My Time

Chapter 23

The shrillness of Dorea's voice had Orion and Hayden parting, both their cheeks red at the realization they'd hugged one another in public. Orion because it was very improper, Hayden because he was embarrassed plain and simple. He desired more than anything else public displays of affection. To have people know that he was cared for, loved and in turn he loved and cared for someone else too. Just because he'd wanted it, didn't mean Hayden had got it. If he had dared to touch Ginny like that, Molly would have had them both in different rooms doing different chores. Like she wasn't already pregnant with Bill when she married Arthur.

Dorea glanced between Arcturus, Melania, Pollux, Hayden and Orion on repeat. Her gaze was demanding answers, hands on her hips, lips pursed in her only show of irritation. Her black hair was done up all lovely, as if she had somewhere she had to be after the family meeting.

Pollux came out of his stupor at the sound of Dorea's voice. Jerking back to reality, he blinked rapidly, before glancing at the kitchen door. Which was the only way to get into the living area, where the Floo was…and nobody could Apparate in the property except for those living in it and it was only in the event of an emergency or so he'd been told. His gaze caught his brothers, before he rushed towards the door, determined to get away from them. To think of something, anything that might get him out of this fine mess.

"Incarcerous!" Arcturus cast the spell, aiming it at his brother, his wand going through the movements swiftly. He didn't even need to think about it, he could do the spell in his sleep he was so used to it. "Excussa ballistis saxa stravere ut sit!" and just like that Pollux screamed high pitched as he was propelled backwards onto the seat he'd been using before death showed up.

"Nice," Hayden murmured admiring his technique. He was very bloody fast, on par with him and Voldemort as a matter of fact. He reckoned that Lord Black had actually allowed Pollux to get that far, he was playing with him.

Orion's lips twitched, shaking his head, his gaze upwards as if praying for patience. Honestly, he would have felt jealous if it wasn't his own father, which was just ridiculous! This possessiveness it was…new, unexpected, and a tad bit overwhelming to say the least. Totally and utterly outlandish.

"Are you okay?" Hayden asked Sirius Black, moving forward reaching for the wizard, was he the second or third Sirius Black? Which one was his Sirius again? He couldn't quite recall; his godfather did not talk about his family much at all. He had shamefully not really asked much, but his godfather had not wanted to converse about it, he'd just heeded his wishes.

"Life certainly isn't boring around you, young lad, is it?" Sirius asked, lips twitching, utterly bewitched with the youngster. He felt like he was staring at a younger version of him, minus the physical characteristics of course. He enjoyed life regardless of what was happening, letting nothing touch him.

Hayden grinned, "Never," his lips twitching into a genuine delightful and devilish grin.

"You heard what the Healer said, rest and no excitement!" Hesper reprimanded her husband waspishly. "I should take you home, and not let you out of bed for a month!" she added in admonishment.

"Arcturus?" Dorea asked, staring at Pollux, "What…what's going on?" barely listening to Sirius and Hesper's conversation with a concerned Hayden. Staring at her family as if she was fearing that it would fall apart at her feet. Despite her not telling them of her miscarrying again, she loved them immensely. She needed them more than they realized.

Hayden glanced at the family, before eyeing the door, decision made, he decided to leave them to it.

"I don't think so," Orion declared, jerking Hayden back, before he could even take a proper step towards the door. "You are not leaving me to face the music myself."

"It's your family," Hayden pointed out, so very, very uncomfortable with the looks aimed his way. He wasn't used to 'family' meetings, or protective parents and families. Sure, the Weasley family was big, but they'd all encouraged his and Ginny's relationship. Thought they'd be a good match; they hadn't exactly looked at him the way the Black family had. It was terrifying.

Orion stepped closer to Hayden, "I thought you wanted them to be yours too?" none of his insecurity showing, was it the forbidden element that had made Hayden desire him? Had that truly changed so quickly with the contract being destroyed? No, he didn't believe that for a moment, but then what else could it be? There was a whole lot of fear there. It was as if Hayden honestly believed that his family would hurt him.

They wouldn't dare risk his ire by doing so.

Hayden glanced down, entirely abashed by the statement, they'd only known each other a short time. How was it he could have so much confidence that they were meant to be? That he was family? They might not even make it that far.

