My Time

Chapter 67

Orion entered the room once more, a thunderous look upon his face. Which when on his face made him vastly more intimidating than his name and status alone could. More intimidating than even the Minister's mutinous look earlier when they were so rudely interrupted.

"Minister Spencer-Moon, I demand that you call the Aurors in here, immediately." Orion stated, having zero concerns that his words would be ignored. To do so would be the height of political and social suicide.

Everyone blinked in sync at his words, as if it couldn't compute at first. Then a sense of confusion enveloped them all, why would the Aurors need to be involved in a simple lawsuit?

Mary glanced at her father in confusion, wondering if he could make sense of it all. Why get the Aurors involved? They couldn't do anything when it came to civil matters. This was exactly what this was, a civil matter.

The Minister opened his mouth, to ask what he wasn't sure. He knew however, that the Black's don't make idle threats or commands. If Heir Black believed that the Aurors needed calling, then there was one hundred percent a reason for it.

Instead, he pressed the rune engraved in the wood on his desk, until it lit up blue. Which was a signal for his secretary that he wanted her in the office, post haste.

"Yes, Sir?" the witch that had been in moments prior and had been shouted at to leave. Her face was blank, lips pursed, she understood he had a serious job but she did not need to be yelled at thusly. She was contemplating the idea of whether it was worth putting up with.

"Summon two Aurors that aren't currently busy," he demanded, an apologetic look on his face. He hadn't meant to speak to her that way, she certainly hadn't deserved it. However, she knew better than to come into the rooms he was in without approval. Especially when he had SCIF activated, which secured the room against animagi, bugs, and silenced the room so nobody could hear anything.

"Are they to wait outside or be sent right through?" she asked, already scribbling away, whist looking at the Minister expectantly.

"Send them straight through, and impart on the urgency of the matter." The Minister declared, he wasn't sure just what was going on, but given the reactions it must be something concerning.

"It will be done," with that the secretary was gone.

"What exactly requires the Aurors to be present, heir Black?" the Minister queried, cautious, feeling as if he was treading on egg shells. Given how unpredictable this meeting had gone so far…it could literally be anything.

"The law has been broken," Orion declared dryly, causing Hayden to snort, making no effort to conceal it. His hooligan, honestly, no decorum, it was a good thing he loved him, really.

"Nice," Hayden muttered to Orion, amused. Slowly but surely, beginning to feel better. Not only at the sickness fading, but the dread and fear he'd been put through thinking – even if only for a moment – that his blood could be used for something. He'd had it happen once; he definitely didn't wish for a reoccurrence.

Orion glanced Hayden's way but didn't say anything to encourage him. Not that they had the time, it took mere moments. For the door to open once more, and two Aurors entered the room. When you get summons from the Minister of magic – even via his secretary – you paid attention and left right away even without it being considered an 'emergency'.

"How can we help you, Minister?" the senior Auror on duty questioned, as he stepped forward, his junior partner remaining just slightly behind him but ever watchful and alert.

The Minister glanced coolly at Orion, rather displeased that he couldn't answer that question. It made him feel on edge, unprepared for what could come his way. It wasn't a particularly pleasant feeling.

"They are hiding someone on their payroll who illegally performed a spell using Lord Peverell's blood while he was incapacitated at St. Mungo's." Orion said with steely undertones.

Even healers and Medi witches did not attempt such things. It was done as a last resort – if an unknown wizard was dying or some such – and they needed explicit permission from the Wizengamot to perform it. They only used it to find out their identity as the last possible means to ensure they knew who it was. It was done by at least three witnesses, and then the blood – should any remain – was dispatched off immediately. There were no chances taken when it came to blood.

"That is just preposterous!" sputtered Cuffe, standing up utterly outraged, huffing like a bullfrog, ready to defend himself to the last. "Tell them!" their contacts were…of ill-repute some times, but none of them would go that far in the name of a story! At least nobody Mary knew.

"You knew on the twenty-third of December who I was, Sir," Hayden snarled, he would not give them any leeway, they'd had their last once of mercy from him.

