My Time

Chapter 36

The first thing Orion and Hayden smelt as they made their way into the Black residence was the delicious scent of food wafting from the kitchen. It made both Orion and Hayden's stomach's grumble something awful. The pair were absolutely starving, and couldn't wait for dinner.

Melania glanced at them, glass of wine in hand, setting her book aside, "Oh, good you're both home, I had begun to fear…" trailing off, thinking they wouldn't get back in time.

"Sorry, that's my fault," Hayden told her immediately so she didn't blame Orion. Taking the blame when there was none to be had. They were there before even Dolohov.

"I'll be right back," Orion murmured, squeezing Hayden's hand, more to ensure that Hayden knew than anything else. He had learned that Hayden wasn't as confident with matters of the heart like he was in all else. He had a feeling there was a story there too, and not just the fact he'd been killed by his Ex-girlfriend. A Weasley of all things, a Weasley.

"Alright," Hayden agreed, noticing Orion was really struggling with what he told him. Which confused him, after all, everyone back home had known and none had struggled to digest all that. Added to the fact, they either put him on a pedestal or despised and derided him. There was never something in-between for the wizarding world. If he was struggling with that…perhaps it was a good time to stop, maybe wait until whatever was bothering Orion was over? He had just lost a relative (well, not just anymore) but it was bound to be affecting him. It had taken Hayden a long time to get over what had happened to Sirius.

His parents weren't blind to Orion's silent struggles, and naturally Melania abandoned the romance book she'd been reading and hastened after her son.

"Good evening, Lord Peverell," Arcturus said smoothly, standing up, tucking the information he'd been reading over away into his dragonhide folder. "I hope you are well?" glancing briefly at the doorway where his son had gone, then at Hayden. Curious grey eyes penetrating green, wondering what they had been up to. He had thought having Hayden back in his life would cause his son happiness. If anything, he looked more miserable…well, no, not really, but it was clear he was struggling with some sort of information.

"Good evening, Arcturus, as I've said before, call me Hayden," Hayden said, having glanced briefly at the paperwork, a contract, he noticed, for Walburga. He said nothing, merely bit his tongue, it wasn't his family, but you'd think he wouldn't have anything to do with contracts after what happened to Orion. Then again, given all she'd known…perhaps this was his way of punishing her or making sure she didn't embarrass the family.

Arcturus relaxed against the sofa, inclining his head, taking that statement as things being well between their families again. It pleased him, more so because his own stupidity hadn't ruined what may be a good thing. Only a fool would alienate a damn Peverell, with the gifts he had which would come into play. "Come join me," it would be nice to talk to Hayden again in not too traditional setting.

Hayden grinned, "Is the Heir of Dolohov called Antonin?" a twinkle in his eyes indicating that it was knowledge he already had.

"He is," Arcturus informed him, "He's vastly underestimated, very intelligent, not to mention extremely powerful like his mother." Having no qualms about discussing the family with Hayden. He was sure the young man had learned tact and knew better than to gossip or reveal where he'd gotten his information.

Hayden nodded, "I'm going to assume his mother's family is well known for their secrecy? Including their own spell work?" the spells Dolohov had used against them, hadn't been known. He still didn't know how Madam Pomfrey had saved Hermione that day. While Madam Pomfrey was a great healer, she wasn't a miracle worker and you did need to know what you were working with in order to heal your patients.

"You'd be correct," Arcturus declared, "Anya was foreign, found it difficult to fit in for a brief time. Her husband Antony Dolohov who remained in her home country for years before he moved them here in order to give her time, to get used to married life, to learn English and the way of an English wizarding family. He loved her, and his open devotion was captured for all to see."

"And a lot of people will have been jealous and envious." Hayden finished for him, grimacing a bit, it was probably someone close to him that had delivered the death blow. Happy marriage and a child? Yeah, he reckoned it was someone far closer than Lord Dolohov realized. He could know in a matter of seconds, he was a necromancer, but he decided against looking.

"Indeed, she is a much missed and well-respected witch in these parts now, despite the length of time she's been gone." Arcturus declared, not that there was an end to grief, everyone processed it differently. "Every year upon her anniversary, the head of the Department of Law Enforcement receives a barrage of mail demanding the case be looked at again."

