Chapter Six: The Truth Revealed

Adara set about her duties quietly the next day. She was tired and drained from the previous night. All too often she found herself dozing in a dark corner of the Defense class room and had to shake herself back to the real world. Professor Graft was quick to notice her unusual behaviour but he held his tongue and kept an eye on her. Finally he stepped aside to speak with her before his third class had begun.

"Miss Sage? Are you quite alright? You look terribly pale and drawn."

"Hmm?" Adara looked up dazedly. "Oh, yes, Sir, I'm fine, thank you. I am simply in need of some rest, which I fully intend to get once the day is over."

Graft nodded but still looked somewhat concerned. "If this condition gets any worse, do let me know and I'll allow you to leave early. I don't want my assistant wearing herself out too much."

She smiled kindly. "Thank you again, Sir, but I assure you I'll be alright."

The lesson commenced, but Adara noticed the Professor was not calling on her as much. He gave her a few minutes at a time to sit down and recollect herself throughout the period. She looked up at the hourglass on an almost constant basis during the last lessons. Her eyes were growing very tired and she was now fighting to keep them open. It was also becoming increasingly difficult for her to move because her limbs began to feel like lead.

At long last the final class of the day was over and Adara was free to do as she pleased. What she wanted most was sleep, but she would simply have to wait as there was something more important to get out of the way first. She made her way through the passages that led down to the dungeons. She stopped in front of an old wooden door, raised one delicate hand and knocked lightly three times.

"Enter," came the soft, cold voice from within.

Adara slowly opened the door and walked into the room. She closed it behind her, turned to face the Professor and greeted him with a graceful curtsy. "Greetings, Sir. I was merely wondering if the potion was finished."

"Yes, yes. Come in."

She walked towards his desk and noticed right away that his office was immaculately clean. It had been too dark for her to see it clearly the night before, but now she was in awe of how he kept it.

"See something interesting, Miss Sage?" The Professor looked her over suspiciously.

"Not really, Sir. I am simply admiring the fact that you keep your office in such excellent condition." She smiled, but only faintly, as she was far too tired to be able to do much more.

His lip twitched and he nodded. "I prefer order in certain areas." Professor Snape stood and walked to his cauldron. Adara watched him closely. His every movement was smooth and catlike. With a few quick motions, he poured the potion into a phial and placed a stopper in it. "This should do for the next week or so, but if you need more, I've made enough."

"Thank you, Sir." She took the vial and slipped it into a pocket, then turned to leave.

"One moment."

"Yes, Professor?" Adara turned back and gave him a quizzical look. He had come off as the type who enjoyed his privacy and she wondered what he could possibly want.

"Have you ever been to Knockturn Alley, Miss Sage?"

"Once or twice for errands, yes. Did you need me to retrieve something for you?"

"Yes, I do. I would get it myself, but I'm too busy here right now. There are a few potions ingredients I'm running short on. Here's a brief list of what I require."

Adara took the list from him and examined it quickly with a nod. "Of course. I'd be glad to assist you, Sir. Was that all?" Though she enjoyed chatting with the Professors, she did not want to waste what was left of her resources. Her head was beginning to bother her again and she had no desire to fall asleep in his office.

Snape nodded. "That's all I need." He paused a moment and clenched his jaw. "Thank you, Miss Sage."

"You're welcome, Professor." She curtsied again and left the office.

'What a strange man,' she thought to herself as she walked to her private chambers. 'Twice I've encountered him and my instincts reacted almost immediately, yet this time there was nothing. It must have been a mistake. Perhaps my lack of sleep and increasing nightmares are throwing my senses out of order. I'm certain this potion will help.'

Adara slipped into her quarters, took a quick sip of the potion and walked over to her bed. She did not bother to change her clothes, she was too tired to undress and redress. She simply crawled into the bed, pulled up the covers and laid back on her pillow. The potion worked quickly when combined with her exhaustion. Sleep, dreamless sleep, came almost at once.

Morning rays of sunlight filled her room with pink and gold. Adara cautiously opened her eyes and looked around. Soon after, a smile donned her pale face and she sat up in bed with a hearty stretch. "I feel so revived. It's as though I've slept for at least a week. I'm completely refreshed." She turned her eyes to the potion sitting on her night stand. "Thank you, Professor."

