Prince Consort

Chapter 51

Severus and Harry used their allotted 'free' time very wisely, even if they were annoyed at being interrupted. Alfred not being the slightest bit afraid or perturbed, always got the job done regardless. The council truly would not be happy if Harry – who ordered the meeting – turned up late. Regardless of his attempts to chivvy Harry along, Harry was working at his own pace and refused to be rushed.

Severus watched and said nothing about it, amusement shining in those dark depths.

"It truly would be intolerably rude to be late," Alfred stated again, "Especially after you set the meeting." Making a second attempt to badger Harry into going soon.

"I'm going!" Harry said, sounding exasperated, "Now where did the House-elf set the notes from Remus' room?"

"You can summon them," Alfred commented, flinging his hands in the air in defeat, the boy was as stubborn as a mule, nothing and nobody could force him to do anything. He doubted even Severus could force him either, if Harry didn't feel like it. Part of him knew that's what made them such a good match, and they were perfect for seeing in a new generation, a new era for the Prince Clan.

Harry snorted, rushing over to his side of the bed, digging into his bedside cabinet, "I always put anti-summoning spells on my stuff," he revealed, "It's one of the first things Blaise and Theo taught me, everyone at Hogwarts didn't like Slytherins, mostly the Gryffindor's admittedly. They like to try and steal our homework to get us into trouble."

"There's always one of them," Severus grumbled, entirely on board, he'd had to do the same thing. Otherwise, his grades would have suffered severely. It was bad enough going to school with second hand clothes on, without his grades slipping. Not that it really mattered, after all this wasn't exactly what he'd had planned for his future.

He missed potions, missed brewing, but for all this? Everything he had now? He'd allow the sacrifice.

Harry grimaced, he didn't need to ask whether his father was responsible for it, he knew he likely was. At least his dad probably hadn't taken part, and he understood why he remained on the side-lines. Too afraid of losing the only friends he'd ever had, and then the acceptance after they found out about his little wolf-y problem. "Ha! Got it!" grasping a hold of the file filled with parchment.

"Here," Severus said, coming out of their closet with a lovely black robe, thick and with a very unmistakable Prince crest set atop what would be the breast pocket when worn. "This I believe is yours," having hastily cast a cleaning charm and nothing else, and got dressed. He was not ashamed at what he and his mate had gotten up to, privacy and shame was one of the things you lost quickly when you became a vampire or any creature with heightened sense.

"Don't tell me the council is like the Wizengamot," Harry asked eyeing the material as if expecting it to change colour, "At least it's not plum." He conceded.

"They do like to think so," Severus said dryly, as Harry accepted the open robe, which was just a really fancy cloak and wrapped it around himself. Severus fixed it at the back, and attached it at Harry's neck, even if it wasn't strictly needed. "You and I are in complete agreement, it would have been the first thing I changed, not that I've used my own frequently." 'Or at all' Severus amended mentally.

Stepping back, biting back any advice he could think to give Harry, again. Harry wasn't only intelligent, smart but precocious and knew how to read a room. He'd given him advice yesterday, he knew the council was going to try and play off against Harrys' age, and make him seem immature and petulant. He'd suggested that no matter what they threw at him to keep his cool, after promising that he would take a set back and let Harry deal with this himself.

He wasn't the slightest bit worried about him, even if there was a niggling feeling of fear that if he let it happen Harry might leave. He might decide that this wasn't what he wanted anymore, and just left. This sort of life wasn't for everyone, it hadn't even been for him in the beginning either. It didn't escape his notice that it was once more with the council members at the helm. He'd stupidly thought perhaps he'd gotten through to Donald that day. More fool him, he'd just came back bitterer than ever.

Alfred observed Lord Prince's mood, cautious, for what they had just been up to, it certainly shouldn't be his mood. Still, something was bothering him and it was clearly to do with this meeting. He got his chance to ask when Harry muttered an excuse me to himself as he left for the toilet.

"Severus?" Alfred questioned, "Is everything alright?"

"If the council makes my mate second guess his place here…they will be offering guidance to nothing," Severus told him, pursing his lips. Luckily the bathroom was silenced both inside and out, that was one place everyone agreed they needed privacy.

Alfred refrained from inhaling sharply, truth be known, he didn't need to be told to realize the truth of that statement. Harry and Severus loved each other despite their shaky start. Glenn and Rose loved one another, but they had nothing on these two. They would move mountains for each other and it was beautiful to see. So, yes, he wasn't the slightest bit surprised. It did fill him with a certain amount of dread. He could see this going so many different ways, and more scenario's end up going badly than not.

The council were all so very bitter, and had been for far longer than just Harry's appearance here, but it was becoming increasingly obvious.

"Right, I'm ready to go," Harry said, opening the bathroom door the flush being heard until Harry closed the door with a quiet snick.

Alfred glanced at the time, and relaxed a little, they should be there on time, hopefully.

"Did you finish your goblet of blood?" Severus questioned, inhaling long and hard, not even having to go over to their cabinets to see, he could smell Harry hadn't surprisingly. He was drinking a whole lot more blood than usual, which was no surprise, he was pregnant. It was probably the only times he'd be indulged so passionately, to drink as much as he pleased, even if there was a shortage.

