My Time

Chapter 43

Hayden still more than a little flush at the display of subservience, did not even consider denying Dolohov. Now, once he had a chance to think, he'd maybe try to deny the truth, to proclaim that he didn't want the Dolohov's as an enemy. Right now, he was basking in the power thrumming through him, how he was able to bring a strong powerful wizard like Dolohov to his knees. Dolohov might be powerful, but Hayden knew he had been returned to a body far more powerful than he had been as 'Hayden Potter' it was expected after all, he was a Necromancer. They were the most powerful and terrifying forces of nature upon this earth.

So powerful that everything in the room was beginning to vibrate (shake) as Harry stood, as if surveying over all his dominion. There was no denying that Hayden Peverell was an absolute vision, it would make even Tom Riddle pause.

"On behalf of the Peverell family past and present for the Dolohov family both past and present, I accept." Hayden intoned, reaching down, cupping Antonin's chin. Easing his face up so that they were looking at each other, almost preening at the awe he saw in those eyes, "And on behalf of myself and my betrothed, for forty-eight hours…your mother's spirit will be amongst the mortal plane in thanks for your services in future. Go, be well, with our thanks."

Antonin blinked, dazed at the words that had left Hayden's mouth, for a moment he didn't even comprehend what Hayden meant.

"Forty-eight hours only, spirits that are forced to remain here, fade," Hayden added, holding out his hand and yanking the proud and strong wizard to his feet. No wonder he had joined Voldemort, he did wonder what he'd promised him though, answers regarding his mother's murder? Continuing where his father had failed? "You might want to get to your home before she wakes up your father." He probed sounding a little bit amused as the power began to fade a little, and the shaking of items in the room ceased moving.

Antonin's breath hitched, understanding that statement all too well. Disbelief warring with hope, knowing what he could do, that hope was swiftly overcoming the disbelief he felt. Swallowing thickly, frozen, needing just another little nudge to get him going. Which Orion did, by elbowing him in the stomach, jutting his chin out as if to silently say 'what are you waiting for? Go!'

That was indeed the nudge Antonin needed, as he jerked forward bodily, entirely uncoordinated. Giving a nod, he rather rudely made use of the Floo Network without first asking permission.

Not that the Black's could blame him.

They'd likely reacted the very same, Hayden…had the ability to confound them all.

"Should I come back to do the introductions?" Lucretia asked, in a mischievous tone, her betrothed standing behind her looking as though a feather light touch could bowl him over.

Hayden's gaze latched onto Ignatius, and he blinked, rapidly many times in succession. He resembled the Prewitt's very much; he could see little pieces of his family (by choice) in him. Molly, especially, Percy's eyes, his jaw, Bill's tallness, Charlie's quiet strength and magical reserves. All their hair, just seeing Ignatius made him think of the Weasley's. Molly must have loved her 'Uncle Ignatius' very much, since she'd used his name as Percy's middle name. Percy Ignatius Weasley.

The wide-eyed look of…not quite fear but passed the point of almost no return for discomfort.

Orion found himself taking great delight in that knowledge, he loved his big sister very much. If Ignatius was afraid of them, then there would be no chance he would hurt her. Not that he thought Ignatius would, but one never really knew people, did they? He would have trusted his uncle, his cousin a year ago…look how that turned out? So, he was naturally less inclined to trust anyone now, it had been a very heart-breaking awakening he could have done without.

"I'd love to meet him," Hayden said, trying to appear as non-threatening as humanly possible.

Orion tried, he really did, to smother his amusement, "No, that's not going to work," he informed Hayden in amusement, raising his hands as if giving up.

"Shush you," Hayden smacked Orion's raised hands shaking his head, "I don't bite, I promise."

"You really shouldn't make promises you can't keep," Orion pointed out placidly.

"Orion!" it was Lucretia's turn to whack her brother with a pillow, but she had a big grin on her face, they were all only kidding after all.

"Hayden Peverell, it's nice to meet you," Hayden said, inclining his head, a smile of welcome on his face.

Nothing like the strong powerhouse he had been just moments prior.

