My Time

A/N – Regarding the guest reviewer 'you call this a', you know, I've never considered that I write a weak Harry, I often worry that I make him a bit too overpowered, especially in the past with his knowledge of all the 'new' spells. Slow and 'shit' as it may be, have you considered waiting until it's finished? Or you know, finding something more your liking? I like how I write; negative reviews aren't going to change that. I sincerely do hope you find stories more to your liking. Also, you might want to consider what someone is going through in real life before you run someone else from the fandom to never be heard from again. The sheer audacity that there was only 'one scene' should I have written a dozen tiny ones would that have been better for you? I wrote the chapter just a day or so before my brothers funeral for god sake!

Chapter 28

Orion was tired of walking on egg shells in his own home, hiding away in his bedroom, admittedly it didn't all have to do with Walburga and avoiding her. No, he was just trying his best to figure out how to make Hayden see that he cared very much. He'd interacted with Cygnus more than Alphard and Walburga who had both lost their father too. It wasn't easy and Orion couldn't even begin to think what they were going through right now. The thought of losing his father was too much to bear, and that wasn't to death, either, Pollux had been banished from the family, from their lives.

Giving a swift knock on the door, he patiently waited for an answer.

"Wally, I know you're in there!" Orion called out irritated.

"GO AWAY!" she shrieked, sounding like a demented banshee. "AND STOP CALLING ME WALLY!" she loathed that name more than anything else in the world. she'd endured it for years, her father's words soothing the anger 'One day they'll regret calling you by names you don't like, the power of the entire Black fortune and magic will be yours to do as you please.' So, she'd bitten her tongue let them call her whatever they liked, secure in the knowledge they would all regret it. There had been times when she actually told them she didn't like that nickname. She'd liked Burga even less.

Orion knocked again; he was not going to talk to her through a door. She was being extremely rude, she should know better, she'd been raised a Lady, and worse, she was talking thusly to the heir. Soon-to-be Lord of the Black estate, and in charge of her, if she did not cease her attitude at once, she was in real danger of following in her father's footsteps. If you let one person away with such disrespect, then others would follow, and it would be anarchy within the Black family. "We need to talk," Orion told her through the door.

Walburga glared at the door, a look of seething rage on her face, she hated her entire family, hated them! How dare they disown her father as if he was nothing? The urge to throw and rage and break everything in the vicinity was so strong, how could they live with themselves? Staring out the window, contemplating the idea of just leaving. What did she have now? Zero prospects, she was the daughter of a disowned wizard, nobody would want to marry her, even her 'friends' weren't sympathetic to her plight, they were barely replying as it was.

Admittedly she had lorded her status over them for a long time, years in fact, as well as showing off her new robes, jewellery, broomsticks, cosmetic potions, new books and everything she desired she got. She'd been spoiled, as the future Lady Black, she had been entirely entitled to be better than the riff-raff she hung around with. She was higher up the hierarchy than just about anyone, except the Malfoy's and Potter's who were equal in status and fortune as well as power.

She didn't know what she was now…but she knew she was lower than the rest of her so called 'friends' and they were loving it. It made her sick to her stomach just reading the letters she'd received. They were already planning to meet up in Diagon Alley to gather their school supplies soon, and they'd had the audacity to suggest she might not be able to afford it! The sheer cheek! She had to do something to regain her lost status, but the thing was she didn't know how.

Oh, she so badly wanted her father, why he hadn't written to her yet she didn't know. He would be able to advise her, guide her into making sure she got everything she wanted. Once she did, she would make sure her father was reinstated and everyone who had acted despicably towards her would pay. She would disown them! See how they liked it! And it would save the family a fortune in wasting funds on them. More for her to save and spend, she shouldn't have to share with anyone. She'd mentioned that to her father and he'd smiled at her, stating 'You don't have to share with anyone unless you want to' and that was that.