"And? So what?" Cuffe hands on his hips, his face completely overcome with redness, puffy and enraged by their implications. "It doesn't mean anything illegal went on! My daughter doesn't need to resort to nasty cheap trickery!"

"I was unconscious for three days," Hayden declared, "I didn't wake until the evening of the twenty-fourth. To make matters worse, whoever it was…managed to get into a ward filled with sick, injured, and underage children." Sickened to his stomach, they could have done anything, the wards did need to be strengthened.

Voldemort hadn't attacked the hospital, not because it shouldn't be done…but because it couldn't be done. The hospital in his time was quite frankly more secure than Hogwarts – not that it was anything to Floo call about! – and more secure than Gringotts.

It was just embarrassing really, how easily infiltrating Gringotts actually was in his time. Especially since it was supposed to be one of the most secure buildings they had. Yet three seventeen-year-olds had succeeded where everyone else had failed. Even Voldemort failed to get the stone whilst it was in Gringotts.

If Hayden's comment hadn't already lit a fire under the Aurors arses, the comment about children most definitely would have. "Do you wish to press charges?"

"That's the reason you've been summoned," Hayden stated before Orion could even think to give a response.

"You can't have us arrested! We did nothing wrong!" Cuffe shouted, smacking his first down on the table in his fury.

"You're hiding a criminal; you've engaged in criminal activity and earning from it. Performing illegal blood magics earns one a one-way ticket to Azkaban. Participating? Well, I'm sure the Wizengamot will take pity." Orion declared without an ounce of mercy in his voice.

"p-p-p-part-participating?" Cuffe stuttered, beady eyes beginning to fill with fear. "We did no such thing! My daughter will tell you everything you need to know! As I said before, we have no need for illegal activities!"

"Do you actually believe that? Your paper had zero journalistic integrity. You care more about sales than accuracy of reporting the news. As shown by the fact you got into bed with Dumbledore and the Minister and kept information that citizens' have a right to know! Manipulating the entire British magical population with slanted or outright misinformation! Your nothing but an incredibly biased, corrupt, deceptive disgusting little man!" Hayden all but spat out at the wizard. All the years of anger and rage he'd felt at the newspaper that continued to slander him endlessly, finally got the better of him.

Cuffe opened and closed his mouth in utter astonishment. It was more to do with the fact someone was telling the truth, over the fact that he was being accused. He'd never heard anyone speak to him thusly, not even those who pathetically needed the money for any slight on their name.

"There is proof that Mary Cuffe can be arrested, but there's nothing here regarding her father. All he's guilty of doing is letting the articles be published." Minister Spencer-Moon explained, paperwork spread out in front of him. looking world wary.

He was not a stupid wizard, to have gotten where he had, he'd learned and watched. Rubbed elbows with the elite of their society. He knew without a doubt the news of the devastation the muggles had wrought upon two islands would reach the news any given day now.

Didn't they realize the devastation it would wreak upon their world?

"Don't say anything," their lawyer finally spoke, his tone grim, standing up, smoothing down his robes, "They have nothing on you."

"Other than confessions in front of witnesses, sure, nothing," Hayden commented, swallowing with a grimace, he certainly needed something to drink. The spell Orion cast had worked wonders for a few moments, but now he could taste acid-like in his mouth.

"She has done nothing wrong! Tell them who it was!" her father demanded of his daughter, eyes widening trying to show how serious he was.

Mary stared at them, like a rabbit caught in the headlights. Her heart was pounding erratically, her mind frantically trying to figure out a way to get her out of this. She knew her best bet was to keep quiet, even if it was drastically going to go wrong.

Barnabas grasped his daughters elbow and yanked her closer. "Tell them! If you don't you risk going to Azkaban, this is worse than using the Unforgivables!" trying his best to stress the gravity of the situation. Using blood magic without permission truly was seen as more heinous than murder, levelled with child abuse.

"Do be quiet, and have care what you say in here," the lawyer hissed in agitation, he hated idiots that couldn't follow simple directions.

"Jiggers, do something, she can't go to Azkaban!" Barnabas managed to get out through a high tenor. It would destroy their reputation and worse, diminish her prospects to practically nothing.

"Be quiet!" Jiggers gritted out.

