My Time

Chapter 33

"What do you want to know first?" Hayden asked, his demeanour subdued as he tried desperately not to think on his childhood. Of the things he wanted so badly to forget. It wouldn't happen, he knew that, but it was worth a try. At least though, the mental anguish was gone, with the pensive memory…at least until he actually put the memory back where it belonged. In his mind.

"It's highly unusual that there's not a single Black in Hogwarts…there wasn't a single Black there," Orion declared, pointing to the pensive accusatorily. "The Black name still thrives, right?" making it sound more like a demand that yes, it's what happens rather than a bid for the truth. Five branches of the family couldn't just disappear, then there's his cousins' branches, Cygnus and Alphard. There's no way he hadn't done his duty and had children. "Right?" he said again when Hayden made no move to answer.

Hayden clears his throat, "By the time I came back…there wasn't a living breathing Black left."

Orion took a step back, shivering as goosebumps ran down his body, "It can't be…" that couldn't be the fate of the Black family. It just couldn't, he couldn't be responsible for the end of the direct and indirect Black line. Shaking his head in complete denial, it wasn't possible. "You have to be wrong." The pleading in his voice spoke volumes, especially since it was coming from a wizard who would rather be tortured than sound this way. Although, that knowledge could be considered torture all on its own.

"No, unfortunately, not." Hayden murmured, "Sirius Orion Black died on the 19th of June 1996. He was only thirty-five years old."

Orion froze, Sirius? It's not a name he'd use, then he recalled the contract and Walburga. There were too many Sirius' in the family name, and the other Sirius died when he was eight-years-old the one that wasn't his grandfather. "You loved him." Orion realized; his voice hoarse when he said as much. Taking another step back, slightly repulsed at the thought of being a replacement for his son.

"Oh, EW!" Hayden grimaced when he realized what Orion was implying. "Gross!"

Just hearing that almost bowled Orion over, he couldn't remain standing, he felt too sick, too shocked by everything he was hearing. He blindly sought out the seats – admittedly very comfortable – and sat. "What…about my parents?" they lived extraordinary long lives for Merlin's sake. His parents should still be alive or at the very least just passed in Hayden's time. His grandparents had probably passed by that point.

Hayden closed his eyes and plodded over to the middle of the tent and plonked himself down on a pillow. "I um…I know you all think Walburga is just going through a teenage phrase but she's really not."

Orion arched a brow, staring at Hayden blankly.

"Look she disowns dozens of the Black family members," Hayden confessed and Orion flinched as if it were something unspeakable Hayden was talking about. "Cedrella for marrying Septimus, um, Andromeda Black for marrying Theodore Tonks a half blood, their daughter brings the Metamorphamagus abilities back into the family. I even think she disowned Charis Couch that branch lasts two more generations and Belvina Burke…that entire branch is gone by my time."

Orion inhaled, eyes going wide with wonder, "Fully fledged?"

"Oh, yeah," Hayden nodded grinning in delight to see Orion so filled with wonder, "Of course, she was even younger than Sirius when she passed away. She had a son who got her abilities."

"Wait, two generations of full shift Metamorphamagus abilities?" Orion looked ready to freak the fuck out.

Hayden nodded, "Without a doubt."

Orion quickly deflated, shuddering in fear just imagining his life.

"In memoria remonstrabilem!" Hayden cast, and Orion lurched to his feet, avidly and greedily taking in the sight in front of him.

It was like a life size picture with memory enough to have sound enough for the picture to talk. The people in it to talk, which photos don't normally allow such a thing. It must be new magic that had been created…did it take a lot of power to harness was that why he'd used the pensive before?

"Were — were your parents Death Eaters as well?" this was Hayden, although, he was deeply curious about a few things, primarily how his features changed.

"No, no, but believe me, they thought Voldemort had the right idea, they were all for the purification of the wizarding race, getting rid of Muggle-borns and having pure-bloods in charge." Sirius told him, both of them standing next to the tapestry, and Orion saw for himself how different it was. It was dark, disgusting and black, there was no life to it. So many faces burnt off such a priceless piece of magic, Orion touched it in horror at the state it was in.

