Story title: The Prince Pro-tempore
Chapter 9 … entitled: I object
Author: billybobcsgun36 - - id# 641050
Time period; - half way between the battle of Hogwarts_ and the no longer applicable: epilog.
Category: AU - Alternate Universe; (of course)
Definition of AU - Wherein Hp characters don't follow cannon in their behavior. - (Do I really have to explain what Alternate Universe means … come-on)
Basically - -I write the way I speak, as if it was script written for a stage play – inserting pauses in dialog for emphasis. It's not proper I know, but it is a-lot better English than what is seen now in 'text messages - on – Facebook or in a blog'.
OoOoOoOo
Flashback begins
So instead; of existing 'elbow deep' in family during their visit and waiting in queue for the Loo, Rupert had picked-out a drafty far corner section of the second floor (west wing) installed by hand two Muggle made electric-fireplaces (heaters) as well as a fully working traditional fireplace, along with its own ruffed in bathroom and small kitchenette to live in while his relatives were underfoot. – It wasn't much, but Rupert didn't need much, for since leaving England he no longer felt the need to act pretentious – as shopkeepers had to maintain an aura of aloofness … don't you know.
Flashback ends
8
*Sound
*Roll film
*Action
8
Another change for Ron/Rupert after he became 'Prince elect' was the sudden appearance of the Royal Guard on the grounds. Some twenty-five rotating witch/wizards out of the one hundred and fifteen membered uniformed guard (which also acted as the Principality police force and as border guards) these troops were swapped-out every four days by another twenty-five (of both genders) that 24/7 patrolled, the Schloss grounds within the wards that Rupert had crafted himself - and he was very-very good at making bluish unbreakable defensive magical barriers. His four people: personal protection detail (being a royal sucks) acted as a Royal bodyguard everywhere he went. – He didn't like this one bit but Henley had insisted on this as an 'anti-assassin' safety necessity. - Ten guards on duty and ten off – with five to monitor around the clock magiced security cameras', these very discrete guards lived on site in the 'Guard Haus'; located just inside the wards and by the front gate, as well as right next to the former tennis court that had been converted over into a helipad.
Rupert knew that over the next few days the only half-complete, roughed-in, 'east wing' with its drywall (unpainted) room-dividers and Plywood floors covered in drab indoor/outdoor carpet would be stuffed to overflowing with Prewett and Weasley family members coming in for his coronation. What little privacy Ron enjoyed on the other hand, came from a double layer of ¾ inch thick 'plastic sheeting' (Painter –drop cloths) temporally tacked-up to both sides of the 'two by four' wood beams that denoted his quarters. There was raw plywood floors/throw-rug covered, four small rooms, - bath, bedroom, sitting – dinning and kitchenette, with a very discrete (and invisible) double set of bluish wards and his plastic drop-cloth walls 'mostly', blocking the still strong (at times) cross-drafts.
Rupert would have preferred to have stayed in the Rail-road director's office or his 'crassly decorated' two bedrooms flat in the village, 'even if' his twelve year older, ex-lover (married) had god awful tastes in interior design. However: Henley had insisted he move back into the Schloss (his official home) as a sign to his people that the Prince 'was in residence' at the Royal Palace (like the Muggle Queen back in England) – his people knowing he was there by the garrison sized 'national flag' that he had never seen before, flying proudly from the highest tower.
It was the same flag that the ex-prince Philippe had hated with a passion, for it had on a light blue background, the Steiner and Bergen family crests, side by side in gold at its center with a golden crown above the two crests (instead of the Moreau family crest) which explained why Philippe hated it so much - - - It was all symbolic rubbish; really… yet another gesture/example of 'Royal privilege' and Rupert couldn't help but wonder if her Majesty: Elizabeth II 'back-home' enjoyed the same kind of cold and drafty, roughed-in rooms that he did? - The mere thought made Rupert laugh.
Of the Royal Guard sentries on permanent duty within the Schloss, at least 'two' stood their watch at the top of the grand staircase entrance into the all but empty west-wing. Their orders were to be respectful of the Prince's family, while politely denying anyone access to the west wing. Anti-apparition wards with a bluish flavor were everywhere, but they were strongest within the west wing. But the best defense from harm for the Prince was his house-elf: Tweaky.
