The day outside the goblin bank Gringotts, was a dreary, rainy mess, and even though Bill Weasley was safely inside the bank with his apprentice Clairissa Black, he still couldn't get pass the mood that the weather was bringing. It's been a few weeks since Clairi began her apprenticeship with him, and it turned out that curses came easy to her in ways that they are difficult for others he has worked along side with. Looking up from the cursed artifact he was working on he noticed that the girl was working on the cursed box he had given her to open.
The box was one of complexity, and difficulty with its unique curses. Many Curse-Breakers have tried and failed when it came to opening the box. The Black ornate box had gold runes etched into the sides, to Bill it looked like a jewelry box that the Goblin's found in an abandoned vault that was centuries old. As he watched her, he noticed that she had a pair of silk gloves on, her hair pulled out of her face, as she gently examined the box. A piece of parchment sitting next to her with a horse hair brush that she started to use to sweep away dust from the side she was examining.
"Find anything?" He asked curiously as she sat the side of the box down and began to write the runes down.
"Sure, it looks like who ever tried to open this box before never took the time to read or figure out the runes on the outside." She stated not looking at him.
"I see, you think the runes might lead to something?" Bill asked as he stood up and walked over to stand next to her.
"Well yes, they may say what is inside or give us a clue to how to open it. But I actually don't recognize the runes. They aren't close to the ones that we learn in school. And the Datisse spell put this box possibly around 150-160 CE which is the same time as the Elder Futhark Script. " She explained.
"I see so the box is from the time period but what of the script?" He asked looking at the box.
"That's the thing, one moment I study a rune and just as I go to write it down its like it changes. Like the writing is charmed to change, which makes this very hard to crack. Or the writing is charmed to give us the story of the box. I'm unsure at the moment." She sat back in her chair and gave an exasperated sigh.
Everything she explained made since in a way. That box could be as old as the spell detects but the runes might be a mix of branches. If the runes are telling a story of the box then they may have the find of the century on their hands.
"You know what Bill, I will be sorely disappointed if I break at code on this box and we find a mummified pair of male testicles." Clairi said looking up at the ceiling of the room.
"What?" He asked raising an eyebrow at her statement.
"We know that back in Egyptian times that they have mummified the male appendage and placed them in jars and or other objects. So if this box is the place a family hid some known or unknown wizards mummified penis I'll be sorely disappointed that I've spent this much time on the box." She looked at bill with myth in her eyes.
Bill was about to respond when the door of the room creecked open. Bill looked from the young women next to him to the door. Standing there was Fleur Delacour, the French witch that Bill was enchanted with. Her silver blond hair pulled back into a low bun along with her deep blue eyes, Bill couldn't get the women out of his mind since they met. As Bill straightened up, he didn't notice Clairi's smirk.
"Miss. Delacour, what can I do for you?" He asked.
"I came to see if Clairi was free for lunch." She nodded at the younger of the two women.
"Actually Fleur, I'm a bit busy at the moment." Clairi apologized to the vela witch.
"Oh, I see. Sorry to interrupt then." She started to move to leave.
"Fleur, I might be busy, but I think Bill here was about to stop for a while. Why doesn't he go in my place and I'll buy tomorrow's lunch?" Clairi suggested with a sweet smile as she began to lean towards the box once again.
"If you're free Miss. Delacour, I wouldn't mind the company." Bill agreed sheepishly.
"Alright." Fleur smiled at Bill as he moved to grab his coat.
"Take your time Bill, I'll be fine." Clairi called out as they left her and the box.
Bill shook his head with a smile on his face as he realized that Clairi Black just sat him up on a lunch date. He looked at the women next to him and though he owed the girl back in the artifact room something. Maybe he'll pay for her and Fred's next date.
That night when Clairi into her home, all the frustration of the artifact she had been working on left her body. When she took the apprenticeship she decided that once she got home she wouldn't worry about what happened at the bank. She was thrilled that her plan to set Bill up for a lunch date worked out perfectly. She was beginning to become sick watching the older man pins over the blond from afar. So she used the friendship she had with the older witch to start a weekly lunch with her, then pretended to be busy. Worked like a charm, and she got one of her favorite sandwiches from Leaky Cauldron as a thank you from Bill.