Now Hayden? Hayden may be able to forget that, but those on the other side? Don't find it as easy to forget what he was capable of.

"Nice to meet you too," Ignatius essentially squeaked out, stuck at the doorway where they'd witnessed the entire scene earlier.

The Black's smirked, finding Ignatius' worry hilarious given how well they'd come to know Hayden in the past few months. It was like seeing a Cerberus puppy and being afraid of what it would be like when it got older. To them, they instinctively knew that Hayden would do anything for them. He had risked his life to ensure their safety and wellbeing back in Castle Black.

"Oh, by the way, your invitation to the wedding will be coming soon, so please, whatever you do, don't burn or destroy it." Lucretia grinned, plonking herself down on the couch, not very ladylike at all, but nobody so much as blinked, for they did not care.

"Why not just give it to Orion to give to me?" Hayden asked peering at Lucretia as he sat down cross legged.

Orion noticed that sitting cross legged was something of a favourite position for Hayden.

"Older or younger sibling?" Hayden asked Ignatius, who remained standing like his shoes were cement.

"I'm…I'm the youngest brother," he told Hayden, trying to smile but it came out more of a grimace.

"Two brothers," Lucretia added, frowning at her fiancé, beginning to get worried, he honestly looked rather ill. "Are you well? Shall we head to yours for a while? Do you need a Healer?" fretting over her soon-to-be husband.

"He's fine," Orion said, "He's just been through the Hayden affect." Grinning in amusement, something he wouldn't do when with any other company except family. Hayden and Ignatius were marrying into the family, well, technically his sister was marrying into their family, but they were all related.

"What does that mean?" Hayden asked frowning in offence, giving Orion a glare.

Lucretia laughed, "Oooh, you're in trouble." She sang teasingly as she stood and tugged her man into the room, once he was sat down, she sat next to him.

Orion threw the pillow at her, a grin on his face, before leaning back against Hayden. Happier than he could be remembering in such a long time.

"Are you busy tomorrow?" Hayden asked, changing the subject, relishing in the warmth exuding from Orion who leaned against him. He was slightly surprised he was, Orion rarely let his guard down, perhaps their conversation from before had made Orion understand what he wanted and was trying to give him. He didn't even seem remotely comfortable either, not that most purebloods were easy to read, Merlin, they were taught from a young age that emotions were weaknesses that others would take advantage of.

"What time?" Orion asked, turning his attention to Hayden fully.

"Between twelve and two," Hayden told him, "I can't believe the progress they've made on the estate so far, none of the places have a name. I'll need to name the streets and all that."

"If that's true, why aren't you living in Peverell castle yet?" Lucretia wondered, causing her partner to tense, women didn't usually speak to men that way, but he'd learn Blacks were different and could very well defend themselves if provoked.

"What has been repaired?" Ignatius asked, trying to defect Hayden's attention, he wasn't sure how he'd really react. So far all he'd seen was that he was absolutely terrifying, powerful, and had the Dolohov's in his corner.

"It's actually bigger than Castle Black," Hayden said bemused, shaking his head, "It's mental, I have them working simultaneously on two different sites. So far, they've only got four areas set up for plumbing."

"Oh, right, of course," Lucretia groaned, "Why didn't I think of that?"

"I didn't think of it myself," Hayden said wryly, "It's going to take a long time before the castle is inhabitable. The pub and bed and breakfast has been successfully kitted out where plumbing and flooring and walls are concerned. I'm trying to keep it to it's original look, as much as possible but with all the amenities we enjoy now that weren't there back in the day." Wrinkling his nose at the thought of where they did when it came to doing the toilet.

"Wait, there's a Peverell castle? And it's still standing?" Ignatius asked gaping in disbelief.

Hayden blinked, "Oh, yes, it's in serious need of repair, of course, having been neglected so long…but with the aid of magic it's not as bad as it could have been." He informed him, aware that they would have what was going to be 'The Burrow' one day. With them not having any children, it had gone to the oldest and closest living relative, Molly. Their niece, so they didn't need somewhere to stay or help that way. Although, the Prewitt didn't have the kind of money the Black's did.