Generally speaking: Rupert/Ron's new digs was a thousand times worse, than anyplace else he had ever lived and that includes that lousy, smelly …tent … Lord knows it wasn't at all like any of the fairy-tale 'royal palaces' that Ron had read about in books as a child. - Interior finishing of the east wing were far from done, with the number of wizards skilled in magical construction in the valley less than a hand full … with the reason for that fact obvious, as magical building in the presence of Muggle's was 'forbidden' by the 'International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy.' - -
That statute is why so many Muggle hard hat types had been employed in the rebuilding up to now. But now that the Muggle construction workers were gone (never to return) their tent city disassembled. – Making the precious few local magical construction and plumping workers in the valley, in high demand. - But due to the Princes popularity a good number worked on the Schloss interior, concentrating their efforts on the 'east wing', by Royal decree – where his great uncle and aunt would soon playing-host to the rest of his extended family… who would be arriving any time now.
The Royal palace of 'Bergen-Steiner' also lacked one other feature known so well to the Magical nobility … for there was only one magical servant to found within its walls. Long before Rupert had moved back in, Erwin and Victoria had taken their entire house-elves staff (two) with them when they vacationed in England during the renovation, meaning that the 'Prince elect' had depended more or less on Tweaky (his house-elf) for meals and laundry for the last three years.
With the weather starting to change in mid-October, the loud noises surrounding the concentration of effort to make livable the entire upper east wing, drove Rupert to distraction as it left most of the rooms in the entire first floor and the west wing … nothing more than empty framed in spaces untouched by hammer or paint brush… nothing more than (walk-thru) mere shadows of what they would become. Construction in the east wing began before dawn and ended each day long after sunset and it was only by strong muffling spells and distance, in the farthest corner of the upper west wing, which gave Rupert any reprieve from the all-but never ending …deafening noise.
But in spite of the noise, since the end of Philippe's reign; definite progress had been made in restoring 'Schloss Steiner' in a remarkably short period of time. The attached: two-story tall massive Conservatory (green-house/sun room) had been completely rebuilt in oak as the former cast-iron framework had rusted-out to dangerous levels. Rupert's great aunt Victoria was restricted to a wheel chair now and her health was far too fragile to risk going out into the changeable open air. And Great Aunty Vicky just loved blooming flowers.
By the time Rupert had officially moved back into the Schloss, the four moving portraits had grown to six and each one was placed in a special area covered by a curtain, like the one Ron recalled that hung in Grimmauld place in London. - The six moving paintings were carefully hung at eye level of the single chairs and side table that faced them. Each night after moving in Rupert/Ron spent at least one hour having a conversation with each one of the bridal candidates in turn.
He reluctantly allowed each of the portraits to fully undress and pose for him naked as there was (apparently) a compulsion spell on each one that obligated them to behave in a seductive manner. Once they got the forced behavior out of their system, their actions and mannerism's changed enormously and Ron/Rupert was able to settle down and have genuine conversations with these high-born noble witches. - In four of the cases, the obvious incompatibility became painfully clear within ten minutes or less, following the end of the forced and unnatural …seductive behavior.
For Rupert/Ron it was all too familiar sensation, which he had experienced multiple times while trying to chat with Padma (a Ravenclaw) during the Yule ball. - In fact as he recalled it … all the brainy birds he tried to chat-up at Hogwarts (including Hermione) tended to treat him as a barely literate …retarded troll; (moron). Hermione in particular use to talk down to him all the time, something she never did with Harry … 'was I clueless … or what' (he'd say to himself). Exactly why Ron found smart witches were so attractive was a never ending mystery not only to himself, but to his family as well.
But as it turned out _these rich and spoiled, pure-blood/ narcissist birds, were loads worse than Hermione on her most arrogant days and after speaking at length to four of the six; it became crystal clear that they found the very idea of bedding a former shopkeeper and commoner (like Ron/Rupert) utterly disgusting. - Pointing this out to the Chancellor the following day after each interview, these snobbish b-witches were put back into their shipping crates and sent packing with a pensive memory explanation of the reasons for each rejection.
The remaining two, were open to the 'idea' of a long-distance friendship, but were too involved with boys back home to ever consider marriage to him. At their request Rupert allowed them to stay on, so to provide 'pro-tempore' cover for their oh-so secret romances back home. 'Lord I must be the most gullible wizard in the world' Rupert would often say to himself.
Prince Rupert wasn't unhappy that the 'high and mighty' nobility of Europe had failed to seduce him into a sham of a marriage; the girls were facially pretty with delicious bodies, but all of them had the same 'dripping sarcastic arrogance' that is apparently second nature to the overly spoiled witches of the politically correct 'leaning' social elite. The type that's all for equality as long as it was clearly understood that some people (them) were more equal and deserving than the common rabble/deporables (us). - Rupert's had heard that many cinema starlets were that way too and his negative reaction to theses elitist Toff's, was all but automatic and boiled-down to his intimate familiarity with the book-smart arrogance of a witch who also didn't think him to be the 'intellectual or social' equal of a toad.