Clairi's smile turned sad as she walked up to the master bedroom to change. Harry and Hermione where both back at school, and Zander was out for the night with whom ever he was dating at the moment. Fred and George's shop was still open for another hour so she had time to shower and change before Fred got back. Only Zander and George knew Fred practically lived in the Black Manor with her. Not uncommon in the muggle world for a couple to live together while dating. Except, Mrs. Weasley or Molly as she tells all the children to call her was very against living together before being married. She wasn't happy that Zander was living with her, a taken woman alone with out any one older then them to chaperone. Even with Harry and Hermione there and two freed and paid house elves. Molly brought it up every time suggesting that Clairi move in with her Uncle or even the Weasley's'.
Once out of the shower, Clairi noticed Felix lying on the bed sleeping contently.
"Having a nap Felix?" She sat down next to him as she dried her hair. Sure there's a spell for that, but she sometimes felt that drying with a towel helped her unwind for the day.
"Are you going to join him?" A voice called from the doorway of the room.
Clairi turned and found a Fredrick leaning against the doorframe.
"Well no, I was planning to go down and start to cook. " She smiled as she braided her hair.
She wasn't the biggest fan of his new hairstyle; it just didn't suit him at all when he spiked the front up. So when she was standing infront of him she smoother the from of his hair down. She preferred it when his hair was slightly shaggy.
"Really lov, you're messing it up." He chuckled.
"So what, go ahead and relax, shower and change, I don't know what potion or prank powder you have on your clothes. And I don't want to have white hair again because I hugged you." She teased as she kissed his cheek and walked out of the bedroom.
"You love it lov!" He called over his shoulder causing her to laugh.
Even with the fact that the Dark Lord was back hanging over their heads, that many young wizards that side with him trying to court her even with it known that she had an understanding with Fred Weasley. Even with her wearing the rose gold charm bracelet he gave her with a sunflower charm and a monogram F&C dangling from the clasp. Sure it was simple and not a family heirloom but she was fine with it. Clairi didn't need over the top gifts from the prankster or over the top gestures. She liked the simple things. She wasn't impressed when Avery conjured roses and bowed infront of her as she walked towards the bank, or the ruby studded necklace Flint tried to give her when she was shopping with Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny. Molly was complaining that Fred should just give her one of the Pewits rings and be done with the understanding. But Clairi and Fred both wanted to get through the war and live in a time where Lord Voldimort (Moldimort) was no longer living or coming back to life.
As Clairi chopped up vegetables, a pair of arms snaked around her waist. The scent of cider wood, grass and aftershave washed over her as she stopped and closed her eyes for a moment.
"So lov, what are we having?" He asked.
"I figured with the rain that stew would chase away the chill that the day had brought." She said going back to cooking.
"Sound great, how was your day with the goblins?" He asked sitting at the breakfast nook.
"Are you including Bill in with the goblin comment?"
"Well with the new scars on his face it takes away from the handsome fella under nithe, so sure he's a goblin." He shrugged with a smirk.
"Oh I don't know the scars give him a slight edge over you lov." She winked teasingly at the wizard.
"Oh, you wound me lov!" He exclaimed as he held his bleeding heart.
"I should tell Bill you consider him a goblin now."
"You will do no such thing witch." He glared.
"Well I did set him up with a privet lunch date with Fleur today." She smirked as she scrapped the chopped veggies into a pot that had other ingredients inside.
"Oh really lov?"
"Yes I did, and it went smoother then the last time you tried to help with it." She stuck her tongue out at Fred.
"It wasn't that bad last time!"
"Fredrick, you where practically pushing Bill out of the office I share with him to go catch up with Fleur. Your not a suddle man." She laughed as she walked to stand infront of him.
"Sure I am, I kept my feeling for you to my self for a while." He wiggled his eyebrows at her.
"Oh but George and Zander knew before I did. I was and am still sore that they knew before I did." She teased crossing her arms over her chest in jest.
"Oi!" He pulled her into his lap and kissed her.
"They knew because they got me pissed." He said against her lips.
"Sure Freddi, keep telling your self that, and you owe me 10 gallions since I got Bill on a date before you did." She laughed at him as she pulled herself up out of his lap.
"Cheeky witch." He muttered.
******** Hope you all enjoy!*********