She might not have been told, but she'd had a good idea of what her father was planning and it was something she'd confessed to while drugged under Veritaserum. She'd expected a very different reaction to the one she received to be fair. They had been very calm and considerate of her even after what they'd learned…they must think her a stupid silly little girl, but she'd prove them all wrong.

"Walburga, please let me in," Orion said, having learned some humility since Hayden had come into his life. In fact, that's all he feels like he's done as of late, the humbleness made him feel things he hadn't felt before.

Walburga's eyes widened, as she shot her gaze to the guest bedroom door, had she heard what she thought she had? Had her father already done something to him? What if he wanted to marry her still? They were still Black's, and blood was so, so important. Excitement thrummed in her belly, making her feel as if someone had released butterflies in her stomach. Jumping up from the windowsill, all the plans they had could still be in play after all. Why else would Orion of all people say please? He'd never said please a day in his life.

Which wasn't accurate, Orion had always been very polite and well spoken.

Walburga on the other hand, well, let's just say it was very grudging when she did, and only when forced.

Opening the door, she adopted a sheepish look, but behind that veil lay a cunning witch, watching Orion avidly for any sign of enchantment her father might have performed. They might be quick to forget her father, or that she had been raised by him, but she wouldn't, she'd never forget his teachings.

Never.

"I am sorry," Walburga said grudgingly as she left the door open and moved towards the window, looking sorrowful and aged beyond her years. There was no excitement about going back to Hogwarts, no happiness of new and better years ahead just tiredness. The tiredness was genuine, she hadn't been sleeping well, her father's disownment had affected her quite more severely than she let on. She'd nearly blacked out by the sheer agony of the pain she'd experienced. She also felt less powerful, but she didn't dare say as such to anyone.

She knew what happened to those less powerful…and squibs.

Orion watched her cautiously, stepping into the room, Walburga never apologised, and never that easily. What exactly was his cousin up to? Then again, she'd just lost her father she's bound to be feeling the strain.

-0

"Well, there's no yelling," Melania commented, as she glanced at the ceiling, relaxing somewhat, hopefully the two could sort out everything themselves. She knew she couldn't continue to keep intervening; Orion would need to learn to deal with disputes on his own. He'd need to deal with a lot on his own. "What's this?" she asked, noticing the package on the table, "New books?" Arcturus and Orion both loved reading, it was a surprise they hadn't ended up in Ravenclaw. Then again Orion had been raised on the words 'Knowledge was power' and had loved being in the library, she smiled fondly recalling all the times he'd wanted to go while they were all so busy.

"I presume so, it was given to me by Hayden," Arcturus said, glancing at the package he had dropped of earlier but hadn't given another thought. He wasn't sure if they were for him or if they were for his son, Hayden hadn't stated either way. "Open it," he prompted her, calling for a House-elf demanding a cup of tea.

"It went well?" Melania asked, staring intently at her husband as she flicked her wand, and detached the parcel of the string wrapped around it.

Arcturus pursed his lips, "I believe so," quite frankly he didn't think Hayden Peverell 'forgave and forgot' he believed the young man held grudges, but what on earth could he have been through for him to be that way? Other than what he had been told? A cupboard, it made him feel sick, he couldn't conceive doing such a thing to either of his children or wards – which was what every single child he was responsible for were – even if they had parents themselves. Even if those parents were Lord's of their own estate, if they remained under the Black banner, then they were Black's end of. He didn't think he was holding a grudge per se either, not against him particularly…but there was something there but he'd need to know the young man far better than he did to gauge what he was missing.

"Only believe so?" Melania asked, brow furrowing, they really couldn't afford to antagonise Lord Peverell. Unwrapping the parcel, she folded the brown paper and set it aside to be put in bin later. Blinking in quiet shock, she stared at the books set out in front of her, not even the smell of the new books could distract her as they normally could. Her son was a published author, he'd published two books alongside Hayden Peverell.

