a romantic dinner, Adara couldn't help being in a foul mood right now. It must have dropped at least 10 degrees while they were inside the tavern, and the sky had become increasingly overcast.

"It's probably going to snow tomorrow," Sirius said, as if reading her thoughts.

She only nodded her head in response as she pulled her coat tighter around her body. A shiver crawled up her body, and she shrugged it off, attributing it to the weather.

Another gust of wind came by, nearly pushing her off the road. She placed her hand on Sirius' arm as an anchor, but the wind still managed to knock off the scarf she was wearing.

Normally she wouldn't have cared too much, but seeing as the scarf was Lily's and she was feeling rather friendly towards Lily, she quickly left Sirius to chase it across the dark, cobblestone streets.

Perfect! I just have to be chasing a black scarf with no light!

She had only run back a few steps when she suddenly stopped.

He stood right in front of her, his whole body and head hidden underneath a heavy cloak. The only thing she could see of him was the pale skin surrounding his cruel, thin lips, which were at that moment, twisted into a small smirk. He held her scarf towards her, offering it to her wordlessly.

But she could hardly move.

It wasn't just fear that stopped her. It was something else.

Who was he?

Though she couldn't see anything else of him, she knew he had to be powerful.

Very powerful.

And dangerous.

She didn't know why, but she could sense it. A mixture of power and danger seemed to radiate off his body.

She could feel him looking at her, critically analyzing her every move.

She wanted to turn and run, but she was frozen. She seemed drawn to him. There was something about the stranger that intrigued her, that enamored her darker curiosity. And for a moment, she couldn't help realizing the feel of black magic that he seemed to emit.

Dark magic.

Her heart beat just a little bit faster. She had always been drawn to it and even though she had forgotten it for a little, her craving for it had never actually disappeared.

Now it was back. And he seemed to realize what she was thinking about, for his smirk grew wider.

She was as if in a trance, and hardly noticed when Sirius raced up behind her.

She knew this…stranger could teach her everything she wanted to know about the dark arts. And he was so close. All she had to do was ask and the knowledge would be hers.

All that power…

She shivered. The thought was tempting.

"Are you alright?" Sirius asked her, turning his head from the shadowy figure.

Adara didn't hear him. Should she ask him? He looked like he wanted her to—

"Adara?" Sirius asked sharply, bringing her back into reality. She turned towards him, not knowing if she should hex him.

Why on earth was he here? She could feel Sirius straightening, his desire to protect her obvious.

Of course he would never allow her to talk to him. And definitely not about the things she desperately wanted to.

And for a fleeting moment, she couldn't help hating Sirius. Even though she supposed any girl would be flattered by his attempt at protecting her, she couldn't help finding it a bit condescending.

As if she needed him to protect her.

The thought was almost laughable. It must have been his Gryffindor qualities.

With a sneer, she took note of his attempted chivalry. Not only was she a competent Slytherin, she was also the most accomplished witch in her house, and knew dark spells that most teachers didn't even know.

A smirk itched to play on her face. If anything, it would he that would need her if it ever came down to that.

Then, the stranger did something she did not expect. At first, she thought he was hissing.

It took a few moments before she realized she could understand what he was saying.

"I believe this is yours." The voice drawled, the words laced with power, as he again offered her the scarf.

Suddenly Adara was reminded of the dream she had, and took a wary step back, fear filtering into the back of her mind.

Sirius could feel the power pouring off the strange man. He wasn't scared, but he was on his guard.

He thought about Adara, but seemed to sense a slight fear mingled with curiosity in her. So, he had decided to let her handle the situation, though he despised the way the man seemed to hold her in a trance.

It wasn't until he hissed that she seemed to come out of it a little. Once she had stepped back, Sirius knew it was his turn.

He looked directly at the man's veiled face as he slowly grabbed the scarf from his gloved hands.

With the article safely in his hands, he too stepped back, shifting his gaze momentarily to regard the woman next to him.

She blinked, apparently refocusing herself.

"Thank you." She said stiffly, whether to himself or the stranger, Sirius wasn't sure.

But, the hooded wizard inclined his head slowly and Adara turned sharply on her heel, marching back to the school. Sirius waited only a moment before turning and following her.

They were both ignorant of the snake that had rested at the stranger's feet, which now proceeded to follow Sirius and Adara back to the school.

---

He watched the two children disappear into the night, making their way back to the castle, Nagini chasing, unnoticed, after them.

Feeling triumphant, his smirk grew a little wider.

So, that was his daughter. After all these years, he was a bit surprised to have that dream about her a few weeks ago, because until then he had forgotten all about her.

He had to admit feeling slightly proud of himself. She was beautiful and strong. He could practically feel her untrained power seeping off of her.

She would make quite an asset to his side.

And she was curious.

He wasn't a fool. He had seen the look in her eyes. He could feel the battle going on inside of her. Dark magic was seducing. He himself had realized that when he was very young. And, judging by the look in her eyes, she was thinking the same thing.

