My Time

Chapter 39

Orion stared at Hayden as if he was in danger of disappearing entirely. His heart was pounding erratically. Warmth suffused his broken heart; it had been broken since his favourite uncle had done what he did. What his own cousin was capable of, the betrayal, the treason, the greed. It hurt so much, it was an indescribable pain, but the closest he could get would be his heart felt like it was broken. It was always meant to be family first; they were meant to always stick together. Yet that hadn't happened, people whom he'd known his entire life…he must be mad trusting someone he'd only known months.

Yet he did, he trusted Hayden entirely, was it foolish? Maybe, he knew he cared very much. Perhaps he did love him, Hayden had said it out loud, the reason he cared about Orion, and it sure as hell wasn't for money, reputation, his name, just…Orion, he cared for him and him alone. It was humbling, and he loved it, Hayden had made him feel a lot of different emotions since he showed up in his life. He felt something more than just resigned acceptance, sure he loved his family, so much, and had been prepared to do what needed to be done to continue the family line. However, he couldn't claim to have been happy.

Opening his mouth about to return the sentiment, his grey eyes crossed following Hayden's finger which were on his lips. A childish part of him wanted to lick them to see the grossed out look on Hayden's face…then again, given his ability to truly predict Hayden, likely wouldn't happen.

"Don't," Hayden murmured, slowly withdrawing his finger, a small sad smile on his face. "Don't say it out of obligation or because you think I need to hear it. You've been through so much Orion and keeping it contained is bound to be difficult. I know you've been taught to have a stiff upper lip, but it's really not healthy."

Orion opened his mouth to deny this, but Hayden's smile was rather distracting.

"I promise, I'm not going to run just because you've not said it, I'd rather the first time you tell me is because you feel it." Hayden added sincerely, jerking Orion forward, towards the bed, the magic raising the envelopes so they didn't fall all over the floor. "Those are the ones addressed to both of us, they're clear but it can't hurt to check twice." Changing the subject entirely.

Orion glanced dubiously at Hayden, wondering if it really was that simple. It certainly wasn't his experience, or things he'd noticed. People needed constant validation, to be told they're loved just days into a new relationship high on the endorphins. Sure, it was young teenagers admittedly, he had never taken any relationship seriously, because he couldn't. He was supposed to have married Walburga after school. He'd never had a choice; it was a contractual obligation.

Now he had a choice, it was overwhelming to say the least. How on earth had he been so lucky to end up with a wizard who understood him so well? Who could predict him and his feelings like it was something simple and plain when emotions were so complicated, he couldn't even begin to decipher them all?

Right now, though, awkwardness superseded them all, who would have guessed he'd be uncomfortable on his own bed? While a guest made themselves at home? Despite that, he didn't open his mouth to say anything, he didn't want to see Hayden close up, and he would, he thought, when he was in a situation, he wasn't comfortable with, Hayden clammed up and he'd only seen it happen a few times. He did not wish for a repeat.

Startling a little the letters zoomed into his hands, he caught them out of habit. Glancing up at Hayden then to the pile of betrothals that lay beside him. The jealousy didn't return, that was how much he trusted Hayden. His word was all the bond Orion needed, as sure as he needed air to breathe. Or his magic to live.

"You really don't care about my name or fortune." It was a statement of a fact, Orion already realized this as truth. However, it was baffling to a wizard who had grown up being warned about people being friends with him for his fortune, connections, name, even those who had all that still wanted more. He wasn't stupid, and some of them didn't even make excuses. Although, to be fair, Orion preferred those that were upfront about it, even if it wasn't exactly Slytherin natured.

"I wouldn't care if you looked like a hag, had no magic and were a penniless and toothless Muggle. The outer package while wonderful, isn't what I'm looking for Orion." Hayden said softly, "I just…I just want someone to care, to love, to have a family with."

Orion snorted, "Now you're starting to sound too good to be true."

"Only starting?" Hayden teased, kicking his shoes off his feet, and crossing his legs, glancing briefly at the windows – the curtains were still open – it was getting dark. It would be another month or so before it was daylight until well into the night. "How disappointing."

