Chapter Sixteen: The Heart of A Dragon
Aaron continued running until he made it up to the top of Gryffindor tower. He climbed up on top of the ledge and stood there looking down at the ground while continuing to breathe heavily. The wind blew all around him and the rain was now as loud as Niagara Falls. That's when suddenly he heard a familiar calming voice right behind him.
"Aaron, what in the wizarding world are you doing up there?" He slowly turned around and saw the concerned face of Albus Dumbledore standing right in front of him.
"I killed my sister." He told him while tears continued silently streaming down his cheeks while suddenly starting to feel sick to his stomach.
"I know that." Dumbledore began. "That is no reason to end your life over though. You were not in your right mind and you would have never done such a thing if you were. Everybody knows that." He told him.
"Besides, committing suicide isn't going to bring Bailey back. It's only going to make matter's worse. Take it from somebody who knows." He told him.
"What do you know!?" He cried. "You can't possibly know how I feel!" He told him but a rather solemn and somber expression just appeared on his face.
"Ah,.. actually I'm afraid that I do. You see, I myself had a little sister who was killed when she wasn't much older than Bailey." He explained and Aaron just stood there and looked at him, not really knowing what to do or say next. "Come along to my office and I'll tell you all about her." He said as Aaron silently nodded at him before stepping back down off the ledge and started following Dumbledore to his office.
…..
Aaron glanced up at the beautiful young woman that was hanging on the wall. She had blonde hair and dark blue eyes. "She's really pretty." He began as the girl smiled back at him. "Who is she?" He questioned Dumbledore.
"Her name is Ariana and she was my little sister. She died when she was fourteen when she tried to stop a fight between me, my brother, and a close friend of mine." He explained before Aaron slowly turned back around to face him.
"Why does it sound like you blame yourself for it? It sounds like it was an accident." He said.
"That's because it was, and I understand that now, but when I was in my youth, I entirely blamed myself for it." He explained. "So you see Aaron, you and I aren't that much different from each other." He told him.
"Yeah, well, at least you aren't a werewolf." Aaron pointed out.
"Yes it's true that I'm not a werewolf, but I'm also not a talented singer. If what I was recently reading in The Daily Prophet is correct, then if I'm not mistaken you have now formed a singing group of your own." He said as Aaron just simply stifled a laugh and nodded.
"Yeah, The Dragons." He responded with a grin.
"Well then, imagine how many teenage witches,.. not to mention your three best friends would feel if you were to suddenly end your life?" He questioned.
"Listen Professor Dumbledore, I'm not sure if I'm even going to do to the singing competition anymore now that Bailey's gone." Aaron told him.
"Well, that is entirely up to you." Dumbledore began. "Just remember one thing Aaron. The sorting hat never makes mistakes. So obviously you were sorted into Gryffindor because he knew that even in the darkest of times that you would have the strength and the courage to get through it and go on. Besides that, our loved ones never truly leave us, and you can always find them in here." He finished while gently placing his hand upon Aaron's chest right over his heart.
"So, I guess there's only one question that remains. You have shown with your talent that you're as hot and fiery as a dragon's breath,.. but do you have the heart as one?" He asked him as Aaron just simply heaved a sigh. "Just something to think about, but I do believe that you better get a bite to eat now." He told him as Aaron silently nodded at him before he slowly started leaving Dumbledore's office and started heading back towards the Great Hall.
When he got there Rose was busy telling Derek all about something called wizfinding and Rickie and Justin were there to meet him at the Gryffindor table. "What are you guys doing here? You're supposed to be at the Ravenclaw table." He said.
"Professor Flitwick made an exception because he knew that you would probably be upset and want to have somebody to talk to. Besides that, we were really worried about you." Justin explained as Aaron smiled before sitting down in-between them.
"Thanks guys." He told them.
"Of course." Rickie replied with a nod. "By the way, I thought that it would interest you to know that there's going to be a memorial service for Bailey later this afternoon. That way, you can say goodbye to her." He said.
"Alright, but what is going to happen to Ginger?" Aaron wondered.
"My sister might be interested in having her." Justin told him happily.
"Doesn't Jasmine already have Midnight?" Rickie questioned but Justin just simply shook his head at him.
"No, not Jasmine,.. Julie. She loves cats and she's the only one of my sisters who doesn't have one yet." He told him.
"Alright, I think I'll ask her about it then." Aaron began. "Thanks Justin." He told him with a grin while giving him a pat on the shoulder.
"I think that I should get a pet too. Maybe an owl. I always wanted one of my own." He said.
"Sorry Justin, but since term has already started it looks like you'll have to wait until next year buddy." Aaron told him.
"Yeah I figured, but it was just a thought." Justin responded with a shrug before the three of them continued eating their breakfast together.