My Time

Chapter 74

Arcturus strode through his home, his mind on everything he'd need to get done today, including the Wizengamot meeting this afternoon. As much as he liked the law side of his duty, sometimes it could be rather vexing as of late. Especially anyone that seemed to reside in Dumbledore's corner, although truthfully it might as well be up his backside. It's almost as if everyone was forgetting they had the ability to speak for themselves and not just obediently nod along to whatever bullshit plan Dumbledore had decided upon when it came to the law. Not all of them, but those being drawn in by Dumbledore's propaganda were becoming numerous and he was admittedly silently alarmed. He could think of nothing to curtail the wreck coming their way.

He had no idea just how bad it was, and he'd soon find out.

Arcturus did a doubletake the moment he entered his sitting room, it was very early, he hadn't expected anyone to be up yet. "Good morning," his good manners deeply ingrained so that even if he was surprised, he was still very polite.

Hayden jerked his head up, wincing a little, but smiled, "Morning," he murmured, rubbing the sore spot on his neck, he hadn't even heard Arcturus at all, and that's coming from him. Merlin, he felt like he was getting slow the longer he remained here, first Malfoy manages to surprise him now Arcturus walking into the room with him none the wiser.

"Trouble sleeping?" Arcturus questioned, "Lynx? Prepare breakfast, ask my wife if she'd like it in bed if not, prepare a space for us all. Two coffees for now."

"I'm usually up early," Hayden answered, putting his hand over his mouth to hide his yawn, "Although, I don't normally come out here until breakfast, I'd hate to disturb anyone." He'd wanted a cup of coffee and had gone and made one himself – refusing to wake the house-elves – he'd done everything without the aid of a house-elf (with a few exceptions) he didn't need them now to do everything for him.

"Necessity or just an inability to sleep longer than it takes for the sun to rise?" Lord Black questioned the younger wizard, peering at what he was reading. Hmm, his magic was absolutely enthralling but he had a lot of work to do when it came to actual spell casting and learning. He wasn't sure how he actually felt about that, but he was willing to learn that gained him numerous points.

Hayden grinned, "I've always been a very early riser, the only exception is when I'm ill or have been given Dreamless sleep draught." Setting the book aside, stretching out languidly, "Thank you Lynx," he said when the house-elf popped in with their coffee before she popped away.

Arcturus hummed agreeably, as he took a seat, "And how are you fairing with your exams? Have you taken any yet?" trying to cram too much knowledge into his mind then take his exams wouldn't go well. Awful grades would follow the youth everywhere he went, not that he would be in severe need of those grades.

"First ones scheduled for this afternoon, Ancient Runes, wish it had been something else, Ancient Runes was…one of the ones I got into later in life." And he wasn't even lying, he hadn't taken it at Hogwarts, and hadn't taken a liking to it until he'd left Hogwarts.

"Just your OWLS or are you attempting your NEWTS as well?" Arcturus questioned, observing Hayden curiously. He wasn't sure how the boy was so capable of masking his powers, looking meek and unassuming, ordinary. Yet he was extraordinary, with powers with the likes his family hadn't been able to achieve in quite a few generations.

"Eventually," Hayden replied, drinking from his cup before elaborating, "I've been reliably informed I should wait between OWLS and NEWTS that compiling them both at the same time would be detrimental to my grades."

"Sound advice," Arcturus answered smoothly, mercury eyes glimmering in merriment. "There really should be laws to prevent such travesties of justice."

Hayden glanced at Lord Black utterly bewildered, not exactly sure what he was referring to for that brief moment.

"It gives the greater magical community the wrong idea about your intelligence," Arcturus declared, lips pursed in a grim line. "I know you've constantly stated you don't care, and I can see you very much don't, but it enrages everyone that knows you." Those who wish to defend him, for he couldn't help his circumstances.

The hypocrisy was lost on Arcturus but welcome to the wizard kind race, they weren't perfect.

Hayden smiled a small impish thing, "Let them, I can just use it to my advantage,"

Arcturus laughed quietly, "Such a Slytherin response," he teased, "There's no doubt where you would have gone had you attended Hogwarts with my children."

