Usual disclaimers.

Chapter I: The Half Blood Prince

Albert Stumf-Hamilton considered the man seated in front of him. The mad did not look particularly impressive. He wasn't tall, certainly not handsome, but still had a strange sort of presence. The man hadn't responded at all in spite of learning, what in Albert's opinion was life changing news. He had sat still, his face a mask. If it hadn't been for the man blinking, or the occasional pert question, Albert would have wondered whether he had been addressing a statue. It was as if they hadn't even discussed the weather. At least the minister had shown some response when he had informed him. In fact, Fudge had looked rather green, as if he would be sick.

Tired of the silence, he said, "We'll have to inform the papers soon. This can't be kept secret for long. We'd like your decision." The man did not answer. Instead, he looked at Albert piercingly. Uncomfortable, Albert averted his eyes.

"I need time to think."

"The minister knows. It will be in the news tomorrow."

The man lifted an eyebrow, the rest of his face still expressionless. "That is your problem. You should have come to me first. You can hardly expect me to make a decision such as this at such short notice."

"There are others who know. The entire household. Besides, the minister had to be informed. It is a matter of protocol..."

"I shall think about the matter Mr. Stumf-Hamilton," the words sounded as if they had been addressed to a particularly slow insect rather than a senior government official, "protocol is one thing stupidity is another. I will not be forced to make a decision without considering all its implications. Good Day. I am sure you can find your way out."

The man stood up, and without a glance, stalked out of the room, black robes billowing behind him as he walked, not bothering to look if Stumf-Hamilton had left.

-

Severus Snape had never imagined that he'd ever hear what he just had. It was as if all his boyhood dreams had suddenly come true now that the only person he had wanted to impress was dead. Power and glory - he had desired both in his youth to impress her. A girl who no longer existed. Because of him. To make make matters worse, all that he was now promised could yet come to nought. He was a double agent, even if an uneasy peace had lasted for eleven years. Dumbledore was sure the Dark Lord would return, and if Snape had learnt one thing, it was that Dumbledore was nearly always correct. It was to him that he was going to turn for advice now.

The gargoyle leapt aside as Snape gave the password (strawberry lollies) and let the Potions Master enter.

Albus Dumbledore was seated at his desk, a potions article in his hand, while a quill made notes on a parchment as he read. Seeing Snape, he motioned him into the chair across his desk but continued with the article. Snape remained standing, "Heasmaster, this is important and urgent."

The headmaster looked up to see his Potions Master standing stiff, like a soldier at attention.

"I gather this isn't about Gilderoy Lockhart approaching you to assist him in the duelling club then?" Dumbledore said, trying to get the man to relax.

Snape's lips twitched in spite of himself, "no headmaster, a rather interesting situation has developed. It seems that there are things about my mother's family that I had been unaware of. I have just been informed by Mr. Stumf-Hamilton, perhaps you have heard of him. He's just left my office. This information may have some far reaching consequences. I need your advice."

"You shall have it. What is the problem."

"It is rather hard to explain, perhaps if you would care to allow me to use your pensieve we may view it together."

Dumbledore nodded. Snape pointed his wand to his temple and placed the white strands that leaked out into the carved stone basin.

Together they entered Snape's memories.

A swirling sensation later and both of them landed in Snape's office, the shelves lined with rather unpleasant jars of pickled slimy things. The Snape in the memory stood up to greet the rather polished man in front of him. The man's robes, like Snape's were black, but the similarity ended there. Where Snape's robes were unremarkable, made of simple wool, merely functional, the man's robes were of the finest quality, his cuffs inlaid with thread of goblin silver. They were robes that Lucius Malfoy would wear.

Dumbledore and Snape watched the memory unfold:

"Prof. Snape, I need to speak with you on a matter of utmost importance. I am Albert Stumf-Hamilton, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Magic." He presented his card as he spoke. It was plain, except for the ministry insignia embossed in gold at the top left. It read:

Albert Stumf-Hamilton, WIC, O.M. (First Class)

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Magic

Memory Snape glanced at the card curiously but said nothing. Albert Stumf-Hamilton however needed no invitation to launch into his story. He had no time for niceties.

