As the clock ticks forward.
The sands drift backwards.
Clairi looked up from the runes book she was working with the translation of one of the sides of the Box she has been working on the last six months on. She was able to decipher the lid one night she spent in the office avoiding Fred who has spent the last two months apologizing for what he said during the fight they had. She's already forgiven him for the fight, but she was still a lady and a Black. So she decided to make him suffer.
She discovered that the runes stop changing when you look away under the moon phases. That night was a Waxing Crescent moon, when she noticed that the set of runes on the right side of the box never moved. The moonstone glowed low and the Moonic rune of the waxing moon had a pale glow. That night she just happened to be busy moving the office around and the box was placed under the oboles. The light of the moon rested on the stone that night. After she noticed this, she wrote down the runes to translate.
Finding out they where related to time, was a big deal. Time was a lightly studied subject in the wizarding community. Sure the 6 time-turners in the world had a mix of the supposed sands of time and normal desert sand, can only take a person back 24 hours at most.
"Your Grandfather Airi was well known wizard for his study of ancient myths and legions, one in which was the legion of the sands of time. Which a very little amount of the sand was used for the time-turners."
Remembering that her father told her once what her mothers father was working on. If this box was connected to the sands of time then if it got out that she was breaking the spells on the box then she would become more of a target for the Dark Lord. She looked over at Bill and Fleur, whom started to spend more time in the office with them. Clairi was glade that their relationship was going so well. Even with Molly not thinking that Fleur was good enough for her eldest son. Molly was like that for a month when it came out that Clairi and Fred where more then friends. She suspected that Molly will be like that with any girl that was brought home to meet the family.
"Bill can you ward the office so no one can listen in even with ease dropping charm or extendable ears?" Clairi asked him.
"Sure?" He said raising an eye brow at her as he flicked his wand.
Bill was one of the top curse breakers when it came to warding places. He had other talents but wards where a specialty, like she had the specialty of understanding runes over being extremely proficient in warding.
"Do I need to leave?" Fleur asked.
"No, you don't." Clairi said picking up the leather bound notebook she has been using for all her research on the box.
"I think that box is related to something my grandfather was working on." Clairi said handing the notebook to Bill.
"Really?" Bill asked.
"Yes and that got him and his family killed by the Dark Lord." She started to explain.
"Where's all his research?" Fleur asked reading over Bills shoulder.
"I don't know, probably was destroyed with the home."
"So what you've found out, the box and runes correspond to the moon phases. That's some serious spell work there." Bill looked up from reading.
Clairi began to passé the office, tapping her nose as she theorized If the box was connected to the work her grandfather was working on, could he had known that it was in a vault? Or was the box placed there for safe keeping to keep it out of the Dark Lords hands? Was it not even on her grandfather's radar when he died? Who's vault was it in? Was it a vault linked to her family in some way? What did the box mean by; As the clock tick forward, the sands drift backwards? Sure time-turners could only go backwards never forwards.
"Clairi this is a serious find if it has anything to do with the sands of time." Bill spoke as she continued to passé.
"True and it will put the three of us on the Dark Lords radar more so then we already are. You because you're a blood traitor along with the rest of your family in his eyes. Fleur because she is being courted by you and a member of the order. Me because I have refused all the men he sent my way and if he finds out I'm continuing my grandfather's work will put a larger target on my back. Maybe painting one on Fred's back too since he's involved with me." Clairi passé.
"True, but we already have targets painted on us, so no matter our connections, we will all have had those targets painted on us." Bill spoke standing to put himself infront of her to stop her passing.
"I know that but this could…."
"True it could make the Dark Lord come after us all with more ferocity then before. He may want to capture you to get the information out of you. But here's the thing, I bet you can out wit that aged fossil before he could get the information." Bill smirked.
The comment of referring to Voldimort as a fossil had both Clairi and Fleur giggling. At that moment a owl with a package came flying in. It was Noctis, Fred and Clairi's owl or it was at least Clairi's owl. He sat the package down on her desk and waited for her to come over to give him an owl treat. Fred has been sending gifts and letters to Clairi for the last two months. She has had her office desk covered in Egyptian lilies, she's been gifted with another kitten, charms for the bracelet she wears, books on unique hexes and charms, among other gifts. She has also had letters of apology and a lot of groveling.