"Ignatius works for an architecture firm," Lucretia declared, a gleam of triumph in her gaze, a sly one.

"I'm only a junior," Ignatius told them, "It's unlikely I'll ever move further up the company, it's still family run." And his family didn't have the political clout really, to enable him going further up the ladder or the money to become partner.

"If you bring in someone like Hayden? And the projects he plans? You'd be made senior partner in a second." Lucretia declared wryly.

"Not quite a second," Orion replied, "But if he's doing to do that, he's better of benefiting himself rather than a company that has no sense of loyalty to give to its hard workers."

"Prewitt Architecture," Hayden mused.

"There's no point, we won't have any children to pass it to." Ignatius declared, holding tightly to Lucretia, not wishing to make her sad, but stating facts as it were. He wanted Lucretia more than he wanted children, he loved her with the whole of his being.

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Hayden said, causing Orion to stiffen next to him. Worried about what sort of hope Hayden might offer her, and what it would do to her if it was wrong. Yet, Hayden hadn't been wrong yet about anything.

"What do you mean?" Lucretia gripped her fiancé's hand so tightly that Ignatius was grimacing in pain but trying to hide it. "What did you mean by that?" speaking again when he didn't answer quickly enough for her, her heart pounding erratically as she stared at Hayden.

Orion glanced at Hayden, "What do you see?" did Hayden know something about the future? Or were their potions and spells in the future that could help Lucretia now? Was he going to get to be an uncle after all?

Ignatius was struggling with his pureblood propriety, the urge to shake Peverell until he answered his soon-to-be wife's question was strong. He had long ago come to terms with the fact he wouldn't have children if he chose Luce, and he'd done so regardless. He loved her so much, but here someone was telling them that it might not be the case? Just what was he? Just how powerful was he that he could know something like this?

"Healers told you, you were barren, didn't they?" Hayden asked, scooting forward, a soft look on his face. As if he was aware of the hell, he was putting Lucretia through.

"Yes," she informed him, a twisted bitter smile that was more a grimace on her face. She could still remember the encompassing desolation filling her.

"You understand what the word means, right?" Hayden prodded, despite Orion's hand pressing into his back in silent warning.

"That I won't have children." Lucretia spat out unable to contain her vitriol.

"No, it means you'd have trouble having children, that you wouldn't be able to carry to term." Hayden corrected the misconception. With magic to be called barren you'd really have zero chance of having a child, which wasn't the case. Unfortunately, due to the inbreeding, fertility issues were known in abundance.

"Same thing," Lucretia bit out.

"It really isn't," Hayden said softly, standing he moved over to her and sat next to her, taking her hands in his own. "Yes, a lot of witches have problems with fertility mostly due to the fact they were marrying too closely in their gene pool. In a few generations if everyone actually stops it, adds new blood there will be far less witches suffering from fertilities issues. That's not to say it will disappear, far from it, there will be just a far lower number. You forget that carriers don't have wombs and we're capable of creating and sustaining life."

Orion's eyes widened at that truth, wondering if it meant something in future had been created for wizards as well? He couldn't help but watch his sister with the wizard who held his heart in his hands and smile a little. Ignatius wasn't happy the slightest, but that was only because he likely felt threatened by Hayden. He had no need to be, he'd learn.

Lucretia licked her lips, brow furrowed, "What does that mean?" entirely comfortable with Hayden that she was entirely relaxed and not keeping her 'pureblood persona' up while they spoke.

It wasn't because of the way he was talking to her, since that softness would usually irritate her to the extreme. Perhaps it was because she knew he cared or had an answer to something she craved so much.

"I mean there are means to ensure a full-term pregnancy, with the right cocktail of magic, potions and power." Hayden revealed confident and assured of his own beliefs.

"Power?" Ignatius parroted, eyes narrowing a little, "Let me guess…there's not many with that sort of power to help?" bitter that he wouldn't be able to help her. That someone else would need to help Lucretia get what she wanted more than anything else in the world.

"There are five magical people that can feed their powers to someone in order to strengthen a pregnancy without ill effects." Hayden replied bluntly, not softening the blow or easing them the slightest.