"Mary Cuffe you're under arrest, you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in criminal proceedings. You have a right to a lawyer, if you cannot afford one, the Wizengamot will procure one for you. Do you understand the rights I've just read to you?" the Auror declared, flicking two fingers and cuffs zoomed out of his pocket and attached themselves to the witches wrists.

"Let her go!" Barnabas shouted, already moving to stop them, as if he had any hope in hell of achieving as such.

"Enough, Barnabas," Jiggers snatched the back of his robe and put a stop to his pathetic attempt. He didn't even go for his wand, not that anyone there – except Hayden – expected him to. They knew he barely passed Hogwarts, sadly he was lacking in magical powers.

"Again, do you understand these rights I have read to you?" the Auror ignored the commotion, focusing on his prisoner. He had full confidence in his partner to ensure his safety so that Barnabas couldn't get close.

Mary bit out a wary but tearful, "Yes," she was used to people giving her whatever she wanted if she cried. She was the only heiress of the Cuffe and White families. Neither were titled but they had a good bit of gold to their name, and the paper made sure they were loaded. "I understand." Choking in surprise, fright, a little anger, when the Auror just turned her around and begun to escort her out of the room with her hands behind her back. The utter humiliation, the gall was horrendous. She wished she'd left her hair undone, but like all nights, she kept it up so it didn't become an utterly untameable mess.

"Do look into Tanya Travers," Hayden commented, causing both Barnabas and Mary to freeze, frozen in shame, horror, disbelief.

"How did…" Mary croaked out, fear prevalent in her gaze, as she zeroed in on Hayden Peverell.

Jiggers, their lawyer, cleaned his throat very, very dramatically and loudly. Ceasing her bloody stupidity where he stood. He wondered why he'd taken on such a stupid family, honestly, he'd never dealt with more idiotic clients than these right now. They called themselves purebloods, they were acting more like barbaric muggles at the moment.

Barnabas slumped down on the nearest chair. His posture unbecoming, his head in his hands as if covering his shame. Truth was, he was very tired, very scared and just wanted to start today all over again. His bloodshot eyes dull and tired, so very afraid of what this wizard knew.

"Little bit of advice, Cuffe, never, ever, piss off a Necromancer," Hayden said coldly.

The Minister shivered, it felt exceedingly cold in the room in that moment. It wasn't just at the threat, or the knowledge that Lord Peverell had the family magics, but legitimately cold. He caught heir Black reaching out and squeezing Lord Peverell's arm in silent support, and only then did he begin to feel warmer. He let out a breath, and it steamed up in the coolness of the room.

Mary Cuffe lost what remaining colour she had, before she was lightly jerked into moving once more. The Aurors got her out of the room, and begun to the lengthy process of having her charged with the crime. They'd need to build up a case, and given the fact blood magic was involved…she might not be given bail until her court date. She might actually be sentenced straight to Azkaban until that date. It's not something they did lightly, given how bad the prison actually was, but there were certain circumstances whereupon it was required.

"Go, take care of my daughter," Cuffe demanded of Jiggers, this bloody lawsuit was nothing compared to the destruction of his family. He couldn't bear the thought of his daughters betrothed withdrawing his contract. It would bring them into a noble and ancient family status, he'd even gotten the promise that if they had a second son it would be given the Cuffe name to carry on his legacy.

"She's going to be placed in custody, there's nothing I can do for her right now…" Jiggers explained patiently, "I can be more useful here, and help with the lawsuit."

"Just go!" Cuffe shouted out, his entire body shaking with the need to do violence and rage against everything that was happening today.

Orion's lip curled at the disgusting display; it was a weakness he loved to exploit. It was disgusting really, as an adult he should know better. Always remain calm and composed, don't let anyone know they're getting the better of you. It was one of the first things he was taught as a child. He was the heir of the Black family. He'd be watched closely, judged, have expectations heaped upon him. He had never let them down, not even being caught kissing someone who wasn't his betrothed. They'd had other things to worry about at that time, but if it had been that single incident on its own perhaps it would have been dealt with differently.

