My Time

Chapter 38

"Don't hurt yourself, I'm sorry, you're not to blame for this…" Hayden said kindly, reaching out and stopping Lynx from twisting her ears so badly. He knew from both Dobby and Kreacher that their ears were the most sensitive part of them, and that if struck it would really hurt them. He smiled a little when she stopped her actions. "Why have they come here?" it was not where he lived? "Have they assumed I'm living with Orion because of that picture?"

Arcturus watched Hayden with a look of revulsion on his face, the kindness he was showing the House-elf was repugnant. He was a Lord, not just of any house, but the House of Peverell that predates the noble houses he ranked above them. Yet here he was being kind to a creature that should consider itself lucky to serve them and not common ilk.

Melania straightened the impropriety was staggering if that had been the case. "When it's not known where you live, and they cannot name an area, the owl will be informed to take it to the recipient. In this case, it's you, and you must have been here when they were sent. I wouldn't be surprised if more is found back home." It would surprise nobody that the Peverell estate couldn't be found, it was, she presumed, still on lockdown. With only Harry able to grant anyone entrance into the estate, and frankly, that's the way it should be.

"Exceptions needed to be made for owls and not just to the area around the tent." Orion quietly told Hayden, whom Orion now knew, barely knew a damn thing about the magical world on Dumbledore's orders that he remain ignorant of his place in the magical world. It was line theft that, and Dumbledore ought to pay. "I'll show you how." The owls will have likely been asked to wait for a reply. Without House-elves to get the letters and shoo the owls off, the Peverell estate was bound to be overwhelmed.

Hayden turned and smiled, "Thank you," utterly smitten with Orion and it showed in the way he looked at him. You'd honestly think Orion had done the impossible like hung the moon and the stars just for him.

"Uh," Hayden made a sound that wasn't quite entirely explainable, as the House-elves put the three rather large plastic containers (usually used for preserving vegetables if he was reading right) was popped into the room. Right next to Hayden, and incidentally Orion who was close by as always.

Orion swallowed down the burning rage, when he caught sight of the missives. Expensive paper, green ink, he didn't need to see anything else to know what they wanted. Orion's eyes flashed in seething fury, and clenched his hands into fists, it was the only sign of anger he let show. It scared Orion, how much he cared, he'd never cared with such a capacity before. He'd been resigned to a loveless marriage with Walburga…was it the newness? It didn't matter, he cared very much for Hayden…and the thought of him accepting another's suit – which was acceptable a witch or wizard highly sought after – it was the thought of losing Hayden. For not being enough.

"We should have realized this would happen," Melania commented, peering into the boxes with amazement, "I can guarantee you're probably one of the most highly sought-after wizards in quite a few generations judging by the amount of mail."

Hayden knelt down and opened the first of the missives, "Oh," he said, squeaking the word out, flushing bright red in utter mortification. "Gross!"

Melania narrowed her eyes, "Was there something improper in that letter?" getting ready to go full speed ahead. "Just wait, I shall ensure they're sued for impropriety."

"Depends on what's improper," Hayden grimaced, shuddering a little, "Lord Carrow is offering up his son and daughter in a triad marriage. Making it sound like a two for one offer with rather…crude language." Especially for a pureblood, which genuinely surprised Hayden. All pureblood's he knew spoke eloquently; they'd never lower themselves to speaking in such a crude manner.

"The Carrows have always been…rather reclusive, they've had twins for generations, it's rather odd, but true. It's very rare to see them in society, they're rather powerful, but I would say they're not all there mentally." Orion informed him, "They were strange even when they went to school." They preferred their own company, and were a little too close for anyone's comfort. He loved his sister, but not the way the Carrow twins loved their siblings let's put it that way.

"It doesn't help that they're being raised by their father, who lost his sister wife, she joined the Dark Lord Grindelwald, she made her way into his inner circle as a matter of fact. Unfortunately, she didn't survive his goals leaving behind a grieving brother husband and her twin children."