Rupert/Ron never considered himself to be, even a fair judge of character (too trusting in people's overall goodness… I suppose) a trait that Draco always sneered at, as a weakness. However: with each prospective spouse; Rupert quickly got the overwhelming impression that loads of money in the bank didn't automatically translate into being a good person. - Rupert never fancied the self-loving snobs or either gender and thanked his lucky stars that he was raised working class. - Whenever Rupert tried to explain to his royal Chancellor his *likes attract likes* theory on dating; Ron/Rupert would find himself on the receiving end of yet another lecture, concerning that love had next to nothing to do with a royal marriage.
Rupert found it to be increasingly depressing every time he was repeatedly informed that his primary Royal duty 'right now' … was to produce several intelligent and healthy offspring … heirs of his body, that would be clever enough to succeed him and rule wisely. 'Royal wives were to be considered of value; primarily for breeding abilities', the Chancellor kept saying, 'because the total number of royal 'love matches' (throughout history) could be counted on the fingers of one hand'.
And to think: Rupert/Ron use to laughingly 'joke' about, the uber-rich pure-blooded snobs and their loveless arranged marriages back home. It wasn't so funny anymore, now that the 'JOKE' had been played out on him (Judith).
For strictly carnal pleasure; Royal Princes traditionally made use of the more than willing (gold-digging) concubines. All carefully screened and fully vented (lover/mistresses) witches/Muggle women: hexed with some kind of 'unbreakable vow' like 'non disclosure agreement' and sometimes more than one. - As a example (close to home) Henley would point at Prince Charles of England who while married to Diane was having an ongoing …not so secret affair with a mistress in the form of the 'at times' married to someone else: Camilla Parker Bowles", Henley had said this in a encouraging tone (like it was 'perk' … somehow, a good thing … which it wasn't … of course).
"Even Philippe's grandfather: Armand Moreau", Henley would point out as yet another example, "Moreau had a weakness for married mistress: Marguerite Albert, the Viscountess Thelma Furness and the infamous Wallis Simpson in 1948, a woman that Armand had 'shared' with the former King Edward VIII of England".
"Wallis" –Rupert asked?
"Before your time, your highness … don't give it another thought"
"So all arranged marriages for reason of state are 'only' for the making of legitimate heirs, with little or no genuine affection exchanged", Rupert was known to ask. "I'm not unfamiliar with the concept Milord Chancellor, for the Pure-bloods of England endure 'loveless' marriages all the time. - I'm told that the elder Malfoy's have a long tradition of seeking physical pleasure with hired lovers, some of them boys. - I had hoped to avoid that fate, but if a Prince (like me) wants anything remotely like (love) my only option is the same kind of married witch … just like the one, I just broke-up with".
"For the rich, powerful and celebrities like your friend Potter; beautiful women are attacked to such people like honey attracts bears".
"Yes Milord Chancellor, Harry has already told me how total strangers throw themselves at him, willing to do anything for a few moments in his bed."
"Very good your highness, a perfect example" Henley said with a smile
"… and just because I have become; both rich and a Prince, the very type of pretty girls that use to ignore me will now find me, what … irresistible?"
"It is human nature I'm afraid, your highness. I'm told that a certain English-born Cinema starlet is actually worshiped like a living goddess for pretending to be someone other than themselves … while elderly rich Muggle men marry women one-fifth their age".
"So I'm never to be the source attraction", Rupert said as he came to grips with a life unloved.
"It's what you represent … your wealth and power, it's those two things that will motivate the downward movement of a series of beautiful women's knickers. When properly vented your *carnal play-things* will be anatomically beautiful, 'irreversibly infertile' and extremely discrete. - But let's change the subject shall we, for your government is still deeply committed to the idea of finding you a lawful breeder that will be (at least) somewhat able to coexist peacefully with you, here in the valley"
"So a form of marital-rape … repeatedly done; to produce multiple heirs, is the best I can hope for?" – Rupert/Ron asked.
"It won't be rape; Sire … your lawful wife will be doing her contractual duty as will you … in the traditional manner for the sake of the Principality. – As you your-self have pointed-out to me, arranged marriages back home in magical England still happen every day and once a bare minimum of healthy offspring are made and weaned (one) the official wife of a British pure-blood is usually put out to pasture (so to speak) except for official events", Henley ever so politely pointed out. – "The downside to arranged marriages between near total strangers has always been the lack of genuine desire to make large families".
"The Malfoy's have only had one male heir per generation for as far back as my dad can remember", Rupert said thoughtfully. "And that's what happened to the eleven here in Bergen Steiner… isn't it? And it's happening to the Dubois family right now, the last of his bloodline. He didn't follow the concept of 'Heir and a Spare' and now his name and bloodline faces extinction".
