Books in Series:
Book 1: A Girl Can Be More Important Than a Firebolt
Book 2: Light of the Heart
-o-
A/N: Harry Potter and his world belong to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and anyone that has received licensing rights.
-oOo-
Chapter 9
November 6, 1996
Hogwarts, Scotland
Daphne had been right. It was front page news. They were just happy it had waited a day. The initial release of their betrothal was towards the back of the Daily Prophet and was hardly noticed.
Susan had congratulated them and for once Hannah didn't look upset with him. A few other people, mostly those of Blood status, also congratulated them. Outside of meals, Runes and Ancient Magic, Hermione and him didn't give anyone a chance to speak with them, holing up in their lab.
That night, with the curtains drawn around his four poster, he started to go through some of the material Aunt Andi had given them. He blushed some to think of her words, 'if you find other ways to keep busy, you can wait until you are married'. He blushed more in his bed with the curtains drawn as he looked through the book. Hermione had the other two books right now.
His dreams were full of what he could do to his betrothed, or she could do to him...
This morning, Harry was still thinking about the books his Aunt had given them. He sat rather quietly in the Great Hall this morning. Hermione sat next to him, reading a book and happy in their silence. Most of their dormmates didn't have class, so Ron and Seamus had crawled back into bed after the work out and only Neville, Astoria and Parvati were sitting with them.
His friends were arguing about the last match between Pride of Portree and the Cearphilly Catapults. Parvati wasn't a fan of either team, but she was still arguing the Catapult Chasers were better while Neville and Astoria were for Portree. Harry knew Neville was a Puddlemere United fan, but Astoria was for the Pride.
Neville must be more taken with her than he thought.
They were still arguing when the owls arrived.
Hedwig arrived first and held out her leg. "Morning, girl," he said, taking the letter and putting some kippers on a plate for her. She snatched at it as another small tawny owl landed. Harry put his two sickles in the pouch and took the paper before the owl took off.
Hedwig hooted at him. "You're the only owl I want," he reassured her. "I have a letter for Aunt Bel after you rest up."
She stood up regally and stretched out a leg. "I want you to rest first," he said firmly. Hedwig shook as though affronted. "You have been in the air much of the last few days. Eat and then rest," he scolded her this time.
The snowy owl didn't look pleased but ate a few more links and drank some water before flying away.
Neville chuckled. "She's just as surly as you."
"Stubborn too," he agreed affectionately.
"Harry," Hermione nudged him.
He leaned over and pecked her on the cheek. She raised her shoulder and pushed him back a little. "Not that. This," she told him holding up the Daily Prophet. He laughed but stopped on seeing the front page. It was a picture of Hermione and him at the Masquerade dancing. Hermione had her back to him, her arm up and dancing a little low. He had a smirk on his face and his hands on her side. She danced against him for a few before they started to bounce with their friends.
"Oh bugger," he said looking at the title.
"I need to learn to dance like that," Parvati commented before she noticed the article's title. "That trollop!"
"Skeeter only covers something when the Ministry, or more specifically the Minister, wants someone politically buried or the Prophet needs more subscribers," Astoria said leaning over to look at the paper in Neville's hands. Her eyes widened a little before a smirk came to her face. "My father would kill me if he saw me doing something like that. You want to come to our New Year's Ball?"
"You did do something like that," Hermione pointed out.
"He didn't see me," Astoria smirked before starting to read the paper.
Harry snorted in amusement before growing serious again. "I think Fudge and the others are upset with me," Harry stated, starting to read the article.
-o-
The Most Respectable House of Black Disrespected.
By Rita Skeeter
The wizarding world is in shock. After the death of Sirius Black, it was assumed the House of Black would revert back to the next heir in-line. The honorable and respected House of Malfoy was next in-line until the wills of Sirius Black and James Potter were unsealed with the betrothal of the welp, Harry Potter. The will uncovered the seat of the Most Ancient and Honorable House of Black would fall to the shoulders of a half-blood dissident.
This is the same Harry Potter who has made waves in the Ministry and our world for submitting a dissolution of his House and titles -
"Can she even get her facts correct?" Hermione asked. "It is only the Lordship that is being dissolved."
He knew she had a low opinion of Skeeter.
- last month. The Bones and Longbottom Matrons have been reported as trying to save the Most Ancient and Honorable House of Potter, but the Potter heir and his Aunt are intent on seeing it burn. Lord Goyle, a supposed vassal of House Potter, was recently censured and fined claiming to be an independent Bloodline after it was discovered they were actually a vassal of House Potter. A hearing to determine if Lord Goyle is to serve time in Azkaban is scheduled for two weeks from now.
