My Time
Chapter 51
Hayden walked into the chambers of the Council of Magic, for the second time that week. Part of him had expected Dumbledore change the course. Especially knowing what he did, and that he, Hayden, wasn't easily cowed or manipulated. Yet the trial commenced, clearly the opposite reaction had been garnered. What one though, worried Hayden. It was the unsurety, what Dumbledore was planning and the possible ramifications. Dumbledore was at the height of his fame, and he was just someone who came forth with a name that had been long since forgotten. The fear of the name faded.
"Are you alright?" Orion asked, nudging his betrothed, rather alarmed by his distracted distance. He hated to admit it but he actually missed Hayden reaching out to him. Which completely bewildered him, they were after all improper after all, even his father had resorted to reprimanding him in public. It was embarrassing, really, and he was upset his father elected to do so, especially considering they were only holding hands. It wasn't as if they were kissing lewdly in public.
"What do you mean?" Hayden enquired, glancing up at Orion, despite his worries he gave his partner his full attention.
The room was filled with the council of magic wizards, and it seemed devoid of Wizengamot members. Which Hayden was secretly very thankful for. Whether it wasn't allowed or if their curiosity had been sated during yesterday's debacle he didn't know. He was reading everything he could get his hands on, when it came to the wizarding world's politics, but he wasn't fully there yet. There was only so much reading he could get done, while keeping up with his correspondence, overseeing the jobs everyone was doing to his estate and such.
"You're rather…quiet and distant," Orion said quietly, as Harry moved towards the desk where Antonin was already sat. There was a weightlessness to Antonin now that Orion had never seen before. His mother will have returned to the spirit realm by now, but it had clearly eased Antonin getting to know her. He imagined not knowing his mother, and then having only so long…it just made him grateful that his mother had been there for him all his life.
Hayden smiled a little, it was clear it was a little fixed, "I'm fine," he reassured Orion, "Isn't that what you want?" giving him a confused look, he was getting a little baffled…and tired at the mixed signals he was getting from Orion. He seemed to really like the contact with him, then the next minute he was across the room pretending to find something on the floor fascinating when anyone came across them.
The urge to reach out to Orion was strong, it was odd, he'd never been particularly tactile. Yet he couldn't help himself with Orion, he just wanted to touch him, to be touched in turn. A hug, just knowing he was there, it was…everything. He'd gone so long only knowing hurt that touch wrought. To know he wasn't alone, yes, he desired that most of all. The hugs meant more than anything. Instead, he rounded the table and sat next to Antonin.
Orion without a word, moved over to the sitting area, and sat behind Hayden. His gaze flickering to his right, a look of disgust adorned his handsome features. Of course, Dumbledore would be here to see how it would go. Although, there was something different about him, he seemed a little subdued. Perhaps still reeling over Hayden's win yesterday? No, he hardly thought Dumbledore would be subdued over that. At least he assumed so.
Catching movement, Orion's gaze sharpened, the Marchbanks family he realized. It was hardly any surprise they refused to rescind their lawsuit. They weren't in any way special, sacred, noble or ancient and didn't particularly have any funds to speak of, to have one of them become Lady Peverell? It would be the best thing that could ever happen to the family.
He understood abstractedly why they were so eager to see it through. However, they were regretfully messing with the wrong family. Orion was never going to forgive or forget the slight against his family. If the Marchbanks thought they'd get away with this then they were in for a serious surprise. Especially since two of the Marchbanks were soon to be finishing Hogwarts education. He was going to ensure they found no path open to them. If anyone sought to employ the Marchbanks then they'd find themselves on the same page as the Marchbanks.
"Just let me do most of the talking, it shouldn't take more than half an hour," Antonin explained, "These things rarely take long."
"I'm surprised there was a time slot so soon," Hayden agreed fully, "I can understand there being less lawlessness now that the war is over and Aurors are fully focused on the UK again without fear clouding their judgement." Who wouldn't be scared with a global war on the horizon? They'd been beyond relieved when the Minister refused to let them participate.
"Emergency slots are often left open, in both the Wizengamot and council of magic schedules." Antonin turned to explain, as the names and dates were called out. "More often than not it ends up on the Wizengamot schedules. Longbottom put them both in the closest slots without the permission of Head Scamander."
"Then why were they not changed?" Hayden enquired, arching a brow, "He cannot be too displeased if they weren't removed."
"Meetings would need to be held to remove them," Antonin shook his head, "It would frankly piss everyone off, best just to reprimand Longbottom and be done with it." Especially seeing as Scamander would have been in the shit for it to begin with anyway and not the actual perpetrator. It wasn't fair but Scamander shouldn't have left the master-book where anyone could get it. He was in charge of overseeing all criminal court cases, and ensuring it didn't clash too much with set Wizengamot meetings.