Hayden snorted, "No, I reckon I would have ended up in Gryffindor, at least to begin with. I was a lot more optimistic when I was eleven, while I knew abuse, I didn't know betrayal and rage." His finger brushing around the rim of the cup, not looking at Arcturus.

Arcturus hummed softly, "You may believe so, but I do think you were a shoe-in for Slytherin." Unaware of how close to the actual truth he was, watching the wizard shy away from such conversation. He found himself curious over that, but the wizard was very close-lipped about a lot, even if it looked like he did nothing but say a lot.

"How would you react if a member of the Black family ended up in…say Gryffindor?" Hayden enquired, drinking the rest of his drink.

Arcturus arched a brow, "My wife is a Hufflepuff, houses aren't important in the grand scheme of things. While it's true the Black family is predominantly Slytherin, there are more than a few that weren't in the snake house." And the moment she'd married him, she'd become a Black, her maiden name didn't matter.

Hayden blinked; he'd actually forgotten that titbit of information. He'd been going off of what Pollux and Walburga had turned the Black family into. It was nice to know though that even if Sirius ended up in Gryffindor again, his family wouldn't hold it against him. Merlin only knows where he and Orion's kids would end up, or even Lucretia's and Ignatius' eventual kid. A fond smile slowly appeared on his face, as he thought of any potential kid of his, of Sirius and Regulus. Would the brothers even still look the same without Walburga as their mother? With him and Orion as their parents? He couldn't wait to find out if he was honest with himself, but he still had a long time to go before that. Walburga likely suffered from fertility issues like a lot of witches before her (due to marrying into the same blood over and over and over again) considering it took what…a decade for her to give birth to Sirius? Another two years or something before Regulus was conceived.

"What has such a besotted look on your face?" Arcturus asked, did he look like that when thinking of his Melania? He had never seen his father look at his wife that way, oh, he loved her, but such utter fanatical obsession of a love? No.

"Oh, my life hasn't been what you can term peaceful by any stretch of imagination. I always wanted a family, a big one, but it was always hypothetical, childish dreams if you will." Hayden confessed, a cookie cutter life, with what the American's would call the white picket fence and all (his aunt did like to watch so many American movies and TV series).

"Now they've taken images, contours of both yours and Orion's features, with an actual property you can see and isn't just something blurry and hazy in the background." Arcturus finished, a glint of understanding in his gaze.

"Yes," Hayden said hand twisting pointing his finger, "Exactly like that." Relieved it wasn't just him, that something about him was normal.

Arcturus nodded; he too had seen his life flashing before his eyes when he began to imagine a life with Melania. Truthfully, the day it became something tangible was the day he realized he loved her fully and without reservation. Although, in hearts of hearts, he'd confess, he'd imagined another two children, another boy and girl. He would never reveal as such, that would remain a closely guarded secret. He would never, ever desire to make his wife feel like she'd failed him by not giving him a dreamed number of children. He'd rather have her and two children than another wife and a dozen children.

"My advice is be there more frequently, duty is important, but being there for them is more important. It's something I learned too late, one minute they're in nappies and the next they're graduating Hogwarts and getting married." Arcturus answered evenly, a glimmer of deep regret in his usually impassive features.

"Hey, that's what grandkids are for," Hayden told Arcturus with a big grin, "Don't think you'll get out of grandpa duty and even if I have to stalk you everywhere, you're not just going to be part of their lives on their birthdays and the occasional special occasion. Or heir duties." Wiggling his finger in a no-no fashion. They wouldn't be done the same way Orion had been forced to miss out for lessons on heir duties. He didn't say as such to Arcturus, compared to the Dursley's he'd raised Orion perfectly. A bit too reserved but that might have been Orion's natural personality, and not enforced due to the lessons he took on being the perfect heir.

Arcturus frowned, "If not for birthdays or heirship duties then why?" he was utterly baffled. He certainly couldn't recall going to his grandparents just because.

