This.

This is what my brain was thinking of earlier today as a working story; that someone on the Dursley side married into the 'higher class' earlier on in their lineage. Actually, when I started writing the beginning, this is what the original idea turned into.

Thanks - this helped.

Yes, you're right. I thought more along the lines of ^Taure's response, but I didn't know there were scams. Then I Googled. Had no idea there were sites out there that would literally try to sell you a Lordship. That's just kind of funny.

Where/why on earth would there be Ron bashing? I admit am not a fan of his character (ironically, I don't like him until the Deathly Hallows), but that doesn't mean that he's not an important character in the series. And I don't really prefer anything that connects Harry and Draco in overly friendly way (well, not really friendly) until much later in the series. (Although, as an alternate universe, who knows where this'll go).

And don't get me started on slash. Wow.

Also:
@DarkAizen: D:

 

A single question: why would Vernon Dursley, a man of Royal blood, marry a 'commoner' like Petunia Evans? If he's let it go to his head, it's like Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. It's just not going to fucking happen.

 

Tell all the Dramione fangirls that, and you'll get a rude surprise. Not that I disagree, it's just that they tend to be as rabid (if not more) than the Harry/Draco fangirls.

In any case, I'm going to echo the sentiments of many of the folk who have already posted and state that you need more plot to back this up. If you still want to use this as one of your ideas for your fic, I'd advise looking into the potential implications of of this new addition. How would the Dursleys' wealth affect anything to do with Harry? How would it have changed him?

If nothing serious in terms of character or plot has changed, there's no real point in throwing in a needless twist. Like what's commonly done with the learning of the Animagus skill, if its not used or central to any element of plot, it becomes background filler, and there's only so much of that one can tolerate.

EDIT: On that thought, if Harry happened to have picked up any 'political motivations' through his exposure to the Dursleys, it could be interesting. Early opportunity to pick up manipulation skilsl perhaps, in the 'backrooms of the manor'?

 

Along those same lines, once we take by some way or another the assumption of wealthy,mingling in high places!Dursleys, you could have Harry being raised under the idea of 'one for the family, one for the King'. A Harry that has been raised well, but with the perpetual if unstated undercurrent that Dudley is above his station, and he, Harry, is going to be serving King and Country, while Dudley takes on the onerous role of continuing the family legacy.

This would be a Harry that was being groomed for Rugby or Eton, followed by a stint at Sandhurst before he was off to defeat the enemies of the crown. Noble and Courageous, but indoctrinated with the concept of service as his role in life. Service from the top, but service nonetheless.

(Clearly, I harbor a romantic view of the B.E., The Monarchy, and all sorts of glorious things done under the banner of St. George.)

In short, you'd end up with the sort of Harry that Malfoy could have been, had he had a swift kick in the pants once or thrice in his childhood.

 

"Ron's a poor little jealous weasel" cliche.

 

I had that as one of the many things about his character that did change. Harry, in my mind, is someone who is naturally a leader, whether he knows it or not. He managed to get people on his side without even trying. Learning about backroom politics and generally whatever goes on in high society, Harry would be able to learn how to lead, rather than follow. He wouldn't show it, of course, because there doesn't have to be physical abuse to make a kid's life miserable. And the Dursley's would find a way if he was ever deliberately disobedient.

Personally, I wanted a Harry that knew that people like the Dursley's were not good enough for the crown. That, if given the proper motivation and skills, Harry would see to it that such power would come to his hands. And eventually does.

But not subservient; the nobility you mention would be true, but Harry would never subscribe fully to the concept of 'king and crown' for the pure fact that the Dursley's aren't worthy of a title - I would think that Harry would feel that way in light of his own situation.

Actually, I think that the Dursley's would bang that servitude into his head, considering their need to garner subservience. But that would backfire mightily, due to Harry's own little kernels of common sense.

Of course, allowing their supposed machinations for his future to continue, but only on the surface, Harry would learn a great deal about how to machinate on his own.

And yes. This is a Harry I thought would be more likely to end up in Slytherin rather than Gryffindor. Or even Ravenclaw, because of his now inherent need to learn about anything that'll get him a step up above anyone else.

I could see him never wanting to be under the heel of anyone ever again.

Oh. Well...if it makes you feel better, I didn't really think about it. Actually, I'd give it less thought that normal.

Though it will be interesting to see how this Harry reacts to the Pure Blood, Dirty Blood issue....

 

I too cannot see any of Lily's relatives being related to nobility. Perhaps on James's side (but I think we can infer James has no living relatives)...

Actually, I like the idea of "bought" royalty. Mr. Dursley is a corrupt politician in England and Harry is his adopted son... that no one knows about. I dunno where you want to go with that, you could spawn a lot of conflict from a situation like that, though I dunno if it's DLP material. Sounds too angsty.

But if in the end it's just Harry/Voldemort + Hogwarts retold you're going to run into so many cliches you won't be able to overwhelm them. I think Shezza has it best -- Harry is a student at Hogwarts who freely leaves and is not bound there during the school year. He has better things to do. If you could work that into the plot, I think you'd be better off than regurgitating regurgitated regurgitation.

As of now, I still don't see anything here. You haven't developed a main conflict yet. What do you want resolved at the end of the story? What's changed? Is Harry finally confident in himself? Does he simply possess power? Love? Or something less finite?

 

RE: Buying titles.

Aren't there some Scottish titles you can buy--well, technically, buy the land to which the title is attached? Of course, I doubt the Dursleys would have money for that, but isn't it technically possible?

Of course, Continental titles are a whole different story.