Sitting down, he looked at Snape once more, "You received my note?"

Snape nodded curtly.

"As I had mentioned this is regarding your mother's ancestry. I suppose you don't know much of her family?" When Snape didn't respond, he went on, "it seems she descended from a cadet branch of the royal family. Untitled. They adopted the surname Prince. A sort of vestige of their royal forebears."

"I thought there aren't any wizarding princes"

"They have been irrelevant for some time now. You see, about one hundred and fifty years ago, King Gregory IV proved himself to be a rather unpopular monarch. So were the rest of the family. The people disliked the king, but did not fancy any of his heirs succeeding him either and the power vacuum that would have resulted if the king were to be deposed would likely have led to anarchy. The Minister at the time Ignatius Ogg decided to exploit a loophole. The law states that while the monarch is alive, in whatever state he may be, he rules. So instead of killing him, he merely engineered the king's accident with a dementor. Technically, the King was still alive, so the Ministry continued to function and the responsibilities of magical Britain were shared between the Ministry, the Minister and the Wizengamot. Victims of a dementor's kiss can survive for centuries. The princes lost their importance. Until today. The King is dead."

Albert Stumf-Hamilton stared at Snape. He had seen no visible reaction on the man's face. It had merely become more mask like. Then Albert added, "the main line of the family is dead too. They fought each other hoping to bag the throne for themselves. You are next in line."

Snape steepled his fingers and closed his eyes in thought. Stumf-Hamilton spoke, "We need your decision - whether you intend to accept the title or whether you wish to abdicate."

"I need time to think."

-

The memory dissolved. Dumbledore and Snape returned to the Headmaster's round study.

Snape saw with some satisfaction that the information had shocked Dumbledore.

"Headmaster, what do you think I should do?"

"Severus, I need time to think."

Snape sat quietly in his usual chair across Dumbledore once again, watching the headmaster lost in thought. They had sat there for hours till a house elf meekly informed Prof. Snape that he had missed his class. Snape swore (the frightened elf disappeared with a pop) and got up in order to rush to his next class when Dumbledore motioned him to remain seated. He looked at him seriously before addressing him, "I think you have higher priorities. The newspapers will know by tomorrow. You will have to make your decision by then." He paused, "the position may give you unprecedented power, and yet your situation ensures you cannot be your own man. An accident of birth makes you more powerful than Voldemort by default and I hardly think he'll be pleased when he returns. On the other hand, should you turn it down...who is next in line after you?"

"Two cousins, my uncle's children - my father's brother - both are muggles."

"They won't last a second! Can you imagine Lucius Malfoy bowing to a Muggle!"

"He bowed to a half blood quite regularly. But I suppose not. You think I should accept?"

"I really don't know. I am trying to evaluate what would happen. If you accept, when Voldemort returns he would use you to further his own schemes before disposing off you - you can't be King while he calls himself Lord - but he wouldn't do it immediately, only when he has consolidated his power. Worse, the ministry is not fond of you, and the Order distrusts you. You will be attacked from all sides..."

"But the Dark Lord isn't there now"

"You seem to have forgotten last year, Severus. It is only a matter of time."

The irritated voice of Phinneas Nigellus Black interrupted Dumbledore, it addressed Snape, "don't be daft, boy! How many people get the opportunity to be King? A bunch of people would want to kill you. So what? Bloody difference that's going to make. Nearly everyone wants to kill you anyway. Don't look at him, it will have to be your decision in the end."

Snape couldn't help but smile. "You know, Headmaster," he said addressing both Professors Black and Dumbledore simultaneously, "I think I shall accept after all."

Phinneas Nigellus looked at Snape happily, "Excellent decision, Your Majesty!"

Snape looked stunned for a minute and then smiled - Your Majesty - he could get used to that.