Orion returned to himself, and recalled what had been uttered. Voldemort had the right idea, and couldn't help but cringe. It was true, they did believe in pureblood supremacy, used to, now they knew better. His niece would marry a half-blood? Muggle-born and drag the Metamorphamagus from the dead kicking and screaming. For at least two generations. At least it was a name he knew.

His son, this was his son, but the look on his face when Sirius spoke of his parents…like he had hippogriff dung under his nose. "We only had one son? What about…Alphard and Cygnus? Did they only have girls?" a female couldn't bear the Black name, not even to preserve the family name, and pass it onto a Male heir. It was stupid of his family to restrict themselves that way, after all what if his parents had only had Lucretia?

"Cygnus had three girls, one of them was very strongly affected by the Black madness." Hayden confessed, watching Orion intently, awed by the sight of seeing a girl identical to his sister (almost) turning her nose into a pig, making everyone in the Order laugh as she changed her species. "You had two sons, Regulus Arcturus Black."

"Of course," Orion said dryly, even Walburga wouldn't buck tradition when it came to their middle names. It was difficult to believe everything he'd learned; he wouldn't believe it if he wasn't seeing it for himself. She'd even disowned her own brother. He noticed she'd disinherited Sirius too.

Orion would deny it until his dying breathe when Walburga's voice shrieked suddenly from the projection Hayden currently had up.

"Stains of dishonour, filthy half-breeds, blood traitors, children of filth!" Walburga screeched, and Orion once he had calmed, stared at her in shock. She was old, she was wrinkly, she was horrid and awful, "Freaks! Get out of my home! Dishonour of my flesh! Freaks the lot of you!"

Hayden pushed another memory through.

"Poor Mistress, Nasty son broke her heart!" Kreacher spat out at Sirius, speaking well out of turn, and had Orion been there, he would have punished Kreacher for his disrespect. Nothing physical, he'd be forced back to basics, never interacting with the family as he re-learned how to do his job.

"My mother didn't have a heart, Kreacher. She kept herself alive out of pure spite."

Orion couldn't help but laugh, his son was definitely sassy, but he did glance at the House-elf, recalling that oddly enough 'Kreacher' had been submitted as a possible name of choice by Walburga. For the newest House-elf that had been born from the family House-elves. Usually, they use names too odd to be used by the family of stars. "Does he…where am I? Does my son…" finding himself tongue tied, did his own sons hate him? Did he even survive what Walburga and Pollux did to him?

"The only thing Sirius ever said that was aimed at you, was that you had put every single spell possible on Grimmauld Place. Oh, and that Kreacher was more devoted to your mother than you, but he still smuggled a pair of your trousers and your ring into its den."

Orion laughed sarcastic and bitterly, "A house-elf, that's all I'd have desperate to remember me?" bitter coating his tongue making him feel heavy and wounded in a way nothing else could. His own kids didn't care. "What about Regulus?" odd to think he wasn't speaking about his bachelor uncle not a kid of his.

Hayden sighed, the magical projector flickering, showing the picture of four of them, standing up. "Regulus died when he was eighteen-year-old. He was so very brave, Sirius might have been sorted into Gryffindor, but Regulus belonged there too." His hand brushing against the projector as if he could touch them.

"He was a hero, Orion, he was becoming disenchanted by the war, by the side he had been actively encouraged to join…by you and Walburga all his life. He found out how Voldemort was still alive, about the Horcruxes, and he had no idea how to destroy them. Regulus ordered Kreacher to return when Voldemort was done with him. He used somnum exterreri potion to hide Slytherin's locket. Despite the fact Kreacher should have died, he didn't because he had to obey."

Orion paled, he knew that potion, didn't his family have the only copy left?

