Cryptohedron

# **Summary**

The **Cryptohedron** is an Omega-level artifact of presumably Wild origin that houses the even more mysterious **Time-Turner**, the only known device to allow for Time Travel. It is currently in possession of the Unspeakables, under the direct purview of Number 3. When it is activated, Chime #4 sounds in the Early Warning Office.

## Appearance

### Primary Phase Configuration:

> Upon closer inspection it looked even more complex than a standard Rubik's Snake. It possessed several moving parts shaped into a myriad of triangles that could be spun and rotated into an extensive array of other geometric shapes. The exterior sides were coated in what looked to be a strange silvery gold alloy, like mithril and orichalcum but not quite. Its interior sections were obsidian black but with arrays of tiny silver knobs and dials on each section.
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> Suddenly, two large pieces of the puzzle box from opposite sides and the different sections of the box suddenly slipped into place together neatly to form a perfect cube spinning exactly 180 degrees before coming to a stop. He looked down at it and noticed that on the top where the different sections had come together there was a small circular piece right in the middle that was a slightly different color than the rest of the puzzle.
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### Activation Phase:

> nstantly, the seams of the Cryptohedron flashed brightly before fusing together so that the cube now appeared to be solid chrome. Then, it gently floated up into the air before it started to rotate, slowly at first but then faster.
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> As it moved, Harry noticed that the object's shape was changing. Where it started as a perfect cube, gradually the corners began to distort and sink into the object to produce additional planed surfaces.
> First, it was a six-sided cube. Then, it had seven sides. Then, eight…twelve…twenty…forty…more.
> Amazed, Harry further opened up his Legilimency senses to better understand what he was seeing… before reeling back in shock as his mind whir-clicked in the only manner of understanding he was capable of.
> The Cryptohedron wasn't changing its shape at all. Rather, its true shape was something that could not be fully perceived. Not by him, not by anyone in this world, save for maybe (just maybe) Luna Lovegood. Only when it moved did it allow other aspects of its true form to be observable.
> After about twenty seconds of rotation, the Cryptohedron had formed so many sides (or appeared to have done so, anyway) that it was virtually a sphere, though deep down Harry knew this was just an illusion. In truth, the Cryptohedron was still a polyhedral shape, but with far too many sides to count while it was in motion. Finally, the object slowed to a stop, still in mid-air, and then reversed direction.
> Gradually, it now appeared to lose sides until, after twenty seconds or so, it was once more in the (apparent) shape of a cube. It then floated back down to settle into its original position.
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> There was another flash of light from the cube, along with the sound of gears in motion. Where before, the Cryptohedron appeared to be a single solid cube, it now looked as though it were made of dozens and dozens of tiny cubes stacked together. Then, the smaller cubes began to move, starting with those on top which slid up and out from the center, and then those on the lower levels which did the same. As the cubes separated, the whole thing started to resemble a strange metallic flower that was swiftly coming into bloom.
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