Chapter Nine: Adara's Curse - Part Two - Revelation

When class was dispersed, Adara stayed back to chat with Hagrid. She'd only seen him once since her return, the rest of the time she had been too busy to visit with anyone aside from Dumbledore and a couple of students. She and Hagrid discussed her future career and what she might like to do, or teach should she apply to become a Professor.

"I am still undecided on that matter, my friend."

"Tha's alrigh', Adara. I'm sure yeh'll figure somethin' out when the time comes."

"I'm sure I will, Hagrid." She glanced at the Occamy in the pen with a sad sigh. "How long before he's returned home?"

"Eh?" Hagrid followed her eyes and sighed as well. "He'll be goin' home tonight. Poor critter. I don' like seein' 'im all cooped up like tha'. Deserves to be free."

"I agree." Her eyes moved up to meet his. "Do you think it would be alright if I went in to see him? Perhaps to encourage him that he'll be going home soon?"

"I don' see a problem wi' tha'. Just don' get caught," he chuckled.

Adara smiled and made her way cautiously into the pen. The Occamy hissed and moved from side to side, showing its discomfort with her presence. In soft, honeyed tones she whispered to the young creature. "It's alright, my small friend. I'm not here to harm you." She kneeled down to show that she posed no threat. At first the snakelike animal was reluctant and coiled itself into a defensive position. It soon realized her intentions and warily approached.

She held out one slender hand to it and spoke in that calm, soothing voice again. "Come here, little one." The Occamy came up to her and smelled her fingers. "There you are. See? I don't mean you any harm." She gently caressed the creature's head, much to its pleasure, and smiled when it licked her hand affectionately. "I don't blame you for being on your guard. Especially when others come to gawk at you. Don't worry though, you'll be going home soon enough." It nodded and rested its head on her lap. She smiled down at it and heard Hagrid from behind.

"He's more friendly wi' you than he was wi' me. Little bugger tried to bite me soon as I got close enough to rope 'im."

"Perhaps it's all in how you approach them, Hagrid. No creature large or small likes being caged. They're meant to be free, to stay in their natural environments, not to be paraded around."

"Maybe yer right, Adara. Or maybe yeh jus' got a way wi' animals like no one else."

"That could be," she laughed. With another stroke of the Occamy's elongated body, she stood and made her way back out. "It's been a long day, Hagrid. I think I'll retire early tonight."

He nodded and bid her farewell, reminding her to stop by for a cup of tea sometime. She agreed and made her way back to Hogwarts. After dinner was over, Adara headed off to her room. It was already getting late by then, and she was feeling rather tired. She had no idea how long the night would be.

Even for those not as affected by weather, temperature or time, some nights can be colder and longer than others. It was on one of these such nights that Adara found herself alone in her room shivering in the darkness and dreaming of days long past.

She sat on the edge of her four poster, with her face in her hands, staring out of the window. A glimmer of light caught her attention as the clouds parted and the moonlight glinted on the surface of her full-length mirror. Adara waved her hand and the torches in her room sprang to life. She stood, walked over to the mirror and gazed at her reflection. It felt as though a stranger was looking back.

Her mind turned over her endless nightmare, and with subtle movements, she disrobed. She never enjoyed seeing her naked reflection, but once in awhile she felt as though she needed to remind herself of who she was.

The firelight danced over her pale flesh, making every line visible. Scars covered her entire body. Some started at the base of her neck and ran all the way to her waist and thighs in jagged lines. Where there was once nothing but smooth, unmarred skin, there was now hideous, irreparable damage. On either side of her neck were marks where teeth had sunk in. Her face, hands and feet where all that had been spared. She still remembered his reasons, his voice; his body.

Those who knew her wondered why she covered herself from chin to toes, those who didn't simply thought she was a very modest lady. She was indeed a modest woman, but it was not only that reason that caused her to hide her body. This was the truth, the only truth, to the question why. With a feather-light touch, her fingers traced the scars on her arms as a tear slipped down her cheek. She had been so young, so small, so utterly helpless against him. None could have saved her that night, she knew that now, but it had taken her years to come to that realization. She held the nuns who raised her responsible for what had happened. They should have known he was there, they should have known what was happening.

"How could they?" she asked herself in a whisper. "They could never have known what I did. They could never have helped a child who could not even scream out her pain." She had been afraid of human contact ever since. Always keeping a distance between herself and others, it was as if some unseen barrier was placed around her, protecting her from all who might hurt her again. And yet she longed for a touch, yearned for the loving embrace of another. It was something she could never have.

