My Time

Chapter 22

"Father let me go!" Orion wrenched himself out of his father's hold, who was gripping him so tightly that it actually hurt. He had to propel himself forward to get out of Arcturus' hold, and rounded the table skidding to a halt in front of Hayden, protecting him from the presence in front of him, swallowing thickly, grey eyes filled with fear and awe. He wouldn't let anyone or anything harm Hayden. Wand out gripped tightly in his hand, worried for them all.

The sheer presence of a primordial god was terrifying. They could feel the power emanating from the cloaked figure, the dark slits where its eyes should be and the scythe gleamed wickedly, glowing blue. He was a petrifying sight to behold. The Blacks who had powers surpassed, reputations as practitioners of the Darkest of Arts, known for the biggest collection of books that belonged to a single owner. Never in a millions years had they thought they'd be face to face with Death himself.

"Orion!" Melania cried out, fearful for her son, her gaze going back and forth between her son and the being that had just shown up in her home of all places. Unable to force herself forward, the magic coming off of it was too much to bear, even for her. Every single hair on her body was standing on edge, her magic was practically screaming at her. Not that she would have gotten far, as Arcturus was gripping her in two different places tightly. Her wrist and her waist, tighter than he ought to be. He'd almost lost his wife and son to the fire at the castle, he couldn't stop his son from being stubborn but he utterly refused to let his wife race after their son.

Orion swallowed thickly, just standing before it, had him wanting to wet himself and back the fuck away hastily as possible. How could Hayden stand that presence? It was too much for him, yet Hayden was standing closer still he realized belatedly, as Hayden moved from around him and before Death.

"Ouch! That hurt!" Hayden complained, causing Orion to pale further, did he have no survival instincts at all? "What'd you do that for?" upon hearing bleats of shock, he glanced behind him to see the entire Black family huddled for the lack of better words against the opposite wall.

All except one.

Pollux had prostrated himself on the floor before the primordial god, not daring to look up, looking overwhelmed and terrified in equal measure from what little Hayden could actually see of him.

"Hayden, please," Orion said, grimacing a little, shuffling further forward until his feet connected with Harry's.

"You summoned me," the primordial god's voice was like the sound of someone who had been roaring too long.

Pollux inhaled sharply, Peverell was the reason for this? Oh, how he wished he had more than one daughter…imagine getting his hands on the Peverell estate? Especially given the fact it hadn't been touched in such a vast amount of time. In fact, this power in the Peverell family, this sort of money, if he could go back, he would have definitely decided against a marriage contract for Walburga and Orion.

"Orion, Hayden, back away," Arcturus asked, trembling with fear, oh, Merlin, help them, he didn't think they'd survive this. "Please forgive him, he doesn't know how to work his powers." Naturally defending Hayden, and not because he was very close to his son.

"Wait that summoning actually worked?" Hayden asked incredulously. "Why did you feel the need to drag me out the bedroom, down the hall and in here? I have carpet burns!" barely reacting as Orion shoved him behind the wizard.

Orion facepalmed, before glancing over his shoulder at the wizard just as incredulous. Was he whining at Death? If it was Death, whatever it was, it was of primordial powers. Merlin, help them, they were going to die at the hands of a pissed of God.

"Shut the hell up before you get us all killed," Pollux hissed under his breathe, anxiety building causing him to speak in a higher tone than was natural. The wizard clutched his throat perplexed, as if he hadn't been aware he could talk in such a high volume. Merely saying what they were all thinking at this point.

"Carpet burns?" Hesper and Sirius muttered, glancing at each other in confusion. They were watching things closely, unlike the rest of the family, they had no fear of death, not like the young ones who still had a lot of living left to do. He had, had a scare, a month ago, and knew he had limited time left in the world. He hoped to live to see the next generation born, the next heir.

Naturally there was no such thing as a fitted carpets in this time, they used rugs to cover the floor. So, his words did well and truly confuse them all, but luckily only three people seemed to have truly heard him, and two were confused. Hayden despite knowing this – he did have eyes – still called them carpets it's a habit he'd need to break out of.