"I see," Hayden murmured, he respected their desire to see that the case was solved. "Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, genuinely taken aback by the look on his face.

"You are a necromancer, you have a special…relationship with Death himself, there is nothing in this world closed to you." Arcturus said, admiration making Hayden feel both surprised and a little embarrassed. "Now the world might have…exaggerated your abilities, but I do believe they underestimated them. The true revelation of power always intimidates those in the magical world, especially the United Kingdom. Power is always admired, respected and desired." He had not disproved of Orion's choice; he had chosen well. He just wished that he'd decided to let his son chose himself. Regardless of what happened…he believed he'd irrevocably and irreparably broken his relationship with his son.

"So?" Hayden enquired, playing dumb, but judging by the subtle smirk playing across Arcturus' face he had played that hand badly.

"I'm sorry, but if you're expecting me to think you dumb, that boat has sailed long ago." Arcturus informed Hayden in admiration. "You've suitably endeared yourself to nearly every member of my family, and I do not believe for a moment it was a calculated decision. However, you are very intelligent." He'd seen what Harry was like when he was in that calculating mode, when Black Castle had been up in flames. Cunning but only to a certain extent. He didn't have that ruthlessness that was carefully cultivated in Slytherin along with ambition.

Hayden's eyes narrowed, cocking his head to the side, "What do you want?"

Ruthless he might not be, but he was suspicious as hell, Arcturus wondered if it was bred into him or a suspicious nature…or through experience. He sincerely hoped it wasn't the last one, he was too young to have been hurt so much. "At this time, nothing. Would you care for a drink?"

Melania followed her son through to the kitchen, arching a delicate brow in surprise as her son ventured down the wine cellar. Slightly surprised that he knew where it was and what it was. Orion while not lazy, had the House-elves do things for him, fetch things for him and such. Silently following Orion, through the door and down the steps, "Orion? What is going on? Are you okay?" Melania asked genuinely worried for her son.

"Which drink is the strongest?" Orion asked staring at the rows of alcohol that his parents kept in the wine cellar. Which contrary to popular belief, did not just hold wine.

"Orion," Melania asked, her alarm unhidden. Approaching her son, arms raised as if seeking to comfort him. "What's going on? Can I help?" the desire to help her son, to get rid of all that alarmed him, but knowing it was impossible rolled through her.

Orion glanced at his mother, hearing her alarm and feeling bad for it. Grumbling inwardly, he grabbed a dusty bottle of firewhisky, poured some in a tumbler and gulped it down.

"That is not meant to be chugged down!" Melania gaped, "It's worth half a million!" not that it was about the money, Merlin, help him, Orion was in really bad way. Why was it that Black's seem to enjoy a drink when things were bad? It was a miracle none of them were alcoholics.

"I can pay you for it," Orion rasped out, inhaling sharply, the burn was steadying, and the lightness that was the affect of alcohol made things feel a little temporarily tolerable. He stared at the bottom before screwing the lid back on and taking it up stairs with him. There was no point to putting drink back once opened. He wouldn't drink much more; he couldn't break his promise to Hayden.

"That is not what I meant," Melania stated, watching her son go, moving to go with him, after letting him pass. "Orion!" hurt at being dismissed so easily suffused her voice.

"It's between Hayden and I," Orion told her, turning to face her, grey eyes softening, "Don't try to make me break my word."

Melania's own eyes softened in sweet relief; it couldn't be anything too bad if it was something between the pair. After all Hayden was here with him, the worst is surely over with? Still, to make Orion have the urge to drink? That didn't help your problems, he knew this. Still, she also knew how upset Hayden had been that he'd blurted out medical information in a bid to stop whatever unsavoury things they would have said otherwise. Being a bearer was…not thought of when you saw couples together. Orion was the heir, it was his responsibility to have children, to continue the line. More importantly, he was the only son they'd had, and there was no way they'd have another child. "You are my son, my worry will always be for you, first," Melania told him, gripping his arm tightly in a show of solidity.

"I know," Orion murmured, reaching out he hugged his mother, wondering how long it had been since he'd done such a simple thing. A hug, it was…just a hug, yet it had been a while since he'd done so. At least him initiating it at any rate, and judging by his mother stilling in shock a really, really long time. "I love you."

