Social Structure in the WW (was:Re: Hero types / Why Snape must...)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 152090

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > <snip>
> > However, I'm not sure I'd say that Ron is the bottom of the     
> > social heap.  His family is poor, but they're purebloods and    
> > very much connected to their society's powerbase.  (The British 
> > social system rather than the American.)
> > Actually, Hermione may better fit that particular discription.  
> > As a muggleborn she's certainly starting at the bottom. 
 
> >>Pippin:
> I'm not sure pure blood counts as much as even purebloods would
> like to think; otherwise it wouldn't matter to Lucius that Hermione
> beat Draco in every exam. It's Ron who doesn't get invited to join
> the Slug Club, and Ron is the one with the shabby clothes and the
> despised "blood traitor' family.

Betsy Hp:
Ah, but Ron is yet another member of the "shabby aristocracy", while 
Hermione is a singing monkey.  She's a novelty *because* she comes 
from such a low background.  Or at least, that's the feeling I got 
from Slughorn.

Lucius struck me as upset that *anyone* beat Draco.  But that it was 
a mudblood doubled the shame.  Which *does* suggest blood counts, 
IMO.  I think Ernie knowing the exact level of his purebloodedness 
(nine generations, IIRC?) speaks to blood counting as well. (So did 
the students' "by the way" knowledge of which of their classmates 
were pure, and which were not.)  And while the Weasleys are 
considered "blood traitors" by some in the WW, I get the sense that 
that's more a political moniker than anything else.  "Dark wizards" 
versus "blood traitors" like "Labor" versus "Conservative", IOWs.  
(I posted those in no particular order, and in fact had to look up 
British political parties, so, no I'm not trying to make a political 
point. <g>)

> >>Pippin:
> Hermione, OTOH, always has all the spending money she needs, and   
> her parents are solidly middle class from what we can tell. She   
> hasn't grown up thinking of herself as underpriveleged, and she   
> really isn't treated that way in the WW.

Betsy Hp:
Money really doesn't count in this sort of social system, I think.  
Middle class Hermione is seen as being on the same level as the 
working class Creeveys and the upper class Justin.  They are, all of 
them, muggleborn.  And sure, it hasn't affected them while they're 
at Hogwarts (except for their inability to study to the same effect 
as their wizarding classmates over the holidays) but I'm near 
positive it will effect them when they go looking for work.  
Especially within the Ministry.  (Though I also think people like 
Arthur Weasley are working hard to improve things for muggleborns.  
I suppose that would be the "blood traitor" party line.  I'll also 
assume they have their own, less insulting, name for themselves.)

Which is why I think it's to Hermione's advantage that she's 
befriended (and will possibly marry into) the Weasley family, and 
that she's been recruited by Slughorn.

> >>Pippin:
> Ron is.

Betsy Hp:
But not when it comes to finding a job I think.  His family is well 
plugged in.  Ron has a very definite advantage over Dean, for 
example.  Ron is plugged into the system because of his social 
standing.  

I also suspect the WW mothers would rather their daughers bring home 
young Ron, with his blood and his network, than say Justin, who 
lacks such things.  Remember, Voldemort's positions were popular 
when they first started out.  The WW is xenophobic, and Ron is most 
definitly one of them.  Muggleborns like Hermione, not so much.

(Snipped the rest of Pippin's post, because I agree! <g>)

Betsy Hp