"Exactly: your Highness, extreme feminism and outright hatred of all things male, by the current witches of Europe's magical nobility, their insistence that all forms of masculinity and heterosexuality being toxic, if not outright evil … their utter disgust with the concept of male-female marriage (slavery for the witch) and our patriarchal society, their foolishness in thinking that's it's wrong to bring children into a world doomed in 'ten to twelve' years time due to 'Global Warming' – utterly fail to realized that climate problems can't be solved by 'unborn' children murdered at birth … that zero or negative population growth is just a slow form of societal suicide".
"These reluctant pure-blood, wife/ breeders of the magical world, are doing what is contractually required of them … but there is zero enthusiasm involved. Acknowledging this fact of life; is why your government is so conflicted. We desperately require an heir and a spare, but our preference would be for a Royal family on the Weasley Model. Six royal offspring's to continue the royal bloodline as well as an infusion of fresh candidates to keep the Von Steiner seat on the council going.
"Too often in my lifetime", the chancellor continued. "I have watched reluctant brides with nothing in common with their noble-born councilor husbands provide the one heir required and then NEVER AGAIN willingly share their husband's bed", Henley said sadly. "Depending on luck alone that their single heir will survive to maturity is the worse form of stupidly. Five of the eleven have died out due to not having more than a single male heir or producing boys with no desire to reproduce heterosexually. - Childbirth through IVF (in vitro fertilization) is only a recent development and the failure rate is still high", Henley continued. "Which means: that the old system still prevails, thus after doing their reproductive 'single heir' duty, most highly reluctant noble-born wives are 'conditionally' set-free of any further requirement to make additional children".
"I personally saw this happen to the noble house of Bergen, the other founding family of our principality. The last lawful Baroness Bergen after producing a 'not important to the line of succession' healthy daughter then went on to give birth to the required son (heir) for only males can inherit land and title. Once her 'duty' was done she was given a substantial yearly allowance (like Ashira's) allowing her and her daughter to live most comfortably, either out of the country or in a separate part of the manor house, away from her Lord husband. However; most are encouraged to keep a separate residence in a major city like London, Madrid or Paris and live 'discretely' with whomever she pleases, as long as she takes reasonable care to be undiscovered about her extramarital lovers.
This is what the Baroness Bergen did; she established a residency in Barcelona Spain. When her son with Lord Bergen was accidentally killed in a riding incident at age ten, (some fifteen years ago) his lordship went totally mental, blaming his five year absent wife for his son's death. That he had driven his wife out of the country by flaunting his ever changing mistress in his wife's face was in his view irrelevant".
"So that's how the Bergen family died out", Rupert asked?
"The Baron refused to even consider making another child with the baroness, especially after he had already gone to the trouble of lawfully disowning his biological daughter in regard to inheritance and title and to insult to injury: The Baron then gained unanimous consent from the then Prince and council to semi-legally divorce his wife. The one and only time that decree was ever allowed in Bergen Steiner. However Baron Bergen second wife (the younger sister of his mistress at the time) also proved to be barren. - Although that too was eventually proven to be a false assumption: because after the baron's death in a duel, his second wife had several bastard children with several lovers".
"And the original baroness", Rupert asked?
"Remarried to a magical Spaniard named 'Bushitillo' (**) who joyfully adopted the Baroness daughter before giving him several more children; I'm told it was a rare love-match", Henley added. - "As a footnote: The baroness was first introduced to her mentally unstable husband through an magically animated portrait and as you have already regretfully learned *firsthand* via similar moving portraits, that_ none _of your prospective noble-born brides (so far) fancied in the slightest, even the 'remote idea' of marriage to a mere commoner. - -
"Your government has begun to despair concerning finding someone for you that is even slightly compatible enough to even 'consider' making more than one offspring with you in the traditional way", Henley said with deeply felt regret. – "In fact: we lost a number of marital candidates when we contractually 'insisted' on 'multiple' healthy offspring's within five years of the wedding, instead of the traditional ONE. You would be facing more than just six portraits my prince had I not made it clear that multiple children were expected … three a bare minimum.
"How many pulled back when you told them that", Rupert asked?
"Eight my prince"
"Just eight", Rupert asked?
"This was expected as these rich witches hate as much as you do, being forced into becoming the reluctant breeding chattel (multiple times) with a stranger. The first six moving portraits just tested the waters, rushing to be first in queue. Their honest disgust with a common born shopkeeper was quickly obvious. The next seven were more evasive in their answers which proved in my mind that they were are only after your wealth and no more interested in you than the first wave: when they too refused the multiple offspring clause, they two were sent packing. But you must understand one thing Sire … after the old nobility stop throwing their daughters at you, the 'Nouveau riche' hoping for a 'title and wealth' will take their turn".