Some, like Lord Malfoy, see this as an attempted coup by Potter and his allies to take over the Wizengamot, and thus the Ministry.
With the filing for the dissolution of House Potter,-
"Really! How dense is she. It's the Lordship," Hermione huffed.
- three Houses besides House Goyle, have been "named" to the Peerage. There is fear that Scion Black will continue in his scheme and do the same to this Noble and Ancient House as he has done with House Potter, possibly sending other would-be Lords of the Wizengamot to Azkaban.
Lord Malfoy was quoted as saying, "We will not stand for this farce that is obviously led by Amelia Bones and Augusta Longbottom. This bid to seize the House of Potter is a ruse trying to distract us from the obvious play on the Black legacy."
Lord Malfoy has stated that he will fight the naming of Scion Potter as Heir to the House of Black, but that may be a moot point. Ms. Rosalind Gosselin of the Department of Magical Records has confirmed that the welp Potter is betrothed to a muggleborn, one Ms. Hermonie Gragger. The betrothal claims them both as named heirs and the contract was verified to be magically valid. Some may wonder how a muggleborn was able to enchant possibly the most eligible bachelor in Britain with two of the most powerful Lordships to his name, once he comes of age.
It is speculated that if it wasn't the Bones or Longbottom that convinced the welp Potter to forsake his birth house, then it was this muggleborn, Gragger. Of course, it is easy to speculate that the muggleborn was able to seduce the young heir after observing her at the Masquerade at Hogwarts on Halloween...
-o-
Harry couldn't read anymore. His blood was starting to boil, and the paper was smoking around his fingertips. He hadn't had an accidental burst of magic since coming to Hogwarts and right now he felt like burning this and all the other papers in the hall. The paper blackened around his fingers.
"Harry, luv, do you need to leave?" Hermione asked putting a hand over his other hand.
"I need to talk to Uncle Ted," he said, his anger just barely in check.
"Harry, you alright?" Neville asked.
Harry looked up and saw many students talking and looking towards them. Most looked at him and Hermione shocked. He was well enough known and liked that he doubted they would believe this tripe of him wanting to take over the Wizengamot.
What really had him steaming was the attack on Hermione, as though just because she was muggleborn she was below him. She was also not a whore like Skeeter seemed to be insinuating.
"Fudge and Malfoy must really be scared of you," Astoria speculated.
"Harry?" Hermione's voice was soft and caring.
"I own more than half the bloody Prophet," he told her angrily.
Astoria blinked. "What do you mean you own half the Prophet?"
"Aunt Bel and Uncle Ted started to go over my accounts this past summer. Between the Potters, and now the Blacks, I am pretty sure I own about fifty-three percent of the paper, with a seat on the board from the Blacks. I can't claim it until next summer, but I am going to see Skeeter fired and the editor on the street," he fumed.
Hermione squeezed his hand. "I agree that something needs to be done, but are you sure you want to stoop to their level? You said you want to be better and reform all this. If you use their methods will people believe you want to reform things?"
The paper was crumbling in his fingers and fell to the table. Bright red edges slowly moved across the remaining paper as it burned up. He took in a deep breath. Then two. Three... and he didn't start to calm down until he reached nine. "Aunt Andi was right. The only way for me to get rid of the corruption is to expose it. Astoria, what do you know about Fudge?"
"Besides him being a Slytherin and well connected through Slughorn? Quite a bit actually," she told him.
Harry looked up to the Head table. The rotund Potions master was eating and talking with Professor Hagrid. "Hermione, you still want me to go with you to Slughorn's social this weekend?"
"I have only been asking you for over a month. He is really interested in you and has a lot of interesting people that he keeps inviting," she told him.
He sighed. "I'm sorry I haven't come. Aunt Bel and Uncle Remus don't have a high opinion of him."
"But Uncle Ted does," she countered.
"His parties and teas are actually quite interesting," Astoria commented.
"You go to them?" Parvati asked.
Neville looked a little abashed. "He has invited me because he knew my grandfather and heard I had a good sense around plants."
"Genius, if you ask me," Astoria piped up, which made Neville really blush.
"And what of you?" Parvati asked Astoria.
"I have the second highest grade in Herbology in the school after Neville and Slughorn knows my parents. My family gaining a Peerage seat doesn't hurt either. Slughorn likes to be connected to those that are connected," she told Parvati.
