Chapter Twelve: The Price of Silence
"Now, how long did you wish to stay there?"
"A week should do, Sir. They mentioned in a letter that I was to meet someone when I go back, though I haven't any idea who that might be."
"Then perhaps you would like to leave sooner than Christmas?"
Adara shook her head and smiled. "The letter did not sound terribly urgent, so I don't believe it's necessary for me to return earlier."
"Very well, dear. I'll make certain the arrangements are made for the beginning of the Christmas holidays. Come back here in about two days and I shall have everything prepared for you."
"Thank you, Headmaster. I do appreciate this." Her mind flitted to the conversation she overheard in Snape's classroom. She pondered speaking to Dumbledore about it.
"Was there something else on your mind, Adara?"
She thought a little while longer, then smiled and shook her head slightly. "No, Sir. I believe that's everything. I'll let you get some rest now. Goodnight." Adara stood, curtsied gracefully and proceeded on her way to the door. Just as she was about to exit, the Headmaster said something that caught her off guard.
"Peace comes at a great cost."
She tilted her head to one side as she turned to face him again, a puzzled expression on her face. "Pardon, Sir?"
Albus Dumbledore shook his head from side to side and gave her an equally confused look. "I'm sorry, dear. Was there something else you wanted to discuss?"
A soft frown creased her brow and she strolled toward the aged man. With a concern wrought voice she spoke. "Is there something wrong, Sir? Are you ill?"
"No, I don't believe so. Why do you ask?"
"You just seem a bit...off colour. Are you certain you're alright? I'll stay for awhile if you're not feeling well."
"I'm fine, Adara, but thank you for your concern. You need your rest as much as I do." Shakily he rose from his chair, supporting himself by leaning on the desk.
"Please, Headmaster, let me help you." Adara quickly reached out to him the moment he seemed about to fall. Then he did something she had never expected. He shoved her away.
"As I said, I'm fine. Go on to your room now, dear."
It was almost as though her heart had been stung. His words and actions bit deeply, beyond the flesh, bone and blood. Without another word, and with barely restrained tears, she left his office and closed the door. She stood there a moment, breathing heavily and attempting to calm herself. A sound, similar to a thud, came from the office, then a soft whimper followed. Adara immediately placed her hand over the door handle, but stopped herself from entering as she remembered the Headmaster's words. Another pain ran through her soul as she desperately fought against her desire to help for fear it would do more harm than good. Silently, and with much regret, she turned from the door and made her way back to her chambers.
It turned out to be a long night, the kind she dreaded most. No sleep would still her mind, and she remained awake, staring at her ceiling, wondering if the Headmaster was safe and well. She turned over onto her side to gaze out the window, but could see no more than the frame. With a sigh she rolled onto her back again and continued to stare at nothing. 'Peace comes at a great cost.' Those words continued to echo in her troubled mind. What did he mean? And why did he say it? No answers came, only more questions. She sat upright when a horrible thought occurred to her. "Is he d-dying?" she whispered into the darkness. "No, he can't be. He's been around for ages. And even if his health was failing, he would tell me ... wouldn't he?" She wept to herself, alone in the night with no one there to comfort her. Tears dripped down her pale cheeks, unseen in the blackness of her room. She could hear the pattering sound each one made as they fell on her blanket. How cruel it was that while others had someone to ease their pain, she had only herself in her times of need.
Morning dawned with a cold light. Adara still had not slept. She turned to the window and looked out upon the frost covered ground. Winter was coming, not only in season, but in her heart. She could feel snow falling within her. Snow that seemed light as a feather, but weighed heavily as it built up. "People change as much as seasons," she told herself. "They start out fresh and new like Spring. Then they grow and come to fruition like Summer. By Fall they have lost one beauty and gained another in age. Then Winter. Dreadful Winter, the end of that life in order to begin another. Why can't the Headmaster be Autumn forever?" She felt another tear pass over her cheek. With a quivering hand, she brushed it away and looked down at the shimmering silver liquid on her finger.
'Silver tears, shall you cry...' said a whispery, melodic voice in her mind.
Adara struggled to remember who that voice belonged to. It sounded so familiar to her, but she could not place why. At last she gave up trying to figure out the mystery of her memory. It was no use clogging her mind with yet more problems when she already had the Headmaster to worry about. Then, thinking of him, she wondered whether or not she should return to his office for her traveling arrangements, or if it would be best to let things be for the time being and allow him some time to himself. "Perhaps he has been overworking himself." That thought brightened her somewhat and she nodded. "Yes, that must be the reason behind his actions. He is likely just worn out and in need of rest and time away from people."