Orion reached over, grateful that his family was at his back, so they couldn't see the expression he knew was on his face. He reached over to Hayden and used his fingers to gently urge Hayden's chin up. "You became family the moment you risked your life to save my family. Long before we became…attached." Lying a little here, but only to make Hayden feel better. It wasn't that he wasn't family, no, far from it. It was the simple fact that Orion had become attached the night they'd seen each other in the hospital.

He'd never had anyone treat him the way Hayden did, and he loved it.

He wanted it for the rest of his life.

The sweet smile that adorned Hayden's face, the genuine happiness that sparkled in his eyes was worth it. "We're in this together." He insisted, hand trailing down to twine with Hayden's, "Together." He received in reply, and Orion felt a smile of his own forming.

It was so much easier to smile these days, to be happy, more so today than any other.

Orion Black now understood the saying that 'Freedom hadn't tasted sweeter', and he understood that intimately.

Hayden knew it wasn't going to be as simple as Orion believed, he had a lot of faith in his family.

Then again, he failed to realise that Orion knew the most fundamental things about him, including the fact he was a carrier. Despite the fact that Hayden had never discussed it with him, having seen his medical records out on display.

Arcturus gritted his teeth, gaze boring into his brothers, "Why?" that one word was laced with pain and hurt and no small amount of rage. There was a table between them, and Arcturus was leaning over inches from his brother, demanding answers.

"How could you betray your family?" Hesper asked, hand over her mouth still unable to believe her baby had done such horrendous things. She, his father and his brother as well as him could have all lost their magic, that, that itself was a death sentence…worse than a death sentence. "You are responsible for your father's heart attack, Pollux…how dare you?" she'd always defended him, always loved him more than the rest, he had been her youngest child after all.

Pollux barked out an ugly laugh, "Family, Merlin's tits! Do you honestly think we're a family?" staring at them bewildered, "Threatened to toe the line and dance to the company tune…Merlin, help you if you're born a damn squib! No, we've never been a family, and you, keep all the family fortune to yourself! Merlin, help any of us if we need your help."

Sirius stopped breathing, staring at his son as if seeing the ugliness for the first time. Shocked to the core, was this all about Marius? About the lack of funds?

Arcturus staggered back, shocked at the extent of his brother's vitriol. Mouth open gaping at him in sheer unmitigated and uncensored shock. Was he that bad that everything was a front or was Pollux just angry at not being the firstborn son?

"Oh, Pollux, we did what was right by Marius," Hesper rasped out, flinching at the reminder, "He would have been in danger here, he deserved to find a place of his own where he fitted in."

Hayden glanced at her, pondering on whether she actually believed the words coming out of her mouth. This was one incident that he happened to agree with Pollux on actually. Blood made the family…not the magic. If he had a child without magic, it wouldn't matter. If Orion or the Black family tried to make him choose? He'd leave with his child, magic wasn't everything. He'd grown up without it, he'd make that more than clear to Orion…just in case. Because he didn't know the outcome here, which was pretty damn terrifying. He knew nearly everything else except his own future…and he had no idea if that would change. Yes, he was a Peverell…and surely, if they had known their own future…they would have changed it?

"All this…" Arcturus said, his voice a low seething fury, "All this just because you aren't Lord Black? You have no idea what I go through every month to make sure this family has more than they need!" he never once raised his voice, it was cool and calm but his magic was starting to leak, suppressing his anger…never a good thing for a wizard to do. "All the while trying to ensure that the fortune passes to the next generation!" all his own private funds would go between his daughter and son when he passed, regardless of the estate going to his son.

"Melania, dear, go and retrieve Walburga and Alphard for me," Arcturus declared, staring coldly at his brother, who to his credit did go a little wan when he heard his children's names.

"Arcturus, please don't make the children pay for his sins," Melania whispered urgently to him, fearful of what her husband would do in his anger. Whispering it so lowly that nobody else could hear it, not wishing for anyone in the family to see her undermining him. At the end of the day, her husband was Lord Black, and his decisions were final. Yes, they often decided together, more often than not, it had taken over a decade but they had a true partnership.