"And how long is it until the meeting about Longbottom?" Hayden queried, as the scribe poised at the ready in the corner to begin.
"That will be held in the Minister's office, I'm still trying to get a meeting set," Antonin explained, "There's a letter already been sent out explaining this."
"Why not just prepare a two-way journal?" Hayden asked.
"A what?" Antonin asked, staring blankly at Hayden, he got the semantics of what he meant, but something like that didn't exist…unless it did, and had been something the Peverell's had created some time ago?
"Doesn't matter," Hayden said, shaking his head, leaning back in the seat, as the trial begun. It was confusing, clearly, they used a variation of it to run things in the ministry. Has it really not dawned on them to actually use journals? It likely had, after all the Black family had created two-way mirrors. Either that or the Potters had, but he think he remembered Sirius saying he'd given one to James so he presumed it was a Black family invention.
"Madam Marshbanks, can you tell me why you elected to put your hat in the ring so to speak?" a female lawyer, Priyanka although she always asked everyone to call her Priya, stood in front of Marshbanks who had sat down.
"Well, who wouldn't have? The Peverell family has been long considered defunct…to know it was back well, I do not know anyone who hasn't offered." Griselda said, sounding amused, which she was, being questioned by a girl fresh out of a Mastery.
Hayden grimaced, screwing up his nose, annoyed by the truth of that statement more than anything else. It was true, it seemed like everyone who could had offered themselves up to marry him. The Daily Prophet hadn't had screwed him up truly, but they would regret it. Antonin would make sure of it, but these sorts of things take forever.
Orion's nostrils flared, as his left hand curled into a fist, nails biting deeply into his flesh. If it had been about anyone else, he wouldn't have cared. They could have said what they liked and he honestly would have agreed. Wizarding families married into other pureblood families for the preservation of their lines, magic and family. It wasn't someone he didn't know, no, it was his betrothed, his Hayden they were talking about like he was a…commodity! He knew the feeling all too well, that feeling, it was a hollowed out sinking feeling in your gut. It's when he had found out he was betrothed to Walburga.
"How did you feel when the contract was accepted?" Priya asked, making the council feel for the family would go along way in making them give the family their favour.
"Objection, I want that stricken from the record, the contract was never accepted," Antonin declared, standing, index fingers pressed against the table.
"It was accepted by magic!" refuted Priya, her brown hair stuck up in a bun, a severe look on her face as she stared Antonin down. Attempting to be intimidating and appear older than her twenty-one years of age that she actually was.
"Accidental magic, which by no means did Lord Peverell intend to accept anything!" Antonin returned; he didn't need to worry so much. The contract that Hayden was in now was impregnable. It could not be concurred by any means put before magic itself. Honestly, the most amusing thing about all this was Hayden was more powerful than their limited imagination could possibly perceive.
"Accidental or not, magic accepted his decision." Priya declared, the young witch had a tremble to her tone, as the intensity of Antonin got the better of her. It was so different from acting it out, and pretending to better one another on theoretical made-up cases. Antonin's gaze? She felt about to pee her pants, he was terrifying.
"Ante pending," Antonin stated firmly but with a tinge of amusement, refusing to let her twist what was happening to the council.
A loud clearing of the throat, "Do you have any further questions for Madam Marshbanks?" getting the trial back on track, sometimes these became a pissing contest between the lawyers and they were there to gently nudge it back in the direction it was meant to.
"I have no further questions," Priya informed them, sliding into her seat, a self-righteous tilt to her jaw, she didn't wear it as well as Antonin wore his without a doubt.
Antonin stood up, "Why the sudden fascination with a so called 'dark' family?" a sly look on his face, as she blanched and grimaced. "As far as I am aware, you believe in the 'light and dark repertoire that one Albus Dumbledore spouts do you not?" he loathed even using it to be honest. However, Hayden had suggested it to make the neutral think more and distance themselves further from the wizard.
Marshbanks remained stoically silent in the face of Antonin's question.
"Looking to turn 'dark'? and join us in Walpurgis?" Antonin of course, was referring to the Walpurgis group in the Wizengamot and council of magic.
"No!" Marshbanks quick furious slash of the words was almost a vicarial thing really.
"Oh, wait, you don't belong to a group, you are just a citizen, will you be voting for us?" Antonin added, as if she hadn't spoken at all.
"No," Marshbanks replied simply, not so easily riled, she wasn't a child, she'd been around the block a few times.
"Then tell me, why do you want to join the Peverell family so much?" Antonin asked, relentlessly.