"I always did rub the Toffs the wrong way", Ron replied with a sad, resigned chuckle. - "Can I assume that after the 'Nouveau riche' have given it a go an fail, my royal government then will be pushing a 'poor as dirt' but still 'noble-born' connection to offset my 'commoner' birth?"
"Yes … your highness, in light of the overwhelming negative reaction we have received from the old nobility of Europe over the multiple heir requirements … at least so far, we have begun to expand our search boundaries to include well educated and highly cultured breeders that are neither noble born or rich in their own right ... after all Sire, we/you don't need anyone else's money to survive".
"But an old-blood 'noble title' would be preferable … yes? - That my family is a-part of the 'Scared twenty-eight', the only 28 families of England that can trace their untainted pure-bloodlines to before the first Roman conquest of England … but that isn't good enough. - - My family isn't a-part of the ancient Celtic Nobility, so we don't qualify?" - Rupert asked in an increasingly angry tone. "I assume that as my elevation to the first estate was contrived it is therefore 'not' considered legitimate by Europe's magical nobility".
"True enough sire. But had you married Granger, wouldn't that have disqualified your family as part-of the twenty-eight", Henley asked?
"Only if we had half-blood offspring's", Rupert said with a sad smile. "And as the years have gone-by, I have begun to wonder if even the Chosen One has a 'snow-ball chance in Hell' of getting his radical feminist pregnant"
"I have to agree, my sources tell me the Granger-Potter's thingy … is not and never was, a love match", Henley admitted
"This really sucks Dragon-piss. Harry is just as likely to die childless as I was with Judith. Fate must hate us; Granger thinks children will only slow down her career and the Jakubowicz's bought their way into royalty (through me) with no intention of letting me have children. So I assume that it is only logical to assume (turnabout being fair play) that this Principality should be equally able to buy a *poor as dirt*, noble-born witch to lawfully breed with me".
"We haven't reach such desperate measures yet - - but it may come to that", Henley replied honestly.
"Milord Chancellor: have you considered the possibility that whatever wife you force on me, might only give me girls", Rupert asked?
"Yes Highness, in that case divorce is allowed under the Charter, this was the excuse the Baron Bergen used to get his divorce. Normally this exception to the no divorce statue only applies to royalty and…"
NO … absobloodylutely NOT, Rupert roared.
"But Highness…" Henley protested, "Bergen Steiner has always had a prince!"
"I will do my duty and all I ask is that you don't hook me up with someone totally hideous", Rupert replied now resigned to his fate. It was odd: the difference between imagining becoming a Prince and the reality of living the role was … depressing. The same thing applied to being a hero like Harry, Rupert assumed. - - -
"BUT on this point … I draw the line. - My job you keep saying: is to produce multiple heirs so that the best qualified … not the first born, but the best period, comes to rule after me onto the throne. If that means a princess … then that's the way it will be".
"Highness that goes against tradition"
"So does selling the Royal house to a Canadian, so does having an Englishman as Prince elect, a mere shopkeeper who is not a-part of the long established nobility … so does abandoning the seniority system in picking said Prince? Gender means nothing when it comes to who is best qualified. - Bloody-hell the smartest person I ever met was the cheerleader who ran off with the quarterback. She didn't think me worthy to kiss her foot and she became the least tolerant of my type of toxic masculinity. But in the end; as long as a daughter of mine does not totally reject her femininity by saying it is her right as a woman to murder a newborn, supersedes her baby daughters right to live and grow up to be a woman. As long as she can embrace the concept of home and family as I understand those terms. I will not object to a Princess for 'Bergen Steiner',".
"Can I also assume that you intent to allow women and non-members of the nobility onto the council? Henley asked fearfully?
"What part of best qualified for the job didn't you get", Rupert countered sounding irritated. "I was in the close company of a 'die-hard', leftist, feminist … for almost seven years and she dragged me 'kicking and screaming' into enlightenment on SOME issues, 'not all' - mind you, she was a-tad extreme on other things, like instant House-elf emancipation, for example. So although I'm not a total Neanderthal; I still think that Granger is DEAD WRONG on any number of 'societal' issues. She ignored me of course; whenever I didn't buy into her radicalism because when your one-hundred percent right on 'absobloodylutely' everything, the freedom of speech to express a differing opinion is not allowed. The socialist agenda/dogma trumps all", Rupert said in a resigned tone.