"He's quite complicated," Arcturus said in amusement, taking one of the books, "I shall enjoy the challenge of getting to know him better…if such a thing is possible." Neither Hayden or Orion had used their title he noticed, it should have been Lord Hayden Peverell and Heir Orion Arcturus Black. "Are these published yet?" Aware that he would likely be fire called at all hours of the day when they did realize his son had written a book with a Peverell heir.

"It's unlikely, otherwise we would know by now," Melania replied, flipping through the book idly, not really needing to read it, she was well aware of the contents within. At least the nitty and gritty details anyway, but she would read it at some point, her son had published it so of course she would. "He's complicated? Arcturus he's the same age as Orion." How complicated could he be especially to someone like her husband? Who was able to read people so easily?

"He's an old soul," Arcturus said dryly, before sobering, "He's been through something…terrible, Melania," he said troubled.

"Will it affect Orion?" Melania asked, as always, her first thoughts were for her children. She felt for the young man, but she didn't know what her husband did.

"I believe it already is," Arcturus said thoughtfully, it meant that his son would have to be honest and sincere in a way he never has before. There was clearly something bothering Hayden, something beyond their scope of understanding. "But we shall see." he wondered if not having a betrothal now was making it easier on Orion or worse since he would legitimately have to work for a future with any significant other. That significant other seemed to be Lord Peverell at the moment.

"And what do we do about the fact they're both Lord's?" Melania questioned, lips pursed, it was something they hadn't even half way broached. Glancing at Cygnus she realized seeing he was heavily immersed in colouring, the purple potion fumes waving in the air.

"It's something we shall have to deal with as it happens, if it happens," he corrected himself, there was no telling what would become of them, or whether Orion would get his heart broken before it was rightened.

The married couple shared a look but said nothing further on the subject.

Cygnus got up, and smiled before handing Arcturus a coloured picture, "For you," he said extremely pleased with himself, a hopeful look in his grey eyes. He was most definitely the most self-conscious of all the Black children, but they all went through that needy phrase, and Cygnus was currently going through it. The upheaval probably didn't help matters either. The sooner they could get the children – teenagers – settled with a new guardian the better.

"Would you look at that, Melania? Look at how good he is staying in the lines! I think it deserves a place on the wall, don't you?" Arcturus asked a bit louder than normal. Enthusiasm entirely contagious to the youngster who beamed in delight, hopping on the spot, happy beyond belief.

Melania smiled; Arcturus may not show his emotions very often – knowing when to was vital – he did show his emotions more often these days. Her eyes dimmed a little, wishing she could have had more children than just the two beautiful babies she'd given him. Unfortunately, her body wasn't cooperating and she was now a bit on the old side to be having more kids. It had made her really desire to take Cygnus, Alphard and Walburga in, two of them were a bit too old for guidance but Cygnus was at a perfect age. Arcturus had unfortunately, suggested something sensible. It was time to let one of the others be a mother, Dorea and Lucretia had come up, but as much as her daughter would love being a mother…she was much too young and the couple weren't even married yet. "It's perfect," she fully agreed, taking the picture and putting it against the wall, with the other drawings. There were always children in the house at one point or another, the area was always well replenished of pictures.

"You're grieving, it's alright, but father won't be patient for much longer," Orion said sincerely, and meaning it, his father was patient, more so than his grandfather, but it didn't mean his patience was infinite.

Walburga grimaced, swallowing the thoughts that wanted to spill out, he had no right to tell her how to feel. She in a very un-lady-like move she shrugged her shoulders indifferently. It wasn't as if Orion was going to tattle anyway, the adults were always so stiff and proper.

"Things will get better, you've got the rest of the family to help," Orion pointed out, as long as she didn't continue to alienate everyone. "I better not hear you informing Cygnus that what happened is his fault. There will be severe consequences if you do." Knowing best just how to deal with Walburga.

Orion got a vicious glare in return for his statement, wanting to bitterly declare he wasn't the Lord, yet. She did however, have some self-preservation, and kept silent on the matter.

