Chapter Eleven: The Trouble With Power

Dumbledore walked along at Adara's left while Snape took the right. Neither man touched her, most knew now that she went to great lengths to avoid contact with others. She chatted with the Headmaster as they continued down the hallways to her room until the inevitable happened. Her strength was nearly gone from healing Harry's wounds and she finally dropped like a stone unable to walk any farther. Her vision blurred and darkness was quickly enveloping her. She could tell someone was kneeling beside her, still careful not to touch her. She could hear mumbled words, and then there was nothingness.

When she woke, she found herself in her room and in her bed. The curtains were drawn over her window so she could not tell what time of day it might be. Slowly and weakly she rose from the bed and stumbled her way over to the window. She could feel a chill breeze coming in and opened the curtains. It was already late in the day, the sun was past its high point, signaling that is was somewhere in the afternoon. Adara rubbed her head and wondered how long she had been sleeping. She also wondered how she ended up in her room.

Finally she made her way to the privy and tidied herself up before leaving the safety of her room to find out what had happened. Dumbledore was waiting outside.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, my dear. You had us quite worried as to whether or not you'd recover."

"Greetings, Headmaster. I'm sorry people were concerned about me."

"No need to apologize, Adara. I understand what happened. And before you ask, Harry is doing just fine. What you did for him helped a great deal."

She smiled softly and nodded. "I'm glad I could be of assistance, Sir." She pondered for a moment before speaking again. "Tell me, how long was I asleep for?"

"It's been nearly two weeks. That's why everyone was so concerned. We weren't sure how badly you suffered from healing Mr. Potter."

"There's no denying that it took quite a tole on me. I haven't healed anyone for years, let alone someone with such life threatening injuries. I'm still not quite well, but I'll manage."

Dumbledore nodded in understanding. "Well, Gersham has agreed that you may have the rest of the week off in order to sort yourself out. We wouldn't want you to strain yourself any further than this, and everything can wait until you're fully recovered."

"Thank you, Sir. I appreciate the gesture." Adara closed her eyes a moment and leaned back against the wall.

"Do you need help, dear?"

"No, I'll be fine. I'm still feeling a bit lightheaded, that's all."

The aged Headmaster smiled at her and stood waiting for her to stand straight again. She did so, though she was still weak and drained from her experience, and began walking alongside him.

It was a good thing indeed that she had the end of the week to herself. She badly needed the rest in order to regain her strength completely. "That's always the trouble with power, it can weaken you until you're left nearly defenceless," she whispered to her cat, WhiteBlaze, one night. He had delivered a letter to her from the orphanage she grew up in, and now he was sprawled out rather contentedly on Adara's bed. The nuns did not write often, for owls were too suspicious a creature when delivering mail, and the journey was a long one for a small cat. Her hand glided over the silver tabby's fur as her eyes read the note from home. WhiteBlaze purred quietly under her light caress, entirely too happy with himself.

When she finished reading the letter, she carefully placed it in a drawer and sighed happily. "I miss them so much. If I weren't so busy here at the school, I'd go back and pay them a visit." The small feline looked up and tilted his head to the side, a human trait he had developed from Adara. She laughed softly at the gesture and shook her head. "It won't be for a long while yet, my little companion. I haven't the time nor the means to get there. I am a bit concerned, however. In the letter I received, they mentioned there was someone I needed to meet with. I can't imagine who it might be as the only people I know from the orphanage are those beloved nuns," she frowned to herself as she puzzled over the mystery of the letter. "I suppose I shall have to wait until I can manage a trip back to see them and find out what they were talking about."

Again WhiteBlaze purred as he laid there. He looked up at Adara with his green-gold eyes and seemed to know something he could not communicate to her. After a moment, he rested his head on her lap and dozed off to sleep without further complaint or curiosity.

"You're a silly little creature, I must admit. Though I wouldn't give you up for anything." Her hand continued its fluid petting motion over his soft fur. Stroking this cat always managed to relax her in times of trouble. She finally glanced at the hourglass on her vanity and nodded to herself. "I think I'll have a word with the Headmaster about visiting the sisters." She gently moved WhiteBlaze off of her lap, careful not to wake the exhausted animal, and stood to leave her room.