"Only five?" Orion queried surprised.

Hayden nodded, "Me, you, Tom Riddle, Antonin Dolohov, and…Aberforth Dumbledore."

"Wait, Aberforth? Not Albus?" Ignatius blurted out eyes agog. "Albus defeated Grindelwald!" how could he not be one of the people who could help that was powerful enough? It was beyond his imagining.

"Why does everyone equate that one duel to being the most powerful wizard alive?!" Hayden cried out exasperatedly, shaking his head. "When on the power scale he doesn't even measure!"

"Magus scale," Orion absently told him the actual name.

Hayden turned to stare at him, and Orion could read it so easily, it was basically screaming 'There's an actual magical scale how did I not know this?' and it amused Orion. He knew a great deal and was extraordinary but he didn't know the most basic of things that he'd grown up knowing. Things he should have known as the last Potter heir, to think he was raised in the Muggle world…away from his real world was horrifying.

It was one of the most important things he vowed to ensure could not happen.

He was going to have the piece of legislation written up with his grandfathers help.

The very first piece of legislation he would write.

"And yes, there's an actual magical scale, usually only ever used where accidental magic is concerned," Orion informed him.

"You mean the trace?!" Hayden frowned. "That makes no sense, I apparated when I was eight, considering it would be a decade before I was supposed to be able to, then it should have been off the charts right? Not that it would have mattered, since I didn't have my wand, and thus no trace." There was no way Dumbledore would have allowed him to be traced in any manner whatsoever. Never mind through some sort of magical tracer.

"No, not the trace," Orion shook his head wryly, trying to figure out how to explain the information in a way for someone to understand. Someone who wasn't raised in the magical world and wouldn't just accept its magic as an answer.

"When babies are born, their magic is registered," Lucretia told Hayden, when her brother didn't speak fast enough. "Even squibs have magic, so it's no way to know if they're magical or not. Legally nobody is allowed to look at where they are on the scale until they're seventeen-years-old and legally an adult. If you're wondering about those not born in hospital their magic is registered the second, they step foot in Hogwarts."

Hayden grinned ruefully; it had been one of the questions he was about to ask.

"The trace is a better way of gauging your level on the magical scale though," Ignatius commented, "But considering it had a chance to grow it's hardly any surprise whatsoever."

"If you didn't know about the scale, how did you know who's more powerful?" Ignatius asked in utter fascination, other than Albus Dumbledore not being on the list, none of the others surprised him. They were the top of their years, number one spot overall, even if they were second in a few classes.

Hayden smirked, "Spoilers," which made them all pause but concede his point, it was entirely up to him whether he told Ignatius or not.

Plus, it was also the kindest and most polite way he could have told Ignatius that he wasn't getting to know his secrets. Considering Hayden was rather blunt, it truly was, since he wouldn't have had any qualms about giving Ignatius the blunt uncensored truth. Hayden didn't spare anyone's feelings, although he'd apologise after the fact, and Orion knew this as fact.

Ignatius inclined his head.

"Still, it's hard to believe that Aberforth is more powerful…" Ignatius continued on in his vein.

"Excuse me," Lucretia stood and left the room.

"Not really, everyone acts like they actually saw or read an account of the battle…" Hayden pointed out, "It's not something that was ever commented upon, so why is there a belief Dumbledore is so powerful?" there had been nothing in his time, no passage in the book that revealed what happened. In fact, it had been wrapped in mystery and intrigue which probably heightened Dumbledore's power.

"Because he is?" Ignatius said baffled by the question.

Hayden batted his hands as if getting rid of the question or statement physically, "Again, nobody knows what happened, for all you know the great and powerful Dumbledore ambushed Grindelwald while his back was turned."

"He wouldn't do that," Ignatius gasped out aghast.

"You know him personally, do you?" Hayden asked bemused, to be that naïve, "It's so cute just how naïve and innocent you are…I almost miss being that way." He lamented tragically.

Orion choked on his own amusement, staring at the floor unable to look at Ignatius for fear of laughing fully at the look on his face. Merlin, help him, Hayden was being serious.