"Do you understand?" Orion asked seeking Walburga's realization that he was serious, that he wasn't going to allow her to hurt her brothers with her vicious tongue. "If you need to talk to someone, talk to them, don't keep it all inside." Trying so good to be a good Lord-In-Training. To be the wizard that his father knew he could be. He'd always been confident in his abilities and road in life, until he met Hayden.

Hayden had him questioning everything, how good he could be, how to look deeper below the surface, to see things as they were not assumptions. He missed him so much, it hurt to be away from him, and he hated himself for falling so quickly. If he didn't know any better, he would have said he was under a love potion, but he questioned Hayden enough to know that simply wasn't true. that and he didn't believe that Hayden would do something so despicable. Then there is the actual fact that his Heir ring prevented such a thing from occurring.

"Yes," Walburga said, barely withholding a sneer, fuming mad screw waiting until her father got in touch with her, she'd get in touch with him. Forcing calm upon herself, she stared at the wizard who had up until now been destined to be her husband. "Do you hate me that much?" her breathing hitching, the thought of facing everyone was terrifying. She'd lost her status, her dreams, her livelihood, everything, oh, she hoped her father could help her.

"What…why would you think that? Wally?" Orion asked genuinely taken aback by her words.

"Come on!" Walburga cried out, "You know what's going to happen to us, what everyone will think of us! We're no better than paupers now!"

"That's not true," Orion declared, believing it wholeheartedly, "You're still a member of the Black family."

"We're charity cases!" Walburga decreed viciously. "We'll never be listened to again, or taken seriously in society!"

"Father and I will never allow that to happen," Orion said firmly.

"We will bear our fathers crimes…unless…unless we marry, as Lady Black we'll never be laughed at again." Walburga said wildly, so wildly that Hayden if there, would have thought on the striking similarity between Walburga and Bellatrix.

Orion stepped back, unable to stop himself showing just how abhorrent the idea was to him.

"Why does that idea disgust you so much?" Walburga asked bewildered, "I've had the training, we'd be so good together, and any children we have will be so, so pure." Her own belief was outdated, it wouldn't entice Orion in not as she believes it would. "Powerful, isn't that what you want? Why does a stupid contract have to come into it?" walking towards him, eyes wide with hope, that was all real and genuine, reaching for him as if to physically show him how good they'd be together. It hadn't been a problem before, although she confessed, Orion had never once gazed at her in any way that could have been likened to her Aunt Melania and Uncle Arcturus but that was because she was underage.

"Wally, stop, it's not going to happen," Orion said softly, grasping her hand and putting it down, easing her as gently as he could. He knew how much it was taking out of Walburga to ask him that, he wasn't sure he would have had the guts to do so. "You're going to get to marry someone who you'll love, properly, as a husband and wife should." Being oh so gentle, what he felt for Walburga, for his cousin was nothing on what he felt for Hayden. Hayden was his moon, his stars and his everything.

And he realized, he just had to tell him that. Could that be all Hayden wanted? Had he been so foolish for nothing?

"You'd leave us to the werewolves?" Walburga said, stunned beyond belief, narrowing her eyes suspiciously, "What do you mean I'm going to marry someone who I'll love?!" did Orion have some tart with designs on being the next Lady Black?

Orion blinked, "Exactly as I said," giving her an odd look at her shell-shocked look. Wondering what she was thinking right now, it was not a pretty look for her.

"Do you have some bitch playing at becoming Lady Black?!" Walburga screeched, "Have you been seeing someone behind my back? My own betrothed?!"

Orion winced, Merlin, her tone was irritating and painful to hear, "No," he declared, ironically enough telling the truth.