"To be a grandfather, you say you have regrets, well, don't add to the pile, spend time with your son and daughter with their families." Hayden urged him, he knew they loved each other enormously, but he wasn't sure they knew how to show it. Not only was it a different time, they believed showing emotion was a weakness. All the upper class believed that as a matter of fact.

Arcturus' gaze sharpened hearing that, "I do hope you've not been saying things like that around Lucretia," he did not want his daughter to feel inadequate in any way, despite the fact, it was their fault, the families fault for intermarrying frequently. "It is regretfully unlikely that she'll ever have a child of her own."

"She will," Hayden promised, "There are many ways in which a woman can have a child." Ways that would likely blow his mind, like harvesting the eggs and implanting them in a surrogate, having your own biological child. Blood adoption which he would see put through but it wasn't the most important thing as of yet. Also, he had to convince himself to use someone else's creation for the betterment of the wizarding world.

Arcturus' eyes lit up in unabashed fascination, his intelligence hadn't been stimulated in a long while, "Consider me intrigued, tell me, spells? Potions?" he honestly was surprised by his own desire to know, but then, he had nothing but the normal drudgery these days. Normal drudgery until Hayden came into their lives and needless to say it wasn't boring when he was around.

Hayden's eyes begun to gleam as a slow smirk worked its way onto his face, "Both,"

"Theory or has this hypothesis been proven?" Arcturus was breathless with anticipation, waiting on the answer. There was nothing of note even been suggested in the Wizengamot or any spell or potion circuits of such a breakthrough. He read all the Potioneer magazines, transfiguration monthly, spell crafting weekly, and all the other publications that were of note.

"They've been proven, but they didn't wish for the results to be published, so I need to find someone that wants to do it so that I do have proof of concept." Hayden blatantly lied through his teeth, they were proven, he just hadn't created them to have the results published. He'd need to do it all.

Arcturus just stared, part of him was sceptical, didn't want to believe the boy. He hadn't even had an education at a school, then again, the foundation of magic rested upon those who had unconventional teachings, tutors, and created a magical world as they knew it. However, Hayden wasn't a liar, he was almost pathologically truthful whether it was a kind one or not. Could this young wizard have the answer that generations of wizards and witches had sought help with? As the population dwindled? More so after Grindelwald who luckily hadn't touched much of the United Kingdom. "Do you need help connecting to the correct people for your…projects?"

Hayden blinked, "I uh, guess I will, but later, I'd rather get through this hell first." Patting at the Ancient Runes book he had been studying moments prior, Hermione had that book he recalled in her sixth year, studying for NEWTS. Here it was expected that you know it for your OWLS. Truly Hogwarts had gone downhill so massively in his time.

Arcturus nodded, its true people would take him more seriously if he had excellent OWLS and NEWTS scores. They forgot how their ancestors had built the magical world, but he hadn't, the Blacks did not. He had the connections, he wouldn't need the exam scores, but he admired Hayden's determination to see it through, to become all he could be. To do so, to desire so, even without any parental guidance.

Orion truly couldn't have ended up with a better fiancé.

"Hey, I take it you decided to study somewhere else this morning?" Orion spoke before he even saw his father, as he did his tie, as always perfectly presentable. "Everything okay?" well aware of the time that Hayden gets up at to study and get everything done that was required.

"Are you not attending the Wizengamot meeting?" Hayden asked, honestly, he didn't get why he'd dress up all fancy then cover it with that disgusting plum robe. "I'm fine, I decided to sit here and grab myself something to drink."

"The house-elves are available whenever you wish," Arcturus informed him, "Night or day."

Orion just withheld a snort, "Chance would be a fine thing," he murmured lowly, Hayden was…so very different from anything Orion had ever known, and it was a good thing. Kept him on his toes and honestly? It drew Orion to him like a moth to a flame.

"Orion's told me, I know, but I'd rather not wake them," Hayden answered, giving a reassuring smile.

Arcturus just stared at Hayden as if he'd just said something he couldn't understand.