"No, actually I didn't, it got too cold," Harry told him, glancing at the aforementioned goblet, but most of it was gone, and it wasn't as nice re-heated for the second time. "Will you be there the entire time, Alfred? I mean I know you're also an Elder even if you have a more important job now…" which was ironically the same thing as an Elder, just one on one and actually a personal assistant to see to it that Severus' day wasn't shambles.

"Would you like another one to take with you to the meeting?" Severus asked, more interested in ensuring that Harry and his baby were comfortable and well fed – nourished – before all else. Until this evening he hadn't had anything since breakfast, and he knew pregnant vampires tended to drink more than usual, by more he meant triple or five times more than normal.

Harry shook his head, "If I change my mind I'll call a house-elf," he stated, yawning a little, it was more of a mental than physical tiredness. It had been an amazing day; he was sorry to be back here a little. They'd spent hours in the shops buying all sorts, he had admittedly, not bought much in the way of clothes, he'd let the others buy them. Apparently, all the vampires were going to want to buy something…hopefully Alfred would coordinate it otherwise they'd have way too much waste.

Then again, he could donate to those in need, if need be.

"Do not be afraid to do whatever you want," Severus murmured, wrapping his arms around Harry, and both of them began to leave the room. "At the end of the day, you're the leader, they are the followers." Even if it made them furious it didn't make it any less the truth of the matter.

"Don't worry," Harry murmured, he was doing this for Eileen so what happened to her never happened again. For any daughters he had, for any daughters his children had. If his child was a girl, he was going to make sure she had the best possible life, and choices she wanted to make. Screw the goddamned traditions and regulations the council liked to loudly proclaim like they were law.

"I can't believe I'm indulging this," Severus stated seriously, he had half a mind to dismantle the council of Elders entirely. Yes, there would be complaints, walk outs, but not enough to be a cause for concern. They were extreme pacifists, and would chose not to fight above all else. They preached peace when they knew didn't work. Preached against violence against women and children. Preached against harming innocents, but Harry was quite correct, if they left behind a man, woman or child they could pick up where they left off. It was why he had chosen to have his people Obliviate if they were under a certain age.

'Never trust a man, woman or child that can wield a wand,' it was almost as if Harry had been born for this role.

Perhaps he had been.

Each and every trial and tribulation strengthened him, allowed him empathy but do what needed to be done for the safety of their people.

Just as life had done for him, but not before embittering Severus, but luckily, his life had turned around before it was permanent.

Alfred as always, faithfully followed beside them.

Severus glanced at his side when Harry edged out and went ahead, dramatically opening the doors with a theatrical flourish. Severus closed his eyes, and pursed his lips at his mate's antics. He could already hear the quiet whispered complaints spreading amongst a few of the council Elders. He couldn't recall their names, not surprising he tended to avoid them. Donald's voice he would know, after all he had just spoken to him.

"He is going to drive them insane," Alfred whispered, as they approached the room, watching Harry strutting the rest of the way in. He was making no attempt to be quick, or even slightly less condescending, he was trying to wind them up.

Severus chuckled, "I know," and with that both he and Alfred entered the room, it was reminiscent of a classroom. Or at least it maybe used to be one, there was a massive blackboard all along the wall. There were half circular benches, on each side of the room, with spaces in the benches in four places. With a place for him, naturally, and two single seats, and none of them had ever been used – or intended to be used – by the Lord Consort. Which Harry was about to figure out.

"Where's my seat?" Harry requested, suspicion lacing his voice, clearly, he had a good idea where this was going to go.

"The Lord or Lady Consort has no place here," condescension dripped off the words, from the Elder Gideon, who had the appearance of a sixty-year-old man. Grey haired and looked as miserable as he was trying to make everyone else.

"Oh, really?" Harry all but purred, staring up at the vampire, "Who here has the most power? Me or you?" green eyes gleamed with wicked delight. He was going to enjoy putting them all in their places.

"Temporarily," Elder Gideon said disgustedly, giving a look at Harry's mid-section. Implying he was merely being used to bring about the next generation.

A guttural snarl left Severus' lips, "If you wish to see another day, do not imply or infer somehow that I do not care about my mate." Seething in fury over the slight, he would never allow that thought to fester in Harry, never. "Do. You. Understand. Me?"

The Elder in question almost jumped sky high, the snarl was so close, and as he craned his neck, he realized he was. Severus was close enough that his teeth were inches away from his neck. "My Lord," he agreed, baring his neck submissively, there was a reason Severus had gained respect amongst the ranks. It wasn't solely because he had been the only possible heir.

Nobody missed how Harry reacted to seeing his mate cower Gideon, how he made him submit. His green gaze was filled with a smouldering desire. It was a genuine surprise that they didn't just abandon their duties – nobody would honestly blame them – and lose themselves in each other. Nobody would blame them; in fact, many would say 'good on them' well aware that they didn't get to spend anywhere near as much time together as normal mated pairs did.