Arcturus turned his face towards his wife, he'd done his share of things he'd regretted as a young man. He wasn't that young man anymore, but Melania did remember him that way. Moving his arm from the table, he rubbed her arm soft and soothingly, before giving it a reassuring squeeze, "That's not likely to happen when I have such a calm and considerate wife." He whispered back quietly; the family looked away at the private moment.

"I'm still so confused, what happened? What did Pollux do?" Dorea asked, listening intently.

"This," Lucretia said, handing over a copy of the contract. She had kept it with her at all times, read it so many times that she could read it off by heart. Each time failing to come up with an idea that didn't mean Orion leaving the family and them all losing their magic and potentially their lives. She'd been beyond terrified all month, poor Ignatius had, had to comfort and console her. It wasn't a very good betrothal time, but he had said 'I want to marry you, for both your good days and your bad days' it had been beautiful, he'd gifted her with flowers, they'd smelt amazing. He hadn't been very good at trying to help her make her feel better any other way unfortunately.

That was men for you though, everyone she knew said they were useless at words.

Dorea accepted the wad of parchment, brow furrowed, not really understanding, was this the contract between Orion and Walburga? Why were the brothers falling out over it? Unrolling it to get a better look at it, giving Pollux a perplexed look, what sort of mess had he put into this thing? And it was over with anyway…wasn't it? the contract had been destroyed…you could tell it really had, with that display earlier.

Charlus was the first person to peer over her neck to see what she saw. Giving her a cheeky kiss on the neck as he did so. She loved how openly affectionate he was, he didn't care what people thought, he loved Dorea and was always going to show it.

"He conspired with the family lawyer to claim the Black lordship, and ensure my son had no rights, to his estate, to his family, to his seats." Arcturus' voice rose in volume, as the rage he was feeling leaked out of him. "His children!" he roared, smacking his fist down onto the table, causing an almighty bang, and everything on the table rattled and shook.

"Holy shit!" Charlus gaped, staring at the words as if they'd rearrange, plucking the parchment he brought it closer to read it. Yeah, it was exactly what he thought it said, for Morgana's sake…what was he thinking?

"What? What is it?" Regulus asked, the middle child, still reeling over what his little brother had done to the family. How could he do that? What had been found? What else had his brother tried to do to their eldest brother and nephew?

"He's found what would happen if they didn't do it," Lucretia said, giving Hayden such a heartfelt, gratitude filled smile. He'd saved her brother, even if it was only so they could marry – and you want to bet they will – but she had a feeling he would have done it because it was the 'right thing to do'.

"And would have made them all squibs if Orion hadn't ceded to the contracts demands." His stomach queasy at the thought, Merlin, it was sick, he glanced at Pollux, why the hell had he made such a momentous error of judgement that could have turned even him into a squib? The Blacks were vindictive, they'd rather cut their own nose off to spite their faces than cede to someone's demands, admittedly except if you were Lord Black, but that was more out of respect than fear of being disowned.

Lycoris put her head in her hands, feeling sick to her stomach. She was the only girl in the family, that Hesper had, and had been very protected by her brothers both older and younger. She'd had no desire to marry, have children or sex for that matter. Which was only a good thing considering she was barren. There had been no hope for her having children. She had always been able to rely on her family, they'd always been close, not as close as some she'd seen but close nonetheless. Especially after Marius had…gone. Now this…this was happening? Why was it happening?

"Oh, Pollux…your gambling debts are worse than you said, aren't they?" Belvina asked trembling in sheer shock at hearing what he had done. looking rather faint, in he arms of her husband Herbert Burke. Who wasn't in any better shape, luckily he had the forethought to ease his wife back into her seat, from where she'd been trying to catch a glimpse of the contract that had everyone so fascinated then of course, shocked.

That had the entire family freezing, glancing at Pollux who looked furious, "You swore to never bring that up no matter what!"

Arcturus narrowed his eyes on his brother, "You are nothing but a self-centred, greedy parasite," he told his brother, there would be no forgiveness for what Pollux had done. Never in a million years, and no matter what Pollux did to try and redeem himself…there would be no redeeming. After what Pollux had done to his son? No, not even thinking as the Head of the family would he allow him to remain in the family.