Harry sighed. "Fine. I'll go."
"I think if we are serious about changing things, this is a good thing," she soothed him.
The whispers were starting to pick up. "You done eating?" he asked her.
She looked around. "Yeah, let's go. You want to send a letter to Uncle Ted after Transfiguration?"
"Yeah."
-oOo-
November 9, 1996
Hogwarts, Scotland
It was a blustery day, but at least the rain had moved out and the sky was clear now. Below him, Katie led his Chasers up the field. His job was to be looking for the snitch, but he was Captain as well. Katie was his co-Captain and ran the field, but he still needed to keep an eye on what was going on.
He winced as she was buffeted by Ginny after Zabini plowed into her. The fifth-year Ginny was not playing at the same level today. If she made Katie drop the quaffle one more time he was going to have to bench her and take in Demelza. He didn't want to do that. She played as well as Dean, but was a level down from Ginny and Katie⦠well, when Ginny was in normal game form.
After watching the play, he searched for the snitch.
His cousin came by. Normally he enjoyed trash talking his cousin, but today he wanted nothing to do with the boy. All week Draco had bugged him every chance he got.
"Give me the ring, Potter."
"Blow off, Malfoy."
He saw a golden glint and missed what Draco said before he realized it was something in the stands.
"Did you hear me, blood traitor?"
Harry shrugged. "All I hear is this annoying gnat."
Draco's face didn't look pleased. Harry used the distraction to keep an eye on the game and search for the snitch.
Draco puffed up. "Gnat! You dung sucking son of a..."
Harry didn't wait to hear what Draco was going to say. Dean had just announced the score at 100 to 70, Gryffindor in the lead and he had seen the snitch. He would prefer more points, but it was a good spread if he could catch it. The points for the cup went off the total spread between games.
He dove, the air soon whistling in his ears around his helmet. "Fudder!" Draco yelled. Harry, on his Thunderwave, sped towards the Slytherin goal posts and almost got caught by the Slytherin Chasers as he dodged around them. Draco caught up some and Harry put more speed on.
It was a harrowing chase as the snitch took off and decided to cut straight through the play Katie was trying to rally. As he sped through, he saw Ginny fumble the quaffle and once he lost sight of the snitch, he called time.
Draco and the other Slytherin were looking daggers at him. Wasn't his fault that Crabbe got Urquhart with a bludger when Harry sped by.
Ginny landed next to him and Katie was yelling before she even got off her broom. "Get over it, Weasley. Either you play the bloody way I know you can, or I am going to ask Harry to bench you," she said angrily to Ginny.
Ginny rose to the challenge. "If you threw it to me properly, I wouldn't have let Vaisey get it!"
"I've seen you catch harder passes then that. Get your head out of your arse!"
"Enough!" Harry yelled over them. "Weasley, on the bench."
Ginny tossed her braid over her shoulder and turned on him. "You can't do this! I am twice the player Robins is!"
"On a normal day, maybe. Today your shite. You are benched at least until we call another time. Robins, get over here!" Ginny looked livid, threw her broom on the pitch and stalked off towards the locker rooms. She had been moody like that all week at practices, which was the only time Harry saw her or spent any time with her since Halloween.
"Bloody hell, what just happened?" Ron asked coming down.
"Ginny is off today. Katie, you call the plays. I need to focus on the snitch."
"Sure, Cap. Demelza, you remember what we were practicing last week?"
"You mean where I fake, and she takes it?" Seamus asked.
"That would be it," Katie said.
"Yeah. I think I can do that," she told her.
"Good. Urquhart isn't adapting well to us changing up so much. I want to run that the next three plays and then the Delta-two," she told her.
"Good idea. If you need to call time, call it. Creeveys stay here."
Katie nodded and took off with Seamus and Demelza. The Creevey brothers were looking at him. "What's up, Harry?" Colin asked.
"I want you to knock out either Malfoy or Crabbe. Whichever one is nearer. Crabbe has broken up a dozen plays today, and we need that snitch," he told them.
"What about supporting Katie," Dennis asked. "The Delta plays require us trying to get the bludgers towards them."
"If you see the chance, take it," he ordered.
"Sure," they agreed and he was up and seeking again. Draco had continued to seek, and Harry moved towards him. He wanted to be far from his cousin, but he needed to distract him.
"Hey, flea," Harry greeted his cousin.
"Stop calling me those names," Draco snarled. Harry figured it was annoying his cousin. "Father says Sirius was disowned. You can't be Scion Black."
