Why the Malfoys Are This Way

[ftah3]

No: HPFGUIDX 33514

zoehooch wrote:
> Is there evidence that Muggles hate wizards? We know that the 
> Dursleys do, of course, but we also have the Grainger's who seem 
> quite open to wizards and are happy to have one in family as well 
as 
> Lily's paprents.

I think it's the wizard world that assumes, based on past experiences 
(c.f. witch burnings), that muggles would hate/persecute them if the 
general muggle populace knew they existed.  It's mentioned that the 
wizard world hides itself from the muggle world; Harry asks someone 
why, Hagrid I *think*, who responds off-handedly that it's because 
then muggles would want magical solutions for all their problems.  I 
rather think the truth is that they're afraid of being outed, for 
fear of persecution.  

And I also agree with jchutney that the Malfoy's (and others') 
prejudice may be partly based on that fear of persecution ~ a sort of 
deep-seeded "get them before they get us" reaction.

Mahoney