"Alright, Orion, you're really beginning to scare me," Melania nonetheless, hugged him back just as tightly. It had been a long time since her son came to her and actually hugged her without her initiating the contact.

Orion laughed, "Don't be, I'm fine, I promise, just a difference in perspective." He swore, he would never take his mother or father…or his family for granted. They had protected him, loved him his entire life, and Merlin help him…he was so glad they'd been around. Just look at what had happened to Hayden, he still couldn't understand how Dumbledore got away with so much. "I'd like to take the seat on the board of governors."

"The board of…why on earth for? The entire thing is a waste of time, a constant squabble on what to do that leads to nothing getting accomplished." Melania asked, parting reluctantly from her son, to stare at him. "You're going to have so little time to yourself when you become Lord Black without adding school duties onto it."

"It's important to me," Orion replied moving and setting the drink on the drink caddy that was near the table for this evening.

"What's important to you?" Arcturus asked as he entered the kitchen with Hayden, pouring five drinks from a wine he had opened specifically for this evening. It had been breathing for some hours this wine, and it was going to pair perfectly with the meal.

"He's asked to take over the duties of being a member of the board," Melania informed her husband still perplexed, "Take a seat, you're a guest here. You don't need to help." She informed Hayden with a genuine smile; it wasn't often she was asked if any help was needed.

"Melania's quite right, the House-elves will by with the food soon enough, we're just waiting on Antonin, he'll be another few moments but no longer." Arcturus informed Hayden, handing over one of the glasses to Hayden then his wife. "The board?" giving his son an inquisitive look. It was a job he'd given to Cassiopeia so long ago; she'd done it for over two decades before she asked to be released from such duty. Which Arcturus had gracefully allowed her to step aside. He had hoped she had met someone, wanted to settle down and have a family, but it wasn't to be. His cousin was a free spirit, and was content with her lot in life.

"The next generation is important," Orion declared, no defensiveness about his answer, which meant he felt very strongly about his decision.

"You understand that some meetings might clash? And you will have to miss a few meetings?" Arcturus informed him solemnly. He knew better than to try and talk Orion out of it. His son was strong, stubborn and when he put his mind to something he saw it through. If it got too much, he would talk his son into giving up the board of Hogwarts membership. He did wonder at his son's sudden desire to be on the board, it had never been spoken of before, if anything Orion had been quite eager to leave Hogwarts (with near perfect grades) so he could take on his Lordship.

"Yes," Orion declared solemnly.

"Then I…" Arcturus paused, "Excuse me, it seems Antonin is here,"

Hayden glanced at Orion in silent query.

"We have a Floo network for guests, they can't access the house until my father lets them pass through," Orion explained, no doubt Hayden didn't have a clue. "It's in my father's office, and it can feel quite cramped while waiting so my father elects to ensure that nobody waits too long. If father isn't in, the wards bypass to my mother." Making a mental note to give him a book on basic warding so he understood how they worked.

Hayden felt rather alarmed, "Cramped? You can be stuck at your destination without gaining entrance?" Hayden whispered heatedly at Orion in shock.

Orion grinned, it was roughish and boyish, "You've not used the Floo network often, have you?"

"Well, no," he confessed, "My first time I actually pronounced it wrong, and ended up lost." Scratching his head sheepishly, recalling the way the Dursley's living room exploded dramatically due to the lack of being connected to the network.

"You didn't happen to end up on the Dragon Preserve, did you?" Orion asked, a twinkle in his eye. He was honestly not sure whether he was kidding or not.

Hayden snorted, genuinely amused, "No, but I did end up alone, not knowing a single spell in Knockturn Alley."

Orion blanched, glancing at Hayden praying he was kidding, but no, that wasn't a look of someone kidding around.

"I was found quickly and brought back to Diagon Alley," Hayden reassured Orion. Not giving names, since he wasn't meant to have attended Hogwarts, there was no way he knew who Hagrid was.

"I'm not sure if I should coin you lucky or unlucky." Orion mused, guiding both of them to the table, the sound of his father and Antonin drifting towards their ears, but what they were saying neither could be sure.

"I was told I had Felix Felicis running through my veins," Hayden admitted, now that he didn't have to worry about not being invented. Not only did he know that Slughorn had used it in his youth…but that this specific potion had been created in the sixteenth century by Potions Master Zygmunt Budge said to be his greatest achievement along a prosperous career. Having used it, Hayden couldn't help but fully agree to be honest.