Orion's nostrils flared, staring at the feet that were on his bed. They were likely smelly and sweaty. Pursing his lips, he forced his attention elsewhere, all I would take was a single spell and all would be well. Still, that just wasn't normal. There were so many things he wanted to ask, but he didn't.

"This one's a good one," Orion murmured.

"Do you think we should pass the threatening letters to the DMLE?" Hayden pondered, giving Orion his undivided attention.

Orion glanced up into intense green eyes, vividly imprinting, it was the first real thing he'd noticed about him. Well, that and he was a body in front of Grimmauld Place of all places. He wasn't sure Hayden even remembered their first encounter; he'd only ever been told about it.

"Normally threats are passed onto our lawyer…" Orion informed him; his brow heavily furrowed. He wasn't sure he could ever trust a lawyer again. Not that they actually had a lawyer at the moment, a temporary one had been issued for Hayden to deal with the newspaper. Antonin was going to slay them, and leave them nameless.

"Go on," Hayden said, nudging him with his foot, laughing when Orion moved to touch them, Hayden looked as surprised as Orion felt at what had just happened. Swallowing thickly, he looked away for a moment, before turning back. "I…um, I have tickly feet."

Orion smirked, rather enjoying the red flush suffusing Hayden's cheeks. He wasn't easily embarrassed, or ashamed for that matter. After all he'd been through, it was hardly surprising. "I'll keep that in mind."

"So?" Hayden prompted.

"Right, lawyer, they decide if the letters have enough to bring in law enforcement. Most people aren't stupid enough to leave any magical residue or their fingerprints or leave a trace back to them like using Goblins owls, or the post office owls." Orion explained, he wasn't sure how much Hayden knew so he best lay it all out curtly without leaving Hayden believing he thought Hayden was an idiot. Which he didn't. "There's rarely ever anything found on legitimate threat letters."

"Logic really isn't many wizards' strong suits, I've found." Hayden said dryly, scrunching up another letter before tossing it into the wastebasket, fist pumping when it landed inside of it.

"What is your process with those?" eyeing the pile in contemplation.

"Insulting, not insulting," Hayden pointed them out, "The not insulting ones will be receiving a thank you letter, and maybe a gift. Although, it's tempting to give the gross ones Howlers where I know it would humiliate them the most."

"Silencing charms," Orion arched a brow hardly going to be embarrassing.

"Oh, please, nothing can destroy them…wait…right?" Hayden questioned, green eyes gleaming with vindictive glee, rubbing his hands together, "Ouch! Papercut! Damn it! that hurt!" how on earth did they hurt so much? A tiny measly papercut!

"At this moment in time, a first-year fire charm can get rid of Howlers." Orion informed him, wondering if the charm was different now or if it was just added to or intent.

Hayden grinned, "Nothing can get rid of Howlers in my time…um, you know what I mean." Waving his hand exasperatedly. "Not silencing spells, not fire spells, nothing. Well, except probably Fiendfyre, that would eat through everything through." Conceding that it would likely do the trick, but only a few hundred people could cast that spell with any accuracy and nobody would risk burning down any building they were in, to get rid of a Howler. Well, depended on the Howler he guessed.

"Then you most definitely need to share them with me," Orion declared emphatically, getting to use spells before their time? Sign him up, it would be absolutely amazing. He could just imagine all the spells with no counters yet, yes, he definitely liked it. "A Grimoire." That was a must, most assuredly.

"Now that's the most Slytherin thing you've said yet," Hayden commented with pride. "And don't worry, I'll teach you what I know about new spells." Smugly, he probably should feel guilty about that, but he honestly couldn't care less.

Orion arched a brow, "Are you somehow implying I'm not behaving in a Slytherin manner until now?" pompously.

"I'm not stupid enough to answer that," Hayden said, shrieking in laughter as his feet were grabbed and tickled mercilessly.

"Will you quiet down both of you! I'm trying to write to…why on earth are you on my brother's bed?" the sound of a slightly shrill voice broke them out of their amusement.

