The Third Orphan

Chapter 14

Briella's second full day at Hogwarts passed in a haze. Alyssa was mysteriously absent from lunch and Briella's abysmal sense of directions had once again caused her to be late to the only class they shared that day and they had been unable to sit together. Even worse, the Alyssa had not once met Briella's seeking eyes.

By the time classes were over Briella was near tears. So, with an hour left until she had to go to dinner she managed to shake off Emma, whose pitying eyes had been haunting her all day, and made her way back of to Lady Arabella's tower. She wasn't entirely surprised to not see Lady Arabella at the top. She knew the ghost would show up when she was ready.

Briella's eyes fell instead on the photo album lying by the wall. It was the one she had brought up with her the night before after catching Yuliana looking at it. She had completely forgotten about it in the ensuing drama and the excitement of meeting Lady Arabella. Now she picked it up. As she did so she noticed that a few pages near the beginning were creased. Mentally cursing Yuliana for her carelessness with the precious book of family history, Briella began to smooth the pages out.

As she did so, she began to notice that the first few did not smooth quite as nicely as the next. Annoyed, she tried her best to rub out the creases, causing the edge of the paper to peel apart a little. She looked at it closer. It shouldn't have peeled, the pages were magically reinforced to prevent disintigration. A little creasing was possible, but the pages shouldn't be falling apart. It was almost as if several pages were stuck together.

Curiousity piqued, Briella tried to peel the pages further apart, but they wouldn't budge. She was about to give up when she noticed a dull red gleam. "Magic," she whispered to herself. "The pages are sealed with magic.."  Briella had just pulled out her want to try out a countercharm when she heard a voice beside her.

"I would leave alone what is not meant for you to see, child."

Briella jumped, turning to see Lady Arabella beside her, looking especially pale in the late afternoon sun.

Briella looked at her quizzically. "Why do you think it's not meant for me to see?"

"I know many things, Briella. What is between those pages is not meant to be seen by you today. Someday soon you will solve the mystery hidden in these pages, but they will not unseal themselves for you until you know what they hold."

"What do you mean 'until I know what they hold?'"

"These pictures tell a story, but it is one that is unimportant until you make it so. When you know the entire story the pages will open for you if you still want to see what they hold."

"But-"

"No more questions Briella." Lady Arabella's voice was uncharacteristically stern. "You shall know the answers at the proper time, no sooner and no later."

Briella sighed. "Fine then. Anything else I shouldn't do?" she asked a bit resentfully.

"No but I bring a warning," replied Lady Arabella.

"A warning?" Briella asked, confused.

"Yes," answered Lady Arabella. "'Beware the shadow that has a small voice.'"

"The shadow that has a small voice?" Briella reapeated. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I cannott tell you child. If there is one thing I have learned in my many years wandering this earth it is never to mess with fate. Some mysteries you must solve on your own."

"What sort of mystery?" asked Briella. "What is the mystery about."

"If you never know, then count yourself lucky," replied Lady Arabella. "But if you make your way to the statue of the wingless owl in the right wing of the third floor in an hour, you might just find your sister all by herself."

"Really?" exclaimed Briella, the mystery temporarily driven from her mind. "How do you know?"

Lady Arabella smiled. "Like I've said, I know many things, Briella."

Briella knew that that wasn't much of an answer, but with her mind full of finding Alyssa she didn't feel like pressing Lady Arabella. "Thank you!" she said, jumping to her feet. I'll come back later, okay?"

Lady Arabella nodded as Briella disappeared down the stairs, forgetting for the second time the family photo album lying open on the floor.

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So I was gonna make this longer, but I think I'm gonna go to bed instead. So sorry it's short and unedited and I'm sorry I haven't posted in so long. Vote if you liked it! Thanks for sticking with me guys