Echoes of the Black Manor Part 1

Chapter 3

Regulus hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. You rest first. I'll keep watch." His grip on the fireplace poker tightened, his knuckles white.

Sirius reluctantly leaned back, keeping his wand close, his eyes still flickering towards the windows. He knew he wouldn't truly sleep, not with the sense of dread that filled the room. But he closed his eyes, trying to block out the sound of the rustling leaves and the snapping twigs, praying that the night would pass without incident.

Outside, the shadows continued to move, the forest alive with unseen things. Sirius couldn't shake the feeling that whatever was out there was waiting, biding its time, and that this was only the beginning. He lay back, his eyes half-closed, straining to listen to the eerie noises filtering through the walls. Each creak of the floorboards, each rustle of the leaves outside, seemed amplified in the silence, setting his nerves on edge.

The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. Regulus sat beside him, clutching the fireplace poker like a lifeline. His eyes darted between the windows and the door, as if expecting something to burst through at any moment. They were safe for now, but how long would that last? Sirius could feel it in his bones—whatever was lurking in the shadows outside wasn’t done with them yet.

Just as Sirius felt his eyes begin to droop, the unmistakable creak of the front door echoed through the manor. The sound, sharp and unexpected, jolted him awake. His heart leapt into his throat, and before he could stop himself, a scream tore from his lips.

The shrill sound shattered the quiet of the manor, and Regulus snapped awake, instantly on high alert. He stood up, clutching the poker defensively, his eyes wild as he scanned the room. "Sirius! What is it?" he shouted, fear evident in his voice.

Sirius scrambled to his feet, wand at the ready, his heart pounding so loudly he could hear it in his ears. He pointed his wand toward the hallway, where the creaking had come from. The door to the drawing room slowly swung open, and a shadowed figure stepped inside.

Both boys held their breath, ready to defend themselves against whatever had followed them from the forest. But as the figure moved into the light, their tense expressions melted into relief.

"Sirius? Regulus? What's going on?" It was Orion Black, their father, his voice concerned. Behind him, Walburga Black, their mother, stepped into the room, looking worried. They had evidently heard Sirius's scream and rushed in.

Regulus let out a shaky breath, lowering the poker. "Mum, Dad," he said, trying to steady his voice. "It's... it's nothing. We thought we heard something outside."

Orion's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking to the windows and then back to his sons. "Heard something? What do you mean?" he asked, his voice stern but with a hint of concern.

Sirius's adrenaline was still running high, and he found it hard to calm down. "We were in the forest earlier," he explained quickly, "and we kept hearing these noises, like footsteps. We thought something was following us. Then we heard the door, and I—" He broke off, realizing how silly it sounded now that he was saying it out loud.

Walburga moved closer, her face softening as she reached out to brush a strand of hair from Sirius's forehead. "You both look pale as ghosts," she said softly. "It must have been your imagination, playing tricks on you in the dark."

Regulus shook his head, still gripping the poker. "No, it wasn't just our imagination. There was something out there, moving in the shadows. We heard it, Mum. I swear."

Orion exchanged a look with Walburga, then turned his attention back to his sons. "The forest can be a strange place at night," he said carefully. "But you're safe now. Whatever it was, it can't get you here."

Walburga nodded in agreement. "Why don't we all have a cup of tea and try to calm down? It's been a long day." She glanced around the room, noticing how the fire had died down to embers. "I'll get it started," she said, moving toward the kitchen.

Regulus finally set the poker down, his shoulders slumping with a mix of relief and exhaustion. He still felt on edge, but having their parents there made the manor feel safer, more secure. Sirius nodded, though the fear still lingered in his eyes. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was out there, lurking in the darkness, waiting.

As Walburga left to prepare the tea, Orion placed a reassuring hand on Sirius's shoulder. "We'll check the wards around the manor," he said. "Just to be sure. But you two need to try and relax. You're safe now."

Sirius nodded again, though he couldn't find his voice to respond. He leaned against the back of the sofa, trying to steady his breathing. Regulus came to stand beside him, the two of them sharing a look of mutual understanding.

They knew what they had heard. And even if their parents dismissed it as imagination, the feeling of unease wouldn't leave them. As they waited for their mother to return, the fire crackled softly, and the manor settled into an uneasy silence.

Sirius glanced towards the windows once more, half-expecting to see a shadow pass by. He didn't know what was out there, but he knew one thing for certain: whatever it was, it hadn't gone away. And until they were sure it was gone, he wouldn't let his guard down. The moments stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity.