Prince Consort

Chapter 56

Harry entered the chambers that were used for the Elder meetings, ensuring that there were more seats situated to accommodate them all. Nobody was there yet; the meeting wasn't set for half an hour from now. He didn't have anywhere near fifty female elders, but he would get there. He refused to fail; he was not about to let anyone make any daughter he had – if he was fortunate enough to have one – like they were inferior. The laws would be changed before his child was born. There would be no exception, the old farts could lump it if they didn't like it.

Severus' word was law, and he had Severus' backing in this venture most stringently.

Harry sat down on the closest seat, and set his folder down. When it opened, it had an ink pot slowly rising from inside. Plucking his quill from the side, he dipped it in, and idly tapped the quill tip against the side, before continuing to write to Blaise and Theo. He'd missed them so much, and made sure he let them know. Part of him wished he'd gone to Hogwarts with them, but no, better off not going. He hadn't wanted to be in the same location as Dumbledore. Not after what he did. Although, don't get him wrong, he took immense pleasure that his plans hadn't gone the way he wanted it.

That and he'd lost Sirius Black, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Tonks, Remus had never returned to the Order to help them. He'd been able to see reason – that the order had gotten his parents killed – and he, Harry, didn't want to lose Remus too. Then he hadn't gotten his 'army' he'd wanted for handing him over to the vampire Lord.

Shaking off his thoughts, he got back to his letter. He wished to have it finished before anyone ventured close to the room. Writing of his lessons, of the market, scolding them for not telling him about it sooner. Of having breakfast with Blaise's mother, and his progressing relationship with Severus and the symptoms of pregnancy he was getting. Telling them they'd make the best uncles one had never known. And that he couldn't wait to see them as always. He had just signed his name when the first whisper of company reached him.

Tapping his wand to the parchment, drying it immediately so it wouldn't be smudged.

"Where is everyone?" Storm asked, as an Elder, not a guard at the moment. She had on the dark customary elder robes, with the stitches in and runes applied.

Harry gazed at the female vampire, and the others that followed suit, just as surprised to see the hall empty as well. "I set your messages to five minutes earlier, otherwise I suspect, you would have arrived later, as to try and not draw too much attention to yourselves. Am I not, correct?" giving them a knowing look, he was pretty sure it would be something he'd do himself.

There was no denying since that's exactly what they'd done. Four minutes had gone by since he set time for the meeting.

"You are sometimes infuriating, kid." Storm confessed; she ignored the indrawn breathes of the other ladies with her.

They couldn't believe Strom was speaking to the Lord Consort in such a manner. They almost held their breath instinctively, and listened. Half expecting their Lord to crash into the room in defence of his mate. What they weren't expecting was for Harry to laugh in genuine amusement.

"You wouldn't have me any other way," Harry said ruefully, grinning at her in amusement. He knew her better than any of the others. Storm was the best of the best, so it was understandable that she stuck like glue to Harry. Spending as much time together as they did, it's no surprise that it sometimes slipped into something different.

Storm hummed and hawed before agreeing, ruffling his hair, as she did so, "I'll need to think of a creative way to get back at you for this."

"No, you need this, they need to see you won't be cowed, their time of thinking themselves better just because of their gender is over." Harry stated firmly, speaking not only to Storm, but the other females that were here as well. "The only bloody difference is hormones and the way we bloody piss! Well, I say enough is enough, we have to fight the world out there just for the right to exist, without fighting amongst ourselves!"

Harry watched as they straightened, his words shooting to the heart of them. inspiring and giving them a confidence boost, and it made Harry mad seeing it. They were hundreds of years old; they should already be confident and proud of themselves. It just went showcased that age was just a number, and confidence didn't come with age…it was something that came with hard work and dedication.

When the men begun to enter, the females didn't so much as twitch. Still feeling a sense of confidence from Harry's earlier proclamation. It had certainly had the affect Harry desired.

Naturally it didn't take long at all for the Elders to all pile into the room. At that point, they were waiting for only Gideon and Donald, who frequently liked to take on the 'leadership' roll. They did most of the talking, trying to bring people around to their way of thinking. None of them seemed out of sorts seeing them there, but they may have been under the impression they were there for a reason, a reason only the Lord Consort knew.

Three minutes passed the meeting time, Gideon and Donald entered the room. Their robes flaring dramatically at the back of them, paying no attention to Harry or the ladies standing still. "Shall we proceed with the meeting?" sitting down, Donald right next to him doing the same.

"I shall begin the meeting," Harry curtly informed the overly inflated egomaniac vampire.

Donald stood, swirling around, staring at the Harry as if he were shit his shoe had trod on. Irritation splashing across his features, impatience suffusing his scent. "This is a meeting for Elders, and Elders alone." He snipped, "You are not welcome here Lord Consort." Emphasising consort as if to degrade Harry's position, which he didn't consider it a position. He was there for one reason and one reason only, to give the Lord an heir, if he could even do that, and didn't end up birthing a girl like the other useless one.

Harry stared coolly at the wizard, "If you expect me to start quivering in my boots, you're in for a long wait. I've handled bigger bullies than you, you're quite pathetic do you know that? With your holier than thou attitude, do you even have a single friend that would mourn you if you died?"

Donald shifted warily at the talking of dying, not sure whether he was just being pretentious or if he really would kill him. If he did, nothing would be done about it, he was pretty much untouchable at least until he gave Lord Prince an heir. After that he'd likely be tossed aside. Their Lord couldn't have much of a relationship with a child, especially given they rarely spent any time together.

Also, Harry was a bitten vampire, he considered them very inferior to those who inherited it. He'd never confess as much; it was most definitely a secret he'd take to his grave. Or rather until he was a pile of ashes more accurately. "Are you threatening me?" puffing out like a bullfrog, a false bravado that was indistinguishable.

Harry's face begun to turn into a smirk, eyes gleaming, "Oh no, that wasn't a threat, believe me, you'll know if I'm threatening you. I wouldn't be subtle about it."

Donald hissed under his breath, seething in fury at the audacity of the little shit. He was ruining everything, and he would not have it! He'd help the brat learn his place if it was the last thing he did!

Storm moved in front of Harry instinctively, wand out, crouched just so into perfect optimal duelling position. "Make a move, I dare you." Her tone chillingly cold, nothing in her shy or hesitant. She would kill him and not lose a wink of sleep if he dared step closer. She wouldn't just be safeguarding the Lord's Consort but the heir.

"Donald, enough!" Gideon commanded, using a tone that required, nay, demanded immediate respect and attention. He'd been around vampires long enough to know how to get their attention as swiftly as possible.

"I wasn't going to do anything," Donald complained, waving Gideon off, trying to play it cool. "Be gone! All of you! We have a meeting to start!"

"Silence! You will keep your forked tongue between your teeth. I don't want to hear another word from you right now. As I said before, I am starting this meeting, by introducing you to the new Elders." Harry stated, ignoring the outcry of protestation. "These are just the first ten, before our next meeting I'm hoping to shoe in another forty, even the playing field." A wry smirk on his face, let's see what they make of that.

The protests got steadily more vocal and threatening, as fifty men stood up and condemned the idea utterly. Threatening to leave, to call their Lord in to deal with this stupidity, to protest the very idea which was repugnant to them.

"This shall not be bore! I refuse thusly to put up with these insults!" Gideon declared, somehow being heard over the shouting of the others. It did help that he was closer than the others, just a little behind Donald whose protests were definitely the most inventive. "We will not remain should a single female be brought aboard as Elders!"

"Fantastic!" Harry said cheerfully, standing up, "That makes things so much easier! There's the door, don't let it hit you on the way out." If they were hoping to force him to stand down with empty threats (or perhaps not so empty) then they were in for very real and very severe shock.

Silence descended immediately upon the room; the female vampires were watching in utter fascination from the corner of the room closest to Harry. They hadn't really thought it would go any way but badly, some of them believing it might not go at all. However, they had wanted to be there for the attempt at the very least. To hear him cheerfully telling them to leave that it was better for him, was unbelievably hilarious. It took everything in them to stop themselves laughing.

They knew it would just make the situation go from bad to worse, so they remained silent. It was an unbelievable effort but they succeeded.

The Elders glanced at one another, the confused look on their faces in any other situations would have been wonderfully hilarious. However, Harry knew they weren't used to being so dismissed despite the fact his husband had never sought their council or better yet, ever employed it.

"Come on now, if you have a problem about the way I'm running things, there's the door, move on, so I can begin the meeting." Harry said slowly, enunciating each word as if they were slow and stupid.

"Follow me gentlemen," Gideon said imperiously, standing up, eyes glacial as he stared at Harry in distaste. "I know where I'm not wanted, and shall not be burdened by having to listen to you. Do let us know when you'll allow us to get back to normal."

"I fully agree, we shall not return to our duties until our Lord asks it of us." Donald declared, despite everything he'd heard, he believed that Alfred would get Severus to come around to their way of thinking. Alfred was after all, on the council, and was an Elder, one of them.

"Just remember once you step out that door you will be stripped of your Eldership. Any magical attempts to imply otherwise will be met with painful recriminations." Harry stated with vicious satisfaction, "I am the Lord Prince's consort, and my will, will be known." Magic flared, holding Harry to his word and making the Elders trepidation show.

This was going further than most were comfortable with. They were not fighters, they were elders, keepers of the peace, knowledge, and used that experience to aid their Lords become greater than the ones before. At the very least they liked to try and be useful.

Nervous chatter broke out, as they discussed what should be done.

Gideon scoffed, face tightening in displeasure, the boy had truly gotten too big for his britches. Straightening to his full height, "Let us leave, we shall not be spoken to or brought to heel by a child. When you're ready to grow up, I expect to hear a public apology."

Storm hissed out in her anger, if his lord knew what was happening down here…he'd be furious.

"GO!" Harry shouted, magic booming and echoing around the room, showcasing his powerful magic, and his impatience.

Gideon and Donald huffed in distaste, hiding their worry and fear at the feeling of such potent magic. Magic they could only dream of having in their wildest dreams. They moved towards the door, refusing to kowtow to the boy, they'd rather not be Elders than put up with the likes of him if he was going to take over the Elder meetings.

Only to stop in their tracks when they belated realized that nobody was following them.

"Well?" giving them a 'what are you waiting for look' truly expecting them all to follow their lead.

Donald's look of expectation was very similar, with added 'you'll pay for this delay' written across his face.

"Notice how you say 'we' and 'Us' or 'The Elders' as if you all have one mind, bit like a hive. As if they can't think or speak for themselves. They're capable of making up their own minds." Harry added, sitting back down, adopting an insouciant attitude. "As I've said, if you don't want to take orders from me, or wish to be an Elder with my input, and let the laws be changed…tradition notwithstanding…please leave the room."

"Are you really going to let this happen?" Gideon asked the rest of the group, disappointment spreading across his features as he shook his head at them.

"Wow, you're really good at that," Harry said conversationally, "I mean seriously good, I wonder if you took tips from Dumbledore or if Dumbledore took tips from you. Because those looks are truly identical."

Gideon hissed, and honestly, if he had been human, he would have been beet red with humiliation. "I'm not going to dignify that with a response," he straightened up, and begun to walk to the door. He was not going to be treated this way.

"You just did," Harry called out in amusement, giving Donald a raised eyebrow, saying, go on then, you don't want to be here.

The two beat a hasty retreat, fury leeching of them in waves.

"I'm going to assume you're alright with the changes then?" Harry asked, staring at them green eyes filled with soft curiosity. None of his earlier irritation or amusement anywhere to be seen. He was very serious, and he definitely intended to see it through.

Slowly nods and murmurs of agreement – however hesitant – begun to circulate the room.

Harry clapped his hands, standing again, "Perfect! Now let me introduce you to everyone, you may take your seats after I say your name." he explained to them, watching as the Elders stood to fill the seats, leaving the seats closer to the door – to the ladies – empty for them.

"Storm, Mary, Elizabeth, Margaret, Jane, Sally, Glenda, Ashley, Skye and last but no means least, Luna." Harry introduced the ten newcomers with warmth and welcoming happiness. "Welcome to the meeting, and welcome to fulfilling your duties as an Elder. Over the coming months we'll have forty others joining us, if I have my way. I understand a lot of others might be a little hesitant to join us due to the newness of the situation. However, I wish to thank all of you particularly for having the guts to go through with this, to effect change, to note down this momentous occasion."