As she walked in the direction of Dumbledore's office, she was stopped in the hall by a looming figure in the shadows. "Where are you off to in such a hurry, Miss Sage?"

"The Headmaster's office, Sir," she answered, almost curtly.

"I take it you're feeling better then?" Before Adara could respond, Snape cut her off. "Then perhaps you wouldn't mind running another errand for me."

What he was doing was not asking, but demanding, yet again. "What did you need, Sir? I do hope it won't take long as I have important business to attend to."

"We all do, Miss Sage," he replied bitterly. "Do you believe that your business is more important than mine? To my knowledge, I am the Professor and you are merely an assistant. Therefore I believe I have far more important matters to attend than you do."

Adara's eyes narrowed briefly as she looked at him. "Very well, Sir," she hissed under her breath.

"That's better. I shouldn't have to constantly remind you of your place here. Now," he paused and seemed to think a moment. "... my request is a simple one. I need you to go to my office and retrieve a book for me. Do you think you can manage that order? I'd hate to inconvenience your busy schedule," Snape told her with an infamous scowl.

Ignoring his insults, Adara quickly moved the conversation along. "What book do you need?"

"It will be the one sitting on my desk. It should be the only one there. Bring it to my classroom when you fetch it." Then Snape turned on his heel and stalked off down the hallway, black robes billowing behind him.

Adara snorted after him. "Am I a dog now instead of a person? Am I to 'fetch' things for that inconsiderate man?" She continued to grumble to herself as she turned in a different direction toward Snape's office. She opened the door and looked around, then noticed the book on the desk that the Professor wanted. Thoughts of throwing the confounded thing into the fire danced through her mind, but she controlled her temper, took up the text, and left the office to find him again. When she arrived at the classroom, she could hear voices within.

"I'm begging you to keep her away from me, Severus. Surely there's more you can find for her to do."

"I am not in the business of taking assistants, Gresham. Perhaps you should take this up with the Headmaster and leave me alone."

"Please, Severus. Isn't there a potion you could give her at least that would prevent her from reading minds?"

There was an aggravated sigh, then Snape spoke again. "I'll see what I can do. For the time being, I suggest you simply find things for her to busy herself with until I've discovered something."

"Thank you, Severus. I'll repay you any way I can."

Adara heard footsteps approaching the door. She quietly stepped off to the side and hid herself behind a nearby statue. The door opened and Professor Graft stepped out looking pale and flustered. After a quick and nervous glance around, he started off down the hall away from Adara's hiding spot. She shook her head and wondered why anyone would want to silence her telepathic abilities. Then she brightened. If Snape managed to find a potion that could prevent her from reading minds, she might finally know peace. What seemed at first to be something sinister would turn out for the better in the end, as far as she was concerned.

She allowed a few minutes to pass before approaching the classroom again, making certain that no one would suspect her of eavesdropping. With a light tap on the wooden frame, she opened the door and looked to the man at the far end of the room. "I've brought your book, Sir."

"What are you waiting for? Bring it to me," he snapped in response.

Adara hurriedly crossed the room and set the book down in front of the Professor. "If that's everything, Sir, I would like to carry on to the Headmaster's office."

"Fine, fine. Go."

She curtsied politely and left the room. When she arrived at Dumbledore's office, she didn't need to knock. She never did. He had a way of always knowing she was there. "Come in, my dear, the door is always open for you."

A soft smile came over her face as she walked into the room and looked at the man who she had come to see as a father. "Greetings, Sir. I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Not at all." He answered her smile with a kind and gentle grin of his own. "Please, sit down and tell me what's on your mind."

She did as requested and looked up at the man. There was still something about him that bothered her, something she couldn't explain, and each time she was in his presence, the ominous feeling grew stronger. She shook her head and banished the thoughts from her mind. "I was wondering if it would be possible for me to take a leave of absence near Christmas time so that I could visit the nuns at my former orphanage."

"Yes, yes, of course, Adara. In fact, I have already made arrangements for you to go back."

"You are full of surprises, Headmaster," she laughed. "You never cease to amaze me. How is it you seem to know my requests before I ask them?"

Albus touched a finger to the side of his nose and gave her a knowing wink. "I have many secrets, my dear. Someday I may reveal them to you, but the time is not yet right for that."