He knew she had wanted to ask him about his powers. She was so close to doing it. But then her little boy-toy had scampered up next to her, causing more hesitancy in her.

But he had seen the look she shot him. It was in a moment, pure, unadulterated hate. But it was fleeting. And in the end, she had gone back off with him

Interesting…

He leaned back against the shop's wall.

All in all, tonight had proved very successful. He had hoped that she would be interested, or even just slightly curious to learn more about the possible power she could wield. After all, it would hardly have taken any time at all for him to persuade her to join him.

But he hadn't dreamed she would be so intrigued, so…tempted. It wouldn't be difficult now at all. He would merely have to get a moment alone with her. She was already at the precipice of darkness. All she needed was a gentle push.

Lord Voldemort smiled to himself as he began his plan, disappearing once more into the dark night.

---

Their walk home was silent. Neither of them said a word. Adara was still mulling over her encounter.

She shook off the shiver which was climbing up her back.

Who in Merlin's name was he?

They reached the castle and joined the crowd of students pushing in. Sirius called her name, bringing Adara out of her thoughts.

"Here," He said, handing her the scarf. She paused for a moment, before taking it, hesitatingly looking into his eyes.

He waited, as if sensing she wanted to say something, but when she said nothing, he pushed on ahead.

"Sirius!" She called softly. He turned around and looked at her, his grey eyes dark and unreadable.

"I…." She stammered, looking for the right words. How could she tell him? How would he understand? With a sinking heart she realized he wouldn't.

He couldn't.

He wasn't like her.

"T-thank you for dinner." She mumbled, tearing her gaze away from his face.

He hesitated, not knowing what to say. He had always liked Adara. She was so different from everyone else. Maybe it was because she was drawn to the darker things that he had been attracted to her in the first place. But, for all her dangerous, cold facades, she had really seemed, underneath everything, to crave love. And that was why he had been so attracted to her. He knew her sad story, knew she had been alone forever. But he thought that, as she seemed to be changing the more she spent time with him, that maybe all she needed was people in her life to show her they cared.

But after tonight, maybe he was wrong. He had seen the change that had occurred in her, even in those brief moments of being with that man.

And, quite frankly, it scared him.

He never really realized before how truly captivated she was with the dark arts. She had grown cold and distant, and hungry for dark knowledge.

But at the end, she had pulled back of her own accord.

So, maybe there was still hope for her? He wasn't sure, but, as he turned to look at her, holding her arms and staring awkwardly at the ground, he thought that maybe there was.

And if there was even the slightest possibility that she was not yet completely lost, then he wouldn't give up.

Gently taking her hand, he kissed her fingers in a whisper of a caress. She turned her head, daring to glance at him under her bangs.

"It was my pleasure." He said. He saw her relax and she offered him a small, hesitant smile.

Without attempting to remove her hand from his, she followed him back into the castle where, with only a simple "goodbye", they went their separate ways.

Once Adara reached the safety of her common room, she couldn't help reflecting again on that man.

Who was he?

He seemed almost eerily familiar, she thought. And then she laughed at herself.

She would surely remember if she had ever met him before. And she was sure she hadn't. He had just been…strange…and…alluring.

But who was he?

And how had he created such a spell over her? She hadn't felt the dark magic's pull in, now, a very long time. Ever since she had met Sirius, all her desire for power had faded, though never completely disappearing. But, she had seemed to find no real use for it anymore, no real urge to go and research all the darker things. It was as if meeting Sirius and becoming integrated with his friends had changed her a little.

But after tonight, she wasn't quite sure if she had changed at all. If she could change.

Thinking of Sirius made her twinge with guilt. She didn't know why she acted like that towards him. She didn't actually hate him. In fact, she thought she might actually care for him.

So why did she turn like that?

She had forgotten what a hold dark magic seemed to have over her. It was a black whisper of seduction.

And ok, sure, she wasn't going to lie, who didn't want more power? Even though it didn't make sense logically, the idea that the more power you had, the greater chance there was at controlling things. And if you were always in control of things, then nothing could ever surprise you. Or scare you.

Or hurt you.

Smiling bitterly to herself, she thought that therefore, one would always be happy.

She sighed, as she rolled over in her bed, staring at the flickering light of her candle.

But wasn't she happiest with Sirius? When she wasn't obsessively trying to learn the dark arts?

She sat up, pulling her blankets up around her.

If that was the case, why was she so attracted to that sort of power? If she was truly happy with Sirius, then why should that sort of power allure her so? And who, in Merlin's name, was that man?

And how was she able to understand his hissing?

It was as if she could understand Parsletongue, which was an absurd notion.

With all these thoughts floating around in her mind, over and over again, she didn't notice that a snake had climbed in through holes in the old stone walls and was currently watching her.

She also didn't notice when she finally drifted off. But that night she dreamt of snakes and shadows.