He truly felt a great deal of respect for them all, they were strong, smart and dedicated and truly brave. It couldn't be easy coming in here; with all they've been drilled to believe likely eating at them. Poor Rose, perhaps she could learn a thing or two about these women and feel better about herself in the long run.

"Forty? Why such a large number of people?" a rather perplexed sounding voice asked.

"Until I get to know all of you properly, do me a favour please, and let me know your name." Harry said, wanting them to know he wanted to know them as individuals not just as 'The Elders'.

"I'm Henry," the vampire acknowledged Harry's question with an answer, giving a small smile.

"Good to meet you, Henry, and the reason for the large number is to make you all equal. Fifty male Elders, fifty female Elders. Quite frankly I think you can all learn from each other and gender most definitely should be left at the door at least until you begin to realize they're more than just bearers." Harry answered, unable to stop himself taking a dig at them. "As I said earlier, the only difference between us is hormones and the way we piss."

Many of the Elders coughed to try and cover up their sudden burst of amusement. A few had thoughts of 'perhaps they need new blood' trickle into their minds as they felt amusement for the first time at a meeting in decades. Everything was all sombre and serious, they never really relaxed at these meetings.

It helped relax the nervous female vampires, and helped take away any lingering tension in the room.

"I guess you're all wondering why I wanted to be here? To change things? I think being open and honest is a good way to go, so I'm going to be honest with you, and well it helps that the vows stop anything being discussed here except the leader, naturally." Harry explained, which he was the leader for the moment. "I'm not sure whether I'll be the leader for long, and we will take votes for leaders if and when the time comes."

"Archer, My Lord Consort," the vampire said, inclining his head in respect, "What changes do you want to bring?" respectful but cautious.

Nobody, not even humans really coped well with change, it was one thing everyone had in common. Naturally there were a few that thrived in chaos, but they were the minority.

"There's so much I'd love to change, to bring to bear a more prosperous future for the Prince Clan." Harry answered, "It wasn't what I had intended, to be sure, but I don't regret the outcome." His hand rubbing his stomach without even realizing it. How could he regret having someone who loved him wholeheartedly and a child of his own to love? To raise and cherish?

"Why do you want to change what isn't broken?" came another voice, "My name is Adam." Being neither respectful or overly rude, a bit blunt though perhaps.

"Do you have a mate? Children?" Harry asked, being as blunt in return.

"I did when I was human. Children that is." Came the far cooler reply, not wishing to relieve that part of his life.

"Which means you had a wife I presume?" Harry deduced, back then – unless his child was from a tryst – you married very young.

"I did," a pained grimace went unnoticed.

"Did you see her as nothing but a receptacle?" Harry asked, he could smell how distasteful he found that idea. This man had loved his wife, and still mourned her. His gaze softened with sympathy.

"No," there was a growl to his words, not threatening but a warning to not push him further. The loss of his wife still had an ever-present ache in his heart. He truly believed that she would have been his mate. He'd never know, his wife and children had died in the attack by who was ultimately his sire. Not that the 'sire' had lasted long after that, he'd turned on the bastard the moment he could ripping him to shreds for killing his wife and children who he loved more than anything else in this world, and since then his world had been black and white. A lonely existence that he continued on so that he could remember them, he didn't believe there was anything after.

"Then I ask you not to see these other women as receptacles, to see me as a receptacle for the next Lord Prince." Harry said firmly but kindly, he couldn't even begin to imagine how much he loved his wife if he still felt that sort of heartache all this time.

"What exactly is it that you want changed?" came a suspicious drawl from the back, "This is an awful lot of talk but no actual questions or demands."

"That's a good question, but if you haven't already figured it out…I worry for you," Harry said dryly, "I've not been making a secret of it really."

Instead of getting offended the vampire laughed, sounding genuinely amused. "Touché,"

Harry just grinned back, these people were supposed to be vastly intelligent, methodically aware of all the laws and regulations of the world they lived in. He rather hoped they were as good as he'd been hearing about. Maybe they'd even be a bit like Alfred…it was a hope he could get behind even if it didn't end up a reality.