Hayden nudged Orion with his elbow, honestly, his daughter had been arrested he was entitled to a little leeway. He felt sympathy for him in that moment, but only in that moment. He however, refused to back down, he couldn't. It would cause everyone to circle him like he was chum and the rest sharks. Orion had made him realize he couldn't do that, and this time, Orion's time, he knew best. Perhaps in time life would become more like the life Hayden had known, but until that time, he knew he had to follow Orion's suggestions, for the most part.

He'd been here for nearing a year, but he was finally beginning to fundamentally understand how drastically different everything was to his own time. He couldn't keep living life like he was still in his old time. He'd foolishly thought he'd adapted, but it wasn't until now that something within him shifted completely.

Jiggers demeanour changed entirely, he went from smarmy, open and approachable, to stiff, unapproachable and cold. "Very well," he stated curtly, swiftly moving out of the room without a backward glance.

The second Auror who had been conversing quietly with the Minister for magic, accepted the file from the wizard, clearly a copy of the information he had in his hands. Giving him a nod, before he left the room to seek his partners council and begin the investigation. They'd find out who her 'confidential informant' is and have him arrested for this utter disregard.

"Shall we continue?" the Minister asked, "Or shall we reconvene at a later date?"

"I do not have the time to continue to pursue this matter for months," Hayden declared, "I want it to reach its conclusion today."

Orion's lips twitched into a smile, proud of Hayden's reply. He was doing really well, well, compared to earlier anyway. He could keep himself reserved if he tried, which meant he may be able to go into politics. Who was he kidding! Hayden couldn't stand that sort of talk, actions or anything of the sort.

"My daughters just been arrested! My lawyer has gone to see about her! We can't continue!" Cuffe proclaimed.

"Please, you didn't seem to care one iota about his opinion," Hayden muttered under his breathe, but heard all the same. "Shall we proceed?"

"Neither are required to continue, and a conclusion can be reached without your presence," the Orion coldly pointed out to Cuffe. "Isn't that correct, Minister?"

"Heir Black is quite correct, Barnabas," the Minister answered, feeling a little guilty, but this was well out of his hands. He already knew the outcome, and Barnabas was not going to like it. "Like it or not, a decision must be reached today." He couldn't waste Ministry resources and time on something that could – and would – be finished today.

Cuffe pursed his lips, sweat coating his skin, heart pounding erratically. Merlin, he wished he hadn't sent Jiggers away, he could use someone in his corner right now. "Fine, fine, just…just get on with it then." Tiredness seeping into his bones, Merlin he wasn't looking forward to telling his wife about their daughter. They needed to keep it quiet so that her betrothed didn't find out, thank Merlin he was out of the country for a few days.

"Lord Peverell demands fifty million galleons in compensation, for his considerable distress, and the trauma that he's been through." Dolohov declared, causing Cuffe to choke on his own spit, as he gaped in disbelief at the high number.

Hayden was staring at Antonin in astonishment himself, distress his ass. He'd done a lot more than bloody read a newspaper to be distressed. Faced Trolls, Cerberus', bloody giant snakes, spiders everything. The newspaper didn't get anywhere near on the list. He should be gravely offended, in fact, he was, despite knowing Antonin was doing it for maximum compensation.

"Who the blazes has that sort of money?" Cuffe spluttered incandescent with rage.

"If the monetary compensation cannot be paid, then full property ownership of the Daily Prophet will pass to Lord Peverell, today." Dolohov declared.

Cuffe swallowed thickly, shaking his head in utter denial. No, this couldn't be happening, this just couldn't be happening. He couldn't lose his daughter and his newspaper in one fell swoop. It wasn't fair, it wasn't right. He didn't have that kind of money, not even his daughters betrothed would lend that sort of money either. There wasn't a single damn family that had much change to just whip it out like it was nothing.

"Fifty million galleons is too hefty a price to pay, can a negotiation be made to lower the amount?" the Minister made the suggestion.

"He exposed a young Lord as a carrier. You know how people get around carriers," Antonin stated, eyes boring holes in the Minister. "He's been hounded day and night since word broke, and don't get me started on the insulting and frankly disgusting mail he's had with their 'offers',"

Orion bristled, showcasing his ire for those who had dared to insult his life partner. Even knowing they had been betrothed to one another – and that Walburga was not to marry the Black heir – they'd still tried. Luckily nobody he personally knew had attempted as such, otherwise they would have been cursed with a spell selected from the Black grimoire.

