So, in NGaW, there’s a lot of talk about the distinction between muggleborns and half-bloods, and how Hermione's birth parents aren’t her real parents. How does that work? Was her muggle mother just sort of a ‘surrogate’ for magic itself...?
ah, no. this is something that hermione and draco are going to have Discussions about later, but -
i mean, her parents are her biological parents. it’s just that the magical world doesn’t care about the biology or genetics of it all. it’s based on magic, which is passed down the same way genetics are. draco got his magic from his parents, who got their magic from their parents, so on and so forth.
except for muggleborns. it’s like a chicken or egg situation - her mom had her, but they’re not the same species, and since there’s no magic connecting them, they’re not really related, as far as the wizards are concerned. it’s why, back in the day, muggleborns were considered gifts of magic, and it was an honor to have a muggleborn in the family.
it’s this same thinking that leads to squib abuse, since the thought is if they don’t have magic then they’re not really their child, not really related to them.
magic being more important than blood, and standing as a replacement for blood, is an ideology that all wizards have, even the progressive ones like the weasleys. this is partially because magic lives in blood. it’s why voldemort took harry’s blood, why blood is used to reinforce the wards and gain access to the house of lords and ladies. so because hermione has magic in her blood, and her parents don’t, they don’t have the same blood, so they’re not her “real” parents. it’s the same logic behind squibs not being their parents “real” children - they have different blood, one with magic and one without.
a blood traitor is a magic traitor.
it’s integral to the society, and is also incredibly toxic in many ways. there are some good reasons why so many of the old families are obsessed with blood purity, but those good reasons don’t change all the negative affects and horrible things that are done in the name of purity, of the greater good