"When are you going to forgive the guy Clairi?" Bill asked chuckling.
Bill found out what was going on when Clairi didn't show up with Fred to the usual Sunday dinner at the Burrow. Fred was slightly snappy with their Mum, George told him that Clairi and Fred got into a huge fight. Clairi basically changed the wards on the manor after staying with Nott a couple nights. She wasn't excepting any of Fred's owls at the time and threw herself into work. When Bill found out that the fight was over the suitors that the Dark Lord was sending to gain her favor. He smacked Fred in the back of the head, and told him he was a fool. Bill knew Clairi was worried about the suits that she keeps turning them down.
"I have forgiven him, I'm making him grovel for what he called me." She looked over her shoulder at him with a kind smile.
"You're just having fun with him." Bill shook his head.
"I'm planning the perfect prank to get back at him." She smirked.
"I see, make his suffer enough that he'll let his guard down enough that you'll get one over on him." Bill barked out a laugh.
"Well I have spent what about 8 years now?" Clairi said opening up the letter that sat on top of the package.
"That's true little Clairi." Bill just watched her as she read the letter.
Later that day, Clairi invited Fred to the manor for dinner. She decided that they needed to talk and that her prank would wait a while longer. At least that's what she decided after receiving a enchanted Lilly encased in an enchanted frost orb. The gift was so unique that she knew he created it himself. That was and ingénues bit of magic that he was able to pull off just to get her attention again. Which she knew she couldn't keep this going much longer. Harry went to his Aunts and Uncles as Order's request. Jaspin was living at the manor now but at the present moment he was on a mission from Kings. So with everything that's happen this year, Dumbledore's death, Death Eaters infiltrating Hogwarts, Snape betraying the order. To many events have happened in the last week that Clairi couldn't keep everything up.
She stood at the counter of her kitchen looking out at the garden she worked on the summer before her 7th year. It was something that she wanted to do that year. It was calming and it helped her not worry about NWTS. Fred was always telling her she spent to much time worrying about everything that was possibly going to happen to not live in the now. And with what she was discovering as she deciphered the box, it made this something she had to do. Clairi was lost in her own world and didn't notice that Fred had snuck into the kitchen.
"Hello Lov." Fred spoke as a orange rose appeared infront of her.
"Hey Fred." She took the rose and turned to him.
Even with it being two months since they actually stood in each others presence. The smile that Fred gave her, always made her want to melt. Sure he can be arrogant and cocky at times and drive her crazy at times. But that stupid smile of his could dive away any doubt, worry or anything negative.
"Clairissa, I am so sorry about everything. I should have trusted you and not bow my lid at you." Fred said wrapping his arms around her.
"I'm sorry too Fred. I let the Black temper fly that night. I usually have it under control better then I did then." She laid her head against his chest.
"Yeah but if I didn't say what I did or thought you where untruthful then your temper wouldn't have gotten the best of you. I knew you told me about all the guys approaching you, but it was still a shock to witness it."
"Believe me, its rather annoying that they don't take no for an answer." Clairi sighed knowing that it will continue.
"They'll probably continue till there's a ring or a blasted wedding if a ring doesn't detour them."
"Fred we agreed that after the war." Clairi looked at him.
"True, and I wouldn't want to steel Bill thunder either." Fred laughed.
"Bill's thunder?" Clairi eyed him.
"I know something you don't know, shocking! Clairi doesn't know and you work with the man lov."
"Fredrick?"
"Bill purposed the other night to Fleur. Sure they haven't been dating long but what can I say. I would have given you a bloody ring after graduation if we didn't agree to wait till after the war was over." Fred smirked.
"Merlin! I didn't notice at all. Must be to worried about that stupid box." Clairi muttered.
"So Clairissa, are we fine? Am I allowed back into the manor?" He asked as he rubbed his nose next to her ear.
"Sure, on one condition." She laughed.
"Anything."
" Trust me when it comes to Flint and Avery and rejecting them."
"Alright." Clairi felt his lips gently kiss her forehead.
"I'll trust you for even."
"Thank you."