"Kreacher was forced by Regulus to return to the cave, forced him to feed Regulus the potion, with Orders to take the Horcrux and destroy it." Hayden said quietly, "Both your sons were heroes, if for no other reason than they stood up for what they believed in. The thing was…neither path was right, it doesn't help that Dumbledore had free access to six generations of children and manipulate them." his tone darkened to epic proportions.

"I have a feeling there is a lot loaded into that statement," Orion said simply, the hatred Hayden felt for Dumbledore far surpassed his own, or even Tom Riddles actually, because he swore there was a vague fear permeating Tom when he saw or interacted with Dumbledore. He would never say those particular thoughts out loud though.

Hayden closed his eyes, "Orion…you have no idea." He confessed.

"I died because of the contract, didn't I? Those sorts of spells, I was never destined to live long." Orion knew this deep in his heart, and through reading everything he could get his hands on when he realized what was going on. He wouldn't even live half his life, which if he was stuck that way unable to think for himself, it was probably a godsend. "I doubt I'll outlive Walburga anyway."

"She did outlive you by seven years," Hayden confessed, he had read a lot of information while squirreled away in Grimmauld Place. "Your father outlived everyone except Sirius, and that was…three years difference if I remember rightly between your father and Sirius dying."

"Oh, I can sense some discontent there," Orion asked zeroing in on Hayden, "What sort of relationship did you have with my parents? With my father?" grey eyes alight with curiosity.

"It's not really your father's fault," Hayden shook his head sadly, "Walburga basically left them destitute. She gave them enough money to survive in a cottage. They wouldn't have been able to meet anyone's eyes after that. Melania died and Arcturus was left to watch the decline of the Black family. He didn't even make an attempt to reach out to Sirius or get a lawyer for him while he was stuck in Azkaban for a crime he didn't commit…but the Contract…it uh, explains a lot about what became of everyone. Three years after he died, Sirius died too." Swallowing thickly before confessing, "He was my godfather, he left home at Sixteen, and made his way to the Potters. Unfortunately, he wasn't to know peace long, since he was arrested when his two best friends died blamed for their deaths and the deaths of twelve Muggles…he was imprisoned without trial for twelve years before he escaped. He was forced back into Grimmauld Place…he hated it there, but he was protected there. He fell through the veil, fighting for me, fighting Voldemort."

The projector showed the devastating scene, the delight Sirius displayed fighting, then that one horrific moment where the tide turned. This one not in Sirius' favour, as he arched back, and the veil swallowed him whole. Orion got to see the sheer devastation going through Hayden as he lost Sirius, watched as someone who must be related to Lyall Lupin hold him back.

Orion watched the end of the Black line, watched his son die in front of him, unable to comprehend the full scope of it. Then his jaw clenched painfully, as he caught sight of whom had performed the act, she was a Black as well. What had Harry said? Cygnus would have three daughters and one would have the Black madness. What had come to the family that they would let someone like that out in society?

"Does it hurt?" Hayden asked, a childish, vulnerable note to his voice, and Orion swallowed thickly. All he could see was a younger boy in place of the young man Hayden was becoming.

"Dying? Not at all," Sirius told him, "Quicker and easier than falling asleep."

"Why did you let him live?" Orion asked, gritting his teeth, seething in fury as he realized ultimately who was responsible for the demise of the Black family. Moving as if to leave the tent and hunt down Tom Riddle before he could come around. Deal with him so that history couldn't repeat itself. "He's a danger to us all." just knowing that he had caused the Black family harm, was enough of an excuse. He would kill Tom Riddle for his family in a nanosecond.

Hayden stepped in front of him, preventing him from leaving the tent. Hand splayed out against his stomach. "He wasn't the only problem, Orion," Hayden murmured, cupping his face, his eyes softening as he stared into those eyes so utterly besotted. "The problems just kept compounding, Voldemort, Dumbledore, catering to Muggle-borns, losing our traditions, if we can stop them, to change what would be…we can stop a lot together." His tone filled with fire and determination, green eyes blazing with promise.

