~Chapter 4~

I sighed in frustration as I heard my clock ring six times, signaling that it was now six o'clock. Scrimgeour was supposed to come by my apartment over an hour ago to go through reports of Voldemort's recent activities and plans on defense against his rising power that needed his approval and signature. "Damn him," I muttered to myself. "You'd think by now we'd have a minister who'd at least be able to tell time."

Just as I was putting all the paperwork away I heard a knock on the door. Rolling my eyes I walked over, ready to throw a fit with the minister for wasting my time. Unfortunately, what I saw made talking impossible for me. Outside my door were four men I had prayed to the gods I would never have to see face to face again.

Two of them were my brothers. The eldest whom I had not spoken to in over ten years because we could never get a sentence out without raising our voices in anger. And the youngest who could never seem to understand that we don't always get what we want or a happy ending in life.

Another, a teenage boy whose identity was obvious from the moment I laid eyes on him by the scar running through his forehead. I'll admit, I felt a jolt of anger and disdain when I discovered who he was. I realize, of course, that it isn't his fault that my parents doted and basically obsessed over him, but I am human and therefore entitled to feel such emotions, no matter how ridiculous and unreasonable they are.

The last man is one who's presence causes me the most pain, for although my past is entwined with all men present, it is closely entwined with his in a very intimate way. I meet Kingsley's eyes briefly but can't stand the pain and sadness so clearly evident in his eyes that has lingered there even after the years that have past since we –I- ended our relationship.

Just as I regained my ability to speak, I notice something about the men's expressions. All of them, with the exception of Kingsley, are looking at me in a rather cross, angry manner. Almost as though I had done something wrong. This irritates me and before I can stop it, the words that tumble out of my mouth come out harsher and much colder than I had intended. "What the hell do you want?" I ask, crossing my arms on my chest.

Immediately, I'm met with glaring eyes from the three men. (Kingsley never got angry with me. No matter how unreasonable I was being. That's one of the things I love –loved- about him) for a split second I freeze, noticing instantly how much my brothers resemble my mother when she's angry. The same piercing eyes turned into slits that used to terrify me as a child. However, just like so many years ago, the fear subsides and I meet their glare with one of my own. Out of the corner of my eye I notice Potter flinch slightly. I smile to myself. I prided myself greatly on my ability to terrify people with just a look. It was very useful when it came to dealing with young, cocky aurors. The pride quickly evaporates when I hear Potter mutter "Bloody hell, she's just like McGonagall when she's ticked off"

I roll my eyes and say rather coldly "If all you're going to do is stand there, glaring at me while making idiotic comparisons then you can just fuck off." I say as I slam the door in their faces.

Just as I was about to walk to my bedroom I hear a loud blast and turn around in time to see Alberic with his wand drawn out with smoke emitting from it and my door in pieces.

"Even after sixteen years you still haven't changed, Adara. When the situation gets too hard you run away." He says to me.

"Yeah? And after sixteen years you're still the same way too. You're still an ass! Was it absolutely necessary to blast my door into splinters?"

"For a normal person, no. It would have been completely unnecessary, not to mention rude. For you however, it's the only reasonable thing to do! It's pathetic really when you think about it. You care about your bloody door than you do your own family! You know, most people who haven't seen their family in sixteen years would at least say "Hi! How are you?' before telling them to fuck off!" Alberic shouts back at me.

Without quite realizing it I pulled out my wand and sent a stinging hex on him. He cries out in pain for a moment before sending a bat boogey hex at me, which I block easily. Before I know it we're dueling in the middle of my living room.

"STOP IT YOU TWO!" Aiden yells from the side as he breaks us apart. I stare at my younger brother for a while in shock. The last time I had seen him he was an eleven year old who was afraid of his own shadow. He at least had changed during the last sixteen years.

Aiden turned to Alberic. "When I asked you to help me find her, it was to show your support, not start a war with her," he said pushing Alberic slightly.

He turned to me and, out of the blue, hugs me. Stunned, I stand there awkwardly, wincing at the tightness of his embrace and raising my arm to slightly pat him on the back. It had been years since I had that kind of contact with someone. Especially with someone I hadn't seen since they were a child.

