Definitions of Prince

[Caius Marcius]

No: HPFGUIDX 103614

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, imamommy at s... wrote:
> Just for kicks, here is what Webster's Dictionary has to say 
on "prince":
> 1 a : MONARCH, KING b : the ruler of a principality or state
> 2 : a male member of a royal family; especially : a son of the 
sovereign
> 3 : a nobleman of varying rank and status
> 4 : one likened to a prince; especially : a man of high rank or of
> high standing in his class or profession
> 
> I thought this might help us clarify potential suspects!
> 
Also. look at the form of government practiced in the British
Potterverse. They have a Minister of Magic (who is elected), a
Wizengamot that seems to mix both legislative and judicial functions
(not clear on how they're appointed, although Dumbledore is forced
off without a vote by the citizenry at the beginning of Book Five),
but no king, no queen, no royal family, no titled peerage or nobleman 
(unless the titles of the sort that Dumbledore holds - Grand Mugwump, 
etc. indicate some kind of social rank). The only character with 
royal pretensions is Lord Voldemort, and even Lord is a pretty modest 
claim next to Prince or King.

My feeling is that the Prince refers to a character from the distant
past - most likely Godric Gryffindor. That would explain the CoS
connection, when Dumbledore explains the significance of the Sword.
And that would also be in line with the gradual "expansion" we get in
each book, in which more and more levels of the WW are revealed to
us - this time Harry will travel (literally or figuaratively) into
Wizardom's distant past to fulfill his quest.

- CMC