"She shut you out, belittled your overall worth and called you names when you didn't automatically agree with each point of her dogma. No wonder she picked Potter over you, I bet the reluctant Hero 'never' argued with her", Henley pointed-out
"Generally speaking: although Harry was a wuss around girls (far worse than me) he never openly disagreed by getting into a loud argument with the perfect PREFECT Granger over almost anything. It was always a flat 'Yes-or-NO' with Harry, he'd take her suggestion or reject it with zero discussion. No-no … she picked Harry over me because she knew her 'pet Potter' would do whatever she could nag him into doing - besides… Harry had the fame to make her Minister of Magic. She and I had loads of extra loud arguments, that were rather one sided… actually. Especially: when you are discussing something with a person who cannot conceive even the most remote possibility that her feminist doctrine might be on the wrong side of history".
"But she is nouveau riche … isn't she … and common born?" - Henley asked; utterly surprise at the clear admiration that his Prince had once fancied someone who 'looked-down' on him.
"Granger is upper middle-class and well-off. But she isn't a-part of the Muggle British nobility that much is true. There are exactly three living Malfoy's all noble born, whereas the Weasley clan numbers more than three hundred and has spread all over the globe. Granger was right: I 'was' (past tense) poor as dirt, an unsophisticated commoner, a mere tradesman. My sort runs in different circles to the leftist toffs back home, especially the social climbing, arrogantly progressive 'elites' like the Granger's. Maybe that's the problem, maybe my government is trying too hard to arrange a match with snobbish witches who think that fidelity in marriage is 'beneath' them?"
"Actually … we have already been looking into such (dirt poor) ladies of breeding you mentioned eariler, to see if one or two of them might qualify to be a-part of your unofficial … bed-warmers", Henley said
"My …what", Rupert asked?
"Your Harem; of potential lovers, your Majesty", Henley said
"I don't even get to pick out my mistress?" - Ron/Rupert protested.
"In today's climate, the risk of approaching the wrong sort; could be politically disastrous. It's the possibility of calamity that ruled-out, a home-grown 'in country' witch of common birth as your wife".
"So: me cruising this-countries two (total) pubs, for a bride is out of the question?" Rupert asked half-joking.
"Of Course, … can you just imagine the bad press that would be generated if the Crown Prince of _ Bergen Steiner _was falsely accused of forcing himself on a half-drunk …squib? – A single unwanted kiss, an innocent 'hug' (and you Weasleys are huggers) interpreted incorrectly by the magical media, and being Weasley 'affectionate' is instantly transformed into a molestation style of 'sexual assault'. - Even asking the wrong woman out for an otherwise innocent date, could be misconstrued as harassment and using your title to get-away with attempted 'date rape', especially by those who do not want you as our Crowned Prince". –
"The biggest threat to the Crown actually comes from those witches that want to look older and act more mature than their chorological age indicates. In my day a gentleman never inquired about a lady's age. I tell you sire that there would be instant calls for you to step-down (abdication) if it was discovered that though 'no fault of your own' …you were *perceived* to be seeing romantically, an underage/immature girl".
"But the presumption of innocence …" Ron began
"… Does not apply to political figures (like a judge) seeking higher office or celebrities, the mere accusation would be enough for the magical media in the current climate … to seek-out girls that you knew at eleven years of age as a firstie to 'make-up' false accentuations of inappropriate behavior and then to find you (without a ounce of proof) guilty, with your reputation irreversibly ruined for life".
"The moment any accusation is made, the media will totally belief your accuser even without any real physical evidence (either way) stone hard facts doesn't seem to matter to Europe's 'so-called' objective press. The possible and purely mercenary/gold-digging motivation of the alleged female victim… perhaps paid for by your enemies; the 'Moreau' faction, to bring you and this Principality to ruin is too real to allow you to indulge in the local dating scene".
"Without any proof at all", Rupert asked stunned?
"One of the great disadvantages of anyone seeking high position, is the loss of due-process … in the media: *perception is everything* and retraction for published 'lies' is rare and only found buried in the back pages. - Believe me when I say that the family of the former prince Philippe would happily promote and pay for, any 'dossier' of false accusations if it meant … bringing you down"
"Not royal for even five weeks and already I have devoted enemies", Rupert bemoaned
"Within the principality I doubt it … your subjects on the whole, adore you", Henley said with total honestly, "but from those living now 'out of political power' …in exile, like our former Prince, parts of his extended family and the other former noble households that haven't had a single magical member of their bloodlines born here in generations … like the Dubois family. - The raw hatred they must feel over losing their seats on the *council of eleven* is bottomless. - Cashing in their royal bonds partially restored their wealth and embittered rich people can be very dangerous … which is why I have insisted on your protection detail"
"So I can't flirt?"