"Alecto and Amycus right?" Hayden murmured, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Short stature, sloping shoulders, hunched back, and well on the way to looking disfigured, it's hardly any wonder…" stopping whatever he was about to say, "No wonder they were like that, it's taking its toll mentally, physically and it would soon be magically too…" incest, Hayden smacked his hand against his face and shook his head in exasperation. Flora and Hestia Carrow had as much magic as Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. Which is to say, hardly any, a step away from being a squib, or worse, just in the margin of acceptance to Hogwarts.

Arcturus cleared his throat, "You are going to have some time of it, replying to all the betrothal agreements." Gauging Hayden's reaction to that suggestion. He did not want Orion to be disappointed if Hayden actually started to realize his worth and played the field to see if anyone suited him more. It would be stupid – normally – not to do so, it was your entire life being married.

Hayden made a soft happy sound, "Oh," he murmured, Orion felt his heart sink like a lead balloon. "They're not all betrothal requests." A happy appreciative laugh leaving his lips. "This is a letter from Lord Selwyn thanking me for my insight into human biology, and saving the family from an unsuitable match. We might actually see the Selwyn family line survive." In his time, it was well and truly gone, Umbridge used them as family, when she had that blasted Horcrux around her neck. He grinned, all teeth, just imagining how Voldemort would have reacted to finding her with his Horcrux around her neck. Her death would have been violent, bloody and gory in the likes you'd never seen before.

Arcturus startled at that, just how obscenely powerful was this wizard that he knew which lines were going to survive and not? What else did he know? The urge to offer the youth everything he could possibly afford to take Orion's hand just to know he'd have a powerful grandchild was so incredibly strong.

Arcturus blanched when he saw his wife's very pointed look, clearly his thoughts were splayed across his face. Grimacing a little while trying to give his wife a reassuring smile. He was not about to screw up her forgiveness and end up relegated to the spare bedroom again.

Orion was still stiff and angered by the others even daring to try to betroth themselves to Hayden. He deserved better than they could give him, a small whisper of 'he deserved better than them all' itself into the back of mind. Hayden didn't need him to defend him from the masses. He had a mind and voice of his own, and he used them, regardless of the hurt an anger his opinions elicited. Still, Orion desired to monopolise his time, desired to be the only thing Hayden needed, wanted.

"Take them to my bedroom," Orion informed Lynx, unperturbed by the manner in which Hayden had spoken to his House-elf. He had seen what his kindness had done, the loyalty it had inspired. Those House-elves had become…enmeshed in a wizarding battle and saved their human, whether they were bonded to them or not. They'd sacrificed their lives to save Hayden's, and that…that was something Orion was more than willing to allow. He wasn't sure if he could be as nice to them or not, but if they would protect Hayden? Then he would kiss their feet if they protected the wizard he was growing to love. "We'll eat our dessert in my room also." He was determined to see Hayden at a healthy weight.

Lynx didn't hesitate, she immediately clicked her fingers and the boxes disappeared, then she did too.

Hayden swiftly stood, "My apologies," he sighed, shaking his head a little, but they both noted that there was no actual sheepishness or apologetic glances to be had.

"Things are always going to be chaotic with you around, aren't they? Lord Peverell?" Arcturus asked, deeply amused, as he stared just slightly down at the wizard. Hayden was by no means small of stature but he wasn't as tall as Arcturus, in fact he was the tallest of all Black's.

Mischievousness gleamed in those beguiling green eyes, "What makes you think that?" Hayden's attempt at innocence was so comical that Arcturus couldn't help but laugh, genuine amusement bolstering through him.

"Just as I thought," Arcturus nodded his own personal observations being correct. Hopefully Orion was prepared for the whirlwind that was Hayden Peverell. At least his life would be an interesting one. That is if Hayden did indeed choose him, perhaps he had best throw his hat in the ring when it came to a betrothal contract.

