Halfblood v. Pureblood (was Re: Of course Snape is a Slytherin)

[Thren]

No: HPFGUIDX 84809

Adrianna wrote:

>Which is something I 
>never really understood. Both of his parents were magical. Yeah, Lily was 
>muggleborn but I don't see how that makes Harry a halfblood, like, say, Tom 
>Riddle.
>
>  
>
And now Thren writes:

If you want to get literal, Harry can't be a pureblood because his blood 
isn't 'pure'. He's still got Muggles in his background. And if you want 
to see how he's a halfblood, go back a generation. He's got two wizard 
grandparents (presumably), and two Muggle grandparents. 2/4 = 1/2. 
Halfblood. That's how I always looked at it, anyhow. I have this 
argument with my sister at least once a week. :)

But it's still different from how Seamus is a halfblood, or Tom is a 
halfblood. I think there should be a special word for people like Harry, 
who have the Muggles so close in their background, yet aren't 
Muggleborn. You could apply the Fraction Theory further back (ie if 
you've got 4 of 8 /6 of 12/8 of  16 great(xN) grandparents who were 
Muggles, but that's getting a bit extreme. On the other hand, even just 
having three terms (pureblood, halfblood, mudblood/Muggleborn) has 
gotten the WW into enough trouble as it is.

I think it's interesting, though, that Malfoy hasn't thrown his 
halfblood status up to him. He obviously knows Lily was Muggleborn, and 
you'd think he'd take every opportunity to remind Harry (in every way 
possible) that he's not an equal. But he doesn't. So maybe while 
purebloods are the 'best', halfbloods are also acceptable? They've at 
least got *some* traceable wizarding blood in them- maybe that makes a 
difference? Either way, you don't see anyone going after halfbloods, do 
you? When Malfoy warned them to get Hermione away if they didn't want 
her strung up like the Muggles, why didn't Harry fall under that as 
well? I find it hard to believe that just having two wizard parents 
makes you okay in Voldie's books, given how set he is against 
Muggleborns. He kills whole families (ie, would kill a Muggleborn and 
his/her pureblood spouse, and any children), but I can't remember 
anything about anyone with Muggle heritage further back than one 
generation being snuffed.

Erm. Train of thought being derailed. So, why the focus on Muggleborns, 
but not a peep about halfbloods- or at least, halfbloods like Harry, a 
generation removed?

Thren, who's hoping this made sense...