"Take a look in the mirror," Pollux sneered, keeping nothing back now that he didn't need to. What was the point? He'd lost, nothing was going to get him the Black estate now. Although, if he got the chance, he would kill that bloody bastard Peverell. He was positive he had everything to do with how wrong it had all gone in the time since he showed up. "At least I would have made the Black name better."

Hayden laughed, before he realized what he was doing and snapped his mouth closed.

"Something you want to add?" Regulus asked with a frown, what did he know?

"If he had gotten his way, he would have died within a week of Walburga and Orion marrying…they would have had two sons…two sons who would have died, one before he even graduated Hogwarts…the other would have suffered as no Black had ever suffered before and died by the time, he was thirty-four, both childless…the Black line would have ended." And it was true, despite having the Black family gift Teddy wasn't a Black.

All of them listened with rapid attention, Hayden's eyes had gone milky white, as if he was blind, but the second he stopped speaking, they returned to normal. He had just seen what the future was like if Hayden hadn't broken the contract. Was it possible? Yes, very much so, after all, the Peverell's were known seer's and Necromancers. Usually, it was the future they saw, not just a past future that wouldn't come to pass now.

Orion turned to face Hayden, as he shook his head, as if it had taken a lot out of him to speak. He wasn't blind to the way his father was watching them, and he knew as soon as his Uncle Pollux was dealt with…the questions regarding his and Hayden's relationship would come thick and fast.

"That wouldn't have happened," Pollux declared scowling, he hadn't ended the Black family, he wouldn't have. He'd been determined to prove himself better than the rest, better Lord Black than his big brother…just like he's told his father he would be all those years ago. The niggling bit of doubt flared though, Death had said he'd see him soon, anxiety crawled up his throat. This wasn't meant to happen; it wasn't meant to be this way.

Hayden just gave him a sharp sympathetic closed mouth smile; he knew what he was talking about. between him and his daughter – only possibly at this point – the Black family had dwindled in numbers until there was just nobody left. "To add insult to injury, the stress would have killed Melania, and Arcturus would have been forced to live decades without her…uncaring about the Black estate, about family, because of what you put in that contract…he watched the Black family become swallowed by oblivion." Once again, his eyes glazed over white, a safeguard perhaps to ensure they all believed it was part of his gift?

Arcturus gave a soft hurt sound, such a terrifying prospect, he had always hoped to go before her. If only so he didn't feel the pain and agony of losing her. He'd always loved her, even if she hadn't felt the same way for the longest time. She had been fond of him, yes, but that was a far cry from love. It had taken her a long time to go from fondness to love, but they'd gotten there. "Enough," he declared, stomach twisting unpleasantly, he didn't want to hear any more of his prophetic possible futures.

"Sorry, I don't have control over it," he winced apologetically, lying through his teeth, they needed to understand what could have happened. What would have happened in Pollux had gotten his way, it wasn't a hypothetical scenario, well, not really, it was his past, it could have well been their future if Death hadn't stepped in. He had to make sure they didn't make the same mistake again.

Arcturus inclined his head, a little more sympathetic, understanding all too well what it was like to feel you had no control over your own gifts, your own powers he should say. Twitching a little, feeling Melania return, that was rather quick, he rather thought. "Inform Melania to allow Alphard to join the other children and put Walburga in my office, on the chair and return to us." he had too many important documents to allow children free reign in his office, so the only time they were ever in there, was when they were naughty and put on the chair which stuck them to it for a number of minutes of his choosing.

"I'll do it," Charis said her mellifluous voice sounding calm, "I'm closest to the door," with that she left her husband, Casper Crouch's side to do Arcturus bidding.

"The chair?" Hayden asked, were they actually punishing Walburga before they knew?

"Don't worry, it's not going to hurt her," Orion reassured him, he was too compassionate, it's a good job he was there…otherwise he feared Hayden would be taken for a ride by a great many people. "It's just a sticking charm so she can't go snooping around. Nobody is allowed in fathers study."

"Elf!" Arcturus called, and one popped to his side, "Retrieve the vial of Veritaserum that's in my potions supply bag, the red dragonhide one in my cupboard now." Noticing that Hayden had an aversion to something, the Veritaserum? Yes, it was highly regulated by the Ministry, but he'd come to realize all the families had at least one vial secreted away in their belongings. He had other things to focus on, but he did set it aside to remember for later. Especially if he became a problem. It would be a problem since he was privy to some of his family secrets.