The door opened, "What's going on? Why do you look like that?" Lucretia asked him, as she handed out glasses of wine to everyone. Then put a full bottle aside, presumably for later.

Orion held his breath, trying to stop himself from laughing, and succeeded by digging his fingers into his leg to the point of pain.

"Your soon-to-be husband's obsession with Albus Dumbledore and his powers." Hayden told him, and Orion had to look away, his laugh was not loud but his shoulders shaking gave him away.

Aghast and horrified, "I am not obsessed!" he rasped out, coughing a little to dislodge the persistent irritation that made him want to cough.

"Are you sure?" Hayden asked bluntly, "The fact you're finding it hard to believe Albus Dumbledore isn't as powerful as his brother despite having never met the man speaks volumes. That and the insistent believe that Albus Dumbledore is the most powerful wizard alive without an ounce of proof indicates an obsession. An obsession denotes someone who refuses to believe even with evidence something to the contrary."

Ignatius gaped at him, blinking owlishly in shock, "That…is too accurate for my liking." He cringed.

"Don't blame yourself, he's really very good," Hayden commented, sipping the wine. He'd been taken in for years, in fact, one could argue he hadn't seen him for what he was until long after he died.

Ignatius just stared pensively, Lucretia had been trying to get him to see that Albus was just human, at least. Not that she spent a lot of time discussing him, but Lucretia had made her feelings for the professor well known. So, it was no surprise that they'd veered away from the subject for the most part. Agreeing to disagree so to speak.

"Traditionally the first borns are usually more powerful," Orion pointed out, leaning against Hayden again once he returned to their side of the sofa.

"That's only because most families only have one child," Hayden said smirking wryly, nudging Orion playfully, "But as it stands, in the Dumbledore case, Arianna Dumbledore was the most powerful of the Dumbledore children. She was the youngest, and would have been a powerhouse, tremendously amazing." Unfortunately, her time on earth was cut devastatingly short.

"That's odd, he never mentioned having a brother or sister," Ignatius said, pensively.

"Right because you know everything about your professors?" Orion said dryly, regardless of how friendly they were, they didn't know anything about their families.

"I can guarantee you know more about all your professors combined than Dumbledore." Hayden replied, "But I'd really rather not spend all night talking about him…if its all the same to you."

"Here, here," Lucretia agreed, rubbing her fiancés leg in sympathetic comfort. "And to answer your earlier question, my mother-in-law is in charge of the invitations. My mum is dealing with the seating plan but luckily there's not too much shifting, you'll be sat where Walburga was meant to."

"I'm going to guess from the look on your face that you aren't exactly fond of her? I meant even before all this." Hayden wagged his finger in a circular manner indicating everything that had happened naturally.

"I was older than her, so I wasn't really around to deal with her attitude until I left Hogwarts. Even then I was busy with my betrothal, I was spending most of my time at the Prewitt's. I didn't even stop to wonder; I should have though." She said, ashamed of herself for not noticing earlier, for not realizing how desolate and hopeless her younger brother felt. They'd always been close, or as close as they could be given Hogwarts and heirship lessons got in the way…but it was no excuse for not knowing how her brother felt regarding Walburga. She wished he had told her how he felt. She didn't say this out loud, since she knew it wouldn't be welcomed.

"Your projecting," Hayden murmured thoughtfully.

Lucretia grimaced, "A little," showing how small with her fingers, "But truthfully, I need it, my own uncle and cousin…its painful even now." And worse, she was going to have to invite her to her own wedding. She leaned into Ignatius who comforted her wrapping his arms around her.

"How's Alphard and Cygnus? Do you know?" Hayden asked, the change must be rather difficult for the boys. "It can't be easy having your entire life upended."

"I honestly believe they're in a more stable environment now than before," Orion confessed, a faraway look on his face. "The boys were looked after by the House-elves, for the most part. Charlus and Dorea may well be offering them the first real slice of home life they've had since their mum died." Poor Cygnus didn't know her, and he wasn't sure Alphard remembered much about her.

"What makes you say that?" Lucretia asked staring at Orion intently.

