Closed The Secret in the Clock Tower PV Irina Shevel

"I guess it would. It just seems ridiculous that Maeve would disinherit to of her kids whilst threatening and blackmailing the other! Hasn't she ever heard of a little thing called love?"

Simon shrugged his shoulder. Maeve did not seem like the most loving lady and she was certainly not someone you would wish for as your mother-in-law, at least not if you were a half-blood or a Muggleborn. He wondered what had happened in her life that made her like that. Perhaps she did not get to experience much love in her own childhood. "I guess not."

Irina continued to search the box. She passed him a golden locket and pulled out another bunch of letters and some photos. The box was a gold mine of family secrets, but he could not get rid of the feeling that they were intruding in something that was very private. Simon had some of his letters saved in a secret hatch in the bottom of his trunk in the dormitory. Not that he had something to hide, but what if someone would find his letter in the future and read them? Somehow, he did not like the feeling. On the other hand, his curiosity was larger than any feeling of guilt at the moment.

Irina was looking at a wedding photo of Callahan and Elysia. When she turned it around, they silently read what was written on the back of it. 'I'm sorry I couldn't be there brother'.

"Why wasn't he able to go? Maeve may never have found out he was there. What's to stop him from going to the wedding? And," (She now had half her forearm in the box) "Why . . . can't . . . I find . . . the bottom!"

"Irina. Irina..." He placed his hand on her back. "I realize this is all very overwhelming to you. But remember, this was a long time ago. You cannot change the past. All you can do is change the future." He checked the clock. "If you'd ask what I think, I'd say you keep the box. And I'd say you should consider talking to someone in your family about it. You don't have to read all those letters right away. And maybe you should ask yourself whether you should read them at all?"

He knew that Irina was going to read the letters. If the positions were switched, he could not have resisted the temptation of reading them either, but still, he figured this was something that could drive you mad, almost becoming like an obsession.

"All I'm saying is... We have other stuff to worry about too. Professor Lécuyer's homework about jinxes, hexes and curses, for example. And it's already late."

Irina continued to feel around the bottom of the box as Simon called her name. She only stopped when she felt his hand on her back. The contact caused her to turn and look at him as he spoke, a confused mixture of emotions on her face.

"I realize this is all very overwhelming to you. But remember, this was a long time ago. You cannot change the past. All you can do is change the future."

Irina looked down at the box, contemplating the treasure trove of knowledge, a bottomless box filled with answers to her questions. But she knew her friend was right. There was nothing she could do to change what had happened. She slowly removed her hand and began putting the ancient pieces of parchment back. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Simon glance at the clock before continuing to speak.

"If you'd ask what I think, I'd say you keep the box. And I'd say you should consider talking to someone in your family about it. You don't have to read all those letters right away. And maybe you should ask yourself whether you should read them at all?"

All of the bits and pieces were folded neatly again into the wooden box, the yellowing pages and acidic words staring innocently back at her.
She closed the lid firmly and felt a breeze of relief tickle her body. She then turned to Simon, a wan smile on her face.

“You’re getting annoyingly wise, Simon. You’ve just said a whole load of . . . ‘wisdomous’ things.” Irina quickly disregarded the made up word and continued before Simon had a chance to mock her.
“Unsurprisingly, you’re right. I’ll take it home over the summer and . . . and talk to my parents about it. Maybe we can find some way to fix this!” She paused for a moment, optimistically imagining what would happen if their family were to reunite again.

Simon mentioned the overdue homework and her brain snapped back to a reality, closely followed by her hand slapping her forehead.
“Ah, dungbombs! I forgot about that! I haven’t even started - any chance I could copy,” she asked with a cheeky smile, picking up the box and tucking it into a pocket before heading towards the stairs.

Just before she reached them, she turned and looked Simon dead in the eyes, waiting until she had his full attention.
“Thank you. For, you know, sticking with me and . . . and helping me. I know I can be pretty tricky when I get into a rage but, well- it was good to have a friend to get me out of it.”

Irina smiled, a genuine one that was far more suited to her face. After hesitating for half a second, she walked forwards and gave her friend a hug, trying to show him without words, just how much his support meant to her.

After they disengaged, they walked together out of the room, chatting away about their overdue homework, happy to leave unspoken the things discovered in the Clock Tower.