The Elders all remained rigid and cautious as their Lord rebuked them with a clear un-worded threat of death hovering in the air. Only once Severus had walked over to the section reserved for Lord Prince, which was elevated in the middle of the room where he could look down upon his 'subjects' as it were. Severus, however, flicked his wand and had it levelled off and a second throne produced and Severus sat away from the bench. Indicating a lack of involvement in the proceedings.

The Elders didn't dare say a single thing, suddenly not as supremely confident that they would accomplish the task they'd set out to do. They did glance at each other, noting the same lack of faith in their current goal as well. Yet, the question remained, did they attempt to do it?

Alfred watched the proceedings without showing a single hint of emotion, but nonetheless approving with Severus' actions. The Elders as always, continued to overstep their bounds. They had no right to say such things to Harry, as confident as he appeared, he was still young, surely felt self-conscious and worried just as every youngster does until they grow old.

Nobody was impervious to doubts.

Harry ambled over and joined Severus, brushing his hand over his arm and down to his hand, giving it a small squeeze before letting go. Silently thanking him for his actions, for standing up for him, for just being who he was. Turning to face the Elders, a sly smirk on his face, relishing in the power he had over these assholes who presumed to think they understood everything.

Today was just the beginning, he intended to see to it that there were a lot more meetings and a lot of things changed.

"Oh, Merlin, they aren't…" Harry muttered as the date, time and address was parroted by an Elder to the far left that Harry didn't know. squinting at the robes out of sheer habit – he could see perfectly well thank you – to find his name was Eamon. Another glance made Harry gape a little, they were actually recording this… "What about this isn't like the Wizengamot?"

"You've visited the Ministry during criminal proceedings?" Severus ventured interested.

"Don't tell dad, but yeah, me, Blaise and Theo all went in," refraining from stating in which state they went in, it had been a fascinating afternoon to be sure. They had then kept up with the case in the newspaper until it reached its conclusion. It hadn't been anything particularly bad, but they'd been twelve at the time. Underage and in the Ministry without parental consent.

Severus hummed a little, he would talk to him about it in greater detail later.

"…henceforth wish to have a new piece of regulation put in place," Harry and Severus jerked back to themselves, now that was a voice they recognized, Donald, it didn't surprise him that he was one of the first to stand up and make his demands known.

"That section…what's it for?" Harry asked, completely disregarding protocol, and the Elders, pointing to a section of the bench that was conspicuously empty.

"It's for those who wish to come and observe," Severus explained, not even having to glance in the direction Harry had pointed towards. "It used to be quite a busy and remarkable progress, everyone wanted their say, politics aren't quite so intriguing anymore. That and the laws and regulations that are here are more than enough."

"Does that mean nobody else has any interest of becoming an Elder when I remove some?" Harry asked.

Alfred groaned, closing his eyes and pinching his nose, he honestly despaired. Quite frankly it's a good thing he couldn't age, lest his hair become grey having to deal with the cheeky Lord Consort Severus had on his hands. Mischievous as he was, winding the Elders up and watching them go with a clinical detached fascination. All because one had annoyed him, then again, every single one of the Elders had been brought into this farce so fair enough. Far be it for him to tell Harry what to do and how to do it. He could suggest it, but what they ultimately chose to do was entirely their own.

"Elder Alfred, I see your incompetence continues," Gideon said with a disgusted glance at the unperturbed vampire. "Once more you fail to teach your charges just how important the council is. It certainly isn't mean for idle chitchat and question!" almost spluttering in sheer overwhelming incredulity at what he was hearing and seeing happening today. Even more so since it was the first real council meeting, they'd had in fourteen years. They had never been called by Lord Prince to get together in order to best deal with any problem they had.

"Are you saying I can't read?" Harry asked extremely offended, "I'll have you know I know every step of this process. It's a shame that every single one of you haven't learned to share, to compromise in the…at least five hundred years you've been on this planet. Or see the value in people. I mean, I'm a lot mature than you all and that's saying something. I also dislike the fact there isn't a single woman on this council." Then again back in those days women were probably seen and not heard, and regarded the same way he was, child carriers and unimportant in the grand scheme of things. He hoped when they found their mate they were massively, massively big-time feminists. It was the least the chauvinists deserved. "I am more than just someone to have the next Prince heir, I am someone's mate, son, brother, and more importantly your leader. No matter how you complain, hate me, deride me, I am going to, with my mates help, utter the Prince Clan into a new era!" his passion ringing true in his voice.

A/N – Okay, this scene was just getting out of hand and going places I didn't want it to, I wanted to warm up before I had Harry unleashing hell upon the Elders but it wouldn't even let me start the meeting so I'm going to stop here until I can think of a way for the meeting to continue without the elders stomping off like they want to right now LOL hmm what will Harry want to do first…make sure if he had a daughter she'd inherit and not her 'husband'? would the Elders even go for that? Or should we build up towards that particular one? Hmm what other regulations can you see Harry changing for the betterment of his children? For the new era of the Prince Clan? R&R please