It was early the next morning when Y/N and Hermione awoke, Y/N working out and they showered before feeding Gizmo his breakfast. Following this they headed down to breakfast, unable to hold hands as Gizmo insisted in laying in his Daddy's giant paw, getting gentle belly tickles from Y/N's large index finger as the Niffler dropped off to a post feed slumber.

He was snoring and able to be placed in Y/N's hood as the pair arrived at the Great Hall, settling down to eat as they were soon joined by Lavender.

"Morning guys- fun night?" Lavender teased. She knew what they got up to.

Hermione smiled and nodded in agreement while Y/N continued with his eggs. He answered after finishing his mouthful:

"Worked up an appetite that's for sure. Now listen Lav quickly before the papers get here. You're the one person I wanted to tell before reading about it. The business with the Goblins. I had myself emancipated on Saturday and as I had beaten both my brothers in a duel I'm now Lord L/N, the Archduke of Magical Britain. I've named Hermione as Lady Granger, my Grand Consort."

Y/N had spoken completely straight faced and nonchalantly before returning to his breakfast. Lavender stared at him blankly before finally replying:

"I'm sorry what?"

—~—

The couple had taken the next ten minutes explaining the process of what had happened and the L/N family's unique inheritance system to Lavender who slowly began coming to terms with the ground shaking revelations.

"So that's why I had that ring made for Hermione. This one..." Y/N concluded as he held up his right hand "...was originally in that form, before it accepted me as the rightful Lord. On my death it will automatically return to the estate vault waiting whichever of our children is the rightful heir to claim it."

"You mean sons?" Lavender asked, aware that noble titles in the Wizarding World could only pass to male heirs.

"No" Hermione beamed with pride. "The first thing Y/N did was change his families whole inheritance system so whether it's a son or a daughter, our child who is the most worthy will inherit the title."

Hermione smiled at her boyfriend in pride. There was more, in case of his death, but she didn't want to talk about that.

"Well I'm not sexist, love. If we have a daughter who takes after her Mum then she has every right to inherit the title" Y/N said with a smile back to Hermione.

Hermione suddenly found herself getting giddy, hearing Y/N talking so openly about them having kids one day. Lavender simply smiled. She was so happy her best friend had a guy like this. She hoped for it one day.

Their attention was drawn to hundreds of owls arriving in the Great Hall. They began dropping more Daily Prophets than was usual to the now full hall. Y/N had the feeling Dumbledore may have had something to do with it, though he wasn't sure why he had that hunch.

Y/N had expected a statement to be in the paper, but he had not expected the news to be plastered all over the front page. Lavender picked up the copy that dropped to her and read as did Y/N and Hermione with another copy that had arrived in front of them.

Wizarding World Stunned as Ex-Azkaban inmate, the blue-eyed boy Y/N L/N, 14, claims family Lordship.

The Wizarding World is in shock today as news broke that the influential and powerful Lordship of House L/N has been claimed on Saturday past by the youngest L/N brother, Y/N, who is a third year Hogwarts student.

Gringott's Bank, who have overseen the legalities and formalities of aristocratic titles of magical descent since the 1300s released the following statement yesterday:

"It is with tremendous pride that I, Farnor, King of the Goblins and President of Gringott's Bank announce today that the vacant Lordship of the Ancient and Sacred House of L/N has been claimed by the youngest of the three eligible brothers, Y/N.

Y/N is legally an adult in the Wizarding World, having been emancipated from the guardianship of his eldest brother Jacob.

Although traditionally the eldest son would inherit the title of Lord in a noble family, the L/N right of succession has always been decided in a unique manner, a carefully guarded secret revealed publicly only now.

The Lordship, and role of Archduke and Ealdorman, could only be decided through victory in magical combat between any eligible heirs, once the youngest was of age/required strength. Y/N was victorious recently in duels with both of his elder brothers, Jacob and Dean L/N, and has thus been selected by the Magical L/N Ring of Inheritance as the rightful heir of the Ancient and Sacred House.