"Cygnus wrote to me, like I made them promise, father asked us not to go over for a few weeks, let them get accustomed to life there." Orion revealed, "He went on about how great it was, that Dorea let him have deserts, that he got bedtime stories, and the best bit was they all have dinner together." Stomach squirming in guilt, it was all so new to Cygnus that he gushed about it.

Lucretia winced, "At least we had dinner most days with mother and father, and mother always read to me at night." Swallowing the rest of her wine, Hayden standing and pouring her another glass, refilling everyone else's while he was at it. She hadn't realized just how dysfunctional a life her uncle had given her cousins.

"It was mother for me, father was often gone for weeks at a time, but it made what time we had with our father more precious." Ignatius, "He's retired now so we do spend more time with him. Father's home more often than mother now, she has her governor duties to see to." More amused than anything else.

"Without kids I'm sure she found other things to fill her time," Hayden said wryly, envious of them all, would that have been his life if James and Lily had survived?

"What about…" Ignatius started, noticing that Hayden wasn't really talking about his own family.

Orion cleared his throat very loudly, "Which bottle did you have? I'll ask the House-elf to bring another bottle. Lynx!"

"Are you sure you were a Slytherin? You're not very subtle," Hayden said amused, as Lucretia told the House-elf what to bring. "My parents died when I was young, and I was raised by…very grudging relatives." Telling the entire truth, even if the names would be different in this timeline.

Orion inclined his head, "Not my best attempt I'll admit."

"And this is getting depressing very fast," Hayden chuckled, "Is there something you'd like for your wedding gift in particular? Something that nobody else is going to get you? Something you've not suggested to everyone else?"

"Letter for Lord Peverell," Lynx said handing over the letter and bottle for them.

"Thank you," Hayden said as the House-elf passed it over, rolling his eyes when he heard Ignatius choking hearing his thanks. "Huh, wonder what he's wanting," showing Orion who the letters from. He wasn't going to open it tonight, no he wanted to enjoy his time. Lucretia was family, he wanted so much to have family, so he wanted them to bond, to like each other, to want to meet up frequently. Maybe it was stupid of him to hope for it, but family was so desperately important to him.

"Aren't you going to open it?" Orion questioned, definitely a little buzzed now.

"No way, I'll deal with that particular problem tomorrow." He said, shoving the letter into his pocket.

"No, not for me," Ignatius tried to say no to another glass, "I have work tomorrow."

"Screw that, just take the day off," Lucretia declared.

"I can't do that, if I can't prove I'm reliable then I won't be given jobs," Ignatius protested, he didn't want to interrupt the makings of a good night, but he definitely wanted to keep his job.

"He's right," Hayden pointed out, "But I will need someone like you for a lot of work."

"Wait, you'd really hire me?" Ignatius asked taken aback, "You don't know me, like at all."

"You'd be employed by Hayden for years; the entire estate is undergoing renovations of some kind. Bathrooms are needed to be added, while keeping with the aesthetics of the building." Orion pointed out, "Having worked with the Peverell name? By then? You'd be able to work anywhere you want. Hell, with the Black and Peverell backing? You'd be your own boss."

"You'll never find anyone more enthusiastic or hardworking," Lucretia declared, hand over his chest, emboldened by seeing Hayden and Orion touching near constantly. She wondered if they even noticed, or if it was the drink or hell even the newness…either way they were constantly seeking each other out to touch. Even Hayden's feet wrapped around Orion's leg and he didn't even twitch. She'd seen Walburga touch Orion and he'd jumped sky high.

A/N – alright so the next chapter I've decided we'll see it from Tom's POV will we add what he's been doing or would you rather it focusses on how he was feeling and is doing now? Will Tom change his name legally at Harry's suggestion? Hmm I'm wondering if I could make it so that the Slytherin name couldn't be used due to how long it had been and legally he can only take on a few names…like Gryffindor that became Peverell and Potter but nobody can use the Gryffindor name 😊 and yeah, I'm thinking about it wayyy too deeply but welcome to my mind lol it's always bombarded with muses! R&R please and as always thank you so much for your reviews they mean so much you're all the best xx