"You're one to talk," Hayden said, eyeing Pollux close to immolation. He hadn't liked the guy the first time he met him. Too vain by half, to self-righteous in the belief he couldn't do any wrong. It was expected really, its who they were raised to be. He didn't blame him for that, but he did blame this situation.

Pollux stared bewildered at the look on Hayden's face, "What on…" he murmured glancing at the rest of his family, as if they would be able to clue him in. None of them looked at him, naturally, all of them were staring at the God in their mist. The God of Death.

"And of course, you fell asleep," Death drawled, giving Hayden a piercing look.

"Wicked!" Lucretia said, entirely awed staring at Hayden mesmerised. Despite the oppressive powers, Hayden was as calm as you please, and there wasn't a single pulse in the magic coming from death as Hayden had called him.

Hayden threw her a saucy grin and winked, causing her to laugh despite the tense situation. She knew he most definitely only had eyes for her brother. There was never ever a chance of him deciding he wanted someone else. "I like her," Hayden told Orion conspiratorially.

Orion just made a strained sound he'd noticed Hayden was at his best surrounded by chaos. He should have been named Loki Peverell, not Hayden. If it had been any other situation, he would have rolled his eyes in exasperation. His eyes zoned in on the amusement gleaming in those eyes and he couldn't help but freeze, it couldn't be…could it? Was this being actually amused?

Cedrella and Callidora whimpered in fright, wands in hand, shaking in fear. Hiding behind Harfang Longbottom, who was standing there bravely, wand out ready to the last. It made Hayden's breath hitch, oh, Harfang reminded him so much of Neville in that moment. It gave him goosebumps just seeing it. Who was he? Neville's grandfather? Great-grandfather? Either way, he was nearly the spitting image of him.

The couples primary concern was for their children who were unaware and happily playing in the next room. The children weren't allowed into family meetings. Not until they were eleven-years-old. They got to experience at least one family meeting before starting Hogwarts. Then they attended every single one which didn't interfere with their Hogwarts education.

"You fell asleep after summoning me," Death continued on theatrically, he didn't care for mortals, except for the ones he came to care for very much. Both of them were so alike that he couldn't help but see Ignotus in Hayden. "Not that you'd have to have waited long for my appearance," he said with cheerfulness that was all sorts of wrong, gaze roaming around all the Black's present. A vicious grin set onto his chosen features that quite frankly scared them all the more.

"Don't scare everyone to death!" Hayden admonished, "Although, to be fair, I didn't mean to summon you specifically, I thought it was a summoning for Lady Magic. A theoretical summoning at that."

Arcturus was at a loss for words, staring at Hayden who was mere steps away from a God and was acting as if he was talking to a…a…classmate at Hogwarts! Not even an heir! It was beyond incredulous and he hated that his family were all petrified by the dark cloying magic surrounding them. It was almost impossible to breathe. How could he talk never mind think? He could barely think where he was let alone any closer.

The Spector of death visage vanished, replaced by a more normal human appearance. The one Hayden was more familiar with, but regardless of whatever visage he was showing the world…there was no mistaken the mere presence, the menace that dripped off him. The gods didn't have bodies, they were pure unadulterated power, and could take whatever form they pleased, according to ancient writings.

"She did inform me," Death nodded once, "Unfortunately, she cannot come to you, for you have been Death touched as a favour." He was favoured by Death, and no other could touch him, approach him.

Hesper wheezed wetly. Blindly sitting when a chair was magically summoned for the elder witch. Cedrella was immediately warming her tea, and putting it in front of her despite the danger. They were mothers, and very fond of Hesper despite her beliefs' which didn't align entirely with their own.

"She would have come?" Orion whispered in surprise, a wheezy whimper leaving his lips as that perfectly featured face turned to him. Its eyes were filled entirely with amusement. It wasn't human and you could tell by the eyes, they did say the eyes were the windows to the soul. Just feeling Hayden's hand slipping into his own made him feel so much more confident.

"Why did they need such a spell anyway? Their gifts…surely could have summoned one without it?" Hayden asked, glancing at Orion curiously, of course, referring to the Peverell's as 'their' when speaking. "Or doesn't it work that way?" he hadn't even attempted it; he hadn't much explored his gifts.