"Starting with Dumbledore." Hayden added, all teeth and feral intensity. "But I promise, if he doesn't change…I'll make sure he can't hurt anyone ever again. I'll always know where everyone is." He was a necromancer; he didn't need any spells or anything to locate someone.

Nobody even under the Fidelius Charm would be able to hide from him.

Orion's eyes flared, desire coursing through him, could he be blame for yanking Hayden closer, and kissing him, with all the intensity he felt. "I'm sorry for doubting you," Orion said breathlessly after they parted, flushed and beautiful, he couldn't help but brush Hayden's hair aside, he shouldn't be kissing him either. It wasn't proper since a betrothal contract wasn't set yet.

"I would have doubted anyone too," Hayden whispered right back, "Are you…are you okay?" he'd given Orion one hell of a shock, to find out that's what was happening to your family, it would be a bit too much.

"I…don't know," Orion told him, "I still want to get Riddle before he wakes up, but on the other hand…my sons I'll never have them. I don't know how to feel knowing they existed and now they won't." how did he live with that? They had existed in Hayden's time, but they wouldn't here, he would never marry Walburga even for them…and what sort of father did that make him? Especially considering apparently his own kids hated him. Walburga too.

Hayden's mouth twisted into a smug smirk, believing wholeheartedly, he'd see his godfather again. "Oh, they will still be born, they'll just have different parentage." He promised the dumbfounded wizard.

"Your abilities let you see that?" Orion asked dubiously.

"Mort told me," Hayden revealed, shaking his head a little, "Oh, um, death, I mean. I loved my Sirius, what little I knew of him. I only knew him two years, and spent maybe three weeks in total with him…he was my safe heaven, my hope for a better future…now our roles are reversed. I am going to make sure Sirius has a good life." no matter what he had to do.

Orion's breath hitched, "You mean you and I?" wonder splaying across his face, oh, he tightened his hand around Hayden's arm. It wasn't just hope for a better future for Sirius…but his entire family, including him. "How can I ever repay what you've done for us?" desire coating his voice and the need to please, to find some way to make it up to Hayden.

It was devastating that it couldn't wipe out Hayden's horrific and horrendous childhood. He would not only remember his disgusting childhood but the reality he lived in before coming back in time. he grimaced a little recalling his 'son's' proclamation. Fools they were to believe so much in pureblood supremacy.

He got to make everyone else's life better but couldn't do the same for himself.

"You're a Gryffindor," Orion stated, "I must confess, I didn't see that coming." He'd attended school, he'd attended Hogwarts. That was another thing he lied about, home-schooled his ass, if the truth hadn't been so incredulous, he would have been really angry by Hayden's duplicity.

Hayden stared at Orion, surprised by the statement, but he quickly realized that Orion was still in shock. Of course, it was probably best not to discuss more shocking information. Maybe telling him about the wars would have been better. "I'll let you in on a little secret," Hayden said, green eyes gleaming playfully, as he pulled the wizard closer, "The hat wanted to put me in Slytherin." Chuckling softly, before kissing him again, he was fast becoming addictive to his kisses. They made him feel like his stomach was about to take off and fly any second.

"Now that makes more sense," Orion agreed, in whispered passion, voice slightly breathless. "I'm sorry, I should have given you the vow you wanted." he understood the need for it in a way he hadn't before. Why would he? He would never have guessed it was something like this. Six decades he'd travelled back in time.

Hayden smiled, it was sweet and sincere, "After what you've been through, I don't blame you for being cautious enough to not want to. What surprises me most of all…is the fact I trust you, Orion…when I said I was nearly killed, what I meant was I was actually killed by someone I had trusted with my life." Orion froze, before he tightened his arms around Hayden to the point of hurting him.