"If you need help with the betrothal contracts, please let us know." Melania said, with a soft smile, "You have been raised in the Muggle world. It's bound to be quite confusing to see Betrothal contracts, I've no doubt you've heard of them but to be suddenly the subject of many I would say can be baffling. I beg of you though, not to sign any until at least a few people have gone over them. An impartial lawyer most important of all."

Hayden cocked his head to the side, her maternal worry was weirder to him, than any mention of Betrothal contracts. Molly had been…Merlin, he had to be honest, overwhelming and demanding. She would have had to be, raising all the boys, especially the twins who were probably responsible for the grey hair she had. She had treated him like the rest of her children, but it hadn't been what he needed. Except the food, her food was amazing. "They'll be quite unheard of within sixty years…probably sooner this time around." He told her, "I won't be signing anything without checking, you have my word."

Melania sighed softly, relieved to hear he would be cautious, "Good," she told them, exhaustion swamping her, she wasn't quite so young anymore. Plus, she and Lucretia were going shopping for some wedding supplies in Italy tomorrow morning first thing. Arcturus was going with them to speak to some friends that live there. She needed some rest. "Go on up, I'll have Lynx bring you up something to drink. Pumpkin juice alright?" Orion had most definitely had enough drink for the next week.

"That would be amazing, thank you," Hayden said, giving Lady Black a warm sincere smile. Glancing at Orion when he felt his arm being tugged at, only to find Orion gently tugging him in the direction of the bedroom.

"I shall have the spare bedroom made up," Arcturus added, rather too loudly if you asked Orion's opinion. "I'll have the House-elves ensure it's being used."

Orion groaned, ushering him and Hayden out of the living room and upstairs as quickly as possible. "I'm sorry," Orion said, ruefully, a little red in the cheeks but not overly so, he was used to it really. Not only from his father, mother or heck even his sister, but cousins, aunts and uncles it was a fact of life really. He'd known since he was ten-years-old about sex and contracts and such. All purebloods were told everything they needed to know before they turned eleven and headed to Hogwarts.

Hayden didn't wait for Orion to open the door, he just opened it himself, as he expected it was well kept. Decidedly not by Orion but by the House-elves for sure. The only thing remotely out of place was a few books on his bedside drawers, the breeze coming in from the window had Hayden moving over to…Hayden traced his hands over it reverentially, more than familiar with it.

"In my time, this belonged to Sirius," Hayden confessed, "I remember because I found a letter from my mum to Sirius about me…it was written about three months before they died. It was tucked under here," gesturing towards where he'd found the letter in Grimmauld Place, a soft smile on his face, pained as it was, Lily Potter nee Evans when she exists…wouldn't really be his mother anymore. "Sixty years, and it doesn't look any different."

Orion watched Hayden closely, feeling a pang of sympathy, "You still haven't come to terms with it." he deduced, either that or he would always refer to her as 'mum' which was odd considering she didn't even exist yet, and if things were changed enough…a lot of people he knew or would come to know could end up being entirely erased from existence.

"You can't really miss what you never had," Hayden conceded, "But I guess I haven't…its one thing to know your parents are dead…it's another thing entirely to know they won't exist…for what a decade yet?" or thereabouts.

"If they exist at all," Orion warned him, cautioning him against getting his hopes up, "Luckily though, we won't have to worry about what would happen should you meet yourself." Hayden was quite literally, an entirely different person, different magic, DNA, everything pointed to him being someone else. What magic was capable of…was astonishing, re-writing someone's DNA entirely? He'd always believed in the gods of old, Hecate, Death, but to know they were involved to the extent they were? Mindboggling.

Hayden pursed his lips together, "I um, I guess so." He murmured, a frown marring his forehead as he thought on Orion's warning. "It would be just like the thing, wouldn't it?" shaking his head, "But no matter, I know…." swallowing thickly, "I know it's a sacrifice they'd willingly make."

"There's a lot packed into that statement," Orion commented as Hayden grabbed the first box and the sheer audacity nearly had his jaw dropping in incredulity. He blinked just to make sure he wasn't imagining it, nope, Hayden had just made himself comfortable on his bed as if owned the place. His jaw might not be falling but he was gaping, in a spectacularly unseemly fashion.