"And yet the rings accepted me and my betrothed."
Draco's snarl grew and the whistle sounded below. He wasn't sure Draco noticed. "That filthy mudblood will be wiped from the family once I have the Lordship."
"Good luck with that," he responded, trying to keep his cool. Harry was scanning while talking and raised his hand. "If anything, I think we will clean the mud from the name."
"Dirty bastard halfling," Draco said angrily. "Father is right. Your mother deserved to die."
Harry's blood started to heat up and saw a flash. Pulling his broom to the side, Draco suddenly had a panicked look on his face as the two nearly collided as Harry took off.
"Bloody arse, Potter!"
He didn't care, as he soon had the snitch in his hand, and Gryffindor had won 260 to 70. Their House quickly joined them on the field. Hermione jumped into his arms to give him a kiss. His smile was broad as he walked up to the locker rooms.
He pulled Katie aside. "Make sure Ginny is still in there and then I want a talk with her."
"This is about last weekend, isn't it?" she asked as the others walked past. "You want me to stay?"
"Yeah, you better. I don't need any rumors starting," he told her with a sigh.
"Sure, Harry."
When the others had finished changing and left, Katie called him into the girls' locker room.
Ginny was sitting on a bench, still in her game gear and her head in her hands.
"I'll just be by the door here," Katie said quietly.
"Thanks," he responded before heading to Ginny and sitting about ten feet from her on the bench. He had avoided her as much as he could.
"We need to talk," he started.
"About what?" She sounded defeated.
"You know I never liked you like that?" he asked softly.
"I never had a chance with you. You're Harry Potter. The-Boy-Who-Lived. Quidditch Captain. Prefect. Most likely to be Head Boy next year. All the girls want you. Most think you're the coolest guy in Hogwarts. Now you're going to be Lord Black and Lord Potter. Why would you ever look at me?" she asked.
"It's not like that, Ginny. If you keep practicing with Katie, I think you'll be the top Chaser in school by next year, if not end of this year. You are pretty, and funny and quick with that wand. I'm glad I never got one of your bat-boogey hexes."
She gave a watery laugh. "I thought about it a few times. Especially after you and Ron changed my hair black first year."
Harry cringed. "Yeah. That was a bet from the Twins. Those things did chase Ron for an hour."
She laughed again before it sounded like she was holding her tears in. "Why Granger? What does she have that I or anyone else doesn't have?"
He sat there for a few. "Can I tell you a secret?" he asked.
After a moment, she looked up, tears streaking her cheeks. "You want to trust me?"
"You never betrayed my trust before," he told her, not counting Halloween when she was drunk.
She just looked at him before he continued. "The night McGonagall put the sorting hat on my head, it wanted to place me in Ravenclaw. Yeah, it said I was brave and like my parents, but it also said I was witty and had a thirst for knowledge. I had met Hermione on the train and when I saw her go to Gryffindor, I knew I had to be in the same House as her. From the moment I saw her, I just knew; it had to be her."
Ginny didn't take her eyes away from him. "You didn't talk with her or hang out with her or anything?" Ginny questioned him.
"Lions aren't always brave, but I did speak up for her. Do you remember any time I would put up with others, outside my friends a few times, making fun of her? I think I dressed you down once. I feel guilty about not saying anything to my mates sometimes," he confessed.
Ginny searched his eyes for a while. "You really love her?"
"I love her for who she is. She is not the bookworm or bossy know-it-all many have called her. I find that highly offensive and won't put up with anyone insulting her. Personally, I am surprised no one ever called me that," he told her.
Her shocked expression told him everything. She never thought of him as who he was, but what his status and reputation was. "What are you talking about? You're the most popular boy in school! Ron and the Twins were always telling me the pranks you got up to I didn't know about. Everyone likes you. You are the top Seeker in a hundred years..."
"Ginny, can you tell me what my favorite color is?"
"Maroon and gold. Any Gryffindor would like those," she said with certainty.
"Have you ever seen me really wear those colors outside class or school, except some of the Gryffindor jumpers and Quidditch shirts I like?" She went to open her mouth and he cut her off. "Think, Ginny, before you open your mouth."
She opened her mouth again and then shut it.
"Do you know how I like my eggs? Or what I want to do once we leave Hogwarts?"
She frowned. After a moment, she said uncertainly, "Don't you want to be an Auror? I heard Ron and you talking about that many times. Your father was an Auror."
He shook his head slightly. "Do you know what courses I am taking this year?"
Her brow scrunched. "Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms. Everything you need to be an Auror."
