Harry Potter and the Blood of Merlin.

Chapter 14 - Clepsydra's Clocks

'Your aunt really is a nasty piece of work Harry' Hermione told him,
'I've been telling you that for years' he replied, 'I don't just make that stuff up you know,'
'I guess I always thought you were over reacting,' she shrugged.
'And now that it's been confirmed by a teacher you are more than happy to believe it now' Ron grinned at her.
'Ex teacher, but it does give me multiple points of reference, so yes.' And she aimed a sharp look at Ron waiting for him to reply.
Ron shrugged and slumped to the floor.

That sat in the front room, they had returned after their evening meal owing to the fact that no one ever went into that room. Now that Ron had sat they faced each other in a triangle, the silver time turner sat at Hermione's feet. She had taken to getting it out and running her finger over the engravings whilst she thought but this had been the first time she had put it down. Harry had been staring at it some the moment it had left her fingers.

'You know you can't Harry' Hermione whispered and Harry jumped not realising she had been staring at him.
'I know' he resigned, but I still can't stop thinking about it. He paused before he asked his next question unsure how she would reply.
'Can I hold it?'

Ron looked to Hermione who had locked her gaze onto Harry. She looked him in the eye for a few moments before nodding her head slightly.
Harry looked down at the small pendant, it was no bigger than an egg. A thin network of fine silver-work ran around the outer edges creating a almost perfect sphere, a small hallow in the centre large enough to put ones fingers inside left room to turn a delicate time glass no bigger than a battery within. He picked it up by the chain and felt a shiver down his spine. He hadn't totally ruled out the option of using it to save Sirius dispute what Hermione had said. He had planned it out, almost every night, what he would do differently, how he would stop Bellatrix. He looked back to Hermione and saw the trust in her face and his urge wained.

He held out a cusped palm to lay the delicate time turner into and the moment the cool metal touched his skin he felt his body jolt back rigid. His head hit the stone floor with a resounding crack and he just heard the screams of Hermione as his vision went blank.

'But it must work, it must' Mora pleading with the man. 'You said you knew how'
Harry saw now that she held the same time turner out in front of her, it swing lightly from its chain. The two were perched under a makeshift tent of a cloak hung between two trees and small droplets of rain padded from above. A rumble of nearby thunder threatened a storm and Harry could feel the humidity in the air.

The man was looking out towards something in the distance and when Harry followed his gaze, he saw a orange glow lighting up a pillow of smoke from somewhere out of view.
'My life was there, our life.' He signed dropping his head. 'You would think that after all these years they would stop hunting, stop killing what they don't understand,'

'They do not know my love,' Mora tenderly brushed the mans cheek. 'They are only here on the orders of PopE Gregory, they think they seek zealots, the Cathers and Waldensians, they do not know that they have stumbled upon witchcraft in France.'

'Even so, we fled England to be away from this persecution, to the wilds of France, I lost my name, I lost my legacy and to be hunted like rats again, that is why I must fix this, i don't know what I did wrong, I followed the steps.' He lifted his head his eyes sparkling 'I know of but one woman who can help, we must not waste time.'

With that the image blurred and re focused, they now stood in a small shop, blinds pulled over the windows but light still illuminated walls. Harry looked to see clocks on every wall, every surface, he meant to step towards a large door but it burst towards him into the room.

'You cannot be here' a small man whimpered, just because King Henry cares more about the Jews than witchcraft does not mean it is safe for you here. it is the 1200's dear man, it is still not enough time, you must leave, back to France maybe.'

'It must be getting safer,' the bearded man argued, Mora following through the door, 'I hear there is now a small school up north taking in magical students.' The bearded man told the smaller man,
'Indeed yes, my own daughter goes to Hogwarts but it is severely guarded,  but you are a known man, wanted for centuries.'
'Be that as it may' the bearded man raised his voice, menace rumbled through his words 'you are the only one who can help me, us, or are you not Vigilius Prewitt son of Clepsydra Prewitt, maker and purveyor or magical time pieces.'

From the shadows a chair creaked and footsteps shuffled towards the light at the front of the room.
'You have the audacity to barge into my shop, my home, to threaten my son and you do not even say hello to an old friend.' and a small woman stepped into the light. She had wisps of red hair still left in her now grey head of curls. She looked to have withered and shrunk with age, how old Harry couldn't tell. But she looked so much older than even Dumbledore.
'That is no way to treat someone of which you seek hospitality Merlin, I do not care what allowances your name once served you, you are in my house now' she grinned a toothless smile and Merlin looked to her.
'C-c-Clepsydra' he stuttered, I had heard you had died.
'Pah' she exclaimed, 'I have many years in me yet, but, it is true that I am no longer the wand wielder I used to be so it is safer to hide my secrets in a shrewd of death.' she nodded her frail head agreeing with herself.

'Then you know of what I ask of you Sydra, you know why.' Merlin whispered, Mora holding onto his arm looked eagerly to the woman.
'Ah, Morgana, still as beautiful as ever' Clepsydra smiled, a boney finger tracing the woman's jaw line.
Clepsydra stood for a few moments, not moving, than nodded.
'I have heard the Prophecies, the whispers of things to come,'
'Than I must protect out family' Merlin pleaded, holding Mora yet tighter. Mora placed and hand on her stomach and Harry remember how she had done the very same in the fire.
Clepsydras eyes widened upon the realisation of the drive behind Merlin and she nodded at him.
'Thank you', he sighed relieved. 'I only wish to secure the safety of my bloodline'

'And that is precisely what you have overlooked' said Clepsydra and she took the Time Turner from Merlins finger. Harry remembered how he had crouched over it in the fire, he must have been making it, but then why didn't it work, surely Merlin could make something like a time turner.
'You would think' muttered Clepsydra and Harry looked at her with shock.
'What did you say mother?' Vigilius asked, she simple shook her head at him smiling.

'Blood, Merlins, blood, this kind of magic requires a trigger, a catalyst if you will.'
Merlin looked at the old woman shocked, 'are you sure, it's that simple' he asked.
'If it was that simple, everyone would be doing it' she mocked. 'No in doing so you put a piece of yourself into it, and as such only your heir will be able to use the device.'
'But that is exactly what We want, that's the aim' Mora told her excitedly.
'Indeed' Merlin nodded in agreement
Clepsydra shook her head solemnly. 'Merlin, you may be a legend, true. Your magic indeed has no rival but this is my area of expertise, I am the Merlin of time you might say' and she giggled a throaty chuckle to herself. 'If you intend to do with this what I think you will you cannot send it to you heir. Time and natural order need it to be passed down, you need a guardian to keep it safe until it is time.'
'But we need it now Sydra' Merlin told her
Clepsydra held a finger up to silence him, for someone walking through time, anytime is now, suffering may come but that can be erased remember.'
Merlin nodded, his face glum and drawn.
'I have a friend, an apprentice if you will, she is off to set up shop by the garrison in Cardiff town, she can keep this safe for you, pass it through the ages.'
'But will it be safe' pleaded Merlin
'I bet my life on it' Clepsydra smiled. 'I bet my life'