"Yes, I'll be attending," Orion added, glancing at the kitchen, the smell of breakfast suffusing the rooms. "Fleamont has returned to the country, he will be attending the meeting, Charlus said his attempts to discuss things with his brother went sideways." He and his wife had been on holiday after the mass supply of potions he'd supplied various suppliers with. Charlus had returned home after helping, he now had a family to take care of, they couldn't just take off on a whim.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Arcturus asked, a bit thrown by his sons' words, as he stood, upon hearing the announcement that breakfast was prepared. "Since when was Fleamont a problem?" wondering what he'd missed.

"Oh, please, nobody is a problem when it comes to you, dear," Melania joined them, kissing her husband on the cheek before hugging both Orion – and surprisingly Hayden – in greeting, dressed in a lovely blue dress that went well with her skin tone. "Good morning."

Hayden laughed, the Black's had always been said to be a powerhouse, well, until Sirius' generation then it all went to hell. Naturally, they hadn't realized it had been the generation before that had been the real problem. He'd never know what caused her (Walburga) to do it, or to go along with it. Hell, even let the family become extinct. He'd never know, for it hadn't happened and it never would.

Orion would remain free and wholly himself, Hayden smiled at him, happy just to see him.

Orion gave him an enquiring look, with a little smirk, finding he rather liked the look on Hayden's face.

Arcturus coughed, "Are you having trouble with Fleamont?" he hadn't been aware he'd even met him, Charlus was different, he was family, Fleamont was not. Although, the wizard had always been distant but respectful.

"I've not met him yet, unfortunately, it doesn't seem that he wishes to meet with me." Hayden confessed, saddened but not unduly so. He was used to family not liking him, so why shouldn't he get a reminder in this time? He still had Charlus and the rest of the Black family.

"How so?" Arcturus questioned, slightly baffled.

"Dumbledore." Orion and Hayden both answered together.

"I know he sometimes looks to the old fool, but surely not on things pertaining to family?" Arcturus stared shocked by what he was hearing. It was one thing to get himself involved with Dumbledore when it comes to politics but family? Surely not?

"You've no idea the amount of influence Dumbledore will gain in the next six decades." Hayden said grimly, eyes glazed recalling his own life. "The influence that allows him the position in the Wizengamot, of chief warlock, supreme mug-wump, grand sorcerer, and ultimately Headmaster with Minister's begging for his advice. He's going to be allowed to take a child, the last heir of two ancient and noble lines and put him in the muggle world without anyone so much as giving a fucking shit."

"Hayden," Orion warned his partner, eyes slightly wide at the swearing he was doing in front of his parents. If he didn't want anyone to know what happened, he was doing a piss poor job. His father was smarter than he let anyone know. He wouldn't mind if his parents did find out to be honest, it was a hell of a burden they were bearing together, but they were doing it together. He'd never admit this, not even to Hayden, but he feared in hearts of hearts that they would fail, that Dumbledore would collect on debts and come to power regardless of their attempts to bring him to heel. He did not want to see the world from Harry's past come to fruition.

"Sorry," Hayden murmured, grimacing, the more he thought about it, and older he got, the more rage he felt over not just Dumbledore but everyone that had let him do whatever he liked. "Forgive my foul language." Saying it more for Melania, although, truthfully growing up with three brothers…she should definitely be used to it even if she didn't admit it. However, politeness endured.

"Don't worry dear," Melania said, giving him a small smile, but there was no denying the tense alertness she suddenly had.

"There is no chance of anyone getting that many political positions." Arcturus declared, it would be next to impossible, there was not enough time in the day for two of those never mind the number Hayden had just recited.

Hayden just stared him down, "I'd bet you, but I'm going to do everything in my not so inconsiderable powers to ensure he doesn't get any of them."

Arcturus felt a shiver going up his spine, recalling everything he'd said during that meeting all those months ago. He was quite frankly terrifying, the information he holds, Arcturus wanted to pester him with questions, to double, no, triple the family income. He'd never asked, but he pondered whether 'death' revealed everything to him or if Necromancy came with seer abilities. Not much was known about them, they were a secretive lot, and for good reason, their abilities were…breath-taking. The powerhouse that he was…he was rather envious really.