Hayden poured the box out onto Orion's bed absently, not even noticing the others' reaction. "Don't get me wrong, I know they loved me. They loved me enough to die for me, but I can't help but feel…if they'd loved me, they would have left the war behind. It's ungrateful I know, it's just a little niggling thought that catches me unawares sometimes. Especially when the magical world so easily turned on me, fame really is a fickle thing, Orion." A quick check of the mail, nothing was found, so Hayden began opening them.

Orion eyed Hayden's entirely nonchalant, relaxed posture, not sure whether to say something. Was this a muggle thing? Imagine making yourself at home on someone's bed! It was entirely unacceptable, even if he did gain several rather lovely fantasies of the both of them. Or had the world changed so much that it was a done thing? He hated how much he enjoyed the view despite his upbringing telling him it was not a done thing. The fact that Hayden was so comfortable too? It made the silence worth it he reckoned.

Orion wandered over to the desk Hayden had been at moments prior, not even going to think on the fact he gave it to his son. He would never be with Walburga, there was no chance of a Sirius Orion Black being born, at least not the one Hayden remembered. There would be a version of him, yes, but that was it. He shifted the seat and sat down.

"You're not going to be able to read anything from over there," Hayden said, giving Orion a look of disbelief, "Assuming you want to see any of them?" emending his statement. "Oh, look, some are addressed to both of us. They must be about the books…c'mon, none of them are cursed." He teased, opening yet another letter, a look of disgust on his face, gagging a little.

"What is it?" Orion asked concerned, immediately moving his chair, too curious to care about the impropriety of it.

"A name I recognize, Dedalus Diggle, although I guess he's younger than I remember…" Hayden confessed, scrunching up the betrothal contract offer in seething fury. "He knew about the abuse I suffered; I'd rather kill him than conceive being married to the disgusting bastard for even a day."

Orion blanched at the power exuding from Hayden, quickly conjuring water to stop the fire that spread from Harry's palm outwards. "You good?" he asked that little act seemed to have quenched Hayden's anger a little.

Hayden swallowed, "Sorry," trying to wipe the ashy residue off the bed with his hands without thinking. Just thinking about what had happened to him had shaken him. He hated his reactions, but there was no stopping them. He was after all, only human, despite everyone's attempts to thrust him onto a pedestal amongst the gods.

Orion cleaned and dried it with two simple flicks of his wand, "It's fine." Still worried about Hayden and his reaction.

Hayden picked up another letter, scoffed at it before scrunching it up and putting it in Orion's bin succeeding in his aim each and every time.

"Wow, a lot of people definitely don't like what we published." Orion replied, shaking his head, "No surprise, it's unsigned." Dry and sarcastic, glancing at Hayden, who handed him yet another bundle. Each of them had one thing in common, it bore both their names.

"Do you intend to accept any of their suits?" Orion asked very pleased that most of them got thrown in the bin, he must confess, but the list of ones being set aside was beginning to start piling up. How could he compete with them all?

Hayden froze entirely, before slowly turning his gaze towards Orion. His stare impassive, his green eyes sought something, what that was Orion didn't know. However, Hayden's gaze was…penetrating and honestly? Orion felt very uncomfortable under it. Which just didn't happen, not even his father could make him feel two feet tall with a single glance.

"Have you decided you don't want to be with me, Orion?" Hayden asked, desperate to remain calm, desperate not to make any mistakes or jump to conclusions. He'd done that far too often as a child, and seventy percent of the time, he'd been wrong.

"What? Of course not," Orion protested immediately, "Where on earth are you getting that from?" had he pulled back enough for Hayden to think for a second, he wasn't interested? He didn't think so, so why was he asking that question?

"Where on earth am I getting it from? You're asking me if I want to take on a betrothal contract!" Hayden exploded in exasperation, not quite shouting despite knowing there was a variation of a silencing spell around Orion's room.