"They were commissioned spells," Death explained, sounding bored, as the fun of scaring the Black's to near death fading fast. It wasn't a surprise; Hayden's light reprimand was enough to get the Black's taking a second look. They were still scared, still watching wide eyed, but they were no longer petrified. Not even the full force of deaths powers seemed to matter.

Or perhaps it was the fact they were seeing that Orion and Hayden's hands were linked together and were shocked.

"Makes sense," Hayden said glancing at Orion and a face as if to say 'makes sense' which it did. It was almost what you could call a 'duck face' but in a downward motion opposed to a 'pout' so to speak. The stuff they'd been reaching through, must have been the master copies, whereas everyone was given a copy. Of course, people had come to the Peverell's looking for answers, resolutions.

Orion clenched Hayden's hand tightly, heart pounding

"You made me a promise," ignoring the cries of disbelief that statement roused from the Black family. "Is it my future to watch someone I love either die or worse lose themselves entirely?" getting back to the heart of the matter, they didn't know what to do…but surely the spell had summoned that particular roll of parchment for a reason. This particular ritual for a reason.

Pollux stiffened entirely, caution warring with suspicion as the rest of the Black's minus Melania, Arcturus and Lucretia who all understood what Hayden meant. Only Lucretia smiled, the look on Orion's face…it made her tear up, and smile happily.

It's all a big sister ever really wanted, to see their younger siblings happy. It was pretty clear that Hayden did indeed make Orion happier than he'd ever been. Anyone who spent any length of time around his brother would know that.

Melania wasn't surprised, but was also cautious, Orion was the heir of the Black family. They wouldn't be able to have children, Orion would need to have a wife first and foremost to have children with before he handfasted with Hayden.

Arcturus was shocked, pale and shaken by the words. Don't get him wrong, he would have jumped through hoops if Peverell was a witch. It wasn't even the fact his son seemed to care about a boy, that had never really mattered either.

Pollux began to sputter incoherently, "You are engaged to be betrothed! Release the interloper at once!" he managed to get out, furious with Orion for daring to touch another, there was only one person for Orion and that was Walburga! He had other words for him, but he wouldn't use it in company.

"No," Death replied, eyeing Pollux just to screw with him.

Hayden let out a breath that was just as trembling as his body, "Then you know how to stop it?" Orion's grip was so tight when he asked this, that Hayden truly feared that his bones were going to break. He didn't blame Orion for being overwhelmed, and that's without knowing everything.

Pollux began to grow horrified, glancing at his brother, heart pounding erratically. It couldn't be…they couldn't know…they must just surely be talking about the original contract…but it couldn't be. It really couldn't, not after everything Peverell had said.

They couldn't stop the contract! They just couldn't.

"Yes," Death drawled out, a wicked smirk on his face, he would be coming for Pollux soon, he would look forward to reaping his soul.

Charlus and Septimus relaxed their guard just a little. Septimus leaving the room to check on the children, that had been grouped together in the living room with games to play. The house-elves as always, were dutifully looking after them.

After that both were right back to their wives, ready to defend them to the last. Even if it meant dying to protect them, then so be it, they would do whatever they needed to do.

"Orion and Hayden?" Dorea whispered quietly, barely heard by anyone except her husband.

"Seems so," Charlus whispered back, cocking his head to the side, watching the pair intently. There was an easiness between the two that not even Lucretia had with her betrothed yet and they'd been seeing each other for significantly longer. He had been a chaperone a time or two so he knew that for a fact. "Merlin, they're really in love." he said in awe, it was one thing to say it but another entirely to notice it.

Dorea pressed her hand against her mouth, a smile stretching behind it. Oh, she hoped things could work out for them. Tears brimmed her eyes, the contract though seemed destined to get in the way of their happiness. She'd always known that Orion and Walburga was wrong for each other. It had just become an even more prevalent thing as the years passed, they were just not suited well.

"How?" Hayden asked, making no effort to hide the desperation he was feeling. They'd been searching for a month, one whole month with barely any sleep, with more and more bad news piled on until he was just…too exhausted to think much. He knew, he knew it was going to be something simple.

"What you need is in front of you," Death reminded him, rolling his eyes, mortals and their feelings, honestly. Then again…he too had the same weakness, he had allowed a mortal – and that's what his best friend was – to badger him into allowing Harry to come to this time, to start again, to continue the Peverell name.