And it was going to be in the family lines, both the Black and Peverell whether they remain joined or split. Oh, it filled him with a sense of glee he hadn't felt in a long time. It sounded like Hayden wanted him and Melania around for the little ones. It was a rather odd proclamation, perhaps the lack of family had Hayden desiring to bring the family closer together? It certainly wouldn't hurt to be closer, maybe even allow his parents to see them more than just after the birth and the blessing.

When he said he had a lot of regrets, it wasn't just about him not being there, but not having his parents part of his life, or even Melania's. Perhaps he could stop Orion and Hayden's inevitable regrets when they got to his age.

"He's already got one, and close to getting two," Orion reminded him, as he begun to eat the cooling food.

Hayden screwed up his face in a moue of distaste, "For now." it might have been a statement of fact, but it was a threat most definitely. Which reminded him he needed to speak to Dippet and hopefully the older wizard would see reason.

Melania and Arcturus looked at each other, intrigued by what they were hearing. A single elegant raise of a brow let Arcturus know they'd be discussing it once they had some privacy. "I'm assuming some of those plans will centre around the Wizengamot meetings?"

"One of many of them, yes," Hayden answered, a vindictive glee appearing across his features. "Shoot, I have to go, may I use the Floo?"

"Of course, you need not ask," Arcturus answered, "You know where everything is, you cannot go to the exam department, the closest you'll be able to go is the Ministry's Antrim." The majority of Floo networks required passwords, that changed frequently in a bid to keep everyone safe.

"Thank you," Hayden said, smiling his thanks, before rounding the table and kissing Orion on cheek, "I'll be back in a few hours, plenty of time before the Wizengamot meeting. Meet you here?"

"I only have a few meetings myself today, then I'll be helping father go through the books, so yes," Orion agreed, his cheeks taking on a pale red tinge. Both embarrassed by Hayden's open display of affection but also very pleased by it.

Hayden swiped a buttered piece of toast and left with a jaunty cheeky wave.

Not even two minutes later the Floo activated and Hayden left for the Ministry.

"What is all this about Fleamont?" Arcturus asked, he wanted a clear picture of what was going on. He sincerely wanted very badly to be wrong, that his thoughts were not the reality. There was no way Dumbledore was influencing how people choose to live their lives. Politics was one thing, but family was entirely different. Alarming on another whole different level, one he wasn't sure what he could fathom never mind come up with a solution.

The answer did not give Arcturus the relief he sought. It was a deeply troubled Arcturus that realized that perhaps his soon-to-be son in law was actually on to something.

Hayden stumbled out of the Floo as dramatically as ever, he was far smoother in cleaning up the soot that appeared on his clothes. Not that there was much, the Black's kept a very clean home, and yes, that included their fireplace. The marble positively gleamed all the time. Yawning tiredly, he widened his eyes in an attempt to wake himself up.

"Master Hayden's mail, and some coffee, Master Orion will be back very soon." Lynx declared, as she put everything on the table with a click of her fingers.

The table was bulging with paperwork, letters, and parcels and such.

"Thank you, Lynx," Hayden said, giving the house-elf his gratitude, stretching out, eyeing the coffee with want. Although, he did grumble at the sight of everything in front of him. Rubbing his forehead, he reluctantly set his coffee next to him, and begun to get through it all.

Fifteen of the missives turned out to be manuscripts, they weren't short ones either. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he realized he really needed to prioritize their publishing company, books not newspaper. He really had to get help, people to read, judge whether it was worth publishing and would make any money, edit was also a big thing, someone capable of actually editing already and wasn't attending college. All these people were expecting replies, some sign, or acknowledgement.

He wrote out an announcement for the job section of his newspaper, which meant more interviews. He needed a secretary of his own, someone to keep him sane and everything in order for him. Too bad Hayden would never trust another in that way, well, perhaps Orion, but he had his own duties to oversee, and he was boggled down himself. Not as much as him, he wouldn't want Orion to be that busy, his (Hayden's) schedule was bloody hectic.

"Can I do anything for Master Hayden?" Lynx asked, staring at Hayden with those big green eyes, so familiar it pierced Hayden's heart.

