Chapter Five: Adara's Curse - Part One

She had been in her room for two hours trying to nurse her aching head and wondering what had caused such a violent reaction.

"I've possessed my abilities since I can remember, why can I not control them yet?" She winced and frowned as she placed another cold compress on her forehead. "And what on earth is happening to me? Never have I reacted in such a way to anyone's presence, save one, and I doubt very much that he is here. What could possibly be causing this?"

Adara's mind turned to the person who had initiated her instincts. Could he somehow be connected to the one person she feared the most? "How could that be possible? He is a Professor under Dumbledore. Surely he has no connections to the dark one of my living nightmares. I'm certain the Headmaster would not allow such a person to work here." She shook her head in disbelief and paid dearly for the action with a stabbing pain. "This is getting me no closer to an answer. I need to rest before I puzzle anymore over this."

She forced her body to relax and closed her eyes hoping sleep would take away her agony. Darkness came, but it was unpleasant, as it so often was for her.

The nine year old child woke in the night to darkness, but she knew something was there. Something was in the shadows.

She climbed down from her bed and walked to the door, but just as she reached up one tiny hand to flick on the lights, something grabbed her wrist and threw her to the ground. A figure cloaked from head to foot seemed to materialize before her. She attempted to cry out, but no sound escaped her. Quickly she sprang to her feet and sprinted to the window hoping to escape, but the creature was larger and faster than she.

The child found herself pinned down to her bed with no hope of getting away. She writhed and tried again to scream. Nothing. Just as before. Teeth appeared beneath the cowl of the cloak and claw-like fingernails began tearing the cloth from her small body. She lay there naked and helpless against the large brute, somehow knowing what was about to happen to her.

She kicked her legs and tried desperately to wrench her arms free. The thought of a broken bone or two was far more pleasant than what was to come. The monster held her firmly though and pinned her down even more. He gripped both her small wrists in one hand as the other dug trenches into her flesh. The pain was beyond anything she had experienced before. Then the teeth came down and met with her neck. Searing heat scorched through her veins as they dug in.

Blood covered every inch of her body and bed before the beast continued his worst torture. With ease that comes from one larger than their prey, he forced her legs apart and bore down on her. She felt a stabbing pain between her legs as he roughly entered her body, tearing her open inside and out. Why was this happening? How could someone do this to a child?

His nails continued dragging over her flesh, his teeth bit down again and again as his body moved in and out. Finally she found her voice.

"No!" she screamed into the pitch blackness of her room as she sat bolt upright in her bed. Sweat trickled down her face and neck making all the little hairs on her body stand on end.

Adara gripped her head again and wept silently. She was helpless against this plague of her mind. Helpless to save that little girl in her dreams. Powerless to end the torture brought on her tiny body. "There was and is nothing I could do for her. It's too late to save that girl, so why must I continue to suffer?" She rubbed her temples as though attempting to erase the memory completely, though she knew she would fail at that as well.

After long moments of allowing her tears to glide down her cheeks, she rose from her bed and went to wash off her face. When finished that task, she sat down at her desk and stared into the small, dusty mirror. It had been years since she'd seen her reflection. She hated mirrors and at times she hated herself. She did not bother to remove the filth from the surface, she merely gazed into the reflective glass and pulled back a few loose strands of hair.

She took a deep breath and dropped her eyes to her lap. "I have never changed. In all the years that have passed, I've remained the same. Fearful, hollow; a shadow of the person I was. At times like this there is but one person I can speak to who would understand."

Adara stood and made her way to an office she hadn't visited in many troublesome years. Though it had been some time since she had been there last, she knew the way by heart and scarcely had to look where she was going. She wasn't sure what time it was, but she knew he would be expecting her regardless. He always seemed to sense her presence before she actually arrived.

She arrived at the hidden passageway after a few minutes and uttered a few silent words to the gargoyle guardian. He moved aside to allow her to pass. She made her way up the hidden staircase and arrived at the office door. Before she could knock, an aged voice from within called out to her.

"Please come in, Miss Sage. You know you are always welcome here."