"Who is it?" Walburga grasped a hold of Orion, her nails digging into his shoulder and chest where she gripped him. Eyes crazed as she shook him, "Who? Who thinks they can take my place? it's not Irma Pince is it?" spitting her name out as if it were something disgusting and foul, "It is, isn't it?" she had half a mind to go and hunt that bitch down for daring to attempt to take his place, what had she been whispering into Orion's ear? What Idea's had she been feeding him?

Orion grunted as he was slammed quite harshly against the door, the urge to strike out strong, but he held firm. He had been raised never to lift a wand to a witch unless he had no choice. This was the closest he'd ever come to doing so. The urge to strike out at her and get her off of him was strong, especially considering he could feel trickles of blood where Walburga's nails were digging into his shoulder and chest. The Acromantula silk shirt tearing easily, so delicate the fibres were. "Let me go." He stated firmly yet calmly, not responding to her hysterical questions.

"WHO IT IS?! I'M GOING TO KILL HER! JUST GIVE ME HER NAME!" Walburga shrieked at the top of her lungs, shaking Orion back and both.

"Walburga! What on earth are you doing?" Alphard asked, staring at his big sister in wide eyed shock. "Are you trying to get us all disowned?" a squeak to his voice he'd deny to his dying day. Seeing his sister angry wasn't anything new, but to see her actually attacking Orion? It was suicidal.

The sound of her brother's voice temporarily ceased her assault of Orion's person, "Go back to your room!" she spat, entirely forgetting they weren't at home, and that the room Alphard was using wasn't his own.

Neither was that all that surprising, both he and Cygnus hadn't really been on their father and sisters' radar overly much. As long as they weren't being annoying, they got to do whatever they liked. The only real routine Cygnus had was when he was visiting relatives. Alphard tried, but he was at Hogwarts most of the time. Now though, everything was going to change, their Uncle Charlus and Aunt Dorea were going to take care of them. Although, maybe not with the way his sister was going on.

"WHO IS IT?" Walburga shrieked, lashing out and slapping Orion harshly across the face, her nails digging in as she passed, leaving a trail of red oozing marks.

Alphard gasped in shocked horror, but he wasn't the only one.

"WALBURGA IRMA BLACK!" boomed Arcturus staring at his niece in horror, had she just slapped his son like an uncouth pathetic wandless muggle? "I am absolutely disgusted with your conduct, I'm only grateful nobody is around to see this common vulgar display you've just put on!" flicking his wand, shaking his head, she had not learnt that from Pollux, it must have been the Crabbe side of the family. Her grandparents were dead, thank Merlin, they would have been absolutely disgusted with her. Not that they would have risked taking on the kids if they were alive, their father had been disowned after all.

Orion huffed out, grateful she was no longer in his space, his father's spell doing the trick. Pressing his hand against the wounds she'd just caused him, man, he'd like to know what kind of spells they put on their nails to make them that strong and sharp. "Are you alright?" Arcturus asked, refusing to mollycoddle his son over a few scratches, but wanting to make sure there weren't unseen ones.

"What on earth happened here?" Melania asked, hands on her hips just as disgusted as her husband, staring at Orion and Walburga silently demanding answers to what had just happened.

"He's got a girlfriend, he cheated on me…on the betrothal!" Walburga pointed at him, blaming the entire thing on Orion. Making herself out to be the injured party. "On the contract!"

"Orion doesn't have a girlfriend," Melania stated firmly, "What gave you that impression?" genuinely befuddled which caused Walburga to startle and glance suspiciously at Orion. Wondering if Melania was in on it, and trying to stop her from finding out, she would sue them to hell and back if it were true.

Orion just gazed right back, wincing slightly and shaking his head, disgusted with her and so, very, very done.

"Then why can't we still get married? The contract is null, yes, but we would make a good match! It would stop any shame to the Black name after…after…after what my father did." She waspishly said, glancing warily at Arcturus as she said the words 'father'. She'd been trained on all this, she knew exactly how to sink her hooks in. Her father had taught her well, and if she could do it without his help? All the better, she didn't need anyone's help really, but advice from her father from time to time can't hurt.