"If you don't mind, give this to Elizabeth at Peverell publishing newspaper, wait, no she likes to be called Lizzie," Hayden corrected himself, handing over the announcement he wished to be placed in the newspaper. "Inform her that I want it to be front and centre." She'd turned out to be a godsend, he was actually contemplating making her junior editor-in-chief to a senior-editor-in-chief. The company was bringing in a lot of money for just starting up, but he had no competition so it was expected.

Lynx accepted the missive and disappeared with a pop.

"Now let me see," Hayden murmured, as he set the manuscripts aside, definitely needed to get someone post-haste. It would need to be someone with a shrewd mind, one that could accurately predict how books could possibly turn out. Someone he could trust not to do harm to the company, or steal from him. Someone who actually wanted what was best for the company. Setting them aside, they'd be put with the rest of the manuscripts that had been sent to him over the past few months.

The next letters he opened were requests for jobs, proclaiming all their virtue's in hopes of gaining his favour. He didn't dismiss them, not entirely, he'd give them a chance if they had experience in the areas he sought.

He then proceeded to get through six marriage proposals before Orion appeared through the Floo.

"Hey, sorry I'm late, the meeting ran over, I got us some ice cream," Orion said, seeing the table filled with correspondence, "Shall I set it aside for later?" in other words get Lynx to put it in the frozen cupboard.

"Yeah, I got to get through this before the Wizengamot meeting," Hayden replied, sighing in exasperation, rubbing his temples, the ache building up making his head ache worse. Groaning in irritation, "I need to do more interviews to get some editors for Black-Peverell publishing, the manuscript pile is starting to get rather high, and I haven't even managed to get around to the third one." He might be able to run it one day, but until he finished everything (OWLS, NEWTS, Peverell estate) that wasn't possible. There was only so many hours in a day.

"I thought you already had your eye on a few?" Orion questioned, recalling their conversation on the matter.

"Well, yes, they've agreed to go to college, but they'll be there for at least a year or two," Hayden pointed out, picking up his cup and drinking his coffee, sighing softly, just having someone to talk to helped put the pressure off.

"Then give them jobs at the weekend or part-time, it will give them an income while they're at college. It might be enough to allow them to pay their rent and live off of, that's if they don't live with their parents." Orion commented, as he returned to Hayden and sat next to him, wrapping his arms around him as Hayden leaned against him. "It will make it odd hours, but you might not have any other choice and I know you won't go back on your word."

"That actually is a pretty good idea," Hayden replied, why hadn't he thought of that?

"Don't sound so surprised," Orion murmured sounding amused.

Hayden laughed, "Just feeling a little silly that I didn't think of it."

"Perspective helps, as does having someone to bounce ideas off of," Orion said, snatching Hayden's coffee up off the table and drinking it. "We best get going, Accio Wizengamot robes!"

Hayden grimaced, "Whoever came up with that idea must have been off their rocker."

Orion just grinned, as he passed over Hayden's one, technically he didn't really need to wear it since his father still had the seat. It was his vote, but his father had ordered him one and he respected tradition enough to wear it, if it added to being respected by the older generation of the Wizengamot all the better.

"Too bad they don't follow the muggle ideals," Hayden grumbled, drinking what Orion had left of his drink, slightly surprised he'd actually drank from his cup. Not enough to mention it, he was rather pleased Orion was becoming more at ease with him and less uptight.

"What idea is that?" Orion queried, surprising himself in feeling actually genuinely curious about a muggle in the first time in his existence.

"They have two different robes, peerage robes that are worn on ceremonial occasions in the house of the lords. Then there's the coronation robes that are worn at the coronation of monarchs. What's cool about peerage robes is that they're all different, differentiated by features that identify their rank." Harry explained, he'd sort of fallen down a rabbit hole when he learned of his own status. "They're slightly and I do mean just slightly better than the gaudy ones we have to wear."

Hayden would have laughed at the image those words created, but luckily, he was none the wiser.

"I don't suppose you know anyone that loves to read?" Hayden asked, as he scrunched up the parchment from the marriage proposals. Then beginning to lob them into the fireplace one at a time. "Ha! I would have been an awesome chaser!"