I notice Potter watching the three of us with wide eyes, almost as though he's watching a play of some sort. Clearly this wasn't what he expected from the great Albus Dumbledore's family. I smile slightly when I see Kingsley fixing my door with his wand and cleaning the mess Alberic and I had made.

When he finally releases me from his death grip, I am slightly alarmed to see tears forming in his eyes and don't quite know what to do, making the situation even more awkward. "Adara, Mum's sick. All this grief is killing her. Please, Adara. We've tried everything to help her but nothing helps. She's fading away with her grief. Please, you have to make up with her! She needs you now more than ever!" he begged, tears streaming down his face.

I shrug away from him. "Maybe he hasn't changed all that much." I think to myself. I stare into his eyes for a moment, concentrating. Within a second I'm into his mind. All he says is true. I see images of my mother lying in bed at night, clutching one of my father's old nightshirts, stroking my father's portrait in an effort to wake him up, Aiden's useless attempts at getting her out of her room or to at least eat something. I wait another moment before replying. "I'm afraid I don't have the time. I've got countless meetings this week, not to mention I've got an entire department to direct and give orders too." I walk back to my desk arranging the papers Scrimgeour neglected. I brace myself for a loud explosion from at least one of my brothers but before they can utter a single word, someone beat them too it.

"You're kidding, right? Your mother is lying on her deathbed, her one wish is to make peace with you or at least see you and you can't even grant her that! Not to mention the fact that you just walked away from your family and haven't seen them in sixteen years! For the life of me, I can't imagine how you got to be one of the heads of the auror department because from what I'm seeing, you're nothing but a spoiled, self-centered brat." Potter yells at me from across the room.

I turn around slowly, vaguely aware that all the objects in my apartment are now levitated. (I always lost control of my magic when I was angry) I walk across the room so I can look at that stupid fucker's eyes. "How dare you! This is none of your concern, none of your business and yet you burst into my home uninvited and have the nerve to lecture on matters you have absolutely no understanding of and insult me! This has nothing to do with you, Potter so get the fuck out of my house!"

Alberic steps in front of me and pushes me roughly against the wall. His face is as angry as I have ever seen it. "If anyone has ever insulted you it's because you have deserved it. You have always claimed that our parents ruined your life and that your life is it shambles because of the trauma and pain they caused you. Well you deserved it. If you are unhappy with your life it's not our parents fault. It's karma. You're a cold-hearted selfish bitch Adara. That's why your life is the way it is."

For some odd reason, his words have such an effect on me. I can't help the tears stinging in my eyes that have started to course down my face. It shocks me that just a few sentences out of my brother's mouth can cause me to break down like this. I hadn't cried in over 25 years, even after seeing the ravages of war and countless friends dying. I notice Alberic's and every other person in the room's face soften at the sight of me crying. They all look slightly guilty, especially Alberic (he never could stand to see me cry), which makes me, feel a slight jolt of happiness, for they truly don't understand anything. With a shaking voice I confront my older brother. "Did I? Did I really deserve everything that happened to me? Did I deserve to have my birthdays forgotten or to constantly have anger taken out of me? Did I deserve to have a father who valued other people's children over his own? You were there, Alberic. You have to remember. Hogwarts always came first! Along with the wizarding world and Potter! Sweet Circe, Potter was always on his mind! Did I really deserve all that, Alberic? Because if I did then tell me, what did I do to deserve all of it!?!? Tell me! What did I do?"

Shocked, Alberic releases me from his grip and I sink to ground, completely dissolved in tears. "Adara, I had no idea…" Alberic starts as he raises his arm to hug me. I brush him off though and instead flick my wand over to the coffee table. The table instantly flips over, revealing my pensieve.

"Look into it," I whisper. "Look through all the memories and maybe you'll understand." I look around the room, silently pleading with my eyes. Alberic gets up slowly and walks over to it, the others follow. With a bright flash all four men are in my pensieve, exploring my memories and unraveling the mysteries of why I am the way I am. As they get pulled through each memory and witness each event, I mentally follow them, remembering each memory and the pain it caused me.