The rise of Severus Prince was a source of quiet, almost unbearable discomfort for the old pureblood families who had once looked down on him. For decades, they had dismissed Severus as a mere nobody—a half-blood whose potential was squandered in the shadow of his association with Slytherin House and his tragic obsession with Lily Potter. To them, he was a pariah, a dark mark on their cherished lineage, a man whose ambition was nothing more than a misguided obsession that had led him down a path of self-destruction.
But now, Severus was not just a survivor—he was a success. A businessman. A visionary. And worst of all, a Prince. The very name that these old families had once laughed at now reverberated in boardrooms and high-society galas, across both the wizarding and Muggle worlds. Prince Enterprises had flourished beyond anything anyone could have predicted, and the name 'Prince' had become synonymous with power, wealth, and innovation.
For the Malfoys, the Blacks, and the Lestrange"s, this was a bitter pill to swallow.
At the Malfoy estate, Lucius Malfoy paced back and forth in his private study, an expression of frustration etched into his usually composed features. His sleek blonde hair, once a symbol of his aristocratic lineage, now seemed to mock him as he watched the latest business news. Every time he turned on the Wizarding Wireless, or flicked through the Daily Prophet, Severus Prince's name appeared, heralding his latest ventures and successes.
Prince Enterprises had recently expanded into the Muggle world, bringing the latest in enchanted technologies to non-magical industries. Severus had created a series of enchanted healthcare devices that had revolutionized Muggle hospitals, and had recently announced plans to invest in renewable energy solutions using magic—a game-changer in both magical and Muggle economies.
Lucius's fingers gripped the edge of his desk. He, Lucius Malfoy, who had spent his life with his nose in the air, secure in his family's wealth and status, was now faced with a reality where Severus Prince had become a household name.
He had always seen Severus as a dark mark—an outsider who had crept into their world under the guise of being someone loyal to Voldemort. Lucius had humored him, sure, because he had used Severus's deep knowledge of potions and his connections in the world of dark magic for his own advantage. But now, the tables had turned. Severus was a name that commanded respect, and Lucius... well, Lucius Malfoy was still just a figurehead of a family that had once been untouchable.
"What are we to do now, Narcissa?" Lucius said, voice low and tight with restrained fury. "This... this man has everything we should have. Everything we deserve. His company is worth more than the Malfoy estates now. He's... he's surpassed us."
Narcissa, ever the dutiful wife, entered the study with a slight frown on her face. She could sense the change in her husband, but it was too late to reverse what had already happened. Their family, long steeped in tradition and old bloodlines, had never been as resilient as Severus. They had clung too tightly to their pureblood values, their sense of superiority, and it had cost them.
"Lucius, darling, you know we've never been innovators," Narcissa said softly, but there was a hint of disappointment in her voice. "We've always relied on what we have, rather than building something new. Severus... he always had that drive. Even when he was young, I could see it in him."
Lucius shot her a sharp look, as if to silence her, but the truth hung in the air like a bitter cloud.
"And what of the Blacks?" Lucius muttered, more to himself than Narcissa. "Walburga would be turning in her grave if she knew. She, who thought Severus beneath us. And now look—he's the one on top."
At the Lestrange family manor, Rabastan Lestrange sat in a dark corner, sipping on a glass of wine, watching his goodsister, Narcissa Malfoy, pacing in the other room. Like the others, he had once written Severus off—believed that he was nothing more than a shadow of the past, his potential wasted. Now, he felt an unsettling sense of humiliation whenever he heard Severus's name mentioned.
"Do you hear that?" Rabastan asked, turning to Narcissa. "Prince Enterprises... again. Everywhere. It's as if the world is congratulating him. He's... happy."
Narcissa paused, her hands clutching the hem of her dress. "I never thought I'd say this, but... Severus deserves it," she said quietly. "All of us have spent too long fighting for something that was never ours. He... he was willing to build something from nothing."
The words were hard to swallow for both of them. The old pureblood families had been built on the idea of inheritance—the idea that their bloodlines were their wealth. Severus, on the other hand, had done something radical. He had created his own fortune, his own empire, based on merit and vision.
And in doing so, he had left them all behind.
Back at Prince Enterprises, Severus Prince sat in his office, surrounded by accolades and awards, his black robes flowing elegantly around him as he looked over the latest business reports. Lorelei, as always, was by his side, her presence calming and steady.
Their son, Damian, was away at Hogwarts, but Severus knew the boy was destined for even greater things. There was no doubt in his mind that Damian would one day lead Prince Enterprises with the same brilliance he had shown since birth. Severus had built a legacy, one that would outlive him and continue to grow, perhaps even expanding into areas of magic no one had yet dreamed of.
Outside the office, the world moved on, the old families crumbling under their own insecurities while Severus flourished. But Severus didn't look back. He had never been one to dwell on the past—he had always known where his future lay. And as he sat in the quiet of his office, surrounded by the empire he had created with Lorelei, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction.
He had lived the dream that the old families had long since abandoned: a dream of progress, innovation, and self-determination. And now, at last, they were the ones left behind.