Adara smiled to herself and entered the office quietly. She curtsied gracefully to the Headmaster and took a seat near his desk.

"What troubles you, my dear?" Professor Dumbledore summoned a pot of tea and two cups.

"They've returned almost full scale, Sir. I'm afraid my mind simply cannot handle this kind of assault any longer."

The Head of Hogwarts nodded slightly and poured some tea for himself and Adara. He sat back after passing her a cup and steepled his fingers in thought. "Puzzling though this is, Miss Sage, I believe I have a solution to the problem."

"Oh? And what might that solution be, Sir?" Adara questioned as she sipped her tea.

"There is a potion I know of that might be of some assistance. It will allow you dreamless sleep. You'll have to ask Severus about it, I'm certain he'll make no arguments about making it for you."

"Severus? Would that be Professor Snape?"

Dumbledore nodded and smiled. "Yes, that's him."

Adara took a deep breath and smiled kindly. "Thank you, Headmaster. It is always a relief speaking with you." She looked down at her cup. "And the tea was lovely."

"You're welcome, and visit anytime you feel the need, my dear. You've been sorely missed here. You're company has always brightened my days."

She looked him over for a moment. Why hadn't she noticed before how ancient he was beginning to look? His eyes still dazzled with life, but they seemed slightly duller than she remembered. And there was something about him, something different that was never there before. Adara could not place what it was she sensed about him, but she knew it was not something she liked.

"Is there something else troubling you, Miss Sage?"

Adara quickly shook her head and smiled gently. "No, Sir. Nothing at all." She rose from her seat, finished her tea and turned toward the door. "I suppose I should get back to my room. Goodnight, Professor, and sleep well."

"You too, my dear."

She slipped out of the office, down the stairs, and made her way back to her chambers. Upon arriving, however, she received quite a shock. Within her room was a flurry of Professors examining her floor and window. Adara smiled softly, tilted her head to one side and watched them for a moment wondering what they were up to.

She noted that each of them bore a concerned expression, some of them looked quite bewildered, and one simply looked put out. "Might I ask what is happening, Sirs and Madams?"

All heads turned toward her.

"We heard a scream from your room, but by the time we arrived, you were gone. What happened to you?" questioned a highly worried looking Professor McGonnagal.

Adara's smile brightened slightly. "I went to speak with Headmaster Dumbledore about the nightmare I'd had." Her eyes turned to Professor Snape and she nodded slightly to acknowledge him. "Which reminds me that I need to speak with you, Sir, if it is alright."

Snape nodded and swept over to her. His face was grim and his lips were pursed tightly. "What is it, Miss Sage?"

She looked about the room briefly then returned her gaze to the Professor's face. "Perhaps somewhere more private would be appropriate. This is a personal and delicate matter I do not wish to discuss openly." She smiled to the other Professors and added, "No offense intended, of course."

"None taken, deary.", squeaked Professor Flitwick. "Let's be on our way, everyone. The mystery's been solved, no point bustling around here any longer."

Slowly the faculty of Hogwarts made their way out and Adara closed the door. Professor Snape and herself made their way to his office in the dungeons, as she decided that would be the most suitable place to speak with him.

They entered and sat down. Snape looked up at her with an unreadable expression. "Now, what do you want?"

"I need a potion, Sir. I'm not certain what it's called, but the Headmaster informed me that it would cause dreamless slumber. Something I am in desperate need of."

"That's easy enough to make. Was that all you required?"

"Yes, Sir, and thank you." Adara felt a slight pain starting in her head, and yet again her instincts began to act up. She dropped her eyes to her lap and thought to herself. 'What is it about this Professor that disturbs me so much? I wonder if there is a charm I can place on myself to end this.'

"It'll be prepared by tomorrow night, Miss Sage. I suggest you go back to your room. The morning will arrive shortly, and tardiness isn't looked upon kindly here."

"Of course, Professor." She rose again and made her way to the door, and yet again, back to her room. She did not sleep the rest of that night, though. She simply did not want to risk having that dream again.