"I put forth my betrothal contract in hopes of being accepted," Marshbanks stated, "The initial contract was accepted, then we heard nothing from Lord Peverell afterward."
"Despite it being clear he harboured feelings for another?" Antonin continued, "Is that really what your first thought was after reading the newspaper? I must get on his good side and hopefully he'll marry me?" a dubious look on his face.
"Everyone was going to put forth their best, so I did so as well." Marshbanks stated.
"Really?"
"Yes,"
"That's how it happened?"
"Yes,"
"And Albus of course approved?"
"Yes," slipping up, "I mean, I'm sure he would, Lord Peverell is young, he could use a guiding hand."
"For the greater good, I'm sure?"
"Yes," tripping up once again, now rather nervous.
"Just as Albus likes to say," Antonin said, cocking his head to the side, "I supposed we're supposed to believe that he had no say in your sudden decision to marry a young Lord?" his tone dry and filled with so much sarcasm you could have honestly filled the entire Ministry then some.
"You will believe whatever you choose to believe, any answer I give will not dissuade you, young man." Marshbanks chided him as if he were a mere child, trying to give an appearance of benevolence.
"Please remember where you are, Madam Marshbanks, I am not a child and it is not your place to chide me so." Antonin declared, giving her a once over up and down distaste written across his face. "Do not be found in contempt."
Marshbanks made a small sound but otherwise remained silent.
"No further questions," Antonin said, "I call Lord Peverell to the stand."
Hayden swiftly stood, not even designing to glance at Marshbanks, for all intents and purposes she may well have been invisible. It was rather a rude thing to do, but since he was 'young' it was forgiven. Hayden sat in the seat; his attention solely focused on Antonin. Crossing his legs, hands in his lap, honestly looking for all the world waiting for a cup of coffee or perhaps breakfast or lunch.
He was very good at exuding patience and nonchalance.
"Lord Peverell, when did you receive your first Betrothal offer?" Antonin asked.
Hayden replied, not even attempting to lie and make it months earlier, like Yule when he had first appeared.
"How many did you receive?" Antonin continued to ask the questions.
"It went into the hundreds, no more than five hundred," Hayden informed Antonin.
Antonin's eyes widened in surprise, he hadn't expected that many, he must have gotten offered from abroad as well. "How did you feel about them all coming?" he had been told to ask the questions, Hayden wanted the wizards to see him as human not just a breeding machine to produce the next heir.
Orion frowned; he had protested vehemently about that question but Hayden was adamant.
"I wondered why families would wish their children to be miserable." Hayden confessed, "They didn't know me, didn't know what I am capable of. Yet they were all but throwing their children and their futures away just in hopes of becoming a member of the Peverell family." His disgust obvious and more than a few people flinched, clearly, they had sent missives too.
Then came the quiet indignation and anger at the accusation.
"I grew up unaware of such practices, you'll need to forgive my abhorrence of the practice." Hayden said softening towards everyone, "My family died before I had the chance to know them. The thought of family means everything to me, so I guess I can be overprotective and zealous of the prospect of family. It's difficult to imagine families just thrusting their children at someone they didn't know and hadn't even met." Shaming them for their actions, all he could do to change the world one step at a time. He would do it, well, he'd do what he could.
Antonin could see them all positively melting, the anger just fading away and gentle adoration taking its place. Such loyalty to people he didn't know, it was the most beautiful thing they'd ever seen. Merlin, perhaps the boy did know what he was doing after all. Clearing his throat Antonin continued, "Did you accept the Marchbanks proposal?"
"No, definitely not," Hayden declared firmly and immediately, "Nothing against her or them, I'm sure they're really nice people, but you won't find my signature on it. I have signed only one betrothal contract and I intend to see that through." His gaze flittering towards Orion, features still impassive, giving nothing away whatsoever.
That certainly got everyone muttering, why were they here? If he didn't sign it, how did they claim to have agreement? It was a complete wasted time, and for a trial to be brought forth with no signature it was stupid. Senseless, if they hadn't done this right, he was making a complaint. his time was very valuable after all, he had no patience for absurd cases.
"Why are we even here?" was called out.
"Yeah!"
"Insulting is what this is!"
"SILENCE!"
"Care to explain, Lord Peverell?" Antonin prompted.
"I received a lot of mail, a lot of contracts with offers, some were…rather distasteful in what they were offering. Pictures were also added and um…offers of a provocative nature." Hayden explained, "I burnt a great deal of them, others I was very polite in declining their offers since they seemed genuine. Then there were the ones with a…demanding tone that suggested I should be grateful for offers of any kind, which the Marshbanks falls into. They were acting very much above their station, they have no title, no say, nothing of relevance but were writing to me as if I were nothing but gum on their shoe."
