Royal disputes (Marauders Era)

Nobility and family

"Airòi, Lodema!" The 1547 sorting ceremony began. The centuries old hat was placed upon her head, and in less than five seconds, "Hufflepuff!" was bellowed across the hall, resulting in claps from the table of the badger, where she went to sit, greeting the others around her. Hildred watched in fascination with a hint of confusion. It appeared that status did not matter upon these people, as he had seen no one bow or address anyone in the appropriate manner for their rank. Not that this bothered him, of course. He believed that noble blood meant nothing, and that nobility and respect was something that you earned, not something you were born into. He had realised very quickly that Hogwarts was not an ordinary place, not even in magic compared to muggle standards. If there were to be young Dukes and Duchesses at the school they would address people who were from a lower ranking such as a Baron, such as himself, or a commoner in the same way that they would anyone of their own status level.

His trail of thought was abruptly cut off by a shout of "Carrow, Dean!" who immediately sauntered off to the table of the snakes, grinning at some of the elder years, most likely relatives of his.

Ophiuchus leaned backwards and whispered into Hildred's ear: "Trust none yonder in Slytherin House, and I mean none. Not a single soul. I shall explain later in the tenement after the feast." Hildred simply nodded, narrowing his eyes at the innocent seeming Slytherin table. He recognised a few faces over there, such as Eridanus Black, the half-brother of Ophiuchus on his mother's side. He had similarly longer hair, albeit not as dark or wellkept.

He was dressed in Green and had the crests of Black and Slytherin etched upon his dark doublet, but unlike Ophiuchus he didn't belong to the house of Boleyn, as his father remained unknown to him. His mother claimed that he was a wanted man and that it was better off this way, much to the anger and frustration of Eridanus. The only thing he knew about his father was that he was allegedly a pureblooded wizard. A pureblooded wizard, yet a commoner. A commoner? She had gone on to marry George Boleyn, second Viscount Rochford for Merlin's sake! If you go back far enough, he was descended from Blanche of Artois, Queen of Navarre and a distant cousin of four kings of France, and that's not even mentioning the other princes, princesses and various other royals. It was one of the things that he was most jealous of.  Second only to his brother. His perfect little brother. 

If only it was the other way round. Precious Viscount Ophiuchus of Huntingdonshire, closest friend and ally, not to mention cousin of Princess Elizabeth Tudor, daughter of his aunt Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII. And what do I get? He often thought. Son of a wanted, common man. He could only take his mother's word for it that he was even a pureblood.

"Winslowe, Whitney!" followed by a "Ravenclaw" ended the sorting, beginning the beginning of term feast.

The tables were decorated in platters of various fresh meats as well as vegetables, spices, and goblets of wine.

"Now, as I was saying earlier, if there could be one thing I teach thou hither at hogwarts, it is that Slytherins are not the ones to trust. Now I am not one to discriminate, neither are thou. Blood is blood and issue is separated into two categories, blood relatives, and those whom thou choose. Anyway, mine point is: Slytherin couldn't care less if thou were a pure-blooded commoner or a rich, powerful muggle. Receive it or not they are both dirt in their eyes. People in Slytherin hast a particular thirst for power, those who are both royal and preferably pure-blooded. I do not regard there is a single non-pure-blood yonder. People who of a low nobility status, and yet are pure-blooded never fit into Slytherin, e'en if that is where they are placed. Fights are started against them, and they are treated as outcasts, e'en would they never see it. Take mine brother for instance. He leaves next year, and despite being in Slytherin and having many allies, he is not fully accepted there. The only reason they agnize him is because our mother married mine father, George boleyn. Only a few people wot we are only half-brothers, because he is ashamed of it, and does not crave everyone knowing that his brother is a Viscount, when he has no title at all. He would something let 'em regard he was born into a issue with no nobility, than let people wot that he is now part of a powerful issue." He explained to Hildred, sipping his goblet of red wine.

"And the other houses? Doth they also regard like them?" he asked, biting into a thick chunk of lamb.

"No, ne'r. Hufflepuff are those who kind and loyal, Ravenclaw are those who are intelligent and calculating, and Gryffindor is for those who are both hardy and chivalrous, what be the reason why there are many knights in our house."

Hildred nodded, deep in thought. "I understand. O yes, I do forget to mention, are thou knowest that Sir's Montague and Macnair are alright with me sharing a living space with the three of thou? If it is a problem then I shall crave a transfer to another room, I never would to be a problem..." He trailed off, unsure.

Ophiuchus wrapped an arm around Hildred's shoulder, smiling gently. "Of course not, dear Hildred. Thou are of no bother to us. It shall be just like our younger years, yes?"

He nodded in reply, watching as their main course disappeared, replaced by the sweet smell of berry pie.