"Unwanted advances (intimidation/coercion) in the pursuit of sex … Harassment"
"I can't say a bird is pretty?"
"You can't call a woman a *bird* anymore; Highness … its gender insulting and a possibly misogyny term (contempt for women) or outright Sexist … even you obvious preference for a certain type of intellectual 'women' over gay or transgender men, could be considered exclusive rather than inclusive and by inference …homophobic".
"Chancellor … that is ridiculous"
"I can't stress this strongly enough. Any woman making any charge will automatically be believed over you … even though 'false charges of assault' are made by women far more often than a male black actor makes them up in Chicago. There are two sets of rules my prince and as a public figure, your actions are easily subject to misinterpretation and deliberate distortion which can be intentionally twisted to put you and the Crown in a bad light."
"So you get to pick my friends"
"Your government wishes to be very careful (for the short term only) concerning what people come into daily social contact with your Highness. - - Through careful back-ground checks and magically unbreakable non-disclosure agreements, we hope to surround your highness with individuals that can be both, loyal as well as entertaining. Who you decide to invite into your inner circle of friends and confidants … in a few years, we'll mostly leave to you"
"Tell me again why I agreed to become Prince", Ron/Rupert bemoaned
"Don't deceive yourself into believing that the British Queen's and her family lives are any easier, because they are not and Elizabeth was born and raised into her role."
"I just got the impression growing-up, that royals lived a life of privilege and leisure"
"That may have been correct two hundred years ago, but today's pitifully few royalty families live in media fish-bowls and are forever burdened with social duties and obligations".
"Being a royal sucks, Henley"
"Yes your highness, you've pointed that out several times already, but as I was saying … your government can reduce your vulnerability from gold-diggers and false charges of inappropriate behavior, by carefully screening those individuals who are permitted into your inner circle. With that in mind sire, and with a surprising bit of outside help, from the magical governments of our three guarantor's … they have presented me with a combined list of eighteen (or so) young middleclass people in their mid-twenties which will be invited to dinner in groups of no more than four, giving you the opportunity to get to know each one".
"Oh bloody-marvelous, even my friends have to be pre-screened as potential threats to my security"
"Honestly Rupert… I: like you, often feel way over my head … I can manage a table-top country of a thousand souls that most people ignore", Henley admitted sadly. "I can pay the bills, collect the taxes. - But my so-called cleverness didn't prevent a narcissistic 'leech' like Philippe from nearly stealing us blind. – Self serving, progressive witches like Granger and Judith willing to do anything to get what they want; irregardless of collateral damage they do to others, their extreme attitudes is the bane of all men of good will. - That they utterly despise the very men they want to manipulate just ads 'insult to injury', for it makes all men even the few good ones scared to even approach a woman out of a justifiable fear of career ruination or being kicked out of a university."
"That car crash in Vancouver saved more than just your life. In dealing with the ICW, our three countries magical guarantors, and diplomatic affairs in general, I'm as naive as a new born child. Judith and her 'deal' have thrust us onto the magical world stage and I greatly fear that I am not up to the task'.
"Speaking of that, our need for an experienced diplomat, I might have a solution for that problem … a close to home candidate that I fully trust", Rupert said with a knowing smile.
88
LONG LIVE THE PRINCE!
88
When the moment of truth came it turned out to be a somewhat warm and sunny … fall day. Thankfully: Germany and Switzerland provided magical volunteers (troops) for the coronation ceremony and to provide the bulk of the security. - As the one and only church (Lutheran-Protestant) was too tiny to hold everyone, by royal decree the crowning was held in front of the church (on the steps) in the center of the town square a mere ten paces away from the Royal 'Barrier Stone'. The Bergin-Steiner version of the: 'Stone of Scone'.
The coronation was to be simultaneously (magically) broadcasted throughout the valley – appearing in every fireplace hooked up to the floo network. It was the magical equivalent of a Muggle concept called 'television', and the general public … loved it. - The crown (Rupert/Ron) paid for that bit too. - - The royal procession it-self began at the royal palace and winded through every street of the capital/village so that each and every citizen who could make-it, got the chance to see up-close …Rupert's elevation to Prince. –
More of the magical nobility of Europe attended than expected and the ICW set up multiple pork-key spots so the *elite* could pop in and out at whim. Thankfully: few of these 'uppity toffs' stuck around for the public reception which was held on the streets of the village as a sort of huge 'pot-luck' dinner with the now crowned Prince wandering about meeting as many of his subjects as possible.