Orion watched the process with iciness in his gaze, "More betrothal agreements?" it was an insult when anyone sent one to Hayden. Yes, he supposed they'd want to try their luck he was a Peverell after all. However, thinking they were better than the Black family? That was the most grievous insult one could offer his family. They were one of the wealthiest families around, in fact, when he and Hayden marry, they will be the wealthiest, nobody would be in for a chance of even coming close to their combined wealth.

Even worse that they would think for a second Hayden would fall for their sob stories or contracts – some had clauses that would allow the 'betrothed's Lord' ergo their father to take over the Peverell estate upon their marriage. They must have thought Hayden was utterly brainless.

"What were they offering?" Orion asked suspiciously, Hayden only burnt the worst of the offending contracts.

Hayden scowled, shaking his head, "I didn't even bother reading it all, people are disgusting." Sexualising their daughters while proclaiming their virtues, who the fuck did shit like that? Not many noble and ancient lines had attempted it since news of their engagement broke, they had more class than the general 'riff-raff' as Arcturus call them.

"I agree with you for the most part, but some are just desperate to give their daughters a good life," Orion said, imagining what it would have been like if it was the opposite, his sister with barely any money trying to marry up. He couldn't imagine it but he gave it a try. "You can't get any better than us."

"Smug ass," Hayden said nudging him, green eyes twinkling merrily, showing he didn't mean it.

"You'll soon find out just how smug it is," Orion proclaimed, watching Hayden turn red, very surprised by his words.

"Unless you don't want me to attend this meeting, you better stop there." Hayden said seriously, Orion was seriously attractive. Shifting noticeably, trying to calm himself down. He loved Orion with all he was, it wasn't just due to physical attraction, but it certainly didn't hurt. In his time, they wouldn't have needed to wait, they could have already had a physical relationship of some kind. At least he thought so, he hadn't really been in contact with anyone that still did betrothal contracts or any of the ancient and noble families. They might still practice arranged marriages and such.

"Perhaps you should, just until Charlus sets up a meeting between you both, politics really shouldn't be brought into this." Orion pointed out, he fully agreed with his father, who seemed shell shocked over the fact that Fleamont was acting thusly. It was a very different wizard he was used to dealing with and yes, his father had trouble believing him.

"It would be nice to get some rest, I mean I've got meetings scheduled at the estate once the meetings over with…but no, we need to begin laying the groundwork for all our plans…if we wait any longer, we risk Dumbledore becoming unstoppable." Hayden declared, like it or not, they needed to do this, Dumbledore was a hero in the eyes of the magical world, they had to break the spell he had over everyone. Dig doubts into people's minds, perhaps Skeeters book might come in handy, a lot of it had been truth sprinkled with guesses and one or two lies.

Orion conceded Hayden's point, "Then let us go change the world."

Hayden smiled, loving, gentle and grateful, "There's nobody else I would rather have at my side."

Orion's featured softened, and in the safety of his own home, he smiled, there never would be anyone else except him at Hayden's side, they'd soon bond and live together for the rest of their lives, with luck, a child or two or five.

A/N – Oh what a week I've had! One disaster after another that ate away at pretty much any free time I had! Except for two days where I got some relaxation in the sun (it was like a mini holiday) Sorry I've not been around much but I'm glad to get writing again, especially the Wizengamot scene lol I've been dying to write it for ages (like 4 chapters ago) gotta love the muses eh!

2nd A/N – okay, so I didn't manage to get around to writing the Wizengamot scene, I thought about just continuing on and making it the length of two chapters but I don't like that, I like to keep my chapters roughly around 6K and if I began the Wizengamot scene it would be 12K I truly can't' wait to get writing it which will likely be as soon as I've posted this chapter.

plots so many plots! too many lol I'm pretty sure I've forgotten a few LOL I really need to wrap up a few before I really get them lost, like Tanya Travers and a few other things before I add in new spells and potions :D guess Hayden's not going to be having a job in this one lol eh he's going to have one in Be Selfish so there's that. Hmm A03 is down so I might not get this posted on A03 until tomorrow upside of posting it in more than one location eh? ;) R&R please