It's "blood" that counts (Was: wizard geneology - Genius or Baloney?)

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 148237

Carol wrote:
snip
 Apparently nonmagical
> blood or nonmagical status is bad as long as it isn't his or his
> family's or a friend's. Is he a hypocrite or is there a logic to his
> prejudices and namecalling that I'm unable to find? Why is "Squib" 
or
> "nag" an acceptable insult when "Mudblood" isn't? If Draco had 
called
> her a "stupid Muggleborn" instead of a "filthy little Mudblood," 
would
> that have been okay?

Potionat:
I wrote a reply that was eaten by the Mugglemade yahoomort! So here's 
a shorter version. (But do read the longer one if it shows up.)

Hagrid doesn't like Muggles. He likes Centaurs, but doesn't hesitate 
to use a slur when he's angry at one. He's the type of person who 
might end up saying something like, "Muggles are so stupid (crude, 
dishonest fill in the blank)! Of course, your parents aren't like 
that, Hermione." 

He may actually like a Muggle or a Mugggleborn, but in general 
expects someting inferior from Muggles as a group. Mrs. Black on the 
other hand, would have nothing to do with any Muggle or Muggleborn. 
Hagrid wouldn't bait a Muggle for the heck of it, but wouldn't 
hesitate to use magic on one.


>Carol: 
> And Phineas Nigellus, proud great grandfather of both of Sirius
> Black's parents (second cousins, according to the recently published
> partial photograph of the Black family tree--which explains Mrs.
> Black's "blood of my fathers" rants) abuses Mundungus Fletcher as a
> "filthy half blood" yet strenuously objects whenever Harry shows
> disrespect for Severus Snape, whom we readers know to be the
> Half-Blood Prince. Would Phineas's view of Snape change if he knew
> Snape isn't a pureblood? Or is Phineas simply throwing out a term of
> abuse at an absent thief and pilferer which he wouldn't use toward a
> Slytherin HOH regardless of his bloodlines?

Potioncat:
Mrs. Black doesn't like someone if they are Muggleborn, or half-blood 
just on principle. Phineas wasn't complaining that Mundungus was a 
Half-blood. He was complaining that Mundungus had stolen from the 
house and he used "Half-blood" in the same way Hagrid used "nag." 
(Not that I'm excusing it.) If he learns that Snape killed DD he 
might exclaim, "that traitorous half-blood!" even though he didn't 
hold the half-blood status against Snape before.


Potioncat: who thinks Phineas is Snape's great-great grandfater as 
well as Sirius's.