A Hop Skip And A Jump Away

Supper politics

"That was more... disturbing than I thought it would be," Harry's voice broke into the stunned silence of the courtroom.

"I found it utterly terrifying," Severus said honestly.

"Just be glad they didn't decide to take an undue interest," Voldemort agreed with a shiver. "I'm really hoping that trying to snatch our imp was just playfulness since we were able to retrieve him but it also could have been because we still have a job to do."

Harry officially released everyone from the room as the trial was now over. Fudge with Umbridge at his side quickly tried to make their way towards the reporters in an attempt to get their own statements out first. Lucius Malfoy, on the other hand, kindly directed the trio through the same exit that led into a separate ante chamber as the rest of the Wizengamot normally used. Not a single person was surprised when Harry practically dropped towards the ground in emotional exhaustion, barely caught by his equally tired fiances. There wasn't a word or objection voiced when several marked Wizengamot members formed up around them in a protective circle. What surprised these members of the Dark Faction though was the fact that everyone else mirrored them, keeping Harry and his fiances in the middle.

"I don't understand," Severus voiced his confusion as he watched the protective maneuvering of the magicals dressed in maroon.

"Severus your fiances are the Dark Lord and the Master of Death, on top of that young Mr. Potter clearly has the favor of Fate, Death, and Magic. Do you honestly think that any sane person would try to fight the three of you? For that matter do you think that Dumbledore's pet order won't try to attack you for getting their precious Light Lord enslaved and probably banished from this world for a very long time? Not to mention that its only prudent to protect our new monarch and his fiances," Lucius pointed out softly as the group moved swiftly through the protected back tunnels to the Wizengamot restricted areas, offices, and dinning area. "You know as well as I there will be dissidents who target the three of you. What you probably don't know is that with a true King in place over the squabbling bureaucrats things can actually get done. Also with the three of you being favored by Death, Magic, and Fate no one can argue that your claim isn't valid and have it hold any water."

Severus lapsed into quiet contemplation as they moved down the hall, half carrying his smaller fiance with Voldemort on the opposite side. When they reached the dinning hall they discovered that someone had gone out of their way to rearrange it and that someone else had thought to explain to Harry's new muggle retainers. A quick pepper-up for each of the royal trio from Severus' potions pouch and they were able to pay proper attention to what was happening around them.

Once everyone was seated according to rank small menus arrived on top of their plates. Severus and Voldemort had quietly explained the associated peerage to Harry as everyone took their seats so he wasn't totally lost but everyone waiting for him to pick up the menu really drove his new rank home. The Lords of Lesser Noble House were seated the farthest away from him then came the Lords of the Noble Houses, then the Lords of the Ancient Houses, then the Lords of the combined Ancient and Noble houses. Those with the prefix Most before Noble or Ancient were automatically higher ranked than their fellows who did not have it as part of their title. Ironically, this would have placed Sirius slightly higher than Lucius in status as everything was arranged had he still been alive.

According to Severus and Voldemort the title of Noble or Lesser Noble House required a certain amount of gold. While the associated title of Ancient required a certain recorded and provable age to a family line as well as its own level of gold. To gain the prefix Most to the titles required nearly double the requirements of only having for both of the the original titles of Noble or Ancient alone.

Thus the ranking went:
Prince Harry
Future Prince Consort Severus (Harry's Right)
Future Prince Consort Voldemort (Harry's Left)
Most Noble and Most Ancient Lords
Noble and Most Ancient Lords
Most Noble and Ancient Lords
Noble and Ancient Lords
Ancient Lords
Noble Lords
Lesser Noble Lords