Echoes of the Black Manor Part 1

Chapter 10

Then, as the wind howled outside, its ferocity shaking the windows, a sudden knock at the door startled everyone. The sound was sharp and jarring, cutting through the oppressive quiet of the manor. The unexpected knock caused a collective gasp of alarm, the intensity of their fear momentarily eclipsed by the startling intrusion.

Orion and Rodolphus, already on edge, exchanged anxious glances. Both men quickly moved toward the door, their movements swift and tense. The knocking persisted, each strike more insistent than the last.

Orion reached the door first and pressed his eye to the peephole. His breath hitched as he saw the familiar faces of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy standing outside, their expressions reflecting the same anxiety that had gripped the rest of the manor.

“We’ve got to let them in!” Rodolphus urged, his voice urgent but controlled. Orion nodded, his hands trembling as he unlocked the door and slowly opened it.

The sight of Lucius and Narcissa stepping inside brought a wave of relief to the group. The Malfoys, despite their composed exteriors, could not entirely mask the concern in their eyes. They quickly made their way into the manor, and Orion, still feeling the weight of the night’s events, slumped back against the wall. The relief of seeing the Malfoys was palpable, but it was clear that the night’s ordeal had taken a toll on him.

Lucius, his face set in a determined expression, turned to the assembled group. “What’s the situation?” he asked, his voice calm but carrying an edge of urgency. “Rodolphus mentioned strange noises?”

Orion, still catching his breath, nodded wearily. “Yes, there’s been tapping—constant tapping—and odd breathing sounds. It’s been going on for hours. We’re not sure what’s causing it, but it’s been driving us all to the edge.”

Narcissa moved to stand beside Orion, her gaze shifting from him to the window, where the dark forest loomed ominously. “Have you noticed anything unusual in the forest?” she asked, her voice steady but her eyes betraying her concern.

“Nothing we can see,” Walburga answered, joining them with a look of anxious hope. “But the noises… they’re unsettling.”

Lucius nodded, taking charge of the situation. “We’ll need to perform a thorough check of the wards and the perimeter. If there’s something amiss, we need to find out what it is.”

The Malfoys wasted no time. Lucius and Narcissa began to inspect the wards around the manor, their practiced movements betraying their experience with such matters. Rodolphus and Rabastan helped them, their eyes darting to every shadow and every creak of the house.

As they worked, the wind outside seemed to grow even more violent, its howling echoing through the manor. The tapping continued, a relentless reminder of the unknown threat lurking just beyond their protective barriers.

Orion, still leaning against the wall, watched with a mixture of hope and exhaustion. The sight of the Malfoys taking charge offered a glimmer of reassurance, but the night’s fear was far from over. The tapping and the howling wind created an almost surreal backdrop to the scene, amplifying the tension that hung in the air.

Sirius and Regulus, though still anxious, felt a small measure of comfort in the presence of the Malfoys. They huddled close to their parents, their eyes flicking toward the windows and the dark forest beyond. The sense of unity and the expertise of the Malfoys provided a much-needed anchor in the midst of the chaos.

As the Malfoys continued their inspection, Lucius paused to address the group. “We’ll do everything we can to address this situation,” he said firmly. “In the meantime, try to stay calm. We’ll need everyone’s focus and cooperation.”
As Lucius and Narcissa continued their work, Narcissa’s eyes flickered nervously towards the windows, her unease mirroring the thick anxiety that permeated the manor. The tapping sound outside persisted with an unnerving rhythm, its relentless beat blending with the howling wind that shook the windows with fierce intensity.