"You have three out of six correct, though, I dropped DADA."
She looked really confused. "But you need that to be an Auror."
He shook his head. "I am not going to be an Auror. If you find out what classes I am in and want to talk about my true ambitions, come find me later. You should also really read the paper. I am not keeping my family's seat on the Wizengamot. I will only have one Lord's title."
"Mum said that was just a trick," she responded.
"Fudge and others think it is a trick. It is not."
They sat for a few minutes in silence. "Why Hermione? She is so unlike you."
"You realize that all the things you said about me are only a small fraction of what I do? You realize that for five years I have just missed getting top of class? Do you have any idea what it takes to compete on the same level as Hermione? Ask Ron, Dean, or Seamus how many times I don't do things with them so that I can study or get tutoring or special lessons. You might find something different than you think I am." He was staying calm. Harry had thought Ginny had grown out of her crush on him years ago. He hated fangirls and that was all she had ever seen in him. He wasn't sure why, but it was.
After a moment of silence, he told her, "Once you are done, I am sure there is a party in the Common Room. You scored forty points. That is something to celebrate and I want you on the team. You are really good, Ginny. If I get Head Boy next year, I will talk with Professor Babbling about handing the Captain's badge to someone else. If you want it, I will recommend you, but you have to act like the Captain. You get up there before anyone else. You push yourself and those around you to their limit, and then teach them to go passed it. To do that, you have to leave your issues off the pitch, and I think you need to find a way to let me go."
With that, he stood up. "Think about it. If you ever want to know who I really am, I'll be around."
Katie opened the door for him. He motioned for her to go first but she shook her head. They left Ginny in the locker room.
Harry, wanting to get to Hermione, but not ready to walk up into the raging party that was probably going, turned towards the pitch, not the school.
"You coming up, Harry?" Katie asked.
"In a few," he told her.
He walked out onto the pitch. A half dozen students were flying around, and a few groups were still in the stands. Katie walked up next to him. "You really think she could be Captain? She's a little fiery and hot tempered at times."
"So am I," he told her.
She snorted. "She just acts like a spoiled child. You scare me when you really get upset."
"I don't mean to scare people," he told her.
"I can tell, and that makes it scarier."
"You think it stupid of me to groom her for this?"
Katie stood quiet for a few. "No. I think she will make a very good captain if she learns to control her temper and gets over you."
He nodded and watched two Slytherins flying and passing a quaffle. "If they were to put those two in the front line instead of Urqhart and Vaisy, they could be a real challenge."
"Yeah," she said after a moment. "Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"What do you want to do after you leave here?"
"I want to learn how to make the enchanted clothes my Aunt does and probably make other things, like jewelry. I really like Ancient Magics and Magical Creatures." He sighed. "I also need to learn politics now."
"I heard you, Hermione, and Neville the other day. Do you really want to change things?"
"Yeah. Can you imagine if Hermione was bogged down by the restrictions that are on the Ministry or other jobs in Britain?" he asked.
She turned to him. "My mother is muggleborn. She told me how hard it was to become a Healer. Even now, after twenty years, they won't promote her to a Senior Healer or make her a Head of Department."
"I want to stop that," he told her.
"You have my support. Come on, Captain. Let's head up. I'm sure your girl is looking for you."
He smiled. He liked the sound of that and started to walk up to the castle. "Katie, what do you want to do when you graduate?"
"Fly, but I'm not that good to be on a Professional team. Dad has offered for me to work in the shop in Diagon Alley, but I really don't want to do that." She kicked at the ground. "Being a Healer like my mum sounds interesting."
"My Aunt Andi is a Healer. What's your mum's name?"
"Wendy Bell. She works mostly in the Magical Maladies ward. Who is your Aunt Andi?"
"Andromeda Tonks. I think she's a Head of something," he said a little embarrassed. He should know this.
"I'll ask my mum if she knows her." They walked in silence into the Main Entrance. "Harry, keep an eye open. I heard some girls talking about you, especially now that you are going to be Lord Black."
The happy spot he had found again faded. "Brilliant," he said dejectedly.
By the time they got to the Gryffindor common room, the party had already started. Harry was happy to find Hermione quickly. It wasn't one of the blowout parties that Fred and George threw, but Ron had been told many of their secrets, and had passed them onto Dean and Seamus. It was a good party. At some point, a flushed Hermione, with whom he had been dancing, pulled him out of the dorm. It was dark, meaning they had probably partied through dinner.
"Where are we going?" he laughed.