Sirius had his hand over his chest, the tiny twinges were enough to terrify him. He didn't want to pass on without seeing a great-grandchild. An heir specifically, from Orion, that would continue on the Black family name. Rubbing his chest, struggling to make sense of all this. Was there truly a way to stop this contract? To keep their magic and lives. He would accept it when his time came though, even if it was before a child, an heir came along. Sliding his hand into his wife's he listened, struggled to listen. He tired so very easily, and he hadn't been expecting this, this evening.

"What?" Hayden frowned perplexed, staring down at himself, he had nothing in front of him, unless Death wasn't being literal, even then…what did he have? His wand? "It can't be…"

Death grinned, it was dark and filled with promise, and his magic darkened with his glee, "Oh, yes!" he said gleefully, "It is my invention and a Peverell creation…the most powerful wand ever created…and there will never be another like it." no matter what anyone tried, there wouldn't be another wand like this, even if they used identical items.

"Accio original betrothal contact for Walburga and Orion Black!" Hayden called out, snatching it immediately out of thin air a few moments after it appeared in front of him.

"What do you think you're doing!" Pollux scrambled to his feet, stunned to the very core of him. Unable to believe that it had actually come when summoned. Reaching out trying to grab the contract. How on earth had that been found? It was supposed to be in a secure place. un-summonable. Well, apparently not, and before he could reach Hayden, not that he would have gotten close. Orion was already watching him with narrowed distrustful eyes, which showcased the hurt he still felt over his Uncle's betrayal.

"Finite!"

And then before their very eyes, the writing began to slowly disappear until it sped up gaining momentum until sparks burst forth, and flames consumed the contract in its entirety.

The Black family just gawked; they'd just seen a magically binding contract reduced to nothing with a finite spell of all things. With a simple finite spell!

"Wizards aren't known for their logical smarts," Hayden said, staring at the ash that had once been a contract. Then a great big 'Oof' left him as Orion abandoned all lessons he was ever taught and laughed as he hugged Hayden tightly, he was free, he couldn't help but sob a little, he was free, Merlin, help him, he'd been saved. The abrupt hug had Hayden taking three steps back trying to regain his momentum. He was just as ecstatic as Orion though.

"What have you done?!" Pollux cried staring at the pile of ashes. Two decades worth of plans, twenty whole years, more than half his life…suddenly gone.

He would have perhaps been more eager to get out of his brother's home, should he have seen the look aimed at his back. Arcturus was beyond pissed, and the fact that bothersome contract was at long last gone…he felt he could react. Instead, he continued to stare at the ashes as if his entire world had been destroyed, which in a way it had.

Pollux had been found out.

"And I'll be seeing you," Death declared, a vicious grin set upon his features, staring at Pollux, oh, he so did enjoy scaring people…eh didn't get to do it anywhere near as often as he liked. They didn't involve themselves in mortal affairs after all.

"I'll help," Arcturus declared coldly, staring at his brother, a look that promised death.

Pollux gulped, shrinking away from both Death and his brother. Yes, perhaps it was time to leave, heart pounding, but he felt stuck on the spot.

With that Death's visage began to smoke, the black smoke then blasted out of every window. Then to everyone's vast relief Death was gone…and they could barely comprehend what had happened.

"What the bloody hell has been happening?!" Dorea asked, she hated not knowing what was going on. Why would Arcturus be angry at Pollux? Over the contract? She didn't think so, it didn't seem likely. They'd always been close, she should know, she had been raised in close contact with them all. "What is going on?"

A/N – probably should have edited the previous chapter first, but I didn't know how long I'd get to write and when I saw all the reviews and I felt bad especially seeing as it would be a while before I updated SO I decided to give you the scene you're all waiting for 😉 it will be fleshed out and the rest of the chapter added to it when it's time for this story to be updated again 😊 and I reckoned with two primordial gods in the area would not work so death it was…unless I can think of a different scene when I come around to it again 😉 ah I don't know you're probably a wee bit disappointed it was a rushed chapter, I've only had an hour n a half free to get this written out and it has been…let me know what you think anyway and thank you all for enjoying my stories so much you're all amazing x