He hadn't heard of Necromancers surviving being killed, was it a specific spell that maybe can't kill them? Even the most known ones, the Peverell brothers all died, one was killed, one committed suicide and one was said to have lived to old age. Was Hayden just stronger than average? He did have a lot of abilities. "How?" Merlin, he just wanted to go home, hug his parents, sleep for a century, he was so tired, mentally and physically. He felt broken in a way he couldn't repair.

When Hayden said there was no going back, he had meant it entirely.

"In my time…I was all that was left of the Peverell line, the very last, Ignotus and Mort are best friends, Ignotus instead of moving on stuck with Death. The Peverell name disappeared quite quickly, one of the first to actually disappear from the male line. I'm nothing special," he made sure to make that clear, "It was all a favour from Death to Ignotus, who wanted the Peverell line to flourish in a way it wasn't able to before." his son was the last of the male Peverell's, he had only girls, and eventually the line became Potter.

Somehow Orion didn't believe that for a second. Hayden was special, whether he liked it or not.

Death favoured Hayden too, he had no reason for destroying that contract unless he wanted to make Hayden happy. He had a feeling telling Hayden that would be a waste of time, he wouldn't believe it. Orion closed his eyes and hugged him close, vowing that he would make sure Hayden knew he was wanted…spend his entire life making sure Hayden knew he was loved by him…and that he would never betray him.

That they would be and are family.

Hayden burrowed impossibly closer, wondering if he should give Orion time to digest what he'd learnt about his own family. To realize nothing had happened yet, that the heartache and fear had no reason for existing. Closing his eyes, relishing in the contact, the smell of Orion, the tightness of the hug, it meant more to Hayden than Orion would ever know. He'd spent so long being the strong one, that someone hiding him, hugging him, wordlessly supporting him…it felt so, so, so good. He smelt amazing. He nuzzled closer before sighing softly, knowing he couldn't put it off any longer.

"There's still a whole lot to tell you, telling you will be better than spending the day in a pensive." Hayden murmured, sticking close to him, just not hugging.

Orion made a soft sound of agreement, to give a whole life of memories? It would take days, and days they did not have that. If they didn't get home in time, his parents would most definitely be angry at them. They'd given their word, and his parents had gone out of their way to help Hayden…to not go without be considered a really grave insult. "Yes, I agree." He murmured, biting his lip as he thought back on how easily he and Hayden had dealt with Tom and the others.

"If there's anything specific you want to see, I don't mind though." Hayden said, "I need to sit down for a bit." Tugging Orion towards the seating area, and slumping down on the purple seats.

"Everything you've gone through; you might just be the bravest man I've met." Orion whispered as Hayden curled into his chest seeking what? Comfort? Warmth? Just a touch that didn't hurt? He would never get the sound of Hayden in pain out of his mind. No matter how much time passed. "Tell me once you got to Hogwarts things got better? That you told someone?"

"Oh, Orion…if only," Hayden murmured tiredly.

Orion stiffened, staring at Hayden's head, brushing back the hair, oh he was going to get those despicable muggles, he was going to kill them. He didn't care what Hayden thought; he'd only know after the fact. Better to beg forgiveness than ask permission. Given what he'd seen, he doubted Hayden would have a single real protest.

He would get the private investigator he'd hired to get the information on them, as well as his Uncle Marius.

A/n – Who was expecting an update tonight huh? So will Harry manage to get it all out (the important parts) before they head off for dinner with Melania and Arcturus and the meeting with Dolohov or will it happen first and Hayden continue his tale with both of them in Orion's room (who enjoys it a bit too much having Harry in his territory) lol I've already started the list of very important parts that need to be told…I've got a funny feeling I'm missing like half of the actual important parts so I'll likely begin again haha what do you think is the most important parts? And do you think it was realistic how Orion reacted to it all? I mean to him it's just a hypothetical, it hasn't and wouldn't ever happen…Hayden on the other hand actually experienced it. Oooh is Orion the only one looking for Marius? Will Arcturus be doing the same thing? Will he be alive still? Is there any real Black reunion on the cards for the family? R&R please!