"It's not entirely uncommon, to look at your available prospects, to choose whom you feel the most attraction to." Orion explained, "Lucretia would have had her pick of any wizard…if not for her…condition." Unable to use the word that Lucretia had used to deride herself, as if it made her lesser. Well, it didn't.

"From what I've observed she seems very happy with Ignatius Prewitt?" Hayden pointed out, looking ready to go on the warpath should she not be.

Orion smiled, loving that Hayden cared so much about his family, "Oh, she is, Lord and Lady Prewitt weren't exactly happy that their son wouldn't have children but since he isn't the heir, they accepted it."

Harry snorted, "He'll go on to have three children, twins and a girl, not sure who's older though," Molly, Fabian and Gideon, they'd have a different fate this time around. "One definitely a squib, what was it that Ron said? He had a cousin that was an accountant I think, it was only ever mentioned in passing but whether it's a Weasley or Prewitt I don't know." shrugging his shoulders.

"Second cousin, he's a Prewitt, and he's been…quietly packed off to a boarding school," Orion informed him, "I shouldn't know but Lucretia told me in confidence."

"They're just dumping him in the Muggle world? When he knows next to nothing about that world?" Hayden asked, eyes dimming sympathy strumming in his chest, closing his eyes, "I'm so tired of the prejudice, he could thrive in this world, he doesn't need active magic. A career in Ancient Runes, Arithmancy or potions! Open his own shop in Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade! Create his own company, anything, how…how big is the Prewitt family?" how many family members was this little boy losing? Definitely was heard between both of them.

"Eight in blood, five married, thirteen altogether in the family." Orion informed him, "Fourteen soon enough." his sister would be marrying into the Prewitt family. Grateful that Hayden didn't expect a reply from him, since their views differed very greatly. Although, perhaps they were merging, since he was looking for his Uncle Marius. He doubted he'd ever hear back, but he was trying.

"But we've gotten largely off topic," Hayden pointed out, "Love doesn't work that way, Orion. It's not material items, the biggest house, the most money…you can have all that and be utterly miserable. I wouldn't care if the most powerful, influential and wealthiest wizard in the world approached me for a betrothal contract…I'd decline it, without a second's doubt."

Orion stared at Hayden, mouth agape, tears in his eyes, tears he would deny to his dying breathe. If he didn't know any better…he would think that Hayden had just told him…he loved him. "Did you just…" swallowing thickly, blaming the drink for the dramatics of tears.

"I love you, you great big bloody dolt, not for your money, not for your name, but for you," Hayden told him sincerity dripping off each and every word. Vowing once more, that he'd make everything clear so that there were never any mistakes, he'd make sure Orion did the same thing too. "And your family too, they're awesome." Grinning recalling Arcturus' earlier words that had embarrassed Orion.

A/n – I know it's been a week since I updated (maybe even just a tad longer!) blame everyone in my group 😉 I know I do…to many really good suggestions in reading material lol 😉 just kidding, I've been really, really busy so you'll need to forgive me for not updating as often 😊 Hopefully I can make it up to you guys and get a few chapters out before the end of the week to even it out a bit 😊

There's a scene that I so badly want to write but can't seem to fit it in (like the scene with Harry in The Contract in the bathroom won't say any more in case you aren't caught up) not that it's similar other than the urge to write it out and being denied at every turn until its written haha! I'm not sure why I'm writing Orion with confidence issues, but damn I didn't expect it, seriously these characters are totally writing themselves and it's just my fingers typing their stories out :P heh do you like how Orion is being written? or would you prefer a tougher approach? I do want to convey that even with money, looks etc... people can have confidence issues even if they seem like they've got it all, they can still suffer from depression or being unhappy and still unconfident in love I mean Orion has basically just believed he would be in a loveless marriage with Walburga until now it's bound to leave some sort of scarring and I don't want to jump to Orion getting over that it's not easily gotten over, well anyway there you go! R&R please