Now that her mind had settled a bit, she rose from her bed, went about her daily routine, took up her Autumn cloak and ventured forth from her room to wander about outdoors. Once out of the castle, she pulled up the hood of her cloak and looked around to see if she was alone. Satisfied that there was no one outside yet, she made her way across the grounds and down to the lake. She sat upon the partially frozen grass and looked out upon the water. It resembled glass when the frost covered it. So absorbed in the natural beauty of the world was she that she hadn't noticed she was no longer alone.
A small hand landed softly on her shoulder as a quiet voice spoke. "Miss Sage? Are you okay?"
Adara cringed unintentionally from the touch and looked up. "Greetings, Harry. Yes, I'm quite fine. Just admiring nature." She smiled warmly at the lad.
"Mind if I join you for a bit?"
"Be my guest, mon cher."
Harry sat down next to her and looked out over the water that held Adara's attention only moments before. "I wanted to say thanks."
"For what?" She gave him a befuddled look.
He grinned and looked at her, green eyes sparkling. "For helping me out when I got hurt. Dumbledore, erm, the Headmaster, I mean, told me you helped treat me."
"Oh, that." Adara laughed quietly and nodded. "You're quite welcome, Harry. I felt it was the least I could do."
"Why's that?"
"Didn't you know? Hermione, Ron and yourself are my favourite children at Hogwarts." She gave him a playful wink and smiled all the more.
Harry grinned back and nodded. "Thanks, Miss Sage." He looked out over the lake again and seemed a bit distant.
"Is something wrong, mon cher?"
"Huh?" He glanced at her again and shook his head. "Just thinking about when I first met you," he told her with a small smile.
"Oh," she laughed softly. "Yes, I remember that day. You were in your first year then, correct?"
Harry nodded. "Mhm. Malfoy was picking on me when you came around the corner and stopped him." The young man beamed again. "I couldn't help laughing at the look on his face when you threatened to take him to the Headmaster."
Adara laughed again. "That was a priceless moment. His mouth was hung open like a fish out of water." She shook her head at the memory. "Poor Mr. Malfoy had no idea who I was, nor how much trouble he could've been in had I not been such a forgiving person."
"He learned not to pick on me when you were around, though. I'm glad you helped me out back then."
"I have a feeling you weren't in nearly as much trouble as you thought." She winked again, then shifted her weight beneath her in order to stand. "Well, as much as I love getting the opportunity to chat with you, Harry, we really should be getting back inside. Breakfast will be starting in the Great Hall soon, and we don't want to miss that." Harry rose to his feet and offered a hand to Adara to help her up. She shook her head, smiled and stood on her own. "Thank you, Harry, but I'm not so old yet that I can't manage the simple act of standing." She laughed and winked at him once again. "Now, let's say we get in there before all the food is gone."
Harry chuckled as they made their way back to the school.
Adara left Harry's side when they passed the Gryffindor table and made her way up to her own seat with the Professors. When she arrived at her place, she noted that her plate was already covered with food and her goblet was filled for her. She nodded a silent thanks to the Headmaster, seated herself and began to eat.
After breakfast Adara began feeling strangely tired. The Professors made their way past her as she remained in her chair at the table. When the room was nearly empty, Albus looked over with a grin. "Still hungry, dear? I could have the house elves make you something else for any remaining empty pockets in your belly," he teased and chuckled.
She forced a smile in return, but said nothing for long moments. Then she began to mumble something to herself. "I feel ... odd."
"How so?" The Headmaster made his way over and sat next to her.
"I'm not sure, Sir. Something just doesn't seem right."
Albus looked as though he wanted nothing more than to pat her shoulder, but he was obviously restraining himself from doing so. "Perhaps you need more rest. Is it possible that you are not yet recovered from healing Mr. Potter?"
Adara shook her head. "No, I'm fully rested since then, Sir. This is something ... different. Something new." She frowned in confusion. She couldn't remember ever having been sick. She didn't fall ill like others, yet there was definitely something wrong.
Headmaster Dumbledore's eyes grew worrisome. "Then maybe you should see Madam Pomfrey. There may be something she can do to help."
Then she realized what was happening. "Silence ..." she whispered. "There's nothing but silence ..."