Griselda straightened up, her face showing confused alarm and just a hint of alarm.
It became immediately clear to Hayden that she hadn't even written it. He wanted to scoff in sheer incredulity, that she would sign something without looking at it. She'd just agreed to Dumbledore's contract and that was it. Without reading it just to see for herself. It was terrifying that Dumbledore had such a hold on them even so soon.
Then again, his fame was new...but how did that mean people trusted him so easily? It truly was a terrifying thing to observe.
"Can you inform everyone why anyone would think the contract was even remotely activated?" Antonin asked, gesturing towards the gallery.
"Honestly? I didn't realize at the time, but it hit me later when I received another insulting letter from them." Hayden explained, rubbing his hair and a sheepish look upon his face. "I got a papercut; I immediately burnt the letter just to be on the safe side. We all know how blood can be used even unwilling."
Almost everyone in the room all murmured their agreement rather passionately. Blood magic was illegal now, before it had been regulated. A good reason had to have been given to use blood magic legally. Dumbledore had seen to it that it was now illegal, with a mandated life sentence to Azkaban if caught. He was easily passing laws now without the fight he'd had before. Naturally using those he was close with who believed in his cause since he wasn't in the august body that was the Wizengamot until recently.
Dumbledore was gaining more and more titles as the days wore on, after his defeat of Voldemort.
"The missive…they acted reprehensively, I do believe a great many wizards and witches would agree with me." Hayden declared, "This missive I kept."
There went that befuddled look on Marshbanks again. "Missive? What missive?"
"You did not send a letter?" Antonin jumped on the comment.
"No! no, not at all," Marshbanks said aghast, before glancing at Dumbledore and swallowed thickly. "No," she added sounding more like a bleat. He'd came to her home and used her stationery and owl to send out a missive she hadn't known existed after they didn't hear back from Lord Peverell.
Blood, it was little wonder it registered, just a little papercut, no agreement, he didn't want to marry into her family. She had been foolish to agree to it to begin with. As if she could bring a dark and evil family light, no it was impossible.
"No, she just allowed someone else write it in her stead, is that not, correct?" Hayden uttered, "Yet you're still going to take the blame." The lawyers, Marshbanks and possibly Dumbledore and Orion were the only ones to hear what he said, he spoke too low for anyone else to hear him.
Dumbledore's gaze sharpened once again upon the boy; he had a feeling that he would be a problem. Perhaps a reoccurring one, which did not sit well with him at all. He was just glad the boy didn't seem inclined to go down the political path, if the Peverell even had seats anymore. There wasn't much known about the family except rumours and innuendos, such as them being necromancers and such. So far, he hadn't seen anything remotely impressive about the boy, but he had yet to do much in his presence. Still, he brushed off any concern he had where it came to the boy.
He was more concerned about what Tom Riddle was up to at any rate.
And that, that was Dumbledore's first mistake. Or perhaps second if you include practically coercing Marshbanks into asking for Peverell's hand in marriage.
"You did send the betrothal agreement you created?" Antonin asked, so much sarcasm in the single word 'you' to fill the room. Making it clear to everyone he suspected someone else, even going so far as to blatantly glance at Dumbledore whilst doing so.
"I did." Marshbanks jutted her chin refusing to give Dumbledore away, loyal to her core.
Hayden huffed and shook his head, unsurprised, and undeterred, he would continue his plans and they would learn just who they were backing…and how detrimental it was to their families.
"And even now knowing it was an accident…do you still continue on in this disposition?" Antonin asked of her.
Marshbanks opened her mouth before snapping it shut, glancing briefly at Dumbledore who refused to meet her gaze. He refused to oust himself to the public, and thus pretended he had nothing to do with the proceeds. He hadn't survived this long in political Britain by being stupid.
"Madam Marshbanks please answer the question?" Antonin demanded. "Do you wish to continue?"
"Yes," she declared, her heart pounding, hoping this was the direction Dumbledore wanted her to take.
"So, you got a papercut and set the paperwork aflame?" Antonin returning his attention to Hayden.
"I did, I had no intentions of accepting anyone's suit, and I can firmly answer this under truth potion if need be." Hayden explained. "Well, except for one person, who didn't try to convince me through owl post to marry them." His tone dry.
"And as of this time you've created and accepted betrothal contract fully?" Antonin asked, reminding them that he was betrothed and there was no way they could try and force him to play by Marshbanks rules. "That is magically binding?"
"I have, I fully intend to sign a marriage contract with my betrothed after a suitable amount of time." Hayden declared, making it clear that he was taken and nothing was going to separate him from his chosen.
