[HPforGrownups] Re: Titled characters (WAS Voldemort's "lordship")

[Kathryn Cawte]

No: HPFGUIDX 86356






Christian Stub
4.  If the Bloody Baron was anything more than a Baron (i.e. a
viscount, an Earl, a Marquess, or a Duke, all of which rank higher
than Baron), he would have been referred to as such - after all,
embodying the Slytherin ideal, as one would expect the house ghost of
Slytherin to do, he would want to be as exalted as possible.  If he
had been anything less than a Baron (e.g. a Baronet or a manorial
lord), he would in all likelihood have been called on it by one
nearly headless Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, who would be
sensitive about anyone getting an inch more than they should -
witness his bitterness about not being allowed in the Headless Hunt
because of his nearly-headlessness.

K

Bloody Baron strikes me as a nickname, similar to Nearly-Headless Nick, so
he probably didn't choose it himself - thus he would have had no say in
whether he was the Bloody Baron or the Bloody Marquis or whatever, I suspect
is was chosen by whoever first used it because it sounds good and is
reasonably accurate i.e. he is a Baron, but that doesn't mean he's not
anything else as well.

Secondly Baron would be a *muggle* title most likely - we haven't heard of
any kind of titles wizarding aristocracy so I don't know that he'd want to
stress his noble rank, whether it be Baron, Duke or King of England, amongst
those who dislike muggles i.e. most of his house. I wonder if he even
*likes* the title - after all everyone, even people like the Gryffindors who
supposedly like Sir Nicholas, refer to him as Nearly-Headless Nick, and he's
made it very clear he hates the title. If he does then I suspect NHN would
let it go unchallenged just because it annoys him (assuming the ghosts
mirror their House's feelings, for all I know they could be bosom buddies
*considers writing NHN/Bloody Baron fic, decides not to*)

I almost wish Harry had become a Slytherin then maybe we could have seen the
Bloody Baron's version of NHN's introduction.

*Do* the books say what he looks like btw? I asked earlier in the hopes of
dating him and don't think I got an answer.

K

"The Loudest Noise Comes From The Electric Minerva."