Orion arched a brow, "I'm going to assume there's another story there?"

"Yup," Hayden answered, smugly smirking as he took a sip of the drink, "Oh, that's really lovely," the wine was a good one, he'd need to get the name, and buy a few bottles for his own cellar. He probably should have brought one with him, to thank them for helping him the way they were.

"Thank you," Melania said, smiling in gratitude, as she sat down in her position, not for long, as she and the others stood – Orion ensuring Hayden did – when his father entered accompanied by Antonin.

Hayden blinked, as he sat back down as Orion guided his arm, he wasn't sure what he'd been expecting. The gaunt thing that had been in Azkaban prison? This was a young wizard the same age as them, with a career already under his belt and a reputation getting built. "Your uncle, he's the one that did it." Hayden smacked his hand over his mouth, blinking rapidly, he had not intended to say anything, let alone anything like that. What was wrong with him? Was he losing control over his abilities? Or was it more to do with the fact he didn't know how to control them yet? He hadn't really been around too many people, not directly in close quarters with them. "Heh. That was weird." He muttered, giving them an apologetic look.

Naturally, Antonin was rather baffled by the words, and hadn't realized the gravity of it.

The Blacks however, had.

"I need to use the facilities please," Hayden asked, tense, his lips pursed so tightly together, that it surely had to hurt.

"Of course, follow me," Orion said, standing quickly, leaving his parents to explain – or lie – to Antonin. "Well, I've never seen you so impulsive before."

"I am impulsive, but not like that," Hayden answered, "It was like I was…taken over, I…well…sort of like being possessed but not." struggling to explain his own experience. Nobody else would understand regardless, unless he got his hands on journals or diaries belonging to fellow Necromancers.

"Have you managed to even put a dent in the books from the estate?" Orion asked, pretty sure he already knew the answer, opening the bathroom door but Hayden didn't close it. He merely walked over to the sink, and continued talking.

"I've not had much time, I've been reading your books I do have exams to take," Hayden confessed, rubbing his face with cold water. He didn't just want to pass, he wanted to do really well. This was his life now; hard work was going to be the only way forward. He wasn't The-Boy-Who-Lived, and thank Merlin for that.

'Save my son, please!'

Hayden blanched, son? Oh, oh no, it was her?

"Orion…did Antonin's mother have short blonde hair?"

"I can't say I know what she looks like," Orion said, glancing around, "But as a Necromancer, they are known for seeing people beyond the veil. Samhain is said to be quite the intolerable day for them until they learn control." where the veil was at it's weakest, and everyone with a single reason to stay back did manage to break through. She must be coming through strong due to the fear for her child? People who were murdered lingered on until they were solved, until justice was served.

Hayden nodded, "Mort…you better not have dumped me here without a single aid in helping me figure out these gifts," he warned Death, genuinely worried he'd never control his abilities. His magic had always been so strong, how many others could say they'd performed accidental Auror level magic which caused Marge to blow up like a balloon? At thirteen! He should have had control over his magic by then.

Orion just watched, not disturbed seeing Hayden talk to nobody, knowing there was more to the world than what he saw. In fact, he'd say he understood, he did a Samhain ritual every year, spoke to those who had already passed over. It was hazy, like a pleasant dream, but he knew he'd spoken to them. Next time he would be talking to someone he knew far more than just hazy childhood memories.

'There is a hidden box, under the Master bedroom of the Peverell estate, it holds the Peverell diaries, their thoughts, experiences and all the magic they used specifically tied to their abilities. Which, yes, does including the wand, stone and cloak.'

"Why there?" Hayden asked befuddled. None of the Peverell's since he three brothers' parents had lived in Peverell castle. Not even the lone surviving brother, whom had only one son, it was pretty soon after that the Male Peverell line ended, and became Potter.

'The Wards would ensure that only family ever got into the premises, without his brothers, he wasn't as strong, the three were…unstoppable.'

Hayden rolled his eyes, Mort sounded a touch too smug right now, he did wonder why Mort wasn't making an appearance. It was the sort of thing he would do, he loved scaring people judging by the last time he'd shown himself. Hell, would he be able to talk to anyone he liked in his own mind? "How the hell do Necromancers not go insane?" he asked out loud, turning the tap off, he wiped himself with the towel inhaling sharply.