The House-elf popped away without a single word.

"If he's removed from the family tree…what happens to Cygnus and Alphard?" Hayden asked belatedly, eyes wide with worry and fear of children not his own. "They won't be removed as well, will they?" knowing they would, but hoping there was an alternative.

"If my father disowns Pollux, it will affect my cousins," Orion confessed, "They'll need to be allowed back into the family with a new magical guardian. This has to be blessed by the Lord of the Black family, it's never been done before actually." He'd read about it in his early days in his education to be heir of the Black family.

"So, your parents will raise them then?" Hayden asked, glancing to the noise to see the House-elf had returned with the green vial with Veritaserum scrawled on it.

"What? Why would you think that?" Orion asked more amused than annoyed.

"I thought Dorea…" Harry said blinking as he turned to stare at Orion again.

"Dorea's parents weren't disowned, but she was raised…" Orion didn't finish his statement, as his father spoke, and when his father spoke…everyone listened. Everyone stopped what they were doing out of respect.

"Pollux Black, I, Arcturus Black do herby strip you of your powers, so mote it be," Arcturus chanted, his wand waving in the appropriate way for the incantation. "Pollux Black, I, Arcturus Black do herby strip you of your name," the entire room sent silent, solemn, they may well have just attended a funeral and were back for the wake. "Pollux, I, Arcturus Black herby strip you of your fortune, you are thereby disowned entirely, you are dead to us."

Pollux tried to remain aloof, unbothered, but before Arcturus had finished the first sentence, he began shaking his head. His grey eyes pleading with his big brother to have mercy on him. unfortunately, there was no mercy to be had in Arcturus' gaze. For unlike Pollux, Arcturus did put family first, and he adored the ground his son walked on…and may well have lost him to Pollux's actions. That was unacceptable.

Melania watched the proceedings, hand on her husband's shoulder in silent support. She had never seen someone being disowned before, and prayed never to do so again. She could feel Pollux becoming weaker, not only magically but physically, he became wan and tired looking, but it might be resignation.

The door crashed open and Cetus Crouch declared, "Something's wrong with Alphard and Cygnus!" before rushing back out, pale and shaken by what had happened.

"I'll go to them," Melania fretted, the poor boys were growing up without a mother, she'd sadly passed before Cygnus even got to know her the poor boy. She had taken a special shine to them and always made sure they were well looked after and had a motherly presence. Pollux had never minded…Merlin, it hurt, it hurt so much to think he had been capable of this.

"The backlash of the disowning, they'll feel it, like a hole in their chest, probably feel weaker as well," Hayden realized, shaking his head, "Should have realized that sooner." So that they had some warning of what was coming so the shock wouldn't be too much to bear.

Orion glanced at the doorway in concern, then to his father, but his father was paying no attention. He was studying the green vial in his hand, the Veritaserum. He had to be very troubled to ignore children in distress, since they did sound like the were being hacked in two. Cygnus more so, since he was only a child, just eight years old. Even if he was told why, it was happening…he wouldn't understand.

"Excuse me," Hayden said, he could not stand there when a child was in distress.

A/N – I checked Wiki about the Veritaserum and there's no date when it was invented, so I've decided its' quite old, I mean even the Muggles probably had their own version of it back then, it stands to reason the wizards would too…and does anyone else randomly call people Muggles? 😉 lol hopefully I'll have the meeting finished in the next chapter because it's beginning to feel stretched on – which really isn't my intention – people said they wanted an example of the Black family? I'll put it on my Facebook group I don't know how to work them on A03 or FF so sorry I can't put it all here. So, who's ready to see Hayden all cute with Cygnus? Will Hayden take them on or will he realize he couldn't give them the stability they need and be an important part of their lives without being a 'father' so soon? What else do you want to see mentioned in the meeting? Will Walburga know or will she be manipulated by her father enough that Arcturus takes pity? Will we bring Marius into the story? Read and Review please guys! 😊

Also, I've also smoothed over the last chapter, added in a bit more of Orion's POV 😊 just in case you're wondering what will happen (I did say I'd give it an edit) with it.