A floor down and around to an empty classroom by what was the abandoned DADA rooms, Hermione pulled him into an alcove. He moved in and put his hands against the wall, effectively trapping her. She didn't seem to care as she placed her hands on his chest. "I thought the star should have his fangirl," she said in a sultry tone.
His satisfied smirk made her brown eyes look like molten chocolate. "I thought you weren't a fangirl?" he asked, leaning down.
"I'm not," she said meeting his lips.
Her tongue was quickly out of her mouth and he met it. She pressed her mouth into him as her hands wandered down to the hem of his shirt. He took one hand off the wall and put it in her hair. His heart pounded in his chest as her hand slipped under his jumper and shirt. It was hot streaks as her hand went up his stomach and onto his chest.
They were both breathing hard as the kiss deepened. His hand wandered down, brushing her breast. Her moan matched his as she ran her hands over his skin under his shirt. If they weren't in an alcove, he would be working to remove hers. His hand moved lower after a moment to her jean clad bottom and squeezed. She moved in close with a groan of need. He pressed hard against his pants and let out his own groan as he pressed into her against the wall and she just about straddled his leg. They kissed for a while before someone suddenly said, "Oops, this corridor is taken."
He pulled back to see Hermione's chest heaving and her eyes looking like she wanted more than just touching. "Go away, Daphne," Hermione said in a growl.
The dark hair girl laughed. "You know that there is a broom closet just over there that no one ever looks in?"
Harry hadn't looked away. "Thank you. We will keep that in mind for next time."
Hermione flushed a little at that. Daphne laughed. "Have you seen Neville and my sister? Astoria was supposed to meet us for dinner."
"Have you tried the greenhouses?"
Daphne's eyebrow rose. "It's close to curfew. Those closed at six," Daphne told them.
Harry didn't like pulling away from Hermione, who made a sound like a growl. "I really hate you at times, Greengrass."
Daphne laughed again. "I think that is the first time you admitted it."
Hermione 'harrumphed' in exasperation. "You know I don't hate you," Hermione groused. Daphne shrugged. "Neville and Astoria like to go walking around the castle at times. If it's close to curfew, Neville always makes sure she is back in time."
Daphne nodded. "Thank you. Father just wants me to keep an eye on her. She is too innocent for her own good, and she likes Neville too much."
Harry snorted, his hormones still racing through him. "Neville isn't that type of guy. Though, I don't think Astoria is as innocent as you think."
Hermione hit him. "Just because she teases you doesn't mean she is that way."
"I never said she was. I am just saying she is a little manipulative and not as innocent as others think she is," Harry replied. "She is nice, but she is a Slytherin."
Daphne snorted. "You really must be her friends. Most never see that and even less would call her out on it."
"I call it like I see it," he responded.
She eyed him. "Maybe you should look at your clothes, otherwise everyone else will call it as well," Daphne informed them. "I'll see you at breakfast."
As she walked away, Harry turned back to Hermione. "I can rumple your clothes more."
"Harry James," she said with no heat before pulling on his jumper and snogging him until the half hour rang and they rushed back to the common room. It wouldn't do for Prefects to be caught out on a non-patrol night.
-oOo-
A/N: Just want to clear something up about House, Bloodline and Lordships
1. Bloodline: This is the magical equivalence to genetics (either through adoption or children). Traits and family magic pass through blood. If you are cast out of a family, and your bloodline is broken, you loose all special (good or bad) traits to pass to your children. The witch or wizard still retains what they are born with. If a witch or wizard is adopted or absorbs a bloodline, they will not gain any of the traits of the bloodline, but their children will. If the general magic is stronger, then the adopted persons magic will grow in strength.
2. House: After generations of a single family maintaining their bloodline, they become a recognized house in the Wizarding world. My general rule is three generations.
3. Lordship: This is a right granted to the bloodline to have a seat on the Wizengamot. Have not decided how they are chosen, except a vassal house can be granted a Lordship. It is not a permanent seat.
4. Peerage: Any bloodline or House that has been granted a hereditary Lordship on the Wizengamot. All peerage seats have true pure blood in them (can trace heritage back to the Romans). Only Peerage Houses can have vassal houses. This was a right transferred from the Wizarding Council to the Ministry of Magic when it was founded. If a Peerage House renounces its Lordship, all Vassal houses will be released. It will not break a House, unless the House is renounced also. Renouncing a House would break the wizard's connection to the Bloodline forever.
Harry is renouncing the Potter Lordship. He is keeping his House.
