A.K~

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter (duh)

a/n: So this isn't going to be the longest story. Unless I get some sort of miracle inspiration I'll write about five chapters if I'm lucky.

Mystery Box

Five years ago.

Christmas time was always Orion's favorite time of the year. The whole family got together and decorated their grandparent's house. A week later would be Christmas and everyone would return to the house to celebrate. There would be presents and games but the final part of the night was Orion's favorite.

"C'mon kids, gather 'round now" Grandfather called. Orion's eyes lit up as he rushed to sit in front of his grandfather. The old man produced a rather long box and set it out in front of him.

"Generations ago our relatives acquired this box. Can anyone tell me what is so strange about it?"

"Grandpa, can't we just skip the story this time?" Jessica, the eldest of the cousins, said.

"There is no key hole and no way to open it!" Orion said, completely ignoring his cousin.

"Exactly," the old man smiled at his only son's son, "No one knows how our family came to acquire this box but it has been in our family as far back as we can trace them and ever since we've gotten this box no one has been able to break it open. It is completely resistant to fire and even after all these years there are only a few marks on it."

Orion examined the box from his seat. He knew every inch of it. There was a long scratch along the top and dent in the bottom of the wood. Nail marks looked like claws along the seam where the box should, theoretically, open.

"It is tradition that each year the grandchildren try to get the box open. And, as my grandparents assured me, I assure you that one day the box will open and we will finally know what it inside." Grandfather looked around the room. Jessica was rolling her eyes, she had heard this speech every Christmas and to her it was getting old.

"So have at it!"

The children scampered away to go look for a hammer or another tool to try and open it. Orion headed straight for the back shed, forgoing shoes and freezing his feet in the snow. He looked around momentarily before he saw exactly what he was looking for. The crowbar hung on the wall just within reach. He grabbed it and ran back inside.

Try as he might the box would not move an inch. One of the older boys had even tried to take a saw to it but the blade didn't even leave a mark. Orion gave up after a while and sat on the couch.

"I remember when I was kid and we hit that thing with rocks. It's funny, my younger brother was the one who put that scratch on it."

"Mathew, you never told me that your father had a brother," Orion's mother said.

"Matt never knew my brother, he died while we were still young."

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

"It's alright Claire, that was quite a long time ago."

"Orion! Come try again!" Jessica called. Orion jumped off the couch and leaned closer to the old wooden box. He leaped over the couch into the kitchen where the adults stood.

"Grandpa, are there any rocks I could use?" Orion asked.

"Let me go get you one." Orion watched his grandfather leave the kitchen, but instead of going outside, like Orion thought his grandpa would, the man headed towards his bedroom. "Use this rock," he said upon returning. Orion took the black rock in his hand.

At first it seemed like the rock was doing nothing. Why would it? A saw couldn't even scratch the thing. Just make a scratch! Orion thought as he hit the corner of the box again. Come on. Hit. Just open already. Hit. Break! The obsidian rock met the wood and Orion swore he saw a flash. He looked around to see if anyone else had seen it. Jessica was looking at him strangely. To his amazement the corner had broken off

"Grandpa! I got the corner off!" Orion held the wood of the corner in his hand. There was no hole in the box as Orion hoped but at least he had made some progress.

"Well I think that's enough for the year," Grandfather chuckled.

"Squirt, come here," Jessica said as she motioned for him to join her in the hall. Orion only made a face. "Fine," she sighed, "Orion, come here."

"What is it?" Orion asked.

"What the hell is up with the rock?"

"You're not supposed to say that!"

"Sorry, now what happened? I know I saw a spark or something come off that rock when you hit the box."

"I don't know. Maybe it's a flint rock?"

"Wood wouldn't make a spark."

"Well then I have no idea," Orion shrugged and walked away.

Orion had been only nine years old at the time and it had been his last Christmas with his grandfather.