Hayden stared at Orion's sister upside down, "What do you mean?" he blinked owlishly at her.

Lucretia couldn't help but find the wizard extremely cute. Gorgeous really, nothing on her fiancé of course, but still attractive abstractly. "Even my fiancé hasn't taken such liberties with me."

"Now that's a life if I've ever heard one!" Orion retorted right back, annoyed and disbelieving.

Hayden watched them both argue back and forth.

"How dare you!" Lucretia complained, straightening her robes.

"Taken liberties! Ha!" Orion said, "You forget I know Ignatius!"

"Then you'll know he's honorable!" she sniped, throwing a pillow at him in retaliation for his words.

"Don't!" Orion sang.

"Do!"

Hayden laughed, watching both of them with a mixture of envy and amusement. More amusement than jealousy, he was used to seeing people with siblings, used to feeling envious of their easy-going ways. Colin and his younger brother Dennis, Padme with her twin sister, the Weasley's obviously.

"What?" both of them turned to ask him at the same time.

Hayden shook his head still grinning. Wondering what happened to Lucretia, Sirius had never mentioned her. He hadn't gone to her when he left the Black family. So, clearly, they hadn't been close…if she hadn't had children of her own maybe she'd been distant from everyone that had children? A reminder of what she'd never had? There was so much he didn't know, then again, her entire family acting different under the contract…one she couldn't break…perhaps she'd had no choice but to walk away?

It was painful to think of the agony she suffered at turning her back on her family and walking away. Realizing rather painfully, that there was nothing she could do. He felt for that version of her, but this Lucretia wouldn't know the pain of losing so much of her family to a magically altered state they had entered into upon Orion and Walburga's marriage.

"I don't think we've really been introduced properly," Lucretia zeroed in on Hayden with a impish grin, those grey eyes gleaming playfully.

Hayden turned over so that he could see her properly. Smothering his amusement at the wide-eyed look of shock on her face. Wait, was she serious about it being improper with him being on the bed? Or was she just trying to wind Orion up? Surely it was winding him up? "Lord Hayden Peverell at your service, ma'am!" Hayden teased her, holding out his hand.

"Lucretia Black, soon to be Prewett," she said, shaking his hand, finding herself unescapably drawn to his orbit. Not in any sexual manner, for some reason, she just wanted to hug him and keep him close. Maybe it's knowing a bit about his childhood – which really wasn't much just a lot of allusions – nobody deserved such a life. It hurt worse because she would do anything to have a child, she'd imagined how many children she wanted.

"Well met," Hayden inclined his head, "Are you looking forward to your wedding?" his attention fully focused on the witch.

"Oh, yes, very much," Lucretia enthused, smiling so widely that it surely must hurt.

"I guess you've already got a place to move into when you're married?" Hayden prompted when it became clear she wasn't going to say any more. Judging by how surprised she was by the second question, perhaps she thought he was merely being polite and didn't actually want to know more.

"MY father and father-in-law purchased fifty acres of land on the outskirts of Ottery St Catchpole in…" Lucretia explained with a dreamy look on her face.

"Devon, right?" Hayden finished for her, digging his hand into Orion's leg, "Fifty acres? Wow that's a lot of land to cover." Attempting to cover his slip. Huh, that's how the Weasley's were able to live well. They must have sold some of the land since the Weasley property while big wasn't anywhere near fifty acres. Or should he call it the Prewett property and land? At least until Molly married Arthur.

"Not at all, I've already got my uncles giving me every kind of apple tree possible, I want to create an Apple Orchard." Lucretia told him with a smile. Referring to her mother's brothers. They were the Herbology Masters after all. "With plenty of space for other animals, chicken, cows, and definitely Hippogriff's, my grandfather raised them for racing, he still raises them despite being retired.

"He does?" Hayden asked, smiling fondly. "They definitely have a lot of room to graze." The castle was massive to say the least, with a whole lot more land than fifty acres. As severe as the Blacks reputations could be, you learned to judge someone by the way they treated their lesser wizard, their servants. And like it or not, the Black House-elves were well dressed, clean and very happy. Kreacher didn't count. The poor thing, between Walburga, the potion damage and wearing a damn Horcrux for such a long time he didn't stand a chance.