"Let's not forget the mar that they attempted to stain on the Black family with their speculation on Lord Peverell and Heir Black's relationship. Lord Peverell didn't have anyone that could fight in his corner when the paper made its' offensive tirade against him." Antonin continued on, laying it on thick, but didn't everyone. "The retraction was made all too late, everyone in Britain already saw it, their flimsy attempt at apologising was very insulting. Especially since a memo declared the article their most popular one yet, and to focus on Peverell as much as possible."

Orion's gaze zeroed in on Antonin, who removed the folded-up memo and a copy from his file. He slid it across to the Minister,

"Not content to do it just once…they intended to continue their harassment of Lord Peverell…and this has Barnabas Cuffe's approval written on it." Antonin slid another piece of parchment across, a mere copy of course. "Written by Mary Cuffe herself, written directly after they received the numbers for that particular edition of the Daily Prophet. Barely a day after writing a retraction and apology."

The Minister stared blankly at the memos, glancing at Barnabas. The wizard was rather smart, or at least he'd assumed so. How had he left such incriminating evidence lying around after being called up to task and forced to retract the articles. There it was in black and white, suddenly the amount they were asking for made sense.

"We also want to make sure that neither Barnabas and Mary Cuffe ever publish anything again. I want a sworn vow pledging that they won't." Dolohov stated, refusing to back down. Nobody would ever have to swallow their disgusting hatred ever again. Least of all Hayden, who he had sworn his allegiance to.

"Barnabas, can you afford to pay?" the Minister focused on the broken wizard.

A choked hysterical laugh was his answer, "What do you think I am? Made of money? I don't have a galleon tree sitting at the bottom of my garden." He didn't even have half of what they were demanding let alone all of it.

The Minister sighed, before declaring, "Very well then, as of this moment, the Daily Prophet and its offices belong to Lord Peverell in compensation for the wrongs done to him. Adding in thirty-five thousand galleons for the wrongs done to heir Black."

Orion gave a jerky nod in happiness at that decision.

"And the decree of never publishing anything?" Antonin wasn't allowing any leeway.

"It will be sworn before they leave." The Minister confirmed.

It spoke volumes that Barnabas didn't so much as bleat at the comment. If he'd looked wounded and defeated when his daughter was arrested…he looked downtrodden and broken now. He'd lost everything, money, his company, his daughter…Merlin he could only hope she would give up her confidential informant. Otherwise, he knew better than to go home. Or the next Auror that interacted with the Cuffe family would be investigating his own murder at his wife's hands.

"I'll take care of the rest, why don't you head out? I'll be by with the paperwork at lunch if you're available?" Antonin whispered quietly.

"We'll be at Black hall at one o'clock," Orion said, checking his pocket watch, "Would that be amendable?" grateful that Antonin was taking over, he was struggling against the urge of strangling the wizard. He was seething in fury over those memo's. He was going to make Cuffe's life a living hell. Just watch this spot.

Cuffe made the mistake of glancing up, only to blanch at the promised retribution in Black's eyes.

"I'll be there," Antonin agreed.

"Then we shall leave you to…deal with this…" Orion paused, turning to Cuffe, "Riffraff." He promised he'd take his time and by the time he was done…there wouldn't be a Cuffe left, he'd die knowing he was the end of his line. Such as was the punishment for displeasing a Black so severely.

Ooo who's Tanya Travers and just what secrets do the Cuffe family have buried? and it definitely doesn't stand a chance against Hayden and his Necromancer powers! do you want to see Harry have a career around his Necromancer powers? although to be honest, other than speaking to spirits and getting lovely blackmail material *grins* I mean I've been going back and forth on possible careers with Hayden definitely too Gryffindor to last long in the political circuit but he'll get his point across with his books too as well as family magics. R&R please

and yay! Cooker/oven was fixed woohoo! now we can eat hot food again :D originally nobody was able to come out until Jan can you believe that? thank goodness for sisters!