"You know it's kind of great getting to know you without all the shouting," Harry said honestly, without Leonard and Gideon speaking for them, "You're actually all, all right."

"High praise indeed," was murmured by that very same vampire.

"What's your name?" Harry asked, "No, wait, I remember you, you were dressed in those purple robes, they were quite stunning, gosh how were you introduced? Silas, right? You were talking to Everett?" which really was a damn miracle he remembered giving his heightened emotional state at the time. His nerves had been all over the place.

"Correct," definitely impressed, since that was the only time, they'd been in the room together. He hadn't been there for the few disastrous times Harry had spoken to them. He had only heard abridged version that he was beginning to believe was highly exaggerated.

"I knew I recognized the voice!" Harry said making a fist pump of victory, what he was still a teenager, so sue him.

"So?" someone prompted him, more than a few were leaning forward, actually participating in one of the meetings for the first time in decades. Or even just actually interested in what was being said. More than a few felt incredibly foolish for having let someone colour their view of what they felt was a rather decent young man.

"One of the first laws I want amended, not changed, I understand tradition is important…but not to the point of impetuous pride." Harry told them, "I want to change the law that states the first-born male becomes heir, I want to change it to the firstborn, no child should be denied due to their gender and if I only have a girl, well, I'll definitely encourage her to leave, especially if she's treated the way Eileen Prince was."

"Highly presumptuous, you weren't around during the days of Eileen Prince." A highly insulted voice insisted.

"I didn't need to be, she was strong enough to run away from your controlling ways, forcing her to marry a vampire who would lead until she gave birth to the next Prince Male heir? That is not going to happen to my child, I'll put her happiness and welfare before all else, even the Prince seat."

The immediate murmur of protest was felt most keenly, but kept rather quiet all things considered. It was clear they didn't like the idea at all, and wanted to keep things as they were.

"Before you protest angrily, I just want you to think on one thing, just one thing, would you force your wives, your sisters, your daughters…grandchildren through what you put Eileen Prince through?" Harry said quietly, a hauntingly sombre tone of voice conveying his distress at the very idea. "What you're expecting me to put any child through?"

That caused them to quiet immediately, but it was more a more thoughtful quietness.

"I am trying here, to preserve some tradition while tweaking it," Harry said, "Work with me, let us together build a future that looks bright and wonderful for everyone. I've said my piece, all I ask is that you actually think it through, know that I won't give up. Even if it means I make every single one of you obsolete in my bid to create a better world for my child."

With that Harry stalked out of the room without another word.

"Well, at least he got his say this time," uttered Silas, "However I'm beginning to believe the information from previous meetings were highly exaggerated. Will one of you be so kind as to share those meetings? I would like to see it properly." He had a feeling it would be a long day having said that, but he would give the boy his due, he was rather persuasive.

"Pensive?" came the suggestion afterward.

"Indeed, it helps that the ladies haven't seen the meetings either," Silas murmured, as Malcom rushed out of the room and was back with the pensive by the time, he finished his sentence.

They ended up spending most of the day in the meeting room, watching the memories they had of their Lord's consort, and debating on whether it was something they even wished to contemplate. To the surprise of many, the ladies were quite spirited debaters and didn't get emotional about it, just cold hard facts, and they surprisingly liked it.

There was hope for them to join everyone in the twenty-first century after all.

A/n – oh my gosh the elders are being so uncooperative! Stubborn muses! But well, we all know tradition is not easily shifted nor is people's opinion easily swayed and I do like a sense of realism in my stories and you can't get more realistic than that! LOL

Also yes, the contract has been removed from here fanfiction BUT it's still available for anyone wanting to read it on A03 (Archive of our own) I have a profile over there with my stories too so check it out if you want to! Same pen name! Can't hurt to know I have back up if anything happens to my account here and it has happened twice in the past as a matter of fact I got caught in two purges! Although, this was way back when lol it's been a long time since it happened which is a good thing I mean can you imagine trying to upload all my stories again? Oof! No chance! Just the thought of it is enough to exhaust me x

R&R please!