"There are ways to shut it off, you are adept at Occlumency, it should come easy to you," Orion reassured him. At least it should be, surely Occlumency would prevent anyone talking to him even from the other side? It does protect your mind from intrusion.

"What makes you think I'm good at Occlumency?" eyeing Orion like a predator would a prey.

"You have to understand we had just met…and I was curious…" Orion defended his actions as he exited the bathroom hastily.

"Uh-huh," Hayden replied his impassive, green eyes gleaming mercilessly.

"It was only a second, just a tiny, tiny second," Orion continued on, fingers almost together to show just how small. "Tiny." Reiterating just how sort a time he'd tried to enter his mind.

Hayden snorted and reached forward to grab Orion before he tripped, shaking his head, honestly, "What do you think your father has said?"

"He's a Slytherin, he will have worked around it," Orion said dryly, turning around before he actually tripped for real. "Don't worry, my father wouldn't reveal anything. Especially to outsiders." His tone becoming grim and determined. As much as they liked Antonin, he wouldn't be trusted with information that was sensitive and for family only.

Hayden relaxed, "That's good, but I will have to tell him before he leaves. His mother is…pushy." Grumbling as he glared to his left, she was determined that woman.

"What's it like?" Orion couldn't help but ask, genuinely curious and overwhelmingly envious not to a bad degree, but the way someone feels if they have only two owls to their three or four. You know you don't need another owl (or pet) but it doesn't stop the desire to have more but you're nonetheless content with what you have. He didn't want the abilities Hayden has, not really, but to know more? Intellectually it was absolutely amazing, there was not much known about them. What was out there, well, nobody really knew whether it was accurate or not.

"What having people annoying you all the time? Or just the ability?" Hayden asked, slowing as they came closer to the kitchen.

"The ability," Orion confirmed, gaze on Hayden, greedily taking in his looks, abilities and any information he revealed. A little pang at the back of his mind wondered what on earth someone so spectacularly powerful with such amazing gifts would see in him. His necromancer abilities were real, whether he was a seer or not or if he just used information that was his life before he came back in time after being killed.

Hayden paused, a faraway look on his face, "It's like people being in the room and talking to you, Mort spoke to me but that was all mental," Hayden told him, lowering his voice to a whisper, "But Antonin's mother was…visible, she was desperate…not sure what happens but whatever does Antonin survived…at least in my time."

Orion nodded his understanding.

"Do you think I've started a butterfly effect?" Hayden wondered.

"Excuse me?" Orion asked befuddled, "The what effect?"

"You know in chaos theory; the butterfly effect is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions in which a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state." Hayden stated.

Orion blinked, "Did you recite that out of a book without understanding it?" Orion drawled, secretly hoping so, since none of that made much sense to him.

"In chaos theory the phenomenon whereby a minute localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere." Hayden said with a subtle smirk. "Like standing on an ant could change the future."

"Muggles," Orion groaned, knowing that's exactly what he was referring to. He was never going to like them, regardless of what happened in future. If anyone expected him to like them after seeing them hurting a magical child? They were fools.

Hayden sniggered as he entered the dining room, finding that everyone was waiting rather impatiently – judging by the looks they got – when he and Orion entered. They both made quick work of sitting down.

"My apologies," Hayden murmured, setting the napkin over his lap, Orion echoing him.

Hayden shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny of Antonin Dolohov, who was young, powerful and with a gaze that was full of life and cunning to boot.

A/N - Heh, told you, I'm splitting up the whole revelation but you've got to understand why people do it all at once...because they don't want to forget bits and pieces so it's much easier to just reveal everything and be done with it and not repeat over things 😊 especially if the stories are longer like Lord of Time 😉 that's just my opinion of course, so will Antonin already be a Death Eater? I mean he didn't room with Tom and didn't seem to be a member of his inner circle, pretty stupid considering how powerful he was…I reckon he was on par with Severus creating his own spells and stuff…not sure if Dolohov created as much as Sev but understandable he's an understated character…will Hayden become good friends with Dolohov? I love expanding on my stories nowadays 😊 not just using the same old folk lol 😉 IS there any other understated characters you'd like used? R&R