Y/N, as is his right as Archduke, has elected to name his partner, Hermione Granger, as Grand Consort. She will henceforth be known as Lady Hermione Granger, Grand Consort of the L/N Lord; until the day they are betrothed.

Y/N L/N is now Lord of the Ancient and Sacred House of L/N, Archduke of Magical Britain. Long May He Reign!

Farnor
King of the Goblin Nation"

Y/N's emancipation cleared the path for him to claim Lordship after defeating his brothers in duels, although it is not known when this happened. As explained in the king's statement, the L/N Lordship ring is enchanted to only accept the true and worthy Lord as it's bearer, so there can be no accusations of underhanded deeds involved in Y/N's ascension. Neither defeated brother was able to be reached for comment.

Y/N is a fiery individual with tremendous strength and power, but also a violent temper. He has received prestigious awards from Hogwarts (for killing a Basilisk which was attacking students earlier this year) and the Society for the Preservation of Magical Creatures (for his efforts in saving the last known Leviathan).

He is also known to be a radical Muggleborn and Half-breed activist with a violent temper, who has been linked to several assaults and was sentenced to a fortnight in Azkaban for assaulting a Ministry official earlier this year while still aged 13.

This must make many traditionalists in the Ministry nervous, although none were willing to go on the record for this story. Y/N, as Archduke, also inherits his family's seat as the Ealdorman of the Wizengamot. This position of course has not been filled since the horrifying murder of the previous Lord, Y/N's father, Thomas, a decade ago.

The Ealdorman may directly question any movement or proposition made by the Minister for Magic in a form of check and balance.

The L/N family has for hundreds of years been sympathetic and protective of Muggleborns and Muggleborn rights and has held a massive influence on Magical Britain.

As Archduke, the L/N Lord traditionally ranks second only to the King in terms of power and position. The magical Royal Family has always been seen to be protective of Pureblood rights and traditions- hence why the hugely influential L/N family was named Archduke, to ensure Muggleborn rights were protected at the highest levels of government and society, in the Civil War nearly a millennial ago. In times of crisis the Lord L/N acted as Hand of the King.

However, a rift emerged 20 years ago as the Royal Family gave silent consent to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his blood purity practices while the then-current Lord L/N, Thomas, actively, heroically and publicly fought against them, being a Hero in the Wizarding War before being murdered in his home in a vicious attack that also left an infant Y/N brutally tortured and a Magical Britain sickened and appalled. It was never discovered who was behind the appalling crimes.

Given Y/N's views are even more radical than any of the already non traditional previous L/N Lords, and the likewise radical and violent so called Punisher still hasn't been tracked down, there are sure to be nervous witches and wizards in the halls of power this morning.

Rita Skeeter

Lavender and Hermione both finished reading at almost the same time, both looking up to see Y/N's face seething with fury.

"Y/N. I'm sorry they mentioned-" Lavender started to speak before Y/N cut her off.

"Damn that woman. My eyes are green. Bright fucking green! How hard is it to get simple facts right? Why even include it? And to call me a radical, for what? Demanding equality? It fucking says everything about this joke of a system, doesn't it!" Y/N roared as Hermione gripped his hands tightly.

"Aren't you upset she wrote about your torture?" Lavender asked Y/N, stunned. He replied simply:

"No. By now it's common knowledge, like the fact you can buy Fudge's mother for a Galleon."

Causing Lavender to spit out the pumpkin juice she had just sipped at his unexpected comment.

"I love your green eyes baby" Hermione smiled at Y/N sympathetically, trying to calm and reassure her lover.

"Thank you, Lady Granger" Y/N smiled.

"You're welcome... My Lord" Hermione replied, finishing the sentence seductively, causing Lavender to raise an eyebrow.

"You know what that does to me baby" Y/N said, almost seemingly holding something back as he spoke.

"I know... My Lord" Hermione grinned, again seductively.

"Why are you counting in whispers?" Harry asked Y/N as he and Ron arrived at the table.