She remembered quite vividly the last time she had ever let anyone touch her without flinching away. Two of the nuns from that orphanage had hugged her close before tucking her into bed the night the monster came. "Was he there then? Watching them and mocking me? Knowing it would be the last time I could enjoy being in someone's arms?" Anger suddenly burned within her at that thought. She could imagine him laughing silently to himself as he loomed in the shadows waiting for his victim to be left alone, knowing she would never be touched again.

Adara brushed the tear from her face and glared at her reflection. She feared she would never overcome what that beast did to her, she was even more afraid of what she might do should she ever be confronted by him again. Her anguish and fury frightened even herself. It was rare for her to get truly annoyed, but horrifying when she reached these levels. What she felt for him was unadulterated hatred. Hatred in its purest form.

With a flick of her wrist, the torches died. She quickly slipped on her nightdress and walked to the open window. The moon and stars shone brightly, looking much like sparkling diamonds on a deep blue sheet. She could hear the song of nocturnal animals in the forest and on the grounds. Crickets sang in the long grass while werewolves howled in harmony. The night was alive with nature's music, something few people ever payed attention to. 'Sometimes,' Adara thought, '... it's as though I'm the only one who can hear it.' For some unknown reason, that thought brought with it a small comfort.

Adara sat with her face resting in her hands and thinking about the past. She thought about the day she met a man who helped change her life and became like a father to her. Albus Dumbledore.

It had been almost a year since her living nightmare had come to pass. A strange man came to the orphanage and asked to see 'the remarkable one'. The nuns immediately knew to whom he was referring and led him to Adara's room without question.

She heard a light knock upon her door, and not being one to turn to loneliness rather than company, she bid the visitor enter. In walked an aged man, old even then, with a long silver beard and hair to match. His eyes were what caught and held her ten year old self though. They were a cross between electric blue and the shade of blue only seen near the bottom of a small flame. She was completely held, and mesmerized, by those eyes.

"Who are you?" she had asked when she found her voice.

"I am Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry," he responded simply, as though this were the obvious answer. "And you are likely wondering what I am doing here."

Adara nodded in response.

"You are a very special and unique girl, Adara."

She had only known the words 'special' and 'unique' to mean one of two things. Daft or slow in the head. She took immediate offense to the unintended insult and curled herself into a defensive ball. "I am not," she told him flatly.

Dumbledore chuckled to himself and smiled at her. "Ah, but you are, my child. You are a witch."

Her small brow furrowed at those words. "No I'm not. I'm an ..."

He raised one slim, bony hand and silenced her instantly. "But you are. And a remarkably powerful one at that." His voice was soft and soothing and Adara found herself relaxing in his presence. It was as if someone was slowly and carefully pouring warm water over her entire body, washing away her loneliness, pain, doubt and even some of her fear. "I have come here to take you under my wing, so to speak," he continued. "Of course, you are not yet old enough to join the school, but you will be soon enough should you choose to accept my offer."

"You mean ... leave the orphanage?"

"Yes."

Adara leaned back in her bed and thought for long moments. 'Leave the orphanage? And the nuns? But they're the only family I've ever had. The only ones I've ever known. I can't leave them!'

Dumbledore's next words were delivered as though he knew what she had been thinking. "You know you don't belong here, my dear. You've always known that. I can take you somewhere where you'd be among your own kind, in a manner of speaking."

She looked him over as if trying to decide how serious, or crazy, he might be. At long last she nodded slowly. "When will I be able to go?"

"In September of your 11th year."

She stopped and thought again. This would give her an entire year to prepare. But what would she be preparing for? Then another thought dawned on her and she could not hide her sadness. "You said this was a school you're taking me to, but I have no money. How will I buy the books and things I need?"

Dumbledore smiled kindly at her. It was the type of smile she had always envisioned a father giving their daughter. "Money is no issue if you are truly interested in going, Adara."

She gave him a strange, almost suspicious, look as she spoke. "Then how am I going to pay ...?"

Again he raised a hand, and again she fell silent. "The nuns and I have a few things in mind to help you. Do not worry over money, it is not as important as seeing you safe and where you belong."

This answer satisfied her and she nodded again. She found herself trusting this man more and more as the minutes went by. "How will I get there?" she asked. "And where is it?"

"I will explain all that later when it is more necessary for you to know."

"Thank you," she whispered. She wanted to reach out and hug the old man with all the strength in her tiny arms, but she was too afraid of being touched. Perhaps someday, but certainly not now; not yet. She simply wasn't ready.

As though sensing her inner struggle, the Headmaster stood and walked up beside her. With the gentlest touch she'd ever known, he placed his hand on top of her head and smiled. She could not stop herself from flinching away from him despite how badly she felt for it, and how desperately she wanted the contact. "In good time, my dear. All in good time." With that said, he grinned again with understanding eyes and left her alone with her thoughts.