"I loved riding them, Elmy, he'd only let me touch and ride him," Lucretia confessed fondly, unfortunately, he had since passed away, but she still wanted to help them.

"Join us," Hayden said, jerking his head to the side, encouraging her to sit. "What other animals did you grow up with?" utterly fascinated. Just as fascinated as he had been by the garden Gnomes in the burrow, and everything magical.

Lucretia daintily conjured a chair, and sat down beside the bed. She might not be marrying a Lord and becoming a Lady, but she'd been raised as such. She'd been the heiress (even if she'd never be able to control the Black estate because she was a woman) if she'd been their parents only child, she would have married a wizard, and they would have taken on the Black name unless her father gave it to Cygnus or Alphard.

Lucretia glanced at Orion, gauging his reaction to Hayden focusing on her, only to find that he seemed entirely at ease. Merlin, he was so gone on Peverell, and it made her so happy to see her brother experience that sort of thing. "Well, we had a Pegasus once, it only stayed maybe two days? Before she was shipped away to a Pegasus sanctuary, I can't remember why grandfather bought her…"

Orion snorted, "Father was with you, and you saw it being hurt, the owner quickly regretted that." Revealing what his sister didn't remember or know.

"That…that's right, yeah, I remember now," Lucretia replied, nodding her head slowly. "He bought it, her," she amended, "It was so small, and injured I thought for sure she wouldn't be able to be saved."

"Was she?" Hayden asked, levitating the food over to the three of them.

"Oh, yes, I received updates for years, she grew up into a fine Pegasus. It helped that my father donated generously to them every year too." Lucretia said dryly.

Hayden smiled, "It seems to me you guys all love your animals,"

"Not all of us, Walburga can't stand anything animal, she can't even be nice to the House-elves." Lucretia joining Hayden in eating.

"How about you? Orion? What did you get for going to Hogwarts? Let me guess, an owl?" Hayden questioned.

"An owl, yes, I wasn't really a cat person, and I was not carrying around a toad for seven years." Orion replied, rolling his eyes. "I wanted a puppy when I was younger, but my parents always told me that it would be a twenty-year commitment. That if I still wanted one after Hogwarts as a graduation present then I was welcome to have one."

Lucretia echoed the sentiment having heard it from her parents too.

"Why don't you get one?" Hayden questioned after swallowing down the food in his mouth. "You're out of Hogwarts."

"And until recently I was going to be married to Walburga." Orion said dryly, he wouldn't wish that sort of existence on anyone. "Plus, I'd be out very frequently, I wouldn't be able to spend much time with it." an animal didn't deserve to be on its own so much, he'd vowed though that one day he'd have that pet.

"What about you?" Lucretia questioned; this was so much better than sitting in her room pining after Ignatius. They couldn't really sneak into each other's places, so she had to make do with letters. Standing up she moved to get a drink for all of them, handing them the goblets.

"The folks to raised me had a relative who bred bulldogs," Hayden told them, blankly. "It tormented me when I was young on her orders. I was bitten by them, but I learned, I got faster, ran up trees, he couldn't get me there. Of course, the downside was I spent a long time up there, she let him stay out barking incessantly the whole day. It was past midnight before she called him away so I could get down."

"So that's a no on the dog, rough," Lucretia glanced at Orion.

"Never said that," Hayden replied in amusement, "I had an owl, it was a gift, I had her six years, she was my familiar."

Lucretia gasped, hand raising dramatically to her mouth in silent horror.

Orion just grimaced a little, already aware.

"The loss of your familiar must have been harrowing," almost wanting to cry for the loss for Hayden.

Hayden rubbed his chest, truth was it hurt, yes, but he'd been losing so much that it really had all been a blur. "I've been through worse," he told her softly, "But I'd very much like another familiar." Drinking down the cold liquid, feeling parched.