Regretfully; the ever so 'politically correct', Magical elite (rich folk love to party … 'amongst themselves' …don't you know) – but on the other hand: they just don't …'mingle' with the looked down upon 'deplorable' commoners/magical peasantry (a quite common and media unnoticed, display of their bigotry) just like the pureblood snobs back home in England … "their loss", Rupert snorted to himself; "for plain folk can be loads of fun". –
Henley the Chancellor nearly had a coronary over Rupert's idea of making his crowning into a party for his subjects and for providing 'all' the beer/wine and cake his subjects could ingest (the Bergen Steiner 'mob' by-the-way on the other hand … loved it to pieces) for their Prince, wasn't aloof, he was one of them (a huge scandal erupted over this …of course) the very idea (disgusting) of a Prince that didn't treat his people as beneath him (subjects) calling instead everyone he met at the coronation party … neighbors (simply unheard of).
The immediate family of his Royal Highness; Rupert Grint Von Steiner attended of course, (and had a great time) with the last one arriving just hours before the actual coronation and staying either in the half finished royal palace on his aunt and uncle side of Schloss Von Steiner … or in a small magical tent city (bigger on the inside than without) set up on the palace lawn.
Both Weasley and Prewett families were there in force, with *Molly Rosemary Weasley (nee Prewett)* taking great delight in being bowed to by just about everyone and respectfully referred to as the *Crown mother* so often, that her joy and pride filled smiles, nearly became permanently etched onto her face. - - And I should point out here, that the huge Weasley clan made a habit of big Family gatherings multiple times during the summer (back home) and along with the Prewett's, loved nothing better than a big pot-luck dinner and to party hardy.
Ron/Rupert could literally see his family's obvious disappointment at the minuscule size of his tiny valley Principality. He gave them a full tour (of course) not only of the smallish Schloss that was his permanent home but also to his aunt Victoria and uncle Erwin side of the second floor…which on its own translated in square footage to a modestly well-off manor house of a lowly *country squire* back home.
Fleur and Bill were there of course, with Ron's nieces and nephews in tow_ and it was the former Ms. Delacour that let-slip without thinking, while in Molly's hearing (no less) that the Delacour chateau was twice as large if not more, than the Von Steiner castle (thankfully) Bill managed to defuse his mothers rising anger by pointing out, with obvious good humor, - "You're spot on; luv, but even you must admit that Ronniekins new digs are loads bigger than his old flat above his shop back in Diagon alley".
For Percy the trip was combining business with pleasure, He had been appointed as magical England's 'unofficial representative' to the coronation, (Bergen Steiner not officially recognized as existing… of course) this was to be Percy's last official task, before leaving the Ministry for good. Hermione had won in forcing him out and Perce hadn't really given much thought about what he and Audrey would do next, with his Spanish born wife: 'Audrey Maria Conchita Alonso 'Bushitillo'-Fudge nee Weasley' (and here Ron thought the Welsh had big names) pushing him to move to Spain and seek government work there.
Hermione couldn't come of course (suspended) and Harry was taking leave to keep his wife company … at home. Rupert had leered in a knowing way upon learning of this news (good-luck buddy). - Both Percy and his adoring wife Audrey (born in Barcelona), were utterly fascinated by a fully functioning magical government of only forty-seven; while George and Angelina bemoaned the destruction of the royal tennis court, while at the same time; greatly approving of the public Quidditch pitch: big enough to host a professional team … under construction just outside of the village.
As for Ginny and her fiancée Neville Longbottom, Rupert/Ron on the second morning after the coronation personally took the tightly-connected couple on a long *broom ride* to a tiny patch of woods which covered the entrance to a small box canyon off the main valley, where faun and dryad reported sightings had been the most frequent. - Fauns and wood nymphs were considered extinct in Western Europe and Ginny was excited at prospect of actually seeing one, although she loudly declared in letters to her brother that – *the Royal Git* had lied when he said he had seen a wood nymph.
88**
*cut
8
What do you think … too much?
Did you catch the Easter-egg I left for you to find?
This chapter is dedicated to 'Old Groping Joe' and Dr. Ford, two of America's greatest liars and what their differing notions of what constitutes: 'inappropriate touching' and what it means today to the everyday interaction between the genders. - One kind of grouping which makes a woman feel very uncomfortable; is called by the left 'being overly affectionate' while the exact same alleged activity as done by someone else, is screamed to the roof tops by the media as 'sexual assault' with this hypocrisy of 'false accusations' having created a double standard that is destructive to all civil discourse. This double standard also applies to those sprouting anti-Semitism rhetoric as seen in a NY Times cartoon, without apparently a single repercussion. Nothing pisses me off more than anti-Semitism
8.