"It wouldn't have been a good match," Melania stated immediately, before her husband could think to talk. "Here you are hurting my son, the heir of the Black family…over something that is untrue. It's clear to me that you aren't fit to be Lady Black with that temper, that you got from the Crabbe side of the family." her grandmother was much the same, but as she grew older, she got better. From all she had heard, she knew that the Crabbe's were easily angered, and were lacking in power but made up for it with money.

Walburga flinched back at the glared of condemnation she was receiving from Lord and Lady Black, swallowing thickly, realizing for the first time what she had done. Her anger had gotten the better of her, but this time, without her father to dismiss any possible reaction, she was, for the first time having to deal with the consequences of her anger. "But he has someone," she bleated out, she was sure of it, the way he said she'd find someone to love…it hadn't just been a suggestion, it was a surety.

"And it's no matter of yours," Arcturus demanded of her, "He is no longer betrothed, he can see whomever he pleases." Unforgiving eyes boring into her own. "Be packed to leave, soon." Watching his wife guide their son out of the room, Melania fussing over him, the door sprang closed behind them, locking Walburga inside. He couldn't trust her, she was scheming, up to something, and the letters that had come for her were not revealing a pretty picture at all.

Safe to say, it wasn't a good idea to even send Walburga back to Hogwarts, all he could do was keep the redirection ward up so that she couldn't get mail. Or perhaps he'd give it over to Charlus and Dorea when they came.

"What's going to happen to us, Uncle Arcturus?" Alphard asked solemnly, despite his cheerful ways, he was a rather solemn boy.

Arcturus realized that Alphard was scared, walking forward, he crouched down so they were eye to eye. Hand giving Alphard's shoulder a reassuring squeeze, "You're all going to be fine, I'll make sure of it, you won't pay for your father's sins, I swear it." and he would never have disowned Pollux if he thought he'd fail. He would rather have killed him than caused the children to suffer. Out of all three kids, Walburga was most like Pollux. The boys were more like…Marius actually.

Alphard nodded slowly, trusting his uncle to be telling the truth, he might be young, but he knew what happened to children of those who were disowned normally. Yet they were still here, still wanted, and his uncle was going to see that they were adopted or became wards of someone in the family. Wrapping his arms around his uncle, he closed his eyes, he'd miss home, he'd miss his dad too, even if only abstractly.

Arcturus closed his own eyes and hugged Alphard back, yes, they reminded him so much of Marius. "Go finish your homework, and come have breakfast." He nudged his nephew back into the bedroom, pleased to see he looked far more relaxed. It hadn't been beyond his notice that Alphard hadn't been sure his hug would be welcomed. Perhaps he should have looked through Pollux's memories, he had a feeling that he'd be angry enough to kill his brother by what he saw.

"Yes, Sir!" Alphard said, with a jump in his step he went back to his studies.

Inhaling sharply, he turned and walked down the stairs at a hurried pace which was completely beneath him. "What on earth set Walburga off like that?" he asked, watching as the scratches disappear into a thin red line, blood being wiped away with a cotton ball his mother had swept across his face.

"She fears facing the public after what's happened," Orion confessed wryly, not that he could really blame her for that he wouldn't either. "Then she suggested we go through with the marriage, that we'd be a perfect match and it would stop any 'shame' coming to the family." the pain by now had entirely faded, the foul smell not so much.

"I see," Arcturus replied.

Orion frowned, "And neither of you are surprised."

A/N – there's been a lot of 'Orion needs to realize this and that' and Harry should have a few suitors, we're already onto Chapter 28 guys are you sure, I mean really, really sure you want Harry to have more than one suitor? 😉 I mean by all means if you want him to get married by the two hundredth chapter then alright 😉 another suiter it is haha lol oh, it's good to be back! I actually managed to get five thousand words written in a single day. It's been such a long time since I've managed that 😊 really pleased! Well, R&R please!