The Adventures of the Junior Phoenixes, Part 4: The Pendant of Light

Chapter 10: The Key

Chapter 10

Echo sat in the back garden where she had talked to Dare, near the oleanders and the roses. She looked around the garden, admiring the flowers, the poplars, and the clouds overhead. She liked the grounds of Malfoy Manor. Despite the dark looming on the Manor itself the place had a strange light about it, an essence of mystery that drew her in. She could not describe it but she felt it nonetheless. It felt familiar to her, something strangely comforting to her that she could not place; a warmth in her heart that recalled feelings that had been dormant too long.

She looked up and realized the clouds overhead would soon bring rain. "The Augurey in the front of the whole estate had cried out earlier," she whispered aloud, "They only cry before rainfall and during storms."

"That's correct, Tiger," a young boy's voice spoke aloud.

Echo was startled at first at the sight of the young ethereal form of Starling Govanjek sitting next to her on the marble bench, but she was beginning to get used to his random popping up in her life.

"Sorry to spook you, Tiger," the boy apologized, "I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"I'm fine, I guess," Echo said, "I was angry earlier at my brother, but then, after Lucius talked and told us the things he did, I calmed down. Besides, I like it here. This place feels a lot like home."

"Huh," Starling replied, "Interesting. Do you believe your brother was really trying to help you out?"

"I don't care," Echo answered.

"Yes, you do, Tiger," Starling pointed out, "That's why you're so upset. You don't want to care, but you do. Sometimes the hardest truths in life are the ones we aren't at first willing to accept. But let me tell you something that I learned the hard way, Tiger: There's nothing more important than family. Look at your uncle, for example. Here's a man who still holds to his beliefs and still has many enemies in this world. Yet, because of his love for his family, he and his wife helped defeat one of the most powerful threats to this world since the dawn of time. Remember, Tiger, the Pendant of Darkness won't just outright give you the answers, but it will help guide you on your way through the dark. Sometimes the answers you seek are right at your feet."

Echo nodded her head. She looked down at her feet instinctively and saw something faintly shining under them.

"What's that?" she asked. When she looked up again, Starling was gone. She knelt down in front of the bench and picked up the shining object. It was metal, the length of her hand, and strangely shaped. "It looks like a key," she said to herself. She looked around and saw no one. Had it been there the whole time? Who left it there?

"Are you alright, my dear?" Narcissa asked. She had walked over to the marble bench slowly, her regal floral dress dark against the colors of the roses and oleanders. "Did you lose something?"

"No," Echo replied, "I found a key out here under the bench. Is this yours?"

Echo handed Narcissa the key. Narcissa inspected the key with a curious expression. "I've never seen a key like this, my dear. There is nothing I can think of here at our home that this particular key would fit into. What an unusual key."

"Hmm," Echo replied. She reached out her hand. Narcissa gave her the key back, which Echo promptly put in her pocket.

"I'm glad you decided to stay here, my dear," Narcissa said to her with a smile. "There is something I must show you. Follow me to the house."

Narcissa held her hand and offered it to Echo. Echo took Narcissa's hand. It was soft and delicate, yet strong, like silk stretched over metal. Echo smiled as they walked to the house. Narcissa described the flowers as they walked, pointing out the different breeds of roses, chrysanthemums, and daisies that grew in the gardens. There were a few statues of members of the Malfoy family, which Narcissa promised to tell the stories of later over tea and dessert. She opened the door to the back of the house and led Echo down the grand hallway to the stairs in the front lobby. They walked up two flights of stairs hand in hand. Narcissa then veered left when they reached the third floor. Each door knob, as the others in the house, was made of polished brass. Narcissa walked past two doors on the left then stopped at a third. She withdrew her wand and whispered, "Alohomora."