Adara threw back the covers and hopped out of bed. There was a new bounce in her step that morning. She went about her morning routine, and when finished, she headed to the Great Hall for breakfast.

The rest of the Professors were sitting at the table and only a few students had made it so far. Adara nodded and smiled to Hermione, Harry and Ron as she passed the Gryffindor table. She quickly and quietly took up her seat with the other members of faculty and awaited the rest of the students to enter.

"You're looking well rested this morning, my dear. I take it the potion worked?"

"Yes, Headmaster, it did." She folded her hands in her lap and smiled contentedly. "It worked magnificently."

Her eyes turned to the silent Professor beside her. "Thank you, Sir."

Snape nodded and turned his face away from her to look at someone at the Slytherin table.

Adara followed his gaze to Draco Malfoy. He had grown quite a bit since she'd been around years ago. He'd even become quite a striking youth. His blonde hair was still slicked back, as was his style, but it was slightly longer than it used to be. His features were more prominent, almost hawk-like in nature. He was likely very tall, as far as Adara could tell from his seated position, and he'd filled out a bit in the arms and chest. 'If I didn't know better, I'd almost think he was a handsome gentleman.' She laughed silently to herself and shook her head. 'But of course, I know better.'

Food covered the tables and everyone started to eat. Adara's eyes drifted over the students occasionally as she spoke with various Professors. When the tables were cleared again and people were beginning to leave, she stood and made her way to her room. Though most people enjoyed weekends Adara hated them. She preferred running errands for Professors and helping to teach the classes. Her day would not be a dull one though since she decided to pay a visit to Knockturn Alley and retrieve the items Professor Snape needed.

After taking up her cloak and heading off it did not take her long to get to her destination. A shiver ran up her spine as she walked along the dark streets. No matter what, she always felt strange being there. She went about her business, then walked along to Diagon Alley. She stopped at the Three Broomsticks for a mug of Butterbeer. She moved to a corner table and sat down with her drink. No one seemed to notice her there, which was fine with her. She was used to blending in with the background. Of course, it was possible that no one even recognized her now.

When she had drained the mug of Butterbeer, Adara decided to walk to Honeydukes for a few chocolate frogs. Once half of the day had passed, she proceeded back to Hogwarts. It did not take her long to find Professor Snape, he had been passing through the Entrance Hall as she walked in.

"Excuse me, Sir. I've brought your ingredients."

Snape turned to face her, then hurried over. He took the box filled with the things he'd requested, nodded to Adara, then went on his way.

She stood in the hallway and shook her head. "A strange man indeed." Just as she was about to start off in the opposite direction, a stabbing pain shot through her head again. "No, not now," she whispered as she fell to her knees. Through slitted eyes she caught a glimpse of Snape gripping his left arm and wincing. 'It-it isn't possible ... is it?' Her thoughts were cut off as the pain disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. Adara stared after the Professor as he continued walking away. Had she not seen his reaction with her own eyes, she would have thought nothing at all had occurred.

"I shall inevitably go insane if this keeps up," she mumbled to herself as she walked to the office of the one person she knew she could trust.

"You're not going insane, my dear. Please, come in."

Adara smiled ammusedly at the Headmaster's words. She quickly walked into the office and closed the door behind herself. She turned, curtsied gracefully, then swept across the room to the seated Dumbledore. "Sir, I will make this brief as you are a highly busy man."

"You're here to ask about one of the Professors, correct?"

She was quite used to his innate ability to seemingly read minds. She nodded once and waited for him to continue.

"I thought as much." Professor Dumbledore rose from his chair, walked around his desk, then leaned back against the front of it facing Adara with kind and gentle eyes. The same eyes she always knew and found comfort in. "I knew you would become suspicious of him sooner or later, though I have to admit, I wish it had been later. Your instincts couldn't have picked a worse time to figure this out."

"And why is that, Sir?"

Dumbledore took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Adara could tell by the weary look on his face that he was thinking about how to word what he wanted to say.

"Please, Sir, I know what he is, I simply wish to understand why you allow him to teach here when it is obvious you know what I do."

"It's a lengthy story, Miss Sage, but I'll try my best...."