"No further questions," Antonin stated, before taking a seat, this was never going to be in danger of a defeat. There was no way they were going to agree to give Marshbanks money to compensate them for the 'lie' and 'let down' so to speak.
Priya stood, "Do you have proof that you've created and accepted a betrothal contract?"
"Let me," Antonin said, enlarging a letter blatantly from Gringotts congratulating Peverell on his choice and informing him that it was ensconced in his vault. "Genuine proof from Gringotts itself."
Priya nodded, "I have no further questions," she proceeded to sit down and whisper quietly to Marshbanks who nodded resignedly.
Hayden stood, and moved back over to his lawyer, "How long will they take? Can we go and get something to drink?" he was very thirsty. It was all the coffee likely, he had like four cups maybe? It was hard to tell with the refills some had been half, some entire cups. It just depended on when it got to a certain temperature before it refilled.
"We can go, yes, we'll be informed when we reconvene, I don't think they're going to take long, not today." Antonin, putting all the paperwork back into his folder, and standing, "Shall we?" glancing at Orion as well.
"Yes," Hayden said in agreement, the three wizards then proceeded to leave the court room.
They went up to the café and got an assortment for themselves before making their way directly to the level of the courtroom. So that they may hear when they would reconvene, they after all didn't want to miss the outcome. Not that they had any doubt as to the outcome. They didn't discuss the trial while they ate and drank their fill, rather anything but.
"I must admit I'm surprised Tom wasn't there," Orion admitted, perplexed.
"Oh, he will have been, or someone will be there for him," Hayden said wryly, standing up and throwing his rubbish in the bin.
"Tom Riddle?" Antonin said, sharpening his gaze on Black and Hayden.
"We know, don't worry," Hayden told Antonin, "We've already reached an agreement. He had an interest in recruiting you, right?"
"Well, yes, he wasn't exactly overt about it." Antonin conceded.
"Oh, please, having people 'suggesting' is his way of recruiting," Hayden whispered wryly, and he'd need to stop Tom from going down that path honestly.
Then a magically enhanced voice called out for the reconvening of the trial.
"So soon?" Hayden said dazed, very surprised.
"I did tell you it wouldn't take long." Antonin said, guiding Hayden up by his hand on his elbow before putting his own coffee cup and crisp packet into the bin too.
A decision was reached that Hayden had won his case, there was no fee to pay, no reparations to be paid. Nobody was surprised by the outcome, but Dumbledore was rather disheartened but he couldn't say anything, his attitude on blood magic was well known. If he suddenly took a turn, it wouldn't end well for him and he wasn't going to do anything he'd regret. Not for some compensation or a chance – which there really wasn't – that Hayden would be forced to marry Griselda.
"You are free to go,"
"Finally," Orion declared, it was a travesty that it had to happen at all.
"And Madam Griselda Marshbanks?" Hayden said, turning to face her, acknowledging her for the first time.
"Yes?" Griselda asked, standing up staring at Hayden unrepentant in her actions, and her face revealed all that.
"Consider yourself an enemy of the Peverell line, I call upon a blood feud between the house of Peverell and Marshbanks, pray you never have a need of me or my family line." And magic flared marking it so.
Griselda gasped, paling drastically before stepping back knowing exactly what she'd just condemned any member of her family to. She felt sick to her stomach, she honestly had not seen this coming.
"Or mine." Orion added, and just on intent, magic flared, holding them to their word, the Marshbanks family would find no friends in the Black or Peverell families. Every door they hold would be closed to her, and she would likely never see a member of the Marshbanks family become any further ranking than they were. Which was firmly planted at the bottom.
Dumbledore seethed with fury inwardly as he watched them leave.
And despite just devastating a family, marking them, the three walked out, if she had just shown an ounce of regret…Hayden would not have done this.
"It's better to be feared and hated than loved and dead." Hayden commented, only Orion understood the depth of the meaning.
Antonin nodded in silent agreement; it really was actually.
A/N – a little bit shorter than usual but not by much, wanted to get it posted today since I'm taking the pooch to the vet tomorrow and I'm not sure whether I'll get any writing done (we stuck to the vet we had before we moved so it takes two buses) silly I know but we stuck with them 😊 but here we go another chapter for My Time I hope you're still enjoying it 😉 would you like to see Luce's marriage? Will Harry bump into anyone he recognizes? Well outside of those who he already recognized I mean 😉 hmm will we see Harry join the Wizengamot? Oh I think someone mentioned me making a mistake and making Dumbledore headmaster after making him deputy? If you notice it while re-reading please let me know! R&R please!