"Too soon for an owl, I'm guessing," Orion murmured quietly.

"To have one as a familiar, yeah," Hayden agreed, "But maybe not for something else." a snake, maybe a dog, something to raise around kids, so that they had constant companionship, a family pet maybe? Hayden smiled so brightly, a real genuine heartfelt smile.

Orion couldn't help but wonder what had elicited it.

"I'm going to go finish writing my letter," Lucretia claimed, the chair disappearing in a poof of non-verbal and wandless magic.

Hayden whistled, "Nice,"

Lucretia flushed before grinning in a smug happiness. "Talk to you later!"

"I hope so," Hayden told her, "Maybe tomorrow early afternoon?" it would give him time to reply to all the mail he'd received.

"Can't we're going shopping for the wedding, we'll be back in time for dinner?" she suggested, leaning against the door. Hayden Peverell was definitely going to keep her younger brother on his toes. Although, she'd never met anyone who took their shoes off, never mind just got comfortable on someone's bed. She wondered if she could entice Ignatius to do it. Unlikely, he respected the courtship too much to screw it up by being overly familiar. It was kind of a done deal; they were getting married.

"You bet, see you then," Hayden agreed.

"Bye," with a quiet click Lucretia left them alone, probably not remembering why she came in the first place.

"You didn't do that for me, did you?" Orion turned his gaze on Hayden intently.

Hayden snorted, "No, the most I'll do for you when it comes to family, Orion…is tolerate Walburga."

Orion laughed, warmed all the same.

"Are you close?" Hayden asked, there had been nothing in the journal, but that had been the 'created' Orion who had no free will of his own. A puppet of Walburga's, he never wrote much of a lot of the Black family members. Not even the ones disowned by Walburga.

"My first memories are all of Lucretia," Orion confessed, "When we're really small we're raised by a nanny House-elf. I was always told that my sister was always found in my room, looking after me, playing with me, reading to me, she used to call me drool bucket." A wry smirk.

Hayden swallowed thickly, "You actually do that?" aghast, what was it with the magical world perpetually stuck in the 16th century.

"My parents had very busy lives, I saw more of…my uncle and grandparents more than I saw of my parents for years. It was why I had such a strong bond with him." Orion confessed, and why it hurt so much that his uncle had done what he did.

Why him? What had he done to make his uncle turn his back on him? He'd never have an answer and it would always be like a cutting curse to the heart.

"That…that is not happening when we have kids," Hayden declared strongly, "Which means you'll get up in the middle of the night to change nappies, to feed them, to walk back and forth until your feet ache along with me." Entirely too enthusiastic about that prospect.

Not that Orion noticed, too dazed at the thought of actually having a family with Hayden. It should terrify him, since both of them were moving at a pace that was way too fast. Hayden wasn't talking hypothetically, not using the word if, but when.

Both of them lay across the bed, in the wrong direction, Hayden at the top of the bed and Orion at the bottom of the fourposter bed. They spoke well into the night, about everything and anything that caught their fancy. The letters and mail (which by the way continued to pile up in their absence) forgotten for the moment.

Arcturus did come up the stairs to find them on the bed together. The only reason he didn't say anything – other than the desire not to antagonise the young Lord whom he badly wanted in his family – was because they were both fully dressed and the covers were under them and letters. It was clear nothing had happened between either of them.

A/n – still didn't get a chance to put that scene in 😉 but I'm determined to get it in there somewhere! 😊 hehe just remember guys that this story isn't going to be about politics (much) this is going to be a family orientated story, for the most part…you're all fine with that? I mean I usually give one crisis and drama after another 😉 it's very different or at least I'm planning it that way 😊 the muse might plan some bits of drama down the line…but not much or at all if I have my way 😉 Hmm I wondering if I'll ever get to a point where I can get a time jump going…but with Tom, the wedding, Orion and Hayden's budding relationship it's going to take a while. Would you like to see Hayden accept the betrothal contract? Or will he take Orion's feelings into consideration and refuse to sign it? One bitten twice shy after all, unless of course…they create it themselves? R&R please