"Ha- I've got a pretty good idea" Lavender said with a smirk to her friends. They were disrupted by Beatrice coming over with a Daily Prophet in her hands.

"Y/N did you? Is this what the fight with Dean was over?" She asked still stunned, standing with Cedric next to her.

"Yes" Y/N replied, looking down. "Dean said I should forget where they live. Penny.... had to support her husband."

The five friends looked at him the same way. Gobsmacked.

"He fucking what?" Beatrice yelled completely outraged, forgetting her role as Prefect for the moment. She followed up with:

"You just wait until I write to that sister of mine!"

She turned to storm off before Y/N yelled out:

"BEA NO! Please. Penny's hurting enough. Just... just tell her she's loved. Tell her she's special. Please?"

Y/N looked at Beatrice with pleading eyes as she tried to contain her shock. He continued:

"Please Bea. I love her as well. She's my sister too. I'd do anything not to hurt her."

Beatrice was suddenly overcome with emotion. As much as Y/N was hurting his only concern was still Penny... their sister. Beatrice sighed:

"Fine. But only for you. She had better wise up quick though!"

She walked back and gave Y/N a quick hug before returning to the Hufflepuff table and pulling a quill and scroll from her bag.

"That was beautiful love" Hermione smiled sweetly and kissed Y/N's cheek. The sweet moment didn't last long as Minerva stormed up. She looked furious!

"What is the meaning of this, Y/N? This is what you've been doing with the Goblins? You're a boy and you shouldn't-"

"I am the Archduke of this nation, a Lord of the Realm and an Ealdorman of the Wizengamot and expect to be treated as such!" Y/N said with a roar as he shot to his feet, shocking McGonagall, his friends and the rest of the hall who were watching on. He continued immediately with a much more gentle tone:

"I do not expect preferential treatment, Professor McGonagall, but neither do I expect to be yelled at while at the breakfast table."

Y/N's voice was deep and full of authority.
The students in the hall were stunned. McGonagall opened her mouth in shock but Y/N spoke once more:

"Now Professor, I am the Lord of House L/N. I am the Archduke of this nation. I am the rightful heir through a centuries old tradition and I have simply claimed my birthright. My emancipation was necessary after the events you witnessed left my living situation untenable. The McGonagall Family has long been allied to the House L/N in times of conflict and when necessary under its protection. With what we know is coming I would hope that will happen again. As Lord of the House I would demand it. Would it please you, Professor?"

Minerva was immediately taken aback. Not only by what Y/N said, but what he didn't- and what had been implied. This boy had matured much faster than she had realised.

"I'm... sorry Y/N. I only speak out of concern" McGonagall replied. Y/N smiled:

"I know Professor. As you always do. But trust me. Please. I know what I'm doing."

Minerva stood in shock momentarily before she smiled at the young student who stood in front of her. She suddenly realised- the adorable young boy who had walked into her house two years ago had grown into a tall, strong, bearded, handsome Lord. He had become a man. A good man at that. She was proud.

Minerva nodded and smiled at Y/N and Hermione before turning to leave. Y/N took his seat before Hermione turned and kissed him, saying seductively:

"You were amazing there babe. So strong, so proud, so dignified. So... aristocratic.... My Lord!"

The sultry tone was back. Y/N couldn't take anymore as he roared:

"That's it!"

And picked up a giggling girlfriend, gently tossing her over his shoulder, walking out of the Hall before adjusting Hermione to a more modest bridal position.

"Where are you going?" Ron yelled out.

"Breakfast!" Y/N yelled back, not turning to look at his friends.

"This is breakfast!" Ron said puzzled as he watched the pair leave the hall. Lavender grinned.

"He doesn't want to eat food, Ronald!"

Ron was confused. Harry's eyes shot open with realisation before he shot his head down blushing and whispered into Ron's ear.

"Ughhh" Ron squealed in disgust.

Lavender rolled her eyes and chuckled to herself, going back to her oatmeal.